BGC The Next Generation MST (5 Part 2 of 3)
MSTed by Shawn Hagen

(The Scene
	A living room, with several chairs and a couch, there is a bar
in the far corner--it looks to be well stocked. It is decorated in 
questionable style, steel and glass with a sixties motif that is best 
not thought about. On the wall, in front of the couch, the screen 
displays the word 'Intermission'.
	At the bar Elenoin and Ree are sipping drinks. Domino has just
wrapped a piece of surgical tubing around her arm and is filling a 
syringe with animal tranquilizer.)

	Ree:(Voice slightly slurred) And so Earth sent this Gundam to 
the forces on the Moon, to help them you see.
	Elenoin: If Earth wanted to help the Moon, why didn't they get
directly involved in the war?
	Ree: Well, the governments of Earth were rightfully afraid of 
the colonies, so they had to keep relations as friendly as possible.
	Elenoin: I see. Okay, go on.
	Ree: Okay, so my team hijacks the convoy, not knowing what was
in it, just that it was headed to the Moon. Then we find the Gundam; 
just before an attack force from the Moon arrives.
	Elenoin: Which was how you ended up piloting a Gundam?
	Ree: Exactly. And it was about time. I was getting sick and 
tired of those dome-headed, cyclops-looking mecha.
	Domino:(Slides the needle into her arm and pushes the plunger 
down) Ahhhhh, that's the stuff.
	Ree: You know, normally a girl pumping sleepy juice, enough to
drop an angry bear, into her arm would bother me a little.
	Elenoin: And it doesn't now?
	Ree: I think that this fic has desensitized me. That or it's 
the gin and tonic.
	Domino: I feel a little better now.
	Elenoin: You must win all the drinking games.
	Domino: If you can call being the company of unconscious 
drunks winning.
	(Scene: A soft chime sounds)
	Ree:(Looks over at the screen) I think the fic is starting 
again.
	Elenoin: Here we go again.
	(Scene: All three go and sit on the couch. Domino pulls the 
surgical tubing from her arm and throws it aside. The screen flickers 
and the fic continues.)


>* * * * *
>    I waited for her reaction to what I'd just said. Didn't seem like 
Yume was
>gonna do much else besides stand there and look at me as if I was 
crazy.
>Couldn't blame her, exactly. After all, not every teenage girl has a 
Knight
>Saber for a mom.... 

	Domino: Really?
	Elenoin: It seems that Priss has taken over the first person 
narrative.
	Ree: Maybe we'll get some explanations.


>    Finally, Yume spoke.
>    "You...you're kidding, right?"
>    I sighed. "Nope, I'm not kidding. I used to be a Knight Saber."

	Ree:(Priss Imitation) Got the T-shirt to prove it.


>    "I...I didn't think YOU'D be one of them!" she exclaimed. "I 
mean...
>how...?"
>    "Looks like I've got some explaining to do..." 

	Domino:(Ricky Ricardo Imitation) Lucy, you got some esplainin 
to do!

>I started walking towards my bike "Come on. Let's go."
>    Yume just stood there. "Where...where are we going, Mom? Home?"
>    "Nah. I'm gonna take you to someone who can explain everything 
better
>than I can." 

	Ree:(Priss Imitation) To the wise sage who lives in the dark 
forest.
	Domino: Tim the enchanter.


>I got on and pulled on my helmet.
>    I heard her mutter to herself, "I don't believe this..."
>    "You better believe it, Yume," I said, turning to her as she got 
on.
>"No use denying it. You'll just be harder on yourself if you try to do
>that. Take it from someone who's been there."

	Elenoin: When did Priss ever deny anything?
	Ree: Never?
	Domino: Just one more example of the AA forcing a character to
act like a complete and utter moron.

>    We rode down the street in total silence,

	Domino: Cool, Priss has a stealth bike!


>each of us alone with our own thoughts. I knew I'd have to break this
>to Yume someday...

	Ree: Why?
	Elenoin: Probably for the same reason that Nene is selling 
panties.


>just didn't think it'd be so soon. Oh well, like Linna would say, 'no
>time like the present.'

	Domino: I would have thought Linna more likely to say 'no 
presant like money'.

>   "I don't get it," Yume yelled over the roar of the motorcycle,

	Domino: Oh, now the bike is making noise.


> "That Boomer back there...it just attacked me for no reason
>at all!!"
>   "No it didn't," I yelled back.
>   "What?! It didn't?"

	Ree:(Priss Imitation) It was sent back in time to kill you, 
before you give birth to a great freedom fighter. I was sent back to 
stop it.
	Domino: Finally, a plot I can get behind.


>   "Boomers don't attack without reason unless their circuits got
>screwed up. 

	Elenoin: So how does she know that one did not have screwed up
circuits?

>That Boomer you encountered...I've seen Boomers like her before," I
>shouted, flashing back to

	Ree: Woodstock and the Summer of love.
	Domino:That certainly was some bad acid.

>when Linna's friend Irene had been killed.

	Elenoin: Don't drive and flashback at the same time.


>All I'd been told was that a female Boomer was after Linna and Irene,

	Elenoin: Wait, how would Priss know that? All Linna saw was a 
car chasing after Irene.
	Ree: All boomers drive black cars. It's in their rulebook.


>and that I had to stop it from hurting them. By the time I'd arrived
>though, the bitch had already killed Irene. I never did like seeing
>people get hurt,

	Domino: Unlike most people, who enjoy watching others' pain.


>and Linna managed to keep me from going after the Boomer alone.
>I got angry just remembering that scene, Linna holding Irene's body
>while the Boomer drove away with no one following her...

	Domino:(Playing sad music on a violin)
	Elenoin: Where do you keep that thing?
	Domino: Not in hammer space, that's for sure.

>    Yume snapped me out of it.

	Ree: By screaming, 'Mom, we're about to drive off the bridge!'


>"Mom, you ok?"
>   "Huh? Oh, yeah..."
>   "So why did that Boomer come after me?"

	Ree:(Priss Imitation) Weren't you listening, it's been sent 
back in time...


>   "I don't think it was after you."
>   "Ok, then try explaining why it almost slit my throat back there!" 
>she snapped.

	Elenoin: It was not quite fast enough?
	Domino: Good taste?

>   "I think it was after me," I admitted.

	Ree: Another boomer looking for Priss' autograph.


>   Yume almost laughed out loud. "You? No one knew you were a
>Knight Saber though!!"
>   I didn't respond.

	Elenoin: How many people did know Priss was a Knight Saber?
	Ree: Leon, Largo, probably Mason, likely Quincy, Anri, Sylvie,
Nene, Linna, Sylia, Mackie, Doc Raven... That's about it.
	Domino: Don't forget everyone who just heard Yumeko scream it 
out over the sound of he motor.

>   "Uh...right?" she said hesitantly.
>   We pulled up in front of the Lady 633 building, where Sylia still 
lived.

	Elenoin: If she hasn't left MegaTokyo she might as well be 
living in the same building.


>   "Hey, this is where Aunt Sylia's apartment is," she said.

	Domino: That Sylia lives here must be very important to the 
plot. It is mentioned twice.


>   "Right. Let's go," I said.
>   "W-wait," she said nervously. "Are you saying that...that Sylia 
is...?"

	Ree:(Priss Imitation) A pod person? Yes. That is why we have 
to kill her.
	Domino:(Yumeko Imitation) Okay, I'll get the garlic.


>   "Is...?" I smirked.
>   "Oh no. No way. Sylia can't be a Knight Saber too!! No way!!" she
>yelled. 

	Ree: Great. If there was anyone who did not know that Sylia 
was a Knight Saber, there isn't now, not with this kid yelling it out 
on the streets.
	Domino: She's betrayed you Priss. You've got your pistol; you 
know what to do.


>   "Come on," I urged gently, pulling her up the stairs.

	Domino: You know, 'push' and 'down' might make that sentence 
better.


>   "Sylia, she...she doesn't look like she could harm a fly!"

	Domino: Has she ever met Sylia?
	Elenoin: I would assume.
	Domino: Maybe Sylia is a pod person?

>   "Welllll..." I drawled. "She's done more than just harm a fly, I'll 
give
>you that."
>   "I don't believe this!!"

	Domino: You are not alone.


>she said again as we reached the front door to Sylia's place. I 
knocked
>on the door. 
>   "Mom, it's pretty late. I don't think she's up right now."
>   "She's up."
>   "How do you know?"
>   "The light's on."

	Elenoin: Priss is making Yumeko look thick. This author avatar
might not be so bad.
	Ree: Give her time.


>   "Oh...under the door...duh." She smacked her head, making me smirk.
>Then, I heard someone on the other side of the door get up and walk 
towards
>it.
>   "Who is it?" I heard Sylia ask politely.

	Domino: Plumber.
	Ree:(Sylia Imitation) I didn't call for a plumber.
	Domino: Candygram.


>   "Just me," I responded. Sylia opened the door.
>   "I was just about to call you."
>   "Huh? Why's that?"

	Domino:(Sylia Imitation) We have to get the plot moving.


>   She suddenly noticed Yume standing next to me. "Priss, why is 
Yumeko
>with you?"

	Domino: Sylia asks the questions we all would ask.
	Ree: Though replace 'with you' with 'alive'.

>   "That's what I came here for. She needs to know some things 
about...
>you know..."

	Domino:(Sylia Imitation) Ah, I see. Well Yumeko, when a mommy 
bird and a daddy bee love each other very much, they go into the 
bedroom together and...
	Ree:(Passable Yumeko Imitation) Aunty Sylia, I know all about 
sex. This is Japan after all; age of consent is twelve. And I am 
Priss' daughter. I've probably gotten more action than Nene.


>   "Oh, I see." She stood back to let us enter her penthouse. "Come 
in,
>won't you." Yume and I did so, and were surprised to see that we 
weren't
>the only company that Sylia had.

	Elenoin: It is a bunch of Jehova's Witnesses.


>   "Hey! Linna! Nene!" Yume exclaimed.
>   "Hi," Nene said.
>   "Out a little late, aren't we," Linna pointed out. We all sat down.

	Elenoin: Linna must be the responsible one.


>   "Well, before I explain why you're here, Linna, Nene, Priss says 
that Yumeko
>wants


	Ree: A personality?
	Domino: We all want her to have a personality.


>to...know a few things," Sylia said, setting a coffee tray down on the 
table. "Do
>you want to tell her, or should I?"

	Domino:(Nene Imitation) Oh, I will. You see Yumeko, when the 
flower begins to produce pollen....
	Elenoin: Give it a rest.


>   "Um, what would you like to know, Yumeko?" Nene asked nervously.

	Domino:(Yumeko Imitation) Just who was on the grassy knoll?
	Elenoin: Zad Fnark.
	Ree: No one will get that.


>   Yume just sat there, nursing her cup of coffee.

	Ree: Wow, she is going to burn her...
	Elenoin:(Pushes Ree off the couch) Stop that!


>"W...well, Mom told me that she used to be...a

	Elenoin: A lumberjack.
	Domino: And she's okay.

>Knight Saber."

	Domino: Which breaks one of the 11 regulations. Sylia finally 
exercised the eleventh regulation. Priss' body was never found.
	Ree:(Gets back up on the couch.)


>    Nene nodded. "So she did."

	Domino: And Nene's body was never found.


>   "You...you mean you knew already?" Yume asked, shocked.
>   "Of course we did," Linna said. "Nene and I were the other two
>Knight Sabers, after all."

	Domino: They all seem pretty glib about this.
	Ree: Didn't you know? Nene wrote a tell-all book in 2041. Now 
everyone knows who the Knight Sabers were.


>   I didn't think it was possible for Yume to pale any further than 
she
>already had, but she did, turning stark white.

	Elenoin: Ran out of money for colour I see.
	Ree: At least they are not all standing in an elevator, 
staring at the numbers and saying nothing.


>Damn, looked like a vampire had sucked all her blood or something like
>that. I snickered. Couldn't help it.

	Elenoin: Yes, I can see how Priss would think anything like 
that would be funny. It is not as if it might remind her of Sylvie.
	Ree: Desribing someone who is pale as being the victim of a 
vampire attack? Lame.

>   "This must be a lot for you to take in, I'm sure," Sylia said. 
"Well,
>Yumeko, when did Priss tell you this?"
>   "Just a little while ago, after she saved me from this Boomer-"

	Ree: Jehovah Witness.
	Domino: If I were to gut you right now, would your soul be 
ready?


>   "A Boomer?!" Nene yelled. "A Boomer attacked you!?"

	Ree: Is she shocked or happy?


>   "Yeah...this female one. She just about gutted me when Mom came
>and shot its head off."
>   "Yup, that's Priss for ya," Nene joked. I frowned at her.

	Elenoin: A moment before Nene was upset enough to be yelling. 
Now she is making jokes. The mood swings among these characters is 
beginning to worry me.


>   "She had these huge nails that looked like knives, and she just 
came
>after me, and I hadn't even done anything to her!"

	Domino: She sounds like a five year old now.
	Elenoin: Do unto others before they do unto you.

>    I heard Linna sigh. "Just like the one that murdered Irene..."
>   "That was a while ago, huh?" Nene asked.

	Elenoin: Nene is not sure if it was a while ago?
	Ree: You have to wonder what drugs she has been abusing.
	Domino: Maybe now we know why Nene is not pursuing her love of
computers.


>"Twenty-two years it's been, if I remember right..." Linna nodded.

	Domino:(Grandpa Simpson Imitation) It was nigh on twenty-two 
years ago. I was heading up to Sendai, so I had tied a daikon to my 
belt, which was the fashion at the time...


>   "What were you doing out this late at night, Yumeko?" Sylia asked.
>   "Goddammit, is everyone gonna ask me that or what?!" Yume snapped.

	Domino: I'm with Yumeko on this one. How many times is this 
going to be asked?
	Ree: Author Avatars often have this sort of effect on canon 
characters.


>   "No, we're only asking because we're concerned about you," Sylia 
said
>coolly.

	Domino: That Sylia would say something coolly is about the 
only thing in character for her so far.


>   Yume snorted. "I was looking for Mom, cuz she wasn't home yet and I
>was worried about her, that's all."
>   "Isn't that sweet!" Nene exclaimed.

	Domino: My guess is that Nene really does not like Yumeko.
	Elenoin: I'm trying to decide if this counts as another mood 
swing.


>   "So Sylia," I said, "why's everyone here?"
>   "Well," she began, "as you all know, I've been monitoring Genom's
>movements for some time now. But just a few days ago, I found out
>something."

	Elenoin: That you've wasted your life?

>   "What's that?" Linna asked.

	Domino:(Sylia Imitation) They are planning on mounting a 
hostile take over of Helverson Metals. We'll buy all the shares of 
Helverson we can get and become rich!
	Ree:(Linna Imitation) It is about time.


>   "Genom is starting to manufacture Combat Boomers again. For
>what purpose, I don't know, but they are up to something."

	Domino: So Genom stopped manufacturing combat Boomers. Yes, I 
believe this.
	Ree: What would it take for Genom to stop manufacturing combat
Boomers?
	Domino: A cessation of all conflict on the planet and beyond, 
and a situation where they could not start any new wars.
	Elenoin: That won't happen.
	Domino: Tell me about it.


>   "But why would Genom wait so long to start making Combat Boomers 
again?"
>Nene asked.

	Domino: This I want to hear.


>   "Well, as you know, Genom's had more than its fair share of 
financial problems
>these past two decades," Sylia explained.

	Domino: Well, this makes sense. Stop manufacturing weapons, 
which are always profitable, when you are having financial problems. 
Ree, what is BGC Cliché number 3?
	Ree: That would be Genom is evil, or, Genom is stupid. They 
both basically amount to the same thing.


>"The Gulf & Bradley company suing over a 'breach of contract', among 
others.

	Domino: Yes. Let's see. G&B were the ones that brought all the
baggage with Reika, and it was their scientist who fucked up and got 
arrested. I think it is safe to say that G&B had no case. Genom suing 
G&B on the other hand...
	Elenoin: Yes, yes, we know you are pro-Genom. Now shut up.

>But it seems like they're past all that now, and they want to
>pick things up where they left off."

	Ree: Making great, big, flipping wadges of cash!
	Domino: It is what they are good at.


>   "There's no AD Police now though!" Nene yelled. "What's everyone 
gonna
>do if Genom sends out more Boomers to wreck the city like they've done 
so
>many times?

	Domino: For those keeping score, this is a repeat of Cliché 3.
Both evil and stupid.
	Elenoin: It does not seem to be a very intelligent strategy, 
wrecking the city, killing your own customers.
	Ree: Think she'll figure out that Genom probably had a hand in
creating the ADP in the first place?
	Domino: This Nene? Not a chance.
	Elenoin: They can always call in the army.


>It's not like the Knight Sabers can miraculously come back into 
existence
>or something!!"

	Elenoin: Once again things are being badly telegraphed.
	Ree: Kind of like when someone in a slasher pic says, 'I think
we're safe now.'


>    Sylia smiled slyly.

	Domino: A smile so sly you could stick a tail on it and call 
it a weasle.

>Apparently Nene got unnerved by that. "R...right?"
>   "Why do you think we've continued our training for all this time?"
>Sylia asked coyly. "We had to keep in top shape in case Genom tried
>anything. But of course, to wait this long...it shocked me as well."

	Elenoin: I'm sorry, this makes no sense. If Sylia truly 
believed that she still had issues to work out with Genom, she would 
not have shut down the Knight Sabers.


>    Linna's jaw dropped. "You mean we're going back to work?"
>    Nene laughed. "But aren't we a little...too

	Domino: OCC? Tell me about it.

>OLD to be doing this
>anymore? Having a bunch of middle-aged women come out of 'retirement'
>to fight Boomers again is like old man Quincy trying to run a 
marathon."

	Elenoin: There are seventy and eighty year olds who run 
marathons. As long as they train.
	Ree: WHICH IS WHAT YOU"VE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST TWENTY 
YEARS!


>    "I've thought about that," Sylia said, obviously trying to keep 
from
>laughing. Too late for Linna and me. We were already laughing so hard
>our sides hurt.

	Ree: They are all so baked. This entire fic might work as an 
anti-drug campaign.


>"That's why I believe we could use some extra help. Some youthful 
energy to
>help us get the job done." 

	Ree: Anakin Skywalker.
	Domino: Weasley Crusher.
	Elenoin: Twice as annoying as those two combined.

>She looked over at Yumeko, who was staring in shock.

	Elenoin: This is so wrong!
	Ree: Elenoin?
	Elenoin: Excuse me, but I am going to rant.
	Domino: Please, go ahead.
	Elenoin: Linna, Priss, Nene and Sylia are either able to fight
boomers as the Knight Sabers, or they are not. If they are, they do 
not necessarily need a new member. If they are not, then adding a 
young member is not going to make a difference. If age has slowed 
those four women down, then Sylia would be smart enough to find four, 
new, younger people to become Knight Sabers. She would then take on a 
position of leadership, from behind the lines as it were. This is 
simply an excuse to allow Yumeko to become a Knight Saber with the 
original Knight Sabers. It is transparent, unrealistic and out of 
character for everyone! (Stops and takes a deep breath.)
	Ree: Good rant.
	Elenoin: It had to be said.


>   "You...you mean you...want me to

	Domino: Find someone the readers will like?


>join...?" she stuttered.
>   "Well, Genom is bound to have even tougher Boomers than before.
>That would require more manpower to defeat them," Sylia said.

	Ree: Or improved hardsuit designs? If the boomers can get 
better...
	Domino: Oh, it has only been twenty years. There is no way 
Sylia could have improved the hardsuits. After all, she is just a 
designer of lingerie.


>   "But...I'm a little..."

	Ree: Annoying? Tell me about it.


>   "Young?" Nene asked. "Don't worry, Yumeko. I was your age when I 
first
>joined the Knight Sabers."

	Domino: More or less. But is Yumeko going to be part of the 
Knight Sabers' service and support or front line combat?
	Ree: My guess is she will do it all, but, if I had to bet, 
considering my recent losses, I'd say front line combat.


>   "You...you were?"
>   "Uh-huh. Enjoyed every minute too."
>   I burst out laughing. "Enjoyed?? You enjoyed getting beat up every 
battle?"
>I asked mockingly.

	Domino: For the most part she was avoiding getting beat up.


>   "That's not what I meant!!"
>   "Well, you WERE," Linna added.
>   "I meant that...I really liked helping make the city safer for 
everyone. The
>battles were fun,

	Ree: Nene is really messed up.


>even though we sometimes got beat up. And we saved MegaTokyo from
>getting blown to smithereens a few times, right?"

	Domino: They might as well join the freakin Justice League 
right now.


>   "Yeah."
>   "Like when we fought the D.D."
>   I spit out my coffee in surprise.

	Elenoin: The physical comedy is just amazing.


>Nene turned to me.

	Domino:(Nene Imitation) Why did you spit coffee all over me?


>   "Uh.. you ok, Priss?"
>   "Oh, dandy," I coughed.
>   "I...guess that's still a sensitive subject for you, huh."

	Ree: Once again, Nene is really messed up.
	Elenoin: To be fair, all of them are.


>   "What are you guys talking about?" Yume asked. "What's a sensitive 
>subject?"
>   "Priss'll tell you about it later," Linna said.

	Domino: You mean there is something that Priss has not told 
Yumeko?


>   "S-sure," I said. I'd wanted to keep the memories of that long-ago 
battle dead
>and buried, but Nene had just torn the scab off the wound. Killing a 
dear friend
>in order to save the city had been one of the last things I'd imagined 
I'd have to
>do,

	Ree: Because for most people it is one of the first things 
they'd imagine doing.
	Domino: I hate this Priss.

> but I did it, although hesitantly. I relived the moment in my head 
for the thousandth
>time as Nene kept apologizing for mentioning it.
>   "Look, I...didn't mean to bring it up. Really."
>   "Well," Sylia sighed, "perhaps we should call it a night. We can 
talk more another
>time. In the meantime, Yumeko, I'll let you think about whether or not 
you'd like to join
>us."

	Ree: I've just lost all the respect I once had for Sylia.
	Domino: This is not Sylia. Sylia *has* been replaced by a pod 
person.


>  "Um...ok," Yume said.
>   As Yume and I rode back to our apartment, she asked lots of 
questions. Why didn't
>I like talking about the D.D.?

	Ree: (Priss Imitation) Because I don't. You don't need to know
everything about me.


> Were we sure about starting up again? What would we do if one of us 
were hurt?

	Domino: Depends if it is Yumeko.

> Or killed?

	Domino: Depends if it is Yumeko.

> Why didn't I answer her when she asked if anyone knew I was a Knight
>Saber? I told her I'd explain it all soon, but just not now. Now 
wasn't a good time.

	Domino: Yes, screaming out all these questions, over the sound
of the bike's engine, while in public, is not a good time.



>* * * * *
>   What a night it had been. 
>    Who woulda thought that just by going out to look for Mom, I'd be 
attacked by a
>Boomer, find out Mom was a Knight Saber, and be asked to join the 
group all in one
>night?!

	Elenoin: Anyone who has read a Mary Sue story?

> Even though it'd been a few weeks since I found out about Linna and 
the
>others being the Knight Sabers, I was still in shock over it. The 
invitation to join them
>shocked me even more. My mind spun as I thought about what to do now. 
Should I
>join the Sabers, or should I just sit idly by and watch as they went 
out and risked their
>lives to save the city from rampaging Boomers?

	Domino: Thanks for the recap.
	Elenoin: Looks like we are back to having Yumeko as the 
narrator.
	Ree: And Priss explained nothing.


>    "You don't have to give her an answer right away, you know," Mom
>said, interrupting my thoughts. "Take your time and think it through."

	Domino: Maybe go on a backpaking tour of Europe for a couple 
of years,

>    "I...I just don't know what to do," I said. "This is just so 
weird, all of this."
>    "Hey, when I first joined the Sabers, I thought so too. But I 
suppose
>killing Boomers was one way I could get back at Genom for what they'd
>done to wreck my life. I'm still not quite done with them yet..."

	Elenoin: What exactly did Genom do to wreck Priss' life?
	Domino: If you accept that Genom caused the second Kanto, then
they killed her parents. Of course, this is Priss we are talking 
about. If she knew this, she would have gone off on some suicide 
mission long ago.
	Ree: I think Mason killed her biker boyfriend, but Mason was 
killed long ago.


>    "So what about these eleven rules Sylia was talking about?"
>    "She had those set up at the beginning so she would be able to
>trust each of us fully. They're not really good for anything these 
days
>though."

	Domino: If you have to threaten death, you don't really trust 
them.


>    "Isn't the last one a little harsh though? 'Violation of any of 
the rules
>listed above is punishable by death.' What was that about?"

	Ree: Yea, what about it? Sylia should have enacted that one a 
few times in the previous section.


>    "Like I said...she wanted to make sure she could trust all of us 
with
>keeping the group a secret. If any of us violated the rules, we'd be 
killed."
>She laughed. "Once she got to know us a little better though, she let 
up
>on her grip on the rules. Don't be surprised if she's a little firm 
with you at
>the beginning. She wants to be sure you won't go out and tell everyone
>about this."

	Elenoin: Don't you think Sylia, who has, supposedly, known 
Yumeko for 16 years, would have a good idea about her character? And 
knowing that character, would not have let her know about it unless 
she was certain that Yumeko could keep her mouth shut?
	Domino: One would assume.

>   "Of...of course I wouldn't."
>   "I know you won't. I've known you long enough to know that you 
wouldn't
>do that."

	Ree: Her mother has known her long enough? What a revelation.


>   "It's a pretty dangerous job though, isn't it? Going out and 
killing Boomers?"

	Ree: That's why I get the big bucks.
	Domino:(Australian accent) Of course this sort of thing is 
dangerous.

>   "Yeah it is. Don't always come out of the fights unscathed, but no 
one expects
>you to, either. I had my share of getting trashed...."
>    Mom rolled up the sleeves on her shirt. I don't know why I hadn't 
really noticed
>before, but her arms had several little scars on them, and others that 
weren't so
>little. I noticed a large one on her right arm, about three inches 
long. The exact same
>scar was on the other side of her arm too, as if she'd be stabbed 
through her arm.
>I said so.

	Domino: They live in such close quarters, and yet Yumeko has 
never noticed Priss' many scars before? That is just so wrong.
	Elenoin: I'm reminded of that Scene in Jaws, when they are all
aboard the Orca, getting drunk.
	Ree: Yumeko rolled up the cuff of her jeans. 'See that scar,' 
she said, indicating a slight blemish on her ankle. 'I got that 
falling off the jungle gym in grade one.'


>   "Got that one in one of our later battles. This one Boomer, he 
tosses me to the
>ground, fires these huge knife-things

	Domino: Ya call that a knife.


>from his head, and three of them hit me. One goes through my arm, and 
the other
>two each go through a leg." Mom pulled off her jeans

	Elenoin: Check please!


>and showed me where they hit.

	Ree: Finally, some fan service.

>I saw the scars, almost identical to the one on her arm, on each of 
her thighs.
>I grimaced, trying to imagine how much that must have hurt.
>   "Nene and Linna were freaking out, thinking I was a goner for sure. 
Boy,
>wish I coulda seen the looks on their faces when I yanked those blades 
out
>and continued fighting." She smiled at the thought. 

	Domino: Masocist.

>   "That...that won't happen to me, will it?"

	Ree: Only if my prayers are answered.

>   "Not if you watch your back, it won't. I was too busy trying to get 
the Boomers
>away from Linna to see that other one coming." She yanked 

	Ree: More yanking I see.

>her jeans back on. "Just gotta be careful, that's all."
>   I sighed. "As dangerous and crazy as this all sounds," I said, "I 
can't just let
>you and Sylia and the others just go out there and put your lives on 
the line."
>    "What are you getting at?"

	Elenoin: Everyone but Priss knows what she is getting at.

>    "I'm saying that even though there's a lot of risks involved in 
this, I want
>to join you guys and help you put these bastards down."
>    Mom just stood there looking at me for a minute, a skeptical look 
in her eyes.
>Then, she smiled. And said, "Well Yume, you've got your work cut out 
for you,
>ya know. But, if you really want to do this, I'm not gonna stop you."

	Domino: This might have been a good place for all the sarcasm 
that was sprinkled so liberally in the first part.

>   "I do. I do want to do this."
>   "Well then...welcome to the club."

	Ree:(Priss Imitation) I'll teach you the secret handshake, and
then you'll have to go through the initiation.
	Domino: I suddenly see the Knight Sabers as a sorority. They 
have to take in Yumeko because she is a legacy.
	Ree: Just like Blotto.

>* * * * *
>   "All right, let's see you hit the bullseye," Sylia said.
>   It was my first day of training. We were all at a local shooting 
range,
>practicing our aim. Mom and Linna had both done pretty well, but Nene
>barely hit the target itself once, spawning several jokes from them.

	Ree: Nene, who actually had a firing range to use, is of 
course bad.
	Elenoin: And if this falls into the mould of most Author 
Avatar work, we can expect Yumeko to be a natural.


>   "Maybe Little Miss Cyberpunk should spend less time on the computer
>terminal and more time at the shooting range improving her aim," Linna
>joked.

	Ree: Maybe we could see some original taunts.


>   "Hmph. You weren't exactly stellar either," Nene shot back.

	Ree: Nene shot Linna! About time really.
	Elenoin: Perhaps 'shot' was not the best word to use while 
they are holding pistols.


>   "You couldn't have been worse if you had a blindfold on!! And
>you know what the sad thing is?

	Domino: This entire scene?

>Priss has been giving you lessons."
>   "You trying to say something?" Mom inquired suspiciously.

	Ree: I think she is trying to say Nene sucks.
	Elenoin: One wonders how many times Linna has emptied a clip 
into a boomer?


>   "Uh...no, of course not."
>   "Could you all be quiet so I can concentrate?!" I yelled.

	Ree: I would hope they say no. Combat has never been a quiet 
place.


>   "Oh, uh, sorry Yumeko," Nene apologized.

	Ree: Big surprise.

 
>   I aimed the gun at the target, trying to stop my arms from shaking 
as 
>I did so. If there weren't so many people watching me, maybe I 
wouldn't
>have been so nervous. Hopefully I wouldn't do as bad as Nene did.

	Domino: Think that she is trying to tell us something about 
Nene?


>I tried to hold in a laugh at the thought as Sylia pointed out my 
mistakes.
>   "Stand up straight," she ordered. I straightened up and aimed 
again.
>   "Straighten your arms," Mom advised. I did so and tried to 
concentrate
>on the target again.
>   "Try not to listen to anything we say behind your back," Nene said.

	Ree: Ah, the humour here is just amazing.


>   "I can't concentrate if you're all talking, now can I?!" I snapped. 
Mom took
>the gun from me.

	Ree:(Priss Imitation) Young lady you have just earned yourself
a time out.
	Domino: Just shoot her and put her out of our misery Priss.

>   "Let me show you how it's done," Mom smirked. She took her stance,
>aimed the gun at the target, and fired. Nene gasped as she fired again 
and
>again, 

	Ree: Oh my! This sounds really good. Priss, make me gasp as 
well! Again, and again!


>hitting the bullseye with deadly accuracy. She handed the gun back to 
me.

	Domino: Good call; an empty pistol is about what I'd trust 
Yumeko with.
	Ree:(Priss Imitation) Now be a good girl and go clean this for
mommy.


>"Now that's how a pro should do it."
>   "Show-off," Nene mumbled.
>   "Um...ok," I swallowed. I aimed once again at the target, 
straightened
>out my arms and standing up straight as they'd told me to do.

	Ree: You know, standing up straight presents some problems in 
a combat situation.
	Elenoin: Maybe that is why they are telling her to do so?


>   I took a deep breath, focused carefully on the red area that was 
the bullseye...
>And squeezed the trigger. Nene's jaw dropped.

	Domino: Detacable jaws, new from Ronco.


>   "You...hit it on the first try...?" she whispered.

	Elenoin: Yes, it would appear she is a natural.


>   "Oh I did?" I joked. "Well, look at that."
>   "Do it again," Sylia said. I did so, hitting the red area a few 
more times, and most
>of the bullets that didn't hit it were right outside of it, more or 
less.

	Ree: She is so perfect. Well, it is official. She is a 
full-fledged AA.
	Domino: So now we can hate her guild free.
	Elenoin: As if that would stop you.

>   "You sure this is your first time using a gun?" Nene asked, 
skeptical.
>   "Like mother, like daughter," Linna said.
>   "That was pretty good," Mom said.
>   "So is there any more training I have to do?" I asked.

	Domino:(Sylia Imitation) No. Of course not. You are perfect.


>   "Of course there is," Sylia answered. "We need to test your combat
>skills. That way, we'll be able to figure out what kind of weapons 
you'll
>have."
>   "Fine by me."

	Ree: She is so modest.


>   "All right then. We'll meet at Raven's Garage in half an hour."
>   We all walked out to our vehicles. As I was pulling on my helmet, 
Nene walked
>up to me, looking green with envy. I suppressed a laugh as she spoke.
>   "That was a lucky shot. Bet you couldn't do it again."

	Domino: Now Nene is acting like she is five. You would have 
thought that by now Nene would have grown up. Of course lack of 
chracter development it this fics stock and trade.


>   "Try me," I smirked.

	Ree: I wish I were there.
	Domino: Or Ryo Saeba.
	Ree: I suppose he would be the better choice.
	Domino: Not necessarily. He wouldn't actually put a bullet in 
her.


>   "Oh..." She smiled. "I can't stay mad at you, Yumeko.

	Domino:(Nene Imitation, monotone) I have no will of my own.


>You're such a sweet girl, you know that? If I were to have a daughter, 
I'd want her
>to be just like you."

	Elenoin: Annoying and perfect?
	Ree: An Author Avatar?
	Domino: You're forty Nene. We are now past New Years and the 
Christmas cakes are long gone.


>   "If you can hang on to a boyfriend that long, anyway," Mom quipped.

	Elenoin: That would be Linna.


>   "You stay out of this," Nene snapped. Mom ignored her and drove 
away.
>   "We better get going if we don't wanna be late, Nene."

	Ree: And now Saint Yumeko is taking care of Nene.


>   "All right." She paused and thought for a moment. "Um, could I get 
a ride with you?"
>   "Why?"
>   "My scooter broke down and I ended up walking here."

	Elenoin: Twenty years later, and Nene is still driving a 
scooter?
	Ree: Just smile and nod.


>   "I'll lend you my helmet if you want."
>   "No, that's ok. You need it more than I do." She climbed onto the 
bike behind me,
>wrapped her arms around my

	Domino: Neck.


> waist, and we were off.

	Ree: Maybe I'm just overly focused on sex, but if Nene and 
this Yumeko end up in bed together, I will puke.
	Elenoin: Understandable.
	Domino: What do you mean 'maybe'?
	Ree: You're one to talk.
	Domino: I'm not a tramp; I'm just programmed that way.

>* * * * *
>   Nene and I arrived at Raven's Garage right on schedule. As we 
hopped off my bike,

	Ree: It continued on, crashing into a wall.

> we saw Mackie crawl out from underneath a truck and smile at us.

	Domino: Oh, look, Mackie. He's fixing something. I am very 
surprised.


>   "Hi guys," he said.

	Ree: Girls, Mackie, they are girls. Look at the bumps. These 
are girls.

>   "Hi Mackie," Nene and I said simultaneously.
>   "Sis and the others are already here. They're waiting for you 
inside."
>   "Ok," Nene said. "Do you know how Yumeko drives?

	Domino: On the roads?
	Ree: Saint Yumeko can drive on water. And then turn that water
into high octane gasoline.
	Elenoin: Not to mention turning our stomachs.


> She's crazy on that bike of hers!!"
>   "Just like another speed demon I know," Mackie smirked.
>   "Just because Mom likes driving fast doesn't mean she's crazy," I 
said.

	Ree: Dammit all! We know Priss drives fast! We know Yumeko 
drives fast! Get on with it!

>   "Sure seems like it at times, don't it," Mackie mumbled as he 
crawled back
>under the truck. I frowned.

	Domino: And now that Mackie has made his appearance, showing 
no one involved with the Knight Sabers managed to get out of 
MegaTokyo, he climbs back under his rock.
	Elenoin: Truck.
	Domino: Whatever.


>   "Come on, Yumeko," Nene said as she pulled me by the arm towards a 
back
>door. "Just ignore the stuff he says if it bugs you so much."

	Ree: That bugs her? Girl has all the tolerance of a wet 
tissue.

>   I sighed and let her take me into a changing room. She handed me a 
strange 
>looking outfit and told me to put it on.

	Domino:(Yumeko Imitation) What are the bunny ears for?


>   "What's it for?" I asked, puzzled.

	Ree: It is a pronoun, used to refer what was previously 
mentioned, but that's not important.
	Elenoin: Now we're doing Airplane.

>   "It's for the exercises we do. Oh, and you can't wear bras or 
anything under it
>either." She started to take off her clothes.
>   "W...why not?"

	Domino: Because it is skin-tight.
	Elenoin: Or Sylia is a little kinkier than we supposed.


>   "Just can't. I dunno why."

	Ree: Boy, Nene is sure stupid, seeing as she has been doing 
this stuff FOR MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS!


>Nene finished putting on the outfit and I saw that it was skintight, 
showing off
>her lovely figure. As I started taking off my clothes as well, she 
said, "Oh, and
>before I forget...make sure Mackie doesn't have any hidden cameras in 
here
>either. He does that sometimes."

	Elenoin: So Nene mentions that after she has stripped down and
suited up?
	Ree: She's an exhibitionist.


>   "Pervert," I muttered.

	Domino: You know, at sixteen, seventeen, Mackie doing that 
kind of thing was expected, and sort of cute. In his late thirties, 
early forties, it is just pathetic.
	Ree: Priss is raped. Priss hates Leon, according to Yumeko at 
least--which contradicts events in part 6. The only new male character
introduced so far has been a jerk. And now Mackie is a pathetic man. 
Anyone seeing a pattern here?
	Elenoin: I'm seeing the potential for a pattern.


>   "Yeah. He just can't enough of seeing us undress. He used to try to
>watch us undress and put on our innerwear that we wear under our 
suits.

	Domino: So he watched you change?


>We'd always catch him before he saw anything though. Ok...maybe not 
ALL
>the time, but still..." 

	Ree: Nene never saw Mackie's website I guess.


>I fastened the back of the outfit and looked myself over. How strange. 
It all
>seemed like something out of a futuristic sci-fi movie to me. I shook 
my head
>in disbelief and tied back my hair.
>   "Hurry up," Nene urged as she walked to the training room.
>   "Ok!!" I called as I ran to catch up with her.


	(Scene: The screen flickers and once again displays the word
'Intermission'.)

	Elenoin:(Gets to her feet) I'm going to the bathroom.
	Ree:(Stands up) Me too.
	Domino:(Stands up as well) I'm going to have a chat with the 
server.
	Ree: What?
	Domino: You'll see. (She heads out of the room)

"We're here is the engineering section of the Starship
Enterprise where we have replaced the fine dilithium
crystals they usually use the Folgers crystals. Let's
see what happens."
Shawn Hagen<shawn-hagenATrogers.com>