Bubblegum Chaos : Hurricane Season by Mark Latus Prologue When people look back on it afterwards they ask how did it truly begin? That question can never truly be answered as everything that happened hinged on what had come before. Some say it began the day that Sylia Stingray and Daniel Dumas had their showdown. But would that have happened if Priscilla Asagiri hadn't taken events into her own hands? Could any of it have occurred if Sylia hadn't secretly recorded her friends' memories. Yet she never truly expected to use those recordings. They were a failsafe against a day that seemed more and more unlikely. Perhaps everything started the day Quincy told his protege to eliminate the Knight Sabers. Yet would that have happened if it hadn't been for Largo's comeback being foiled by them? You can trace events back for years to Dr. Stingray's fateful decision. The day that he chose to create the process to redesign the human brain by bioengineering. But that was not the beginning for there were forces in his own past that shaped him to decide this. So there cannot be a single true answer to that question. This is merely my answer but it will have to serve. What has gone before 2008 AD - Marriage of Katsuhito Stingray and Rumiko Kimua 2009 AD - Marriage of Jean Dumas and Tanya Toitovna 2010 AD - Birth of Daniel Dumas - Birth of Sylia Stingray 2012 AD - Birth of Linna Yamazaki 2013 AD - Birth of Priscilla Asagiri 2014 AD - Birth of Nene Romanova 2017 AD - Birth of Mackie Stingray 2018 AD - Birth of Sonya Geary 2019 AD - Death of Rumiko Stingray 2020 AD - Beginning of Dr. Stingray's human enhancement project 2021 AD - First meeting of Daniel Dumas and Sylia Stingray 2022 AD - Final version of Enhancement process produced. Secretly implanted in Sylia, Mackie and Daniel. - Death of Katsuhito Stingray 2024 AD - Implanted enhancement bioengineering begins to affect Daniel and Sylia. Mackie's implant remains dormant 2025 AD - Breakup of Daniel & Sylia - Dumas taken to USA by his father - Second Kanto Quake - GENOM Corporatation pledges to rebuild the megalopolis 2026 AD - GENOM Corporation continues with reconstruction efforts becoming the owner of the majority of property in Tokyo. PR campaign launches the city's new name "MegaTokyo" 2027 AD - "Tinsel City" becomes street name for MegaTokyo 2029 AD - Mackie begins showing first signs of enhancement (Increased intelligence and dexterity) 2030 AD - Sylia and Mackie Stingray begin first generation hardsuit construction. - Sylia begins recruitment for her as yet unnamed mercenary group. 2031 AD - Recruitment concluded and hardsuits fitted to individual wearers. - Public debut of the Knight Sabers 2032 AD - "Tinsel City" - "Born to Kill" - "Blow Up" 2033 AD - "Revenge Road" - "Moonlight Rambler" - "Red Eyes" - "Double Vision" - "Scoop Chase" - Introduction of second generation hardsuits - "Tokyo Babylon" - Return of Daniel Dumas to MegaTokyo and final integration of Mackie Stingray's enhancements. 2034 AD - Ceasation of all MegaTokyo Boomer rampages not caused by genuine malfunctions - Mackie moves to Berlin becoming researcher at BioCyb branch of Phoenix Enterprises prior to inheriting company. - First meeting of Mackie Stingray and Sonya Geary - Construction of Knight Shadow armour - GENOM sells licenses to nonsentient Boomer designs - Increase in Boomer production worldwide - Johann Staler begans underground expansion of GENOM Germany - Debut of Knight Shadow - Linna Yamazaki leaves areobics coaching to become stock consultant - Priss Asagiri's music becomes more mainstream. Rumours of disc deal. - Nene Romanova begins attending self assertion programs - Increasing social contact between Sylia Stingray and Daniel Dumas - Knight Sabers rarely in action apart from regular training exercises - Knight Shadow armour almost destroyed in Boomer ambush. Mackie builds Mark 2 and decides to cease solo activity 2035 AD - Mackie Stingray turns 18. Inherits majority block of Phoenix stock under the terms of his father's will. - Recruitment of Ilsa Guenther & Frank Chambers to Knight Shadows - Debut of Knight Shadows 2 & 3 - Sylia begins construction of third generation hardsuits - "Illegal Army" - "Geo Climbers" - "Meltdown" - "Knights' End" begins Sept. 24 - Sylia arrives in Berlin Sept. 25 - Chairman Quincy orders Dumas to eliminate the Knight Sabers Oct. 27 - Sylia and Mackie return to MegaTokyo Oct. 30 - Red Tuesday - Deaths of Nene Romanova, Linna Yamazaki, Priss Asagiri, Chairman Quincy, Daley Wong and 5617 civilians. - Knight Sabers deemed responsible - Sylia Stingray listed as deceased - Daniel Dumas assumes control of GENOM Nov. 1 - Funeral of Nene Romanova Nov. 2 - Funeral of Linna Yamazaki, only identified Knight Saber Nov. 3 - Wake for Priss Asagiri Nov. 4 - Funeral of Sylia Stingray - First meeting of Leon MacNichol and Mackie Stingray - Truce between Daniel and Mackie Nov. 6 - Mackie Stingray declares economic warfare on GENOM Europe Nov. 30 - Publication of "Babes in Arms : The Knight Sabers' story" Dec. 1 - Marriage of Daniel Dumas and Kate Madigan Dec. 4 - Publication of "Linna : Portrait of a Killer" Dec. 5 - Publication of "The Knight Saber Beside Me" Dec. 6 - "Resurrection" of Linna Yamazaki, Nene Romanova, Priss Asagiri Dec. 15 - Publication of "Armourgeddon : The short and bloody history of the Knight Sabers" Dec. 20 - Death of Reika Chang 2036 AD - Jan. 17 - Publication of "Kali : The Life of Linna Yamazaki" Feb. - "Libel" June 20 - It begins Mackie Stingray's apartment, Berlin - 3 am Friday June 30 2036 AD Mackie dreams: He's stumbling through the blasted wasteland with painful slowness. His shattered hardsuit barely functioning as it hampers his movements. The ruined city stretches around him in all directions. There's no response to his frantic calls, no sign of life. Charred skeletons with bits of seared flesh hanging off them litter the ground. Under his feet burned bones crack. He sees a glint of sunlight off unmelted metal and stumbles towards it. To find the scattered remains of the Knight Sabers sprawled before him. Sylia's face is still twisted in that all consuming rage he's glimpsed on the few occasions her mask slipped. Nene seems resigned, as though death is an inconvieniance rather than an ending. Linna looks confused at having to die a second time. Priss's features show relief. Free at last. There's a discrete cough behind him and he turns to see Dumas leaning casually against a twisted girder. The GENOM boss wears his customary black business suit. At his feet lie Frank and Ilsa's wrecked hardsuits. From the blood that stains the ground it's obvious they were in them. Dumas shakes his head as though addressing a child who's contradicted his elder and speaks. "I did warn you Mackie." His tone is chiding, more in sorrow than anger. Mackie wants to speak but cannot. Dumas continues, "I said we had peace as long as you didn't seek revenge and look what you did. Concealed Sylia's survival and brought back the Knight Sabers." His head shakes. "Mackie I thought you were smarter than this. I warned you that it could happen in Berlin as easily as it happened in MegaTokyo." He gestures at the surrounding rubble and Mackie recognises a few landmarks. This is ... or was Berlin. Behind him Dumas speaks on. "You brought this on the city. How many thousands died because you didn't know when you were beaten?" Mackie whirls to attack Dumas and kill him. There's no one there but he can still here that mocking voice. "Phoenix is destroyed. No one is coming back this time. They're all staying dead." There! Dumas is standing about 100 metres to the west. He's cradling something in his arms. "By the way I've brought you a little reminder of what you've sacrificed in this futile quest ..." Dumas's chest explodes as Mackie hits him with a particle beam. Pieces of the metallic superstructure spray outwards. Just a boomer double, he should have known Daniel wouldn't come here in person. The burden the replica carried hits the ground. It's a woman. Sick with foreknowledge Mackie stumbles forward toward the sprawled body surrounded by pieces of Boomer. He stares into the dead and bloody face and screams ... Sonya snapped awake as she heard Mackie yell her name. He was sitting upright and staring at her wildly. He wrapped his arms around her trying to reassure himself that she was real. She felt him shake and held him knowing that in a few minutes he'd have control of himself again. This was happening with increasing frequency as Mackie's subconscious continued to send him vivid dreams. As she held him she once again cursed Sylia for what her hatred was doing to Mackie. This had to stop. Dumas was untouchable. She had to get him to abandon this hopeless search for vengeance before his sanity broke. If only she had the courage to confront Sylia. Sylia Stingray's quarters, Lower level, BioCyb building, Berlin - 3 am Friday June 30 2036 AD Sylia dreams: She's stalking through the GENOM tower. It looks as though a war has been fought within the archology. The walls are cracked open from explosions and weaponfire. Smoke fills the corridor from numerous small fires and is filtered by her hardsuit. Underfoot are bodies, human and boomer. Some of the former wear security uniforms, others were just researchers, salarymen and women and other civilians. She doesn't slow her pace. Ahead lie three bodies she recognises. The mortal remains of the human Knight Sabers. Priss has been almost cut in half by machinegun fire. Nene is identifiable only by hair and size, she doesn't have a face. There's a coin sized hole through the back of her skull where the bullet entered and a much larger one one where it exited. Linna's armour lies in pieces oozing blood. Sylia steps over them without hesitation. Ahead lie three more armourclad bodies. Knight Shadow 2 lacks a head. She lies by the slumped Knight Shadow 3, his chest armour punched full of holes. The largest suit blocks the coridor and she has to walk over it. The helmet has been cracked open and her brother's dead eyes stare accusingly. She walks on and does not look back. She hears movement and begins to sprint. The corridor opens up onto the summit of the GENOM Tower. It is filled with destroyed boomers, several of them Largo class Superboomers. There are four other figures, only one moves. The Nene and Linna beta units are down and obviously won't be getting up again. Each is surrounded by a circle of enemies. Ahead of her the Priss unit hangs limply in the grip of a black military exoarmour. The operator releases her throat and she crashes limply to the ground. She makes no other movement. The suit's access panels hum open and Daniel Dumas emerges. He shows no surprise at her presence. "Sylia it's time to end this foolishness. You've sacrificed everyone you cared about and what has it achieved?" He doesn't wait for an answer "Nothing. GENOM will rebuild with ease. You've destroyed one tower. Largo destroyed four and that was a mere inconvenience." He pauses. "I'd like to spare you if I can. Together there's no limit to what we can accomplish." He reaches out to her. "Come, take my hand." In one fluid motion she reaches him. The blade flicks out of the arm sheath and buries itself in his heart. Impaled he hangs from her hardsuited arm and dies. His face shows no surprise, merely pain and a certain resignation. She pulls the blade free and he drops like a stone. She kicks the body over so it lies face up and opens her visor so she can spit on the corpse. From behind her comes sarcastic applause. She whirls to see the figure seated behind her. Largo! As he stands his face shifts to become Daniel's. "You didn't really think it would be that easy, did you?" Her pulse gun fires and the Superboomer falls. There is motion to the left and she turns to confront two Daniel Superboomers. Both are smiling. "I have dozens of backups". The other nods, "...And death shall have no dominion!" She drops both of them and hears motion from all around. The Daniel boomers close in from all sides. They don't fight back merely walk towards her. For every one she destroys another two seem to appear. She expends her firepower and still they move towards her. Blades extended she charges them, slashing them down like wheat before the scythe. More of them take the fallen Daniels' places. Her arms are seized and she feels her armour being torn away. In one voice the army of Daniels say, "My name is Legion!" She is held immobile and the hardsuit is gone! The chill night air touches her as her undersuit shreds. All their identical faces smile and she is naked in the center of the crowd as the hands begin to claw ... Sylia snapped awake choking off a cry. She shook for several minutes then felt her mind ice up again. Evidently there were limits to emotional control. Repressed anxieties built up and expressed themselves through dreams. Annoying. Fortunately there was no one present to witness her weakness. Unfortunate that her subconscious was so literal. Still she couldn't deny the problem the dream raised. Killing Daniel was the easy part. Ensuring he stayed dead was the real problem. Especially as their best weapon was surprise. Once they killed him that would be gone and Phoenix would be a prime target for attack. It was undeniable that they'd run out of spare bodies before he did. It was (rage bubbles under the calm facade and is supressed) unfortunate that she still couldn't develop a viable attack plan. Nene claimed that even with her new cyberspace intrusion capabilities it would be impossible to simultaneously override the entire laser satellite grid. Doing so would mean fighting both USSD's overt and GENOM's covert control of it. Which would lead an easily tracked trail. Besides which Nene was refusing to participate in a worldwide global strike on GENOMs holdings. Admittedly civilian casualties would be horrendous but compared to letting Daniel maintain control they were acceptable. Unfortunately they were only acceptable to her. Her control over them was fast disappearing. Priss was unstable, Linna could no longer be relied upon to the same extent and Nene was showing signs of rebellion. Mackie was worrying more and more about the consequences of attacking GENOM. Sonya was a bad influence on him. Frank and Ilsa would follow Mackie's lead rather than hers. She was the only one left she could rely on but she couldn't do it alone. No matter how much she wished she could. She'd never expected nightmares to become a problem. But enhanced emotional control didn't seem to operate consistently during sleep. Perhaps she wouldn't dream this time. She closed her eyes and was asleep almost immediately. This time the dream didn't find her. Timezones vary widely across the world. There is an eight hour difference between onetime war allies Germany and Japan. While the majority of Germans slept it was already approaching noon in Tokyo. As ever the city was a hive of activity. Normally the storm season doesn't strike Japan until August, though September tends to be the worst month. This year a different kind of storm would strike MegaTokyo. Had the residents been given a choice they'd have opted for the usual typhoons. MegaTokyo International Airport - 11 am Friday June 20 2036 AD "Thank you and welcome to MegaTokyo!" The tourist nodded and tried to thank her in bad gutter Japanese. The custom agent winced. Why didn't people ever check on their language teachers' qualifications? Still she'd heard a lot worse in her time. Besides the job description required her not let them know her opinion of their language skills. Yohko Kikuchi moved off. German national from her passport despite being pure Japanese. Parents had moved overseas before her birth so she'd grown up probably speaking German and English. Now making her first trip to her ancestral homeland. Seemed the cover story had held. Not surprising. Little Miss Cyberpunk had created it. She could probably have convinced the customs database that "Yohko" was a relative of the Emperor's. If she'd been crazy enough to ask Nene to do something so blantantly obvious. Perhaps she'd overdone it with her intentionally bad pronounciation. Little Miss Cyberpunk ... Hell that name fit her just as well these days. She gazed out over the bustling city. Overshadowing everything was the monolith known as the GENOM tower. No sign of Red Tuesday damage from here. Probably it'd all been cleared by now. She sighed and removed her sunglasses. Red tinted eyes glinted as the light struck them. Well here she was. MegaTokyo. The city she'd been born in, lived in ... and ultimately died in. Or at least someone a lot like her had. No matter, she was the first and last of her kind. There would never be another like her. Not now. The Yohko identity wasn't hers but it was as suitable as any other name. This wasn't the face she'd been "born" with either. Still it beat looking identical to a dead woman. Both name and face were as appropriate as any other. Yet deep inside she'd always answer to another name. Despite the fact she had no right to it. Which was why she whispered, "Look out Tinsel City! Priss is back in town!" And that was how it began. End of prologue.