Bubblegum Crusade (Ch. 24 of 24)

[fanfic_mausoleum_n_grill]

WELCOME TO BUBBLEGUM CRUSADE!

Standard copyright disclaimer.  Well, here we are at the end.  By now, you
should be able to see why Mr. Suzuki wasn't inclined to give me copyright
permission to publish.  I hope you enjoyed it.  I certainly did.

Chapter Twenty Four

               SAIGO NI...  (AT THE LAST...)

          Your small voice comes back
          To life in my ears tonight.
          Now, even the legends you left behind
          In a distant night
          Will sleep tonight, rocked by the wind.

          With tranquil heart, I strain to hear...
          ...And tomorrow's footfalls echo in my breast.

          The words you tried to speak at the last,
          Words that would have followed our good-bye,
          "Don't give up on your dreams"
          Were smeared on your whispers to me.

          Like flower petals, the rain keeps falling,
          Making things hazy tonight.
          Now, because people are alone,
          They love and trust one another,
          And come to know farewells
          By moonlight at night.

          Someday the scenery will change color,
          And knock softly on the window of the heart.

          The song you were singing at the last,
          Which you were singing over and over again,
          The song we both liked,
          Is one I will carry with me always.

          The song you were singing at the last,
          Which you were singing over and over again,
          The song we both liked,
          Is one I will carry with me always.

               Priss and the Replicants -- The bootleg tapes.

          Somewhere along the side of the path....

               A feeling tugged at the back of Priss's mind as she gunned

          the trigger throttle and the bike leapt ahead.  The feeling was

          swept under by joy as she weaved around the slower moving

          traffic.  Priss laughed and her helmet slid apart so she could

          look out the clear undershield.  The Mega-Tokyo skyline was a

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-658

          blur as she pushed the max' out of her bike.  I can't remember

          ever having my hardsuit fit so well before, she thought.  It's

          like I don't even have it on.

               Out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of

          something.  She slowed and turned around.  Priss gasped when she

          came back and found a whole building was engulfed in green/black

          flames.  She stared in horror as a group of teenagers walked

          right into the flames.  Priss leapt from her bike and ran up to

          an old woman as she was about to walk into the burning building.

          Priss tried to grab her, but she passed right through her.

               "What's going on?"  Priss screamed as a deep rage filled

          her; she tried to grab at the passing people before kicking and

          punching at them in frustration.  She flew right through them and

          landed on the cement, sparks flying from the edges of her

          hardsuit.  The inferno raged all around Priss as she got up and

          paused to catch her breath.  She leaned over, panting for air.

          Her chest hurt her.  Priss put her hand to her chest and stifled

          a scream when it came away all bloody.  Priss knew it was blood,

          even though it was black; everything around her had lost it's

          color except for the encirclement of flames.  She noticed that

          her hardsuit was in ruins.  It was shredded.  Priss glanced

          warily around at the flames; she remembered.

               "...you..ca.n...never...defeat..the..."

               A shaft of grey/blue steel plunged through Priss's chest.

               "..kn.ight...sa.ber...s................................"

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-659

               Priss collapsed onto the cold cement and sobbed as Largo's

          laughter haunted her mind.  After a time, Priss quieted and

          looked about her; she was in her softsuit.  The Mega-Tokyo street

          was deserted; there was no sound except for the wind moaning

          through the empty street.  The buildings closest to her took on

          an opaque, illusionary feel.  The city beyond where she sat was

          swallowed in a dark grey fog, which was quickly coming closer.

               "I'm dead," Priss whispered.

               There was the sound of someone dropping down onto the cement

          behind Priss.  She whirled and got up.  Through the fog someone

          approached her.  Priss couldn't make out anything about the

          person until she was a meter from her.  A pair of sparkling

          golden eyes, a big smile; Sylvie drew her into a hug.

               "Sylvie," managed Priss before she was overwhelmed with

          sadness and joy.

               Sylvie held Priss in her arms until she regained some

          composure.  Sylvie smiled again and kissed her.  Priss responded.

          Their kiss turned passionate, frenzied.

               "Wow," Sylvie whispered when she broke their embrace.  Priss

          panted for air.  "I didn't know you liked me that much."

               "Sylvie, Sylvie, Sylvie."  Priss drew her back into a

          frantic kiss.  As they kissed the illusion of Mega-Tokyo was

          swallowed by darkness.  The Man appeared a meter from them in a

          firestorm of green/black fire, spilling off him in waves as he

          watched.

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-660

               "I never thought I'd see you again," murmured Sylvie as she

          caressed her hands down Priss's back.  "Must be his doing."

               They turned to face him.

               "You," shouted Priss.  "This is your doing?"

               "YES."

               "Are you going to return us to Mega-Tokyo?"

               "NO."

               "What?"

               He made a coaxing gesture to Sylvie.

               Sylvie sighed.  "He explained it to me this way: death is

          just a door in the hallway of life.  A door very few open, turn

          around, and come back through.  I passed through this door, just

          as you did, but he created this pocket, off to the side of the

          path, that caught all that I am, all that you are.  He gave me a

          chance to say good-bye to Anri before she proceeded on the path.

          Priss, the door is closed for both of us."

               Priss's arm was down around Sylvie back.  "So this is just a

          dream?"

               "An illusion," whispered Sylvie.

               "I thought you were the God of the Jihad.  You can't bring

          us back, but you can do this."  Priss glanced around and noticed

          that they were standing in darkness, with only his green/black

          flames for light.

               "MY MASTER FORBIDS."

               "I give thanks to you mighty one, for this opportunity to

          see Priss again."  Sylvie bowed low before him.  "Priss, I hope

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-661

          you don't blame yourself for my death.  I would forgive you, but

          there's nothing to forgive.  You did what you had to do.  I'm at

          peace."

               "Sylvie," said Priss hesitantly.  "I didn't have enough time

          to tell you...because I was afraid.  You showed me that I could

          love.  I love you, Sylvie."

               Sylvie began to beam with joy as she smiled slowly.  "Priss,

          Priss, no one has ever said that to me, not even Anri.  You've

          made my life complete.  Thank you.  Thank you."  Tears started to

          run down her cheeks as she buried her face at Priss's neck.

               The Man waited patiently until they turned back to face him.

               "Can you give us some time?"  Asked Priss.  "Even if it is

          just an illusion."

               "TIME.  TIME ENOUGH TO LIE NESTLED IN A BED, TO SAVOR EACH

          OTHER'S TOUCH.  TIME ENOUGH TO MAKE PASSIONATE LOVE TOGETHER

          BEFORE THE DARKNESS FALLS AND YOU MUST CONTINUE ON THE PATH.

          TIME GROWS SHORT, EVEN FOR ONE SUCH AS I.  MY MASTER CALLS,

          DEMANDING I TURN MY ATTENTION ELSEWHERE.  WE ARE ALL OUT OF

          TIME."

               Priss and Sylvie shifted closer together so more of their

          bodies were touching, reassuring each other with their physical

          presence.

               "I see," Sylvie said quietly.

               They saw the Man smile.  "MY MASTER HAS GRANTED ME A BOON."

          He held out his hands to them.  "COME TO ME.  COME INTO MY LIGHT

          AND MY LIFE.  I CAN MAKE YOU BOTH GODDESSES.  JOIN ME BEFORE MY

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-662

          MASTER TO LIVE AND LOVE.  WE SHALL FORM A TRINITY UNPARALLELED.

          JOIN ME ST. SYLVIE OF THE KNIFE, PATRON GODDESS OF ALL TRAGIC

          HEROS.  JOIN ME PRISS, PATRON GODDESS OF WOMEN THAT DIE IN COMBAT

          FOR AN HONORABLE CAUSE.  JOIN ME.  JOIN ME."

               Priss started to reach out for his hand.  Sylvie put her

          hand out to gently stop her.  "Priss, don't."

               "Sylvie, why?  He offers us life."

               "Does he?  I was a slave for my whole life.  I've always

          been commanded by my masters, to do this, to sleep with that

          person.  I will not kneel before another one, not even for

          eternal life.  I struggled for sentience.  I struggled to be

          recognized as such.  I struggled for freedom.  I am not a saint.

          You offer me something that I'm not.  I don't want to be a

          goddess.  I don't want to be made into such by you.  I would be

          indebted to you forever.  Always at your feet, more of a

          plaything than anything else.  If you give me power, then you

          could just as easily take it away.  The idea of the three of us

          making love drives me wild with desire, but that is now.  What of

          tomorrow?  You offer us an eternity by your side, apart,

          separated, alone, cut off from the rest of humanity by what we

          would be.  I hear the pleading in your voice.  The desire for

          company in your eternal solitude.  I feel sorry for you.  I want

          my own path and not to be forced onto someone else's with a

          choice like this.  I'm just a sexaroid.  My one dream was for

          freedom.  I achieved most of it and then I died.  Your offer

          chains me to you, you who will never continue along the path you

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-663

          yourself described to me when you first shunted my being aside

          from the path and brought me here.  For that I give you thanks,

          mighty one.  But I must refuse your offer.  I will not aspire to

          what I'm not.  Please, please allow us to go, to grow as we

          continue on the path.  I don't want to be stuck just being who I

          am now, enhanced only by your power, a boon by your master.  That

          would be an act that would go against everything I believe in.  I

          have killed people, innocents and non, for my freedom.  Must I

          now kill myself for my freedom?  I...I'm sorry Priss."

               There was silence for a time.

               "IS THAT YOUR DECISION TOO, PRISS?"

               Priss hesitated a moment.  "I...um...well...Yes."

               "SO BE IT.  TAKE COMFORT FROM THE FACT THAT I WILL ALWAYS

          REMEMBER YOU TWO AND YOUR STRUGGLES IN MEGA-TOKYO.  FAIR THEE

          WELL.  WE WILL NOT MEET AGAIN."

               His power flared and the green/black flames enveloped them

          in their soft and caressing warmth.  Sylvie turned to Priss.  She

          had tears in her eyes, mirrored by the tears running down Priss's

          face.  Their nude bodies came together and they held each other

          fiercely.

               "YOU WILL BE TOGETHER," whispered the Man.  The green/black

          flames soared and they were enraptured by love as they kissed.

               The Man sighed softly as the flames died out around him.  He

          knelt in the darkness, the trapping of his power faded away.  "I

          SEE ONLY DARKNESS."  His being was brushed by his Master.  "YES

          MASTER.  AS YOU COMMAND GOD."

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-664

               He slowly faded away into the darkness.

                    *                   *                   *

          Tokuno Shima, 21, August, 2035

               "Tai-Pan," said Rumiko over the comn' channel.  "We've

          loaded the next shipment of supplies for Crystal.  We'll be

          leaving the compound before nightfall."

               Sylia nodded as one of her daughters breast-fed.  Linna

          cradled Sylia's other baby daughter at the far end of the room in

          a shaft of mid-afternoon sunlight.  "How is Leon doing with the

          new recruits?"

               Rumiko smiled.  "He says we've found some exceptional women

          this time."

               "I thought so.  The report I got says they lost their homes,

          families, friends, everything and these eight were grouped

          together, caring for any and all children they came upon when we

          found them.  I trust the children are adjusting to their new

          family here?"

               "Joan and her staff herded all our children down to help us

          load the transport.  It was great.  They livened up the hard

          work.  They left a little while ago; most were tired."

               "Excellent," said Sylia as she shifted slightly.  Linna

          started towards her with a hungry babe.  "They must be enjoying

          naps by now.  It's a good day for it."

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-665

               The sexaroid simply nodded.

               "Well, best speed to you Rumiko."

               "Thank you, Tai-Pan."

               "Joan wass an exccellent choicce," said Linna as they

          exchanged babes and she began to burp her as her sister startled

          to suckle.  "Body, mind, sspirit, everything in perfect harmony

          through consstant work."  Linna shifted the baby so she could

          cradle her.  "Ssylia, her eyess are jusst gorgeouss."

               "They've lighten up considerable since her birth."

               "This intensse sshade of gold, I can't remember sseeing

          anyone with that coloring before, not even on the ssexiroidss."

               Sylia smiled.  "This one is just the opposite.  When she

          came out the first thing Crystal said was that her eyes are

          exactly the shade Priss's were and they haven't changed abit.

          Red and gold.  They must get it from *****, identical twins with

          different eye coloring."  Sylia shook her head in amazement.

          "All I can do is wonder what else they'll get from him."

               "I'm ssure it'll be ssomething sspeccial."

               "Yes," said Sylia as her daughter finished and she began to

          burp her softly.

               "Do you know when Crysstal will be able to come back?"

               "Her tour through Asia will continue until the anniversary.

          Nene will cut her part short next week since she'll be four

          months along."  With each passing day, thought Sylia.  My

          influence around the world become greater.  As I send my Knight

          Sabers out around the world, they quickly become the center of

          HOUGH/CRUSADE-666

          local power.  With firm but kind hands, they help all to

          understand and to build anew.  I've lost 14 Knight Sabers now to

          the barbarity of the human race.  14 to many.  *****, God of the

          Jihad, father of my children, I thought I would know only sorrow

          in those dark months after the holocaust, but you've given me joy

          in my life.  Thank you my love, thank you.

               "It'll be good to ssee her and Taki again."

               "Linna, if you feel up to it, I would like you to join

          Crystal then."

               Linna's face lit up with happiness.  "Really?  Oh Sylia,

          thank you, thank you so much.  I'll have to contact Reika and

          tell her."  Linna got up and put the baby down on the blanket

          spread out on the floor.  Sylia set her babe down by her twin and

          Linna hugged the Tai-Pan.  They stood there and watched as one

          baby became fascinated by a teddy bear, the other by a dragon.

                    *                   *                   *

               He laughed at the dark.

               "Sylia, my love.  How many times have I told you that I

          cannot be killed.  I'm immortal.  My dear sweet sister, when will

          you understand that?"

               Largo continued to laugh until dawn arose in the pale

          Martian sky.