[BGC/Ranma][FanFic] Bubblegum Splash! 11
Mike Koos
new parts for older series, I thought I'd revisit my very first
series and put together a short new story for it. So, here it is...
Bubblegum Splash! 11
Just Another Day in the ADP
written by Mike Koos
----------------------
It was daytime in MegaTokyo.
The fact that it happened to be daytime in MegaTokyo was
important to many people... because frankly, MegaTokyo looked a hell
of a lot better during the day than it did at night.
Of course, the area's overdone urban sprawl and high crime level
had much to do with that view. Several places around the world knew
similar conditions, but since most people had given up trying to
figure out whose urban nightmare was the worst, it no longer mattered
as it once had.
Fortunately - or unfortunately, depending on who you happened to
be - it was also raining in most parts of MegaTokyo.
Ukyou cursed the bad weather as she stepped through the doorway
leading into the Knight Sabers' secret headquarters within the
building that also housed Akane's lingerie store, the Silky Doll.
She'd made a half-hearted attempt to dry herself off before reaching
the complex security systems an overly paranoid Akane had installed
at almost all points outside their headquarters, though a dark
thought of shorting out Akane's vaunted security net with the water
still dripping from her brightened her mood for a brief moment.
The sight of Nabiki and Ranma lounging at opposite ends of the
couch caused her anger to return once Ukyou had reached the rec room,
however.
Ranma glanced up from the magazine she was reading. For once,
she was the one bothering to read something while Nabiki ran the
gauntlet of all the television channels she could find.
Television: Okay. Well, it's the Clive Anderson hoedown. Take it
away, Greg... (Nabiki hesitates for a second, then changes the
channel.)
Television: Yes, you too can join the Pocky-mon craze! (click)
Television: Oh, great, Shinji. Where are we going to find another
bizarre giant robot at THIS hour? (click)
Ranma: (surprised, to Ukyou) Where have you been?
Ukyou: (snorts) You know damn well where I went! I had to take little
miss AD Police officer to work and make sure she didn't get wet!
Ranma: Oh. (She tugs nervously at her braided pigtail of hair -
which is lying across her left shoulder - before going back to
reading.)
Ukyou: Why couldn't *you* take her? YOU don't have to worry about
the rain when you're a girl!
Nabiki: Because *she* only has a motorcycle and that ridiculous fear
of cats.
Ranma: (blinks) Yeah. What she said.
Television: Um, Cha-Cha? I don't think we're in Kansas, anymore!
Television: What are you talking about? We were never IN Kansas!
(click)
Television: MIKAMI----SAN!! (click; Ukyou shudders, though she's not
sure why.)
Ukyou: (to Nabiki) Okay, so what's keeping you or Akane from taking
her?
Nabiki: Why should I? I'm not running a taxi service, you know.
Ukyou, Ranma: .........
Television: Okay, kids; fess up. Who's responsible for renting
'Warriors of the Wind' and not returning it for a week? (click)
Nabiki: And as for Akane, why don't you ask her?
Ukyou: (exhales) Forget it. I can see I'm not going to get anywhere
complaining about it. Where IS Akane, anyway?
Ranma: She's been spending all her time with the computer. Shampoo
got her that underground VR game where you can trash Boomers with a
mallet - and she hasn't stopped playing it since then. (tugs at her
pigtail again)
Ukyou: Wonderful. She waits this long to become a video game addict?
Nabiki: I wouldn't say that.
Ukyou: Huh? Why?
Ranma: You mean you don't know? She's been a video game addict her
whole life.
Ukyou: Oh... that would explain a few things.
* * * * *
Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the AD Police...
A woman with the lithe figure and composure of a well-practiced
gymnast, her long black hair tied back into a ponytail, led a
disguised Boomer - er, *assistant* - nearly twice her size through
the halls by his wrist. A second man, somewhat smaller in stature,
followed them at an uncomfortable distance. The janitor's uniforms
worn by all three did little to hide the ninja's clothes the third
wore underneath his coveralls.
They paused before the only door that had the words "Restricted
Access" painted on it in large, bright red letters.
After taking a short breath, the trio proceeded toward the next
doorway.
Kodachi: (after pushing a magnetic ID keycard into the slot next to
the door) Morons. Do they think no one reads the floor plans or
notices the keycard slots next to security doors?
The door slid open... and closed behind the small group of
infiltrators, Kodachi's hollow laughter finding its own way through
the halls.
* * * * *
Shampoo took a seat at her computer workstation, taking a moment
to go through the convoluted procedure for deactivating the Sailor
Saturn screensaver she used to lock others out of her system. She'd
coded the program herself, pitying anyone who *did* try to hack into
her files - they would find out exactly why she had chosen the Senshi
of Saturn to represent her 'guardian' program.
As always, Linlin and Ranran were already hard at work - or so
it seemed - at the terminals across from her.
Ranran: (noticing Shampoo continue to settle in at her terminal)
Shampoo!
Shampoo made a vain attempt to hide behind her monitor.
Linlin: Did Kunou tell you about Kodachi's threat to take over this
building today?
Shampoo: (shocked) What!? No, he didn't tell me! Why would she want
to do that?
The two sisters shrugged in unison.
Ranran: For fun?
Shampoo: She's not the type. (stands) Excuse me; I'm going to go
strangle... uh, find Kunou.
* * * * *
Most everyone who worked in the ADP building soon learned to
steer clear of Shampoo in the halls - especially if she happened to
be alone and obviously in a less-than-happy mood. Not that many
people in the building had all that many reasons to be happy...
The cost to make sure all of the employees were adequately
covered under the ADP insurance plan had increased considerably,
though no one with common sense dared lay any of the blame for that
on Shampoo. Most blamed it on the dangers of working for the AD
Police force, instead. There was always an old joke making the
rounds: that the standard ADP uniform should be replaced with a plain
red shirt... but the few who understood what the joke meant weren't
telling anyone else what it happened to reference. It certainly
didn't seem to inspire much laughter among co-workers, anyway.
Shampoo soon found Kunou standing in the hallway outside his
office, unlocking the door while Hikaru - his longtime partner -
stared with bored expression at the floor.
The unusually pale and willowy Gosunkugi Hikaru looked fairly
well, despite having to put up with Mariko's persistent struggles to
replace him as Kunou's partner... and having to endure a job that
made him little more than the detective's lackey. He was currently
carrying around a box which Shampoo recognized - a box of evidence,
Boomer parts left over from an investigation the Knight Sabers had
just 'ended.' That the Knight Sabers had brought an end to another
investigation he had been working on annoyed Kunou even more.
Shampoo knew that the other Knight Sabers didn't care whether
or not they annoyed Kunou, but *she* was the one who had to listen to
him rant throughout the day.
Shampoo: (strides toward Kunou and Hikaru) I heard that Kodachi is
threatening to take over this building. Is that true? (glares at
Kunou)
Hikaru: (sheepishly) Well... it is.
Shampoo: Then WHY aren't we taking some sort of action to prepare
for her?
Kunou: (snorts) You concern yourself with this worthless threat too
much, my dear Shampoo. Not even my fool sister would be so dull as to
attempt a takeover of this facility.
Shampoo: Oh, that explains it. You go ahead and believe that. I'd
rather be sure. (pauses, turning to glance behind her as if she's
heard something Hikaru and Kunou haven't) You can come out now,
Wills. I know you've been shadowing me all week.
On cue, Lieutenant David Wills stepped forward from the shadows
- or he would have, had he been given any actual training in the ways
of the Ninja.
David: (lecherous smirk) You of all people should know that you lose
skills if you don't practice 'em now and then. Besides, I knew you'd
be calling for me sooner or later.
Shampoo: *What* skills? You're just drawn like a drooling magnet
toward anything that's female!
David: That's not true. Take your great-great grandmother, for
example. You don't see me chasing after HER, do you?
David: (mutters under his breath) I'm not even sure she's a woman,
anyway.
Rather than reply, Shampoo lifted the box of evidence out of
Hikaru's arms and dropped it upon David's head, forcing him to the
floor.
David: (makes a grab for Shampoo's legs) Want to join me down here?
Shampoo: (kicks David) Forget it. You've got work to do. I want you
to check on a few things.
David shifted his gaze upward in the direction of Shampoo's
chest, but before he could say the comment he had readied, all of the
lights in the hall dimmed to an unnerving shade of amber. Each of
the office doors lining both sides of the hall slammed shut and
automatically locked, trapping people within their offices.
Shampoo: (glares at Kunou again) I seem to recall someone saying
something about a threat being *worthless*?
Kunou: I did say that, yes. The threat still remains worthless. I,
too, recall saying that you concern yourself with this threat more
than is necessary.
Shampoo: (aside, to Hikaru) I'd flatten him, too, but it wouldn't
help.
Hikaru: .........
Shampoo: (to Kunou) We're going to find out what's going on. Do you
want to come with us, or would you like to stay *here* and act like
an idiot?
Kunou: (considers the question briefly) Very well; I shall go with
you, if only to prove how the three of you waste your time with this
concern.
Shampoo: (aside, to Hikaru) He's getting worse every day.
Hikaru: (aside) More like every hour.
* * * * *
Outside the ADP Headquarters building, there were definite signs
that something was not right. The building's hidden armor plating
shifted noisily into place as the immense weapons systems activated.
Needless to say, it was not a common sight even in MegaTokyo to
see a building transform into little more than an immobile, giant
fortress.
The weaponry and armor plating had been a safety hedge against
those who were truly insistent on attacking the building with all the
armament they could muster. Since this building was the headquarters
of the infamous AD Police, such an attack was bound to happen at
least *once*...
None of the other buildings in the area were as protected, due
to what quite a few people considered an oversight in district
planning. There was also the issue of corporate rivalry to
consider.
Whatever the case. this meant that whenever there was an attack,
the only choice everyone else had was: run, and get the hell out of
the way.
* * * * *
Akane dashed into room which the Knight Sabers had dubbed their
'rec room.' It was little more than a living room, really, with the
appropriate television, couches and other furnishings. Shampoo and
Akane had installed a computer system in one corner of the room,
though it was overshadowed by the television and home video-game
systems not five feet away.
Akane: Everyone, we've got a problem.
Ranma: Let me guess... someone found P-chan and wants a really big
reward. (To herself.) Stupid pig...
Akane had never discovered that her adopted brother Ryouga was
also her beloved pet, P-chan, a 'problem' which the boy had gained
while on one of his inadvertent travels. Ryouga seemed to have a
perverse knack for getting himself lost practically anywhere, anytime,
and none of the doctors consulted by their father - and later, Akane -
could determine why Ryouga had this problem. Dr. Tofu and Kasumi
were likewise unable to cure Ryouga of his terrible sense of
direction.
Now, with Ryouga away at college, P-chan would be making fewer
appearances. Akane had insisted on placing 'missing animal' notices
everywhere she could despite Ranma's warnings, and all of a sudden
Akane became a topic for the tabloid news crews to discuss when
everyone started to wonder exactly why the mysterious Tendo Akane
would have a small pig as a pet.
No one on the team except Ryouga was aware of his alternate
identity. Ryouga felt that if there *was* anyone among the group he
could reveal his secret to, it would be Ranma. Ranma was in reality
a boy, with a curse similar to Ryouga's that transformed him into a
girl. However, Ranma had been spending so much time as a girl as a
result of his father's efforts, that she would probably beat Ryouga
up on principle for having used his cursed form as a way to get
closer to women. Hormones could be a curse, too. Then Ranma would
tell the others, and they would beat join in beating him up all at
once...
Well, except for Nabiki, perhaps. Ryouga was grateful
that she didn't know his secret - or else she would be blackmailing
him with it by now.
Akane: (glares at Ranma) Remind me to pound you later for saying that.
Ranma: (shrugs) Whatever.
Akane: What I was *trying* to say is that someone's apparently taken
over the AD Police building!
Ukyou: What?
Nabiki: Oh, is that all?
Ranma, Akane, Ukyou: .........
Ukyou: (to Nabiki) You know something about this?
Nabiki: (offhandedly) There *was* something about Kodachi threatening
to assume control of it today.
Ranma, Akane, Ukyou: WHAT!?
Ukyou: And you didn't bother to tell me or Shampoo before we left
this morning?
Nabiki: (innocently) Nobody asked me.
Ukyou: .........
Ukyou: In other words, you want us to come to you every morning and
pay you for the news of the day.
Nabiki: At least until business gets somewhat better. (glances at
Akane) It's not like I have a regular salary coming in, anymore.
Akane: Oneechan!
Ranma: (frowns, subconsciously deciding her pigtail needed a simple
tug) You could go out and get a real job.
Nabiki: I've got the same day job you do, and I'm better at it than
you are.
Ukyou: (cutting Ranma's retort short) Enough! We don't have time to
argue about who's the better singer!
Ranma: *Vocalist*. Not singer.
Ukyou: What's the difference? And while I'm at it, why do you keep
pulling your hair like that? (points to Ranma's fingers, which are
still looped around her pigtail)
Ranma: (sighs) Because the author of this series thought it would be
cute to add a bloody, flaming, blatant _Wheel of Time_ reference to
this story.
Ukyou, Akane, Nabiki: (quite nervously) .........
Ukyou: Er... okay. Can we go save the ADP and Shampoo, now?
Nabiki: (shrugs) Why not? Constantly saving the ADP must be in our
job descriptions.
* * * * *
Four figures walked cautiously through the shadows of a
barely-lit hallway within AD Police Headquarters.
Hikaru: Umm... I know it isn't a good time to ask this and all, but
how are we going to get anything done if all the doors are closed and
locked?
David: All we have to do is find a computer terminal so Shampoo can
hack her way into the system.
Shampoo: (to David) I'm not sure if I should be happy you know so
much about me.
David: (smiles) We'll see.
Shampoo: I'll pass. Once we get the doors open you can go find
Mariko and chase after her for a while.
David: (seems to think about it) Nah, I think I'll stick with you.
(leers)
Shampoo: (rolls her eyes) I'm going to ignore that remark. Does
anyone know where on this floor we can find an open terminal?
Kunou: All you have to do is look in any office.
Shampoo, long since tired of the cavalier attitude with which
Kunou was taking this situation, quickly drew out her bonbori and
used the weapons to bat Kunou through the nearest office door.
Shampoo: (puts her bonbori away and exhales) Thanks for the
suggestion, Kunou. And thank you for volunteering to open the door.
David, Hikaru: .........
Hikaru: Couldn't you have done that *earlier*?
Shampoo: (shrugs) I try not to. The Chief insists on taking any
damage I cause out of my paycheck.
Shampoo: (fixes David with a glare) He hasn't said anything about me
beating you up, though. You could be next. Got it?
David: Fine, fine. <For now.>
They stepped over the remnants of the door and entered the
office.
* * * * *
The Knight Sabers arrived on the scene to find Civil Defense
forces and the military trading fire with the weaponry attached to
the AD Police building. Those few ADP patrols lucky enough to have
been outside of the building before it had sealed itself off from the
outside world were also trying to help... though most of the ADP's
true weaponry was currently locked away where none of them could get
to it.
Ranma: Okay, we're here. What do we do now?
Akane: You can stop asking stupid questions. Honestly! Asking me,
"Are we there yet?" all the way up here was really annoying.
Ranma: That wasn't me.
Akane: Then who was it?
Nabiki: Really, Akane. You couldn't tell that it was me, imitating
Ranma's voice?
Akane: .........
Ukyou: (impatiently) Ran-chan, why are you bothering to ask her what
to do? All we ever do is blow everything up and go home!
Ranma: Akane likes it if we pretend she's in charge.
Akane: I AM in charge!
Nabiki: Sure; whatever you say, little sister.
Ukyou: (impatient) Can we start blowing up things now?
Nabiki: Worried about Shampoo?
Ukyou: Of course! We've got no way of knowing what's going on in
there! And we all know how useless she is in a *real* fight!
Nabiki: (privately, to Ranma) She's not fooling anyone with that act,
is she?
Ranma: (privately) Nope.
* * * * *
In the core computer room of the building, a row of monitors let
Kodachi watch the efforts of both those inside their offices and
those outside trying to break through the building's defenses. A
separate monitor in the far corner of the room kept Sasuke
preoccupied from time to time with old Samurai Troopers episodes,
while Kodachi's Boomer stood half-linked to the computer consoles by
metal tendrils... fighting a battle with the computers and their
operating system to assimilate everything.
Kodachi had seen the Knight Sabers' arrival, but showed little
concern even though the hardsuit-clad women posed more of a threat to
her than any of the forces assembled alongside them.
All she had to do was sit back and wait; eventually, her Boomer
would have control of the entire AD Police computer network, and she
considered it highly unlikely the Knight Sabers and their 'friends'
could outlast every last bit of the heavy armament and armor plating
protecting *her* new building. Oh, sure, they could destroy a
weapon or section of armor and *possibly* find their way in... though
by that time, she'd have complete control over everything and just
have the building's environmental systems or such kill them with a
simple command.
Kodachi: (laughs aloud) That would be fun, wouldn't it?
She cycled through several of the camera views set to show rooms
within the facility.
Kodachi: Where are you, dear brother? I do so want to share my
victory with you.
* * * * *
What Kodachi didn't know was that at that precise moment, her
brother happened to be unconscious and draped over the top of a desk
where he couldn't hurt anyone.
Shampoo had taken a seat behind the office's solitary desk,
where the only computer in the room was stationed - leaving the task
of disabling the security cameras to Hikaru and David, who claimed he
knew of a method or three for doing just that. She doubted he did,
but since her methods of disabling the cameras required a computer
- or a gun - she was willing to let the lieutenant try.
After several frustrating tries at getting the computer's GUI to
run through the tasks she wanted it to do, Shampoo growled, forcing
the terminal into direct-command mode. At least in *that* mode the
computer would definitely pay attention to her commands.
She hoped.
A handful of keystrokes and searches later, she had found
something worthwhile.
Shampoo: I think I know what's going on. Kodachi's brought a Boomer
into our central computer core... and the thing's trying to take over
the entire system.
David: You can figure all that out after only hitting a few keys?
She turns the monitor toward them, showing them the camera view
of the computer core room.
Shampoo: Yeah, if those keys are the command for pulling up views
from the cameras.
David, Hikaru: .........
Hikaru: But what to do? This doesn't look good.
Shampoo: (Continues her work at the computer) The Boomer has control
over a LOT of the systems. But not all of them. I'm going to see if
I can at least open the doors. If we can get those open, we can get
someone in there to take out that Boomer.
David: We can't use the ventilation system?
Hikaru: (Shakes head) Not between floors. Besides, it would take
too long, and if that thing gets control over the environmental
controls...
David: (shudders) Oh. (switches to a sarcastic voice) So much for
getting to play 'hero' again.
Shampoo: (raised eyebrow) What would you do if you could get into
that room? (studies him) All you've got is a gun. That might work
against Kodachi and her henchman - even though you don't really know
how to fight - but you can't take out a Boomer with that.
David: I didn't say I was going to fight anyone! You're much better
at fighting than I am, anyway.
Despite her best efforts, a smirk formed on Shampoo's lips. She
wondered what David would think if he discovered she was also one of
the Knight Sabers...
Shampoo: <They've gotta be out there by now, trying to break in. I
don't know if I can do anything from here... but I've got to try!>
* * * * *
After rushing headlong into the fight between a building and a
great deal of Human forces, the Knight Sabers soon became separated
from one another and were using everything they could against
different weapon installments.
Ranma's needle launcher worked better against the more
vulnerable guns than the armor plating, as did Ukyou's ceramic
ribbons and combat spatula. Nabiki - the Sabers' land-based heavy
artillery-equivalent - was having mixed success in blasting both
armor and guns to barely identifiable bits with her miniature
armor-piercing rockets while dodging return fire. Akane had designed
her sister's hardsuit to take more punishment than anyone else's -
though Nabiki had no intention of determining exactly how much of
that punishment her suit could endure.
Akane, for her part, had disappeared on her way up to the roof.
The occasional large explosions and battle cries reassured them that
their 'leader' was still in the running.
Ranma made a flying leap toward one of the demolished gun
emplacements. After a few seconds of trying to secure a hand-hold
upon the wall beside the gun, she succeeded in punching hand- and
foot-holds in the gap between two armor plates. She began reaching
into the gun's internals with her free hand, yanking out whatever she
could find.
More explosions came from the rooftop, then suddenly died
completely away... almost as if something had happened to Akane.
Ranma swung away from the gun emplacement slowly, frantically
opening her communicator channel.
Ranma: Akane! Akane, are you there?
Nabiki: I can't make out anything moving up there on my scanners.
Ukyou: (checks) Me neither. You think they... got her?
Ranma: No way. (pauses) I'm going up there.
Ukyou: Ran-chan, no! We've got to keep trying to break through these
defenses! We're not going to get anywhere if you break away now and
run off after Akane, because you're the most powerful fighter we've
got!
Nabiki: (mutters to herself) Not the most powerful. Just the most
insane. I've got more firepower on this stupid suit than she does...
Ukyou: (to Ranma) We need you here. I'll bet Akane just found her
way in and is already beating everyone up inside. You really want
her to have all the fun?
Nabiki: All this armor plating IS blocking most types of
communications, Ranma.
Ranma: (hesitates) Oh... okay. But if Akane *has* been hurt...
Ukyou: (sighs) Fine. We'll beat Kodachi and her crew up a few extra
times just in case.
Ranma: Hmph.
* * * * *
At her terminal, Shampoo tapped the last few keys of a command
sequence on the keyboard... somewhat more forcefully that normal.
Shampoo: (That's it! I've got control of the doors!
Hikaru: You do?
As if to answer him Shampoo entered another command sequence,
one which caused all the doors in the hall to unlock and open in
rapid sequence. The sounds of cheering could be heard, echoing
through the nearby halls.
Outside, both the Knight Sabers and armed forces managed to
invent their own doorways in what had formerly been gun or armor
emplacements, and enter the building in search of an explanation as
to why a peaceful part of the MegaTokyo skyline would suddenly
decide to open fire on the rest of the metropolis.
Within the complex, meanwhile, the reinforced steel security
door leading into the computer core room. Kodachi and Sasuke both
started in surprise as an officer thoroughly hidden within an array
of orange protective armor and gear several times over waddled into
the room. Peripherally, Kodachi noticed from the monitor showing a
view from the room's security camera that the young man's ID tag
read, 'Kenny.'
Kenny brought several rounds from an ADP-issue rifle to bear on
Kodachi and Sasuke as they ducked behind their unmoving Boomer in the
hope that it would shield them from the rounds.
Kodachi drew her favorite shintaisou ribbon from its place of
storage. After a few well-practiced twirls to gain momentum, she
sent the end of the ribbon spiraling toward Kenny. The ribbon
looped tightly around his rifle, allowing her to pull it from the
officer's hands.
Kenny mumbled something through his face mask that sounded
suspiciously like, "Give that back!" but neither Kodachi nor Sasuke
could be sure.
Another officer entered the room firing, but Kodachi soon
disarmed him as well.
Kodachi: (motions toward the door) I think you two will want to leave
now.
Kenny: (more incoherent mumbling)
Officer No. 2: (listening to - and seemingly understanding, somehow -
his partner) That's right! You mean you're NOT going to kill Kenny?
Or me?
Kodachi: Why should I? I've already got what I want. Now leave.
The two officers scramble out of the room.
Sasuke: Why *didn't* you kill them?
Kodachi: Because I really don't feel like hearing that particular
joke right now.
Sasuke: .........
* * * * *
Ranma, Nabiki and Ukyou regroup within the building.
Nabiki: Wonder where Shampoo is.
Ranma: Probably at the first computer she could find. (She starts to
head down a different hall.) You can go looking for her if you want
- now that we don't have the entire building trying to kill us, I'm
going t'go look for Akane.
Ukyou: I'll ask you again, Ran-chan... why are you so concerned for
Akane? She can take care of herself, and we all know you two can't
stop insulting each other.
Nabiki: Well, obviously it's just a show and Ranma really *does* love
my little sister.
Ranma: (raising her voice) What? I do not! How can you think I have
any interest in that kawaikunee tomboy?
Before Ranma could say anything else, a large metal mallet about
the size of a normal freight barrel descended upon her head, sending
her crashing to the floor.
Akane: (storing her hardsuit's mallet) And *who* do you think you're
calling a tomboy, baka?
Ukyou: The easiest way to find Akane: have Ran-chan insult her.
Nabiki: (checks her suit's internal chronometer) Four seconds?
You're normally faster than this.
Akane: (shrugs) I normally don't do that while wearing a hardsuit.
Ranma: (pulls herself up) You normally don't carry around a mallet
that big, either. I should've never let you add it to your suit's
arsenal.
Ukyou: As if you could stop her.
Akane: Hey, if Ukyou can adapt her combat spatula for use with her
hardsuit, I can create a mallet for mine.
Ranma: Whatever. So where did you go?
Akane: The armor out there's stronger on the sides of the building
than the top, so I thought I'd burrow my way in from there.
Ukyou: That answers that question. *Now* what are we gonna do?
Akane: I guess we go find the lunatic.
Nabiki: (droll) Which one? There are SO many.
* * * * *
Upstairs, Shampoo, David and Hikaru watched the scene in the
core room take place in an inset window on Shampoo's monitor.
Shampoo continued to type at a mind-numbing pace. Suddenly,
they saw the Boomer slump amidst the metal tendrils connecting it to
the ADP computer core and let out the Boomer equivalent of a groan.
Everything abruptly began returning to normal throughout the
building. The lights resumed their normal brightness; outside, the
armor and weapons emplacements were withdrawn - much to the relief of
a large gathering of exhausted, armed people.
Hikaru: You did it, Shampoo!
Shampoo: Me? I didn't do that!
Hikaru: Is there anyone else hacking into the system?
Shampoo: (checks) ......No.
Hikaru: Then it could have been your doing, couldn't it?
Shampoo: (puzzled) I can't see how.
The view of the core room now showed several ADP officers
storming the room and surrounding the remaining Human infiltrators -
until Kodachi and Sasuke disappear within a small explosion of
gray-blue smoke.
Hikaru: (shrugs) I'm sure we'll figure out what happened down there,
soon.
David: (peers over Shampoo's shoulder) What's going on now?
Shampoo: There's no sign of activity in that Boomer, and the hold it
had on our systems has almost fully reversed.
David: Then we're done, right?
Hikaru: I guess so...
* * * * *
Later that afternoon, Shampoo was joined by Hikaru and David in
the lobby of the ADP building as she prepared to leave work for the
evening.
Shampoo: Oh, hey. Did they figure out what happened to that Boomer?
They never tell me anything.
Hikaru: (glances at her curiously for a second) Yes, they did.
You're not going to believe this, but you know how you said you hate
the operating system on the computers in this building?
Shampoo: (nods) Yeah.
Hikaru: THAT'S what brought the Boomer down. The Tech guys said that
the OS didn't like having the Boomer go through everything... so it
assimilated the Boomer.
Shampoo: (eyes widening) What? You're kidding!
Hikaru: Nope. That Boomer's a part of the core now. They couldn't
remove it without damaging the system, but they said that with it
hooked up to the network, the system's running a LOT better now. So
they're going to leave it there, after triple-checking it for any
nasty hidden surprises.
Shampoo: (shrugs) Somehow, I'm really not surprised.
She stepped closer to the front entrance, ignoring David's
offers to walk her to her scooter. As she raised a hand toward the
door handles, a thought suddenly struck her.
Shampoo: (turning to look at David and Hikaru) I just had a
frightening thought.
David: Oh?
Shampoo: Yeah. You're right, I do hate the OS they've got installed
on the systems here. But as annoying as it was, if it's got that
Boomer attached to the core now... (dramatic pause)
Shampoo: ...it's also got a brand-new artificial intelligence to tell
it what to do.
David: That's not a good thing, is it?
Shampoo: Right. It's *very* bad.
In a vacant office a few floors up, an unconscious Kunou
Tatewaki rolled off the top of a desk, falling and crashing headfirst
into a trashcan.
(end)
------------
Credits:
Written by: Mike Koos
Prereaders/Special Thanks To: Richard Beaubien, Louis-Phillippe
Giroux, Tom Williams, Kevin D. Hammel, David Wills
Author's Notes: Bubblegum Splash! was my very first attempt at a
fanfic story/series, in 1993. I wrote it in a script format after
seeing several other people put out stories in the same format, and
thought it would be the best format for the story. I've since gone
back to writing in my normal style, of course. ^_^
BGS! was originally supposed to be a one-shot story, and then a
two-story series, but then went beyond that.
Does this mean more parts of the series may be coming? Perhaps,
but don't expect to see them anytime soon. I've already got a lot of
other story projects on the to-do list, and several other ideas, so
it may be a while before I get back to doing anything with this
series. I may just have someone else take over.
I'd like to again thank Dave Wills, the "Raving Hentai Lunatic"
whom no single network could contain. He was one of the forces
behind the series, and posted the first few parts or so to
rec.arts.anime.stories (RAAC's predecessor, for those of you who are
wondering what in the world I'm talking about :) when I wasn't able to
do so. If you're reading this, Dave... thanks again.
All parts of this series are available at the RAAC archives at
ftp://ftp.cs.ubc.ca/pub/archive/anime-fan-works/Ranma/
Ranma-BGC-Splash/
or from my WWW pages at
http://www.anime.usacomputers.net/~makoto/index.htm
Comments and questions welcome.
*****************************
* Mike ('Kino Makoto') Koos * "I can do nothing to stop you.
*---------------------------* Your background music is too
* email: mak...@mother.com * strong for me."
***************************** - Whose Line is it Anyway?
www: http://www.anime.usacomputers.net/~makoto/index.htm