Chapter Five - Love, Hate and Madness. The Spices of Life. Location: Tokyo, Japan Time: AD 2089, 7 March, 08:05 Linna looked at her face in the mirror. It looked the same as it always had. As it always had for the last thirty plus years. Not even the ravages of the drink she had been abusing showed in her eyes. She was the perfect picture of health. Linna groaned and put her head under the tap. Why bother with the drink? She could never get drunk anyway.... "FUCK IT!" she swore and smashed her hand into the mirror. Glass went everywhere and Linna ground her fist into the shattered remains. Nothing, she could not even feel the pain. "Fuck... Sam... I still... " Linna's head fell as her memory pulled up the image of two green eyes, a soft laugh and... Why now? Why did the bloody little redhead have to return into her life now? Why the dream? Why anything... The cold water overflowed the basin but Linna ignored it. She had thought she was over this. After all this time, all these years SHE had... Memories overcame her. "Shit..." Linna slumped to the ground. Samantha's... Sam's presence back in her life... "Fuck it Sam..." she moaned. "I still bloody NEED you... Love you... Want you..." and with that admission Linna started to cry. "Sam, did you want a coffee?" Kelly said as the two of them sat in the richly furnished office. "No thanks," Sam replied. "I'm not really thirsty." "Oh, all right," Kelly returned to her search of the desk. Sam frowned, "why do you even bother with this charade Kelly?" Kelly looked over at Sam as she dug out the paper she was after. "Because I happen to like it. Besides, I notice that you tend to spent a lot of effort on your college studies it's the same sort of thing. It helps me to give myself something to work towards by my effort alone. Like your cooking or music. It is mine." "Are you saying you regret coming with me?" "No! Of course not!" Kelly put down her papers and came over to sit by the redhead. She looked at Sam, "I regret nothing about any of the time I have spent with you - none of it!" "But..." "Oh Sam..." Kelly gently stroked the pallid cheek. "Why must you always be so literal? There are times when I wonder what it was I could have been if we hadn't have met - yes of course there are. I wasn't born to this life like you were. I had hopes and dreams...." "Before I took them from you," Sam whispered looking down at the floor. "No!" Kelly was getting mad. Sam was getting into one of those moods again. "Look at me." Sam looked up at her and Kelly fixed her eyes into those verdant emeralds. "It was my choice to go with you. My choice to become what I am. Mine! And I have never EVER regretted it!" "Blluuu..." Sam stuck out her tongue and giggled. "Got you!" Kelly took a moment and then forced herself to smile, "hahaha..." "Oh Kelly, good morning..." The two heads turned at the sudden interruption. An oldish man who looked slightly embarrassed at having interrupted them walked in. "Good morning Mr. Reynolds," Kelly greeted the senior partner with a smile. She turned her head towards Sam, "let me introduce my cousin and ward - Samantha. This is Mr. Reynolds, senior partner and dual owner of the firm." "Hello Samantha," the old man held out his hand. "Here to learn the tricks of the trade from your brilliant cousin eh?" "Just waiting for a lift to college actually," Sam said standing up and shaking the hand. "Oh really? What are you studying?" "Music, sub-particle physics, pure maths and history." "Oh," the old man looked a bit perplexed. "That's a bit of an odd range of subjects." Sam shrugged, "I'm an odd sort of person." "And what sort of music are you studying?" "I wouldn't start Sam off, Mr. Reynolds," Kelly interrupted before Sam could speak. "She can speak about that subject all day, and I really do have to drop her off at Omniu by nine." "Omniu?" the old man whistled. "Kelly, that must be really costing you. Now I know where that salary I pay you goes." "No," Kelly picked up her papers and switched off her desk light. "Sam's on a scholarship there. Oh, by the way, the Oldham case has been rescheduled for next week. The prosecution says that they have a new witness. We may need to lodge a complaint about the late introduction of this new evidence, or at least see if we can buy some more time." The old man was not listening but was looking at Sam with interest. "Tell me young lady have you decided what you are wanting to do for a career?" Sam smiled ironically and Kelly jumped in again. "I'm really sorry but we have to get going or the traffic is going to be murder." She picked up her coat and gave Sam a nudge towards the door "I am having a fund raiser at my house this Saturday Kelly. I would like you and your cousin to come. There are some people coming that I think you might like to meet." Kelly turned to the old man and smiled, "we will not be coming and you have to get back to your own office - understand?" "And stand on your head, loop the loop and jump out the window," Sam added with an impish grin. "Of course," the old man turned. "Sam!" Kelly snapped and turned back to the old man. "Mr. Reynolds, why don't you just go back to your office and forget that we came in. I am sure that you have a lot of work to get on with." "And jumping to do," Sam giggled. "Be quiet!" Kelly put a hand over the amused face and glanced at the old man She removed the causal order to die Sam had placed on him and sent him back to his office. "Can we go now?" Sam pulled Kelly's hand away. "I really do want to be there by nine." "After you." Raina looked at the door. The plaque read 1325, this was the place. She raised her hand and knocked. She waited for a moment but no reply came from within. She tried again harder this time. A noise sounded within and the door pulled open slightly. "What is it... YOU!?!" The door slammed shut, or almost. Raina's foot jammed itself in it. "Open up Linna Yamazaki," Raina said. "I need to talk to you." "Get the fuck out of here!" Linna pulled the door open and moved to... "Not until you tell me why you killed my grandfather!" Raina yelled. Linna froze dead in her tracks. Her face looked sick. The accusation kicked her straight in the teeth. That added to the rest of what had been happening to her within the last few days - Helen, Sam... She just simply stood looking dumbly ahead. Raina pushed passed the now unresisting woman into the room. "Why Linna?" Raina demanded. "Why did you destroy my grandmother's life?" "I didn't mean it..." Linna protested feebly. She was so caught up in the quagmire of her own emotions that she was not even thinking straight. "Oh really," Raina said scornfully. "And I suppose that makes everything all right? The fact that you did not mean it?" Linna childishly put her hands over her ears as if that would keep the contemptuous voice out and backed away. "Go away..." "No! Tell me what happened Linna Yamazaki! Tell me why you did it! Now!" "It wasn't me..." Linna began to blubber as she completely lost it. "Sylia, Priss.... Please, it wasn't me..." "Tell me!" Raina knelt down beside the woman and looked her dead on. Her hair fell over her shoulders. "Red..." Linna whimpered. "Like fire..." "Tell me..." this was almost too easy Raina thought to herself. The Master had been wrong about the strength of this one. She would be broken without too much trouble at all. "Sam..." Linna said. "She was the one... Sam..." * * * * Location: Tokyo, Japan Time: AD 2039, 23 December, 16:09 Priss stared numbly at the meal that Loria had left out for her. It was cold. It was always cold. Cold, empty... She picked it up and sat in the overstuffed settee. She stared down at the leftovers. She stared at the empty room. Loria had gone out again and left her alone. Empty, alone, with a cold meal. The grief hit her full on and she burst into tears. "Linna... Sam... Why..." The cold meal fell unnoticed to the floor as Priss pulled her knees up to her chest and began to cry her heart out. Sylia stare at the old paper. "THOUSANDS DIE IN UNKNOWN TERRORIST ATTACK!" was the headline blazed across the front of it. Thousands... nameless faces all of them. Nameless faces that meant nothing to her - all except three. Three.. "Sis?" Mackie quietly walked into the room and then sighed. The meal that Nene had made for his sister was completely untouched - again. "Oh sis..." he said in a tone of tender sadness. "You have to stop this. You can't keep blaming yourself for something that..." "I was the one who brought them into this," Sylia quietly cut him off. "Me. If I had not asked them then..." "Then what?" Mackie said. "They might be still alive? Yes, they might be. But they also might still be dead - who knows. You cannot keep living in the world of maybe. It was not your fault! Linna, Sam, Yoko - they all accepted the risks. They all knew what might happen... Besides that you don't even know who was responsible. No one does. It might even have nothing to do with..." "Stupid boy!" Sylia yelled at him venting the pent-up rage that had been building over the last two months. "Of course it was! How can you be so naïve and not put one and one together! Get out of here! Leave me alone!" "Sis..." "GET OUT!" Sylia threw the plate and cold remains at him. "NOW!" Mackie slipped out and pulled the door close just as the plate smashed against the metal. "Still no change?" Nene said with wide green eyes as she comforted the toddler in her arms. "She's hurting so much..." Mackie said with torn expression on his face. "And I can't do anything to help her..." "She isn't the only one," Nene said as she felt the tears threaten to run down her face again. "Linna... Linna was my best friend... and now... now..." "Nene-chan," Mackie rushed over to his beloved wife and gently pulled her to him. The glorious green eyes that had first so ensnared him filled with tears and Mackie whispered words of comfort as she started to cry. Sylia turned back from the image of her only remaining family on the screen and cursed herself for overreacting yet again. She had a choice she had to make. She had already lost two sets of dear friends... two teams... in this... mission. What did she do now? Let things go? Carry on? And if so with who... Priss? "No," Sylia said. "Enough. I've had enough deaths... Enough friends..." She switched off the monitor and sat back. "Lights," she ordered and the room went dark - a seething dark. "Enough friends... But I will make them pay... The question is how..." she muttered to herself as she sat in the darkness and began to plan. Loria pulled up outside the dark caravan. She turned off the motor on her bike and slowly dismounted. She did not like the look of the black caravan. It probably meant that the mortal was having another fit of depression and Loria would be in for another evening of... She sighed. She did not need this... "Sam, what are you up to now?" she muttered as she rolled the bike into the porch. Loria had tried a search for the vanished pair but she had had no success. Sam had pulled another disappearing act and would reappear only when she was ready. She was certainly not dead. Loria had felt the strength of the attack launched against Sam and it had been laughable. Loria herself could have done far far better than that pathetic attempt. And even if she had gone up to full strength... She smiled. No, Sam was Playing and some time soon she would renter this Game. Until that time Loria was stuck here on her own in this... place. She sighed and headed towards the caravan muttering "boring, boring, boring..." "Priss?" she called out as she opened the door and switched on the lights. "Priss! Are you here?" There was no answer so Loria extended her senses. Priss was not here - she was at Hades. Loria sighed and turned off the light. A moment later she was standing on the dance floor looking around. It did not take her long to spot the figure of Priss and the "woman" Sophia deep in conversation. Sophia was actually trying to comfort the woman - strange. Loria found it odd that a being of Sophia's power would bother to take the time to befriend one from this lowly world. Not just amuse herself with them, or Play with them, but actually befriend them. Well, Sam had done it at times but then Sam was Sam. Odd was not a word that could begin to describe that... girl's behaviour. But for others - odd. "Hi cutie..." a Hunter grinned lecherously at her as he tried to pick Loria up. His victim however had not even noticed "him". Loria took a moment to consider what she should do. This was not a normal situation for her. "Hey doll..." She could either not bother doing anything... "Hey are yo..." the annoyance vanished - literally. ...interfere or just keep watch. Or... go and have some fun. She was bored of this world. There was very little to do here and with Sam's exit she really felt like moving on. There was just one slight problem. She needed someone to take up her slack. Someone who was more suited to this kind of... stupidity. Someone like... She smiled. "Priss!" Loria exclaimed running over to the private table. "Thank God I found you!" She reached down and hugged the surprised woman. "I came home and you were gone. I was worried..." "Loria..." Priss looked up. "I'm sorry I... I just could not stay in that empty place... Not with all those memories..." "Hey," Loria said with a smile. "I understand, it's all right, I was just worried out you. As long as I know where you are that's fine..." "I should have called you... I really am sorry..." "Forget it," Loria laughed it off. "Its good to see you again Sophia." "Loria," Sophia smiled back. "I think I must apologise as well. I did not think that you might be worried. Priss has been telling me of your friends who died in that... terrorist attack two months ago. I'm so sorry. This Sam and Linna sound like they were both wonderful people. I know what it's like to lose good friends..." "Yes..." Loria said looking down. "So do I. It is not something I wish to experience... Sorry, can we change the subject." Sophia nodded, "sorry, of course. Would you like me to get you a drink, or meal, or something. On the house of course." "Thank you, I would like something to eat if I could," Loria patted her stomach. "I haven't had anything to eat all day." "I'll get something for all of us then," Sophia stood up and walked off. "So Priss," Loria took the other woman's hand in her own. "How did things go today?" "If you're asking did I fall to pieces then the answer is no - at least not until tonight." "Priss I've asked an old friend to come around and stay for a while. Her name is Kelly. She knew Sam very well. And..." her voice trailed off. "What?" Priss prompted her. "I am going to have to go away for a time." "No..." Priss's face fell. "Loria - why?" "My parents have called me," Loria said simply. "I have to return home." "Oh," Priss replied with a unhappy expression on her face. "And just who is this Kelly?" Loria almost smiled to herself at that question. Kelly... Friend, sister, lover... "A friend... A very good friend..." "A lover?" Priss asked with an odd look in her eye. Loria looked at Priss slightly surprised. "Is it that obvious?" "Well..." Priss looked embarrassed. "Sam and Linna were... I caught them once just the day before... their deaths. Were Sam and Kelly..." "Priss, let the past be. There are things that are best left alone, and this is one of them. All right?" Priss slowly nodded and let the subject drop. "When do you have to go?" "Within the next few days. It'll be that long until Kelly arrives." "I'll miss you," Priss said with a sad expression. "I've gotten to..." "No you won't," Loria interrupted with a grin. "You'll forget about me in time." As I will most certainly forget about you and this dump, she thought to herself. At that moment Sophia returned holding a tray of rich smelling hot food and Priss suddenly felt slightly more interested in a meal. "There you all go," Sophia laid the dishes down. "Dig in." Priss needed no second prompting and was attacking the first decent hot meal this week with avengeance. "Well it seems someone was hungry at least," Sophia laughed. "What?" Priss said with a mouth still full. "Nothing..." * * * * Location: Tokyo, Japan (Alt) Time: AD 2030, 20 August. "Irashai-irashai," Linna smiled widely at the latest customers to walk through the door. She picked up two menus and walking over to the couple said, "if you would like to wait a moment please I will get you a table." The two nodded and with a thank you began to read from the list of offerings. As soon as Linna had turned away she dropped the smile a bit. Table? Gods... if only. She looked around the café come restaurant. The lunch crowd of city workers was jamming the place to bursting point. Even with the extension that they had just opened, thanks to a generous hand from the landlord, the place was still completely packed. "Yuki..." Linna moved over to the extended bar and manoeuvred herself past the people. "We have a slight logistics problem." "Tables?" the brunette said with a faint sigh. "Not again..." Linna nodded. "How many?" "Two." "Ah... Look there!" Yuki pointed towards a group of three who were just in the process of packing up. "Lucky," Linna grinned and moved to 'help' the leavers. With that little crisis averted Yuki turned and walked into the slightly expanded and updated kitchen. "How are we going?" she asked the two slaves busy at work. "Counting the minutes," Nami said putting the finishing touches on some cakes. "Hai! You can bloody well say that again!" Sam swore as she hurried around keeping an eye on various things. "This is getting to be slightly ridiculous!" Yuki jumped out the way as the redhead rushed past her. "Well don't blame me. I can't help it if people actually like your cooking." "Well, when I offered to help this was not exactly what I was envisaging," Sam exclaimed. Yuki shrugged, "word spreads. For some reason you are a hit." "Well if it goes on much longer like this I will be more of a collapsed hit!" "The lunch rush finishes soon then we can all rest..." "Yeah sure," Sam muttered under her breath. "And I gave up a job in New York for this..." Yuki smiled sweetly, "you did indeed. Now, get back to work." "Kill," Sam said turning towards her. "Kill, kill, kill." "Bye..." Yuki giggled and ran out. Linna gave a big sigh of relief when the last of the office workers finally left and she turned the closed sign for the Wednesday half day. "That was not fun," she complained to Yuki as the four of them settled down for a breather. "Is it my fault?" Yuki replied. "I've put up the prices twice now. I dare not do it any more." "I didn't think that we would make it," Nami mopped her brow taking a swig of coffee. "And I am beginning to feel like some sort of luncheon production machine," Sam said stretching her muscles. The day's activities had exhausted her so she bent over a couple of times at the waist to pull her thigh and calve muscles. She had to limber up. She had aches in muscles she did not know she even had! "Sam could you stop that," Linna suddenly said. "Stop what?" the redhead looked up from massaging her calves. "That..." Linna said vaguely gesturing. "Its distracting me." "Eh?" Sam straightened up. "What? Me stretching?" "Yes," Linna said with a completely serious expression. "Its far too early to go to bed and that isn't helping." Sam blushed and then grinned. Yuki shook her head and threw a towel at Linna. "Don't you two ever think of anything else?" she said teasingly. "Tell the Red-Succubus that," Linna commented with a sniff and Sam cringed with embarrassment. "I don't want to know," Yuki replied waving a hand to dismiss the subject. "Enough of the small talk. There is still a lot of work we have to do you know. Cleaning up for one and preparing for tonight as another." "Tonight?" Nami queried. "What's... oh right, that damned private party. That's tonight isn't it?" "Why did you have to agree to host it Yuki?" Sam said her face still reddish. "The money they offered," she said. "It was too good to miss. It's not often we get offered 4 days worth of income just to host an event for a couple of hours." "Into most of the wee hours of the morning you mean," Nami corrected her. "They are only arriving at 22:00 remember. Who are they again anyway?" "I don't really know," Yuki admitted. "Some sort of gaijin social club or something. The man I spoke to didn't really speak brilliant Japanese." "Wonderful," Nami said. "Sam is the only one here who can speak any decent English. Who is going to be cooking?" "Not a problem," Yuki finished her coffee. "He has a Japanese wife and other Japanese are coming so don't worry." "How many of them will there be?" Sam asked. "I need to know what to prepare for tonight." Yuki thought for a moment, "probably about 15 maximum. And they aren't expecting a large meal. They wanted to come here because we don't have any neighbours to worry about." "I don't understand," Linna said. "Why is that important?" "The guy said they would be singing and playing a lot," Yuki said with a shrug. "But he did not say at what." "Wonderful," Nami commented. "Music city - here we come." "Well," Sam said draining her cup and standing up. "If we are going to get ready I need to get some shopping done. Linna? Want to come?" "Sure," Linna replied gulping the rest of her drink down. "Just give me a moment to get changed." "15 minutes okay?" "Linna," Yuki said with a slightly evil grin on her face as she watched the two lovers begin to get ready. "What?" Linna frowned clenching the towel in her hand. She could almost tell what was coming next - the infamous "Yuki Comment of the Day". "Shopping remember does not involve stopping into a love hotel on the way for a 'quick one'," she wagged her finger. "The last time you did that..." "Kill!" Sam yelled and joined Linna in the destruction of the evil ogre monster. "Sam," Linna began uncertain how to approach this topic. She knew virtually nothing about the inhuman girl who had become her lover and somehow that just did not seem right. And yet how could she ask? What could she ask? "Hmm..." Sam turned. "How long have you been doing this sort of thing?" Linna asked as the two of them carried the heavy bags of shopping between them. "What sort of thing?" Sam re-queried repositioning a rather heavy bag. "Jumping worlds and seducing innocent young girls like me towards your evil ways?" "Eh?" Sam glanced at Linna's face to see if she was serious. "You? Innocent?" "Seriously Sam," Linna repeated. "How long?" Sam sighed. "Linna, I couldn't tell you even if I knew. My homeland, my world, was destroyed so long ago that I can't even remember how long it has been. I've just been wandering in and out of the ShadowLands ever since that epoch. And besides, even if I could remember I doubt you would be able to understand the periods involved." Sam paused and looked thoughtful. "I am not even sure if Time as a concept exists in the ShadowLands..." "ShadowLands?" Linna frowned. "What are those?" "Sorry," Sam tried to struggle for the words to get across to Linna what she meant. "They are... difficult to describe. Imagine a place that belongs nowhere and yet is everywhere. It is almost like... well... a limbo I suppose you could call it. It sort of serves like a... dumping ground almost. It's really difficult to explain but it's the ultimate collection point for all the flotsam in the Multiverse that does not belong any where else." "Flotsam? You mean you're crap?" Linna grinned. "Hahaha," Sam replied with a dry look. "No, what I mean is that all those who don't belong anywhere else or who have been rejected by the Multiverse tend to eventually end up there." "You've been rejected by the universe?" Linna was confused. "How can the universe reject you?" "In my case very easily - thanks to Him," Sam mumbled almost to herself. "Sorry?" Linna asked hearing the redhead mutter something to herself in a bitter tone. "What was that?" Sam dismissed the dark thoughts from her early past and looked up at Linna. "How indeed? It is difficult to put into words but what you humans conceptualise as the Multiverse is not static. It tends to change and evolve. It..." Sam tried desperately to look for the words. "It has Cycles. Cycles where it lives and dies, is reborn and moves on. Those who don't fit, those who can't fit, are rejected. The ones who survive that process and who continue to live long enough generally end up in the ShadowLands." "This cosmic waste dump?" Linna frowned. Sam nodded. "So you are like a refugee from the dump?" Linna said trying desperately to wrap her brain around what the redhead was saying. "Yes and no," Sam replied in an unhappy voice. "I seem to be something of a special case." "I'm lost," Linna said shaking her head. "It seems the ShadowLands do not want me either," Sam said softly casting her eyes down to the pavement to avoid looking at Linna's face. "And so I end up bouncing between the two of them." "Why?" Linna said giving the redhead's hand a warm squeeze. She had briefly seen the distressed expression that had lurked in those two dark emerald eyes. It had almost wretched at her heart. Something about this subject... She took a deep breath before she continued. "Why doesn't it or the Multiverse want you? I mean, you look perfectly human to me..." She smiled, "you work perfectly human as well - at least from one perspective..." Sam grinned briefly for a moment and her eyes lit up. But then they clouded over again and dropped back to examining the pavement "I don't know Linna - I honestly don't know." The eyes came up and fixed on the brunette. "But hey! You know me. I'm always the odd one out - the special case." Sam forced a grin onto her face although Linna could see that the girl's eyes were deeply haunted. "And so to pass the time I wander through the various Multiverses Cycle after Cycle - learning, travelling, living. I don't seem to age or die. Hahaha... It seems that death does not want me either." Sam's grin was slowly becoming a grimace, and her eyes... Linna almost cringed at the tortured expression that glimmered deep in those emerald deeps. "Immortal, that's little old me. Always coming back for more of the same... Cycle after Cycle, world after world, time after time..." The teenager's shoulders were beginning to shake. "I've seen wonders and horrors that would drive you insane. I've made good friends... lovers..." A bag fell to the ground and the unnaturally white face locked on Linna's. "I've... been really lucky if you think about it..." Slowly tears began to run down the deathless cheeks and the voice began finally to crack. "Lucky... So lucky... Really happy..." "Sam..." Linna put down her bags and embraced the redhead as she started to cry. "Shh..." "Linna!" Sam began to sob almost incoherently. "You can't begin to imagine what its like! I'm so lonely! Everyone.... Oh Gods... I just want it to end Linna! Please Linna... Please..." Sam broke down in the warmth of the brunette's embrace. "Make it end! Please! I just want it all to fucking END!!" People stopped and stared briefly before moving on embarrassed at the sight of the slightly hysterical girl. Linna did her best to soothe Sam but the girl was completely losing it. She just kept crying and holding onto Linna in an embrace that almost threatened to hurt her. Linna held on however - there was nothing else she could do. What words could she possible hope to use to comfort someone who had... She just held on and waited for the weeping fit to pass. It was all she could do. Eventually Sam seemed to recover something of herself and slid out from Linna's embrace. "Sorry..." she said drying her eyes. "I don't usually do this sort of thing..." She knelt and picked up her bags. She turned a flushed face to Linna and a forced smile appeared on her face. "Shall we go... I think Yuki will be ringing the hotels if we don't get back soon." "Sam..." Linna said uncertain what to do. Sam grinned once more and then turned and started to walk away forcing her way through the still watching crowds. "SAM!" Linna jumped to her feet and grabbing the rest of the shopping rushed after the girl that had come to mean so much to her. "Wait!" The private party was far easier to run than any of them had ever imagined, and far more enjoyable. The group was comprised of 15 people from various racial backgrounds who surprisingly enough seemed to be into playing and singing balladic music. Linna did not say anything else to Sam about her breakdown earlier that day but simply kept a watchful eye on the redhead. Sam however just seemed to be her bright and cheerful self and if Linna had not seen it herself she would never imagined anything was wrong. By 23:30 the music and drinks were beginning to flow much more freely. With all the work finished Nami quietly bid Yuki goodnight and slipped out. She left the remaining three hostesses to sit in the background and listen to the haunting melodies that the singers were producing. One particular player was a music student and when she began to play everyone was absolutely entranced by the cascading waterfall of music that emerged from her harp. Linna blinked back tears as the chimes of music seemed to pierce her very soul. It was almost as if the music touched some part of her being invoking all the sorrowful and happy memories that she had ever experienced and distilled them down to one instant. When the woman finally stopped and the last rippling sounds faded from the room there was complete silence for a moment then everyone started to clap and cheer. The player smiled nervously at all the overwhelming eruption of cheers and shaking her head at the demands for more sat down. "Christ she is good!" Linna exclaimed drying her eyes and glancing over at Yuki. The woman could not even speak but just nodded enthusiastically. When the cheering and clapping had settled down enough one of the men stood up and began to speak. "I don't know how anyone can follow that one Rachael but we have to try," he spun around. "Ladies! How about any of you?" Linna jerked up. "Us?" she spluttered surprised at the request that came from out of the blue. "Yes," the gaijin smiled. "You have been wonderful hosts and it would be very rude of me not to offer you the opportunity. Will you honour us?" Linna shook her head wildly, "I couldn't..." she spluttered and looked over at Yuki. "Don't look at me!" Yuki exclaimed holding up her hands in horror. "I now my limitations. Music and me don't mix. Sorry." "Well then it appears that..." he looked expectantly at the redhead sitting quietly at the bar. "Miss?" "I don't think that would be a good idea," Sam said uncertainly. "Come on Sam," Linna said with a smile. "You have a lovely voice," Yuki said encouragingly. "I've heard you before." "Yes come on," the man said walking over to her. "Sing or play anything you like. Its not like we're professionals. In fact most of us are bloody awful." He smiled at himself and looked around. "Really, if people can listen to me then you will be a smash believe me." "Sam please," Linna said. "I would love to hear you. Loria said that you are really very good - so pretty please...." Sam was silent for a moment then she said softly, "you don't understand. I don't sing." "Come on folks - lets give her some encouragement!" The café erupted into applause again and the girl who had just played walked over. She flashed a sympathetic look at the redhead and then whispered, "I'll play background for you if you'd like. You don't have to be alone you know." Sam frowned slightly and took a closer look at the woman. Then she just sighed and shook her head. "No, that's all right Thanks all the same though. However, do you think I could borrow your harp?" The girl was surprised. "You can play?" Sam look at her for a moment and her eyes glittered. "Oh yes," she said. "I can play. At my age you tend to pick up various things after a time..." She held out her hand and Rachael wordlessly let her have the small wooden instrument. Sam held it for a moment gently caressing the worn silky wood and getting a feel for the instrument. Her fingers strummed the strings testing their tension and resonance. Her face dropped slightly but she made no comment. This was not an instrument she would have used out of choice but... She nodded her thanks to the girl and slowly made her way up to the small makeshift stage. She sat down on the chair and the cheers faded away as everyone sat waiting expectantly for her to play. Sam looked out on the small group and wondered what she should play. She knew lore and songs from places these children could not even imagine. Melodies that could kill, enslave, heal and even create... And all they wanted was a simple song. She almost smiled at the irony. Her eyes fell on the expectant look on Linna's face and it caused the brief memory of another face long forgotten to flicker through her mind. Sam wet her lips and drew a deep breath. It took an effort for her to drag that flickering memory to the fore. She had lived too long, seen too much for her to be able to recall everything. Slowly images began to wash against her minds eye. A memory of a clear starlit night, of cool wind, moist air, music, laughter.... A memory of a time and place long since vanished... A memory of hymns to the stars. Sam closed her eyes and felt once again the ancient sounds and melodies from that time roll through her mind. A smile came to her face, a smile of such sweet joy that she almost cried. How could she have forgotten Elvandar... Lost in the memories she began to play. The music and voice flowing from the stage slowly wrapped each of its victims in an embrace so complete and absolute that everything else was lost in it. Where the previous singer had been enchanting Sam's voice was unknowable, inconceivable... The music invaded every part of their being. It seeped into their souls, their essences and everything about them was so completely known... Each of them were flooded with the same indescribable sensations of loss and grief as Sam played the ancient Lament she had once written for the senseless death of a beloved friend. How long the experience lasted none of the listeners would ever remember. The song, the words, the melody - it all pasted beyond their abilities to retain. All that remained, all that would ever remain, was the memory of the experience. It was a memory that each of them would lock into the depths of their souls. Something only ever to bring out at absolute need. But however long the experience lasted eventually it had to come to an end. Sam opened her eyes as the last of the unearthly strains resonated about the room. She took a moment to come back to herself and looked around. "Oh dear..." she said at the sight of the mindless faces staring up at their Lady. She had got slightly carried away in her memories. She stood up and put the harp down on the seat. She looked down at her watch, 01:30. She had only been playing for an hour or so. She got up and walked over to the bar. Pouring herself an orange she looked back at the enthralled audience. "Yip," she said with a grin. "Still got it." She slowly finished the fruit juice and then walked across to Linna. Left alone the humans would all come back from their own private experiences within the next hour or so. The Lament was supposed to invoke a very private and personal memory. Each would perceive it in a slightly different and unique way. At least that was what Sam remembered. She could not be 100% sure. It had been a very, very long time ago she had written it. "Linna," Sam knelt down and kissed the woman gently on the lips. No response. Sam sighed and after a moment an evil smile flickered across her face. "YAAAA!!!" Linna suddenly came back to reality as a surge of intense pain and pleasure erupted from a very intimate place on her body. Sam removed her hand and smiled down at the gasping woman. "Welcome back," she said with an innocent expression on her face. Linna did not answer. She could not answer. She had just been horribly awakened from the most... indescribable experience in her life by the most... She took a number of deep breaths her eyes following Sam as the fiend sat down beside her. When she had recovered her senses she looked at her lover and swallowed. "I don't think I could ever listen to you play again. I don't think I would ever want to come back...." Sam's face grew concerned, "was it that strong? What about the others? I did not think the Lament would affect people that badly..." "Lament? Is that what that..." she shuddered, "...was called?" Sam was not listening. She returned to the stage and retrieved the small harp. Pausing for a moment she hummed and then struck another quick tune on the instrument. The nature of this one was completely different from the previous and it set Linna's teeth on edge as the disharmony of the notes jangled at her very nerves. The sound had a similar affect on everyone else. Eyes opened and people shuttered as the music bought them back to their senses. Sam put down the harp and ignoring the glances that people threw in her direction as she ran over to Linna. "I'm going up," she whispered. "Don't be too long or I will be asleep and at the moment I don't feel very sleepy..." She gave Linna a quick kiss on the cheek and then ran out leaving Linna breathing very hard. Linna shifted and with a snort woke up. Her movement caused the figure nestled against her to stir and then with a deep exhale of air go still again. Linna smiled and with a hand tenderly ran her finger up and down the modestly curvaceous form. With the other hand she lightly cupped one of her lover's small warm breasts and gently rubbed the sensitive nipple. The sensation of skin and the reaction she got made her purr with delight. "I'm not a cat you know," a sleepy voice murmured. Linna snatched back her hand. "Sorry, I thought you were asleep." "I was," Sam mumbled and rolled onto her back. "But it's a bit difficult to do that when someone is playing with your tits." She yawned and then stretched, "what's the time now anyway?" "03:12," Linna read from the clock. "Linna," Sam commented dryly. "I have to get up at 05:30 and I would like to get some sleep before then. I don't really have the desire to fuck you just right now. Do you think you can lay off for a few hours. Remember, I'm older than you are - I need my beauty sleep!" "Never," Linna gave one of the breasts a nibble. "You are beautiful enough for me..." "Ahhh..." Sam sucked in air. "Linna... please..." "What?" Linna let go of the nub of hardening flesh. "You want to play?" "Sleep, I want to sleep, please..." Sam begged. "Spoil sport," Linna gave the nub another bite before she rolled over. "I won't be so merciful tomorrow, slave." "You're the one working early tomorrow remember," Sam said. "Night..." Linna sighed and tried to get back to sleep. However her activities had over stimulated her. She did not want to go to sleep right now. What she wanted to do right at this moment was "play" - the one thing that she had been denied. Linna pouted, she really did want to play - now. Linna waited and listened to the sound of the breathing beside her. It gradually got slower; slower and deeper until finally it reached that pitch that Linna associated with sleep. Linna almost felt like a naughty schoolgirl who was just about to do something very wrong. It was a good feeling that made her heart pound with excitement. Slowly she rolled over and placed her hand on the lower part of her lover's flat stomach and pushed with her finger down towards... "FUCK!!!" Sam shouted suddenly coming very much awake. She bolted straight up and looked wildly about. Her eyes came to rest on the evilly grinning Linna. Her hand was resting on a very intimate place that had been the reason for Sam's rude awakening. "For Christ's sake Linna! Will you stop it!" Sam exclaimed angrily. Linna blinked as the very annoyed redhead glared at her. "I'm never going to get any sleep now!" Sam growled throwing back the covers. She got up and headed towards the bathroom. Linna grinned as she was treated to the sight of the pert buttocks of the redhead in motion. A few moments later there was a sound of a flush and Sam walked back into the room and returned to the bed. Linna reached out and pulled the fuming girl to her. "Playtime?" "Gods Linna you are almost as bad as Nikki," Sam growled as she nestled herself against Linna for warmth. Linna went stiff. Nikki? Sam noticed the tensing in Linna's body and rolled onto her back. "What's up?" "Just who is Nikki?" Linna said in a flat voice. "Nikki? She was a priestess of Isis - why?" Sam frowned at the darkening expression on Linna's face. "You're not jealous are you Linna? She died over 6000 years ago." "You were lovers weren't you?" Linna said harshly as she felt an irrational anger begin to build in her. "Yes we were," Sam sat up. "Why? What's wrong Linna? Does that bother you?" "How many lovers have you had?" Linna demanded. "In all my life? Shit Linna, do you have any concept how long a time that is..." Sam sighed as she saw the expression on Linna's face. "I have absolutely no idea. But why should..." "You must have some idea," Linna butted in. "I mean... Tens? Hundreds? Thousands? What?" "I've told you Linna," Sam pulled back slightly surprised by the strength of Linna's reaction. "I really don't know. I could take a wild guess at maybe a couple of thousand. But..." "A couple of..." Linna's mouth dropped and she gasped in shock. "Bloody hell!" she yelled. "You really DO like to get around don't you!?" Sam's face went completely white. "That's not fair Linna! I'm an Immortal! I've lived for... Gods... Do you have any idea how lonely...." "Lonely?!" Linna shrieked incredulously. "That's not lonely! That's bed jumping like some bloody little redheaded whore! How the hell..." Slap! Linna's head rocked at the force of the blow that Sam gave her. Linna was shocked for a moment and her hand rose to the aching cheek while a flushed tearful face looked down at her. "I love who I love, Linna Yamazaki," Sam said coldly. "And I live how I want to live. Neither you, the Council, nor any other fucking force in existence is going to tell me otherwise!" Sam got up and grabbing a tee shirt pulled it hurriedly on. "I think I am going to be sleeping alone from now on," she exclaimed bitterly. "Since you seem to think I am some sort of loose legged tramp then you can go and find someone else to fuck you. I am obviously not good enough for the likes of you!" She turned and stormed out smashing the door closed with a bang that caused something in the hall to fall down with a crash. Linna was stunned. All she could do was listen to the sound of feet running downstairs and the sobs that accompanied them. "Oh fuck..." she moaned. What had she done... What had her big mouth done yet again... "FUCK! FUCK!" She threw off the bed covers and ran to the door. "SAM!" she yelled and hurriedly half threw herself down the stairs. At the bottom she paused for a moment. She could see that the light to Yuki's room was on and the sound of crying was coming from within. "Sam!" Linna exclaimed as she rushed over to the half open door and pushed her way in. "I'm sorry... I…" That was as far as she got. "Get out!" a furious Yuki snarled at her as she held the weeping teenager. "Sam..." Linna tired again. "GET OUT!!" Yuki screamed in fury and threw a glass cup at her. Linna just managed to dodge out the way as it struck the wall above her head. The shattering glass rained down on her and she could feel the shards get into her hair. Linna gave a desperate look at her crying lover and the enraged Yuki who was holding her and her shoulders slumped. She wasn't going to be able to say or do anything with them in this state. She had said enough already. Her and her bloody mouth... "I'm so sorry..." Linna turned and fled. Jumping over the glass shards she ran up stairs back to her cold empty bedroom. Rushing into the shower unit she began to wash the glass from her hair. "Linna," she said to herself in an angry voice. "YOU ARE A FUCKING IDIOT!!!" No one spoke up to disagree. Yoko almost smiled when she saw the form of the human called Linna emerge from this small café out in the middle of nowhere. So, she had been right after all. No matter what the "Great Lords" might say, she had always doubted that such a foulness like Samantha would succumb so easily to even a simultaneous strike. The beings who made up the Full Holding, lost in memories of past glory, often failed to recall the fact that they had lost the majority of their once vaunted strength as a result of the Rebellion. They were still divinely strong but not enough to defeat HER! However, this was one secret that Yoko would hold to herself for now. It was difficult to know what the future might hold and this information might one day prove very useful. Yoko flagged down a taxi and getting inside directed the autocab to take her to the nearest station. She knew that Samantha would probably not stay on this world for very long. The Corrupter was always one to travel the ShadowLands playing her Games for amusement and personally Luc did not care. Yoko/Luc knew that Samantha still lived and that was all he/she needed. Finding Samantha's corruption was always possible if you knew how. It was simply a case of knowing what to look for. Linna swept madly at the pavement outside of the café and wished that it were the bloody stubborn little redhead that she was punishing instead of the poor sidewalk. Really! It had been over two weeks now and Linna had tried apologising so many times that she had given it up. Sam still refused to have anything to do with her. Even Yuki had had no luck in trying to convince the stubborn fool that Linna meant it. So as of this moment in time Linna was stuck on another world, without any lover or any way of getting back to her real home. The thought of her own world had been growing ever more heavily on her mind. Ever since the attack that had caused Sam to bring them here Linna had put the thought of Priss and Sylia out of her mind. She had had far more interesting things with which to occupy her attention but now... Linna attacked the remains of last night's festivities with avengeance. All this week the locals were celebrating the ending of summer with far more zest than Linna had ever experienced. In this world the tradition seem to be far more popular than on her own. So much so that the last three days of the week were a local holiday with businesses and schools closing down. It almost seemed to be a replacement for the bon festivals on her world. It had been something that Linna had been so looking forward to. Something she had wanted to share with Sam… she sighed. "Linna," Yuki said coming outside. "You are really going to have to do something about the two of you. This is getting to be serious." "What the hell do you think I have been trying to do!" Linna said spinning on Yuki. "I have tried apologising! I have tried speaking to her! You've seen what the result of that has been! That girl is just so... Argggrrrr..." The broom snapped. Yuki disregarded the display of frustration and carried on in what she hoped was a reasonable tone. "What was it you said to her anyway? I've known Sam for a few years, and while admittedly she can hold a grudge, is moody, tends to fly off the handle and is generally difficult to..." Yuki stopped herself. This was not the time for listing her friend's numerous character flaws. "I have not seen her get this uptight before," she finished lamely. Linna sighed yet again. "I forgot who she was and went off at the deep end when she told me that she had had thousands of other lo..." Linna suddenly shut her mouth. Yuki did not know the truth about Linna or Sam. She thought they were... Linna cursed herself. She had to remember she was an alien to this world. "Thousands of other what?" Yuki asked in a puzzled voice. "She told me that she had had other lovers," Linna restated. "And I... well... sort of called her a tramp..." Yuki blinked. "Damn it Linna! What made you say a stupid thing like that!" she exclaimed. "Sam's nineteen! All girls her age are sexually active! What the hell did you expect? No wonder she's furious!" Linna could not really think of a suitable reply to that. Yuki was right, but did not understand quite the extent to which that statement was true. "I fucked up," Linna admitted. "But what do I do to correct that fuck up? Please Yuki, I'm at my wits end." Yuki took a deep breath. "Put down the brush and come in. Sam is out shopping for the morning so lets see if we can use the time to get some sort of plan together shall we?" She opened the door and her and Linna went inside. They had a lot of thinking to do and very little time to do it. * * * * Location: Tokyo, Japan Time: AD 2040, 3rd July, 15:02 "You're mad sis!" Mackie exclaimed as he looked at the plans that Sylia had drawn up. "You can't seriously be thinking of doing this...." "Why not?" Sylia replied looking at the schematics on the monitor. "I have all the equipment I need, cell samples and the knowledge. The procedure itself is child's play. The only complication is the time taken to nurture the clones and the environment I need in which to raise them. I have to let them develop suitable life experiences on which I can overlay the original memory engrams." Sylia looked Mackie in the eye, "it might be tricky but I do not see any major problems." "But the ethics of it!" Mackie spluttered trying to get through to her. "You just can't create copies of people to suit your personal needs!" "Sam and Linna are dead," Sylia calmly stated. "I don't mind copying myself and Priss doesn't give a fuck about me full stop. If you're worried about Nene don't be. I am not intending to use her as a template. Only if Sam's cells do not respond to cloning. Although..." Sylia broke off thoughtfully, "she might be useful as a test..." "Sylia!" Mackie panicking slightly grabbed her arm. "Listen to yourself will you for a moment! Listen to what you are saying!" Sylia stared at him and her face was completely serene and sane. "I know exactly what I am doing Mackie. I do not intend to get anyone else killed but I do intend to finish this. Now, let me go." Mackie slumped and did as she asked. This was no longer the sister that he knew. This was someone completely… "I have always been this way Mackie," Sylia said sensing what her brother was thinking by his expression. "You just never accepted it. Now, if you don't mind I have work to do." Mackie left. He did not want to know any more. He hurried up the corridor and re-entered the shop. He spotted the redheaded form of his wife as she served a customer. He waited impatiently for her to finish and then hurried over to stand by her. "Nene," he said. "Get packed. I want you out of here." Nene was stunned, "wh... what?!?" Mackie took hold of her shoulders and stared down into that face he loved so much. "Please Nene-chan, if you have ever trusted me before trust me now. Pack and leave." "But... but why?" Nene begged her eyes filling with tears. "Is... is it something I..." "Sylia," Mackie said simply. "I am afraid that she might try to... hurt you... or Nina..." Nene looked incredulously at him. "What!" "Please Nene," Mackie held her to him. "I don't have time to explain now. I have just spoken to her... She's... Just go - now." "I'm not leaving you!" Nene cried out clinging to him. "I'll be fine. It's not me she wants to use as 'material' for her... plans..." His voice caused Nene to shudder. "But you and Nina... I don't know what she might do. She has completely lost it. Now love - just go!" He grabbed her and pulled her towards their apartments thinking furiously. Once he had gotten his wife and daughter out of harms way he needed to warn Priss. Once that had been done... He had to deal with Sylia. He had to stop her - somehow. Priss nodded, "that's right Kelly," she said as her roommate experimented with the holds on the guitar. Kelly made an attempt at a cord and smiled pleased with the result. "I never thought it was that easy," Kelly said. "I've never been musical I just leave that up to Sam. She's always the one playing with this kind of stuff. You should hear her play. It is..." Priss cut her off, "Sam's dead Kelly." Kelly smiled nervously. "Yes, sorry. I tend to forget at times. Silly me..." She turned she attention back to the guitar, "would you show me another cord?" Priss let it drop. If Kelly and Sam had been close then that was Kelly's business. After all, she still had difficulty accepting that Linna was just not going to walk in the door like old times. Even now, after over 5 months... Her train of thought was interrupted by Kelly speaking. "... isn't that right?" Kelly looked at Priss. Priss nodded, "yes, of course." "Good," Kelly put down the guitar. "Give me about 20 minutes to get ready okay?" She laughed and hurried out. "Eh?" Priss said. The vidcom started to bleep and Priss got up. She reached down and touching a switch frowned. "Mackie? Is that you? Long time no..." "Priss listen to me very carefully. I don't have much time left," Mackie's earnest face alerted Priss to the fact that something was very wrong. "I'm listening. What is it?" she said squatting down on the floor in front of the screen. "Has Sylia been in contact with you in the last few days?" "No," Priss angrily exclaimed. "Of course not! She is responsible for Linna..." "Listen to me Priss! If she tries to contact you then do..." the line suddenly went dead. Priss waited for a few moments to see if it was just a blip from this aged machine. "What the..." she got up and pounded the unit. "Come on you heap of crap..." "Priss? Are you getting ready?" Kelly's voice interrupted her. Priss gave the aged vidcom unit another bash but the line was dead and buried. "Hey Priss! Did you hear me?" "Yes!" Priss turned from the faulty unit and shrugged. If it were that important then Mackie would ring back and leave a message. Priss would be damned before she willingly rang that place! She... "Priss!" "I'm getting ready now!" Priss stabbed the button and ran to get ready for whatever it was she had agreed to. The subject of Mackie was pushed to the back of her mind. It had been ages since the two roommates had gone out and Priss was rather looking forward to it now. "Kompai!" Priss said knocking glasses with Kelly and Sophia. "Well Boss," Priss said to the bar owner/friend/employer. "Did you managed to find out anything of any interest?" Sophia took a sip of her drink and looked at Priss. "Well, put it like this unless you have access to an extremely rich fortune I would not bother with pursuing your idea any more. I checked on this Stingray person and she is not just wealthy, she is seriously rolling in it. In fact, the more I dug the more connections I came up with." She looked at Priss, "believe me girl, this is not a woman you want to take on. She has fingers into more pies than I could find, and not all of them are legal." "What do you mean?" Priss said. "Yakuza?" "That's one way of putting it," Sophia commented. "I have my own contacts with... let us say the more seamier side of Tokyo life... and they tell me that Miss Stingray is a very serious figure, with very serious connections. In fact they even hinted that she does far more than just have connections." "What? You mean she's a Crime boss?" Priss smiled. "Ridiculous!" "Literally speaking? No," Sophia replied. "But let us just say that if she speaks on a subject then the Yakuza do more than just listen. My contacts were very reluctant to speak much about her. I think they were afraid." "So, you're saying I have no hope of getting back at her?" Priss said in a dark tone. "I can't accept that. She ruined my life! She caused the death of my lover and two of my only friends! I will NOT let her get away with it!!" Priss was on her feet. "I will MAKE her PAY!!" "Priss!" Kelly said startled as she tried to grab her roommate and pull her down. "Calm down will..." "NO!" Priss yelled pounding the table. "I want her DEAD! I want her to GROVEL at my feet! I want REVEN..." Kelly reached out and gently caressed Priss's madly hysterical mind. The woman suddenly cut off in mid statement and sat numbly down. "There… there Priss. Just relax..." Sophia shot Kelly a weird glance and her eyes narrowed. She had detected just for a moment a flare of alien power from the brown haired girl. A flare of unbelievable strength, and yet had seemed almost common place, almost familiar. Who or what the hell was this Kelly? Carefully Sophia schooled her face and calmed her mind so that nothing seemed untoward. For a moment Sophia almost doubted the nature of what she had detected. This Kelly was human! It was only because Sophia had long established an intimate link directly with Priss's mind that she had felt anything at all. Whatever Kelly had done had been impossible for Sophia to detect directly. "She's just overwrought," Kelly said with a smile turning back to Sophia. "I don't think she sleep much last night." "That's okay," Sophia said. "But you may need to watch her. Priss wants payback very badly and this Stingray person isn't someone to go against. Especially not when Priss is one of my prize employees." "Don't worry," Kelly said. "I'll keep her out of mischief, even if I have to sit on her in the process." "Thanks," Sophia said with a relieved smile. "If it was someone less influential then I would have been happy to help but..." She shook her head. "I'll keep her in line," Kelly said reassuringly as she took the bottle from the now sleepy Priss. "I think you have drunk enough tonight my girl. Time to be going to bed." "Hmmm... Good idea..." Priss sleepily agreed her face red. "Got to work tomorrow..." "Do you need a taxi?" Sophia asked Kelly getting to her feet. "Yes," Kelly agreed with a smile. "I'm definitely not letting Priss ride that damned bike of hers back. Not in this state." "Don't blame you," Sophia snorted with amusement. "Tell her she's doing the late shift tomorrow. And that I expect her to be sober when she comes in. I don't want someone with a hangover serving drinks. It will give the club a bad name." "Don't worry about that," Kelly promised. "When I have finished with her Priss will be sober. Good night Sophia and thanks..." "Don't fret it," Sophia smiled. "I look after my friends. Good night." The smile dropped as soon as Kelly was out of sight. "I look after that which is mine whoever you are. And Priss is most definitely mine..." Sophia got up and walked over to the bar. She gestured for the barman to join her. This Kelly... whatever her Game was Sophia would find it out. Those of the ShadowLands were very possessive about what was theirs. * * * *