- Location
- Australia
I know, I meant Kari is friends with three now. But I can't remember who Irene is, not a KS apparently.
Frozen Butterfly - Bubblegum Crisis
- Thread starter Skychan
- Start date
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- Tags
- bubblegum crisis
Visions sister she is the woman who died in the first episode.
Yes, oddly enough all kind's of people wanted to cover up what happened. USSD because it involved their commissioning an almost certainly illegal boomer. The Knight Sabers because they were involved. Flint as a part of GPCC because that's the branch of Genom that was developing the link system for USSD. Parts of Genom proper because they want to get hands on it as well.
Kari just got to see all the results of this massive coverup and has no way of knowing that they weren't actually coordinating with each other.
and yes, as @Catty Nebulart said, Irene is a woman who was unlucky enough to be murdered in the first episode of BGC. So Kari has only met and befriended 50% of the Knight Sabers roster. OTL only Linna met and became a friend of Irene, but given the changes Kari's had, specifically in getting Nene to actually join the class and work out that friendship has doubled in size from 2 to 4 friends.
Kari just got to see all the results of this massive coverup and has no way of knowing that they weren't actually coordinating with each other.
and yes, as @Catty Nebulart said, Irene is a woman who was unlucky enough to be murdered in the first episode of BGC. So Kari has only met and befriended 50% of the Knight Sabers roster. OTL only Linna met and became a friend of Irene, but given the changes Kari's had, specifically in getting Nene to actually join the class and work out that friendship has doubled in size from 2 to 4 friends.
You are correct on the episode Dartz I was letting them run into one another. As for Lisa well, they also made her a child, and really that was your only protection back in the 80's. It wasn't certain, but odds were much better for your survival if you were under 18.
Interesting. Following this.
Arc 2 Chapter 6
Frozen Butterfly 2 a story of Bubblegum Crisis
Arc 2 Chapter 6 – Tsunami Season
They'd found me. I don't know how Mason knew but he had laced my room with nanites. They infested my apartment, long strands of them waving like cilia in the ocean, dipping and swaying. Their thousands of fronds piercing my flesh and sucking me dry until with a sky darkening laugh Mason stepped into the warehouse. The brush of his foot rang hollowly against my metallic skin pressing down inexorably upon my chest until I shattered like an egg.
Unable to move, to breathe to think, I bolted upright the light of a new day shining through the window and into my eyes. A nightmare… I lay back, taking long slow breaths as my heart rate increased bringing with it full awareness and the return of rationality.
Somewhere along the line I had forgotten that dreams went two ways. It had seemed like such a win-win solution, intentionally reducing my heart rate during rest so I could dream and wake slowly to the light while at the same time reducing the strain on my systems and conserving my blood supply. I checked quickly, -fluidics at 77.5%- I sighed. Nightmare or not I would have to keep my sleeping pulse rate low if I wanted to survive, the bad dreams just another price I would have to pay.
My morning routine seemed to drag. Maybe I could call in sick, claim to have the flu… it was certainly starting to feel that way. Unfortunately I didn't have any sick time saved up. Damn it, I was a transfer employee, couldn't Nene have at least been nice enough to give me some accrued sick leave?
I wasn't hungry, or rather wasn't in the mood to eat. Skipping breakfast ironically made me feel more like a part of humanity than I had in the last week. Not that it was an improvement as I joined the rest of humanities drones on my way in to work. The crush of the subway didn't bother me as it usually did. The concentrated pheromone's of its passengers a muted presence and my autonomous responses seemed equally detached. Even if nothing else had been concerning that raised a big red flag. I really was running down, dying.
I spent the morning being intentionally cheerful. The last thing I wanted was to draw my co-workers attention. I even treated myself to a whole grapefruit at lunch. I still didn't feel like eating but all the alerts and warnings were starting to get to me. Adding an extra two drops of sweet oil as a treat helped. Cranking my metabolism up another three beats a minute on my way to the gym helped even more and had me feeling almost normal as I met Nene at the door.
With a smile I touched her hand briefly, giving it a squeeze in welcome, no words needed to be said as we headed inside. I'm not sure if it was due to my good planning or Nene's habitual reticence towards exercise but we were among the last to arrive. This time it was easier to change amidst the others. Perhaps I've managed to absorb some of the Japanese ability to be alone in a crowd.
Detouring on my way into class I pulled Linna aside. "I'm not feeling the best, a little under the weather so I might not be able to keep up…" my posture subliminally shaped to play upon her conscience, implying a slightly more serious issue but not TOO serious. I loved my instincts, my preprogramed responses and skills, every now and then, they really do make interpersonal relationships easier.
It's a good thing I can make use of them too, as no matter how poorly I felt I still looked like a thousand bucks, or more accurately the roughly sixty million yen of my original price tag. Damn inflation.
She gave a slight frown but nodded, "Alright, try to keep up but if you can't don't push yourself. You should get a checkup; if your prostheses aren't balanced right it could be causing problems." I could see she wanted to say more, or perhaps lecture me a bit but the rest of class had finished entering in the brief time we talked. With a polite little bobbing kowtow I retreated to my spot at the back of the class.
As I took my place between Nene and Irene I realized I wasn't the only one having a rough day. While Nene was as chipper and perky as ever Irene looked awful. There were dark circles beneath her eyes and a depressed pall hung over every motion, but before I could ask class started and she threw herself into it with abandon.
I paced myself, keeping a sharp eye on energy use to production ratios, honestly concerned about my ability to maintain more strenuous activity. Once I was sure I could keep up with the class without deleterious effect I sped up, much to Nene's chagrin as she had been matching my pace rather than keeping up with Linna. I could feel her accusing gaze complaining about the loss of her excuse to slack off. I of course just gave her a cheerful smile in response.
On my other side however Irene was like a dervish, throwing herself into every exercise and pushing hard enough to make up for both Nene and my slack pace. As class ended at least six eyes were watching Irene with concern but she just shook off my light touch when I asked "Are you alright?" Instead she hurried into the locker room leaving behind a concerned if sweaty and tired duo and Linna who was still sickeningly fresh.
Freshly showered and dried I leaned against the lockers waiting for Nene to finish getting dressed. The cool metal of the locker against my back was a relaxing sensation, and the sense I concentrated on as I kept my eyes closed. Hopefully Nene mistook the reason for that as relaxation not bashfulness. The strangers around me were no problem, but catching sight of Nene coming out of the shower had made me seriously doubt that I had made any progress earlier that day in acclimating to my new situation.
"Say Ne-chan, oh goddess, gift to mankind, and computer guru…" not a very unique attempt to butter someone up but then I wasn't trying to be subtle. "I ah, think I could use your help again." Feeling the glower she shot me I peeked my eyes open grinning a little to see the mock sternness of her gaze, my attempt to pander as obvious to her as myself, oh and her pink bra. Quickly shutting my eyes again I went on. "You know how my apartment is so nice, and big, and… temporary? Well I think Genom is getting ready to plow us under. I know they have to give two days' notice but I noticed a construction trailer at the end of the street today so it's just a matter of time."
Nene's answer was hesitant, - 87% certain subject anxious about topic-. "Um, I'm sorry I would put you up, really but, I just can't." Her eyes and face were downcast as I opened mine once more a bit surprised by her assumption, and a little concerned over why she couldn't have a roommate. Her denial seemed far more absolute than I expected and somehow out of character for her.
Feeling slightly hurt I hurried to assure her that my favor wasn't anything of the kind. "Oh, that isn't really what I meant at all." I was relieved to see her relax, the ribbon her fingers had been unintentionally knotting released to hang smooth again. "I just wanted to ask you to help me apartment hunt for a new place, and maybe be a character reference. I mean, having one of the all-powerful AD police vouch for my integrity has to count for something right?"
Letting out a relieved laugh as the tension drained from her completely I wondered just why she would feel so apprehensive about living with me. Nene opened her mouth to answer when we overheard a soft sob from the showers.
Exchanging worried glances we rose as one and moved to investigate. We were just about the last to finish changing; me because of my efforts to keep to myself and Nene because of her slavish hedonistic devotion to the showers endless supply of hot water. So when we reached the showers it was surprising to find one still in use.
Irene stood in the end stall slumped against the wall as her shoulders heaved and silent tears dripped down her cheeks. Her skin was pale and pruned from standing under the shower and I had to gently coax her out of the stall. Nene grabbed a towel as I drew Irene into a gentle hug heedless of the water soaking into my clothing.
A few moments and feet later I drew her down onto one of the benches, my grip only loosening to allow Nene to tuck her into the folds of a fluffy towel. "Irene, hey, are you okay?" I admit not the most original thing to say but I wasn't really sure what to do in this situation, and for once my inner voice wasn't pelting me with suggestions of how to use sex to solve it.
She was quiet for a few moments. Irene just huddled against me as she took slowly deepening breaths and pulled herself together. All while Nene stood at her other side shooting me concerned glances full of questions for which I had no answers.
Finally Irene spoke. "Kenshiro's dead," her voice a soft, pain filled whimper. It only took a moment before I placed the name, her fiancé. Giving her another slight squeeze of support it was as if a dam that had been holding back her words burst and she began to speak with a nervous, sobbing, furious intensity.
"They killed him. They say it was an accident, an "unfortunate accident" but I know better. He told me he had been moved to a new project, one that he couldn't talk about but he was scared. I could see it in his eyes, the pressure he was under. He said that they were done, that yesterday was the last day and then he could come back and they murdered him to keep it all quiet!"
Patting her on the back I was about to speak up but Nene beat me to it. "Who?" she asked, the question pulled almost unwillingly from her lips as we both knew who it had to be. We just couldn't bring ourselves to voice it, yet paradoxically needing to hear it from her lips.
And so we did. "Genom, those bastards!" her voice held a vehemence I've never heard before. "When I confronted that bastard Mason he didn't even deny it just hid away behind those damn boomers of his." That statement shot cold water down my spine.
Mason, I knew that name, I knew that face. It still haunted my thoughts, and if what Irene had said was anywhere close to the truth he might not be done cleaning up whatever dirty project he was working this time. And worse if she went after him he might, might go after her too. I'm not a brave person by nature, and the thought of being there when Mason decided to finish cleaning up loose ends terrified me.
While Nene tried her best to reassure Irene that we were there for her, that we would do something, get the police involved or private detectives to look into it all I could do was hold Irene close, the shaking from her grief concealing my own fear induced shiver. Shamefully my thoughts focused more on my own fear than my friend until Nene spoke up once more in response to something Irene said when I wasn't paying attention.
"We are NOT leaving you alone right now Irene. Look, let's get you get dressed, but the last thing we're going to do is just forget about it! We won't abandon you, will we Kari?"
And just like that I knew what I had to do and what to say. "No we won't, we're here for you, it's what friends are for." I swallowed the lump in my throat, burying the cowardice that had almost made me abandon her. Genom was powerful and yes, Mason was scary, but right now, right now Irene needed us, and even if sex wasn't the answer to her problem that didn't mean I was useless. I could still be there for her, to support her and Nene, and if all else failed to share her pain. I could be her friend.
It took a quarter hour to get her dressed and moving again, but at least once started she didn't slip back into her previous despair even when left alone in the restroom briefly. Taking the chance Nene and I huddled.
"We can't leave her alone." I said, glancing over my shoulder towards the stalls as if it weren't already obvious who I was talking about.
"I agree, she needs a friend, someone to look out for her tonight…" biting her lower lip adorably Nene suddenly smiled. "Jan Ken Pon to see who looks after her?"
I stifled a little laugh, rock paper scissors might be just a child's game in the US, but the Japanese take it seriously. I even read once about how two different auction houses had to compete with Jan Ken to decide which one won the right to sell a load of antiques. With a nod my hands were in position and taking Bart Simpsons advice I choose rock. Nothing Beats Rock, and thankfully Nene was born too late to understand that and threw scissors.
"Don't worry, I've got it covered, I'll call you if anything happens." Looking up into Nene's emerald green eyes I gave her my best self-confident grin and thumbs up. We parted ways at the tube station that lead to Irene's apartment, giving Nene a smile before disappearing into the subway once more.
"You don't have to do this for me Kari san, I'll be fine really…" Irene tried again to excuse herself as we neared her stop but I wasn't having any of it. I could tell -87% certain subject lying to be polite-. Seeing the fragility behind her rich brown eyes there was no longer a question what I would do.
"You can't get rid of me that easily." I laughed a little at her confusion, a phrase out of time and place I suppose. "I mean it, I'm your friend and it isn't an imposition. If anything I should be apologizing to you for tagging along like this. I hope that you do not mind the intrusion?" Making it a question was the right move. She seemed taken aback as we exited the subway and started for the stairs.
"Oh, no, not at all, I would be happy to have you over, I just, I don't want to be a bother." Pausing at the top I took her hands and looking up into her eyes I shook my head slightly trying to impress the seriousness of my offer even while the back of my mind was jealously measuring the inches she had on me, five or six at the least!
"It is not a bother." My tone firm, I used the most formal and serious of tenses to ensure that she fully understood my sincerity. Breaking into a smile I released her hands and added in a much lighter tone. "Besides, I'm about to be kicked out of my apartment and I'm going to need a place to stay. Who says I'm not just using this as an excuse to scout out yours?"
That brought a genuine laugh for the first time since it had gotten dark enough for streetlights and she responded incredulously, "You're really getting kicked out?"
"Oh yes, I've got a nice place but it's in a development zone and I'm expecting the eviction notice any day." I was so focused on Irene that I almost didn't notice the sudden flare of headlights in time.
We were just passing through one of the transition zones from retail to residential, walking under a highway overpass. The growl of a large engine echoed louder and it was almost too late when I realized the luxury sedan wasn't just driving fast, but coming straight at us.
Instantly I could feel the world start to slow and my pulse start to race. -Warning, systems unable to maintain accelerated operation mode-. Ignoring that warning and others that vied for my attention I pushed myself hard overriding the errors ruthlessly with a small part of my mind even as I reached out to snatch Irene and pull her behind one of the support pillars with fractions of a second to spare.
With a squeal of tearing metal the car sideswiped the pillar, abused concrete cracking as chunks were blasted free by the impact. Rubble tumbled into the street even as the car swerved into a rough turn ahead of us. The world still appeared to move in slow motion and I had plenty of time to watch the driver, a woman, her eyes hidden behind dark glasses look over the results of her handiwork. A frown crossed her immaculate lips as her gaze fixed on Irene and knew we had to run.
Matching actions to thought I didn't let up on my hold one bit. I tugged Irene back the way we had come. -Warning oxygen supply insufficient for continued accelerated operations mode; time to systems failure 00:04:32:12-. Even as we ran the roar of the big V8 growled behind us, the car finishing its turn to come after us.
"Run!" I managed, sounding low and absurd to my ears, the command was probably unnecessary as beside me Irene was already moving as fast as she could. It felt as if we were stuck in molasses, the car inexorably gaining on us. I knew we couldn't beat it on foot, we needed to change the equation. Splitting my thoughts I reached out to my phone, engaging the Bluetooth functionality to send a desperate text message off to Nene, and even though only a handful of seconds passed I had more than enough time to describe the situation in full, our location, and ask her to call the police.
Looking for anything I spotted a set of stairs just beyond the underpass leading up. We reached them in the nick of time to avoid the returning car. As we dashed upwards the sedan slammed on its brakes shimmying to a halt. Lurking there, its engine rumbling we continued to run. I knew I couldn't keep this up long -00:04:23:42-, and from the frantic butterfly pulse beneath my fingers neither could Irene.
Nearing the top my phone began to ring, but it was Nene and I didn't have the time to answer it in any case so I texted a response on the fly. Once more my ability to multitask showing it's worth as we panted for breath at the top of the stairs and my message went out.
Galatea: Can't talk, running for life, get help, call police!
Unfortunately I could feel the world starting to speed back up. My systems were just unable to maintain the accelerated pace so I had to let it happen. Gone went the crystal clarity of the moment. My pulse thudded like a machinegun in my ears as I looked for somewhere else to run, or hide. Unfortunately Irene didn't wait to catch her breath or make a plan. Hand slipping free of mine she turned to run down the raised street towards downtown.
Panting erratically I started after her yelling as I noticed what she hadn't. "Wait, Irene, there's an onramp, Stop!" Unfortunately by the time I caught up the next set of stairs was still a hundred meters away, -98.4-. We were trapped out in the open as the hateful but now familiar roar of our pursuer echoed around us, the sedan barreling up the ramp and onto the road.
We turned back the way we came and ran. Panting for breath, lungs burning Irene tripped meters short of the stairs back down. I whipped my head back watching the car rush to catch us and knew it was too fast. Panicky I reached down trying to get Irene to her feet.
The woman's car squealed to a halt in the lane opposite us, only a concrete lane barrier left for cover. As I managed to haul Irene up, the coppery scent of blood from skinned knees caught my nose as if a harbinger of what was coming. The car door swung wide as a shapely feminine leg lead the way out.
I swallowed nervously as the female, or as I recognized its true nature, boomer stepped from the car. Its long trench coat billowed slightly in the wind as its head turned to regard the pair of us. My frightened expression reflected perfectly in its shiny sunglasses. Even afraid and near panic I could feel that alien strangeness, the asexual quality that advertised the woman's true nature loud and clear to my instincts but was so artfully disguised by its shape. Moving with a predatory grace toward us it vaulted the barrier without even breaking stride.
"Irene, run, run now" my voice was soft, eyes never moving from the woman, boomer that was coming. I felt oddly calm even as claws ripped free of its fingertips, a malicious smile of glee crossing its lips. This was what it lived for, was born for. Killing was this monsters passion.
Hanging onto the railing Irene gasped back "I can't, go, it's after me, save yourself." Her words were wonderful; absolving me of any guilt. That should have been all I needed to hear to run like the cowered I am, to save myself. I knew I could make it if I had to. I could push my body one last time, get away while, while this monster killed my friend.
That realization was what it took to make up my mind. -Warning system unstable accelerated mode no longer- With an effort of will I cut off the ongoing internal warnings, bypassed safety protocols and forced myself back into accelerated time just as it began to charge.
Stepping forward, the wind moaning eerily I heard Irene start to scream. I watched the enemy come setting myself firmly before it, thoughts and strategies almost blazing through my mind. Was I strong enough to block? Would it even notice a punch, could it operate in the same mode as me?
I never wished more that I knew martial arts or bemoaned my loss of height and strength than in that seemingly endless moment. It brought those razor tipped fingers swinging up to eviscerate me. And then I had a plan, if not a very good one.
I was already falling backward as the reaching talons pierced my stomach. I could think fast, react with lightning speed, but I couldn't move any faster than my assailant. Reaching out my hands caught its wrist slowing the strike. Unfortunately I wasn't strong enough to stop it completely. Continuing my fall backward I just managed to twist my head aside, avoiding the second blow aimed for my eyes.
As our combined momentum shifted and my back struck the concrete roadway I brought a foot up and planted it firmly against my attacker's hip. Despite the pain as momentum and gravity pressed her claws deeper into my stomach I let out a grunt of effort and straightened my bent knee almost explosively.
Irene was still screaming as the predatory look on the boomer's face shifted to one of surprise as its trajectory abruptly altered and in the creeping molasses of time seemed almost to float away from me. As my skull hit the asphalt I smiled through the stinging pain and watched it sail over the guard rail behind me. That fall had to be at least thirty feet, -distance to roadway 12.3 meters-.
Then mind bombarded by error messages my vision greyed out and even my processors lost track of time. With a start I felt something wet on my cheeks. "Kari, please wake up oh god you have to be alright!" Blinking my eyes clear I saw Irene above me a look of terror on her face until I began to move.
"I'm" -Reset due to system stress from accelerated operations mode, fluidics level dropping, 14.2% damage to abdominal cavity, self-repair systems functioning at 32% efficiency, time to full recovery unavailable, time to stabilization 00:15:14:00 estimated, time until cessation of systems without maintenance 84:15:00:00 estimated-.
I had been about to say fine, but that wasn't what made it past my lips "Bleeding." Even to my own ears my voice sounded thready and weak. Before she could do much more than fuss over me or my fuzzy thoughts could put together a question the sirens which had been growing in the background swelled, surprisingly loud with the arrival of police and dazed minutes later an ambulance.
All the while Irene hovered over me protectively, her words of reassurance tumbling from pale bloodless lips. That I would be okay, that she was fine, that we were safe, that I would make it. Despite that and my fumbling attempts to reassure her she didn't seem to believe it. Maybe that had something to do with the odd floating feeling I had. Almost like I was disconnected from my body and nothing happening was really, real.
As the paramedics lifted me into the ambulance a second face joined Irene's looming over me with concern, red hair came into focus first as I heard something about protecting the witness. Nene had bulled her way into the ambulance with us. I tried to smile, but wasn't sure if my lips made it when something pricked my arm and a familiar reassuring warmth began to spread down my vein.
I blinked as the first tendrils of new life reached my heart and with a beat the world seemed to rush into focus, sounds crisp, colors sharp, and the smell of antiseptic, copper, and iron filling my nostrils. I could feel the blood they were transfusing fill my veins with life, the vitality of it shocking after weeks of slow decline. Cells that had all but shut down gaining new vitality with each beat of my heart.
"Ma'am can you hear me?" An EMT asked leaning close and watching my eyes for movement. In the background I could hear another voice speaking softly but quickly, rattling off improving vital signs.
Opening my mouth I had to try twice, swallowing between to get out an answer. "Yes, I can."
"What kind of augmentation do you have? We can't get a response from the maintenance jack and need to know what we're dealing with to treat you." At his question I realized amid the many self-diagnostics and warning messages, that I had a failed hardline access request. I let out a sigh of relief. If my maintenance port hadn't been fused they would have known just what I was already.
Thankfully I had a cover story built into my MPI card. Better still it was compatible with what treatment I really did need. "TrueNature, reconstruction," I got out, my response coming in fits and starts. The pauses unfortunately not at all feigned as I had to gather my strength between each little bit. "Need blood, and…"
But seeing my difficulty and quite good at his job the medic nodded pressing a finger to my lips, "Yes, specialized nutrients and additives to your food to keep them from overwhelming your natural circulatory system. You're very lucky; with your injuries the additional strain could have overcome you."
Behind him the second man pulled out a syringe and swapping out a nearly empty blood pack for a fresh one used the additives nipple to inject several CC's of a silvery gel into the blood, palpitating the bag to mix it evenly.
As I watched him work I noticed a chill on my breast, and if not for my nature would have blushed deeply as I glanced down and realized for the first time I was naked from the waist up. Well, that is if you discounted the pressure bandages wrapped around my abdomen. Apparently they don't fool around during wound treatment and only now that I was stable enough to react did anyone seem to take notice of my state of dress.
Unfortunately the trigger for their notice was a subconscious and autonomic response stemming from mine. As the immediate threat of shutdown began to subside other hardwired instincts built into my body went to work. Hopefully the blush and blanket that quickly followed were just because the EMT thought I was cold…
Two units of blood were like heaven, unfortunately we arrived at the hospital before they had a chance to go for number three, and I knew I had to draw the line. They might not have identified me in a moving ambulance with emergency equipment but if they got me into the ER with a proper suite of tools… No, I couldn't go in there.
So, as they pulled the stretcher from the back of the ambulance, Nene and Irene following along at its side like remora I reluctantly spoke up. "Stop, I, I refuse further treatment." Licking my lip I looked from one medic to the other as their mouths gaped open.
"But, your hurt you need surgery, we already have you here…" it was obvious the senior medic didn't know quite what to do with the situation. Nene was looking at me in concern, her eyes widening with realization even as Irene began to protest. "But, Kari, you have to, you're injured, you could have died, you still might die please, you have to let them help you!"
But I just shook my head interfacing with my phone to send a quick text to Nene who was standing nearby her own shocked disbelief quickly vanishing as her mind worked along almost the same path mine had. She clearly realized I was afraid of being exposed as a boomeroid. Eyes darting from the buzzing at her waist to meet mine she slowly nodded not needing to see what I had written to understand my desire.
The argument with the two medic's didn't stop there of course, neither one was willing to let an injured topless girl just walk away, and possibly die when she obviously still needed help. They might have ignored my request entirely when Nene spoke up her voice firm enough even though I could hear the uncertainty lurking behind its official facade.
"Ceallaigh-san is within her rights to refuse treatment. She is obviously in her right mind. Her vitals are stable are they not? For you to continue to treat her against her wishes is a violation of the law. Just because we," and it was obvious just how much concern she still had over my recovery from the inflection she put into that word "Don't feel it is the right choice does not give us the authority to overrule it." She let out a breath sagging down a little after the uncharacteristic speech. Obviously her position in the AD Police didn't call on her to use her authority very often.
"Thank you Officer Romanova." I smiled, giving her my best effort at innocent eyes but from the set of her jaw I could tell it wasn't working to reduce either her concern or anger.
"You're welcome Ceallaigh-san, however you will be coming with me. As victim and witness to a boomer crime and not being held for medical treatment there is no excuse not to." The smile she gave me in revenge was so guileless I swear butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.
Unfortunately for all of us it was also loud enough that the other pair of responding officers heard her so before I could object I was whisked away into the back of a squad car, skirt, blanket, and bag holding my bloody shirt, all of it by Inspector's Leon McNichol and Daley Wong.
Wong wasn't bad; in fact he was almost as comforting a presence as Nene or Irene as the five of us rode back towards ADP headquarters. It was fairly obvious he wasn't interested in me, unlike his partner who had adjusted the rearview mirror, probably in case he could catch a free show if my blanket slipped.
Once we got to headquarters Leon's whole demeanor changed, his sunglasses no longer a shield for wandering eyes. His questions and focus, once he got past my appearance, were totally on the attack and he pulled more information from me than I even realized I had.
He was so focused it took his partner to cut him off when the pain of my injuries and the stress of the evening threatened to have me pass out. I can only imagine how much worse it might have been as a true flesh and blood woman unable to suppress most of the pain.
Riding home, Nene drove both Irene and myself. Sticky sweaty and wearing a spare blouse she'd had at work I fell asleep in the car. The aches and pain finally subsiding as I gratefully let my systems take over and dump me into a full regenerative sleep.
3-1-17
Arc 2 Chapter 6 – Tsunami Season
They'd found me. I don't know how Mason knew but he had laced my room with nanites. They infested my apartment, long strands of them waving like cilia in the ocean, dipping and swaying. Their thousands of fronds piercing my flesh and sucking me dry until with a sky darkening laugh Mason stepped into the warehouse. The brush of his foot rang hollowly against my metallic skin pressing down inexorably upon my chest until I shattered like an egg.
Unable to move, to breathe to think, I bolted upright the light of a new day shining through the window and into my eyes. A nightmare… I lay back, taking long slow breaths as my heart rate increased bringing with it full awareness and the return of rationality.
Somewhere along the line I had forgotten that dreams went two ways. It had seemed like such a win-win solution, intentionally reducing my heart rate during rest so I could dream and wake slowly to the light while at the same time reducing the strain on my systems and conserving my blood supply. I checked quickly, -fluidics at 77.5%- I sighed. Nightmare or not I would have to keep my sleeping pulse rate low if I wanted to survive, the bad dreams just another price I would have to pay.
My morning routine seemed to drag. Maybe I could call in sick, claim to have the flu… it was certainly starting to feel that way. Unfortunately I didn't have any sick time saved up. Damn it, I was a transfer employee, couldn't Nene have at least been nice enough to give me some accrued sick leave?
I wasn't hungry, or rather wasn't in the mood to eat. Skipping breakfast ironically made me feel more like a part of humanity than I had in the last week. Not that it was an improvement as I joined the rest of humanities drones on my way in to work. The crush of the subway didn't bother me as it usually did. The concentrated pheromone's of its passengers a muted presence and my autonomous responses seemed equally detached. Even if nothing else had been concerning that raised a big red flag. I really was running down, dying.
I spent the morning being intentionally cheerful. The last thing I wanted was to draw my co-workers attention. I even treated myself to a whole grapefruit at lunch. I still didn't feel like eating but all the alerts and warnings were starting to get to me. Adding an extra two drops of sweet oil as a treat helped. Cranking my metabolism up another three beats a minute on my way to the gym helped even more and had me feeling almost normal as I met Nene at the door.
With a smile I touched her hand briefly, giving it a squeeze in welcome, no words needed to be said as we headed inside. I'm not sure if it was due to my good planning or Nene's habitual reticence towards exercise but we were among the last to arrive. This time it was easier to change amidst the others. Perhaps I've managed to absorb some of the Japanese ability to be alone in a crowd.
Detouring on my way into class I pulled Linna aside. "I'm not feeling the best, a little under the weather so I might not be able to keep up…" my posture subliminally shaped to play upon her conscience, implying a slightly more serious issue but not TOO serious. I loved my instincts, my preprogramed responses and skills, every now and then, they really do make interpersonal relationships easier.
It's a good thing I can make use of them too, as no matter how poorly I felt I still looked like a thousand bucks, or more accurately the roughly sixty million yen of my original price tag. Damn inflation.
She gave a slight frown but nodded, "Alright, try to keep up but if you can't don't push yourself. You should get a checkup; if your prostheses aren't balanced right it could be causing problems." I could see she wanted to say more, or perhaps lecture me a bit but the rest of class had finished entering in the brief time we talked. With a polite little bobbing kowtow I retreated to my spot at the back of the class.
As I took my place between Nene and Irene I realized I wasn't the only one having a rough day. While Nene was as chipper and perky as ever Irene looked awful. There were dark circles beneath her eyes and a depressed pall hung over every motion, but before I could ask class started and she threw herself into it with abandon.
I paced myself, keeping a sharp eye on energy use to production ratios, honestly concerned about my ability to maintain more strenuous activity. Once I was sure I could keep up with the class without deleterious effect I sped up, much to Nene's chagrin as she had been matching my pace rather than keeping up with Linna. I could feel her accusing gaze complaining about the loss of her excuse to slack off. I of course just gave her a cheerful smile in response.
On my other side however Irene was like a dervish, throwing herself into every exercise and pushing hard enough to make up for both Nene and my slack pace. As class ended at least six eyes were watching Irene with concern but she just shook off my light touch when I asked "Are you alright?" Instead she hurried into the locker room leaving behind a concerned if sweaty and tired duo and Linna who was still sickeningly fresh.
Freshly showered and dried I leaned against the lockers waiting for Nene to finish getting dressed. The cool metal of the locker against my back was a relaxing sensation, and the sense I concentrated on as I kept my eyes closed. Hopefully Nene mistook the reason for that as relaxation not bashfulness. The strangers around me were no problem, but catching sight of Nene coming out of the shower had made me seriously doubt that I had made any progress earlier that day in acclimating to my new situation.
"Say Ne-chan, oh goddess, gift to mankind, and computer guru…" not a very unique attempt to butter someone up but then I wasn't trying to be subtle. "I ah, think I could use your help again." Feeling the glower she shot me I peeked my eyes open grinning a little to see the mock sternness of her gaze, my attempt to pander as obvious to her as myself, oh and her pink bra. Quickly shutting my eyes again I went on. "You know how my apartment is so nice, and big, and… temporary? Well I think Genom is getting ready to plow us under. I know they have to give two days' notice but I noticed a construction trailer at the end of the street today so it's just a matter of time."
Nene's answer was hesitant, - 87% certain subject anxious about topic-. "Um, I'm sorry I would put you up, really but, I just can't." Her eyes and face were downcast as I opened mine once more a bit surprised by her assumption, and a little concerned over why she couldn't have a roommate. Her denial seemed far more absolute than I expected and somehow out of character for her.
Feeling slightly hurt I hurried to assure her that my favor wasn't anything of the kind. "Oh, that isn't really what I meant at all." I was relieved to see her relax, the ribbon her fingers had been unintentionally knotting released to hang smooth again. "I just wanted to ask you to help me apartment hunt for a new place, and maybe be a character reference. I mean, having one of the all-powerful AD police vouch for my integrity has to count for something right?"
Letting out a relieved laugh as the tension drained from her completely I wondered just why she would feel so apprehensive about living with me. Nene opened her mouth to answer when we overheard a soft sob from the showers.
Exchanging worried glances we rose as one and moved to investigate. We were just about the last to finish changing; me because of my efforts to keep to myself and Nene because of her slavish hedonistic devotion to the showers endless supply of hot water. So when we reached the showers it was surprising to find one still in use.
Irene stood in the end stall slumped against the wall as her shoulders heaved and silent tears dripped down her cheeks. Her skin was pale and pruned from standing under the shower and I had to gently coax her out of the stall. Nene grabbed a towel as I drew Irene into a gentle hug heedless of the water soaking into my clothing.
A few moments and feet later I drew her down onto one of the benches, my grip only loosening to allow Nene to tuck her into the folds of a fluffy towel. "Irene, hey, are you okay?" I admit not the most original thing to say but I wasn't really sure what to do in this situation, and for once my inner voice wasn't pelting me with suggestions of how to use sex to solve it.
She was quiet for a few moments. Irene just huddled against me as she took slowly deepening breaths and pulled herself together. All while Nene stood at her other side shooting me concerned glances full of questions for which I had no answers.
Finally Irene spoke. "Kenshiro's dead," her voice a soft, pain filled whimper. It only took a moment before I placed the name, her fiancé. Giving her another slight squeeze of support it was as if a dam that had been holding back her words burst and she began to speak with a nervous, sobbing, furious intensity.
"They killed him. They say it was an accident, an "unfortunate accident" but I know better. He told me he had been moved to a new project, one that he couldn't talk about but he was scared. I could see it in his eyes, the pressure he was under. He said that they were done, that yesterday was the last day and then he could come back and they murdered him to keep it all quiet!"
Patting her on the back I was about to speak up but Nene beat me to it. "Who?" she asked, the question pulled almost unwillingly from her lips as we both knew who it had to be. We just couldn't bring ourselves to voice it, yet paradoxically needing to hear it from her lips.
And so we did. "Genom, those bastards!" her voice held a vehemence I've never heard before. "When I confronted that bastard Mason he didn't even deny it just hid away behind those damn boomers of his." That statement shot cold water down my spine.
Mason, I knew that name, I knew that face. It still haunted my thoughts, and if what Irene had said was anywhere close to the truth he might not be done cleaning up whatever dirty project he was working this time. And worse if she went after him he might, might go after her too. I'm not a brave person by nature, and the thought of being there when Mason decided to finish cleaning up loose ends terrified me.
While Nene tried her best to reassure Irene that we were there for her, that we would do something, get the police involved or private detectives to look into it all I could do was hold Irene close, the shaking from her grief concealing my own fear induced shiver. Shamefully my thoughts focused more on my own fear than my friend until Nene spoke up once more in response to something Irene said when I wasn't paying attention.
"We are NOT leaving you alone right now Irene. Look, let's get you get dressed, but the last thing we're going to do is just forget about it! We won't abandon you, will we Kari?"
And just like that I knew what I had to do and what to say. "No we won't, we're here for you, it's what friends are for." I swallowed the lump in my throat, burying the cowardice that had almost made me abandon her. Genom was powerful and yes, Mason was scary, but right now, right now Irene needed us, and even if sex wasn't the answer to her problem that didn't mean I was useless. I could still be there for her, to support her and Nene, and if all else failed to share her pain. I could be her friend.
It took a quarter hour to get her dressed and moving again, but at least once started she didn't slip back into her previous despair even when left alone in the restroom briefly. Taking the chance Nene and I huddled.
"We can't leave her alone." I said, glancing over my shoulder towards the stalls as if it weren't already obvious who I was talking about.
"I agree, she needs a friend, someone to look out for her tonight…" biting her lower lip adorably Nene suddenly smiled. "Jan Ken Pon to see who looks after her?"
I stifled a little laugh, rock paper scissors might be just a child's game in the US, but the Japanese take it seriously. I even read once about how two different auction houses had to compete with Jan Ken to decide which one won the right to sell a load of antiques. With a nod my hands were in position and taking Bart Simpsons advice I choose rock. Nothing Beats Rock, and thankfully Nene was born too late to understand that and threw scissors.
"Don't worry, I've got it covered, I'll call you if anything happens." Looking up into Nene's emerald green eyes I gave her my best self-confident grin and thumbs up. We parted ways at the tube station that lead to Irene's apartment, giving Nene a smile before disappearing into the subway once more.
"You don't have to do this for me Kari san, I'll be fine really…" Irene tried again to excuse herself as we neared her stop but I wasn't having any of it. I could tell -87% certain subject lying to be polite-. Seeing the fragility behind her rich brown eyes there was no longer a question what I would do.
"You can't get rid of me that easily." I laughed a little at her confusion, a phrase out of time and place I suppose. "I mean it, I'm your friend and it isn't an imposition. If anything I should be apologizing to you for tagging along like this. I hope that you do not mind the intrusion?" Making it a question was the right move. She seemed taken aback as we exited the subway and started for the stairs.
"Oh, no, not at all, I would be happy to have you over, I just, I don't want to be a bother." Pausing at the top I took her hands and looking up into her eyes I shook my head slightly trying to impress the seriousness of my offer even while the back of my mind was jealously measuring the inches she had on me, five or six at the least!
"It is not a bother." My tone firm, I used the most formal and serious of tenses to ensure that she fully understood my sincerity. Breaking into a smile I released her hands and added in a much lighter tone. "Besides, I'm about to be kicked out of my apartment and I'm going to need a place to stay. Who says I'm not just using this as an excuse to scout out yours?"
That brought a genuine laugh for the first time since it had gotten dark enough for streetlights and she responded incredulously, "You're really getting kicked out?"
"Oh yes, I've got a nice place but it's in a development zone and I'm expecting the eviction notice any day." I was so focused on Irene that I almost didn't notice the sudden flare of headlights in time.
We were just passing through one of the transition zones from retail to residential, walking under a highway overpass. The growl of a large engine echoed louder and it was almost too late when I realized the luxury sedan wasn't just driving fast, but coming straight at us.
Instantly I could feel the world start to slow and my pulse start to race. -Warning, systems unable to maintain accelerated operation mode-. Ignoring that warning and others that vied for my attention I pushed myself hard overriding the errors ruthlessly with a small part of my mind even as I reached out to snatch Irene and pull her behind one of the support pillars with fractions of a second to spare.
With a squeal of tearing metal the car sideswiped the pillar, abused concrete cracking as chunks were blasted free by the impact. Rubble tumbled into the street even as the car swerved into a rough turn ahead of us. The world still appeared to move in slow motion and I had plenty of time to watch the driver, a woman, her eyes hidden behind dark glasses look over the results of her handiwork. A frown crossed her immaculate lips as her gaze fixed on Irene and knew we had to run.
Matching actions to thought I didn't let up on my hold one bit. I tugged Irene back the way we had come. -Warning oxygen supply insufficient for continued accelerated operations mode; time to systems failure 00:04:32:12-. Even as we ran the roar of the big V8 growled behind us, the car finishing its turn to come after us.
"Run!" I managed, sounding low and absurd to my ears, the command was probably unnecessary as beside me Irene was already moving as fast as she could. It felt as if we were stuck in molasses, the car inexorably gaining on us. I knew we couldn't beat it on foot, we needed to change the equation. Splitting my thoughts I reached out to my phone, engaging the Bluetooth functionality to send a desperate text message off to Nene, and even though only a handful of seconds passed I had more than enough time to describe the situation in full, our location, and ask her to call the police.
Looking for anything I spotted a set of stairs just beyond the underpass leading up. We reached them in the nick of time to avoid the returning car. As we dashed upwards the sedan slammed on its brakes shimmying to a halt. Lurking there, its engine rumbling we continued to run. I knew I couldn't keep this up long -00:04:23:42-, and from the frantic butterfly pulse beneath my fingers neither could Irene.
Nearing the top my phone began to ring, but it was Nene and I didn't have the time to answer it in any case so I texted a response on the fly. Once more my ability to multitask showing it's worth as we panted for breath at the top of the stairs and my message went out.
Galatea: Can't talk, running for life, get help, call police!
Unfortunately I could feel the world starting to speed back up. My systems were just unable to maintain the accelerated pace so I had to let it happen. Gone went the crystal clarity of the moment. My pulse thudded like a machinegun in my ears as I looked for somewhere else to run, or hide. Unfortunately Irene didn't wait to catch her breath or make a plan. Hand slipping free of mine she turned to run down the raised street towards downtown.
Panting erratically I started after her yelling as I noticed what she hadn't. "Wait, Irene, there's an onramp, Stop!" Unfortunately by the time I caught up the next set of stairs was still a hundred meters away, -98.4-. We were trapped out in the open as the hateful but now familiar roar of our pursuer echoed around us, the sedan barreling up the ramp and onto the road.
We turned back the way we came and ran. Panting for breath, lungs burning Irene tripped meters short of the stairs back down. I whipped my head back watching the car rush to catch us and knew it was too fast. Panicky I reached down trying to get Irene to her feet.
The woman's car squealed to a halt in the lane opposite us, only a concrete lane barrier left for cover. As I managed to haul Irene up, the coppery scent of blood from skinned knees caught my nose as if a harbinger of what was coming. The car door swung wide as a shapely feminine leg lead the way out.
I swallowed nervously as the female, or as I recognized its true nature, boomer stepped from the car. Its long trench coat billowed slightly in the wind as its head turned to regard the pair of us. My frightened expression reflected perfectly in its shiny sunglasses. Even afraid and near panic I could feel that alien strangeness, the asexual quality that advertised the woman's true nature loud and clear to my instincts but was so artfully disguised by its shape. Moving with a predatory grace toward us it vaulted the barrier without even breaking stride.
"Irene, run, run now" my voice was soft, eyes never moving from the woman, boomer that was coming. I felt oddly calm even as claws ripped free of its fingertips, a malicious smile of glee crossing its lips. This was what it lived for, was born for. Killing was this monsters passion.
Hanging onto the railing Irene gasped back "I can't, go, it's after me, save yourself." Her words were wonderful; absolving me of any guilt. That should have been all I needed to hear to run like the cowered I am, to save myself. I knew I could make it if I had to. I could push my body one last time, get away while, while this monster killed my friend.
That realization was what it took to make up my mind. -Warning system unstable accelerated mode no longer- With an effort of will I cut off the ongoing internal warnings, bypassed safety protocols and forced myself back into accelerated time just as it began to charge.
Stepping forward, the wind moaning eerily I heard Irene start to scream. I watched the enemy come setting myself firmly before it, thoughts and strategies almost blazing through my mind. Was I strong enough to block? Would it even notice a punch, could it operate in the same mode as me?
I never wished more that I knew martial arts or bemoaned my loss of height and strength than in that seemingly endless moment. It brought those razor tipped fingers swinging up to eviscerate me. And then I had a plan, if not a very good one.
I was already falling backward as the reaching talons pierced my stomach. I could think fast, react with lightning speed, but I couldn't move any faster than my assailant. Reaching out my hands caught its wrist slowing the strike. Unfortunately I wasn't strong enough to stop it completely. Continuing my fall backward I just managed to twist my head aside, avoiding the second blow aimed for my eyes.
As our combined momentum shifted and my back struck the concrete roadway I brought a foot up and planted it firmly against my attacker's hip. Despite the pain as momentum and gravity pressed her claws deeper into my stomach I let out a grunt of effort and straightened my bent knee almost explosively.
Irene was still screaming as the predatory look on the boomer's face shifted to one of surprise as its trajectory abruptly altered and in the creeping molasses of time seemed almost to float away from me. As my skull hit the asphalt I smiled through the stinging pain and watched it sail over the guard rail behind me. That fall had to be at least thirty feet, -distance to roadway 12.3 meters-.
Then mind bombarded by error messages my vision greyed out and even my processors lost track of time. With a start I felt something wet on my cheeks. "Kari, please wake up oh god you have to be alright!" Blinking my eyes clear I saw Irene above me a look of terror on her face until I began to move.
"I'm" -Reset due to system stress from accelerated operations mode, fluidics level dropping, 14.2% damage to abdominal cavity, self-repair systems functioning at 32% efficiency, time to full recovery unavailable, time to stabilization 00:15:14:00 estimated, time until cessation of systems without maintenance 84:15:00:00 estimated-.
I had been about to say fine, but that wasn't what made it past my lips "Bleeding." Even to my own ears my voice sounded thready and weak. Before she could do much more than fuss over me or my fuzzy thoughts could put together a question the sirens which had been growing in the background swelled, surprisingly loud with the arrival of police and dazed minutes later an ambulance.
All the while Irene hovered over me protectively, her words of reassurance tumbling from pale bloodless lips. That I would be okay, that she was fine, that we were safe, that I would make it. Despite that and my fumbling attempts to reassure her she didn't seem to believe it. Maybe that had something to do with the odd floating feeling I had. Almost like I was disconnected from my body and nothing happening was really, real.
As the paramedics lifted me into the ambulance a second face joined Irene's looming over me with concern, red hair came into focus first as I heard something about protecting the witness. Nene had bulled her way into the ambulance with us. I tried to smile, but wasn't sure if my lips made it when something pricked my arm and a familiar reassuring warmth began to spread down my vein.
I blinked as the first tendrils of new life reached my heart and with a beat the world seemed to rush into focus, sounds crisp, colors sharp, and the smell of antiseptic, copper, and iron filling my nostrils. I could feel the blood they were transfusing fill my veins with life, the vitality of it shocking after weeks of slow decline. Cells that had all but shut down gaining new vitality with each beat of my heart.
"Ma'am can you hear me?" An EMT asked leaning close and watching my eyes for movement. In the background I could hear another voice speaking softly but quickly, rattling off improving vital signs.
Opening my mouth I had to try twice, swallowing between to get out an answer. "Yes, I can."
"What kind of augmentation do you have? We can't get a response from the maintenance jack and need to know what we're dealing with to treat you." At his question I realized amid the many self-diagnostics and warning messages, that I had a failed hardline access request. I let out a sigh of relief. If my maintenance port hadn't been fused they would have known just what I was already.
Thankfully I had a cover story built into my MPI card. Better still it was compatible with what treatment I really did need. "TrueNature, reconstruction," I got out, my response coming in fits and starts. The pauses unfortunately not at all feigned as I had to gather my strength between each little bit. "Need blood, and…"
But seeing my difficulty and quite good at his job the medic nodded pressing a finger to my lips, "Yes, specialized nutrients and additives to your food to keep them from overwhelming your natural circulatory system. You're very lucky; with your injuries the additional strain could have overcome you."
Behind him the second man pulled out a syringe and swapping out a nearly empty blood pack for a fresh one used the additives nipple to inject several CC's of a silvery gel into the blood, palpitating the bag to mix it evenly.
As I watched him work I noticed a chill on my breast, and if not for my nature would have blushed deeply as I glanced down and realized for the first time I was naked from the waist up. Well, that is if you discounted the pressure bandages wrapped around my abdomen. Apparently they don't fool around during wound treatment and only now that I was stable enough to react did anyone seem to take notice of my state of dress.
Unfortunately the trigger for their notice was a subconscious and autonomic response stemming from mine. As the immediate threat of shutdown began to subside other hardwired instincts built into my body went to work. Hopefully the blush and blanket that quickly followed were just because the EMT thought I was cold…
Two units of blood were like heaven, unfortunately we arrived at the hospital before they had a chance to go for number three, and I knew I had to draw the line. They might not have identified me in a moving ambulance with emergency equipment but if they got me into the ER with a proper suite of tools… No, I couldn't go in there.
So, as they pulled the stretcher from the back of the ambulance, Nene and Irene following along at its side like remora I reluctantly spoke up. "Stop, I, I refuse further treatment." Licking my lip I looked from one medic to the other as their mouths gaped open.
"But, your hurt you need surgery, we already have you here…" it was obvious the senior medic didn't know quite what to do with the situation. Nene was looking at me in concern, her eyes widening with realization even as Irene began to protest. "But, Kari, you have to, you're injured, you could have died, you still might die please, you have to let them help you!"
But I just shook my head interfacing with my phone to send a quick text to Nene who was standing nearby her own shocked disbelief quickly vanishing as her mind worked along almost the same path mine had. She clearly realized I was afraid of being exposed as a boomeroid. Eyes darting from the buzzing at her waist to meet mine she slowly nodded not needing to see what I had written to understand my desire.
The argument with the two medic's didn't stop there of course, neither one was willing to let an injured topless girl just walk away, and possibly die when she obviously still needed help. They might have ignored my request entirely when Nene spoke up her voice firm enough even though I could hear the uncertainty lurking behind its official facade.
"Ceallaigh-san is within her rights to refuse treatment. She is obviously in her right mind. Her vitals are stable are they not? For you to continue to treat her against her wishes is a violation of the law. Just because we," and it was obvious just how much concern she still had over my recovery from the inflection she put into that word "Don't feel it is the right choice does not give us the authority to overrule it." She let out a breath sagging down a little after the uncharacteristic speech. Obviously her position in the AD Police didn't call on her to use her authority very often.
"Thank you Officer Romanova." I smiled, giving her my best effort at innocent eyes but from the set of her jaw I could tell it wasn't working to reduce either her concern or anger.
"You're welcome Ceallaigh-san, however you will be coming with me. As victim and witness to a boomer crime and not being held for medical treatment there is no excuse not to." The smile she gave me in revenge was so guileless I swear butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.
Unfortunately for all of us it was also loud enough that the other pair of responding officers heard her so before I could object I was whisked away into the back of a squad car, skirt, blanket, and bag holding my bloody shirt, all of it by Inspector's Leon McNichol and Daley Wong.
Wong wasn't bad; in fact he was almost as comforting a presence as Nene or Irene as the five of us rode back towards ADP headquarters. It was fairly obvious he wasn't interested in me, unlike his partner who had adjusted the rearview mirror, probably in case he could catch a free show if my blanket slipped.
Once we got to headquarters Leon's whole demeanor changed, his sunglasses no longer a shield for wandering eyes. His questions and focus, once he got past my appearance, were totally on the attack and he pulled more information from me than I even realized I had.
He was so focused it took his partner to cut him off when the pain of my injuries and the stress of the evening threatened to have me pass out. I can only imagine how much worse it might have been as a true flesh and blood woman unable to suppress most of the pain.
Riding home, Nene drove both Irene and myself. Sticky sweaty and wearing a spare blouse she'd had at work I fell asleep in the car. The aches and pain finally subsiding as I gratefully let my systems take over and dump me into a full regenerative sleep.
3-1-17
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UrsaTempest
Don't Panic!
The jig is up!
Or about to, at least.
Or about to, at least.
- Location
- Australia
*Dramatic music*
So, who's home are they going to, Irenes, Nenes, or Karis.
So, who's home are they going to, Irenes, Nenes, or Karis.
Who's do you want it to be? And more, what differences do you think there would be depending on the answer?
arc 2 chapter 7
Frozen Butterfly 2 a story of Bubblegum Crisis
Arc 2 Chapter 7 – Whiteout
My arm was too hot, and my back was too cold. I felt the aching pain of my abdominal injury, but strangely it was the feel of something soft gently brushing along the fingers of one hand that absorbed my attention.
Waking up after a traumatic injury curled up in bed with a girl is a surreal experience.
My first impression was that I was dreaming, but the warning and status messages that began to clamor for my attention proved that wasn't the case quickly enough. Without moving, I tried to figure out just how I had gotten into this situation when a more pressing concern arose. How to keep from sneezing due to the full head of red hair my nose was buried in?
The first answer was simple enough, apparently even when asleep my subconscious is programed to cuddle, the second took a bit more effort. I squirmed a bit as I worked out how to override the natural reaction to a ticklish nose.
Nene let out a little gasp, and I could feel her tense in my arms. Yes, I was behind her one arm under the other wrapped around her waist with my knees pulled up spooning the young AD Policewoman. The fingers slowly tracing the contours of my hand fled as Nene quickly squirmed free of my embrace a touch of embarrassment in her voice. "Kari, you're awake!"
At first it was difficult to tell if she was more upset or embarrassed, but as she moved I could see we weren't alone on the futon. Just beyond her the reason my back was cold became obvious. Irene was hogging the sheets, curled with the majority of the covers and groaning softly at the sudden movement and noise before she buried her head further away from the light streaming through the windows.
I tried to sit up as well, stomach muscles clenching before a sharp pain in my gut convinced me that wasn't a good idea. Flopping back onto the futon and staring up at the ceiling, I turned my head slightly to catch Nene's eye. "What are you doing here, and, why are you in my nightshirt?"
It seemed a slightly safer question than what are you doing in my bed. It was kind of cute to see her cheeks redden to match her hair but she managed to change the emotion into a huff of annoyance, or at least disguise it so before responding with a question of her own. "You really don't remember?"
While I shook my head slightly Irene gave a muffled protesting moan from the bundle of fabric as Nene spoke up again. "Well, I guess you were pretty out of it. After we got you in the car you just passed out, and then when we got here we woke you up, or thought we had. Did you know you sleep walk?"
Shaking my head I tried to figure out how that might have happened. To my surprise I found an entire suite of subroutines designed to make transporting me easier. I really could have gone with them, all without needing to engage my primary processors. That realization was a little scary.
"Anyway after we got you upstairs and clean, we put you to bed. But by the then it was really late, and we were both tired so, we just kind of raided your closet and stayed." She looked over at Irene's pile of blankets for a moment before leaning down to whisper, "I didn't think it was a good idea to leave either of you alone."
I nodded up at her and otherwise lay still. Even though I had the energy I couldn't muster the will to get moving this morning. Abandoning me to the mercies of the sun, Nene slipped off to the small kitchen area of the apartment. She made several disapproving noises as she searched my cupboard, rather bare given my own minimal needs, for anything to eat and didn't have much luck.
"Grapefruit, Spinach, Water and… is this machine oil in your refrigerator?" Nene called out incredulously. "If this diet is what it takes to look that good I don't think I want to."
"There's ice cream in the freezer." I shot back a little defensively. I don't know why just… I guess it's never pleasant to feel like a freak no matter to how small a degree. Running fingers over my nightshirt and the pressure bandage beneath it I nervously called up an internal diagnostic. Fluidics systems at 86%, Ocular systems at 81.2%, Damage to abdominal cavity and associated musculature 10.2% all damage has been contained, time to repair 123:12:00 at current rate. Unit function limited by 14.3% within operational limitations, 5.6% exceeding operational limitations.
I was going to be okay. Hell, I was even a bit better off than before the attack. Now if I could just figure out some way to get injured like that on a bi-weekly or monthly basis to get the transfusions…
Nene's voice pulled me out of the idle contemplation of future mayhem. "Well, I guess we'll make do. You better get Irene up; I don't know if she has to do anything today." Her voice cut through my ruminations tickling the back of my mind and I sat up grimacing; my stomach aching in pain as I forgot to move slowly.
"Yes mother!" I answered her, my tone conveying my thoughts on the subject well. Crawling over to Irene I laughed at the incredible tangle she had managed to make of the covers. Reaching out I gently shook what I thought was a shoulder. "Hey, Irene, time to get up."
It took a second shake before she reluctantly began disentangling herself and I doubt she would have if she thought for a moment she could get away with sleeping in. But in just a few minutes we were all up, looking somewhat bedraggled kneeling around my sole table wearing my entire collection of nightshirts prepared to have breakfast.
"You woke me up for this?" Irene's voice was arch as she looked at the third of a grapefruit and slice of lettuce laid out in the bowl before her. "At least tell me you have sugar I can sprinkle on it…" I had to smile at the dismay displayed on her face when she realized that there really wasn't any to be had.
I'm a bad person and maybe because I was feeling a little under the weather but somehow watching my friends suffer through what to me was a perfectly appetizing and filling breakfast perked me right back up. "Thank you guys for looking after me." I gave them each a small smile and bow of thanks. Nene blushed and quickly murmured, "It was nothing."
"Oh?" her reaction was possibly better than the grapefruit. I turned to Irene hoping she would explain the strange response looking forward to a juicy story. -95% certain behavior indicative of embarrassment-, like I hadn't figured that out for myself.
"It's nothing much," Irene started her tone droll, continuing despite a maligned "Don't you dare!" from Nene. "It's just that little Nene-chan here lost at Jan Ken and that's why you're not all messy this morning."
A warm little sensation began to crawl up my body as I realized that I was clean. Nene had taken the time and embarrassment last night to wash me off rather than leave me itching with dried blood all over my body. Still, gratitude aside, it was too good an opportunity to pass up teasing my ma-most dear friend. "Oh thank you Ne-Chan. I know it couldn't have been much fun, having to rub my naked body, all over, but I'm really very grateful that you did…" I stressed the "all over" and gave her a sensuous little wiggle to improve the teasing.
Even as Nene turned red as a tomato Irene and I lost the fight to hold back our laughter. A moment later Nene joined us. "Oh, you two are just so bad!" she exclaimed as the noise level dropped. "See if I ever do that again." Hands slapped over her mouth as what came out sounding worse than intended before we all broke into laughter a second time.
Laughing that hard actually hurt and I fell back lying down and started to beg, "S-stop, making me, laugh, it hurts" Holding my sore belly and trying to suppress the giggles.
Thankfully this did end the teasing as Nene's expression grew concerned before a glance at her watch had her standing up to glare down at the pair of us, fists on hips. The pose was somewhat ruined by the fact the nightshirt she was wearing had a print of an adorable kitten rearing back trying to look fierce on it. "It's nothing more than you deserve for picking on me. Anyway I have to go to work. Will you be okay, both of you?"
I nodded and glancing over saw Irene agree as well. "We'll be fine, go on you can visit after work."
With a bob of her head she disappeared into the bathroom to change and was out about the same time Irene had finished cleaning up the dishes. Tossing my shirt onto the counter Nene slipped on her shoes and was out the door. Some of the light and life of the apartment seemed to leave with her.
Looking over at me with a searching gaze Irene examined me critically, "Will you really be okay? I know you said you'll be fine, but she stabbed you, and there was all that blood." I think Irene was paler than I was as she fell back into her memory of the previous evening. "How could you say no to the hospital, what if you're not alright?"
It took a moment to decide just how to answer her, how much to tell. "Well, you heard the paramedics' last night about how I've got cybernetics?" Seeing her nod I took a breath, the familiar physical sensation useful in steadying myself to go on.
"Well, I don't just have some cybernetics," I said my voice softening with each phrase. "I have a lot." The next time I spoke it was so quiet she had to lean forward and listen close to hear my words. "I have enough that just a fraction more and I'll be a boomeroid. I was in a bad accident, and, well, I don't like hospitals, not anymore. All it would take is one doctor making a little change and I could lose all my rights. Besides, I have ah, diagnostics. I can sort of tell how bad it is, and that part of me is mostly fake anyway…"
Her eyes widened then narrowed as she considered my words. I know she hadn't guessed the truth or even how extensive I claimed things were, but I could tell, -87% certain-, I had her full sympathy and trust in that moment.
"That, that's awful, I'm sorry Kari, I really am. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me. You saved my life." Her words were spoken with a quiet intensity I had to believe, -94% certain subject feels devotion and trust-.
"Well..." okay I probably shouldn't ask. She's emotionally fragile. It would be taking advantage of her good will… -Indications subject will not grant request at this time too low to be meaningfully calculated-. "Do you have room for one more in your apartment?" Damn it, I went and asked anyway. I must be a terrible person.
"Oh, OH, yes, of course I do." I saw her blink aside a tear and swallow to keep some strong emotion at bay. A moment's thought and I knew why. Her fiancé... they were probably about to move in together and now I was taking his place.
"Thank you." I carefully pushed myself back up to a kneeling position and set my hand atop hers squeezing it gently. "This means a lot to me." It would also let me keep an eye on her. Make sure she really was alright after all the excitement and sadness of the last few days. It was little cynical I admitted if only to myself but at least I would be able to pay back my selfishness this way.
The rest of the day fell into place with surprising ease. A call into work, and I was on short term disability. The handbook said I would need a doctor's note to get off, but worrying over that now would just be borrowing trouble. We spent most of the afternoon boxing up all my things. Not because I had so much, but because neither of us really wanted to rush it. Once we finished we would have to deal with the sword hanging over our heads.
Someone had tried to kill Irene, and doubtless they were now after us both. A person most likely named Brian J. Mason, Executive level bastard in the largest most untouchable and powerful corporation to ever grace the face of this earth. The only real chance we had was that he wouldn't dare another public attack now that the police were involved.
Going to sleep that evening, in a new apartment, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling and listening as Irene's breathing slowed down, I was left with just one thought before I went to sleep. We're screwed.
Snapping awake I sat up and looked around. Not from confusion, I knew instantly where I was and what was going on, but because I remembered my last thoughts before bed. Thankfully the only movement in the apartment was Irene halfheartedly getting breakfast.
Today was Kenshiro's funeral. The sky was overcast when we arrived, but thankfully the rain held off during the service. It was a quiet, depressing ceremony and went by quickly. I felt out of place wearing a borrowed black dress but was able to fake familiarity so well his mother thought I had been a friend of his for years.
I watched silently as she spoke to others there, who had known Kenshiro for real. As they told stories I wondered how they could include me so easily after just a few innocent words when I knew it was all a sham. Looking at the black draped picture frame I wondered what kind of a man he was. Would we really have become friends, or just distant acquaintances through Irene? I would never know.
As a light rain began to fall we got into her car. The ride back was quiet. The weather matched my morose mood. All I could think about was that it could have been me, or maybe that it had been me years ago. I had missed my own funeral and in some strange way this one felt like a replacement.
I was grateful when Irene asked to be alone after we got back. I could see she needed a good private cry and so I quietly slipped out of the apartment. I had one last thing I needed to pick up from my apartment anyway.
The guns.
When we packed things up, I had hidden them away in fear that Irene would see. But sitting through the funeral, uncomfortably aware of the mass of humanity around me, I realized how naive I had been. We were being hunted. If anything she should be relieved to have guns available, not frightened of them.
When I got back I decided to reveal their existence to Irene, but rather than explain I had them before the attack I would just say I got them afterwards for defense. Yes, that would work, it would have to, we needed the protection. Looking up I cursed, it might already be too late.
Ahead of me was a wall of orange steel and flashing lights, a crowd already gathered as heavy construction equipment moved into place around my old apartment. So much for the two day notice. If I didn't miss my guess, the building was going down now or at least within the hour.
I heard the yelling before I saw her. A striking brunette with memorable red hued eyes, she had a voice like a drill instructor; it was vibrant and cut through the background racket as contemptuously as her words were dressing down the unfortunate cop in front of her.
To my surprise I recognized the policeman she was yelling at as well; Inspector McNichol. What on earth were the AD Police doing here? Keeping an eye out on construction boomers? It was what he said next that made my step falter for a moment and really caught my attention though. "What they're doing is legal."
Wait, what? No it isn't. I took a step toward the pair when through a break in the crowd I spotted Mason beside one of the wrecking machines beyond it. Heart thumping, blood rushing in my ears I turn planning to run when I hear a voice call my name and a hand lightly lands on my shoulder. "Kari? It is you, are you alright? We were actually coming by to talk with you when we ran into this little situation."
It was Inspector Wong, McNichol's partner, and I let my heart rate slow, and my panicked grasp on accelerated time loosen as the fear began to subside. Twisting a little so that even if Mason were to look my way he wouldn't see anything more than my back, I gave the inspector a fair imitation of a smile.
"Yes, well… I'm feeling okay," I almost stopped there but what Genom was doing bothered me. "But what your partner said isn't true. We never received notice and by contract they're required to give us two days to leave. If you check the apartment manager's office the physical paper work is probably still there or you can get the electronic copies on file with the city." Hearing the rumble of machinery starting up I go on. "Either way you better hurry or it's all going to be moot; I won't have a door to knock on."
He took only a moment to look into my eyes before nodding and with a swift stride turned back to his partner and rescued him from the brunet's wrath by dragging him along to confront Mason and the demolition coordinator. I took the chance to slip into the crowd becoming one with its anonymity idly noting a woman slip past the safety line to run into the building.
It was a tragedy waiting to happen, thankfully Inspector Wong seemed to be as silver tongued as quick footed, and I imagine the idea of waiting one or two days versus the probable class action lawsuit, possible manslaughter, and the associated costs of litigation were enough to convince Mason to halt the vehicles before they did more than rumble loose a few window panes. His chance to beat down the proletariat would have to wait for another day.
It took them a few minutes to get organized but then a loud clear voice echoed throughout the block with an announcement. "As of 5:45 pm all residents are hereby given notice to depart the premises or be evicted. Demolition will begin in exactly 48 hours. Anyone still on the premises at that time will be incarcerated."
The announcement was met with a ragged cheer, rather halfhearted given that this was only a stay of execution but it still kind of felt like triumph. I joined in the yell, blending with the others as best as I could, eyes following Mason as he walked off. Arrogant in his expensive suit, he almost sauntered to a waiting limousine as if daring anyone to object further before driving off.
Only after he was gone and the crowd had begun to break up did I approach the trio of Wong, McNichol, and the angry woman. A woman who was now bitterly haranguing Inspector McNichol and though she looked about thirty seconds from violence still showed clear signs of relief. -89% certain anger is habitual coping method. Female subject's behavior indicates familiarity and contempt for focus of attention as target for stress relief.-
"Legal my ass, what the hell good are you? You were going to let them tear down my home without lifting a finger to stop it and two seconds with Daley has them backing down? Some cop you are, why don't you at least pretend to do your job and get out of here!"
"Come on, he had all the right paperwork, how was I supposed to know about the notice time?" I heard him say in a wheedling tone of voice, but ignored the rest of his attempt to escape her wrath in favor of talking to his partner.
"Thank you Inspector Wong. I'm already moved out, but my neighbors still have a lot to do. Would you like to come inside? I can't offer you much other than a place out of the wind and a floor to sit on, but at least it would be private."
"That might be for the best, to save my partner if nothing else." He laughed, it was a nice laugh, easy to join in with, comfortable. Too bad he was so gay. I trailed after him as he collected or should I say rescued his partner from the still belligerent woman. She only stopped her diatribe after looking me over and offering a fairly gruff "Thanks, I heard what you did, good job."
"Ah, your welcome, I live here too." An answer that left a slightly confused expression on both our faces, mine mirroring hers a moment after it formed. Clearly I was missing something but I hadn't a clue what it could be.
"What?" She asked her tone now confused before a wide almost smug smile crossed her lips. It looked good on her and I knew almost instantly it wasn't directed at me, there was too much glee in her expression. "So I have you to thank for this as well?" she said giving a wave at the now quiet machinery. "Looks to me like we should stop wasting our taxes on the police entirely, can't stop boomers or creeps as well as you can."
By now I was completely lost and my expression must have shown it as she took pity on me. "A friend told me what you did the other night. You're exactly how she described you, tiny, cute as a doll, with light green eyes and even lighter white-blond hair."
"Wait, how do you know it was me?" I protested trying to hide the nervous tension suddenly singing in my veins.
"Well I'm pretty familiar with a homemade bandage job myself" she said gesturing towards my stomach, "and girls with your hair color aren't exactly common, but Leon admitted the reason he was here was to talk to a witness from the other night. Seeing you with his better half was just the clincher. I'm Priss, nice to meet you."
Taking the boldly offered hand I shook it rather timidly. "I, I'm Kari, it's nice to meet you Priss-san." My eyes widened as I made the connection, "Oh my god, you're the singer, the one from Hot Legs with the absolutely HUGE hair!" That reaction brought a deep rolling laugh from her and a blush at my effrontery to me. "Sorry, you just look better without the wig, and it took a minute to recognize you," flattery to the rescue.
"Guilty as charged." She answered, then after a moment passed without anyone speaking went on "Thanks again, but I better see what I can do about my stuff, just don't let those two push you around. We need more people like you in this town." And with that sterling recommendation Priss the replicant, er of the Replicants walked out of my life as swiftly as she had entered it leaving me to the mercies of the AD Police.
Thes follow-up interview wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Still it was nerve-wracking sitting on the floor with two armed members of the AD Police. Despite my own pulse remaining rock steady in the confines of my empty apartment it felt like they could see truth. "They'll see through you any moment" a voice inside tried to scream. But between how much attention McNichol was paying my breasts, and how little Wong gave them I was able to silence those fears and answer their questions as I danced along the edge of annoyance and relief at their appreciation and lack thereof.
Keeping my story consistent with my answers from the other night was easy. Being able to recall the previous conversations exactly helped keep me from making any contradictory statements. Although I was also careful not to repeat myself too closely either, I might be paranoid but having too good a memory or answers that were too consistent might end up raising suspicions too.
It felt strange piling my illegal handguns into a backpack just minutes after the cops had left. The back of my neck itching as I half expected them to return at any moment and catch me in the act.
It was foolishness really. It only took thirty seconds to pull them from beneath the sink, and another minute to make sure they were unloaded and pack them away. Even so I waited another five tense minutes before setting foot outside my apartment. Just in case.
There wasn't any sign of them, just a sense of frenetic energy as the entire complex crawled with people moving, preparing to move, and shouting about how they couldn't possibly move in time.
Letting out the breath I had been holding I started down the stairs, carefully winding my way between people, boxes, and running children. For the first time in the last hour I was able to really think and as I did I realized something was strange. Priss knew who I was.
Now she explained how she knew, but looking back she hadn't told me the whole story. -88% certain explanation incomplete, subject was showing signs of duplicity and evasion-. That meant she has to know Nene, or Irene. Only it can't be Irene because she'd been with me constantly since the attack. I couldn't imagine she would have had the time for a phone call much less a meeting. For that matter when would even Nene have had the time?
It's been barely a day and a half since the attack. Nene worked yesterday, and this morning until a few hours ago she had been at the funeral with Irene and I. Add that it's more than obvious that Priss doesn't like the police how would they would even have gotten to know each other to get close enough to share that kind of thing on such short notice.
For that matter shouldn't I have heard about her before now if Nene was a friend? I mean, we even went to listen to her sing. I would have expected Ne-chan to brag about knowing the artist if nothing else. Something didn't add up and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was. I would just have to ask Nene about it the next time I saw the little redheaded sneak. Thinking of her brought a fond smile to my lips.
That smile however didn't last long as I considered the other oddity of the day, Mason. Just what was he doing there? It's hard to believe that someone at his level is actually required to be present for the start of construction, or even handholding whoever's there through breaking the law on evictions. Was it possible he was looking for me? Had he already put together the attack on Irene with my survival and escape, or was it just a huge coincidence.
The rest of the trip back to Irene's apartment, actually our apartment now, was painless but nerve wracking as those concerns swirled in my head. On top of that as a rule I don't like to break the law, and there isn't much about carrying a backpack full of unregistered firearms that doesn't break it somehow. I found myself acutely aware of every cop and camera I passed along the way.
That nervousness was only grew worse on the subway. It was getting toward noon and as usual that meant more people crushed into less space. Having to fight the rising wants of my own body, while standing amid the crush of humanity made me feel like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. The slightest misstep could lead to disaster. What if someone bumped my bag and felt the guns. Would they recognize the shape? Could they hear the rattle of metal on metal? What if some kind of security detected the guncotton?
So I was slightly panicked, my eyes wide and pulse rapid when I stumbled out of the tube station. I gulped down large cleansing breaths of fresh air now that I was finally free of that subterranean purgatory. Unfortunately I had another to overcome as well.
My guilt over having manipulated Irene earlier and then leaving her alone had been building the entire trip and unfortunately I couldn't escape it so easily. Staring at her apartment door I just hoped somehow I could find a way to make it up to her.
Slipping inside I stumbled to a halt looking up into Irene's concerned and slightly tear streaked face. "Kari, where have you been, I was getting worried when you were gone so long, and with you injured like that…"
"It's okay, really!" I hastened to say, stepping inside and pulling the door shut behind me. "I'm fine, I just didn't want to intrude. Besides, I had an errand I needed to do."
She looked at me with a bit of confusion. "An errand, what was so important you had to go out in your state?" Her obvious concern for me even when her own problems were so large was too much to ignore.
I couldn't hide what I'd done, not for long, and didn't really want to either. She deserved to know. I nervously shifted the backpack from one shoulder around into my arms and just sort of blurted out, "Getting these…" Her eyes went wide as I unzipped the bag, revealing the plethora of handguns. Only a quick shift of the bag kept one from falling to the floor.
Standing there, feeling like a child before the principle I struggled to explain. "They're guns," duh, "for protection." I took a breath. "I, we've been attacked once, but we got lucky. I wanted something to protect you, and me in case it happened again."
Lips pressed tightly together I looked up at her imploringly, rather like a puppy hoping for approval. "Is, is that alright? I know they're illegal but, Mason tried to kill you!" I cringed slightly as she stepped forward. –Unable to anticipate reaction, subject's emotions too volatile-. Then taking the backpack from me she carefully set it aside and gave me a powerful hug.
Her body heaved as she cried fresh tears. Her sobs kept time with the throbbing of my abdominal wound but I didn't care. That pain was easily blocked. She wasn't doing any real harm, and I was too relieved that she wasn't upset to care even if she had been.
My arms reached back around her returning the embrace and we stood like that, not speaking for five minutes twelve seconds before she broke the embrace. Wiping the tears from a face now settling into a determined gaze she looked to me. "Can you show me how they work?"
I had to almost laugh at myself. I barely knew enough to fire them much less teach someone else. Certainly I didn't know how to maintain them for any real length of time, and with her request for training I realized that I didn't know the second thing about firearms.
Still I would do my best. Luckily they were identical. Flint apparently bought in bulk or had a preference for a specific handgun. "Well, they aren't that hard to use, this lever releases the magazine and secures it. This is the safety, and before you fire you have to pull back the slide to get the first bullet into the chamber. These are automatics so once you do that you just pull the trigger until it stops making loud noises." We shared a slight smile at that.
"I haven't really used these before so I don't know if the slide locks back or not, but hey, at least we have two each and if we haven't stopped whatever is trying to kill us with sixty four bullets I don't think reloading to try again is going to matter. Just, don't try to be a gangster and fire both at once. In fact use both hands even firing just one. That fancy stuff is for movies, or maybe professionals. We're neither." I warned my voice getting more serious.
She nodded and we spent a few more minutes going over them, making sure they were all loaded, ready, and that we were at least somewhat familiar with the weight. After hiding two in the bedroom, one in a drawer near the front door and the last in the living room beside her couch we were about as ready for a siege as we were likely to get.
Those grim reminders hidden away, we settled down to watch TV. I was a little surprised at her choice as I hardly thought that harem anime would be her thing, but who knew. At least it made her smile a bit. Before I really realized what was happening; we weren't two people sitting on a sofa, watching TV.
We were, two people together, watching TV while sitting on a sofa. It was just so natural to respond to her need for touch, for the reassurance physical intimacy brings, that by the time I realized she was slipping into my lap my conscious mind didn't know what to do. -98% certain subject seeking physical intimacy, actions indicate need for affection at this time-. My instincts screamed to pull her closer, turn away from the TV and kiss her senseless.
My conscience on the other hand was a confused mess. I didn't feel that way about her, and it would be a betrayal, using her vulnerability and need against her wouldn't it? -86% certain subject's vulnerability to emotional manipulation and need for intimacy will to continue 36 hours-. Thankfully while I was still caught between intellect and instinct Irene settled down, content to sit nestled in my lap, one arm holding her close. -Initiate incidental contact with subjects breast, trail fingers down stomach to rest on thigh and turn in to bring subject face to face-. My heart raced, not because I needed the increased circulation to function, but because of where and what my instincts pushed for.
Things might have gotten awkward then. At least they might have if I were physically capable of tensing at unwanted contact. But the truth is, for a 33-S there is no such thing as an unwelcome touch. When she leaned back I wanted her there, I was comfortable with it, and even after I made a very definite decision not to seduce her, or allow her to seduce me for that matter, the only change was a slight shift in how my instincts drove me to respond.
-Gently stroke back, below line of bra stopping two inches above skirt. Circle, pat and repeat as needed until subject breath and heartbeat reach target parameters, then move hand to hip and maintain balance and physical contact-. From potential lover to nurturer in six seconds, what a relief, I don't know what Nene would have done if I had seduced our grieving friend. At least this way I would still be able to look her in the eye the next time we met.
I was still sitting on the couch cradling Irene close and basically ignoring the hijinks on tv and the ache in my stomach when the front door blew off its hinges.
Irene and I stared as a female shape charged into the room following the broken remnants of the front door. Spilling us from the couch I felt the world dim and slow as I reached for accelerated time. The sound of Irene's high pitched yell dropping the slower the world around me seemed to move.
Unfortunately while the boomer appeared slow it was already halfway to us and we were already cut off from the bedroom. Worse Irene was between me and the edge of the sofa where the last gun was hidden.
Somehow I managed to reach my feet while interposing myself between the charging boomer and its real target. I dropped into a slight crouch as I identified it, the same assassin that had come for us before it's blade like fingernails already extended. Phone still in my pocket I sent a desperate cry for help.
Galatea: Nene, HELP! The boomer is back and attacking Irene's apartment.
Even as the message was sent I felt certain despair. Assuming she was at work and could dispatch the AD Police instantly whatever was going to happen here would still be long since done by the time they arrived. Worse the boomer slowed its charge, and despite the lovely plate glass window overlooking a healthy drop it clearly wasn't going to fall for the same trick twice. Why hadn't I ever learned kung fu, or at least downloaded the moves from a 3d fighting game? Anything would be better than this.
Jackie Chan, or at least the ghost of his memory came to my aid. I swept up one of the pillows from the couch just barely moving ahead of the hateful female before me. Stepping into her charge I twisted the cloth and padding in line with the first blow. One clawed hand now entangled in the cushion was easy enough to sidestep.
Its other hand unfortunately caught me high on the thigh with a cutting ripping blow, and I could feel the muscles part. A sharp spike of pain quickly reduced to a dull background throb, -mobility impaired 14%-. Damn, I could see the blows coming I just wasn't good enough, or fast enough to know what to do about them.
Pushing the cushion covered fist wide I managed a respectable punch to its sternum, driving the assassin back a pair of steps. Unfortunately that was all I managed before I had to leap back to avoid its next attack.
It was strange, arching my spine as I fell backwards I knew falling now would be a death sentence, but my new body could do things I had only imagined before my death; which in this case was a very good thing because I had time to imagine a lot. After managing a backwards cartwheel and landing on my feet, even with my unsteady leg I felt like a bad ass.
Watching the boomer tear the pillow to fluttering strips of cloth started the process of spoiling that thought. Seeing it advance through wisps of stuffing and ignore the rapid blast of gunfire from Irene buried it.
My retreat had left me too far away and I already knew I would be too late. Irene knelt at the end of the sofa, pulling the trigger as fast as she could, gun in a two handed grip. Some of her shots even hit the boomer for all the good they did.
As it struck she managed to get the gun up in time to blunt the strike, but it still bowled her over sending her into the wall, three vicious white lines cut through the side of her head and ear. I could see in slow motion as the blood pooled up out of them as I charged.
I caught the assassin still recovering, dropping my shoulder down I hit it square in the middle of the chest. My hands pushing it's wrists out wide I drove it back into the flat screen against the far wall. With a jolt of electricity and a soft pop like packing bubbles bursting the circuit breaker for the apartment blew plunging us into darkness.
For just a moment the beast lay motionless beneath me. But before I could celebrate I felt it tense and begin to overpower my hold. Leverage gives a profound advantage, but in this situation what I really needed was strength and weight. The struggle seemed to last forever as it forced its arms up from the floor, its eyes glowing in the dark reminding me of nothing else so much as a terminator.
The implacable strength continued to force my arms upward. I couldn't stop it. I could only slow it down and a cruel twist overcame the boomer's features as it recognized that. If I let go it would kill me before I could disengage, if I didn't let go it would kill me as soon as those wicked claws were in reach.
One had moved toward my face, but the other chose a closer target. Its claws grasped as it forced them to slowly pierce my shirt, bandaging, and finally plunge into my still damaged abdomen.
A soft whimper escaped my lips as it sat up, forcing me back and inch after inch of razor sharp claw slipped deeper in my flesh. Trying to draw away from its other hand I felt the claws slip down one side of my face, cutting deeply, a deadly caress moving closer to my throat.
And then it was there, blades sliding agonizingly slowly through my carotid artery in a short lived spray of blood.
Falling out of accelerated time was like coming down from some kind of exquisite high. Everything came in short flashes as it shoved me off, my body falling limp to lie on the floor in a growing pool of blood while emergency systems desperately shut down my fluidics, trying to preserve as much as they could. Major motor control lost I looked up helplessly as the boomer leaned down to finish the job.
The suddenly with the sound of screaming metal and shattering glass it was gone. A dizzying burst of light blinded me further for a moment before I saw two sleek metallic forms loom above. The first stalked past me like some kind of predator the other paused its featureless mask regarding me as a second somehow final sounding shriek of metal echoed through the apartment.
"Oh god, Kari?" The voice was masked, distorted as it echoed into the suddenly very quiet apartment. She dropped to her knees beside me as my vision went white once more, senses overloading before they failed, non-vital systems shutting down as my body tried to save itself but I knew it was already too late.
Even if the damage wasn't fatal from the strength of the electromagnetic scans I just felt she had to know the truth, that I was a boomer.
As I lay there bleeding and dying before the Pink Knight Saber I could only think of one thing to say.
"Sorry Ne-chan, I didn't want to lie."
My vision went dark, the world went silent, and I could feel the cold seep into my limbs.
Arc 2 Chapter 7 – Whiteout
My arm was too hot, and my back was too cold. I felt the aching pain of my abdominal injury, but strangely it was the feel of something soft gently brushing along the fingers of one hand that absorbed my attention.
Waking up after a traumatic injury curled up in bed with a girl is a surreal experience.
My first impression was that I was dreaming, but the warning and status messages that began to clamor for my attention proved that wasn't the case quickly enough. Without moving, I tried to figure out just how I had gotten into this situation when a more pressing concern arose. How to keep from sneezing due to the full head of red hair my nose was buried in?
The first answer was simple enough, apparently even when asleep my subconscious is programed to cuddle, the second took a bit more effort. I squirmed a bit as I worked out how to override the natural reaction to a ticklish nose.
Nene let out a little gasp, and I could feel her tense in my arms. Yes, I was behind her one arm under the other wrapped around her waist with my knees pulled up spooning the young AD Policewoman. The fingers slowly tracing the contours of my hand fled as Nene quickly squirmed free of my embrace a touch of embarrassment in her voice. "Kari, you're awake!"
At first it was difficult to tell if she was more upset or embarrassed, but as she moved I could see we weren't alone on the futon. Just beyond her the reason my back was cold became obvious. Irene was hogging the sheets, curled with the majority of the covers and groaning softly at the sudden movement and noise before she buried her head further away from the light streaming through the windows.
I tried to sit up as well, stomach muscles clenching before a sharp pain in my gut convinced me that wasn't a good idea. Flopping back onto the futon and staring up at the ceiling, I turned my head slightly to catch Nene's eye. "What are you doing here, and, why are you in my nightshirt?"
It seemed a slightly safer question than what are you doing in my bed. It was kind of cute to see her cheeks redden to match her hair but she managed to change the emotion into a huff of annoyance, or at least disguise it so before responding with a question of her own. "You really don't remember?"
While I shook my head slightly Irene gave a muffled protesting moan from the bundle of fabric as Nene spoke up again. "Well, I guess you were pretty out of it. After we got you in the car you just passed out, and then when we got here we woke you up, or thought we had. Did you know you sleep walk?"
Shaking my head I tried to figure out how that might have happened. To my surprise I found an entire suite of subroutines designed to make transporting me easier. I really could have gone with them, all without needing to engage my primary processors. That realization was a little scary.
"Anyway after we got you upstairs and clean, we put you to bed. But by the then it was really late, and we were both tired so, we just kind of raided your closet and stayed." She looked over at Irene's pile of blankets for a moment before leaning down to whisper, "I didn't think it was a good idea to leave either of you alone."
I nodded up at her and otherwise lay still. Even though I had the energy I couldn't muster the will to get moving this morning. Abandoning me to the mercies of the sun, Nene slipped off to the small kitchen area of the apartment. She made several disapproving noises as she searched my cupboard, rather bare given my own minimal needs, for anything to eat and didn't have much luck.
"Grapefruit, Spinach, Water and… is this machine oil in your refrigerator?" Nene called out incredulously. "If this diet is what it takes to look that good I don't think I want to."
"There's ice cream in the freezer." I shot back a little defensively. I don't know why just… I guess it's never pleasant to feel like a freak no matter to how small a degree. Running fingers over my nightshirt and the pressure bandage beneath it I nervously called up an internal diagnostic. Fluidics systems at 86%, Ocular systems at 81.2%, Damage to abdominal cavity and associated musculature 10.2% all damage has been contained, time to repair 123:12:00 at current rate. Unit function limited by 14.3% within operational limitations, 5.6% exceeding operational limitations.
I was going to be okay. Hell, I was even a bit better off than before the attack. Now if I could just figure out some way to get injured like that on a bi-weekly or monthly basis to get the transfusions…
Nene's voice pulled me out of the idle contemplation of future mayhem. "Well, I guess we'll make do. You better get Irene up; I don't know if she has to do anything today." Her voice cut through my ruminations tickling the back of my mind and I sat up grimacing; my stomach aching in pain as I forgot to move slowly.
"Yes mother!" I answered her, my tone conveying my thoughts on the subject well. Crawling over to Irene I laughed at the incredible tangle she had managed to make of the covers. Reaching out I gently shook what I thought was a shoulder. "Hey, Irene, time to get up."
It took a second shake before she reluctantly began disentangling herself and I doubt she would have if she thought for a moment she could get away with sleeping in. But in just a few minutes we were all up, looking somewhat bedraggled kneeling around my sole table wearing my entire collection of nightshirts prepared to have breakfast.
"You woke me up for this?" Irene's voice was arch as she looked at the third of a grapefruit and slice of lettuce laid out in the bowl before her. "At least tell me you have sugar I can sprinkle on it…" I had to smile at the dismay displayed on her face when she realized that there really wasn't any to be had.
I'm a bad person and maybe because I was feeling a little under the weather but somehow watching my friends suffer through what to me was a perfectly appetizing and filling breakfast perked me right back up. "Thank you guys for looking after me." I gave them each a small smile and bow of thanks. Nene blushed and quickly murmured, "It was nothing."
"Oh?" her reaction was possibly better than the grapefruit. I turned to Irene hoping she would explain the strange response looking forward to a juicy story. -95% certain behavior indicative of embarrassment-, like I hadn't figured that out for myself.
"It's nothing much," Irene started her tone droll, continuing despite a maligned "Don't you dare!" from Nene. "It's just that little Nene-chan here lost at Jan Ken and that's why you're not all messy this morning."
A warm little sensation began to crawl up my body as I realized that I was clean. Nene had taken the time and embarrassment last night to wash me off rather than leave me itching with dried blood all over my body. Still, gratitude aside, it was too good an opportunity to pass up teasing my ma-most dear friend. "Oh thank you Ne-Chan. I know it couldn't have been much fun, having to rub my naked body, all over, but I'm really very grateful that you did…" I stressed the "all over" and gave her a sensuous little wiggle to improve the teasing.
Even as Nene turned red as a tomato Irene and I lost the fight to hold back our laughter. A moment later Nene joined us. "Oh, you two are just so bad!" she exclaimed as the noise level dropped. "See if I ever do that again." Hands slapped over her mouth as what came out sounding worse than intended before we all broke into laughter a second time.
Laughing that hard actually hurt and I fell back lying down and started to beg, "S-stop, making me, laugh, it hurts" Holding my sore belly and trying to suppress the giggles.
Thankfully this did end the teasing as Nene's expression grew concerned before a glance at her watch had her standing up to glare down at the pair of us, fists on hips. The pose was somewhat ruined by the fact the nightshirt she was wearing had a print of an adorable kitten rearing back trying to look fierce on it. "It's nothing more than you deserve for picking on me. Anyway I have to go to work. Will you be okay, both of you?"
I nodded and glancing over saw Irene agree as well. "We'll be fine, go on you can visit after work."
With a bob of her head she disappeared into the bathroom to change and was out about the same time Irene had finished cleaning up the dishes. Tossing my shirt onto the counter Nene slipped on her shoes and was out the door. Some of the light and life of the apartment seemed to leave with her.
Looking over at me with a searching gaze Irene examined me critically, "Will you really be okay? I know you said you'll be fine, but she stabbed you, and there was all that blood." I think Irene was paler than I was as she fell back into her memory of the previous evening. "How could you say no to the hospital, what if you're not alright?"
It took a moment to decide just how to answer her, how much to tell. "Well, you heard the paramedics' last night about how I've got cybernetics?" Seeing her nod I took a breath, the familiar physical sensation useful in steadying myself to go on.
"Well, I don't just have some cybernetics," I said my voice softening with each phrase. "I have a lot." The next time I spoke it was so quiet she had to lean forward and listen close to hear my words. "I have enough that just a fraction more and I'll be a boomeroid. I was in a bad accident, and, well, I don't like hospitals, not anymore. All it would take is one doctor making a little change and I could lose all my rights. Besides, I have ah, diagnostics. I can sort of tell how bad it is, and that part of me is mostly fake anyway…"
Her eyes widened then narrowed as she considered my words. I know she hadn't guessed the truth or even how extensive I claimed things were, but I could tell, -87% certain-, I had her full sympathy and trust in that moment.
"That, that's awful, I'm sorry Kari, I really am. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me. You saved my life." Her words were spoken with a quiet intensity I had to believe, -94% certain subject feels devotion and trust-.
"Well..." okay I probably shouldn't ask. She's emotionally fragile. It would be taking advantage of her good will… -Indications subject will not grant request at this time too low to be meaningfully calculated-. "Do you have room for one more in your apartment?" Damn it, I went and asked anyway. I must be a terrible person.
"Oh, OH, yes, of course I do." I saw her blink aside a tear and swallow to keep some strong emotion at bay. A moment's thought and I knew why. Her fiancé... they were probably about to move in together and now I was taking his place.
"Thank you." I carefully pushed myself back up to a kneeling position and set my hand atop hers squeezing it gently. "This means a lot to me." It would also let me keep an eye on her. Make sure she really was alright after all the excitement and sadness of the last few days. It was little cynical I admitted if only to myself but at least I would be able to pay back my selfishness this way.
The rest of the day fell into place with surprising ease. A call into work, and I was on short term disability. The handbook said I would need a doctor's note to get off, but worrying over that now would just be borrowing trouble. We spent most of the afternoon boxing up all my things. Not because I had so much, but because neither of us really wanted to rush it. Once we finished we would have to deal with the sword hanging over our heads.
Someone had tried to kill Irene, and doubtless they were now after us both. A person most likely named Brian J. Mason, Executive level bastard in the largest most untouchable and powerful corporation to ever grace the face of this earth. The only real chance we had was that he wouldn't dare another public attack now that the police were involved.
Going to sleep that evening, in a new apartment, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling and listening as Irene's breathing slowed down, I was left with just one thought before I went to sleep. We're screwed.
Snapping awake I sat up and looked around. Not from confusion, I knew instantly where I was and what was going on, but because I remembered my last thoughts before bed. Thankfully the only movement in the apartment was Irene halfheartedly getting breakfast.
Today was Kenshiro's funeral. The sky was overcast when we arrived, but thankfully the rain held off during the service. It was a quiet, depressing ceremony and went by quickly. I felt out of place wearing a borrowed black dress but was able to fake familiarity so well his mother thought I had been a friend of his for years.
I watched silently as she spoke to others there, who had known Kenshiro for real. As they told stories I wondered how they could include me so easily after just a few innocent words when I knew it was all a sham. Looking at the black draped picture frame I wondered what kind of a man he was. Would we really have become friends, or just distant acquaintances through Irene? I would never know.
As a light rain began to fall we got into her car. The ride back was quiet. The weather matched my morose mood. All I could think about was that it could have been me, or maybe that it had been me years ago. I had missed my own funeral and in some strange way this one felt like a replacement.
I was grateful when Irene asked to be alone after we got back. I could see she needed a good private cry and so I quietly slipped out of the apartment. I had one last thing I needed to pick up from my apartment anyway.
The guns.
When we packed things up, I had hidden them away in fear that Irene would see. But sitting through the funeral, uncomfortably aware of the mass of humanity around me, I realized how naive I had been. We were being hunted. If anything she should be relieved to have guns available, not frightened of them.
When I got back I decided to reveal their existence to Irene, but rather than explain I had them before the attack I would just say I got them afterwards for defense. Yes, that would work, it would have to, we needed the protection. Looking up I cursed, it might already be too late.
Ahead of me was a wall of orange steel and flashing lights, a crowd already gathered as heavy construction equipment moved into place around my old apartment. So much for the two day notice. If I didn't miss my guess, the building was going down now or at least within the hour.
I heard the yelling before I saw her. A striking brunette with memorable red hued eyes, she had a voice like a drill instructor; it was vibrant and cut through the background racket as contemptuously as her words were dressing down the unfortunate cop in front of her.
To my surprise I recognized the policeman she was yelling at as well; Inspector McNichol. What on earth were the AD Police doing here? Keeping an eye out on construction boomers? It was what he said next that made my step falter for a moment and really caught my attention though. "What they're doing is legal."
Wait, what? No it isn't. I took a step toward the pair when through a break in the crowd I spotted Mason beside one of the wrecking machines beyond it. Heart thumping, blood rushing in my ears I turn planning to run when I hear a voice call my name and a hand lightly lands on my shoulder. "Kari? It is you, are you alright? We were actually coming by to talk with you when we ran into this little situation."
It was Inspector Wong, McNichol's partner, and I let my heart rate slow, and my panicked grasp on accelerated time loosen as the fear began to subside. Twisting a little so that even if Mason were to look my way he wouldn't see anything more than my back, I gave the inspector a fair imitation of a smile.
"Yes, well… I'm feeling okay," I almost stopped there but what Genom was doing bothered me. "But what your partner said isn't true. We never received notice and by contract they're required to give us two days to leave. If you check the apartment manager's office the physical paper work is probably still there or you can get the electronic copies on file with the city." Hearing the rumble of machinery starting up I go on. "Either way you better hurry or it's all going to be moot; I won't have a door to knock on."
He took only a moment to look into my eyes before nodding and with a swift stride turned back to his partner and rescued him from the brunet's wrath by dragging him along to confront Mason and the demolition coordinator. I took the chance to slip into the crowd becoming one with its anonymity idly noting a woman slip past the safety line to run into the building.
It was a tragedy waiting to happen, thankfully Inspector Wong seemed to be as silver tongued as quick footed, and I imagine the idea of waiting one or two days versus the probable class action lawsuit, possible manslaughter, and the associated costs of litigation were enough to convince Mason to halt the vehicles before they did more than rumble loose a few window panes. His chance to beat down the proletariat would have to wait for another day.
It took them a few minutes to get organized but then a loud clear voice echoed throughout the block with an announcement. "As of 5:45 pm all residents are hereby given notice to depart the premises or be evicted. Demolition will begin in exactly 48 hours. Anyone still on the premises at that time will be incarcerated."
The announcement was met with a ragged cheer, rather halfhearted given that this was only a stay of execution but it still kind of felt like triumph. I joined in the yell, blending with the others as best as I could, eyes following Mason as he walked off. Arrogant in his expensive suit, he almost sauntered to a waiting limousine as if daring anyone to object further before driving off.
Only after he was gone and the crowd had begun to break up did I approach the trio of Wong, McNichol, and the angry woman. A woman who was now bitterly haranguing Inspector McNichol and though she looked about thirty seconds from violence still showed clear signs of relief. -89% certain anger is habitual coping method. Female subject's behavior indicates familiarity and contempt for focus of attention as target for stress relief.-
"Legal my ass, what the hell good are you? You were going to let them tear down my home without lifting a finger to stop it and two seconds with Daley has them backing down? Some cop you are, why don't you at least pretend to do your job and get out of here!"
"Come on, he had all the right paperwork, how was I supposed to know about the notice time?" I heard him say in a wheedling tone of voice, but ignored the rest of his attempt to escape her wrath in favor of talking to his partner.
"Thank you Inspector Wong. I'm already moved out, but my neighbors still have a lot to do. Would you like to come inside? I can't offer you much other than a place out of the wind and a floor to sit on, but at least it would be private."
"That might be for the best, to save my partner if nothing else." He laughed, it was a nice laugh, easy to join in with, comfortable. Too bad he was so gay. I trailed after him as he collected or should I say rescued his partner from the still belligerent woman. She only stopped her diatribe after looking me over and offering a fairly gruff "Thanks, I heard what you did, good job."
"Ah, your welcome, I live here too." An answer that left a slightly confused expression on both our faces, mine mirroring hers a moment after it formed. Clearly I was missing something but I hadn't a clue what it could be.
"What?" She asked her tone now confused before a wide almost smug smile crossed her lips. It looked good on her and I knew almost instantly it wasn't directed at me, there was too much glee in her expression. "So I have you to thank for this as well?" she said giving a wave at the now quiet machinery. "Looks to me like we should stop wasting our taxes on the police entirely, can't stop boomers or creeps as well as you can."
By now I was completely lost and my expression must have shown it as she took pity on me. "A friend told me what you did the other night. You're exactly how she described you, tiny, cute as a doll, with light green eyes and even lighter white-blond hair."
"Wait, how do you know it was me?" I protested trying to hide the nervous tension suddenly singing in my veins.
"Well I'm pretty familiar with a homemade bandage job myself" she said gesturing towards my stomach, "and girls with your hair color aren't exactly common, but Leon admitted the reason he was here was to talk to a witness from the other night. Seeing you with his better half was just the clincher. I'm Priss, nice to meet you."
Taking the boldly offered hand I shook it rather timidly. "I, I'm Kari, it's nice to meet you Priss-san." My eyes widened as I made the connection, "Oh my god, you're the singer, the one from Hot Legs with the absolutely HUGE hair!" That reaction brought a deep rolling laugh from her and a blush at my effrontery to me. "Sorry, you just look better without the wig, and it took a minute to recognize you," flattery to the rescue.
"Guilty as charged." She answered, then after a moment passed without anyone speaking went on "Thanks again, but I better see what I can do about my stuff, just don't let those two push you around. We need more people like you in this town." And with that sterling recommendation Priss the replicant, er of the Replicants walked out of my life as swiftly as she had entered it leaving me to the mercies of the AD Police.
Thes follow-up interview wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Still it was nerve-wracking sitting on the floor with two armed members of the AD Police. Despite my own pulse remaining rock steady in the confines of my empty apartment it felt like they could see truth. "They'll see through you any moment" a voice inside tried to scream. But between how much attention McNichol was paying my breasts, and how little Wong gave them I was able to silence those fears and answer their questions as I danced along the edge of annoyance and relief at their appreciation and lack thereof.
Keeping my story consistent with my answers from the other night was easy. Being able to recall the previous conversations exactly helped keep me from making any contradictory statements. Although I was also careful not to repeat myself too closely either, I might be paranoid but having too good a memory or answers that were too consistent might end up raising suspicions too.
It felt strange piling my illegal handguns into a backpack just minutes after the cops had left. The back of my neck itching as I half expected them to return at any moment and catch me in the act.
It was foolishness really. It only took thirty seconds to pull them from beneath the sink, and another minute to make sure they were unloaded and pack them away. Even so I waited another five tense minutes before setting foot outside my apartment. Just in case.
There wasn't any sign of them, just a sense of frenetic energy as the entire complex crawled with people moving, preparing to move, and shouting about how they couldn't possibly move in time.
Letting out the breath I had been holding I started down the stairs, carefully winding my way between people, boxes, and running children. For the first time in the last hour I was able to really think and as I did I realized something was strange. Priss knew who I was.
Now she explained how she knew, but looking back she hadn't told me the whole story. -88% certain explanation incomplete, subject was showing signs of duplicity and evasion-. That meant she has to know Nene, or Irene. Only it can't be Irene because she'd been with me constantly since the attack. I couldn't imagine she would have had the time for a phone call much less a meeting. For that matter when would even Nene have had the time?
It's been barely a day and a half since the attack. Nene worked yesterday, and this morning until a few hours ago she had been at the funeral with Irene and I. Add that it's more than obvious that Priss doesn't like the police how would they would even have gotten to know each other to get close enough to share that kind of thing on such short notice.
For that matter shouldn't I have heard about her before now if Nene was a friend? I mean, we even went to listen to her sing. I would have expected Ne-chan to brag about knowing the artist if nothing else. Something didn't add up and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was. I would just have to ask Nene about it the next time I saw the little redheaded sneak. Thinking of her brought a fond smile to my lips.
That smile however didn't last long as I considered the other oddity of the day, Mason. Just what was he doing there? It's hard to believe that someone at his level is actually required to be present for the start of construction, or even handholding whoever's there through breaking the law on evictions. Was it possible he was looking for me? Had he already put together the attack on Irene with my survival and escape, or was it just a huge coincidence.
The rest of the trip back to Irene's apartment, actually our apartment now, was painless but nerve wracking as those concerns swirled in my head. On top of that as a rule I don't like to break the law, and there isn't much about carrying a backpack full of unregistered firearms that doesn't break it somehow. I found myself acutely aware of every cop and camera I passed along the way.
That nervousness was only grew worse on the subway. It was getting toward noon and as usual that meant more people crushed into less space. Having to fight the rising wants of my own body, while standing amid the crush of humanity made me feel like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. The slightest misstep could lead to disaster. What if someone bumped my bag and felt the guns. Would they recognize the shape? Could they hear the rattle of metal on metal? What if some kind of security detected the guncotton?
So I was slightly panicked, my eyes wide and pulse rapid when I stumbled out of the tube station. I gulped down large cleansing breaths of fresh air now that I was finally free of that subterranean purgatory. Unfortunately I had another to overcome as well.
My guilt over having manipulated Irene earlier and then leaving her alone had been building the entire trip and unfortunately I couldn't escape it so easily. Staring at her apartment door I just hoped somehow I could find a way to make it up to her.
Slipping inside I stumbled to a halt looking up into Irene's concerned and slightly tear streaked face. "Kari, where have you been, I was getting worried when you were gone so long, and with you injured like that…"
"It's okay, really!" I hastened to say, stepping inside and pulling the door shut behind me. "I'm fine, I just didn't want to intrude. Besides, I had an errand I needed to do."
She looked at me with a bit of confusion. "An errand, what was so important you had to go out in your state?" Her obvious concern for me even when her own problems were so large was too much to ignore.
I couldn't hide what I'd done, not for long, and didn't really want to either. She deserved to know. I nervously shifted the backpack from one shoulder around into my arms and just sort of blurted out, "Getting these…" Her eyes went wide as I unzipped the bag, revealing the plethora of handguns. Only a quick shift of the bag kept one from falling to the floor.
Standing there, feeling like a child before the principle I struggled to explain. "They're guns," duh, "for protection." I took a breath. "I, we've been attacked once, but we got lucky. I wanted something to protect you, and me in case it happened again."
Lips pressed tightly together I looked up at her imploringly, rather like a puppy hoping for approval. "Is, is that alright? I know they're illegal but, Mason tried to kill you!" I cringed slightly as she stepped forward. –Unable to anticipate reaction, subject's emotions too volatile-. Then taking the backpack from me she carefully set it aside and gave me a powerful hug.
Her body heaved as she cried fresh tears. Her sobs kept time with the throbbing of my abdominal wound but I didn't care. That pain was easily blocked. She wasn't doing any real harm, and I was too relieved that she wasn't upset to care even if she had been.
My arms reached back around her returning the embrace and we stood like that, not speaking for five minutes twelve seconds before she broke the embrace. Wiping the tears from a face now settling into a determined gaze she looked to me. "Can you show me how they work?"
I had to almost laugh at myself. I barely knew enough to fire them much less teach someone else. Certainly I didn't know how to maintain them for any real length of time, and with her request for training I realized that I didn't know the second thing about firearms.
Still I would do my best. Luckily they were identical. Flint apparently bought in bulk or had a preference for a specific handgun. "Well, they aren't that hard to use, this lever releases the magazine and secures it. This is the safety, and before you fire you have to pull back the slide to get the first bullet into the chamber. These are automatics so once you do that you just pull the trigger until it stops making loud noises." We shared a slight smile at that.
"I haven't really used these before so I don't know if the slide locks back or not, but hey, at least we have two each and if we haven't stopped whatever is trying to kill us with sixty four bullets I don't think reloading to try again is going to matter. Just, don't try to be a gangster and fire both at once. In fact use both hands even firing just one. That fancy stuff is for movies, or maybe professionals. We're neither." I warned my voice getting more serious.
She nodded and we spent a few more minutes going over them, making sure they were all loaded, ready, and that we were at least somewhat familiar with the weight. After hiding two in the bedroom, one in a drawer near the front door and the last in the living room beside her couch we were about as ready for a siege as we were likely to get.
Those grim reminders hidden away, we settled down to watch TV. I was a little surprised at her choice as I hardly thought that harem anime would be her thing, but who knew. At least it made her smile a bit. Before I really realized what was happening; we weren't two people sitting on a sofa, watching TV.
We were, two people together, watching TV while sitting on a sofa. It was just so natural to respond to her need for touch, for the reassurance physical intimacy brings, that by the time I realized she was slipping into my lap my conscious mind didn't know what to do. -98% certain subject seeking physical intimacy, actions indicate need for affection at this time-. My instincts screamed to pull her closer, turn away from the TV and kiss her senseless.
My conscience on the other hand was a confused mess. I didn't feel that way about her, and it would be a betrayal, using her vulnerability and need against her wouldn't it? -86% certain subject's vulnerability to emotional manipulation and need for intimacy will to continue 36 hours-. Thankfully while I was still caught between intellect and instinct Irene settled down, content to sit nestled in my lap, one arm holding her close. -Initiate incidental contact with subjects breast, trail fingers down stomach to rest on thigh and turn in to bring subject face to face-. My heart raced, not because I needed the increased circulation to function, but because of where and what my instincts pushed for.
Things might have gotten awkward then. At least they might have if I were physically capable of tensing at unwanted contact. But the truth is, for a 33-S there is no such thing as an unwelcome touch. When she leaned back I wanted her there, I was comfortable with it, and even after I made a very definite decision not to seduce her, or allow her to seduce me for that matter, the only change was a slight shift in how my instincts drove me to respond.
-Gently stroke back, below line of bra stopping two inches above skirt. Circle, pat and repeat as needed until subject breath and heartbeat reach target parameters, then move hand to hip and maintain balance and physical contact-. From potential lover to nurturer in six seconds, what a relief, I don't know what Nene would have done if I had seduced our grieving friend. At least this way I would still be able to look her in the eye the next time we met.
I was still sitting on the couch cradling Irene close and basically ignoring the hijinks on tv and the ache in my stomach when the front door blew off its hinges.
Irene and I stared as a female shape charged into the room following the broken remnants of the front door. Spilling us from the couch I felt the world dim and slow as I reached for accelerated time. The sound of Irene's high pitched yell dropping the slower the world around me seemed to move.
Unfortunately while the boomer appeared slow it was already halfway to us and we were already cut off from the bedroom. Worse Irene was between me and the edge of the sofa where the last gun was hidden.
Somehow I managed to reach my feet while interposing myself between the charging boomer and its real target. I dropped into a slight crouch as I identified it, the same assassin that had come for us before it's blade like fingernails already extended. Phone still in my pocket I sent a desperate cry for help.
Galatea: Nene, HELP! The boomer is back and attacking Irene's apartment.
Even as the message was sent I felt certain despair. Assuming she was at work and could dispatch the AD Police instantly whatever was going to happen here would still be long since done by the time they arrived. Worse the boomer slowed its charge, and despite the lovely plate glass window overlooking a healthy drop it clearly wasn't going to fall for the same trick twice. Why hadn't I ever learned kung fu, or at least downloaded the moves from a 3d fighting game? Anything would be better than this.
Jackie Chan, or at least the ghost of his memory came to my aid. I swept up one of the pillows from the couch just barely moving ahead of the hateful female before me. Stepping into her charge I twisted the cloth and padding in line with the first blow. One clawed hand now entangled in the cushion was easy enough to sidestep.
Its other hand unfortunately caught me high on the thigh with a cutting ripping blow, and I could feel the muscles part. A sharp spike of pain quickly reduced to a dull background throb, -mobility impaired 14%-. Damn, I could see the blows coming I just wasn't good enough, or fast enough to know what to do about them.
Pushing the cushion covered fist wide I managed a respectable punch to its sternum, driving the assassin back a pair of steps. Unfortunately that was all I managed before I had to leap back to avoid its next attack.
It was strange, arching my spine as I fell backwards I knew falling now would be a death sentence, but my new body could do things I had only imagined before my death; which in this case was a very good thing because I had time to imagine a lot. After managing a backwards cartwheel and landing on my feet, even with my unsteady leg I felt like a bad ass.
Watching the boomer tear the pillow to fluttering strips of cloth started the process of spoiling that thought. Seeing it advance through wisps of stuffing and ignore the rapid blast of gunfire from Irene buried it.
My retreat had left me too far away and I already knew I would be too late. Irene knelt at the end of the sofa, pulling the trigger as fast as she could, gun in a two handed grip. Some of her shots even hit the boomer for all the good they did.
As it struck she managed to get the gun up in time to blunt the strike, but it still bowled her over sending her into the wall, three vicious white lines cut through the side of her head and ear. I could see in slow motion as the blood pooled up out of them as I charged.
I caught the assassin still recovering, dropping my shoulder down I hit it square in the middle of the chest. My hands pushing it's wrists out wide I drove it back into the flat screen against the far wall. With a jolt of electricity and a soft pop like packing bubbles bursting the circuit breaker for the apartment blew plunging us into darkness.
For just a moment the beast lay motionless beneath me. But before I could celebrate I felt it tense and begin to overpower my hold. Leverage gives a profound advantage, but in this situation what I really needed was strength and weight. The struggle seemed to last forever as it forced its arms up from the floor, its eyes glowing in the dark reminding me of nothing else so much as a terminator.
The implacable strength continued to force my arms upward. I couldn't stop it. I could only slow it down and a cruel twist overcame the boomer's features as it recognized that. If I let go it would kill me before I could disengage, if I didn't let go it would kill me as soon as those wicked claws were in reach.
One had moved toward my face, but the other chose a closer target. Its claws grasped as it forced them to slowly pierce my shirt, bandaging, and finally plunge into my still damaged abdomen.
A soft whimper escaped my lips as it sat up, forcing me back and inch after inch of razor sharp claw slipped deeper in my flesh. Trying to draw away from its other hand I felt the claws slip down one side of my face, cutting deeply, a deadly caress moving closer to my throat.
And then it was there, blades sliding agonizingly slowly through my carotid artery in a short lived spray of blood.
Falling out of accelerated time was like coming down from some kind of exquisite high. Everything came in short flashes as it shoved me off, my body falling limp to lie on the floor in a growing pool of blood while emergency systems desperately shut down my fluidics, trying to preserve as much as they could. Major motor control lost I looked up helplessly as the boomer leaned down to finish the job.
The suddenly with the sound of screaming metal and shattering glass it was gone. A dizzying burst of light blinded me further for a moment before I saw two sleek metallic forms loom above. The first stalked past me like some kind of predator the other paused its featureless mask regarding me as a second somehow final sounding shriek of metal echoed through the apartment.
"Oh god, Kari?" The voice was masked, distorted as it echoed into the suddenly very quiet apartment. She dropped to her knees beside me as my vision went white once more, senses overloading before they failed, non-vital systems shutting down as my body tried to save itself but I knew it was already too late.
Even if the damage wasn't fatal from the strength of the electromagnetic scans I just felt she had to know the truth, that I was a boomer.
As I lay there bleeding and dying before the Pink Knight Saber I could only think of one thing to say.
"Sorry Ne-chan, I didn't want to lie."
My vision went dark, the world went silent, and I could feel the cold seep into my limbs.
UrsaTempest
Don't Panic!
Finally!
Is much better than previous chapters. I can feel the emotion more, here.
Is much better than previous chapters. I can feel the emotion more, here.
Yay, motre frozen butterfly.
Hmm. Isn't Irene Visions sister? and vision is from sort of mafia/rival corp family the Hou Bang right? She did have that spider mech and all. Shouldn't Irene have some training already? There is no note from the instrincts of Irene trying to deceive Kari....
Hmm. Isn't Irene Visions sister? and vision is from sort of mafia/rival corp family the Hou Bang right? She did have that spider mech and all. Shouldn't Irene have some training already? There is no note from the instrincts of Irene trying to deceive Kari....
Thank you, I appreciate your comments and hope that I can keep it up. I'm also very happy to say that I've been able to keep up and build up a habit of writing again so that I can hopefully not fall down the rabbit hole of procrastination.
That's a yes to all of this, but in explanation for why I've written it as I have both Irene and Vision appear to be rather removed from that side of the family business. So much so that one appears to have no ambitions further than finding a nice guy to get married to and the other is a pop idol singer. It's only after things start getting personal that this situation changes. In particular I would point out that Vision is obviously still getting trained by Kou when we first encounter her. So while I do believe that Irene may have been around guns before I doubt she actually has learned to use them before this point.
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- Location
- Australia
God dammit Kari, stop getting injured! There are other ways to trick Nene into your bed. But seriously good stuff, and finally Knight Sabres! Wonder if Karis secret will get out this time.
The do like the emotional connection she made with Irene.
I'm curious does Nene have the skills to remove all those Boomer routines that make her act according original function?
Anyway last time I remember one of the girls really dislike Boomers so I would love to see Kari get intense about defending herself.
I'm curious does Nene have the skills to remove all those Boomer routines that make her act according original function?
Anyway last time I remember one of the girls really dislike Boomers so I would love to see Kari get intense about defending herself.
Maybe, but Skyknight will always hold the record for that I think.
Well, that's an interesting question. Boomer programming is incredibly complex, as it deals with something that runs on something that is effectively as complex as a human brain. This is actually why I think some boomers go rogue. Their programming is all based on the original from Dr. Stingray but he was trying to create life, not slaves, and so all the fixes over time occasionally develop bugs and glitches. For the 33-S I've stuck them with one major impulse that even Kari shares. The rest is just subtex and behavioral programming that they can get around if they take a moment to think about it like Kari did with Irene. You'll just have to sit back and see what actually does come to pass.
Interlude After Arc 2
Frozen Butterfly a story of Bubblegum Crisis
Interlude 1
The sudden outbreak of violence in the apartment caught the watchers off guard. Hou Bang, a Chinese crime family, had hired the Knight Sabers to look after their chairman's granddaughter Irene but handicapped their efforts. She wasn't supposed to know they were there. Just like Genom wasn't supposed to slip a boomer so close without Nene detecting it.
Combined those two facts explained the minute's delay in their response, such a short time, but also an eternity.
As Nene followed in Priss' wake through the balcony window, her eyes grew wide at all the blood. Kari was absolutely coated in it. Her shirt was plastered to her chest and a pool of blood was forming against her belt as she lay still. Her body awkwardly propped against the coffee table where it fell. Smears of red were everywhere.
Ignoring the crash of Priss dealing with the boomer she approached her friend, dropping to her knees and activating a powerful suite of sensors to scan her friend. "Oh God, Kari?" Her dismay was confined to Nene alone, her voice automatically changed to a mechanical drone before it could reach the now silent apartment.
So it was easy for her audio pickups to catch Kari softly murmur "I'm sorry Ne-chan, I didn't want to lie."
Nene's armored gauntlet reached out to touch her face but the slight woman was frighteningly still, her eyes staring into eternity. The pink Knight Saber had to choke back the whimper that tried to escape her throat as a rivulet of blood trailed down Kari's neck.
Nene was stunned. Kari was a boomer, and now she was dead. How could this happen? If she hadn't already knelt the shock would have taken her to her knees. Nene's fingers froze in the process of tracing Kari's cheek. She was kneeling in a pool of her best friend's blood. Nene couldn't do anything but stare until Priss' rough voice came over the radio. "Irene's been hurt but looks stable, your friend…"
Priss had seen the amount of blood on her way past, no one could survive that. She just wasn't sure how to snap Nene out of her horror. Thankfully her voice was enough to get Nene moving again. Unable to speak, Nene gave a tiny shake of her head unable to believe what had happened as the blue hardsuited figure turned to face her.
Cradling Irene carefully in her arms Priss spoke up. "Look, it was brave what she did, braver than most, but we have to go." Priss tried to be sensitive in her own way as she stepped closer. But when Nene just looked away to stare at her friend's pale still body and swallow Priss' tone changed growing deeper, more emphatic. "We have to GO!"
Nene nodded and reached down to pick up her friend, a friend who was a boomer. Seeing the question in Priss' stance she felt the need to defend her action. "She… doesn't deserve this, to be left behind like garbage and forgotten."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Priss asked her frustration and incomprehension growing. "Pink, get your head back in the game. She's beyond help, and I need you on the lookout for more boomers. We can't afford a fight with Irene injured like this." The punk turned private mercenary tried to keep her temper. She knew that Nene and Kari had been close, but they couldn't afford for her to break down now.
It was in that moment Nene realized Priss didn't know! Her own hardsuit's electronics were far more sensitive than the Blue Knight Sabers so Priss didn't realize what Kari was. That there wouldn't be a funeral, she would be thrown out like trash, just another broken boomer.
Her grief-struck mind was almost caught up in a spiral of despair until Nene fixed on that last thought. Kari was a boomer. With sudden hope Nene reinitialized the scan.
Kari was dead, er non-functioning, but she still had power. More important, there wasn't very much actual damage to her body. There was still a chance to save her if they could get her systems online fast enough.
Filled with new purpose, Nene checked their surroundings once more before leading the way. Priss followed behind a bit confused but relieved at the new urgency in her teammate's steps. Reaching their transport truck Nene lay her friend down before stripping hastily out of her hard suit. She worked frantically to bandage Kari's neck, even though blood no longer flowed from the wound.
After laying Irene carefully into an emergency hammock Priss turned back to her teammate. "Nene, stop, it's too late." Laying a hand gently on her shoulder Priss tried to pull her back only to see a disturbingly composed face turn to meet her. "It's Not!" As the trailer pulled away rumbling over asphalt, the redhead turned back to her work as Priss stood by with a concerned look hidden by her helmet.
Sylia was waiting when they arrived in a garage hidden beneath the Silky Doll building. Not only did the twenty two year old genius own the entire complex, lingerie boutique included, but she also funded and led the Knight Sabers. An engineering prodigy, she was the daughter of Katsuhito Stingray, the original inventor of the boomer. That legacy however had been stolen by Genom. The corporation had murdered her father through an industrial accident leaving her to inherit only a quest for revenge on the mega-corporation.
Taking charge of the situation with grace and poise, she directed Priss to settle Irene in their small infirmary. A quick examination showed she would be fine for the moment. It was when she turned to the second, unconventional patient that the mask of control was strained while she contemplated the possibilities.
Priss had called ahead to tell her that Kari was dead. How Nene had snapped and just couldn't let it go. Even her gruff persona had cracked a bit the singer letting some real concern for Nene slip into her tone as she reported the news.
However as Sylia approached she didn't see the hysterical denial Priss did. She saw that Nene had been hard at work, but not in a frantic attempt to deny the truth. Her eyes instead took in what Nene had done and analyzed the situation.
The reason for an emergency IV was obvious with the amount of blood that covered the still, blond form. Sylia's keen eyes however also noted the diagnostic tools scattered about, and an emergency power supply that implied more was at work here. "Nene, what's going on?" Her voice was cool, controlled, but sharp enough to draw an immediate response.
"She, Kari, She's a boomer." Even saying it aloud it didn't seem quite real to Nene. "I think I was fast enough to save her memory, but, I don't know how to, um, fix her…" Looking away from Sylia, her eyes settled on Kari's body. "Please, help…"
Uncertain about the wisdom of it, but unable to deny Nene's plea Sylia nodded. "Help me get her into the lab, I'll do what I can."
An hour later Sylia rejoined the others. Linna, the last member of the Knight Sabers had arrived while she worked, and none of the women looked happy.
"Mason has to pay." The vitriol in Nene's tone came as a shock. Never had Sylia heard that tone from her before.
Linna gave a sharp nod, "That bastard isn't going to get away with this," her shock at the attack having turned to a cold anger with an hour's reflection.
Priss looked up from where she sat watching over Irene, her gaze going from one woman to the next before she nodded. "I'm in. Let's put him in the ground. Sylia?"
Three pairs of eyes focused on Sylia who gazed back impassively. She considered each of them before settling on the most innocent. "Nene, are you sure?" She looked to the others. "Are all of you?"
The assault upon Genom tower was both exhilarating and frightening for Nene at the same time. As the Knight Sabers climbed the slope in flashes of fire and light she grit her teeth, wishing she had the same kind of firepower the others carried. She wanted to strike out, to hit something, or more specifically someone, but that had never been her role.
Each time Nene closed her eyes, she could see Irene and Kari's faces, one cold and ashen, the other swaddled in bandages and turning an ugly purple from the blow. They made for good motivation. Irene would live, but would carry scars for life. With Kari, it was too early to say.
Sylia had come through with a blood supply and put her on a backup power system, but Kari's heart remained still when they had left. Only time would tell if they had been in time to preserve her mind or if all that remained was a soulless automaton.
Nene used those thoughts to help bolster her determination as she crested the tower at Sylia's side. There at the summit they came face to face with Brian J. Mason wearing a personal hardsuit with an imposing BU-55C combat boomer at his side.
Diving for cover, Nene's mind whirled. Her suit wasn't armed to fight something like that. She worked faster than ever before, managing to fool the boomer's sensors and tricking it. What it had thought of as solid ground nothing but air when it attempted to circle around her cover. With a metallic shriek it tumbled out of the fight.
Below the summit, Priss and Linna fought a desperate holding action against the reinforcements responding to the Knight Sabers assault. The tumbling body of the dazed 55-C ignored as it rolled down the tower past them.
Filled with elation at a rare personal victory Nene turned to the darting movement and flashes that framed the other fight. She was shocked to see Sylia was losing. It didn't seem possible that the white Knight Saber could do anything but win. Sylia was the most incredible, talented, and driven woman Nene had ever met. Watching her struggle to survive seemed wrong.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Nene hunkered down and tried not to attract any attention. She wouldn't last a minute against Mason if he had Sylia on the run. Instead she chose a different battlefield and set to work with her own specialty, hacking Mason's power suit through its communications channels. It was only a moment before she broke its firewall and realized why he was doing so well.
It wasn't skill or power, but an advanced analytic program that forecast Sylia's movements. It wasn't quite good enough to give him victory outright but more than enough to keep her on the run.
With that discovery and a live connection to his systems Nene felt her lips turn up in a predatory smile. Her vengeance commencing as she recognized his vulnerability. Mason's systems were too good, too complex. It would take only the smallest nudge to overload the system.
Proving why she was their leader Sylia reacted to the change in circumstance even before Nene could announce what she'd done. Within moments Sylia recognized the fundamental change in Mason's behavior, his fire ceasing to track her and his movements more clumsy. In a flash she somersaulted over his battlesuit and was sliding an energized blade through its back. As she stepped away the last two feet glistened red with blood. Mason's suit collapsed as if its strings were cut.
Nene felt a grim satisfaction mix with horror at the sight. They'd done it, Mason was dead. She had to swallow back the bile as it rose in her throat. Her eyes were inexorably fixed upon the blood staining Sylia's weapon. Oh God, we really did it, He's really dead.
It was a relief that the need to escape required her help, needing an intricate dance of ECM and ECCM that took all her attention.
Later as Nene literally showered blood from her hands, the guilt and sickness over her part in Mason's death surged before slowly being washed away. It swirled down the drain with the blood of her friend, the blood of a boomer.
That's when it all really began to sink in. Kari isn't human, wasn't human, and never had been. And while she might be coming back Mason who was human never would.
Despite the time it took to work through her complex and ambiguous feelings the water heater in Sylia's building didn't let her down. The heat continued long past the point at which she was physically clean. The shower washing away the last remaining chill, and it was a pink and wrinkly Nene who finally emerged from the changing room. Her guilt over Mason excised.
Slipping into a guest room, she tried to get to sleep but her mind continued to pick at thoughts about Kari. Nene liked her, it, her. She liked Kari, and boomer or not she was a friend. Looking back Nene realized in retrospect there had been clues. But none had been so glaring they couldn't be easily dismissed. Kari was just so lifelike, so genuine, not just physically but socially that Nene never even suspected when talking with her that she wasn't real.
Rolling over she tried to think objectively. Kari was just too human, more than any other boomer she had ever heard of much less met. If a machine could really be that sympathetic and compassionate were they really just a machine? How much more human a boomer could really be? Nene lay, uneasy, her thoughts troubled and restless for another hour.
Finally she gave in. Unable to sleep she padded quietly through the headquarters to the mainframe and logged into the web. Ever since she had discovered computers this was where she went to find her answers. A place of infinite possibilities where you could learn anything you needed to know. And now she wouldn't be able to rest until she knew the truth.
She started with pulling up the records from her hardsuit. Nene studied the deep scan that had shaken her world more closely. It was obvious now that she knew what to look for, the microscopic weave of wires through the body. Connective tissue and synthetic organs mated to a series of microprocessors and the synthetic brain that made her boomer. That Genom copy written brain was the indisputable proof that her friend wasn't some highly augmented human, but a highly humanized boomer instead.
That only pushed her to search further. Getting into the ADP databases through a backdoor she had placed months ago, she tried to learn if any boomer like Kari had been seen before and to her surprise found a perfect match.
[33-S model humaniform domestic boomer.]
[This model has been banned due to extremely high failure rates and instability in its AI matrix. 33-S class boomers often go rogue and typically kill their owners before being put down by police response forces. These Boomers are capable of fully masquerading as human and require specialized systems to detect. While they have been used for assassination in several cases the primary second party crime associated with this model is use in illegal prostitution operations. The last unit was produced March 14 2027, blanket authorization to terminate upon discovery was granted in Japan as of November 1 2027, most recent case file April 3 2028.]
No wonder she hadn't known about them, there hadn't been a sighting of one for more than a year before she joined the AD Police and before that her interests hadn't included boomers at all.
Continuing to sift through the ADP data, she tried to uncover how one could have survived so long unnoticed. Most boomers required monthly maintenance to avoid the risk of mechanical failure. While it's true that the 33-S was largely organic, surely it couldn't have been hiding all this time without some maintenance problem surfacing to give it away. That was when she came across a disturbing technical footnote.
[The 33-S was designed to be capable of maintenance free operation. The only consumables required being an appropriately tailored diet, access to a source of power and consistent supply of circulatory fluid to power its systems and carry the nanites it produced for self-repair.
Addendum, although the 33-S circulatory system was designed to use a synthetic compound now on the restricted materials list, in several cases it has been discovered that human blood can be used as a short term substitute without compromising operation but required frequent replenishment due to deterioration. Results of long term use are unknown.]
Was that it? Had she somehow escaped and been living the last five years off human blood? A shiver went down Nene's spine at the macabre thought. Wait, when they met Kari had been held by Genom… if that were true then what experiments had they been doing with a five year old boomer. Tears came to her eyes, she couldn't help it. The thought of her friend being a prisoner, a slave, for five years before they met and she escaped… Her eyes fell on a statistic that showed that within six months 90% of 33-S boomers went rogue, 80% violently. No, she shook her head. She wouldn't believe that of Kari.
Kari was a friend, and had twice risked herself to protect Irene. Nene was positive that she would have done the same for her. Kari wasn't like what these files described. Maybe she was a new model, an exception. Ending her speculation, her research having done nothing but raise troubling questions Nene shut down the system and stumbled exhausted back to the guest room tired enough to finally get to sleep.
The young redhead woke to the comforting background hum of the industrial machinery coming through the basement room's wall. Realizing she overslept and wanting to find out what had happened made her rush. She needed to know if Kari would be alright and found herself pulling on rumpled day old clothing. Forgoing her usual hairstyle she pulled it back into a simple ponytail instead of taking the time to brush it out properly.
She suffered a moment of panic when she entered the main room to find Irene's bed was empty. Heart racing she rushed to the workshop to check on Kari and almost bowled Sylia over dashing through the doorway.
As usual the young business woman looked impeccable despite having still been up when Nene went to bed. Somehow the creases of her suit remained sharp and her hair perfectly coifed. In fact she looked ready for a photo shoot, and also as usual began to answer Nene's question before the nervous young woman could open her mouth to speak.
"Irene is fine. She was moved earlier this morning and is on her way to China. It is better this way Nene." She reached over and touched the shorter woman's shoulder and looked deep into her eyes offering a rare show of support. "She will be safe there under the aegis of her grandfather. We could not keep her here without revealing our identities, I am sorry."
Nene slumped a little but nodded. Sylia was right, as usual. One question answered Nene's attention turned to the other. She could see Kari laying still and quiet on a work table in the center of the room. The soft hum of support machinery indicated there was something to save but her skin was so wan, tinged almost blue by the florescent lighting Nene couldn't help but worry. Drawing breath the redhead opened her mouth to ask about Kari.
Again her leader preempted Nene's question, but now her tone was cool, the flicker of compassion in her tone gone without a trace. Once more she was the Ice Queen the Knight Sabers had all grown familiar with. "4m83r is still recoverable. I know you thought of it as a friend Nene, but it is not. It is a 33-S, a sexaroid. They are only designed to mimic humanity, to learn what people around them want and then give it to them. They are not actual people."
She went on, steamrolling any attempted objection by simply continuing to speak. Nene could hear the grim warning in her tone. "I know you do not want to think it of… Kari… but it has been manipulating you for weeks. It has been working to gain your trust and it is most likely that this boomer was planted on you as a spy." Raising a hand to quell Nene's rising fury, Sylia continued.
"I am not saying that it was a conscious decision, or that it intentionally targeted the Knight Sabers. It may just have been a sleeper agent until the fight on the bridge. But Nene, Priss brought back one of the handguns they used. There is no way a civilian could have gotten their hands on that gun. I already traced it to a Genom black operations account. One of many that Genom utilizes when it wants the versatility to either disclaim all knowledge or provide proof of legal ownership and licensing as the occasion requires."
She let that sink in for a moment longer and the shorter woman felt her stomach churn glancing over at Kari. She looked so small, so weak and helpless. Nene shook her head it couldn't be that way, it just couldn't. "There has to be another explanation. She probably got it when she escaped from wherever they were keeping her. She was their prisoner, not some kind of spy."
"I know you want to think that. Nene, I have had my concerns ever since you told me how you originally met. You have to face reality, that it may have been placed intentionally to find someone exactly like you. A honey trap meant to worm into the life of any hacker skilled enough to attract attention. I fear that the best scenario is that it is simply a recruiter, but we cannot take that chance."
The younger woman set her feet and met Sylia's gaze as defiantly as she could. Nene could feel herself shaking, but whether in anger, frustration, or guilt she didn't know. Taking a deep breath to help gain control and muster her courage Nene did her best to answer. "That doesn't make sense. Why wouldn't she have done something by now? Said something, or blackmailed me into working for Genom once she learned I was with the ADP? Wouldn't that have been valuable enough to break cover for?"
The compassion she saw in Sylia's normally cold eyes shook her more than anything she had yet said. "Nene, your position is probably why it was going slow. Acquiring an asset like you within the AD Police would be a coup for Genom. You would be a prize and I want you to keep that in mind for what comes next."
"It is in stable condition now. The emergency shutdown procedure appears to have functioned correctly in saving the memory files. Your efforts combined with my work have allowed us to preserve the boomers organic components. The actual physical damage sustained was relatively light. I am keeping it in hibernation for the moment. While its nanites and self-repair systems are functioning the higher brain functions are offline and will stay that way until I am certain it is safe." She gave the young girl a look that brooked no disobedience on that point.
"I want you to come back here and find out just what mission this 33-S was on after your shift today. I will also need you to key me in as its master and remove any Trojan horses that might exist in its software. I know you want to think of it as your friend, but even if by some miracle it is not working for Genom the Knight Sabers cannot risk our safety by letting it go free. Do you understand?"
Her intensity was a bit frightening but Nene nodded, feeling awful about the upcoming violation of her friends mind and privacy but she couldn't find a flaw in Sylia's arguments. "I, I understand Sylia. I don't think you're right but, I'll do it." And as Nene's shoulders slumped the tension in Sylia's stance melted away, she could stop being the leader if only for a moment.
"I know it may not be fair if it really is a runaway but this is the best solution, the only solution, to keep all of us safe, Kari included. It is better than the alternative." And with that hardly veiled thread of shutting down, of killing Kari as the only other option she strode past Nene to the elevator. The shorter woman left alone with her friend and the soft beep and whir of the machines around her.
After the sounds of the elevator vanished completely Nene finally took a steadying breath and turned her attention to the somnolent form lying on the work table. She brushed a lock of white blond hair from Kari's still blood flecked face. Her fingers nervously traced down the length of delicate jaw to the large bandage at her neck. But Nene didn't have the least temptation to peel it back, the gaping wound was still disturbingly clear in her mind. The contrast between her own pale but healthy skin and the sallow color of her friends caused a shiver to run down her spine.
Getting a washcloth and bowl Nene sat down to do a better job of cleaning off Kari's face. No matter what Sylia said she couldn't, wouldn't see her as the enemy. Kari needed her help, and even if Sylia refused to see that Nene knew it in her soul. "Don't worry Kari, I'm here, I'll look out for you, I promise."
Unfortunately once she finished washing her up there was little more Nene could do to help. A beep from her watch reminded her she would be late to work if she didn't go. Leaning down she placed a butterfly light kiss on Kari's forehead. "It will all be okay, truthfully, I promise." Feeling a tingle on her lips Nene swallowed back the nervous guilty feeling of having gone too fa and, Nene slumped off to work her emotions a turbulent mess.
That evening when Nene returned the rat's nest of wires connecting Kari to support machinery was gone replaced with a clean white sheet and a single pair of cables. One providing life support while the other led to a computer physically isolated from the rest of the building. The set up was perfect for analyzing potentially infected data.
She almost jumped out of her skin when she heard Kari take a soft but rasping breath, the sound loud against the quiet hum of machinery in the background.
"It is just part of the cycle Nene." Sylia said, her voice cool as ever as she watched the younger woman flinch. "Its consciousness is still in hibernation. I only restarted the physical systems, there is nothing to worry about."
Nene's hands were still trembling from the adrenaline boost as she sat down to work. Looking over to Sylia, Nene gave her a weak smile before diving in. The older woman was a calming presence despite her apparent callousness. Nene knew it was necessary but knowing that hadn't been enough to keep her mind from being in a state of turmoil all day. Working her way carefully into Kari's systems Nene tried to tell herself it was okay. It would be just like meeting her friend out on the web. It didn't work.
She knew too much about computers for that delusion to persist. What she found once she got in however was a bit strange. She had studied system architecture for the model 33-S boomer while at work and was passingly familiar with boomer programing in general. But as she dug deeper she found more questions than answers waiting.
Kari's programming just wasn't organized correctly. While her hardware drivers were normal the way information and memory storage was being handled was nearly incomprehensible. Certainly it didn't match with either her own experience or the files Sylia had managed to obtain for her.
At first Nene was afraid she had been too late and Kari had been… scrambled, but the longer she looked the more it was clear that every program file outside of those related to personality and memory were completely intact. It was as if the main OS hadn't been fully installed. It was overridden in places, missing in others. She quickly realized that trying to isolate any memories or directives wasn't going to be possible. Regretfully unable to prove Kari's innocence she turned to Sylia's second directive.
Working to find and isolate the code needed to… enslave Kari… she realized it also wasn't there. The elaborate programs meant to shackle and control a boomer's conscious mind were missing. Only a few governing instinctive behaviors remained. Such as an urge to obey lawful authority, but those weren't the kind of overrides Sylia wanted. Even Kari's firmware systems showed signs of tampering, hardware overrides in place but without the software to back them up. Kari was as independent a boomer as Nene could imagine and she felt her spirits start to rise.
Eventually though she reached the ultimate layer. Hidden away her bios chip still contained the standard boomer ownership protocols. They were intact, and Nene felt her heart sinking. Kari was a boomer, and a slave to whoever was registered on that chip. She would have to obey them and no matter how much Nene wanted to believe otherwise, if whoever was listed here gave her an order she would have no choice but to obey.
Heart close to breaking and almost unwilling to look Nene queried the chip. Already she felt defiled by the faceless man whose name would be revealed. So what she got back it made no sense. It couldn't be possible. She checked again getting the same result and realizing that the date stamp upon it was recent, too recent.
Ignoring Sylia when she looked up at her gasp Nene concentrated with an intensity only found when presented with an enigma. She dove into her work recovering a complete record of every change of state those few simple bytes of memory had ever held. Finished she sat back looking up to realize Sylia had been studying her for some time.
"Nene, what is the matter?" Sylia's voice finally pierced the silence once more and Nene realized it wasn't the first time she'd asked. Recognizing she finally had her befuddled hacker's attention Sylia tried again "What did you find?"
"It's me."
Sylia blinked but the intrigued expression didn't leave her face as she simply waited for Nene to explain.
"Her master, it's me… I don't know how but, it updated the night of the first attack on Irene." The disquieted redhead looked back over at Kari where she lay silently on the table. Licking her lips nervously she went on. "We were with her the whole night, no one had access. It shouldn't be possible but…" Taking a deep breath she tried to settle her racing thoughts and start over from the beginning.
"Okay, from the beginning…maybe it will make more sense that way." Nene murmured before speaking up.
"Kari was activated for the first time several months ago without anyone being imprinted as the owner. I don't know how, or why, it's against all standard operating procedure, but it's true. That information was just left blank, and all the obedience hardware dormant… and it stayed that way for the week she was active. After that she was shut down. I don't know why but her maintenance log shows she was put into storage for months before being activated again. This time an owner was registered as Master Flint. But Sylia, that's all that was entered, no personal name, image, biometric data, or anything just Master Flint."
Seeing recognition in Sylia's face, Nene paused her recitation and waited for Sylia to say something. Realizing she would have to assuage some of Nene's curiosity Sylia answered the unspoken question. "It most likely refers to Marcus Flint, head of GPCC, Genom's space research division. I am not sure how he got his hands on her but if it were aboveboard the data would not be incomplete. Genom is not sloppy with this kind of thing."
Nene nodded, that made a little sense, even if nothing else did. Swallowing she continued to report what she had found. "Somehow I think, I think she's updating it herself. That shouldn't be possible, not without some kind of outside access. But Sylia after that is the weird part. After the night of the first attack the missing data, the biometric information was filled in and, its, mine. My image, my voiceprint, everything. It's as though a technician performed an official change of ownership, and then the next day even the name was updated. Now it's Ne-chan. She actually overwrote her own owners file!" Her voice was filled with a quiet awe at the impossibility of what she had found.
"What should I do?" Nene asked, lost, looking to Sylia for direction. The sudden feel of responsibility towards Kari strangely stifling at the same time it made her heart begin to swell.
The only indication Sylia gave of the thoughts running through her head was to tap her chin with one long elegant finger as she pondered. Finally she nodded more to herself than her companion. "That does not change anything. Without readable access to her memories we will have to ask her directly. Keep her in hibernation until her body has had time to heal, then we will see what she has to say for herself. Apparently she has changed masters once Nene, there is nothing that says she will not do it again. We have to be sure she is trustworthy before we even consider letting her go. Can you get the rest of her obedience software running?"
The question made Nene squirm a little in her seat. "Maybe, but Sylia, that isn't right… I mean, she's," there was a pause as she tried to marshal her argument. "She shouldn't be made a slave just because she tried to help. She could have died for Irene and you want me to reward her by, by putting her mind in chains? She might be a boomer but she's also my friend."
Even with all her attention focused upon Sylia the only reaction Nene could see to her impassioned plea was a slight widening of her iris' before the tall woman gave a sharp nod, silvery shoulder length hair bobbing with the motion. "Very well Nene, we will see what she has to say for herself first, but I want you to put in an override. We need to be able to turn them all on remotely just to be safe."
With slumped shoulders, and a little of the glint of innocence lost from her gaze Nene set out to do what Sylia demanded as the price for bringing back her friend. She only hoped that somehow Kari could forgive her, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach promised that her tampering wouldn't go un-noticed.
3-16-17
Interlude 1
The sudden outbreak of violence in the apartment caught the watchers off guard. Hou Bang, a Chinese crime family, had hired the Knight Sabers to look after their chairman's granddaughter Irene but handicapped their efforts. She wasn't supposed to know they were there. Just like Genom wasn't supposed to slip a boomer so close without Nene detecting it.
Combined those two facts explained the minute's delay in their response, such a short time, but also an eternity.
As Nene followed in Priss' wake through the balcony window, her eyes grew wide at all the blood. Kari was absolutely coated in it. Her shirt was plastered to her chest and a pool of blood was forming against her belt as she lay still. Her body awkwardly propped against the coffee table where it fell. Smears of red were everywhere.
Ignoring the crash of Priss dealing with the boomer she approached her friend, dropping to her knees and activating a powerful suite of sensors to scan her friend. "Oh God, Kari?" Her dismay was confined to Nene alone, her voice automatically changed to a mechanical drone before it could reach the now silent apartment.
So it was easy for her audio pickups to catch Kari softly murmur "I'm sorry Ne-chan, I didn't want to lie."
Nene's armored gauntlet reached out to touch her face but the slight woman was frighteningly still, her eyes staring into eternity. The pink Knight Saber had to choke back the whimper that tried to escape her throat as a rivulet of blood trailed down Kari's neck.
Nene was stunned. Kari was a boomer, and now she was dead. How could this happen? If she hadn't already knelt the shock would have taken her to her knees. Nene's fingers froze in the process of tracing Kari's cheek. She was kneeling in a pool of her best friend's blood. Nene couldn't do anything but stare until Priss' rough voice came over the radio. "Irene's been hurt but looks stable, your friend…"
Priss had seen the amount of blood on her way past, no one could survive that. She just wasn't sure how to snap Nene out of her horror. Thankfully her voice was enough to get Nene moving again. Unable to speak, Nene gave a tiny shake of her head unable to believe what had happened as the blue hardsuited figure turned to face her.
Cradling Irene carefully in her arms Priss spoke up. "Look, it was brave what she did, braver than most, but we have to go." Priss tried to be sensitive in her own way as she stepped closer. But when Nene just looked away to stare at her friend's pale still body and swallow Priss' tone changed growing deeper, more emphatic. "We have to GO!"
Nene nodded and reached down to pick up her friend, a friend who was a boomer. Seeing the question in Priss' stance she felt the need to defend her action. "She… doesn't deserve this, to be left behind like garbage and forgotten."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Priss asked her frustration and incomprehension growing. "Pink, get your head back in the game. She's beyond help, and I need you on the lookout for more boomers. We can't afford a fight with Irene injured like this." The punk turned private mercenary tried to keep her temper. She knew that Nene and Kari had been close, but they couldn't afford for her to break down now.
It was in that moment Nene realized Priss didn't know! Her own hardsuit's electronics were far more sensitive than the Blue Knight Sabers so Priss didn't realize what Kari was. That there wouldn't be a funeral, she would be thrown out like trash, just another broken boomer.
Her grief-struck mind was almost caught up in a spiral of despair until Nene fixed on that last thought. Kari was a boomer. With sudden hope Nene reinitialized the scan.
Kari was dead, er non-functioning, but she still had power. More important, there wasn't very much actual damage to her body. There was still a chance to save her if they could get her systems online fast enough.
Filled with new purpose, Nene checked their surroundings once more before leading the way. Priss followed behind a bit confused but relieved at the new urgency in her teammate's steps. Reaching their transport truck Nene lay her friend down before stripping hastily out of her hard suit. She worked frantically to bandage Kari's neck, even though blood no longer flowed from the wound.
After laying Irene carefully into an emergency hammock Priss turned back to her teammate. "Nene, stop, it's too late." Laying a hand gently on her shoulder Priss tried to pull her back only to see a disturbingly composed face turn to meet her. "It's Not!" As the trailer pulled away rumbling over asphalt, the redhead turned back to her work as Priss stood by with a concerned look hidden by her helmet.
Sylia was waiting when they arrived in a garage hidden beneath the Silky Doll building. Not only did the twenty two year old genius own the entire complex, lingerie boutique included, but she also funded and led the Knight Sabers. An engineering prodigy, she was the daughter of Katsuhito Stingray, the original inventor of the boomer. That legacy however had been stolen by Genom. The corporation had murdered her father through an industrial accident leaving her to inherit only a quest for revenge on the mega-corporation.
Taking charge of the situation with grace and poise, she directed Priss to settle Irene in their small infirmary. A quick examination showed she would be fine for the moment. It was when she turned to the second, unconventional patient that the mask of control was strained while she contemplated the possibilities.
Priss had called ahead to tell her that Kari was dead. How Nene had snapped and just couldn't let it go. Even her gruff persona had cracked a bit the singer letting some real concern for Nene slip into her tone as she reported the news.
However as Sylia approached she didn't see the hysterical denial Priss did. She saw that Nene had been hard at work, but not in a frantic attempt to deny the truth. Her eyes instead took in what Nene had done and analyzed the situation.
The reason for an emergency IV was obvious with the amount of blood that covered the still, blond form. Sylia's keen eyes however also noted the diagnostic tools scattered about, and an emergency power supply that implied more was at work here. "Nene, what's going on?" Her voice was cool, controlled, but sharp enough to draw an immediate response.
"She, Kari, She's a boomer." Even saying it aloud it didn't seem quite real to Nene. "I think I was fast enough to save her memory, but, I don't know how to, um, fix her…" Looking away from Sylia, her eyes settled on Kari's body. "Please, help…"
Uncertain about the wisdom of it, but unable to deny Nene's plea Sylia nodded. "Help me get her into the lab, I'll do what I can."
An hour later Sylia rejoined the others. Linna, the last member of the Knight Sabers had arrived while she worked, and none of the women looked happy.
"Mason has to pay." The vitriol in Nene's tone came as a shock. Never had Sylia heard that tone from her before.
Linna gave a sharp nod, "That bastard isn't going to get away with this," her shock at the attack having turned to a cold anger with an hour's reflection.
Priss looked up from where she sat watching over Irene, her gaze going from one woman to the next before she nodded. "I'm in. Let's put him in the ground. Sylia?"
Three pairs of eyes focused on Sylia who gazed back impassively. She considered each of them before settling on the most innocent. "Nene, are you sure?" She looked to the others. "Are all of you?"
The assault upon Genom tower was both exhilarating and frightening for Nene at the same time. As the Knight Sabers climbed the slope in flashes of fire and light she grit her teeth, wishing she had the same kind of firepower the others carried. She wanted to strike out, to hit something, or more specifically someone, but that had never been her role.
Each time Nene closed her eyes, she could see Irene and Kari's faces, one cold and ashen, the other swaddled in bandages and turning an ugly purple from the blow. They made for good motivation. Irene would live, but would carry scars for life. With Kari, it was too early to say.
Sylia had come through with a blood supply and put her on a backup power system, but Kari's heart remained still when they had left. Only time would tell if they had been in time to preserve her mind or if all that remained was a soulless automaton.
Nene used those thoughts to help bolster her determination as she crested the tower at Sylia's side. There at the summit they came face to face with Brian J. Mason wearing a personal hardsuit with an imposing BU-55C combat boomer at his side.
Diving for cover, Nene's mind whirled. Her suit wasn't armed to fight something like that. She worked faster than ever before, managing to fool the boomer's sensors and tricking it. What it had thought of as solid ground nothing but air when it attempted to circle around her cover. With a metallic shriek it tumbled out of the fight.
Below the summit, Priss and Linna fought a desperate holding action against the reinforcements responding to the Knight Sabers assault. The tumbling body of the dazed 55-C ignored as it rolled down the tower past them.
Filled with elation at a rare personal victory Nene turned to the darting movement and flashes that framed the other fight. She was shocked to see Sylia was losing. It didn't seem possible that the white Knight Saber could do anything but win. Sylia was the most incredible, talented, and driven woman Nene had ever met. Watching her struggle to survive seemed wrong.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Nene hunkered down and tried not to attract any attention. She wouldn't last a minute against Mason if he had Sylia on the run. Instead she chose a different battlefield and set to work with her own specialty, hacking Mason's power suit through its communications channels. It was only a moment before she broke its firewall and realized why he was doing so well.
It wasn't skill or power, but an advanced analytic program that forecast Sylia's movements. It wasn't quite good enough to give him victory outright but more than enough to keep her on the run.
With that discovery and a live connection to his systems Nene felt her lips turn up in a predatory smile. Her vengeance commencing as she recognized his vulnerability. Mason's systems were too good, too complex. It would take only the smallest nudge to overload the system.
Proving why she was their leader Sylia reacted to the change in circumstance even before Nene could announce what she'd done. Within moments Sylia recognized the fundamental change in Mason's behavior, his fire ceasing to track her and his movements more clumsy. In a flash she somersaulted over his battlesuit and was sliding an energized blade through its back. As she stepped away the last two feet glistened red with blood. Mason's suit collapsed as if its strings were cut.
Nene felt a grim satisfaction mix with horror at the sight. They'd done it, Mason was dead. She had to swallow back the bile as it rose in her throat. Her eyes were inexorably fixed upon the blood staining Sylia's weapon. Oh God, we really did it, He's really dead.
It was a relief that the need to escape required her help, needing an intricate dance of ECM and ECCM that took all her attention.
Later as Nene literally showered blood from her hands, the guilt and sickness over her part in Mason's death surged before slowly being washed away. It swirled down the drain with the blood of her friend, the blood of a boomer.
That's when it all really began to sink in. Kari isn't human, wasn't human, and never had been. And while she might be coming back Mason who was human never would.
Despite the time it took to work through her complex and ambiguous feelings the water heater in Sylia's building didn't let her down. The heat continued long past the point at which she was physically clean. The shower washing away the last remaining chill, and it was a pink and wrinkly Nene who finally emerged from the changing room. Her guilt over Mason excised.
Slipping into a guest room, she tried to get to sleep but her mind continued to pick at thoughts about Kari. Nene liked her, it, her. She liked Kari, and boomer or not she was a friend. Looking back Nene realized in retrospect there had been clues. But none had been so glaring they couldn't be easily dismissed. Kari was just so lifelike, so genuine, not just physically but socially that Nene never even suspected when talking with her that she wasn't real.
Rolling over she tried to think objectively. Kari was just too human, more than any other boomer she had ever heard of much less met. If a machine could really be that sympathetic and compassionate were they really just a machine? How much more human a boomer could really be? Nene lay, uneasy, her thoughts troubled and restless for another hour.
Finally she gave in. Unable to sleep she padded quietly through the headquarters to the mainframe and logged into the web. Ever since she had discovered computers this was where she went to find her answers. A place of infinite possibilities where you could learn anything you needed to know. And now she wouldn't be able to rest until she knew the truth.
She started with pulling up the records from her hardsuit. Nene studied the deep scan that had shaken her world more closely. It was obvious now that she knew what to look for, the microscopic weave of wires through the body. Connective tissue and synthetic organs mated to a series of microprocessors and the synthetic brain that made her boomer. That Genom copy written brain was the indisputable proof that her friend wasn't some highly augmented human, but a highly humanized boomer instead.
That only pushed her to search further. Getting into the ADP databases through a backdoor she had placed months ago, she tried to learn if any boomer like Kari had been seen before and to her surprise found a perfect match.
[33-S model humaniform domestic boomer.]
[This model has been banned due to extremely high failure rates and instability in its AI matrix. 33-S class boomers often go rogue and typically kill their owners before being put down by police response forces. These Boomers are capable of fully masquerading as human and require specialized systems to detect. While they have been used for assassination in several cases the primary second party crime associated with this model is use in illegal prostitution operations. The last unit was produced March 14 2027, blanket authorization to terminate upon discovery was granted in Japan as of November 1 2027, most recent case file April 3 2028.]
No wonder she hadn't known about them, there hadn't been a sighting of one for more than a year before she joined the AD Police and before that her interests hadn't included boomers at all.
Continuing to sift through the ADP data, she tried to uncover how one could have survived so long unnoticed. Most boomers required monthly maintenance to avoid the risk of mechanical failure. While it's true that the 33-S was largely organic, surely it couldn't have been hiding all this time without some maintenance problem surfacing to give it away. That was when she came across a disturbing technical footnote.
[The 33-S was designed to be capable of maintenance free operation. The only consumables required being an appropriately tailored diet, access to a source of power and consistent supply of circulatory fluid to power its systems and carry the nanites it produced for self-repair.
Addendum, although the 33-S circulatory system was designed to use a synthetic compound now on the restricted materials list, in several cases it has been discovered that human blood can be used as a short term substitute without compromising operation but required frequent replenishment due to deterioration. Results of long term use are unknown.]
Was that it? Had she somehow escaped and been living the last five years off human blood? A shiver went down Nene's spine at the macabre thought. Wait, when they met Kari had been held by Genom… if that were true then what experiments had they been doing with a five year old boomer. Tears came to her eyes, she couldn't help it. The thought of her friend being a prisoner, a slave, for five years before they met and she escaped… Her eyes fell on a statistic that showed that within six months 90% of 33-S boomers went rogue, 80% violently. No, she shook her head. She wouldn't believe that of Kari.
Kari was a friend, and had twice risked herself to protect Irene. Nene was positive that she would have done the same for her. Kari wasn't like what these files described. Maybe she was a new model, an exception. Ending her speculation, her research having done nothing but raise troubling questions Nene shut down the system and stumbled exhausted back to the guest room tired enough to finally get to sleep.
The young redhead woke to the comforting background hum of the industrial machinery coming through the basement room's wall. Realizing she overslept and wanting to find out what had happened made her rush. She needed to know if Kari would be alright and found herself pulling on rumpled day old clothing. Forgoing her usual hairstyle she pulled it back into a simple ponytail instead of taking the time to brush it out properly.
She suffered a moment of panic when she entered the main room to find Irene's bed was empty. Heart racing she rushed to the workshop to check on Kari and almost bowled Sylia over dashing through the doorway.
As usual the young business woman looked impeccable despite having still been up when Nene went to bed. Somehow the creases of her suit remained sharp and her hair perfectly coifed. In fact she looked ready for a photo shoot, and also as usual began to answer Nene's question before the nervous young woman could open her mouth to speak.
"Irene is fine. She was moved earlier this morning and is on her way to China. It is better this way Nene." She reached over and touched the shorter woman's shoulder and looked deep into her eyes offering a rare show of support. "She will be safe there under the aegis of her grandfather. We could not keep her here without revealing our identities, I am sorry."
Nene slumped a little but nodded. Sylia was right, as usual. One question answered Nene's attention turned to the other. She could see Kari laying still and quiet on a work table in the center of the room. The soft hum of support machinery indicated there was something to save but her skin was so wan, tinged almost blue by the florescent lighting Nene couldn't help but worry. Drawing breath the redhead opened her mouth to ask about Kari.
Again her leader preempted Nene's question, but now her tone was cool, the flicker of compassion in her tone gone without a trace. Once more she was the Ice Queen the Knight Sabers had all grown familiar with. "4m83r is still recoverable. I know you thought of it as a friend Nene, but it is not. It is a 33-S, a sexaroid. They are only designed to mimic humanity, to learn what people around them want and then give it to them. They are not actual people."
She went on, steamrolling any attempted objection by simply continuing to speak. Nene could hear the grim warning in her tone. "I know you do not want to think it of… Kari… but it has been manipulating you for weeks. It has been working to gain your trust and it is most likely that this boomer was planted on you as a spy." Raising a hand to quell Nene's rising fury, Sylia continued.
"I am not saying that it was a conscious decision, or that it intentionally targeted the Knight Sabers. It may just have been a sleeper agent until the fight on the bridge. But Nene, Priss brought back one of the handguns they used. There is no way a civilian could have gotten their hands on that gun. I already traced it to a Genom black operations account. One of many that Genom utilizes when it wants the versatility to either disclaim all knowledge or provide proof of legal ownership and licensing as the occasion requires."
She let that sink in for a moment longer and the shorter woman felt her stomach churn glancing over at Kari. She looked so small, so weak and helpless. Nene shook her head it couldn't be that way, it just couldn't. "There has to be another explanation. She probably got it when she escaped from wherever they were keeping her. She was their prisoner, not some kind of spy."
"I know you want to think that. Nene, I have had my concerns ever since you told me how you originally met. You have to face reality, that it may have been placed intentionally to find someone exactly like you. A honey trap meant to worm into the life of any hacker skilled enough to attract attention. I fear that the best scenario is that it is simply a recruiter, but we cannot take that chance."
The younger woman set her feet and met Sylia's gaze as defiantly as she could. Nene could feel herself shaking, but whether in anger, frustration, or guilt she didn't know. Taking a deep breath to help gain control and muster her courage Nene did her best to answer. "That doesn't make sense. Why wouldn't she have done something by now? Said something, or blackmailed me into working for Genom once she learned I was with the ADP? Wouldn't that have been valuable enough to break cover for?"
The compassion she saw in Sylia's normally cold eyes shook her more than anything she had yet said. "Nene, your position is probably why it was going slow. Acquiring an asset like you within the AD Police would be a coup for Genom. You would be a prize and I want you to keep that in mind for what comes next."
"It is in stable condition now. The emergency shutdown procedure appears to have functioned correctly in saving the memory files. Your efforts combined with my work have allowed us to preserve the boomers organic components. The actual physical damage sustained was relatively light. I am keeping it in hibernation for the moment. While its nanites and self-repair systems are functioning the higher brain functions are offline and will stay that way until I am certain it is safe." She gave the young girl a look that brooked no disobedience on that point.
"I want you to come back here and find out just what mission this 33-S was on after your shift today. I will also need you to key me in as its master and remove any Trojan horses that might exist in its software. I know you want to think of it as your friend, but even if by some miracle it is not working for Genom the Knight Sabers cannot risk our safety by letting it go free. Do you understand?"
Her intensity was a bit frightening but Nene nodded, feeling awful about the upcoming violation of her friends mind and privacy but she couldn't find a flaw in Sylia's arguments. "I, I understand Sylia. I don't think you're right but, I'll do it." And as Nene's shoulders slumped the tension in Sylia's stance melted away, she could stop being the leader if only for a moment.
"I know it may not be fair if it really is a runaway but this is the best solution, the only solution, to keep all of us safe, Kari included. It is better than the alternative." And with that hardly veiled thread of shutting down, of killing Kari as the only other option she strode past Nene to the elevator. The shorter woman left alone with her friend and the soft beep and whir of the machines around her.
After the sounds of the elevator vanished completely Nene finally took a steadying breath and turned her attention to the somnolent form lying on the work table. She brushed a lock of white blond hair from Kari's still blood flecked face. Her fingers nervously traced down the length of delicate jaw to the large bandage at her neck. But Nene didn't have the least temptation to peel it back, the gaping wound was still disturbingly clear in her mind. The contrast between her own pale but healthy skin and the sallow color of her friends caused a shiver to run down her spine.
Getting a washcloth and bowl Nene sat down to do a better job of cleaning off Kari's face. No matter what Sylia said she couldn't, wouldn't see her as the enemy. Kari needed her help, and even if Sylia refused to see that Nene knew it in her soul. "Don't worry Kari, I'm here, I'll look out for you, I promise."
Unfortunately once she finished washing her up there was little more Nene could do to help. A beep from her watch reminded her she would be late to work if she didn't go. Leaning down she placed a butterfly light kiss on Kari's forehead. "It will all be okay, truthfully, I promise." Feeling a tingle on her lips Nene swallowed back the nervous guilty feeling of having gone too fa and, Nene slumped off to work her emotions a turbulent mess.
That evening when Nene returned the rat's nest of wires connecting Kari to support machinery was gone replaced with a clean white sheet and a single pair of cables. One providing life support while the other led to a computer physically isolated from the rest of the building. The set up was perfect for analyzing potentially infected data.
She almost jumped out of her skin when she heard Kari take a soft but rasping breath, the sound loud against the quiet hum of machinery in the background.
"It is just part of the cycle Nene." Sylia said, her voice cool as ever as she watched the younger woman flinch. "Its consciousness is still in hibernation. I only restarted the physical systems, there is nothing to worry about."
Nene's hands were still trembling from the adrenaline boost as she sat down to work. Looking over to Sylia, Nene gave her a weak smile before diving in. The older woman was a calming presence despite her apparent callousness. Nene knew it was necessary but knowing that hadn't been enough to keep her mind from being in a state of turmoil all day. Working her way carefully into Kari's systems Nene tried to tell herself it was okay. It would be just like meeting her friend out on the web. It didn't work.
She knew too much about computers for that delusion to persist. What she found once she got in however was a bit strange. She had studied system architecture for the model 33-S boomer while at work and was passingly familiar with boomer programing in general. But as she dug deeper she found more questions than answers waiting.
Kari's programming just wasn't organized correctly. While her hardware drivers were normal the way information and memory storage was being handled was nearly incomprehensible. Certainly it didn't match with either her own experience or the files Sylia had managed to obtain for her.
At first Nene was afraid she had been too late and Kari had been… scrambled, but the longer she looked the more it was clear that every program file outside of those related to personality and memory were completely intact. It was as if the main OS hadn't been fully installed. It was overridden in places, missing in others. She quickly realized that trying to isolate any memories or directives wasn't going to be possible. Regretfully unable to prove Kari's innocence she turned to Sylia's second directive.
Working to find and isolate the code needed to… enslave Kari… she realized it also wasn't there. The elaborate programs meant to shackle and control a boomer's conscious mind were missing. Only a few governing instinctive behaviors remained. Such as an urge to obey lawful authority, but those weren't the kind of overrides Sylia wanted. Even Kari's firmware systems showed signs of tampering, hardware overrides in place but without the software to back them up. Kari was as independent a boomer as Nene could imagine and she felt her spirits start to rise.
Eventually though she reached the ultimate layer. Hidden away her bios chip still contained the standard boomer ownership protocols. They were intact, and Nene felt her heart sinking. Kari was a boomer, and a slave to whoever was registered on that chip. She would have to obey them and no matter how much Nene wanted to believe otherwise, if whoever was listed here gave her an order she would have no choice but to obey.
Heart close to breaking and almost unwilling to look Nene queried the chip. Already she felt defiled by the faceless man whose name would be revealed. So what she got back it made no sense. It couldn't be possible. She checked again getting the same result and realizing that the date stamp upon it was recent, too recent.
Ignoring Sylia when she looked up at her gasp Nene concentrated with an intensity only found when presented with an enigma. She dove into her work recovering a complete record of every change of state those few simple bytes of memory had ever held. Finished she sat back looking up to realize Sylia had been studying her for some time.
"Nene, what is the matter?" Sylia's voice finally pierced the silence once more and Nene realized it wasn't the first time she'd asked. Recognizing she finally had her befuddled hacker's attention Sylia tried again "What did you find?"
"It's me."
Sylia blinked but the intrigued expression didn't leave her face as she simply waited for Nene to explain.
"Her master, it's me… I don't know how but, it updated the night of the first attack on Irene." The disquieted redhead looked back over at Kari where she lay silently on the table. Licking her lips nervously she went on. "We were with her the whole night, no one had access. It shouldn't be possible but…" Taking a deep breath she tried to settle her racing thoughts and start over from the beginning.
"Okay, from the beginning…maybe it will make more sense that way." Nene murmured before speaking up.
"Kari was activated for the first time several months ago without anyone being imprinted as the owner. I don't know how, or why, it's against all standard operating procedure, but it's true. That information was just left blank, and all the obedience hardware dormant… and it stayed that way for the week she was active. After that she was shut down. I don't know why but her maintenance log shows she was put into storage for months before being activated again. This time an owner was registered as Master Flint. But Sylia, that's all that was entered, no personal name, image, biometric data, or anything just Master Flint."
Seeing recognition in Sylia's face, Nene paused her recitation and waited for Sylia to say something. Realizing she would have to assuage some of Nene's curiosity Sylia answered the unspoken question. "It most likely refers to Marcus Flint, head of GPCC, Genom's space research division. I am not sure how he got his hands on her but if it were aboveboard the data would not be incomplete. Genom is not sloppy with this kind of thing."
Nene nodded, that made a little sense, even if nothing else did. Swallowing she continued to report what she had found. "Somehow I think, I think she's updating it herself. That shouldn't be possible, not without some kind of outside access. But Sylia after that is the weird part. After the night of the first attack the missing data, the biometric information was filled in and, its, mine. My image, my voiceprint, everything. It's as though a technician performed an official change of ownership, and then the next day even the name was updated. Now it's Ne-chan. She actually overwrote her own owners file!" Her voice was filled with a quiet awe at the impossibility of what she had found.
"What should I do?" Nene asked, lost, looking to Sylia for direction. The sudden feel of responsibility towards Kari strangely stifling at the same time it made her heart begin to swell.
The only indication Sylia gave of the thoughts running through her head was to tap her chin with one long elegant finger as she pondered. Finally she nodded more to herself than her companion. "That does not change anything. Without readable access to her memories we will have to ask her directly. Keep her in hibernation until her body has had time to heal, then we will see what she has to say for herself. Apparently she has changed masters once Nene, there is nothing that says she will not do it again. We have to be sure she is trustworthy before we even consider letting her go. Can you get the rest of her obedience software running?"
The question made Nene squirm a little in her seat. "Maybe, but Sylia, that isn't right… I mean, she's," there was a pause as she tried to marshal her argument. "She shouldn't be made a slave just because she tried to help. She could have died for Irene and you want me to reward her by, by putting her mind in chains? She might be a boomer but she's also my friend."
Even with all her attention focused upon Sylia the only reaction Nene could see to her impassioned plea was a slight widening of her iris' before the tall woman gave a sharp nod, silvery shoulder length hair bobbing with the motion. "Very well Nene, we will see what she has to say for herself first, but I want you to put in an override. We need to be able to turn them all on remotely just to be safe."
With slumped shoulders, and a little of the glint of innocence lost from her gaze Nene set out to do what Sylia demanded as the price for bringing back her friend. She only hoped that somehow Kari could forgive her, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach promised that her tampering wouldn't go un-noticed.
3-16-17
UrsaTempest
Don't Panic!
Ah, and now, the story proper began.
Was half-expecting different tack than original version, but I suppose this is fine, too.
Was half-expecting different tack than original version, but I suppose this is fine, too.
- Location
- Australia
Don't be mean to Kari, Sylvia!
Yup, that very first butterfly has finally flapped it's wings. Until just about now it could have been entirely within the canon universe. Up to the point where Kari get's Nene to go to the gym. So that instead of Irene just being Linna's friend she's met both Linna and Nene, and of course her survival is the pivotal change.
Edit: I wonder, should I call the rest of the series 'Defrosted Butterfly" instead?
I never read the original version so I am not sure if I am missing anything. This is so good it makes me want to say yes, but if Skychan felt the need for a rewrite...