Bubblegum Crash : Knights' End

A Knight Sabers' fanfic in nine parts
by Mark Latus

Note- Dialogue enclosed in <"  "> is in English.  All other dialogue should 
      be assumed to be in Japanese.


Part 2: Homecoming

11 am Saturday October 27th 2035 - MegaTokyo International Airport.

     "Where the heck is Priss?  They'll be here any minute."  Nene kept 
scanning the crowd but there was no sign of everyone's favourite thrash
artist.
     Linna shrugged, "Busted for speeding again?  Or maybe she's setting up
a gig.  She's been between jobs lately."  All she could see through the
frosted glass of the arrival lounge was blobs of colour.  She wouldn't spot
Sylia or Mackie until they emerged past Customs. 
     "Like you?"
     Linna turned to glare at Nene.  "The brokerage downsized after the 
markets went crazy.  It doesn't reflect on my performance at all."  Why
the hell did I push Zone Corporation stock?, Linna wondered.  Because you
figured when the ADAMA AI was announced they'd skyrocket, she answered
herself.  Except her inside knowledge didn't help when boomer related stocks
plunged after Largo's rebellion.  GENOM bought out what was left of them 
and dropped ADAMA into indefinite "safety testing".  There were rumours the 
Diet would ban the second generation AI's in the interests of "public safety."
     In addition to costing clients a fortune she'd lost a good chunk of her 
own funds.  She was looking for another firm but the pickings looked mighty
slim.  Even for MegaTokyo's number one financial advisor.  At this rate,
Linna reflected, I'll be teaching aerobics again by Christmas.
     It was the first time that morning she'd really looked at Nene.  While
Nene was wearing her standard Dispatchers uniform (having an afternoon shift)
it looked like she'd spent hours on her hair and makeup.  There was a 
definite aroma of perfume.  "Why are you so dolled up?  And what's that 
scent?"  Nene mumbled something.  "What was that?"  Nene mumbled a bit louder.
Linna leaned over and cupped a hand over one ear, "I can't hear you."
     "IT'S CALLED 'NIGHT OF PASSION', OK!"  Nene realized everyone in earshot
was looking her way and blushed a brilliant scarlet.  
     Before she could collect herself Linna said, "I really hope you aren't
wearing that for Sylia."
     "WHAT!  Don't be sick it's just that I haven't seen Mackie in a while
and ... "  Nene trailed off, still looking flushed.  Dammit she'd wanted to
keep that to herself."
     Linna nodded knowingly.  When Sylia had phoned to say she was heading 
back she'd mentioned Mackie was accompanying her.  It seemed Phoenix was
trying to sell USSD on some sort of hardware.  Mackie had decided to take
over the contract negotiations himself and make this a business trip.  When
you own the company you can get away with a lot.
     The lounge doors opened and a small crowd entered.  At the head of it 
was Sylia and a smart looking young executive.  After a moment Linna realized 
the exec. in question was Mackie.  Very nice suit, must have cost him quite a 
bit, styled hair, probably a manicure.  Very hard to equate him to the grease
stained teenager in Raven's garage.  Linna could almost hear Nene's pulse rate
jump.
     Behind them came two women conversing in English.  The younger was 
garishly dressed with a mop of neon pink hair, Linna estimated her at about
18.  The other was in her mid twenties, she wore a conservative black suit
but had short cut purple hair with yellow streaks running through it.  She
carried a briefcase and was sticking close to Mackie.
     As Linna waved Sylia over Nene headed for Mackie.  The young fashion 
victim broke off her conversation and grabbed Mackie's left arm possessively.  
Nene slowed down and stopped just in front of Mackie.
     Sonya was gripping his arm a lot tighter than Mackie felt necessary.
     <"Mackie, who is she?">  Sonya's voice made it clear she wanted an 
answer ASAP.
     <"This is Nene Romanova she's ... an old friend ...">  The pressure on 
his arm increased.  <"... of my sister's.>  The grip relaxed slightly.  There
was an unpleasant look in Nene's eyes.  That's right, Mackie remembered, Nene
speaks English.  Well Stingray, he thought, yet another dazzling display of
your superhuman advanced intellect.
     Nene and Sonya studied each other.  Maybe the airconditioners were
malfunctioning because it definitely felt colder in here.  Mackie decided to
try defusing the situation.  <"Nene this is Sonya Geary.  Afraid she doesn't
speak much Japanese.  Anyway her father's an old family friend and they both
work for Phoenix.  She's one of our top researchers. Sonya, Nene's with
ADPolice.  She's one of the people who keeps the city safe.">
     <"Nice to meet you.">
     <"Likewise.">
     Well that felt really sincere, Mackie thought.  Before he could say 
anything more Nene said, "Well nice seeing you again Mackie, you too Sylia
but I've got to rush.  I've got an hour booked on the shooting range before
my shift starts.  Never can tell when you'll have to drop a Boomer."
     "...?"
     "Gotta go."  Nene stalked off, she looked ready to take on Boomers 
barehanded.
     Sylia looked at her dumbfounded brother.  "Quite the personality change,
don't you think."
     Mackie stopped staring after Nene and asked, "Was that actually Nene or
did Priss dye her hair?"
     "I heard that."  Priss stalked over, "Thought we'd got rid of you."
     "I missed my favourite photo models.  Anyway this is Sonya Geary and my
friend and bodyguard Ilsa Guenther.  Afraid neither of them speaks Japanese."
     "Yo."
     Mackie turned back to Sonya and Ilsa, <"Well this is the infamous Priss
Asagari and that's Linna Yamazaki by Sis.  Guess I'll be translating for
you two.">
    <"No need.">  Sonya had pulled a slim electronic device from her handbag.
<"This is the latest in handheld real-time translators.  It even has voice 
generation capability to answer for me.">
    Linna studied the device, "Hey I recognise that.  It's one of those
vocatech gizmos.  You know I lost a bundle when their stock plunged."  Her
eyes glinted menacingly.
    Oblivious to this Sonya tried one of the few phrases she'd memorized, 
"Hello, it's nice to meet you."  She set the translator to receive.  Linna
rattled off something in rapid Japanese.  Sonya studied the readout screen.
According to it Linna had just said, <"My hovercraft is full of eels.">
Lousy piece of electronic junk.  State of the art my ass! 
     Mackie looked at Linna with a certain puzzlement.  "Hovercraft?  Is this
some sort of trendy greeting?"  Then he heard Sonya swear and slam the 
unsuspecting translator against a support pillar.  "Ah!"  He slipped the
device out of Sonya's hands, <"Here let me see if I can fix it.">  Good she
hadn't broken the casing.  He made a show of flipping open the access panel
and fiddling.  As he did he commented to Linna, "Well I'm sure you two are
going to get along fine."  Linna did an excellent impression of looking 
innocent.  "Testing, one two three." <"OK it should be working now.">  He 
made a mental note to find some way to make sure Sonya didn't accept Linna's 
services as a translator.
     After a few minutes of greetings and small talk (Ilsa having produced her
own translator, which she mentioned was a present from Sonya) Priss noticed
two USSD types heading their way.  A captain and a corporal, both from the
protocal branch.
     "Look's like our ride's arrived", Mackie muttered.  He accepted their
greetings and apologies for their tardiness.  Apparently traffic was heavier
than usual.  Priss snorted and said (loud enough to be overheard) that she 
hadn't had any trouble despite starting out at the last minute.  Linna 
commented that the corporal probably didn't drive like he had a death wish.
Before things could degenerate Mackie made his goodbyes and headed off, 
accompanied by Sonya and Ilsa, with the USSD representatives.  Sonya and
Ilsa were both lagging behind, especially Sonya.  Unlike Mackie and Sylia 
they had to deal with jetlag.
     Linna waved after them then commented to Sylia, "Well looks kind of
like Nene's out of luck."
     Sylia nodded.  "Sonya and Mackie are really solid right now.  If it's
long term or not I really don't know."
     "Not like you to sound uncertain about anything."
     Sylia smiled, "I'm only human."
     True enough but you never used to admit that, Linna thought.  Sylia had
definitely been mellowing out lately.  Especially since the final encounter 
with Largo.  
     "Well it's been stone cold dead around here since you left", Priss looked
unhappy about that.  Sylia had left Priss in charge of the Knight Sabers
during her absence.  However there had been nothing to handle in the past
month.  "Looks like the creep's keeping his word."  Priss hated saying that.
She'd never been comfortable with Dumas knowing who the Knight Sabers were.
However it was a situation they were stuck with.
     Sylia nodded, she'd expected that.  Which was why she'd made Priss
interim leader.  Linna would have been a better choice but Priss wouldn't
have followed her.  It's difficult to take orders from a friend which was 
why Sylia had always retained a certain distance from the others.  Despite 
becoming an asset in combat Nene remained more of a follower than a leader.
Linna had the best tactical sense but understood Priss wouldn't be her
number two.
     Still, Sylia reflected, she was destroying the distance between them
these days.  Perhaps deep inside she felt that the Sabers were becoming
obsolete.  GENOM still needed to be kept under control but it couldn't be
done as overtly as it had been.  She'd been talking to Mackie about boosting
Phoenix's stature.  If they gained sufficient economic muscle then they could
confront GENOM on a new battlefield.  Which was why Mackie was trying to 
sell an earlier version of his stealth system to the USSD.
     Linna broke in on her thoughts.  "Speaking of Dumas I met him for
lunch a week ago.  He made me a job offer."
     "Doing what?"
     "Same thing I've been doing but at four times the salary."
     "And in return?"
     "Basically I guarantee not to work against GENOM interests."
     "Co-opting the Knight Sabers.  Nice move."  Surprised he didn't try it
sooner.  "So" Sylia asked, "Did you accept?"
     "Sylia how can you even ask that?"  Sylia smiled at her and, despite her
feinted outrage, Linna grinned.  "OK I admit I thought about it.  And I did
start making plans for how I'd spend the money."  Linna jerked a thumb at
Priss, "But then I realized Ms. "GENOM sucks"  would blow my head off next 
time we suited up."
     "Damn right.  The creep tried to buy me out with a contract at Onslaught
music.  Total creative control, a guaranteed 1,000,000 disc first pressing,
a bigger PR budget than Vision ..."
     "And?"
     "I told him where to stuff it.  When my music hits big it's gonna be
because I'm great.  Not because all the corporate clones get orders from the
boss to buy it."  She snorted, "He said he'd take that as a definite maybe."
     "So what happened?"
     "I'd have punched him but he had two Boomer bodyguards with him.  I
settled for walking out and spray painting "Fuck you" on his limo."  Priss
decided not to mention that the paint had slid off the car's antigraffiti
coating.
     Not that long ago she'd probably have fired a few shots through the
windshield, Sylia mused.  Relatively speaking Priss was definitely mellowing.
"Well I'm feeling hungry so I'll spring for lunch.  Then I should stop by my     
office and see how "Silky Doll" has been running during my absence."  There
shouldn't be any problem, she'd picked good subordinates.  Besides her 
monitoring programs would have phoned her if there was any real problem. 
Perhaps she should offer Linna the job of managing the chain and head back to
Berlin as a full time researcher.  She'd forgotten how much she enjoyed it.
     Maybe the old days were truly gone.  With Staeler dead Berlin had been
quiet.  At least with regards to GENOM sponsored terrorism.  Mackie had
launched out with the Knight Shadows once.  The culprit, a genuine berserking
Boomer, had been put down by the TCU three minutes before the Shadows
would have arrived.  She should meet up with Daniel, try to gauge his mood.
If she deemed it safe she could consider leaving Priss running the Knight
Sabers.  Assuming she was reasonably sure Priss wouldn't launch a kamikaze
assault on the tower.
     "What are you smiling about?"
     "Just thinking."
     Yes, it would be nice to see Daniel again.

     3 pm GENOM Tower - Office of Chairman Quincy

     Standing in front of his desk Madigan watched the Chairman peruse 
Dumas's latest updates on the operation.  It had no name, or rather it had
several for its different components.  Earlier in the planning Daniel had
squashed all attempts to refer to the operation as Knightfall or any similar
variation.  He seemed convinced that the Knight Sabers had taps in GENOM's
databanks and was taking elaborate precautions to evade premature disclosure.
He was committing as little as possible to the mainframe.  Portable encoded
data packs were being physically delivered to affected sections.  They were
deliberately designed to not interface with the GENOM network.  Daniel didn't
want anyone getting lazy and compromising security.  Which was how Madigan
found herself reduced to a gofer.  Only somebody with a top level security 
clearance could be trusted to deliver updates to Chairman Quincy.  It wasn't
an assignment she relished but she seemed to be stuck with it.
     "Of course", she thought, "Daniel didn't trust me enough to give me the
decryption key.  Which means I can't copy this stuff to use against him later."
Dumas was, she reflected, nobody's fool but his own.
     Quincy chuckled and she snapped back to full awareness.  "Has he 
mentioned projected civilian casualties to you?"  Quincy was watching for her
reaction.
     "No sir.  He's been discussing his operation as little as possible.
Mainly he just sends coded instructions and tells department heads to follow
them."
     "' ... will try to maintain at under one thousand.'  Heh, it's always the
quiet ones you have to watch."
     Kate nodded in agreement.  Inside she felt something very col creeping 
down her spine.  A thousand civilians?  She could hardly claim to have clean
hands.  She'd authorized Boomer tests that had killed innocent bystanders.
Innocent as anyone gets in this city anyway.  But the highest death toll had
been around thirty.  Daniel was going to kill hundreds to take out four
women!  
     And all that did for Quincy was amuse him.  Jesus!
     She kept thinking about that after Quincy dismissed her.  She'd managed
to convince herself Daniel was, at the core, a weakling.  That his "good
business practice" reasons for eliminating GENOM's overt violence was just
a cover for his own squeamishness.  But this ... she'd known he was ruthless
when he had to be but ...  The thought of seeing him tonight chilled her.
Which was why she was so relieved to find a message from Daniel in her office.
He'd be meeting an old friend so he couldn't see her this evening.
     Good.  Several final pieces should be completed tonight.  She could 
delay reporting back to him until those were completed.  Which should be at
least tomorrow morning.
     In his office Quincy leaned back and relaxed.  Dumas was shaping up
nicely and remained firmly under his thumb.  By November the Knight Sabers
would be an unpleasant memory and the city would be indisputably his 
property.  Why had he ever been impressed by Mason?  Dumas had outperformed
his predecessor in every way.  In fact just after he'd arrived Dumas had
set things in motion to ensure Quincy never lost his grip on GENOM.  Thanks
to Osiris he'd be around forever.
     "The Eternal Chairman!"  It sounded good spoken out loud.  Even if there
was no one around to hear it.  Ah yes he remembered the test as if it was
yesterday.  In fact it had been over two months ago.
     
     August 19th 2035 - GENOM Tower, MegaTokyo 
     
     Quincy had opened his eyes, his vision seemed clearer than ever.  He
could make out every detail of the ceiling.  White, sterile, this seemed to
be a medlab.  He sat up, his body responded with none of the minor aches
he had felt for years.  He hadn't felt this good in years, in fact he had
never felt this good, even in his prime.
     "Welcome back Mr Chairman."  Dumas stood a few feet from the bedside.
Around him researchers bustled around and muttered technobabble to each 
other.  This wasn't a bed.  The slab was covered with hookups designed to 
connect to the person upon it.  They had all swung away from him.  
     He'd seen this place before.  He called up the memory instantly.  Yes,
this was the main medtech lab where they housed ...   Where they housed
Osiris!  Which meant ...
     "What happened to me?"
     "Massive heart attack.  It was nearly instantaneous so you didn't 
suffer."
     "I see."  Quincy reached into his mind.  He had no doubts as to who he
was.  Everything he'd done, everything he'd felt was there.  He was Quincy.
And he was so much more.  Just by thinking about it he could scan his new
internal systems.  His superhuman capabilities flickered through his mind.
And flagged something very wrong.
     "Why are so many of my systems locked down?"  As he demanded this of
Dumas the answer flickered through his consciousness.  "Never mind.  I
remember your saying those shouldn't be unlocked until the techs are sure
it's really me in here.  We don't want a misprogrammed superboomer running 
loose."  He glared at his assistant.  "Well what are you waiting for?  Get
on with it!"
     Dumas departed and a small army of psychologists, neurospecialists and
biomechanists descended.  The next few hours were monotonous though not
uncomfortable.  Quincy felt neither pain nor hunger.  This body was a far
cry from the weakening flesh he'd worn.  He should have transferred over
sooner.
     That thought reminded him that he hadn't actually moved his mind into
this body.  Quincy had recorded his memories and they'd been programmed into
a superboomer.  The recordings were about two weeks out of date.  He really
should have updated them more regularly.  
     No matter.  He'd never believed in a soul.  A man was the sum total of
his memories.  Nothing more.  While those existed the man existed.  What was
the difference if those memories were stored in a human brain or a Boomer's
cybermind?
     The difference was that he was now so much more than human.  No wonder
as Largo the late Brian Mason had been so intoxicated by his own power.  At 
last he was truly invincible.
     The last of the techs departed.  Except for the Boomer attendants the 
lab was empty.  "Where is everyone?"
     "Up here sir."  Dumas's voice came from above him.  Quincy zoomed in
on the observation lounge that looked down on the lab.
     "Get someone down here to unlock my full capabilities.  And hurry up I
have a company to run."
     "There's a problem sir."
     "This better be good.  I'm sick of those damn tests.  Always remember
you aren't irreplaceable!"
     Dumas looked down at him undaunted.  "Yes sir.  Well you'll be happy to
know all the tests confirm Osiris worked perfectly.  You are Chairman Quincy.
Or rather Chairman Quincy as he was two weeks ago."
     "I already knew that."
     "There is something you don't know."
     "Which is?"  What was Dumas playing at?
     Flanked by Madigan another figure joined Dumas at the window.  Quincy 
looked up at himself.  "What ... what kind of game are you playing Dumas?"
     Quincy smiled down at his other self.  "This is my game, not Daniel's.
Before I committed to using Osiris to restoring me in the event of my death
I wanted some reassurance.  I wanted to be sure that what Osiris would create
would be me.  I'm the only one who could run this company and I don't want to
hand it to some Boomer who just happens to look and sound like me."
     Down in the lab Quincy stared up at himself.  He heard his human self
say, "Congratulations.  Every test indicates you are me.  Osiris will be
used to keep me in charge."  He watched the other Quincy hold up a remote of
some variety.  "Unfortunately since I'm not dead yet you are a liability.  We
can't have two Chairman Quincys, now can we?"
     Quincy heard the lab doors seal.  No way out.  He tried to engage his 
weapon systems.  They were offline.  His strength was locked at human levels.
One other option.  "Kate, Daniel.  I have all his memories and can pass for
him.  I can give you everything he has and more.  Remove him and set me free
and you can have anything."
     Neither moved.  Quincy chuckled, "Promises made under duress aren't
worth a thing.  As soon as you were free you'd renege.  After all I would."
     The human Quincy's finger was poised over a button.  Terrified the 
new excess Quincy shouted, "WAIT!  I'M YOU!  ALL YOUR MEMORIES AND DREAMS!
IF YOU KILL ME YOU KILL YOURSELF.  YOU CAN'T DO THIS!"
     "Wrong."
     Quincy felt a massive surge of heat in his chest.  He had a moment to
mentally scream, "IT'S NOT FAIR!" and then he was gone. 
     From above Quincy watched the Boomer melt.  He handed the remote to 
Dumas and nodded.  "A most satisfactory test.  Of course in future the
Osiris standby Boomers will not be equipped with a self destruct device."
     Dumas nodded, "Of course Sir."  
     "Another triumph for Daniel", Madigan thought.  He'd suggested the test
to Quincy after the latter's last memory recording session.  Now the Chairman
was sold on the idea.  She figured that before long the real measure of your
worth at GENOM would be if you got judged worthy of reincarnation.  If your
memories weren't recorded then you must be judged easily replaceable.  Dumas
would be sure to qualify for Osiris.  She wasn't sure if she'd be copied.
She also wasn't sure if she'd rather stay dead.
     Quincy headed for the door.  As he did he told Dumas, "Have our legal
people begin working on getting Boomers carrying recorded memories declared
legally human.  I don't want to come back as property."
     "Yes sir."  As the door closed behind the Chairman Dumas turned Madigan
and said, "Well Kate, you owe me."
     "Don't rub it in."  Damn, she'd been sure Quincy would freeze up at the 
thought of destroying himself.  She'd bet Daniel that one of them would get 
ordered to trigger the destruct charge.  Actually she'd rather wanted too.
Lately there was something attractive about the thought of pushing the button 
on Quincy.  But she'd lost.  "You enjoy humiliating me, don't you."
     "Not really.  How often do I make you wear handcuffs?"  Turning from
Kate to the room's only other occupant Daniel said, "Excellent work Dr.
Hathaway."
     "Ahh ... thank you."  Jonathan Hathaway wasn't sure why but he was more 
scared of Dumas than he'd been of Mason.  September of '33 had been a rotten
month.  After miraculously surviving an assault by a psycho hitchhiker he'd
been summoned to GENOM headquarters.  Where Dumas had made it clear he knew
Hathaway had falsified the Gilgamesh data for Mason.  He'd also known what
Mason had paid.  He'd had the choice of jail (at the very least) or keeping
the payoff and heading the new Osiris project.  Dumas knew that Gilgamesh 
had worked and human memory/personality recording was possible.  If it could
be done once then it could be recreated.  Which it had been.  Only problem
was now they had a functional system he'd become obsolete.  Would Dumas
really forget his earlier betrayal?
     As if he'd read his mind Dumas commented, "I don't believe in wasting a
valuable resource.  But don't even think about doublecrossing me.  Now I'm
sure you have a lot to do.  Oh and don't spread rumours about myself and 
Madigan."
     Hathaway babbled agreement and headed out.  Their affair was common
knowledge but he sure as hell wasn't going to spread stories about them.
Making Dumas unhappy was a very scary thought.
     
     6 pm Saturday October 27th 2035 - Sylia Stingray's apartment

     From the look of her brother Sylia guessed the negotiations with USSD
were not off to a smooth start.  The fact he kept muttering about miserable,
shortsighted idiots was another clue.
     "You shouldn't let it bother you."
     Mackie looked up from his drink, "I prefer it this way."  That was true
enough.  Mackie never had been much on shutting down his emotions.  Early on
she'd made herself as emotionless as possible.  She'd felt the resulting
single mindedness was essential to her crusade.  Mackie had grown up in the
vigilante world she created and considered it normal.  In fact he'd considered
it his duty to counterbalance her by doing his best to drive her crazy.   
     Across the room Ilsa was talking to Priss and Linna.  Or rather they were
talking to Ilsa.  She was letting her translator generate her conversation by 
using a subvocal link.  As long as it didn't run across metaphors the device
was pretty accurate.
     Nene remained working at ADPolice HQ.  Considering Sonya was sitting next
to Mackie that was probably just as well.  Sonya noticed that Ilsa was out of
earshot and turned off her own translator.  Turning to Mackie she quietly
asked, <"Those two are both Knight Sabers, right?">  She nodded toward Linna 
and Priss.
     Mackie smothered his own surprise and asked, <"What in the world makes
you think that?">
     Sonya sighed.  <"Mackie I may not be an enhanced intellect.  But they
don't call me a genius because of my fashion sense.">
     "I'll believe that."  Sylia suppressed a smile at that thought.
     Sonya continued, <"Now I know Sylia was completely unsurprised and 
unworried about you running the Knight Shadows.  So the odds of her not being
involved with the Knight Sabers are minuscule.  I figure if she's not actually
running the group she's got to be the source of their hardsuits.  How am I 
doing so far?">
     <"Keep going.">
     <"I've been reading up on the Knight Sabers.  From the observational data
that exists each of the four displays distinctive characteristics.  Which is
why odds are there are only four Knight Sabers instead of a larger group
alternating suit usage.  From what I've observed of those two I'd guess the
blue and green suits.  From what I've seen of Sylia she matches the White
Knight Saber profile.">
     "Why couldn't you date an unobservant girl?" Sylia asked her brother.
     He shrugged and said, <"All I can say is some things aren't mine to
share.  Anyway does it really matter to you?">
     <"I suppose not. Just reminding you that I notice things.">
     Which translates as stay the hell away from Nene, he thought.  In any
event a mental alarm was telling him he had things to do.  Ilsa's watch 
beeped once, he'd told her when to set it for.
     "Afraid I've got some company business to take care of so I have to
leave."  To Sonya he said, <"You don't have to come with me.  Especially as 
you prefer to avoid this sort of thing.">
     She took his arm.  <"You don't ditch me that easy.  Besides you promised
to show me MegaTokyo nightlife.">  She paused then added, <"That's without 
the 'k'.">
     Making excuses Mackie and associates headed off.  With them gone Linna
asked Sylia, "So how about we grab a fancy dinner to celebrate your return?"
     Sylia smiled.  "My treat?  Sorry but I've got a date tonight."
     Priss shook her head. "Tell me it's not Danny-boy."
     "Sorry."
     "Fuck it, why can't you try someone else.  I know an ADPolice detective
who's looking for a date.  Hell, Fargo would be a better choice."
     "It's my decision.  You should be used to it by now."
     Priss said nothing but she thought, "I could live with it when your dates
were more like enemies meeting for a truce on neutral ground.  But things are
changing.  I think you really like the guy.  Sylia, he's the enemy.  I don't   
care what you two once had, it's over.  Let it stay dead."
     Linna was wondering, "If Sylia's letting her guard down like this maybe
GENOM's threat is over.  Or, more likely, they no longer operate on a level
you can hurt them with physical combat.  At least not without becoming the
terrorists GENOM's always claimed we were.  The guy is as smart as Sylia,
if he is a threat he won't be dumb enough to fight us on our own terms."
     Priss was still trying to talk Sylia out of going, with absolutely no
success.  If anything Sylia looked to be resenting Priss's interference.
Linna had to say that the ice queen was definitely melting down.

     8 pm Saturday October 27th 2035 - Phoenix warehouse, Sector 3.

     It had been some time since Mackie had been to the dockside warehouse.
The moon played over the waters of Tokyo Bay, illuminating the ships loading
and unloading.  Most of them carried GENOM logos.  This was probably the 
busiest harbour in the world, and he was planning to sneak an unauthorized
craft through it.
     Not that this place hadn't been used for that before.  The concealed
channel to the harbour had been built with minisub entry in mind.  Sylia 
had needed some way to smuggle the Knight Sabers custom designed equipment
in without it being examined.  If an analysis went into the Customs computer
net GENOM would be sure to flag it.  Having met the lunatics she employed to
smuggle the components Mackie couldn't understand how the secret had remained.
Warped professional pride was his best guess.  
     But you'd definitely have to be crazy to drive a small sub through 
waters filled with ships that could crush your hull like an eggshell. 
     Lucky thing Frank was fairly crazy.
     Unlike Sylia's method of knocking out harbour sensors during a run Mackie
was depending on his own invention.  The scanners in the water should read 
ocean currents as the "Valley Forge" (Frank's name) passed though.  Only
problem was Mackie couldn't detect the sub either.  At least not without 
betraying it's location.  It was already half an hour late and Ilsa was 
looking a little worried.  Mackie was beginning to worry a little himself.
     A red light flicked on.  Something had opened the concealed sea door and 
was heading through the narrow tunnel to the warehouse.  Security sensors
read nothing in the tunnel which meant ... "It's Frank."
     Ilsa wiped the worried look from her face.  Mackie triggered the code
sequence to open the trapdoor in the floor.  A section of floor slid away to
reveal the gray water beneath.
     With a loud splash the minisub surfaced.  After a moment the hatch over 
the pilot compartment swung upward.  Frank stepped out and stretched.  He
turned to look at Mackie.  <"I want a raise!  Eight hours crammed in that 
thing with three hardsuits is a bit much.">  From inside the sub Mackie heard the
distinctive theme of "Doctor Who."
     <"Sounds like it gave you time to catch up on your viewing.  Besides it
could have been worse.  You should be glad you made most of the trip by 
cargo plane.">
     Frank grunted something noncommittal and looked over at Ilsa.  "Hello
pretty lady.  How about showing me a little of the famous MegaTokyo 
hospitality?">
     <"Sonya, it's rude to stare.">  Sonya turned from the embracing couple
and looked at Mackie.  <"They aren't going to be much use for the next few
minutes.  So if you swing the hoist servo over here I'll crack the cargo
hatch.  Sooner we're done the sooner you get to play tourist.">
     <"One thing I must say Mackie.  There's always something new with you
around.">
     Standing carefully on the somewhat slippery hull Mackie looked down at
his creations.  First thing to do was disconnect the straps holding Knight
Shadow 1 in place and haul it out.  Tonight he'd settle for getting them
out and security locking them.  Checking operations could wait until tomorrow.
It was unlikely anything would happen tonight.
     In fact this whole decision to see how the Sabers and Shadows functioned
together was probably for nothing.  Things had been dull in both cities 
lately.  Still it never hurts to be prepared.

     8 pm Saturday October 27th 2035 - Blue World restaurant  
    
     Both Sylia and Daniel shared a fondness for jazz and blues music  (Priss
considered this evidence that Dumas was destroying Sylia's mind).  In addition 
to its excellent cuisine Blue World featured some of the best live performers 
of both.  It was obscenely expensive making it the place to be seen.  The 
waiting list was months long.  To get a last minute reservation required being
second only to God.
     Daniel never had any problem.
     As usual they had met in the lobby bar and proceeded to the restaurant.
They had begun with small talk about Europe, Phoenix and life generally.  As
always both had dropped the personas they presented to the rest of the world.
Sylia had often reflected it was odd that she only relaxed in the presence of
an enemy.  Of course this enemy was one of the two others on the planet 
capable of following her more esoteric thoughts.
     Daniel breathed in Sylia's pheromones, undetectable to anyone who wasn't
enhanced.  He relaxed for the first time in weeks.  The only thing bothering
him was the nagging feeling that he'd forgotten something.  Which was 
ridiculous, an infallible memory was one of the first things enhancement
triggered.
     The conversation had turned to Priss and Linna.  "Honestly Daniel what
were you thinking of?  Trying to corrupt my innocent associates?"
     Suppressing a laugh and looking solemn he intoned, "And he descended 
from his high place looking over the high places of the earth and spread the
riches of MegaTokyo at their feet.  And declared 'All this is yours if you
will just worship me!'"  It was a pretty good Charlton Heston impersonation.
     Sylia smiled.  "The book of Daniel?  Seriously, why bother?  You must 
have know it wouldn't work?"
     "Certainly.  But I felt I had to try.  'When the cat's away the rats 
will play' and so on."
     "Of course soon as I get back you drop everything to meet me."
     "What can I say except I missed you."
     Sylia put on a solemn face.  "'Lord the woman tempted me and I fell.'"
     He laughed.  "No that's wrong.  You're the hero, I'm the villain.  Let's
try and keep our roles straight."
     Both laughed though it trailed off awkwardly.
     To change the subject Sylia asked, "So I hear you bought Brazil."
     "Not exactly.  We've taken over their national debt, bought the 
government and put GENOM advisors in charge of the military."
     "To what end."
     "Believe it or not, to protect bio-diversity."
     Sylia studied him.  "So it is one of your pet projects.  You were always
talking about retaining the remaining rainforest."
     "I just think it's foolish to throw away an ecology millions of years
old."
     "True.  But how are you planning to protect it."
     "Two ways.  Firstly we know control Brazilian industry.  So we've stopped 
their exploitation of the resource.  Secondly we've deployed a new species
of Boomer.  It's a quadruped design, more practical for a jungle environment.
The Jaguar is designed as an anti intruder mech.  It seeks out poachers, 
gold miners, and land clearers. People get one warning to get the hell out."
     "And if they refuse."
     "We've surrounded the forest with beacons that recite, 'If you cross this
line you will be killed'."
     Sylia looked at him for a long moment.  "What about the aboriginal
inhabitants."
     Daniel sighed.  "Seems the Brazilian government was better at covering
that up I knew.  The last of the tribes was 'humanely resettled' three years
ago.  I'm formulating an aid policy for the survivors of the reservations.  
They haven't adapted well to getting dumped into the twenty-first century."
     "Where's the profit?  How did you sell this to Quincy?"
     "Power.  The rest of the country is GENOM's playground."
     "Far from an ideal solution."
     Daniel picked up his drink.  "We don't live in a utopia.  No one ever
has.  I make the compromises I have to in order to achieve what I need to
accomplish."  After a moment he said, "I can never decide if you're the
idealist and I'm the pragmatist, or if I'm the cynic and you're the real
visionary."
     "I don't know either."
     Both fell silent.  Again Daniel wondered what it was that flickered 
around the edges of his mind.  Something important that he couldn't quite 
grasp.  Was he feeling guilty about Madigan?  No, he'd never pretended to
love her.  He'd only gone along with it so Quincy would think he was under
control.  Still ...
     "About Kate ..."
     "Don't spoil the moment."
     The silence resumed.  After a time Sylia said, "What are your plans for 
rest of the evening?"
     For the first time in years Dumas felt his certainty fade.  Every other
time they'd headed their separate ways.  Old memories resurfaced  "Whatever
you want."
     "Remember when we used to dance?"
     "Oh yes.  I've missed it."  It was true.  He'd kept the memories of the
old days blocked off emotionally.  Now they were flooding back.  Sylia seemed
to be feeling the same.
     Perhaps something special about tonight, perhaps they'd just been 
building towards this for some time.
     "First we find a nightclub.  After that ... well we'll see how the cards
fall.  The night is young."

     Much later
     "Hmmmm.  You dance well."
     "Why thank you.  Of course you need the right partner."
     "I aim to please."
     "It's been so long.  When you can shut off desire you forget."
     "Or it just becomes mechanical.  Something you do well but feel no 
pleasure in."
     "No one told you to become a playboy."
     "No one told you to become a nun."
     "True.  We messed up our own lives.  So are you up for another dance?"
     "You're insatiable.  I could get to like that"
     "Enough talking."

      1 pm Sunday October 28th 2035 - Daniel Dumas's Apartment

      Madigan followed Kevin into the apartment.  The Boomer valet/bodyguard
discretely stepped aside as they entered the living room.  Madigan was 
surprised at Dumas's appearance.  Wearing a blue robe he faced out the
polarized window.  Looking out at the city that couldn't see him.  His left 
hand cradled a brandy snifter, his right rested upon the window.  Even on a
Sunday he never looked this unprepared.
     Dumas noted Madigan's arrival but didn't react.  Again his thoughts
turned to last night and he cursed himself.  It had seemed so simple.  When
Sylia called he had to meet her so she wouldn't suspect what he was planning.
Which left the problem of how to avoid her picking up clues from his 
behaviour.  Arriving on a date with his mind operation on iceman mode would
have been a dead giveaway.  The solution?  Block out all the memories of 
Quincy's orders from his mind.  You can't reveal what you don't know yourself.  
Last night he'd had no idea what he had spent the past month setting up..
     He hadn't counted on how things would develop.  This morning his self 
imposed mental block had dissolved, he'd set it to break down after twelve 
hours.  Another triumph of mind enhancement.  Now he remembered what he was 
planning.  Why the hell had he complicated things for himself?  And what was 
he going to do now?  He'd forgotten ... he'd made himself forget how much he 
missed her. Suddenly nothing was clear anymore.  What do I do now?  Nothing 
is ever simple between us Sylia.
     Madigan coughed loudly.  "Yes Kate?"
     "I've got those reports you wanted.  Laser satellite infiltration is a
go and the last of the mercenaries arrived a few hours ago.  Boiled down it 
looks like we'll be ready to roll on Tuesday."
     "Fine."
     That sounded less than enthusiastic.  "We could delay until Wednesday.
That might be more appropriate."
     "Why?"  She had his attention at least.
     "Halloween."
     "Don't be childish.  This is not a game we're playing."  I could still
call it off.  Eliminate phase 1 and 3, just run phase 2.  Sylia wouldd be 
furious but compared to the alternative ...
     Madigan studied Dumas's back and wished he'd turn around.  What was 
wrong with him?  Was he getting cold feet this close to implementation.  Why?
He'd never shown any hesitation before.  What was the big deal?  She 
remembered the casualty projection.  She'd been trying not to think about
them.
     "Your plan's going to kill a lot of innocent people.  I've been thinking
maybe we can minimize the casualties."
     "Kate, it's a little later to worry about the state of your soul.  At
least not after dancing with the devil this long."
     Ok so that wasn't what was upsetting him.
     "Daniel why are you so hung about trashing the Knight Sabers?  They've
been some use but mostly they've just caused GENOM trouble."
     Daniel turned to face her.  His expression was unreadable.  "Let me show
you something."
     He withdrew a small carved oak box from under a coffee table.  She'd
seen it on other visits and assumed it was just decoration.  Setting it on 
the table he opened it and unpacked the four figurines within.  Each was a
different Knight Saber, painstakingly shaped from crystal.
     Madigan carefully picked one up.  For lack of anything better she
commented, "Beautiful work."
     "Thank you."
     "You ...?"
     "Everyone needs a hobby."  One by one he held up three of the figures.
"What people don't realize is that the Knight Saber suits are more than just
technological marvels.  They have a grace and aesthetic design that makes them
works of art."  He packed three of the four back into the box and held the 
fourth aloft.  "It is never a good thing to destroy art."
     The sun caught the figurine and projected a small rainbow across the
apartment.  Dumas studied the figure in his hand silently.  
     Uncomfortable, Madigan tried to think of something to say.
     Dumas lowered the figurine and sighed.  "No it is never a good thing to
destroy art."  He paused and put the carving of the White Knight Saber back
in the box. 
     "But sometimes it is a necessary thing."
     He closed the lid and slid the box back under the table.
     "Anyone who isn't ready to go on Tuesday will answer to me.  Spread the
word."
     Madigan nodded and left.  He sounded like his old self again.  Just a
temporary aberration?  A reminder that even the Iceman is human?
     Behind her Dumas put down his glass.  Time to get dressed.  He had a lot
to do before the 30th.

End of part 2

Trivia notes: "Valley Forge" was the spaceship in the movie "Silent Running".
              The hovercraft/eel line was from Monty Python's Hungarian/
              English phrasebook.

Next:  All hell breaks loose

Part 3 : MegaTokyo Burning

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