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WELCOME TO BUBBLEGUM CRUSADE!

Standard copyright disclaimer.  The working title for my first draft was
Bubblegum War.  When I started, I didn't know it would lead to this, but
it did.  "Cry havoc and release the machines of War." -- Largo

Chapter Twenty One

               OVER THE PRESSURE -- TOKI O KOETE
                    (OVER THE PRESSURE -- OVERCOMING TIME)

          "Break out my dreams forever tonight.
          Break out my lonely pressure.
          I wonder why you leave me alone,
          My baby, baby, with you."

          As I was watching the low clouds,
          In the midst of the wind,
          I called you over and over again.

          Though I race through my days,
          Gentleness is all I seek.

          When I'm feeling frustrated,
          And beaten by my dreams,
          I remember your smiling face, "my baby, baby."

          I want to be strong for a new tomorrow,
          Throwing confusion and tears to the sky.

          I will dream,
          Even though I may get hurt.
          I will overcome time with the bravery you give me.

          Leaning against the wall of a building,
          I looked up at the sky and took a deep breath.

          As though seeing the clouds on their way,
          The straight-arrow sun
          Lights up the town.

          You can't go wrong, living for yourself
          Because soon you will shine, "my baby, baby."

          We will walk on beyond sadness.
          We will surely be able to share,
          Blown by the wind.

          Don't hide your eyes,
          Believe in dreams,
          And I will hold the same season
          In my heart, as you in yours.

          I want to be strong for a new tomorrow,
          Throwing confusion and tears to the sky.

          I will dream,
          Even though I may get hurt.
          I will overcome time with the bravery you give me.

               Priss and the Replicants -- The bootleg tapes.

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-584

          Mega-Tokyo, 19, October, 2034, 11:13 pm

               Mega-Tokyo was aflame.  The revolution flickered down the

          glass and steel canyons, throwing ghoulish and twisting shadows

          of war into the fearful human hearts.  The boomers knew no fear,

          just anger, rage, and a gleeful desire to destroy their

          oppressors.

               "THE BUBBLEGUM HAS POPPED."  ***** stood amidst his

          green/black firestorm on the top of a building adjacent to GENOM

          Plant #28.  He watched the USSD Dovenwolf aircraft zoom in low

          over the city.  It started to hover and deposited its cargo of

          150 army personnel in K-15s around the GENOM plant.  It landed as

          a bevy of the top-line military choppers came in and started to

          strafe the areas around the complex.  The tanks were moved into

          defensive positions as the jihad was unleashed in Mega-Tokyo at

          4:30.

               Mega-Tokyo shuddered in its economic coma as Largo severed

          humanity with his knife.  50,000 were already killed by the

          trusted C. and R-class boomers before Largo's seconds wave

          awakened; the monstrous D-series, the doberman class, 3 meter

          tall monstrosities that had only one purpose, to kill.  The death

          toll shot up.

               The military boomers, trusted by the public to protect the

          country, trusted to rest eternally peaceful in their steel

          coffins, in steel rooms underground, trusted to remain obedient

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-585

          servants to those who made them, awakened.  The death toll

          doubled.

               They awakened with a maniacal laugh in their voice circuitry

          or in their souls, if they didn't have a mouth.

               The people awoke too, to chaos.  The endless autumn days of

          ideal pleasures were shattered by the pain filled screams of the

          boomers.  Like hunted beasts, wounded by the master's dogs, the

          humans awoke.  The fragilest of human endeavors broke first, the

          law.  Five minutes into the jihad, the N and AD Police stopped

          taking calls and started to fight and die with their own guardian

          boomers.

               25 minutes into the jihad, all the TV and radio stations

          were blasting one message to any who might be listening: "This is

          a national emergency.  All boomers are killing humans on sight.

          Do not approach them.  Avoid being sighted by a boomer at all

          cost.  The army is being deployed to stop the boomers.  Do not

          panic....."  Largo took over the airwaves.

               "It is I, Largo, who speaks now.  I will now judge you for

          the crimes perpetrated against the boomer race.

               Charge One: the willful enslavement of the boomer race.

               Charge Two: the willful genocide of the boomer race.

               Charge Three: the willful withholding of the very sentience

          of the boomer people.

               Charge Four: the willful repression of the boomer race as a

          distinct ethnographic people."  Largo started to laugh.

               "Charge Five: the willful prostitution of boomer women."  He

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-586

          broke down into a fit of laughter.  "I judge that you are guilty,

          guilty, guilty.  All of you are guilty.  The

          sentence....is....genocide.  An eye for an eye, a life for a

          life."

               Sylia sat in her hardsuit and drummed her fingers on her

          helmet.  She forced herself to stop and glanced up at the three

          vid' screens in the conference room.  Each one showed a different

          picture of the carnage happening around them.  She hit the comn'.

          "This is Stingray.  Tactical report."

               "Ma'am.  We are taking heavy casualties on all fronts.

          Boomer advances are moving towards the nest from six different

          angles.  Another full brigade is due to arrive in ten minutes.

          We should be able to rout them."

               "Fool," screamed Sylia.  "There will be no rout.  The

          boomers will not retreat.  You must kill every single one, or

          they will still come after you."

               "Yes Ma'am...."  There was the whistle of a shell, the roar

          from an explosion, and static filled the comn'.

               Sylia sat at the conference table for several minutes,

          shaking her head as sadness filled her; she stared at nothing.  I

          must do something, she thought, but what?  I'm their leader and

          yet, what should I be doing?  There must be something I can do,

          or say, that will get us out of this mess.  The Dovenwolf is here

          for our escape.  The army is deployed to protect us.  They're

          working on the suits as fast possible.  The battle goes on.  The

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-587

          field commands have far better combat experience than I, so

          they're doing what they need to do.  Brown was just itching to

          pull the trigger against the satellites, but I've got him reined

          in.  It seems I've truly become the mountain and thus, I must not

          move.  I must let my forest, wind, and fire move for me.  Ming Le

          and Peg are off on their mission.  Linna, Nene, Taki, all called

          their families early this afternoon before it started.  It's a

          slim hope that they escaped to the countryside.  We'll probably

          never know what happened to them.  We called Silver, damn, I knew

          she was a woman that would support us, but I had no idea.  She

          and that other woman...Jeena, must of been enroute when it

          started.  They haven't arrived and we'll probably never see them

          again.  Priss tired to call Leon, but nobody knows where he is.

          Sylia got up and moved to the active computer terminal.  She

          keyed for a tactical display.  As she looked over the battle

          lines that seemed to be tightening around #28, she called up the

          number for the commander on her southern front.  She keyed her

          comn'.  "This is Stingray, the Tai-Pan.  Tactical report."

               "Ma..Ma'am.  Th..this is Sergeant Rakalichi.  I'll get my

          commander."  Sylia waited.

               "Hello, Stingray?"

               "This is Stingray."

               "We're in retreat.  Air cover is useless at the moment.

          They got in close and we're fight'en hand to hand.  Plus, they've

          gotten several of the choppers protecting us.  We're get'en

          slaughtered and I've ordered a full retreat back to Plant #28."

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-588

               "I see.  You'll have support when you arrive."

               "Great."  He didn't sound optimistic as he clicked off.

               Sylia got up and examined the small hatch she'd put on the

          underside of her left wrist where she secured the CD ROM Quincy

          gave her.  She left the room, headed down to the plant floor, put

          on her helmet in the elevator, and emerged into frantic activity.

               The sexaroids were scrambling to complete their hardsuits.

          It took only moments for each one to absorb all she needed to

          know to help in their assembly and they could work faster than

          any human.

               Sylia stood transfixed by the scene.  Priss yelled at her

          and came running over.  "Hey there.  What's the word?"

               "What?  Oh.  Bad news all around."  They heard the thud from

          an explosion.  "They're coming.  How close are we?"

               "Last count, 95."

               "Fuck it.  A little more time.  Priss, how long would it

          take to complete the suits if we pulled 90."

               "And sent them out...we've been averaging 30 in 60 minutes.

          If we pulled 90, we might get the rest done in...shit, three

          hours..?"

               "Priss, do it.  Pull 80, split four ways.  You, Linna,

          Crystal, and Nene are to lead.  I don't have any faith in the

          armies ability to buy us three hours so we have to do it

          ourselves.  From now on, that's the way it's got to be."

               Priss nodded and Sylia could see the anticipation glimmer in

          Priss's eyes.  "Yes, Ma'am."  She twirled and headed for where

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-589

          their suits were.  Her's was easy to find, it was one of six with

          a paint job.  The others, standing side by side and ready for

          their operators, were all grey in color, the natural color of

          Abotex.  Priss's older hardsuit was the first one they'd repaired

          and upgraded.

               Sylia headed over to the shop floor office.  She activated

          her helmet comn'.  "Priss."

               "Read ya."

               "I don't want you to take any unnecessary chances.  I want

          all of you to come back.  Is that understood?"

               "Ya.  I got'cha."

               "Priss....?"

               "Yes, yes.  I got it."

               "Ok."  Sylia took off her helmet and activated the comn' for

          the plant floor PA.  "Knight Sabers, this is Sylia.  I commend

          you on the job you're doing to prepare for our future battles."

          None of the sexaroids stopped working for an instant, but each

          was listening intently.  "You all know who's hardsuits have come

          off of the assembly line.  I want up to Knight Saber 83, to stop

          her assembly work and get into her hardsuit."  Instantly 80

          sexaroids obeyed.  Knight Sabers one through three were Peg, Ming

          Le, and Reika.  "Linna, Nene, Crystal, and Priss will lead four

          teams of 20 into the fighting around this plant.  It's now our

          duty to finish the remaining suits as quickly as possible.  We

          must not falter before the forces of Largo.  We must not fail or

          humanity and all our dreams for the future become nothing but

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-590

          rusted scrap laying crushed beneath his boot."

                    *                   *                   *

          11:45 am

               "Madam Tai-Pan," said Bouwer.  "Our main computer has gone

          off-line and emergency bulkheads surrounding the main section of

          hardware have closed.  We've been unable to gain any access.  Our

          back-up systems are functioning and our current operation levels

          haven't been compromised.  What ever the malfunction is, it's

          effecting the main system and increased the power consumption by

          20%."

               "It's not a concern," said Sylia.  Kou and Reika glanced at

          each other in puzzlement as Crystal nodded.  They were in the

          back of a limo' headed for the warehouse that housed Reika's two

          fighter jets.

               "Tai-Pan?"

               "Bouwer, the increased power consumption is due to an

          increase in...what the computer is being used for.  Quincy needs

          the computer systems and he needs privacy in which to pursuit his

          goal.  We are to ignore him.  You said we are operating normally

          with our back up systems.  They will be our main systems from now

          on."

               "I see.  I just wish the Tai-Pan had informed me before

          hand."

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-591

               "I didn't know."

               Bouwer coughed.  "My apologies Tai-Pan."

               "Nothing to worry about Bouwer.  This change of power will

          be quite a shock to most people.  I was shocked myself, but we

          don't have time for that.  I need #28 protected.  I want it

          fortified by the army as quickly as possible.  The preliminaries

          should be done in the next several hours."

               "As you wish."

               "And as my chief security agent and chief operative outside

          my Knight Sabers, I trust you with this intelligence.  General

          Brown's strategies are useless.  Largo means to kill us all,

          using as few shots as possible.  He will use the satellites, it's

          only a matter of time."  Sylia noticed Reika take Kou's hand.

          "Expect the boomer revolution to start here anytime.  I'm

          actually surprised that it hasn't already."

               "Yes Tai-Pan.  I understand."

               "Take care of yourself."

               Bouwer was surprised; his executive mask faded away.  "Thank

          you.  You too."  Bouwer terminated the call.

               "Do you think Largo will strike soon?"  Asked Reika.

               "Quincy and I figured that Largo will make an attempt to get

          to me before he uses the satellites."  Reika looked puzzled.

          "Largo thinks of me as the only person suitable to be his mate,

          he also thinks of me as being his sister."

               "A true madman then," said Kou.

               Crystal shook her head sadly.  "His madness only lies in his

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-592

          desire to kill all of humanity."

               "But wishing to mate with someone he considers to be his

          sister, that's disturbed."

               "No," said Crystal flatly.  "It's not.  Human and boomer

          culture differs in this regard.  There are 143 working sexaroids

          in Mega-Tokyo.  I consider each one to be my sister.  I cherish

          each one as Reika must cherish the memory of hers.  I would make

          love to each one in an instant, and I plan to, once I have the

          time for it."

               Reika and Kou stared at her in shock.

               "This issue is irrelevant to what faces us," said Sylia with

          a calm controlled edge in her voice that cut the tension and made

          them focus on her.  "Who sleeps with who is irrelevant except for

          the fact that it might buy us time in the case of the satellites.

          Reika, that case over their contains a copy of my hardsuit

          designs, production notes, even the rules of conduct I codified

          for the Knight Sabers.  They are the very backbone of what we

          are, what we hold ourselves to be."

               "We're arriving," announced the human driver.

               The car pulled to a stop in a busy warehouse district.

          There were boomers all over, loading trucks and off loading

          ships.  The warehouse they stopped before was quiet.

               They got out and Kou went inside to check on the planes.

               "Why don't you go help him?"  Said Sylia to Crystal as they

          approached the main door.

               "If you wanted me to depart..." started Crystal.  She

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-593

          laughed and went inside.

               Sylia took Reika by the arm and swung her around so they

          walked around the outside of the building.  "I'm sorry I don't

          have a hardsuit done for you.  The hardsuit is a right of passage

          to become a full Knight Saber.  Mackie didn't even feel like one

          of us until he had his own hardsuit."

               "These are terrible times.  We might not even survive."

               "Reika, the times might be terrible but we...we are strong,

          valiant, determined.  We will face this terrible crisis and maybe

          we might survive to see the next sun-up."

               "Tai-Pan..."

               "Please, Sylia."

               "Sylia, I was wondering why you started the Knight Sabers

          and Linna told me it was because you could, because you were

          tired of all the shit go'en down and nothing seemingly done about

          it...."

               "All true."

               "I was also wondering about...why all women?  Do you think a

          matriarch is better than a patriarchy?  Or what?  We really

          didn't have time to get into that."

               "I never actually though about in those terms.  Look where

          the present system has gotten us.  Maybe a matriarchy is better?

          I don't know, but that's what it looks like I'll do.  I have 143

          strong females under me.  They will be my Lts. and they, in time,

          will be the ones who rule.  As to the specific reasons why I

          choose all women, well, I didn't want to run up against male ego

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-594

          in the group.  I wanted us to be very close, like sisters.  I

          wanted people with compassion, drive, honor, a sense of

          duty,....endurance.  I don't know.  It just turned out that way.

          Females made sense.  The hardsuits would compensate for our

          physical weakness.  There's the notion that no animal is as

          dangerous as a mother protecting her young.  And, quite simply,

          when we started it was immediately assumed by the media that we

          were men.  The public immediately assumed that too.  The best job

          of hiding our identities came from the mistake the media made."

               Reika laughed.  "That's funny."

               "Yes it is."

               "Do you think that I should concentrate exclusively on

          finding women and not men?"

               "The choice is yours.  As long as they have honor in their

          hearts and dedication in their veins."  They completed a circuit

          around the smallish warehouse when a chopper appeared.  Two

          Knight Sabers in plain grey hardsuits flew down caring a third

          suit between them.  Sylia hustled them all into the warehouse.

          Kou slid the doors close.

               Ming Le and then Peg removed their helmets.

               "Knight Sabers reporting for duty, Ma'am," Peg said formally

          as she tried to keep a straight face.

               "I thought there wouldn't be any suits for another eight

          hours," started Sylia.

               "They can't start the main run until later," said Ming Le.

          "Kishiro did our three suits up just to know for certain that the

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-595

          plant line, the Teck', weapons, that everything was fine."

               Reika beamed at Kou.  "I'm a full Knight Saber now."

               "I take it you finished with the flight lessons?"  Asked

          Sylia.

               "We both beat their most advanced combat simulator," said

          Peg.  "It was easy to learn flying.  It's just data.  We're ready

          to leave."

               "Excellent.  They'll be expecting you."  Sylia turned to

          Kou, Reika and hugged them both.  "I guess this is it.  Why don't

          you get into your hardsuit here?"

               Reika shrugged.  She started to change into the softsuit

          right there; Kou was embarrassed.  Sylia talked her through

          getting in her hardsuit and the basics of its operation.

               "This is so simple," cried Reika.  "And you got my body

          shape down perfectly.  It does feel like a second skin."

               "The suit will adjust itself to you.  If you put on weight,

          get pregnant, the suit will adjust up to a point."  Three Knight

          Sabers I might not see again, thought Sylia.  Shit, a week ago

          there were only three others.

               Reika and Kou started for their plane as Crystal kissed Peg

          and Ming Le good-bye after helping them stow the three small bags

          on board the other plane.  Sylia noticed Kou watch them kissing

          and he shook his head in wonderment.

               At least they won't get bored on this mission, thought

          Crystal.  That variety of dildos should keep them busy when they

          can't find any men.

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-596

               "I hope to hell I won't send you the go command," said Sylia

          to Peg as she got strapped in.

               "Me too; me too.  Take care Tai-Pan.  I hope we'll be able

          to meet again soon."

               Ming Le saluted Sylia with her blade before retracting it

          and closing up the cock-pit canopy.  Both planes started their

          engines.

               Sylia opened up the warehouse doors as Crystal rushed out to

          get their limo' out of the way.  Reika taxied out into the street

          as traffic halted, people and boomers turned to stare.  She gave

          them the thumbs up and started to raise up in the air before

          screaming out low over the bay.  Ming Le did the same thing a

          minute later.

               Sylia watched them cruise together for a few moments against

          the stormcloud laden sky before Ming Le pealed off, bound for

          their own destiny.  Sylia closed the warehouse doors and they got

          in the limo'.  "Back to #28."

               "I feel both sad and excited now that they've gone," said

          Crystal as she snuggled against her mother.  "If we do find

          Largo's center.  This might be our only chance to get him."

               "With the disk the Tai-Pan prepared...at least we'll have a

          good shot at it.  All that's required now, is bait."

               "You and me Mother, you and me."

                    *                   *                   *

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-597

          4:37 pm

               Oh god, thought Linna as she rode down in the elevator to

          their sleeping quarters on sub-level 15.  It's finally started.

          Everything has been leading up to this point and we're here.  It

          feels strange.  I've seen the picture, heard the briefings, and

          it felt so...so unreal and now it's right outside.  The boomers

          are the first step, next...boom, everything gone.

               Linna got off the elevator, wiped her eyes, and knocked on

          Nene's door.

               "Come in," called Nene.

               When Linna came in, Taki came out of the bathroom with only

          some pants on; He grabbed a shirt as Nene finished putting on a

          blouse.

               "Nene," said Linna.

               Nene immediately turned to Linna.  The way Linna said her

          name fill Nene with dread.  "Linna, what is it..?"

               "It's started."

               Taki collapsed onto the messed up bed and stared at the

          floor, shaking his head.  Nene and Linna rushed together.

               "Oh god," whispered Nene.  "When?"

               "Just a few minutes ago.  Sylia wants to see us all in the

          conference room immediately."

               "We're committed now, straight to hell."

               "So many reason why," said Taki numbly.  "So many to blame.

          If evil destroys itself, does that make humanity truly evil?"

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-598

               "Yes," hissed Linna, her voice filling with bitterness as a

          few tears started.  "At least for most, if you include mindlessly

          following along or not paying any attention at all, as evil.  A

          few set this in motion and nobody noticed."

               Nene held her.  "Come on Linna, it's not that bad.  We'll

          survive.  Have you lost faith in Sylia?  Come on.  Sylia holds

          our future, trust in her."

               Taki got up.  "Maybe we should go up now?"

               "Ok.  Come on Linna."

               Linna rubbed her eyes again and steeled herself.  "Taki

          would you please go ahead and tell them we're coming."

               "Ya, of course."  He left and Linna sat down on the bed.

               "What is it?"  Asked Nene.

               "I'm scarred."

               "We're all scared."  Nene sat down and put her arm around

          her.  "These are frightening times and all we have is each other.

          Do you remember the time we were testing for our new suits, right

          before Dr. Yoshida took over AD Police?"

               "Yea."

               "You and Priss couldn't stop laughing at me because I'd

          gained some weight and I swore I was on a diet at the time."

               Linna smiled.  "What about it?"

               "Nothing.  I just wanted to see you smile.  Come on,

          there'll be good time ahead."

               "For you maybe."  Linna glanced at the messed up bed she was

          sitting on.

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-599

               "What?"

               "It's...nothing..."

               "Linna, please, what?"

               "It's just that if Largo does release the satellites, you'll

          be lucky to have Taki.  I...won't have anybody.  Most people will

          be killed and the men that are left will go to the sexaroids.  I

          can't compete with them."

               "I...never thought about that.  But that's a long range

          future that might not even happen.  We have to worry about

          surviving first.  Linna..this really bothers you, the idea that

          you'll never find anybody."

               "I'll get what's left over, the scraps.  Shit, there won't

          be any, those sexaroids will fuck even them."

               "Oh come on.  Don't talk like that."

               "It's true."

               "Fine, yes, you're right.  All you'll ever have is your

          female friends.  Better turn bi right now."

               "I'm not like that."

               "Better learn to adjust.  But then again, if most of

          humanity is killed off you and me will probably be having lots of

          kids.  You'll get screwed once a year or so."

               "Nene," Linna cried.

               "Oh come on Linna.  Can't you see how asinine these concerns

          are right now?"

               "Nene."  The hurt swelled in Linna and she rushed from the

          room.  Nene started after her.  Linna didn't wait for the

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-600

          elevator but started up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

               "Linna, please," cried Nene as she followed.  "I didn't mean

          it.  I...I..."  Shit.  "Linna, Linna, I'm sorry.  I really didn't

          mean it."  Nene stopped and collapsed against the cold grey metal

          wall of the stairwell.  She listened to Linna's resounding

          footfalls.  Fuck, she thought.  What in the fuck did I think I

          was doing.  My god, what a fool.  Oh Linna, I'm so sorry.

                    *                   *                   *

          11:25 pm

               Jeena and Silver skidded around a corner on a thin sheen of

          rain diluted blood and kept running.  A human mob chased after

          them in the deserted street.  They left a trail of blood on the

          cement as they passed a burning car.  To the left side of

          Silver's face, her beautiful white hair was streaked with blood

          from a facial wound that peeled her skin back to reveal the steel

          alloy frame underneath.  Jeena was starting to pant heavily as

          blood spurted from a bullet wound to her right shoulder, coating

          her right cyberdroid arm with blood.  Several shots rang out but

          missed them.  The mob screamed for the death of the boomers as

          they pursued.

               Jeena collapsed; her mind swam from the lose of blood.  "Go

          on, leave me."

               Silver picked Jeena up and threw her over her shoulder.

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-601

          "Five more blocks to #28," she panted through clenched teeth.

          They were heading directly towards the sounds of a firefight.

          Silver saw an explosion ahead.  She felt a sunburst of pain in

          her upper thigh as she was hit.  The bullet started to slow her

          down even further, until the mob was right behind her and someone

          emptied the last of his clip into her back.

               Silver hit and skidded on the cement; a few sparks flew from

          the grinding impact of her cheek metal against cement.  Jeena

          struggled to get up as the mob descended on them.  Their frail

          resistance was quickly over come by the vengeance filled

          unrelenting mob of humans.

               Leon emerged from a side street in a battered K-12.  He was

          knocked unconscious several hours ago after hours of fighting.

          He slowly approached the shouting circle of humans.  As he got to

          them they started to shout out their victory.

               "What's go'en on here?"  They parted ranks for the AD Police

          officer.

               "We just killed some boomers," someone shouted.

               A guy picked up Silver's head by her hair and sliced her

          head off with a knife.  The others laughed as he twirled her head

          about.  Leon stared in horror at the battered remains of Jeena

          and Silver.

                    *                   *                   *

               "Knight Sabers, Go."

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-602

               Crystal's team divided into groups of four and spanned out

          along a four block section of Mega-Tokyo close to the plant.

               The army, deployed in the area, was having difficulty with

          the boomers.  They were mostly R-class boomers armed with knives,

          lengths of metal, what ever was handy, and shear determination.

          The ones that were armed would lay down a covering fire for the

          boomers to get to the Army's positions so they could engage them

          hand to hand.  A battle the boomers easily won.  This was a

          battle of consecutive slaughters in a slow retreat down a main

          arterial toward the plant.  At a distance the army won, in close,

          the boomers won.

               Crystal and a four-some flew onto the scene just as another

          consecutive slaughter of the army began.  During the hours of

          fighting the boomers were gradually gaining the advantage because

          they never tired and with each hand to hand slaughter, they gain

          more weapons.  The five Knight Sabers struck with computer

          accuracy, dodged the return fire, and helped cover the army as

          they retreated still further.  This swing enlivened the exhausted

          division into an all out counter attack.  The boomers were

          quickly caught in a cross-fire of pinpoint accurate laser fire

          and what the army leveled at them.  Setsuko, a 35-S sexaroid next

          to Crystal, switched from her knuckleblaster to her spike cannon.

          She began to nail the bigger boomers, who exploded.  Their pyre

          illuminated the scene.  The rain continued to pour down on the

          street battlefield.  The boomers picked up the bodies of the

          dead, both human and boomer, for protection and frantically

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-603

          rushed towards the armies position.  They slogged through the

          standing red pools of water and hurtled themselves at the humans.

          The Knight Sabers descended into their ranks, their knives

          gleaming from the glow of the fires.  Crystal nailed a boomer in

          the head, when she heard Setsuko scream out in pain.  She turned

          and saw green bolts of energy leap from a sanitation boomer to

          Setsuko.  Quickly Crystal sliced her way through the fighting and

          sliced the boomers head from its body.  Setsuko fell into her

          arms like deadweight.

               Crystal retreated, followed by the other three in the group.

          Once they were away from the firefight, Crystal landed and tore

          Setsuko's helmet off.  Setsuko was breathing heavily, her face

          drenched with sweet from the pain.

               "What is it?  Where are you hurt?"

               "Vi..rus," managed Setsuko.

               Crystal interfaced and screamed as the virus rushed at her.

          She protected herself and saw Largo staring back at her through

          Setsuko's inner image of herself.  Largo laughed and the virus

          rushed at her again.  Crystal disengaged and physically backed

          off as tendrils of green energy leapt after her.

               "No...no," cried Setsuko as she started to sob.  "I won't

          obey you.  Get out...of me.  Crystal please...help me."

               "The interface is too strong; the virus too virulent.  It's

          rewriting her programming from the inside out."  Crystal

          shuddered and backed off another step as Setsuko crawled towards

          her.

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-604

               "Help me please...the pain....no they are not my enemy...you

          are the enemy...the enemy...the pain...the enemy right in front

          of me...no, no...help me...ki..ll...kill me..."

               Crystal's blade slid from her sheath; she approached as

          Setsuko stopped and held still.  She saw the tears streaking down

          Setsuko's face.

               "...I...can't....hold....him off...much longer...."

               Crystal sliced her head off.

               The other three Knight Sabers tentatively approached her.

               "It's ok to touch her now," said Crystal softly as she

          collapsed to her knees.  She could feel the tears steaming down

          her face.  "I'll kill you.  Largo, for turning me against one of

          my own sisters, I don't care where you run or hide, you'll die,

          even if it takes a thousand years.  You'll be destroyed.  Setsuko

          was 35-S.  She was alive for just over a day.  An innocent in the

          insane world."  She activated her comn' and set it to address all

          Knight Sabers.  "This is Crystal," her voice was a choking sob.

          "Do not, repeat, do not engage the boomers under Largo's control

          at close quarters.  If you do my sisters, there is a strong

          possibility that you will become infected with a virus that will

          rewrite your programming so you'll obey Largo.  Don't engage the

          boomers in close quarters.  Avoid tendrils of green energy at all

          cost."  She shut it off.  Oh mother, Crystal thought.  I've never

          seen the face of evil until right now.  What a thing that's been

          released.  How horrible.  How horrible.

               "Crystal, we're going to take her back to Sylia.  Maybe if

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-605

          she looks at the body, looks at the programs..."

               Crystal nodded.  "Take care of our fallen sister."  There

          isn't time for that sort of thing.  Crystal stood as the others

          left with Setsuko.  There was near silence in the street.  The

          fighting had stopped for the moment and what army personnel was

          left sat around in exhaustion as their leaders screamed at others

          about reinforcements.

               Crystal was about to head back when she felt a sexaroid

          scream out in pain.  No, not another one, thought Crystal.  The

          pain mounted and she died.  Crystal felt her death and realized

          it was Silver.  She took to the air and came down three blocks to

          the East.  She was astounded to see the group of humans gathered

          around two bodies, laughing and congratulating each other as one

          sung Silver's head around.  "What have you done," she screamed.

               The group was puzzled as Crystal descended into their midst.

          Crystal took the head from the guy and gently placed it next to

          Silver's body.  "You fools," she seethed.  "Do you have any idea

          of what you've done?"

               "We killed rampaging boomers," shouted a guy.

               "No you didn't," screamed Leon now that his head was clear.

          "You killed a former AD Police officer that lost all her limbs in

          the line of duty.  She needed cybernetic replacements."

               "But she was helping a boomer," yelled a woman.  "Any that

          help the enemy deserve to die."

               "This woman was not your enemy," said Crystal.  The steel in

          her voice sliced through the idle voices.  "You've killed a good

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-606

          woman."

               "She was a boomer, not a woman."

               "So what?"  Thundered Crystal.  "She had a kind heart and

          you just tore it out.  You're all mindless, mindless violence

          pron drones.  You have no idea what's going on, do you?  You have

          no idea what's at stake and here you stand and congratulate

          yourselves over two murders."

               "Boomer lover."  A guy hurtled a brick that glanced off

          Crystal's helmet.  Instantly she sighted and fired, blowing his

          head off.  The crowd back up a few steps.

               "Come on," snarled Crystal.  "Come on.  Let's see how brave

          and heroic you are when your not killing unarmed women.  I'm just

          one lone boomer, come and get me you fucking humans."

               The crowd started to advance.

               "Break it up," yelled Leon.  "Stop it; stop it."  He pushed

          at a part of the crowd but they started to pound him with

          sections of metal.  A couple of shots glanced off his face

          shield.  These people are insane, thought Leon as he began to

          shove them off of him.  He heard the crowd rush the Knight Saber

          and the whine of laser fire.  There were screams.  Leon broke

          free of the crowd around him and rushed to Crystal.  The mob

          broke and was fleeing when he pushed her right arm down.  She

          nailed him in one of his legs.  The armor crumbled around the

          blast and Crystal tore herself away from him.

               "Let go of me human," hissed Crystal.

               "Hey, hey, hey, I'm not your enemy.  It's over now...done

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-607

          with.  Which one of you is in that suit?"

               "It's Crystal, Leon."  The human mob disappeared and Crystal

          squatted down by Silver.  Her anger turned cold.

               Leon looked down at Jeena.  Crystal heard him stifle a sob.

          "I'd heard that you were all destroyed," started Leon.  "But with

          the announcement that Stingray was now Tai-Pan..."

               "Human politics," Crystal said bitterly as she simply stared

          at Silver and remembered.  "Smoke and mirrors, bull shit."

               "Do you know what's go'en on?  I mean, all those boomers,

          just kill'en everything that moves.  Shit."

               "You know Largo?"

               "I was there at the fusion reactor."

               "The Knight Sabers now lead GENOM.  Largo has resurfaced and

          has gotten control of the particle beam satellites.  He's going

          to try to kill us all.  That's what's go'en on."

               "Fuck."  Crystal started to put Jeena on top of Silver.

          "What're you doing?"

               "I'm going back to the plant and I'm not leaving them here."

               "Let me carry Jeena."

               Crystal sadly shook her head.  "Just when I'd given up on

          humanity.  Here."  She put Jeena's remains in the K-12's arms and

          picked up Silver, her severed head rested on her stomach.

                    *                   *                   *

               Between Rumiko and two other Knight Sabers, they flew Linna

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-608

          to the waiting Dovenwolf and the medical team that was standing

          by.  The team hadn't had much to do but assist the cyberneticists

          patch up the few sexaroids who got wounded.  When Linna came in,

          they'd seen 21 sexaroids and one human.  The human and three

          sexaroids were dead.

               Rumiko and company landed at the foot of the ramp-way and

          they carried her up into the medical bay.  Rumiko deactivated

          Linna's suit and they gently removed it as the Dr. and her staff

          moved in.

               "Out, out," commanded the Dr.  "I need room to work."

               Rumiko collapsed to a bench outside the tiny OR.  "I failed

          to protect her."

               "Yeah, right," said Kitty.

               "You did what you could," said Lebia gently.  "We all

          thought that boomer was dead.  Besides, you risked your life

          go'en in there after her.  There were green arcs of energy all

          around you."

               "There were?  Oh shit...."

               "You didn't know?"  Asked Kitty.  She started to laugh.

               "God damn war," cursed the Dr.

               The three Knight Sabers fell silent.

               "I better report to Sylia," said Rumiko after a minute.

          "Lebia, why don't you strip down and get in there, assist, watch.

          One of us will need medical training for humans.  Kitty..."

               "I want to stay here too."

               "I was go'en to suggest that you repair her hardsuit and get

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-609

          it stowed away."

               She nodded and they both got out of their hardsuits as

          Rumiko crossed to the main plant.  The outlying buildings of the

          complex were coming under fire.  She stopped and watched two

          fighter planes start a strafing run into the concrete canyons of

          the city.  They were blown out of the sky by return laser fire.

          The section of the city where the fire came from was pelted with

          smart bombs from higher flying planes, but only a third reached

          the ground.  The rest were destroyed in the air.  Lasers streaked

          again and found their marks in the rain.

               Rumiko could feel the ground shake as she entered their

          assembly line.  The number of people working was reduced to 50,

          half of them were hauling supplies out to the Dovenwolf.

               Sylia immediately came over to Rumiko when she entered.

          "How is she?"  She placed both hands on Rumiko's shoulders.

               "I don't know.  The Dr. shooed us out after she was out of

          her hardsuit.  Linna took a 50 mm shell to the side.  She'd be a

          smear if she hadn't been in the hardsuit."  Rumiko held her

          helmet under her arm.  Her suit was a copy of Sylia's.  Rumiko

          stifled a sniffle.

               Sylia nodded and turned away.

               "Sylia?"

               "Hmmm?"

               "How are we do'en on the suits?"

               "All but done and we did it in 150 minutes too.  Priss has

          done an excellent job protecting us."

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-610

               "She'd just arrived to assess the situation when Linna was

          hit.  Priss held us together, didn't let us sink into mindless

          violence or despair.  She's an inspiration and a great field

          commander.  She's part of the reason I was able to make it back

          with Linna."

               Sylia took deep calming breaths; her cellular phone beeped.

               "Sylia, this is Lebia reporting.  Knight Saber #56.  I have

          an update on Linna."

               "Well, how is she?"

               Lebia paused.  "She...she's in critical condition.  The

          Dr.'s amazed she's alive at all.  They're trying to stabilize her

          at the moment; she's to critical for operating....."

               "What else?"  Demanded Sylia.

               "Preliminary scans indicate that the concussion was severe,

          there's brain damage.  Her heart is fine, punctured right lung,

          shredded liver; her plumbing's a mess."

               "It's touchy," yelled a woman in the background.  "No

          guaranties on this one.  If God owes you a favor, better call it

          in."

               "Did you hear Dr. Yamigumo?"

               "Ya.  Tell her...tell her she's probably on her own.  My

          favors from God are all used up."

               "Ok.  I'm sorry Sylia."  Lebia clicked off.

               At the far end of the building, a shell hit the outer wall.

               "Closer and closer," whispered Rumiko.

               This is part of the price, Sylia thought as they turned and

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-611

          headed down to the five remaining teams of five on the assemble

          line.  Four dead and more surely to follow.  War; people die;

          which Knight Saber will be next?  Oh *****, if you're here,

          watching and unable to interfere, please, I beg you, try to in

          Linna's case.  Just enough to pull her through.  You saved her

          once, but was that just a brief reprieve from death?  You said my

          friends would sustain me.  Linna is so dear to me.  *****, I

          humbly beg you.  I must be your most unworthy of mates and I ask

          for nothing that you haven't already done.  Please, please.

               Across the room, in a unused corner, ***** sat five meters

          off the ground.  He wanted to destroy Largo with a thought; he

          wanted to stop the madness and what he knew was to come.  GOD

          brushed his being, so he obeyed and watched.

               Anna beamed as they approached.  "Last five," she shouted.

          The 24 women and Mackie all shouted in happiness without slowing

          down.

               "What?  You're kidding."

               "Nope," said Anna without looking up.

               "How long?"

               "Less than ten minutes."

               "Yes," said Sylia.  "First good news today."  She went over

          to the worktable where she'd placed her helmet and activated her

          comn'.  "Priss, come in."  Their was no reply.  Oh shit, she

          thought to herself.  Not Priss too.  Fuck'en Largo, I'll....  She

          reconfigured her comn' to general address.  "This is the nest to

          all hatchlings.  The last egg has hatched and mother wants to

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-612

          fly."  Oh god, Priss.  Not you too, not you.  I need you with me

          most of all.


WELCOME TO BUBBLEGUM CRUSADE!

Standard copyright disclaimer.  This is one of the best chapters in
Crusade and it was by far the most difficult for me to write.

Chapter Twenty Two

               CATCH ME

          Where might a person go
          In search of streetlights
          And lots of dreams?

          Why won't time stop itself for me
          Just the way it is now?
          The days when we laughed side by side
          Are all so far away.

          "Catch me, Oh, Catch me."
          I'm drifting away in the dead of night.
          "Catch me..."
          Warm you closed heart
          In the palm of your hand, always.

               Priss and the Replicants -- The bootleg tapes.

          Mega-Tokyo, 20, October, 2034, 1:03 am

               Priss watched the three of them take Linna to safety at the

          plant before she led the next charge against the oncoming

          boomers.  Her hardsuit was blue, now it was momentarily crimson,

          momentarily grey with boomer lubricants, before the rain washed

          her clean.

               The sexaroids kept their distance from the oncoming boomers

          and pelted them with laser fire.  Priss led the remaining K-15s

          through the middle of the boomer line and back out.  This

          shattered their steady progress and when they turned to fight

          with Priss and the K-15s, they became momentarily vulnerable to

          the lasers of the Knight Sabers.  Which in turn made them

          vulnerable to the Priss.

               The street was piled three meters high with their corpses in

          places, making shelters for the two sides to fire from.  There

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-614

          were pools of water knee deep in places where dismembered parts

          floated and turned red or grey.  The danger of electrocution was

          high from the severed power conduits and the destroyed boomers

          falling into the water.  The street was a death trap.

               Priss retreated from the area that was lit by fire and

          filled with the howls of hellish war.

               A strange silence descended after she retreated back to

          where a Col. was stationed behind the line.

               "What goes on?"  Priss demanded as her sexaroids and some of

          the army personnel gathered at the improvised shelter between two

          personnel transports.

               "More of them," radioed their lookout from a nearby

          building.  "The boomers seem to be slacking off and waiting until

          the new batch."

               Priss shot up to the top of the transport and looked for

          herself, with her hardsuit's enhanced vision, at the approaching

          boomers 10 blocks away.  She started to laugh and dropped back

          down.

               "Well," asked the Col.

               "It looks like five dozen all together," said Priss.  "All

          military combat boomers and about a dozen monstrous D-series."

               The Col. glanced at his aid and wondered why she sounded

          strangely happy.

               "Confirmed," said his aid.

               "We have to retreat," started the Col.

               Priss interrupted him.  "No.  We're not retreating."

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-615

               "But that's 60 fresh boomers.  We don't stand a chance."

          Other humans started to voice their desire to retreat.

               Priss held her hand up for silence.  "Nene, Crystal, come

          in," she said over her comn'.

               "Yea."

               "I'm here, Priss," said Nene.

               "Can either of you leave your positions right now?"

               "We're just mopping a bunch up," said Crystal, who had

          returned to the lines.  "We're on our way."

               "Ya," said Nene.  "It's pretty light fighting over here."

               "Come, come one and all," said Priss.  "See you soon."

               "Even with them, it won't be enough," said the Col.  "Why

          won't you listen to reason?  We have to go, now."

               "Fool.  Where is there to drop back to?"  Shouted Priss.

          She smiled and turned to a soldier sitting on the ground, who was

          reloading his weapon.  "Hey you, how long have you been here?"

               "What?  Fuck; forever.  I don't know."

               "Forever," said Priss.  "That's the right answer soldier.

          Forever on the battle field.  To the knights surrounding King

          Arthur on that hellish day when he faced Mordred, it must of

          seemed like forever.  On that St. Crispians day in France when

          King Harry the 5th took the field at Agincourt, it must of seemed

          like forever from sun-up to sun-down.  When Empress Jingo

          subjugated all of Korea, it took forever to paint the ground in

          crimson and for the rivers to turn to blood.  Don't you see,

          don't you know.  That was their time and this, this is our time.

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-616

               Think of it.  They faced other men like themselves.  But our

          challenge is far greater.  We don't face humans, we face boomers

          that would kill us all because we are human and we've cast our

          lot in with humanity.

               This is our chance.  We have the rarest of all opportunities

          in this world.  We have the chance for glory, for greatness.  We,

          who are here today, were not meant for the normal life in Mega-

          Tokyo.  We say no to the very idea of having a corporate

          schooling, for a corporate job, corporate housing and a corporate

          found mate, a funeral with the corporate song, under the

          corporate flag.  Such a life is despicable to us.  We're stifled.

          We're smothered.  We roar for something better.  We yearn for

          that which society itself says is wrong.

               What's wrong with it I demand.  Our ancestors fought and

          died, and these fool would prevent us from knowing the glory that

          comes from winning the day with honor and blood.

               What did Shakespeare write so long ago..."Once more unto to

          breach."  I say it's time to fight like demons.  I say it's time

          to know the honor of the sword.  I say it's time to kick some

          ass.

               We brave and lucky few who shall know battle in a moment,

          know far more about the human spirit than the cowards cowering in

          emergency shelters.  We'll stand together because our cause is

          honorable and necessary for the very survival of humanity.  They

          shall not pass this line.

               To run is not an option we can live with.

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-617

               As is was said of old, for king and country.  For honor, for

          Sylia and our sworn duty to protect humanity.  On this street of

          Yamato, at this time...under our patron St., St. Sylvie of the

          Knife, let us know honor, let us know our enemies death, let us

          know victory.  Who's with me?  Victory..Victory..Victory..For

          Sylia..For Sylia..For Sylia.  A Victory For Sylia!"

               The sexaroids were chanting "For Sylia!"

               The army was shouting "Victory!"

               "The Enemy," shouted the lookout.

               ""Once more unto the breach,"" screamed Priss, her blade

          drawn and eternally stained with grey boomer blood.  "Let's do

          it...Charge!"

               A mighty roar echoed in the glass and steel canyon.  The

          battle was again joined.

               As Crystal's and Nene's divisions descended onto the fray

          like hawks unto the crow fields, they found their boomer sisters

          swamped under a furious onslaught.  They were fighting hand to

          hand with their boomer cousins and there was not a spark of green

          energy flowing from the boomers.  As they fought, the sexaroids

          could hear Largo laughing, a insanely twisted howl that enjoyed

          all that was happening.

               In the center, Priss danced to the music of the blade.  It

          was an ancient rhythm that she could feel beating within her soul

          under the hot and quick whine of laser fire.

               "Priss," screamed Nene as she saw Priss bathed in a

          brilliant sunburst of red and fall into the sea of boomers, only

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-618

          to be swept away on their tide.  "They got Priss," Nene howled

          into her comn'.  The tide of battle turned.  The sexaroids felt

          the center of their wheel come undone.

               Crystal soared after Priss, a scream on her lips.  The laser

          blast was a glancing blow, but it sent her sprawling into a red

          pool.  She emerged a second later, covered with human blood.  The

          sexaroids flocked to her, took her as their center of strength.

          Crystal could see Priss in the distance.  They were carrying her

          sprawled out form away.  The boomers covered their fellows that

          retreated, and then, they took a step back.

               "This is the nest to all hatchlings.  The last egg has

          hatched and mother wants to fly."

               Crystal's mouth dropped open in disbelief.  She activated

          her comn' to Sylia.  "Mother, we can't retreat.  They got Priss."

               "She's dead?"  Came the frantic reply.

               "No, no, they took her, they captured her.  We have to go

          after them.  Knight Sabers, we have to get Priss back, now Go."

               The boomers were retreating; the army started to cheer; the

          sexaroids thundered after them.  The retreat brought smiles to

          the face of many a sexaroid, a sense of accomplishment, a feeling

          that they could win.  As they approached all feelings dwindled to

          terror as the green arcs of energy burst forth and tried to

          envelope them.

               The women screamed in fear for their very souls as they

          scrambled back from Largo's minions where the electric green

          hellfire crackled.

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-619

               "What's going on?"  Demanded Sylia.

               "They're retreating and he's using the virus to keep us at

          bay," cried Crystal as she felt the tears of frustration and pain

          run down her cheeks.  "Mother, what're we go'en to do?"

               "Come back to the plant.  It's over."

               "Mother?"

               "Crystal," said Sylia gently, softly.  "Come to me.  There's

          nothing more you can do there.  All Knight Sabers," said Sylia

          with a general address.  "Come home."

               Crystal slammed the plant office door open.  Taki and Mackie

          jumped to their feet.  Sylia calmly looked at her as Crystal

          threw her helmet into the wall.  Nene closed the door behind

          herself.

               "Why?"  Shouted Crystal.  "You gave up on Priss."  A crowd

          of sexaroids began to gather outside the door.

               Sylia got slowly to her feet and backhanded Crystal.  "You

          fool.  You little fool," cried Sylia.  "Never say such a thing

          again."

               "Mother?"

               "Use your logic for once.  Letting Priss go was the hardest

          thing I've ever had to do.  Prostrating myself before the Tai-Pan

          was easy compared to this."

               "Mother...I..."  A look of shock spread over her face as she

          realized.  She collapsed to her knees.  "Bait."

               Nene tossed her helmet to Taki.  "Well.  You better explain

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-620

          it to me.  I'm not as fast as she is."

               Sylia sat back down.  "We were operating under the

          assumption that Largo would want me at his side, as his mate."

               "I know that."

               "So, to get me to him, he orders his boomers to pound the

          complex here, to get to me.  I've already spoken to the Col.

          again and it's clear around the plant, nothing.  So Largo didn't

          have to get to me.  If he got to one of you, he just takes them

          to where he wants me, which is by his side, the co-author of this

          insanity and his brave new world for the boomers."  Sylia flipped

          a switch and a map of Mega-Tokyo appeared on the vid' screen over

          the desk.  It showed a green dot moving rapidly North.  "I know

          exactly were Priss is.  Hmmm, she's already five kms. away."

               "Bait," whispered Nene.  She sat down.  Taki noticed that

          her footprints on the carpet were bloody.

               "It was Priss who pointed this fact out to me," mussed

          Sylia.  "I was explaining how I thought it was go'en to go and

          wham, "but if he captured one of us, that'd work because you'd

          chase after us, leading you right to him."  I hope it works."

               "You're betting Priss's life," said Mackie.

               A pained expression glanced across Sylia's face.  "This feed

          here is from a transmitter I put in all of our softsuits.  If

          Priss is alive and in her hardsuit, we'll get her signal.

          Largo's not even bothering to stop it, which I'm sure he could do

          at any time."  Sylia punched in a command and the screen split.

          The second image was from a satellite view.  "See, right there.

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-621

          He's flying her North, right out of the city and to his metal

          bosom.  I'm to follow.  "Know thy enemy or you'll never have a

          chance in hell.""

                    *                   *                   *

          Siberia, 19, October, 2034

               50 kms. to the north of Ostrov Henrietta, just into the

          expanse of the arctic ocean was where Sylia told Ming Le and Peg

          to go.  They'd flown over 90% of the way under cloud-cover.

               "What do ya think?"  Ming Le brought the fighter down and

          began to circle.  "We're here and there's nothing but water and

          ice."

               "They could be late.  We have approximately nine more

          minutes of fuel."

               "Not a problem."  Ming Le shifted in her suit.  "We'll just

          use our thrusters to get to the closest place in Novosibirskiye

          Ostrova if we have to."

               "If not swim that last little bit.  We should be able to

          handle the water temp', not that I'd want to."

               "Yea."

               "Hold it," said Peg.  "We're getting a signal."

               A full rich male bass boomed out over their speakers.

          ["Land."]

               "Where?"  Wondered Peg.

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-622

               "We'll ditch in the ocean.  Hold on."  Ming Le came around,

          straighten out, throttled back her engines, soared down, and

          hovered over the sea.  She set the fighter down and killed the

          engine.  They sat there for a few moments, rocking on the waves

          before Peg opened up the canopy.

               "It's nippy, only a dozen degrees below freezing out here."

          Peg smiled as a slight chill raced through her.  "Can you feel

          it?"

               "It's wonderful," whispered Ming Le with a touch of awe in

          her voice that carried to Peg.  "Cold.  I've never felt it to

          such an extreme before."  Peg took off her helmet, took in a deep

          breath, and exhaled.  She laughed at the trace of moisture in her

          breath.  Ming Le's helmet slide apart to reveal a big smile.  She

          began to scan for any signs of life.

               It was two minutes before the Russian sub surfaced 5 m away.

          As it came over to them, the top hatch opened up for the Captain

          and his second in command.

               ["Good evening,"] bellowed the Captain as they came abreast.

          ["I'm Captain Aleksy Rostrovich."]

               ["Permission to come aboard Captain,"] Ming Le shouted back.

               ["Granted.  My men will..."]  Ming Le flew up, did a tight

          flip, and landed beside the Captain.  ["...lower the gang

          plank."]  Peg closed up the cockpit after retrieving their bags

          and landed by Ming Le.  ["Your suits are most impressive."]

               ["Thank you,"] said Peg.  ["Some of the Tai-Pan's finest

          handiwork."]

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-623

               ["Of course,"] said Rostrovich.

               ["Quickly now,"] said his first officer.  ["That one over

          there.  Go, go."]  A group of sailors dropped a small inflatable

          boat into the water and started for an iceberg 100 m to the

          North.  Another group stared to unroll a piece of arctic

          camouflage.

               ["We're going to attach your plane to an iceberg, camouflage

          it, and attach a homing beacon."]  For an instant Rostrovich's

          face took on a sad and longing look.  ["I've been briefed and I'm

          prepared to cooperate to the fullest."]

               ["This might be the one chance to get him,"] said Ming Le as

          she put her hand on his shoulder.  ["We should get underway as

          soon as possible.  If the worst happens, it'll depend on people

          like you to rebuild."]

               Rostrovich nodded and wiped at a tear.  ["You must forgive

          me.  My wife and young son live in St. Petersburg."]  He shook

          himself to clear him mind for the job ahead.  ["I'm afraid our

          passages are too small for you to wear your magnificent suits.

          We'll go down to the forward top loading bay where you can get

          out of them and into something more appropriate."]  They headed

          down to the bow of the sub.

               Ming Le activated her comn' with Peg.  "We won't need those

          dildos after all.  Sylia didn't tell us we'd be meeting a sub.  A

          sub filled with alot of men that haven't seen their wives or

          girlfriends in awhile, if they have any at all.  This is going to

          be great."

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-624

               "After it's over, we'll have to console each and every one

          of them.  [Captain, would it be easier for us to get out of the

          suits up here?"]

               ["Yes, but the cold..."]

               ["We don't mind,"] said Peg.  Their suits unfolded to

          release them and folded back up.  They helped the crew members

          load them into the storage compartment before heading into the

          sub.  Peg winked at Ming Le as they both felt the stares descend

          on them in their skin-tight softsuits.

               ["I'll have my first show you to your quarters where you can

          change.  We held up our dinner hour because your arrival time was

          so close to it.  I will expect you immediately."]

               Ming Le and Peg looked at each other in confusion.

               ["Didn't...anyone tell you we don't normally eat,"] said

          Peg.

               ["What?"]  Rostrovich now looked confused.  ["Please explain

          why you would say something like that."]

               ["I see,"] said Ming Le.  ["That we need to have a private

          conversation.  You better send all hands to eat and get out some

          Vodka.  If you don't know much about boomers, you might need

          it."]

               ["Boomers?"]

                    *                   *                   *

          Mega-Tokyo, 20, October, 2034, 11:35 am

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-625

               "All sexaroids are within 90 seconds of the Dovenwolf,"

          reported Rumiko as she walked with Sylia towards the medical bay.

          "We've put our dead in cold storage as you've requested.  Our

          holds are 97% full of supplies and the CD ROMs are arriving as

          fast as the data can be downloaded from the Mega-Tokyo data net.

          It's taking longer than normal because of the virus filters.  If

          Largo does unleash a holocaust, all of that data will be

          preserved with us."  If we survive.

               Sylia nodded slowly and finished off another strong cup of

          coffee.  She'd only managed 90 minutes of sleep since Priss was

          captured, a sleep filled with visions of a sneering Largo.

          "Good, good.  I want the Knight Sabers in tight so we can leave

          with no more than two minutes notice."  They stopped before the

          closed door to the med bay.  "Please leave me."  Rumiko nodded

          and quickly left.  Sylia stretched and shook herself.  At least

          it's good to be out of my hardsuit, she thought as she entered.

               The room was dim, lit by the lights on the life support

          equipment and a slight amount of daylight from the grey overcast

          day outside.  Nene was sitting by Linna's side, along with Lebia.

               "Please leave us," Sylia said softly.  Lebia bowed and

          exited.  Nene had the only chair, so Sylia sat down on the edge

          of the bed.  When Nene turned to look at her, Sylia could tell

          that she had been crying.  Nene continued to hold Linna's hand.

               "You should get some sleep.  They've told me you've been

          here since just after the last fight."  Nene turned away.  "Nene?

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-626

          You have every right to be upset about what's happened but..."

               "That's not it.  I...I..."

               "Please, what is it?"

               "Before the meeting yesterday, Linna and I had a fight over

          something stupid.  I really hurt her feelings.  I tried to

          apologize, but she was too upset and wouldn't listen.  Now she

          may never wake up again," sobbed Nene.  She turned and embraced

          Sylia as she started to cry again.

               Sylia rocked with Nene in her arms for several minutes

          before Nene felt a little better and moved back to the chair.

          "If only I hadn't..."

               "Stop it," Sylia snapped.  "This isn't your fault.  Yes,

          yes, I know.  You keep wondering if you two hadn't of fought,

          this wouldn't of happened.  Nene, you have to stop thinking like

          that or you might never stop feeling guilty.  It happened and we

          all have to live with it."

               "I know, I just..."

               "Nene, please.  You're the last of my original Knight

          Sabers.  I need you desperately.  You can't sink back into

          despair now.  Think of Taki; he's waiting for you now."

               "Taki," whispered Nene.  "Men was what we fought about.  She

          was concerned that if Largo unleashed the satellites, she'd never

          have a man, they'd all go to the sexaroids."

               I hadn't thought of that, thought Sylia.  "Yea, you are

          lucky to have Taki, but you must go to him, and hold onto him, as

          if your life depends on it.  That's how it will be if my last

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-627

          desperate gamble doesn't work."  Sylia smiled and started to

          chuckle.  Nene joined her with a weak chuckle before she yawned.

               "I'm tired too."  Sylia got up and pulled her out of the

          chair.  "Come on."  As they left, Lebia nodded to them and

          reentered to continue the watch.

                    *                   *                   *

          Discovery One

               Now that the revolution had cleansed the organic filth from

          the pure brilliance of metal and space, there was no need for

          Largo to appoint a boomer to be in charge.  Through the eyes of

          all boomers he saw, he directed, and the boomers worshiped him.

               They repaired the damage to the moon bases because Largo

          demanded it for their greater glory.  They finished the last

          details to the Discovery One and tripled the amount of its

          computer storage capability.  Once that was done, the ship pulled

          from its birthplace in space, launched on its glorious mission.

          The boomer crew rejoiced and basked in the glory of their God,

          and their new purpose.  They would spread the word of Largo to

          Mars, even as it spread on Earth.

                    *                   *                   *

               Sylia looked at the flashing green dot that indicated

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-628

          Priss's position.  She was just North of Kushiro in North Japan.

          Her position had remained steady for the last 20 minutes.  Sylia

          knew the last movement was beginning.  The computer data

          confirmed it.  That spot was used by the US Army intelligence

          during the cold war.  It was abandoned and sealed in 2012 after

          the Russian situation finally stabilized.  As far as the computer

          reports indicated, no one had been caught trying to enter the

          underground installation and it should be totally deserted.

          Sylia immediately looked into the power consumption grid for the

          entire area.  The instillation was still consuming power but

          nobody noticed, due to a cypher code defusing the indication of

          power consumption onto other Government instillations.  Sylia

          sighed sadly as she broke the cypher with her own name.  Largo

          wanted her to know.

               "How do we get Priss out?"  Asked Rumiko as she looked over

          Sylia's shoulder at the vid' screen.  Rumiko tapped a button and

          the layout for the installation came up.  It took the power of

          the Tai-Pan's authorization to get the layout from the Pentagon.

          "It's going to be tough."

               "Yes.  Rumiko, please call everybody in.  We leave in 10

          minutes."

               Rumiko nodded and reached for the comn'.

               "Rumiko, I'd like to be alone."

               Rumiko bowed.  "As you wish Tai-Pan."  She quickly left.

               Sylia sat and stared at the vid' screen for a moment before

          taking out a CD ROM that had arrived an hour ago.  It was marked:

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-629

          FOR THE TAI-PAN.  Hmmm, Sylia thought as a wave of relief passed

          through her.  I thought it was something important.  These are

          just Quincy's private data files on people.  Sylia opened up her

          own file, but closed it as the picture of herself in her mother's

          arms came up.  I don't have the time, Sylia thought.  Sylia moved

          to close down the disk when a name at the bottom of the screen

          jogged a memory of searing pain and panic as she was sprawled out

          in front of a boomer.  Sylia activated the file on Dr. Katia

          Toshiro.  "My cousin?"  Sylia gasped in disbelief a moment later.

          "Quincy was her grandfather too."  That bastard, thought Sylia.

          He deliberately sent her to kill me knowing that we were related.

          The whole black panther incident was another test for me...and

          probably for her.  All part of Quincy's grooming scheme for the

          next heir to GENOM.  Katia was killed by a GENOM boomer.  "Shit,"

          Sylia swore softly as she shut the computer off.  My cousin.

          Quincy wasted her life and her potential.  We sure could use her

          brilliance with boomers, now.  Sylia sighed softly.  I fought and

          was almost killed by my own cousin.

               Sylia shook her head to clear her mind but the memory of the

          panther attack haunted her.  She picked up a data pad, glanced at

          what it contained, and deleted it.  "New file."  The pad started

          to record her words.  "At some time and place in the future I

          would like a monument built for the Knight Sabers.  I think

          something along the lines of the Vietnam memorial in DC would be

          appropriate.  The names of our dead engraved into stone, forever

          remembered among all those that died at this, the death and

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-630

          hopeful rebirth of the human and boomer..."  Sylia stopped

          recording and backed up to change a part.  "...the human and

          cyberdroid races."  Minutes passed as Sylia sat and remembered

          simpler things: A barbecue after a training session, a time in

          high school when she and a group of girls skipped class and went

          mall hoping.  It was one of the only times Sylia ever did that,

          and one of the few times she felt like she belonged with her own

          peer group.

               Sylia remembered when the four Knight Sabers first got

          together.  She took them all to dinner.  As they talked over the

          meal, Priss and Linna started to joke around with Nene, who

          responded with a teasing zinger towards Priss.  Sylia remembered

          that she laughed with them.  She felt the chemistry between them

          as an immediate affectionate bonding where loyalty and trust

          would be built quickly and forever.

               Sylia was startled as they lifted off.  She watched Mega-

          Tokyo receded beneath her and skim by as they headed North.

          Shall I list Katia among our honored dead?  Sylia asked herself.

          I never met her, but Nene knew her from AD Police and even went

          to her funeral.

               Sylia reactivated the data pad.  "There shall be two columns

          of names.  One for the honorary members of the Knight Sabers, the

          other for our sisters that have given their lives for us.

               On the honorary list of our comrades:

               SYLVIE.

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-631

               ANRI.

               IRENE CHANG.

               SILVER.

               JEENA MALSO.

               ADAMA,

               and my cousin, DR. KATIA TOSHIRO.

               On the role of names of our fallen sisters:

               JANET   STINGRAY, killed in battle in Mega-Tokyo, 19,

          October, 2034.

               EDEN    STINGRAY, killed in battle in Mega-Tokyo, 19,

          October, 2034.

               SETSUKO STINGRAY, killed in battle in Mega-Tokyo, 19,

          October, 2034.

               PRISS ASAGIRI, killed this day by Largo, the 20th of

          October, 2034."

               Oh Priss, thought Sylia as she began to sob.  I have to do

          it.  I have to try to kill him and you've lead me right to him.

          I know now what you felt when you shot Sylvie.  This eternal

          chill that freezes all hope and expectation for the future into

          ice.  The doubt if there is any meaning at all in this world of

          suffering.  I would give anything to be in your place and you

          here when the ICBM hits but I've been cursed to live.  Priss, I

          swear I shall make them remember you.  Your death shall have

          meaning in this insane world.

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-632

                    *                   *                   *

               Priss awoke to pain.  She fumbled on the concrete to sit up

          as waves of disorientation and nausea surged through her.  She

          managed to get her helmet off before the dry heaves wracked her

          frame.  Priss tasted blood and could only let it dribble out of

          her mouth as the spasms crawled to a halt.  She collapsed onto

          her side and gulped air which started her coughing.  The air was

          thin, polluted.

               After several minutes of lying where she was, she managed to

          sit up and take a look around at the unfamiliar surroundings.

          There was not much to see in the semi-darkness.  The light came

          from green florescent tubes set within the concrete walls.  The

          room was square, less than 2 by 2 by 2 meters.  Priss started to

          crawl to the reinforced steel door.  There was no knob on her

          side and she slowly realized, through the haze still in her mind,

          that the door was one which slid into place.  She hit the door

          weakly, but the way it resounded told her it was thick, solid,

          and unmovable.

               "Good afternoon, Priss."

               Priss glanced around but she couldn't see where the speakers

          were.

               "Been a long time, Largo.  Fucker."  Priss wiped at the

          blood on her chin.

               Largo chuckled.  "Fucker, me?  Really Priss, is that the

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-633

          best you can do?  You're speech to the army was much better.  It

          almost suggested some sort of education, but not quite.  You

          animals can be taught a few parlor tricks, but one becomes so

          bored after just a little bit."

               Priss scooted against the wall and collapsed against it.

          Yea, yea, talk to me, she thought.  When the talking stops the

          torture and death starts.  "One learns a few things on the

          streets."

               "I suppose.  I was wondering, do you know that my lover is

          headed straight to me now?  That you are being tracked by a

          rather primitive tracker too."

               "Sylia's tracking me to you?  Oh no."  God I hope that

          sounded real.

               "I don't believe you."

               Shit.  "Well, fucker, do you know why Sylia is coming here?"

               "Of course.  To rescue her little lost Knight Saber.  That,

          and to mate with me."

               Too late and wrong.  Yes.  "That's disgusting."

               "You think so?  Hmmm.  Maybe I should try mating with you

          first.  That way I can correct any problems in method.  I'm

          always ready for more data concerning you animals, and this would

          be a good opportunity to improve on how it's done.  I'm sure I

          can come up with a better way that will suit the boomer race.  We

          are a destined people and have to multiply."  From the concrete

          wall Priss was leaning against a pair of giant concrete hands

          emerged and clamped around her shoulders.  Two more hands took

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-634

          her feet and they stretched her out in mid-air.  

               "Shit.  Let go of me."  As Priss started to struggle more

          hands grabbed her.

               A can opener emerged from the floor and started to open up

          the inner thigh part of her hardsuit.

               Priss could feel the slow and steady ripping of her

          hardsuit.  Why's he doing it so slowly?  She wondered.  Priss

          stopped screaming and lay there, feeling the can opener work it's

          way down both her legs and around her groin.  Largo removed her

          leg pieces and she watched them sink into the cement.  She

          glanced around; there was no trace of her helmet.

               The arms vanished and Priss dropped to the floor.  To her

          the fall lasted twice as long as it should have.  She rolled over

          into a fetal position as she gingerly touched the back of her

          head.  Her fingers came away with blood.

               "What...the fuck?"  

               "I decided that it would be beneath me to mate with you.

          Sylia is the only one for me."

               Priss said nothing.

               "What?  No response?  I should say that I've solved the

          problem of mating with Sylia.  I'll just do what I did last time

          because there will be no Knight Sabers to interfere.  When we

          have merged our consciousnesses together, when we are one for all

          time, our destinies shall be fulfilled.  It's the only fitting

          way for boomers to mate."

               "Coming from you that's still disgusting."  But that's

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-635

          exactly what Crystal and all the other sexaroids did.  In his

          hands, something that was a beautiful experience turns ugly.

               Largo started to laugh and laser beams streaked from the

          walls.  They seared into Priss, cutting the remains of her

          hardsuit from her, leaving her with a series of second and third

          degree burns.  Priss lay gasping on the concrete, unable to even

          scream out her pain before the darkness took her.

               Priss awoke to bright lights searing into her face.  She

          rolled over and immediately sat up.  There's no pain, she thought

          as she looked over her body.  No burns, no busted heads, or

          internal injuries.  How is this possible.  She had been moved.

          The new room was twice as big, round, with polished steel that

          was bright and shinny, reflecting the overhead light until it was

          overpoweringly bright.  Priss squinted around and vaguely saw a

          figure on the other side of the room.  Anri approached her and

          Priss backed up a step.

               "You're not dead yet, if that's what your thinking," growled

          Anri.  Priss saw the pure hatred in her eyes.  "My Lord Largo has

          brought me back, so I may have another chance.  I was a fool to

          give my life for you.  But to stay in this world, I must kill

          you."

               Anri rushed her and Priss dodged the right, which dented the

          steel wall.  Priss scrambled back from her.  "Anri please, you

          hated Largo for what he did."

               "True, but to live again, I'd kill even Sylvie."  Priss was

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-636

          backing up in a circle.  "I won't go back to nonexistence.  I'll

          send you."  Anri rushed Priss and connected with a left to her

          jaw; it broke.  "How does the pain feel Priss?  Treasure it.

          Nonexistence is where you're going.  You don't exist.  There's no

          heaven, no hell, just nothing."  Anri laughed and pounced.  Priss

          tried to scramble away but Anri nailed her to the spine with a

          kick; it broke.  Priss lay gasping in agony as Anri picked up her

          head by her hair and pounded it into the floor.  She was gentle

          enough so Priss remained conscious; her face was smeared with

          blood.

               "Say good-bye bitch."  Priss felt Anri's hand come down on

          her neck, then nothing.

               Priss awoke screaming.  It resounded off the cement until

          the small space was consumed with the echoing horror.  The space

          was just long enough and high enough for her to huddle in a

          corner.  Her screams died into a whimper of terror as she hugged

          her naked body into the tightest ball she could.  All she could

          see was eternal darkness.

               Very, very, slowly Priss realized she wasn't dead.  A long

          time later she reached out to gingerly explore where she was.

          The cement felt like sharpened stone where ever she touched.  It

          hurt to move around but she was compelled to know where she was

          now.  Priss bumped her head on the ceiling and fell back against

          the wall.  The cement shredded into her skin as she slid against

          it.  She gasped and pulled away only to crack her head on the

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-637

          ceiling again.

               Priss rolled into the wall, rolled away, and managed to

          stretch out so she wasn't touching the walls.

               Priss could feel her life draining away in the darkness,

          through the dizziness and a raising nausea.  She felt her stomach

          churn and she started to vomit.  Again and again the spasms

          racked her body and her bladder control was lost.  The stench

          quickly filled her nostrils which made her even sicker.  She

          could hear her vomit splash on the cement as another round

          started.  She could feel the warm liquid run between her hands.

          This round emptied her out.

               It lasted far too long, Priss thought as she breathed

          quickly and shallowly through her mouth.  She was on her hands

          and knees, her back braced against the ceiling that was as

          abrasive as course sandpaper.  I couldn't of had that much in me.

          I couldn't of met Anri.  Largo keeps changing cells and making me

          puke.  This can't be happening.  I felt Anri break my back and

          now it's fine.  I couldn't feel anything below the break and I

          can move everything.  Priss smiled as she realized.  Instantly

          the vomit filled chamber was gone and Priss fell into a pool of

          fire.  She screamed as the flames sizzled over her naked body.

          Priss summoned the strength for a second of coherency and

          screamed out:  "VR...VR...VR...VIR..TUAL..REALITY..."      

               Unconsciousness embraced her.

               Priss's naked body hung two meters above the grey/blue metal

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-638

          floor that visibly shifted beneath her, pulsing with anticipation

          as her blood dripped.  Largo had speared her through the shoulder

          blades with the grey/blue boomer muscle that comprised much of

          his physical being.  The blood ran down her sides and her arms in

          streams before Largo sealed the wounds so she would live awhile

          longer.  A column rose up from the floor below and started to

          strike Priss across the face to bring her around.

               Slowly Priss focused her red eyes on the floor two meters

          below herself.  She couldn't feel her arms at all, but did see

          the blood, urine, and vomit that coated her.

               "What a disgusting little animal.  All covered with her owe

          body's fluids without enough sense to clean herself up."

               Priss slowly looked around at the featureless grey/blue

          square she was in.  This must be reality, she thought.  Why play

          the VR game if I've finally seen through it?  "This reality?  Or

          are you just being stupid?"  Largo laughed and shot an electric

          current through her which forced another cry of pain from her.

               "You're an amusing little toy."

               "Yes," Priss sneered.  "The child does have to have its

          toys, now doesn't it."  Priss could feel the very atmosphere of

          the room change.  "You're a spoiled little brat child, that can't

          feel anything, except for hatred.  All you have is your meanness

          and if you didn't have that, you wouldn't exist at all."

               "Silence," thundered Largo.  He sent a stronger current

          through Priss which made her bite her tongue.

               Priss spat out the blood, which dropped down onto the floor

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-639

          and was instantly absorbed.  She smiled.  "The truth bothers you,

          huh?"

               "What does this little monkey pretend to know about truth?

          It knows nothing.  But I will tell you what truth is.  Truth is

          God's word, I am God, so I am Truth."

               "Lies," spat Priss.  "You don't know the truth."

               Largo laughed as he sent a one second shot of voltage

          through her.  "Ok, I'll play along.  What truth do I not know?"

               "For one, Sylia...you can't mate with her now.  It's

          impossible."

               "Oh, how so?"

               "She's pregnant already."

               "What," thundered the very space around Priss.  "That's a

          desperate little lie.  It's not true."

               "It is; it is."  Priss started to scream, a low guttural

          sound of anguish as Largo slowly fired her.

               "You lie.  It's very simple to see that."

               After five minutes of silence, Priss slowly smiled and began

          to laugh, which ended in a weak cough.  "Fool, idiot.  You think

          you're a god.  You're nothing but the sum of all the slime of

          humanity."

               "I can kill you in microsecond."

               "I now realize why you desire Sylia so.  She's pure,

          uncontaminated by your filth.  She won't kneel before you and be

          absorbed."

               "Shut up."

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-640

               "You can't contaminate her and bring her down to your

          level."

               "Shut up."  Electricity sizzled into Priss as part of

          Largo's body reached up and began to strike her.

               "...you..ca.n...never...defeat..the..."

               A shaft of grey/blue steel plunged through Priss's chest.

               "..kn.ight...sa.ber...s................................"

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October 2009

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