Chapter Two - A Stranger Calls Location: Tokyo, Japan Time: AD 2039, 5 January, 23:56 "Two years..." Linna mumbled to herself as she poured yet another glass of wine. "Difficult to believe it." "What?" Priss looked up at her roommate from the sofa on which she was sprawled. "I said its difficult to believe that its only been two years," Linna replied before her brain fully realised what it was she was saying. "Oh shit..." Linna swore to herself. "Priss, I'm sorry I..." Priss did not reply. She did not need to be reminded, not when she tried the majority of her time trying to forget... Two years... and still the events of that night haunted her... Linna saw the bleak look pass over her friend's face and silently she cursed herself. She never knew when to keep her big mouth shut! She put down the glass and went over to the sofa. Once there she knelt down and looked directly into the dark eyes of her roommate. "It wasn't your fault Priss," she said gently. "Leon..." Priss did not hear the rest. That name alone was enough to trigger the rise of dark self-loathing that she used so frequently to punish herself. She bolted to her feet knocking Linna to the floor as she did so. She did not want to listen to the warmth of her roommate's voice, or see the pity reflected in those eyes. It had been her fault! She had been one who had screwed up! And she would never, ever, forgive herself that fact! Linna groaned and an expression of self-contempt flashed over her face at the sound of the door to the caravan slamming shut. "Stupid! Stupid!" she swore at herself. Her eyes suddenly widened and she scrambled to her feet as she heard the familiar roar of the engine explode to life outside. "Priss! Wait!" she bolted to the door but was only in time to catch the rear taillight vanishing into the darkness of the night. "Fuck!" Linna slammed the poor door shut. "Fuck!" she cursed again. "Linna, you STUPID, FUCKEN, IDIOT!!" She kicked the poor abused door as her rage at herself exploded. "SHIT!!" The door made a dull thud as Linna slammed her fist into it. The pain of the impact made her eyes water but that was the least she deserved for her BLOODY STUPIDITY! She savoured the presence of the pain for a moment while her rage slowly passed. She lowered her head against the cold metal and muttered a few more choice epitarths. How could she have been so stupid! Tonight - of all nights... "Shit..." she swore one final time and walked over to the small makeshift area that served as the kitchen. She opened one of the cupboards and looked at the box holding the small cake that she had just bought for both of them. The cake that she was going to surprise Priss with. The one that she was going to use to celebrate the news of the job that she had finally managed to secure today. A job at a small company willing to ignore the blacklisting that the bitch Sylia had put on both Linna and Priss as a result of that night over two years ago... Linna took down the box and opened it. She looked at the cute little iced caricatures that she had spent so much of her advance on and with a growl of rage slammed her fist into it. "Fuck you Sylia Stingray!" Linna cursed. "I won't let you ruin my life! Not for something that was your bloody fault!" She grabbed the box and slammed it into the waste chute. Breathing heavily she began to get a grip on herself. She turned on the cold water tap and splashed the water over her face. The bitter coldness made her feel slightly better. "Oh Priscilla..." she sighed and threw herself onto the overstuffed sofa that also sometimes served as her bed. She looked up at the ceiling and contemplated the mess that her life had become. She resisted the almost overwhelming temptation of retreating yet again into drink. She couldn't do that, not when she would have to probably deal with all the self-hatred and loathing that a drunken Priss would throw upon herself when she finally returned. "Priss love..." Linna whispered to herself as she felt the sick dread at the abuse her best friend... her only friend... would heap upon herself tonight as a result of Linna's stupid mouth. She sighed in a bleak tone - tonight was going to be a long wait... It was the sound of the door to the caravan being banged repeatedly that woke Linna from her fitful sleep. "Hello!" a young female voice called from outside. "Is anyone there? Hello!" "Priss?" Linna muttered to herself as she eased her stiff body from the sofa. "Hello!" the door banged again as the voice called out. Linna crossed quickly over to the door and unlocking it she turned on the outside light. "Thank God," the voice stated in relief as the light revealed the blinking form of a young teenager and the drunken burden that she was struggling to keep up. "Priss!" Linna exclaimed as she helped the struggling girl get the drunken and semiconscious form into the caravan. The unknown girl stood back as Linna deposited the drunken figure on the single small bed. Linna pulled the old worn boots off Priss and after throwing them to one side pulled the overlarge quilt up around the drunken figure. "Is she going to be alright?" a soft voice said from behind her. Linna jumped slightly, she had forgotten the presence of the girl. "Yes, I think so," Linna said as she turned to look properly at the figure who must have bought Priss home. The girl looked to be about 16 or so, with a slender athletic looking body. Shoulder length fiery red hair framed a very pale and exotically attractive face. The girl focused two very deep green eyes on Linna and a nervous smile flickered across her face. "Does your friend do this often?" the girl asked. "She nearly ran me down earlier she was so drunk." "I'm really sorry," Linna said. "Please don't think bad of her... She..." "Forget it Linna," the girl said with a bright laugh "If I can survive the destruction of a universe then getting hit by a drunken biker isn't going to worry me." Linna wondered how the girl knew her name. "Priss had better be more careful though," the girl said. "She is nearly very close to obtaining that goal of self destruction that she seems to have set her heart on. She almost died tonight and if I hadn't been there..." "Oh Gods Priss," Linna moaned. "When are you going to stop blaming yourself..." The girl did not say anything. She just simply watched as Linna moved over to stand by the twitching ex-singer. Linna sat down on the edge of the bed and whispering gently to the drunken form tried to ease her out of whatever nightmare that was haunting her. The girl watched the expressions of love, friendship and concern pass over the older woman's face and her lips curled up slightly in a mocking lopsided grin. Linna smiled as slowly under her ministrations Priss fell into a deeper more settled sleep. She sighed, she should have gotten used to this by now... "You and her seem to be very close," the girl commented making Linna twist her head around. "Yes," she said with a sad smile as she looked at the girl. "Everyone else is..." "Gone?" the girl finished for her. Linna did not answer. She did not like to be reminded... "That you are all alone," the girl whispered. "That everyone you have ever loved or cared for is gone." She sighed and the weight of sadness within it almost caused Linna to go and comfort the strange girl. "I know how you feel," the girl said with a slightly forced smile. "Make sure you look after her then, okay?" Linna could only nod, whatever this girl's history it was obvious she was going to keep it to herself. For some reason Linna felt uncomfortable with that. She almost felt like she needed to do something for this child.... "Have you eaten? Would you like something?" she blurted out. The girl looked at her for a moment, almost as if the offer surprised her. "You don't need to trouble yourself Linna. Bringing your friend here was off my own back. I don't need anything in..." "Please," Linna said. "Let me make you something. It's no trouble - really." "Are you sure?" the girl said. "Really sure?" "Of course," Linna said with a reassuring smile. Was this girl so alone that she even had problems accepting hospitality? The girl looked slightly uncertain for a moment and then she nodded. "Thank you." Linna held out her hand. "It's perhaps time we introduced ourselves. My name is Linna Yamazaki, and my drunken friend here is Priscilla Asagiri, or just Priss." "Samantha," the girl replied pausing for a second before taking the hand. "Samantha De'Naime, but you might as well just call me Sam." "Sam it is then," Linna was slightly surprised at the girl's cold grip. "Would you like a drink to warm you up? You look a bit chilly." "Do I?" Sam was surprised. "I feel fine." "Oh," Linna was sort of uncertain how to answer that. She wanted to help this girl who like Priss seemed almost to be lost. She pursed her lips, how could she question the girl without seeming to be rude. "Sorry..." Sam said when she saw the expression on Linna's face. "I..." "Forget it," Linna brushed the apology aside. She had to learn to keep herself more under control. She smiled and gestured for Sam to follow her. "So, what would you like? I can't promise a lot but at least it is warm and filling." Sam shrugged, "I don't really mind." "Well, how much time do you have?" Linna asked. "I haven't got anywhere I have to be - so as long as you want," Sam replied. Linna frowned, "don't you have anyone who might be worried about you?" Sam looked at her blankly and did not reply. "Where do you live? I mean, you MUST have SOMEONE..." Linna pressed. "Ahh..." Sam coughed. "I don't really live anywhere much..." Linna looked at her hard. "You are a run away - aren't you?" Sam shook her head. "How can I be a run away? I have no one to run away from." She squirmed uncomfortably, "look - can we drop this subject. I don't really... well... like talking about myself too much." "Then you really are alone - aren't you..." Linna looked at the redhead. "Well, you are staying here the night now. That is the least I can do." "No, I can't..." Sam began nervously. "You are," Linna said in a tone that brooked no argument. "First you are going to get something to eat and then you are going to get some sleep. Now, what did you want?" Linna quietly eased herself into her makeshift bed. She tried to make as little noise as possible because both Priss and the girl called Sam were already fast asleep. For all Sam's protests she had eaten like one who had not had a decent meal in a long time. That, and the fact that Sam had gone out like a light the moment her head had hit the sofa helped convince Linna that she had been right insisting the girl remain. "You will not be alone now," Linna whispered as she closed her eyes and began to follow her two companions into sleep. "And neither will Priss, or I... Sam...." "Priss," Sam said in an annoyed tone. "You promised that you would get some fresh vegetables. How am I going to make dinner without anything to cook?" "Don't know," Priss sounded unconcerned as she pulled open the refrigerator and looked inside. "Hey!" she suddenly said. "Where's the rest of my pizza?" "If you mean the pizza that's been in there for the last 4 days," Sam replied looking through various shelves. "I biffed it." "You what!" Priss spun around on the smaller girl. "That was mine!" Sam turned and faced the irate biker. "Yes, and it was beginning to smell like you as well." Priss went bright red. "What's that supposed to mean!?" she burst out. "Have you had a shower recently?" she said. "If you did... HEY!!" Priss grabbed the younger girl in a headlock. "I'll give you smell!" she laughed as she wrestled the redhead around the small room. "HEY!" Linna exclaimed as she was nearly knocked off her feet by the struggling pair. "Watch it!" The two forms happily ignored her and continued to fight. Linna smiled as she watched. It still amazed her the change that had happened in Priss in the last four months that the three of them had been together. She seemed to have almost returned to the same Priss that Linna knew before the events of that fateful night over two years before. She was even speaking of getting back to her singing. Linna had never dared to hope before but somehow the miracle looked like it was happening. Priss was slowly regaining her love of life. Linna's job was bringing in a steady income, not a great income, but at least it was steady. As for Sam... Well of that, Linna was uncertain. Sam seemed to have a character that was... odd. That was the only way Linna could describe it. At times, like now, the girl seemed to be a normal teenager but there were other times... "Hey Linna... Priss - will you let me breath for a moment," Sam struggled to break the head lock Priss had her in. "Linna!" "What?" Linna exclaimed from the sofa. "Priss! Let her go!" "Meanie," Priss commented as she let the redhead go. "Someone came by to see you today when you and Priss were out. A real rude bitchy woman. First of all she demanded to see you, and when I told her you were out she demanded to see Priss. When I told her Priss was also out she tried to push her way in saying that I was lying!" Sam giggled, "so I taught her a little lesson." "What did this woman look like?" Linna asked in a tight voice. "Black hair, stylish looking - or was before I..." Sam began to reply. "Did she say who she was?" Priss broke in feeling a shiver pass down her spine. "Ah..." Sam frowned. "I..." "Sam," Linna stood up and moved over to the girl. "It's important. Did she say who she was?" "Stingray. Sylia Stingray," Sam replied. "Why? What is so important?" Neither Priss nor Linna answered her question. They were looking at each other. Each of them felt the same thing - fear. "Hello..." Sam said. "Hello... Excuse me..." "Oh, sorry Sam," Linna turned back to the younger redhead. "This woman is someone that both I and Priss know. A woman who was once a... friend, but now..." "Well, don't worry about her," Sam with a smile. "I took care of her." Linna was confused, "what do you mean - you took care of her?" "I kicked her out of here!" Sam giggled. "First the bitch tried to force her way in here and then when I stopped her she called me a whore! So I kicked her out. I don't think she will be coming back here in a hurry!" To say that Linna and Priss were surprised was putting it mildly. "WHAT??" Linna exploded. "YOU??" Priss followed. "But..." The idea of this smaller redhead "kicking" Sylia's ass was not exactly something she saw as possible. Sam frowned - why the heck were they reacting like this? "Sam," Linna said. "What exactly did you do to her?" "Well she tried to hit me, so I thumped her right back. She missed me - I didn't miss her," Sam laughed brightly at the memory of the surprise on the woman's face. "After that she just cursed and threatened me a bit before she shot off. She did say however that she would be back, insisted on it in fact. Why all the interest? Did I do something inappropriate?" Linna sighed, "no not really. It's just that Sylia... Well, she is not exact a person you want as an enemy. She remembers everything and usually pays it back with interest." Sam looked at Linna and something almost like glee flashed over her face. "She can try. Others have..." Priss shifted uncomfortably at the almost predatory look in the girl's eyes. Sam noticed and her face became more relaxed. "Don't worry about me," she smiled. "I can look after myself and you as well. This is my territory now and I will defend it." Odd choice of words, Linna thought but she did not pay the comment anymore attention than that. If Sylia had come around then it would have been for a reason, and as Sam had said Sylia would be back. "Priss," Linna made a nod towards the door. "Sam, this does not concern you and it might be better if you didn't get involved." "Hey," Sam said. "That's not fair. I am already involved. You two are my friends - I want to help. I can..." "No Sam!" Linna said bluntly. "This is not your issue. It is ours and I don't want you involved. We will tidy up our own mess." "But..." "No." "I can help..." "No, Sam." "But you are my friends!" "No!" Linna put an end to the discussion. "I don't want you getting hurt..." "I thought we were friends. Obviously I was wrong. If that is the way you feel about me then I'll leave the two of you in peace." "Sam," Linna began. "I didn't mean..." "Don't!" Sam said pushing past the older woman. Linna winced as the sound of the door slamming shook the walls. "I think she is slightly pissed," Priss noted. "Rather put my foot in it I suppose," Linna replied. "But I don't want her getting hurt." "It's not me you should be telling," Priss said. "Sam! Wait!!" Linna ran out the door following the path the girl had taken. Outside the night was cool and moist with the promise of rain. Linna looked around but she could see no sign of the girl anywhere. "SAM!" she yelled out. "WHERE ARE YOU!!" She waited to see if Sam would respond. The seconds passed - nothing. Linna sighed and went back inside. "No luck?" Priss asked. "She's gone," Linna replied. "How and where I don't know. She'll be back." "Yeah..." Priss muttered. "Perhaps it is for the best. If Stingray is up to something..." "But why now?" Linna mused. "Why after 2 years for God's sake?" "She did say she would make us regret it for the rest of our lives," Priss shrugged. "Perhaps she wants to start making it hurt." "What the hell do you think she's been doing!" Linna almost exploded. "That bitch ruined our lives! It has only been in the last couple of months that either of us have been able to get something back!" "Hey!" Priss held up her hands. "You don't need to explode at me. I, most of all, know what she has done... I..." She turned away and Linna swore softly at herself. "I'm sorry Priss, I didn't mean it like that. It's just..." Linna tried to say what it was that she felt but... "I know Linna," Priss turned back and tried to smile. "I know..." "What do we do then?" Linna gently returned to the main subject. "She would not have come here directly not unless she really wanted to talk. She has always preferred to work from the shadows," Priss commented. "Yes," Linna smiled. "I bet she was rather shocked by Sam's presence." "Especially if Sam really did 'kick her ass'," Priss giggled at the image. "I think that is one sight I would have loved to see, however Sam did it." "Yes..." Linna wondered. "I would like to know how she did that. Either she's very good, or Sylia has really lost it over the last two years. And looking at Sam I can't really see her defeating the Sylia we both knew - so maybe..." "She's become fat and lax now with all the power she has?" Priss said with a hopeful smile. "Something like that," Linna finished. "You know the only way we are going to be able to find out is by actually contacting her don't you?" Priss stated. Linna did not answer for a moment. She was trying to decide what was best to do. If they did nothing and Sylia was determined to get to them then... She shook her head slightly, that was not a pleasant thought. The simple fact was that Sylia wanted to talk to them, for whatever reason, she wanted to talk. Linna knew from bitter experience that what Sylia wanted, Sylia usually got. "We need to contact her," Linna said calmly as she saw the darkening look on Priss's face. "I know how you feel about that Priss," Linna held up her hand to forestall the explosion she sensed mounting. "But what choice do we really have? You know Sylia she will have her way no matter what we do. If we arrange it so at least we can see her coming then..." "Damage control," Priss forced herself to calm down. "Okay, I can at least see the logic in that. But how?" "Leave the details to me," Linna said. "I will get in touch with Nene and she can act as the go between. Her at least I still trust." "Okay then," Priss said. "I will leave it up to you, but I warn you I still don't feel comfortable with this..." "Don't worry Priss," Linna said with a forced smile. "I'm sure everything will turn out fine." "Yeah... sure..." The queue to enter Hades was as packed as usual and the two bouncers stood like ancient Gods deciding who could enter and who could not. They watched dispassionately as numerous supplicants came forward begging in one way or another to be let into the hottest club in Tokyo. The criteria which they used as a filter to state who was successful and who was not could not be rationally determined by those who were watching them. It seemed almost as if they randomly let some enter and rejected others on a whim. However, these bouncers had very specific criteria for letting people in - very special criteria indeed. Sam looked at the long queue as it snaked back around the block and smiled evilly to herself. She skipped across onto the road and walked around the bustling crowd until she came to the head of the queue. Pushing around those waiting to get in she presented herself to the two guardians. One of them fixed her with steely look. "Hi ya!" she said with a grin. "Is Sophia around?" The man's eyes narrowed slightly and he glared at her. "Now, now..." Sam said disapprovingly. "It's not polite to stare, nor can it be very healthy if offence is taken." The man jerked up and the two sets of eyes lowered slightly. "That's much better," Sam approved. "Now if you don't mind..." The first bouncer hurriedly got out of the way and tried to put as much distance between him and the redhead as possible as he held the door open. Sam looked at him for a moment licking her lips thoughtfully. After letting the mortal hybrid sweat for a time she decided that the effort was not worth it and walked into the club. "Hey! How the hell did she..." The protests behind her were cut off as the door closed and Sam walked into a crowded, jostled, lively environment. She took a moment to orientate herself to the rush of so many new sensations. She breathed in the scents drifting on the air and smiled slightly as she recognized some of the predators that were here. Some presences were unfamiliar to her... and several... Sam tilted her head slightly in surprise. She could detect the faint radiance of Demons... Interesting... "Ahhh..." Sam detected the presence she was after and started to push her way through the crowds of dancing figures, roaring music and drunken people towards that faint aura. She made no effort to shield her own presence and she had no doubt that by now the other... non-humans had picked up her rather... distinct presence. She smiled faintly to herself as she detected some of the reactions that she was getting. Fear, amusement, welcome, anger... It was rather a mixed bag but then that was her lot. Still grinning Sam moved towards the location of Sophia. She was also aware that subtly she had suddenly become the center of attention for many of the predators here. Subtly... They knew that to be too inquisitive would be rude and as Sam had told the bouncer, she did not like rude... individuals. "Samantha..." a voice said quietly behind her. "Arrain," Sam acknowledged and turned to greet the Asian. She nodded her head slightly in respect to the other's rank. "It's been a long time." The man smiled slightly, "for some of us, perhaps. Although to others time is relative." Sam did not comment. Arrain always liked to play word games, especially because he knew it annoyed her. So she just remained silent. "One is interested to know why you have decided to break your exile and show your presence?" Arrain commented with a raised eyebrow. Sam's mouth tightened. She knew that Arrain was trying for a reaction and protocol to his rank demanded that she give him an answer. "Personal business Arrain," she answered. "Ah," Arrain replied. "Then that is what I shall tell the Council. I am sure that they will understand." Sam's eyes glittered as something unholy flashed in their blackening depths. Arrain smile widened as he achieved the reaction he was after. "Sam," another voice suddenly said causing the two of them to turn. "I am so glad that you were able to accept my invitation and come." Arrain's eyes narrowed as he looked at the tall woman striding towards them. "Your invitation?" he repeated as the woman came to stand beside them. "Of course," Sophia said dismissively. "Why? Do you have a problem with that?" Her smile remained the same, but the intention was clear to all that were watching this... different event. Arrain paused for a moment before replying. This was Sophia's territory, she had the right to invite any she chose and that right included sanctuary, for even those such as... Samantha. He dropped his eyes. "No, of course not," he replied reluctantly. "That is not my right. The Council however..." "Arrain," Sophia cut across him. "I do believe that you are getting boring. I don't like boring individuals, they depress me." Arrain repressed the snarl that threatened to erupt across his face at Sophia's comment. He recognized a dismissal when he heard one, and this was Sophia's territory. "Forgive me," he replied. "I will endeavor to try harder to be far more... captivating the next time we meet." He bowed his head slightly and shot a look at the redhead. His face curled slightly and he turned and left. "How boring..." Sophia commented as the figure departed. Sam did not speak. She knew that a noble of Arrain's rank would not forget this and she knew that Sophia knew that as well. "Arrain has become very sure of himself," she commented. "Either that or very suicidal." Sophia turned her head to look at the slender redhead. The look of annoyance on the girl's young face was all the reason she needed to be glad she had intervened. The Samantha she remembered tended to get rather... excessive with those who annoyed her. "Forgive me Sophia," the redhead grinned up at her. "I did not mean to cause you any inconvenience." Sophia smiled back - the danger had passed. "It is so good to see you again Sam. You haven't changed a bit - even after so long." Sam shrugged, "I am what I am." Her smile turned slightly mockingly as she regarded herself. "I always will be." Sophia nodded. Nice to know her old... friend... was still the same. "Perhaps we should go somewhere more comfortable to talk. This place is rather crowded." Sam blinked in acknowledgement of the point. They were currently the center of attention for far too many. "After you," she said and followed as Sophia lead the two of them into the inner depths of the club. When the two of them were seated comfortably Sophia turned to Sam. "The Council will be most... disturbed by your return Sam," Sophia began. "Return?" Sam shook her head. "I never left. I simply had other amusements to look to." "I don't think the Council will see it like that. They..." "Chose to believe what they wanted to and placed the blame on me," Sam stated. "They are afraid of you," Sophia said softly. "What?" Sam laughed. "After all this time! What can I do to harm them?" "You have been gone too long Sam. Your name has become... well... infamous... especially among the younger generations. They seem to regard you as... a hero." "A hero?? Me??" Sam giggled. "I've been called many things before but never a hero." "It's no laughing matter Sam," Sophia said seriously. "Many things have happened since your exile. The Council is not the entity it once was. Power struggles between the Families and the Outsiders have reached almost lethal levels. Infighting between the Great Houses has made the situation even worst. The Old Ones remember you Sam. They remember what you did, and who you were. In addition to that you are perhaps the only single figure that the Outsiders still both fear and respect. The..." "Sophia!" Sam broke in. "Please! I don't want to know! Just because I have been absent does not mean that I have been keeping my head in the sand. I know far more about the current situation than you can imagine... And I don't give a fuck! It is not my problem! If the Council and others want to rip themselves to pieces then as far as I am concerned they can go right ahead. Frankly, the Games of the Immortals bore me to tears. That is one of the reasons why I left. The younger races are far more interesting and as long as the activities of the Council do not interfere with them then..." "You can't mean that!" Sophia exclaimed raising to her feet. "Not when you were one of the original movers behind the Great Rebellion! In the name of the Father Sam - it was your example that caused many of us to follow! You can't mean to abandon it all now!" "You don't really know me at all do you Sophia..." Samantha said very quietly. "Yes I do Sam," Sophia replied softly. "I knew from the very beginning what He did to you..." Something unholy flashed in the depths of Samantha's eyes - a flicker of a memory that was brutally repressed. "That was a long time ago," she said harshly. "And still it corrupts what you were meant to be," Sophia stated calmly looking at the young girl. She placed her hands on the redhead's shoulders. "It always will - until you let it go." Sam looked up at her old friend. Almost for an instant Sophia saw a trace of the bright thing that Sam had once been flicker in the green depths of her eyes. A flicker that was drowned in a sea of Darkness almost the instance it appeared. "We all have our crosses to bear," Sam said with an ironic smile and stood up. Sophia sighed and gently left the subject go. "Do you know that it is happening again?" "Yes, I know," Sam replied. "Michael told me." Sophia was shocked. "Michael!?! But he..." "Came to me for help. He wanted allies." "Michael??" Sophia could not believe it. Michael? Of all things... "That is why I came here Sophia - to warn you," Sam said calmly looking at Sophia. "Michael is leading another Rebellion against Heaven, and this time he will win." Priss looked across the table at Nene and smiled nervously at her old friend. It had been well over two years since Nene had married Mackie and although Priss and Linna had not exactly been welcome to the wedding they had followed Nene's life with interest. The young flighty girl that Priss remembered was now a self assured and confident young woman. The small child that she held protectively to her spoke far more of that than anything else. Both Priss and Linna looked at the young mother and the small girl child and each felt the same strange emotion pass through them. A loss, or perhaps it would be better to describe it as an incomplete need. It was difficult to define as it was something that remained just below their awareness. Nene seemed unaware of the attention and was trying to stop the overactive toddler from playing riot with the toys that Nene had bought with her to the caravan. She picked up the toddler and sitting her on her knee turned to her old friends. "Linna, Priss - how are you? How have you been?" That was the best that Nene could think to come up with considering the circumstances. Linna smiled and tried to break the uncomfortable feeling that Nene seemed to be under. "Oh Nene..." she hesitantly reached out and hugged her old friend. After a moments hesitation Nene returned her old friend's warm hug. "Linna..." she muttered softly as her eyes filled with tears. "Oh Gods, how I have missed you all..." She clung tighter to Linna and Priss came over as well. "Tadaima!" a young voice suddenly exclaimed as the caravan door banged. "I'm back!" Sam said as she walked into the small room. "Oh! Sorry!" she said as she saw the three. A faint blush came to her face. "I..." "Sam," Linna waved her over. "I want you to meet a very old and dear friend of ours, Nene. Nene - this is Sam." Nene stared at the young redhead standing at the entry to the small area. She saw the hesitant expression on the girl's face and smiled. "Hello Sam," she said and as far as the toddler allowed held out her hand. Sam looked at the hand and the baby. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance Nene," she took the hand and shook it. "I am sure that your family and I will become good..." she paused for a moment and a fleeting alien expression crossed her face, "...companions." She finished with a bright smile. Nene was slightly confused for a moment and then she laughed. "You are a funny girl Sam. I think I will like you." Sam tilted her head and giggled. "I try," she said sitting down cross-legged on the floor. Linna was not sure what the heck was going on but at least the two seemed to be hitting it off. Well, to business. "Nene," she began. "I need to ask a favor of you. It's about Sylia..." Nene sighed, "I thought it might be. She contacted Mackie earlier today and boy was she livid about something." "I think that was me," Sam replied a little guiltily. "I got a bit carried away when she came around shooting her mouth off." "You?!?" Nene's tone was slightly incredulous. "How the hell?" "Nene!" Linna broke in. "Please, lets get back to the matter at hand." "Ah, right," Nene looked at Sam one last time and then shifting to face Linna she continued with her story. "You may or may not know that Sylia has still been running the Knight Sabers even after you left. She..." "Nene!" Priss spluttered looking pointedly at Sam. "Ops..." Nene said as she just realized the information that she had given out. Sam did not seem to be concerned with what Nene had just blurted out and simply waited for her to continue. Nene shot a glance at Linna who just shrugged. "Ah... Right, about 2 weeks ago Sylia had reports that Genom was undertaking a lot of unusual activity in one of the abandoned areas where old Tokyo was flooded by the quake..." "What kind of activity?" Priss broke in. "She did not know," Nene answered. "She sent... some specialist agents to check. They... died." Nene swallowed as she remembered the rather graphic description that she had overhead. "How did they die?" Sam asked. "From the way you said that I gather that it wasn't a pleasant ending." "Ah, no," Nene jiggled her now sleeping toddler. "They were... torn apart." Sam sat back and looked thoughtful. "Boomers?" she asked. Nene shook her head. "From the information I overheard - it was far too deliberate. It was done for pleasure and there was also other... violations." "Violations?" Linna repeated. "You mean they were raped?" "That is one way of putting it," Nene swallowed. "I don't know all the exact details but... I know that Sylia described it as unholy, whatever that means..." "Unholy?" Priss asked. "When the hell did Sylia get religious?" "I don't think she meant it quite like that Priss," Sam replied softly. "When did this happen Nene?" "I don't know. I only know that Sylia contacted Mackie about it today." "Then that will be why she came here," Sam looked at Linna. "She needs troops, I bet you." "Possibly," Linna mused. "Priss, Sam, Nene - do we want to become involved in this? If we contact Sylia then as Sam suggests we may all become involved in something that sounds very... messy. Are each of you sure?" "Hey!" Nene exclaimed. "Don't look at me. My days of fighting the bad guys are over. I have a family now and that is all I ever want. I will contact Sylia for you but that's it." "Well you can count me in!" Sam scrambled to her feet with excitement in her eyes. "It sounds like a great Game! Even if it's..." "Well you can count me out!" Priss stated adamantly. "I have absolutely no bloody intention of doing anything for that bitch!" "Priss..." Linna began but then saw the woman's face and she sighed. "Ok, I guess I can understand. Then it's just you and me Sam. Nene, can you arrange for a suitable neutral meeting point with Sylia. Personally, I no longer trust her at all but I do trust you." Nene nodded feeling a little sad that their group had ended up coming to this. "I'll do it as soon as I get home and speak with Mackie." Sam grinned in anticipation and then a faint growling sound came from her. Linna and Priss looked at her. "Oh," she flushed. "Sorry, I haven't eaten yet..." Linna shook her head slightly. "Teenagers..." Sam and Linna sat on one side of the table while Sylia and another unidentified woman sat at the other. Linna stared with extreme dislike at Sylia and Sylia stared with contempt back at Linna. Sam and the other woman might as well have not existed. The same went for all the noise that was blaring out in this small private club that they had agreed to meet in. Sam shifted nervously under the tension passing over the table. It was fortunate that they were in a small private alcove off this dingy smoke filled club that they had all finally settled on as the hate flowing between the two woman was almost tangible. Sam wondered if the two woman would even have noticed the presence of anyone else. She looked over at the other woman. This was getting nowhere she had to do something to break this stupidity. Well, in for a penny... "So, are each of you finished contemplating each others beauty? Because I would like to get down to business," she looked meaningfully at the other woman. "Yes," the other woman followed up on her look. "Staring at each other all day is going to achieve nothing. Sylia, we have matters that need to be addressed. We are not here to go over ancient history." Sylia shot the woman an angry look and her face was flushed. The other woman simply continued to stare calmly at her until Sylia's intellect began to override her emotion. "You are right Yoko," she finally acknowledged shooting one last glance at Linna. "We are here to deal with more important circumstances." She took a deep breath and turned back to the business at hand. "Linna, there is no point in pretending that either of us do anything but hate each other. However, please listen to me before you answer." "She'll listen," Sam answered for Linna. "Just tell your story from the beginning." Sylia pursed her lips and glanced at Sam. "Very well, two weeks ago I started to monitor some very strange goings on at the highest levels of both Genom, civil, military and government authority. Interaction was happening between departments that had never talked before, sequences of high level meetings, government heads and ambassadors. In general something major seemed to be afoot. Something that was so clandestine that absolutely no information was being kept on what was happening. By gathering all the tidbits that I could lay my hands on I discovered that there appears to be some sort of secret war going on. Not just here in Japan, but in other major countries around the world. Who the enemy are or what the nature of this war is I could not find out. The only concrete bit of information that I was able to confirm was about a raid that was going to be made on what was called an enemy hideout, here in Tokyo. I had the location and the time, so I sent...." Here Sylia's recital broke out as the woman recalled those friends that she had sent to such an unexpectedly brutal death. "It was my team that went in," the woman called Yoko spoke up her voice a cold shard. "I was still recovering from some other injuries otherwise I would have gone with them..." "And ended up dead as well," Sam finished. "What information do you have about what happened to them, and more importantly what do you want of us?" The casual dismissal of the death of her friends earned Sam a black look from Yoko. Sam returned it calmly and waited for the information to be given. "What happened to my people... was unholy..." Sylia said with a shudder. "They were... violated... and..." "I'm sorry," Sam muttered. "Please, you do not need to go into painful detail..." "Bits of them were missing," Yoko said in a dead voice. "I could not even try to identify who was who..." "And you need Linna and Priss to replace them, right?" Sam said in a quiet voice. Sylia paused, "I need people I know. I don't trust Linna and Priss anymore, but I know what they are capable of and I know them." Linna slammed her fist down on the table causing them all to jump. "You stupid bitch! You blame us for something that was your bloody mistake! And now you expect us to jump to your call and start it all..." "Linna!" Sam's voice was like ice and cut across her triad. Linna slowly turned to look at Sam with a rage that threatened murder until she saw Sam's eyes. Her rage slowly faded away at the expression of cold contempt that burnt in those green depths. "What exactly do you need of us?" Sam returned her attention to Sylia. Sylia was slightly surprised by the expression of calm authority in the younger girl's voice. This was not something that she was expecting. "Us?" Sylia questioned. "Why should I include you? You have absolutely no..." Her voice faltered and cracked as the girl's expression very subtly changed. An emotion that she very rarely felt passed through her - fear. She swallowed, why should she be afraid of a teenage girl? She tried to get a grip on herself and turn back to the task at hand. She attempted to pull her eyes away from those of the girl but something about them held her fixated. "I..." she tried to speak but her voice was little more than a whisper. "Sylia?" Yoko looked at her. "Are you okay?" "I... Yes... I just need to..." her face flushed. Sam blinked and suddenly Sylia was free. "You were saying?" Sam asked innocently with a faint trace of a smirk on her face. Sylia shuddered, this girl was... something... Yoko did not know what was going on but she carried on from her companion. "We need you to be able to... replace those of us who were... killed." Her expression became dark as she contemplated what she would do to those who had killed her friends in such a... manner. "We need to find out who was responsible and make them suffer." "And the pay?" Sam looked at her. "Our services do not come cheap." Yoko nodded, "you will be well paid. Of that you can be assured." "And Sylia will lift her... vendetta against Priss and Linna," Sam added. "That is the extra condition for Linna. Priss has decided that she will never again be helping Sylia in any form. As for me - I too have an extra condition that I will want for my services..." "What do you mean about Priss?" Yoko interrupted. "She has, let us say, declined any offer to do anything with Sylia ever again," Sam shrugged. "I won't bother telling you her exact words but she meant them. So I am afraid you only have Linna and me." "You?" Yoko laughed. "What experience does someone like you have with things like this? You are a child!" Sam smiled, "never judge a book by its cover, Shintoyama Yoko-san. You will never get anywhere like that. I can well 'handle things' as you put it. If not, then you simply do not give me what I want." "And what exactly is it you want?" Yoko asked. "I'll let you know," Sam replied. "If I fulfill the bargain then I will tell you. Agreed?" "Very well," Yoko said. "We agreed." "To all the conditions?" Sam pressed. "Bindingly?" "I said yes didn't I?" Yoko said getting slightly annoyed. "To anything?" Sam said with a smile. "Really?" "Yes! Yes! Anything!" Yoko half snarled. "Good," Sam said. "We have a bargain then." Yoko still fuming slightly continued, "you need to..." She broke off as Sam's eyes suddenly narrowed and she looked over Sylia's head at the main entrance to the small club. Yoko followed her gaze and after a moment so did Linna and Sylia. "What's the matter?" Linna looked at Sam. "Shhh," Sam said and looked at the entrance. Again all their eyes followed Sam's expectantly waiting for something to happen. They did not think how strange this was, they just waited. And that wait was rewarded. Three figures entered the club, two men and one woman. They took a moment to survey the smoky club. Their eyes moving with a purpose until they finally settled on the small alcove. "Oh shit..." Sam muttered. She looked at Yoko and Sylia. "Are either of you carrying a gun?" Yoko frowned but the earnest expression on the redhead's face made her nod and move her hand to the concealed weapon she had. Her body tensed as the three started to walk purposely towards the alcove. "FIRE!!!" Sam suddenly leapt to her feet and screamed. "FIRE!! HELP!! FIRE!!" The reaction from the others in the club was a mixture of surprise, panic and shock. For a moment the three figures looked surprised as well and then as the others in the club began to react to the panic in Sam's voice they rushed forward. "Yoko!" Sam yelled throwing herself at the three figures. Her insane full on tackle caught the three totally by surprise and Sam succeeded in knocking two of them to the ground. "FIRE!! RUN!!! GOOO!!" Yoko drew her gun and rushed forward as the three began to recover. One of them managed to throw Sam off and scramble to their feet. "Sam!" Linna cried out and executing a drop kick attacked the woman. Linna's foot impacted with the woman's neck just like she had planned but the result was like nothing she could believe. Her foot impacted flesh and she felt bones give way. The woman however only swayed slightly and then with a speed that seemed impossible grabbed Linna's foot and threw her across the bar. "NO! LINNA!" Sam yelled out and with a snarl of rage the girl threw herself at the woman. By now Yoko had her weapon trailed on the other two. "Freeze!!" she screamed. Sylia was on her feet her eyes focused disbelievingly at the fight going on between Sam and the other woman. Sylia had seen experts at unarmed combat before, even trained with them but nothing - nothing - she had ever seen matched the sheer speed and ferocity with which these two exchanged blows. The two of them were what could best be described as a blur of motion, of attack and counterattack. Sylia could not even begin to follow the movements that each opponent made. It was simply... inhuman... The two figures that Yoko had covered were also watching the fight. They did not seem to be overconcerned about the gun being aimed at them but more with the battle between Sam and their comrade. Neither Sylia or Yoko saw the mistake when it happened. Neither of them appreciated the slight difference in balance that can be made when too much weight is applied to one foot, but Sam could... and did. The woman never realized the slight error she had made until a fraction of a second after she had made it. However, by then it was too late. With a sickening crack Sam's stiffened hand smashed into the woman's already damaged neck. The impact from the blow picked the woman up and threw her some distance into the air. Sylia's eyes followed the impact of the woman against a pool table. From the unnatural bend of the woman's neck Sylia knew that she must be dead... Or at least that was what she thought until the "corpse" tried to get up. "Yoko! Sylia!" Sam shouted. "Get Linna and get the hell out of here! NOW!!" Yoko just stared at the lurching corpse. She could simply not believe what she thought she was seeing. The two men she was covering noticed her attention waver and leapt at her. The next moment saw Yoko screaming with agony as one of the men held her easily aloft by one hand and slowly began to crush the life out of her. Sam spun at the sound of the screaming and her eyes narrowed. Slowly she raised her hands and backed away. The man holding the still weakly struggling form of Yoko smiled and almost as if testing the power he had over the redhead gently shook the still twitching human. Sam's face flushed with rage and she almost took a hesitant step forward. The man seeing the reaction lifted the now limp form of Yoko higher and Sam froze. Satisfied that his grip was sure he nodded for the other man to move forward. Sam did nothing as the man grabbed her and twisted one arm behind her back. "Good girl," the second man whispered into her ear lovingly as he jerked the arm higher. Sam hissed in pain but still did nothing. Slowly the first man lowered Yoko to her feet. He kept a close grip on her throat as the second man guided Sam over to stand a short distance away from him. He barked an order at the dead "woman". In response the "corpse" reached up and slowly took hold of her head. With a sickening crunch the woman jerked her neck back straight. The sound caused Sylia's already nauseous stomach to throw up. The sick went over the floor and splattered on the man holding Yoko. He flinched and automatically tried to move out of the way. That distraction was all Sam needed. With an explosion of movement she tore herself out of the grasp of the second man and threw a seemingly impossible kick at the man holding Yoko. He had only just begun to recognize the attack when Sam's foot connected with his head. The skull shattered like a broken egg and rained the sickening remains all over the female accomplice. Sam complete her insane move and spun around to face the other two. The man looked as if he was stunned by what Sam had just done and the woman was just standing as the dripping remains covered her. "I am within my rights to kill both of you and your Master for what you have attempted here today," Sam hissed fixing both of the Enforcers with a enraged stare. "You EVEN DARE to attack a nobleborn who has been granted sanctuary..." Sam's teeth ground together as her rage built to almost uncontrollable levels. "Arrain must be insane..." Her figures twitched and she had to clamp down on the bestial instinct to shred these beings here and now. She almost took a step forward when a groan from the semi-conscious form of Linna reminded her of the humans. In a voice that was completely dead she simply said, "leave." The two remaining Enforcers looked at the target that their Master had sent them against. To return a failure would be their deaths but... Each of them could sense the almost impossible power that was radiating from the young nobleborn redhead. Each of them recalled the legends that they had heard about THIS one.... Their Master had been a fool to dismiss them. This BEING was exactly as those impossible tales said... Slowly they moved back. Death and torture for their failure would be an infinitely more desirable future than what this... thing... would do. They fled. Sam watched them go and a faintly malicious grin crossed her face. Outside in the darkness things began to twitter... unholy... insane... things. They listened for a moment as their Beloved Mistress told them explicitly what do to. The twittering giggled in insane amusement and slowly the swirling mass of living Darkness started after the two beings that had run just past them. Sam grinned - Arrain would learn what it meant to cross her will... * * * *