Source: Page 56 of White Noise Keywords: "arrows," "shaggy," "cardigan," "eyed"

From: fherriot@hotmail.com Subject: [BGC/Tokimemo][FanFic] "Illusions - The Genaros Saga" Part 13 Date: 5 Apr 1999 Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime.creative

Saint Catharines... "I can't believe...any of this..." Seiji Yoshita shudders as he closes the file marked in bold print N-SC-V2033/PROJECT R, then hands it over. "Believe it," the House Matriarch sighs. "You and your friends were involved with people who's goal, in essence, was to destroy the human race. And now they want to contact you again to press on their plans." The mercenary leader whistles. "Well, there's no way we'll accept a request that would lead to that, no matter how much they want to pay!" he mutters, rubbing the back of his skull. "Actually, I was hoping you would help us," Multi smiles. "I understand Genom has contacted you about helping them retrieve one of these people, Michelle Danielson." Yoshita blinks. "How did you...?!" he demands, then laughs. "I'm sorry! I keep forgetting how good your intel is! Yes, Genom has contacted us over the matter." He then stares at the slender woman before him. "Are you saying we should accept?" "It may be within your better interests to accept," Multi muses. "After all, Genom does know that you screened Nigel Rathen before accepting his offer to foster dissent between them and Kyuusei. The chances are good they may decide to...punish you because of the losses they incurred. A space station is a very valuable thing, you must understand." "I doubt Genom would worry too much about us..." "You must remember, Yoshita-san, the multinationals are like little children when it comes to their work," she sighs. "They're quick to take offense with anyone who's hurt them in any way. Granted, they may act in a very 'professional' manner, but when one takes in the whole situation, they're nothing more than spoiled brats." "I never quite heard them being described that way," he hums. "And wouldn't you want to get restitution for Laura's death?" He sighs. "I...well, yes, I am mad at what Rathen did...but deep down, I've long considered revenge a wasted option." "I didn't say anything about revenge, Yoshita-san. I spoke of gaining restitution. Just killing someone does nothing. A double-negative solution, as the former House Patriarch in Nerima would eloquently say it. I speak of helping Genom and us end Largo's plans once and for all time." A pause, then, "Genom has offered you thirty million dollars to bring in Michelle Danielson. We will match that offer, payable to you through the Toronto-Dominion Bank, once you have captured Miss Danielson for delivery to Genom. After that, we will technically 'hold you on retainer' for a year to keep Genom off your backs. During that time, you'll be free to pursue any line of employment you and your friends would desire, as long as you tell us about it first." Yoshita blinks. Katharine Madigan's people had warned him that Genom did know of his team's working with Rathen. It was very plausible that the multinational would decide to eliminate them, probably for 'security reasons.' Of course, if they tried that and the word spread (it always did, somehow), no mercenary team would come within 500 klicks of them. Getting Toratotaka to shield his troops was smart. Besides, the financial conglomerate often hired mercenaries as IFOs, which usually led to becoming members of an FSAT. That's how Nick Lando's group came to work for the company. Working for Toratotaka, Lando once told him, was pretty good. "Alright, Director, I accept your offer," he nods, holding out his hand, then inwardly nodding at the strength of her grip. She may look frail on first sight, but looks were often very deceiving. "Wonderful," Multi nods, then presses an intercom control. "Have Cassandra come in, please." Yoshita turns as a tall blonde woman in Toratotaka office uniform walks in. He blinks surprisedly, then remembers the Project R notes. "You're one of the...!" "Sexaroids used to control Largo's people," Cassandra replies, then smiles. "Atashi wa Danielson Cassandra desu, Yoshita-san. Cass to iidesu. I'm Michelle's controller...or rather WAS Michelle's controller before she went out of control." "A pleasure," Yoshita grips her hand, then blinks. As real as a normal person's...? How was that possible? "Cassandra-chan here will be helping you capture Michelle," Multi explains. "She's already been fully briefed on what to do and has already arranged the meeting place." "If you want, we can get started right away," Cassandra adds. Yoshita blinks, then nods. "Yes, I think the sooner Genom's away from my team, the better." "Splendid!" Multi nods... * * * Northern Ontario, a week later... "Clear!" Robert calls out. Cassandra inwardly shudders, the pain in her chest overloading all her senses. It was very easy to pretend she was dead...and no worry at all if her body did shut down. As arranged before, Robert Norwich had used only one bullet on her, aiming for her chest. Her skull was plated with titanium strips, but she didn't want to risk her mind being damaged from a bullet punching through an unarmored spot. Brain damage always reflected badly on her reserve memory crystal, Miyuki Hosaka warned her once. Her hearing then picks up Yoshita's voice giving instructions to Robert to get the job finished. Come on, come on, get Michelle out of here...! Feet shuffle about as she hears someone being dragged out of the room. Cassandra relaxes, allowing her chest to slightly move as she draws in shallow breaths. Footsteps coming her way, then the scrape of a heel. "You can relax now," Robert whispers. Cassandra exhales, opening her eyes. "That...hurt." "You're one tough cookie, you know that?" he smiles. "Naturally, Papa built us that way," Cassandra smirks as she slowly sits up on her elbows, then grunting, sits fully up to get at her heelbone. Robert watches as she yanks out the regenerative gelatin from her heel, then opening her shirt, digs out the soft-nosed .22 round from her breastbone before dabbing the gel in place. One jolt of electricity from a taser later, she gulps down a large bottle of fruit punch loaded with some necessary minerals to repair minor hard tissue damage, just perfected by Rei Ijuin a month before. Breathing out, she relaxes, then glances at the unmoving body of Michelle's other aide. "Nice shooting," she muses. "I try to do my best," Robert nods. "Something tells me you wanted him to die." "I did," Cassandra sneers. "I declared myself only to be Michelle's. He would never stop harassing me. Lord, I loathe people like him." Taking a deep breath, she rises, grunting as her nerves scream at her for putting her body through such abuse in the first place. "Oooh, I'm going to be SO glad when Papa finally perfects the new regen packs! That HURTS!!" Robert chuckles, then turns as Lenore Stevens enters with a demolition team. With them are Mira Rathen and Gillian Seamus, both in combat suits (they had come overland from FSAT-K's field observation point ten kilometres away). "Daijobu, Cassandra-chan?" Mira frets on seeing the pained look on her sister's face. "Hai, I'm alright, Mira-chan," Cassandra nods, then smiles as she sees two of Yoshita's men bring in two bio-organic cloned fakes just built in Saint Catharines to deceive Alice Myers and the others concerning hers and Michelle's fates. Gillian hands her a dufflebag. Cassandra heads into the bathroom to change. As Yoshita's team sets up the charges, Mira reaches into her webgear and pulls out a bankbook with the Toronto-Dominion logo on it, handing it to Robert. "I do believe the amount in there is accurate," she smiles. He glances then grins. "Indeed, it is," he nods, then courtly kisses her hand. "A pleasure doing business, Miss Seamus. At least you people are honest with us." "It's the only way," Gillian smiles. Cassandra emerges from the bathroom, now in combat uniform, her hair no longer in the ugly bun on her forehead Michelle liked so much, but in cute side-braided pigtails. After a quick round of farewells, the three Toratotaka officers clear out of the cabin and make their way north. Ten kilometres in the woods over a thick layer of snow would take a couple hours. There was no need to panic, however; a severe snowstorm would blow into the region in the next couple of days. Fresh snow would cover their tracks very well. To add extra security, raccoon observers would watch over the cabin for the next few days. If any search party came by to ascertain Michelle's fate, Toratotaka would know. A Guardsman field combat team was in Thunder Bay just in case. "Did Rei-chan get hold of Nancy-chan?" Cassandra wonders. "Hai, she made the snatch yesterday," Mira nods. "They should be on their way back to Megatokyo now." "Great! That just leaves Lily-chan and Dawn-chan." "Yeah," Gillian nods. "Then it's finally over." Silence falls as the three Sexaroids consider that. Finally over. No more running and hiding. No more looking behind their backs to see if a Genom special action team was after them. No more fearing people discovering what they really were and trying to kill them over it. Now that they had Canadian citizenship, none of them had really much to fear. Japan's laws were changing, so they could relax while working in Oshika. Once that happened...and once Yoshio had unleashed Morning Glory...the other Sexaroids would be recalled from space, then finally free to live their own lives. Some hours later, they stumble into a small camp with one ten-man tent. Four snowmobiles were parked nearby under tarps. The three walk inside to see everyone else waiting for them. "Welcome home, Cass!" Angela hands her a mug of hot chocolate. "It's good to be home," Cassandra smiles, sipping the hot drink. Fatigue was starting to set in. All she needed now was a good night's sleep, then it was a quick flight to Megatokyo. "I've news from Himoo-sempai," Utena grins. "By the time you're in Megatokyo, your daughter should be out of gestation. From what she tells me, the baby is beautiful." "They always are, Utena-chan," Cassandra sighs contently, closing her eyes. Largo had lost this fight. Soon, he would lose the war. Michelle would live long enough to see their daughter, to care for her in the last months of her life. Cassandra would see to that... * * * "Illusions - The Genaros Saga" a fanfic of the Bubblegum Crisis - Megatokyo 2033-2034 by Fred Herriot fherr...@hotmail.com **** **** **** Edited by E.B. Kushnir k...@iaw.on.ca **** **** **** Based on characters and situations from "Bubblegum Crisis," created by ARTMIC and Youmex, "Urusei Yatsura," created by Rumiko Takahashi and "Tokimeki Memorial," created by Konami. **** **** **** This story is also based on my UY fanfic series "The Senior Year" (co-created by Mike Smith) and "The Ishinomaki Years," as well as the BGC fanfic series "No Armour Against Fate" by Shawn Hagen **** **** **** WRITER'S NOTES: 1) This and the last part of the story runs parallel to "No Armour Against Fate," filling in the blank spots in that story. Again, as with Parts 7 and 8, it is wise to read "NAAF" before reading this story. 2) Codes of the 33-S Fifth Generation AA Series (names are taken from the computer game "True Love Story 2"): AA18KM - Maiko Kousaka AA23KK - Kodachi Kazama AA29MA - Ayumi Mizuki AA31MS - Sanae Miyama AA33NK - Kaori Nakazato AA51NK - Kasumi Nanase AA54HK - Kimiko Himoo (first of the fifth generation) AA58OY - Yohko Okano AA61MA - Akane Morishita AA65MA - Momoko Andou AA81HA - Aoi Hatano AA83SR - Rimi Sawada **** **** **** PART THIRTEEN - NO FATE BUT THIS Megatokyo, a day later... "We're here, Nancy-chan." Nancy Myers' eyes open, then she gazes at the ugly mass of Genom Tower as the limousine pulls into the receiving bay. "Back to the place of our birth, huh?" "Hai," Rei nods as she opens the door, then walks around to open the door for her sister. Nancy wasn't bound...even if it was very prudent, Rei wouldn't do that to one of her own kind, someone she personally knew and cared for...but she was still being watched. It was always smart to watch everyone you dealt with, Domino warned her. Rei had taken that lesson to heart. Still, the extraction from Germany had been remarkably easy. Once Genom's intelligence had tracked down Alice Myers' friends, Rei's team had been there right away. Nancy had prepared things with the folks in Versailles ahead of time in case Rei's move had turned into a furball; there was a Kuromoroboshi team nearby, ready to shut it down and get her and Rei to safety should things go wrong. It struck Nancy funny at times as Rei asked her questions about everyone else. Knowing that Lily and Dawn had used their new fourth-generation upgrade abilities to make everyone else head into space, to the one place where they couldn't slip out of people's fingers. Once there, Genom would trap them...and Zoe Graham would personally write finis to Largo's sick drama once and for all. *Do you still feel the pain, Zoe-chan?* Nancy wonders as the image of that damned night in Paris replays in her mind. *I can never get your scream out of my head. I never can erase what that bastard did...what he tried to do to Otou-sama...from my dreams. Soon, Zoe-chan, it'll be all done and we'll be finally at peace.* "Daijobu desu ka, Nancy-chan?" Rei stares at her. Nancy blinks, then smiles. "I'm alright, Rei-chan. Arigato." Rei nods as they step into an elevator. Minutes later, they arrive at the office levels, proceeding right into Domino's work office. Haruko Tetsu awaits them. "Irashaimasu, Rei-san!" she smiles. "Odotte-sama is with the Chairman right now." "Hai, wakarimasu," Rei nods. "Can we have something to eat, please, Haruko-san? Nancy-chan and I haven't had anything to eat since we left Germany." "Hai, right away," Haruko nods, then heads off. Rei and Nancy head into Domino's office. "Nice place," the latter hums, her nose picking up the strong tincture of cinnamon in the pheromone residue. So, Rei was telling the truth about her superior. Finding a couch, she sits down, then breathes out. "Don't worry," Rei assures her. "You won't be here for long. One of Otou-sama's people will be by soon to pick you up." "I won't be going back into storage?" Nancy wonders, knowing the answer already. "Iie," Rei shakes her head. "I think that the more of us who are free and positively contributing to society there are, the more Otou-sama likes it. It proves his point pretty well." "Have you met him?" "No. He retired from his position at Toratotaka before the new year to engage in research concerning boomer moral programming. He's at the Toratotaka Tower in Nerima, but I haven't had the chance to meet him." The door opens at that time to reveal Haruko wheeling in a cart. "Ah, great!! I'm famished!" The two Sexaroids quickly dig in. "I've seen him once," Nancy muses as she butters her bread. "You have?!" Rei blinks, wide-eyed. "Hai. He's so handsome...yet he struck me as so sad, too. Especially in his eyes. I wonder what made Otou-sama that way." Rei hums, then looks down. "Who knows..." * * * Domino emerges from the Sky Elevator after her latest meeting with Quincy. She would pick Sylia up tonight and have her stay in the Tower overnight before meeting Quincy. No doubt, the other Knight Sabres...just Priss and Nene since Linna was no longer part of the team...would be here by tomorrow morning at the latest. She then shudders, remembering her and Rei working with Kaneko and Nene to shut down Daniel Sanders' operation. Another bridge soon to be burnt. Damn, why did she fell so awful about this...? "Yo, Domino!" She blinks, then turns as Tamura Koji comes up. "Oh, hi, Tamura," she nods as the two head towards the bank of elevators servicing the rest of the Tower. "Rei just brought Nancy in," the computer security officer reports. "They're down in your office. So, Mr. Q. wants Sylia and her compadres in on this, huh?" "Yeah, he does," Domino sighs as they step inside a car, he pressing for her level. Brian hated the computer security chief; Quincy often confided things in Tamura that he never told Mason. Domino had little reason to hate him; the man's cheery attitude was infectious. Further, his neurophage-enhanced mind gave him the power to resist her pheromones. "You look anxious." "Why not?" he shrugs. "A hotshot like Nene Romanova is a very precious commodity, Domino. I ain't gonna let Yoshio or Ozawa take her from me. Don't worry, I've got my end of it all arranged." "She's pretty naive." "I know. Problem is, this world of ours destroys nice kids like that, chews them up and spits them out like garbage. If she goes, it'll be a shame. I've never seen skill like hers!" "So how are you playing it?" "Uh-uh!" he smiles. "I do not reveal my operating secrets to anyone, not even to one of my good friend's daughters." A pause, then, "I'll just let Nene-chan meet Alex and see how it goes." Domino's jaw drops. Alex was Genom's central computer. "Are you sure you want to do that...?!" "Why not?" Tamura hums. "Don't worry, I won't let her get close to the really sensitive stuff. But I need to see this girl in action for myself. This is the best chance." Domino hums, then nods. "Okay, it's your call," she sighs, then smiles as the doors open to her floor. "Good luck." "You, too," Tamura nods before the doors close. Domino heads into her department, nods to Haruko and the other office ladies, then her nose perks on detecting Rei's ginger-tinged and Nancy's peppermint-tinged scents. Walking in, she blinks on seeing a meal set aside for her. "We saved some," Nancy smiles. "Thank you...and it's a pleasure to meet you at last, Nancy-chan," Domino nods, holding out her hand. Nancy draws her into an embrace. "It's good that one of you is living her own life," she gently kisses Domino's cheek. "Thank you," Domino smiles. The three relax as the executive digs in. "So what did the Chairman want?" Rei wonders. "We're to get rid of Largo's other conspirators once and for all," Domino sighs, then stares at Nancy. "Alice is..." "I don't care about her anymore, Domino-chan," Nancy gives her an even stare, then sighs. "The instant she started talking about nuclear weapons, I knew it was all over." "Sumimasen," Rei frowns. "It's okay," Nancy closes her eyes. "I think it was too late the day they all met Largo himself." Hearing her "brother's" name, Domino slightly tenses. Nancy stares at her, then smiles. "I hold nothing he did to us or our charges against you, Domino-chan." "Arigato," Domino nods, then sighs. "Rei?" "Yes?" "We're using the Knight Sabres on this one." Rei blinks, then stares wide-eyed at her. "Including Nene?" "Hai. The Chairman's always known about them." The brown-haired Sexaroid shudders, then closes her eyes. "Oh, no...!" she clenches her hands. "What's wrong?" Nancy wonders. Domino and Rei stare at her, then sigh. "The Sabres...their leader is someone...I care for very much," the former closes her eyes. "And Rei-chan here...knows another of them." "How much do you care for them?" Nancy wonders. "I...I've never personally met Sylia Stingray but I think she would know some things about me," Domino admits. "Rei-chan and I've met Nene Romanova; we worked...on a private case together with one of Rei-chan's series in AD Police, Kaneko Akamura." "Then Nene-chan knows you work for Genom?" "Hai," Rei nods. "I see no problem there," Nancy shrugs, then stares at Domino. "And if Sylia-oba-sama knows you work for Genom, I see no problem there either. By the looks of it, you care for her..." Domino stares at her. "I do." Nancy blinks, seeing the small flash of pain...and of a strong yearning only their kind would truly understand...in Domino's deep green eyes. "Masaka..." escapes her lips, then she smiles. "Don't ever give up your dream, Domino-chan." Domino blinks, then sighs. "It's hard, Nancy-chan." "Oh? I don't think so," Nancy smiles. "After all, I'm free of Largo's plans and I won't go back into storage. That was my dream since the day I first saw Otou-sama. It came true. If my dream can come true, so can yours, Domino-chan." "Rei-chan said the same thing to me..." Surprised, delighted cries echo from the outside office. The three Sexaroids spin around, hearing gushed "Kawaii!" and "Kirei!!" from Rei's co-workers, then rise to see what is going on. One look is enough. "Kawaii!!" Rei gapes on seeing a cherubic four-year old bundle of sheer joy now surrounded by the OLs, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Without hesitation, the three Sexaroids approach her. "Hi, there!" Rei beams. "What's your name?!" The girl looks at her, then smiles, bowing her head. "Atashi wa Danielson Constance desu. Connie to iidesu." She then stares closely at them, her mind flashing images programmed into her on awakening. "Rei-oba-chan," she points at Rei, then Domino. "Domino-oba-chan," then Nancy. "Nancy-oba-chan." "Danielson...?" Domino whispers, then her eyes widen in shock. "Um...you wouldn't be a relation to a Cassandra Danielson...?" "She's my mom!" Connie nods, then smiles as a fresh whiff of ginger touches her nose. "Mommy!!" Cassandra walks in, dressed in a cardigan sweater, shawl and long skirt, then kneels to pick her daughter up. "Now, why did you run off like that, you silly girl?!" she playfully pats Connie's nose. "You made me worried!" "I wanted to meet my aunties, Mommy!" Connie cutely pouts. "She's beautiful!!" Haruko sighs, then blinks. "But...forgive me for asking, Danielson-san, how is it possible?! Don't tell me Saotome-hakase's found a way to help you give birth...?!" "Of course not, Tetsu-san!" Cassandra smiles. "Actually, all that was needed was cloning and a little parthenogenesis. Just like what Webster-sempai and Verhart-san did for Jessica-chan." "Not to mention what Kaufman put the girls in FSAT-G through," Domino shudders, then sighs. "So, you're here for Michelle?" "Hai," Cassandra nods. "Otou-sama's with the Chairman now to negotiate for her release into our custody. If you're worried about her trying to escape, don't bother. It's time you learned the extent of what Largo did to them, Domino-chan. Aoi-chan?" Eyes turn as a tomboyish brunette, about Nancy's height, with grey-black eyes walks in, dressed in a button shirt and jeans. The older Sexaroids blink as she passes them with just a curt nod in greeting, then their noses perk as a VERY unfamiliar scent emanates from her. Strawberry? Confused looks are exchanged as they follow Aoi into Domino's office. The newcomer stops in front of Domino's desktop computer, then holds the back of her left hand towards the viewscreen. THREE crystal link-points emerge from the skin as a beam of chi energy touches the screen. The other Sexaroids gather around her as images of brain CAT scans appear, red arrows pointing to the deep lesions that would soon doom all their targets. "My God...!" Rei gapes. "What is that?" "The end result of Largo's use of Stingray-hakase's memory-imprinting process," Aoi replies. "Death by the slow, incurable breakdown of one's mental synapses. This is the mind of Connie-chan's co-parent you're seeing now, Rei-onee-chan. At present rate, she will be mentally dead...by September of this year." Domino shudders, her eyes closing as Aoi shuts the computer down. "It's inhuman...!" "Agreed," Cassandra sighs, letting Connie down, then shaking her head as the girl scampers back into the outer office. "Oh, Connie-chan, come back here...!" Aoi tenses on seeing the older Sexaroid run after her child, then notices her other older sisters staring quizzically at her. A confused, child-like look then crosses her face. "Sumimasen, did I do something wrong?" she shies away. "Oh...g-gomen!" Nancy blushes. "We didn't mean to stare at you like that! Obviously, you're still emotionally maturing." "H-hai, I still am," Aoi nods, then bows. "Oh, gomen nasai, Nancy-onee-chan. Atashi wa Hatano Aoi desu. Aoi to iidesu." "Um...what's your production code...?!" Rei stammers. "Bee-you-Tee-Tee-Three-Three-Es-Five-Ay-Ay-Eight-One-Aych-Ay." Domino's jaw drops. The "TT" in Aoi's code meant a Sexaroid built and woken under Toratotaka's direct control. But the number between the model code and the series...! "***'FIVE?!?!'***" Rei exclaims. "Hai! I'm a fifth generation Sexaroid, eleventh of the AA series built so far," Aoi smiles. "Yuina-mama built me here in Nerima." She then shudders. "Actually, this is the first time I've been out of the Toratotaka Tower since I woke..." A frightened child's scream echoes from outside. Aoi jolts, then her legs propel her over Domino's desk as she becomes an inhuman blur racing out of the office. Before the older Sexaroids could interpret what happened, a sharp *CRASH!!!* is heard from the hallway, echoed by surprised shouts and barking orders. Domino, Rei and Nancy sprint out of the office, passing through the crowd of OLs to emerge in the reception area...then stop, gaping. "Wow!!" Nancy whistles. Two C-55s, part of the senior executive security force, were now down, cut virtually in half at the waist by what appears to be sheer physical force. The other executives all stand a respectful distance away from Aoi, now kneeling and tightly holding a sobbing Connie. Clearly, the large guardians had frightened the poor girl, thus galvanizing Aoi into action. Nearby, Cassandra shakes her head, covering her eyes, clearly embarrassed. "Um...could you explain this to us?" Domino wonders. The blonde Sexaroid bows. "I'm SO sorry about this!!" she sighs, staring at Aoi. "Aoi-chan there took a liking to Connie-chan right away. She's...a little overprotective of her." Katharine Madigan gapes. "'A LITTLE overprotective?!'" "We could've used her with the Flexes!!" Kenji Sousuke hums, eyes locked on the twisted strips of exposed armour in the C-55s. If a Toratotaka-built Sexaroid could do that to one of them...? "What has she got in her bones?!" Nancy wonders. "Duranium," Cassandra replies. That nearly knocks everyone over. Duranium was denser and more durable than diamond or depleted uranium; few weapons existed that could affect something supposedly capable of resisting the pressures of hyperluminal speeds! Aoi sighs, then scooping Connie up in her arms, senses everyone staring, some understandably fearfully, at her. Her cheeks then colour as she shies away. "Sumimasen...I didn't mean to...!" "It's alright, Hatano-san," Haruko smiles. "You thought Connie-chan was in danger. Nothing wrong with that." Aoi blinks, then brightens. "Y-yeah, I guess so..." she blushes, then stares at the downed C-55s. "But somebody ought to program these darned things better!" "We'll try to remember that," Domino chuckles... * * * The Chairman's office... "Tell Himoo-kun I'm very impressed," Quincy chuckles. Yoshio smiles. When Yuina announced she was developing the sentiences of twelve new Sexaroids to test the planned fifth gen upgrades, Yoshio had let her run with it without any interference. Clearly, Yuina made sure "her" daughters could survive any conceivable catastrophe. "Yeah, she does good work, doesn't she?" the scientist muses, then hands the chairman an envelope. "Here." Quincy draws out the CAT scan photos Miyuki Hosaka took in Saint Catharines, then reads the medical notes. "My God...!" he whispers, horrified that Katsuhito would invent such a deadly process...and wondering how Sylia survived it...then he sighs. "Alright, I'll have Odotte-kun release Danielson." "Appreciated," Yoshio nods. "Zoe-chan's on her way to the O'Neil Colony now." "I'll make the arrangements," Quincy nods... * * * An hour later... "You're releasing me?" Michelle Danielson blinks, staring confusedly at Domino as they proceed to the front gate, escorted by a troop of C-55s. "That's right," the latter nods. "But not to total freedom, I'm afraid. Toratotaka will be taking care of you from now on." The older woman shudders. From the frying pan into the fire itself...! "Why...?" Domino icily stares at her. "Were it up to me, you would be made to disappear totally. When you started playing around with weapons of mass destruction, you crossed a line ALL the multinationals have drawn known as the Bertrand Protocol. That is what now will doom your friends." A pause, then, "I just find it ironic that it would be one of Largo's 33-S controllers...Zoe Graham...who will kill them." Michelle pales. "Zoe...?" "I was told by two close friends of yours what happened to her in Paris back in November," Domino adds. "How Camberlain tried to attack her father...and shot her instead. It makes me wonder what Saotome-hakase will do when HE gets his hands on you! What was it Saotome-hakase said then?" she hums, then smiles. "Ah, yes, now I remember. 'Just for that...I'm going to enjoy seeing you die.'" Michelle gags. "You're a Sexaroid...!" "That's right," Domino smiles. "A third generation 33-S, much more efficient than the firsts and seconds, though they are as much my sisters as my fellow thirds and the new fifths Toratotaka are now giving birth to. Even more, I'm a Sexaroid with two fathers. Yoshio Saotome is one. The other one, the one my memories come from, was a man named Brian Mason, a former Genom executive. He had two children in fact. You know who...my older brother was." Silence, then, "Largo..." "Yes," Domino nods. The elevator arrives at the lobby. Michelle emerges, then jolts on seeing a lone figure standing there, in his preferred "field work clothes." Her eyes widen in blind panic as she feels Yoshio's brown eyes bore into her. She tries to back away from the being who had come after them in Paris...the one who murdered Largo before he could return to lead them. Domino's hand grabs her arm and with a strong yank, pulls her towards the scientist. Aoi emerges from behind Yoshio to help haul Michelle up. A strangled moan escapes her as she fights the two Sexaroids, the mortal terror Largo felt for this man before her, the one man who could, WOULD stop his plans, chasing away all rational thought. Yoshio remains passive, then sighs. Michelle blinks as the neutral stare is replaced by grieving sadness, her fear suddenly vanishing. Silence reigns over that strange tableau for a moment, then an apologetic smile crosses his face. "I wish you would've taken my offer back in November." Michelle blinks. "What happened to the others...?" "They're...still recovering. You're dying, Miss Danielson. Largo's little 'present' for you's been killing you bit by bit over the last few months. We were able to save the three we captured in Paris. I don't think we can save you, though...but we will try." "Why...?!" "Because you're as much a victim of this madness as Cassandra and her sisters," Yoshio muses. "Because Largo wanted to destroy everything Katsuhito Stingray and I worked so hard to create. And because I don't like the idea of anyone interfering in my work. Largo knew I could stop everything he tried and I could do so with ease. Why do you think he made you scared of me? I like to think I'm a nice guy...and I don't like the idea of being slandered like that, especially by a lunatic like Largo," he winks. Michelle blinks, then gently pulls her arms away from Domino and Aoi. "But Cassandra..." "Do you love her?" "Hai, I do!!" Michelle sobs. "But she's..." "I'm right here, Michelle." Michelle blinks, then her eyes water as Yoshio steps aside to reveal Cassandra standing there, Connie at her side. The young girl brightens, then runs up. "Mommy!!!" Michelle is speechless, then as the word echoes in her mind, she drops to her knees to receive Connie's warm embrace. "My baby...oh, God, I have a baby...!" she sobs. Cassandra walks up, then gently helps Michelle and Connie into the awaiting limousine. Yoshio sighs, then notices Domino's eyes misting over. "We need to be alone for a while, guys," he stares at the C-55 guards around them. "Of course, Saotome-hakase," the leader nods. As the boomers withdraw, Yoshio sighs, then reaches over to gently wipe Domino's eyes. She doesn't resist, then stares at him. "In all my life...I will never understand you..." she whispers. "Brian never could understand you, Largo...I don't even think he even TRIED...why, Yoshio?" "Because I don't concern myself with any ledger book or any abstract concept I can't believe in, Domino," Yoshio smiles. "My battlefield is the heart and soul. The one place were, if I wanted to, I could even destroy Quincy. But I won't. Why should I? Look around you, Domino." He waves around to indicate Megatokyo. The executive blinks, then smiles. "One man's dream...one man's willpower...made all this possible," Yoshio sighs. "It's not perfect, not by far...but it's getting there. Bit by bit, it's getting there. Everyone in this city contributes to it in one way or another. Now, I'm going to make my improvements." Domino sighs, smiling. "You always try to see the upside in everything, don't you?" "Have no choice," Yoshio shrugs, then sighs. "Even now, I sometimes wonder what made Brian go so wrong." Silence, then, "I wish I could answer that," Domino muses. "After all this time...it confuses me, too." "Well, I gotta get back to work," Yoshio glances at his watch, then points at Domino, "And you have to go pick up the missus." Domino jolts, then shakes her head. "I don't know if I can call her 'missus' yet, Yoshio." "Like Nancy-chan said; don't give up your dream," Yoshio turns to head to his personal Sopwith Roadster, then grins. "By the way, don't try to seduce her on the first date!" Domino pales, then angrily flushes. "I'll get you for that, Saotome!!" she snarls. Yoshio laughs, then leaps into his car to drive off. Aoi blinks, then sighs. "Yoshio-papa is so strange at times." "Tell me something I don't know!" Domino growls, then sighs. "So, where will Michelle and Cassandra-chan go now?" "Oshika," Aoi sighs, then frowns. "It's so strange, though." "What?" "I mean, everyone's concern about Michelle-nee-chan dying. You know, there is one option we could explore." "What's that?" "The same manner you came into being, Nee-chan," Aoi stares at her. "The anti-viral protocols in our minds would repair whatever damage to Michelle-nee-chan's memory Largo unleashed." Domino blinks, then hums. "Maybe. Why don't you tell that to Yuina-sempai and see what she thinks?" "Hai, I will. Oyasumi nasai, Domino-nee-chan!" "Oyasumi nasai, Aoi-chan!" Domino waves as the fifth gen 33-S runs into the limousine to join the Danielsons. As it drives off for Nerima, the executive sighs, then remembers Quincy's orders concerning the Knight Sabres. "Here I come, Sylia-chan," she whispers, fresh tears in her eyes. "I hope you're ready..." * * * USSD O'Neil Colony, the next morning... Zoe emerges from the Air Canada shuttle, stretching herself, then she files her way into the customs line-up, passport and travel documents in hand. She was in a Toratotaka office worker's uniform, as was her companion. According to what Megumi had told her, the Knight Sabres would be on the station on the third of April, four days from now. Enough time to scout the terrain. She was specifically ordered not to enter any battle situation; Sylia's team would handle that. But just in case, a protector was sent with her, one powerful enough to deal with any stray Flex Boomers Alice and her friends would have with them. "Passport, please?" the USSD officer nods. Zoe hands her passport over. The officer looks at it, then nods. "Welcome to the O'Neil Colony, Miss Graham. You've been expected." He makes a phone call, then stares at the black-haired, grey-eyed woman beside Zoe. "Your companion?" "Rimi Sawada," the woman places her passport on the table. The officer checks it over, then nods. Canada had begun issuing passports that permitted information about Sexaroids and other sentient boomers to be marked down. Staring at Rimi's production code number, he blinks, then stares at her. "I never knew there were fifth gens..." "It's a new project," Rimi smiles, her hand touching her pageboy-cut hair. "Under Toratotaka's full control, of course. I became fully self-aware two months ago." "Ah," he nods. "Well, Miss Sawada, welcome to the O'Neil Colony...ah, there they are!" he looks over. Three Genom colony officials walk up. "We've been expecting you, Miss Graham," one offers his hand. "Keith Lambert." "A pleasure, Mister Lambert," Zoe nods, then introduces Rimi. "We've got your guest room set up," Lambert nods. They head off, Rimi nodding once more to the customs officer. He smiles...she was cute despite her reserved demeanour...then stares at the readings the scanners had taken of the Sexaroids. Zoe was pretty normal despite tiny bits of unknown materials on her arms, legs and face. Rimi was similar, except skeletal structure. The bones were braced with a material that seemed much denser, stronger than the titanium in her sister. What was it? He then shakes his head. It was stupid to ask and even more stupid to try to find out. Toratotaka was vicious in keeping its secrets than even Genom! Besides, if barracks rumour was true, Toratotaka discovered a possible leak of BH-6 agents from Darkside One and closed it down before another Equatorial Bio-War could break out. If that was true, USSD owed Toratotaka now. It was smart...no, it was just the right thing to do...to pay up... * * * Megatokyo, the Tower... Priss nods after hearing Rei explain her being abandoned, then smiles. "I guess you all've suffered, haven't you?" "Hai, we have," Rei smiles. "Do you love Sylvie-chan?" Priss blinks, then stares quizzically at the brown-haired woman beside her. Rei just admitted that she had never met Sylvie, yet...why did she phrase the question in present tense? Blinking, she gazes out at Megatokyo. Her eyes fall on a distant obelisk in Nerima. The Toratotaka Tower, she knew, local headquarters of the world's most powerful financial firm. She remembered some things Sylia told her about those people. Chief among them was that Genom would NEVER be dumb enough to take Toratotaka on. If...? "Sylvie-chan's alive, isn't she?" Rei jolts, then stares at the singer. Priss has a delighted smile on her face, her eyes misting over. The Sexaroid trembles, then feels her mouth twitch into a relieved smile. Sylvie did tell her to keep Priss in the dark about her ultimately surviving the DD mess. One person's secret is another person's pain, Toratotaka knew. But this pain hurt them both and Devon wanted it to end. "Hai, she is. I'm sorry, Priss-san, for saying I hadn't met her. I've met her a couple of times since she began working as a field agent for our father's...our creator's...company. She's a wonderful person...and if you really want my opinion, I think you both make a very beautiful couple." "But when can she and Anri come back?" Priss muses. "Soon...she's not sure," Rei sighs. "I...I don't understand why this is happening, but Sylvie-chan said it was for an important reason, to protect both you and her. Um...can you tell me what happened between you, anyway? I never understood that story." Priss begins. Time passes as Rei pales on hearing what Largo did to the Genaros survivors, then winces on learning of the "vampire murders." She closes her eyes, weeping. "Awful..." "So tell me, how did she survive?" Priss muses. "I don't want to THINK of you just as boomers. You don't deserve that. But..." "It's something built into us," Rei admits, then explains the regenerative packs and the reserve memory crystals. "When he started the project, Otou-sama...our creator...suspected the 33-S's would be put through a lot of total nonsense. He was right. I was lucky, Priss-san. I never had C-class parts put into me, so when the project ended, I remained in storage in Kume-jima. Sylvie-chan and her friends weren't, which is why they wound up on Genaros." Priss blinks, then sighs. "So that means..." "No Sexaroid can truly 'die' unless the brain is destroyed along with the reserve crystal," Rei completes. "Once Sylvie-chan was saved from AD Police's meat locker, she was revived. Then...I guess that's when everyone at Toratotaka realized the problems still hanging over what she did." "So that's why she had to disappear, huh?" Priss blinks, then smiles. "Oh, Sylvie-chan, you're incredible..." * * * The computer core... "So Sylvie-chan and the others survived, huh?" "Affirmative, Romanova-san," Alex's cultured voice replies. "There was a deliberate design addition in the 33-S Saotome-hakase placed in them which permitted their minds to survive a sudden termination of their physical life functions." Nene smiles, feeling cheer in her heart. As she began dancing through the files, she decided to answer her own nagging questions concerning the Sexaroids and trace their development history. What she had found shocked her. The original 33-S design had never been meant to be so modified in the first place. There was certainly nothing in that Quincy approved of. In fact, Yoshio had designed the Sexaroids to ensure that too much invasive surgery would not do any would-be weapons designer any real good. Very smart. Out of curiosity, she taps a question on her keyboard. "Affirmative, Romanova-san," Alex immediately replies. "Did the Chairman know?" Nene wonders. "Not until it was too late," Alex replies. Nene blinks, her fists shaking. After just hearing what Yoshiro Andrews had done for Largo...tied onto what Kaneko Akamura once told her about the scientist and how he had screwed the 33-S's as a whole...she just had to find out. "No wonder Kaneko-chan hates him so much," she muses to herself. "You are a co-worker of Akamura-keibuho?" "No, I'm in a different squad, but I know her as a very good friend," Nene replies. "Why?" "I have a message from two of the B-12s who were involved in the incident on the evening of 15 January 2034," the computer replies. "They wish to know how Akamura-keibuho is and if she has fully recovered from the battle with the rogue Flex Boomer." Nene smiles. "Tell them Kaneko-chan came through with flying colours," she sighs. "I'm sure she'll be touched by their concern. After all, if Sylvie-chan can ultimately survive nearly getting her brains fried out by the DD and Anri-chan can survive one of Largo's gravity blasts, a Sexaroid can survive next to anything!" "That is good," Alex muses. Nene then sits back...before clapping echoes from behind her. She turns to see a lanky man with round-frame glasses and shaggy black hair walk in, dressed in a wrinkled shirt and work pants, a scientist's smock draped over his shoulders. "Nicely done, Romanova-san! I'm pretty impressed!! 'Evening, Alex! Sign me in, please." "Good evening, Tamura-kun. Thank you for allowing Romanova-san to come visit me," Alex greets the newcomer. "Tamura...?" Nene blinks, then gapes. "Tamura Koji?!" "At your service!" Tamura dramatically bows, then sits beside her. "So, pretty impressed?!" "You designed Alex?" Nene muses. "No, but I did a lot of improvements on his wetware," Tamura sighs, then shrugs, "...with a bit of help from Yoshio-kun. He always preferred AIs to have as much sentience as possible." "He sure proved how good they could be," Nene nods, then sighs, staring at him. "Why?" "Why what?" "Why did you allow me to come all the way in here? I mean, I certainly like speaking to Alex, but..." "You're wondering if you're now being set up for something," Tamura muses, then nods. "Well, as a matter of fact, you were set up...in a way. By me." Nene blinks. "Doshite...?" "Because I know of you, Nene Romanova," Tamura grins. "I know your reputation. You are the hottest hacker I've EVER known about or laid eyes on in the ten years I've worked in this place. And believe me, when I see something THAT good, I want to help that person be the best he or she can be." Nene blinks, then shudders. "You want me to work for Genom." "Not now, of course," Tamura muses. "You're still pretty rough around the edges. I know your mom's been after you about going to university; Yoshio-kun told me that." "I'm going," Nene confirms. "I just haven't decided which one, though. I've had lots of offers, though." "Including Gendai?" "Yes, including Gendai; I even got a scholarship..." Nene's voice trailed off, then she gapes at him. "You?!" "Hai. I badgered Mr. Q. and he approved it." A sigh, then, "Nene...may I call you that?...I know deep down how much you don't like this company. Personally, I don't blame you. There are things in this place **I** don't like. Hell, believe it or not, there are things in this place Mr. Q. himself doesn't like. Let me tell you something. You did good work with AD Police and with the Sabres. But there's no way in hell that one person can take on a company directly employing ninety million people worldwide. And in my eyes, that's not the way to change things." "I had to do something!" Nene asserts. "I don't blame you for wanting to do something," Tamura nods. "Believe me, there are times **I** want to kick someone's ass all the way into the Pacific for some of the garbage that happens in this place. Let's just assume. What if you brought Genom to its knees? What happens to all the people, all the normal workers who come here for a normal day's work, get a normal day's pay? For the most part, they'll loose their jobs. In Megatokyo, that's almost two million people, Nene. And if they loose their jobs, what happens to the people who're dependent on the business their incomes bring in? They loose out, too. It's one hell of a domino effect you'd start, Nene. Do you really believe you have the right to do that?" Silence falls, then Nene shakes her head. "No..." "Look, it's rough for you to understand this now," Tamura sighs. "In my eyes...and this is just my opinion...Sylia's been coddling you and Priss way too much. She made you believe in something good and noble. Society doesn't allow that...and despite all claims to the contrary, it's not all Genom's fault." "I...yeah, I suppose so...but still..." Tamura holds up a hand. "I'm not trying to knock Sylia down, Nene. Deep down, she's a good person...and I'm glad Yoshio-kun finally talked Mr. Q. into letting her have her dad's work back." "It was Saotome-hakase...?" "Hai, it was him," Tamura muses. "Like it or not, things are starting to change when it comes to cyberdroid designs and we need people willing to break clear of a...well, certain mode of thinking when it comes to mental development. That's part of the reason the Sexaroids scared people since Yoshio-kun went way out of his way to show how good it can be. Sylia can do that, which is why Yoshio-kun thinks its vital she get into the game. Keeping the Sabres going stopped that." A pause, then, "I knew Sylia's father. He was the one who made Sylia do what she did...and THAT was wrong." "I hardly call what we did 'wrong,'" Nene muses. "No, it was never wrong," Tamura nods. "But it's time for all of you to get away from this mess Sylia's dad instigated. There were a lot of good things Katsuhito did, Nene, don't get me wrong. But why don't you go ask Sylia what happened to her when she got a datadisk from her father and she allowed the info on that to be force-fed right into her brain?" "Masaka..." "Yeah. It was exactly like what happened to the people you're after now...the only difference being that Sylia was equipped to handle it. I want you to consider this as you get into university and get on with your life. Nothing in this world is black and white. There are good things in everything, even a company like this. People you might hate...Mr. Q., Kate, Domino..." "Not Domino," Nene objects, smiling. "Okay," he nods. "I can tell you a lot of good things about people on your hate list now. Don't automatically assume a person is 'bad' or 'good' until you know the whole situation. Would you like people to judge you as 'bad' because you're a hacker?" "No," Nene shakes her head. "I didn't think so," Tamura nods, then reaches into his jacket to hand her a small datadisk. "Here. A present." "What?" she wonders. "Modem codes to give you a direct link to Alex. He needs more friends and I want to get him some more. Don't worry, Mr. Q's already okayed it." "You trust me with this?" she blinks. "I trust you because you're a good spirit and you're smart," he nods. "I'm taking a chance with you, Nene...but I think it's a good chance. You might not trust me now or maybe never. You might not believe a word I say. Okay, I can accept that. But please, give me a chance...and give Alex a chance. After all, Kaneko-chan took a chance with you...not to mention Sylvie-chan, remember?" "Touche," Nene smiles, then rises. "Good night, Koji-san. Good night, Alex. Sign me off, please." "Good night, Romanova-san," Alex replies. Nene pauses, then smiles. "MY friends call me Nene, Alex." "As you wish...Nene." "'Night," Tamura nods as she leaves, then leans back. "Tamura-kun?" "Hai, Alex, what is it?" "Again...thank you." "Anytime." * * * To be concluded...

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