I hate to post
revisions, but in this case it was necessary. I hadn't actually looked at
the version that had been posted to the list so I didn't realize that it
was the draft copy. (Nightraven and Kahm thought I was imagining things
when I kept telling them that something was missing.) Anyway, here's the
TRUE and FINAL version...I promise.
Oh, by the way. I'm posting this from a friend's computer so don't send
C&C to her address. Mine is below.
A side story to 'Passages'
Scars
--------
By She-Hulk (brobinso@neocomm.net)
Priss tossed the wrench back into the tool box and sighed. The sound was
a strange combination of relief and pleasure. <There! Okay, let's see if
I've learned anything from Silia these past weeks.> She swung her leg
over the bike and turned the engine over. The growl was eager and Priss
listened carefully, not hearing the slight tremor that she'd been trying
to fix.
"All right!" She shut the engine down and climbed off of the motorcycle.
Priss knew a great deal about bikes, but Silia knew more and she had been
teaching her how to perform more complex adjustments. <Looks like I get
a gold star.> She smiled as she began to clean up the rest of the tools
she'd used. Smiles came more easily now, but she didn't realize this.
Only Silia and the others had seen this slow change in her.
Priss carried the tool box back to it's place, passing in front of the
large window that ran the length of one wall. The sun streamed in,
flashing off of her arm. Priss didn't notice. She had come to accept this
part of her, as impossible as it had seemed at first. Her fear of
cybernetics was fading, but she still hated boomers with an intensity
that could surprise the others even now.
Priss set the box down and straightened, feeling the muscles in her
back protest. She'd started work this morning and a quick glance at her
watch revealed it to be late in the afternoon. "Damn time flies!" She
went to get her jacket and left the garage. Silia would be back soon and
they were going to have dinner then go on to Hot Legs for Priss' show.
The elevator dinged quietly as it deposited her on Silia's floor and
Priss slipped through the half open doors.
Silia tightened her arms around Priss' waist and leaned into the curve
as the flew around a corner. The bike hugged the road, refusing to be
thrown off and the wheels screamed in protest. The low sound of laughter
filled Silia's helmet and she smiled at Priss' pleasure.
They arrived back at Silia's place and Priss tugged her helmet off and
leaned over the bike. She ran a loving hand over it's side and whispered
softly as Silia dismounted. "There's a girl! The wind's no match for
us."
Silia pretended she didn't hear this as she keyed in the code for the
elevator. Priss being a little touchy on the subject of her relationship
with the cat. Silia wondered if she should be jealous of the large hunk
of metal, but Priss' arms came around her from behind and she knew
better. She leaned back into Priss' embrace and felt the soft touch of
her lips on her neck.
The elevator chimed and Priss moved them inside, but didn't let go. She
reached out a hand and hit all of the floor buttons. As the doors slid
shut Priss slipped Silia's jacket off and began to unbutton her shirt.
The soft glow of the lamp beside the bed wasn't strong enough to light
the entire room, but Silia could see Priss clearly. She was laying on her
back, her face turned to Silia. Priss had drifted into sleep a little
while ago, but Silia was in no hurry to join her.
It was in these unguarded moments that she could see Priss without all
of her walls and defenses. Without her anger driving everyone back. Silia
lightly stroked the line of her cheek and realized how young Priss was.
She'd seen so much, but then they all had. She traced the lines of Priss'
face, careful not to wake her. The soft skin of her throat beckoned and
Silia let herself explore her lover's body freely. The steady throb of
her heart vibrated through her fingers as she moved over the pulse in
Priss' throat. She followed the line of her collar bone and paused at the
beginning of the artificial implants.
Silia let her fingers glide over the warm metal, pausing when Priss
mumbled in her sleep and tossed the arm up over her head. <Hmm. A little
sensitive. Might need to make a few adjustments.> She went back to the
base of Priss' neck and began to work her way down again.
Her fingers found the soft hollow between her breasts and her hand
brushed the sides of the valley she was traveling. Priss' body reacted
and Silia resisted the urge to climb those tempting hills. She continued
downward, following the silky stretch of skin under her breasts and down
her side.
The raised edge of the scar brought an abrupt end to Silia's
exploration. She knew why Priss had not had this blemish removed like all
of the others. This was the lingering reminder of Sylvie and Anri. The
thought of the secrets that still remained between her and Priss caused
Silia to wince. <How do I tell her? Do I really want her to know?>
The subtle change in breathing alerted Silia to the fact that Priss was
awake. She looked up from the scar and found Priss watching her. Priss
raised her hand and ran it down the length of Silia's body. "Can I play,
too?"
Silia bent over her and pushed all of her doubts and lies into the back
of her mind. The time of judgment would come all too soon.
Priss watched Silia dart in to strike the boomer and scowled. That
wasn't what they'd planned. Silia was leaving herself wide open and Priss
raced across the roof top towards her. The boomer's fist was inches away
from her helmet when Priss' kick knocked it back several feet. Linna
zipped through and sliced the boomer into pieces with a defiant toss of
her head.
The flowing ribbons made short work of the machine and she turned to see
Priss and Silia standing toe to toe. "I can't believe you did that!
Where's your head?" Priss' low voice growled over the com link and Linna
tried not to laugh as she continued to admonish Silia for something she
herself was wont to do.
Silia waved her arm in a quick gesture of impatience. "I knew what I was
doing, Priss. Let's get out of here." They left, but Priss wasn't
finished.
Silia stowed her helmet and turned to find Priss waiting for her.
<Damn.> She said nothing and pushed past her. Priss grabbed her arm and
turned Silia to face her. "Talk to me, Silia. What's going on?" Silia
shook her head, but Priss was determined. "Dammit Silia! That stunt was
worthy of me. You're the rational one, remember? What's wrong?" Silia
jerked free and left the room without answering. Priss watched her go and
slapped the wall in frustration. The sound of crumbling plaster didn't
register as she went after her.
Silia let the door slam behind her and immediately chided herself.
<This is childish. You aren't a child anymore, Silia.> The phone rang
and she hit the activate automatically. Silia bit back a groan as she saw
who it was.
"Hi." There was a long pause. "You haven't told her have you?"
Silia frowned. "No. It's proving to be more difficult than I
expected."
"You could always stop this. She doesn't have to know."
"I can't do that. I would know. That kind of lie eats away at you and it
would always be there....waiting."
"You're running out of time, Silia. You have to make a decision about
Sylvie." The sound of Priss' gasp had Silia turning and Nene terminated
the link when she saw her. "Uh...Bye."
Priss had heard everything. "What about Sylvie?"
Silia's voice was low. "I have to show you something."
Priss stepped into the lab and stared. The room was filled with
electronic equipment. Every wall was covered with computers, monitors,
consoles and a dozen other machines that Priss couldn't identify. A large
metal case was poitsoned in the center of the room and Priss followed the
tangle of cables that was running form it to the machines around it.
Silia went to a terminal and began to key in commands. The huge video
screen mounted to one wall began to scroll information in a dizzying
rush. The display suddenly changed and Priss saw the thermal outline of a
body.
The series of numbers that scrolled past meant nothing to Priss, but one
caught her attention. 33-S. She looked at the container again. <She
wouldn't have...> Priss didn't remember moving, but she was beside Silia
instantly. "What have you done?" Her voice was high and angry.
Silia flinched and cursed herself for not telling her sooner. She could
feel Priss' outrage and she slowly turned to face her lover.
Priss made a dismissive gesture with her hand. "Tell me this is not
what I think it is."
Silia raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "I told you I wouldn't lie to you
again."
Priss gasped and turned to the container. A touch slid the top back and
she found herself staring down at Sylvie. She was floating in a clear
fluid, her nose and mouth covered by some kind of mask. Hoses ran to the
side of the tank and beyond. Priss heard the rattled hiss and realized
that it was a respirator. She laid her hands on the glass cover and tried
to make sense of what she was seeing. "What is this?"
Silia sighed and wondered where to start. Priss was going to ask the
impossible. "About two months ago, I was alerted to the fact that Genom
was making inquires as to the whereabouts of Sylvie's body. I knew Genom
had to have reason, so I made sure that I found her first."
Priss gritted her teeth. "You didn't want Genom get anything you might
want, right? So you swiped the body of my-.." She broke off as she
realized what she'd been about to say.
"Actually I had a nobler intention. You won't believe this, but I had
wanted to make sure that she wasn't broken up for spare parts and that
she received a decent burial."
Priss' laugh was derisive. "Then what is she doing here? Alive!"
Silia came around to the other side of the tank and stared at Priss over
Sylvie's body. "She's not alive, Priss. Her neural relays were severely
damaged. Only the motor systems are still working." Silia touched the
glass. "She's brain-dead. Her memories are gone." Priss made a small
sound of pain and Silia continued. "I found out were she was being stored
and broke in. It was fairly simple as the ADP evidence vaults are about
as secure as a child's toy box. I brought her back here, intending to
arrange for a burial, but I was curious as to why Genom suddenly wanted
her."
"No one was more surprised than I was to find most of her systems
intact. There had been a great deal of deterioration to the outer shell
and I decided to repair it before burial. I used the information from the
data disk and began the repairs. I admit that part of me thought she
might be revived, but when I discovered the amount of damage to her logic
circuits, I knew there was no hope. Whatever Genom may have wanted was
gone, along with her memory."
"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Priss was crying. Silia touched her
hand and tried not to let it hurt her when she pulled away.
"I didn't want you to see her in that condition. You have enough
nightmares already. Once the shell had been repaired I waited only for
the right moment. I also wasn't sure how to tell you."
Priss wiped her eyes and looked at Silia. "Are you sure you can't save
her?"
Pain blossomed in Silia's chest. Did she realize what she was asking?
Silia saw the despair in Priss' eyes and wondered if she could hurt her
again. "The chances are so slim as to be almost non existent, Priss. Even
then she wouldn't be Sylvie. She might even go rogue." Priss said
nothing, just continued to watch Silia with the same steady gaze she'd
had the night Silia had approached her about joining the team. It was
look of someone who had been badly hurt and was calmly waiting to see if
you were going to finish the job. Silia sighed. She couldn't do it.
"I'll try."
+ + + + +
Silia watched Priss leave the stage. She had been good tonight, but the
edge that had been in her voice was obvious to everyone. She lit a
cigarette and drained her glass. Somehow, she had to perform a miracle.
Silia thought of Sylvie's relationship with Priss and wondered if that
was why Priss was doing this. Did she hope to regain her lover? Silia
winced. What about her?
Priss climbed onto her motorcycle and roared away from the club. She
didn't see Silia raise a hand as she stepped out into the street. She
didn't see the flash of pain that crossed her features as she left her
behind.
The streets rolled out in front of her in an endless black stream. She
passed cars and buildings, the city whipping past her in a kaleidoscope
of dark blurs and bright lights. Priss watched the needle climb as images
of Sylvie crowded her mind. Her laughing eyes haunted Priss and she tried
in vain to out run them.
The instant that Priss had tightened her finger and fired that fatal
shot was like a slow burning ember that refused to die. Tears streamed
down her face and the road became obscured. A million times Priss wanted
to call back that action. To stop herself. There must have been another
way to stop the DD. It didn't have to end like that. Sylvie didn't have
to die.
When she could see nothing but the tears she slowed and pulled off of
the road. Priss removed her helmet and wiped her eyes. She was startled
to find herself in the same spot where she had caught up with Silia
months before. The thought of Silia was like an electric shock and Priss
groaned. She had left her at the club! They had ridden together on Priss'
bike and she had left her stranded. Priss felt a wave of shame wash over
her and she hurried back onto the road. Silia would be home by now.
+ + + + +
Silia heard Priss come in and watched the clock tick off another minute.
She'd called a cab and returned home when she realized that Priss wasn't
coming back. The bedroom door opened and shut, but Priss didn't speak.
Silia had lain there for hours, wondering if Priss would ever come here
again.
Priss saw Silia lying on her own side of the bed and winced. The neatly
folded covers where Priss usually slept were a silent reproach. Silia was
turned on her side, away from Priss, a gesture of dismissal. Priss
undressed quietly and pulled the covers back. Silia didn't move as she
slid into bed and Priss watched her back for long minutes.
She sighed and touched Silia's shoulder. "I'm an ass."
Silia said nothing, but silently agreed.
Priss moved closer and wrapped her arm around Silia's waist. "I needed
to think, but I shouldn't have done that to you. I'm sorry, Silia." Priss
buried her face in Silia's neck and inhaled deeply. "I didn't handle this
well, did I?" Her lips brushed Silia's ear and she felt her shiver. Priss
permitted herself a tiny grin, but kept it out of her voice. "I don't now
how you put up with me." Priss punctuated her words with light kisses
along Silia's neck. " I'm stubborn. Rude. Arrogant. Willful.
Temperamental. A reckless fool. A lost soul." Priss' teeth scraped her
skin and small gasp escaped from Silia's lips.
She rolled over and stared up at Priss. "Sounds like very good reasons
for throwing you out."
Priss saw the fading pain and the beginnings of desire. She smiled down
at Silia and let her hand slip up to her breast, feeding the desire.
"Yeah, but you won't."
Silia arched into the caress and forced herself to speak normally. "Why
won't I?"
Priss' voice was a playful whisper just before she took Silia's lips.
"Because I'm too good in bed."
Priss felt Silia leave the bed and groaned. Her words were garbled as a
pillow blocked half of her mouth. "Whruging?"
Silia looked back at the tangled mound that was Priss and laughed.
"What?"
The mound shifted and Priss' tousled head appeared. "Where are you
going?"
Silia tightened the belt on her robe. "I'm going to shower and then I
have some business to take care of." She left the room and Priss sank
back against the pillows. A glance at the clock showed the time to be a
little after seven. Priss heard the water come on and imagined Silia
standing under the spray. A mischievous grin formed and she tossed the
covers back. "I bet I can make you late."
There was a startled exclamation and a half-hearted protest that was
quickly silenced. Then only the sound of the shower could be heard.
+ + + + +
Linna watched Nene's fingers fly over the keyboard and shook her head as
'Access Granted' flashed across the screen. She made it look so easy.
"What are you doing?"
Nene didn't look away from the monitor, but she smiled at the sound of
Linna's voice. "I'm trying to hack into a couple of government files for
Silia. She needs some information on the 33-S and the way they store
memory."
Linna frowned. "Why?"
Nene's fingers faltered and she glanced at Linna. "She's trying to
revive Sylvie."
There was several moments of stunned silence as Linna absorbed this. "I
think you'd better explain."
+ + + + +
Silia stared down at Sylvie and idly wondered if she could just switch
her off. Immediately images of Priss' reaction pushed the thought from
her mind. "I wonder if you realize how much trouble you're causing."
Priss hadn't spoken of Sylvie again, but Silia knew better than to hope
that she'd changed her mind. They were playing a game with each other
now. Priss was being very careful not to slight Silia in any way while
Silia pretended that she wasn't bothered about trying to bring Sylvie
back. She felt like they were balancing on a knife point. One
misstep....
The door behind her opened and she turned to see Linna enter the room.
Silia observed her worried expression and the quick looks she sent
Sylvie. <She's talked to Nene.> "Did you need something?"
Linna frowned at Silia and pointed to the boomer. "A better explanation
for why you're doing this would be nice."
Silia smiled at her expression and began to check the system settings
again. Which she had just done, but she suddenly needed something to do
with her hands. She didn't look at Linna as she spoke. "Priss asked me
to."
"Oh. Well that makes perfect sense. Priss asked you so you're going to
attempt something that could blow up in our faces! Good grief, Silia! If
Priss asked you to shoot yourself, would you do that too?" Linna scowled
at Silia's grin. "You know what I mean! When did you suddenly become Dr.
Frankenstein?" The slight stiffening of Silia's body told Linna that
she'd hit a nerve. "I don't understand, Silia. Have you thought about
what will happen if you actually manage to pull this off? What will
happen to you and Priss?"
Silia's fist struck the console and Linna jumped. "I know the risks,
Linna!" She turned and Linna could see what Silia couldn't hide. She was
being torn in two directions by the same person. "I would like nothing
better than to pull the plug on the chamber and end this now, but I
can't. Between my own guilt and Priss' request, I've been put in the
unenviable role of reviving my lover's lover."
"Surely you can talk Priss out of this?"
Silia's laugh was flat and just a little desperate. "Priss is playing
the considerate lover role to the hilt. I hold the all of the cards, you
see. Without me, there can be no resurrection. Priss needs me to perform
the miracle. Every time I try to talk to her about it she just smiles and
says that she has faith in me." Silia rubbed her face and stared at
Sylvie. "That's the truly terrible part, Linna. Now I don't know if she
means it when she says that she loves me. I only know that I still love
her and I can't deny her this. So I'll do my damnedest to bring Sylvie
back and pray that when Priss is given the choice....she'll choose me."
There was nothing Linna could say.
+ + + + +
Priss slipped into the lab and approached the chamber slowly. The outer
lid slid back and she stared down at the woman she'd killed. She was a
boomer, but that had never really meant anything to Priss. She was
Sylvie. It was hard to grasp the fact that this woman had been Priss'
lover and yet was a boomer. The wild conflict of love and hate that raged
in Priss would have given Freud a field day. She traced the glass above
her face and spoke softly. "I wonder if you realize how much you changed
me? Silia thinks I'm doing this because I want you back, but she's wrong.
I keep reliving that moment over and over again, trying to find something
I overlooked, missed. There should have been another way, Sylvie. You
shouldn't have had to lose your freedom." She closed her eyes and
whispered, "I want you to have that chance for freedom, Sylvie."
"I can't think of an easy way to tell you this, but Anri is dead. Maybe
if I practice it enough while you're like this, I can find the courage to
tell you face to face. She was killed by a rogue boomeroid named Largo.
He'd conned her into believing a lot of crap about a new race of boomers
and taking over the world to make it a better place. I tried to save her,
Sylvie." Priss didn't notice her hand slip under her shirt to trace the
scar on her side. The unconscious gesture was a part of her mannerisms
now. Anri's blade had sunk deep and Priss had welcomed the pain. Memories
would surface and she would reach for that puckered reminder that she had
failed. "I'm sorry, Sylvie."
Her voice dropped even lower and she focused on her friend's face. She
didn't notice Silia enter. "I love you."
Silia froze and backed silently from the room.
+ + + + +
Nene downloaded the information to Silia's computer and briefly
considered changing the data. The things she had discovered would help
Silia restore Sylvie's memory. Which would probably cause Silia to lose
Priss. Nene wondered how everything had gotten so out of control.
Her video link buzzed and she hit the button to see Silia on the other
end. "Hi. Did everything come through okay?"
Silia's voice was subdued, but that was normal now. "Yes. Thank you for
your help, Nene. This should be the last of what I need."
Nene frowned and opened her mouth, but Silia's expression stopped her.
It wasn't fair for Priss to do this to her. Silia terminated the link and
Nene went to find Priss.
+ + + + +
Priss saw Nene pull up outside and groaned. She set her guitar down and
opened the door before she could knock. "Hi Nene. Something happening?"
Nene pushed past her and didn't answer. She waited until Priss had
closed the door and then let her have it. "I can't believe you! You
obviously haven't thought about what you're doing, have you? This is
crazy, Priss. You can't bring back the past and you're killing Silia."
Priss scowled at her, but Nene stood firm. "Did it for one instant cross
your mind what you might be doing to Silia? Or do you even care?"
Priss grabbed the front of Nene's jacket and lifted her from the floor.
"Shut up! You know I love-" Nene slapped her across the face and Priss
dropped her in surprise.
"No! I don't know if you do or not! All I see is the look in Silia's
eyes and the fact that You put it there!" Nene shoved her fists into her
pockets to keep from striking Priss again. "I can't understand how you
could do this to her. You're playing a dangerous game, Priss. Pitting
your lovers against each other."
"But I'm not..." Priss shook her head, but Nene went on.
"Yes you are! You've asked Silia to bring back a ghost, one she knows
will take her place in your life. It's unfortunate that she loves you as
much as she does. Otherwise she could ignore whatever pain it might cause
you and finish Sylvie off, once and for all!"
Priss sank onto the couch and stared at Nene. "I....love...Silia."
"Then show her! Put the past behind you and let the dead rest! You've
got everything in your hands, Priss, but if you keep reaching for the
impossible you're going to lose it all." Nene was breathing heavily and
she ran a trembling hand through her hair. She hated confrontations, they
made her sick.
Priss was shaking her head again and Nene groaned. "You don't
understand, Nene. I just want to bring her back..."
"And lose Silia!" Nene strode to the door and flung it open. "You really
don't care, do you?"
Priss didn't answer and Nene slammed the door behind her.
+ + + + +
Silia's finger hovered over the delete button as she read the file. It
would be so easy to erase this and bring this to an end. She hit the
print button instead and turned to her enemy. "Why can't I kill you? The
temptation is very strong, but I can't seem to bring myself to stop this
madness." The printer beeped as it finished and Silia tore the paper away
with a sigh. "So now I have the answers. A way to bring you back. It
could still backfire. There's no way to determine what deterioration has
occurred, but I guess I'll just have to try it and see."
Silia had changed into surgicla scrubs and sterilized the lab. She
pulled back the metal shield and began to drain the tube. The clear
shield slid back and Silia moved the tray of surgical instruments nearby.
She checked the respirator and energy monitors, then reached for a
scalpel.
She made an incision just under the hair line on Sylvie's forehead and
down behind each ear. Silia replaced the blade and peeled back the
synthetic skin and hair, revealing the metal casing that housed the
boomer's brain. She picked up a screwdriver and began to remove the
access plate. Once the plate was removed she could see the small black
unit easily. This was the reason that Genom had wanted Sylvie. She had
been a prototype, a 33-S.c, with a separate backup memory unit. The
adjustment to activate that unit was extraordinarily easy and Silia
watched the brain patterns increase with a dull sense of irony. "Welcome
back, Sylvie."
Tires screamed as Priss brought the bike to a fast stop and jumped off.
She burst through the doors of the building and ran to the private
elevator. Impatient fingers hammered in the code and she yanked her
helmet off as she waited for the doors to open. "Come on!" The bell
dinged and Priss pushed the metal doors open and squeezed inside. She hit
the button inside and began beat her hand against the helmet quickly, her
body fairly vibrating with nervous energy. "Hurry!" She'd been such an
idiot.
Priss raced down the corridor and shoved open the door to Silia's lab.
She could see Sylvie lying on a table, she'd been removed from the
liquid. Silia had just pulled her scrubs off when Priss burst in. She
said nothing and Priss ignored Sylvie and went to her.
"Don't do it! Turn everything off and let her go." Priss hugged Silia
and felt her tremble. "I keep saying this, but I'm sorry, Silia. I had no
right to do this to you." She pulled back and smiled sheepishly at Silia.
"I'm sorry."
Silia started to speak, but Priss wasn't finished. "I felt guilty. I
ended Sylvie's life. I pulled the trigger. I wanted to bring her back,
correct my mistake. Fix the past." Priss shook her head and cupped
Silia's cheek. "I didn't realize that I was destroying my future. I
wasn't thinking straight and I put you in the worse position possible."
Silia wasn't sure how she was feeling. Elation and joy seemed the most
obvious emotions, but dread and anger were right there in the thick of
things. "Nice time for you to realize this. What caused the sudden
change?"
Priss laughed and hugged her again. "Nene knocked some sense into me.
It's time to let the past go."
A escalated beeping filled the room and Priss frowned as she glanced
around. Silia backed away from her and went to Sylvie. "I'm glad you've
decided to end this, but I'm afraid you're a little late."
Sylvie opened her eyes and blinked rapidly against the bright lights.
Priss moved as if in a trance, moving to look down at her. "S-Sylvie?"
Her voice broke and she watched her focus on her presence.
Memory flooded Sylvie's mind and she remembered where she'd seen this
woman before. "Priss." Her voice sounded the same, but there was
something missing and Priss frowned. Sylvie remembered seeing this face
staring at her over the surface of a weapon and flinched. There was an
odd popping sound and Sylvie's logic circuits redefined the threat that
was leaning over her. Her fist shot out and sent Priss reeling back.
Silia gasped and reached for the power link that was keeping Sylvie
alive. She jerked it out, but Sylvie had absorbed more than enough
energy. Her hand closed around Silia's throat and tossed her across the
lab where she crashed into the video screen and fell to the floor in a
shower of sparks.
Priss staggered to her feet and wiped the blood from her cheek. She saw
Silia and her stomach clenched. Sylvie got up from the table and advanced
on Priss. Her head was making little jerking motions as she repeated one
word over and over. "Priss. Priss. Priss."
Priss stared at the boomer as it neared and knew that Sylvie, her
Sylvie, was dead. This was just another boomer gone bad and she reacted
accordingly. At least that's what she told herself as she extended her
claws and charged the boomer. The boomer swung wildly and Priss ducked
low, thrusting her fingers into the machine's side. Sparks flew and red
fluid began to seep from the wound, but Priss wasn't finished. She let
the energy saber slide into place and slashed backwards. The blade sliced
a path from shoulder to waist, cutting across the boomer's back. There
was a muffled scream and the boomer exploded, sending Priss flying.
The smoke began to clear and Priss sat up with a groan. She touched the
side of her head with tentative fingers and wasn't surprised to feel
blood. Her head was pounding and she glanced around, spotting Silia
across the room. The explosion had knocked several large pieces of
equipment over and she began to climb over them to reach Silia.
Absolute terror gripped her as she rolled Silia over carefully and laid
her hand over her heart. For a moment she could feel nothing, but then
the sensors began to relay the precious sound of a beating heart. Priss
ran her hand over Silia's body quickly, wincing as she discovered each
injury.
Silia made a small sound and opened her eyes. Priss was above her and
she frowned at the blood on her face. Silia slowly lifted a hand touched
her. "H-Hurt?"
Priss laughed in relief and shook her head. "I'm fine. You on the other
hand, have several busted ribs." She caught Silia's hand and pressed her
lips against her palm. "God, you scared me!"
Silia looked around and back to Priss. "Sylvie?"
"She's dead."
"S-Sorry...logic circuits......"
Priss picked her up gently. "It's okay. Sylvie died a long time ago.
That was just a boomer."
The faint sound of her name reached her, but she ignored it and carried
Silia from the ruined lab.
The power was draining away quickly and the audio line trailed off.
"Priss..Priss...Prriiss....PPPPrrrrriiiiiiiisss.........PPPPrrrr......"
+
+ + + +
Priss stared down at the plain headstone and felt Silia slip an arm
around her waist. The day was cool and overcast, fall stretching to
snatch time out of summer's grasp. Soon the leaves would turn and then
winter would bluster it's way through. Seasons change, time passes...
endlessly.
She opened her hand and let the rose fall onto the black marble.
In the distance she could see Linna and Nene. They were at Irene's
grave. Priss saw Linna kneel and place her flowers. Nene's hand was on
her shoulder and Priss was struck by how fleeting life really was. "It's
all an illusion, isn't it?"
Silia looked at Priss and her eyes drifted to the small white scar on
her temple. She shook her head and smiled. "No. Not always."
Priss slid her arm around Silia's shoulders and they turned to leave.
Nene waved and the two girls hurried to catch up with them. They left the
cemetery as the rain began to fall softly over the past.
shimai