Sunday, June 15, 2003
"Are the processors online yet?" Although sounding hollow, the acoustics in the aft compartment were sufficiently carring her voice. Jenna made a quick note and moved deeper into the craft. "Holly, Abel are you both picking up the wave distortion on the bridge?" There was a moment of silence. "We're picking up several different bio-wave distortions up hear, Jenna, but nothing to get over-excited about. Abel just thinks it's the Wize-Emitters. Ameythst is bringing them online right now with the processors. When you finish checking the aft compartment, you should come up to the bridge to greet the new members."
Jenna caught herself smiling. It was finally time to see what her Uncle had left her. "I've got two more short rounds, Holly. I'll be up in about ten minutes." She scanned the cargo nearby, stacked meticilously against the steel walls. Fire arrows, gernades....rocket launchers.....laser pistols. She moved to another room, waiting for the security doors to shut behind her. Satisfied, she made another note to herself. Everything was in full swing for the madien mission. The Timothy Wize 01 was the flagship of the New Interpol Federation, a complex team of world assult squadrons formed to seek out the Ashante. Contray to what most people believed, the death of Anne Ripstorm some sixty years prior, had not eliminated the dark spread of music evil. Recently the Worlds United Space Exploration Program (WUSEP) had recieved an odd transmission from a cluster of stars in the Pamela-Mike System (PMS) --much like the naming of tornados and storm systems, star systems were given similar treatment, only in fairness they were given both a male and female name to avoid bias letigation. As intellegence had informed them, a notorious faction of the GAF, a race called Ashante, were gathering forces to launch an attack on the Milky Way. PMS was nearly three thousand light years from Earth, so Jenna was contracted to form a group to travel there and stop the assult.
Easier said then done, Jenna thought. Her Uncle, Timothy Wize, and his organization had developed many futuristic products over the years before his death. One such item was the Man-O-Pause. Although, Jenna rarely understood the mechanics of her Uncles inventions, the Man-O-Pause worked much like a cryosleep chamber, and garunteed all those that used it, suspend animation until they arrived at a otherworldly destination. His invention had been employeed by many NASA engenieers and became a fixture on moon missions and trips outside our galaxy. Along with the Man-O-Pause, her Uncle's orginzation also created a light-speed engine, which was currently being used in this ship.
If all goes as planned, we will be the first human beings to reach PMS. Jenna caught herself smiling again. She had orginally resisted being given the mantle of The Bitch, but now, several years later, her true destiny seemed to be taking shape.
"Are you going to spend all day down there?" Jenna shook her head, scattering her thoughts into the processed air of the ship. "No, Holly. I'm finished. I'll be up there in a second." She exited the aft compartment, making her way confidantly to the elevator. "Bridge please Uncle" she said as she entered the round tube-like contraption.
-ACCESSING BRIDGE. GOOD AFTERNOON JENNIFER-
"Thank you Uncle. It's nice to have you on this trip. Are you excited?"
-YOU FORGET JENNIFER THAT I AM ONLY THE SHIP'S COMPUTER. I CANNOT FEEL EXCITEMENT. I DO WITNESS SUCH RESPONSE FROM YOU-
"Of course I am excited Uncle. It's been so many years since you died. I didn't realize what I was suppose to do. I feel as if now I am understanding so much more."
-I SENSE YOU ARE GLAD. WE ARE AT THE BRIDGE-
Jenna thought of saying something more, but resisted. She realized her Uncle was dead, and took whatever comfort she could from the voice of the computer. It wasn't the same.
"There you are." A slender woman, with spiky blonde hair, blue lensed glasses, and a silver bandanna came up to meet her. "You were just about to miss the Wize-Emitter Program."
"Thank you for waiting Holly. Were's your other half?"
Holly grinned. "Abel is helping Ameythst poly-up the last coils to the mainframe. I figured that he just wants to make sure she doesn't do it wrong. I swear, he is so proud of her." She shrugged. "So am I, you know. I can't believe that the whole family got this mission. It's been a while since all of us got to work on a project together."
"That's why I asked for you," Jenna gave Holly a quick squeeze on her arm. "You are the best. And as a team you are nothing short of perfect. And I will need your expertise against the Ashante."
"Hey mom!"
Holly touched the sides of her glasses and they turned dark. "Talk to me Amie. What do you have?"
"The WEP is ready. Is Jenna there?"
"Yep she's here. Start it up."
"Roger!"
Holly turned to Jenna. "Here we go."
There was a flash of light from seven distinct points in the room. Each point of light generated from a holo-emitter in the ceiling. Within seconds each point solidified into an figure. Within minutes, Holly and Jenna were surrounded by people.
"Well Jenna, meet your new crew....save for us that is." Holly turned to the right and pointed at the first person. "This is Evieloo, Judy Butt-Kick, Laurel T&A Girl, Jaymes The Rammer, Dionne Dangermouse, Mackdaddy...and..."
"I know you..."
The last figure....a woman with flaming red hair, moved forward. "Yes, of course you know me, Jenna."
Jennifer Anderfun stared for a moment in amazement. Although none of these people existed, her Uncles program created virtually life-like holograms. "So, I finally get to meet you.....Welcome aboard The TImothy Wize 01....Josie."
Happy Potato said at 10:59 PM

Saturday, June 07, 2003
He stared at his hands, wrinkled and spotted, the old aged painted dramatically over each finger, knuckle, wrist. Contrary to what he had been told, time wasn't his friend and all of the various elixirs and creams had benifited him little in the past fifty years. The sliver of sunlight breaking through the curtianed windows brought little hope that even with illumination,his age would still darken his mood.
"I'm losing the fight," he wisphered, glancing over at his tall ornate bed. It was beginning to become inreasingly more difficult to lift himself in to its lucious folds. He found himself lying there for longer and longer each day, afraid to slip off the edge and never feel its comforts again. He sniffed. "Might as well just appreciate it....after all it cost me a fortune." He chuckled in spite of himself. He felt so old.
It was exactly fifty years since Josie had destroyed the Syndicate complex. Fifty years, and he still remembered it as if it were yesterday. Of course it wasn't, he thought silently. At least my mind hasn't left me. But the memories were fresh, sealed away in his mind, saved from the dust and cobwebs of time. He still recalled the moment when Josie, in all her rage and fire, had gained enterence into the rehabiltation center of the complex (the area Anne was using to house the captured celebrities). The battle was terrible and firece. Many an innocent soldier, merely doing his or her job, fell crumpled and dying against the wrath of The Dirty Bitch.
"If I had only known it would be so destructive." He shook his gray head, reluctant to unwrap the remaining pieces of his thoughts. "It all started so noblely. The Pop-Saviors were posioning the world, what were we suppose to do? Stand for it?" Again he shook his head, but this time it was with anger. "No! We were not meant to live in that world! Josie was built to be our savior, she was our only hope....." His anger died, and his eyes closed, squeezing tight to avoid the possibility of tears. "If only we'd been able to stop her....if only we'd seen the larger picture....then there wouldn't be this blood on my hands...." If ONLY!
He was stirred from his memories, jolted back into the present by the sight of a young girl next to him. "Jennifer?" His wizened face softened. "Jennifer Anderfun, have you come to see your old uncle?"
The young girl, her lusterious honied hair falling about her shoulders smiled down at the old man by the window. "I was passing through town, on my way to Aunt Marjorie's. I couldn't resist stopping in and saying hello. I hope you don't mind."
He shook his head. "No, no my dear, of course not. I'm assuming Claire is preparing my tea. Would you like to stay for some?"
Jennifer took a few steps toward the window. "I'd love to, Uncle, but only a small cup of tea. I really can't stay for too long, you know how Marjorie is, now that Sean has passed and the girls are all grown up. She is so lonely in that big drafty mansion you bought for her. I don't have a long drive...." She fummbled absently with an arrangement of lilies on the carved dresser. "I really don't see why you don't have a gay maid, Uncle. It's all the rage now, you know. Claire is nice and all, but I have a wonderful friend who would love to work for you."
There was some creaking, as he rose from his seat by the window. Jennifer turned, and caught his look of emotion. "Oh dear, Uncle, I'm so sorry." She attempted to help his move to the bed, but he gently waved her off. "It's alright, my dear. Jaymes has been gone many years now." He paused to lift himself onto the large piece of furniture. "We had many good years together, your uncle Jaymes and I. I don't want another gay man in this house, I hope you understand. Claire is a wonderful maid."
"Of course she is, Uncle. I didn't mean to bring up those memories again. I'm sorry."
"No, no. It's quite alright. I've been thinking a lot about the past lately. Did I ever tell you about your cousin Josie?"
Jennifer moved to the seat by the window and sat down. He noticed how lovely she looked, her clothes straight from the recent Vouge 2053. "I remember you told me about her last Christmas." Her voice broke through his sudden fog, and he peered intently at her.
"Did I ever tell you the whole story? About her mission, the Syndicate.....Your Great Aunt Judy....Christina Aguilera?"
"Oh I love Christina! I simply adore her latest Gospel Album: Panties on the Cross." She considered something for a moment. "Christina Aguilera. No, you never told me anything about her, Uncle. Perhaps you can tell me about this over tea?"
She's humoring me, he thought. She thinks these stories are just the rammblings of an old man. But her eyes were so loving and warm. She wanted nothing more then to comfort him in his twilight years. As she had always done throughout her childhood. Now she was a young woman, and dividing her time between her PR job and her family was a great sacrifice. He chatisied himself for being so selfish. "It's not that important, my dear. I shouldn't have brought it up. You need to get on the road anyway."
His neice looked perplexed. "But it is important, Uncle. After all, your life was filled with adventures." She paused, and he noticed Claire slipping into the room with the tray of tea and small delicate cakes. He waited for his neice to accept the tray. "I have some time," she went on, filling two cups with fragrant liquid. "I would love to sit and reminise with you. I will be at Aunt Marjorie's tonight." She offered a cup and saucer to him. "And I didn't tell you, mom is coming to see Aunt Marjorie too. She will be arriving at the manor tonight." She smiled. "I think we are going to paint each other's toe nails and drink cosmos." He was warmed by her sudden excitment.
"Ah, that will be grand, dear girl. I haven't seen your Mother in ages. How is Rebecca?"
"Oh she's fine. I guess she's a little bit weak from the treatments, you know. Cancer is still a problem nowadays, even with the new drugs your company manufactures. Mom is still movin' and shakin....but her eyes get distant sometimes...." She trailed off, lost for a moment in her own thoughts, then she shook her head and took her seat again. "Let's get back to you, Uncle. Tell me about Josie, the Syndicate...and Great Aunt Judy and Christina. What exactly happened? Where are they now?"
He found himself staring at his hands again. Perhaps it was a good thing that he was telling his neice, for very few knew about Josie and the grand mission. Hardly anyone was still alive that remembered what had happened that fateful day. Maybe history shouldn't be just his to keep.....maybe the whole story of that day should be told. The truth.
With the morning light still a sliver through the curtains, the old man took a deep breath. "And she was my finest creation.......
Happy Potato said at 10:37 PM

Saturday, May 31, 2003
Calm down. She was nearly beside herself with worry. How could this have happen? Dirty Bitch was suppose to be a latent program. What had happened? Anne felt tiny beads of sweat forming on her forehead, and quickly wipped them away with her arm. She still held the gun in her hand, smoking from its recent discharge. She looked absently at the body on the floor. Shannon was no longer a concern. She was beyond that....far beyond. Where were they? She turned to the wall of security monitors. One by one the screens went blank, as the Dirty Bitch moved fluidly through the main Syndicate building. Very soon now she would find the train. Anne wondered if Josie knew how large the complex really was. She doubted it. Josie wasn't in the 'loop' and that bit of fact comforted Anne. At least she still had time. But what about the rest of her team? She noticed Evieloo, Dionne....Mackdaddy....and her old comrade Quack following the Dirty Bitch. Where was Laurel, Judy....Jaymes? More importantly, where was Timothy? Was he still in custody?
"Lyle, what is the condition of Timothy?"
TIMOTHY HAS BEEN CLONED ANNIE.
Anne paused, her mouth opened to ask another question. Cloned? What was this? "Lyle, why wasn't I informed of this development?"
YOU DIDN'T ASK ANNIE.
"Fuck you Lyle! Fuck you! How dare you compromise me in this fashion! Timothy is a key component in the Bitchfonda Project. He is the only other member who can deactivate her and destroy Janus' master plan....MY master plan." She paused again, dropping the gun on the floor. "Where is Timothy now?"
HE IS NO LONGER IN THE COMPLEX ANNIE.
What was happening? All of my control is disappearing. Anne's shoulders slumpped. Her eyes closed, her mind searching for a solution.
ANNIE, YOU HAVE A INCOMING VIDEO.
There was little time for this, but Anne waved her hand at the screen. "Put it through."
-So Ripstorm, how do you like my little present?
"Lawanda Luv." Anne smiled in spite of the situation. "I should have guessed. You don't die so easily do you?"
-Sorry to disappoint you Ripstorm, but I'm quite capable of seeing myself out of far more dangerous situations. Has Dirty Bitch made it to the your section of the complex yet?
"No, Ms. Luv, she hasn't. I'm afraid that she won't make it this far either. I don't know how you made all this happen, but I can assure you, I won't let anything destroy MY plans!"
-Your plans? Why Ripstorm, I don't think Janus would like to hear you taking all the credit- Lawanda considered something for a moment. -But then again, with all of the shit that's is going on now, perhaps you should take full responsibility, hmmmm?-
"You'd like that wouldn't you? I don't care if you are still alive, Luv. It doesn't change anything! I still have the means to stop The Bitch!"
-Annie, don't do it.-
"Timothy?" Anne stared at the screen, watching Lawanda move aside.
-Yes, my friend. I was saved by Lawanda's team. She knew that you and Janus were attempting to get rid of me, so she cloned me and sent Judy to kill off the imposter. I've had some time to consider your actions, and I have to admit, Annie...I never expect you of all people to turn on your friends-
Anne shook her head in disgust. "You're too simple minded Timothy! You've known me for too long to expect anything different. I just happen to seize the power when I saw it within my grasp. Pop-music is the back-bone of our society...the life's blood! Your dreams for a world of independent music fueled by passion and hope is futile! I saw that from the beginning. And you danced right into MY net. Building Josie was the perfect way to move MY plan along." She giggled with madness. "You have no idea what LYLE can do once he melds with Josie!"
-You have to first get to Josie. Don't forget Annie, Josie is now the Dirty Bitch and she will be far more difficult to apprehend.- Timothy gave his friend a cold, knowing gaze. -I made sure that Lawanda activated the proper codes when she contacted Josie. Mackdaddy and I have kept close contact, unbenknowst to anyone. He knew that you would try to search her out, and time was essential. He hacked LYLE to throw you off my actions, and he succeed. Lawanda found a clear signal and contacted Josie, thus putting my own plan in movement. Simple minded I am not, old friend. I just believe in the integreity of our work together, and I won't have you, or Janus destroy it!-
Anne was silent, thoughtful, the look of madness left her face and was replaced with a frown of rigid impatience. "Lyle, activate manual Syndicate detination program Alpha 509." She turned to the screen. "It was nice chatting with you both, but I'm afraid I have some pressing matters to attend to. So, if you don't mind." She quickly ended the transmission before any response could be sent.
MANUAL DETINATION PROGRAM ACTIVATED. WHAT ARE YOU INTENDING ANNIE?
"None of your concern LYLE. I've lost some of my fondness for you, my love. I will contact you when I need you." Anne turned to the wall of security monitors, many of which displayed only static. You just wait! I will show them ALL!
"Not so fast Ripstorm!"

Happy Potato said at 7:15 PM

Friday, May 30, 2003
"I hate guns," Anne murmmered, looking down at the small revolver on her lap. Of course it was necessary to carry one. The compound was not a friendly place. Every day new recruits came through the door, and every day her workload increased as well as the danger. Oddly enough she didn't seem to notice her discomfort. Her mission was paramount and her discomfort was the least of her concerns. She stared at the gun. Looks like I will have to use this. She shuddered. A recent recruit, Shannon Crowbar, unfortuneately needed to be eliminated. Information had reached her that some Split-Cell Syndicate officers (who had found out about this operation) placed Miss Crowbar in her complex to foil her plans. Sadly, such a shaky attempt would only result in blood-shed. Shannon might have been forced to run this mission without her consent, and Anne realized that she would not be eliminating the actual source of this problem, but nothing could be done. "I hate politics," she hissed. Efficientcy was absolutely crucial in such an organization and even more so with the amount of celbrity she had under her watchful eye. It was only a matter of time before The Bitch was apprehended and LYLE was booted up to the Satelitte program. After that, her job would reduce dramatically, and her much deserved vacation would most likely commence. She smiled.
"Excuse me, Madame Hancock?"
"Yes, Guard #4."
"Shannon is outside. Would you like her to come in?"
"Is she fully 'controlled'?"
"The music you suggested did its job."
"Thank you, send her in."
The guard disappeared for a moment, then returned leading Shannon into the room.
"That will be all Guard #4. Please close the door on your way out." He nodded and left the room. Anne moved over to the door and locked it. Satisfied that she was alone with Shannon, she turned to the girl. "Now, Miss Crowbar. It seems as if we have a little problem. I know you are not here at my complex for recreation. I'm afraid your little ruse is up!"
Just then all the alarms in the building began to sound!

The man who came to meet Josie and her party was completely nondescript. He was dressed in black, and carried a set of handcuffs. There were no words exchanged as he used the handcuffs on Josie and motioned the rest of her party to follow him. He indicated the buildings surrounding them, as if to say that escape was out of the question. Evieloo noticed several sharp-shooters stationed on the roof tops. They followed the man into the Syndicate headquarters without incidient.
Josie's mind was clouded with indecision. Was this really the right course of action? Now that it was finally happening, she had her doubts. Perhaps the mysterious caller knew that she would have second thoughts. Maybe the caller expected her to. Could the real reasons be outside her perception. Dirty Bitch. The words echoed in her mind. They sounded farmillar....ominous. What did they mean. Why did they make her feel so different? Dirty Bitch. She repeated the two words over and over, as if trying to solve a puzzle. Dirty Bitch. As she was lead through the Syndicate hallways, she shut her eyes. Searching through her databanks, she tried to find out what she needed to know. She tried to cross reference, syncronize and incrypt, but the whole idea was silly. Dirty Bitch wasn't a program, if it were she would have known about it. But then why did it feel so farmilliar? Dirty Bitch. Something clicked inside her. The search of her files had uncovered a secret folder. Dirty Bitch Intialization. She opened it. Instantly she was filled with power, too much power, too soon. I'm losing control!

Evieloo was watching her sister. She felt defeated, confused and irritated. Why was this happening? They were all more then a match for this situation. Why didn't they fight? She glanced away, and when she looked at her sister again....all hell broke loose!

Happy Potato said at 6:31 PM

Thursday, May 22, 2003
The dark haired woman, dressed in a light gray blouse and linen pants, waited for paiently for Jaymes to collect his thoughts. She realized that her words were sudden and that was exactly what she intended. Hers was not the role of casual communicator, nor friend. She was sent to gather all those who were working on (or close to) the Bitchfonda project. It was the order that came down from the top, and it was the only order that she would follow. She gazed intently at her new charge. "It's not far, Jaymes. I've already gathered your other friends, and the Bitch is en route."
"Do you know who shot at Timothy?" The question was out of left-field, but the dark haired woman did not seem to notice.
"The man you were sitting next to in the infirmary, I'm afraid, is not Timothy Wize. He's only a clone. My leader and my team realized Timothy's life was in danger many weeks ago. We alerted him and he is now in safe-keeping. Are you ready?"
The Rammer stared blankly at the dark haired woman, realizing that she did not feel even the slightest bit of empathy for his confusion. She was only a messanger. It wouldn't do any good wasting time standing here and trying to figure out what was happening. It was more important to discover the whole truth in a safe location. He nodded, trying to convince the mysterious messenger that he was prepared for any turn of events.
"I wounldn't bother using your weapons," she advised. "Believe me, there are plenty of eyes watching you." She smiled knowingly and lead him down the hall. She picked up the pace as they entered a section of the Syndicate complex that was nearly deserted. "It's not much farther," she advised, stopping suddenly. She brought her hand up to her ear and nodded. The Rammer assumed that she had a communication device in her ear, and waited. He let his mind work out a plan of action once he was reunited with his team members. If everyone was in fact gathered together, then chances were that Timothy was behind this. If the man in the hospital bed was not his lover and friend, then Timothy must be working behind the scenes. He watched the dark haired woman intently. Then who was this? His musings were interrupted suddenly, as the woman beckoned to him. "We are being followed, Jaymes. They are already at the junction to this section of the complex, and it won't be long before they find us."
The Rammer shook his head. "Listen lady, I work for the Syndicate. I'm not in any danger inside the complex. If they are following me, then it must be to apprehend you."
"Jaymes, I doubt you are that naieve. You are as much of a target as Timothy was, and The Bitch is currently. You are all disposable now. They are only interested in the Bitch. Believe me, the stakes have risen, and your masquerade is unnecessary. They are after both of us. After all, why carry such an arsenal of weapondry if you didn't already know this." She looked quickly down the hallway, then eyed her charge. "Don't assume I am a simpleton, Jaymes. Now...let's go!"
She started to run, The Rammer following close behind.

Lenora Bigguns stood on the topmost section of the Syndicate roof-gardens, watching several guards in uniform milled about below her. Rumor of The Bitch's arrival had already permiated the entire complex, and everyone was preparing for the worst. Some said that the Project had gone terribly wrong and that the Bio/Cyber-woman was coming to attack her creators. Others thought that she was arriving to gather together an army to take down the last few pop-icons still free. Still other people whispered more absurd ideas, ones that included convert plans and two-face dealings. Lenora, surprsingly, was developing a taste for the absurd. She knew so much more now then she had a few months ago. Her new employer had seen to that, granting her privledged information, filling her head with the true goals of the Syndicate.
"And it all comes down to this," she murmmered to herself. "Will The Bitch fight or flee?"
Her thigh viberated, and she realized the she was getting a call. She reached into her pocket and extracted a cellphone. She flipped open the Nokia. "Yes, this is Bigguns." She paused. "Everything is still on schedule Lawanda. The team is gathered in the basement level, outside the security parimeter readings. Yes....yes...I would advise you to inform The Btich about Shannon Crowbar. I believe she will be waiting....yes....I see....Crowbar is dangerous....she is being forced...yes....exactly. What was that?" She paused again, this time her eyes grew large. "Are you sure? I understand boss....considered it done." She flipped the top of the Nokia down and put it away. This was terrible news indeed, she thought. Staring at one of the lovely rose bushes that dotted the garden, she felt her hands begin to shake. What should we do now? Where was the bomb squad? Her mind was immediately working. She wasn't going to lose! She was going to see The Bitch succeed. She turned and stormed away, a new s[lan of action already crystalizing in her head.
Happy Potato said at 12:15 PM

Saturday, May 17, 2003
The sky was a clear azure blue, thin clouds spun over its expanse like pulled cotton. The sun blazed above the city streets and the high imposing buildings like a watchful god. But god or no, Josie knew that the sun would not reign down vengence on her enemies. It laughed at her from its lofty position, seeing all, but mocking her for her own helplessness. Even with all the power infused into her by Timothy and the rest of the Bitchfonda team, she still remained a prisioner of this tiny safehouse apartment. If Mack's back-door plan succeed, she would find freedom soon enough, but with her lover sleeping only a few feet away, she wondered if that freedom would find her before anyone else got hurt.
Letting the heavy drape fall back over the window, Josie turned away from the summer cityscape outside and tried to clear her head. It seemed so futile to formulate a plan, with so many loose ends hanging outside her preception. It seemed even more hopeless to try out any plan she'd come up with already. If only she had a sign that it was time to move, a signal that would aleveate her worries. She wasn't asking for a large performance, where explosions and assult teams were harnassed. She knew that type of sign was out of her reach. The Syndicate had compromised her team, and they held all the power now. No one could be trusted, not even those closest to her.
Suddenly it dawned on her. Was this their plan all along? To isolate me and force me to succum to their will? If I believe that everyone is against me, then I will undoubtably turn myself over to avoid this emotional torture. Was that it? Did they honestly think that I'm that weak! Her mind flared to life, as hot as the sun outside. How dare they! To think, after all my sacrifice, they would use my own friends against me. And to what end? That question still plauged her mind. What was all this subterfuge and back-stabbing for? Was this still a test, or something more? She already knew that the American Idol Compitetion was a front for a more shady mission, one that she wasn't even aware of. It infuriated her that there were people further behind the scene, pulling strings, pracing them all around like puppets. She had undergone the Bitchfonda transformation for legitimate reasons, for her own beliefs, for her family and friends who suffered from the drab and soddy music of the era. She had been prodded and punctured, fused together with bio and advanced cyber technology, all in the hopes that her superpowers would rid the world of second rate pop vomit. To find out that her sacrafice was undertaken with other ends in mind was outrageous. To think that they were, even now, trying to use her for 'other' reasons......FUCK!
Her train of thought was broken by frantic knocks on the apartment door. "Jos, it's Evie! I have news!"
Josie ran through her security measures, checking the locks, asking for a password and viewing Evie on the screen next to the entry. Satisfied that her sister was in fact outside, she let her in. Evie didn't wait for the door to open completely before slipping inside. She held a cellphone in her hand, waving it in her sister's face. "You have to talk to her!"
"To who, Evie?"
Her sister looked perplexed. "I'm not sure who it is...she won't give us her name, but she has a message for you. Please!"
Josie grabbed the phone. "Yes, this is The Bitch."
"Listen closely," the female voice on the other end of the phone warned. "I already know that your attempt to access LYLE's mainframe failed. The back-door protocal was advanced, but LYLE adapted. I've implimented my own trap for Anne."
"Who is this? How do you know that Anne is behind all this?"
"Let's just say that I'm aware of a lot more then you are. If you intend to end this, you have to listen to me."
"But you won't tell me your name?"
"It's not necessary right now, Bitch, and you are not in a position to refuse any information that might assist you. Now, quickly, before they triangulate this call."
"Don't worry Evie has trace blockers on...."
"It's not enough!" the female voice was abrupt. "They are already aware of my call to you, and they will find me....and find you if we take too long."
Josie scowled. This didn't sound good. "Well then, what do you have to say?"
"Just this....turn yourself in."
"What, are you serious?" Josie looked over at her sister. "Evie...."
"I know you can't trust me....but if you don't turn yourself over to them....they will dispose of you mother, your friends....and your sister....and Christopher! It's the only way to halt their progress. Try to believe me.....once you have turned yourself in....my team will take it from there."
"And do what exactly?" Josie heard a suspicious sound on the line....click click click...
"They are already further along then I suspected! We have to end this call! Turn yourself over to them, Josie.....The Dirty Bitch is activated....and the sparrow flys with five legs...." The line died.
The Dirty Bitch? As if the roof had been torn off the apartment building and the sun was exposing every corner of her mind, Josie instantly knew what the caller was talking about. Turning to Evieloo, her voice steady and controlled she said. "Gather up our stuff and help me with Mack."
"Why, what was the message? What are you doing?"
Meeting her sister's eyes, Josie smiled sadly. "I'm turning myself in to the Syndicate, Evie....we all are."
Happy Potato said at 12:55 PM

Wednesday, May 14, 2003
"I know what we can do." Again Mack made a dramatic pause. Josie arched an eyebrow insistently. "We can deactivate LYLE!" he went on.
The Bitch hissed mindfully. "A pefect idea, lover, but..." she held up the print-out. "If this was all you could get from the data banks, how are you going to deactivate the entire program? LYLE is one of the most advanced programs in the world. Hacking into his mainframe isn't going to be a quick and painless process."
Mackdaddy shrugged. "It won't be, you are right. We have time, however, to make the attempt. If Anne is pulling the cords behind the scene, so to speak, we need some evidence to go on."
He had a point, Josie thought. "Do what you can, Christopher, but be careful. If someone detects you snooping around, they will bring down the ceiling on us, and I don't think I can manage a perfect escape."
It was Mack's turn to arch a brow. "You are uber-powerful, my wanton cherry. If anyone can manage our escape, if I am detected, it will be you."
"Well let's not test my powers yet. Without my connection to Tim's hub, I'm liable to lose complete control. I'm not willing to take out innocent lives, unless it's the last resort."
"That's not the Bitch I know."
"Then you don't know what I am going through right now, lover. My brain is overwhelmed. Please understand."
Christopher nodded. "I do, forgive me. I will leave you to think. If you need me I will be at the service connection outside. It's the only way I can hack into LYLE with my laptop."
"Be safe." Josie watched Mackdaddy leave. "Jesus!" she swore quietly to herself. "I just hope that we get to the bottom of this."


Anne survayed the recording studio with apraising eyes, the sounds of "God Bless the USA" blaring from the room beyond. All her 'captured' pop-stars were gathered, singing for the next upload. She glanced at one in particular. Finally, the Syndicate has Christina Aguilera. Thanks, in part, to her stealthy operatives. Poor Evieloo had no idea that the Christina she had was only a clone.
"Dale, I want Christina's voice to blend in with the others. This isn't Moulon Rouge, for god sake! I don't want her hussy-voice to over-power Kelly's. And bring up Dim Shady's vocals...it's not going to be a good rap unless we hear a couple of Fucks in there. Who in the hell wants their ghetto to be a field of pansies? I want loads of swearing! Got it?" Dale nodded from his seat at the mixing board, and started to make the adjustments. She turned from her survay and strode across the room, to a gentleman leaning against the far wall. "So Janus, what do you think?"
The Syndicate Leader smiled, lighting a slim cigarette and passing it to Anne. She took it and he lit another. "I think it's workable, but we aren't going to reach our full potential unless The Bitch is utlilized. You told me that you'd have things taken care of by now. What's the delay?"
Anne shook her head. "The Bitch was tipped off prematurely. She's gone into hiding with Mackdaddy and Evieloo. I have LYLE currently working on triangulating their location. It will take some time though. I hope you can be paitent for a while longer."
Janus fixed his cold eyes on Ripstorm. "I'm not a patient man, Ms. Director, as you most likely know by now. You've already failed me once with Timothy."
Anne looked flustered. "The Rammer was a problem we couldn't avoid. I assure you, even as we speak, the data is being collected. Judy was apprehended, but our connections....or, more specifically, your connections helped free her. She is en route to finish her mission. There will be no more problems. I promise."
"Oh there won't be any more problems, Ms. Ripstorm, I can assure you of that. I've already sent a man to pick up Shannon Crowbar, and we will find The Bitch using her skills. Don't bother trying to find her yourself. You have enough to deal with here."
"What about the data?"
"I will be expecting it, Anne! LYLE wasn't built to be your personal play-thing. He's a multi-functional-super-invigorator system. He will be the key component in our uploading process." He smiled wickedly. "Soon, all of the world will bask in the downloadable universe of popular music, brought to them courtesy of Kazaa....for a small fee of course. Good ole Crapster has nothing on us. Fawning and all his previous power, will be nothing compared to what we will do to the recording industry. BMGeeWhiz....Columbiah, Wanger Sisters/A(lways)O(off)L(line) Recording and all the rest of the RIIAA members will bow to us!" He released a haughty laugh, then swung around and left.
Anne stared after him, her mind a bit crazed by the interaction. He's loony, she reminded herself. But it's better to be on the winning side in this.
ANNIE, I HAVE AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSONAL HACKING INTO MY MAINFRAME.
"What? LYLE be more specific."
MACKDADDY IS ATTEMPTING TO ACCESS YOUR FILES AND MY DEPROGRAMMING CODES.
"He is, is he?" Anne smiled deviously to herself. Well this gives me a chance to find The Bitch before Janus. It's always nice to have a bargining chip. "Can you find his location LYLE?"
ATTEMPTING WITHDRAWAL. There was a pause, accompanied by several mechanical clicks. UNABLE TO LOCATE.
Damn! Anne spun on her heels. "Send a static bomb through the LAN system. Router three spines against his leap-frog program. If he is trying to jog the mainframe with a trogen-virus, or rally the main files with lay-over operation spirals, I want him stopped!"
STATIC BOMB SENT. CLOSING DOWN ALL MAIN SYSTEM FILES. REROUTING MAIN PROTOCALS THROUGH ANNIE VOICE-ENCODED BITMAP. STATIC BOMB HAS REACHED TARGET. LAPTOP MELTDOWN IN PROCESS. MACKDADDY IS EXTRACTING SHANNON CROWBAR FILES. BACK-UP DEFENSES EMPLOYED.
This should be interesting, Anne thought. She watched the singers in the other room absently. Once LYLE employed his back-up measures, Mackdaddy would be in store for a little surprise. Her smile grew. Mackdaddy wasn't the only one with technology in his blood....literally. LYLE was programmed with the boot-up codes for each of the self-destruct devices the Syndicate placed in all their operatives. Call it a security measure. Once one of the devices were activated, they could not be deactivated. Therefore such measures were only used in dire circumstances. "And this is one of those circumstance. Poor Mackdaddy....pathetic Macky! You only have a few hours to get that chip out of you...." She hissed in delight, her eyes blazing devilishly. "That's only if you can find it!"
Happy Potato said at 5:12 PM