<--- cut here --->
Bubblegum Crisis
****
The Tempest Chronicles II
****
(c) Robin Smith 1995/6
Bubblegum Crisis is copyright Armtic,
Youmex and Toshimichi Suzuki.
Other copyrights belong to their respective holders.
=========
Chapter 2.8
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"QUICK, give me hand here someone."
Priss yelled as she attempted to hold onto Tempest following his sudden
collapse.
Linna and Sylia ran over to assist a struggling Priss who was trying to
hold onto Tempest. Sylia and Linna helped Priss support Tempest, whilst
Nene was brought over a crawler board on to which they could lay
Tempest.
Whilst Priss and Sylia supported Tempest under his arms, Nene pushed
the board between their feet so Tempest's feet now touched the one end.
Gently they lowered him into a sitting position on the board, whilst
continuing to hold his body upright.
"Nene, loosen the straps and get his pack off.
Okay that's good; now give me hand with this arm."
Sylia directed.
Sylia pushed down the shoulder of the jacket whilst Nene pulled the
sleeve slowly off Tempest's right arm. Linna and Priss then did the
same on the left and finally the jacket was free.
Linna waved a nasal stimulant under Tempest's nose but it had no
effect. She was about to use the hypodermic when Sylia took Linna's arm
and shook her head.
"No don't use that; I'd rather get him examined before injecting him
with that compound. I know it's okay for us, but don't forget Tempest
seems to have a different physiognomy and after that blue light it
could well have changed again."
Linna returned the hypodermic and vial to the case and closed it.
"Take that automatic out of the holster please and make sure the safety
is on please; I'd rather not be shot."
Sylia sighed,
"Why he has to carry one of the biggest guns around I'll never know,
male ego trip I suppose."
Although the automagnum was a big gun for Nene to handle, her ADP
training paid off as she expertly ejected the clip and live round from
the chamber. Satisfied the weapon was now safe, she returned the loose
round to the top of the clip and placed both to one side.
'That's odd' Nene mused,
'I would have thought he'd be using it with a combat load.' {27}
"Nene can you take this off me please ?"
Linna asked as she proffered Tempest's monster revolver with the butt
facing towards Nene whilst being careful to keep her fingers clear of
the trigger.
"Whew, this is some weapon."
Nene remarked as she took the revolver from Linna and calmly ejected
each of the four 15mm monster shells.
"I think only Leon's earth-shaker is larger."
"Spare us the gun lecture please; I think we're much interested in
Tempest's well being for the moment."
Linna remarked.
"Right let's get these harnesses off, then we can put the jacket back
on him."
Sylia directed.
"Why put the jacket back on ?"
Linna asked, looking puzzled.
"Because I think there's some seriously wrong with him and although our
tame Doctor is good, we need to get him to a medical facility with the
proper facilities.
All right let him down slowly for a bit.
Linna, call Mackie up; he's over at the shop.
Ask him to bring the new van round and the spare plates; he'll know
what you mean."
Sylia's expression betrayed her concern for Tempest's well being.
Priss looked worried, wondering if she may have pushed Tempest too hard
with the chase round the workshop, especially after Sylia's test
program.
"Anything else we can do till Mackie gets here ?"
"No, I think he's as comfortable as we make him for the moment.
Oh, on second thoughts you'd better make sure the pockets are empty and
cut away the Silky Doll labels please Priss.
Remember, no clues to lead back to us."
Sylia was careful to stress the last part.
Priss cut out the name tags, removed all the ammunition and Tempest's
wallet.
Then she found the keys; a *very* *familiar* set of keys and swore
loudly.
"KUSO!
Arrgh just wait till he comes round.
I, I'll"
"You'll what ?"
Linna sounded intrigued.
"I'll teach him a lesson he won't forget in a hurry that's what.
Stringing me along, no wonder he was in hurry to get away when I asked
him about transport."
She shook head.
"No, shooting's too good for him.
Just you wait Tempest, you owe me *big time*."
Sylia smiled slightly; she had a shrewd idea what the source of Priss's
anger was about.
Ever curious, Nene decided to find out and asked Priss.
"Now what's he done Priss ?"
Priss pointed across the workshop to where her beloved bike stood;
fairings off, oil stained and broken.
"That's what he did."
Nene was rather puzzled; she didn't think Priss allowed anyone ride her
bike.
"Tempest was riding your bike ?"
"Baka!
No he was riding the other bike."
Priss marvelled at Nene's failure to grasp what she thought was so
obvious.
"Other bike ?"
Nene queried, still just as puzzled.
"I haven't seen any other bike Priss; Tempest walked in here."
Linna responded, confused.
"What am I holding here Linna, buma parts ?"
Priss held up the keys waving them from side to side.
"These are the keys to the red Ninja."
"Ah, you must mean that bike you ride when you've broken your own."
Linna goaded.
"Oh yes of course, now I know.
Isn't that the one that's far too slow and wimpy."
Nene sensing there was more mileage in this little escapade, prodded a
little more.
"I'm intrigued Priss, just how did Tempest manage to break your bike if
he wasn't riding it ?
It wouldn't have been a race by any chance ?"
The look on Priss's face told everyone she had been racing.
"So you must have lost then ?"
Nene teased.
"I most certainly did not lose."
"No, amazon woman broke the bike instead."
Nene giggled at Linna's remark.
Sylia smiled inwardly and reflected on what she'd said to Tempest
earlier. So, he'd gone and taken up my suggestion about giving Priss
riding lessons; but not quite how I intended. I'll have to be more
specific in the future.
To stop the argument getting too overheated whilst they were waiting
for Mackie to turn up with the van; Sylia decided to let the others in
on Tempest's run in with Leon, although she didn't let on that he'd
hoodwinked her over his id though.
Priss's mood brightened slightly when she learnt Leon had booked
Tempest for speeding, but then realised that he wouldn't have to worry
about it. Still at least while Leon was checking out Tempest he was
unable to come after her and give her a ticket. It was small
consolation as she reflected on her broken bike.
"I still don't know how he managed that crazy stunt to get onto the off
ramp. I was doing over 220kph at the time, he couldn't have been doing
much less; then to top it all he pulls up within the length of the off
ramp from about 200kph I'd guess."
Priss sounded exasperated at how Tempest could manage such a manoeuvre
when he had previously stated he hadn't ridden for a while.
Nene indicated the now prostrate form of Tempest.
"So, it looks like you've got serious competition there Priss.
I mean, a slower bike and he still gets the better of you."
Nene was saved from being orally assaulted by Priss by the arrival of
Mackie and the van. After the shutters were opened, he reversed it
carefully into the workshop where Dr Raven was waiting with a pair of
large boards.
It took all four of them to gently put Tempest into the van and once he
was secured so he wouldn't move about, Mackie and Dr Raven fixed the
boards to the sides of the van with some strong magnetic clamps
obscuring the Silky Doll logo.
Having changed the number plates Sylia took the keys from Mackie.
"Right I'll drop Tempest off at the clinic whilst Mackie hides in the
van. We'll then go over to that old warehouse complex where we can
remove the van's disguise and he'll drive back to the shop whilst I
remain concealed.
Nene, you go to the shop and handle the comms please. Also see if you
can dig up any extra information about Tempest, I'm not entirely
convinced about his ADP status.
We'll all meet back at the shop; Linna can you give Nene a lift over to
the shop please, here's the keys.
Priss, you take the Ninja; I don't think it will be far away and bring
Tempest's 'kit' over as well please. Be careful to stay out of trouble
please; Leon knows Tempest is riding that bike and may decide to ask
Tempest some more questions.
So don't go speeding anywhere please."
"Would *I* do anything like that ?"
Priss did her best to sound wounded at Sylia's remark, but she failed
miserably.
"Yes you would, now be careful please.
Leon or anyone else digging around could be very awkward at the moment.
Now any questions ?"
Several heads being shaken were all that was needed.
"Good let's go to it."
Sylia pulled on the wig and glasses she kept for visits to the clinic.
The disguise wasn't much but it was good enough to hide her features
against casual glances.
******
Nene and Linna walked around the corner to where Linna had left her
car, on the way Nene noticed the Ninja up a side alley.
"There's the bike; I'll just let Priss know where it is, back in tick."
"All right, I'll get the car started."
Linna called after Nene's disappearing form.
Nene ran back around the corner slap bang into Priss, who was trying to
adjust the straps on the rucksack so it was comfortable.
"Hey watch where you're going !"
Priss cried as Nene bumped into her.
"Sorry, I came to tell I've found the bike; it's just around the corner
in the side alley; there's a black helmet strapped to it as well."
Nene gesticulated in the general direction of the alley.
"Hmm okay. Can you just push this thing up a bit more so I can tighten
the straps properly ?"
Priss indicated Tempest's pack.
Nene pushed at the pack that was surprisingly heavy.
"What's he got in here, lead weights ?"
"Yeah tell me about it, I'm glad these straps are padded."
Nene helped adjust the straps until Priss said,
"Okay I think that's got it, see you back at the shop."
Nene was about to run back to the car when Linna drove around the
corner and pushed open the passenger door.
******
"Come on, get in Nene."
After she'd closed door the Linna pulled off without waiting for Nene
to buckle up.
"Hey hold on I haven't got my belt on yet."
"Don't forget I've got the keys; so Priss won't be able to get in till
we open up and you know how she rides."
"Think she'll stick to the speed limits ?"
Linna laughed.
"I don't think so; I mean Priss ride a bike slowly ?"
Traffic being light they made good time to Ladys 633, there was no sign
of Priss though.
Linna pulled up outside the loading bay doors and handed the keys to
Nene.
"Open the doors and I'll pull in, looks like Priss has done the right
thing for once."
Nene went in through the side door, disarmed the alarms and after
locking the side door again went to loading bay to open the door.
Once the door was raised enough Linna pulled in.
As they rode the lift up to Sylia's private quarters Nene voiced her
concern over Tempest,
"What do you think is wrong with Tempest ?"
"Exhaustion maybe, he did look worn out after Sylia's test run and that
game of tag with Priss couldn't have helped.
It could also be an after effect of the blue light that enveloped him
when that program was initiated.
Hopefully Sylia's friends at the clinic will solve that riddle."
The lift halted at the sixth floor.
Nene made straight for the computer room, grabbed a headset and fired
up the comms links.
"This is red, we're in position.
Do you copy white ?"
There was a short delay before Sylia answered,
"White here red, we're en-route to site-A.
Unless anything important comes up please maintain radio silence, it
could be awkward when we're at site-A."
"Acknowledged white, monitoring your channel, red out."
Removing her headset Nene called out to Linna,
"Hey Linna, what are doing ?"
A slightly muffled reply came back,
"Be with you in a bit."
Two minutes past and Nene was just about to go find Linna, when she
came in with a two steaming mugs and a plate of biscuits.
"Hey thanks, you're a lifesaver.
Can you give me hand with some of this please ?"
"What do you need doing ?"
"Can you handle the comms link and watch for Priss ?
Sylia's asked for radio silence unless something important comes up, so
it's just a listening watch really.
I've activated the security cameras; that switch can open and shut the
loading bay doors. If Priss hasn't shown up in the next ten minutes I
think we'd best close them."
"Okay, it seems easy enough. I'll fetch the trolley first so we've got
some more tea handy.
What are you going to be doing ?"
"Hacking into the ADP computers for more information on Tempest for one
thing. Then Ill probably have a snoop into Genom's databases to see if
they've got on him and anything else I can dig up."
"Why Genom ?"
"Remember the tone in his voice when he mentioned their name; which
means he's probably had a run in with them in the past."
"Yes, he didn't sound too enamoured with them."
******
Feet propped up on the desk and leaning back in the chair Leon
reflected that it hadn't been too bad a day; there hadn't been any more
buma incidents. Crime also seemed to have taken the day off and he'd
managed to get his paperwork completed. There were only two black marks
to spoil it; he'd tried to book Tempest and the bumas treatment of the
victims of Saturday night's fiasco.
He looked across to Daley who was just putting another file in the out
tray.
"All done ?" He enquired.
"Yeah, what's on your mind ?"
"Tempest for one ?"
"Well you shouldn't have tried booking him; I thought you would have
known the guy's untouchable.
What's the other ?"
Daley had a shrewd idea what the other matter was about.
"Those damned bumas on Saturday night that's what and the light that
blitzed the one of them."
"Well Nene isn't back on duty till Monday.
Why don't you ask someone else ?"
Daley suggested.
"You know how good Nene is at getting seemingly unreachable
information; besides I don't want this on an official status just yet."
"Tell you what, let's go down the range for the last 15 minutes."
"Hmm, yeah why not."
Leon reached into his desk drawer, withdrew his gun and dropped it in
his pocket.
There was only lane one in use when they got to the range; Daley took
lane three whilst Leon set-up in lane two.
Daley set his target about half distance and settled himself before
loosing off a clip. As his target was returning he noticed Leon's
target was going well down the range.
As it reached three-quarter distance it halted and Leon loosed off six
shots in rapid succession.
'The accuracy won't be too good at that range' thought Daley.
He examined his first volley's results; not too bad, all were within
the inner two rings.
Putting up another target he sent it out to half distance and fired off
another clip.
Leon had retrieved his first target and was satisfied with the results;
all within the inner two rings though the grouping was a bit scattered,
understandable at the range he'd selected.
He put up a full target and sent it to maximum range.
Daley looked at Leon's lane.
What on earth ? He won't hit much at that range, unless ....
First shot : The lower half of the target disintegrated.
Second shot : The middle section went flying.
Third shot : The rest of the target was smashed asunder along with the
carrier mechanism.
Making sure his weapon was safe Daley stepped out of his lane and
looked round into Leon's. Sure enough there was Leon looking quite
happy with his three shots and was just ejecting the monstrous
cartridges from his 'earth shaker'.
It was at that point Daley became aware of a second head looking round
the screen at Leon.
'Oh shit' thought Daley, for the second face belonged to the chief.
"MCNICHOL !"
He bellowed.
Leon turned round and blanched.
"Yes sir."
"My office in five minutes, move it !"
"Yes sir."
The smile faded from Leon's face as the chief stormed off towards his
office.
Daley regarded the receding form of the chief.
"Uhh, I don't think that was such a good move."
Leon cracked a small smile and replied.
"Yeah you're right; I was little high with the last one."
"Good luck, I think you're going to need it.
Two meetings with the chief in one day, thats not good Leon."
"Yeah 'spose so, see you later maybe."
Leon holstered his earth shaker and ambled off towards the chief's
office wondering what was in store for him.
******
Nene and Linna had reported nothing since the initial call to establish
the channel was open. They'd met no problems with traffic so far as
Sylia drove the van towards the clinic.
"How is he doing ?"
Sylia asked.
"Breathing's shallow at times but then it picks up.
His pulse is strong and regular.
Blood pressure fluctuates a bit.
There are periods of REM {28} as though he's dreaming.
That's as much I can tell at the moment sis.
Is there much further to go ?"
"We should be there in about three minutes.
You better hide the equipment and yourself now."
Sylia replied.
"Okay sis."
"White calling red."
Sylia called over the comms channel.
"Green here white.
Any problems ?"
Linna replied.
Sylia slipped her repeater into her inner pocket and set the
transceiver in the van to 'relay' mode. Brushing aside the long hair of
the wig she was wearing; Sylia slipped the ear-piece into place and
pulled the hair back over her ear.
"No problems.
Switching over to relay mode.
Relay mode active, are you still receiving ?"
"Yes loud and clear white.
What's your status ?"
"We're about to arrive at the site.
Black is still out.
Where is red ?"
Sylia wondered what Nene was doing.
"What do you mean by ...
Oh yes I see.
Red is currently investigating black.
Anything you want relaying ?"
"No, we are fine and grey is now concealed.
Any problems and I'll call you.
Signing off."
Sylia drove the van round to the rear entrance and backed up to the
doors. She went inside picked up the phone and dialled 242.
"Dr Mariner ?" {29}
<pause>
"Commander Yuri here." {29}
<pause>
"I have a special case here."
<pause>
"Yes, that is correct; one of my operatives."
<pause>
"We are at the rear entrance."
<pause>
"Very well, one minute."
Sylia had hardly put the phone down when two orderlies came by with a
trolley onto which they loaded Tempest. Just as they were about to
wheel Tempest away a middle aged man wearing a white coat arrived and
held his hand up,
"Wait a moment please."
He turned to Sylia,
"Your identification please Commander."
Sylia showed him an id card. It was a forgery of course, but Dr Mariner
didn't know it and since he'd seen it and 'Commander Yuri' before it
wasn't questioned, more of a formality in checking it.
"Thank you Commander.
I always thought your operatives were all female ?"
"Not so Dr Mariner.
Please refer to him as operative 'F' in all communications.
As usual standard security measures apply."
"Certainly Commander, do you want to wait for the initial diagnosis or
have you arranged for a communication channel ?"
"I'll await the diagnosis and then you may contact me with this."
She handed the doctor a small radio pager.
Dr Mariner turned to the orderlies,
"Right take 'F' to room 312."
"Anything you can tell me about 'F's condition Commander ?"
He and Sylia started following the orderlies along the corridor.
"He was caught in some sort of beam.
It could have a been a particle weapon of some sort and or a chemical
combination.
Our analyses revealed nothing and he was passed as clean.
He was all right for some twelve hours afterwards until he collapsed
following a strenuous workout.
All our attempts to bring him round failed.
That is all I can tell you."
They weren't precise facts but they were good enough for the purpose.
Her last sentence was designed to infer the usual issue of security
clearances and a 'need to know' basis.
"Thank you Commander, if you'd like to watch from the observation
room."
He indicated a door marked 311.
Sylia went in and watched as the medical staff took a blood sample and
then went on to attach electrodes to Tempest.
Several minutes elapsed before Dr Mariner returned with a small sheaf
of printouts and a body scan image.
"Well there's good news and bad news Commander."
"The good ?"
"He's perfectly all right physically, if just a little drained, but a
few days rest combined with a high energy diet will put that to rights.
No signs of any neural damage and his brain scan shows normal."
Sylia was surprised at that last remark; hadn't Marvin said that
Tempest's brain wave activity was totally different ?
She sifted through the events of the previous evening, ah what Marvin
had said was
'Sylia's brain wave patterns are considerably different to your own'.
Then it's my brain wave patterns that are 'abnormal' or perhaps Tempest
has changed again ?
"Uh Commander ?"
"Sorry Dr, I was thinking.
And the bad news ?"
"He is in a deep coma. His breathing and pulse rate follow to some
extent the movement of his eyes, almost as if he's reliving a past
event. Here's a copy of the analysis completed so far."
"Very well, call me *immediately* if anything abnormal happens or he
regains consciousness."
"Certainly Commander."
"I'll call you in two hours for a status report.
Thank you for your help; I'll see myself out."
"Very well, until later Commander."
Dr Mariner looked at the body on the monitoring table and sighed
resignedly; another one of these government agents who's been on a
mission for god knows what and paid a heavy price as a consequence.
He wondered if he should have told Commander Yuri about the strange
feeling he had when he was standing next to 'F'.
He shook his head; no those government types were only interested in
facts and nothing was showing on any of the monitors.
Sylia turned and after closing the door behind her, strode down the
corridor to the rear entrance, her mind full of questions as to the
state of Tempest.
He left the room and looked at the departing figure of Commander Yuri
striding down the corridor; in spite the obvious military training she
still conveyed a sense of ladylike mystery.
'Grey, I'm returning to the van.
Are you all right ?'
'It's a bit cramped and stuffy, but yeah I'm okay.
How is black doing ?'
'I'll brief everyone back at base.'
******
Normally at a private clinic the administrator would be in charge and
report back to the owners. However the Danclaude clinic had a unique
chain of command in that the clinic administrator reported not to the
owners but to Dr Mariner; this fact being known to very few people
within the clinic.
It was Dr Mariner who received the orders via the computer system; the
distribution being handled by the administrator who was essentially a
figurehead to draw attention away from Dr Mariner.
For the twenty years that the clinic had been established, the owners
had never been seen by anyone. He knew there was a parent company that
operated out of the Cayman Islands but this was probably another blind
alley if anyone looked in to it.
******
Priss couldn't quite get Tempest's pack settled comfortably despite the
well-padded webbing.
It was the sheer weight of the pack making the straps dig into her
shoulders and as for the placement of the strap across the chest.
She'd moved it down as far as possible and it was having the effect of
uplift bra, though this was much better than the original position.
When she got to the Ninja, she noted Tempest's black helmet locked down
to the side; that's going to be awkward she thought. As Priss removed
it from the tie down point she noted it was much lighter than her own
helmet, she checked the manufacturer's markings, it was an Arai MI !
Only available to members of the armed forces or police it was the best
possible head protection available; unless of course you had access to
hardsuit helmets.
She checked the size; it was the same as hers.
'It's my lucky day' she thought, 'and I'm not going to pass up the
chance of trying out this beauty.'
She was just about to put it on when she noticed a small three position
switch built into the right hand lower edge and a rotary control in the
chin piece; a radio ?
On closer examination she found a microphone in the chin piece and a
pair of speakers placed just forward of the ears; this has to be a
police band radio.
After a few tests she found the switch positions to be 'off', 'receive-
only', 'transmit and receive', the rotary control must be a volume
control she thought. The only thing Priss couldn't work out was how to
change channels.
She contemplated leaving her helmet at Raven's until her bike was
fixed, but decided against it. Instead she rode carefully back to
Raven's; fetched some padding, a couple of tie down straps and strapped
her own helmet securely across the tail section.
Priss was still not happy with the weight distribution of the pack and
asked Dr Raven to remove the automagnum and ammo from the back pocket.
Unzipping the front of her jacket she was about to put the gun inside
when she thought 'hell might as well have it loaded'.
She rammed a clip home, chambered a round and made sure the safety was
on before putting it inside her jacket and put three clips in each side
pocket. Hmm it was surprising just how much of a difference it seemed
to make, she thought.
Priss looked up at the clock,
"KUSO !"
Her little adjustments had taken twenty minutes, better get over to the
shop before Sylia and the others got worried.
With her heavy load Priss started off gently until she had come to
terms with the strange handling induced by the heavy rucksack.
As she experimented going round the street corners, it was clear she
wouldn't be able to crank the bike as far as normal otherwise she'd be
making love to the road surface. This meant her favoured route to the
shop through the streets would be ponderous, she decided upon the
beltway, at least there she could have a high speed dash.
As she made her way towards the beltway Priss became aware of an old
silver sports car behind her. She wondered if it was going to the
beltway or maybe it was tailing her; one way to find out she thought.
Turning off the main street she drew up at a small stall and bought a
couple of bars of chocolate. Casually she glanced around as she
approached the bike; the sports car was nowhere in sight.
'Just heading for the beltway I guess' she thought and put the
chocolate bars into her jacket pocket.
Rejoining the main street Priss opened up the bike a little to make for
lost time, as she crossed a junction she thought she saw a flash of
silver. She looked back; nothing, 'stop imagining things' she thought.
Nearing the top of the slip road just before she joined the main
beltway itself she saw in her mirrors the silver sports car racing up
the ramp, 'Kuso' they were tailing me, well they won't catch me on
here. Notching down a gear she held the throttle wide open and redlined
all the gears until she was in seventh and flat out.
She looked in the mirrors; the sports car was not only still with her
it was gaining?, she sneaked a glance at the instruments 285kph.
'What have they got in that thing' she thought,
'It didn't look capable of this sort of performance.'
Priss looked in her mirrors again; still there but it wasn't gaining
just holding ground, then the left mirror exploded into fragments.
She just got a glance in the other before she felt something slice
through her jacket's sleeve; they were shooting at her !
<End of Part 2.8>
TO BE CONTINUED ....
=======================================================================
Footnotes:
{27} Combat load - A full clip and one round in the chamber, thus you
have an 'extra' shot.
{28} REM - Rapid Eye Movement. A state usually occurring whilst the
subject is in a state of light sleep and dreaming. The eyes seem
to follow the images being dreamed about.
{29} Now where have you seen these names before ?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Robin Smith 1995/96 Tempest@ktsabers.demon.co.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
<--- cut here --->
-- Mink/Tempest aka Robin Smith Author: "BGC : The Tempest Chronicles"
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/2302 Lichfield, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
"I was committed once, but the fools let me out for good behaviour !"
IRC : Mink or Tempest- [ but "Mink" most of the time ^_^ ]