Boomer tales. 

	Lynna and Irene were shopping in Chinatown. Letting loose stress the past 
few days had accumulated in Irene's system. Suddenly stopping in the middle of 
the street, Irene turned and walked down a side alley Lynna following as they 
entered a strange shop.

I:	"Yata! These things are so Cute." 
L:	"What are you selling?"
Shop:	"Charmed sandalwood boxes. Each of these boxes has their own story and 
effect. Would you like to buy one?"
L: 	"hmm, what's the story of this one?"
Shop: "that one is called soft dream.. It is supposed to help people who have 
nightmares." She said as Linna pointed to another box. "That one is fated life. 
Can only be used once but it is supposed to help people to find the person they 
are fated to marry. The one your friend is looking at is the box of summons 
supposed to help people in some way or other."
L:	" How about this silver one?" 
Shop:	"Light and soul box, it is said to be to cure one possessed. Err. Are you 
done looking at that one mam?"
I:	"I want this one."
Shop:	"Are you sure? There are others that are cheaper and may help you more. 
Perhaps this friendship box which draws luck on your side will help you more."
L:	"Are you sure that really works?"
Shop:	"I'm positive of it."
L:	"How much is it?."
Shop:	"1100 Y."
L:	"Here."
I:	"I still want this box." 
Shop:	"Your call. Thanks, that one is 2700Y. Thanks and come again."
	"Thanks and Bye!" 
	"Bye and thank you for your patronage." she said, bowing deeply to the 
girls as they left the store.

	"Finally they are gone." She sighed as the flowing cloak fell to the 
ground before her. Dark leather wings clasped around her stretched sinuously out 
to its full length behind her. Around her waist, a black tail ending in a sharp 
barb slowly uncoiled from her waist as she twisted her body to the side, her 
spine popping in relief. Around her, the shop subtly changed as she twisted to 
the other side, eliciting another *Click* as her spine snapped back into place. 
	The brightly decorated walls of the shop slowly lost form and slowly faded 
away, revealing peeling paint on the dusty grey walls. Other Decorations in the 
store faded around her as many of the small boxes slowly crumbled into dust. 
'Maybe this will break the monotony of the summoning department.' The imp 
thought, as a grin crossed her almond face. The shop finally vanished out of 
existence around her leaving an empty store dusty with disuse. The shutters of 
the shop slowly drew down as if an invisible hand guided its motions. The weak 
light of the street-lamp outside grew smaller and smaller, finally falling 
silent, as the darkness claimed its own.

********************************** 

	Lynne ran as quickly as she could, her heart beating wildly with the 
exertion. Turning the corner, she saw the apples strewn all across the street. 
"Irene." 
	Less than 200 meters away, Irene ran along an expressway and reached the 
stairs before her. She hastily ran panting up the stairs before the toe of her 
shoe caught the very last step. She tripped and fell to the ground as the black 
car stopped below her. She glanced down at the sinister car as her lungs fought 
for precious air. The car paused there for a moment before driving away, leaving 
Irene panting in exertion.
	The car screeches to a halt in front of Irene. She looked at the long and 
tapered legs of the boomer, the short business dress and slowly up into its 
cold, lifeless eyes. She drew back as the boomer smiled at the cowering figure 
at its feet. Her hands clutched on the first solid object it met. 'The box?' She 
tightened her hand around it in terror as the boomer picked her up by the front 
of her blouse.

	Linna ran down the street hoping that she could make it there in time as 
her pocket glowed with a white light. She looks at her pocket in amazement. 
'What's happening?' She thought as the glow detached from her pocket and lighted  the path ahead of her. She ran down the street and up the ramp to see Irene as the boomer swiped at her face, drawing a thin line of blood. The light needing 
no urging flew the intervening distance into Irene's hand. Her hand glowed for a 
moment as the boomer paused, it's head cocked in puzzlement.

	Serial # Btx003, designate: Linda, analyzed the strange glow of the hand. 
No energy readings either then the light was evident. Suddenly the strange light 
shot out of the hand to impact on Linda's face. Designate Linda, staggered away 
from the strange light, releasing the target as it did so. 'light energy has 
kinetic force?' Designate: Linda though in confusion before crashing into a telephone pole. Quickly recovering, it leapt away as the white light flashed towards it yet again. It's designer shoes scraped the rough pavement in landing. Linda whirled around, only to catch sight of the light latched onto the now destroyed pole, drawing power from the Megatokyo Power grid. 

	Linda looked warily at this strange phenomenon it drew in the electricity 
of the pole. Readings coming in.
 non physical form 
 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, rising.
 24'C same as surrounding air.
. . . . none.
. Not feasible 
 achieve primary objective unless intervention.

	As Linda turned its body towards Irene yet again, the light shot off 
towards Irene, trailing sparks of electricity in its wake. Small silvers of 
light shot from the woman's open palm as she cringed backwards. The silvers focused into a single beam of energy as it met the charged ball in front of her before exploded in a pillar of pyrotechnic energy on contact. Stretching straight up, into the dark sky above.  
 uncertain. 
 .. none?
 above 400'C?. 
 Class one priority shifted from mission to abnormally.
  record and take sample if possible.

	The pillar dimmed and faded into the night sky as a naked man formed within the portal of light. In his right hand is held a glowing clear staff., in his other hand is a leather wallet. Bright sparks of residual lighting bled off his skin and into the ground as he stood there, a nimbus of black and yellow  illuminating his naked skin. His eyes were closed and his brow furrowed in displeasure as he faced his summoner, Irene.

 Humanoid form, male, 
100, 20, 5, 1, Residual static.
 36'c - within normal human temperature range.
 structure: humanoid in origin, Male, 5'6'', hair: black, status: unknown. original target: stationary. 
 Acquire sample, eliminate original objective.
 take sample

	The boomer leapt forwards, its claws ready and extended to gut this 
strange abnormality. As it closed in, it swung it's arm and *Crank!* Time slowed 
down as the boomer fell past the strange man. Iron claws broken from catching 
his clear staff. He stood stock still in his new position, his reaction too fast 
for even cybernetic eyes to catch. He stood there for a moment as his eyes 
slowly opened, revealing the hazel orbs within. The boomer crouched down in a 
combat stance and considered this new information. 

 could not record, acceleration above 20 cm in .1 second. ... 76 Km /hour 
 intense: code red.
 assess combat capabilities. Retreat with information.
 retreat, activate code red signal so tracking can begin. Access accepted. Priority message, gain footage for location.

	The man suddenly appeared before Irene as the boomer jumped backwards out of the way. A gold and black nimbus around him as he looked at the boomer. 

 imminent. Speed high.
 temp 41'c and rising, residual static. . . no change.
 download readings to car computer, initiate attack.

	The glow surrounding the man drew into his left hand, focusing into an 
intense ball of light, almost solid in appearance. The boomer leapt forwards, 
only to be blasted back by a blinding flash of black and gold flashing from the 
man's palm. The choking smell of hot plastic rose into the air as the 
persudoskin was burnt off, revealing the hot metal torso of the machine. Having 
no need for any more pretense, it continued sliding backwards, ripping out of 
the remaining skin as it prepared the heat cannons. Suddenly, it stopped and 
looked incredulously down at its chest. A razor edge stuck out from between the 
two plates, a brown fluid ran down the length of the edge only to drip onto the 
ground. For all its technology, the ceramic light pole served well enough to 
skewer a boomer as well as any high-tech toy.

. Self destruction imminent..
 downloa . . .
A soft gurgle was all that was heard before the boomer burst outwards in a burst 
of flames. 

	Irene looked at the naked form as Linna came up from behind her. Suddenly he wavered and collapsed to his knees, releasing hold of his possessions. The 
staff stood still for a moment, as he fell face first towards the ground.
As his face hit the floor, the staff exploded up in a blinding flash of light  before disappearing upwards into the sky. An amazed voice was heard from the 
light as it faded in the night sky. "My! That was easy."
	Linna ran forwards and held onto Irene as Irene's eyes stayed on the naked 
figure in shock. Priss ran up the steps from behind her and took in the scene 
before staring in amazement at something on the ground. Linna followed the gaze 
and saw the open wallet besides him. 'Kaku Komei' read the ID in the wallet. 
Date of birth, '3/31/1977.'

******************************************************************

	A man sits on a comfortable chair, his fingers flying over a transparent 
keyboard, in the air. On his head a miniature woman with bat like wings 
and a barbed tail sits watching a screen above his head as she leaned on one of 
his horns. Without a break in his pace the Demon spoke.
	"Why did you want to choose him again?" 
	"Why not?" The imp replied perkily as she watched the screen before her.
	"You still haven't answered my question." The Demon replied as he 
continued typing on the screens in front of him. 
	"I'm an Imp. Why can't I make his life harder for him?" The imp queried 
the larger demon.
	"*Sigh* I shouldn't have let you out."
	"Hey, if I hadn't been let out, we probably wouldn't have anything to do 
for a couple months at least."
	"Is that a bad thing?"
	"For you maybe not with your stupid computer but I would like to have something do at least."
	"Uh huh. Oh yes, why did you let him keep the wallet?"
	"It gives the people who find him more questions to think about. Also, I 
don't think the caster has that much money."
	"Rrright, so you put it there? What do you think others will do with the 'proof' that he is about 60 years old?"
	"Huh?!?" 
	"In this world, the chronology says it's the 2030's instead of 
the 1990'ties. He looks somewhere in his twenties to everyone else instead of 
60'ish. There are no records of him in this world because this dimension isn't a 
possible future of his original world or the one he just vacated. The piece of 
paper will probably be proved to be authentic although some things might be 
different like the official signature. In any case, what do you think he can do 
with . . Y 6230? he won't be able to live more than a week himself with just
that."

******************************************************************

	Priss and Linna looked at the sleeping form as it dreamed of times gone 
by.  His sharp features innocent and calm in sleep as he lay unmoving under the 
blanket. A moment later Irene came out with a tray of drinks. She sat down and 
stared at this person sound asleep on the couch before her. 
	"What do you suppose he is?" Irene said as she handed the others their 
drinks.
	"He doesn't seem to be a boomer does he?" Linna needled Priss.
	"Yah right. . We should have just left him there for the Police to find."
	"Guys please, he saved me."
	"Alright already, just don't expect me to believe he's fifty something."
	"Well, let him sleep here and let's see what we can find out about him 
tomorrow."
	"Well that, seems reasonable enough but. . come on Priss, we have to be 
leaving." Linna said as she looked at her friend besides her.  
	"Well, come by tomorrow with what you dig up Ok?" Irene said as her friend 
stood up.
	"We'll try I promise." Lynna said as the three of them made their way to 
the door. "Jia Nei!"
	"Jia nei." 

	Irene turned away from the door and slowly walked towards her room. 
Hopefully she would get her revenge when the time came. With that thought she 
switched off the light. A voice came out in the darkness, startling her with the 
suddenness. "Where, am I?" the figure asked as he looked at his dim surroundings 
before settling his gaze on the startled Irene. Raising an eyebrow at the women 
with a wily smile he continued. "Do you happen to have any clothes I could use?"

*****************************************************************

(a little while later)
	The man is dressed in some odd clothes, a pair of loose jeans, a black 
leather jacket and a plain white T-shirt. Holding a cup of coffee in front of
him, he looked forwards and contemplated the woman in front of him.
	"So this is Megatokyo 2024 right? And the thing I fought back there was a 
Boomer?"
	"Correct."
	"*sigh* just great. I wish I could remember what happened. . I suppose I 
can crash here or somewhere else for a few days. It seems that I have been 
 here to help you and then stranded here when the staff left."
	 "Staff?"
	"I figure you or your friend have something that brought me to this 
place."
	"I bought a box a while ago. Something called a summoning box.." she said 
as he leaned forwards eagerly.. "It shattered and disappeared when you came." 
She continued as he sank back into the couch. "Well, you can stay here as long 
as you want but I need to get some sleep."
	"Thanks" the figure said as he settled back down onto the couch.

	'What did I wish for?' Irene thought as locked the bedroom door behind 
her. 'There must be a reason he's here.' She thought as she flopped onto bed and 
fell into the land of dreams.

******************************************************************

	"Madigan! The information is coming!" called a tech as he swerved his 
head, towards his superior.
	'Idiot.' Madigan thought as she stalked to the tech's station. A removal 
project went sour and suddenly, the internal systems went red. Something 
happened, something, common sense said was impossible. However, common sense was 
wrong. A naked man had defeated a security boomer. 
	"Well? Show me the data." 
	"Yes mam!" He said as he called up the information on the screen before 
him.

	The boomer's view came up, the readings scrolling along. A separate screen 
on the right lit up with a building's point of view showing parts of the 
highway. it wasn't that hard to get a security tape from that building it 
being one of the subsidiaries of Genom A third screen went black, not having 
been activated yet. 
	The boomer slashed the Target's face. A second passes before a thin line 
of blood welled up out of the near invisible cut. A ball of light suddenly 
shoots from the bottom of the building screen, shooting into the boomer's field 
of vision and into the target's hand. A moment later, it shot into the boomer's 
face, temporarily blinding it and knocking the boomer away. The boomer dodged 
the light as it flashed forwards again to hit a light pole, breaking it in half. 
A few seconds passed with the light gaining power and size before it shot off 
meet with the miniature beams of light from the target's hand. 
	The pillar of light and energy that resulted left not a mark on the 
pavement it formed on. A strange man was revealed as the glow faded away. His 
features were fuzzy and indistinct, even from the boomer's point of view. The 
boomer struck only a second later, swinging her extended claws out to gut the 
naked man. But as quick as she was, he was quicker, he seemed to blur for a 
moment, sidestepping the blow while snapping the claws on the clear staff. 
Probably sensing the futility of fighting him, the boomer started its retreat. 
The man however, seemed to disappear at that moment, reappearing in the boomer's 
path. The machine leap away in response at this sudden change in tactics. The 
third screen came on line now as a girl was seen climbing up the stairs. The man 
glowed for a moment before the boomer started forwards, ready to attack while 
behind it, the partially destroyed light pole sagged weirdly, like something was 
pulling it down.. The focused blast of energy hit the boomer, pushing it back 
and more importantly, decimating part of the light pole and sharpening the 
remaining material into a spear. 
	The Boomer was impaled as it slid back the two meter distance, meeting 
very little resistance on the sharpened stake. It looked down for a second at 
the spike through its chest before dark fluids came out of it's mouth. It 
exploded outwards in a ball of flame as one screen went blank, The data no 
longer scrolling past. The man toppled over and fell onto his face as a biker 
came up from under the bridge. The clear glowing staff shattered into a million 
glowing pieces of light, before gathering back into one form, shooting upwards 
in a beam of white light. The sensors of the two remaining cameras darkened as a 
result, obscuring the figures with its inadequate flare control. It blacked 
out for a few seconds before compensating enough to show the people gone. 

	They stared in amazement at the scene in front of them. Disbelief etched 
their faces as they analyzed the readings. No extra metal content meant no
nanonites in his blood, no ceramic enhancements, nothing but normal flesh and 
bones.
	"He. But he can't be human."
	"The readings say he is mam." 
	Madigan snapped her mouth shut. 'There was no point in arguing with a 
technician.' she thought as she walked away, other questions in her mind. 'How 
does a person carry a scrambler on his naked body?'' she mused as she walked 
around the corner. 'More to the point, teleportation? Force beams? .1 seconds or 
less reaction time? How can he do these things? The reaction time of the fastest 
boomer is at least .5 seconds while humans are normally .4.'
	"Mam!" the tech called from his station. 
	"What?" she shouted, irritation evident in her voice.
	"A news crew has some additional information about this."
	"and?" 
	"The first pyrotechnic flame was just that. The second pillar had the 
head of a dragon according to satellite photos. We may be able to confirm that 
info if we search the satellite logs of the area."

******************************************************************

	"Genom, Megatokyo, boomers, it all fits, it's Bubblegum Crisis or crash or 
something. Tonight, She was supposed to have died. And the Knight Sabers fight 
the control box. Perhaps it's time for me take a look. But first something else."  
I thought, focusing on the soft breathing coming from the bedroom. 'Good she's 
asleep. Now for something else.' I thought as I moved to the sink splashing water 
on me did nothing but get me wet. I felt no familiar change or other sensation 
although red highlights now ran through my hair. "Perhaps that's just for the 
best." I thought as I went to the window.
	"I prowl the endless nights to bring darkness into light." *chuckle* 
'Better stop sprouting bad poetry before it gets me into trouble.' I thought as 
I leaped out apartment window.

	I got the address of the silky doll after making a few discreet inquiries 
and looking in a phonebook. The darkness and the fact that it was in the phone 
book aided my search. Problem was, getting there. There weren't that many people 
around in a residential district at 10'O clock. Most of those out this late were 
mainly looking for fun or for trouble. The first were mainly drunk if they were 
on foot. The second group of people were too few in the area of Irene's 
apartment. So, I improvised. I inquired with a passerby for directions for the 
closest bad area and noted the general direction.  

	'Well, first things first.' I thought as I picked up a trash can lid in 
the darkness of an alley.  Holding the scrap metal before me, I smoothened the 
bent material. This weakened the material as it bent and warped straight. I then 
floated the metal in the air and summoned up a steady flow of Ki into the metal, 
heating the metal by focusing the energy into heat and letting the internal 
structure of the material soften and realign. I think it's called annealing. I 
then detracted some of my attention and focused on myself with my senses, feeling 
the contours of my face. Getting the feel of the metal, I superimposed the basic 
contours onto the metal itself, forming a mask that was smooth to the touch, a 
neutral expression on the metal visage. 
	With a little needle of force, I pierced two holes to the side where I 
attached it to my face with a piece of string from my pants. "Now, for 
a final touch." A faint ki aura flared around my head in a golden halo as I 
deliberately burned my hair away, reducing my short hair into white ash. 
Brushing the ash off my shoulders, I walked out of the ally, intent on the hunt.

***********************************************************

(Will o' wisp and other analogies)

	"He looks like he's getting ready for something, want to watch?"
	"I'd rather see it later on playback thank you." he looked down on his 
left arm, specifically at his bare wrist, a moment later, a few characters 
glowed in what looked like the time. "*hmm* It's time for my break. I'm going to 
get some food. Do you want to stay here?" 
	"Food?. . But, but he's going to do something soon! I can't leave yet!"
	"Whatever, I'll doggy bag something back for you." he said turning towards 
the shadows. 'I wonder if Hell's kitchen is open today?' 

***********************************************************

	I skirted the road drawing attention from the unnatural silence that fell 
as one after another of the Bikers noticed me. The bikers looked at me 
questioning looks on their faces as I moved up to the first of them, the largest 
guy of the group. Also the one who excluded arrogant confidence from his 
movements.
	"Hello. Where is ___ street?"
	"Not here man. You'll like, take forever to get there by yourself.  Why 
not hang with us?" the biker smirked as he looked down his nose at me. An easy 
feat since I was a head shorter than him.
	"Thank you but no thanks. Can you give me directions to go there?"
	"Hey, you have cash? Information isn't free you know." He said looking 
into the smooth surface of the mask. 
	"I'm sorry, but that, I do not have." 
	"What? You mean you ask for directions with nothing and you expect me to 
answer pointy ears? Ok, pass me your mask and I might tell you where it its." He 
said as he noted the precision with which it was tailored.
	"That I cannot do." I replied, bowing and turning in the opposite 
direction. 
	"Hey, little girl! What'cha going there for? A masquerade?" he laughed as 
I made to start walking away. 
	'At last, action!' "Nah, It's just a mental institute for little kids like 
you." I casually said over my shoulder. As I walked away, I silently monitored 
their conversation. 
	 "Little kid? HEY! YOU! I won't let you insult me and get away with it!" 
he shouted as he ran towards me. 
	I spun and grabbed his wrist as he punched. Using his momentum against 
him, I twisted, pulling him forwards and off balance while keeping my body 
against him. This tripped him forwards, towards the ground while I folded his 
elbow behind his back. Before he even hit the ground I felt under his shirt and 
extracted his butterfly knife. 
	"Don't piss me off, little boy." I spat into his ear before releasing him 
and continuing away. 
	'Good, they're intimidated, they may still try to come after me.' I 
thought. He scrambled upright red faced with fury. 'Now, he did not have a gun 
under that shirt of his so let's see what they actually do.' I thought as I 
slowly strolled away. 
	"RED SONICS! WASTE HIM!" he shouted from behind me. The sounds of engines 
starting came in response to his cry.
	'Good, now to get somewhere where their bikes won't work.' I thought as I 
leapt up, and pulled down a fire escape ladder.  

***********

(ten minutes later.) 
	I casually dusted my jacket as my last opponent fell to the ground 
unconscious. Carefully, I looked around at the injured clutching their stomachs 
or various other parts of their anatomy as the lay groaning on the roof. A 
sprained finger took the first one out of the fight easily. He didn't bother to 
join in and just lay there nursing his finger. "Ok class. The lesson of the day 
is, . . It's not how powerful you are, but what you do with it." I gleefully 
called out. 
	A smattering of groans and other sounds came from the more conscious ones 
as the bad joke fell through. "Now, does anyone want to take me there or shall 
we start again?" I said, barely containing my glee as I crackled in the dim 
light. I'm not quite as good as some martial artists skill-wise but I really 
make up for it with my speed and reflexes. I used mainly stunning blows to the 
sternum and solar plexus to put them down, but sprains to the legs and arms stop 
most of the others while keeping them pretty awake.
	 A few hands were raised and a few 'I would take you if I wasn't this 
badly hurt.' Replies came in response as they gingerly tested their wounds. I 
just chuckled and moved to the person with a sprained wrist. 

*********************************************************

(Thirty minutes later)
	I latched onto the truck as it came from the underground parking lot. Not 
wishing to disturb them I just tagged along trusting in my training to keep from 
being seen. I didn't know what the situation is and even if I did, can I even 
take a boomer on by myself? While I am here, I might as well see the action I 
enjoy firsthand. I thought as I clutched the back of the truck. The Doors were 
on the side and that revolving camera on the top were not things I wished to 
tangle with when the back was left unguarded except for a single mono 
directional camera. ie it didn't move.

	It was like in the Anime show, they flashed into the fray with their 
weapons cocked and ready. The main difference from the Anime was, it was grisly 
and real. Boomer fluids splattered the ground as Lynn Knuckle bombed her 
opponent. Sylvia extended her blade and sliced at the boomer before shooting a 
bolt into its chest. Priss fought with hers while Nene dodged left and right. It 
was interesting but not what I was here to find. 
	Reaching out with a passive TK probe, I felt the structure of the suits. 
Learning the way it moved and the internal processes that made the suits 
function. It was interesting but a little over my head. It was a chain of 20 
individual parts that allowed them to lift their arms and even more that allowed 
them do move their legs. Someone could probably replicate these things but it 
wouldn't be me. 
	In any case, it was too late for me to try. The Experimental boomer was 
just coming out of the building and it was time for me to leave before the laser 
show.

****

	A figure looked thoughtfully at the monitor before him. It showed a bald 
man as he 'leaped away' from the spot he had been sitting in for the last two 
minutes. The person had been cloaked in shadows and that infernal mask. However, 
some interesting things had been noted. The first was, the person avoided the 
light like the plague making visual identification difficult. Only the infrared 
sensors picked out the figure and the starlight camera at maximum setting were 
able to make out minor details about the person and even then it was vague and 
unclear.	The second was that the man had been standing 30 feet above the ground and 
he dropped down the distance with no apparent injury like a human would have 
sustained or even damage to the ground. This meant that he was a lightweight 
surveillance boomer no heavier than the knight sabers, or that he had great 
shock absorbers. With there being no tell tale heat signatures, the likelihood 
of boosters were slim. 
	The third thing that was interesting was, his man was superhumanly strong, 
moving about one and a half meters forwards with each stride. This gave him a speed 
of more than 60 Km/h. Something even the best athlete in the world could not hope 
to do even with cybernetics. Perhaps he has a body suit like the knight sabers. 
	The forth thing puzzled the figure. The infrared camera when turned on the 
man gave the same heat patterns as would be seen on a normal human. A relatively 
even temperature which no cyborg or otherwise enhanced human could hope to 
replicate. No boomer had those environmental controls within the skin. None 
could replicate the temperature of a human body with any consistency at the 
moment.  The closest thing that made sense were the outlawed sex-droids. 
However, sex-droids were rare to the extreme and were not that much stronger 
than humans. 
	No, to have this strength, he had to be at least twice as strong as any 
normal human. Able to carry at least four times his weight and be able to leap 
up two stories in a single bound. This creature would be able to lift a boomer 
without a suit and punch through solid concrete walls. He bowed his head in 
concentration, wondering about the presence of the figure. 
	"Macki." came a voice over the radio. "Macki?"
	"Oh what?" he replied picking up the mike. 
	"Macki, are you daydreaming again?"
	"Oh, no. no." Macki said blushing. 
	"Then come and pick us up, and let's get home."
	"Sis, I think I saw a spy leave a minute ago." he said as he started up 
the truck.

*********************************************************

	The sun shone into a small room. Shining it's rays onto the wall as it 
made it's way through the day. On the windowsill, a single crystal vase stood. 
The sun's rays shining through the multiple facets refracting into rainbow hues 
splashed all over the room. A single shard of light was making its way 
industriously up a single path. 
	The light slowly creeped along a form as it slept, blissfully unaware of 
the malicious light. Passing the curve of the shoulder, the ray of light went on 
to fall onto the neck of the sleeping form. It crawled up the slight jaw of the 
figure to touch the full red lips. Up it went, along the nose to slowly peek 
it's rays between the closed lids of the eyes. The figure startled and shifted 
its position to hide its head from the light. Suddenly, it went still and 
tentatively, sniffed the air.  
	Irene woke to the smell of fresh tea and eggs deliciously wafting into her 
room. "Hmm.," She moaned as the smell registered in her mind. Slowly she sat up. 
Sleepily looking around her before looking down at the rumpled clothes she wore. 
She considered her fully dressed state and shrugging, got out of bed and 
unlocked the door. 
	"Well look who's awake!" said the figure as he flipped the sizzling 
omelet.  
	"Huh?" Irene thought as she saw the strange man before her. Recent events 
flowed in a torrent into her murky mind bringing her awake.
	"Oh yes, What's your name?" He asked over his shoulder "Mine is "
	"Kaku Komei. Mine is Irene."
	"Actually I was going to say Guo Guang Ming. Which is what it reads as in 
Chinese. but Komei is all right."
	"Oh.."
	"Nice to meet you."
	"Likewise." Irene said, uncertain and a little groggy.
	"Hmm.. you might like to know, an orbital laser went off last night and 
blew up an industrial complex. . I just get the feeling that something is 
avenged somehow." He said as he turned off the stove.  "I just don't know what 
though. . any ideas?" he asked smiling mischievously as he turned around to 
reveal the frilly apron he wore over his 'tough' clothes.
	Irene just stared at the ridiculous costume he wore for a few seconds as a 
smile formed on her face. looking at his wiry grin, a giggle started coming from 
her mouth soon followed by full blown laughter as he chuckled along. Scooping up 
the cooked omelet onto a plate, he set it besides the toast before walking to 
the refrigerator. 
	"Now let's see about getting something to do for the rest of the day OK?" 
he chuckled. 
	"Hai!" she said with mock seriousness as a knock was heard at the door. 

*********

	Priss, Linna and Irene sat around a table, sipping tea or coffee, 
whichever they preferred as they looked to the ill dressed person before 
them. It is the same room as before, a single bedroom apartment with a kitchen 
and a living room in addition to the toilet. There was something that was 
different about the place though. It was clean as in, scrubbed until squeaky clean. 
	"So, what happened?"
	"I really don't know. My best guess is that Irene summoned a person and 
the fates chose me."
	"Ok. Well, are you Japanese?"
	"Actually I'm not. I'm actually Singaporean." He shrugged.
	"I guess you can't give us any real proof of that can you?" Linna sighed.
	"I really didn't bring much with me when I came." he smirked as the three 
women blushed in response.
	"Well. . you saved Irene. and that's what counts.' Linna hastily replied 
as she extending her hand towards Guo before her. "I officially welcome you to 
Megatokyo."
	"Thanks I think" he said as he accepted the handshake. "I wish I could be 
more helpful and my story didn't sound so strange."
	"Hey we were there when you came. It's not like we can't believe you." 
Priss cut in.
	"Thanks. Oh ya. Do you think it's all right for me to stay here? I mean 
with your culture and all."
	"Hmm. You're right, that's definitely a problem. Well, you definitely 
can't stay at my place and you don't exactly have any qualifications on you. We 
could give dr Raven a call."
	"What? Pops? Do you honestly think he'll let a stranger stay in his 
precious garage?"
	"But who else?. ."
	"Silvia" they replied together.
	"It'll be great! You will probably sleep with Makie, and no one will 
spread rumors about the ice queen." In a van, the person listening in developed 
a big Anime sweat drop at the idea.
	"Don't we have to ask her permission first?" Linna asked as a sweat drop 
developed on Guo's head.
	"Don't worry, don't worry, everything will work out." 
	"If you say so..." Linna grudgingly responded.
 
	"emmm, I'm sorry if I imposed on you but, Err. Do you think we can go 
shopping sometime later? I don't really feel comfortable not wearing. . you 
know. ." he trailed off as Irene blushed.
	"What're talking about?" Priss questioned looking at the two figures 
before her. Then, something clicked in her mind. "Oh. . that."

*********************************************************

(Flaming homer)
	"Ha Ha He He hehe he." the imp laughed, spilling her food down someone's 
err. face?
	With a contemptuous wave, the demon brushed the source of his current 
problem off his head and into the floor. Drawing a deep breath, he fought not to 
laugh as the living parts of the meal squirmed in the confines of his clothes. 
	"Now., Chu, you had. heh, be' better. sit, th' there. Aurg!" he shouted, 
releasing a flare of dark energy. Burning off his clothes and irradiating the 
food to cinders. Giving a relieved sigh, he waved his hand and summoned a 
cabinet.
	"Sorry." The bruised imp replied. 
	The squeak of the cabinet door as it swung open.
	"Well, I said I'm sorry." she said noticing something. His back was 
lacerated with the newly healed lines of long talons while lipstick of various 
colors covered much of the body. "You went to the Succumbs again didn't you?"
	"Yes, not that it's any of your business." he said putting on a pair of 
underwear.
	"Those girls are bad news." she said as she closed her wings above her 
like a tent.
	"So, I have my needs." he said as he pulled out a selection of pants. 
Behind him, the 'tent' grew, becoming about the size of the cabinet.
	"Well, you might be inclined to do better." came a sultry voice as the 
'tent' swung open. The revealed imp stood up, teasingly sucking on a long 
white finger with her soft full lips. Her skimpy bikini leaving nothing to 
the imagination with the expanse of creamy white flesh. Her left hand playfully 
toyed with a small amulet, hanging down between two small hills of flesh. A 
teasing expression was on her almond face while her coal black eyes burned with 
promise. 
	"I haven't forgiven you yet." he said as he turned back, pulling out a 
selection of shirts.
	"Dam."

**********************************************************

Teaser of a future episode. 

**********************************************************

	I got there in fifteen minutes, but the fight had only just started. I 
latched onto the remains of the first of the boomers with my Telekinesis. 
Analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the item before pulling off the gun 
arm for my own use. The explosions up above testified to the fact they were 
still making their way up the building. Leaps assisted by TK carried me up the 
building quickly but not as quickly as I wanted as I saw the last boomer get
blown away. This means that Mason's fight with Sylvia is happening I thought 
as I leaped upwards as fast as I could. Finally, I came close enough to hook my 
TK to the top of the building. With a surge of strength, I hauled myself up the 
remaining 200 meters. Launching myself above them like a projectile of dark 
shadow, I looked down at the figures below me. There stood the white Saber in 
Mason's grasp. I quickly scanned his suit with my senses and found what I was 
looking for. The power pack.

	Sylvia struggled in the stronger suit's grasp as his hand reached forwards 
to push her visor up. Suddenly, she was free, easily slipping from his grasp. 
She twisted around as she fell and shot a rail bolt at his shocked visage. Only 
to see him stand there in his dead suit as the spike entered his neck and pin 
him to the back of his suit. She looked on, shocked at the still figure as her 
friends the Knight sabers came up behind her. They drew close and watched their 
leader, tentatively considering the dead figure before them. Sudden sounds 
startled them as the suit slowly and unexplainably fell to pieces. The figure of 
Mason stood sill as the suit came apart around him. bolts loosening, the pieces 
disappeared as they hit the ground. Mason fell as the last piece fell. A black 
depression formed besides him. The face of a horned cat, a lily in it's mouth 

	Darn, technology is so darn difficult nowadays. The internal sensors 
detects muscle changes under the skin and the suit responds. The armor is coated 
with a blast proof ceramics  and the rest of the Stuff is powerful enough to 
kill Ryoga if it hits. I just wonder what others will say about the work? Well, 
now I have the pieces to work with and the power to work them but where can I 
keep this stuff? 'The fault' I thought as I hitched the energy of a truck to 
help drag me along.  

    Source: geocities.com/tokyo/temple/3583

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