Chapter Text
Senshi Sabers, A Sailor Moon/Bubblegum Crisis Fusion
Part One
Rei Hino led her band up on to the darkened stage, assessing the rowdy crowd in a single cool glance. She looked back at her band mates and ordered, "Hurricane, on three!" She gave them a moment, then counted down, "One... two.. three!" The band exploded into their signature tune, "There's a hurricane tonight," and the crowd sat up and took notice.
Rei stood up there belting out the tunes in her harsh, raspy voice, moving from song to song in perfect sequence. She was feeling deeply angry, about being called in at the last minute, about the crowd's blatant hostility, about a lot of different things, and she was letting that anger fire up her songs with that rage and passion.
By the end of the last set, the crowd had mellowed a lot, accepting the replacement band and the club's owner was standing there beaming happily at them. 'We'll probably be playing this dive again,' Rei thought to herself wryly.
As Rei left the stage she felt eyes on her and quickly looked up only to see the back of a blue haired figure who was leaving the dark nightclub by the front doors. With a slight shrug Rei turned to go back into the dressing room to change her clothes, toweling all the sweat away and pulling her tight stage leathers off. The mini-skirt and tiny top were dangerous looking, but they helped keep people from recognizing the former shrine maiden.
There was a knock on the door and an older woman entered quietly. "Nicely done," Natsuna Sakurada said, a bit of gray touching her brown hair.
"Thanks," Rei nodded as she pulled on more comfortable street clothes. She looked over her shoulder to ask, "I've always wondered why an ex-cop runs a nightclub?"
"I didn't like what I was hearing from the AD Police," Natsuna said dryly. She had an admiring smile on her face as she looked her over, "You mind playing here again?"
"Yeah, give me a call," Rei said , pulling her riding leathers on over the clothes. They went out into the hallway together, she waved good- bye to her band mates and left.
Out behind the nightclub the motorcycle started up smoothly, Rei pulled her helmet on over her short black hair and then pulled out into the pounding rain. She wasn't on the road very long before another vehicle pulled in not far behind her own. Rei spotted the sports car almost immediately, and picked up the pace a bit.
They were soon playing a game out on those rain slick streets, a wild bit of cat and mouse as Rei took the turns sharply and pulled off a few rapid accelerations. But the car managed to keep pace, being driven with both precision and a bit of guts.
"It looks like they're serious about this, whoever they are," Rei muttered to herself softly, trying to catch a look at the driver.
Rei finally slowed down her bike a bit while picking out a deserted stretch of the highway to coast slowly to a stop. She climbed off of her motorcycle, popped the kickstand down and then leaned up against the powerful machine to wait for her hunter.
The sports car smoothly glided to a stop just ahead of where Rei stood waiting, and it sat there for a moment. Rei felt the comforting weight of the knife that she always carried at her side and stood there patiently. The door slid open and she was mildly surprised to see a woman get out, pausing a moment to take off a pair of stylish but simple glasses.
"Rei Hino?" the blue haired young woman called out.
"Yeah?" Rei looked at her cautiously.
She walked forward nearer to the circle of light from one of the street lights, and Rei saw a few more details. Short blue hair in a boyish cut, a beautiful face that was very reserved, but it was the eyes that struck Rei hard. There was hidden pain in her eyes, the pain of a person who has lost something or someone terribly precious. It was a look Rei was quite familiar with, knowing that her own eyes carried much the same thing.
"My name is Ami Mizuno," she smiled slightly as she stopped a few steps from Rei, "and I have a business proposition for you."
Rei blew out a angry breath, "Not interested." She turned around, pulled her bike up, and prepared to climb back on.
"I know about your Grandfather, the family shrine," Ami said quietly, "and what happened to him when he refused to sell the land off to the Infinity Organization."
Rei stiffened, a flash of memory striking her hard. Coming home to the shrine from school, seeing the broken down door and finding his body laying there in a pool of his own cooling blood. Beaten to death, a totally random killing the police had said to her, ignoring all of the pressure that Infinity had been putting on them, ignoring all the veiled threats.
"It's all ancient history now," Rei grated out, looking up with eyes that flashed with rage, "the cops couldn't do anything."
"How would you like the chance to make Infinity and Prof. Tomoe pay for what they did?" Ami asked quietly.
Rei met her eyes, and saw sincerity in them. She didn't let herself think about it too much before answering, "Keep talking."
"Instead of talking, why not just follow me?" Ami asked. She climbed into her sports car and after a few moments Rei fell in behind her on the bike. They wove through the bad part of town, leaving it before eventually pulling up to a tall office building. The first floor occupied by a business, the windows displaying dresses and other lacy items for the bedroom.
"Silky Doll?" Rei smiled slightly, following Ami inside.
The reserved young woman actually blushed a bit, but didn't reply as they walked through the racks of seductive clothing and even more revealing lingerie. Ami silently led Rei into a concealed elevator, and they swiftly descended into the basement of the building.
The doors hissed open on a lower level, and Rei saw two other women waiting inside. 'Kami, she's tall,' Rei thought, looking up at the brown haired woman. She was clearly athletic, muscles rippling on her arms, and her eyes were a startling shade of green. Lounging in another chair, a blonde haired woman was playing a video game and clearly winning. She was gorgeous, almost idol quality, even with her eyes riveted to the screen.
"Makoto, Minako, I'd like you to meet Rei Hino," Ami smiled, gesturing to the tall woman then over to the blonde.
"So you're our newest recruit," the tall woman smiled. "Makoto Kino," she introduced herself and shook Rei's hand firmly.
The blonde finished her game loudly declaring, "A new high score!" She bounced to her feet and smiled at Rei winningly, "Minako Aino."
Rei pushed her hair back and shot a fierce look at Ami, "What's going on?"
"Come with me," Ami calmly led the three into another room.
Rei noticed both Minako and Makoto exchanging knowing glances as they walked. 'They obviously know something that I don't,' Rei thought, trying to control her irritation. The room that they entered was pitch dark, until Ami hit a switch and lit up what waited for them there. "Wow," Rei found herself murmuring.
Four similar looking battle suits rested in charging stations up against the wall. All smoothly female in appearance, they held carefully restrained power, each one looking battle ready. Makoto walked to the green suit, Minako over to the golden armor, and Ami stood beside an icy blue one, with one suit remaining.
"This is the one that I designed for you," Ami gestured to the blood red suit of armor, real pride in her voice.
Rei walked over to it thoughtfully, looking down at the sleek suit. The helmet was warm in her hands, the weight oddly comforting, and she knew, just knew that it would fit her like a glove. Rei looked up at Ami, feeling that intense glance on her once again.
"You built these." Rei said rather than asked.
"Yes," Ami nodded. She took a breath, "The Infinity Organization and their bio-boomers are out of control. I want you to join us in fighting them."
Rei wanted to, God did she want to, but... "So what's in it for me?" she made herself ask with a false sort of casualness.
"Ignoring your personal reasons," Ami actually smiled, "I'll pay you all for each job, as we'll be taking on some mercenary assignments as a cover."
"Good pay, too," Makoto added with a slight smile.
To be continued...
Part Two
"And why do you do this?" Rei asked Ami quietly.
Ami's voice became oddly flat, almost entirely devoid of any emotion as she answered, "My Mother, Dr. Mizuno, helped them develop the original bio-boomer technology and Prof. Tomoe killed her once she was no longer useful."
"I'm sorry," Rei said to her softly, now understanding where the loss Rei had seen in Ami's eyes had come from.
Alarms rang out in the small chamber, and Makoto cursed softly. "Bad timing," she muttered, and began to strip down before pulling on a skin tight leotard.
Minako slapped her on the bottom, "You're looking good." She stripped too, then pulled on her golden suit of battle armor.
Ami picked up a leotard from a locker and held it out to Rei. "We could use your help out there," she said quietly, her eyes meeting Rei's.
Rei hesitated, then grabbed the leotard from Ami's hands and stripped down herself. "How hard is it to pilot one of these things?" she nodded to the red suit.
"It only magnifies your own muscle power," Ami began to change as she explained, "the weapon system I'll explain on the way."
Rei noticed how shapely the slim woman was, stripped down just to a leotard, and had to shake herself for a moment. She stepped into the front segment of the suit, and felt it fold itself around her. The body, arms, and legs locked into place, and Rei pulled the helmet on over her head. She took a few steps, balancing carefully on the metallic heels.
"Nice fit," Rei said thoughtfully.
"I did some research before contacting you," Ami explained as she pulled her armor on.
Rei opened and closed her fingers, looking down at the cannon built into the suit's right arm. She raised it, pointing it at the wall as a series of targeting displays came on line in the helmet's visor. She lined up where she wanted to hit, and fired. The metallic foot long needle cut through the air just like a knife, digging deeply into the far wall. After a few moments, Rei was surprised to see the spear explode into flames!
"Thermal charges," Ami explained to the startled woman as she shook her head ruefully adding, "I don't think you'll have any trouble with the weapon systems."
The Silky Doll delivery truck was loaded up and they were all quickly on the move, racing to where the crisis was now unfolding. The bio-boomer's were an incredible innovation, semi-organic robots that were supposed to serve humanity. But there was a grave flaw in their creation, and sometimes they would go rogue, becoming monstrous creatures.
"Makoto, you and I will go in first," Ami said to them intensely. She nodded to Rei, "This is your first time out, so you're our back up." She looked over at Minako, "Be ready to use the electronic counter measures to keep the AD Police off our backs, and the FX to cover our escape."
"Got it," Minako nodded eagerly, all of them sitting with their helmets in their laps.
"Ready to go," Makoto agreed.
'There's no way that I'm hanging back,' Rei thought to herself grimly, pulse racing, but she didn't say anything. "How do you kill these things?" she asked.
"There's a crystal in the middle of the chest," Ami explained as she slid her helmet on, the others following suit, "crush it and they die."
The team deployed from the truck as the misshapen creature howled in rage, gray tentacles writhing all around it as Ami and Makoto carefully moved in first. Silvery blades that trailed frost popped out of the wrists of Ami's armor, freezing and cutting at the creature. Then Makoto leapt in, her suit deploying electrified cutting cables that sliced and shocked it.
It staggered backward, and Rei saw it, 'An opening!'
The suit moved like a dream as Rei went in for the kill. She used her cannon to break through it's weakened defenses, and then plunged her fist into it's chest. She reached around in the tissues as she had been told and pulled out the heart crystal that powered it. The creature gurgled, it's body breaking down into a black ooze pooling around their feet.
Minako's urgent voice came over the radios, "The AD Police are here! Ami, leave your calling card and let's go."
The cruiser pulled up into the lot even as Minako dropped a series of strobe flares that the other three used to get clear. The police, once their eyes cleared, found the remains of the bio-boomer, and something else.
Carved into the ground by a laser beam were the words, "Senshi Sabers."
The tall blonde with her long hair tied up in buns slammed her fist down on the top of her AD Police cruiser. "The Senshi Sabers beat us to the punch again," Usagi complained, "and now there's another one of them!"
Her partner Naru shook her head, her short brown hair moving with the breeze. "Why are you so hung up on them?" she asked.
"I don't know," Usagi sighed, "I just am."
"You're too tense," Naru reached out to put her hand on Usagi's arm. She smiled slightly, "Come home with me tonight, I'll make a new woman of you."
Usagi climbed into the cruiser with a sigh, "I've got a headache."
Naru pouted, climbing in the other side, "But that's what you always say!"
The trip back to the Silky Doll was quiet, all of them lost in their own thoughts. Minako and Makoto disrobed quickly, changing and leaving together walking hand in hand. 'Interesting, very interesting' Rei thought.
The armor came off easily, and Rei stood there a moment dressed in her leotard only, gazing at the helmet in her hands thoughtfully. She sensed a presence, and looked up to see Ami Mizuno looking at her, her expression utterly unreadable.
"What?" Rei asked.
"I'll have to keep in mind that you don't always obey my orders," Ami said quietly, "but other than that, good job."
Having said her piece, Ami should have just left, but she lingered gazing at Rei. Rei put her helmet with the rest of the suit, then advanced on Ami slowly. Ami's eyes widened slightly, but the leotard clad woman didn't flee.
"I saw you watching me at the concert," Rei murmured softly. A slight smile, "Was there another reason you asked me to join your little crusade?"
"Maybe," Ami answered quietly. She slipped away, turning and walking out of the changing room silently.
Rei watched her go with a frown. 'I wonder what's going on with her?' She grabbed her street clothes and began to change, still puzzling over the enigmatic Ms. Mizuno.
In another part of the city a figure gazed out into the darkness. Sandy brown hair blew around his face, his glasses shining in the dim light. He didn't turn around to look at the redhead walking up behind him he just said, "Yes, Kaori?"
Kaori cleared her throat nervously, the beautiful redhead dressed in a woman's business suit. "Director Tomoe," she said, "the progress reports are in. Bio-Boomer production is up 20%, and export of the military models is on the rise. There was some trouble with the city over the new plant but our slush fund helped deal with that."
"And what of the Saturn project?" Tomoe asked coldly.
Kaori flipped a few pages, "We're still working on growing the cloned tissue, but the technicians are optimistic." She hesitated, "Are you sure you wanted to use cell samples from..."
"My daughter?" Tomoe turned slightly to look at her, and Kaori took a half step backward. He was smiling, but it wasn't a pleasant expression as he said firmly, "There is little enough of my daughter in the world."
"Yes, Sir," Kaori answered softly.
Tomoe turned to look out at the city again, "And the prototypes, Uranus and Neptune?"
"Still missing," Kaori admitted, "our internal security forces are insufficient. If we could call in the AD Police via some cover story...?"
"No," Tomoe shook his head, "we cannot risk our competitors discovering them."
To be continued...
Part Three
The bar was seedy, in what was clearly in the bad part of town, the street people's wary gazes turning to see as the car pulled up front. Ami Mizuno strode down the steps to the club steadily, her manner supremely confident in her stylish suit. Sunglasses concealed her eyes even in the darkness, hiding her scanning glance as she entered the room.
The music from the jukebox was old, dating back nearly twenty years. The men and women sitting at the tables looked up at her cautiously, then returned to their drinks and conversation. Ami walked to the bar, catching the attention of the bartender.
"What'll it be?" he asked gruffly.
"Bourbon, neat," Ami ordered crisply, setting a bill on the counter. She picked up her drink and moved over to a clear part of the bar, leaving her change behind.
"Good evening," the woman noted as she sat down beside Ami. Her long mane of black hair flowed over her shoulders, shining green in the dim light.
"Setsuna," Ami nodded. She smiled wryly as she took another look around, "You know, this is almost the stereotype for the sort of place to hold a secret meeting."
Setsuna Meiou flashed a sudden smile, "I know, that's why I chose it." More seriously she said, "Did the information I gathered for you on Rei Hino help?"
"You were right on the money," Ami agreed. She casually slipped a bundle of cash, setting it down between them so Setsuna could pick it up. "I'd love to know where a private investigator acquired her psychological profile," Ami said leadingly.
"Prof. Tomoe, actually," Setsuna's eyes were dark with anger, "it seems he had profiles done on Rei and her grandfather, before they moved against them."
Ami nodded, "And how are your two charges?"
"Growing up," Setsuna admitted. She swirled her own drink around before admitting, "I've pretty much had to give up on keeping them confined."
Ami nodded, "Just remind them to be discrete, please. I'd like to ensure that the Infinity Organization doesn't get their hands on them."
"I'll do my best," Setsuna nodded firmly. She got up from her seat, "I'd better go, it's not a good idea for you to be seen with a disreputable private investigator like myself."
"Be careful," Ami reminded her softly.
"You, too," Setsuna said as she strode away.
Ami finished off her drink, giving Setsuna the time to put some distance between them. It bothered her at times, how little she knew about her. An acquaintance of her mother's, all those years ago, she had come back into Ami's life when she had first begun organizing the Senshi Sabers. Information of many kinds, some that Ami suspected she acquired illegally, she gave it to Ami as needed. But Setsuna's own motives remained unclear.
'One of these days I'm going to have to ask her,' Ami thought as she left the bar, rising up to the street, 'even if I don't like the answer.' She unlocked her car and slipped behind the wheel, starting it up and pulling out onto the road before any opportunistic vermin could act.
Ami tried to focus on the question of Setsuna, but instead another face materialized before her mind's eye. 'Rei Hino,' she thought uncomfortably, 'why did I react that way?' Ami prided herself on her self control, but last night in the changing room she had nearly...
"A momentary lapse," Ami murmured to herself aloud, "nothing more." Still, she couldn't quite convince herself of that. 'So now we are four,' she mused, navigating through traffic smoothly. Four agents seemed to be the best number for a semi-covert group, though she was prepared to build other suits if needed.
She came around the corner to the Silky Doll and Ami sighed softly. It really was a unlikely business for her to run, but it was a nearly perfect cover. Even better it encouraged those who had been aquatinted with her and her mother to underestimate her. Ami activated the sliding door to her underground parking and pulled the car in.
Ami got out of the car, pulling her coat off and slinging it over her shoulder as she walked to the elevator. "Mercury?" she called out.
"Yes?" the feminine voice answered, "I was just running hardsuit diagnostics."
"Are there any calls or messages?" Ami asked curiously, riding the elevator up past the store level to her home.
"Minako called," Mercury reported, "she's setting up a worm to remove any data on the latest Senshi Sabers activity. Also, it appears the Infinity Organization is continuing to suppress information on any Bio- Boomer rogues."
"No messages from Rei Hino?" Ami asked curiously.
"No ma'am," Mercury answered.
Ami frowned to herself thoughtfully as she exited into her living room, wondering what Rei might be doing right now...
Rei Hino sat back, looking at the library computer with a fierce frown. She had gone in there that morning with a request in mind, trying to find any information on the Senshi Sabers. So far, she was tough out of luck.
"Nothing in the newspapers for the past few months," Rei muttered to herself softly. Despite her participating in a battle against a Bio-Boomer just last night, there was absolutely nothing in the papers. In fact, they didn't even cover the fact Bio-Boomers were going rogue!
'Is Prof. Tomoe that powerful?' Rei mused as she walked away from the computer. She gave the librarian a nod as she walked out on the street, 'I can't believe that even the Infinity Organization could keep every newspaper and TV station under wraps.'
Then again, the Infinity Organization was the largest employer in the city Megatokyo, hands down. It really wasn't too surprising that they would have influence, power of various types. Most politicians knew which side their bread was buttered on, they knew that angering a prime campaign supporter would not be a very good idea.
"Spineless bastards," Rei muttered, startling a passerby. She looked around her curiously, then her eyes widened as she recognized another landmark.
The AD Police tower rose up towards the sky, the name of the organization boldly written down the side. One of their tactical 'copters rose from the roof to go out on patrol even as people went in and out of the building's main entrance. 'If anyone would know,' Rei had to admit it, 'they would.'
"Hey!" a woman's voice cried out.
Rei turned, feeling a flash of anger. The blonde haired, blue eyed woman was walking towards Rei, dressed in casual pants and white shirt, a heavy black jacket over top carrying the AD Police logo. "Yes?" Rei asked her coolly, wondering who she was.
"You're Rei Hino, the singer," the blonde said, her long hair falling in twin streams from two buns on the top of her head. She smiled happily, "I saw you at the Hot Legs show a few nights ago, you were great!"
Rei felt an odd bit of relief at that. She had tangled with the police more than once after her grandfather's death, and wondered if that trouble had caught up with her. "Thank you," Rei murmured as she started to walk, "and you are?"
"Usagi Tsukino," the blonde said with a grin. She looked at Rei cautiously, "I was wondering, are you busy? I'd love to take you out for lunch."
"No thanks," Rei said coolly.
"Aw come on...," Usagi kept up with her, a bounce to her step.
Rei shot her a look, "Maybe you should spend your time chasing Bio- Boomers, not skirts."
"Ow," Usagi stopped and watched Rei walk away.
A shorter, brown haired young woman walked up to her side, looking over towards Rei. "Well isn't she butch," Naru muttered, the officer dressed semi-formally.
"Naru," Usagi frowned. They walked towards their cruiser, "Still, she was cute."
Rei walked up the steps into AD Police headquarters, looking around her curiously. 'Wonder how I'd go about asking about the Senshi Sabers?' she mused. She walked towards the officer at the front desk, slowing down a bit in surprise.
"It's nice to see you again," Minako Aino beamed at Rei, long blonde hair flowing down her back like a cape.
"You're... a police officer?" Rei blinked.
"You look confused," Minako said gently. "Let me get my replacement up here," she spoke into the headset that she wore, "and we'll talk."
To be continued...
Part Four
"So you're Minako Aino," Rei mused, the two of them sitting at an out door cafe not far from AD Police headquarters. Her jacket was hung on her seat, Rei looking over at Minako thoughtfully, "Weren't you once a costumed idol star under the name Sailor V?"
"I'm impressed you'd remember," Minako noted, the blue eyed blonde smiling in pleased surprise, "I wasn't around for all that long."
"I'm a performer," Rei shrugged before adding, "and I was a fan, too." The black haired woman looked at her thoughtfully, "I always wondered why you retired...?"
Minako sipped at her coffee, "A scandal forced me to retire." Before Rei could ask she added, "One that was manufactured by the Infinity Corporation. I was dumb enough to speak out publicly when they were pushing for mass-production of the Bio-boomer."
Rei sighed softly, "I'm sorry. I remember the media circus around you then, but I never knew exactly why it happened."
"So," Minako looked at her curiously, "what brought you into AD Police headquarters?"
"I was going to try asking about the Senshi Sabers," Rei admitted a bit sheepishly. "I tried going through the newspapers but couldn't find a trace."
"Infinity exerts a lot of pressure on the news media," Minako noted,. "they own most of the companies that buy advertising these days."
"I couldn't believe I didn't find anything on a 'net search," Rei sighed.
"Well, that is our fault, or more exactly my fault," Minako conceded. She smiled slightly, "I'm something of a computer expert and I sent out a virus to delete or destroy any data collected on the Senshi Sabers or our activities."
"And as an officer in the AD Police you can do the same from within their own organization," Rei murmured.
"Exactly," Minako agreed. She looked at Rei thoughtfully, "If it's not too personal, what's your reason for joining?"
Rei felt her face stiffen. She grabbed her coat and stood as she said, "Yes, it's too personal." She took a few steps before her good manners forced her to stop, "Thanks for the information." With that, she was out the door and gone.
"Interesting," Minako murmured, "very interesting." She pulled her phone from her pocket, hitting speed dial. "Ami?" she asked once it picked up.
Ami Mizuno smiled slightly, "Minako, what can I do for you?"
"You were wondering about our new recruit?" Minako asked back. "I just finished talking to her, she's a little touchy but interesting."
"And how did you meet?" Ami asked.
"She went walking into AD Police," Minako said dryly.
Ami sat up, a frown on her face. "She wasn't going to compromise our security?" she asked, her voice hard and dangerous.
"No, no," Minako quickly reassured her, "she was just looking for information. She was looking into the Bio-boomers and our own organization."
"Understandable," Ami sat back. "Did you satisfy her curiosity?" she asked.
"Somewhat," Minako said unapologetically, "I asked her about her reason's for joining up and she left in a huff."
"No, I won't tell you," Ami anticipated the question quite easily. She paused, knowing how curious the woman could get and smoothly added, "But you can probably find out by going into the newspaper archives."
"Got it," Minako laughed and signed off.
Ami put the phone down, a slight smile on her face. She got up from her seat, moving into her bedroom while pulling off her business wear. She changed to casual sweats and a T-shirt, pulling her runners on. She walked downstairs, pausing in the doorway.
"Mercury?" Ami asked.
"Yes Ms. Mizuno?" the computer's clear voice replied.
"Standard security measures," Ami instructed, "I'm going out for a few hours."
"Of course, Ma'am," Mercury answered simply.
Ami cut through the Silky Doll store, nodding to her two sales ladies, then went out onto the street. Vehicles moved up and down the street as she strode along, the presence of the smaller woman moving people aside. She reached the small dojo in only a few minutes, entering to find the place mostly deserted.
"Hello Ami," Makoto smiled. A student was rubbing her shoulder as if it pained her, exchanging quiet words with Makoto before she left.
"Getting rough with the students again?" Ami asked with a smile.
"They expect it from me," Makoto said. The tall brown haired woman shrugged wryly, "If they didn't they'd think I was going too easy on them."
"I suppose so," Ami agreed.
Makoto looked her over thoughtfully, standing there all in white. "What sort of workout were you looking for?" she asked.
"No visible marks," Ami admitted with a slight smile, "but I could use a good workout. There's a lot of things I'm thinking about."
"Got it," Makoto raised her hands, waiting until Ami took up a guard position.
Together they fought back and forth across the bare floor, the ritual movements of combat becoming a graceful dance. Ami was less powerful than Makoto but she made up for it with speed and agility, the two women nearly matched in skill.
Ami was panting softly when they finally slid to a stop, but there was a brightness to her blue eyes. "You should be competing, still," she said.
"So should you," Makoto offered with a smile.
"No, I can't," Ami answered seriously, "I won't risk compromising my cover."
"I'm not going back into the ring," Makoto said with a casual smile, the danger all in the undercurrents, "not until I find out who tried to kill me by setting me up against a Bio-boomer."
"Considering that you were able to destroy it with your bare hands," Ami noted, "that made your reputation."
"There is that," Makoto flashed a smile. She looked at Ami thoughtfully, "Did you finally hear back from our Ms. Hino?"
"Not directly," Ami said calmly, "but I suspect it might be better to give her some space."
The sun was just setting over the city, and in a club called Hot Legs the band was rocking the house. Rei stood on center stage, voice whisky raw and passionate as she threw out a challenge to the world. Her defiant stance called out for battle, the songs she chose about rebellion and heroism.
Rei covertly scanned the crowd, trying to see if Ami Mizuno was lurking somewhere in the dark corners. It was a busy night, the people dancing and cheering loudly, but her eyes were drawn to an odd couple. He was slim, sandy brown hair falling into his face while his partner was green haired, the two dancing close to the music.
Rei changed, pulling her trashy stage outfit off before heading to the bar for a free beer. "Thanks," she nodded to Mamoru the bartender, turning back to look at the women approaching.
"That was incredible," the sandy haired young man smiled. Rei's eyes widened as she got a good look, realizing that he was really a she.
"You have a remarkable presence up on stage, Ms. Hino," the green haired young woman smiled warmly.
"Thank you," Rei took a pull off her bottle of beer. She gave the two women a slight smile, "You have the advantage of me..."
"Tenoh Haruka," the boyish young woman smiled. She gestured to her partner, her voice softening as she added, "And this is Kaoru Michiru."
"Nice to meet you," Rei said with a wry smile. She took in the odd vibe between them and asked curiously, "You girlfriends?"
"You could say that," Michiru smiled.
"Congratulations," Rei took another drink, for a moment thinking about Ami.
To be continued...