Chapter Three - Reality? What is that? Location: Tokyo, Japan Time: AD 2039, 15 July, 01:06 Sam sat very quietly on the sofa drinking orange juice while both Yoko and Sylia stared disbelievingly at her. "And you expect us to just accept that crap?!?" Sylia finally erupted. Sam smiled and shrugged. "I don't give a damn if you do or don't. You demanded an explanation and I gave you one." "So you're saying that you are actually a vampire?" Yoko said incredulously. "You're crazy!" Sam sighed, "how many times to I have to explain this? Vampires are not the blood sucking, cross fearing creatures that you humans seem to insist on portraying us as. That stupidity came from western romanticism. I have never drunk any blood in all my life. While it's true that the majority of Vampires tend to have a more... ah... chaotic nature than your kind that still does not mean...." "You are crazy!" Sylia repeated. "Oh, really?" Sam raised an eyebrow and was suddenly standing behind Sylia with a hand at her throat. She smiled coldly down at the woman and whispered softly. "You're dead my dear..." "Wha..." Sylia gagged in shock and Yoko leapt startled to her feet. Sam stared at both of them for a moment before slowly letting go of Sylia's throat. She looked at the woman's chalk white face and giggled. She then flashed a coe look at Sylia and gave the woman a quick kiss on the cheek before slowly returning to her seat. "Are you convinced now?" she said picking up the orange juice. Yoko swallowed and slowly sat back down. "Yes," she said in an amazingly calm voice. "And no," Sam said looking at Yoko. "Vampires are not responsible for what has been happening in Tokyo. We are not 'the enemy'. For us to go up against your kind would be paramount to committing racial suicide." "Why?" Sylia asked. She had managed to recover somewhat from her shock and was rapidly trying to fit this new concept into her worldview. "You could have easily killed me just now. And I suspect murdered the rest of us with as little effort. With that kind of power why fear us humans?" "Yes, I could have easily killed you all just now," Sam agreed. "But a hundred of you? A thousand? No. Your kind is like the leaves of a forest - there is no end to you. And as for us... Well, we do not reproduce. There has always be few of us and although we do not die naturally - we can be killed. To go to war with you..." She shook her head, "no way." "Then how did your kind come..." "Enough," Sam broke into Sylia's question. "You do not need to know the history of my people, only that we are not responsible for what is happening. I..." "And how are we to know that you are telling the truth?" Sylia cut her off. "You don't," Sam replied. "However, as you said I could just simply kill you all right now and that would be that. But I want to find out what is going on here just as much as you do. We have a better chance of doing that working together." She smiled disarmingly, "and of course I need the money." "Money..." Yoko queried. "You need money?" "Of course I do," Sam snorted. "I may be immortal but that does not mean I am rich! I am a loner among my kind and living in Japan isn't exactly cheap. Personally, I am beginning to wish I never came here in the first place but..." she left it hanging. "Okay, so who were those... people... that you just fought?" Yoko asked. "Politics," Sam answered. "I am something of a... black sheep, I suppose you could say, to certain elements among my kind. But then it is very difficult to live as long as I have and not step on a few toes now and then." "So how old are you actually?" Yoko looked at the teenager. It was difficult to believe this youngster was anything other than what she appeared to be. "Old enough," Sam smiled. "Besides its not polite to ask a girl's age." "But..." "I was around a long time before the tales of Gilgamesh, if that gives you an idea." "Christ..." Yoko muttered. "You're over 10,000..." Sam winced, "please - don't remind me." Yoko actually had to smile at that and decided that whatever this girl was she could very easily become a good friend. "I don't want either of you to tell any one else about this," Sam said. "And that includes Linna. I only told the two of you because you saw what happened." "Why?" Sylia asked. "Linna..." "Did not see and does not need to know," Sam looked at Yoko and then at Sylia. "Not all the tales about Vampires are false. I do have the power to compel you to do my will, if that is really necessary. I don't want to have to do that but I will if you force me." Yoko or Sylia did not answer, so Sam took that as an agreement. "Oh... Gods my arse..." Linna announced as she limped slightly into the room. "What the hell were those goons?" "Boomers," Sam replied lightly. "It seems someone doesn't like us." "Oh," Linna replied. "What happened to them?" "After you passed out Yoko was able to finish them off with her gun," Sam looked over at Yoko. "It was fortunate that you had one on you - wasn't it?" "Yes..." Yoko said after a brief pause. "Yes, I suppose it was." "Then we came back here to Yoko's apartment. Nothing too exciting. By the way - how do you feel?" "Like I have been kicked into the middle of next week," Linna complained. "It's been far too long since I have done this sort of crap..." "Don't worry kiddo," Sam commented brightly. "I am sure Sylia will get you back into peak condition in no time. As for me - I thought you were brilliant!" She giggled, "that kick was astonishing..." "Hey," Linna replied. "You weren't exactly no slouch either - especially considering it was boomers that you went up against. But fuck those bastards were fast! It seems things have certainly changed in the last few years...." "Yes," Sylia commented to no one. "That they certainly have..." "I'm going to give Priss a ring and see how she is," Sam said getting up. "If she isn't going to be in on this then I want to make sure she is alright. Yoko, where's your vidphone?" "I'll show you," Yoko got to her feet. Well, she thought to herself. The next few months are definitely going to be interesting. * * * * Location: Tokyo, Japan Time: AD 2089, 5 March, 01:23 "Hey! Watch it!" Sam cursed at the slightly drunk man who bumped into her. The halt in the girl's soft, almost hypnotic voice allowed Raina to begin to comprehend what the young redhead opposite had been telling her. "Vampire..." she whispered as she looked in horror at the girl. "No, of course I'm not," Sam overhearing the whisper turned back to smile at Raina. "That was just what I told them. Don't mistake me vampires do exist but I am infinitely more... interesting than one of them. Now if you don't mind I will carry on with my story...." The "girl" started to speak again in that same soft voice and once again Raina was carried away into the world of the past... * * * * Location: Tokyo, Japan Time: AD 2039, 10 August, 02:16 Sam crouched low to the profile of the roof and watched as the boomer's bought the latest of their freshly killed victims into the small, dilapidated building below. "Sam," Linna's voice came over the comlink. "Do you have a positive id?" "Confirmed," Sam replied as she looked briefly over at the distant building were Linna and Yoko were watching yet another site. "It's the same ones alright. And they have a fresh body, just like the previous times. What do you want me to do?" "Keep on point," Yoko said. "At the moment we are only here to observe. Someone has to leave your building sometime." "Do you want me to follow them if they do?" Sam asked. "They will not notice me..." "I don't think that would be a very good idea," Sylia's voice interrupted. "Unless you are absolutely sure that...." "Oh I am sure," Sam giggled. "I can be extremely good at following unseen - believe me." "I hate to ask..." Sylia's voice muttered. "Very well, if you think it is absolutely safe then do so. But I insist that you activate your tracker..." "Ahhh... I won't be able to do that..." Sam whispered. "Not the way I had planned to follow..." "Oh..." Sylia's voice replied. "Well, do what you have to do but make sure you contact us. Alright?" "Hai Obaa-san," Sam drawled before cutting off the link and returning her attention to the little toys below. For almost a week Sam had been watching this place, and every night it was almost the same. Boomers came with a number of freshly killed victims and then left. Apart from that no one went in and no one went out. Linna was of the opinion to just burst in on one of these places and find out what the hell was going on. Sylia however was much more cautious and simply wanted to observe. Sam personally did not care, she was just in it for the fun, but then all this observing was getting a bit tiresome. She watched as the boomers, having deposited their kills reappeared in the small dingy alley and then left on a fresh hunt. She already knew that the... thing... in the building would not be leaving. So, to make up for the boredom she decided she might go out on a little hunt herself. She had already told Sylia that she would be uncontactable and if they asked any questions she could make up something - like being a vampire... She stood up and looked down at the armoured suit she was wearing; it vanished and she was clothed in a much more familiar black one-piece. She jumped from the top of the building and landed gently on the ground below. Briefly her eyes flickered to the door, beyond which she could sense the sick presence the boomers were servicing. A mischievous grin flickered across her face as she briefly considered "playing" with it, but that would only push the Game too fast. So, she turned and trotted off after the boomers. They at least could be amusing. ADP Officer Kim Cheung and his partner Mio Amano were performing their last sweep of area K-312A before they came off duty. Tonight, like most times this sweep involved a visit to a very warm and little known burger joint known simply as "Rayo". Run by an ex-ADP trooper this place tended to be rather exclusive in who was welcome. Tonight was Mio's turn to leave the shelter of their patrol car and run the short distance through the rain to get their midnight snack. And run she did, for tonight it was absolutely chucking it down in buckets. So much so that Mio was completely soaked by the time she entered the cafe. "Irashai-irashai," came the usual greeting as she took off her soaked waterproofs. "Bloody pouring it down tonight Jyoji," Mio swore as she wiped the water off her face and had a cursory look around the small bar. Unusually for this time another figure was seated at the counter talking to the owner. "Aye," Jyoji said with a grimace. "That it certainly is. Are you after the usual?" "Yip," Mio said walking up to the counter. "And feel free to take your time making it, I need a break after that sprint." "Seen any mad boomers tonight?" the young girl at the counter asked with an easy smile. "No," Mio answered the redhead's odd question. "Been quiet tonight." "Really?" the girl replied. "I am surprised that the ADP are missing so much. You used to be much more effective." Mio frowned at the implied insult. "What do you mean by that?" she said. "Nothing beyond the fact that you seem to be completely ignorant of all the deaths boomers are causing at the moment," the girl said causally chewing on a burger. "Five murders tonight in this district alone. You must really be slipping..." "What!?!" Mio grabbed the girl's shoulder and turned her around. "What do you mean 5 murders?" "Arisa Yukio, Yuri Oomori, James Chanter, Carli Simmons and Reiko Yanami," the girl replied. "All killed within the last 2 hours by the same gang of boomers." She looked at Mio, "really Mio you should be more attentive to your job, instead of your partner's butt." Mio let go of the girl in astonishment. What the hell... "I can show you the remains of the boomers if you like," the girl said with a grin. "I found them most fun..." Her face fell, "no Mio I am neither mad nor joking. In fact I am doing you a favour - a free favour. Well..." the girl looked thoughtful. "A second free favour actually - as those boomers would have ended up killing the two of you tonight... and you don't believe a word I am saying do you?" She sighed, "why do you mortals have to be so narrow minded...." She put down the burger and grabbed Mio's hand. "Whaaa..." Mio suddenly felt sick and disorientated as suddenly the two of them were elsewhere. Mio looked around disbelievingly. The two of them were standing in a murky alley, opposite to the very... shredded... remains of three 55C-E type boomers. "Howw..." Mio managed to say as each of these facts began to register on her brain. "Come on sweetling," the girl said with a grin as she pulled Mio over to remains. "See I told you..." Mio looked at the frozen looks of pure horror locked on the humanoid faces. She looked at the bits of synthetic flesh and savaged bits of boomer that were scattered about. Something insane had happened to these boomers... Her eyes returned slowly to focus with a cold feeling on the grinning girl. "Youuuyaya..." was all she managed to say. "Oh come on Mio," the girl said with a giggle. "I did not bring you all this way just to amuse myself with you, unless..." she looked speculatively at Mio. "Unless of course you want too..." Mio saw the insane look flash in the girl's eyes and a warm fluid seeped down her legs. "Yaahhaa...." she tried to scream. "Now, now..." the girl said softly patting Mio's hand. "I am only kidding. I bought you here to help you, not play with you. Now, will you listen to me?" "Yaaa..." Mio simply continued. "Mio, Mio - hello?" Sam sighed. "Oh dear, Mio love - wakey wakey." Mio blinked and then smiled. "Hello Sam," she said looking at her old friend. "What can I do for you?" "Listen and take this warning back to your chiefs," Sam smiled. "Fire ahead," Mio said listening intensely as Sam told her the details of the murders. about the "enemy" that the government was secretly trying to fight, and more importantly what would happen if no action was taken. "...alot of your officers will die," Sam finally commented. "But your kind will survive, and that is the best I can promise you I am afraid. I know that it will be little compensation to those who must sacrifice themselves but..." Sam giggled. "That is life, or perhaps death - whatever..." Mio nodded sadly, "I know." "Hey Mio!" Jyoji exclaimed from the kitchen. "Do you want fries with that?" "Whaa..." Mio blinked. "What?" "I said do you want fries with that?" Mio looked around. What the hell had just happened? "Jyoji..." she said uncertainly, there was no sight of the redhead. "What happened to that girl?" "What girl?" Jyoji replied entering the room. "The redhead..." Mio said. "Are you okay?" Jyoji looked at her concerned. "We have been alone ever since you came in. You know that." "Yeah..." Mio mopped her wet head and smiled nervously. "Right... Fries will be fine..." Jyoji gave her an odd stare and then returned to the kitchen. "Mio," a soft voice behind her caused her to spin around. "Sorry," an apologetic semi-transparent redheaded figure said. "I forgot to give you this..." and she put a severed boomer's head in Mio's hand before giving a final giggle and vanishing. It was at that point that Mio finally discovered she REALLY could scream after all... "So, did anything happen?" Sylia asked Sam now that everyone had finished changing. "No," Sam paused drying her hair from the shower. "Not a twitch. The boomers came, the boomers left. What about you two?" "Just the same," Linna said with a shrug. "By the way - that's my tee-shirt you're wearing Sam..." "I had nothing of interest either," Yoko said. "So all we know is that boomers deliver fresh bodies and then leave," Sam said looking at Sylia. "Don't you think it's about time we tried to find out more? Maybe try a more direct approach?" "No," Sylia shook her head emphatically. "When we last tried that good friends... died. I don't want that ever to happen again. We will take things slowly and carefully until we know exactly what we are up against." "And in the meantime people continue to die," Linna said. "Yes," Sylia said. "But your deaths would not change that. Your lives on the other hand may help in ways that will save others. I am not willing to let you die just to try and find out information." "But what exactly is it we are doing at the moment?" Sam asked. "Just watching while nothing happens - what are we gaining from that?" "More than you know," Sylia said. "We know that they have a network of independent bases, each of which seems to have little or no direct contact with any other. We know that they employ only boomers as their agents. That they need bodies of young people, none of whom have been over 24. We know that these victims are not reported as missing to the general police or to any police as far as Nene can locate. That alone says that they have a good deal of control over either the police or that the government is deliberately suppressing information " "We also know that they are not natives to this reality..." Sam mused almost to herself. "What?" Linna asked in astonishment. "Ahh, sorry," Sam temporized. "Nothing.... Just thinking aloud." "Linna," Yoko got to her feet. "I want to show you something I came across today - I thought Priss might like it." She did not wait for a reply but strongly "encouraged" Linna to go with her. "Right," Sylia immediately said when Linna was safely out of the room. "What the hell did that statement mean?" "Well..." Sam looked at Sylia for a moment. "Are you sure you really want to know?" "If I can accept vampires then I can accept anything else. Tell me!" Sam shrugged, "okay. You are familiar with the concept of the multiverse I assume?" Sylia nodded, "in quantum physics - yes." Sam smiled, "well it exists. There are not just alternate realities, but also radically different realities. Hells, Heavens, Gods, Demons... They all exist." Sylia just nodded and Sam looked at her. "You are taking this very calmly," she said slightly surprised. "How else do you want me to take it?" Sylia said bluntly. "Fall down and start whimpering?" Sam giggled at the thought. "I suppose I should have expected that from you. Alright, basically it is possible, if you know how, to travel from one reality to another. Usually it requires a great deal of power, but not always. Not if you know the shortcuts." "Like you do?" Sylia said. "Well..." Sam looked a bit uncomfortable. "Tell me Sam, do you even come from this world?" Sylia casually asked the squirming redhead. Sam rolled her eyes. "Me and my big mouth..." "I will take that as a no," Sylia commented. "Alright, now on with your point. You are saying that these... whatever they are aren't... ahhh... local. That potentially they have a lot of power, and that basically we are in deep shit. Yes?" "You have such a way with words, but basically yes," Sam agreed. "But I don't think that they are that powerful. At least not compared... Haa... Haachooo!" Sam suddenly sneezed and the rest of her statement was lost. "Oh shit..." she said as she held the contents in her hand and rushed towards the bathroom. "And it only gets better..." Sylia muttered under her breath as she thought longingly back to when she only had to worry about one crazy megalomaniac. "Why does life have to be so complicated?" "Because it is so much more fun," Sam said as she re-entered the room. "And sometimes that is all that matters." "Did you say fun..." Sylia said incredulously. "You call this - fun?" "Hey," Sam sat down. "You only have a short existence to worry about. It gets slightly different when you get to my age. Infinity is only so big you know..." she cut off as Linna and Yoko walked back into the room. "So," Linna said. "Discuss anything interesting in private while Yoko took me out of harms way?" "Nothing you want to know about Linna," Sam replied. "You mean nothing you are going to tell me?" "Got it in one!" Sam winked. "Imp!" Linna said. "Nope. I am saying nothing." "Devil!" "Still cold..." Sam said with a giggle. "Ultimate fiend of Darkness and Corruption!" "Spot on!" Sam laughed and tackled Linna to the floor. "Hey!" Yoko jumped out the way. "What the hell do you two think you are doing?" "Bleee..." Sam stuck her tongue out and with a sweep of a leg bought Yoko to the ground. "...." Sylia muttered to herself as a free for all erupted. So much for strategy meetings. "Sylia..." Priss swore softly as she yawned and got out of bed. Who the hell would be calling at this time? She got up and wrapped a nightgown around herself before going over to the door. She took a moment to gaze out the spyhole before opening the door. "Yes?" she asked blinking in the light. "Ah, hello..." the black, exotic looking woman said. "Can you tell me if Sam is around?" "Sam?" Priss kicked her brain into gear. "No, she's out at the moment." "Oh," the woman's face fell slightly. "Do you know what time she will be back?" "What's the time now?" Priss said. "01:01," the woman replied looking down at her watch. Priss knew there had been a good reason for her sleepy state. What idiot calls at 01:00 in the morning? "I know," the woman smiled. "I'm sorry, but I just got here and..." "Alright," Priss cut the woman off. "Sam should be due back anytime. She said about 1ish... I think." Her face erupted in a yawn. The woman looked at her. "Why don't you go back to bed Priss? I'll wait up for Sam and Linna..." Priss nodded and opened the door. "That sounds like a very good idea..." "Loria," the black woman introduced herself as she closed the door behind her. "Nice to meet you..." Priss muttered with a yawn. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going back to bed. Good night..." Loria settled into one of the ancient chairs. "Good night, child..." and watched as Priss returned to the single bed. She sighed and settled down to wait. Sam waited until Linna had turned off the bike's engine before she removed her helmet and eased off her position from behind Linna. "That was interesting," she commented with a grin. "I didn't think you would be able to lose those traffic cops." "You kidding?" Linna laughed swinging herself off the saddle. "This beast of Sylia's could outrun anything they have!" "And you just had to test it out - didn't you?" Sam giggled. Linna did not reply, but the twinkle in her eye as she removed her helmet said it all. She removed the activator from the motoroid and slowly wheeled it up to where Priss kept her bike. "I think Priss will want to try out this new toy," she commented briefly before following Sam up to the door. "I hope she's still not up waiting for us. We are rather late." "No," Sam said. "Just Loria is up." "Loria?" Linna turned to face Sam. "Who the hell is Loria?" "I am," a very attractive black woman said as she opened the door to the caravan. "Hiya," Sam pushed passed a very surprised looking Linna to give the other woman a very affectionate greeting. "It's been a while..." "Kelly was well pissed off when you disappeared," Loria said returning Sam's kiss. "Hey you know me..." Sam giggled. "I always pop..." "Sam!" Linna exclaimed. "Who the heck is this!?!" Sam pulled a face, "sorry... I forgot to introduce you. Linna, let me introduce to you a very old and very dear friend of mine - Loria. Loria, this is..." "Linna Yamazaki," Loria finished with a smile. "Yes I have been meeting rather a lot of Linnas looking for you Sam..." "Oh come on," Sam shot back. "I did tell you where I was going." "Yeah," Loria retorted. "You just forgot to mention which where. Do you have any idea how many wheres like this there are? Kelly has been checking so many Tokyos..." Linna blinked, this conversation was getting more surreal by the moment. "Linna," Sam said passing her helmet to Loria. "Do you think you can just check on Priss? I'll get a place sorted for Loria to sleep." "Fine, fine..." Linna muttered and headed for the makeshift kitchen. "Nice looking woman," Loria commented. "Is that all you think of?" Sam laughed. "Why? Don't tell me you haven't?" Loria returned. "I have much more interesting pursuits here," Sam replied mysteriously. "Besides, she's still human currently. My attentions would... harm her. And I don't think Kelly would appreciate it either." "How long are planning on staying here anyway?" Loria asked. "Not long," Sam started to take her riding boots off. "It's not like there is that much here to interest me." "Suppose you're right there," Loria said holding Sam's arm while the girl removed her boots at last. "It is a bit of a boring place. I am surprised it even has any other non-native life." "Oh, there are a few..." Sam sighed with relief as the last boot hit the floor. "Gods, I hate those things..." "How long is long?" Loria repeated. "Just long enough to finish this Game," Sam replied moving towards the linen cupboard. Opening it she rummaged around. "2000?" Loria asked. "Kelly won't like that." "No!" Sam's voice was muffled by the piles of cloth she was sorting through. "Not that long! This is only a minor... Ah, there you are...." she retrieved the duvet cover and added it to the blanket and sheet. "Pillow... pillow..." "So?" Loria said again. "Pillow, ah-ha," Sam closed the cupboard door and passed the various items to Loria. "125 years at most. It sort of depends on Linna and someone who hasn't been born yet." "What does?" Linna asked walking into the room. "What depends on me?" "What happens tomorrow," Sam pointed Loria towards the empty spot on the floor where she could kip. "Sylia doesn't need us for anything, so we need to decide what we want to do." "Let's discuss that tomorrow," Linna yawned. "I'm exhausted. Night Sam, Loria." She turned and headed towards the sofa. "Want to share?" Loria asked with an evil grin looking at the place she was going to lay her linen. "Tempting..." Sam said. "But not practical given the space." "I can soon change that," Loria said raising a hand. "No, I don't think so..." Sam said with a sorry smile. Loria sighed and started to lay her stuff out. "Night love," Sam giggled before causing the light to go out. "Yeah..." was Loria's reply. The next morning was quiet but crowded. This small old caravan had not been made originally to house four separate people, and the lack of space was beginning to tell. "Hey - watch where you put that thing will you?" Priss's voice floated from the cubby hold that laughingly was known as the bathroom. "Oh..." was the unidentified person's reply. Sam giggled slightly at the comments and returned her attention to the slightly larger breakfast that she was preparing. She smiled wistfully as she once more returned to the battle with the eggs. It was the same wherever and whenever she was, she just never really got the hang of cooking. It was funny then how much she always enjoyed it. Oh, there were ways she could have... improved her skills, but this was one activity she preferred to do the mundane way. If she was totally honest with herself she was not half bad either. The... ahh... centuries of experience had actually made her quite a good cook. She would just never have a natural flare for it - not like she had for music. "Is it ready yet?" Linna's voice woke Sam from her musings. "What?" she looked over her shoulder at the brunette. "Daaa - I said is it ready yet?" Linna repeated coming over to look. "I'm ravenous!" "No," Sam looked down at the various bubbling pots in front of her. "Not yet." Linna's face fell slightly and with a telling sigh she turned and dumped herself cross-legged on the old multipurpose sofa. She picked up the remote and started to flick through the morning channels. "What are we going to do today?" she called back. "Now that YOUR friend has decided to drop in." Sam winced slightly at the emphasis Linna put on it. The brunette had been too tired last night and so had just accepted the sudden presence of the black woman, but today... Sam did not want to "alter" things too much to get Linna to accept Loria's unannounced presence, but if she had to... "Where would you like to go?" Sam said. "There are any number of places that could be interesting." "What does your friend like?" Linna muttered. "Oh anything a ex-Demon Goddess from Hades gets off on," Sam commented dealing one of the freshly boiled eggs a fatal blow. "And what is that supposed to mean?" Linna looked up at Sam. Sam did not answer, as at that immediate moment she was performing a delicate balancing act with breakfast for 4 people. She grabbed one hot pan, emptied the omelets, threw oil into another one, wiped sweat from her face and... "Sam, breakfast ready yet?" Priss called out as she waltzed into the small kitchen area looking over Sam's shoulder. She did not wait for an answer as her hand snaked around Sam and grabbed one of the freshly made muffins. "Ahhh..." she sighed with pleasure as she stuffed the sweet morsel into her mouth. "Sam," she commented as she licked the caster sugar from her fingers. "I think I am going to marry you. Then you can cook for me forever!" "Hahaha..." Sam commented dryly. "And you can lay off... Priss!" "Too late!" Priss giggled in triumph as she walked off with her sweet prize. "I'm not making you any tomorrow!" Sam called out. "Really, some people!" At that moment the last of the "family" walked in and before she could open her mouth Sam shot her a glance. "No!" she said protectively guarding the rest of her morning's effort. "You can wait - like the rest!" "But..." Loria looked slightly surprised. "I didn't say anything!" Linna looked at the woman. "Don't worry - Sam always gets like this when she cooks. And considering she is the only one of us who can cook we have to put up with it." "Interesting," Loria commented almost to herself before joining Linna on the sofa. They both looked at each other for a moment and then both sets of eyes turned almost unconsciously to follow the slender redhead as she continued her battle in the kitchen. For some reason Linna found the sight of the harried redhead relaxing and a faint smile came to her face. Priss wiped the last of the sweet sugar from her mouth and looked at her watch. It was almost 07:25, breakfast was usually available at 07:30. Well, that was when Sam was making it. When Priss turned her hand to cooking - it was usually burnt offerings at 07:45 or nothing. She crossed over to her bed and slipping off her tee shirt began to finish getting dressed. She had seen what the weather was like outside and it definitely was NOT tee shirt weather. She looked at the small selection of clothes that she had. Linna and Sam had been talking about some sort of day out. She frowned, it had been a long time since she had been socially "out" with friends and the state of her "out" attire was not exactly fashionable to say in the least. "I know," Priss muttered as inspiration struck. "I can borrow from Linna. She's roughly the same size, roughly..." Priss giggled as she reveled slightly in the fact that she was still slimmer than Linna, and with that amusing thought she went to help herself to Linna's clothing. The scene that she walked into was odd to say in the least. Both Linna and Loria were sitting back on the sofa with the same distance dreamy smile on their faces watching as Sam put the finishing touches to the breakfast. "So," Priss said announcing her presence. "Is breakfast ready now?" "Just about," Sam replied and then looked over at the sofa. "What's up with you two?" she asked as the two women suddenly seemed to come to agitated life. "Nothing," Linna got to her feet her face slightly red. "Yeah, right," Priss commented with a grin. Linna turned an even deeper red and took a mocking swing at Priss. "Will you lot stop larking around and eat," Sam commanded with her hands on her hips. "You wanted it after all." "Hai Sam-sama," Linna laughed and using the sound to cover her embrassament moved over to join Priss. Loria looked at Sam and then at Linna. A faint knowing smile flickered around her face, trust Sam to import common elements into any Game she played. "Not always," Sam said giving Loria a direct glance. "Nothing is ever the same, no matter how it might appear." "Sam," Priss looked at the redhead. "Will you stop talking crap and have breakfast." "Oh... right," Sam blushed. "Hades?" Linna looked at the long queue of people trying to get entrance to this most infamous of Tokyo's nightclubs. "You're got to be joking. How the hell are we going to get into there?" "Yeah Loria," Sam turned to the black woman "And why should we want to go there? It's crowded, overpriced and a waste of time." "You suggesting anywhere else?" Loria said. "Yes, I am. I know a very nice and quiet bar only a very short distance from here," Sam replied. "Quiet?" Priss snorted. "Why should we want to go any place quiet? It's Friday night - let's enjoy ourselves!" "With what?" Sam looked pointedly at Priss. "Have you suddenly come into some money or something? Enjoying oneself in this town costs, and we have already spent far too much today as it is. Even with Sylia's money we can't exactly afford to spend spend spend." "Spoil sport," Priss muttered. "Realist," Sam replied. "So," Linna looked at Sam. "What is the name of this place? Maybe I have heard of it." "It's called Labyrinth," Sam replied. The name bought a startled gasp from Loria and she shot a disbelieving look at the redhead. "Sam!" Loria exclaimed. "You can't be thinking of...." "Why not?" Sam replied. "It is after all only a short distance, and the one I'm thinking of is quite different from the reality you are considering." "But the Entities..." "Never happened," Sam replied. She saw the confusion on both Priss's and Linna's faces. "Don't worry," she said. "You will like it, and I know the owner very... well." "Where exactly is this place?" Linna asked still surprised by Loria's reaction to Sam's proposal. "I have never heard of it." "That my dear, is a secret," Sam sniggered. "Just follow me." "Not me," Priss announced. "I am going to try my luck at Hades." "Me too," Loria said looking at Sam. "Sometimes you risk..." "Linna?" Sam looked at the brunette offering a hand and ignoring Loria. "You coming?" Linna paused for a second as she considered Loria's odd reaction. What did it... "Linna..." Sam's face looked slightly hesitant. Linna smiled and took the offered hand. "Let's go," she said. "Sam, you can't..." Loria tried once more. "Look after Priss," Sam said over her shoulder as she and Linna started to cross the street. "I don'twant anything... unusual to happen to her." "What's that suppose to mean?" Priss asked Loria as the other two figures vanished into the shadowsof evening. "I'm not exactly helpless." Loria did not answer, she just watched as the immortal redhead and the mortal brunette disappeared into a Darkness not even her eyes could penetrate. "Samantha," shemuttered. "Sometimes you are... impossible." "Hey!" Priss touched her arm. "Are you going to stare off into space all night, or are you coming?" The night was cold and Linna pulled the warm form of Sam closer as they walked through the erriesilence of the dark alleyways. The usual sounds of the city seemed tobe muted as if by a great distance. Slowly as Sam led the way Linna noticed that the nature of the surrounding atmosphere changed. The air, even the smells were somehow different. "Sam..." Linna whispered. "Where are we going?" "Don't worry," Sam replied patting Linna's hand reassuringly. "We're almost there." "Alright... I'm okay..." Linna replied. "Of course you are," Sam giggled. "Now, watch your head the rain around here is slightly acidic." "Acidic?" "Yes look," Sam replied pointing ahead to the end of the alley. Neon lights flashed at the exit, their light being reflected off the wet ground. "Ready Linna? When we get into the open just run like hell and follow me, okay?" "Yeah," Linna muttered. "Let's go!" With a cry of delight Sam ran off down the remainder of the alley pulling Linna after her. They burst out into the open Linna felt the slight tingling of the rain as it momentarily hit her, then it was gone. Sam pulled her into the shelter of a covered walkway. "You okay?" Sam grinned up at Linna. "You're enjoying this aren't you?" Linna giggled slightly out of breath. "Haiii," Sam said. "Ikimashooka?" "Lead on my dear," Linna smiled. The private party at Labyrinth was well underway when Linna and Sam opened the door and walked in. Six faces turned up to look at them and for a moment there was a surprised silence One of those surprised faces was that of a brunette, brown eyed young girl about a year or so older than Sam. When she saw the redhead her face burst into a wide grin. "Sam!" she exclaimed running over towards the redhead and throwing her arms around her. "Hello Yuki," Sam laughed returning the hug. "It's been a while hasn't it." "Sam, where the hell have you been?" a violet eyed woman said getting to her feet. "Yeah, you little imp!" another violet eyed younger woman exclaimed. "It's been over a year!" "Travelling, looking for adventure," Sam replied with a lopsided grin. "You know me - completely unreliable as far as maintaining contacts..." "Yeah Sam," the one called Katsumi walked over and gave the redhead a warm hug. "We know you, but a year..." Sam's smile grew a bit wistful, "sorry..." Linna felt something like an outsider as the group welcomed Sam with the air of an old dear friend. She had the impression that this group was both very close and had been through an awful lot to get to that closeness. She hung back a bit and watched more than a bit jealous of the warmth that this "family" was generating. Or was the source of that jealousy something else... "Linna!" Sam rushed over to the grim faced brunette and grabbed her hand. "Come on! Stop mopping in the corner and come and join us. Everyone wants to meet you!" Linna could not help but responding to the grin on the young redhead's face and she slowly let Sam drag her over to the center of the room where the others were waiting for the stranger. "Everyone," Sam pushed Linna into a chair. "This is my friend - Linna Yamazaki." "Ah... Hello," Linna said slightly embarrassed by the eyes focusing on her. "Do you like coffee?" one of the younger women asked with a smile. "Ahh, yes... thanks," Linna replied. "Yuki's obsessed with coffee," Katsumi said and held out her hand. "Linna, my name is Katsumi - please to meet you." "Likewise," Linna took the offered hand and shook it. Sam watched as Linna slowly relaxed and began to speak with the others. Sam engaged in the conversation just enough to get Linna comfortable before she left them to it and crossed over to the coffee bar. Yuki noticed Sam staring slightly off into space and excusing herself from the others moved over to join the redhead. "Penny for your thoughts," she said as she sat down next to Sam. "Oh nothing much," Sam said looking at Yuki. "Just thinking about stuff..." "Stuff?" Yuki grinned. "That's a frightening concept. What sort of stuff?" "Nothing really... just stuff..." Sam looked at Yuki. "Forget it, just me getting old." "Old?" Yuki looked at her surprised. "That's a bit of a weird statement coming from a teenager." "Teenager..." Sam murmered. "Yeah, suppose you're right." Yuki frowned. It seemed the redhead still suffered from those strange chaotic mood swings so Yuki delicately dropped the subject "Tell me, how long are you in town? We could all get together..." "I wish I could," Sam said regretfully. "But it might not be possible." "Well, I'm free all this week. You must have sometime available." "I don't know - really... And with looking after Linna..." Sam shrugged. "You can always bring her along," Yuki said. "Let me give you a ring. Let's see - today's the 23rd July 2030," Sam said glancing down at her watch. "I will try and see what I can do but if you don't hear from me then..." "Do try," Yuki said. "It has been a long time." "I can't promise..." "Well," Yuki smiled. "That will have to do I suppose. But tell me how are things generally going? Since we all lost our jobs at Cheyenne Industries you have been the only one out of contact." "Not too bad," Sam replied. "I went back to the States and managed to find a reasonably paid position at a very small specialist law company in New York. I work as an assistant to one of the owners. He's a great chap and treats me more like a daughter than an employee. I really do love it there." "You lucky sod," Yuki huffed. "I am stuck in a secretary pool. It's boring and isn't going anywhere. The only thing good about it is that it pays regularly." "Yuck!" Sam's face curled. "What a crappy job, but what about everyone else? And what about the cafe? Surely you are able to make some money from it." "You have got to be joking!" Yuki exclaimed. "Most of what I earn here goes on the rent! I suppose I am lucky in that at least the landlord is reasonable about giving me time to pay, but I am just breaking even." "Why not jack it in then?" Sam queried. "Because it is the only place I have to live and frankly it's much cheaper than renting somewhere." "Well, I did offer you my place..." "Don't remind me!" Yuki said. "And not taking it was the worst mistake I ever made." She sighed, "but that's the past - lets get back to the present. You asked me what the others have been doing. Well, Katsumi has a job with Tokyo TV. I think she's planning on following in her mother's footsteps. Nami, I don't know what she's doing at the moment. Hey Nami!" Yuki turned and yelled at the group of chatting woman. "What?" Nami said as they all looked over at Yuki. "How's your job hunting going? Sam wants..." "Why don't you come and join us you anti-social bunch," Katsumi exclaimed. "I for one do not feel like yelling across the room." "Come on Sam," Yuki stood up and pulled the sleeve of the redhead. "Let's join the crowd." Sam looked briefly out the window. "I don't like the way it's beginning to darken up. Did the news mention anything about storms?" "Don't worry," Katsumi stood up and walked over to join them. "I have my car parked just around the block. I can give you a lift to where ever it is you need to go." Sam laughed slightly. "That would be interesting..." she commented. "Thanks Katsumi but I do not think that will be necessary. So what have you lot been doing then?" She pulled up a chair and squeezed in beside Linna. "It's Katsumi you should be asking," Nami said with a cat like grin. "It is her who is having the fame and success." "Get serious," Katsumi laughed. "I have a small slot on the local news..." "She's famous!" Lebia raised her glass to Katsumi. "Following in her famous mother's footsteps." Katsumi went slightly red, "I have a long way to go before I do that." "Indeed," Sam muttered behind a sip of coffee. "Ahhh... Who exactly was your mother?" Linna asked slightly confused. "Ha!" Lebia pointed at Katsumi. "This is the one and only daughter of the world renown Fuyaka Liqueur." Linna frowned, the name meant absolutely nothing to her. "Sorry, but I have never hea..." "She was a presenter among other things," Sam cut in. "She died in the great quake." Linna nodded, "I'm sorry, my parents were killed in the quake as well so I know how it feels." Katsumi was silent for a moment. "I never really got a chance to know either of them. I wish I had..." "Katsumi..." Nami said. "Don't lose yourself in the past. We all lost..." "So," Sam interrupted rudely. "How are you handling the pressure of being a star?" Katsumi looked at Sam and forced herself to cheer up. "A star? Hardly - it will be quite a while until I reach that accolade." She smiled, "but I am working on it." "I look forward to it then," Sam giggled. "Although..." "What?" Katsumi asked. "Ah, nothing," Sam replied pushing her fringe out of her face. "Tell me Lebia did your manage to get into that play? I saw the rehearsal that you did and I thought you were great! They must..." "No," Lebia replied with a shake of her head. "I struck out. Not only then but a few other auditions. I don't know what happened, but I never managed to make it." Linna made a noise of sympathy. "I tried to be a dancer as well but I ran into exactly the same problem you did. I never made it through the auditions. I finally gave up as well and moved into... other things." "That's the way..." Sam smiled slightly and relaxed as the conversation flowed around her. Linna was getting along quite well with the the alternates from this reality. So far, so good. It would make the task that Michael had begged her to do so much easier... Loria kept a watchful eye on Priss as the brown eyed woman danced. Fortunately, Priss's age meant that she was not as attractive to some of the predators here as many other of the human prey that were enjoying themselves. Loria had helped this impression by tainting Priss's natural aura with a sense of weakness. As a result the target Priss presented was very unappatising. As for herself, she exuded the aura of a young healthy female. Unlike Sam she did not like to... announce her presense. Especially not in a crowd like this. Although it would not have mattered, it was not like anything here could offer her even a vague threat. It was just habit, part of who she was. "Hello..." a sultry voice male purred as yet another "man" attempted to pick her up. "Goodbye," Loria said sharply and pushed passed him, easily casting aside the webs of power he was trying to ensnare her with. She could hear "his" muttered curse but "he" had no choice but to let her go. The Hunt had many rules, and freedom of choice was among the first. The prey had to doom themselves. Personally Loria thought it was pathetic. If she wanted something she just took it. Power was what mattered - nothing else. However, when in Rome... As the humans of this world said. She wondered why Sam had let Priss come to this place. Was it part of her Game? Loria was more than slightly puzzled about what Sam found so interesting in this world. What was it that had made her suddenly leave and come to this nowhere place? "Loria!" Priss called out and pushed her way across the dance floor to where she saw the other woman. "Wait up!" Loria put a smile on her face and turned to the approaching woman. "Hi Priss. You look like you're enjoying yourself." "Yes," Priss breathed excitedly. "This place is great! I just love it!" Loria noticed the faint twinges of power radiating around Priss. She sighed inwardly and dispelled the nets of power that had made Priss slightly hyper. "It's okay," Loria commented. "But I have seen better. Tell me, who were you dancing with just now?" "I..." Priss was slightly confused. What had just... "Who were you dancing with just now?" Loria repeated slowly. "Priss! Who is your most attractive young friend here?" Loria looked at the two "men" who came to stand behind Priss. Both were extremely attractive and exuding power nets like anything. Children... Loria thought to herself. Unable to compete for the better prey they went after the weaker and less fit - Priss. She shook her head slightly and sighed. "What's wrong cutie?" the first spoke confident of "his" own power. "Why the big sigh?" He put his arm around her waist and pulled Loria closer to him. Loria's eyes went flat and her face twisted in unnatural rage. This child DARED to touch her... An almost unholy expression came to her face as she had to force away the torrent of rage and power that threatened to overwhelm her. "Let go," she hissed in a voice that held faint overtures of barely surpressed insanity. "Now." The "man" almost backpedaled in shock at the sound of Loria's voice. As for the other, "he" instinctively flared his power and struck a blow at Loria's mind. Loria smiled with contemptuous glee as she decided that enough was enough. It was time to... "Loria - stop it." An ancient and alien Power gently clamped down on Loria's rage and with great ease cut her off from her own strength. "You are not here for that," Sam's voice whispered softly through her mind. Loria felt a flicker of something akin to terror pass through her for a moment and then she recovered herself. Sam was only warning her. She took a deep breath and let her rage pass. She schooled her face and shot both of the very lucky beings a glance. "Leave," she said in a deadly calm voice The two predators looked at her with something almost akin to disbelief. They did not understand. "What exactly is going on here?" a calm female voice said drawing all their attentions. Loria's eyes narrowed as she carefully looked at the woman who had just interrupted them. Here was a Power - a very old and very dangerous power. Instinctively she reached for her own but Sam was still shielding her from it. "I asked what is going on here?" the woman repeated. Loria could sense the faint trace of menace in the woman's voice. "And what's it to you?" Priss demanded boldly with hands on her hips. This woman's attitude almost reminded her of Sylia and that was enough to get her back up. "I am the Caretaker and owner of this club," the woman repeated calmly. "I ensure its smooth running. Now, will you answer my question?" "I apologize," Loria said with a guarded expression. "I think I am the one at fault." "How so?" the woman asked. "These... gentlemen tried to get... forceful in their affections. I did not appreciate that." "Oh, is that so?" the woman said looked at the other two who both paled. "Then it is I who must apologize to you for letting such... gentlemen into my club." She gestured at the two "men" and almost from nowhere two largish figures appeared. "Remove these gentlemen from the premises," the woman said in a dead voice. "No... No!" one of the "men" tried to protest as one of the guards grabbed him. "Please... No!" The other tried to turn and run but the second bouncer caught him as soon as he tried to move off. "You violated the rules," the woman told the two panicking and struggling figures. "You bought dishonor upon my establishment and now..." She made a dismissive gesture at which the two bouncers pulled the now terrified figures away through the crowd. "No... please... I..." "My name is Sophia," the woman said with a smile turning back to Loria and Priss. "Once again I most humbly apologize for any insult that was offered to either of you here. Please, will you not join me for a drink on the house as a way of repaying my debt?" Priss looked at the woman for a moment, the reaction of the men had unnerved her slightly. This Sophia seemed to be a woman who could generate great fear. That meant that she had something... a strength... She might be someone very useful to know, especially... Sylia... A faint smile came to her face as a very interesting thought crossed her mind. "We would be honored," Priss said with a slight bow. "Would we not Loria?" Loria did not like the game that Priss was beginning. This Sophia was far more dangerous than Priss could ever imagine, but she had promised Sam... "Yes," Loria said with a cold smile. "Of course." "Sam, I thought you said you had no one," Linna said as they bid a final farewell to Yuki and the others. "Those..." "Shh..." Sam said and smiled mischievously up at Linna. "What?" Linna said with a slight smile. Sam fluttered her eyes and tilted her head. "Just..." "Just what?" Linna asked. "Sam I.. Mmmm..." Sam suddenly pushed forward and landed a kiss straight on Linna's lips. Linna's eyes widened with shock as the faint salty taste of Sam's mouth assaulted her senses, then it was gone. "Got ya!" Sam giggled and jumped back merriment all over her face. Linna was too surprised to be able to do anything. She was not exactly sure how she should react. She was embrassed, angry and... slightly arosed. Linna shook her head, what was she thinking? She looked at the grinning redhead and lunged forward. "Come here you!" she growled. "Hoho..." Sam easily avoided the mock attack. "You're getting slow in your age - Knight Saber." "We'll see," Linna countered and executed a feint to the right before shooting her leg out in a move designed to trip that grinning red imp onto the wet pavement. "Pathetic," Sam commented as she skipped over the leg and gave Linna's left breast a playful pock. "Strike two! Ancient One." Linna hissed and drew herself up to consider her options. The slender redhead was fast, far faster than she was. She needed a plan... "Admit defeat Ancient One?" Sam sniggered. Linna focused on the pale face and it's impudent grin. "Not yet..." she muttered and then erupted into action. She sprang in a low attack designed to tackle her opponent. Sam laughed and danced out of the way leaving Linna unbalanced. She slipped on the pavement and landed badly with an exclaimation of pain. Sam blicked and an expression of concern passed over the face. "Linna? Are you okay?" "Owww..." Linna groaned. "My foot..." "Oh shit...." Sam said and rushed over to the fallen figure. "Linna, I'm sorry. I did not mean to hurt you." She knelt down, "let me have a mmmm...." Linna suddenly recovered from her injury and grabbing the redhead in her arms pressed her lips fully against the redhead's. Revenge! Linna thought gleefully as she repaid Sam's insult threefold and nibbled the other girl's faintly salty lips. The redhead went stiff for a moment and then slowly melted into the kiss. The yielding softness of the salty mouth and the faintly spicey aromor went to Linna's head. What first had been intended as a joke became something far more serious. Linna wrapped her arms around the smaller form and pulled the warm figure against her. She felt light headed as hot shivers ran riot down her body and she sucked greedily at the lips. Her mind was both vague and focused. She both knew what she was doing and was lost in the physical sensation. She slowly began to lean back pulling the other girl with her. She was... At that point Sam lost her balance. "Ouch!" Linna exclaimed as the two collasped onto the wet concrete pavement. The pain of the knock bought Linna fully back to her senses. "Oh Gods..." she whispered as she was both shocked and confused by what had just happened. She raised her head and met the wide green eyes of Sam. Gods, Linna thought as she looked at that pale face, I never really noticed how deep those emerald eyes were... "Wow..." Sam said faintly. "That... was... quite some kiss... I..." Linna scrambled to her feet. She did not know what exactly she was supposed to say or do at this point. "Ahh.." she swallowed, act calm. "Is it... about time we went back?" "Back?" Sam got to her feet. "Yes, I suppose it is." Linna wiped her muddy hands against her jeans. Act normal, nothing happened, it was just... "Come on," she said in a slightly forced light tone. "I bet Priss and Loria will be wondering where we are." "Yeah," Sam said as her elfin face regained it's composure. "I suppose they will." Linna watched the girl's attractive face and once more remembered the soft lips. Act normal! It was only a joke! "Linna?" Sam asked. "Wha... What?" "You coming?" "Oh sorry," Linna told herself to get a grip. "Lead the way." "Where the hell are they?" Sylia swore yet again as the vidphone went unanswered. "Why now of all times? Shit!" "We had better get over to them with the mobile command," Yoko said. "The ADP messages I am monitoring indicate that they are almost in position. If we want to be there when they execute the raid we have to get to Linna and Sam now." "If they are in," Sylia swore. "Why now? Why now of all times does the ADP need to find out?" "Sylia," Yoko said. "We have to go now. Come on." "Damn them," Sylia muttered. "Let's go." "It does not look like Priss and Loria are back yet," Sam said as they approached the darkened caravan. "Well," Linna said as she reached for the keys. "I am sure that they are enjoying themselves." "Yip," Sam smiled. "That is one thing... LINNA!!! LOOK OUT!!!" The sound of Sam's sudden panicked scream caused Linna to spin around looking for the danger. The laser blast caught her full on in the chest ripping straight through her. She did not even have time to scream. "LINNA!!!" Sam shrieked as horrified she watched the burnt body fall to the ground. A second blast of furious power blasted out again and struck Sam full on. The explosion threw her into the air and she landed in the mud and was still. The sound of metal crunching on metal filled the air as the battle boomer rose from the wreckage in which it had been hiding. It scanned the vicinity for any further movement. Nothing. Satisfied that no other humans were around it lumbered forward to check it's primary target. It had been warned that the target would be extremely difficult to kill, but the strategy that it had chosen seemed to work. It scanned both of the humans for life-signs. They were both silent. It's primary target had been successfully terminated. A small high pitched electronic squeal filled the air as it squawked its success to the satellite overhead and waited for follow up instructions. A faint alien sound suddenly registered on its senses and the boomer shifted. It's heavily armed head swiveled around as it tried to identify the source of the twittering. It's senses registered nothing. No heat, no light, no movement. The only thing it could detect was the sound. A sound that was coming from a source of cold darkness. The boomer's visual systems and heat senses focused on the parameters of the sound. There was definitely an area of cold, twittering darkness that seemed to be slowly rolling towards it. The boomer's battle computer could not make any sense on what the hell this darkness was but it suggested the only action that seemed appropriate. The lasers came back on line and the boomer fired point blank. The whine and flash of energy tore repeatedly at the approaching darkness, but it seemed to be simply absorbed to no visible affect. The boomer increased the power to the weapon in increasingly draining increments, even pushing it up to critically dangerous levels. The only effect that it seemed to have was that the twittering from the approaching unknown entity seemed to increase. The boomers various computers were confused, logically the impossible was happening. The gigawatts of power flowing into the darkness were only causing it to giggle harder. The boomers power reserves were dangerously low and the battle computer made the only suggestion that it could - retreat. The boomer opened its rocket ports and tried to take off. It's rockets whined in protest as the boomer tried to fly but nothing was happening. It was as if the laws of physics had suddenly stopped working. It was frozen in place and could not do anything. "Bye bye..." a soft voice whispered from behind it. The boomer's head was forced around to stare at the insane face of a furious redhead. The boomer's energy began to fade and slowly it collapsed into the loving caress of the Darkness. Sam watched dispassionately as her minions devoured the shell of the boomer. She looked down at her clothes with disgust. The mud had ruined them. She sighed, she had liked those... Oh well. She turned and walked over to stand by the very dead form of Linna. The blast from the laser weapon had done its job well. Linna's body was not a pretty sight. However, all that mattered was that the soul was still present. The Reapers had not yet arrived so she still had time. She knelt down and put a finger on Linna's shattered chest. A faint black radiance emitted from her hand as she started to repair the damage to the human's body. Flesh and muscle flowed like water as Sam rebuilt Linna's form. At this point in time she had to recreate the body exactly as it was. She could make no improvements, or do anything else that was not already in the mortal's genes. She was so engrossed in the work that she did not notice the presence of the Other until an amused twittering from her still present pet drew her attention. Sam stood up and turned to face the angelic form. Her eyes narrowed, she did not recognize this one. It must have been "born" after her time. "What do you want?" she asked it. The Other ignored her question and her presence. It's eyes were focused on Linna and slowly it walked forward. Sam stood in front of it, "you cannot have her. She is under my protection." The Other gestured like trying to dislodge a fly. Sam simply grinned and repeated "you cannot have her." "She is mine," the Other said. "I have my duties and I warn you not to interfere." "Or what?" Sam said. "You will destroy me?" The Other shifted in an annoyed fashion. "If necessary." "One last time - go," Sam giggled. "If you do not desist I..." Sam turned from the empty spot where the Reaper had been and returned to repairing Linna's body. When she had finished on the woman's form she manipulated Linna's memory of the events that had just taken place. Her work was now physically complex. The body was repaired and breathing under it's own power. The only thing that needed to be done was to place Linna's soul. Slowly she held out her hand and called the bright radiance to her. For a moment she examined it. The taint of murder rose from it. In the past Linna had killed and the taint of that murder stank on her soul. If the Reaper had captured it then Linna would have been bound for the Abyss. Sam was not judgmental. Personally, she did not care what people did and why the individual powers insisted on judging people's actions she did not understand. What people did, they did. She looked at the taint again and then shrugged. She removed it and placed the soul back in the body. She sat back and looked at the results of her work. Linna was fine, but the question of who the hell had sent the boomer to attack them concerned her. Who had the target been? Sam had not been able to detect the presence of the thing as it had been shielded by EXTREMELY strong power. Someone or something had taken a lot of time and trouble to weave protections on that machine. That suggested that the boomer had either been after her, or that the being behind the attack knew that she would be there with Linna. But why bother? Sam had never been in danger from such a pathetic attack. Why would someone take all that time and trouble to support an attack that would never have worked. It was that question which concerned Sam the most. "What... What happened?" Linna suddenly groaned from the ground causing Sam to end her speculation and kneel down next to her. "Are you okay?" Sam said pressing a cool hand against Linna's slightly hot face. "You just fainted. How do you feel now?" "Fainted?" Linna queried. "I've never fainted in my life! Why..." The sudden squeal of tyres caused the two to look up. A truck which Linna recognised as Sylia's mobile command centre came charging down the muddy track that led to the caravan as fast as it could. "What the hell is going on here?" Sam said looking at the approaching vehicle. Linna scrambled to her feet, "I don't think I want to know." "Are you sure you feel okay?" Sam asked Linna again. The look of concern on Sam's face caused Linna to smile. She brushed her hand against Sam's cheek. "I am fine, really. Come on lets see what has got Sylia so excited." They both waited for the van to crunch to a halt. The passenger door flew open and an uncharacteristically red faced Yoko got out. "Thank God you are here," she exclaimed. "All hell is breaking loose." "What do you mean?" Linna asked a frown on her face. "The ADP have somehow got wind of one of the sites we have been watching. Ten minutes ago 3 squads attacked it. Six minutes ago I picked up a panicked call for reinforcements. Whatever they are going up against is a hell of a lot more lethal than simple boomers. We have to get over there - now!" Yoko's eyes flared with anticipation at the revenge she was finally going to be able to get on those who had dared to kill her friends. "You are suggesting we ride straight into a killing zone?" Sam asked slightly incredulously. "I didn't sign up to commit suicide you know." "You will do what you are told," Yoko snapped. "We have to stop them. We are the only ones who..." "Can?" Linna shook her head. "We are not an army for Christ's sake. If 3 squads of heavily armed ADP attacked the place and got wiped out in 4 minutes what bloody chance do we have? I'm not that suicidal either." Yoko's face grew dark with anger, "it's what you are being paid to do! And you will!" "Yoko!" Sylia's voice cut through the tense atmosphere. "Linna's right. We are not here to commit suicide and a full frontal attack would be just that!" "Then what do you suggest we do?" Yoko asked in a cold voice. "Let the ADP and everyone else simply get butchered?!" "Of course not!" Sylia said beginning to get annoyed. "We need to..." "Blow the fuck out of the place," Sam finished. "You want to use the Comsat system don't you?" Sylia's eyes narrowed as she looked at Sam. The redhead grinned in response and shrugged, "it is the only attack that makes any sense. A clean surgical strike. However...." her voice trailed off in thought. "What?" Sylia asked. "Considering what we could be up against I don't know how good such an attack would be," Sam said. "I'm also wondering why it hasn't been tried already. Surely the government would have thought of this option." "What other alternative is there?" Sylia glared at her. "We are running out of options and time." "I don't know!" Sam snapped. "Hit and run," Linna suddenly spoke up. Sam and Sylia looked at her. "Sorry," Sam said. "Did you say hit and run?" "Yes," Linna said. "We hit, do what damage we can and get the hell out of there." "How's that different from a frontal assault?" Sam asked. "Not much," Sylia commented. "But it is the best that has been suggested so far. Let's do it. If it looks too dangerous, we cut our loses and run before invoking a strike from Comsat. Yoko, get the suits ready. Arm them with the heavy stuff." Yoko nodded and rushed around the back of the truck. Sylia turned to Sam and Linna. "This might get messy," she began. "If it looks like we are outclassed then..." "We run," Linna finished. "I have absolutely no problem with that." "Then suit up and let's go. We have already wasted far too much time here." They took the mobile command as far as they could but at a certain point the road was blocked off by traffic police and even at this time of night the queues were already building up. Sylia pulled the truck into a lay by which overlooked a wide section of the city. Even from here they could see the fire fight that was going on. It was difficult to tell but it seemed the ADP were fighting both some kind of flying opponents and ground based forces. "What the fuck is going on?!?" Yoko demanded as she looked at the mayhem. "It's a bloody war!" She like the rest of them was shocked by the scale of the action. This was not simply a fire fight but a bloody battle! "You want us to go into that?" Sam asked Sylia in a hushed voice. "Somehow I don't think our little weapons are going to make a great deal of difference..." Sylia just simply looked at the flickering explosions. Words seemed to be inappropriate. "Do you want to live forever?" Linna asked. "Look at what the fuck is going on. The ADP will not be able to constrain THAT for much longer..." Sam glared at Linna for a moment and then sighed. "No," she admitted. "I don't think they will. They are up against something..." She shook her head and turned to Sylia. "Linna's right, that battle will soon spread throughout the whole city. I doubt we can do much to stop it, but short of running I don't see we have much option." She grinned, "besides as someone once said 'Today is a good day to die'" Sylia looked at her team and her usually stoic face faltered. "I can't just send you out there to die..." "Hey," Linna smiled at Sylia and for the first time she really meant it. "It is our choice and I personally would rather go down fighting than end up slaughtered like cattle." Sylia lowered her face and then abruptly she turned. "Launch is in 4 minutes. Mobile command will coordinate activities from here. Orders will follow when the computers have analyzed attack vectors. Yoko is field command. Let's do it ladies." "Aye sir," Sam said brightly and dragging Linna with her ran towards the suiting area. After a moment Yoko followed as well. When the door had hissed shut Sylia turned and looked at where the three had stood. A faint silvery track could be seen on her face. "Good luck," she whispered. "And come back..." * * * * (Rough Preview chapter 4) Chapter Four - Battle! Location: Tokyo, Japan Time: AD 2089, 5 March, 01:23 "Split off to the right!" Yoko yelled at Linna as yet another one of the things attacked. "SHIT!! What the FUCK are these THINGS!!" She kicked in her boosters and flew upwards. The thing shifted its wings and shot up after her. Yoko looked back horrified at the insanity that was following after her. It looked like a nightmare creation of human bits, beast flesh, and other things which Yoko did not even want to imagine. It was almost as if something had fused the thing together from lots of different pieces and then given it life. Not only that, it was fast, brutal and intelligent. Yoko looked at her power reserves and swore. The things seemed to be nearly endless in number. Every time she shot one or two, another seemed to take its place. This was not going well. "Shoot the fucker Yoko!" Linna's voice yelled in her helmet as she dealt with a the one chasing her. Her battle system's bleeped a warning and the scanners showed three other's flying down to attack her. "Shit!" she swore as she took an evasion course. Sam was swearing for a different reason. The suit was impossible for this type of combat. The homunculus that they were fighting had a natural advantage in the air and although the suits were good, they were not designed for air to air combat. She looked at the combat display and after a moments thought cut her engines. She immediately began to drop like a stone. The two homunculus after her gibbered at dipping their wings shot after her. Sam smiled as they came into range of her maser. "Bye bye..." she muttered as she turned her thrusters on back full and blasted the fiends in one shot. She checked her scanner, for the moment she was clear. "Where the hell are these things coming from Sylia?" she demanded. "Can you detect the source?" "Yes," Sylia answered. "I'm feeding the coordinates to your systems now. But don't try anything stupid. I am getting still well over 50 activate radar fixes on the airborne targets. I image that if you try...." "Yeah, yeah," Sam replied. "Understood obaasan..." She locked the coordinates from Sylia into the autonav and kicked the thrusters in full. "Linna, Yoko. I'm going to try and attack the area that Sylia has identified as the source. Keep these pretties occupied will you?" "What?" Linna replied. "Sam don't! That's crazy to attempt alone! Shit... wait..." She broke off as she was attacked again. "Sam! Listen to Linna!" Yoko ordered. "Fuck..." The rest of her comment was lost in static. "Sorry Yoko," Sam whispered. "But its time to party..." With that she kicked her suits thrusters into full life. Sam ordered the battle computer to link with the suit's autonav system. At this speed she needed every automatic response that the suit would give her. A group of homunculus finishing with an ADP chopper changed direction and shot after her. The battle computer noted their position and sent an appropriate evasion course to the autonav. The suit changed direction with a sickening shudder and the homunculus were lost. The autonav guided Sam at breakneck speed through the twisted remains of damaged buildings. Here and there Sam saw ADP troopers as well as regular police fighting a pinched battle against similar unnatural construction. Yoko had been right - it was a war zone!