This is the gamma version of the prologue, which is (ironically enough)
actually shorter than the beta.  I do, however, think it is better.  C&C
would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

By the way, anyone who would be interested in starting a BGC C&C group,
please contact me.  Basically, the requirement would be that you attempt
to read and C&C each 'fic sent to the group, so that everyone gets their
work critiqued.  Since BGC 'fics don't draw much attention from the ML,
I thought it might be a good idea.

If you receive this twice, I apologize; I don't know which of my
prereaders are on the ML and which aren't.  

Anyway.  Enjoy the story.

Douglas Alra Reeves <dougreeves@earthlink.net> proudly presents . . . 

Cry of the Phoenix
A Bubblegum Crisis fanfiction

Prologue

26 December 2034
23:20 PM

	<Good,> Sylia thought as she visually scanned their target.  The GENOM
electronics research facility was devoid of light, meaning there were no
innocent workers to endanger; it was one less problem to worry about.
	Still, it had been only one concern of many.  The operation, as
planned, depended heavily on stealth; stealth was not the Knight Sabers'
forte.  Her intelligence network had drawn a blank on possible defenses
at the installation.  What little information she did have came from an
unknown source.  Indeed, everything about the scenario screamed "trap",
but they had no choice.  If they failed tonight . . .  She didn't want
to consider that.  Fortunately, Nene's voice spared her the necessity.
	"There's the entrance," she whispered.
	Sylia nodded.  "Can you open it, Nene?"
	"Of course I can," the young hacker answered with mock indignation.
	"All right; let's go."  Quietly, the four armored vigilantes crept from
their hiding place.  Nene had the door open in seconds, and they slipped
inside.
	"Which way?" Priss asked, glancing down each of several corridors from
the entry hall.
	The faint whine of Nene's scanning systems pierced the silence, and
after a brief pause she pointed to their right.  "Down there."
	"Linna, take point," Sylia ordered.  "Priss, guard the rear.  Go." 
Quickly, they moved down the hallway.
	Their successful penetration of the building's defenses bothered
Sylia.  They should have triggered multiple alarms by now; she'd
expected to have to fight their way inside.  Something wasn't right, and
variables in this sort of operation disturbed her.
	Still, they made it to the computer laboratory unopposed, and Sylia
sighed in relief.  Once Nene obtained the data they had come for, they
could slip out the way they came in, and GENOM would be none the wiser .
. . she hoped.  Still, the nagging doubt would not let her go.
	Moving as quickly as possible, Nene extended the data probes and
plugged into the machine.  A few seconds passed in silence . . . "Found
it.  Pulling a copy now."
	"Very good.  Get read to--" She never finished the sentence as alarms
suddenly wailed all around them.
	"We've got trouble!" Nene cried, "Boomers--lots of them!"
	"Forget the copy!  Erase the originals and let's go!"
	"Right.  Here they come!"  Even as she finished the warning a horde of
cyberdroids burst through the far door.  "Done!" Nene called out, then
detached her data probe and ran for the exit.  Sylia made it out right
behind her, but neither Priss nor Linna could disengage safely.
	"Priss, go!" Linna cried.  "I'll cover for you!"
	"Right," Priss answered, crushing a boomer's head with a rocket-
boosted kick before turning to flee.  A spray of laser fire cut off her
escape, but it was abruptly silenced by a flare of Linna's knuckle
bomber.  As she neared the doorway, the focus of the boomer attack
shifted toward Linna, and the green-suited warrior quickly found herself
overwhelmed.
	"She's not going to make it," whispered Nene in horror.
	"Linna!" Priss screamed, turning back towards the fray, but it was too
late.  The tide of android soldiers could not be turned, and it came
crashing down over Linna.   A sickening crack resounded as her hardsuit
shell was split open, and a cut-off scream was her final breath.
	"NO!" Priss screamed again, blindly firing into the boomer horde until
Sylia jerked her backward through the doorway.  "What the--LET ME GO!"
she screamed, trying to break free.
	Sylia tightened her grip on Priss's shoulder, literally dragging her
back to the skycarrier.  Once aboard, Priss finally calmed, slumping
into a seat.  "We left her . . . ," she whispered in shock.  Sylia only
shook her head.  Nene collapsed in a corner, pulling her knees up to her
chest and weeping softly.  One of their own had fallen, without
warning.  Their fragile existence had come crashing down upon them.

	Elsewhere in the city, a dark and solitary soul laughed silently to
himself.  The Knight Sabers were beaten; their spirit would die, as had
one of their number.  He had won, at long last . . . but the real
contest was just beginning.

*********** 
End Prologue

	
-- 
**************************************************************
Douglas A. Reeves <dougreeves@earthlink.net>                   
Bubblegum Crisis fan and writer of fanfiction                   
Storm Warnings - http://web2.airmail.net/a0011387/              
"Sometimes a lost cause is the only cause worth fighting for."  
**************************************************************