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[XOVER][Fanfic] Twisted-Path 3 - Part 2

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Twister

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Aug 15, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/15/96
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Apologies to MegaZone for posting the little bits of this big file first.
He can just archive this file and ignore the other two-three smaller files.
Gomen! I just feel those who have read my little series might want to see
what I've been doing.

Remember, the anime fanfic archives you can ftp at ftp.std.com in
/archives/anime-fan-works/

[ NOTE :: The archives are now located at... ]
[ <URL:ftp://ftp.cs.ubc.ca/pub/archive/anime-fan-works/> ]

Anyone who wants to help with the third(and final) part of TP3 just
e-mail me! Always glad for help. ;)

And now...

Twisted Path 3 - Another Bubble Started.
Part 2
A Story Inspired by Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2
and the Bubblegum Crisis
by Darren Steffler

Chapter Fifteen
---------------

A garage door opened and the van that was the Knight Sabers' mobile
command center drove inside. When the vehicle came to a complete stop, a few
moments passed before doors opened and the van's four armoured occupants,
along with Mackie, stepped out.
Taking off her helmet along with the others, Priss complained, "Man,
those Boomers didn't put up much of a fight."
"All the better, Priss," Linna said, standing slightly behind her
friend. "Still...you're right. Must've been cheap economy models. Poor
investment."
Sylia said nothing as Nene piped up to give her own opinion. "They just
can't stand up to us!" She nodded her head with conviction.
Priss gave her a sardonic glance. "_You're_ not the one fighting them."
"Hmp!" Nene turned her head away. "I do my part. I don't see you
breaking access codes..." Her voice trailed away as her helmet, previously
nestled in Nene's armoured arm, slipped out and began floating in front of
her face. Shock was evident on her face as the others looked on with great
surprise.
"Wha...wha...wha..." Nene backed up from the floating helmet and only
stopped when she ran into something behind her. That something placed a
deeper-than-midnight black glove on her shoulder, getting her attention
immediately, heightening her shock and growing fear as it whispered in a
strange, deep, and spooky voice.
"Neeeeneeee Rooomaaanooovaaaa....."
Head whipping around, Nene took one look behind her at the cloak-covered
figure with a hood that contained only darkness...and screamed.
"YYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKK!!!!!!"
She clumsily stumbled over to the others, who had raised their weapons
at the sudden appearance of the stranger, and ducked behind Sylia.
"Who the hell are you?" Priss demanded, although she had a good
suspicion and was fighting back a grin.
"_I_ am the shadow that _creeps_..." the figure began, then hesitated
and shook its head. "Then again, maybe not; one Darkwing is enough in the
universe. Or any other for that matter." Twister's wide grin was evident as
he pulled the hood off his brown-haired head. "Sorry, Nene, couldn't resist."
The floating helmet drifted over to gently land on his outstretched and
gloved hands.
Priss and the others, smiles on their faces, lowered their weapons when
they recognized their friend, but Nene was not amused. Her expression had
morphed from fright to angry indignation and she stomped around Sylia to
swipe her helmet from the still-grinning Twister's palms, glaring at him.
Sputtering, she said, "You... You... I should... Hmp!" She turned around
and left the garage, head held high in a huff, as Priss and Linna tried
stifling their laughter.
"Sorry!" Twister cried after the mad ADPolice officer before sighing,
"I'm such a stinker at times," then he grinned, "but it _was_ funny."
No longer laughing but still amused, Linna said, "Yes, but you can bet
she'll try to get even somehow." As Twister mulled that fact over, she
probed, "Why are you here anyway? Showing off that costume? New, isn't it?"
"This? Oh, I've been wearing it for a week or two but it's just
something I made when I still had my armour. Still working on a new suit to
replace my old one, and I've made some changes that I'm ironing out the
details on. This," he waved down, indicating the getup he currently wore,
"isn't something to fight Boomers with, useful as it is. But," Twister looked
inquiringly at Sylia, who had been silent since he had arrived, "the real
reason I came is that Sylia asked me over today. For which she did not tell
me why and I am dying to find out."
Everyone looked at Sylia, who in turn was calmly looking at Twister.
"Have you ever been examined by a doctor since your...change?"
Suddenly, Twister looked very nervous. "Um, no..."
"Why not?"
"Well, when you can Heal yourself there's not much point." He was
visibly agitated by the topic, making Priss, Linna, and Mackie wonder why.
The leader of the Knight Sabers wasn't convinced. She had gotten to know
this rather unique individual fairly well over the time that he had been
among them and she knew that the response he had given wasn't the main reason
he hadn't gone to a doctor. The real reason was obvious to her.
Sylia voiced it aloud. "No, I think it's something else. Besides finding
a doctor you could trust to do it...you don't want to know how much you've
been changed by what happened to you." She folded her arms across her
armoured chest and not without sympathy gave Twister a questioning glance.
"That's the real reason, isn't it?"
Twister dropped his gaze to the floor and was silent for a long time.
Finally, he sighed and nodded reluctantly. "Yes. It's not something I care to
think about much, but sometimes I do. I haven't really decided whether or not
I'm comfortable with it. Not that I have a choice in the matter," he said
dryly.
"Avoiding the problem won't help," Sylia pointed out. "If you want, I
can do an examination. I am qualified enough and have the equipment necessary
to be reasonably thorough. Enough to get answers."
Twister had to smile, and said, "The fact that you're likely curious
about my psionic abilities having no impact of course." He sighed. "I guess
I should find out what I can about myself. Sure."
Pleased, Sylia nodded. "Good. I'll be putting the others through some
tests for adjusting the new suits two days from now. You might as well come
then." She waved at Priss and Linna to follow so they could get out of their
armour. Just before she left the garage, Sylia turned her head and said,
"I'll be testing _both_ forms, Twister." And with that, all three went
through the door, smirks on Linna and Priss' faces.
The look of discomfort that crossed his face caused Mackie, who had
remained, to snicker. Twister gave him a _look_ and, with a hint of cool
menace in his voice, said, "If _someone_ wants to find out how discomfiting
changing sexes all the time can be, I _might_ be able to _arrange_
something."
The speed at which Mackie left the garage was quite satisfying.
*Ah well, I guess I had to do it eventually. Wait a minute! New
suits?!* Twister groaned mentally. *And thus does the last BGC episode come
into our lives. I bet Priss destroyed someone's camera during the mission and
I know who's. Hmm. I wonder what I can do. Or _should_ for that matter, after
all, they DO beat the nut.*
He pondered that for a minute before teleporting home.

Lisa watched the battle through the telescopic lens of her vid-cam, a
new one of course since the one her father gave her had been destroyed by one
of the evil Knight Sabers, and watched breathlessly as events unfolded on the
distant roof of an unfinished building.
The fact that she was 30+ stories high on an unsafe, windy ledge likely
helped drive some of that breath out.
*This time they can't take away a helpless girl's camera to prevent me
from finding out the truth about them!* Lisa mentally crowed.
Then her thoughts stilled as she saw the blue Knight Saber leave her
current boomer opponent to support another of the team. Being without a
combat partner, the Boomer immediately locked on to the pink/blue Saber, who
didn't appear to be exactly thrilled to be chosen for a deadly dance. To her
credit, she did do some damage, but that didn't stop the Boomer from winding
up for a terrific backhand. Then a sword impaled itself in the Boomer's
metallic skull. Destroyed, the Boomer collapsed.
Lisa blinked. *A sword? Where did that come from?* she thought as she
continued to take pictures of the fight.
The pink/blue Saber seemed just as surprised as Lisa for she pushed up
her outer helmet as if to confirm it with her own eyes.
*Gotcha!!* Lisa couldn't see the face properly as she took the picture
but she was sure that with her image enhancer/enlarger the identity of this
Knight Saber was going to be hers! The Saber closed her helmet and left with
the others of their dirty group once the Boomers were defeated.
"Got it all..." she whispered, then realized where she was. Now that she
had accomplished what she had set out to do, the determination that had got
her to her perilous perch was gone. She swallowed. It _was_ awfully high.
Deciding to leave before she lost her nerve, Lisa gathered herself...
...and moved.
"Oof!"
"Umf!" Lisa was startled, she had run into something that wasn't there!
This curiosity was forgotten as she found that her balance was shot because
of the mysterious collision. And she was now beginning to fall.
"Nononononoooooaaaahhhhh!!!!!" Suddenly, Lisa's fall was stopped by
something grabbing her arm. She looked up after making sure she still had her
camera.
Nothing was there!
"Huh?! What...?" she got out before being lifted onto the building's
platform, by nothing, and safely dropped off. Lisa collapsed to her knees in
relief and amazement. No one would believe...
"Sorry about that. You okay?"
Lisa's head shot up and saw a cloaked figure a few feet away from her,
obviously the owner of the voice that had spoken. Little could be seen of the
person within the cloak as what seemed to be solid shadow concealed the body
underneath. The cloak itself was blacker than shadows but lined with a deep
blue on the edges. The dark shroud hid everything of the person within.
"Where did... Sorry for wha..." Her mind pieced it together. "I ran into
_you_!"
"You're quick." The figure sighed. "I should've seen you coming but I
happened to be looking somewhere else when you moved. Personally, I've never
been fond of heights and falling from this elevation is not a Good Thing. ."
Lisa asked the question that was clamouring around in her head. "Who ARE
you?"
After a brief pause, during which the figure seemed to contemplating his
answer, he spoke, "Well, I've been in this town a while so I guess you've
heard of me. I'm called the Crystal Knight." He shrugged. "My old armour was
trashed and I'm almost done working on a new one. So until I'm done," he
dramatically wrapped the cloak around himself, "I'm wearing this outfit in
the meantime."
Lisa stared at him for a second, then turned suspicious. "How do I know
you're _really_ the Crystal Knight? For all I know you could be some
impost...eek!"
She squeaked as she saw the stranger move impossibly fast and drive a
crystal sword into the floor of the roof, one foot in front of her and before
she could do a thing. The hand that drove it in wore a thick-looking blacker-
than-midnight glove with the same type of dark blue lining at the end. She
had seen boots of similar coloring as well.
The cloaked stranger stepped back and bowed. "My credentials, lass."
Gloves and boots disappeared within the cloak once more.
Wondering, Lisa timidly reached out and touched the sword's hilt. It was
solid and cool on her fingers. She made a surprised and disappointed sound
when she saw the sword suddenly disintegrate into black dust.
"Okay...I guess you are who you say you are," she said, a little lamely.
The Knight chuckled.
Remembering about her camera, Lisa whipped it up to take a picture but
found that she couldn't press the button. Frustrated, she repeatedly tried to
get a shot of the Knight but the button stubbornly wouldn't move.
"Come on! I just got you! Work!" When the Knight cleared his throat she
looked up at him.
"Sorry, no pictures," he said with an amused tone in his voice. "Maybe
later."
Lisa stared at him, then at the camera. She slowly turned the camera
around and tried to take a picture of herself. This time the camera offered
no resistance and took the shot.
"No... No way! That's not possible!" she stammered.
"Heh. I may not be a mercenary group like the Knight Sabers but I do
have a formidable bag of tricks up my sleeve." Stunned, Lisa just looked at
him. "It's been a pleasure talking to you but I have to go. Bye!" With that,
the Knight jumped five feet and vanished, startling her immensely.
After a frozen moment, Lisa ran to the spot where he had stood and
quickly searched the area. She found a faint group of footprints on the
slightly dirty floor where he had moved while talking to her, but only those.
Nothing else, except for the hole the sword had made, was on the rooftop. Not
one thing to suggest how the Knight had vanished like that. Unable to
determine anything else, she began walking over to the door for the stairs,
thinking to herself.
*It looks like I have two mysteries to solve: who are the Knight Sabers
_and_ who is the Crystal Knight? I wonder if there's a connection. The Knight
doesn't _seem_ to be a mercenary from what I've heard before, but then, what
_is_ he then? I'll have to make him my second objective. I wonder if I can
handle that before I have to leave...*
At least the Knight didn't break her camera like the evil Knight Sabers.

The next evening...

*I wonder if this is a good idea.*
Twister had teleported just outside Doc. Raven's and it was with some
understandable reluctance that he walked into the large garage. Sylia had
told him to arrive early since he had two forms to test and she didn't know
how long it would take.
*I guess it's too late to say no now. I DO need to know.*
As he walked in, Mackie, who was working on a bike, heard him and looked
up. He grinned at Twister's expression and nodded towards the back door. "Sis
is inside and ready for you."
"Ready. Why does that not sound very encouraging?" He sighed and walked
through the back door, giving Mackie a sour look as he did so when he heard
muffled laughter behind him.
When he entered the physical examination room, he saw that Sylia was
standing behind a table with something on it. She gave him a small smile and
pointed to some clothing on the table.
"It's good that you came in your male form because we'll be testing that
first. I made these two outfits to generally conform to each of your forms.
The material that they're made of is stretchable enough to make up for any
discrepancies." She pointed to a door. "You can change in there."
"I won't need to...um...remove anything for any of the tests?" Twister's
face turned slightly red, showing his embarrassment.
Sylia smiled at his discomfort and shook her head. "The material you'll
be wearing is essentially transparent to the equipment I'll be using. Besides
some testing of your more unusual abilities, you'll also be doing what the
others will be going through too. As part of the testing, of course."
"Of course," he agreed wryly.
"I also want to ask you a few questions about that armour of yours that
you made. Despite the...ah..._unusual_ nature of its construction, there are
a few things that I might be able to study for my own purposes. Nothing like
whatever you used to increase your strength."
"Increase my...?" Twister's face showed his puzzlement.
"Yes, your suit did..." Sylia's voice trailed off as she saw his face.
Slow understanding came to her. "Your suit _didn't_ increase your strength,
did it?"
"Err...no. I can boost my strength with my psionic power but my
suit...no." His face turned contemplative. "Actually, when I reduced its
weight with the spe..."
"Never mind," Sylia sighed, interrupting him. "I'll ask about that
later...when I get the full, _true_ story from you."
"Um...well...are you _sure_ you really want to?" Sylia gave him a long,
steady look. "Guess you do," he muttered, privately he hoped she wasn't very
religious. Arch-demons after all...
"Go on and change, the others should start arriving by the time we get
close to starting your female side." After swinging the testing clothes over
his shoulder, Twister nodded and left to change.
Sylia studied him before turning to glance at the examination setup of
the room.
*If he really didn't use the armour for strength then I hope my
equipment is sturdy enough for this.*

"Hi!"
"Hi, Nene." Sylia smiled at the red-head as she walked into the testing
room. "You can go in next after Linna."
Nene looked at the console. "Wow! Level 8. And I still can't get past
level 4."
"You need to practice more, Nene. You're too weak," Priss smirked out
over at the arm strength measurer. "And if you think level 8 is good, you
should've seen 'Mr. Speed Demon' over there." She nodded over to where the
treadmill was, a familiar person catching his breath.
"Hm? Oh! Hi, Twister! I didn't know you would be here. You look a little
tired," she observed.
Still wearing the dark testing clothing, Twister was sitting on the
treadmill with head slightly drooping. His hair was damp with sweat. "Hi,
Nene. It's okay. I'll be fine in a few minutes; I recover quickly."
"Guess Sylia tested you pretty hard," Nene said with sympathy.
Twister rolled his eyes. "Not only did she test me physically, she also
wanted to see me use my psionic powers. I can't believe how many things she
had me make from unstable diamond."
"And a stable diamond point for my work," Sylia commented absently,
still watching Linna.
Nene remembered Priss' comments and angrily turned to the singer. "And
weak am I? Hmph! I contribute with my computer skills and my good looks. I
wouldn't want to be an ape woman like you." She smiled with satisfaction.
"And I caught you, didn't I?" she said, referring to earlier that day when
she had been driving with Lisa and happened to spot Priss speeding. Nene had
stopped her and gave the biker a ticket.
"Hmph." Priss angrily turned away and kept pushing the testing bar with
her arm.
"Not me." Twister chuckled.
Nene angrily whirled around to face him. "And _you_! What were you
trying to do? You passed right by me and Priss when I gave her the ticket and
stopped right beside my guest."
"I thought she might want to see the legendary 'Blue Bullet'." Twister
grinned, near laughing. He had been amusing himself at the time by staying
right behind Priss, suspecting what would happen that day. It had been a
sudden mischievous impulse to pass both friends and brake to a stop by a
startled Lisa.
"_And_ you were going twice the speed _Priss_ was over the limit," Nene
fumed. She had found that out after returning red-faced to her car.
"Legendary! Lisa asked me why I didn't arrest you! I felt so foolish!"
Twister shrugged helplessly. "Well, what could I give you? I don't
exactly have a licence you know. Anyway, I think she'll find out THP has
already tried to catch me often enough," he grinned broadly, "without
success. Then she won't think badly of you. They are getting more persistent
though," he pondered out loud.
"YAAA!!!!"
Nene turned at the muffled shout to see Linna's holographic opponent
disappear in defeat. "Linna's done."
"And now it's your turn, Nene."
"Uh...do I have to?" she weakly asked.
"Of course! I need the data for the suits."
"Okay..."
Twister chuckled and stood up. "I think I'll go change now. You don't
want too big an audience for this."
Frowning angrily, Nene whirled to face him. "And just what do you mean
by _that_?"
"Nothing, nothing..." he held up his hands in front of him, backing away
with lips twitching, the sign of a grin threatening to burst out on his face.
"Hey, Twister," Linna said, getting out of the simulator. "Show Nene
that weird move of yours."
"Show _you_ you mean," Twister replied with a knowing smile at the
martial artist who put an innocent expression on her face, hiding her
eagerness.
Nene blinked, wondering what they were taking about. "What move?"
He waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, the universe I was in before has some
really unusual martial arts' moves involving ki. A friend of mine showed me
one of them but I've been trying to make up one or two of my own to see if I
could."
"Ki?" Nene said doubtfully, wondering if he was joking.
"Just watch. I came up with this one after spending a little time
thinking on the possibilities." Twister took a deep breath and his face
turned calm. Almost too calm. He quickly shot out his arms straight out,
angled slightly downwards, in front of him and had both pointing fingers
touch each other. Where they joined a white glow started to grow.
"DIAMOND KI DEFENCE!"
At the naming of the move, Twister quickly and precisely drew an octagon
of energy around himself and finished the shape behind himself. Then he
raised both now-glowing fists high above himself. A field of force shot
outwards from just above the fists to form a smaller octagon. Lines of light
from the previous shape and the new one leaped towards each other to form a
network of triangle-shaped surfaces. The lower octagon grew slightly and sent
more lines downwards to mirror what had already been done above. When it was
finished, it looked like Twister was standing in the center of a very large
diamond with glowing white edges.
Nene's eyes were wide with amazement. "Wow..."
Linna went over and patted a hand carefully and reverently on the
diamond shape. "This thing is _hard_. I tried kicking it and almost sprained
my ankle. He says it isn't actually diamond, only ki-force." She shook her
head as she examined the field. "I wouldn't mind being able to do something
like this myself."
"Wow..." Nene repeated. "This is amazing, Twister." Nene frowned as she
got no reply. "Can't he talk to us?"
"Nah," Priss said. "He said he needs all his attention on keeping it up.
Another benefit." She grinned.
Twister lowered his hands and the field shattered into its separate
surfaces and slowly fell to the ground, looking all the world like glass
shards until they vanished.
"Very funny, Priss."
"I thought so."
"I _can_ hear while doing it. But you _really_ don't want to know how
long it took to perfect that move. Oh, thanks, Nene," the red-head started to
smile but he continued with a grin, "and I hope you won't get too badly
defeated. Well, I'd better change. Back soon." He turned, still grinning
face.
As Twister left to get changed, Nene fumed. "_That_ does it. We need to
do _something_ to get back at Darlene!" she said angrily, using Twister's
female name as she, as well as Linna and Priss, knew her friend best that
way.
"We?" Priss and Linna chorused.
"Oh, come on, guys!" Nene pleaded, clasping both hands together. "Help
me, please?"
Linna and Priss looked at each other. Finally, Priss said, "Well... I do
know something that might work and I think she does need to get her tires
deflated a bit more."
"Hm, it wouldn't hurt to take her down a peg," Linna agreed, she really
wanted Darlene to try teaching her about those ki moves, but Priss was right.
"What did you have in mind?" Hopefully she could ask about those moves later.
"Yes, yes, yes! What? What?" Nene eagerly asked.
"Someone I know told me of this party next month that a friend of his
was going to be testing something at, as a joke of sorts."
"Testing? Testing what?" Linna asked curiously.
"Some new chemical that supposedly nullifies all means of someone being
able to tell if the punch is spiked," Priss grinned, "no matter how heavily
it is. Smell, taste, you name it."
"And Nene gets Darlene to drink some and get her drunk!" Linna revised
her statement when she recalled something. "Hmm.. A _lot_ is more like it.
Remember Leon, Nene?" Darlene had challenged the officer to a drinking
contest a long time ago, and had won with some margin to spare. Considering
that Leon was no stranger to drinking, and Darlene's lesser body weight, this
had been impressive.
"Hey! Why me?" Nene protested.
"You're the one who suggested it. You do it," Priss countered the red-
head's objection.
"But what do I do after she's drunk?"
"Be imaginative," the singer replied, grinning as she had a few ideas of
her own.
"Ahem! Nene? Your test?" Sylia patiently said, wanting to get on with
the examination. She had waited for the others to finish but she did want to
finish.
Nene sighed. "Coming, Sylia."

Chapter Sixteen
---------------

In his laboratory, Dr. Miriam was hard at work, gleefully going over the
data received from the fights of his Boomers against the Knight Sabers. Only
one more fight was required to get the total information on their hardsuits
he needed. Then, he would create wonderfully unique Boomers to destroy the
them!
"They will be my masterpieces!" he cried aloud in slightly crazed glee.
"A testament to my incredible genius once they humiliate, then rip the Knight
Sabers apart! Then no one will be able to deny my genius!"
"How original," a voice laced with a slight taste of sarcasm said from
the doorway that he had failed to hear open during his ranting.
"What?! Who are...you...?" His voice died once he glimpsed who stood in
the doorway.
"A representative," the amused, female, voice said. The voice's owner
stepped into the workshop with one graceful stride, allowing the door to
close behind her. Long, warm brown hair seemed to flow around the strange
female when she stopped, then flowed back to rest on her back. Her voice was
suggestive and, combined with the incredible figure that showed even through
the business dress she wore, started the startled scientist's knees shaking.
The unmarred, slightly tanned face held a pair of startling blue eyes hinting
of mischief and, flickering so briefly the doctor thought he imagined it,
malice. "From one who also wishes the Knight Sabers destroyed," she
concluded, using those delightful looking lips once more.
Shaking his head to clear it of these ridiculous feelings, the doctor
stood up as his knees had bent a bit during his lapse. He was surprised the
woman was almost as tall as he was, still...anger built at this intrusion.
"I can take care of them myself!" he snapped. "My creations can overcome
anything, even the Knight Sabers! Who _are_ you?!"
"I am Yanda." she said, unruffled. "And does anything include the
Crystal Knight?"
"What?! There's no indication that he should...interfere..." his voice
trailed off as he recalled a previous fight when one of his Boomers had been
destroyed by a strange object that appeared from nowhere. Suddenly, he felt
a little less confident.
Yanda was contemptuous. "He fights rogue Boomers. Of course he will come
if it's serious enough. But," she smiled secretly at him, "my Master has a
proposition for you that can help deal with the Crystal Knight without
interfering with your own plans for the Knight Sabers. Something that might
be even more potentially rewarding than mere Boomers...if you agree. And also
if you're intelligent enough. The possibilities would be incredible..." her
voice trailed off temptingly.
Naturally, Miriam couldn't let this challenge go unheard. Irritably, he
went to a nearby chair and sat down on it and waved at her. "Very well, I am
listening."
Yanda smiled, he would not be able to resist the bait she was about
dangle in front of him.
Perfect.

The next morning was bright and cheerful, but in ADPolice headquarters,
not everyone was happy.
Leon sheepishly smiled down at Nene who still shaking a bit from the
shock of him springing up in front of her desk. He inwardly cursed at
himself, if he had known she would had been so frightened he wouldn't have
done it.
"Ah...sorry, Nene. Er...I...that is..."
The red-headed young woman slowly stopped her shaking and a growing
anger was beginning to show on Nene's face as she picked herself off the
floor. "Sorry? Sorry?!? You scare me out of my mind and that's _it_?!? That's
not good enough, Leon! That was..."
Someone else behind Leon chuckled and managed to get Leon to hear his
voice during Nene's furious diatribe. "You think you can spare an hour of
your time? If you think you can calm her down that is."
Leon grimaced as he recognized the voice, but calming Nene down was the
more immediate problem.
"Nene," he said plaintively, interrupting her, "I'm really, really sorry
about this and..." Leon paused.
"And...?" Nene echoed angrily.
He sighed, but smiled inwardly since he knew the solution to this
problem. "And I'll give you three coupons for the new Dessert Palace that
opened up. When I can get them," he promised.
Nene wavered as she remembered Priss, Linna, and Darlene's laughter when
Priss had dragged her over to the body scanner, showing her shameful
waistline. But, she reasoned, Leon _should_ pay for scaring her like that.
"Alright..." she slowly agreed.
"Great! Later, Nene!" Leon quickly turned to the person behind him and
as fast as he could walk, got away from the scene of the embarrassment. One
crisis averted and, unfortunately, possibly an even more unpleasant one
before him.
When the two were a safe enough distance away, Leon growled, "Alright,
Potter, what's the ADPolice officer I dislike the most doing here?"

"So _this_ is the reason??" Leon demanded incredulously. "When did you
get the funding for these?!?"
"No funding. Donated," Potter grinned as Leon disbelievingly scanned the
garage's contents. "It seems Genom felt that ADP would do nicely to test
these babies. That Griffin incident proved it right enough. And someone also
decided to put me in command of them. Got just the right job for them too."
The objects of their discussion were two rows of cars that counted
twenty for each line. They were freshly painted and polished in the ADPolice
style, but these cars were different than standard police vehicles. They were
sleeker, more streamlined, and made for speed. Potter had even hinted that
they would've given even the Griffin a run for its' money had they had these
cars at the time. This suggested that the material of the cars were likewise
strengthened for the rough duties of an ADPoliceman. The Griffin had not been
an easy car to catch.
Leon turned to sourly look at the person beside him. Randy Potter was
not one of his favourite persons and the malicious smirk the guy wore did not
make him revise that opinion. Slightly taller than Leon, and with a slimmer
build, the black-haired, hawk-nosed man would've had no trouble with the
women if it wasn't for the need the THP officer had to flaunt what he had to
everybody in the police force. Most females seemed to sense Potter's
arrogance from forty feet away, not that the man cared; his ego was big
enough for two people. Leon had the misfortune of training with the bastard
and had formed an instant dislike to the man. So did everyone else. The only
reason he was a lieutenant was because some of that ego was justified and
considering the size of IT...he was very good at his work. Unless that same
ego got in the way.
"And what job would that be?" Leon inquired.
Potter's face turned slightly angry as if remembering something
unpleasant. "To bring in that Blue Bullet character."
Leon blinked, then remembered something. "Oh, yes. You tried to catch
him once, didn't you? Said that THP was staffed with idiots and went after
him yourself to prove it." A lazy smile grew on his face. "As I recall
you...ah...didn't get him. Something about a wrecked car...?"
"Yes," Potter growled out, unlike his usual self-assured tone of voice.
"Me and my partner were tricked into crashing our car and the bastard
_mocked_ me! He just sat there with an amused air about him and _waved_ at us
as we got out of our car! I'll catch him if it's the last thing I do!"
*Uh oh. Looks like he's obsessed with catching the Bullet.* Leon frowned
inwardly. *I wonder if Genom knew that when they 'suggested' Potter command
the squad.* Aloud he said, "Did you bring me here just to show off your new
toys?"
"No." Potter got control of himself and waved at the cars arrayed before
them. "I want you to help me catch him."
Leon was surprised, this wasn't what he had expected. "Me? Why?"
"First, you're one of the few people who can handle one of these babies
to get its full potential. What's more important, however, is that you
probably know more about the bastard than anybody, possibly excepting your
would-be girlfriend. Her name's Priss, I believe?"
Leon shook his head, ignoring Potter's jab about Leon's efforts for
Priss. "Believe me, she told me everything she knows about the guy, and some
very unlikely and personal remarks about his heritage. Loudly." He had to
grin at the memory. "She wasn't too impressed about him getting her into so
many speed traps. From her reactions I don't think she knows who he is."
"But their bikes and equipment are virtually identical," Potter pressed.
"I know. That was another thing that annoyed her to no end. Funny thing
is, I checked the database for motorcycle owners and nobody has any mention
of his bike. Even Priss' bike is in there, but not his. So he must have made
the thing himself after seeing hers," Leon deduced. "And knowing how souped
up hers is, I have to be impressed at him outdoing Priss. Must be some closet
mechanical genius cyclist who has a thing for her. Or her bike."
"Damn," Potter viciously said, frustrated. "I came to that conclusion
too and had no luck finding him. Guess we'll just have to run him down the
hard way." He didn't look like he was disappointed at that conclusion. Rather
the opposite. "Join the team when we go after him?"
Leon shrugged. "Why not? Sounds like it'll be interesting." He also
wanted to keep an eye on Potter.
Potter grinned with pleasure at his victory. "Great! Take one now so
you'll be able to help when he appears. I'll see you then." He walked away,
anticipating his future victory.
Shaking his head at the man's departure, Leon turned to the sleek new
cars, a big smile on his face. He whistled as he approached the one he chose,
though he suspected he wouldn't have it for long after Potter's 'mission' was
over.
*Might as well enjoy it while I have it.*

The next day had the sun shining brightly outside.
"Darlene! Phone!"
The red-headed owner of the store, who was placing the last of a new
batch of dragon figurines in place, turned her head at the call.
"Hmm? Oh, thanks, Sylvie." Smiling at her friend and assistant, Darlene
walked over to the vid-phone partly concealed from the rest of the store and
brightened when she saw who was calling. "Sylia! Hi! What's up?"
The leader of the Knight Sabers smiled at her greeting but seemed a
little concerned about something. "I've finished the results of the
examination that I gave you."
Darlene's eyebrows shot up. "Should I be worried? You scanned me fairly
thoroughly and it has taken you a few days."
Sylia shook her head. "I only looked for specific information that could
pose a danger to yourself or others." She hesitated. "There wasn't anything
like that. The opposite in fact."
"The opposite? Bwah?" Darlene blinked a few times in confusion. "I don't
follow you."
"Maybe you should come to my place right now so I can explain."
"Sure... It's been a slow day." Sylia nodded and closed the connection.
Darlene frowned; what could it be that wasn't dangerous to her and yet has
Sylia worried? She sighed. Waiting to find out wouldn't likely help. "Sylvie.
Anri," she called out. When both turned to face her, she rolled her eyes. "My
doctor asked me to visit her. And although it's been such a _busy_ day," the
sexaroids grinned at the exaggeration, "she wants me to go over my
examination results with her."
Concerned, Anri said, "Anything bad?"
"No...but she seemed worried." Darlene shrugged. "I'll find out when I
get there..."

"WHAT did you say??"
Numb, Twister heavily sat down onto one of the soft chairs in Sylia's
large living room, staring up at Sylia, whose eyes showed some concern as she
carefully watched his reactions to the news.
She repeated herself. "I said: your physical body is not aging at a
normal rate."
Shaking his head, Twister calmed down a bit. He could just be
overreacting to this a little. Still... "How can you tell?" he asked a little
shakily but in full control.
"If I had just the examination results of a few days ago, I might not
have known. But I told you that I had scanned your female form when we first
met during that exam, right?"
Twister rolled his eyes. "Nothing like trust at first sight."
Sylia shrugged innocently. He, as Darlene, had been a lot more vocal
when she had revealed this during the scan of his female half. "Anyway, the
first gave me a very precise scan of musculature, skeletal structure, and
other macro scale items of your body. The micro scale is what I was more
concerned about; cellular structure, neurochemical balances, and other things
that might eventually be fatal. But when I compared the two macro scale
scans..."
"You found out I wasn't aging at a normal rate?" Twister said
sceptically.
Sylia nodded. "Yes. The human body changes continually, even from day to
day, in the macro and micro scale. It might have been impossible to detect
the changes a decade ago, but today we can. When I compared the two scans, I
saw the differences in the readings." She was watching Twister carefully now.
"And what? I live to be two hundred? Three?" Not seeing Sylia change her
expression, he hesitantly added, "Four?"
"The readings indicated a change comparable to one day."
"So it's one day. That's no reason to panic..." It sunk in at that
point, and Twister's eyes widened in disbelief. "Waitaminute! The first scan
was over a year older than the second!!"
"Yes."
"Now. _Now_ we start panicking," Twister faintly said. His eyes glazed
over as he figured out how long that meant. "That's practically a given
thirty thousand years, then adding on around ten to twenty thousand for
yucks! My God, all that time paying life insurance..."
"Are you alright?"
"Considering what you've just said, I'm _gonna_ be alright for a
looooooong time." He chuckled weakly for a second before sighing and closing
his eyes tightly, rubbing his face with his hands. "No, I'm _not_ alright.
How would you feel if someone told you this? Are you _sure_?"
Sylia nodded her head, face full of sympathy. "Haven't you noticed that
you look the same as when you first got here? You still look seventeen years
old, and for _either_ sex at that time you usually change a lot in a short
period." She tilted her head a little, considering. "You do manage to appear
older by your behaviour, enough so that no one questions that you own a
store. Many people likely think you just appear younger naturally."
"Naturally!" Twister snorted, still dazed by the news. "I guess you
might call being altered by a...er...sort of natural force that." Forcing
himself out of his own confusion, he stood up abruptly. "I think I need some
air. Maybe I'll go cycling on the highways." Twister got ready to teleport.
"Wait!" Sylia quickly held up a hand as she deduced what he was about to
do.
"What?" Seeing her hesitant face, he felt a sinking sensation somewhere
in his stomach. "Don't tell me there's more?"
"That was what I found on the macro scale, the micro scale was more
disturbing. As with the macro scale, of which I only mentioned one item,
there were numerous things, but this is the most important. Normally, as the
body develops, you can find dead cells throughout the body. When their
numbers begin to increase, some things like hair or skin start failing.
Eventually, major organs become non- functional. This process of cells dying
happens every second. In your case, both male and female bodies showed _no_
signs of cells being non-functional."
"Wait." Twister was even more confused now. "If I'm showing signs of a
very slow aging process, wouldn't it be normal for no cells to die during a
relatively brief exam?"
"Maybe, but there was no sign of _any_ dead cell on your body, with the
exception of your surface skin layers and hair. Not even your brain, and
untold thousands of brain cells usually die every second."
"So...I'm aging physically, but I'm not aging normally in the cellular
case?"
"I suspect you may be unconsciously using your powers in either body to
sustain this. It may also prevent you from getting any virus or bacteria that
would be harmful to you. I couldn't tell as I was looking for other data."
Twister stood there silently. "So I might live even longer, but I'm
still changing physically...which shouldn't happen if my body is trying hard
to keep cells from dying...which is a part of aging...which..." he ran out of
words.
"There must be something else happening to explain all this, but as it's
all going so slowly it's hard to tell what that might be."
There was a few seconds of silence.
"I need some air," Twister slowly said, then vanished.
Sylia sighed and stood there for some time after he left, thinking to
herself. There was something else that might become a potential problem.
She'd noticed that, as Twister, her friend was usually a fairly calm,
somewhat logical individual with a hint of mischievousness thrown in. From
what she had understood from the tale told her about his/her past, it had
taken a serious physical threat to him or to another he cared about to anger
him and thus use the full force of his considerable power, otherwise his use
of psionic powers was minimal when fighting someone. She concluded that, deep
down, Twister wasn't really comfortable with his powers yet and normally
reluctant to use them. Perfectly understandable.
What really concerned and disturbed her was that, when comparing female
Darlene and male Twister, she had noticed a few differences in behaviour. At
times, Darlene appeared to be more emotional, a little rash sometimes, and
surprisingly more female in behaviour than when Sylia had first met her.
Which might be understandable except...there was twenty years experience
being male in that mind and a fairly stable, adaptable yet strong mind at
that. But there were signs that told her that for some reason, when female,
Darlene was far more emotional now than she used to be before all her changes
had happened. Perhaps it was psychological, perhaps something to do with that
thing he called the Event. Maybe the latter, he _was_ more logical as a male,
but that didn't concern her.
This did.
When male, by what she had been told, Twister had been very angry
several times, and when this happened Sylia had been told by Twister himself
that he had slightly changed mentally. He had been cold, emotionless save
anger, logical, and controlled. But Darlene appeared to be Twister's
opposite; in sex, in power, and...emotionally.
What would happen if Darlene got really mad?
This obviously hadn't occurred to Darlene. Sylia felt she had better
warn the red-head after the shock from the latest news had worn off enough.
She felt slightly worried about waiting, but Darlene hadn't been really angry
for the past year. Perhaps the old psychological patterns were keeping
Darlene from 'blowing up,' restraining the reactions of her more emotional
state. If so, it could wait a week or two.
No need to make things worse at the moment.

Chapter Seventeen
-----------------

Twister stopped and studied the motorbike he had created before getting
onto it. It still amused him at times that he had exactly duplicated Priss'
bike to create the deep blue, with purple lines, colored motorcycle.
He held up his helmet and saw himself in the black, slightly reflective
visor. It was the same face he had seen yesterday and when he thought back to
when he had first looked at his altered face, after his first battle with
Malkon, he remembered that it had been the same then too. Sighing, Twister
put the helmet on and mounted his bike.
A lifetime of over thirty thousand years. I still can't really believe
that, he thought, even knowing that I _do_ look the same as I did two years
ago. I guess I would have realized it myself eventually. He shook his head.
Hard to swallow that tidbit of info, isn't it, Twister? Very hard... oh,
heck! Twister irritably kicked life into the machine and revved the engine,
the sound echoing in the huge cavern.
Enough brooding on what's already been done. Time to ride.
With that he teleported for the streets.

"Leon! Leon! Pick up your mike! Answer me!"
Surprised, Leon glanced down at the new car's police radio which was
issuing Potter's excited voice. He had gone out to get a feel for the new car
that he had taken from the ADPolice garage. Unfortunately, the Chief had
decreed that Leon would be on his own while Daley stayed on regular patrol.
It was too bad; the car was a dream as far as he was concerned.
He picked up the mike. "Keep your cool, Potter. What's got you all
excited?"
"He's been spotted! In the downtown area no less!" There was no need to
say who.
"Must be feeling social," Leon quipped.
Potter wasn't listening. "All units are converging on his location. The
overconfident bastard's trapped himself. We've got him for sure!"
"Does this mean I don't get to keep the car?"
Now the other was angry. "Just be there. The location's on your
vid-map." If one could imagine the sound of a mike hanging up over the radio
Leon heard Potter manage it.
He shook his head. "I don't know who to feel more sorry for: Potter, or
the Bullet." Leon sighed and turned on his police lights.
"Oh, well. Let's see who wins."

SSCCCRRREEEECCCHHH!!!!
Twister didn't even have time to wince as he was far too occupied doing
a hard right into a busy street. Meanwhile, the police vehicle that had been
insanely too close on his tail couldn't quite make the same maneuver and
crashed into a store display window.
He hadn't gone another block when another police cruiser appeared behind
him.
Argh! What IS this? Bite the Bullet day??? Methinks someone in ADPolice
is a little ticked off me. Better get to the more deserted section of the
city as I don't like doing damage to downtown... He made another turn and the
cruiser followed. A quick look back confirmed something. Those are NOT
standard THP or ADP equipment. Too agile by half; I'm gonna have trouble with
these things. Did ADPolice win the funding lottery or something?
A slow smile grew on his face as he weaved through traffic.
Then again, they must be feeling pretty confident with their new toys,
Twister thought and suddenly felt very mischievous. Guess I'm going to have
to frustrate them a little to burst their bubble. Heh, heh, heh.

"Keep on him! Don't lose him!" Potter clenched his hands in front of him
as his driver strained to keep up with the blue motorcycle. "Your ass is
MINE, asshole!" he crowed to the helmeted figure in front of them.
"I think he's heading to a more deserted part of the city," his driver
managed to say through his intense concentration of keeping up with their
agile target.
"Perfect! We can box him in more easily!"
They barely kept up with the more maneuverable cyclist as he turned left
down one street then right down another. Potter shouted commands over the
radio to try to surround the target but the streets and the speeds they were
going made it difficult to do so.
Suddenly, they turned into a miraculously clear, broken-down street.
Luck seemed to be smiling on Potter as there was another two cruisers at the
opposite end of the road, bearing down on the Bullet.
"We've got him now! There's only an alley left for him and it's a dead
end!"
"He's not slowing down," the driver said, a little concerned.
"He knows he's trapped."
Then the blue bike put on a burst of speed and accelerated until it was
almost midway between Potter and the other two cars. At that point the Bullet
did a hard turn into the narrow one-car wide alley, the police cruisers
closing in.
"I wish I could see his face when he realizes it's a dead end. WHAT THE
HELL?!?!?" Potter screamed in disbelief at what he saw next.
The Blue Bullet roared out of the alley that was far too narrow for such
a large bike to turn around in, and with almost no loss of speed as when he
had roared into it. This startled all three drivers of the police vehicles
enough to forget to brake in time as he zoomed around the car that had been
chasing him. Potter's driver reacted first, braking hard and the car started
turning, blocking the road. The other two cars smashed into it, rendering all
three immobile.
Both Potter and his driver panted as adrenaline coursed through their
systems.
"Impossible," Potter muttered, recovering. "Impossible, and it was!" He
straightened as he reached out for the CB's mike and turned in on. "All
units! The fugitive has disabled three more units and is still on the loose!
Capture at all costs! I repeat..."
His driver wearily leaned on the steering wheel.
This is going to be a long day...,he thought, mentally sighing as he
listened to his superior rant to the CB.

Twister grinned inside the helmet. THAT was the TTA manoeuvre, guys;
Teleport Turn-Around. Another police cruiser screeched its tires as it turned
to follow him. He groaned as he accelerated.
"Here we go again," he muttered to himself, disgusted. "Hmm. I wonder if
any of them have seen Tron. I bet I can do a REAL good imitation of a
lightcycle. Like...instant ninety degree turns coming up?"
His grin appeared once more.
This night might turn out to be a good one after all.

Sylia sat down in front of the radio equipment she used to contact Nene
at work. Mackie had whispered that the red-head needed to tell her something
badly so she had quietly left the store to go to the communications room to
find out what was the matter.
I wonder what it is... she thought as she pressed a button and put on a
headset. "Nene? Are you there?"
"Sylia, you finally made it." Nene's voice was full of relief and
concern.
"What is it?"
"ADPolice are after the Blue Bullet!" Nene said in a frantic whisper.
So much for Twister getting some air, Sylia thought. "What did he do?"
"Nothing! Some lieutenant I don't know apparently got permission to
apprehend him. I didn't know about it until the Bullet was spotted and
everyone went into a frenzy!" Nene's voice turned amused. "He's wrecked at
least five of those new cars trying to avoid being caught and causing no end
of confusion. He's feeling tricky I guess. No one's been hurt, aside from
wounded pride, that is. What?! Hey!!"
Sylia didn't like the tone of concern that had appeared in Nene's voice.
"What is it?"
"A Boomer just showed up! It's blocking ADPolice efforts to catch the
Bullet. And another one just appeared!"
"Nene, you said 'new' cars. What 'new' cars?"
"I'm not sure. Somebody whispered that Genom..." Nene trailed off as a
dawning suspicion grew. "You don't think Genom is after Dar..."
"No," Sylia interrupted, mind racing. "But they may suspect he's the
Knight. Keep tabs on events. I'll see if I can get the others."
"Okay. Hm? Oh, Lisa! Nothing, just muttering to myself. Yes, that
lieutenant's voice IS funny." Nene's transmission ended rather quickly.
Sylia frowned. What is Genom up to this time? she wondered as she
activated the beepers on Priss and Linna's watches. Mackie is making the fine
adjustments on the new suits but that won't be done for a few hours so we'll
use the old ones one last time.

Meanwhile, Twister was wondering where his imposed playmates had gone
to.
Odd, they were everywhere a few minutes ago, now...nothing?
"I don't like this at all..." he muttered aloud, turning his head left
and right and looking for trouble.
Then a STRONG feeling to brake sharply and turn lanced through his mind
and he acted on this impulse without delay. A good thing to do; a blue plasma
blast lanced into the street where he would have been if he hadn't turned.
Still, the resulting explosion of exploding street jarred him enough that he
had to wrestle with his bike to get it under control. Looking behind, he saw
the Boomer that had attacked him leap off the building roof from where it had
fired, land, and after turning its' flight vents on, begin chasing him.
Twister immediately started swerving to avoid giving the Boomer a chance
to lock on to him. He wasn't happy with the way things were going.
"First brand-new ADPolice pursuit vehicles, now Boomers?! Okay, the
former I would've thought harmless, but BOTH?? Hmmm...gee, I wonder who could
be behind this. G...E...N...O...M...and Genom is it's name-o," he
sarcastically sang to himself. A second Boomer smashed through a wall in the
street ahead and began flying his way. When he turned into another street,
the two followed him as a group, firing randomly to keep him occupied.
Yikes! he thought as he dodged the Boomer strikes. And all I wanted was
some air! Sheesh!
Twister shifted the bike slightly to avoid the rain of bullets one
Boomer shot at him, and immediately did so again when the second Boomer did
the same a half-second later. Turning sharply, the Bullet went into an alley.
The Boomers tried to fit into the passage but were thrown out of the way when
the blue motorcycle returned at full speed, doing a wheelie, knocking them
out of the way and turning back onto the street.
One Boomer had gotten tossed into a building while the other tumbled
momentarily in mid-flight before righting itself. With grinding snarls the
two powerful androids started up the pursuit again.
When a particle bolt flashed by him, Twister almost sighed; he'd hoped
that trick had taken them off his tail. No such luck.
He continued to try losing the two as the skies grew darker, without
success. The only times it seemed he could was when ADPolice showed up.
Unfortunately, the Boomers managed to keep them away and still keep up with
the speedy Bullet.
It was odd that more ADPolice hadn't shown up. Must be more than just
these two then, he thought, and...whoa!! Twister screeched to a stop just in
time; the street he had turned into was blocked off by an impressive amount
of debris that was far too high to jump over. The Boomers that had been
chasing him landed in the intersection where he had turned off, trapping him.
Uh, oh. Trouble... It wasn't the Boomers that worried him; he could
handle them with psionics if he had no choice. Somehow, though, he felt that
there was more than just Boomers involved here.
"So, Crystal Knight, here you are at last," a familiar voice that he
recognized called out. Madagan's. Somehow he wasn't surprised. Twister
quickly turned his head to where the voice had come from and then he WAS
surprised. Surprised at what he saw...and sensed.
Whatever Madagan was wearing reminded him of a scuba diver's suit,
remotely. The shiny black material of her suit hung close to her trim figure
and bright yellow lines traced across the black stuff in a suspiciously
orderly and meaningful pattern. Her face was partially uncovered, the eyes
being protected by some reflective, silvery substance formed into a visor.
The suit covered the back of her neck, forehead, and around her face while
allowing her hair to escape freely. There was a lot of the yellow lines in
the headband and some kind of equipment on her back. What worried him was
that he couldn't find out what it was. Something was blocking him somehow and
that wasn't a very good sign as he figured Madagan wasn't...shouldn't have
been strong enough to do that.
"Ah... Me? The Crystal Knight?" Twister laughed half-heartedly. "You
must have the wrong guy."
Madagan smiled in self-satisfied amusement. "After I felt you trying to
find out about my new suit and blocking your attempt? I don't think so."
Insert head and kick thoroughly to correct brain, Twister mentally
cursed, then gave up the pretence as he turned on his bike to face his female
adversary. "Oh, okay. I am. What's your beef that Genom sics ADPolice and
Boomers on me anyhow? And how did you block my scan?" he added curiously.
"The first is simple enough. We want," she pointed at the blue-clad
biker, "YOU. Although my new-found psi powers have impressed researchers in
Genom with the sheer potential of my abilities, we know your natural power
exceeds my own by a great amount. That is why when you next appeared in your
other persona we arranged things so that you would eventually be forced here.
It was an impressive effort of planning."
"For some reason I'm not flattered," he commented as he rested one elbow
on his bike. She ignored him.
"To accomplish this, and answering your second question, I'm using the
fruits of labour from a largely ignored section of Genom. This suit was
available and pre-made. With it, I..."
Two explosions originating from where the Boomers had been standing
guard interrupted Madagan and she looked away from Twister to see what had
happened. He too looked, and smiled at what he saw.
The Boomers were down with large, smoking holes in their bodies.
Standing over them were Priss and Linna in their hardsuits, made even more
impressive by the motoroids surrounding their armoured bodies, the large
hand-held cannons smoking. Sylia, in hardsuit only, stood in the middle of
the street while the other two flanked her.
"You up there, I suggest you leave. Now," Sylia called out, Linna and
Priss raising their motoroid's weapons to punctuate that command.
Anger clearly shown on her face, Madagan started to shout, but then
calmed down mysteriously, and smiled. "With it, I was about to say, I can
do...THIS!" Her suit's yellow lines pulsed and glowed as a wave of
telekinetic force lashed out at the four in the street.
Twister lost ground as he wasn't prepared for the unexpected strength of
Madagan's attack. Still, he protected himself and his bike as they both slid
backward, carving gouges in the street as he struggled to stay upright.
However, the three Knight Sabers didn't have his psionic advantages and
received the full force of the blast. In only her suit, Sylia was thrown
violently down the street and luckily didn't hit anything, rolling when she
hit pavement. Linna and Priss, in the heavier motoroids, were thrown with
less force, but impacted with the buildings on either side of the street.
Unlike Twister's usual psi-force blasts, which were only air
telekinetically accelerated, Madagan's blast was pure psi-force. More
efficient, he guessed, as it didn't have to waste energy moving air and make
it move through air resistance. He'd have to learn how to do that.
Later. He was a little busy now.
Madagan threw back her head and laughed mockingly at those below her.
"This suit was designed for the express purpose of testing the idea of
amplifying human thought waves for use in remote control operations AND
seeing if true mind-over-matter powers were possible. The woman being tested
happened to be my size and since I could already move things with my mind,
the researchers, once they were told of my new abilities, were most
interested in what would happen. You've felt the results for yourselves. It
amplified my telekinetic powers." She glanced up at the darkening sky, then
focused her attention on Twister. "It's getting late, Knight. Come with me or
else I'll 'play' with the Knight Sabers till they fall apart."
The Bullet's black visor just continued to stare in the purple-haired
Genom psionist. Priss' swearing could be heard in the background as she and
Linna began moving again. Sylia was nowhere to be seen.

"Damn, damn, damn, DAMN!!!" Priss swore angrily as she struggled to get
the motoroid out of the rubble and standing once more. Whatever had hit her
had NOT behaved like a normal blast; she'd been hurt inside the suit more
than she figured she should've been, as if it had passed _through_ her
protective armour somewhat. The same with her equipment as well, the circuits
must have been jolted something fierce as her motoroid's movements were
sluggish.
"Priss, are you alright?" Linna called over their private radio link
sounding concerned and not so hot herself.
"Just a lot of damn bruises, and what the FUCK hit us?!?"
Sylia's welcome voice spoke up. "I suspect it was some form of psionic
attack, likely telekinesis." Her tone turned arch. "Our friend, Twister at
the moment, seems to have neglected to mention Miss Madagan's new talents."
"No shit," Priss replied, heaps of sarcasm in her voice. "Where are you
anyway?"
"Trying to find a better angle and... I've just noticed that there are
several more Boomers hiding in the area," Sylia reported offhandedly.
"Oh, perfect." At least her cannon was undamaged. She also noticed that
Twister hadn't moved or answered the Genom witch yet, the latter was getting
impatient at this silent treatment.
"Well? Do I have to prove that I can?" she heard the waiting Madagan say
as the black and yellow suited woman slowly stepped down the slope of the
pile of rubble. Twister, alias the Bullet at the moment, still hadn't said a
word making Priss wonder what her friend was doing. Giving the rest of them
time? It wasn't needed as her systems were as recovered as they were going to
get.
Wait a minute.
"Hey, Linna, is it just me or is the witch coming too close to Twister
for comfort?" Priss queried.
"What are you talking about, Priss?" was Linna's distracted reply.
"Don't you think she would want to stay a certain distance away?"
True enough, as Priss had pointed out, Madagan hadn't stopped advancing
on the Bullet. She was off the rubble and on the level street. What could be
seen of her face suggested a person utterly fascinated with something: the
Bullet, or rather, his visor.
"Must be doing something. Right, Linna?" No response from her friend
came, puzzling Priss. "Linna? Hey! LINNA!!"
Her shout got the green-suited Knight Saber to wake from the trance she
had started falling into. Linna shook her helmeted head to wake up a bit
more. "Huh? What was that, Priss?"
"I SAID Twister must be doing something psionic, and you were falling
for it too so WAKE UP!!" Priss cranked up the volume to emphasize her last
words.
"OW! Not so loud!" Linna complained, snapping fully out of it.
"Priss, Linna, get ready," Sylia's voice cut in. "I think someone's been
monitoring the area because the Boomers I see may be getting ready to move.
I'll take care of them, but there will likely be more."
Sylia's words turned prophetic as three Boomers leaped over the pile to
land behind Madagan. Four more, two for each side of the street, crashed
through the walls of the constraining buildings. These four advanced on the
Bullet's seated figure, apparently intent on grabbing him.
"I don't think so, assholes! Come on, Linna!" Priss shouted and she
fired her motoroid's hand cannon a split-second ahead of Linna's. Two of the
Boomers around Twister were hit dead-on, rendering them dysfunctional. "Two
down, five to go!" Priss crowed, but then saw the angry figure glowing yellow
in front of the Bullet. The noise of the Boomers and their cannons had shaken
Madagan out of whatever Twister had tried on her and she did NOT look very
happy.
"Oh, fuck," Priss swore with a sinking feeling.
That sentiment was echoed by Twister as he regarded Madagan's glowing
form. The addition of the Boomers wasn't helping his situation any, though
the destruction of two helped.
"You bastard...." Madagan ground out the word through clenched teeth.
"What the HELL did you try to do to me?!?" Her fingers flexed and unflexed
angrily.
Twister dismounted off his bike, and while the Boomers tensed around
him, they didn't do anything. "I have a trick I use to get people to avoid
noticing me. I just tried the opposite, focusing on my eyes, hoping it would
work so that I could get close enough to you to disable your suit.
Unfortunately, you were distracted." He shrugged. "C'est la vie." Using his
telekinesis he pushed his bike forcefully away from the soon-to-likely-be
combat zone.
Madagan was livid. "How DARE you take this...ME!...LIGHTLY!!"
"Shouldn't I? Trust me, I've faced worse," Twister replied in an
offhandish manner, "though not as fashionable. What is that style anyway?
Early deep-sea?" he mockingly added. To himself he prayed that pissing her
off would do more damage to the Boomers than to himself when they inevitably
fought. He braced himself as he felt THREAT coming like it was digging him in
the ribs.
"DAMN YOU!!" Madagan screamed furiously and her suit glowed brightly.
The area around the Bullet seemed to explode as a three-story column of fire
erupted from the street. Both he and the two Boomers vanished in the flames.
A Boomer behind Madagan protested at this. "But we were instructed to
capture him at all costs! This...squark!" Madagan had moved her anger onto
the doomed Boomer and it was quickly compacted into a volleyball.
She quickly re-focused her attention as her recently acquired powers
screamed danger; this was precognition though the scientists at Genom hadn't
known about it. Once she realized she had it, Madagan decided it was a good
thing to keep silent about. At Genom it was always wise to keep a few aces up
your sleeve. The two Knight Sabers hadn't taken the apparent roasting of
their friend too well; Linna was rushing at the ready Boomers while Priss
fired the motoroid gun again... at the Genom exec. The glowing projectile
tore though the air towards its target but never reached its prey. Psi power
stopped its flight and quickly reversed it. Fortunately for Priss, Madagan
was still new to her powers and the singer was able to frantically dodge her
own weapon's projectile. Linna, much to her dismay, suddenly found herself
unable to move herself when the amplified psionist turned her attention on
the green Knight Saber.
Madagan smiled unpleasantly at the fly she had just caught. "You should
really find out more about what you attack, insect. It may be more than you
can handle. Like finding that your heart has stopped." And with her TK, she
reached out...
Linna gasped from the sudden pain in her chest. It HURT!
Then, from the smoking crater the pillar of fire left, a roar came
amidst a sudden swirl of furious air.
"HURRICANE BLAST!!"
A horizontal torrent of atmosphere punched a hole through the smoke,
gained strength as it tore up distance and street before it reached a
surprised Madagan, hurling her backwards to crash into the pile of rubble.
Smoke rising from him, the Blue Bullet walked out of the smoke.
"I don't mind if you hurt me, well, actually I DO mind, but if you hurt
my friends, you face me and my wrath next. DON'T think that unimportant," he
emphasized grimly to the stunned Madagan, then turned to Linna. "You okay?"
"Yes," Linna sighed with relief; when Twister had knocked out the cause
of the pain her heart had begun beating again. "That scared me, though."
"I don't doubt you."
Priss flew the short distance to stand beside him. "Linna's okay, but
what about you?" Linna caught the faint concerned tone in Priss' voice and
actually looked at Twister's state. His biking outfit was singed all over and
charred over the worse parts. The helmet, only slightly sooty, was the most
intact article on his person. She didn't say anything but wondered how close
he had come to being barbecued.
Twister brushed ash off an arm. "Let's just say I'm not keen on
repeating the experience and I feel like calling it a night. I'll take on my
oh-so-humble-pie psycho-psi-sister if you want the leftover Boomers." He
indicated the two remaining androids protecting the almost recovered Madagan,
who didn't look too happy.
"Gladly, but can you take her?" Priss asked.
"Nothing's ever really certain buuuut...maybe."
"You're a help."
"You aim at Boomers and I aim to please," he chuckled a little and Priss
could practically feel his grin, hidden as it currently was. "Ah, round two
approaches."
Indeed it was, for Madagan was walking towards the three with the two
remaining Boomers flanking her, strangely calm after being blasted hard into
the pile of rubble. Still mad, Twister suspected, but in control.
"So, you finally decided to take this seriously, have you?" the purple-
haired woman said. "Good."
"Look, I'm not coming with you to Genom, Madagan. Just go home. Please?"
"I can't do that. Either you come with me, or die."
"The latter's more attractive than the former but I'm taking option
three: kick your butt. Now THAT'S an amusing image." He looked over at Priss.
"Don't you agree?" The singer in her hardsuit snorted loudly in agreement.
Madagan frowned.
"Very well! Then die!" Madagan started glowing again.
Twister got ready.

Chapter Eighteen
-----------------

The scene was certainly odd; three against three but of a radical
assortment of beings. On one side were two females in advanced combat suits
with support mechs overtop who stood on either side of a male psionist whose
features were hidden by a slightly charred motorcycle getup. The other group
consisted of two androids of considerable destructive power who flanked a
female psionist with boosted powers. Not a sight you normally see, even in
Mega-Tokyo.
Madagan stretched out her arms and her suit glowed once more, the
Boomers crouched, preparing to attack. For a moment nothing happened, making
Twister and the others wondering what Madagan was up to. They didn't wonder
long. Suddenly, yellow lightning erupted out of the ground in front of the
Genom exec, the deadly energy arced upwards then flashed down at the spot
where the startled Twister stood.
"OH SHIT!!" he shouted, and frantically leaped high and backwards,
narrowly avoiding the electron stream that blasted his former position. His
feet prickled as they had been closest to the near-hit.
The two remaining Boomers ignored him as the two Knight Sabers were
higher priority targets in their programming. Both managed to get Priss and
Linna to the far sides of the street by tackling each one-to-one with their
back jet-packs on full power, the purpose to get the two out of the way and
not interfere with their Mistress. However, with both Sabers in their
motoroids the androids were not going to last very long unless they were VERY
lucky.
Madagan, on the other hand, never got a chance to launch another
lightning attack as Twister, eyes glowing blue through the helmet's visor and
aura glowing brightly around himself, moved with TK-enhanced speed towards
her. She barely managed to get arms and power ready to meet him and their
hands clasped together with a small thunderclap. Blue and yellow psionic
energies crackled and discharged between the two.
"Nice trick you started out with. Ripped electrons from the ground? Not
bad after such a short time psi-active," Twister managed to comment after
they had struggled for a few seconds. Madagan's suit made her formidable, and
he couldn't drag this on very long.
Unfortunately, Twister had finally finished his new Crystal Knight suit,
casting the spell upon the completed diamond armour early in the morning.
Because of that powerful finishing spell, he was still tired and his
available energy was fairly low. During the day he hadn't visibly shown this,
even though Anri had asked if Darlene had lost some weight when they had
opened the store. The purple-haired Genom exec couldn't have picked a better
time, as he was tired and hadn't put on the amulet that was the armor.
Madagan smiled, though with a bit of strain since she was in the middle
of a fight. "I didn't need much time to learn enough to face you with this
suit. My mind was already well trained and disciplined to handle my new
abilities. You certainly don't seem much more experienced," she observed with
a little contempt.
"Hey, I've never had anybody to teach me," Twister defended himself
indignantly. "And when I've fought I don't make much use of psi unless I have
to."
"Then you are a fool."
"Or maybe I just like to fight fair. You needed that psi-amp on your
back to fight me on even footing so don't complain...wimp."
Her lips compressed in anger. Madagan was about to push harder when he
beat her to it in a strange manner. Instead of attacking her, Twister yanked
his hands from Madagan's, surprising and unbalancing her, and directed the
forces he had used, and was a little unsure of himself, towards the female
executive to the ground below her feet.
Road exploded, flinging him backwards and Madagan high into the air.
Disoriented, even as she protected herself instinctively, she flew through
the air.
And was intercepted in mid-arc by another flying figure that swung a
blade at her semi-helpless form: Sylia in her hardsuit. Back after finally
finishing off the Boomers she had found. The leader of the Knight Sabers
quite deliberately launched her blade into the equipment on Madagan's back.
If she had attempted to strike the psionist herself the attempt would have
failed because of Madagan's precognition, but as this did not endanger her
life the attack worked. Sparks and minor electrical discharges appeared
around the blade as Sylia pulled it out of the now-dark suit. Madagan
screamed in rage as she sensed her advantage taken away. The white-suited
Knight Saber attempted to catch her but missed as Madagan had stopped flying
through the air and was now hovering.
A little surprised Sylia landed as Madagan shouted angrily, "LET ME
DOWN!!"
"Certainly," Twister said, picking himself off the ground, revealing to
all that he was the one supporting Madagan. Priss and Linna relaxed and
dropped the weapons that they had been aiming at the furious Genom exec. "But
don't expect a warm welcome. Oh yes, I destroyed the devices spying on us
when your new Boomers appeared. Surprised you missed it," he said, adding
insult to injury.
Madagan's face paled as she realized that she was in a terribly bad
position to be demanding anything. When she reached ground, she wasn't
released from the hold the Blue Bullet had on her and could feel she wasn't
going to be able to free herself. She was not strong enough now without the
suit.
"What do we do with her?" Linna's chill voice frightened her. She had
not been nice with the green Knight Saber.
"Want me to make the call?" the Bullet inquired of the white-suited
Saber.
"As long as you do it quick."
"Gotcha." He walked up to the standing, immobile Madagan and sighed.
"Are you going to kill me?" Whatever he did she was determined to not
show fear. Nevertheless, when he shook his helmeted head she relaxed
slightly.
"No. I haven't killed a human being and even after you tried to do kill
me it wouldn't be right. Besides, Genom might be less interested in me if
you're still around to satisfy their curiosity in psi."
"Is that wise?" Sylia said, concerned. "Genom seems to have done quite
a bit of research already, she may accelerate that."
"Oh, I'll put them in reverse." His slightly mischievous tone raised her
eyebrows. Then he turned away from the helpless Madagan, which seemed odd to
the captive, before he continued. "And as for you, Madagan, I have to take
away your toy."
This confused her. "What?" Then she heard ripping sounds, and felt...
Twister heard a very startled, outraged, feminine scream behind him as
he used his TK and had to grin. He then brought the outfit and equipment he
had taken off Madagan in front of himself and wadded it into a fairly tight
ball. "Could you take this stuff, Sabers?"
"Oh, gladly," Linna's mirthful voice replied and the green motoroid with
her inside picked it up. Priss was howling with laughter.
"You...you...you..." he heard Madagan sputter behind him.
"I'm sure you'll find something to cover yourself before a Genom crew
gets here, Madagan. Me, I've got some things to settle with ADPolice
tonight."
"I'll make you suffer for this," was her coldly furious reply.
"Advice: Don't try." He waved behind himself as he walked away for his
bike. "Ta."
The Knight Sabers walked away with him. "That was a...practical way of
getting her suit," Sylia remarked dryly.
"It was perfect!" Priss chortled.
"It WAS the fastest way." Twister shrugged, unrepentant.
"And so modest, Bullet," Priss teased. "Turning away like that from an
attractive woman."
Twister reached his bike, managed it up, and got on before answering the
singer. "If you think of her like that maybe I could find a bow and gift wrap
her for you. For those cold, lonely nights in bed, of course," he added
helpfully as Priss sputtered indignantly.
"She's holding a very big gun, Bullet, you'd better go quickly," Linna
laughed.
"Right." He revved the engine. "I'll release Madagan now so you'd better
go. Oh yeah, whatever you hear from my next encounter with ADPolice: don't
believe it. I'm going to play escape artist, but not let ADPolice in on it.
Especially if they try the same thing on me as they did to the Griffin. In
fact, I'm counting on it. Oh, don't forget, Priss," he added, "if Madagan
tries again: maybe next time, oh mighty amazon. And if you spank her she may
actually behave. Or if you prefer, she'll spank you." Seeing the blue
motoroid cannon begin rising he quickly waved to them and tore off down the
street.
"He's going to pay for that," Priss ominously said.
"Time to go back to base," Sylia ordered, ignoring Linna's laughter,
"and we'd better move quickly."
Slightly surprised, Priss and Linna looked at each other, then both
turned to their friend and leader. "Why, Sylia?" Linna spoke for both.
"Something else may come up tonight and we'd best be ready," Sylia
replied mysteriously and all the way back home that was all either of them
could get out of her.

"You want to WHAT?!?" Leon stared at the radio incredulously.
"You heard me! If it worked that time then it'll work now! What's wrong
with that!?" Potter demanded. "We'll heard him onto that street and block the
entrance with patrol cars. The armoured tank you used last time is already in
position at the end. I don't want anymore comments from you, Leon. Just. Be.
There." And with that, he cut the transmission.
"Idiot!" Leon swore furiously. His car was already approaching the spot
Potter wanted him to be and the jerk hadn't even bothered checking Leon's
position. They had temporarily lost the Bullet but suspected he was headed
towards the street Potter expected him to take. Leon, however, had almost
lost all the humour he had felt at the beginning of this fiasco. The amount
of cars taken out or damaged so far was worse than the Griffin affair; a
testament to the skill of the Bullet and the overzealous actions of Potter.
Those Boomers turning up hadn't helped, but they had vanished as mysteriously
as they had appeared. Strange that.
Just then, something in his rear view mirror caught his attention,
something fast. Before he had a chance to recognize it, it had gone into the
next lane and slowed down enough to stay parallel to him. The Blue Bullet!
And he was jauntily waving at Leon.
Cheeky bugger, to do that, was his amused thought. The silver windows
that reflected lasers made his grin impossible for the biker to see. He
almost didn't turn on the radio to report this, but duty compelled him. "Hey,
Potter. The target is keeping parallel to me and appears to be having a fun
time."
"What?! The better not be a joke, Leon!" said Potter angrily.
"No joke. I'm turning onto the street you wanted and he's staying right
with me. Maybe he wants to surrender."
"That's impossible!"
"I'm going to check it out. See ya." He reached for the turn off switch.
"Wait! Don't you..." Potter voice died with pleasing suddenness.
Leon slowly applied the brake and the Bullet decelerated to match. They
quickly came to a stop as Leon guessed that his companion was staying with
him. The Bullet, a few meters ahead and watching him, made no move. Sighing,
Leon checked his gun, just in case, and opened the door to get out, standing
behind it. For some reason the Bullet looked surprised, at least that what
Leon thought from the body language.
"Leon...McNichol. This is a surprise," spoke the Bullet.
In his turn, Leon was amazed the biker knew him, or a least well enough
to recognize him on sight. "You know who I..."
"I have my methods," interrupted the blue biker. "Doesn't matter. I'm
glad it's you with whom I speak with last."
"Last?" echoed Leon, a sense of dread coming over him. He began lifting
his revolver which was hidden from the Bullet's sight behind the car door.
"Yes." The Bullet dismounted and faced Leon. "You see, when I heard
about the Griffin I felt a great sense of wanting to be as famous as that car
of the night. And so, I built this bike with all of my hidden talents and
love to achieve the same blaze of glory. Tonight," he added dramatically,
"will be my final and greatest performance."
This guy is NUTS! thought Leon incredulously and acted. He whipped his
gun up and assumed a firing position behind the car door. "Your act's been
cancelled, buddy, so just stay where you are. Besides, you'd never get past
the tank at the barricade up ahead."
The Bullet acted like he was happy about that. "Really? Could you tell
them to leave the area then?" Swiftly, the Bullet re-mounted.
"Stop where you are or I'll shoot!" Leon ordered.
Turning to talk to him, the Bullet added, "I'm going to make quite a
bang. Bye-bye." Then he pushed an empty hand at Leon.
A stunning force knocked the gun out of Leon's hands as he himself was
knocked over. As he recovered he heard two sounds, the Bullet driving off and
more ADPolice cars finally reaching his position from the same direction he
and the Bullet had come from. What the hell did he hit me with? Shaking his
head, Leon stood, recovering his gun in the process, to greet the arriving
police vehicles. Then he turned on his radio again.
"Potter, he's coming your way and I think you'd better get out. Now."
"Don't you dare turn off your receiver again and what the hell are you
talking about?!" demanded Potter.
"He may have a bomb."
"And he TOLD you this? Are you a complete idiot??" Potter demanded.
"It's an obvious ploy so he can escape."
"Dammit, Potter! This guy is crazy! He told me all..." Leon stopped when
another voice cut in.
"This is chopper three and I have a visual on the target. He's going
around 225 km/h and climbing. Around mid-way point. Wait...something is..."
the pilot paused, then grew confused, "What the hell is going on?!"
"Get the visual!" Leon heard Potter demand. There was a few moments of
silence as Potter's team at the blockade looked at the feed they were
getting. Then...
"He's on fire??" an officer Leon didn't know said disbelievingly.
"BLUE flames?!" another cried.
"Dear GOD, it's getting bigger!!"
"He's not burning! It's fake!" Potter shouted angrily.
"The road's MELTING BEHIND HIM, Potter!" the first officer retorted.
"I can't even see him anymore!!"
On fire? Leon wondered. Melting?
"This is chopper three! I can't keep up!" The pilot's voice was
beginning to reveal his panic. "Whatever it is, I recommend YOU GET OUT OF
THERE!!"
"GET OUT, POTTER!!" Leon yelled.
"EVERYBODY, EVACUATE!!!" Potter's scream blasted the speaker; Leon hoped
it was in time.
Thirty seconds later, Leon saw a blue glow, then a dazzling white light
where he imagined the barricade had been.

Twister appeared in his hanger-sized room about three feet above the
ground, the engine of the bike roaring before quickly dying.
I hope that worked, he thought. He let the bike down to the ground and
got off, sighing with relief. Would have been interesting if someone had
stuck around, good thing nobody did. Somehow, I doubt ADPolice will think the
Blue Bullet survived. Twister stretched, then headed to his computer area,
remembering why he had done it and how.
He couldn't use his Blue Bullet persona anymore. Events tonight had
shown that all too well and he had built the bike to relax, not to be the
object of a manhunt.
Spoilsports.
He heaved a sigh. God, he was tired.
He had used the one enchantment that he had recently put on his bike.
Something he had dreamed up while finishing his new armour. As he had
accelerated past 220, the spell had started absorbing the engine's heat to
form a type of fireball around him and the bike, storing the energy.
Increased by his own TK, done by trying to heat up his own engine, the
fireball had gotten hot enough to melt through almost any obstacle. When he
had teleported, just as the front tire was about at the point where the tank
wall had melted away, all that was released, mostly straight up and down.
Mostly.
Must've left a pretty big hole, he mentally chuckled while walking into
his computer room. Then he noticed something on his screen, and swore.
He had 'visited' ADPolice by computer a few days ago and had set up a
flag that his supercomputer could monitor safely.
The flag had activated exactly one minute ago.
Arrgggghhh!! Did he HAVE to attack right NOW?!?! Damn. Twister took off
his helmet and then lifted something unseen but felt off of the table the
terminal rested on. His fingers traced the invisible object, contemplated the
other two events that had already happened that night, and sighed wryly.
Third time's the charm. But for whom?
And here he had hoped he could munch on something before this.

Chapter Nineteen
---------------

Ten minutes before-

"Sylia!" Nene cried sobbingly into the vid-phone she immediately used
when she saw no one was finally around and the elegant leader of the Knight
Sabers answered.
Sylia was a little startled at Nene's tearful state. "Nene, what...?"
"Darlene's dead!" the young red-head cried, using Twister's female name
as she usually did. "I just heard a few minutes ago! Some kind of explosion
and there's nothing left! Nothing!"
Sylia sighed, she should have called earlier. "No, Nene."
"N-no?" Nene blinked her teary eyes in confusion.
"Aside from the fact that our friend can be...elsewhere when desired, I
believe whatever has you so upset was planned for ADPolice benefit."
"Elsewhere...? Oh! I forgot!" Nene's face reddened with embarrassment.
"But why do it at all??" she demanded, wiping tears off her face angrily.
"My guess would be to make it seem as if the 'Bullet' was killed. And
succeeded, I assume, by your reaction," Sylia concluded wryly. "I doubt there
will be much of an investigation and/or search for him now."
"Could've told ME before doing it," Nene mumbled, slightly annoyed.
"Well, he did say he was planning something after the battle."
"Battle? WHAT battle?!" Nene was beginning to feel like she was missing
a lot tonight.
Smiling slightly, Sylia shook her head. "Best not to say anything now.
I'll fill you in later."
Despite her impatience, Nene released her breath in a faintly annoyed
"Alright." Then she heard a boom and felt the floor shake; something normally
not done by floors as a rule. "What was that?!" she exclaimed, looking
around.
"What's happening, Nene?" Sylia asked, concern on her face.
"Don't know! Gonna check it out." Nene reached to hang up the phone.
"Ne..." was all Sylia got out before the connection died. Quickly, she
stood up and hurried out of the room to get the others ready as Priss and
Linna had stayed at Sylia's request. The new suits were ready, and it was
time to use them.
It looked like what she had suspected was happening now, at ADPolice
headquarters.

The black Boomer with several spikes on its shoulder pads that was now
guarding the roof of ADPolice headquarters saw the two police helicopters
approaching. Its AI designated them as hostile and to be destroyed; the
Boomer's creator did not wish anybody else landing on the roof. The target
lock for the two airborne vehicles was swiftly made and the mouth laser began
glowing blue, about to fire.
It fired... and missed.
Reason?
Something unseen had hit the cyberdroid in the torso just in time,
making it stagger backwards before steadying itself. The two choppers thought
the missed beam was a warning shot and were turned away by a concerned Daley
who had seen it. With the choppers out of the way that left the Boomer's full
attention for whatever had hit it.
"Well, FANCY meeting you here, Mr. Spikey Boomer!" something said to the
android.
Someone black and armoured appeared near the edge of the roof;
apparently the one who had hit it. The Boomer's ID software came up with a
match: the Crystal Knight. However, some changes in the Knight's armour had
given a few microseconds difficulty in making his identity known to the
biotechnical terror.
Most areas of the black inflexible plate potions of the armour now had
faint silvery designs, very visible against the light absorbing armour. The
visor was still undecorated, but now the lower portion of the helmet covering
the lower face was pushed outward slightly. This was not the only addition.
There were two raised strips on the chestplate running diagonally from around
the shoulder areas to the bottom of the rib cage where the diaphragm was;
they weren't very thick and did not join. The only other major change to the
slightly different armour were additional rounded and streamlined forearm
projections that tapered off into the armour near the elbow and contained
large holes on the other higher end near the hands, obviously some kind of
new weaponry.
Despite the difference, the Boomer had recognized its new opponent.
However, the Knight's arrival had been prepared for by its Master and it was
programmed to wait. This was not what the Knight expected, and after ten
seconds of nothing happening, tried goading it.
"Hel-LO! Ah...yo? Machine o' death and mayhem?" Nothing. "Pardon me, but
you attack ADPolice choppers and ignore me? Yaright. Blow a circuit?"
Something occurred to the dark armoured figure, and he slowly said, "Or...
are... you... waiting... for..."
"HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! So! You finally realized I expected you, Crystal
Knight!" shouted a voice from the previously ignored chopper on the roof,
confident in its superiority.
The Knight turned to face Dr. Miriam. "Oh yeah, I'm just thrilled to
meet a mad scientist and his Boomer Babies. I don't suppose you care to
surrender?" He said this in a manner that showed he didn't think that very
likely. Twister saw the fury grow on the mad doctor's face and got ready for
him to order the Boomer to attack.
The doctor had other ideas. "They are not BABIES!! They are my
MASTERPIECES to destroy the Knight Sabers! YOU are not fit to face them and,"
he reached one hand into the helicopter and made a sudden movement, "if the
information I received is correct, you will be of much better use to me as
valuable research material." He laughed a little maniacally.
"What the heck are you... AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" White-hot
railroad spikes lanced into Twister's brain for an instant, making the rest
of the world forgotten in the moment of pure white agony. It vanished even as
he raised his hands to his head, but the after-effects left him reeling and
he staggered, almost going unconscious from the sudden lack of pain.

Elsewhere, on route to Genom tower, a seething Madagan, wearing a large
coat to cover her, suddenly widened her eyes in shock, then doubled over when
the pain registered.
Fortunately, being less sensitive she felt the pain less. Even still,
her driver and bodyguard Boomers reacted with concern, but she waved them off
thinking it was a result of her earlier battle.
Not so.

"Wonderful! So you DO have mental powers!" Miriam gloated as he saw the
Crystal Knight recover slightly from what he had done.
"What...the HECK...was that?!" Twister managed through his headache, he
tried to Heal it but whatever had happened seemed to have somehow inhibited
his psionic powers temporarily. He realized that this was a Very Bad Thing.
"I'm told it was an experimental device operating on the theory that it
would disrupt a person's psi ability if they had any. Since each human being
has an unique personal 'wavelength' it has to cycle through a broad range."
Dr. Miriam smiled unpleasantly. "It seems you're very gifted. All the
better."
The Knight shook his head and took a deep breath to steady himself.
"Yeah, right!" He leaped for the chopper to destroy the device.
It was a measure of how rattled Twister was to have neglected to
consider the very dangerous Boomer still on the roof. When it leaped to
prevent him from harming the doctor, he was still unable to use his psionics
and his attempt to do so allowed the Boomer to launch a fist that landed on
his torso. The Knight flew back to the edge of the roof, landing hard.
Groaning, and with one hand over his stomach, Twister got on his knees
to try to get up. He relied a lot on speed to avoid damage from Boomers, and
when unable to avoid getting hit resorting to psi. He wasn't feeling very
fast at the moment, was currently without psi, and this one had hit HARD.
Luckily the new suit had a weak force field around it; along with a bunch of
other options. He cupped his right hand as the Boomer advanced on him and
softly said, "C-Sphere."
Stored energy in his suit created a restraining globe of force, within
which air was superheated into plasma that strained to escape from the
constraining sphere. It left a faint comet-like trail when Twister threw it
hard at the enemy machine.
Not being a rocket, beam weapon, or something else familiar to the
Boomer the machine hesitated briefly, allowing the potent ball of energy to
hit and explode with a fiery blast. It threw the android violently back with
its front armour melted slightly, unfortunately with no real damage.
"Tit for tat," Twister chuckled nonetheless. Suddenly, the pain came
again. "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" he screamed.
"For doing that to my creation I'm overjoyed the machine's cycle has
come back to your wavelength again!" Dr. Miriam angrily shook his fist at the
black crystalline-armoured annoyance.
The doctor would soon be his own audience as Twister didn't think he was
going to be able to keep himself conscious. He had been tired to begin with
and this hadn't helped. Whatever that thing was doing, the effect seemed to
have doubled because of the previous time. This was comprehended through a
foggy maze of pain, as well as the fact that the Boomer would be able to have
him for lunch now that he was in no way able to fight. Twister couldn't be
captured by this madman, who knew what he would do to him? But escape seemed
difficult now.
One chance. And it promised to be painful.
"Once more, with feeling," he groggily whispered. "C-Sphere." The ball
formed as the angry Boomer rushed at him once more, but he didn't throw it at
the android. He threw it to the ground in front of himself.
Two feet away.
The blast blew him backwards and beyond the edge of the roof.
This has definitely not been a good night for me, was Twister's last
fleeting thought before darkness rushed in.
Dr. Miriam wasn't angry; his Boomer hadn't been damaged enough to matter
and the Crystal Knight's last move was that of a desperate man. The Knight
Sabers were his real objective tonight anyway, the Knight he could deal with
later.
"Forget him," he commanded his Boomer, his masterpiece. "Go into the
building and destroy everything until the Knight Sabers arrive."
As the cyberdroid started towards the door, Dr. Miriam returned to his
helicopter to continue monitoring the progress of the building.
"Soon, Knight Sabers. Soon you will be no more, proving my greatness!"
he laughed insanely.
A half hour later, all four Boomers were destroyed.
So much for greatness.

Mackie left to get the van ready, thrilled by the action but also
relieved it was over. The rest of the Sabers would have left with him except
that Priss insisted she had seen the Crystal Knight and they had gone to
investigate before coming home.
It had been a busy night. Sylia had told him to bring his suit so he
could carry Nene's suit to give the red-head once inside. He and Priss had
found her confronting a new type of combat Boomer! Priss threw herself onto
the cyberdroid while he and Nene got away. The red-head had been unusually
serious at the time, and had immediately suited up before they went to the
control room. Once there, the two had found that a Boomer had infiltrated the
computer systems. He helped her fight it, but it had been a sophisticated
program to deal with, and when Nene's friend Lisa became a target the red-
head had had to frantically counter all the death traps the Boomer kept
trying to use on the girl. But Lisa finally made it to where they were, and
Mackie was relieved to see the others arrive after beating their Boomers.
Then the fourth had activated the building's self-destruct system, and the
others took Lisa away but he and Nene stayed behind to save ADPolice. It had
come pretty close at the end; Nene had overridden the fourth Boomer's self-
destruct just in time and blew up the Boomer. He smiled, remembering Nene's
gasp of relief when they had succeeded, then her smile when she saw the
others had come back.
As he headed for the van, the young man considered the mech he had built
himself and decided it needed a lot more work, maybe even a complete
redesign. It wasn't because of poor efficiency.
It just didn't look cool enough for him now.

Chapter Twenty
--------------

"I told you I thought it was him! Hey, sleepy head," called a voice that
penetrated the darkness of oblivion. "Hey! Wake up! C'mon, you dope!"
Recognition flared. So did pain. "Shut up and let me die in peace,
Priss," Twister groaned without opening his eyes. He felt bruised and tired.
The bruises he tried to Heal, and thankfully it worked. Whatever the crazy
doctor had used didn't last long.
"He's alive," Linna sighed with relief.
A hard blow to the stomach surprised him, producing a grunt, and a
startled Twister opened his eyes. All the Knight Sabers in new-looking suits
were standing around him, or rather around the Twister-shaped hole he was
currently lying in. The pink hardsuit had been the one to stomp on his lower
torso and the foot still rested there.
"What was that for?" Twister demanded, beginning to try to rise from the
hole. Nene moved her foot away as he slowly got up.
"Not warning me beforehand about what you did with ADPolice! I was
worried!" Nene angrily told him. "And for worrying me AGAIN when I saw you
here!"
"What happened?" inquired Sylia.
"Crazy doctor used some strange device on me that disabled my psionics
and it knocked me almost into unconsciousness. I blew myself off the roof to
escape." Twister levered himself out of his hole and tried using his powers
again when his head pulsed with pain from a killer headache. He sagged a
little in relief when he found he was able to Heal a second time and the
killer headache disappeared.
"BLEW YOURSELF OFF?!?!" chorused Nene, Linna, and Priss incredulously.
"Even Priss isn't that dumb!" said a startled Nene.
"HEY!!"
Hiding her amusement as Nene and Priss started arguing, Sylia asked,
"How did you slow your fall and survive if you couldn't use psionics?"
"Air brakes, heh heh heh," Twister said in an Ernest sort of way, and
chuckled at the assorted groans. "Added feature of the new suit, just in
case. I'm not fond of falling."
"Nice. Getting decorative?" Linna said, pointing at the designs on the
black plate.
"It needed it. You four have upgraded as well I see."
"What else does it do?" asked Priss, curiously.
"Later. Where's that doctor?"
"ADPolice caught him. They'll be here soon," said Sylia.
Twister straightened at the news. "I'm going to destroy that thing he
had and ask where he got it from. Thanks for worrying about me, but I'd
better hurry. See you later!" Before anyone could protest, he vanished.
"Chee! Thinks he can do everything," Priss grumbled.
Sylia shook her head. "It's best he does it now before ADPolice get
their hands on that device."
"How's that headache you got, Sylia?" Linna queried.
"Fine. We'd better go; it's been a busy night." Sylia turned and started
walking away. The rest followed, except for one.
Linna turned when she noticed.
"Priss?"

With a grin on his face, Daley watched the helicopter belonging to the
terrorist who had taken over ADPolice headquarters land on the street. When
the blades had stopped moving the door opened and a cheerful Leon holding the
collar of a sullen Dr. Miriam stepped down the stairs with the prisoner.
"So, finally decided to join us, eh, Leon?" Daley cheerily said.
"You could say that. Been a busy night for both of us." Leon grinned.
"Well, you got my character; how did you handle yours?"
Leon shrugged. "Not mine. Potter's. And that didn't go as well as this
did."
"Now THAT'S debatable. Headquarters is a mess right now," Daley ruefully
said, then added, "I did hear some reports. Did the guy really kill himself?"
Leon nodded. "Looks like it. I talked to him before he did it and he
sounded like a real loon. Took out a large chunk of bridge doing it." The
brown-haired inspector shook his head at the waste. Then he spotted Lisa, the
captain's niece, passing by, looking slightly distracted. "Hey, Lisa!"
Lisa had been deep in her own thoughts, thinking about what had happened
in the building with her and Nene, who was a Knight Saber! Surprised at
hearding her name called, Lisa looked up and saw the trio over by the
chopper, then looked down at the camera in her hands and smiled. She raised
it into position and took a picture while the two ADPolicemen posed. Lisa
lowered it to say, "Thanks!", but she noticed the three were all staring at
something behind her. Whirling around, she saw the object of their
attentions.
Walking in a straight line towards the chopper, through startled people
that avoided him, was the Crystal Knight. Despite the change of the new
armour compared to the old, he was quickly recognized by Lisa. ADPolice did
too, but those gathered around weren't sure of what to do as the reason for
the Knight's visit was unknown. He stopped right beside Lisa and looked down
at her.
"Hello again," he greeted her. "As you can see, I'm wearing my armour
this time."
"So it WAS you!" Lisa gasped, remembering when they had literally bumped
into each other on that roof. "What are you doing here?"
His answer was directed at the frowning captive. "To get a few answers
out of Dr. Miriam here."
"Hold it!" Leon called out before the doctor could speak. "He's a
prisoner of ADPolice and, despite the help you've given in the past, you're
still a vigilante."
"Oh, come off it, Leon," the Knight said, disgusted. "All I need are a
few answers and something in that aircraft of his," the Knight calmly said.
"Why don't you use your psi-powers or are they still unavailable?" Dr.
Miriam queried maliciously.
Blinking, Leon and Daley looked down at their captive in confusion.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Leon demanded.
"Shut up, Miriam," the Knight demanded and one of his characteristic
crystal swords appeared in a hand. He advanced.
"Stop right there, Knight," Leon commanded the black plated and silvery
design-covered figure. "He's still our prisoner."
Meanwhile, Miriam was unimpressed with the Knight's display. "Looks like
you've recovered if you're using telekinesis. What will you use next?
Telepathy?" Suddenly, he smiled unpleasantly. "I see no need to continue this
idiotic farce anymore."
Puzzled and confused at the confidence in Miriam's voice, Twister
hesitated, wondering what was going on with the doctor's attitude change.
The answer came terribly quickly.
Lancing pain erupted in his mind for the third time that night and his
sword shattered into vanishing motes of sparkling dust. "AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!"
he screamed, falling to his knees and hands. Everyone except Miriam was
shocked at the agony the scream described even with the distortion the suit
normally applied to his voice. Dazed, Twister heard Leon react.
"What the hell?" Leon said, surprised at what had happened.
Instinctively he realized the cause and shook his captive. "What did you do,
asshole?"
For an answer, Miriam moved his arms surprisingly quickly and grabbed
Leon and Daley. Then, with strength that was definitely NOT normal, he hurled
them both away, sprawling, in different directions.
Someone in the crowd of police cried out, "Android!!" Weapons were
raised.
"Stop!!" The android of Dr. Miriam commanded. "Fire and I will trigger
the explosives hidden in the helicopter and destroy most of the surrounding
area, including yourselves." Understandably, the police hesitated, making the
doppleganger grin as it walked over to the gasping Knight.
So much for staying true with the anime version, Twister berated
himself, mostly for not scanning with his senses and discovering about the
fake.
"That you were fooled by my deception is no surprise," the mechanical
clone gloated, then frowned. "But that was not my goal. Those new suits were
an unknown. An unknown I shall be ready for next time." Something landing
behind it made it turn around, and then glare at the new arrival with
simulated hate.
It was a blue hardsuit. No surprise there.
"Hey, you damn machine, how about taking me on?" Priss taunted, one arm
raised in firing position.
"And can you be sure I can't detonate the copter before you destroy me?"
the android of Miriam retorted.
The blue suited Knight Saber hesitated.
Twister had seen enough. If the cycle on the damned machine was still
running he would be hit hard again and likely fall unconscious. The head. The
head had to be completely destroyed and the android was not likely to be
armoured. His armour's other weapons were still mostly untried and the way he
was feeling he doubted he could aim them properly. Suit - out. Psi - out. But
there WAS one thing he could use...
"Well? What will you do? Or should I detonate it right now?" the android
mocked.
"Bastard machine..." Priss' arm wavered, then firmed for some unknown
reason. When she spoke next, it sounded like she was smiling as she said,
"You know what I'll do?"
The android's brows furrowed; this was strange behaviour for a human.
"I think I'll watch."
"What?!?"
"MOUKO TAKABISHA!!!" cried the Crystal Knight from behind the android
and before the machine could do anything the ki power Twister had gathered
between his hands was unleashed in as powerful a blast was he could make it
at the moment, aimed right at the copy's head and upper body. The force of
the almost point-blank ki blast slammed into the android and the metal head
was blown apart into a million pieces, thrown up into the sky along with most
of the upper torso. Headless, what was left of the body fell to the ground.
Priss lowered her arm and watched Twister sigh with relief. "Was that
another one of those weird moves?"
"Yeah," he tiredly answered, standing up slowly. "As much ki as I could
manage that quickly and narrowly anyhow." He'd have to thank Ranma again for
teaching that move to him.
"I like it."
The Knight snorted audibly in amusement. "Surprise there. You'd better
get going," he added seeing the police force around them start to lose their
hesitation. "And thanks; I owe you one."
"And you sound like you're dead on your feet," she retorted. "Don't
worry, I'll collect eventually," Priss answered him in a devilish tone.
"Maybe when I get you back for those comments earlier." And then she
activated her jumping jets, swiftly leaping away.
"Oh, joy," Twister muttered. "Why do I feel this sinking sensation?"
"Hey, Knight!"
Startled, the armoured psionist looked at the helicopter and saw Leon
waving at him. Remembering about the device that had disabled him, he rapidly
strode over to the ADPolice officer. Twister noticed some people moving
around inside the chopper that must have ran inside right after the Miriam
android was destroyed.
Leon saw his glance and nodded inside. "Bomb squad. That thing was right
about the explosives."
"Great. Thought that it was going to blow it up anyway so I took it
out." The Knight shrugged. "Sorry, us vigilantes can be mean." He tried
Healing the headache he had and got a faint response, lessening the pain
slightly. It appeared the device's effects didn't last very long past one of
its cycles.
The lieutenant gave him a wry look. "I noticed. You do realize that the
only reason I'm not ordering your arrest right now is that I don't think I
could stop you from getting away. True?" He chuckled at the Knight's helmet
looking innocently up at the sky. "I'll let somebody else tackle that job,
thank you very much."
"Hey, Leon," Daley called from inside the copter. "I think I've got some
really strange piece of equipment here. We had to disconnect it before we
could get to the explosives."
A strong sense of danger began building in Twister halfway through
Daley's message. "Oh, SHOOT!!" Twister cried, and before anybody could stop
him, rushed inside the helicopter and came out immediately with a large metal
box that had a few lights, displays, and wires hanging from it. With all his
might and recovering telekinetic power he threw the box into the air. He
stood rigid as he kept accelerating the box upwards with his mind as much as
he could until....
BOOOOOOM!!!
A large explosion safely far above them marked the end of the device
that had given him so much trouble.
"I'm getting REALLY annoyed at this Miriam character," Daley stated as
he looked up at the fading explosion from the door of the helicopter.
"Better make sure of the android's body as well," said the Knight and he
turned to the remains. Holding his two hands together straight out in front
of him and all fingers pointing at the target, Twister said, "Laser Lance."
Ten small laser beams leaped from each of the black fingertips and
merged into a powerful, single one where a glowing torus had appeared a
hand's span from the closest fingertip. With deliberate precision, Twister
sliced apart the lifeless form of the android into harmless chunks of metal.
He noticed his armour beginning to get heavier so he was relieved that he had
finished in time and stopped the beam; the armour started losing weight again
as it gathered ambient light to recover from the power loss.
"New armour's more powerful I see," Leon commented, a tinge of envy and
frustration in his voice.
"Yeah, and I'd better get cloaking. Good-bye." With that last word, the
Knight vanished, startling many ADPolice who had been watching him. "Oh,
yeah," his disembodied voice called. "Thanks, guys! And I won't destroy your
pictures, Lisa," the Knight added with a chuckle, making the young
photographer start, then flush with embarrassment. The young girl thought
that it was lucky for him that she was leaving tomorrow or else she'd REALLY
work on finding out who the Knight was!
"Why is it that everybody else in this crazy city has better equipment
than us?" Leon asked the empty air.
"They don't have to worry about boards and politicians," Daley answered
with a sigh, coming up beside him.
Leon echoed him and leaned on the helicopter. "I wish we had better
stuff."
"Be careful what you wish for, Leon," whispered the Knight's voice,
right by his ear.
"HOLY!!" The ADPolice lieutenant jerked away, caught totally off-guard
and surprising Daley.
"Leon?!? What's wrong??"
"He... I..." Leon waved haltingly at empty air for a few seconds before
sighing in defeat. "Never mind. Let's get this mess cleaned up."
"Riiight." Daley still looked at his partner strangely as he walked
away.
Levitating ten feet above Leon, Twister quietly laughed.
Only one thing left to do today, then I think I'll collapse into sleep.
What a day. He sighed. I never even got a spare moment to think about what
Sylia told me. Tomorrow then; I'm too wasted now.
He teleported home for some much needed sleep.

Doctor Miriam angrily slammed his fist on the monitor screen that had
been receiving his duplicate's visual transmissions and cracked it slightly.
"No!! How could they have ALL been defeated?!?" he demanded.
Yanda calmly looked at him. "It appeared that the Knight Sabers suits
had been upgraded since the last time you collected data on them. You did not
account for that, and so they were destroyed. You had better luck with the
Knight but he was the one who destroyed your copy with one of his UPGRADED
suit's weapons."
Still furious, Miriam could not deny the ring of truth in her words. She
was right, he'd neglected the possibility of upgrades and that had been the
flaw in his plan. He was suddenly glad the woman had insisted on moving out
of his factory and moving to a safer locale; it HAD been his face on the
double and no doubt ADPolice, and worse, Genom, would be looking for him. But
even with his current safety, he was dissatisfied.
"Where did you get that device that took care of the Knight's psi
power?" he asked, that had been the lure Yanda had used to get him to accept
substituting a double for him. The possibilities for such power was ENORMOUS!
IF he could use them himself, which the woman had hinted at.
"An... old friend of my master's made it," Yanda replied.
"Master?? So you are not alone; I thought not," Miriam smirked
knowingly, he had scanned the woman and knew her to be a Boomer, albeit of an
unusual design. That made him sure that there was someone else behind the
scene. "I agreed to help you if my plan failed. What will I be doing?"
"WE," she emphasized, "will continue on a similar track to your plan but
with some... changes which will necessitate some research before we act. Most
of the technology we possess but there are flaws that need to be corrected."
"And that is why you contacted me?" Miriam felt pleased that his
greatness was recognized by this mysterious Boomer.
"After we discovered your... activities with the Knight Sabers I did
some checking and found you quite acceptable."
"WHAT are we going to DO?? Destroy the Knight Sabers and the Crystal
Knight? And WHO is your 'master'?" Miriam demanded.
"Not destroy, exactly," Yanda answered him, wearing an unreadable smile.
"Especially not the Knight, who's strength in psi would be most valuable if
controlled...somehow." Miriam frowned from the, yet another, hint from the
woman offerings. "As for my master..." She stood up abruptly and, surprised
at the action, Miriam echoed her. "We will meet him now." She turned for the
door as it opened and stepped out of the room, a curious Miriam following
after. Yanda smiled as he caught up with her.
"I think you'll be quite...surprised."

Chapter Twenty-One
------------------

It was a semi-cloudy morning outside and the view from the Genom
elevator was spectacular; Madagan hadn't even noticed on the way up. Standing
in front of Quincy's desk, she was reliving with cold fury the encounter
between her and the Crystal Knight, aka the Blue Bullet. She had slipped into
doing this when the Chairman had dropped into silence for a lengthy period of
time.
"Miss Madagan."
Quincy's voice startled her into snapping out of her reverie and
refocused in his face. "Sir?"
"Thinking about last evening?" There was a neutral expression on his
face.
Cheeks coloring that she had been that obvious, Madagan nodded. "Yes,
sir. Forgive me for asking, but when will a new suit be ready?"
"A few months, if not years."
"WHAT?!" The purple haired executive stepped right up to the desk in her
anger. "WHY??"
"Miss Madagan, please restrain yourself." Quincy sounded calm, but the
faint golden glow in his employee's eyes unnerved him slightly. It was
fortunate that mind-reading hadn't been one of her surprising new abilities.
Seeing Madagan realize her lack of control, flushing slightly, and settling
down reassured him. It would be a pity to dispose of such a loyal, and now
much more valuable, employee. "Such pointless hatred towards the one who
likely helped you to obtain your new powers and saved your life will result
in nothing good. Please remain objective."
Madagan hated the truths that Quincy brought up, but nodded slowly to
acknowledge her compliance. "I'll... try. But why, sir? He could become such
a threat!"
"He has already become so as of last night, and I do not speak of your
ill-fated confrontation, which I now see as a rash move on our part."
Madagan was puzzled. "Sir?"
"Every Genom computer that held any information and/or data about the
research that created your suit had those particular files deleted and made
unrecoverable. There was no trace of an intruder other than that." Quincy
leaned forward onto his desk. "And I do mean EVERY computer since all those
involved were connected via the Mega-Tokyo Net."
"Every..." Madagan was speechless. "How?"
Quincy leaned back into his chair, hands pressing together as he looked
at her stunned reaction. "Obviously our adversary has means at his disposal
we have not yet seen. Powerful ones. I am disturbed greatly by this,
especially with our current dealings with him."
"He must be able to go through our systems with ease," Madagan
half-whispered.
"We are changing all security codes as I speak. The magneto-optical disk
backups are unharmed of course, but the fact remains that he broke in once;
he could do so again and that is a fact that we cannot ignore. Until we know
more of his capabilities I will not have research continue in that area as he
may utilize other more... effective measures. Therefore," Quincy eyed Madagan
with a steely gaze, "for the moment _Genom_ will no longer have any
involvement in operations concerning the Crystal Knight, or the Knight Sabers
for that matter as there appears to be some connection with the two. At least
until we have more useful information." He held up a hand to stop Madagan's
furious protest. "Until then, what you do with your free time is up to you."
She did not miss the insinuation of that last part and smiled slightly,
but with pleasure. "I was planning on visiting a certain store tonight
anyhow, sir."
He nodded slowly in understanding, but his hard eyes told her that she
would be unsupported if she got into trouble.
Madagan didn't really care; she was going to get back at the Crystal
Knight somehow, and knew just where to begin. The little red-haired bitch had
to know something and she was going to find out what.

WHACK! "Take that, you red-scaled dummy. Hi, Anri."
Sylvie looked up from the cash register and saw Priss greeting Anri by
Charcoal, the guardian dragon statue. "Why do you do that to Char, Priss?"
she asked the singer from across the room with an amused smile. Also, it
appeared Sylia had come with her for some reason.
"Hi, Sylvie." Priss came over to the silver-haired sexaroid, Sylia
following, and shrugged. "Because it startled me the first time I saw it; I
like getting back at it. Is Darlene here?"
Sylvie grinned. "Sleeping Beauty is still upstairs in her apartment."
Priss looked at her oddly after the un-Sylvie-like crack, then observed,
"You've been hanging around her WAY too long."
"Occupational hazard."
After the two finished laughing, Sylia said, "We'd better go up." And
without another word entered the passage that led upstairs. Priss shrugged
helplessly at a puzzled Sylvie and followed.
She caught up to Sylia when she entered Darlene's room. It looked like
the red-head hadn't cared much about being too neat last night because
clothes were scattered across the floor. Sylia was standing on the side of
the bed that wasn't against the wall, eyebrows arched high and a small smile
of amusement on her face.
Darlene's apartment had a lot of average-price furniture in it, and that
included the bed, except for the fact that it had sinfully soft-looking and
very expensive covers and pillows. The occupant was smiling angelically,
having wrapped herself up in the luxurious sheets, cocoon-like.
"Y'know, it's almost a pity to wake her up," Priss noted, observing the
scene with a smirk.
"True. But we'd better." That said, Sylia reached down and gently nudged
the slumbering form. Twice.
Eyes cracked open slightly and the smile vanished as Darlene turned her
head to blearily look at her summoner from slumber. "Sylia?" she mumbled,
then spied Priss grinning at her. "Priss? God, I must've really overslept if
you're awake." She smirked sleepily and then yawned.
"Very funny," Priss grumped, then smirked in turn and said, "NICE bed,
Darlene. What do the men think when you bring them over?" She grinned as she
dodged the pillow missile thrown at her. The red-head glared at her from her
now semi-sitting position revealing that she was wearing only a t-shirt and
boxers, a fact that amused both Sylia and Priss; the inappropriate underwear
must have been uncomfortable.
"Hardy har har. That's funny. NOT." Darlene self-consciously shifted the
sheets around herself again, trying not to think of how red her face must be.
"Why are you guys here anyhow?" she asked, looking at Sylia.
"We can't stay long, but I wanted to check up on you." She sat on the
side of the bed. "Did you think about what I told you yesterday at all?"
Darlene snorted a negative. "When? After I went back to the cave I
traipsed through the Genom network and obliterated all psi-research they had
on their computers. That'll make 'em jumpy. Then I came back home and barely
got my clothes off and the covers over me before I fell asleep."
"Cuddled up nicely in it too," Priss added, then dodged another pillow.
"How about now?" Sylia asked Darlene, ignoring the singer.
"I..." Darlene looked down, her face showing signs of the internal
conflict that suddenly raged inside. "I don't know what to think."
Priss knew she was being left out of something. "About what?"
Still looking down at the bed, the red-head mumbled, "Sylia said my
aging has slowed a lot."
"Huh?!" Priss' eyes widened with surprise. "That's good, isn't it?
You'll live beyond two hundred years or something?"
"More like thirty thousand," Darlene whispered, sudden depression
crashing down on her.
The singer froze in shock, unable to comprehend what her friend had told
her. Thirty thousand years of life??
"It may be much longer, Darlene," Sylia gently added, "remember I
mentioned that your cells are not dying as they should, or at least being
replaced immediately. It's not regeneration, it's something else."
Darlene's face was blank when she lifted it at this news. "Perfect, now
I can watch more people grow old and die." Her eyes began to fill with tears.
"Add that maybe I'm not just AGING." She clenched her hands in the sheets,
and she cried out, "Maybe I'm MUTATING!! INTO SOMETHING HORRIBLE!!"
Suddenly, Darlene was using her fingernails to gouge her arms, making
bloody trails in her skin, eyes wide with sudden self-loathing and terror.
Sylia quickly tried restraining her to prevent her damaging herself further,
Priss jumping in hurriedly because the red-head was a lot stronger than she
looked. Both flailed at Darlene's wildly moving arms and shouted at her to
stop. Sylia managed to land a stinging slap on the terrified young woman's
face through the confusion.
That shocked Darlene out of her panic, and the energy went out of her;
sobbing as they held her arms gently but firmly, unsure of her mercurial mood
at the moment.
Then Sylvie ran into the room and took in the scene. "What's going on
with all the shouting? What's wrong with Darlene?"
"Sylvie," Priss sighed with relief. "We might need your help holding
her."
"I'm..." Darlene sniffled a bit and took a deep breath before trying
again. "I'm okay... I think."
"Are you sure?" Sylia asked, the sympathy in her voice surprising Priss.
At Darlene's slow nod, she released the arm she had and Priss hesitantly
copied her.
Looking at the bloody gouges in her arms, Darlene winced, feeling the
stinging pain now that the panic had worn off. "I'm a mess. I didn't think
I'd react that badly. I'm sorry."
"DON'T!" Priss shouted angrily, startling Darlene. "Do NOT apologize! At
least not for wigging out like that, I know I'D react badly to that kind of
news myself so don't get down on yourself. That's what started you off in the
first place."
"Sor... Okay," Darlene corrected herself and gave Priss a sheepish grin.
Then she looked at Sylvie, who appeared to be half-concerned, half-relieved.
"You'd better go back down and reassure Anri. I'll be down in a little
while?" she said in a querying manner to Sylia, who nodded. "Working should
get my mind off more... disturbing things."
Sylvie nodded, a bit relieved. "I'll see you in the store then." As she
turned to leave, Priss came up and walked with the sexaroid out the bedroom
door. Darlene and Sylia heard Sylvie say, "What happened?" and heard Priss'
faint reply, "Darlene changed a bit more than we thought..."
Sylia nodded at the fresh gashes. "Do you want some warm water?"
Darlene shook her head. "I'll do it later; it's not too bad when you
know you can fix them instantly and I've had much worse, as you well know."
She grinned self-consciously at the leader of the Knight Sabers who nodded in
agreement.
"Have you realized that your emotional state in your two forms produce
some very different reactions?"
"What was your first clue? That show I put on a few minutes ago?"
Darlene said with heaps of sarcasm, then had the grace to blush under Sylia's
reproving gaze. "Okay, I know about it." She paused, then amended her
admission. "At least, I knew but didn't want to think about it. It's a little
disturbing when you find out that you're not acting the way you used to.
Especially doing something major you wouldn't normally do and not realizing
that until later. Like challenging Leon to a drinking match." She winced a
little at that particular recollection. "But at the time it didn't seem odd."
Sylia nodded in understanding. "From what I've seen I doubt getting you
very mad in your male body would be an easy task, and when you were it
wouldn't be blind anger but a controlled one. It's how you are right now that
I'm worried about."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You seem to be divided into opposites in some respects..." she trailed
off, letting the red-head get the obvious conclusion on her own.
Memory flashed in Darlene and she recalled the time when she had just
arrived in Mega-Tokyo. In the fight with Steelfist a comment from him had
sparked something red-hot within her and she had lashed out instinctively
when he thought her distracted; his cybernetic arm was broken in half by her.
And this was when the differences in her behaviour were less noticeable.
She shivered. "I guess I see what you mean, but that's only happened
once and I'd never hurt my friends like that."
Sylia caught something from her voice. "You sound very positive about
that." Something about that was odd, but the reason seemed to elude her.
"Of course I am," Darlene continued with more cheer, "aside from martial
arts practices and fun." A thoughtful look came over her suddenly. "I
wonder..."
"What?"
"This aging thing. I might've known somehow." THAT idea brought very
uncertain emotions to the fore.
"What makes you think that?"
"Well, think about it; I've been here over a year and a half and I'm
only now starting to feel a faint but real desire to go back to the place I
came here from and see a certain face...s. That's a long time to wait, don't
you figure?"
"It might be possible, but," Sylia sighed, some frustration evident,
"anything could be concerning you, or so I'm beginning to believe." She stood
up and smiled down at her friend, who seemed to be trying not to laugh at
what Sylia had just admitted. "I do have to go now." She got to the door
before stopping and turning around. "And... I too know something of having to
adapt to changes." There was something in her eyes that told Darlene that
Sylia believed the red-head knew a little about what she meant.
The young woman in the bed nodded back. "Yeah. Thanks, Sylia, for
finding out." She smiled faintly and Sylia returned it before slipping away.
Darlene sighed and flipped away the covers. She'd slept long enough.
Time to get to work.

Priss and Sylvie greeted Sylia downstairs.
"So, how is she?" Priss asked.
"She appears to be accepting it now. Normally to do it that quickly
would concern me, but..."
The singer nodded, "Yeah, she can get into some heavy downs but she
usually recovers damn fast. Still," she frowned, "that self-mutilation she
tried to pull worried me, and how come you didn't tell me and the others
about that longer lifespan stuff?"
"I just told her last night, when she was Twister." Sylia frowned,
vexed. "That gender change still gives me headaches. Anyway, I was more
worried about how she would react as Darlene, with good reason."
"So it's true about her? Darlene's almost immortal?" Sylvie queried,
intrigued.
"As far as I can tell."
"Strange. A few well-made Boomers nowadays could outlive their owners by
several generations or even much longer. Then Darlene comes along and turns
it the other way around." Strangely, Sylvie looked sad after she finished.
Priss scratched the back of her neck. "Y'know, I'm not sure if I should
feel envious or sorry for her. Especially after what she said about watching
people grow old. Life can be a real bitch."
"Life is duty, duty is forever," Sylia commented to nobody in
particular, before nodding to Priss that they should go. "We have to be
going, Sylvie. I may phone you later to see how she is." When the silver-
haired woman nodded, both Sabers left.
Anri came over after finishing talking with a customer. "What was the
matter with Darlene, Sylvie?"
Her friend sighed. "It's a short story but it feels longer..."

Chapter Twenty-Two
------------------

THAT EVENING...

"Ahhhhhhhhhh," Darlene sighed out as she stretched. "Closing time at
last."
Sylvie and Anri, both standing in front of her, laughed a little at the
relief embedded into the red-head's voice. "Today wasn't THAT bad," Anri
teasingly objected, Sylvie nodded her agreement with a smile.
"Yeah, well, I had a busy night yesterday," Darlene rolled her eyes at
the understatement, "and I think being very, very lazy for the rest of the
day will help me a lot."
Anri, surprisingly, came up and hugged Darlene. "You'll be okay, won't
you?" she asked after drawing back a little and looking directly at the
other's startled blue eyes.
"It was pretty rough news," Sylvie said, echoing Anri's concern.
Darlene sighed slightly and gazed at the other two's faces. "I think so.
It's just going to take a while to get used to the concept, I guess." She
shrugged, then flashed a grin. "At least I'll have a lot of time on my
hands." The two sexaroids grinned, both in relief and at her comment.
"I'd better lock the front," Anri suggested, waiting for Darlene's nod
before heading for the entrance.
"How are you two's lives getting along anyhow?" Darlene asked Sylvie,
then added with a grin, "Need a raise?"
"Gee, thanks, Boss," the brown-haired woman said, and grinned at the
other's level glare. "Just kidding. Actually, that would be nice. We really
should get out more. Like another person I know." The last statement directed
at Darlene was not a subtle hint.
"So I don't get out that much..." Darlene began to protest.
"LET ME GO!!!"
Anri's angry and frightened shout immediately caught the two's attention
and, startled, they saw the reason why she had yelled. A very tall and wide
man that practically screamed 'Boomer' held the blue-haired sexaroid in
baseball glove-sized hands as he entered the store. She struggled helplessly
in the steel grip as she was brought in, feet dangling uselessly above the
ground. Two more men of equal size, also obviously Boomers, entered the store
as Sylvie and Darlene watched by the cash register, both wondering what was
going on and what to do about it. Then another person confidently entered the
store. One with purple hair.
"Not again," Darlene groaned, but quietly enough so that only Sylvie
heard. The red-head had recognized Madagan instantly. "Please, no, I've had
enough for a while."
The Genom exec didn't oblige her as she approached the two, a Boomer
flanking her on each side and the one holding Anri standing slightly behind.
Madagan was smiling, which was a bad sign to those in her path. She stopped
a few feet away before speaking, looking at Darlene and Sylvie with mocking
pleasure.
"Well, now. I was hoping to get more information about the Crystal
Knight, but this," she nodded in such a way as to indicate Anri, "was
certainly more than I expected so soon. Having a sexaroid..." Stopping to
look speculatively at Sylvie as a sudden thought occurred to her, Madagan's
smile grew even more. "Make that TWO sexaroids, I should have noticed the
first time I was here, is illegal. Preoccupied, I'd imagine. Did you know
what they were?" she asked Darlene.
"I don't own them. They work for me and are my friends," Darlene ground
out, angry from having her domain invaded in this manner. She could tell
Sylvie was restraining herself from trying to rescue Anri. Fortunately, the
other sexaroid didn't seem to be in any immediate danger.
"'Friends'?" mocked Madagan, making Darlene angrier yet. "So you DID
know. Did you know the one in MY 'friend's' hands used to work for a
monster?"
"Largo manipulated her," Darlene spat out, not caring much that perhaps
she was telling Madagan more than she should. "It's not her fault. Besides,
you don't need to be built to be a monster." Her furious glare and tone left
no doubt on whom she meant. Sylvie sucked in her breath in sudden fear.
Madagan narrowed her eyes and her smile vanished. "Monster? Then I
shouldn't disappoint you." She shot out her arm as her eyes glowed brightly,
sending out the most powerful wave of telekinetic force she could manage. It
sent a surprised Sylvie flying backwards until she smashed against a wall
hard enough to stagger her and then fall to the ground.
Darlene had ignored the wave completely as it had no effect on her.
"Sylvie!" Anri and Darlene cried in unison.
Total shock was on Madagan's face after seeing the red-head ignore her
psionic power. "Impossible! How did..?"
Darlene had thought that she was over her frustrations and confusion
from the previous night and this morning, but seeing one of her friends hurt
again by Madagan was the final straw of the haystack that had landed on her
back recently. Still, she didn't dare cast a spell, that much sense was
available in her growing anger.
Instead, she summoned her sword, uncaring of the others' reactions.
Every being in the room was shocked when a purplish glow appeared above
one of Darlene's hands and quickly became a fairly ornate sword that she
gripped firmly, fury burning in her eyes. "I have more in common with the
Crystal Knight than you suspect, Madagan!" she shouted, using the Genom
exec's name like a vile curse. "I may not use psionics, but I DO have other
options available!"
This was enough for Madagan. "Stop her!" she demanded, and her Boomers
reacted to her wishes, bursting and expanding into their combat mode.
Darlene didn't wait; she jumped over the three in front and swung at the
as yet untransformed Boomer, who still held an astonished Anri. The enchanted
sword was up to the task of cleaving though the Boomer's arm, the separation
making it involuntarily release Anri as it bellowed its pain. The blue-haired
sexaroid scrambled out of the way and tried to reach the groaning and rising
Sylvie. Darlene leaped away before the other two Boomers could catch the
red-head.
"Stop her!" Madagan repeated her command. "But don't kill her!"
This was easier said than done. Darlene was in a real rage and she was
venting all her frustrations upon the three Boomers trying to catch her.
Unfortunately, they were destroying most of the store as the incredibly agile
and quick martial artist dodged the powerful C-55 Boomers, who did not use
their more lethal weapons because of Madagan's order. Display glass and
artwork were smashed and littered the floor.
The three-on-one wasn't giving Darlene much opportunity to strike back
with the sword, which the Boomers now regarded as the deadly weapon it was.
The strikes with her feet, despite the way they actually dented her
opponents' armour, didn't do much. It was a particularly large piece of glass
that was her undoing. Darlene was preparing to use a handspring to dodge once
more, but her hand was stabbed through by the glass piece on the floor. She
cried out in pain and stopped long enough for a Boomer to slam its fist into
her stomach, sending her flying into and through a still undamaged display
case. The wall finally stopped her with a jarring thud and she dropped to the
ground with a groan, cut deeply and scratched all over.
"DARLENE!" screamed Sylvie and Anri.
Madagan smiled, relieved that her Boomers had won. "You two," she
ordered the one-armed Boomer and one of the undamaged two, "guard these two
sexaroids and make sure they don't do anything. Boomer F-128, get the owner
of this store before she recovers."
There were a lot of questions she wanted to ask this mysterious young
woman.

Pain.
Anger.
No.
RAGE!
The memories rushed though her mind. Recollections of what Madagan had
done to her and friends. This confrontation. The fight. Losing. The pain.
Everything seemed to be escalating her fury as she gasped helplessly.
Using the Crystal Knight armour was the farthest thing from Darlene's
mind. She had beat Madagan even without the armour. Male. She didn't need it
now! Didn't need it! If she could've trust her spells... DAMMNNN!! She needed
more power!
Madagan's pleased voice infuriated her further, anger increasing to a
previously unknown degree and she trembled on the floor, paralysed from rage,
as the Boomer approached to catch her. To put her at Madagan's mercy.
NO!!!
SHE! WILL! NOT! WIN!!! was Darlene's last furious coherent thought.
In the exploding nova of mindless fury that then went off, Darlene
REACHED.
She found something, instinctively, and drew it into herself.
It was what she wanted, what she desired.
Be careful what you wish for.
The Power came, roaring into her being like wildfire. Darlene screamed
at the burning felt through every fibre of her being. This... this Wild Magic
was totally new to her--and it was TOO MUCH!! She couldn't handle the wild,
chaotic energies that battered at her inexperienced will, so unlike the more
orderly spells she usually cast. She c-couldn't... couldn't...
And then...
...her sanity shattered.

Something wasn't right.
Madagan could almost taste it, but could see no cause for her senses to
disturb her so. The two sexaroids were holding each other, one still dazed
from the Genom exec's attack, the other seemed disinclined to cause any
trouble. Madagan saw that the surprising, and annoying, red-headed owner
which was the reason she had come would soon be brought to her and then she
would get the answers she wanted.
So what was wrong? Why was this feeling of danger growing?
Boomer F-128 reached the wounded female and roughly yanked her head up
to see if the female was conscious.
Madagan recoiled in shock and involuntarily took a step back. The young
woman's gaze practically BURNED with hatred. She'd never seen anybody with
that much anger in their eyes, never thought anybody could do so.
Then the emotion changed, and Darlene's eyes and face showed, for a
brief moment, utter shock. In that brief moment her eyes went from normal, to
emanating a faint violet glow, and finally to a purple blaze of light.
Then the red-head screamed.
As if following the scream, light with that same intense purple hue
exploded outwards from the girl's body, blinding Madagan for a moment before
her eyes cleared. The gasps of surprise from the two sexaroids told her this
was new to them too. When she saw once more, Madagan began to understand why
that feeling of dread had grown as she saw, with disbelieving eyes, what had
happened.
Boomer F-128 was frozen like a statue, because now it WAS a statue; a
statue of clear, shining glass. That was flat out impossible! Then she saw
who had done the insanity, and for the first time that night, started to feel
afraid.
For Darlene was outlined in purple flame, flame that came from her body
but did not burn. She had changed too. Time seemed to have struck her with a
vengeance, for now she appeared around the mid-twenties and as she shakily
stood, had grown taller and filled out more. The aging did not stop. The
expression on Darlene's face was the worst part; she seemed to be in quite a
bit of pain, but a twisted grin on her face made it look like she was
revelling in it.
The aging accelerated, and Darlene's clothes changed to match, subtly
enough so that they fit. A strange thing that occurred to Madagan's stunned
mind was that Darlene's face, while becoming more mature, had stayed
youthful. Her hair, however, changed. A white streak appeared in the middle,
and rapidly grew until her hair was completely white. Madagan now judged her
around seventy years old, but the woman still seemed to have retained her
youth while at the same time becoming more mature, and taller. Faster. Her
hair had grown long as well, almost down to her waist.
Then, at some undefined point, something new and even more dramatic
happened.
The face, that had remained mostly unchanged save from maturity,
altered. It lengthened suddenly, became more angular. Eyebrows and eyes
shifted. Her hair, once white, gained color once more, but now that of the
same purple that shone in the flames around her, that burned from her eyes.
The body lengthened as well in a sudden growth spurt and settled into a more
slender and graceful shape. Clothes rapidly morphed into a half-gold,
half-silver armour weave that covered her chest and torso, looking flexible
and strong. Pants of a purple shade to match boots of the same color were
created. Sleeves and gloves with no fingers came into being and provided the
same function and color for the arms. A slightly shimmering cloak of a darker
purple finished the new outfit.
Then the flames surrounding her died out.
The transformed Darlene breathed deeply, then giggled in a disturbing
way. She swept her still-blazing gaze around the messy room, even her
movements seemed to be different, smooth. When she brushed her newly grown
hair back, everyone saw the pointed ears.
Darlene looked like an elf!
Her gaze locked on the statue that had been F-128. She hit the glassy
chest with a casual backhand and shattered the statue into dust. All save the
head, which floated in mid-air until Darlene raised a hand underneath it and
lowered it to her eye level.
"Alas, poor Boomer," she spoke sadly in a newly musical voice. "I knew
you not." Then she cocked her head. "And I don't give a damn." Darlene
dropped it and the head exploded into countless shards on the floor.
Clutching Anri tight to her, Sylvie whispered, "What's happened to you,
Darlene? What's going on?"
"Ah, Madagan," Darlene said in that new voice of hers, smiling
cheerfully. "'Stop her?' 'But don't kill her?' Tsk, tsk, tsk." She waved a
disapproving finger at the still stunned Genom exec who was now around the
same height as her. "The second command is not yours to decide. And the
first... well, let's just say that's going to be really, really,
reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaalllllly hard to pull off." Reaching down gracefully, she
retrieved her sword. It had slipped from her fingers when the destroyed
Boomer had punched her through the display case. Once grasped in her altered
hand, the sword grew and lengthened to fit her new size.
"What..." Her voice broke so Madagan tried again. "What are you?"
"What am I? Hmmmmmmm. Good question." Darlene waved and suddenly a
mirror appeared beside her, with nothing supporting it. Carefully, she peered
at her reflection, turning one way, then another; smiling, then frowning;
then brushing her long hair back to smile at her new ears. She did a complete
pirouette before making the mirror vanish. Satisfied, she turned back to a
slightly annoyed Madagan. "It appears that I've become an elf," she said,
stating the obvious with a smile. Then her expression hardened, the still
blazing orbs narrowed, and the smile became an extremely wicked and
disturbing smile that showed her teeth a little. Madagan's neck hairs went
straight up.
"And, my dear, right now I am a very, very pissed off elf."

Chapter Twenty-Three
--------------------

Everyone in the store stood still, a moment of indecision shared by all.
The Boomers were unsure of what to do; they waited for Madagan's orders. She
herself was internally debating whether to attack, talk, or just start
running. Sylvie and Anri stayed seated on the floor and continued to stare at
what their friend had become.
But the transformed Darlene acted first.
"Madagan's Downfall, Act II!" she cried gleefully, whipping her sword
level and extended in one hand, pointing at a previously ignored object of
the store. "Cue protector dragon! AWAKEN, CHARCOAL!!"
A solid bolt of intense purple energy in the shape of a double helix
lanced down the mystic blade and roared through the air before hitting the
red draconic statue seated in front of the store's entrance. Coursing lines
of light raced around and within the unliving form when it was struck,
spreading the purple energy into every bit of matter that comprised the
scaled sentinel. Everyone save the grinning Darlene and the Boomers flinched
away from the bright display.
Then it stopped.
For a moment nothing happened.
The tail twitched.
Wings stirred, obviously no longer merely metal.
Suddenly, the head rose as the magical beast stretched its neck from
side to side; Madagan watched in disbelief and stunned horror. Once frozen
eyes blinked slowly, then locked onto the purple-clad form of Darlene, a deep
rumbling purr thrummed almost inaudibly from the beast's throat.
"Yay!!" Darlene cheered enthusiastically, jumping up and throwing her
arms wide, releasing the sword and letting it fly through the air to imbed
itself in a far wall with a loud 'THWOK!!!'. She pointed at the Boomers, and
whooped, "Look, Char! Chew toys! Sic 'em!"
Immediately, the dragon swivelled its head to focus on the blue androids
and roared deafeningly prior to leaping up from the position it had been
crafted into and charging the Boomers. It was unnaturally swift for something
that large and one Boomer was caught in the creature's forearms, claws
digging through weapon resistant armour with little difficulty, before most
of the upper body was bitten off by a vicious chomp of dagger-like teeth.
"Do you like him?" Darlene eagerly asked an ashen Madagan. "He certainly
doesn't play with his food like some kids, but then, maybe he finds Boomers
tasty. I wonder if he'd like Genom executives," Darlene thought about it for
a moment, then shook her head, smiling evilly. "Nah! I want you ALL to
myself."
That did it. Madagan's waning confidence vanished, and she took one step
towards the exit. Then another. Then she broke into a totally panicked dash
for the exit, eyes wide with panic and not looking behind her. Darlene
watched curiously as she raced across the store and, after flinging both
doors open, running away outside.
Meanwhile, the other Boomer had tried its built-in machine guns in the
arms to little effect against the enchanted metallic scales of the red dragon
while it finished off the first Boomer. As the wyrm turned to it, the
Boomer's chest flipped up to reveal the lens array of the heat weapon inside.
Char lunged forwards, mouth gaping wide as lens began to glow. The weapon
fired just before the maw of the beast reached its prey. Unfortunately, the
Boomer did not know something about colors of dragons.
Char was a red dragon.
Red dragons LOOOOVE heat.
The outcome was predictable. The Boomer fired uselessly and Char bit
into the mid-section, whereas the portions above the upper chest and those of
the legs flew away from the region the dragon devoured hungrily. The long
tongue wrapped around the pieces left and drew them into the hungry abyss
awaiting.
As the dragon licked its chops, Darlene ran over and hugged the beast
she had brought to life around the neck. "GOOD boy!" The dragon rumbled in
pleasure. She released the hug and turned towards the fearful sexaroids. The
sight of them staring at her like a stranger changed her mood instantly and
Darlene became morose as she approached.
When they shuffled back slightly, she stopped. "So. Afraid, are you? ARE
YOU?!!" she screamed at the two on the floor as they stared wide-eyed at her.
"Perhaps you should be, perhaps not." Darlene turned away from them, and
stood silently, the slightly shimmering cloak stirring faintly.
"Wha..." Sylvie stopped and swallowed nervously; something was very
wrong here. "What's happened to you, Darlene?! How did you do...?"
"Charcoal? The glass Boomer? Changing into THIS?" She threw her arms
wide still facing away from the two on the floor. "Magic, of course."
"Magic??" Anri and Sylvie chorused, incredulously unbelieving until a
loud snort from the dragon made their disbelief much harder to maintain.
"Yes, but perhaps Wild Magic, as I call that which fills me now, is more
accurate. Behold." Darlene waved one hand and the debris in the store began
to move. In a small hurricane of activity, shattered glass and panelling
swirled in the air before flying into position and merging seamlessly to
repair all the damage to the store. When it was done, Darlene shrugged and
said, "And if that doesn't convince you, even with all the proof you've seen,
this might. Char! Perch!" she imperiously commanded the dragon.
Charcoal the red dragon crouched, wings extending, and leapt into the
air towards Darlene. And shrank, incredibly quickly. By the time it reached
Darlene, wings flapping, the dragon was small enough to land on her right
shoulder comfortably.
Sylvie and Anri had managed to get to their feet and stared at the
diminutive dragon when the magic-user turned to face them. Her burning eyes
discomfited them as the beast chirped, its voice gone higher from the loss of
size.
Suddenly, Darlene's mood changed again and with a laugh she placed a
hand on a shoulder of each sexaroid. "Isn't this neat? I should've told
everyone about my magic, but my spells haven't worked right since I arrived,"
she bubbled excitedly. "That's fixed now, I don't know why but it's true! And
I'm not looking up at your face now! Too bad I didn't know this," she took
her hands off their shoulders and waved at the elfin body, "would happen.
Losing my sanity isn't so bad now, since I suppose this is what I'll look
like naturally in around thirty thousand years. Nice to know, eh?"
Anri couldn't believe her ears. "You mean... you're insane??"
"Sure!" Darlene said brightly. "Couldn't you tell? Hmm. Maybe you
shouldn't answer that." She giggled in an unnerving way. "Of course, there's
still some nagging remnants of my conscience, but don't worry; I'll grow out
of it."
"Darlene, can't you change back?" Sylvie asked desperately.
The elven-looking countenance pouted. "Why should I? I don't NEED to
speak now to cast spells, even though they CAN be fun, and insane I can keep
drawing on more power." Suddenly, Darlene smacked a fist into her palm. "Oh,
yeah! I almost forgot." She looked at her scaled companion. "Go and follow
Madagan. I'll be there soon." The mini-dragon chirped again, and launched
itself from its perch, vanishing mid-air in a poof of fire. "I wouldn't want
to lose her now, oh no, definitely not now," Darlene slyly said to herself.
"Maybe you should stay here until you recover," Sylvie suggested
hurriedly, hoping that her friend wouldn't leave in her current state.
"Stay? Recover?" Darlene narrowed her eyes angrily. "I will go where I
want to! And YOU TWO can stay here!" Jabbing her fingers at the two startled
sexaroids she cast another spell. Sylvie and Anri were suddenly bound with
bands of white light around their legs and pinning arms to their sides.
Conversationally, ignoring the two's startled cries, Darlene went on,
"Stopping now is not my wish, and I don't care what I will feel if I ever
return to normal. Normal! HA! As if I can ever be called THAT anymore."
Looking up, she made a decision, her face for a moment revealing the insane
fury that still raged inside her, and she hissed, "Now I will go hunt and
torment my prey."
Soundlessly, she vanished.
"DARLENE! COME BACK!!" Anri screamed uselessly, struggling in her bonds.
"It's no use. We don't know how to reach her," Sylvie said, testing her
own restraints. She tried hopping and managed to reach the vid-phone. "Maybe
someone else can."
Somehow, after several abortive attempts with a pen in her teeth, she
managed to make a call and Priss' face appeared. "Hello? Sylvie! What the
Hell??" the singer exclaimed when she saw the bonds that held her friend.
"Priss, just listen, please! There's no time. Madagan came and made
Darlene crazy! Now Darlene's a super powerful magician and after Madagan! I
don't think she'll stop at anything! She tied me and Anri somehow then
disappeared."
"Sure...," Priss said warily, staring at the glowing bonds that held the
sexaroid. "This is a joke, right?"
"NO!!!!" Sylvie put all her fear and frustration into her shout. "Hurry,
Priss!! Darlene's gone insane!"
"Okay, okay!" Priss held up her hands in surrender. "I'll call Sylia. I
just hope she doesn't think I'M nuts." The picture blinked out.
Sylvie prayed that too.

Blocks away from the store, Darlene stood alone on a windy rooftop,
smiling faintly. Senses that had become more acute fed her intense, heady
input as newly lengthened hair swirled gently around her, cloak flapping
behind her. She lightly caressed her face with a hand, savouring the intense
new sensations, and smiled wickedly when she stopped.
It was glorious to be free of most of those irritating morals and
restrictions, some half-understood even in her current state, like the liquid
water one. So silly! She had not actually gone against any of them yet, save
perhaps binding those two back at the store, but only because she had not had
opportunity.
Yet.
"It's dark. But not stormy," she critiqued to herself, peering up at the
slightly cloudy sky. "If I'm going to go on a rampage, I simply must have a
storm." Darlene brought her seemingly delicate hands close together and
started the summoning for her thunderstorm. One she would control completely.
"Madagan, I WILL have you," she purred as light formed and pulsed
between her hands, eyes blazing slightly greater from the fury within.
Clouds in the sky above began to gather.
And grow.

"So." Sylia leaned backwards in her chair. After a moment's hesitation,
she reached over and pressed the button that summoned all the Knight Sabers.
Priss hadn't phoned Sylia, she'd decided to bike it and deliver the
message personally. Her leader's reaction wasn't what she had expected.
"You're not taking this seriously, are you, Sylia?" Priss said, her
disbelief evident in her voice. "I mean, come ON. Magic??"
"Very seriously, Priss. While I didn't now exactly HOW, I'd hoped this
wouldn't happen."
Priss spoke very slowly, "You knew about this? This is real?"
Sylia looked away and sighed. "Yes. And as much as I find it hard to
believe...yes, this is all too real. It was because of my reluctance to
accept it that I didn't tell you or the others."
"Oh, perfect! So, not that I really believe any of this, how strong is
she now?!"
"That's what we're going to find out," Sylia grimly answered.
Priss grimaced. "I was afraid you would say that."

Madagan panted heavily, finally catching her breath. It seemed the
nightmare was over. She was in her Genom limo's back seat, which seemed huge
now that the three Boomers that had originally accompanied her were not
seated with her. The vehicle had been ordered away so as not to appear
suspicious, but after her frantic escape, and losing some of her
fear-paralysis, she had used her personal communicator to order the car to
pick her up. The only other Boomer she had left was the driver, not much of
a reassurance after what she had witnessed.
A glass of liquor(she didn't care what it was) was in her hand, half-
full after an attempt to calm her usually solid nerves. Normally she would
not, but this night had been bad, more a nightmare. Her rock-steady world
view had been badly shaken, almost shattered, something she feared more than
death. Still holding the glass, Madagan signalled the chairman over the car's
communication system, hoping he was still in his office.
A screen blinked to life. "Quincy here." The craggy features of the
chairman appeared, then showing faint surprise when he took in her ragged and
dishevelled appearance. "Miss Madagan? What happened to you? You seem
distressed." Madagan's hysterical laughter after that comment did not
dissuade this opinion. "Are you drunk?" he inquired neutrally, seeing the
glass.
Hearing that, she stifled the laughter that threatened to go on forever,
and took a deep breath to calm herself. "No, this is my first glass and I've
only had half. I wish I was at the moment. There was some... difficulty in my
personal activities."
Quincy's face was guarded. "Genom will not be involved, or interfere if
you encounter trouble."
Madagan laughed scornfully, not caring right now how powerful the person
she was talking to was. "Trouble? My God, if only you had seen what I have
tonight. Trouble is mild to what I saw."
"Sooooo correct, Madagan," a syrupy sweet voice spoke from the hidden
communications speaker, interrupting what Quincy began to say as he heard it
too. "The hunt is on, and I'm getting clooooser." Madagan recognized it and
her face went white with shock. A flash of lightning outside the car flashed
briefly.
"Who is that?" Quincy demanded.
"Who am I, puny little moooortals?" Darlene's voice continued in a
teasing tone. "Someone you might not want to meeeeet. Perhaps I'm Armageddon
come at laaaast. And now, Maaaadagan, I'm coming for you." The screen that
contained Quincy's image shattered, ending the call rather firmly.
Far away at Genom tower, Quincy's screen shattered too, much to his
surprise.
Madagan had barely time to draw back from the broken screen when
something else happened.
SSSSSSCCCCCCCCRUNCK-CREEEEEEEEK!!
Her eyes widened in shock as she saw the roof of the limo being ripped
off like a tuna lid, then ducked her head to avoid flying glass. With a final
shriek, the top came loose and flew away, held by something large, powerful,
and scalely. When the sound vanished, Madagan looked up again and could see
the growing storm that hadn't been the sky ten minutes ago; she prayed that
she was wrong about the source of the changing weather. The limo had also
stopped in the middle of the street, the Boomer chauffeur seemed to be having
trouble starting the car. Traffic stopped behind the limo because some had
seen the large dragon tearing the roof off; in front the cars had gone ahead,
having seen the dragon and NOT wanting to stop.
In front was where SHE appeared.
There was an violet aura around Darlene, highlighting her unusual nature
and making her visible to Madagan, as well as to the surprised drivers behind
the stopped limo. A small smile was on her face, calmly standing in the
middle of the street, the growing wind moving her flowing hair around.
Madagan saw alright, and desperately she cried, "DESTROY HER!!"
The remaining Boomer heard and complied. It kicked out the driver's door
while ripping out of the human disguise and stepped out of the car. From all
available input the android assumed the target was an extreme threat, no
normal human could look the way the target did; long distance assault seemed
the best option so it opened its mouth and fired the laser cannon. The beam
was dead on target.
The target CAUGHT the beam.
The Boomer, Madagan, and the assorted drivers behind her, stared.
Still wearing her smile, Darlene impossibly worked the beam of light
with her hands, wrapping it, twisting it, strange squeaking noises somehow
being produced. Finally, she proudly held up the finished result. "Look, a
French poodle!" she pronounced in a strange manner, the dog-like shape the
frozen laser beam had become glowing in her hands. "Now get outta here, kid,
you bother me," she continued in the same tone and tossed the glowing figure
at the Boomer.
As soon as the dog-figurine left her hands, it began to change. Its
balloon-like appendages shifted, becoming more canine, and growing as well.
Halfway to the Boomer, the poodle no longer resembled a cute little doggie;
now it was more like its primitive ancestors, and very realistically at that.
The lean lupin form dropped to the ground, avoiding the warding hands of its
prey and leaped up within the outstretched arms, feet leaving smoking paw
prints in the road.
The azure wolf's jaws reached the Boomer's throat and closed, laser
teeth sizzling easily through and decapitating the cyberdroid neatly before
the canine form exploded in a burst of coherent blue light, melting the
falling android slightly.
Darlene brought up a hand to cover her mouth in mock-dismay. "Oh, my!
That wasn't a French poodle; that was a Siberian timber wolf." She sighed. "I
never was good with identifying species. But," she added as she raised an arm
towards Madagan's transportation, "I definitely know a certain member of the
human branch is about to become extinct." Energy began to gather in her hand
as she aimed for the limo.
Madagan noticed, and frantically opened her door. As she scrambled away
from the limo a... distortion, that was the only thing she could describe it
as, suddenly roared from Darlene's hand, flattening road deeper into the
ground and impacting into the vehicle. Metal was squeezed and kneaded like
bread dough; windows didn't shatter - they popped like soap bubbles; and
rubber tires became rubber spaghetti. The gasoline ignited, but the explosion
blew vertically, like a volcano.
Still, the blast was enough to make the fleeing Genom exec stumble
forward, but not enough to stop her. Madagan didn't look back, she couldn't
look back, she had to run, she had to get away. And did so by turning at the
intersection the limo had just passed and continuing to run down the sidewalk
of another street.
The elven-looking magic user watched her disappear around the corner.
"I've got your scent now, Madagan; you can't get away," she said silkily, and
began walking to pursue. The aura disappeared, but the spectators that had
gathered drew away as she approached, having seen what the stranger had
mysteriously done and fearful of her still-glowing eyes.
"Damn Boomer," someone muttered quietly, but Darlene's newly keen ears
heard it. She immediately stopped and pivoted to face the source of the
comment. The crowd melted away as the person who had uttered the comment
froze in sudden fear, realizing he had been heard.
Darlene gave the man a curious look; he appeared to be a business man as
he was in a moderately-expensive suit. "I am no Boomer, mortal," she said,
playing the role of Angry Elf to the hilt. "Could a Boomer do this?" she
inquired, smiling.
Instantly the man found most of his body constricted and weighted down.
Panicked, he looked down and found, to his great surprise and amazement, that
it was his suit that was doing it; For it had become solid yellow, shining
GOLD. The man gave a startled yelp and found himself trying to keep his
balance. He toppled over hard, unable to do so.
"Maybe I should've included him as well," Darlene mused aloud as the
crowd gasped and ahhed. Brightly, she turned around with a smile that held
some malice within it. "Sure! Does anyone else want to volunteer? I'll try
stainless steel this time." She advanced, hands outstretched and pulsing with
a disturbing light.
The crowd paused, then some woman screamed and that started everyone
running away in a panic from the insane magic-user. The street was soon
deserted.
"Everyone's a critic," Darlene pouted, letting hands drop down to her
sides. Then she remembered Madagan and started off again.
"Hey!" The man screamed from his golden prison, struggling. "You're not
leaving me like this, are you?!"
As she left the area, Darlene turned her head and called out. "Sorry!
Places to explode, people to play with! Someone should come along soon. Ta!"
And then she too disappeared around the corner Madagan had run around.
"But I'll miss my dinner meeting!!" the man cried, but knew it was
futile. Sighing, he let his head drop to the pavement, depressed and
wondering when help would arrive. None too soon, he suspected dismally.
He cheered himself by figuring out how much his suit was now worth.

Chapter Twenty-Four
-------------------

"Hey, Leon!"
"Hmm?" Leon looked up and saw his partner heading his way with an odd
expression on his face. "Hey, Daley. What's up?"
"There's a disturbance downtown and our two squads have been ordered to
mobilize."
Looking carefully at Daley's face, Leon asked, "Why do I get the feeling
this isn't the usual Boomer crisis?"
"Come on. I'll tell you on the way."
"Sure," Leon said uneasily, getting out from his chair. Whenever his
partner got like this it meant something REALLY strange, and potentially
lethal, was going on.
As they walked down halls, Daley elaborated.
"The normal cops encountered it... her a half hour ago when a patrol car
was heading towards a reported disturbance. A woman, not the perp, stopped
the car by standing right in its path. When the cops got out, they found she
was frightened out of her wits and was running for her life. They tried to
find out what she was running from, but she kept insisting that they get her
away from the area, immediately." He paused as he pushed the button for the
elevator.
"They found out why quickly enough as the reason the woman was so scared
arrived. Leon, it was an elf." The elevator door opened and Daley stepped
inside, Leon almost didn't make it as he had been so startled by the news.
"An elf?!?" he said disbelievingly. "Some bizarre kind of 33-S you
mean?"
"No, I mean your Tolken-style, magical kind of elf. This is too weird
for a Boomer, Leon. She turned the patrol car into Jell-O."
"A new type of weapon?"
"Leon, I mean she TURNED the car into REAL Jell-O! Strawberry flavor, I
hear." His partner stared at him. "The elf did this after the cops tried to
warn her to stay away. Understandably, this spooked them just a bit."
"I'm not having this conversation." Leon seemed to be having a headache
and put a hand on his forehead. Daley looked on sympathetically. "I'm
dreaming this, aren't I?"
"No such luck." The elevator doors opened and they exited.
"So what happened then?" Leon asked with a sigh, giving in to Daley's
weird tale.
"The other woman started running again and left while the elf was
occupied with the cops. Oh, we've IDed her as a Genom executive; Kate
Madagan. The woman, not the elf. Very highly placed too. Maybe Genom has been
stealing fairy treasure and leprechaun gold." Daley grinned for the first
time since he got Leon from his desk.
"Just tell me what happened, please?" Leon asked in a pained voice.
"Well, the two officers pulled out their guns and told the elf to stop
where she was. The elf apparently considered this and told THEM to stop. And
they did."
"Huh?"
Daley gave him a sober look. "They were stopped until the next patrol
car came along and saw the two. The elf was nowhere in sight. Like statues,
the new officers described them, until one was touched and almost blew away
the guy who poked him. It was like no time had passed between confronting the
elf and coming to. The other guy was woken up to corroborate stories."
Leon saw where this was heading. "So when their superiors heard about
this they figured it must be a Boomer and got ADPolice on the case?" The
resignation in his voice told Daley that he already knew this as inevitable
fact, due to the stupidities of the upper command.
"Bingo."
"You never get bored in this city," Leon sighed, shaking his head.
"Alright, let's go arrest this...elf."
"Maybe she'll give us three wishes when we catch her," Daley said
cheerfully.
Leon snorted and had to smile. "I'll believe it when I see it with my
own eyes."
"You have no imagination, Leon."
"Hey! Of course I do. Just ask any girl I've dated."
"I rest my case." Daley chuckled at the glare Leon gave him.

Darlene laughed loudly and threw her sword again.
It became akin to a blazing comet, the Dragonsword at its core, and tore
through four parked cars, making them explode like firecrackers. It
disappeared in flight and reappeared in the insane magic-user's hand once
more. She had begun blowing up objects on the road and sometimes stores as
well with it after her encounter with those funny cops, whom she hadn't seen
again for some reason. It kept the road clear (evacuated) for her and Madagan
to continue their stroll through downtown. The Genom exec was quite a
distance away on the road, but that didn't matter much; Darlene could always
catch up. It really was a shame that Madagan seemed to be approaching the end
of her endurance.
The storm above was truly a pleasure to see. Black thunderclouds looked
like onyx chased with gold from all the lightning churning within, energy
ready to be unleashed, held in check only by her power.
Time for a withdrawal. She pointed at a still-intact car up ahead.
"Zap!" Darlene commanded.
The clouds above responded adroitly and one of Zeus' thunderbolts came
to earth, striking the vehicle squarely. The flash of billions of volts
outlined everything in sharp relief milliseconds before the shockwave created
by the flash-heated air shattered windows within the immediate vicinity.
"Glorious!" Darlene exulted as the smited car burned and glass settled
to the ground.
Something landed behind her.
Whirling around, Darlene saw who had come... and frowned.
The Knight Sabers had arrived, standing in front of her. Priss and Nene
stepped back in shock when their transformed friend turned around, unprepared
for the amazing metamorphosis that the former red-head had undergone.
"Darlene, what are you doing?" Sylia demanded calmly, voice not
betraying the nervousness she felt after seeing Darlene call down the
lightning bolt. She was also shocked at how many changes had been wrought
upon the young person she knew; such dramatic alterations should not have
been possible, but the glowing eyes looking in her direction reminded Sylia
of the power Darlene claimed to possess when female. A power which could not
be disbelieved now.
"Doing?" The road slightly behind Darlene bulged upwards, higher,
transmuting into new material, and quickly forming into an ornate throne upon
which the elven-liking woman sat gracefully. "A little hunting, but
remodelling mostly. You like?" She waved at all the destruction around her.
"Oh yes, and my new looks too! Are they the real me?" The earnest smile she
gave them didn't look very sane.
Strangled noises could be heard coming from Priss as Sylia debated her
next reply. Apparently the singer's opinion on magic being make-believe was
not standing up well to Darlene's display.
"Sylia..." Nene whispered pleaded over the private radio link they all
shared, fearful for her friend. "What's happened to Darlene? Is that really
HER?"
"And how did she change the road to GOLD and GEMS???" Linna added on the
same channel, referring to the throne newly formed on the street.
"Yes, how DID I manage that?" Darlene interjected from where she sat,
appearing very interested in Sylia's response, startling them at her ability
to hear their encoded transmissions. Then she frowned, puzzled. "Hey, where
IS Linna?" she said, finally noticing the absence of the green hardsuit.
"NOW!!" Sylia barked.
Before Darlene could say another word a powerful stream of water from a
nearby roof struck her squarely on the head, drenching her as Linna carefully
aimed the stream of hot water at the seated mage from the pressurized tank
they had brought. She turned off the water quickly knowing she had hit her
friend and leaped down to the street below.
But the hot water had not done the job Sylia had thought it should have
done. Darlene's hair was plastered flat with water, allowing the pointed ears
to be seen, and she glared balefully at the Sabers like a wet cat, unaltered
by the hot water.
"What?" Priss said disbelievingly. "What the hell went wrong?"
Suddenly, despite the water attack, Darlene's mood turned cheerful.
"Nice try, Sabers, but I suppose I'm too weighted down with power to change
now: the balance of power is tipped too far at the moment." She waved and a
powerful gust of hot air dried her off swiftly. When Nene and Linna started,
she grinned, "I can do some really neat things now, if you hadn't noticed.
Magical things.
"And I guess I should answer the question as to what happened to me.
Before I would have been very upset by current developments; now I don't give
a damn." Her fists clenched as her face reflected the inner fury that had
burned inside since it had blazed into existence. "Damn that Madagan!" she
spat furiously, eyes flashing as thunder from above echoed her exclamation.
"Invading my home, threatening, TAUNTING me and my friends! This time will be
the LAST!" Fists slammed down on the arms of the throne and it shattered into
dust as Darlene propelled herself up, energy crackling around her and playing
havoc with reality. It winked out a moment later and she smiled once more.
"But I'm getting off topic."
"And scaring the shit out of me," Priss muttered.
Darlene heard but pretended not to hear the comment. "My spells, other
than enchantment of objects, have been acting strangely since I arrived,
that's fixed now by the way, so I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want to
risk losing my friends because magic might've stretched friendship a bit.
Especially after not telling anyone for so long. But I got so angry with
MADAGAN," she clenched her teeth and continued, "that I reached for power I
didn't know I could possess. And I got it! Unfortunately, my younger body had
to compensate for power it couldn't handle so I involuntarily aged to a point
where my body COULD handle it. This," she waved at herself, "is what I guess
I will look like somewhere around thirty to forty thousand years from now. I
can FEEL that's the right answer. However, while my body could age, my mind
couldn't cope and so my sanity broke into little bitty pieces." She paused in
reflection, then laughed. "It's SO much more fun now not worrying about
consequences."
"And can you become sane again? What will happen then?" Sylia queried,
even now staying calm.
The elven brow furrowed momentarily in concern, then cleared. "Who
cares? I don't, even though I suspect my sanity still has a weak hold on me.
Why should I care?"
"Get rid of the damn power before you do something you REALLY regret
later, you dumb ditz!" Priss shouted furiously.
"Please, yes! Get rid of it!" Nene pleaded.
Everything became silent.
Softly, gently, Darlene whispered, "You don't understand what I can do
now, can you, Priss?" She appeared to quiver for a moment before stilling
again.
"Priss, don't...!" Sylia warned, too late.
"Yeah?? What CAN you do?" Priss demanded angrily.
The silence came again.
The elven mage whispered, "Char, take her for a wild ride. As for the
others... playtime begins." With that said, Darlene vanished.
"Wait!" Sylia shouted, but it was far too late.
"Char?" Linna said, confused. "Say, isn't that her store's drag..."
rrrrrrrooooooOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!!
Startled, Priss was suddenly propelled upwards by an expanding, scaly
neck, the other three Sabers were shoved backwards by the growing form that
was attached to it.
"YAAAAA!!!!" Priss shouted at the top of her lungs by the totally
unexpected act. She tried to get off immediately, but found... "I'm stuck! I
can't get off!!"
"That IS Char!" Nene said from the ground, staring at the impossibly
alive dragon. "The statue in Darlene's store that Priss hits all the time."
Charcoal snorted, startled by the news, then growled low.
"I think it can understand you, Nene," Linna warily said.
"Oh, THANKS!" Priss said sarcastically, frantically clutching for a
handhold. "Remind it about that, why don't you!"
Wings snapped out and the wyrm crouched, a draconic chuckle emerging
from its throat.
"Oh no," Priss said with dawning dread. If Darlene made this thing, it
might have her sense of humor. Which meant... "Oh, godDAMN!! Get me off! GET
ME OFF!!!" she cried frantically.
Too late.
Steely muscles launched the mighty form, and its unwilling passenger,
into the air before any of the others could react. Rising into the stormy sky
far faster than mere physics could account for, Char the newly awakened
dragon got ready to give his rider the ride of a lifetime. And unlike
rollercoasters, he didn't have to stay on a earth-bound track.
This was going to be fun!
Sylia watched in frustration as she watched the two fly off. She tried
getting a response from Priss but the unwilling dragon rider did not answer,
something was blocking the singer's communications. There was no way they
could catch that thing by themselves. They had to find Darlene and somehow
bring her back to her senses, but how could...
"Ah, Sylia, either I'm having a nightmare," Linna said, interrupting her
thoughts, "or did I really see Darlene transformed into an elf, itching for
Madagan's blood, and a dragon carry off Priss?"
"If you're dreaming this then so am I and I don't CARE right now!" Nene
said. "We've got to find Darlene and tell her to stop!"
"Priss tried that method already," Sylia dryly said. "The results were
somewhat disappointing and, unfortunately, hot water does not appear to
change her in her current form."
"We've got to try SOMETHING!" Nene cried, frustrated.
"Playtime..." something whispered eerily.
The three women froze.
"Playtime... playtime.... playtime..." echoed several more voices.
The three Knight Sabers gathered back-to-back, quickly scanning the area
but not seeing what was making the noise.
"Sylia..." Linna nervously muttered.
"Shh!"
Suddenly, stirring began in many spots on the street. Wreckage from
cars, shattered pavement, moved into several places where the pieces joined
a growing blob of material. Large growing blobs of material. As the three
Knight Sabers watched, the blobs formed amorphous arms and legs, with a
baldish head on top. There were fifteen blobs in all and their features grew
more defined as they suddenly shuddered into walking towards the Knight
Sabers.
"What are those things?" Nene fearfully asked.
"How should WE know??" Linna retorted.
With a final, violet flash the monsters were completed and the ten-foot
tall monstrosities advanced upon the staring Sabers.
"Is this a JOKE?!?" Sylia burst out, recognizing the figures.
Blades sang as they sprouted out from pudgy purple fingers.
"I don't think so," Linna answered her.
"I'm beginning to favor Priss' opinion on Darlene's sense of humor,"
Sylia growled, truly annoyed at the ridiculous sight.
"Why's that, Sylia?" Nene innocently responded.
"You really don't want to know..."
Just before they attacked, the terrible creatures began singing, "I love
you, you love me, we're a happy family..."
"After this, I'm going to have a long talk with that girl," Sylia
promised grimly.
"Actually, they look kinda cute, besides the knives that is," Nene
observed.
"Please, Nene. Just get ready."
The Boomer Barneys waddled forth.

Chapter Twenty-Five
-------------------

"Hey, Lady."
Madagan jerked her head up from the cup of coffee she had been staring
at and looked fearfully at the man who had spoken.
Leon sighed, then smiled reassuringly. "Relax, okay? You're safe now."
[Author's note: Yaright!]
Madagan blankly looked at him for a few seconds, then closed her eyes
and shook her head. Taking a deep breath, she struggled to regain some
measure of calm. After doing so she opened her eyes and saw a relieved Leon
waiting for her reply. "I... Thank you," she managed.
"You're welcome. Normally I'm not the world's greatest Genom fan, but
I'm not one to kick someone when they're down. Especially in the state you
seemed to be in when you ran into our barricade." Leon's face conveyed his
sympathy. He frowned up at the flashing sky. "I'd've helicoptered you out of
here but this weird storm makes me leery."
"SHE'S making the storm," Madagan said, absolute conviction in her voice
as well as a slight tremor of fear. "No wind, no rain, a dead calm when a
storm that big should be blowing like a hurricane. Her doing."
Leon looked at her uneasily but couldn't refute her claims; the storm
WAS acting very oddly. Damned unnatural, in fact. "I didn't need to hear
that. I really didn't." He sighed. "What did you DO to make this...elf," Leon
still couldn't believe he was saying that, "so damn mad at you?"
"I threatened and injured her on her home ground without knowing what
she was." That Madagan admitted this was an indication of how rattled she
was, a fact not lost on Leon who knew top execs of Genom would rather die
than admit something like this. Which meant this elf had terrified her
through the normally invulnerable Genom superiority complex something fierce.
"Now she wants me," she sobbed, composure cracking again. "All because I
wanted to know more about the Crystal Knight!"
"The Crystal Knight? How does he..."
"LEON!!" Daley shouted from the front of the barricade. "She's HERE!"
Madagan jerked violently, spilling coffee.
Pointing at her, Leon barked an order to one of his men. "Watch her and
keep her safe." Then he went to see what all the fuss was about. He weaved
through the gawking men in from of him until he pushed through to his
partner's side. When he registered the sight he saw twenty feet away from the
barricade, he stared in amazement.
The elf had fists on hips, cloak draped over each bent elbow to provide
a background for the image she projected. Her lithe-looking figure, revealed
by the form-fitting clothing worn, and delicate face that her purple hair
framed, belied the power that shone from her eyes. She appeared quite amused
by the formidable mass of ADPolice and equipment that was arrayed before her.
All in all, the elven figure was quite a sight, and very different from the
brutish variety of Boomers they usually faced.
Leon spoke to an officer standing beside him who wore an infra-red scope
that identified Boomers. "Is she a Boomer?"
The man checked his scope, then checked again. Extremely confused, the
officer replied, "Sir, my scope's reading looks like a video game; the words
'NICE EFFORT, TRY AGAIN' is all I can read."
"On an INFRA-RED scope??" The elf's musical laughter told Leon that;
one, as crazy as it sounded the elf was responsible; two, she could hear them
easily for the timing was too good; and three, she had a really nice laugh.
"So, you can hear me?" he inquired, addressing the mysterious being beyond
the blockade.
"Oh, I can hear you quite well," was the elf's clear response, even more
unnerving because she had not shouted but sounded more like she was standing
right beside Leon.
Leon rubbed his forehead, then looked at Daley. "Y'know, you can take
over any time here," he offered.
"Feeling the solid ground of reality slipping away, huh, Leon?"
After giving Daley a sour look, he turned to address the elf. "I'm
afraid I have to arrest you for destruction of public and police property as
well as disrupting the peace."
The elf cocked her head. "Oh, really?"
KA-TOOM!
The ADPolice officers were unprepared for bolt of lightning that struck
the road a few blocks away behind the elf, temporarily blinding Daley, Leon,
and those officers not wearing their flash-protectors, used for seeing when
laser bolts are flying around you. The roaring thunder didn't help either.
KA-TOOM! KA-TOOM! KATOOMKATOOMKATOOMKATOOMKATOOMKATOOM!!!!
One after the other, electrons ripped through the atmosphere to strike
the earth below. Each one getting closer and closer to the barricade until
the final one struck just behind the one who called the lightning.
KA-TOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!
Silence.
Slowly, realizing the fireworks were over and hearing his ears ring a
little from the loud percussions, Leon peered over his arm and gaped a little
before a grim feeling stole over him. The street beyond the elf was
multi-cratered and glass from broken windows littered the ground. And there
was positively no way that it could have been a natural occurrence.
Absolutely unaffected by the destruction that she had summoned, the elf
seemed to be gazing right at Leon and was no longer smiling.
"It is a time when magic is more powerful then science, and only those
who control the magic control destiny. They... are DEFINITELY not you!" She
snorted contemptuously. "Arrest me? What a joke! But then, ADPolice IS a
joke, isn't it?" she sneered. "I tire of this hunt. Where is Madagan?"
Leon waved his hand in a negative gesture. "You're not getting her,
whoever you are. And unless you surrender, I'll have no other option but to
use heavy force." He ignored the incredulous stare Daley was giving him.
The elf blinked in astonishment. "Surrender? To you?"
"Yes."
She paused, then smiled happily. "Okay," the elf decided brightly.
It took Leon a moment for her response to register. "What?" he said.
"You mean you...surrender?" Eyes bright, literally and figuratively, the elf
nodded the affirmative. "O...kay," he said dubiously, wondering if this elf
had been hitting the flower nectar a little too heavily. "Bochinski!
Wadderson! Go escort her here," he ordered two of his men, who hesitantly
began walking towards the purple-colored figure.
Under his breath, Kennith Wadderson swore quietly. "Why do we have to
bring in this bitch?" he muttered to himself. He had been offended by what
the elf had called ADPolice so he did not relish this task, beautiful as the
elf was. A sudden crackling sound drew his attention and he froze, as did
Bochinski.
The elf was glaring murderously at Ken and her anger was palpable.
"Bitch?" she hissed between clenched teeth, energy spitting around her hands.
Kennith swallowed; she had heard!
"If you've killed us, Wadderson, I'm not going to forgive you," said his
fellow officer and friend beside him, beginning to back away.
He hadn't gone one step back when the elf moved with inhuman speed and
grasped an arm on each man. Her grip was unshakable, not that either would
have much time to attempt to break free.
The elf laughed maliciously, and before anybody could react she intoned,

"So bitch it is, so bitch I see,
but split in twain, I give to thee,
one so fair and one so fleet,
forever now my spell complete!!"

Releasing their arms, her hands drew back slightly and then lanced
forwards, blazing with intense purple fire, to strike both men's chests
simultaneously with incredible force. Both men screamed as they were flung
back through the air towards the barricade. Every cell in their bodies felt
like they were on fire and agony was all they knew before losing
consciousness. Their comrades behind the barricade caught them and two groups
of bodies fell to the ground, the two out-cold officers in top.
"I've changed my mind," the elf said flatly. "Bring me Madagan!"
"Dammit!" Leon swore and turned around. "Are the men suited up?" Seeing
another's nod, he shouted. "Okay then! Apprehend the elf!"
"Do you think we're in trouble?" Daley asked as he came up beside Leon.
"Hell, yes," Leon sourly answered. "The only reason I didn't order the
men to shoot was that it might've pissed her off more. You'd better get our
guest out of here while the suits distract her." He turned to look at the
waiting elf. "That's about all we can manage with anybody who can make storms
and call lightning at will. Better go."
"Right." Daley nodded and went to collect the Genom exec.
"NO!!" roared the elf, having heard every word. Suddenly, her sword
appeared in her hands and gripping the hilt, drove the blade halfway into the
street. Mild shockwaves radiated outwards from the point of impact, and died.
Then the tremors began again.
ADPolice officers stepped back as sections of the other three streets
that the intersection the barricade was positioned at burst up from the
ground. Higher and higher the stone walls grew until they topped twenty feet.
Some officers saw that sewer manholes had disappeared, others noticed the
buildings around them now had whole windows again. The glass would prove to
be unbreakable.
"No," repeated the elf more calmly, pulling the sword easily out from
the ground. "My walls will not fall. She is mine." And, with a peculiar smile
on her lips, she said, "And Madagan will come to me now."

Madagan looked up at the worried Daley as he looked around at the stone
barriers. Something was wrong; she could feel it despite her fear. As she
strove to find out what, she suddenly found herself being restrained by the
red-haired Daley.
"Hey, now! It's better if you stay here."
"What?? I didn't... I..." Madagan was confused, she hadn't stood up and
yet she was standing! Her legs tried to move forwards again, pushing a
surprised Daley back, and her eyes widened in sudden panic. "I'm not doing
this!"
"Urgh... Could've fooled... me," Daley grunted out, trying to keep her
back and failing.
"I'm not in control! She's bringing me to her!" she cried out, helpless
to stop herself.
"I could use some help here!" Daley demanded politely and several men
hurried over to help. They succeeded in dragging her back, but it was
impossible to get her off her feet and it was getting harder to hold her.

Leon rubbed his eyes and looked again at the scene before him.
Yes, it was still the same.
Unfortunately.
After the last little display, the suits had gone out; now two were out
and the third in the process of doing so. The first had been disabled, oh
hell, DESTROYED, when the elf had blown a kiss!! at it. The suit had behaved
like a puddle of water when someone blows on it; it had SPLASHED, that was
the only word that seemed to fit, away from its startled operator, leaving
him to run back to the safety of the barricade. Puddles of the liquefied
metal still pooled on the ground.
The second had swung a fist at the elf. Leon had thought she would dodge
but she had just stood there, smiling. When it hit her shoulder, the elf
didn't budge an inch, but a network of cracks had raced up the fist, arm, and
body, making the suit crumble apart into tiny fragments.
The third she was playing with using that damned sword of hers. Slicing
away bits and pieces every time she swung. The nimble elf was far too fast
for the bulky suit to even come close to catching her; it wasn't going to
last long.
"But she hasn't killed anyone yet," Leon mused.
"Yes, sir. The two she seemed to fry are... fine," reported an officer
with a little hesitation.
"Bochinski?"
"He's come around and making jokes about frying pans."
"Wadderson?"
The officer hesitated. "She's still out."
This discrepancy took a second to sink in. "Did you say 'she'??"
"Yes, sir." Seeing Leon's stare, he explained, "We were surprised as
hell but when we took off the helmet...you could DEFINITELY tell." He shook
his head. "Wadderson wasn't the prettiest guy around, but now... Hair color,
face, body, EVERYTHING'S changed. There's not much left of the old him that
I could tell." The officer coughed. "Some of the more...ah...macho troops
were really tempted, but I suggested it might be catching, and that could be
true, I guess."
"He...she's THAT pretty?" The officer's emphatic nod made Leon sigh.
"Good work. If anything happens I'll have that person's balls. And the
elf..."
"Nobody's going to say the b-word for a while." Despite the situation
the officer had to smile at Leon's snort.
"Smart. Very smart." He turned around just in time to see the last suit
jerk to a stop, and the pilot bail out, the elf merrily cut up what was left.
She finally stopped and faced the barricade, crooning, "Maaaadagan.
Coooome to me."
Behind Leon there was a startled shout, and then the hapless Madagan
came striding through the front line officers like they weren't even there.
With a curse, Leon ran after her, heedless of his own safety. "Stop!"
As Madagan finally came to her, Darlene-elf smiled in triumph. Still,
she heard Leon's demand and an idea sprang into her head. "Stop? That's still
a good idea!" Clapping her hands together, she cried, "STOP!"
Dead silence descended, save that of Madagan's steps and Leon's strides.
The helpless exec stopped right in front of the angry elvish mage, Leon
arrived a second later. "What...what did you do?" he demanded, panting.
"I stopped everything...by speeding US up," Darlene answered cheerfully.
"Now, no one will interfere."
Leon whipped his head around and saw that she spoke the grim truth. His
men were as still as statues. Someone had even tossed a gun to someone and
now it hung in mid-air, motionless. A sinking, helpless feeling could be felt
in his stomach; that made him angry and he stepped in front of a surprised
Madagan.
"Look, will you just go back to wherever you came from? I'm not going to
let you hurt her."
"She's from Genom! She's an enemy!" Darlene spat out.
"Don't you have other enemies to fight, dammit?!"
"Other..." Darlene drew back, and thought about this new idea. Her eyes
widened. "You're right! How could I be so forgetful! So blind!"
"What??"
"I'll take care of Malkon, then Genom, and THEN destroy Madagan! I
should've gotten my priorities straight." She shook her head sadly. "Ah,
terrible that I let my mind get so distracted. Now, how shall I do it...?"
Ignoring them, Darlene looked down and put a hand on her chin, deep in
thought.
The other two stared at her. "Who IS this person?" Leon demanded crossly
to himself and Madagan, not expecting an answer.
Surprisingly, Madagan gave him one. "She is...or was...an art store
owner. Red-headed, much shorter, and..."
Leon hadn't gotten his rank for nothing, and he figured it out when she
mentioned red-headed. "Darlene?!?!" he blurted out, shocked. Madagan stared
at him when he spoke her tormentor's name.
The transformed Darlene looked up at him curiously. "Yes, Leon? Oh, you
found out? Like the new look?" Seeing him speechless, she shrugged and went
back to her deep contemplations.
"That's... Darlene??" he managed to say. Madagan stared at him
disbelievingly.
"You know her??"
"Apparently not as well as I thought," Leon said uncertainly, wondering
how he should react in this situation.
"She's insane!"
"And who made her that way?" he said, turning around and glaring at the
exec, suspecting the answer.
Madagan guiltily looked away at Leon's fierce stare, hating herself for
doing so.
"Right!" Darlene's shout startled them both out of their argument. She
was facing away from them and pointing her hands at the remnants of the
ADPolice suits she had demolished. "Gather," she commanded, and all the
pieces of three suits shifted or flew into a growing mass of circuits and
armour. "Coalesce," was her next command and the mass responded, merging and
mixing the components of three powered suits into one. "Transformation," and
now her hands began to burn with purple fire as the mass became a humanoid
figure fifteen feet tall. Massive weapons grew on the arms and nasty looking
blades formed on most parts of the body. It still appeared like someone could
pilot the thing inside but now it seemed to be attaining a malevolent life of
its own. Leon was suddenly reminded of the D.D.
"EMPOWERMENT!" Darlene finished triumphantly and a beam of roaring
purple fire shot from her hands, striking her new creation and stopped after
a few seconds of this, then she lowered her hands. The glass for the unneeded
operator glowed a purple so deep it looked black.
Darlene's wicked smile was triumphant. "Wild magic burns through your
circuits now. HE will have trouble with you because of that, or so I sense.
You are destruction! Awaken when you arrive in his domain! GO!" Her sharp
command created a portal underneath the huge creation and it fell into the
rift. Then the rift vanished.
"One down, two to go," she said, pleased with herself
"Wh..where did you send that thing?" Leon stammered slightly, still
shaken by the sight he had seen.
"You REALLY don't want to know, Leon. It's a very warm place," Darlene
said with a giggle. A white light grew in one of her hands. "Now for Genom.
Starting with the main tower."
"NO!!" Madagan rushed around a startled Leon and with both hands grabbed
the arm that held whatever spell Darlene had created for Genom. "DON'T!" she
cried, trying to keep the mage from throwing her spell.
"Too late." The light vanished and Madagan stared helplessly at where it
had been. "Want to know what it will do? It will slowly disintegrate the
tower from top to bottom, growing in power as it goes," Darlene calmly
informed her. "It might take a week. You opened Pandora's box when you made
me angry enough to reach, unprepared, for the power I now wield and making me
insane." She cocked her head curiously. "I see that my conscience must be
getting weaker, for the spell will disintegrate people as well if they touch
the spell's area of effect as it spreads." Then, Darlene slowly focused her
glowing eyes on the Genom exec.
"And now it's YOUR turn, Madagan."
Madagan's eyes widened in sudden fear, realizing now how dangerously
close she was. She tried to get away, but Darlene's free arm came around and
trapped the woman close to her with a deceptively powerful arm. Madagan
struggled futilely.
"Wait!!"
Darlene looked up, mildly peeved to be interrupted. "What is it now,
Leon?"
"Don't kill her," Leon said, holding up a hand as if to restrain her.
"I've been around and talked with you enough times to know that this isn't
like you. You'll regret it if you do this."
Her eyes blazed at him. "Do you think I CARE right now?"
"Do you?" he asked simply.
"Do I...?" It startled her, not so much the question but the hesitation
she felt. Darlene had thought that such matters were beyond her now.
Something deep within disagreed. The thing she had sent to Malkon's and the
spell for Genom tower had been relatively impersonal and so she hadn't felt
any hesitation. This, however, was not. She looked at her captive and saw the
fear in those eyes. Madagan had no chance at all, not as she was now.
Despite that, and seeing her captor's sudden internal struggle,
Madagan's fear perversely firmed into determination. "Kill me then," she said
calmly, feeling comforted with self-confidence returned.
Little things can trigger major reactions, and Madagan had unwittingly
found the correct response for the situation. Darlene blankly looked at
Madagan's calm acceptance of the inevitable; she sensed it was no deception
and now her instincts were always true. They were actually HELPED by her
unstable state of mind but they WERE true. It was how she felt this was what
she would look like in around thirty thousand years, and how she was casting
complex spells without rhymes when she wanted.
"I... You..." For the first time since the transformation there was a
strain, sweat began beading on her forehead from the internal conflict.
"Kill... YES! NO!" She released Madagan and clutched her head from the
conflicting desires within. Eyes shut, breathing raggedly, Darlene staggered
back.
Madagan merely stood, watching and waiting; her fate would be decided on
what happened next. The strange fey mood still gripped her.
"I have power... unready!....too much....what..." Fire began to ignite
all over Darlene's body, the same purple energies that filled her within now
openly revealed. The speed-up spell broke and they returned to normal time,
the officers in the barricade shouting at Darlene's blazing form. "Power...
no...power go. Power go," she said in a rising voice, louder, more pleading.
The flames grew higher and the ground around her began to glow.
Leon saw this and rushed forwards to grab a calm Madagan, then together
they ran for the barricade. He had a feeling something big was about to
happen.
"Power go. Power go! Power GO! GO! GO!" Darlene jerked her fists above
her head and screamed, "LEAVE ME!!!!!"
What happened next wasn't as loud or as bright as the lightning strikes
before, but in it's own way more powerful and frightening. A column of fiery,
purple energy appeared where Darlene stood, tearing apart the road around
her. All the energy that she had held within herself, and kept full by
constant drawing, was released in all its raw untamed force into the sky. It
streaked heavenward, until, by its own existence, ripped a hole into the
Void. People on the ground that saw the rip immediately turned away,
disoriented greatly as they were unable to comprehend or witness the utter
blankness of the Void while in their own reality. Eventually, all the raw
energy left into the rift, which immediately closed with nothing left to
sustain it.
The still transformed Darlene gave one last soul-wrenching cry and
collapsed to the ground, weeping.
The storm, held at bay for so long by the power she had wielded, finally
unleashed its fury and instantly a windy downpour began drenching the city of
Mega-Tokyo; as if the storm was crying with the mage who had regained her
senses at last.
Knowing the damage she had done and all the near-deaths she had ALMOST
caused, Darlene desperately wished she hadn't.

IN A REGION OF HELL...

Malkon frowned and looked up from the tome he had been studying, sitting
in his favorite chair of skulls, sensing something odd. Something had just
invaded his realm, something that felt very disturbing to the arch-demon.
Sighing, he closed the volume bound in green reptile scales and sent it back
to its place in his library of magic with a murmured command. That done, he
gestured and vanished from his study room.
He emerged at a far corner of his personal domain and witnessed
something making Hell even more hellish than it already was, it was
destroying objects and demons alike with careless abandon. Fifteen feet tall
and bristling with physical and magical power it appeared to be some strange
type of metal golem.
The arch-demon smiled; it had been a few years after the trouble with
that mortal(or immortal; Malkon still wasn't sure) Twister and he discovered
he welcomed a chance to flex his magical might. After all, it was only an odd
type of golem.
What threat could it possibly pose him?

Chapter Twenty-Six
------------------

The column of purple energy was easily visible from the sky. Charcoal
the dragon spotted it immediately. He would have known even if he hadn't seen
it with his draconic eyes; it was of the same power that flowed through his
own body. The source was also simple enough to figure out. His creator. It
felt like she needed his help.
Good. He wanted to please her.
His rider was only weakly cursing now so he needed to let her off soon;
other strange and bizarre sounds had been heard during his erratic and
crazed-looking flight. Char was no ordinary dragon, a result of his unique
awakening, and had demonstrated that often during the flight. Accelerating
until he could barrel through one of those steel skeletons rising from the
ground on sheer speed alone had been fun. A pity Char didn't know much about
Mach speeds; he broke quite a few windows during his flight through those
construction sites.
The weather was turning bad anyway and his creator needed help now so he
dived towards her position.
"Not again, you speed freak of a dragon!" his rider protested in vain
when she felt the course alteration. "I'm already going to have to clean up
the damn helmet, inside AND out!"
Char grinned as only dragons could grin.
But as he got closer, he could feel the intense despair of his creator,
igniting an equally intense protective feeling in himself. When she was in
sight, he saw many unknown humans beginning to approach her. Annoyed, he
roared to order them away.
They retreated not quite fast enough for the dragon's liking so he
exhaled some fire to quicken them, and quicken they did.
"You stupid lizard! That's ADPolice!" His rider paused, then added
disgustingly to herself, "Yeah, right, Priss, as if a dragon knows or cares
about cops."
Char decided then that his rider was not as stupid as he had thought.
Therefore, when he landed and could not get a response from the crying
elf, he lowered his neck and allowed his rider off to get his creator so they
could take her away to a safer place. His rider seemed to be unsteady when on
the ground again; who knew why? And, when she too failed to get a response
other than crying, picked up his creator.
After some strange reluctance, and a little growling persuasion, his
rider got back on his neck, and he took off again. He would return to the
place he had picked up his rider.
Char wondered what distressed his creator so.

Leon stared disbelievingly through the heavy rain at the huge dragon
that had taken away Darlene. And with a Knight Saber too! With Priss, as he
knew, or at least suspected strongly, who the blue Saber was, at that!
"What are you going to tell your superiors?" Madagan asked from behind
him, her pose recovered and in a reflective mood, sensing that the current
danger was over. She wore a borrowed jacket to help shield her from the rain.
"I'll list the damages, injuries, and say that... the culprit got away."
That it was by dragonback would be better off not said.
"Nothing else?" she said, curious about the lieutenant's response.
Leon sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair. "They'll
never believe me. Hell, _I_ don't believe me. Even if we had arrested... the
elf, I doubt we'd have been better off." He turned to look at the men packing
up the barricade behind Madagan. "As it is, I'm going to have a heck of a
time explaining how one of my men is now a woman. And... it's a good bet the
elf would've had an excellent case for temporary insanity."
"Maybe if you see her again you can ask her to help you, and Genom,"
Madagan added. "Remember what she said about the tower."
"I do."
"Then I'd best be going home." Sudden weariness was reflected in the
Genom exec's eyes. "I have to think about some things. You can get my
statement tomorrow, by vid-phone."
Leon didn't bother to protest, it was more than he had hoped. "And what
about your superiors? What will you tell them?"
"As little as possible," she said flatly, surprising him. "Some things
are best left alone, at least, that's my opinion now. What do you think?"
"Hmm..." Leon peered up through the wind and rain, and said, "I'll tell
you later."
"Perhaps that's best. Good-bye, Inspector McNichol."
Still wondering about events that night, Leon silently watched her
disappear into the rain.

"Sylia, I'm getting really, really, REALLY sick of these things!" Linna
said crossly as the rain poured down. Nene's frustrated snort told everyone
that the red-headed hacker agreed wholeheartedly.
"This is so EMBARRASSING!!" she said, thumping futilely with her one
free arm at one of the purple bodies pinning her down.
The pudgy purple things had proven to be more resistant to their attacks
than appearances led them to believe. Five each had swarmed around each
Saber, bloated bodies smiling emptily at them. Linna had knuckle-bombed one
and sliced another into pieces, but while she worked on the other three the
two she had taken apart regenerated somehow and bounded to the attack once
more. Sylia had similar bad luck, and Nene's suit didn't do much damage at
all.
Fortunately, the things seemed to want to hug and dance with them more
than slashing with their finger blades. When they did hit, it was by
accident, not design. Still, being whirled around and crushingly hugged was
taking their toll. Disgusted, Sylia had finally ordered them to get away so
they could get Priss and Darlene. That was a mistake, for as soon as they
tried to make a serious attempt to leave, the purple things, moving faster
than Sylia had thought they could, tackled them all en masse like pro-
football players. It was pretty much only their helmets that were not covered
by the things. Unable to get any solid leverage on the soft weights upon
them, the three Knight Sabers could do nothing but wait.
Sylia was thinking of blasting the things on top of her just on
principle when she saw something descending rapidly from the stormy sky. It
came closer and she saw it was... "Priss!!" she cried once she recognized the
dragon and the hardsuited figure on its neck. As it landed, Linna and Nene
also crying out their friend's name when they saw her too, Sylia noticed
someone else cradled in Priss' arms. When the singer carefully leaped off the
dragon's neck and gently placed the person on the ground, she could see who.
It was the still transformed Darlene and she appeared to be crying miserably.
"Priss!" Nene and Linna chorused.
The singer took in the strange scene with no small amount of disbelief.
"What the hell happened?? What ARE those stupid-looking things?"
"Never mind, Priss," Sylia said, feeling foolish at their current state.
"We've tried getting free, but the constructs just regenerate and we can't
get a grip on them. Can you see if Darlene can get rid of them?"
Priss dubiously looked at the purple pile, then at the mage. "I'll try."
She slowly knelt by her transformed friend and softly said, "Hey. Do you feel
like talking?" The only response was a lessening of the heavy crying. "It's
important, Darlene. We need to get those purple whatevers off the others."
The elven-looking woman made a half-sob, half-laugh. "Tell them you hate
them."
Priss blinked. "What??"
"Tell them you hate them."
After staring at her changed friend, she turned around. "Um, Sylia..."
Priss began to say.
"I heard." Sylia heaved a sigh at the utter absurdity of this impossible
situation, but her next words were very satisfying as she directed her
attentions to the purple bodies above her. "Barney... Barnies, we hate you."
The result was immediate. All fifteen of the things wailed in apparent
pain and their features became softer, more mushy, as they melted into a
disgusting and sticky mess. The three newly-freed Knight Sabers stood up,
covered in purple gunk.
"Oh, yuck!!" Nene said, repelled by the stuff on her and the others'
suits and tried to wipe it off to little effect. "This is icky!"
"Ditto," Linna agreed, repulsed as well by the mess on her. "How come
Priss is the only one clean?"
"Wanna bet?" Priss retorted. "Damned crazy dragon is worse than any
amusement park ride." Char snorted behind her and she edged a little away
from the beast.
Feeling slightly apprehensive about the draconic entity, Sylia
nevertheless started approaching their purple-haired friend. "Darlene, you'd
better come with us and we can..."
The rest was drowned out by a thunderous bellow from the red dragon,
making all the Knight Sabers retreat a little. The dragon shrank a little and
pawed closer to its creator. Lowering its head, it gently nudged the
sorrow-filled Darlene and made a questioning rumble.
Lifting her head, Darlene gazed with tear-filled eyes at the dragon she
had brought to life, and whispered, "Store." At that, the cat-slitted eyes of
the scaly form glowed and in a burst of flame both Charcoal and Darlene
vanished.
The Knight Sabers stood silent for a moment as they digested what had
just happened. Finally, Priss spoke up.
"Sylia, either I'm having one goddamned strange dream, and I hope I wake
up damn well bloody soon, or else I have to clean off my helmet and confront
one of my friends about what happened tonight. Somehow, I don't think that
thrill of a task will be a piece of cake."
"This feels too sticky to be a dream," Nene commented, futilely trying
to get the purple gunk off her suit. "But... what are we going to do, Sylia?"
she asked in a worried tone.
"Yes," Linna added. "What HAPPENED tonight?"
Sylia sighed and shook her head. "First, let's get home and clean up.
Then we'll all go over to Darlene's shop. I don't think it would be wise to
delay that any longer than we have to. Hopefully she won't do anything rash
before we get there."
"Shouldn't we go right now?" Linna asked.
"No!" Sylia flatly rejected that action. "The less threatening we look,
the better. Let's go." She activated her jump jets and bounded off.
The others quickly followed.

"Sylvie?"
"Hmm?" the brown-haired woman murmured curiously as she leaned on the
wall, not wanting to sit as she would have had a hard time getting up. Anri
sat on the cashier's table, having managed to hop up onto it.
"How much longer do you think we'll be like this?" There was no need to
tell her fellow sexaroid what 'this' was. The bonds of light still bound them
tight after Darlene's disappearance.
"Hopefully soon. Darlene was..."
As if saying her name had summoned her, the elven Darlene and Charcoal
the dragon burst into existence where the wyrm had normally rested when he
had been merely a statue.
"Darlene!" both Sylvie and Anri cried.
The magic-user did not respond verbally, but instead stood, using the
red dragon to steady herself. Her face was tear streaked and, with eyes
closed, slowly came over to the two worried sexaroids. When she stood before
them she tried to talk but could only utter a half-sob. Frustrated, she
swiped at the magical bonds with her hands and the bindings vanished with
bursts of light. With her two friends freed, Darlene stepped back and hugged
herself desperately, not saying a word.
Able to move once more, Sylvie hesitantly approached her friend.
"Darlene? Are you okay?" She immediately regretted saying that as the
purple-haired woman looked anything but okay.
"I'm... I'm s-sorry," Darlene managed to get out, face to the floor and
voice laden with grief. "I... I don't... I didn't..."
"It's all right, Darlene," Sylvie said, trying to calm her friend down.
She reached out and placed her hand on the elven woman's shoulder. Darlene
twitched, but accepted it. "You should get some rest. Come on, look at me."
The hypnotic devices in her optics would harmlessly put the other woman to
sleep.
Darlene knew about them too, but still lifted her head and opened her
eyes.
Anri had been looking in slight apprehension and wonder at the dragon,
who was looking back just as curiously, when she heard Sylvie gasp. Worried
that something else had happened, she quickly turned around and saw Sylvie
staring at Darlene's face. No... At her eyes. Why was she...?
Then Anri SAW and gasped too.
Noticing their reactions, Darlene looked rapidly at both. Fear rippled
across her face before she turned and ran, cloak flying behind her, for the
entrance to her upstairs home.
She slammed the door behind her.
The blue-haired girl shook her head to clear it. "Wha... what was that,
Sylvie?" Anri shakily said, there was no fear in her voice, but there WAS
wonder.
"I... don't know," Sylvie replied, a similar tone in her own voice, "but
I wish I did."
Charcoal lazily stared at the scene, then exhaled softly and reassumed
the posture he had been positioned in as a statue. There was no way to tell
now that he had changed as he looked exactly the same as before, save for a
glint in his eye that could be mistaken for a reflection of the lights above,
but was not.
He would wait until his creator needed him again.

Leon gritted his teeth and counted to ten.
Slowly. Very slowly.
He had just gotten back from the mess that the confrontation between his
and Daley's squad, and the Elf. (How could she be Darlene??) The Chief had
immediately demanded what had happened. Leon told him. During his report the
Chief had gotten more and more red in the face from his growing anger. When
he had finished, the Chief had given him a dressing down about taking police
work seriously and not to 'play the damn fool' with his superiors. After ten
minutes, The Chief finished shouting at Leon and was waiting for his reply.
Leon took a deep breath to calm himself, and said, "Everything I said is
true... sir." Other than omitting Darlene's name; he was sure no good would
come of ADPolice confronting her again. "Daley, as well as EVERY OTHER
OFFICER THERE will give you the same story. There was an elf. She destroyed
three K-17 suits easily and sent the remains somewhere else. She destroyed a
fair portion of street with lightning bolts and blocked off the other three
roads of the intersection we were in somehow. AND one of my MEN is now a
member of the opposite SEX!!" he finished with a shout, making the chief
retreat a little. "I'M still having trouble believing it! Verify it yourself
if you want, but IT. IS. TRUE!!" Not caring at that point what the Chief
thought, Leon turned and started walking away. "Right now I have to talk to
the one who was changed," he said over his shoulder. "I'll give you the
report for THAT later."
"LEO...!" was all the inspector heard before he closed the door.
Sighing, he continued walking through the corridors making a mental note not
to get within shouting distance of the Chief until the jackass found out that
Leon was telling the truth.
Eventually, he came to the medical section of ADPolice and walked into
one of the waiting rooms. Bochinski was waiting here and was seated in a
chair, finished with his own examination but waiting for his less fortunate
friend. Daley was still cleaning up a few things so he wasn't here, nor were
the rest of Leon's team, which was puzzling.
"Where are the others?" Leon asked Bochinski.
The other held up his hands. "Much as they wanted to, the doctor told
them to leave. Felt it would be too much for hi... her," he finished,
correcting himself. "I guess the doctor was right, but I dunno. Doc said I
was just fine and in perfect health."
"Lucky you," a sullen voice said.
Both men turned and saw that Wadderson had come out. Leon did a double
take at what he saw as he hadn't seen the transformed officer yet and was
considerably surprised. More like stunned from what he saw. Long and flowing
blonde hair, striking green eyes, and delicious looking lips on a sensuous
face. This along with a perfect complexion and body any female would die to
possess, not to mention the other sex, albeit in a different way. One of the
female ADPolice personnel had obviously given the unfortunate officer some
ill-fitting clothing, but the full breasts and hourglass figure were still
very noticeable. This heavenly vision was only marred by the morose
expression she wore, and even then only by a little.
Ignoring Leon's hanging jaw, Wadderson walked around him and slumped
down into a chair, staring at nothing. It was very apparent that she wasn't
in any mood to talk.
Snapping his mouth into place, Leon tried to say something reassuring.
"Ah...I'm sure everything will turn out all right." Bochinski raised
incredulous eyebrows at the lame attempt.
"I'm sure my girlfriend will agree with you," Wadderson replied levelly,
not looking at Leon having fixed her vision at a point on the far wall.
"Ahrm..." This was getting worse and worse. Leon stepped back towards
the door. "Maybe later... we can talk... Tomorrow then."
He fled.
"Well, that was good, my friend," Bochinski commented.
"Shut up!" Wadderson said angrily, looking at him with her flashing
green eyes. "And I don't give a damn!"
"It WAS your fault," he pointed out.
"Shut...UP!" she repeated furiously. Her hands formed claws at her
sides. "If I EVER see that BITCH again I'll..." Wadderson trailed off, unable
to continue in her angry state.
"I hope not," Bochinski said quietly to himself. He hadn't mentioned it
to the doctor since she hadn't seen anything unusual but he felt...
different. More... alive.
His partner might not have been the only one changed.
He wondered if he should be worried.
Nah.

"And that is what happened, you say?" Quincy said, no emotion betraying
his true feelings on this rather unusual matter.
"Yes, sir," Madagan replied. Despite what she had told Leon, Madagan
felt that at least the director should be told the whole story, whatever he
believed.
He was silent, quietly looking at the blank monitors. Holding off
judgement. Waiting.
Then one screen blinked to life showing a rather panicked face. "Sir!
There IS something... or rather nothing... on the roof of the tower! It's
a... a... It looks like it's disintegrating what it touches! There's a large
hole now and it seems to be slowly GROWING!!"
Quincy's face tightened minutely. "Did you send in a Boomer?"
"Yes! And... and half of its arm is gone so far! It's spreading faster
on it than the roof!"
"Try to find a way to solve this problem as quickly as possible. Quincy
out." The screen blinked off before the scientist could protest. "So it's
true," he said, considering Madagan thoughtfully.
"As I said, sir."
"Indeed. And what do you recommend?"
"Do nothing." Seeing Quincy not react, she added, "I cannot predict what
the consequences would be if we continue with... the store's owner."
"And if we cannot find a solution to the problem already starting above
us? Do you recommend we evacuate?"
"I... don't know, sir."
The chairman steepled his fingers together, and considered the new
Madagan. Whatever she had gone through, it had strengthened her. He approved
that in those loyal to him. But this new dilemma... "I shall tell you what I
decide tomorrow after I see what can be done about the tower." He narrowed
his eyes. "Be prepared."
"Yes, sir." She wished she felt as certain of that as she sounded.
Another encounter like the one tonight...
Perhaps different tactics were required.
The other way certainly had not worked.

Chapter Twenty-Seven
--------------------

Linna's van slowed as she carefully guided the vehicle into the parking
space. When she was done, she looked apprehensively at Sylia, who was sitting
in the passenger side. Her leader's face was expressionless: a sure sign that
Sylia was thinking about something unpleasant, and most likely about Darlene.
Darlene...
Linna still had trouble believing what had happened earlier that night.
"Let's go," Sylia said, opening her door and stepping outside into the
night air, Linna doing the same. Priss and Nene, who had been sitting in the
back, looked at each other nervously before copying the others. Together,
they all walked towards the store's side entrance, and upon reaching it Sylia
knocked firmly on the door.
It was an anxious minute before there were noises on the other side of
the door. Then it opened wide and revealed a worried-looking Sylvie, who
seemed relieved that they had come.
"Priss!" She rushed forwards to hug her friend briefly, then stepped
back to view all four friends. "Thank God you came; I'm not sure what to do."
"So Darlene did come back here with the dragon?" Sylia said.
Sylvie gave her a startled look. "You know about Charcoal?"
"We only stared at its very ALIVE looking face for a while," Priss
sarcastically answered her, then peered cautiously around the sexaroid. "It
that thing here?"
"Well, yes," Sylvie replied, then quickly added "But it hasn't moved."
when she saw Priss backing up. It was unnecessary as Linna had firmly placed
a hand on the singer's shoulder, preventing the retreat and earning her a
glare. "Darlene is too, and I guess you know what she now looks like." Seeing
them nod she sighed helplessly. "She freed us and then ran upstairs. We've...
not tried to go up yet. She crashed around for a time and then... nothing.
I'm starting to get more worried than when this whole thing started." After
telling the group that, Sylvie beckoned them inside.
Sylia immediately entered. Priss, Linna, and Nene exchanged worried
looks before following.

"Darlene?" Nene hesitantly called her friend, knocking on the
apartment's closed bedroom door. There was no response.
"She's got to be in there," Linna said, as concerned as Nene about the
lack of activity. "We've gone through every other room."
All the Knight Sabers had cautiously climbed the stairs to the upstairs
apartment where Darlene lived. Smashed furniture and dents in the walls,
floor, and ceiling! told them all how badly their friend seemed was taking
her recent predicament. In looking for her, the four had warily searched
through the house, leaving only one room remaining.
Surprisingly, it was Sylia who reached forwards between the startled
Nene and Linna and gave the doorknob a firm twist to open it. The other three
drew back a bit, uncertain as to what would happen, but nothing did. The
leader of the Knight Sabers opened the door fully and stepped inside. One by
one the others followed and saw that the changed Darlene was indeed here.
Her room was like the rest of the apartment, walls battered, objects
smashed, and generally looking like a tornado had been through the place. The
bed, however, seemed to have been warped, melted, and stretched like taffy.
A strange incongruity in the mess. And sitting in a corner of the room was
the cause of all the destruction.
From what they all knew about her, she was in a strange position for
someone who should still be angry, desperate, and despairing. Still wearing
that strange armour-like garb, Darlene was hugging her legs close to her
body, knees just below her bowed face, purple hair concealing it as it fell
down the sides of her head. The still figure didn't react to their presence.
"Hey... Hey," Priss said, in a rising panic, unconsciously moving
forwards before Sylia could stop her, "I don't think she's breathing!!"
"WHAT?!" Nene and Linna shouted, then instantly rushed over to Darlene
as well, Sylia walking quickly behind them, a trace of growing worry on her
face.
Priss grabbed Darlene with both hands and violently shook the elven
figure. "HEY!! DON'T DIE YOU STUpid..." her voice died in her throat.
Startled, the perfectly healthy Darlene had jerked her head up to stare
eye-to-eye with Priss. Then what was revealed to Sylvie and Anri before was
now shown to Priss and the others. For now that the eerie purple glow was
gone from Darlene's eyes one could see the normal-seeming eyes. The irises
were purple, half expected, but faint flecks of light slowly drifted through
them. And the lights were strange, wonderful, and compelling. They seemed to
bring forth all the churning emotions within Priss' heart, all together,
blended in a cacophony that she could feel, smell, taste, and, most
importantly, see. It grew, and then...
Darlene put her hands over her face, making a sound of dismay, cutting
off the sight of her eyes and Priss broke out of... of... whatever she had
been under. Shaking her head, she noticed that the others had seen Darlene's
eyes as well and were in various phases of recovery from the bizarre, yet
oddly wonderful, experience. What the hell had happened?
"No!" Darlene shouted, voice slightly muffled while trying to hide her
face in her hands. "Go away! Quickly! Please!!" she pleaded behind her hands.
"Let us help, Darlene," Nene said, starting to reach over to hug the
distraught magic-user.
"GET OUT NOW!!!" Darlene shouted, panic and desperation in her voice,
reflexively pushing them away by whatever means available.
It was like a whirlwind, whatever she did. Suddenly, before they had a
chance to brace themselves, gales of force dragged the startled Knight Sabers
out of the room, Nene giving a shocked scream, and were dropped
unceremoniously in a pile outside the door, which slammed shut.
"This isn't going well," Linna groaned, picking herself off the floor.
"No shit," Priss said, doing the same and moved to open the door again.
Swearing, she jerked her hand off the knob and gripped her palm as if in
pain. When the others looked at her curiously, she explained, "Damn thing's
electrified!"
"I'm sorry," Darlene's downcast and muffled voice came from behind the
door, "but... but that's why I didn't... want you near me."
Sylia spoke up. "What do you mean?"
"I can't... I can't fully control my increased powers yet," Darlene
explained. "When I was... out of control, I could, and after I was too...
depressed, but when I tried to calm down I found that my control... wasn't
perfect. You saw what happened to my bed? I didn't mean to do that." A hint
of hysteria was present in her voice.
Chills went down Sylia's spine. And they had been standing right in
front of her... "Is that why you were sitting on the floor like that?" she
asked in a steady voice. "To get rid of distractions and not damage anything
else?"
"Yes."
"Isn't there anything you can do?" Nene pleaded to both Sylia and
Darlene.
"I don't kn..." Darlene stopped in puzzlement. "I'll be back to normal
in two days?" she suddenly said. It sounded like she was sure, but wondering
why she was.
"How do you know that?" Sylia asked curiously.
"I don't KNOW!" Darlene shouted, obviously frustrated. "I just... DO.
What's happening to me??" she pleaded.
"I don't know," Sylia said, echoing Darlene. "But if you will be back to
normal in two days then we'll be able to talk safely?"
"Yes... Maybe sooner." It sounded like another certainty from unknown
reasons. "And... I'm sorry about tonight," she added, sounding miserable. "I
couldn't help myself."
"We'll forgive you," Linna said, frustrated to have to talk to a door.
"But I'm still wondering if I'm dreaming. Magic, Darlene?" she said,
plaintively.
"Sorry," the voice on the other side replied weakly.
"I can handle it, I think, but please tell me that damned dragon isn't
still working," Priss said, hoping for a pleasing answer.
"He's not a watch," Darlene irritably replied, lifting out of her
depression at Priss' tone. "And yes, he still is."
"Damn."
"What did he do?"
"Never you mind. But I'll give YOU the cleaning bill."
"I think we'd better go," Sylia finally said. "Until Darlene either
returns to normal or gets enough control, we'd best not disturb her. It's
been a long night." As they started to go, Sylia added, "And one day we'll
have a talk about your sense of humour."
There was puzzled silence from behind the door, then a loud musical
giggle as Darlene realized what she was talking about. "Um... sorry?"
"We'll talk about it later," Sylia said ominously.
"Right," the other sighed.

Anri and Sylvie were anxiously waiting downstairs and were relieved when
they saw the four coming back down unharmed, if worried.
"Is she alright?" Anri asked Priss.
"Oh, yeah, she's fine," the singer replied, but then continued with a
grimace, "for a goddamned ELF, for crying out loud!" She shook her head,
unable to dismiss the worry she felt. Who she was worrying for was unknown,
which made her even more uncertain about her own feelings. "This is just too
bizarre," she complained.
Sylia's face was studiously composed as she stared at one of the walls.
"Nene," she said, and the concerned red-head turned her green eyes to her
leader, "tomorrow I want you to find out what happened when Darlene fought
ADPolice."
"Sure, Sylia. It'll probably be all over the station anyway. But what
are you going to do?" When Sylia didn't reply immediately, Nene felt dread
seeping into her heart. "You're not planning on doing something to Darlene,
are you?"
"Nene..." Linna began, but Sylia waved a hand, stopping her.
"I don't like thinking about it, Nene, but I must make some hard
decisions on this matter. I have gotten fond of her," she admitted, "and even
consider her a friend, but if she ever loses control again..." her voice
trailed off, letting her listeners' imaginations fill in the details and not
feeling very pleasant for having to do so. "We may have to do something...
drastic in order to prevent even more destruction, even if I don't know what
yet."
Then an angry, bitter voice that came from nowhere in particular,
snapped, "If you MUST plot my capture or death, do it elsewhere!" All six
women froze as they realized Darlene must have heard every word. "I'm feeling
suicidal ENOUGH without you saying I'm the Herald of Doomsday! And right now
with these damn ears of mine I can't help listening to it so do it SOMEWHERE
ELSE!!" She stopped talking, and an accusing silence filled the room.
Sylia's face was ashen as she realized she might have worsened matters,
and damaging whatever trust there was between them. "I am sorry, Darlene,"
she said quietly.
No one expected a reply, but Darlene surprised them. "I know. You had to
say it," her voice said, no longer angry and just as quiet as Sylia's
response. "Besides, I was thinking along the same lines for a while. Good
night, everyone." There was a brief pause, then, "Live long and prosper."
There was a disembodied giggle that accompanied the various groans and sighs
that filled the room. "Sorry, it's these ears. Night."
Priss pushed off the wall she had been leaning on. "Let's go. She's
gonna be okay."
"Are you sure, Priss?" Linna queried.
"If she's making bad jokes about it, then she's recovering just fine,"
was Priss' sour response, albeit with a small grin on her lips.
The audible "Hmph!" as they left the store brought smiles to the rest of
the group.

Darlene sighed after her indignant response, then irritably brushed an
errant strand of newly lengthened hair out of her face.
She supposed she was recovering, but one look at the floor told her she
wasn't over it yet, far from it. There were gashes made in the floor's
material, done by her bare fingers when Sylia had made that comment and anger
had flared high. She had gotten a hold of herself quickly, the night's events
as a result of that fiery anger fresh in her mind had acted as a reminder of
the consequences from lack of control. Darlene shuddered.
"Well, I'm not tired at all," she observed aloud. "Might as well fix up
the place."
Looking down at the damaged floor, her eyes narrowed in concentration
and slowly the carpet reformed back into its original, whole state. Darlene
shook her head when finished, amazed still at not having to speak a magical
rhyme, even for something as minor as fixing a few scratches. Something
larger would still require it without the Wild Magic filling her, save when
her emotions ran high as when she had thrown the Sabers out of her room.
A sudden shift surprised her. She looked down at herself, and stared.
Her elven armour getup, that she hadn't figured out yet, had vanished
only to be replaced by more ordinary clothes. Gone was the cloak and upper
clothing, replaced by a white blouse and...purple ribbon?!? The deceptively
less armoured purple pants were now just blue jeans. The belt for them had a
stylized dragon on a largish belt buckle. Her gloves were gone, as too the
boots but white socks with purple stripes replacing them. She frowned, and
shifting slightly she felt something she had never worn before underneath her
shirt. What was there she decided she really didn't want to see after
noticing the damn ribbons.
Darlene hadn't done this.
Or rather, she had. Only her magic had acted on a faint desire to get
out of the fantasy armour and likely some subconscious part of her had
decided what to do about it. And her subconscious had some decidedly funny
ideas her conscious didn't approve of.
This was why she didn't want company around her at the moment. This was
the second time her magic had reacted without her full control, true she was
more comfortable, save one... erk... no, TWO aspects, but the way it had been
done was unnerving to say the least. She sighed, it was doubtful full control
would come in only two days. Maybe if she worked on control tonight she
wouldn't have to worry. At least fixing her home would be distracting.
There were still a lot of things for her to think about. Namely: why
wasn't she tired? Would she feel it later? And what was with her eyes that
everyone found so fascinating? She had looked in a mirror and didn't notice
anything odd other than the newly purple hue to her irises, but SOMETHING
must be there.
Darlene thought up a partial solution to the eye problem as she went on
to clean up the damage she had caused. Simple really, she thought as created
the object. She felt slightly ridiculous when she put it on, but felt it
should work.
The mage sighed as she adjusted the preventative measure.
The whole thing was just so ludicrous!

Chapter Twenty-Eight
--------------------

LATE(10 A.M.) THE NEXT MORNING...

BRRRIIIINNNGGGG!!!
"Hello?"
"Darlene? I see you've turned off your monitor." Nervous laughter. "I
guess I can understand why."
"Leon..."

An hour later, one purple-haired elf opened the doors to ADPolice
headquarters wondering if this was really a good idea. She thought her magic
was behaving now, even after a few minor mishaps late at night, so she had
given in to Leon's persuasive arguments. A pang of guilt also prodded her on.
She still wore the clothes that had been conjured, more out of fear of
what might replace it than anything else. And one addition.
A young female officer, who was on reception duty behind the transparent
plastic, looked up to see who had come in, and stared. Darlene's unusual
nature was not obvious due to two things. One was her long, flowing purple
hair that hid her pointed ears nicely. Another was the pair of dark
sunglasses she had created to hide her eyes. She felt silly; 'Elf Wearing
Dark Shades Confesses to Crimes.' Yaright. Still, the movements of her taller
and lithe new body were flowing and graceful, attracting unwanted eyes. And
this was also the reason the girl at the desk was looking at her with an
expression of mixed admiration and awe, something Darlene wasn't terribly
comfortable with.
She finally reached the clear, bullet-proof, plastic barrier and smiled.
"Hi, I believe Inspector McNichol has arranged a visitor's pass for me?"
Darlene said, wincing internally at the musical quality of her voice that she
was unable to repress.
The girl blinked once, then blushed crimson with embarrassment as she
realized she had been blatantly staring at Darlene. "Right! Ah... just a
second while I verify this... um...?" She looked up again, inquiringly.
"Valanna. Valanna Ellantora" Darlene replied while sighing internally,
giving the name she had made up and given to Leon to use. Yet another alias;
she would need a list to keep track of them all at this rate.
The girl blinked at the rather unusual name but typed it in anyway and
got an affirmative response. "Okay, it'll take just a second."
"No hurry," Darlene said, smiling once she thought about this whole
conversation.
Out of Darlene's sight, elevator doors opened and a man and a woman
stepped out. The woman being stunningly attractive but with an angry scowl on
her face. The man had to hurry to keep up with her as she stormed out of the
elevator.
"'We'll inform you if we find anything positive.' Hah!" the woman
muttered bitterly. "Like what?!"
"Calm down, bud. You aren't making things any better," Bochinski said,
trying to calm his radically altered friend.
They were at the doors when he finished and there Wadderson whirled
angrily on his friend. "And HOW do you suggest I make things better?"
"Buying a new wardrobe for one," her friend replied, pointing at the
ill-fitting clothes she still wore upon her newly-curvaceous form. "The baggy
look isn't in."
Despite her negative feelings about her recent changes, Wadderson shook
her head disbelievingly at her partner's comments. "Doesn't anything damn
well faze you? I mean..." Her voice died.
"Hey, it's a survival trait. If I let everything bother me, I'd be
Boomer chow," Bochinski responded glibly, then noticed the wide-eyed look of
shock on his altered partner's face. "What?"
"It's HER!" she whispered.
"Her?" Turning his head, he saw the elevator begin closing but not
before he glimpsing a beautiful, purple-haired woman standing inside...
Waitasec. PURPLE-haired? "Oh, shit," he said softly, finally recognizing the
woman and knowing what he would see once he turned his head back to his
partner. Twisting his head back around, he looked.
He was right.

Outside the building, a man picked up the phone in his parked car.
"Someone matching the description just went into ADPolice," he reported
to his superior. "Orders?"
"Wait to make sure she stays there," came the prompt reply. "There may
be some wait but you will be joined by more operatives. Under NO, and I mean
NO circumstances do you make contact."
"Understood. Out."

"Leon, just who are we waiting for that's got you so tense?" Daley said,
wondering what was going on. His partner had told him that someone important
was coming to talk with them, but had been very tight-lipped about details on
who the person might be.
Leon looked up at his partner as he was sitting behind his desk and
Daley standing beside it, and gave his red-headed friend a slightly uncertain
smile that was supposed to reassure. It failed miserably. "I'm expecting
someone who might give us more info on what happened last night."
"Who?"
"Ah..." Leon began, then stood up from his chair when he saw something.
"She's just arrived."
Daley turned around to the same direction Leon was looking, and his jaw
almost dropped to the floor when he realized who had walked into the slightly
busy room. She was wearing shades, hair concealed her ears, and wasn't
wearing fantasy armour, but it was definitely the Elf. Wearing a visitor's
pass?? As well as looking a lot less sure of herself and slightly nervous,
Daley noted to himself, which was the only reason he wasn't shouting for
everyone to clear the room.
"I'm sure I'll love the story about how you managed this," Daley said in
a low voice to Leon as the graceful movements of the Elf brought her closer
to them. He hoped no one else would notice who had just waltzed in.
Leon wasn't able to manage a retort before the Elf walked up to his
desk, looking at the two detectives anxiously before settling on Leon. She
hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Does he know?" she asked him, Leon
shook his head and Daley's eyebrows rose as he wondered at the familiarity
between the two. She turned to face Daley. "Okay then." She took a deep
breath and began, "Daley, as my cover is blown, you deserve to know the whole
truth. I am the elven High Lord for this planet and Leon is an undercover
satyr, if you knew satyrs this would have been obvious. Our mission is to
secure this world against the forces of the evil Grytophs. You know these
magical beasts in their disguised forms as Boomers. Unfortunately, one of
their High Potantors drove me temporarily insane after shattering my disguise
and I went on a rampage after her. Now that I have returned to my senses, I
see that we need help. We need you, Daley, to join the Yaniuu," she finished,
trying to stifle her laughter at Leon's own surprised amusement and at
Daley's stunned disbelief at what he had just heard.
"Say WHAT?!" Daley exclaimed, incredulous.
That did it. Darlene couldn't stop her laughter though she tried
stifling it with her hands, Leon joined in a second later. Slowly it dawned
on Daley that he'd been had.
"I... I'm sorry," she managed to gasp out. "I just couldn't resist!"
"That was bad, even for you, 'Valanna,'" Leon said, using the alias and
grinning despite the reasons she had come here.
"All right, all right, so I fell for that, but how do you know her,
Leon?" Daley said, getting increasingly confused by their familiarity.
Darlene's laughter died, and soberly her shades turned to him again.
"You know me too, Daley. But last night I did more than breaking a table in
half. I WAS insane; that much was true," she finished despondently looking
down at the floor.
It took a second for the reference to make sense to him, but when it did
it hit him like a hammer on the head. "DAR..." he started to say, but she
quickly put a finger on his lips, silencing him.
"Please don't," she pleaded after taking her finger back. "I feel bad
enough about last night."
"Like what you did to Wadderson?" Leon said with a level tone.
Darlene blinked. "Who?" she asked, confused.
"Remember when two of my men were about to escort you?" he clarified,
not able to completely suppress the anger he felt about that, but she still
shook her head. He frowned, and Daley, recovering from the shock of finding
out who the Elf really was, widened his eyes and shook his head minutely.
Leon realized that Darlene actually didn't remember, and tried to backtrack.
"Well, I'll go into that later but..."
"No," Darlene interrupted fiercely, "I need to know what I did! It
sounds bad but I don't remember what you're talking about!" She paled a
little. "I didn't kill anyone, did I?" Before Leon could answer her there was
a commotion at the large room's entrance.
"YOU!!!!" a furious female voice screamed. Leon swore, recognizing the
voice, and started around his desk. But the one who had shouted was already
running straight for Darlene.
Who had turned around, ready to defend herself, but froze at the sight
of the transformed Wadderson. Memory flashed through her mind like a
lightning bolt and if she had been pale before, she went bone-white as she
remembered what she had done to the woman rushing her.
Faster than those watching thought possible, the furious blonde
barrelled right into the stunned elf. To everyone's amazement, they shattered
Leon's desk with the force of impact and continued on to the wall where
Darlene was slammed into the reenforced wall, making a crater in the
structure. None of this fazed Wadderson, who was too deep in her own fury to
notice what she had accomplished. She immediately started pummelling her
opponent with rapid-fire punches to face and torso. "Changemeback!
Changemebackchangemebackchangemeback!" Wadderson rapidly kept repeating over
and over, tears she had refused to shed before now flowing freely.
"Bud! Stop it!" Bochinski cried out, and tried to restrain his partner
by gripping her shoulder. Blinded by fury, Wadderson swung a backhand at him,
and connected with bone-crushing force. There was the sound of bones breaking
and he flew backwards over the heads of the frozen audience to slam into the
other side of the wall.
Not comprehending what she had done, she turned back to the elf ready to
begin again, but stopped.
Despite Wadderson's obviously increased strength, Darlene seemed quite
fine other than a few bruises and cuts on her face, which were already
starting to fade for her new body was built far stronger than her normal one.
Still, she had done nothing to defend herself and her eyes were closed for
the glasses were crushed on the ground.
"Damn you," the blonde grated, and she grabbed the elf, pulling her out
of the hole they had made in the wall. Angrily, she shook the other at the
shoulders. "Why aren't you fighting me!? Am I too far beneath your damn
notice!?" she shouted.
Darlene shook her head. "No," the captive whispered.
"Look at me, damn you! Look me in the eyes!"
Slowly, the elven face rose, and Darlene obeyed.
Wadderson froze as the effect that had gripped everyone who saw
Darlene's new eyes took hold. ALL her feelings rose to the fore, reducing the
anger to merely one emotion of many. The feeling was indescribable as she
continued to stare at Darlene's sad eyes, which were filling with tears.
"I'm sorry," the elven woman said, a bead of moisture fell from one eye.
"I wasn't myself when I did this to you." Her gaze lowered slightly. "And I
don't think I can reverse it either because I think I remember doing...
something to make it permanent. I know what I did was... wrong and that you
probably hate me. I can understand that all too well. But I can only say that
I am sorry." Between her hands she created another pair of dark glasses and
put them on.
That broke the eye contact, but Wadderson was slow to come out of her
trance. She had looked into Darlene's eyes longer than anyone else and had
begun to see something that appeared both wonderful and terrible. She dazedly
wondered if it was good or bad that it was gone now. The elf's words came
back to her. 'I can understand that all too well'? Did that mean...? Then
Wadderson's eyes opened wide in horrified remembrance and realization.
"Bochinski!!" she shouted, paling, remembering the sound of bones breaking.
"Finally snap out of it, bud?" was her partner's concerned and
unexpected reply. Wadderson whirled around and saw him in front of the
audience of cops that had been watching the confrontation. Standing
unsupported when he should have been a broken wreck.
Stunned, Wadderson released the elf and slowly came over to the now
grinning Bochinski. She stopped in front of him and looked at every part of
his body. His clothes were a little bloodstained but that was it. "How...?"
was all she was able to manage, indicating his unbroken body.
He could only shrug helplessly, grinning. "Got me. I still feel sore
though. Remind me never to spar with you when you're angry again."
Before Wadderson could respond to that, the Chief arrived.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!?" he bellowed and every police officer
in the room suddenly felt hesitant to explain what had happened.
However, Darlene wasn't an officer and remembered that the Chief had
insulted her a long time ago. Therefore... "We were having a little
disagreement," she answered him sweetly, and caught him off-guard with her
musical voice. "I phoned Mr. McNichol to apologize for last night, because it
wasn't really my fault but I still felt sorry for all the damage I caused."
She sighed dramatically, getting incredulous looks from everyone in the room,
save Leon and Daley who were grinning slightly
"And who the devil are you?" the Chief demanded, trying to get back the
high ground he sensed he had lost.
"Well.... People have been calling me the 'Elf,'" she grinned. "I wonder
why?" she said, brushing back her hair to reveal her pointed ears.
The Chief, however, was not so ready to believe this and he rounded on
the grinning Leon. "McNichol! Are you still trying to get me to believe that
crazy story of yours?! Elf, my ass!" He didn't notice Darlene's frown and the
subsequent gesture she made. "It's all a crock of bullshit!"
"Chief, I didn't lie before and I'm not lying now," Leon said, defending
himself. "I..." He stopped talking and stared at the Chief's head.
"'I' what, McNichol?" the Chief demanded, then noticed Leon's wondering
stare. He then noticed his scalp felt... odd, like a half-forgotten memory
trying to make itself known. Everyone was staring at him now, or rather, his
head. The female, who had called herself the Elf, giggled. "What the
hell...?" he wondered and reached up to feel the top of his head, and
encountered much more hair than there had been ten minutes ago. Disbelieving,
he used both hands to confirm that his hair, that had been absent from his
head save that at the sides, was growing once more and was now beginning to
gain respectable length.
"Hair to the Chief?" the Elf said innocently, and grinned.
"McNichol," the Chief said, voice level and hands still on his head.
"Yes, sir?"
"Take care of this case, and don't tell me anything more about it."
"Ah...yes, sir."
"I'm taking the rest of the day off." And with that, the Chief left.
Daley released the breath he had been holding. "That went well," he
commented.
"Right," Leon said, unable to repress a chuckle. "Okay, Bochinski,
Wadderson, and... Valanna, you'd better come with Daley and me to a more," he
looked around at the interested observers, "private location." He looked at
his destroyed desk and sighed. "Oh, well," he mourned.
Darlene looked at him curiously, then shrugged and said,

"Damage done by fires of rage,
Become undone at this my rhyme,
Fury now contained in cage,
Turning back the sands of time."

Before everyone's disbelieving eyes, the shattered pieces of Leon's desk
reassembled themselves and reformed whole. The hole made in the wall pushed
itself back out and plaster, like a puzzle, returned piece by piece to where
it originally had been. Soon, not a trace of the damage done by Wadderson's
attack remained.
Leon stared for a long while, before saying, "Maybe we'd better hurry."

"So you want me to repair the street?"
"NO!"
Darlene recoiled in her chair at Leon's vehement response. They had all
moved into one of ADPolice's interrogation rooms and were all seated around
the room's single table. Darlene and Leon on opposite ends; Daley and the two
altered officers on the other two sides. "Do you need a megaphone to make
that any louder?" she said, dripping sarcasm. "My ears ARE a little
sensitive, Leon. Why not?"
"Sorry, but what happened last night and that display in the office
should be the limit." Wadderson shrank in her seat a little because the
latter was mostly her fault. "There's no telling what more public display
might do, even if you fix it enough people have seen the damage so that if it
magically disappears they'll REALLY start wondering. Once they might
disbelieve, twice..." He shook his head.
"Getting back to closer topics," Bochinski said. "Just what DID you do
to us two, miss?" He indicated the female Wadderson and himself.
Darlene sighed. "I was operating more on instinct than any actual
knowledge so I'm not sure HOW I did it, but what I actually did... I know
something about that. It felt like poetic justice at the time, for I used the
insult as the basis of what I did." Seeing the two's confused looks, she
explained, "You said 'bitch'. A bitch is a female dog... or wolf. I said I
split it in twain and I did. One part to shape Wadderson, another to shape
Bochinski. I added my own changes to that of course, but I'm foggy on most."
"Wait," Bochinski said. "I think I'm getting this. You split the meaning
of the word bitch and made Wadderson female for the female half of the
definition. But that leaves the other and I certainly don't look like a dog."
"Wolf," Darlene softly corrected, "and I expanded on that."
He shook his head. "I still don't get it."
"Let's just say you only have to worry about silver bullets now, instead
of normal ones," she said, hinting at the truth.
"Wolf..." Bochinski's eyes widened as he finally realized what had been
done to him. "WEREwolf!"
"Bingo." She gave him a sad smile. "And don't worry, you have, should
have anyway, full control over it so don't worry about going berserk when the
moon is full." She considered him thoughtfully. "I'm not sure how powerful
your healing abilities are but you recovered from broken bones pretty
quickly."
Bochinski was silent for a moment, absorbing this news, then said, "Will
I be needing flea collars?" Darlene stared at him incredulously.
Wadderson groaned, and whacked her partner lightly on the head. "That's
the absolute least of your concerns, idiot!"
"You never know..." he protested.
"Oh, shut up!" she said, exasperated at her partner's lack of reaction
to their predicament. "I didn't think of this at the time but knocking you
THROUGH a desk is a little hard to swallow. How strong am I now? And how come
I didn't notice it?"
Darlene shrugged helplessly. "I have no idea to either question. I don't
know how that happened. As to the second, I can only guess that somehow you
must have been given the ability to control it."
Leon stepped into the conversation then. "Alright then. You two," he
said, pointing at the changed officers, "go down to the gym and find out what
you can do." He held up a hand to stop their protests. "I know the docs said
you should go home, but don't you think you'd feel better if you know more
about what happened?" At their reluctant nods, he smiled. "Hey, at least
you'll have an easier time against Boomers."
Wadderson snorted. "Small consolation, sir," she said before she left
the room, a thoughtful Bochinski behind.
There was uncomfortable silence in the room for a minute after they
left, then Leon cleared his throat. "Do you mind telling us what's going on?"
"Leon, Daley," Darlene began, then sighed and began again. "I can't
promise to tell you everything, but... I'll tell you what I can."
"One thing," Leon interrupted. "Will this happen again?"
"I didn't know this COULD happen in the FIRST place," Darlene snapped,
frustrated. "It surprised me too and it only happened because Madagan got me
so... so furious." She shook her head. "Now that I know I should be able to
prevent it. I DON'T like losing control of myself," she stressed that before
continuing, "and I'll be relieved when I change back."
"Does Nene know?" Leon asked quietly.
"Nene?" Darlene squeaked, caught off-guard. "Ah..."
"She does," he said. It wasn't a question. Suspicion grew in him.
"She didn't know I could cast magic!" Darlene protested. "Besides, I've
had some trouble with my spells since I got tossed into this universe." She
paused when she saw Daley's eyes widen at that piece of news. "Maybe I
shouldn't have said that," she said weakly.
Leon managed to ignore that last revelation. "Are you human?"
"Yes!" She glared at his chuckle, flushing slightly. "Not that you could
tell at the moment," she muttered. "Are you enjoying yourself?" she added
with an ominous voice.
"Well, I have to admit this is refreshing, in it's own weird way, now
that I'm getting used to the concept."
"Glad you think so," she sighed, putting elbows on knees and placed her
chin on her palms.
"What about the Knight Sabers and the Crystal Knight?"
Darlene sighed internally; she'd better start acting (the word sounded
better than lying) or else Leon would start finding out more than she wanted
him to know. "The Knight Sabers know the Crystal Knight and the Crystal
Knight knows me."
Leon exchanged looks with Daley. "How do you know him?"
"Because he comes from the same universe I do, except he has psionic
instead of magical powers. Because the same thing that was SUPPOSED to have
killed us changed us instead and gave us our powers. Because in that way
we're... related in a strange manner, having both survived the impossible.
Because while he made his armour, I enchanted it to give it its power, and if
you say anything about 'aiding a vigilante', Leon, I'll turn you into a
frog."
"You mean a toad," Daley corrected.
Darlene gave him a withering glare, felt even through the dark glasses,
then stood up. "I could talk all day, Leon, but I'd rather do it when I'm
back to normal. Besides, I think you'll be busy with the two I... changed."
Sadness flickered on her face before she got a hold of herself. "I'll be
staying at home for the next two days."
"Before you go," Leon said, "what did you do about Genom's problem?"
"Genom? What are... you... Oh no, not again," she moaned. "What did I
DO?! Did I block out everything?!" she cried out, then slumped her shoulders.
"You weren't exactly yourself," Daley said soothingly.
"Yeah. Small consolation." Darlene shook her head and braced herself.
"What did I do, Leon?"
"You mentioned something about a disintegration spell," he stopped when
she staggered a bit, the memory returning to her, but continued when she
waved a hand, "but before that you made some kind of monster and sent it
somewhere. That's about it. Are you all right?" he said, concerned, as all
color drained from her face.
"Yeah," she said, weakly. If he survived, Malkon was going to be very,
very pissed. Great. "I'd better get going. To Genom first, I suppose."
"Are you sure?"
"Do you want Genom tower, or the biggest damn parking lot in Mega-
Tokyo?"
Leon and Daley turned to each other and exchanged a startled look. "Is
what you did THAT strong?" Leon asked, feeling slightly numb.
She gave him a long, sober look, answering him.

Chapter Twenty-Nine
-------------------

"You didn't have to escort me out of the building," Darlene protested as
she, Leon, and Daley walked out of the elevator.
"We're still fixing Headquarters from an attack a few days ago," Leon
cast a wry look at Darlene, "we don't want anything else happening to it."
She stuck her tongue out at him as they passed through the glass doors
outside.
Daley was the first to notice, and stopped. "Hey, Leon."
"What?" Then he saw too, and swore. "Damn."
"What's the..." Darlene began, then saw the man in a suit and dark
glasses who practically had 'Genom' stamped on him walking across the street,
heading for them. "Oh."
The three stayed where they were and warily let the Genom messenger come
to them. When he got within a meter, he stopped and bowed to the elf, which
surprised Darlene. "On behalf of my superior, I humbly ask that you please
come with us to Genom tower."
Exchanging looks with Leon and Daley, Darlene inquired, "Superior?"
"Yes," the man waved to where several cars were parked. One of the car
doors opened and a familiar figure stepped out.
"I'm surprised SHE came," Leon said quietly.
Darlene wasn't sure what she should be feeling seeing Madagan again.
Certainly she had a range of options to choose from, but... there was still
that matter of the spell on Genom tower.
"I guess I've got my ride," she said, sighing.

Needless to say, it was an uncomfortable trip with only the two of them
riding together in the back of the limo. Darlene was still angry about the
way Madagan had treated her, but was feeling guilty over what she had done
after, even knowing Madagan might have killed her. Madagan, on the other
hand, knew she needed Darlene's help to counteract whatever was destroying
Genom tower, but realized she still felt afraid of the elven woman and was
angry with herself about that, even though she had good reason. They stayed
silent the whole way, with only occasional glances at the other.
Finally they arrived at the tower and both got out of the vehicle.
Darlene looked up, and up, and up, at the massive structure. "You know,
it really doesn't need to be so BIG. Get a neckache just trying to see the
top. Sheesh!"
Madagan blinked at her, surprised at the comment, then smiled slightly,
surprising herself. "It's supposed to be a reflection of how much importance
Genom has in the world," she said dryly but with some pride.
"SOMEone has a big ego," Darlene muttered. Then giggled at something
that occurred to her. When Madagan frowned at her, puzzled, she said, "Um, I
don't know if anyone's ever thought of this, but if you imagine Mega-Tokyo as
the face of the world, then Genom tower could be seen as one big zit."
"Really," Madagan said in icy tones.
"And I might be the facial cleanser," Darlene continued, imitating the
Genom exec's cold manner. A look of sudden fear arose on Madagan's face, but
the elven mage sighed and shook her head. "Don't take things so personally.
I didn't mean to insult you. Lighten up, Miss Doom and Gloom." Then she
placed a hand over her face, and grimaced. "Look who's talking. Well, at
least I'M making an effort." She sniffed haughtily.
Madagan pursed her lips, uncertain how to respond. Then started walking
for the tower entrance. "We'd better hurry," she said, not looking back
behind her.
Darlene quickly arrived at her side. "Sourpuss." Madagan's back muscles
twitched. "No wonder I was thinking of doing that to you when I was insane."
Pausing as she swung open the door, Madagan said, "Doing what?"
"I was toying with the idea of turning you into a panther. Purple fur,
jewelled collar. The works. You would've been my puddy tat," Darlene said,
coyly sweet, lightly tapping a suddenly pale Madagan on the nose with a
smile.
The purple-haired exec jerked away, face slightly pale, and fled through
the entrance.
"What? The idea of becoming a cat not to your liking?" Darlene said
sarcastically, following close behind. "Oh, boo hoo. Tsk tsk. I'm SO
heartbroken. What's the matter? Don't like feeling heeeeelpless?" she sniped
wickedly at Madagan.
Who furiously turned around, face wrathful from Darlene's remarks. "WILL
YOU STOP THAT!!" she shouted, finally fed up. Several people around them
looked at her, startled, and those who knew Madagan's cool reputation,
shocked. None were more surprised than Madagan when Darlene glided
uncomfortably close to her and wrapped slender, but strong, arms around her
body, drawing them close together.
"But I don't want to," Darlene purred seductively, Madagan's eyes flew
wide open, horrified. "You really are a very attractive woman, Madagan. We
should let bygones be bygones. And maybe take things a little further, hmmm?"
she said suggestively and dissolved her dark shades, letting them see eye to
eye at last.
Madagan, on the verge of panic, wondered momentarily why the elven woman
had been covering her eyes, but when she began to see deeper things in the
purple orbs that unnaturally evoked feelings within herself she jerked her
head away, not wanting to fall under some spell. "Let me go! Have you gone
mad again?" she cried, struggling to get out of the elf's too-solid embrace
and trying not to look at those eyes.
Darlene blinked.
Shook her head.
Then realized who she was holding, and why.
"AAAAHHHHHH!!!!" If she had hugged a white hot flame, Darlene would have
removed her arms less quickly than from around Madagan. Stepping back
quickly, she hugged herself tightly and shivered violently. "W-What the HECK
am I DOING?!?"
Backing up slightly and regarding her nervously, Madagan said, "That's
what I'd like to know."
"My magic isn't acting up anymore," Darlene said to herself, getting
over the shock of what she had tried to do, "but now my emotions are! Damn!"
she swore angrily. "I thought I didn't have to worry about anything else!"
"This is because of your change?" Madagan asked warily.
"No, I always try seducing women who've tried to kill me," Darlene
replied caustically, and Madagan's cheeks colored slightly. "Of course it
is!" Trying to get a hold of herself Darlene took a deep breath to calm down
and let her arms down to her sides. "I'd better remove that spell then leave
as soon as I can. Elevator?" she asked Madagan, creating a new pair of
glasses, strangely difficult to do but she dismissed it, and wearing them.
"This way," Madagan said, and started walking again, "lover."
Darlene nodded, following her, then did a double-take when she realized
what Madagan had said.
"Great," she muttered sourly, "NOW she gets a sense of humor."
In front of the elven woman, Madagan smiled at the comment.

"Y'know," Darlene commented as she stared at what her spell was doing,
"I didn't think so at the time but this is REAL disturbing."
She and Madagan, along with a few technicians nervously watching at the
sides, were at the very top of Genom tower. The top was mostly a large flat
platform. However, a huge spherical pit was being gouged from the center of
the metal platform, and if you watched carefully you could see it slowly
growing.
"It's continuing to accelerate," Madagan informed the creator of the
destructive spell.
"Just great. Well, better stop it," Darlene said and raised her hands.
She began to cast a spell to nullify the destruction, but staggered after a
moment, almost collapsing.
"What's wrong?" Madagan asked in a worried manner, for the pit WAS
starting to gain worrisome speed.
"Can't cast a spell," Darlene panted.
"WHAT?!" Madagan screamed. "WHY NOT?!"
"I've been up since early YESTERDAY morning, though I don't feel tired,
I've channelled raw magical energy of a degree I've never handled before, got
rid of it in an abrupt manner, and have been casting minor spells since then.
I guess I should've wondered why I'm not flat on my back, not just unable to
cast a coherent spell. I'm almost at my limit." She looked worried as she
contemplated the growing pit.
"Can't you think of anything?"
Darlene paused. "Maybe..." she mused aloud, then held out a hand. A
moment later her sword appeared.
"What good will that do?"
"My sword is linked to me and was made to act as a focus for spells,"
Darlene explained. "I can still direct power into IT and destroy the
disintegration spell with a burst of greater power. I think." She frowned.
"This is purely by instinct, but I think it'll work. My instincts have gotten
a lot better in this form, but in any case I suggest everyone get back. This
might not be very neat."
"Do we have a choice?" Madagan dryly replied, and waved all personnel
away from the ever-growing pit.
Darlene didn't reply, she was too busy concentrating. Suddenly, her
sword blade burst into purple flames and, after flipping the blade so that it
pointed down, with both hands gripping the handle leaped high and fell, the
burning blade's point first, into the exact center of the pit.
From Madagan's viewpoint, Darlene vanished from her sight, followed by
a moment's silence. Then the pit vanished as a burst of intense violet light
erupted out of the crater.
KKKKK-TOOOOOMMMM!

A slim hand came over the edge of the now-glassy pit, dragging Darlene
up with it. "I'm definitely staying home for a while after this," she
muttered as she came over the lip of the hole. She had been wondering why she
hadn't felt tired before; now she knew as she felt weariness like a big black
cloud approaching on the horizon. Darlene had told the others that it would
be two days before she changed back, but that was when she hadn't cast many
spells. Somehow she must have retained some kind of residual charge from the
Wild magic. If she had done nothing it WOULD have been two days. Now...
"Stop right there, girl," someone, no, she knew that voice, said.
Darlene looked up for the first time, and swore explosively. What
remained at the top of the tower was now practically filled with wall-to-
wall Boomers, both the combat models, BU-12s and the more general purpose
55-Cs. Quincy was the one who had spoken, but given his preference for
android duplicates she highly doubted he was actually here. Madagan didn't
look too happy about this development, a surprise in itself, from concern for
Darlene or for the Chairman she didn't know.
"An impressive display of power you gave us last night, and today as
well," Quincy commented.
Darlene was not in the mood for talking with Quincy, not now, all she
wanted was to get back to her store and damned if she was going to put up
with this bullshit any longer. Her patience quota was gone. "MR. Chairman,"
she grated out, Madagan stepped back a bit, having a better idea of what was
going to happen than Quincy, "I'm sorry I almost destroyed your tower, even
though it was pretty much Genom's fault. But now, I just want to go home and
relax, and if you think this bunch of Boomers is impressing me one bit,
you're dead wrong. If you WANT to discuss something with me, do it later."
That said, ignoring all the androids around her, she began heading for the
elevator.
Quincy frowned, and gestured at two blue 55-Cs. They ran to grab the
elven woman.
Darlene didn't halt her forward momentum, but her sword arm BLURRED when
her would-be captors got within striking range. She might be unable to cast
spells at the moment, but her physical abilities had been greatly improved in
her new form and her sword was a very formidable weapon. In effect, it was
akin to putting a hand into a food processor.
Totally ignoring the stunned Quincy as the pieces of sliced Boomer fell
behind her, she nodded to Madagan. "Shall we go?" she said as she passed the
gaping Genom exec.
"Sir?" Madagan hesitantly asked her superior.
"Get that... woman out of the tower," Quincy replied, having no
illusions that someone who dispatched two regular Boomers that swiftly would
have much trouble avoiding and destroying the rest.
"Yes, sir." Madagan hurried after the departing mage.
Not at all angry, Quincy looked over the remains of the two destroyed
Boomers. "Impressive indeed..." he mused quietly. "So. Magic." The Chairman
thought for a moment.
Then chuckled deeply.

It was about an hour later when Darlene and Madagan arrived at the
magic-user's store. Darlene heaved a sigh of relief and was about to open the
door when Madagan stopped her with a hand gesture.
"Wait." It took her a few seconds to compose herself, but Madagan asked,
"I know you must have SOMETHING to do with the Crystal Knight. Will you tell
me?"
Darlene grimaced, another 'my brother the Knight' story, but nodded. "If
it'll get Genom off our backs, sure." She ran a hand through her purple hair
before starting. "I guess we're kinda like brother and sister, in a way. We
both survived something that should have killed us but changed our bodies and
gave us our powers instead. Don't try finding it," she emphasized flatly,
"it's not even in this universe. I, and he you call the Crystal Knight,
arrived in your universe involuntarily. I started a shop to keep myself busy
and support myself, he likes fighting Boomers." Darlene shrugged at Madagan's
disbelieving stare. "It's true. And if I can change into a more powerful
form then he probably can too. I'd remember that if I were you." The elven
woman made a mental note to remember that sudden notion herself. "Oh, yeah,
while he made his armor, I enchanted it to give it its power. There's no
technology involved; even if you got his suit you wouldn't get anything from
it. Anything else?" She arched an elven eyebrow.
"No," Madagan said, trying to digest the information she was given.
"Good, because if Genom comes even SEMI-near to my shop again I'll be
REAL pissed." Darlene grinned rather nastily at the Genom exec, past events
giving force behind her words, before opening the door and leaving Madagan to
dwell in her own juices; SHE just wanted some truly desired sleep.
Opening the first door, she felt a sudden, yet intense, twinge of pain
that seemed to have originated somewhere in the vicinity of her guts. It left
her momentarily breathless and pale, but she quickly shook it off. "Damn,"
she whispered, feeling dread, "I hope I didn't push myself TOO far." She
opened the second door rather quickly.
Anri was the first to see her and almost shouted her name aloud, then
remembered the former red-head's changes and rushed over angrily instead.
Seeing Anri move led Sylvie to notice Darlene too, and the brown-haired
sexaroid frowned. Both their reactions left the transformed mage somewhat
bewildered. She was certainly surprised when normally mild Anri gripped her
wrist firmly and near-dragged Darlene over to Sylvie.
"Anri, what...?!?" Darlene began, but Sylvie cut her off.
"WHAT were you doing?! You shouldn't have gone out like THAT!" the
taller sexaroid said, whispering furiously and giving Darlene a glare hot
enough to melt steel, Anri nodding fiercely in agreement.
The mage wilted a bit under the double barrage. "I had to do a few
things..." she said weakly. "They just couldn't wait."
Sylvie didn't let up her glare. "We were ALL worried when Anri went up
and found that you weren't there!" When Darlene's eyes widened in
realization, she nodded. "Of COURSE we called Sylia and the others; we
thought you might have gone to one of their places. Imagine OUR surprise when
Nene, who was at work today, reported the rather shocking news that you were
at ADPolice! She's not very happy, and neither are the rest of us. As a
matter of fact, Priss is upstairs, keeping guard in case you showed up there.
We have all been worried sick considering what happened to you!"
"I'm sorry," Darlene replied, looking down at the floor slightly
ashamed. "I just thought...that if I left secretly then came back you
wouldn't worry. There WERE things I HAD to do."
Sylvie frowned, noting something wrong with Darlene's explanation. "If
you got past us without us knowing why didn't you do the same thing you used
before?"
"I...can't," Darlene answered reluctantly.
"You can't? Why not?" Anri demanded.
"I overextended myself doing the things I did and..." Darlene's eyes
opened wide with shock when a greater wave, not a twinge this time, of pain
hit. She staggered forwards and a startled Sylvie and Anri caught her.
"...And I think I'll soon be making a full payment for what I did; a little
earlier than the two days I predicted," she finished weakly as she got her
breath back.
"Upstairs! Quickly!" a worried Sylvie ordered Anri and the two, with one
of Darlene's arms around each sexaroid, dragged her upstairs.
Priss had been sprawled on Darlene's couch, but quickly got off when she
saw the two dragging Darlene up. "What the hell happened?" she demanded.
The elven woman weakly laughed. "An exhausted elf, that's what." Her
arms and legs were beginning to feel like lead, a bad sign. While she could,
she tore off her glasses and looked at Priss. "See anything there?"
Priss was puzzled. "No, not like last time."
"Oh, shit."
Those were the last words Darlene got out before the main wave of pain
that the previous two were mere heralds of arrived. She jerked, nearly
throwing Sylvie and Anri off her, then went absolutely rigid, eyes wider from
the sudden pain than they could normally go. All her nerves were afire;
muscles screamed in protest; bones pulsing in agony; and her skin felt like
she was being flayed alive. Every cell in her body was in torment and it was
only the sheer intensity that kept her from screaming like a banshee. Even
so, she did manage a high pitched whistle that made her friends wince, not
that she was able to notice them at the moment.
"Jesus Christ!" Priss whispered in horror, sensing how much pure agony
her friend was going through. Darlene was staring at nothing while her body
vibrated like a guitar string freshly plucked. Sweat was beading on face and
neck, and tears were beginning to fall from her eyes. And to Priss the worst
thing about it was that the only thing she could do was wait.
Sylvie and Anri were just as horrified, but Anri noticed something
first. "She's starting to change back!" she cried, and indeed, the elven
features were disappearing. Her hair became shorter and lost color, eyes
turning bright blue once more. They had seen this before but Priss hadn't,
and the singer was stunned at the rapid age reversal. Gaining speed,
Darlene's body became younger and younger until she was as she was before.
And collapsed.
Priss caught Darlene, swiftly grabbing her before the once-again
red-head fell and absently noted that the mage's clothes had changed to match
her size. Looking at her friend's face, she was more than a little dismayed
to note how gaunt it was and just how LIGHT the body she held had become.
"Fuck! We have to get her to Sylia!"

Existence has many forces that beings, intelligent or not, may use or be
used by. They sometimes interact in odd ways, especially when uncontrolled.
Such was the case when a powerful crystal with great magical forces attuned
to space/time for the purpose of transportation, but used for containment of
an evil spirit, exploded. It connected two universes together for a brief
instant, a mage was caught in that convergence and crossed over, then the
tear closed.
But for a time, that uncontrolled tear affected a weakness in the walls
of reality for those two universes. And, with uncanny luck unique to him, a
traveller managed to step right into that weakness, such was the power of his
aura and innate ability for ki-travel(an ability used by some beings in other
universes but unknown to the traveller who uses it unconsciously).
The transition was unnoticed by him, as it appeared seamless to his
perception; his ability was fine-tuned, if uncontrolled. He left his universe
mere hours after the mage, but he also arrived at a slightly different time
and space compared to the first traveller and so he suddenly appeared in the
forested regions outside Mega-Tokyo a day after the mage's collapse. The
weakness healed itself immediately after, trapping him in this second
universe.
The bandanna-wearing traveller looked up and sighed.
I wonder where I am now, Ryouga wondered.

Darlene came to semi-consciousness, moaning, wondering what had
happened. Her eyelids were being stubborn, crazy-glue stubborn to be
accurate, and couldn't open them at the moment. Then she felt that there were
several presences around her, and mumbled, "Wha...'m I?"
"That sounded like two questions, so I shall answer both," Sylia's
familiar voice replied. "What happened is that it appears you badly
overexerted yourself to the point of unconsciousness for about, despite an
I.V. feed, five days. Where you are should be familiar as you have visited
the infirmary in Doctor Raven's garage before, as I could not risk normal
hospitals with your unique metabolism and body structure."
"Oh," was all Darlene could say, still feeling very weak. She tried
again to open her eyes, and succeeded. There was Sylia, smiling faintly at
her at the foot of the bed, Linna, by the side of the bed, and Nene, beside
Linna. Both of them were smiling too, Nene's eyes being oddly bright for some
reason.
"God, this week's been pure pain. I REALLY don't want to do that again,"
Darlene moaned, then smiled weakly, "but thanks for helping, even when I
upset you guys before I... um... collapsed," she finished, a little abashed.
"Hey," Linna said, shrugging off the worry, "at least you're almost back
to normal now."
"Right, a male psionist/female mage combo in one is normal," Darlene
mumbled, then sighed with a small smile of her own. "I guess that's normal
for me." She shuddered. "I hope I don't have to go through anything like THAT
anytime soon."
"Priss described it; I can imagine," Sylia said, sympathetically.
"Did it hurt as much as after you beat that Overlord thing from Hell?"
Nene asked, wide-eyed.
The recovering mage almost bolted upright, but was still too weak to do
so. "Wha...?!" Darlene said, very much surprised. "How did you...??" Her gaze
immediately swivelled to Sylia, who was quite unrepentant.
"It was about time," Sylia pointed out, "so I told them."
"Great," Darlene sighed, going limp. "As a matter of fact, Nene, no, it
hadn't been this bad because I hadn't had the chance to overdo it." Sylia was
an excellent interrogator, a fact the bedridden red-head had found out when
telling her story, and now she regretted it.
"So you actually did fight demons from Hell?" Linna said, disbelieving.
"Yeah. Trust me, it's a pleasure I'd rather forgo. With one exception,"
she amended, remembering Malkon. She saw Nene's awed look, and grew
irritated. "Nene, if you keep looking at me like that I swear I'll create a
spell that will embarrass you a LOT. When you're working, at that. Static
hair? Glued shoes to the floor? Vanishing undergarments?" she finished with
an evil grin when she saw Nene blush beet red.
"Darlene! You wouldn't!"
"I WILL if you keep looking at me with starry eyes. I'm still ME. You
just...know a lot more about me now. Which," she added with a twinkle in her
eyes, "doesn't mean we can't have a little fun now that my spells work
properly now." Nene perked up at that, Linna too a little.
"Darlene..." Sylia said, frowning ominously.
"What?" the mage replied, looking innocently at the Knight Sabers'
leader, trying to make her tired face as cute as possible. "I'll be the soul
of discretion. Really, I will. And," Darlene turned serious, "I could use
some laughs for a change, Sylia."
Sylia sighed, giving in. "Very well. But only when you're recovered and
NOTHING in public. Is that clear?"
"Crystal," Darlene agreed.
"Now sleep! Priss will come later to feed you."
Darlene felt a chill as she remembered something. "Sylia..."
"What?"
"When you told my story... Did you mention when Malkon tried to... ma...
ma..." she couldn't finish the word but Sylia understood.
"Yes."
"Oh, God. Priss is gonna TORMENT me over that," Darlene wailed. Linna
and Nene burst out laughing at the horror in her voice.
"Consider it an...incentive to get better."
Darlene's glare told her what she thought of that.

Malkon was not in a good mood.
He wasn't even in a bad mood.
No, what he was experiencing was a furiously ANGRY mood as he looked
over the ruin of his castle from his favorite, mostly-intact study chair. The
upper portion of the backrest had been sheered off by what looked like a set
of very large claws. It would take weeks to fix everything that had been
destroyed by that... THING.
The arch-demon suppressed a shudder; it had been a near thing, and it
was all the more enraging that he had so dismissed the powers of that golem,
or whatever it had been.
He remembered it vividly...
...Casting the lightning bolt spell at the creation and watching with
amazement as the bolt cascaded harmlessly around the metal frame...
...The thing turning towards him, freezing momentarily, as if finding
its prey at last, before sending beams of energy laced with chaotic magic!
The name most beings used for such magic was Wild, and it played havoc with
spells. Malkon remembered this later as dodging the ravenous beams had been
of a more immediate priority at the time...
...Having 'scented' him, the thing had dogged him relentlessly in his
frantic retreat, sending bolts of energy that tore through his shields like
wet paper and trying to disembowel the arch-demon whenever it got the
opportunity. His own spells affected it minimally and not for long...
...The chase through the levels of his castle. If he had been watching
and not being the one chased Malkon was sure it would have been highly
amusing. It wasn't like he could leave his domain, THAT move would have been
as disastrous as waiting for the thing to get him as the other arch-demons
would relish him being helpless and easy prey...
Malkon sourly looked at the doors to this chamber; every one had a large
humanoid-shaped hole in them, and that had been done mere seconds after he
had slammed them behind himself. He hadn't been that terrified since his
first millennium of existence.
Then his gaze turned to a sword that laid upon the remarkably untouched
table in front of him. The thing had nearly cornered him when he had come
across the sword, and for some reason picked it up.
Malkon examined the weapon, remembering its 'feel.' It wasn't entirely
magical and he hadn't known about it being in that room; it shouldn't
have been in his castle at all. No, not quite agical, he thought, it has
the taint of Order about it.
It certainly proved that to him ,for it had guided his hand with prefect
precision to strike the monstrous creation directly into the 'chest' region.
The weapon's orderly energies had clashed with the wild forces in the golem,
which without a true will of its own had little chance of resisting. The
sword had completely assimilated and absorbed the raw power of the metal
thing, leaving an empty inanimate shell behind.
Where the sword had come from was a mystery to be solved. Even if it had
saved him, he disliked hidden allies. Especially one who obviously dealt with
Order energy, which was not one of his realms of experience.
But where that creation of Wild Magic had come from...
THAT being would soon find him/her/itself finding out how angry they had
made a certain arch-demon of Hell.

<to be continued in part 3...>

=================
Twister(aka Darren Steffler) e-mail at:
twi...@tendo-dojo.ranma.net | fmw...@freenet.mb.ca
Anime Fan!!! Must watch BGC and Ranma 1/2 to the infinite!

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