Bubblegum Splash! pt 6 "A Lost Sister" [FanFic]

[David E Wills]

Bubblegum Splash! 6
A Lost Sister
written by Mike Koos
---------------------

Mornings in MegaTokyo were always one hell of a surprise to people who had
never experienced them before. Sometimes even so to those who had. The bright,
clear skies and cool breezes were often enough to make a person forget he or
she was living in a world where one's worst nightmare could be brought to life
for the right amount of money.
Morning could very well have been MegaTokyo's best side. This was the view
outsiders were usually shown, the view that said, "Go ahead and visit; all is
peaceful here." Indeed, mornings brought back a lot of the things that
were sorely missed during the night. Something, so to speak, for everyone to
love and enjoy.

Shampoo hated every minute of it. She tried to lose herself in the pillow as
the waking world intruded upon her dreams.
Her alarm-radio blared. Shampoo reached over without looking to slap the
snooze button for what, perhaps fifteen more minutes of sleep?

It wasn't going to be that easy. Her fumbling found the volume controls
instead, so rather than sinking further into her covers she nearly shot out of
them straight up to the ceiling.
She quickly shut the radio off and sat up in bed, waiting for her heart to
catch up with her. It took a full minute for her to realize that the vidphone
was ringing. Shampoo propped her eyes open and brushed the hair out of her
face.

Shampoo: (half-awake, answering) ...Hello?

Ranran's image wavers into view on the screen, with her looking a bit
uncomfortable in her ADP uniform. She gives Shampoo the once-over.

Ranran: Gee, Shampoo, you look terrible.
Shampoo: (looks down at herself) ......
Shampoo: Oops.
Ranran: I didn't think you were still in bed. Don't you know what time it is?

The realization starts to dawn on Shampoo while she focuses on the clock:
she's late for work again! Shampoo jumps out of bed and into the bathroom,
forgetting to shut off the vidphone on the way.

Ranran: Hey! Wait...! (She frowns, turning to the off-camera Linlin) From now
on YOU handle the wake-up calls.
Linlin: Me? Why me? You're better at it than I am. (click)

Fifteen minutes later Shampoo rushes out the front door of her apartment, a
slice of burnt toast dangling from her mouth as she hurriedly buttons her
jacket. She hopped onto her little white scooter - having a fleeting thought
of Ranma and her motorcycle as she did so - and was off.
Ranma, who took every chance she could get to insult Shampoo's faithful little
scooter. All things considered Shampoo preferred it to the larger bikes -
besides, it gave her a valid excuse when she came in late for work.
Once or twice she'd entertained the idea of running over Kunou with the thing.
The image that brought to mind always made her laugh.

A car cut in front of her and sped ahead. Good thing about a scooter was that
she could easily regain control of it. She didn't recognize the car's model -
it was probably one of those new luxury sports cars Genom had a hand in
producing.

Shampoo: (frowns) <Just as much a menace on the road as a Boomer.>

Seconds later she had to swerve to avoid hitting what looked to be a young
man, wearing a T-shirt with the kanji for 'ryu' emblazoned across the front,
as he crossed the street.

Ryunosuke: (yelling after Shampoo) Hey, watch it!

A voice calls out from the crowd on the sidewalk.

Voice: (sweetly) Ryuuuuu---chaaan!
2nd Voice: (sternly) Darling!!
Ryunosuke: (cringing) ...... (leaves)

* * * *

...And so, in the office of the Chief of the Advanced Police...

Chief: Shampoo, this is the second time you've been late - this week! If we
didn't need you around here, I'd have you suspended!
Chief: (reclines) On second thought, you're hardly here anyway, so suspension
wouldn't be much of a punishment.
Shampoo: (incredulous) Sir!
Chief: Get out of here and get to work. But remember, I'm keeping an eye on
you. Any more screw-ups, and I'll have to think of a really harsh
reprimand. Is that understood?
Shampoo: Hai.

She leaves, wearing a mischievous grin as she closes the door behind her. In
the hall...

Kunou: Shampoo.
Shampoo: (startled) Don't do that! Don't you remember what happened the *last*
time you tried to sneak up on me?
Kunou: No.
Shampoo: Go figure.
Shampoo: Why are you always roaming the halls? Don't you have a boomer to take
care of or something?
Kunou: Nothing is happening at the moment.
Shampoo: Yeah, right. I suppose David and Mariko are out investigating
nothing, hm?
Kunou: Investigating is not my job.
Shampoo: Then what IS your job? Waiting for Ranma to hit the streets so you
can stalk her? At least David and Mariko are doing something!
Kunou: You shouldn't be one to speak, Shampoo - you're in trouble for not being
here to do your job.
Shampoo: That's my business.
Kunou: And don't threaten me with the possibility of tampering with my
Personnel or Payroll files, either. I've had a computer expert lock
them tighter than any of your primitive efforts could undo.
Shampoo: <That'll be the day.>

Linlin and Ranran wait for Shampoo at their terminals.

Shampoo: Hi.
Linlin: Don't tell me he let you off with a warning, again!
Ranran: Are you kidding? The Old Man probably knows what she could do to him.
Shampoo: Come on, you two. I don't think I could do *that* much...
Linlin: Yeah, *sure* you couldn't.
Ranran: Right.

* * * *

Sakiko Nakayama's face paled as she hung up the phone. She gazed silently
out the office window at the vast MegaTokyo skyline, aware that her aide was
politely waiting for her attention.

Jack: Disturbing news, sir?
Nakayama: I would say so. (turns to face Jack) That was the Principal. It
seems he's... disappointed with our department's overall
performance.
Nakayama: He wants to see vast improvement *now*, or he'll find someone else
to 'take our place.' I don't think I have to tell you what that
means.
Jack: No, sir.
Nakayama: (muses) I wonder if anyone leaves Genom alive.
Nakayama: We wouldn't be where we are if it weren't for the AD Police and
those damned Knight Sabers.
Jack: What are we going to do about it? No one's been able to stop the Knight
Sabers...
Nakayama: Hmm... we'll leave the Knight Sabers to the others for now.

She reaches for a notepad and hurriedly jots down a list, handing it to her
aide.

Jack: Sir?
Nakayama: Get me a list of the AD Police personnel that meet these
attributes.
Jack: Right away. (He leaves.)
Nakayama: Yes... leave the Knight Sabers to the others. Especially that
laughing fool, Kodachi... she'll kill herself for her personal
vendettas.

Caught up in her personal musings, Sakiko is unaware that someone else is
in the office, hiding in the shadows.

Sasuke: ............

* * * *

Raichi: I'm glad you could take time out of your busy schedule to have lunch
with me.
Shampoo: It would be even better if you were buying.
Raichi: Who're you kidding? I've seen how much you eat. Hell, they're thinking
about setting up special credit accounts here for anyone who buys you
lunch.

Shampoo starts to make a comeback, but thinks better of it.

Shampoo: They've really been piling assignments on me lately.
Raichi: Yeah, I heard - something about being late to work a number of times,
wasn't it?
Shampoo: Where did you hear that?
Raichi: Linlin and Ranran told me. Tell me the truth: do they *always* answer
the phone together?
Shampoo: I should've known. They really can't keep a secret.
Raichi: (laughs) Don't worry about it. You're my number one source of
information in the AD Police.
Raichi: <Not to mention the Knight Sabers.>
Raichi: All I have to do is come to you.

Shampoo continues eating.

Raichi: More interested in the stuff on your plate than me, are you? Hm?

She notices the latest edition of the MegaTokyo Daily Times left by someone
on the nearest table.

Raichi: (happily grabbing the newspaper) My paper!
Shampoo: What do you think you're doing?
Raichi: I'm going to read the personal ads. There's gotta be a guy out there
who-
Shampoo: (interrupts) Are you going to start that 'prince' bit again?
Raichi: (proudly) Who, me? I've got different lines this time.

Still, that doesn't keep her from fantasizing about an encounter with the
prince of her dreams.

[Romantic BGM plays as a special filter brings everything out of focus.]

Raichi stands alone in a cold, dark void, the single tear falling down her
cheek shining like a star. The sounds she makes are softly echoed away
into oblivion.
A bright light shines down on her from an angle. The BGM's mood lifts at the
exact same time Raichi's does. A young man - whose face can't quite be made
out - floats down to her. He opens his mouth to speak...

Voice: Miss?

[Fade to reality.]

Raichi: Huh?
Waiter: (handing Raichi the bill for the meal) Will that be cash or charge?

Raichi looks around for Shampoo, but the ADP officer is long gone.

Raichi: (dryly) Cash.

* * * *

Shampoo makes it back to her workstation as her lunch break ends.

Shampoo: Hey, you two. Any messages?
Linlin: Nothing important. Raichi called, though - she says you owe her quite
a bit of money.
Shampoo: (smiles) Heh. Oh, I want to thank you both for telling her about all
the times I've been late to work.
Ranran: You can count on us!
Linlin: (punches Ranran in the arm) Baka! She didn't want us to tell anyone!
Ranran: So why didn't you think of that when you were mentioning it to
everyone?

Sighing, Shampoo settles into her workstation and multitasks a Sailor Moon R
episode in a window on her system.

* * * *

Meanwhile...

Jack: Here's the list of ADP profiles matching your criteria, sir.
Nakayama: (turns the disc over in her hands) Excellent.

She activates her console and inserts the disc. The screen is instantly alight
with ADP personnel profiles. Sakiko scrolls through each with a single
keypress.

Nakayama: You've done well. There are several worthy candidates here. (One in
particular catches his eye.) Now, this one... she's more than what I
was hoping for. Get her - we're going to have a little talk.

* * * *

Later in the evening, Shampoo finally completes the last of her assignments -
even though the Sailor Moon episode paused on her monitor was considerably
later than the episode she had been watching when she began.

Shampoo: (breathes a sigh of relief) I'm finally done.
Ranran: You are? (looks at clock) Wait'll I tell Linlin! She thought it would
take a lot longer for you to finish.
Ranran: I guess this means I win the bet!
Shampoo: (mimicking Ranran's tone) The 'bet?'
Shampoo: You're actually running odds on how long it takes me to do my work?!?
Ranran: (embarrassed) Uh...
Shampoo: Where is Linlin, anyway?
Ranran: She-
Shampoo: Never mind. I'm going to go home and get some sleep. (She walks away.)
Ranran: Shampoo! Don't-
Shampoo: (suddenly reappearing beside Ranran) *Not* a word. (She leaves.)

On her way out Shampoo ceremoniously said good-night to the two security
robots - Tom and Crow - maintaining a vigil at the front door.
The parking lot was barely lit. Shampoo knew she could take care of herself
should anyone try attacking her, but she wanted better lighting all the same.
Even to the point of 'helping things along' with her computer, although she
had no control over what the bureaucrats and higher-ups did with it once it
was out of her hands.
She knelt down to unlock the chain around her scooter when a hand came from
behind, pushing a cloth in her face.

Shampoo: (struggling) <That smell...... chloroform......> (passes out)

Another hand snapped the lock securing the scooter. They tossed the scooter
into the back of the limousine and were off, their headlights shining briefly
on the next scooter in line, which was white.

* * * *

Half an hour later, the Knight Sabers are putting on their hardsuits.

Akane: Where's Shampoo?
Ukyou: Who knows?
Ranma: She probably stopped off for something to eat.
Akane: Don't tell me she's going to be late again. She knows we've been
preparing for this job for weeks!
Ukyou: I'll see if I can find her.
Akane: (sighs) We'd better run a pre-mission check.

Ten minutes that seem like an eternity to Ranma pass. When Ukyou returns, she
has a bewildered look on her face.

Ranma: (to Ukyou) Either you've been trying to wake her up, or you can't find
her.
Akane: Where is she?
Ukyou: She isn't home. She clocked out from work about an hour ago, but her
scooter's still in the parking lot.
Ukyou: They can't find her anywhere in the building and they suspect something
may heve happened to her.
Ranma: (sarcastic) What gave them that idea?
Ukyou: The scooter next to hers was stolen.
Ranma: Typical AD Police reasoning at work, folks.
Ukyou: (whacks Ranma with her giant spatula) Will you let me finish?
Ukyou: The lock on the scooter wasn't cut or unlocked, Akane. It was snapped
in two. By hand.
Ukyou: They think a boomer may have done it.
Ranma: 'May have?' Most people strong enough to snap locks with their bare
hands have better things to do than swipe scooters.
Ukyou: (to Akane) So what are we gonna do?
Akane: (frowns) We can't delay this job any longer. We'll go ahead with the
hit-and-run.
Ranma: We aren't going to look for Shampoo first?
Akane: Even without our hardsuits each of us is capable of taking care of
ourselves. Wherever she is, Shampoo's not about to let herself get
killed.
Akane: (turning to leave) So come on; let's go.
Ranma, Ukyou: ......

* * * *

Shampoo paced about the floor of her cramped makeshift cell. The first thing
she had done upon coming to was check herself and learn the layout of where
she was being kept. That much she learned from her years as a Knight Saber.
Now if only it could help her figure out *why* she had been kidnapped.
A storage closet, two armed boomers standing guard at the door... whoever it
was had obviously done this on the spur of the moment. Otherwise, they might
not have made the oversight of locking her in a room filled top to bottom with
tools and office supplies - a whole array of items just waiting to be used in
a prison break.
She wished she'd had a gun. Her captors *did* remember to take her purse,
unfortunately. In it were two homing beacons: one the standard ADP issue, the
other a more concealed version given her by Akane... what little good either
of them did for her now. She needed something she could use on the boomers
outside the door. The office supplies might help her break out of the room,
and might even help against a human being, but against a Boomer...
Unless Boomers could be photocopied to death, she wouldn't stand a chance.

Shampoo: <Executives. I'm being held by someone in the business world.>

She picked up a lab coat in the corner. Close examination gave her the name
she was half expecting to see - and dreading.

Shampoo: (reading the print on the coat) <Property of Genom.>
Shampoo: Genom.

The door swung open. Sakiko walks in, flanked by two more boomers.

Nakayama: Ah, Miss Shampoo. I'm glad to see you're awake.
Shampoo: Why have you kidnapped me?
Nakayama: Kidnapped? No, my dear, we haven't kidnapped you. We've only...
detoured you for a little while. You're free to come and go as you
please.
Shampoo: I suppose those two at the door are there for decoration, then?
Nakayama: A mere precaution, I assure you. You see, I have a proposal for you,
and it wouldn't do for you to leave before hearing it, would it?
Shampoo: ......
Nakayama: I would like to propose a business arrangement between the two of
us. The AD Police have interfered with our transactions enough to
pose a problem...
Shampoo: You don't waste any time, do you? In other words, you're asking me to
provide you with inside information.
Shampoo: What makes you think I'd go along with such a plan?
Nakayama: (produces an ordinary-looking folder) See this? This is enough
evidence of your illegal hacking to send you to jail for more than a
lifetime. We'll see to it that the entire police force in MegaTokyo
knows what you've been up to in no time.
Shampoo: (narrowing eyes) Go right ahead.
Nakayama: Are you willing to take that risk?
Shampoo: The question is, are you?
Nakayama: (pauses) Very well. I'll give you some time to think about it.
Nakayama: I do so hope you make the right choice. (She and her boomers leave.)

Outside...

Jack: Did she accept?
Nakayama: She's called our bluff. We'll have to switch to plan B...
Jack: We may not have time for that. I've just received word that the Knight
Sabers have hit tonight's shipment. Everything... has been destroyed.
Nakayama: (furious) The Knight Sabers, *again*!
Nakayama: (sudden thought) Perhaps there *is* something we can do about the
Knight Sabers. (She turns and walks in a different direction.)
Jack: Where are you going?
Nakayama: To see Dr. Lin.

* * * *

Shampoo started to pace again. Calling Nakayama's bluff had gained her a
little time. All she had to do was figure out what to do with it.
A slight breeze gave her the inspiration she needed. There it was, hidden
behind a few boxes of old computer parts: a grate covering a ventilation shaft
just wide enough for her to squeeze into. She took a screwdriver from the
shelves and began removing the grate.

* * * *

Dr. Lin looks up from his work as Sakiko enters.

Dr. Lin: Oh, it's you. What do you want? I'm very busy.
Nakayama: Too busy for family?
Dr. Lin: What are you talking about?
Nakayama: Do you still have any of that mind-control drug of yours around?
Dr. Lin: I do. Why?
Nakayama: There's someone I think you'll want to meet.
Dr. Lin: (turns back to his work) I have no time for your subversions. Leave
me out of it.
Nakayama: You'll change your mind when you see who she is...

She pulls out a handful of pictures and shows them to Dr. Lin.

Dr. Lin: (grabs the pictures) What is this, some kind of sick joke? She
looks... looks... just like...
Nakayama: (smiles) I know.

* * * *

Shampoo pulled herself with a bit of difficulty through the ventilation
shafts. This was definitely not one of those instances where she would make it
through with room to spare, as in a few of the stories she'd read. Either
that, or Ukyou was right all along and she *did* eat too much.
There was no way she would give Ukyou the pleasure of seeing her go on a diet
and sign up for one of Ukyou's aerobics classes, though.

Shampoo: <Blast! Next time I'm gonna have someone else escape for me.>

* * * *

Sakiko studied the hypodermic syringe in her hands with a bemused expression.
A single injection could change a person's life forever. To hold a person's
life in one's hands, to control his or her destiny, to shape who he or she
was... now that was power. She allowed herself a megalomaniacal laugh.

Nakayama: <*That's* how you do it, Kodachi...>
Jack: (approaches from behind) Begging your pardon, sir, but the girl has
escaped.
Nakayama: (turns to face Jack) *What*!? How?
Jack: Through a ventilation shaft. She's still somewhere in the building. All
our boomers are searching for her.
Nakayama: (simmering) You'd better hope for your sake that we find her
quickly. Get everyone else to look for her as well!
Jack: Everyone?
Nakayama: *Everyone*! This is an research complex, not a military
installation. We don't have the equipment to run scans on the entire
building for her.
Nakayama: The boomers are our best bet for finding her. And once we do... we
can get down to business.

* * * *

Eventually...
The boomers, led by Jack, manage to corner Shampoo at the end of the ninth
floor. It hadn't been an easy chase; Shampoo had proven to be surprisingly
resourceful. Jack said as much to Sakiko as he brought her onto the scene.

Nakayama: (impatient) Let's get this over with. You know how I hate dramatic
flourishes.
Jack: (to the boomers) You heard the lady - do your job.

The boomers begin carefully herding Shampoo into the shaft directly overhead
with well-placed shots. In the shaft, Shampoo realizes to her horror just how
close each shot comes. An instant later two metal hands were in the shaft with
her, pulling her down...
...along with half the ceiling and the overhead ventilation system.

Shampoo: Kyaa---

She lands on top of the boomer that pulled her down, forcing it to the floor.

Shampoo: Oww......

As the smoke clears, she looks down at what she's sitting upon. She angrily
picks the boomer up and slams it to the ground, stomping on it again and
again to smash it into little pieces.

Shampoo: DON'T **DO** THAT!!!!
All: (nervously) .........

Shampoo straightens up, brushing the dust from her palms.

Shampoo: (indignant) Hmph!
Nakayama: *Enough*! (She stands before Shampoo.) I'm through playing games
with you.
Nakayama: You should know better than to try to escape from me. Things will be
harder for you from here on out.

Sakiko snaps her fingers. Another boomer tosses Shampoo to the floor like a
rag doll.
Shampoo merely reaches up and gives Sakiko the kiss of death.

Nakayama: (retreating slightly) Wh-what was that for?
Shampoo: You'll find out.

Shampoo charges, only to be stopped by the boomers.

Nakayama: Hold her down!

It took five boomers the better half of a minute to try to hold Shampoo down
long enough for Sakiko to inject Shampoo with the drug.

Shampoo saw her vision begin to blur, struggled to stay in control...

Shampoo: <I'm not going to die. Not yet...>

Sakiko made sure that she was the last thing Shampoo saw before the world
faded to black.

* * * *

Ukyou caught up with Linlin and Ranran in the ADP parking lot.

Linlin, Ranran: U-chan!!
Ukyou: (frowns) Any news on Shampoo?
Linlin: Nothing. Everyone's drwaing a blank.

She gestures to the cycle lock-up area. The police have cordoned everything
off for an entire city street and are busy searching for clues in the darkness
with flashlights.

Linlin: Even Kunou's getting worried.
Ukyou: You sure he's not upset because she isn't around to do his work?
Linlin: There's more to it than that.

Ranran looks at Linlin as if to say, 'You really believe that?'

Ukyou: (shrugs) If you say so.

Ukyou starts back toward her car.

Ukyou: Okay. Well, give me a call if you find anything. I may not be home, but
the answering machine's on.
Linlin: Right.

After Ukyou drives off...

Ranran: Now there's real concern.
Ranran: (sudden thought) Wait a minute. What are *we* going to find out? We're
off-duty for the night!

* * * *

She awoke in a hospital bed, connected to machines that seemed to monitor her
every move. Her eyes searched the room to find anything that looked vaguely
familiar.
Not even the morning sun filtering through the thin curtains at the window was
a comforting sight.
It all seemed so peaceful. She wondered if somewhere in her past she had lived
in a less-than-peaceful environment, but she couldn't remember. In fact, she
couldn't remember a thing. Not even why she was here in the first place.
There was a young man at bedside - an orderly or nurse, she guessed. Her weak
attempts to move caught his attention. He moved to the door and opened it
slightly.

Nurse: Doctor? She's awake.

Dr. Lin enters the room, followed by Sakiko. He immediately rushes to the bed
and kneels beside it, taking the girl's hand.

Dr. Lin: (meeting the girl's eyes) Mei? Oh, thank goodness! When they told me
you had been injured I came as soon as I could.
Mei: (weakly) Do I... know you?
Nakayama: You don't recognize your father?
Mei: I don't... recognize... any... of you.
Nurse: (reading Mei's chart) She's been through quite a bit. It's not unusual
for patients with concussions to suffer a slight 'lapse' in memory. I'm
sure it's only temporary.
Dr. Lin: (exhales, relieved) You're going to be okay, Mei. (He brushes her
hair away from her eyes.)
Mei: ...I am? (She tries to sit up.)
Nakayama: No! Don't try to move. (to the nurse) Wasn't there something about
her being paralyzed from the waist down?
Dr. Lin: What?
Nurse: Oh, yes. Her spinal cord was injured in the accident. I'm afraid she
will never walk again.
Dr. Lin: Oh, my...

He turns to look at Mei, who's unsure of how to take this news as well. With
the help of the nurse he manages to get Mei to sit up.
Dr. Lin looks at Sakiko for a response, and gets a nod.

Dr. Lin: (to the nurse) If you don't mind, we'd like to be alone with my
daughter for a little bit.
Nurse: I understand. Just don't allow her to do anything strenous. Remember,
she's still recuperating. (He leaves.)

Mei watches Dr. Lin and Sakiko for a few seconds before talking.

Mei: (to Dr. Lin) ...Father?
Dr. Lin: (seemingly on the verge of tears) Yes?
Mei: (to Sakiko) Are you my mother?
Dr. Lin: No, no. (laughs) This is Sakiko Nakayama, one of my superiors at
Genom. It's because of her that you're here, now.
Mei: (to Sakiko) Thank you. What happened?
Nakayama: You were running an errand for your father at the Southwest plant
when the Knight Sabers attacked. We're not completely sure what
their intention was yet, but we suspect they may have been trying to
disrupt a business transaction that was going on at the time.
Nakayama: Witnesses tell us the Knight Sabers made a deliberate attempt to
involve you in the attack.
Mei: The Knight Sabers? Who...
Nakayama: The Knight Sabers are a group of corrupt mercenaries who have
nothing better to do than disrupt Genom's business.
Nakayama: They were also the ones responsible for the death of your mother.
Mei: My mother is... dead?
Nakayama: Unfortunately, yes. We suspect the Knight Sabers may be out to
murder your entire family.
Dr. Lin: (meeting Mei's questioning glance) Don't worry. Genom is providing
the best possible protection for us.
Nakayama: (to Mei) That's right. We'll assign you one of our best bodyguards.
Mei: What's being done about the Knight Sabers?
Nakayama: We're coordinating our efforts with the police and intelligence
agencies to try and track the Knight Sabers down. That's as far as
we can go without breaking the law.
Mei: (still too weak to argue) ......
Dr. Lin: (to Mei) I have complete faith in Genom's ability to protect us. You
should, too.
Mei: (to Dr. Lin) As long as you're safe, I have no reason to worry. (She hugs
him.)
Dr. Lin: ............
Nakayama: I have an important meeting to attend. I'll leave you two alone for
now.

She closes the door behind her.

* * * *

Mei was declared fit enough to leave that very afternoon. Sakiko had told Mei
in private that she didn't trust leaving Mei alone and unguarded in the
hospital, and had wasted no time in introducing Mei's new bodyguard - Eliza,
a boomer with the outward appearance of a sixteen-year-old girl - and a
penchant for mischief. It hadn't taken Eliza long to get into trouble.
Mei, meanwhile, was busy trying to remember herself. She stared long and hard
at her reflection in the large full-length mirror secured in the room's only
restroom. It was odd that she hadn't had a roommate; she certainly didn't
consider herself to be someone special enough to have a room all to herself,
though Sakiko might. The whole matter probably had something to do with
security concerns.
Mei fixed her long black hair as best she could. She studied her reflection
again, but still couldn't remember anything save for what she had been told.
Part of that had been that the memory loss she was suffering from was only
temporary. What if they were all wrong and she never remembered who she really
was?

Eliza: (at the door) What's taking you so long, oneechan?
Mei: Hm? Oneechan?
Eliza: (smiles, nodding) Un.

Mei didn't feel like arguing with a Boomer bodyguard, so she let it pass.

Mei: I'm just taking care of some last-minute details.
Eliza: You look fine. Now come on.
Mei: Eliza! That's not what I was talking about!
Eliza: Oh.
Mei: (wheels out of the bathroom) I guess I got a little caught up in trying
to remember who I am.
Eliza: Wish I could help. I only met you today.
Mei: (sighs) Me, too...

Eliza starts putting all of Mei's belongings into a sports bag.

Eliza: Come on, let's go.
Mei: I'm not through yet!
Eliza: We don't want to keep your father waiting, do we?
Mei: I guess not.
Eliza: (starts pushing Mei's wheelchair) Good.
Mei: But...
Eliza: No complaints. I'm the one in control - you're confined to a
wheelchair, remember?
Mei: ......

Downstairs...
Dr. Tofu applies the finishing touches on Ranma's latest array of bandages.

Dr. Tofu: (shaking his head) Honestly, Ranma, I don't know whether you get
hurt more when you're fighting boomers or when you're *not*.
Ranma: All I did was wipe out on my bike...
Ukyou: You probably did it to get out of searching for Shampoo.
Ranma: Did not.
Ukyou: Ha...
Kasumi: (entering) Dr. Tofu? I brought those X-rays you wanted...
Ranma: <Uh-oh...>
Dr. Tofu: (glasses fog up) Ah, Kasumi! Thank goodness you're here! I was just
finishing with this patient... (points at Ukyou)
Ukyou: ?
Ranma: I'm over here.
Kasumi: (hands the X-rays to Dr. Tofu) Here, these are for you.

Dr. Tofu gratefully accepts the X-rays and promptly starts to eat them.

Dr. Tofu: These are delicious! Thank you, Kasumi.
Ukyou: ......??

Ranma quickly pulls Ukyou out of the room.

Ukyou: Why'd you do that?
Ranma: Trust me, you don't want to stick around when Dr. Tofu's acting like
that.

In the lobby, Ranma and Ukyou are about to leave when Ranma overhears Mei and
Eliza arguing.

Ranma: (grabbing Ukyou's arm) Wait!
Ukyou: What?
Ranma: (points at Mei) See that girl over there?
Ukyou: Yeah, so?
Ranma: Listen.
Ukyou: (listening to the argument) She sounds like Shampoo... come to think of
it, she looks a bit like Shampoo, too.
Ranma: That's what I thought. Let me try something.

She approaches the arguing pair.

Ranma: (to Mei) Shampoo? Hey, Shampoo - it's me, Ranma! Don't you recognize me?
Mei: (confused) Ran...ma?
Ranma: (coming closer) C'mon, don't you remember? I'm-

Before anyone can react, Eliza grabs Ranma and shoves her against a wall.

Eliza: That's enough.
Ranma: I just want to talk to...
Eliza: (serious) You don't want to do that.
Ranma: I-
Eliza: You *don't*.

Eliza lets an awkward second pass before releasing Ranma. Everyone gives her a
wide berth as she escorts Mei out of the hospital.

Mei: (to Eliza) Did you have to treat her that way? That was rude.
Eliza: So was she.
Eliza: My orders are to not let anyone near you. Period.
Mei: Not even people I might know - people who might be my friends?
Eliza: Did you recognize or remember anything about her? Did seeing her stir
any memories?
Mei: Well, ah... no, but...
Eliza: We can't afford to take any chances.

Meanwhile...

Ukyou: (joining Ranma) Was there a point to all that?
Ranma: I'll tell you when I figure it out.
Ranma: Let's go report in.
Ukyou: Yeah. I'll bet Akane's probably pretty worried by now.

* * * *

Another day passes. For those unaware that anything is wrong or different,
business continues as usual at the Silky Doll. Ryouga hides his concern over
Shampoo while manning the sales counter. He can't help but be reminded of her
as he watches customers wander through the shop.
Outside, a small black limousine circles the block.

Driver: Is this the place?
Mei: I think so.
Eliza: Yes, this is it. Don't worry - this is the last place on our list.
Driver: <What a relief.>

He takes a quick look at the back seat. It is *loaded* with a wide array of
shopping bags and boxes. The two women had spent the day shopping for a new
wardrobe for Mei - for some odd reason most of her old clothes really didn't
fit her anymore - among other things.
And the best part of all was that Genom, or rather, Sakiko was paying for
everything. For Mei and Eliza both.

Eliza: Park around the corner. We'll only be a minute.
Driver: That's what you said at all the other stores.
Eliza: (grins) Glad to see you understand.

Eliza has Mei out ot the car and into her wheelchair in a few simple, smooth
motions.

The electronic door bell chimes as they enter the shop.

Ryouga: Welcome to the- (He stops as he notices who he's talking to, then
catches himself) -Silky Doll. Is there anything I can help either of
you with?
Mei: No, thank you. We're just looking.
Ryouga: Okay.

As the pair turn their attention elsewhere, Ryouga backs away slowly. He runs
to the back room where Akane is trying to organize her computerized books.

Akane: (trying to make a column add up correctly) Mou...

In the hall, Ryouga grabs the door frame to try and stop himself...

Ryouga: Akane-saaaan...!

...and winds up tearing apart the wall.

Akane: Ryouga! Don't you know how much it costs to repair this building each
time it's destroyed?
Ryouga: I'm sorry.

He remembers why he came to the back room in the first place.

Ryouga: It's her! She's here!
Akane: Who?
Ryouga: Shampoo!

* * * *

Jack: Is it safe to let her go out in public? What if she recognizes something?
Nakayama: There's no chance of that. But just in case, Eliza will... protect
her.
Nakayama: (pauses) Where *did* they go?
Jack: (thinks about it for a second) Shopping, I believe. Eliza said Mei
needed a whole new wardrobe.
Nakayama: **WHAT**!? The only way they could pay for it is to charge
everything to our business accounts - Damn! I don't know how I'm
going to explain this to the Board of Directors...
Nakayama: (to Jack) You had better hope we finish that new mech before we run
out of money.
Jack: (swallows hard, nervously) I'll go check on it.
Nakayama: You do that. I've got phone calls to make.

* * * *

Eliza: (holds up an item) D'ya think this would look good on me?
Mei: (blushing slightly) I don't know...
Eliza: Come on, you can say what you think. I usually do.
Mei: (laughs) You're a boomer, Eliza.
Eliza: So? What's that got to do with anything?
Mei: I've just never seen a boomer so concerned about what she wears before.
Eliza: Isn't technology wonderful?
Akane: (appearing behind them) Good afternoon, ladies.
Mei, Eliza: Good afternoon.
Akane: I'm Akane Tendo, the owner of this store. You know, I haven't noticed
either of you around before. Are you new in town?
Eliza: (defensively) Why do you ask?
Mei: (quietly) Eliza!
Akane: I make it a point to try to get to know my customers.
Mei: (wheeling in between Akane and Eliza) Don't mind Eliza - she can be a
little rude at times.
Mei: I'm Mei Lin, and this is Eliza, my cousin from the United States.
Akane: (shaking their hands) Pleased to meet you. Do you need help with
anything?
Mei: Actually, we're almost finished... and, well, my father really doesn't
want us being out after dark.
Akane: I can understand that. I'll be at the cash register when you're
through, then. (She leaves.)
Mei: See? A little kindness makes a lot of difference.
Eliza: Remind me to show you the REAL world someday, kiddo.

* * * *

Later that evening...
Ranma and Ukyou find Akane hard at work searching a database of Genom
employees.

Ukyou: What're you doing, Akane?
Akane: (barely paying attention) Searching for someone.
Ukyou: (shrugs) Oh.
Akane: (turns away from the keyboard) Sorry. I'm not as good at this as
Shampoo is.
Ranma: Ryouga said she was here today.
Akane: She was. She believes she's a young woman named Mei Lin, along with a
boomer bodyguard named Eliza masquerading as her cousin.
Ukyou: I don't think anyone's about to argue the point with her - right,
Ran-chan?
Ranma: She isn't THAT strong...
Akane: Enough to pin you to a wall, from what I've heard.
Ranma: I didn't want to cause a scene.
Ukyou: You're not running a fever, are you?
Ranma: We've *got* to get you up on stage for open mike night at the
Nekohanten.
Akane: That's enough, you two. (The computer beeps.) Hm?
Akane: (reading) Ah, here it is.

She motions for Ranma and Ukyou to gather around the monitor.

Akane: (reading aloud) Dr. Mirian Lin, age 46. Current position, head of
Research and Development at Genom's Theta Department under Sakiko
Nakayama. Has been an employee of Genom for about seventeen years.
Akane: Dr. Lin's wife and daughter - Mei - were killed a year and a half ago
in an accidental boomer malfunction on the Theta facility grounds.
Psych evaluations suggest that he may blame himself for their deaths
and may prove to be a potential security risk in the long run.
Ranma: Doesn't anyone at Genom ever have a completely clean slate?
Ukyou: Does the file have a picture of Mei you can punch up?
Akane: Let's see...

She hits a few keys. A close-up of Mei takes the place of Dr. Lin's files,
looking very much like the young woman they had once called Shampoo.

Akane: Bingo.
Ranma: It sure does look like her.
Ranma: Do you think this Dr. Lin could be behind Shampoo's kidnapping?
Akane: I doubt it. It doesn't wash with what we know about him. I'll bet it
was someone higher up.
Ranma: (smirks) Isn't it always?

Akane switches back to Dr. Lin's files.

Akane: One more thing we'd better keep in mind - this is only a database
Shampoo put together for me from existing Genom files. The actual
profiles these have been copied from have probably been 'touched up' by
now.
Ukyou: Count on it.

Something catches Akane's eye as she skims down the listing of Dr. Lin's
achievments.

Akane: A mind-control drug?
Ranma: What?
Akane: It says here that Dr. Lin invented a drug that could be used in the
area of mind control. The drug is able to completely block off all
links to past memories and leaves the mind clear for new programming.
Akane: Officially, Genom is still trying to find an application for it.
Ukyou: Unofficially, I'd say they already have.
Ranma: *Now* do you think it's possible for this guy to be behind it all?
Akane: I don't think so.
Ukyou: Why don't we pay a visit to Theta instead of sitting here arguing?
Ranma: Can't we take the direct route and go see Dr. Lin?
Ukyou: Since when does the direct approach work?

* * * *

At the same time, Dr. Lin watches from the adjoining room as Mei and Eliza
went from 'experimenting' in the kitchen to having fun. Eliza picks up a spray
bottle filled with water and acts as though she's about to let Mei have it.

Mei: (looks at the bottle) Your safety's on.
Eliza: (looks down at the bottle) Why, you're right.

Mei makes a break for it but is unable to escape Eliza's blasts.

Dr. Lin: (listening to the pair laugh) ............

An hour later...
Dr. Lin stands outside the door to his daughter's bedroom. He seems unsure of
whether or not he should knock on the door. Finally, he does.

Dr. Lin: Mei? Are you in there?
Mei: (inside) I'm in bed.
Dr. Lin: (opening the door) I just wanted to see if... you were all right.
Mei: I'm fine.

Dr. Lin's gaze travels to the picture on the nightstand beside Mei's bed - a
picture of him, his wife, and Mei - together. Mei notices this as well.

Mei: Mom was a beautiful person.
Dr. Lin: Yes. She was.
Mei: Where was this picture taken?
Dr. Lin: In the one place you and your mother loved. Our cabin in Hayashibara
National Forest.

As Dr. Lin remembers the times his family had been to the cabin, flashbacks
show a younger Mei hurricaning about the cabin and ultimately coming to a stop
in her mother's arms. They hug, and both turn and look at Dr. Lin.

Dr. Lin: (realizing he's about to cry once more) ...Mei......
Mei: ......
Dr. Lin: ...I'm sorry.
Mei: For what?
Dr. Lin: Everything.

He stands up and turns away.

Dr. Lin: I'm sorry for what you've gone through, and for what you're about to
go through.
Mei: It wasn't your fault.
Dr. Lin: Perhaps it was.
Dr. Lin: And now Genom has had me develop a dangerous new mech... I know it
won't be put to any good use.
Dr. Lin: If only I could do something about it...
Mei: Whatever happens, I know you'll make the right choice.
Dr. Lin: ............

Outside the house, Sakiko sits alone in the rear of her private limousine,
staring at the single light coming from Mei's window.
The light fades out.

* * * *

...Thirty minutes.
The three remaining Knight Sabers piece together the last few pieces of their
hardsuits.

Akane: If everything turns out okay, I'll treat Shampoo to a home-cooked meal.
Ranma: Make sure you do it while she doesn't remember how bad your cooking is.

Akane beats up Ranma.

Ukyou: Can we discuss what to feed her AFTER we get her back?
Akane: I guess...
Ukyou: Besides, everyone knows she prefers my cooking to yours.
Akane: WHAT!?
Ranma: (shaking head) <We're going to be here a *long* time.>

* * * *

...Sixty-eight minutes.
Mei is jarred from sleep as Sakiko urgently tries to wake her up.

Nakayama: Mei? Come on, wake up!
Mei: (drowsily) What's going on?
Nakayama: Something terrible has happened. I'll explain on the way to Theta.

She drags Mei out of bed and is almost at the door when she remembers one
painfully important fact: Mei can't walk.
She looks around the room for Mei's wheelchair and helps Mei into it. Sakiko
recognizes the look on Mei's face as one that says, "Don't *ever* do that
again!"

Nakayama: Sorry. I'm still new to this.

...Seventy-nine minutes.
In Sakiko's limousine...

Mei: What's this all about? What's so important that you have to drag me to
Theta in the middle of the night without my father?
Nakayama: This involves your father.
Mei: Huh?
Nakayama: (pauses) I'm afraid the Knight Sabers have kidnapped him.
Mei: (frantic) *What*?!? They'll kill him! Call the police! We've got to do
something!!
Nakayama: I was hoping you would feel that way. But calling the police won't
do any good. They couldn't stop the Knight Sabers from killing your
mother...
Mei: Then isn't there something *WE* can do?

Sakiko seems to think about it for a minute.

Mei: Well?
Nakayama: (looks at Mei) Maybe. Just maybe...
Jack: (communicator) Sir? We've got trouble - the Knight Sabers are on the
grounds!
Mei: (suddenly alert) The Knight Sabers?
Nakayama: (grabbing the receiver) Do what you can to keep them busy. We're on
our way.

* * * *

...Ninety minutes.
Despite the distant sound of gunfire being exchanged, Sakiko and Mei calmly
look up at a large-single pilot mech walker that was obviously designed with
combat purposes in mind. It is quite an ominous sight from below, bristling
with weaponry even on its four legs.

Nakayama: Legally, our hands are tied. Genom is a law-abiding organization,
and the Knight Sabers are a band of renegade vigilantes. We can't do
anything officially without risk of breaking the law.
Nakayama: But suppose for a minute that someone were to... take this mech and
engage the Knight Sabers on their own...
Mei: I'll do it!
Nakayama: (feigning surprise) You? Are... are you sure?
Mei: I must. For my father.
Nakayama: You do understand that Genom can't have any connection to this?
Mei: I don't care! I want to get my father back - whatever the cost!
Nakayama: That's the spirit!

Sakiko motions for two boomers to carry Mei up to the cockpit.

Mei: (looking over the control panels) <This is more complicated than I
thought...>
Nakayama: (calling up to Mei) Are you sure you can handle the controls?
Mei: ...No. But if my father created this...

She looks down and notices the pedals on the cockpit floor.

Mei: Floor pedals? How am I supposed to use these?
Nakayama: Ordinarily, that would be a problem. In this case, however, your
father built a mindlink system into the mech's controls. You can
control the mech with your thoughts and that special helmet on top
of the seat.
Mei: (locking the helmet onto her head) Got it!

Lights flare up throughout the cockpit as the mech staggers to life.

Nakayama: Think about what you want to do before you do it! Of course, a
little button-pushing never hurts...
Mei: <Now where have I heard that before?>
Mei: What's this big yellow button on the console in front of me? It's not
marked.
Nakayama: Don't touch it! It's probably the eject button.
Mei: No, that's over here...

* * * *

Outside...

Akane: (communicator) Status report!
Ranma: We're fine. Ukyou's busy playing table tennis with a boomer.
Akane: Table tennis? Don't you mean regular tennis?
Ranma: Nope.
Akane: Forget it. I don't even want to know where she got a table.
Akane: See if you two can work your way over to me. I'm picking up something
pretty big and I want to get it before it comes after *us*.
Ranma: Okay. Be right there.

Akane sidesteps one boomer and vaults over two more.

Akane: <Sheesh! It's like I was heading off to school again!>

Not too far away, Ukyou flattens a boomer with her large spatula.

Ukyou: <Why bother with hitting moles over the head at an arcade when you can
do it for real with boomers?>
Ukyou: <Too bad we don't have a crane...>
Ranma: (to Ukyou) You busy? Akane wants us to join her.
Ukyou: I should've known Akane would find a way to ruin my fun.

In no time at all the Knight Sabers regroup and head for the bay where Mei's
mech lies waiting. Sakiko keeps an eye on a portable heat scanner, preparing
to give Mei the signal to go.

Nakayama: (yells) ...*Now*!

Mei rams the mech through the bay's large door. Spotting the Knight Sabers,
she charges straight at them and an instant later has every weapon at her
disposal trained on them.

Mei: (externals) I know you realize who I am, Knight Sabers. You had better
release my father, unharmed, *NOW*... or I'll do something I might
regret.
Knight Sabers: (uneasily looking up at all the weapons trained on them) ......
Ukyou: (privately) She thinks we've kidnapped her father! What are we going to
do?
Akane: Well, now we know why they brainwashed her...
Mei: I'm waiting.
Ranma: (externals) We don't have your father!
Mei: Wrong answer.

She opens fire. Ranma grabs Akane and Ukyou and dives for the space underneath
the mech. The three speechlessly watch Mei's fire devastates everything in
front of her.

Mei: You aren't getting away that easily! (to a squad of boomers) Attack!!

Boomers swarm to surround the Knight Sabers at an incredible rate.

Ranma: Follow my lead!

Ranma leaps up, grabbing the underside of Mei's mech and flips herself up to
the top. Akane and Ukyou follow in between blasts from the boomers' weapons.
Mei reacts by bucking the mech like a wild horse. The Knight Sabers are thrown
clear of both the mech and the boomers. Mei barges through the crowd of
boomers, and prepares to squash the Knight Sabers under one of the mech's
metal feet.

Akane: Scatter!

The three roll away in different directions. The foot crashes down onto the
concrete where they had been a split second earlier, shattering it. All of the
boomers run to pursue the Knight Sabers.
Mei's metal foot catches up with Akane first, sending her flying through the
outer wall of one of the facility's buildings in a warped version of a
field-goal kick.

Akane: (picking herself up) That's definitely going to hurt later on...

Her sensors pick up the presence of another person in the room with her.

Akane: (alert) Who's there?

She switches visor modes to see clearer in the dim light. It wasn't quite as
good as Shampoo's cat-like vision in the dark, but it would have to do.
There, tied to a chair a few feet away, was Dr. Lin.

>From a nearby vantage point, Sakiko enjoys the sight of Mei attempting to play
a deadly game of hopscotch with Ranma and Ukyou.

Nakayama: There's something to be learned from all this, Jack.
Jack: And that is...?
Nakayama: If you're going to have others fight your battles for you, at least
have fun doing it.
Jack: (rolls his eyes) .........

An amplified voice echoes out across the grounds.

Dr. Lin: (bullhorn) Stop!!

Mei brings her mech to a full stop and swings it completely about. Standing
beside Akane was the one person she had come to rescue: Dr. Mirian Lin. Her
father. What's more, the Knight Saber with him was actually *protecting* him
from the boomers trying to attack them. On cue, the other Knight Sabers joined
their leader to fend off the swarms of boomers.

Mei: (lumbering through the wave of boomers) Father?
Dr. Lin: Yes, it's me. Mei, you must stop this rampage immediately!
Mei: I... I did this for you...
Dr. Lin: I know, dear. But now there's something else I want you to do.
Mei: Anything.

Mei was vaguely aware of Sakiko's radioed urgings for her to ignore this
latest Knight Saber trick and attack. She switched the radio off.

Dr. Lin: Do you see that large yellow button on the main panel?
Mei: Yes.
Dr. Lin: I want you to push it.
Mei: But...
Dr. Lin: Please! Push the button, Mei.

She pushes the button. A yellow gas billows into the cockpit from a tank
hidden underneath the main console. In no time at all Mei finds herself
completely surrounded by the gas. She throws up an arm to attempt to keep from
breathing the gas.
In the end, when the gas clears...

Dr. Lin: (to the Knight Sabers) That gas is the only thing that can reverse
the effects of the drug. Hiding a container of it in the cockpit was
the only way I could think of to turn this situation around.
Ukyou: And, it makes for wonderful dramatic tension, too!

Ranma and Akane glare at Ukyou.

Dr. Lin: I'm terribly sorry about all that's happened.
Akane: It wasn't your fault. It was-
Shampoo: (yelling over her externals) **NAKAYAMA**!! WHERE ARE YOU?!?
Ranma: (quietly) I'd say she's back to normal.

Nakayama: (quietly) Uh-oh... (She grabs Jack.) Let's get out of here!

Shampoo starts toward Sakiko, readying her weapons. However, Sakiko has issued
one final order. All of the boomers converge on Shampoo's mech. She tries to
knock or blow them away, but as the other Knight Sabers reach her position,
several boomers have attached themselves to the mech from the legs up and
begin absorbing it in an attempt to gain control of it.

Shampoo: Not this time, you don't!

She switches the radio to the Knight Sabers' private frequency.

Shampoo: Everyone, get back! I'm going to blow this thing!
Ranma: Shampoo! Don't-
Shampoo: Don't argue with me! I've got no choice!

She sets the self-destruct timer for twenty seconds, secures herself in the
chair... crossing her fingers, she pushes the eject button...
Twelve seconds later the mech brilliantly explodes, taking the boomers with it.

Akane, Ranma and Ukyou rush to pull Shampoo out of the ejection module where
it had landed fifty yards away.

Shampoo: Some ride, huh? Never let me go on it again.

Kunou's patrol car pulls up.

Kunou: What happened?
Shampoo: You finally decided to show up?
Kunou: Shampoo? Is that you?
Shampoo: I think so.
Hikaru: Ranran found a message on your computer saying that something was
going to happen here.
Kunou: So a Genom official kidnapped you... Is there any way we can turn this
to our advantage?
Shampoo: It's my word against Genom's. You know they'll find some legal
loopholes to come out on top - and deny any connections to this
scheme. In the end, it's just not worth the hassle.

Shampoo looks around for Dr. Lin and notices he is missing.

Shampoo: There's no one to back up my story.
Kunou: (to Shampoo) Hikaru and I will see if we can find anything in that
mess. After that, we'll take you home.
Shampoo: Fine.

Once Kunou has driven out of earshot...

Shampoo: Akane, I want to resign from the Knight Sabers.
Akane, Ranma, Ukyou: What?
Akane: Why?
Shampoo: (turns away, lowering her head) Because... Because of me, you three
were almost killed... and I'm the one who almost killed you!
Akane: ............
Akane: Shampoo, I'll tell you the same thing I told Dr. Lin - it *wasn't* your
fault.
Shampoo: I told him the same thing.
Akane: It was Sakiko Nakayama who programmed you to believe we were your
enemies.
Shampoo: Yeah. Nakayama... I still have a score to settle with her.
Ranma: You can't do that if you're not part of the team.
Shampoo: (grins) I might find a way... (pauses) Okay, okay. I'm staying.
Ukyou: You didn't really think we'd let you leave, what with all the money you
owe us?
Shampoo: I'll pretend I didn't hear that.
Ukyou: Why not? Afraid to take me on?

In the blink of an eye Shampoo flips Ukyou.

Shampoo: I'm sorry. Did you say something?
Ukyou: (laughing, draws her large spatula) Why, you...
Shampoo: (lopsided grin) Careful, I've almost killed you once tonight. I
may do it again.

That said, Ukyou and Shampoo share a laugh. Shampoo helps Ukyou up.

* * * *

At home, the first thing Shampoo did was fall face-first onto her bed. Never
mind that she was still dressed up as Mei, or was a complete mess. She was
tired.

She was also still a little too wired to fall asleep. So, she pulled herself
over to the edge of the bed and sat on it.

Shampoo noticed the message light on her answering machine was blinking.
The message was from Dr. Lin:

"Shampoo:
I would like to apologize once again for what Sakiko put you through.
For what she put both of us through.
Ever since my wife and daughter died, I had been living in my own little
world. You brought me out of that world by bringing my daughter back,
made me realize what was going on...
Please accept my humble apology. I know I can't fully make up for what
has happened, but I'll try. You seem to have some sort of special
connection with the Knight Sabers... so if they or you need my help, you
know where to find me. I have taken Eliza with me to Mei's favorite
place.
Farewell."

----------------------------------

CREDITS:

With apologies to Rumiko Takahashi, Kenichi Sonoda and anyone else whose
characters were used here. And to the prereaders as well.

Special thanks: The Home Crew (enough said) and the readers of Bubblegum
Splash!. And of course, another round of thanks to David
Wills. :)

Disclaimer: The usual.

Author's notes:
First off, a big apology to anybody who has tried to contact me at
ra...@aco.com since the posting of BGS! 5. There was a bit of confusion and
needless to say, I've switched addresses (see below). We apologize for the
inconvenience. (heh)

This particular story was loosely adapted from a Bubblegum Crisis story I'd
come up with a while back, revolving slightly (of course) but not completely
around Nene. I guess that could explain why this is the longest BGS! yet... ^_^

Past issues of Bubblegum Splash should be available for FTP from the
rec.arts.anime.stories archive site, ftp.std.com. BGS! is also available for
first-time download from the wide selection of fanfics on Tony Butler's BBS,
Anime Oregon, (503) 942-8950. (FIDO - 1:152/9, AnimeNet - 401:503/0) Thanks,
Tony. :) If you maintain a site or BBS and have BGS! available for download or
FTP, let me know so I can tell others where to find it. ^_^

***********************************************************************
* Mike "Ranma Saotome" Koos * Don't you do anything I wouldn't *
* (AKA "Ryunosuke") * do - but if you do, take pictures. *
* -------------------------------* - Al Callevicci, Quantum Leap *
* FIDOnet : 1:203/955 **************************************
* Internet: mpj...@prodigy.com * (Dixon, CA) *
***********************************************************************