Beta read by Opal and FabledLife
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-Midchilda-
Blue eyes reflected off a polished screen; the reflection stared back at the blonde wolkenritter from the monitor, blinking once as she leaned in.
"Strange." Shamal said, "Are you sure about this?" Rewinding the footage again, cuing it to the exact moment a drone appeared and launched its sneak attack on the duo in the middle of the night. Her fingers tapped several buttons in quick succession, and just as the machine fired its projectile, the footage slowed to a creeping crawl, letting them examine every detail frame by frame. "Tch, since it happened in the middle of nowhere, the cameras don't have the standard mana sensors."
She pushed her blonde hair aside and leaned closer to the screen once again.
The drone hovered in the air, targeting both Shirou and Nanoha. As its weapons locked onto them, particles of light gathered between two prongs mounted at the front of the machine. More and more mana accumulated there, compressing into a single point as the glow intensified. That point expanded into a ball of light before its shape began changing. The mass stretched and narrowed, forming what looked like a sword. Its outline sharpened until the construct looked almost indistinguishable from an ordinary blade. Then, without further warning, the drone fired it toward its targets.
"If you want my honest opinion, this looks like a Stinger Blade spell, or at least some variation of one." She replayed the footage once more, stopping just before the projectile left the drone.
Standing behind her, Signum crossed her arms and leaned forward to get a closer look. "Perhaps, but it doesn't resemble any version I'm familiar with. Especially that particular spell. I've fought Chrono before, and his spell doesn't form a blade like that. It has neither a handle nor grips, yet this thing looks almost like an actual metallic sword. It's literally just condensed mana shaped into a sword."
A thoughtful hum came from the blonde as she watched the projectile form again. "I suppose you're right."
Another screen immediately displayed the spell Signum had mentioned, allowing them to compare the two attacks side by side. The difference became much clearer once both images played at the same time. Shamal studied the footage for several seconds before her expression shifted into confusion. "Then why would Jail even attack them in the first place? The spell itself doesn't seem particularly powerful. If anything, it's weaker than Stinger Blade. No... it's definitely weaker."
The third Wolkenritter in the room huffed, with Vita stepping up beside them, pointing directly at the drone on the screen while irritation colored her voice. "Because his goal was never to hurt either of them. He wasn't trying to sneak attack them with the intention of taking one down."
Signum nodded. "Vita is right. He was trying to show off."
"Show off?" Shamal repeated, her eyebrows lifting as she looked between the two. Then again, that was the only explanation that made any amount of sense.
The three continued examining the footage while the other members of Riot Force Six watched from nearby. Hayate, Fate, and Shirou remained with the group, all of them following the replay on the various screens. After another glance at the footage, Shamal turned toward the others. "How did that drone even manage to infiltrate our airspace? Didn't we upgrade the security after the last attack? This is becoming a joke if he can keep sneaking in whenever he feels like it."
Hayate rubbed at her tired eyes before answering. "I had the entire area checked, and I also ordered a review of the systems to find out why they failed to react in time. According to the reports, the testing came back negative for any tampering. Everything is functioning perfectly."
"Clearly, that's not the case." Shamal folded her arms, still staring at the frozen image of the drone. "It's frustrating that the thing self-destructed. If it carried some kind of device that allowed it to remain invisible to our systems, then it's probably gone by now. Reduced to ashes, most likely. But that still doesn't explain why he sent the drone inside in the first place. I understand that Jail is a bit crazy."
"A bit?" Vita shot back, giving her a look.
The brunette cleared her throat. "Okay. He's extremely crazy. But he's not an idiot, and he's not petty enough to keep poking at us like this just to annoy us every few days. It makes no sense. He's taunting the enemy while risking his own safety and potentially giving us a chance to find his location. We've been dealing with these attacks for weeks, so you'd think he'd understand that."
Fate tilted her head as she considered the possibility. "What if he really is that petty? You never know with a personality like his."
Everyone in the room eyed each other, unable to deny that possibility as well. The mad scientist had been quite infamous for his eccentric nature the more they got to deal with him.
"It would be rather disappointing," Signum remarked, her arms still folded. "And somewhat embarrassing that someone like that is giving us this much trouble."
"I suppose so." Fate gave a nervous little laugh before her attention shifted toward Shirou. For most of the discussion, he had remained focused on the screen, carefully studying the footage rather than joining the speculation. "Shirou, do you have anything to add? It's likely that Jail targeted you from the beginning. Perhaps he's trying to suggest that he managed to copy your spell?"
Copy... to that, he already had an answer. Shirou shook his head. "Projection Magecraft and its constructs aren't exactly unique or difficult to accomplish for mages in my world. The basic process simply involves using Magical Energy, condensing it, and giving it the form of whatever inanimate object you want."
To demonstrate, a familiar glow gathered in his hand. A moment later, he projected a coffee cup, complete with a cute drawing of Lutecia's face printed across its side. "I already explained this before, but the original object will always be sturdier than a measly fake copy. One crack is enough to cancel the entire construct."
His explanation continued as he held the cup up for everyone to see. "The process involves gathering energy and compressing it into a specific shape. In this case, a cup. Its structural integrity depends entirely on the user's focus and the amount of magical energy invested into the construct. As long as that energy remains stable and undisturbed, the projected object maintains its form. But it will degrade with them; it's not eternal."
Shirou applied a little more force against the side of the cup. Crack.
A thin fracture appeared across its surface as he exerted some strength before the entire construct disappeared in an instant. "See? Once the structure becomes compromised, the magical energy dissipates immediately, and the object vanishes. That's why the drone's projectile broke down after impact. It was only a projection, not a real weapon."
"Doesn't that mean he did copy it?"
"No, he can't copy my Tracing. This spell, Projection, is different; it's available to every mage in my world. It's considered one of the more beginner-friendly spells, something practically anyone with even the slightest ability to use magecraft can accomplish."
Shamal's expression turned thoughtful as she muttered, "It's clear from the beginning that yours isn't really the same. Some of the weapons you bring out are on the same level as, if not beyond, certain devices. But given what you've told us, if that's the case, then how much more powerful were the originals in your world? How did you even come across them in the first place and survive the encounter? I doubt you saw most of them through some friendly exchange."
Hearing that, he signed with a tired tone. "I just happened to encounter a golden king who was more than happy to throw as many weapons at me as possible during our fight."
Hayate's eyes immediately lit up with interest. "I'd love to hear more about that. And I'd certainly like to meet this golden king."
An awkward look crossed Shirou's face. "Best you don't do that. The guy isn't exactly a great person." He quickly shifted the subject before Hayate could become any more interested. "We're going off topic here. If what Jail accomplished is just projection, then it shouldn't be anything to worry about."
"What if..." Signum raised her voice, folding her arms as their attention went to her. "What if he's not trying to showcase the spell itself, but the way the spell operates?"
The way the spell operated?
The suggestion earned several confused looks, prompting her to elaborate. "While both we and Jail use magic, the fundamentals aren't the same as what Shirou is using. We operate according to a different system, and there's a reason it took him so long to use a barrier jacket. The differences aren't limited to the spells themselves. Even our biology is different. So what if Jail simply demonstrated that he's capable of using spells from the same system as his world?"
The implications of that possibility left everyone in the room without an immediate answer. But there was one glaring issue: "I don't believe a drone can have magic circuits."
Fate eventually turned toward Shirou. "Shirou, just how likely is it that Jail could one day replicate the same kind of projection or Tracing you're using with those swords? I'm not talking about something simple like the cup you showed us earlier. I mean actual weapons."
"None." The answer came so quickly that several of them visibly reacted to it. The auburn head didn't even need to consider the question before continuing, "No matter how much time passes, it's not that easy to replicate those weapons."
Even as he explained it aloud, his thoughts moved through the actual requirements. Jail wouldn't merely need an enormous amount of energy. He would need an understanding of the concept behind the process, along with the basic fundamentals of how Tracing worked. Even if he somehow managed to use the same spell he did, that alone wouldn't give him the blueprints of the weapons resting within his Reality Marble. Every weapon contained its own history, its own existence, and everything that made it what it was. They weren't objects that could simply be recreated out of thin air.
Even if he handed several Noble Phantasms over to the scientist and allowed him to scan them or research them for as long as he wanted, the likelihood of Jail actually succeeding remained extremely low. Understanding the shape and construction of a weapon wouldn't necessarily mean understanding everything required to reproduce it through Tracing.
Rin had nearly managed something similar once, but even that had only happened because of her ridiculous talent. She had kept practicing until she could finally produce something decent, and even then, it had taken her several hundred attempts. Compared to someone like her, Jail had no reason to expect that simply discovering the same system would allow him to reproduce the results.
'Just what is Jail doing?' Shirou wondered, his thoughts returning to the scientist and what he had already managed to accomplish. 'It's a waste of time trying to copy my spell; it's not like there aren't more destructive spells in this world. Why go with that?'
Nanoha finally broke into the discussion. "Should we be worried about this?"
"If it's about another drone attack, no, I'll be personally overlooking this; as for the rest? It's hard to say right now," Hayate replied, her expression becoming more serious as she considered the situation. "We don't have enough information to judge exactly what he's trying to accomplish. But what is worrisome is how Jail managed to get through our security in the first place. That needs to be investigated."
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The discussion eventually moved on without Shirou, leaving him with little reason to remain in the room. Once he stepped outside, the others continued their investigation while giving him some free time. He had barely taken another step before a hand caught his arm.
Turning around, he found Shamal standing behind him. The blonde gave him a small grin, making him glance at her curiously.
"Could you accompany me for a bit?"
He followed her through the facility as she led him back toward her laboratory, a place he hadn't visited in quite some time. Once they entered, Shirou looked around briefly before turning toward her. "Did you need me for something?"
"Yes."
Without wasting any time, the scientist extended her hand toward him. "Give me Rubin for a bit."
"Eh? Sure." Confusion crossed his face, but curiosity quickly won out. Whatever she had planned, he wanted to see where it led. Shirou reached beneath his clothing and removed the necklace, placing it into her waiting hand. The crimson gem caught the laboratory light as it changed hands, gleaming brightly for a moment before Shamal carried it over to one of the devices.
"Give me a few seconds." She placed the necklace into some sort of receptacle and began connecting it to her computer. Once the equipment started receiving the device's data, her attention returned to him. "How has your experience been with the device so far?"
Ah, now that felt like a tricky question to answer. Remembering the previous instances involving Rubin, he couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed. 'Now that I think about it, I haven't really done much with Rubin, have I? Aside from using its abilities to provide extra protection, that's practically been it. I can't even remember what other capabilities this device has.'
His embarrassment showed as he rubbed the back of his head. "Oh, just the same thing as every other barrier jacket. I've been making sure I don't get hit, basically."
The woman working at the computer gave him a small smile. "You haven't exactly used it to its full extent, have you?"
If anything, she was quite perceptive. There wasn't much point trying to hide anything from her. With an exhale, Shirou nodded and admitted, "I'm sorry. I just never really got the opportunity to push it to its limits."
Aside from his fight against the Numbers on the Saint's Cradle, the drones, and the creatures on that planet, Shirou rarely had to endure an attack directly. Most opponents never even managed to land a hit before he dealt with them, leaving very few opportunities to discover just how far Rubin could actually be pushed. The Numbers had been the obvious exception. They had forced him into a situation where he couldn't simply avoid every attack, giving him a chance to see what happened when the device had to withstand sustained pressure rather than a few isolated blows.
Shamal waved a hand dismissively. "It's all right! If anything, that just proves how good a mage you are. You managed to protect yourself perfectly well without relying too heavily on the Barrier Jacket, so there's no reason to feel embarrassed. I suppose it makes sense, too, considering you're practically accustomed to fighting without one. Allowing yourself to get hit when you don't have that protection would practically amount to a death sentence, right?"
"I suppose so." He glanced down at himself before looking back at her. "I do have other means of protection, like reinforcement, but that doesn't provide the same level of defense as Rubin."
"Ah, reinforcement. I remember that one. It's a useful armor-enhancing spell when you're already wearing something protective, even if it's something as simple as chain mail." Shamal tapped a finger against her chin, considering it. "Against powerful spells, though, I imagine relying on it alone wouldn't be a particularly good idea."
"Yes. Against something strong enough, reinforcement alone wouldn't be nearly enough."
A faint smile crossed her face. "I'll admit, after spending so much time working on your device, I feel a little disappointed that I never got to see just how well my product performs."
"Sorry about that." Again, he genuinely felt a bit ashamed, even if it sounded strange.
"No, no, you don't need to apologize." Her expression quickly brightened, almost as if the apology had given her another idea. "Actually, this might be a good opportunity to improve it further. Not necessarily by making it stronger, but by making it more useful for you."
That caught him off guard. "Improve it?"
"We already solved the biggest problem, remember? You originally needed to supply it with magical energy yourself just to keep it active. Now it's passive, so it doesn't constantly require your concentration or focus." Shamal gestured toward the Barrier Jacket as she continued explaining. "That part works exactly as intended, but I still don't know where its practical weaknesses lie because I haven't seen you use it under enough pressure."
Shirou immediately raised both hands. "Wait, wait, wait! There's really no need to keep adding things to it. It's already powerful enough."
As much as he appreciated her efforts, the fact that he could even use the device to slow down his fall when jumping from a high area was already a big enough upgrade.
The woman chuckled, "Fufufu~! I'm not planning to make it more powerful." Shamal gave him an almost offended look at the suggestion. "It already has plenty of power. What I'm trying to figure out is how to make that power more efficient. More useful during an actual fight. There's a difference."
She studied him for a moment before asking, "So, what is your primary approach when fighting someone?"
"Sorry?"
"What kind of weapons do you normally use? Your swords, perhaps? Or do you favor something else, like a spear?"
He scratched the back of his head, thinking about it. "I suppose my dual swords are what I use most often, but there are also times when I prefer a bow." His expression shifted as another memory came to mind. "Technically, there was one occasion where I did push Rubin close to its limits. That happened during my fight against the Numbers."
"What was your biggest concern back then?"
"Running out of magical energy, probably. Or having my magical circuits feel like they are themselves out." He remembered how often he'd needed to use his spells just to keep up with so many opponents. "I had to keep casting while fighting multiple people, and eventually the strain started becoming a problem."
"I can't exactly improve your skills for you, but perhaps I can help with the other part." Shamal's eyes lit up as she worked through the idea. "I could add something like a storage system. You'd have another reserve of magical energy available when you need it, almost like a battery."
"But that doesn't really change the fundamental problem." Shirou shook his head. "Even if you gave me a gem capable of storing more energy, I'd still need to use my magical circuits to cast the spells. I'd eventually reach the same problem if I pushed myself too far. And besides, the concentration of mana in this world is already quite high."
"Hmm..." Shamal folded her arms, considering his point rather than immediately dismissing it. "Then we'll have to conduct more stress tests while you're here. I'll see what I can do to improve Rubin without simply throwing more power into it."
"How do you plan on doing that?"
A knowing smile appeared on her face. "Oh, I've already found someone willing to help. He's been wanting to speak with you for quite a while, actually, so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity."
Before he could question who she meant, footsteps echoed from behind him.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
He turned toward the entrance just as a tall man walked into the laboratory, dressed in the same uniform worn by everyone else but with a dark colour palette. Blue hair shifted slightly as he approached, and the newcomer extended a hand toward him with a friendly expression.
"You must be Shirou. It's nice to meet you. I'm Chrono."
{Break}
(Around the same time)
-Residential Complex-
"Uuuugh..."
Subaru lay sprawled across the couch in her apartment, staring blankly at the ceiling as her thoughts wandered without any particular destination. Having spent enough time in that position that the ceiling had probably become more familiar than anything else in the room.
Pa!
"Ouch!"
Then a piece of fruit balanced on the end of a fork appeared directly in front of her face. No follow-up reaction came beyond grabbing the grape and stuffing it into her mouth to eat it, maintaining the same tired expression as she chewed.
"Staring at the ceiling won't do you any good." Teana lowered the fork after Subaru finished the fruit. "What are you thinking about?"
"Wondering why you decided to throw a grape at me."
"Would you have preferred a pineapple or a watermelon?"
"Ah... then never mind. I'm just feeling a bit tired."
"Tired is one way of putting it." The orange-haired girl looked her over, clearly unconvinced. "You look like you've barely got any energy left. What's with you? You look like you'll turn into those zombie monsters we've faced last time. Hopefully, you didn't get bitten."
Subaru didn't bother arguing that small joke at the end. Feeling lazy, sluggish even, and the exhaustion hadn't completely faded since their fight. Her mind kept circling back to the same thoughts, no matter how many times she tried to push them aside. Eventually, she turned her head toward Teana.
"Speaking of which, how do you think my performance has been?"
"What do you mean?"
"Against the Numbers we fought inside the forest." Subaru frowned at the ceiling again. Though it was Shirou and Lutecia who got most of the action, they still were dealing with enemies on their side. "I feel like I did pretty well, but you seemed better than me - your aim has improved."
"I guess I just got more confident using my gun." Teana stared at her for a moment before giving her a puzzled look. "Since when has this been a competition between us?"
"I don't know whether to call it a competition or not. At this point, it feels more like a personal challenge to myself, one where the only thing I really care about is making sure I don't get left behind. Everyone around me is continuing to get better, learning new techniques, and finding ways to improve, so standing still simply isn't an option. Even Erio has been getting better during our duels, you know."
"Oh, you've been doing great too!" Teana reassured her, offering a smile that made it difficult to tell whether she was simply trying to be kind or genuinely believed it.
"Are you saying that because you're being nice, or because you actually mean it?"
"Can't it be both?"
"Heh," she chuckled at that. Somehow, that sounded exactly like the sort of answer she should have expected from her friend. Still, the thought that had been bothering her remained, and after a moment, curiosity won out. "Hey, something has been on my mind lately, wanna hear it?"
Teana's expression shifted into confusion. "Eh, what happened?"
"I think I saw Shirou and Fate getting pretty close to each other. Like, really close. I'm pretty sure they kissed." She ended up revealing it without giving that much thought. Already anticipating the reaction from the girl next to her.
"Pft-cough! Cough!" Water droplets splattered across the counter; Teana nearly choked, coughing as her eyes widened. "W-What?!"
"Yeah, I mean, it's not that surprising since Fate did not keep any secrets from us, but seeing it definitely nails in that they really are together. Even during his birthday, they seemed to be getting along pretty well; you think they kissed in secret somewhere without us knowing?"
Before Fate herself brought up the subject, Subaru felt like she had witnessed a crime scene; she was not even sure how to approach the subject or just pretend she had no idea what was going on. Part of her never could have imagined that she could one day end up in one of those drama shows her sister would look at whenever she had free time - much less witness an actual love triangle.
'Then again, does it count as a love triangle if all sides have agreed and love each other?'
This kept getting more complicated than combat training.
"Wait, go back for a second. Do you think you saw them kissing, or are you actually sure you saw them kissing?"
"I was quite far away, and their figures looked a little blurry from where I stood, but I think they did. That's when I noticed it. Why are you surprised? It's not like we don't know they are an item."
"I-I know..." Teana mumbled, her face going red with shyness. "I just wasn't prepared to hear that they had already reached such a stage. Aren't they going a bit too fast?"
"Heh, you're surprisingly innocent! But it's not like I can give much insight; I've never dated before, but it definitely feels a bit too fast. Where's the dating and the bashful handholding?"
"Oi, don't call me innocent like I'm a kid! Besides, does this subject have anything to do with you being so down? Don't tell me you're feeling jealous..."
"No I'm not! Why would I be jealous?"
"Cause then he might spend less time with us?"
"Where did you even get that idea? It sounds like I'm some sort of child."
"You kind of tend to behave like one at times."
Putting aside the clear attempt at taunting her, that answer left Subaru staring ahead for a moment, her expression gradually becoming more troubled. As much as she wanted to deny it, it wouldn't hurt to consider it. That could explain why she felt so strangely demotivated lately. Or perhaps it had nothing to do with it, and everything had simply piled up at once. The thought irritated her because she couldn't even understand why she cared so much.
'Wait, why am I feeling demotivated about that? It's not like he's cheating on her. Is it cheating? Shirou doesn't exactly strike me as someone who would cheat, and Fate and Nanoha are practically inseparable. They're best friends. So what exactly am I supposed to make of that?'
Her brow tightened as she rubbed her face.
"Just what is going on with me?" Rather than continue digging through thoughts that were only making her more confused, Subaru abruptly changed the subject. "Bah, best not to think about it. By the way, when will our next mission be?"
What better remedy for her current state than going out to punch and kick a few annoying drones?
"Oh, come on, we just came back from a mission."
Who would have thought that one day she would be the one to urge Teana for more work. "I know, but I want to punch something. Maybe that'll get my head back where it needs to be."
Teana considered that for a moment, placing a finger against her chin. "It's probably not going to take long before we're dispatched again. I heard something about us possibly being sent to the church."
"The Grand Cathedral?"
"I'm not sure about the details yet. Apparently, Fate made the request, and there's a chance we'll be tagging along with her."
Subaru leaned back in her seat, trying to remember the last time she had actually gone there. The memory felt surprisingly distant. Her sister had wanted to visit the place before, but so much had happened since then that the details had faded into the back of her mind. Even memories from before the fire at the mall, before Nanoha had saved her, seemed strangely distant now. She couldn't believe how much time had passed and how many things had changed since those days.
A sudden clap of both hands against her cheeks broke the train of thought, with her immediately straightening and jumping to her feet, startling Teana.
"All right! I'm going inside to the training facility and punching some dummies. It'll do me some good to get rid of this stress."
"I'll join you in a bit. I just need to finish this paperwork."
Subaru glanced back at her friend before leaving. She hadn't mentioned it, but she'd noticed the change in Teana over the past few days. The girl seemed calmer and more relaxed than before, carrying herself with a confidence that hadn't quite been there previously. Something had clearly happened between her and Shirou, though Subaru had never asked for the details. She respected her friend's privacy enough not to pry, but that didn't stop her mind from drawing its own conclusions.
"No, that can't be it." Subaru shook her head almost immediately. "What is this, some kind of harem? That's so absurd. I'm just thinking crazy things."
The idea made little sense when she considered who Teana actually was. Subaru knew her better than almost anyone, and the possibility of her willingly accepting a relationship like that sounded ridiculous. There had to be another explanation. Shirou had probably helped her with some aspect of her training, and that would explain the change far better than the ridiculous scenario her imagination had created.
Still, Subaru couldn't help letting out a frustrated groan. "I want to get some advice too."
Unfortunately, the person she had in mind didn't exactly specialize in hand-to-hand combat. Shirou's fighting style differed so much from hers that trying to learn anything useful from him would probably amount to little more than wasting both their time. Unless she suddenly decided to pick up two swords, a bow, or a gun, there wasn't much his particular style could offer her. That left one obvious choice. If she genuinely wanted to continue improving, she needed to meet her sister again and keep training under her.
"Don't wait for me, I'll be back during the evening!"
...
With that settled, Subaru headed toward the training facility. After changing into her training garb and putting on her combat gear, she made her way onto the field. "Alright, a few laps around the field for starters and some target practice, been a while since I've don-hm?" Only to stop the moment she spotted someone who absolutely should not have been there.
"You!"
A frown immediately settled across her face as irritation rose in her voice. Walking farther onto the field, she fixed her eyes on the Number standing nearby and speaking with Gaius's assistant. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in a cell?"
The woman turned toward her with an almost pleasant smile, as though their previous meeting had never happened. "Oh, hello there, Miss Nakajima~! It's pleasant to see you here. I hope you had a great rest since our last meeting." For a prison, Quattro certainly looked in good shape. If a stranger were to stare at the scene, not once would the idea of this girl being a prisoner even cross their mind.
"Cut the chatter. I'm not here to be friends with you."
Subaru had never quite known what to think about Quattro. The Numbers had been created by their current enemy, one of the most wanted people in Midchilda, and that alone made trusting any of them difficult. At one point, she had considered the possibility that perhaps someone like this could still be helped. Maybe, with enough time and proper guidance, Quattro could realize the kind of person she had been working for, abandon Jail, and find another path for herself. There had even been a part of her that hoped the Numbers could eventually become ordinary people and regain their freedom.
That possibility disappeared after she learned what Quattro had done.
One of the Numbers had been killed by her own hands. Someone who should have been her sister, someone who had been part of the same family as the others. Subaru initially struggled to believe it, but after hearing more details from Lutecia. Quattro had apparently done it without hesitation... Whatever chance she had once imagined for her disappeared after that. Anyone capable of killing one of her own supposed sisters without even stopping to reconsider couldn't simply be trusted because the higher-ups decided to give her another chance.
'Why do they keep favoring her so much?'
Auris stepped between the two before the confrontation could grow any further. "Good afternoon to you too. Please calm down, Miss Nakajima. Quattro has not been freed, and she's only being allowed to move around this area under heavy supervision."
Like, an explanation barely helped in this situation! "This is where we train and hone our skills. Isn't it a bad idea to let an enemy see exactly what we're capable of and potentially send all of that information back to Jail?"
"I understand your concern, but that's very unlikely. Quattro is no longer in contact with Jail, and, as I mentioned, she's under heavy supervision. We're not simply allowing her to wander around freely. We're using the knowledge she possesses to improve our own capabilities."
"What? What is going on here?"
Before Subaru could demand a better explanation, Erio approached with Caro beside him. The two spotted her and offered their greetings, neither looking particularly surprised by Quattro's presence. That only made the situation more confusing.
"Erio! Caro! Aren't you worried about this one here?"
"This one?" Quattro muttered under her breath, a faint look of offense crossing her face. "That's a bit rude, wouldn't you say?"
Subaru ignored the complaint entirely, keeping her attention on the two other members of Riot Force 6 as she waited for an explanation. The boy's expression grew more serious as he looked toward Quattro.
"I was also against her being here, but after what happened last night, she really might be our only option if we want to make sure it never happens again."
"Incident?"
Both Erio and Caro answered almost at once.
"Another drone snuck in and launched a surprise attack on Shirou and Nanoha yesterday."
"What!?" That was definitely the first time she heard that piece of news. "Why did nobody tell me?"
"It happened last night, so it's still recent news. We only learned about it an hour ago."
She frowned, trying to connect the information. "So what does it have to do with her being here?"
Auris stepped forward before either of them could respond, directing her explanation toward the concerned officer. "Quattro is very familiar with Jail's technology and his work. We've reached an agreement with her to exchange more information about his technology, which should allow us to detect his drones more easily and protect ourselves from further attacks."
"You're going to believe her? She could just give us wrong information for all we know."
Auris shook her head, making it clear that the decision had not come from blind trust. "We aren't naive. We have our own methods for checking the validity of her statements, and we'll also double-check the information she provides to determine whether it actually works. She knows perfectly well that if her answers fail to help us, she'll be punished and her sentence will become worse. Any good faith she's accumulated will also disappear."
Well... on one side, she understood her importance now, but still!
"Fine..."
"I'll be back shortly. Miss Subaru, can you keep an eye on her while I'm gone?"
Subaru glanced toward Quattro, then back at Auris with an eager expression. "Do I get to maul her if she acts out of line, pretty please?"
"No."
It was worth a shot. With that brief answer, Auris turned and left, leaving Subaru alone with the former Number. The departure drew an amused smirk from Quattro as she looked over at her temporary companion.
"You really do hate me, don't you?" The orange-haired woman asked, only to earn an eye roll from her.
"Not that I hate you to the bone or have some personal vendetta, but I really don't trust you."
A shrug followed. "Well, fair enough, and you're quite right. But I still feel I deserve some recognition for helping you so much."
"Help us? We could have done all of this without you!"
Quattro scoffed as she looked at Subaru. "As if. The reason they're still unable to catch the doctor comes from how much they're underestimating him. As long as the doctor doesn't want to be found, they will never find him. It doesn't matter how many of their planet's resources they combine or how many agents of Midchilda they send after him. They still won't be able to find him, and he can use that technology to make sure no one can find his own creations."
"That's a lot of praise coming from someone who switched sides and is supposed to be against him."
"I'm merely stating facts. That doesn't necessarily mean I'm praising him."
Subaru decided she had heard enough and turned away, intending to walk off and blow off some of her frustration.
"You have a big sister, don't you? What's her name again? Ginga Nakajima?"
"..."
Her steps stopped immediately. The question clearly sounded like a taunt, and every part of her mind warned against giving Quattro the reaction she wanted. Taking a deep breath, she turned her head slightly.
"Yes. What of it?"
She hummed, hand behind her back, with a laid-back demeanor. "Your sister is quite a famous individual, actually. Her accomplishments have even reached the ears of Dr. Jail, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that her younger sister followed in her footsteps."
Subaru narrowed her eyes, unable to figure out what the woman intended to accomplish by bringing her sister into the conversation. "So, what of it?"
"You know, nothing much - I'm just trying to have a conversation with you. It's just that she gives me a sense of familiarity. I feel like I've seen her before, but I can't quite figure out where or when. Even when I was in my cell, I only saw her once, yet that feeling never left my mind."
Quattro adopted a thoughtful expression, apparently turning the memory over in her mind as her patience continued wearing thin with every passing second, and the possibility that this entire conversation existed only to waste her time and provoke a reaction became harder to dismiss.
Then she finally snapped her fingers. "Oh, right. I remember now. It came from the doctor's records."
Records?
"What? Why would my sister be there?"
"Well, you must know about the doctor's field of expertise and what he specializes in. Unlike what many people might assume, it isn't robotics or weaponry, such as drone creation or other artificial devices. Those things only come second. His main focus has always been artificial life and the cloning of living beings. Your sister, the other Numbers, and little Vivio are proof enough of that."
Subaru rubbed her forehead, already regretting coming here. She should have stayed in her apartment with Teana or made an effort to spend time with the others instead. At least either option would have been more peaceful than standing here listening to Quattro talk.
"If you don't stop yapping, I'll just continue my training."
A chuckle sounded from Quattro. "You know, this isn't even the first time he's created clones. He's made several before."
Her steps came to a halt once more, a bad feeling rising from within, yet she could not bring herself to walk away. Slowly, she turned toward her, giving the girl a suspicious glare.
"Some of those creations were made at the request of clients who are now higher-ups within the TSAB. People who once begged him for help are now trying to have him locked away. Those same people searched for him when they needed someone capable of creating new life because they couldn't do it themselves. His creations were so perfect that some of them aren't even aware they're clones."
The smirk on Quattro's face grew as she met Subaru's eyes.
"Imagine how sad that would be. Some of his own creations could be going after him right now without knowing who they really are. Without understanding that they only reached their current positions because of his own brilliance. Finding out the truth after all this time would be quite devastating, wouldn't it?"
This...!
Subaru's expression hardened, turning around fully and marching back toward the girl, grabbing Quattro by the collar and pulling her closer. The fabric of her clothing bunched beneath Subaru's fist, but the other woman remained remarkably calm, seemingly amused rather than intimidated by the sudden aggression.
"You've been getting quite comfortable with yourself lately, starting to speak nonsense."
A deafening boom suddenly shook the area.
BOOM!
"-!?"
Both of them snapped their attention toward the sound. A long section of the nearby wall cracked apart before collapsing, sending chunks of debris tumbling across the floor. Something shot through the opening at incredible speed, tearing through the dust and heading straight toward them.
Subaru reacted immediately, throwing herself aside.
The object streaked past her.
"Ah!" Quattro couldn't move away in time.
Crash!
The projectile slammed directly into her, carrying both of them across the room before crashing into the adjacent wall. Dust erupted around the impact point as rubble scattered across the floor.
"What the hell?! Is it an enemy attack?"
Subaru immediately prepared herself for a fight, her attention fixed on the wreckage. Then she noticed the shape lying where Quattro had landed. The supposed projectile had arms, legs, and familiar red hair.
Her eyes widened.
"Shirou!?"
The dust gradually cleared as the red-haired man pushed himself upright, coughing while waving a hand in front of his face.
"Hey there, Subaru. Cough! Ah... Sorry if I startled you."
He spoke as casually as if he had merely walked into the room, apparently overlooking the fact that he had just been launched through a wall like a human projectile. From the opening he'd originally flown through, another figure emerged. Chrono looked around the damaged area before immediately focusing on him.
"Shirou! Are you okay?"
"I'm okay, Chrono!"
The man brushed some dust from his clothing and checked himself over.
"How's your barrier jacket doing?"
A quick glance downward followed.
"It's still there, but the lower part has started to fray a little."
"Any pain anywhere?"
"Surprisingly, no. But I am feeling a bit drained."
Chrono looked him over.
"Want to go another round?"
"Sure. I think it can survive. Maybe two more hits. No, three."
These two were speaking so casually that Subaru genuinely began to wonder if that hit hadn't damaged something in his mind.
"Sorry about that," he added while walking past her. "We're just testing some new things."
"What the hell is going on?"
"We're testing the limits of my barrier jacket. Shamal made some modifications, and we're stress-testing it since I didn't really get the opportunity to test everything beforehand."
That only made her question the authenticity of this method even further.
"Wait. Are you letting Chrono use you as a punching bag? You sure it has nothing to do with the rumour of him trying to pursue Nanoha in the past, and he could potentially be using this opportunity to release some steam?"
"...What?"
Oh, so he did not know about that. "Forget about it, I'm just spewing off rumours that make no sense. So how exactly does this work? Just punch till you pass out?" She immediately tried to change topics, as he did not know the little gossip going around the office.
"You were curious about how much of an improvement my reinforcement could make to your barrier jacket, remember? This gives us a chance to see whether it's actually necessary."
"Wow! Can... can I also take part in it?" She asked with a mischievous grin. Something that did not escape his notice.
"Sure, why not? I've always had the feeling you've wanted to give me a good punch in the face anyway. This might be your only opportunity before you never get the chance again."
"Ha!" Subaru laughed, stepping closer and gave his shoulder a light punch.
"You rascal. Don't get all high and mighty. Just you wait. Once we're even, those swords of yours won't stop me from landing a few hits on you."
"That's what they all say."
The two started heading toward the others, with Subaru following alongside him. Yet after a few steps, something caught her attention. She glanced back toward the destroyed section of the room where Quattro had crashed.
The girl had already gotten back on her feet. Apart from looking slightly frazzled, she appeared completely unharmed. Her clothing remained intact, though her normally neat hair had become a complete mess from being slammed into the wall.
A small sense of satisfaction crept over Subaru at the sight.
Still, it didn't erase what had been said earlier. Some of his creations were made for clients who now wanted him imprisoned. Some of them didn't even know they were clones. And some might already be pursuing him without knowing the truth about their own existence.
Subaru's expression gradually became more serious as those words continued circling through her mind.
'What... did she mean by that?'
{Break}
Dim light from the numerous monitors washed over the laboratory, casting a pale glow across the rows of equipment, buttons, cables, and blinking indicators that filled the room. Genetic sequences and streams of data continuously shifted across the largest screen, information changing every few seconds as the scientist seated before the keyboard continued typing.
Due knew that the man had spent the better part of the last few days buried in his work, barely giving himself enough time to eat or sleep, and judging by the speed at which his fingers moved across the keys, he had no intention of stopping anytime soon. She watched him for a moment before letting out a quiet breath, then walked over with a fresh cup of coffee. Setting it beside him, she finally broke through his concentration.
"You should rest."
A short laugh escaped the man without his attention leaving the screen. "I know my limits. Besides, I'm not going to take unnecessary risks or waste resources we can barely afford right now."
That answer got a slight shake of the head. Clearly, arguing with him would accomplish nothing, so she left the scientist to his work and crossed the laboratory toward the other side of the room. Cinque stood there with her arms folded across her chest, her white hair falling around her shoulders as she glanced toward the keyboard and monitors. "He's still at it?"
"It doesn't look like he'll be stopping anytime soon."
"Can't he just ask you or someone else to take over that particular duty?" Cinque rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. "We were all made with the knowledge needed to handle certain parts of his work."
"That would certainly make things easier, but unfortunately, the only one capable of handling that specific task is currently locked inside a cell or under heavy monitoring by the TSAB."
The white-haired woman grimaced at that reminder, reaching up to scratch the back of her head. "Any word on Quattro? It's been so long since I've seen her that I'm starting to wonder if she's even still alive."
"No, she's alive." Due answered immediately, making it clear that there had never been any doubt in her mind. "I still communicate with her and pass along instructions from the doctor."
The two Numbers left the laboratory hallway behind and entered the large communal lounge where the others had gathered. Some occupied the couches while watching television, others rested wherever they could find a comfortable spot, and a few had chosen to exercise rather than sit around. The room served as their place to relax whenever they had nothing else to do. Their creator could be strict when it came to their duties, but he had never expected them to function like machines without rest. They needed time away from their work just as much as anyone else, and this room gave them somewhere to simply exist without constantly having another task placed before them.
Cinque headed toward the coffee machine and prepared herself a cup before filling another. She carried both back over and offered one to her companion, only for Due to push it away. "Thanks, but no. I'm sick of coffee."
"Oh, right." A faint grin appeared as Cinque glanced at the cup in her own hand. "You've been chugging that stuff more than the doctor himself. Honestly, if we weren't artificial to some extent, I feel like you would've died from caffeine poisoning by now."
Due's eye twitched. "Thanks for the compliment."
"Hmph, smartass." Cinque glanced toward the others scattered around the lounge. The most impacted from Tre's absence was easily Nove. While she did not say it out loud, one could tell that she faulted herself for not being strong enough. But unfortunately, nothing more than a few words could be exchanged to put her at ease, the rest she needed to comprehend herself and harden her heart. Cinque's expression soon changed, and she lowered her voice. "The mood's been pretty somber these past few days."
"I can't blame them." Due followed her gaze, taking in the subdued atmosphere around the room. "They've suffered one loss after another, and with Tre's recent death, things have only become more complicated."
"I bet they have mixed feelings about Quattro."
To that, Due agreed. "They won't necessarily agree with what she did, but I've made sure they understand her actions. It's for the greater good, and it's necessary if we're going to guarantee our success in the future."
Cinque narrowed her eyes. "I know why it happened. I'm not blind. That doesn't mean I have to like it. We're talking about our own sister here."
Due took a sip of water before answering, her tone remaining matter-of-fact. "It's fine. She can simply be remade. It's not like she's gone forever."
"That's not the point!"
Her palm struck the table with a loud thud, drawing a few brief glances from across the lounge before attention returned to whatever everyone had been doing. Cinque kept her hand against the tabletop as she stared at the other woman. "I know you're not stupid, nor are you blind to see the issue here. You know exactly what I mean by that."
"What do you propose, then?" Due's eyes narrowed in return. "Do you want to go back to Midchilda, find Emiya Shirou, capture him, and bring him back here? By yourself? And somehow do all of that without getting wounded, defeated, or spotted by the other mages like Nanoha and Fate? On top of that, are you really confident you could stop that guy from using that particular weapon again? Just see the sacrifice as a necessary step to avoid further casualties, Tre would have understood."
Mention of the weapon brought both of them back to the events at Saint's Crater. The memory of that battle surfaced with uncomfortable clarity, along with the sight of that strange umbrella-shaped weapon and what it had done. A faint shiver passed through both women before Cinque finally broke the recollection.
"Are we sure that wasn't some weapon or device Hayate and the others secretly gave him? Raising Heart is quite similar in terms of destructive capabilities."
Due shrugged. "Who knows? It's not the first time he's used some strange weapon with strange abilities. That should tell you exactly why the doctor is so interested in him. Weapons from another world would be quite interesting to research and his genetic material is also another interesting matter."
Even with that explanation, Cinque remained unconvinced. "Having more weapons that can perform a bunch of tricks still doesn't feel worth all this trouble compared to going after relics and other ancient Belkan technology. The Saint's Cradle is only one of those creations. There are still more out there waiting to be found, and some of them are far more destructive."
"What makes you so sure they won't be going after those as well?" Due folded her arms. "Right now, the doctor is focusing on the problem directly in front of us before moving on to the others."
Her gaze shifted toward the rest of the Numbers scattered throughout the lounge. "They should be doing the same. They're licking their wounds, regrouping, and trying to get back to how things were before all these losses. Even losing Leticia created a major setback, never mind Tre and the Saint's Cradle. We have to slow down and..."
"Yeah, yeah, I understand." Cinque waved a hand dismissively as she walked past her. "You don't need to repeat the same thing to me ten times."
She continued toward the exit, but before leaving the room, the white-haired woman stopped long enough to look back over her shoulder. "I still think there's a better way to handle this than relying on Quattro and potentially using more of our sisters. They're not just disposable creations, you know."
Her expression hardened as she added, "Have a heart, Due."
...
After walking away from the conversation, the woman took some time to gather her emotions and realized her mistake. Perhaps she had said too much.
The discomfort sitting in her stomach made that clear, yet she knew those words needed to be brought up. They might have been creations of Dr. Jail, and technically each of them could be duplicated if the doctor decided to do so, but that did not make any of them disposable. They were individual beings who had spent their lives together, formed bonds with one another, and came to see each other as sisters through the shared connection they had with their creator. Losing one of them therefore could never feel like losing a thousand ordinary drones. One sister had disappeared, and that loss had shaken the others far more deeply than Due seemed willing to acknowledge. Watching their behavior these past few days only reinforced that thought, and seeing such indifference from one of her own sisters hurt more than she wanted to admit.
"Should I talk to the doctor about this?" she whispered, though even asking herself the question left her uncertain.
Would he even listen? Dr. Jail remained occupied with his latest project, devoting himself to whatever he had been researching for so long that everything else seemed secondary. If he could barely spare attention for the Numbers, expecting him to concern himself with how they felt about losing one of their own seemed almost pointless. Yet allowing the situation to continue without doing anything felt even worse.
"I can't let this go on. Something needs to be done." Her gaze hardened as another thought came to mind. "As long as I can get in contact with Quattro, it should be more than enough to acquire the information I need. We don't need several people working on a single mission. That would only increase the chances of us getting discovered."
The problem came from the fact that she could not simply go behind the doctor's back and conduct the mission herself. Even if she succeeded and returned with useful information, the results might not matter to him. Her actions would still count as disobedience, and that alone could erase whatever trust he had placed in her. The thought irritated her enough that she leaned forward and gave the wall a dull thump with her forehead.
"Dammit."
Nothing about the current situation felt simple. With a frustrated breath, Cinque moved into another room, one that connected to the doctor's research area and contained the work he had devoted himself to for so long. The laboratory carried the sterile atmosphere she had grown accustomed to, with equipment surrounding the various experiments and machines that continued their work without needing anyone to touch them. Passing one particular tube made her slow down. A body floated inside a large vat filled with liquid, suspended within the field surrounding it. The small figure possessed striking blue hair and the face of one of the Numbers who had disappeared.
Tre.
The process remained in its early stages, but according to the doctor, only time separated the developing body from reaching full maturity. Everything about the specimen would eventually match the original, from its appearance to its abilities, yet one important thing would remain missing. "But it won't be the same, Tre." The thought lingered as she looked through the glass. Dr. Jail had already explained that memories would not carry over. This new Tre could possess the same body, the same genetic structure, and everything else that made the original who she was, but without those memories, she would still be a different person. That distinction mattered to Cinque, even if he did not seem particularly concerned about it. Still, Tre was not the reason she had come here, nor did the developing clone represent the main focus of the research.
Moving farther into the laboratory, she entered another room containing a much larger vat. More equipment surrounded this one, and additional safeguards had been put in place around it, making it obvious that the doctor considered whatever lay inside far more important. Wendi stood nearby, keeping watch over the experiment as instructed.
"Still watching over it?"
"Yeah. He doesn't want to take any risks of anything going wrong." Wendi covered her mouth as a yawn slipped through, growing tired from standing there for so long.
A nod followed as Cinque took over the task. "Go get some sleep. I'll take over from here."
The younger Number accepted the instruction and began walking away, only to stop near the doorway and glance back. "Do you think this will work?"
"Of course it will work. There is no one in this world who could make such a miracle aside from Doctor Jail."
That answer seemed to satisfy her only for a moment. "So does that mean she'll be Treci or just call her Mark Two? No wait, she's the first one... so Mark 1? Or will she be counted as a clone?"
The question got a slight glare from Cinque before she turned back toward the enormous vat. "Go back to sleep. If you want to know something like that, ask the doctor."
Wendi pouted at the response, clearly dissatisfied with being dismissed, but she did not argue. Instead, she finally left the room and allowed Cinque to remain alone with the experiment.
Stepping closer to the vat, she studied the body suspended within the liquid. Like the recreated Tre, its development remained far from complete, leaving the figure with little definition beyond its humanoid shape and unmistakably female form. According to the doctor, the specimen still required additional genetic material before its development could progress any further, and Quattro had been given responsibility for providing it. The thought alone made Cinque uneasy, but she pushed it aside and continued examining the figure.
What immediately drew her attention, however, remained the hair. Auburn strands floated gently through the liquid, drifting around the unfinished body with each subtle movement of the fluid. The color stood out even in the dim laboratory, and there could be no mistaking the shade. It matched the red hair of the person they had confronted not long ago.
Cinque stared through the glass for several seconds before finally lowering her gaze.
"Hope you will be worth all the sacrifice."
----
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