Well, I finally got around to starting this story over. It's the fanfic
formerly known as Scared Out of Control, but the name doesn't fit where I
see the story heading and the story is being *COMPLETELY* rewritten, so I
renamed it.
*PLEASE* C&C, even if it's just a little "I liked it" or "I hated it".
Oh, and parts 2-5 aren't rewritten yet. Also, I'm still searching for a
decent text editor which will put a carriage return whenever it word wraps.
If you
find such a lovely editor, could you please tell me? Thanks
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Starry Eyes
a Bubblegum Crisis Fanfic by Ben Kosse
The sky screamed and flashed in anger as torrents of rain pelted the city
streets of Mega-Tokyo. Reed had been asleep for almost three hours before a
tremendous thunderclap exploded, seeming to shake the foundation of the
house in a successful attempt to wake Reed from his formerly restful sleep.
In his half asleep state, Reed looked like he was drunk while he fumbled
about for the light switch, wincing uncomfortably against the unwanted
brightness. His long, dark-blond hair was a ruffled mess, making him look at
least two inches taller than his 5'-10" would actually measured. Counting
the time between the next flash of lightning and corresponding thunderclap,
Reed gauged that the storm was virtually overhead.
"Well, I won't be sleeping for a while. I guess I'll listen to the radio."
Talking for the sake of hearing something other than thunder and rain, which
had been almost constant for the two hours before he went to sleep, his
still sleepy voice was the only sound that could be heard over the rain.
Another thunderclap echoed the storm's indifference to his actions and
plans. "Cable's probably out, too." He didn't know, and didn't care.
Weakly, he ambled from the room and walked towards the antique radio. As
Reed slowly woke up, he became more cheerful, remembering the day's events,
each was passing through his head as walked towards the living room where
the radio was. He was in a secure and loving relationship with Priss
Asagiri, and had just had a wonderful time with her earlier that day. It
ended with him dashing, rather than happily strolling, to his car to escape
the rain. As usual, Priss left on her motorcycle, though he wasn't sure
where she was going. His drive home that night was interesting, the direct
result of some street punks kicking in his headlights. And even with the
difficulty driving, he had spent the drive home contemplating what it was
that made Priss decide to go out with him. He knew she was a Knight Sabre,
and that his knowing that could be her death. All Reed could figure was that
her reasons were the same feelings that made him kowtow to Priss' desires.
He reached the radio, and turned it on, in incredibly good spirits until he
touched the radio's tuning knob. When his fingers touched the knob, he was
suddenly was infused with an enormous feeling of worry and danger. Reed
hoped for something interesting to be on the radio. As he rotated the tuning
knob he thought that maybe he loved Priss because of the excitement she
brought into his rather monotonous life. Reed was a computer programmer, and
computer programming, even though it paid all the bills and much more, was
not exactly filled with excitement. His hand continued turning the knob as
the local news crackled into existence. However, the static buildup from the
rain kept the station from coming in clearly. Everything coming from the
speakers was filled, and often overwhelmed with hissing and crackling.
"... hidden live reporter has just...the Knight Sabres have destroyed a
secret, major...factory. However, a Knight Sabre in a dark blue
and...seriously wounded." Oh my God! It's Priss! Reed's mind was briefly
numbed from the shock. For ten minutes he just sat in the chair near the
radio. The crackling and hissing in the background continued unabated.
Dazed, he finally reached to the power switch. He pressed it in, slowly as
possible, not sure what he was hoping to hear, but knowing he didn't hear it
by the time the click of the power switch being fully depressed could be
heard. Equally slowly, Reed's finger retracted, and the radio finally hissed
one last time before the house was left, again, to the sound of rain and
thunder.
Sitting on the chair, his hand aimlessly wandered to the phone near him,
and before he realized it, his hand was firmly holding the audio phone, set
on a decision to call Arlene.
Arlene was a friend of Priss', and had just moved to Osaka. Priss was
currently staying there, helping Arlene move into her new house. Priss had
also convinced Arlene to extend the invitation to Sylia and Mackie, since
Sylia's penthouse was currently undergoing massive remodeling to comply with
a new city ordinance. Sylia had been reluctant to stay with Priss, but
conceded. Eventually.
Reed heard the ringer of Arlene's phone. Come on, pick up the phone! Oh
God, please.
"Uhgh. Yeah?" An older woman's voice answered Reed's silent prayers.
"Arlene!..."
"No!" The voice cut off Reed's statement before he could even begin to
explain. "I don't know where Priss is! Damnit, why do you have to call so late?"
Arlene was unaware of Priss' mysterious second life and was careful about
choosing his words. "I just heard on the radio that someone resembling Priss
was seriously injured."
"Oh." There was a brief pause before Arlene's voice resumed. This time she
was much less angry, if not relieved that Reed was concerned about Priss.
Arlene's past was full of people she thought were friends but wouldn't have
called to see if she was safe. "If she shows up, I'll call you."
"Thank you, Thank you much." Reed's hand quietly brought the handset back
to the cradle. He didn't hear Arlene's jibe on the other end of the phone
while she was hanging up. While his was placing the phone back onto the
hook, he began thinking about the first time he met Priss. He was out in the
forests near Mega-Tokyo, training.
A faint clicking was the only sound which would identify that the
phone was back on the cradle.
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Ben Kosse bmk7411@cs.rit.edu
Homepage with anime and other interests. (http://www.rit.edu/~bmk7411)
Biggest BGC otaku on the RIT campus (especially Priss).
Anime, RPG's, computers, poetry (read/write), music (listen/compose).
Author of the Bubblegum Crisis theme pack