I don't think that we can rely on the Association for help Captain Seaweed said Flat as he cheerfully poked his head out the window "there is a news helicopter flying around."
"And the people targeting us are fine with it flying around showing everything that they are doing?" asked Luvia perplexed.
"It prevents us from using magecraft to retaliate" noted Shirou as turned another corner with enough force to send everyone crashing in their seats.
"I found a map" said Flat as he unfolded a map of London "huh, I never knew that there was a Ahnenerbe Cafe near the London bridge. I thought that they were just a myth."
"Are there any places hidden from the open nearby?" asked Shirou as he barely avoided a head on collision.
"Sure" said Shinji snidely "but none that wouldn't leave us trapped to whoever it is they have in those vans."
"Thats fine" said Shirou as he accelerated "I have a plan."
It should be noted that this did not fill Shinji with any confidence. Shirou was after all dating Rin Tohsaka.
"There should be a parking garage coming up soon" said Flat as he looked over the map.
"That should be good enough" said Shirou as he swerved down another corner hoping to shake off some of their pursuers "Shinji, prepare to take the wheel. Flat, I'm going to need you to give me a warning when we are getting close and then focus on the map. Ignore everything else and map a direct route to the Clock Tower's parking lot."
Confused, Shinji moved himself between the front two seats as Shirou followed Flat's directions.
"It should be up ahead on the left in thirty-seconds" said Flat as Shirou leaned back and let Shinji take the wheel from his position between the dynamic duo of their group.
"Ok, thats good, just make sure to avoid driving into anything sharp and pointy" said Shirou before he popped a jewel into his mouth "we don't want to get a flat tire."
"Whats that supposed to mean?" asked Shinji as he once again started to question the plan that in retrospect he really didn't know anything about.
Unfortunately, it seemed that Shirou had already started chanting whatever spell it was that would help them get out of this mess. It was also roughly around this time that another van rammed them from behind that Shinji decided he didn't like this plan one bit.
He was actually pretty proud that he did not scream like a little girl when a barrage of gatling gun fire forced him to swerve back and forth like a mad man.
"Emiya!" shouted Shinji in a wide eyed panic "you better hurry up with what ever you are planning because this is going to be a close one!"
It was as the helicopters armor piercing rounds got closer and closer to hitting their mark that a red bolt flew through the sky and suddenly impacted the air vehicle in a fiery explosion.
"Huh" commented Luvia as the helicopters remains crashed behind them "looks like the Association must have sent someone after all."
Just in time too even if it was a bit last minute with the parking garage now in sight. Unfortunately, the remaining would be assassins were a lot more wary of high ordinance explosives now and decided it would be wise to close the distance.
"We are in!" shouted Shinji just as they entered the structure filled with cars at full speed.
"Unlimited Blade Works" intoned Shirou completing his spell just before they could crash into any of the many parked cars.
And suddenly Reality was replaced with fire and lots of it.
"A reality marble!?" gasped Luvia in disbelief as the fire cleared away to a scene of monolithic gears hanging from the sky. Oh, and there were also swords there too.
"Swords!" shouted Shinji leaning forward with wide maniac eyes as he swerved the battered car around sharp and pointy objects like a man possessed "Sword! Sword! Why are there so many swords!?"
Fortunately some of the swords they ran over seemed to be as frail as paper. This however was not enough to save the car from its fate.
"I think we just lost a wheel!" yelled Shinji as the car started wobbling.
"Keep going straight for two-hundred meters" said Flat as he focused on the map before him "and then make a right turn at the Outer Heaven building on Cogs lane."
"Two-hundred meters!?" asked Shinji as the car frantically dodged more and more swords "there are no lanes or road signs!"
"Then how about now?" asked Flat as he briefly looked up from his map "ya, I think we are supposed to turn here. The professor always did say that the corporations would take over the world someday but I didn't think he meant it quite so literally."
"I'll take that back" said Shirou as he grabbed the steering wheel from Shinji much to the latter's relief.
Anything that put an additional layer between himself and certain death was always welcome in his book.
"You have a reality marble!?" asked Luvia again as she continued to gape at the redhead.
"Whats the problem with him having real marbles?" asked Flat as he continued studying the map and giving directions "we can turn left right about now. I think?"
Shinji was not amused when he finally noticed that the map in the blonde boys hands was upside down.
"Reality marbles are a forbidden magecraft that come infinitely close to true magic!" said Luvia with a growl "it's practically a guarantee for a sealing designation!"
"I don't get what the big deal is" said Shirou rolling his eyes as he made a turn on sword filled land scape enjoying the scenery of their otherworldly commute "you make it sound as if there are actually people out there who don't posses something that comes close to a true magic. And why is it that the people who come close to true magic get sealing designations when the people who go all the way don't? Is coming in second place really considered that bad?"
"Don't be absurd!" shouted Luvia outraged at the notion "it takes generations for a magus line to advance even a little bit!"
"Are you sure?" asked Shirou with a shrug "because it feels like everyone has some sort of forbidden technique or secret weapon that comes close enough these days. Even people who don't even know that they have special powers to begin with. You should probably check your families basement some time. Odds are that there is a super weapon or a scroll containing some forbidden lost magic down there."
"I'm going to have to go with Emiya on this one" said Shinji far more relaxed now "if a third rate hack like him can advance this far then obviously anyone can."
"You call this third rate?" asked Luvia in disbelief as she looked out the window at island sized gears floating in the sky and an ocean of conceptual weapons that were each more powerful than anything that most magi could ever… was that an oven?
Shinji and Luvia both turned their heads in synch staring out the window as the car passed by the once mighty culinary implement. No words were spoken. Some things were simply better left unasked.
"We should be in the Clock Tower's main parking lot now" said Flat getting a grunt of confirmation from Shirou.
As the reality marble receded the car lightly bumped into a cafeteria table holding several very surprised Association students and their lunches as the car came to a gentle stop.
"So" said Shinji as he looked around at the students pointing at them "it looks like we missed the parking lot by just a teensy bit."
"How are we going to explain popping up in the middle of the cafeteria to the Association?" asked Luvia as she looked around "we can't exactly tell them that Shero has a reality marble after everything we just went through."
"Oh, thats easy Ms. Drill Breaker Hyena" said Flat with a knowing look "we just have to let them know that this is Professor Charisma's car. The Association tends to give up and stop asking questions whenever the Department of Modern Magecraft is involved."
"Because you people have the audacity to combine technology with magecraft?" asked Luvia as she stared dully at her fellow blonde.
"That too" said Flat as he nodded his head in agreement.
"Wait…" asked Luvia after a pause "this wreck of a car belonged to that fraud Lord El-Melloi?"
"Yes" said Flat as he looked around sadly "…it was brand new too."
"…Excellent" said Luvia practically purring as she rested her chin on her hands looking at the mass of scorch marks and bullet holes from her position in the back seat "…most excellent indeed."
"Actually" said Shirou as he dusted off his pants "my contract came with a lifetime clause about events involving the 'manipulation of worlds' so I don't think having a reality marble will be a problem from a purely legal stand point."
"So" asked the Edelfelt heiress as she directed her gaze onto the redhead "you have all the qualifications for a janitorial position, presumably have some measure of combat skills, legally posses a forbidden magecraft, and more importantly wrecked Lord El-Melloi's brand new car?"
"…Yes?" said Shirou as he looked at the various dents and smashed windows.
At least she had her priorities straight.
"You definitely need to be my new butler" said Luvia with a look that brooked no room for negotiation.
"Sorry" apologized Shirou as he dusted off his pants "but as tempting as that sounds I already have a contract."
"Then take me to this boss of yours" said Luvia as a predatory smile crossed her face I don't care who he is, I'll force him let me have you if I have to!