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Bubblegum Crisis
****
The Tempest Chronicles II
****
(c) Robin Smith 1995/6
Bubblegum Crisis is copyright Armtic,
Youmex and Toshimichi Suzuki.
Other copyrights belong to their respective holders.
=========
Chapter 2.14
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Priss wandered over towards the lift, stepping round the pile of ash
that was once Sylia's security shutter.
Although the concept of traipsing down all the stairs didn't sit well
with Nene, the thought of getting stuck in lift was even less enticing.
"Err Priss are you going to use the lift; remember that Tempest could
conceivably blow up the power supply.
Wouldn't the stairs be better ?"
"Well, well, I am surprised.
Nene suggesting we use the stairs and get some exercise !"
Linna exclaimed sarcastically; she too had the same thought as Nene
about Tempest and the power supply.
After contemplating Nene's remarks, Priss altered her path towards the
stairwell.
"Hmm, I guess you're right; there's no telling what he may do in his
current state."
Sylia pushed open the stairwell door and led the way down towards the
basement. Tempest would probably be nearing his goal by now but his
soft footfalls were easily masked by their footsteps.
She might just hear the sound of the door opening below but it would be
unlikely given the chatter going on behind her.
"Gaahh! Now don't you start as well."
Linna cried shaking her head.
"Eh, what are you talking about ....
Oh, yeah. Hmm, what about ... naah it's not worth it.
That was real weird with the coffee pot; it was too hot for me to
handle. It was damned hot when I first touched it and yet he put it on
his hand like it had been standing all night. Next time I touched it,
it was cold. What the hell did he do to it ?"
Mackie sometimes wondered about Priss's grasp of basic physics; to him
it was blatantly obvious what had happened.
"It's very simple; he drained all the heat out of it just by touching
it. From his lack of reaction I'd say that he's no longer as sensitive
to temperature changes either. For instance he was seemed totally
oblivious to the frost on his arm until you alerted him to it;
similarly he wasn't aware of the cooling of the air around him."
Exasperated Priss responded,
"His arm was damned cold and I only touched it briefly.
What is he, a walking fridge ?"
"No. It's just like he said; when his body gets short of energy it
begins to take it from any source around him; the air, the hot coffee,
you, me; anything that has energy in it. As such that makes him
positively lethal to anything living."
Explained Mackie talking back to Priss over his shoulder.
Priss thought carefully for a moment before answering,
"Hmm, so you mean even if he wasn't electrified and couldn't kill me by
electric shock; then if his body was low on energy a single touch would
still kill me ?"
"That's right. He could draw all the energy from your body, ..."
Mackie was about say 'like a damaged 33S requiring blood', but stopped
just in time; he searched for another analogy that summed it up neatly,
"err, just like a vacuum cleaner sucking up dust."
Tapping Priss on the shoulder Nene said,
"Hmm, it would be very useful if he could do it intentionally."
"What, you mean kill me ?"
"No, silly, the energy absorption bit.
Think about a buma fight; one touch and down they go."
"Heh heh, now that's a neat idea !"
Priss chuckled,
"Hmm, would get kind of boring though.
Ooo, I know 'tag' your 'it'; then they fall over.
No, that'd still be boring; I'll stick with what I've got."
"Like you had a choice anyway ?"
Asked Linna.
"Okay, so it ain't going to happen.
Don't act so clever; I saw you giving him a thorough examination
earlier on. You couldn't keep your eyes off him."
She felt her face reddening at Priss's observation. Linna tried to
think of the best way to express what had seized her attention.
"Well I don't really know how to put this; it's a delicate subject."
"You're not thinking of going out with him are you ?
He's old enough to be your grandfather !"
Priss exclaimed.
"Besides, you wouldn't survive the first kiss."
"Heh heh, must be a lightning romance.
P-P-Positively electrifying, I'd say."
Between the giggles and the coughing Nene's face was slowly turning a
bright shade of red as she fought for breath.
'I can't pass this up' thought Mackie 'it's just too good to miss',
"Like a bolt from the blue. You better make sure it isn't a flash in
the pan though or things might get highly charged."
"Sylia can't you keep them under control.
I mean Tempest was bad enough on his own but these two", Linna pointed
to Nene and Mackie, "are getting worse."
Smiling inwardly to herself Sylia mused that even if the puns were
terribly bad, they had at least diverted attention away from the morbid
thoughts about Tempest's deadly problem.
"I know, shocking aren't they ?
Don't worry I think the joke will go flat eventually."
"Damn it, will you all cut that out. PLEASE ?"
Implored Linna and added,
"Or I may be forced to institute a series of advanced fitness courses."
Sylia had just reached the normally concealed doorway that led down to
the basement where the Knight Saber's hardsuits and other equipment
were stored when the lights flickered twice; dimmed and went out. For a
moment all was quiet in the darkness.
"Just stand still, the emergency lights should come on in a moment."
Sylia announced somewhat prophetically as the dim glow of the emergency
lights illuminated the stairwell; four seconds later the main lights
came back on.
"Tempest must have been doing something really serious with the power
feeds to cause that.
Sis, aren't they on totally separate circuits ?"
"They are and I think we'd best get down their quickly. I think he must
have taken the whole block down to drop both the circuits
simultaneously. Just in case he's managed to blow the lights in the
basement as well you each better take one of these."
Reaching into a side locker Sylia handed everybody an emergency
flashlight.
Playing the beam from side to side so as to not fall over any obstacles
Sylia led the way through the darkened basement towards the switchroom
where the power feed was located. There was a glow emanating through
the crack where the door had been left ajar.
Carefully pushing open the door the sight that greeted her as she
peered around the door frame was amazing. Lying prostrate on some mats
with which he'd used to cover the floor, was the brightly fluorescing
figure of Tempest. Between his feet was a heavy duty cable and in each
hand he clasped two others. She followed the line of the cables back to
the power board and noted that the cables weren't connected through any
of the circuit breakers but direct to the main input cables.
"Ah hem", Sylia pretended to clear her throat.
"You'll excuse me if I don't get up immediately, but it would be rather
dangerous to let these cables touch. Give me another minute or so and
I'll be able to stand."
"Just what the hell happened to the lights earlier on ?"
"Mmm, oh that. Heh heh. Sorry that would have been when I first grabbed
all the cables; guess my body was a little greedy initially. All the
main fuses went up together; that's why I had to bypass them."
"YOU WHAT ?", Sylia was astounded.
The fuses were rated for continuous use at four hundred amperes; the
value at which they were designed to blow was around eight hundred
amperes. For all three to go simultaneously .... well she didn't really
want to think about it too much.
"Until you've have that safely restored," she announced, pointing
towards the power board, "then I'm not staying in here; it's far too
bloody dangerous !"
I'd never heard Sylia swear before and maybe no-one else had either
judging by the gasps that came from the corridor and with that cutting
remark, she left the room.
Rolling my arms slightly, I took another look at the marks on my
wrists; they had long since lost their pasty white having passed
through pink to red then crimson before assuming their current hue of
indigo. I thought that it was a reasonable assumption that the final
colour in their transformation would be blue; how this had been
arranged I would never really know the answer.
Laying there on the insulating mats I wondered how much longer it would
take to complete the process. Hardly had that notion crossed my mind
when I note with some alarm that the cables were beginning to glow a
bright orange. Not that I was aware of the heat; it was a good job the
insulation is heat resistant.
'Damn it don't burn out now; just hang in there a little longer.' I
thought and as if in response the cable's core changed back to a dull
red, 'that's very interesting' I mused. With careful thought I found
that I could change the colour of the cable; obviously my body was
responding to my thought and modulating it's rate of drawing power
through the cables. It was taking too long though and I decided to give
it up and stop worrying Sylia so much.
After carefully placing each bare end into an insulating sleeve, I
replaced my boots and gloves before returning Sylia's power board to
it's original configuration; less of course the blown fuses.
"Okay, it's safe to come in again." I called out.
Sylia marched in followed by Mackie who was holding three plastic tubes
each containing a large fuse.
"Strewth, you haven't set the wiring alight have you ?"
Mackie remarked, wrinkling his nose at the smell as he passed me the
spare fuses. After bolting each one home into their holders I tripped
the circuit breakers in sequence and light flooded the room.
"Not quite, but I think these bits of cable are now way past their
best."
I said holding up the three pieces I'd used.
Sylia took one end of a cable and remarked upon the shape that was
pressed into the fused end.
"That's rather odd."
"No it isn't; allow me to demonstrate." I said taking another end and
holding it in my gloved hand.
"Oh my, I hadn't realised that it was the imprint of your fingers.
Would I be correct in assuming you have no burns on you hands or feet
?"
Making sure my hand was distant enough from her and Mackie I peeled one
glove exposing the palm of my right hand.
"Clear enough ?"
Sylia was careful not to get too close, but she studied my hand with
interest.
"Yes, after the incident with the shutter"
"And the coffee pot", Mackie added.
"Okay, and the coffee pot." Sylia conceded.
"I suppose it was rather silly to ask, but somehow I just couldn't
quite believe it."
Mackie pointed towards my wrist,
"Hey, is that dark blue blob one those indicators you mentioned ?"
"Yes it is, and I have another identical mark on my left wrist.
The others must be tired of waiting out in the corridor; is there
anywhere we can sit down here or is it a trip back upstairs ?"
"Follow me, the others are already in the crash lounge; it's not as
well appointed as the rooms upstairs,"
Smiling slightly she added, "but it is next door to one of the labs,
just in case your body should get peckish again; another advantage is
that your pack and other pieces of kit are down here."
As Sylia entered, Linna rose and whispered something before returning
her seat. Scanning the crash lounge I noted there was certainly less
room than upstairs. There was a couch on either side of the room; the
well-worn covers and arms of which betrayed their heavy usage.
At the far end of the room were two armchairs with mismatched
coverings; although from the style they had clearly once been part the
same suite.
In what seemed to an habitual layout there was a low wooden table
placed between the couches. The once polished surface was now marred by
rings and numerous heavy scratches that cut through the veneers and
into the base wood beneath.
At one end was my pack, the guns, my helmet and the small bag in which
were the few personal effects Nene had so thoughtfully managed to
salvage.
Just off to the left was a small kitchenette area; a short counter top
served to separate it from the main portion of the room; a solitary bar
stool standing next to it. The arm chairs were taken by Priss and Nene;
Linna and Mackie sat on the couch to right and Sylia the other. Not
wishing to alarm Sylia by sitting close to her I sat on the bar stool
and leant against the counter for support.
We sat in silence for a while; everyone seemingly preoccupied with
their thoughts. I had a pretty shrewd idea what was the main point of
contemplation; the changes that had been wrought in me and the probable
consequences.
Mackie who was sitting across the room from me broke the silence,
"You know this is going to sound awfully silly, but I'm sure that suit
of your's is brighter than before."
"You're right, it does sound silly. This room is smaller and the
background behind me is unlit; I'd say it's an optical illusion."
"Maybe, the light switch is on the pillar behind you; turn it on and
I'll tell you if it makes any difference."
"Anything to oblige."
Half turning to reach the switch I almost slipped off the barstool.
"There, how's that ?"
"Hmm, okay, I see what you mean.
Must be because I'm nearer to you as well."
Linna tapped Mackie on the arm and then whispered something to him,
"Really, are you sure ? I mean he ...", his voiced trailed off as Linna
nudged him hard in the ribs. Even so he couldn't help staring at me in
an odd manner, this coupled with Linna's earlier extended examination
set me thinking.
My lip reading was sorely in need of some practice but a perfect recall
memory can be a great compensating factor. I had to replay the scene
several times over and even then I didn't decipher all that Linna
whispered to Mackie, but it was sufficient.
Steeping off the stool I went over to the table; knelt down and
searched within the pack until I had located a certain package.
After replacing the items I had previously removed there was now room
for the bag of personal items, which I placed inside before closing the
pack. I returned to the bar stool; sat down and spoke.
"I thought", I began but shook my head; poor choice of words.
"Correction, I had hoped it was the cut of the suit at first, but yes
Linna, your observation is correct and it's downright embarrassing.
I've been trying to correct the anomaly but I'm obviously not making
much progress at the moment.
My number one priority right now though, is to remove that abomination
from my past and despatch its atoms to the four winds before it does
the same to this city and many more. The danger it poses is not
something I would want anyone to face. For this reason and the
excessive danger my body poses to you, I propose to leave you shortly.
Before doing so though, I would like to thank for tolerating my inane
humour and I humbly apologise for all the pain I've put you through."
"You're not coming back are you ?"
Priss asked, the edge in her voice betraying her feelings.
"I would be lying if I said yes. The super-buma will not hold anything
back in order to remain at liberty; the outcome of any battle is not a
forgone conclusion."
"But you're immortal and with that energy blast you can't lose, can you
?"
Although Priss asked it as a rhetorical question, I felt she required
correcting on her supposition.
"I'd like to remind you that I am not immortal, just hard to kill.
That super-buma has more than enough firepower to kill me; I have
absolutely no illusions about that.
As for my 'energy blast' as you put it, who knows ?
Sure, it's powerful but I don't know it's good enough to put that thing
down permanently.
If for any reason I don't return I'd like you all to have these."
Reaching into the package that I'd extracted from my pack I held out a
set of keys; all with freshly marked tags.
"I'm sure you'll each find them useful, here catch."
Carefully I flipped each tagged key to its relevant new owner; except
for Sylia; to whom I handed a sealed envelope.
Nene, who had been quite until now asked,
"What is it for ?"
"The keys you have, will each open a safety deposit box. The envelope I
just handed to Sylia has the bank's address and how you must identify
yourselves in order to gain access to them. The names of course aren't
your real ones, but I'm sure that Nene and Sylia will have no trouble
in providing a convincing id for you."
"Speaking of ids, that reminds me.
Just who is Iain Hind ?", asked Sylia.
"Ah, that's another alias that I hide behind at the WWLA.
Hmm, I'd better give the Major some orders in that respect.
Also I think a quiet word on how to act regarding your 'activities'
wouldn't come amiss either."
"I was going to ask you about that and what exactly she knows about us;
she had me quite surprised back at the clinic."
"If you have a serious problem with those people who shot at Priss then
give the Major a call. Once I've had a quick chat with her you'll find
that she can be most efficient sorting out such matters. Don't trouble
her too often though; she won't take kindly to having her primary work
disrupted."
Nodding in acknowledgement Sylia asked,
"Duly noted, what's the number to call ?"
"You'd best ask Nene."
"Ehh, what do you mean ?
I haven't got the phone number."
She protested.
Smiling at Nene I replied,
"Now did I say anything about telephones ?
Just send a message to that network address you found; it'll get
through."
Something else occurred to me; it would be advisable for an alternative
method of contact to be available,
"Hmm, I'll also arrange so that you can call the AD Police as per
tonight. Announce that it's Commander Yuri Daniels and use the password
'BRD529'; that will be active after a couple of hours."
After shouldering my pack, I stooped and picked up the helmet; there
were some brown strands of hair adhering to the padding; Priss's.
I toyed with the thought of wearing it into battle, but it would serve
no purpose save to restrict my vision. Recalling an earlier event I
looked at Priss and called to her, "You'll find more use for this than
I will, catch!"
She grunted slightly as the helmet landed squarely in her lap.
"I'm not one for protracted goodbyes; you're not so much a team, more
like a family. It was nice to have known you all and I hope you find
what you're looking for."
Sylia nodded in acknowledgement; thinking about the seeming cavalier
attitude Tempest was taking. No, she corrected herself; that was how it
appeared to a casual glance; underneath she expected he was looking to
the confrontation with some trepidation. She reflected that despite all
the planning and calm facade on display she too experienced a similar
feeling before the Knight Sabers went into their battles.
A slight shiver went up her spine when she noted there was hint of
nervousness ? No, it was more than that she decided; it was fear and
realised Tempest knew he may not survive the forthcoming ordeal. Deep
within her the youthful exuberance of a young child wanted to rush over
and hug him, but rationale overruled that blithe and carefree spirit; a
simple two words to convey her feelings, "Take care."
Pausing briefly in the doorway I replied, "Thanks, I'll try."
With that I turned and walked on down the corridor; my thoughts now
focused on how to stop the super-buma.
******
<End of Part 2.14>
TO BE CONTINUED ....
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(c) Robin Smith 1995/96 Tempest@ktsabers.demon.co.uk
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-- Mink/Tempest aka Robin Smith Author: "BGC : The Tempest Chronicles"
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/2302 Lichfield, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
"I was committed once, but the fools let me out for good behaviour !"
IRC : Mink or Tempest- [ but "Mink" most of the time ^_^ ]