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2009-12-21, 17:55
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Link #21321 | |
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Explodes when thrown
 IT Support
Join Date: Jan 2009
Age: 37
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Quote:
@Satashi: As long as you keep writing, I'll be happy; I like all of your projects and love most of them  PAGECLAIM for... MANY SATASHIS!
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 Last edited by spawnofthejudge; 2009-12-22 at 22:12. |
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2009-12-22, 22:10
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Link #21323 |
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Sword Wielding Penguin
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Subspace, Texas
Age: 39
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Speaking of Christmas... I wanted to have this next chapter out by then, so I've been busting my ass over here and just finished up. This is going to be three posts minimum...
I want to clear it before I put it up on Fanfic.net on Christmas day. MSLN Test Dummies: Chapter Ten Spoiler for Scene 1:
Chapter Ten: Fallout ‘Beep… Beep… Beep… Beep…’ 8:36 PM (16:36 hours) Cranagan City West Coast Base Area Riot Force Six Headquarters ‘Beep… Beep… Beep… Beep…’ That sound… ‘Beep… Beep… Beep… Beep…’ What is it about that sound? ‘Beep… Beep… Beep… Beep…’ There’s just something about it that’s so… ‘Beep…’ Consistent? ‘Beep…’ Repetitive? ‘Beep…’ Monotonous? ‘Beep…’ ANNOYING. ‘Beep… Beep… Beep… Beep…’ Anyone care to shut that thing up? “Ne! Ne! Tia! Get a load of this… It says, ‘The Enemy invariably attacks on two occasions. A, when they’re ready. B, when you’re not.’ Hilarious right?” Drowning it out works too… “No kidding. Tell me if this seems familiar to you… ‘Professionals are predictable. It’s the amateurs who are dangerous.’ Sound like somebody?” “You only got blasted by Nanoha twice for something like that… Hey! Speaking of… ‘When you’ve secured the area, don’t forget to tell the enemy.’ Nanoha learned that the hard way remember?” “So did we… This morning.” “Yeah, surprise-surprise…” This was an interesting conversation… “I can’t believe this stuff is in a special operations manual. This entire list is like the most idiotic little reminders of common sense I’ve ever seen. I mean, listen to this one. ‘Anything you do can get you killed, including nothing.’ What do enforcers need this kind of information for?” Maybe because if someone like Nanoha fell victim to that one from a while before… “You should see the section on tactical movement strategies Tia. It has everything the general yelled at us about this morning during practice.” Practice? What… “If he considers this content nothing more than basic training routines, how sad do you think that really looked this morning?” Where? “Or more importantly, if the TSAB as a whole considers this information to be of a Special Operations level, just what does he know that we don’t?” Special Operations? Enforcers? The Enforcer Special Operations Field Manual number six dash seven! The General was talking about that practice fight with… What happened? What time was it? Why was he on his back? Mind, check. Feeling of sheets, check. Wiggle your big toe? “Hey, he’s moving. Maybe he’s dreaming about someone tickling his feet…” Check. “Get your face back! We don’t need a repeat of this morning.” The darkness parted and fled to the corners of his sight as light flooded Crash’s vision. The ceiling greeted him as he did so. He recognized the style immediately. TSAB Infirmary. The incessant beeping of the Electrocardiograph reinforced the conclusion. Why was he in an infirmary? Well, actually, given the kinds of things that liked to happen around him, the question would rather be why WOULDN’T he be there? “I said get your face back!” “I think he’s awake… Hey! He is!” “Then leave him alone a bit while I call Shamal.” Crash realized just how out of focus the world was when the blue and tan colored blur stuck itself into his line of sight. Blinking several times, he managed to bring the image into focus. A blue haired girl was grinning wildly down at him. “Rise and shine,” she singsonged mischievously. “You owe me an ice cream after what you put us through.” “Subaru!” The name clicked in Crash’s mind, and the events of the morning replayed. The General had surprised him by leaving him with Nanoha to practice. He fought the RF6 forwards, a group of Nanoha’s trainees that included the girl leaning over him. Things had gotten pretty hectic and he was trying to buy some breathing room when… When… “Oh,” he grumbled, sitting up. “Never even saw it coming…” “How are you feeling?” Tiana asked, yanking her partner back. Crash looked over at the brown haired girl before taking a deep breath and rubbing his temple. “Aside from a splitting headache…” he paused. “Not bad actually. Very loose in fact… What time is it?” “Nine PM,” Subaru supplied. Crashed winced. “Damn,” he grumbled. “Twelve hours. No wonder I feel good. I’ve been out all day.” “Out nothing,” Tia responded. “We thought you were going to end up in a coma after what happened.” Crash suppressed a small chuckle. Vita really did hammer him hard. “I take it I lost pretty bad then…” Tia seemed to tilt her head, before looking at Subaru, who shared an equally confused look. “Are you kidding?” The center asked him. “You won. You about tore everyone apart in the process.” “What are you talking about?” Crash countered. The last thing that went through his mind was Graf Eisen. Almost Literally. Both girls shared another look. “You don’t remember?” Subaru asked at length. “I remember trying to jump away, and then… a loud bang, and concrete,” Crash responded. “I guess that’s around the point Vita managed to give me a concussion. Thank god for helmets.” “You really don’t remember what happened after that do you?” Tia asked. Crash fixed her with a perplexed stare. “After a ‘Count Iron’ induced concussion,” Crash began. “I’m surprised I can remember my own name… It put me out for twelve hours.” “That didn’t put you out at all,” Subaru responded. “I would know. I was there when you put me through an office building a few seconds later.” “An office building?” Crash asked. That must have been-Wait, THROUGH?! WHAT THE- “No…” he smiled. “You’re pulling my leg. There’s no way I have the peak output to utilize that level of physical attack, even with armor augmentation.” “It’s true!” Subaru pleaded. “Everything was caught on the monitors!” As she said that, she brought up a local terminal and connected to the file in question. After about thirty seconds of hunting, she opened a display screen. Crash stared in disbelief, then in shock as he watched, HIMSELF, not only punch so hard it put the cyborg girl into a ballistic arc, but follow up with the most absurd chain combination attack he’d never have come up with. One that included putting her through a building and hitting her immediately with a high power attack. “No no no!” he snapped in denial. “That’s physically impossible! I’m a C rank power with a Peak Output Tolerance of high B rank. That attack combination would require at least a triple A level sustained surge. Where’d I manage to draw that power from?” “Cartridges,” Tia said evenly. “In those few seconds alone, you went through nine of them.” “NINE?” Crash’s mouth was hanging open. “That’s suicide, even for an A Rank! How long did this go on? How many cartridges did I end up using?” “Thirty-three,” a new voice interrupted before Subaru could open her mouth. They all turned to see Shamal at the entrance with a rather bloodshot-eyed Shari shadowing her. Both had a serious look on their face as she continued. “In five minutes.” Crash blanked. Thirty-three? In how long? Five minutes? That wasn’t unbelievable, that was absurd. “That much energy forced into a body not conditioned to handle it is insane,” Crash noted. “By all rights, using thirty-three cartridges would have killed an S rank mage. It should have killed me.” “It almost did,” Shamal nodded, leaning over to shine a light in his eyes. “The concussion Vita gave you on accident didn’t help, but the backlash when you came down from your boosted state came very close to causing a cardiac arrest. But that’s just part of it... Magic also produces excess waste heat, especially when excessive amounts are channeled through low rank mages. By all rights, you should have been cooked in your own fluids.” “So why wasn’t I boiled alive?” Crash responded while the doctor stood back and went to put her examination light to the side. “Because of this,” Shari responded, tossing a small metal object similar to a soda can at him. Crash caught it, and gave it a bit of an examination. The cylinder showed blatantly obvious signs of thermal damage. It was made of metal, but it was burned and melted so badly he couldn’t even figure out what it had been. “What is this?” He asked. Shamal placed a stethoscope to his chest as Shari explained. “That is, or rather was, a medium, laboratory scale Self Governing Focal Core. Now it’s just five pounds of slag. I pulled that from your suit after they stripped it off you. You know what it does. It’s essentially the equipment version of a Linker Core, but less efficient. It was burned up and almost fused into its module socket, and the two heat sink circulators that supported it were MELTED. I went through your device’s performance data. Turns out that the whole system was still operating in test mode, which operates under elevated safety guidelines and has self-preservation limiters removed. Essentially, Battery went into Emergency Mode and ran the focal core at over three hundred percent output to take the load off your own linker core. Given another two minutes, it would have melted too, and then the armor around it.” “At which point we’d be peeling you out of it with a scalpel…” Shamal noted, holding one of Crash's’ arms up and taking his pulse. “You are VERY lucky you didn’t end up much worse…” “Yeah,” Crash nodded quietly. “Lucky. My kind of lucky more than likely…” He turned the melted focal core over in his hand. This was what powered the Olympian Armor, and allowed him to get the boosted power systems. Battery had pretty much burned the suit out to save his life. Battery? BATTERY! “What about Battery?” he shot back. “Is he-“ “Good news there,” Shari smirked, pulling a pair of dog tags out of her pocket. “It was pretty easy to repair the damage and restore him to full capacity.” She tossed them to Crash, who quickly dropped the former magic core and caught them with a sigh of relief. “I wish other devices were this modular,” she continued. “Other than having to break the parts free where they’d partially melted to the socket, I had no problems replacing the damaged components.” “That’s good to hear,” Crash smiled. “How you doing Battery?” [PRIMED. ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONAL AT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT] Crash chuckled. Leave it to this device to make any comment at full force. “Now,” Shari held up a hand. “I didn’t have the exact parts that were used in your equipment. It was all laboratory-grade. That stuff tends to be surplus equipment in excess of ten years old. I couldn’t find anything that matched, so I had to find a part that fit by hand. It ended up being a type sixteen reinforced assault core. Just like what Raising Heart uses.” “Doesn’t that require a high pressure freon circulator and steam purge heat exchanger to cool?” Crash asked. Shari nodded as Shamal stood back brought up a scanning terminal. “At maximum power, yes. But maximum power for this thing is like the three hundred percent output for your old core. You won’t be running very hot. But just in case, I made sure the replacement heat circulators had at least a steam purge mechanism. Your armor has more space for a heat sink than Raising Heart, and the armor itself can be used to dump waste heat in a pinch. You’ll have a much better margin for error if anything like this morning ever happens again.” “What exactly DID happen?” Crash asked. “I don’t move like that, no way no how.” “Aggravated Traumatic Flashback,” Shamal replied. “The exact triggers are hard to figure out, but the symptoms are obvious. I’m not sure exactly what did it in this case, because you had been exposed to all the associated stimuli previously with no ill effects. It might have been simply that it required a combination of stimuli, or perhaps the concussion you received made you more susceptible to it. Regardless, whatever the exact trigger, the results were obvious. An immediate and aggressive defense response.” “What?” Crash asked. “You went berserk,” Tia supplied. “You not only punched Subaru through a building, you turned into a seven foot tall armored killing machine hell bent on her destruction. It took nine of us just to draw even with you. And even then we couldn’t stop you. The only thing that seemed to make you stop was when you finally shot Nanoha.” “I WHAT?” Crash gaped. “Remember we said you WON?” Subaru asked. “We all tackled you at once. And somehow you managed to aim, fire, and HIT Nanoha with a shot powerful enough to leave a rather nasty burn at over a hundred meters.” “How could I possibly manage something like that?” Crash asked, turning to throw his feet off the bed and put his face in his hands. “I could barely think fast enough to keep up with two of you at once. Let alone nine.” “When one goes into a berserk state,” Shamal advised. “The mind falls back on deeply engrained behavioral patterns and reflex memory. The body remembers what it was taught.” “But I wasn’t TAUGHT combat!” Crash snapped. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you! What I’ve been trying to tell EVERYONE. I’m a TEST PILOT. I do on the fly statistical analysis and behavioral prediction with a side of ‘Dodge the Random Malfunctioning Machine’… For god’s sake, I just break stuff!” “That’s what combat is,” Shamal stated pointedly. “That is EXACTLY, what combat is. Everything you just described, the exact same thing.” The pilot and the doctor stared at each other for several seconds before she finished. “People, breaking things, and each other.” They continued to stare, before finally, the pilot started to shake his head again. “No…” He began. “No. It’s not that simple. It’s never that simple.” He pushed off the bed and grabbed the uniform jacket that had been laying on the stand. “What are you doing?” Shamal asked. “I need to think,” Crash grumbled, quickly throwing the jacket on. “It’s not a good idea for you to be up and about after an episode like that,” Shamal advised. “The long term effects may be more sever-“ “Try and stop me,” Crash snapped, making for the door. Before he could get there however, Subaru managed to slip in front of him and block the way out. “You should listen to the doctor,” she advised. “It’s for your own good.” Crash frowned, truly frowned, and leaned down and into the Cyborg’s face. “Move,” he all but breathed, looking her straight in the eyes. Subaru remained steadfast, looking past him to Tia for any ideas, but found her friend almost franticly trying to wave her off silently. Sighing, she stepped aside. “Thank you,” and with that, Crash was gone. After a few seconds, Tia practically jumped across the room to slap her upside the back of the head. “Idiot!” she growled. “Getting in his face like that. Do you have a learning disability? What if you set him off again? Do you have any idea what kind of damage he could do in here?” Shamal shook her head, but looked at the two girls arguing, then turned to Shari. “Did you see what I saw?” she asked. “I saw a cute guy with poor self confidence,” the tech responded. “I still can’t believe he took out half my lab just by touching a light switch. What did you see?” “Well when-“ Shamal began, but was interrupted by a cavernous yawn from her associate. Of course, Shari had been up for twenty-four hours. Running on stimulants would only work for so long. “Nothing,” she smiled. “Go get some sleep.” “I’ve still got a component function test to do on that AMF pod,” Shari responded. “I can’t sleep yet.” “Doctor’s orders,” Shamal quipped. “Fine,” Shari shrugged. “Maybe I’ll figure something out after I sleep on it… Goodnight.” |
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2009-12-22, 22:11
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Link #21324 |
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Sword Wielding Penguin
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Subspace, Texas
Age: 39
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Continuing:
MSLN Test Dummies Chapter Ten Spoiler for Scene 2:
Hayate’s room, two floors up, and half way across the building, was an entirely different mood. Lynn and Nanoha stood on either side of her bed, while General Roland stared at one of half a dozen screens showing various viewpoints of the replay of the early morning exercise. The tension was so thick you could probably can the stuff and sell it to a rubber band factory. Truth be told, it was all Nanoha could do not to fidget in place despite being there for seven hours. When the general received that little call informing him of what happened, it took him about an hour to get back to Riot Force Six Headquarters. Nanoha had been prepared for almost any response. She could handle screaming and yelling. She would have no problems with the creative number of ways the general would call her stupid or irresponsible. After all, it was her mistake, and she knew it. What she hadn’t been prepared for, was this. When Roland arrived, everyone instinctively knew to clear out of his way. He spoke very little, but his posture screamed silently. First, he checked on Crash in the infirmary, then he’d turned to the two of them and had spoken some of the few words he’d uttered all afternoon. “You two. Commander’s Quarters… Now.” Nanoha knew how to handle just about any situation, save for the one she found herself experiencing. With most people, their anger was worn on their sleeve. They were easy to read. It was easy to think and react to the situation. Roland, she realized at that moment, was the Quiet Type. Hayate wondered what was going on when the two captains had shown up in her room, followed by a frighteningly calm General a moment later. However, when she’d started to ask about it, the general had cut her off. ‘Shut up Yagami’, of course, was not the most polite way to respond, but it got the point across. He followed up with a rapid-fire series of orders to the two captains, starting with setting up the half dozen monitoring screens, and then accessing the multitude of monitoring records from the early morning exercise. Then he began watching the entire training exercise. Nanoha and Lynn found themselves instructed to stand at attention. If one has ever stood at attention for any length of time, one knew this could become uncomfortable after ten to fifteen minutes. This by extension, was borderline torture, because they stood there unmoving for the next seven hours. Roland watched the training session over and over again, reviewing dialogue, angles, examining events, and generally going over the entire thing with a fine-tooth comb. After a while, he began to ask Hayate questions about certain things that were occurring, asking power descriptions, and beginning a running commentary with her. It almost seemed as if the two captains had found themselves forgotten. But Nanoha had this sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach this was going to get worse before it got better. Of the things she noted. During the entire seven hours, Roland never once relaxed his posture. Opting instead to stand, arms crossed, at the foot of Hayate’s bed. Finally, her legs numbed up long ago, she almost gave a start when, in the middle of probably the eighteenth time she’d watched herself get shot in the back, the General suddenly paused playback and turned around, eyeing them both. “Front and center,” he snapped. Relieved to be allowed the luxury of moving, if only for a moment, both captains quickly followed the instructions, coming to a rest, once again at attention side-by-side next to the general. Of course, now directly under the gaze of the commander, any relief they felt physically was certainly replaced by the spike in anxiety as he eyed the two. “What happened?” That was a question that, after witnessing the way it was used before, was obviously rhetorical. He wasn’t asking what had happened. He had seven hours to determine that, and he had his conclusions already. What he was really asking was: ‘What were you thinking at the time?’ However, answering that effectively often felt to a person like confessing to murder. One wanted to phrase it in the least harmful way, but at the same time, there literally was no least harmful way to confess to murder. And for Nanoha, who’d never willfully kill a person, this was not an easy question to formulate a response to. “I’ll start then,” he continued, turning to the monitor. “This, was the biggest, most absurd CLUSTERFUCK I’ve seen in twenty years.” Nanoha suppressed a wince as he elevated his voice to emphasize… That Word. “Words don’t even BEGIN to describe the screw up here,” Roland continued. “So it’s no surprise you don’t have a proper answer to give me. There really is no proper answer to give me to start with.” Hayate wanted to say something from her spot in bed, but knew better than to speak. “However,” he whirled on them again. “Given exactly what happened, we’re going to try anyway. Takamachi, I expect after watching this for seven hours, you’ve spent at least some of the time actually thinking about what happened here?” Crap! Read like an open book. “So I expect you finally noticed your mistakes,” he continued. “I count four, I only expect you to spot three.” Nanoha blinked. “Sir,” she began, then paused. Four mistakes? Why did this have to be so hard? “Just tell what you know,” he nodded. “I failed to recognize the seriousness of Vita’s panic, and was too engrossed in my own scenario to safely manage my exercise.” “One,” Roland nodded. “I… failed to adhere to proper safety protocols regarding large group training sessions,” Nanoha continued. “Regulation Alpha-Alpha Twenty Charlie,” Roland nodded. “Any exercise that contains ten or more participants is to be deemed hazardous by default regardless of activity. Which invokes a plethora of other safety regulations. Regulations which, were thus violated by extension of the violation of Alpha-Alpha Twenty Charlie. Which brings us to mistake three, one that could have prevented such violations.” Nanoha blinked. What did she do wrong? Was she a little careless? “Okay, you’re human,” Roland shook his head. “So I’ll throw you a bone. Bardou!” “Yes Sir!” the other captain snapped. “What was your first mistake, and in turn, a mistake Takamachi reciprocated. I KNOW you know.” Lynn sighed, but answered. “I mistakenly allowed myself and my team to join the exercise without expressing the number or type of participants involved, and failed to take into account the response of others in the area,” she stated, never taking her eyes off a spot on the wall. “Correct,” Roland snapped, turning back to Nanoha. “You failed to clarify with her who, and how many. Which leads directly to the fourth mistake. Complacency.” “This is the other mistake you both made,” he commented more loudly, addressing them both. “Takamachi, you made the assumption that everything was going as normal, and that when Bardou requested entry into the scenario, you assumed that she was the only one. Likewise Bardou, you assumed that Takamachi’s scenario would remain static without her direct instruction. You made a combined assumption that the other knew what she was doing, and made no efforts to double check.” Roland began to pace back and forth as he continued, his voice climbing as he did so. “Because you two were so complacent in your assumptions about what was going on, you both neglected to be one-hundred percent sure about the situation and how things may evolve beyond your control, as is prone to occur in these situations. In short, your complacency caused you to bungle your jobs! The result of your combined complacent bungling caused the biggest obnoxious snowball of a situation that ended in a god damned CLUSTERFUCK THAT ALMOST GOT, MY PERSONNEL, KILLED!” Roland emphasized ‘Killed’ by slamming his fist on the corner of Hayate’s bed, making a loud crack noise as it did so. Nanoha tried her best to contain her nervousness. He seemed to be taking great care to work slowly up to the screaming rage she had initially expected. A method of which was really good at cracking even the best composures. “Takamachi, I KNOW you know better than that!” he continued. “You almost got killed yourself because of complacency, so I figured you would know not to drop your guard even under controlled circumstances. But I guess even the best of us need a little nip in the ass every once in a while to remind them they aren’t fucking perfect.” “Sir,” Lynn began. “I will accept full responsibility for this situation. If I hadn’t brought my team to participate in the exercise, it would have remained well under Takamachi’s control.” “Wrong answer Bardou,” Roland shook his head. “It takes two to tango, and Takamachi dropped the ball just as badly as you did. There are no excuses to compensate for the complete breakdown of the situation or the failure to communicate. Mistakes were made on a fundamental level that caused further mistakes to occur with rapidly increasing frequency. This is unacceptable and must be corrected. Right now.” “Sir?” Hayate inquired from her spot. “If I may…” Roland regarded the Lieutenant Colonel with a curious eye, but found her serious face betraying a valid contribution instead of any sympathies. “Go ahead Yagami,” he nodded. “I’d like to point out that there may in fact be a fifth mistake you either didn’t notice, or neglected to mention in this scenario,” she began. “One that really could not have been expected.” The general turned fully to Hayate. “You have my attention,” he nodded. “Crash’s abilities,” Hayate motioned at the paused screen. “Even if you could predict the likely outcome from psychological experience, there was no way for anyone to expect, or even contemplate his abilities to be of this magnitude.” Pausing to see if there were any counters, but seeing none, she continued. “By all rights, he’s just a physically augmented C rank mage. Historically, there should be no way that a mage of his grade could possibly be anywhere near capable of the feats he pulled off. That being taken into account in the scenario that occurred here, by all rights should be impossible. Even with an intentional failure to adhere to safety protocols… There was no evidence to suggest that he would become increasingly hostile if he snapped. Rather the contrary... And there was even less to suggest that if he became hostile, that he would be able to perform to a level to match nearly a dozen mages ranging from B rank to triple A rank. By every right, if he had gone crazy like he did, its perfectly understandable that Vita, plus the forwards, plus anyone else SHOULD have been able to quite easily suppress him.” Roland nodded in understanding. “In short, his abilities were vastly underestimated,” she finished. “So I saw,” the general commented. “However that does not dismiss the fact that there were several blatant critical safety errors out there this morning. Errors that by every right, should not occur. Errors that, no matter how you look at them, should have these two captains standing before review board for gross negligence and endangerment of Bureau personnel. An act which frankly, can destroy a career faster than you can say FLASH MOVE.” Nanoha gulped. “However,” Roland continued after letting that sink in for a moment. “There are a number of things here working in our favor. The first, being that the mages in question have wonderful records outside of this incident. The second is that despite what happened, nobody actually died today as a result of these actions. Despite coming very VERY close.” He paused again. “Thirdly, since this was also a very unique scenario, it can be said that a lot of things occurred that nobody could have predicted. As a result, I have decided to take the following administrative action.” The way he went flat in his tone for the last line made the room drop to icy cold. “This entire fiasco never happened. These records will be erased from the primary database, and you will give me the backup on disk. I will be filing a report on holes in safety protocol under the excuse that I might have seen possible causes for severe injury or trauma from some training routines I witnessed.” The room was silent. For a few seconds, the three women each thought they heard the general just suggest something that was less than morally acceptable TSAB behavior. “Wait,” Hayate began. “Can you do that?” “I most certainly can,” Roland nodded. “Its called ‘I’m a General, bite me’ authority.” “You can’t be serious!” She continued. “You can’t just, snap your fingers and ‘POOF!’ Regius couldn’t even do that and he had more pull than you.” General Roland smirked, the first smile they’d seen out of him all evening. “You’ll discover that I’m not Regius, and for all his political skills, he didn’t know crap about milking the loopholes of a bureaucratic system, or he wouldn’t have been stuck in the hole he was in. I may get lost trying to get simple paperwork done, but never underestimate the power of technicalities.” “What technicalities?” Hayate asked at length. “This should, by procedure, be on its way up the line for critical oversight review immediately. To do otherwise is a violation of those procedures, and illegal.” “The technicality,” Roland began. “That the Olympian Powered Armor Exoskeleton, is a classified prototype. And that any information involving said prototype, its activities, or its capabilities, may only be distributed at my discretion, and/or a need-to-know basis, only to people who have acceptable clearance levels.” Hayate’s mouth worked in confused motions, trying to formulate a response. Roland turned and motioned at the monitor screens before she could settle on one. “And that,” he waved, “most certainly qualifies as information about the prototype, its activities, and capabilities. Would you not agree?” Silence, for several long seconds. Then Hayate snorted, but suppressed a laugh since her chest was still sore. He had that excuse ready from the start. He had it planned out quite coldly. Anything he did, as long as Crash brought that armor along and put it into action, could be legally withheld from anything short of some serious accusations. And knowing the system would tie anyone looking to pry up for months just attempting to get the clearance, giving the general ample time to assess them. “How do you manage to pull off being so… so,” she began “Two faced?” Roland completed her question. “Practice Yagami… As only worming your way up a bureaucracy while a hard ass keeps you under a microscope can give. Lots and lots of practice. I don’t need a book to tell me how to dictate right and wrong. Neither do you. Besides.” He turned to Nanoha and Lynn. “I think making them stand at attention for seven hours while they contemplated their fate was plenty of punishment for their offenses. As I learned long ago. Stupid punishments for stupid mistakes are real good at canceling out the stupidity.” Nanoha blinked as her mouth dropped open. “You mean,” she began. “You… You had me standing like that AS my punishment the whole time?!” “Works quite well doesn’t it?” Roland asked. “Made you go ‘Oh no! He’s angry, what is going to happen to me? I did something bad…’ didn’t it? My old drill sergeant once said: ‘You can be stupid, and I can be stupid. But If I’m going to be stupid, I’m going to WIN.’ And that always stuck.” Nanoha had to admit. It did work. She hadn’t been this worried about her own future since way back in grade school… As she started to laugh unsteadily at the revelation that she’d been on the receiving end of direct psychological warfare, there was a beep at the door. “Enter,” Roland instructed. A moment later, Shamal stepped into the room. “How’s he doing?” Roland asked. “Up and about,” the doctor nodded with a slightly annoyed look. “Though he really shouldn’t be.” “Wow, that was fast.” He continued. “I knew the boy was made of sterner stuff, but to be up this quickly…” “I did a quick routine examination,” Shamal explained. “And despite having experienced a very severe Post-Hypermana Shock, he’s in wonderful condition. His device did such a good job of safeguarding his life, that his linker core barely suffered any direct strain, and was actually strengthened as a result.” “What does not kill you makes you stronger,” the general laughed. “I wish that proved true more often,” Shamal shook her head. “I wouldn’t suggest something like that the first time around, let alone a second time. If even one thing had gone differently… His suit not working to save his life, or the components failing sooner, he’d be in a casket right now. It will be days before I’ll be able to make any long term assessments on his condition, if he has one.” “We don’t intend to have a repeat of this incident,” Roland nodded. “It’s not exactly a scenario one sets off intentionally. Most people don’t like having a berserker on the loose. Which brings me to a question. What was your evaluation of his mental state?” “He was certainly within the acceptable limits for someone who almost died,” Shamal stated. “He didn’t take learning how much damage he did too well. Perfectly plausible denial given the conditions he’s been in lately. I suspect he needs some time to be alone and come to terms with the fact, but otherwise he didn’t seem too bad.” Roland nodded. “The only thing that really got me,” Shamal noted after a moment. “Was the way he reacted to Subaru.” “Still paranoid of her,” Roland shook his head. “Don’t’ worry that’s-“ “No sir,” Shamal interrupted, causing the general to blink. “What?” “I heard about the reaction he’d been having from Shari and the others. It strikes me as major Symptom of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The one his records show he was diagnosed negative. Though the evidence suggests otherwise, but I’ll rant about that later.” She partially glared for her last sentence. The thing that gets me here was the complete lack of a reaction when she got right in his face.” “He DIDN’T react to her?” Roland asked. “You sure?” “Unless he learned to hide it really well,” Shamal shook her head. “He was ready to initiate confrontation with her.” “That’s definitely not what he would have done before,” Roland frowned. “Again, are you ABSOLUTELY sure about what you saw?” “Sir, he leaned down into her face and GROWLED at her to move. If she hadn’t, I’m pretty certain he would have moved her, by force. He wasn’t afraid. Period.” Roland placed his hand on his chin. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. Crash was turning into a conundrum. One minute he was a frightened kitten, the next he was a cornered lion. He’d been afraid of her before now… It had actually been his fear of her that had resulted in his little rampage. Now he didn’t- wait, back up. “Doctor,” the general began. “Is it possible to that if someone is no longer threatened by the object of their fear, they’d stop fearing it?” “It’s theorized,” Shamal stated. “One documented method for treating post traumatic stress disorder is through exposure therapy. And most therapy methods involve a form of mental confrontation with the express purpose of rationalizing, downplaying, and dismissing the threat until the person no longer reacts to it.” “What would you call… Aggressively attacking the threat and beating the crap out of it until you were informed that you were victorious?” Roland asked. “What?” The general turned to the monitor screens and hit several buttons. Bringing up loops of the various offenses Crash had launched on Subaru. “What if Crash, who gained his phobia as a result of being beaten up by Combat Cyborgs, beat the ever living shit out of a combat cyborg?” Shamal examined each of the scenes in turn. Technically, it would be similar in function to an extreme form of exposure therapy. Except, the recovery from exposure therapy was questionable on a good day. Still, there was the possibility that in beating Subaru this badly while in a primitive mental state, followed by receiving the reward response of a victory right after doing so, his subconscious closed the book on Combat Cyborgs being a threat. It would be valuable research material if true. “It’s possible,” she commented at length. “But highly unlikely. Even if its accurate, it would be the fastest recovery from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ever recorded. I suspect it may be only temporary, or at least, partial, pertaining only to Subaru.” “Still,” Roland nodded. “It means that he can be snapped out of it with the right stimulation.” “I guess you could put it that way.” Roland stared at the screens and mulled over the thought of Crash broken of his annoying little phobia. If this could work… “I’ll have to think on this,” the general nodded at length. “We’re pretty much done here. Shamal, the information here is classified. I’ll have Yagami brief you on the details.” “Yes sir…” He turned to the two captains. “Takamachi, Bardou. You’re dismissed. Get out of my sight.” The two captains quickly saluted and made haste for the door. |
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2009-12-22, 22:15
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Link #21325 |
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Sword Wielding Penguin
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Subspace, Texas
Age: 39
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MSLN Test Dummies: Chapter Ten
Spoiler for Scene 3:
Lynn, for the life of her, couldn’t figure out exactly what had just transpired. A mistake nearly costing the life of a fellow member of the TSAB was not something that simply got brushed over with some forceful yelling. Sure, General Roland wasn’t your average bureau commander, but still… She’d made a genuine life-threatening mistake of her own in starting the whole fiasco. Such a mistake was a complete failure on her part. A failure. Failure was unacceptable. It was thought that crossed her mind as she parted ways with a quiet nod to Captain Takamachi, and started wandering towards the roof. Crash had survived, no thanks to her carelessness, but it still pointed out how poor her judgement had been. She wanted to try a little of the legendary Ace of Aces herself since she had the opportunity. She wanted to pit her team against the group of Forward Combatants Nanoha had trained personally. The group who had stopped the Numbers while her own unit was chasing shadows on the far fringes of nowhere. It wouldn’t have hurt. It SHOULDN’T have hurt. Someone almost got killed… A failure is a failure, and poor judgement must be corrected. In order to be able to strike an enemy quickly, effectively, and decisively, one must have the clear and objective judgement to out think the enemy before they are even aware of the attack. A High Risk Assault specialist needed to be assured that the first strike delivered was the only strike needed. If she didn’t have the judgement to recognize a possible danger, however unusual it might be considering the method of combat, she couldn’t have that assurance in a critical situation. And that would most certainly get her entire team killed… Again. Lynn buried that thought as she emerged onto the roof of RF-6 headquarters near the Helipad. It was dark out, and the JF-704 was likewise dark. However, despite this, the glow of Cranagan behind the building reflecting off some scattered mid-level clouds made more than enough light to see by. She’d come up here to think, but in the dark, noticed another figure over by the building’s railing, looking out to sea. Crash. Deciding that she wouldn’t find any solitude where someone else was seeking it, she started to turn away to find somewhere else. However, that nagging tone in the back of her head insisted that she owed him an apology at the very least. Causing her to freeze in half step. Mistakes were to be corrected. Heaving a sigh, she turned back to the pilot and walked towards a spot a moderate, but conversational distance away down the railing. Crash, meanwhile, was brooding. He heard the person emerge from exit onto the roof, noticed the reflecting of indoor lighting on the rail. But he didn’t care. He was too busy thinking about what he must have done in that fight. The total lack of any restraint he must have shown in that berserker state. He couldn’t believe what the doc had told him. Even though he saw the recordings, he refused to believe it. There was no way he was essentially a sleepwalking killing machine on top of the hazard he’d become accustomed to life as. The person behind heaved a sigh, and while he continued to mull over those thoughts, made to walk towards the rail, angling off to the left. A minor note in Crash’s mind considered the distance of the footsteps amidst his private self-loathing, noting that they would end at the rail just far enough to be respectful of his silent desire to be alone, but close enough to talk. Deliberate. But Crash continued to refuse to acknowledge that, choosing instead to drown his thinking in the sound of the waves from the shore not all that far from the building. When the figure finally crossed into his peripheral vision, Crash noted the shiny silver of her hair the most. Lynn, that Shock Enforcer. Not Vita, not Roland, Not Nanoha, Subaru, or even Shamal trying to drag him back to a bed like a doctor would be prone to do. Just, the Shock Enforcer. Considering how little in the way of conversation she’d been up until this point, the threat of being disturbed vanished. But still, the positioning was ideal for starting a conversation on awkward grounds. There was no doubt she wanted to say something, but also wanted to respect his privacy. That’s better than how most people had been behaving the last two days. Being treated like an object by everyone and his best friend had worn thin. Appraising out of the corner of his eye, he couldn’t help but fall into a slightly old habit. Tracing the length of the rail from Lynn back to his spot where he leaned on an extremely sturdy concrete pillar that acted as an anchor for the rails, he spotted it. The building had been damaged in a firefight once, and it had minor signs of the damage left over where crews had obviously missed it over more critical damages. The loose bolt that anchored the rail to the pillar he rested against. “Don’t lean on the rail,” he commented dryly, returning his eyes to the reflections of stars off the water. Lynn obviously wasn’t expecting to have conversation initiated ahead of her. Reacting more in surprise than in acknowledgement, she backed off the rail. “What?” “Don’t lean on the rail,” he commented again. “It’s not secure.” To emphasize, he decided on a quick demonstration, and dropped his hand from his chin, to slap the pillar he was leaning on. “Ping!” He couldn’t see where it went in the dark, but he could tell the Shock Enforcer understood what he meant when the bolt freed itself from whatever tension it had been under. “Oh,” came the simple comment. “Thank you.” “Don’t mention it,” Crash responded. “Don’t need any enforcers diving head first to their deaths… I already used our free pass regarding that. I don’t think you’d be so lucky.” Lynn closed her mouth in silence. He pretty much started and ended the conversation with no real way for her to break the ice. And she couldn’t exactly remain out here close enough to start another one if she looked silly standing back from the rail. Seeing no other option, she chose to be direct. “I must apologize,” she turned to him. Crash regarded her in the corner of his vision. “What for?” “For my actions this morning,” she continued. “What actions?” he asked. “You didn’t do anything to me.” “It was my decision to intrude on Captain Takamachi’s training battle that resulted in the events that occurred.” Lynn explained. “I made a critical error in my judgement based on eager selfishness. An error that got you hurt. I failed.” Crash turned his eyes back to the ocean, watching a play of moonlight from one of Mid-Childa’s two moons on the waves. “Not your fault,” he began again at length. “Some things are going to fail whether you are involved or not. Trust me, I break enough stuff to know it. Just, things like to fail around some people a lot more than others. Don’t let it bother you.” Lynn seemed somewhat satisfied, nodding silently before turning to walk away towards the rooftop exit somewhere behind... “Is it really so simple?” The shock enforcer paused at the unexpected question the test pilot asked. “Is what simple?” she asked. “Combat,” he responded. “Is it really nothing more than people breaking each other?” Lynn regarded the unusual question with minor scrutiny. Something was definitely bothering him, and if she could help him come to terms, that would at least make up for loss. But this question… “Yes,” she commented at length, wandering back towards the pilot to come up along side him on the right. “It’s a very simplified- Is this rail safe?” “This one’s fine,” he commented, at which point she leaned against the rail opposite the one he’d warned her against. “It’s a very simplified way of putting it.” She continued. “The nuances and methods are complex, but the core idea is that either you break your opponent, or your opponent will break you. Why do you ask?” Crash sighed. “Long story, short point. I’ve never had a day of combat training outside of the TSAB basic course, and I’ve got everyone from the Ace of Aces to my own commander insisting that I could be utterly devastating if I would just go with it.” “From what I saw,” Lynn commented. “You really could.” “Exactly,” Crash sighed. “I proved them all right. I proved them all so right without a shadow of a doubt as to the contrary. Without a single day of active combat training.” “So what if they’re right?” she asked. “If they’re right, that’s all there is to it. You have a quality most people train their entire lives for.” “A quality I don’t fully understand,” Crash commented sourly. “My first experience with combat was a nightmare. I was doing the preliminary field test work for this very armor, when I was rerouted by someone in high command to be a mop up man for some straggler drones involved in the auction incident. Instead, I was engaged by six combat cyborgs in a jamming barrier in the middle of the Ceres Ocean without anyone to back me up. I remember every move we made, even as I futilely tried to evade them for exactly two minutes and twenty-eight seconds before they finally managed to out maneuver me. The armor was the only thing that saved me, and was probably what they were after the whole time.” “Not bad for no experience,” Lynn nodded. “It gets better,” Crash prompted. “Since the armor protected me from the attack, they hadn’t taken me out like they intended. And when I recovered from the hit, something snapped. I went ballistic. I splashed the one who’d hit me first in under fifteen seconds. I don’t know who she was, but I remember the cold business-like look on her face when she’d hit me the first time… And then the look of shock when I cleared six thousand vertical feet with a MACH Strafe and punched as if to go right through her. After she went flying, I shot her with a low power buster before she’d even recovered orientation. I remember every move I made, but not why I was making them and what I was responding to. I just ‘DID’… The only other thing I could remember was thinking that if I was going down, I was going to make regret having to carry me back as a prize.” “Hell of a first battle,” Lynn nodded solemnly. “I can see what made you act the way you did this morning. So what happened next?” “I fought them at those odds for another five minutes,” Crash continued. “I was beyond fighting for my life, I was fighting just to spite them as much as possible before they killed me. But they were catching on to the tricks the armor was allowing me to pull off. They would have run me down simply by taking turns in the attack slot. Then Roland finally got a message that reinforcements were on the way using a very odd trick with ionizing the upper atmosphere… Don’t ask. It snapped me out of it, and I broke off. It was actually Nanoha and Fate who made the intercept, but I never saw them. I just saw their busters clearing the air, and had a brief radio exchange before sprinting at mach three all the way back to base… But not before taking out the drone that had been causing the jamming.” “You stood up to superior odds and came out not only alive, but in good shape,” Lynn commented. “There are many who’ve gone up against far less, and come out far worse. I lost my first squad command over an intelligence error and a tactical mistake. The people I’d been through the academy with, my best friends. All dead… I barely came out alive. I don’t know how he did it, but he slaughtered us so fast and clinically, it was infuriating.” “What happened?” Crash asked. “HE happened,” Lynn shook her head. “We encountered the silent shadow himself. Mr. Kage, the man in the mask, head of Sektor Twenty One. He never spoke. He simply appeared, and destroyed my squad so fast I couldn’t even figure out what fighting style he used. I was pinned under a cinder block wall and severely burned by an explosion from one of his attacks. That’s why my hair is uneven. If it weren’t for modern magical healing, I’d have been scarred for life, had I survived. But as a reminder of that failure, I kept my hair this way.” “You never even stood a chance,” Crash pointed out. “But if I had even one TENTH the natural skills at the time that you have,” Lynn continued. “I could have done something. I could have injured him, slowed him down… Just making him bleed would have been enough to get a DNA ID on the bastard. But as it stands, I made a grievous mistake choosing to pursue after it was obvious the intel was botched. I thought my squad of rookies could handle whomever we met. They paid for my mistake with their life. Just a tenth of your skill would have been all I asked for.” “Skill I’m not in control of…” Crash quipped. “Okay, so I can fight. Whoopee. I proved Will right, sure, but how many people might I have accidentally killed with my own two hands? If they hadn’t been so sharp, I might have gone and killed Subaru… And THAT scares me more than life threatening combat ever could.” “Fear is normal,” Lynn nodded. “Is it normal to fear yourself more than the enemy?” Crash asked. “I’m a danger to myself and everyone around me on a good day. But now…” Lynn turned her head. He really was beating himself up over this. The sad look on his face just didn’t seem to belong. “You have the ability to handle it,” she reassured him. “I don’t know how,” Crash sighed. “I just don’t know how.” “Then perhaps,” she began again. “What you need, is to learn how.” Crash turned his head to look at her. “What do you mean?” he began. “That’s what everyone’s been trying to teach me.” Lynn shook her head. “They’ve been trying to teach you skills you already know. From what you’ve told me, the thing that’s lacking is your own confidence in what you can do.” “And what do you suggest I do there?” Crash asked, turning his head to look at the waves again. “Watch video of myself? News flash. Already did, doesn’t work.” “No.” Crash looked Lynn once more. Her features had hardened to their cold determination he’d remembered. “What you need, is to experience your own skills,” she stated, then smiled softly. “Would you care to spar?” “Spar?” Crash asked. “Spar,” Lynn nodded. “No magic, no scenarios, no pressure. Just, spar.” “And what if I accidentally hurt you?” he asked. “I’m pretty sure that if I hurt you right after the insanity that happened today that-“ “You WON’T hurt me,” Lynn interrupted, her gaze turning deadly. Crash could almost feel the frosty glare before it softened and she spoke up again. “You also worry too much.” “For good reason,” he patted the rail he’d warned her against. ‘Clang!’ it dropped free and hit the concrete at their feet. “Except you notice it,” she admonished. “If you can figure out what will happen before it has a chance to happen, that’s a threat accounted for. It’s something you can prepare for.” Crash sighed. The enforcer was right. He was worrying over things he could easily account for. “Alright,” he nodded at last. “If you think it will help.” Lynn smiled. Perfect! If she could just get him to engage his own fears, he’d be on the road to recovering his dignity. This would require a, ‘creative’ approach. “Step over here,” she motioned towards the wide area away from the edge of the roof. Crash followed the shock enforcer until she planted herself squarely in the middle. “We’ll start by letting you see for yourself just how fast you can react to threats,” she instructed. “This exercise will be simple. I’m going to hit you, and you must avoid being hit. To make things easier, I’ll be calling out the intended target of my strike. You simply prevent that blow from landing.” Crash blinked. “Wait, how am I supposed to prevent you from-“ “FACE!” she snapped. Crash’s eyes widened as a blur shot forward at him. Moving to protect his nose, he snapped his arm up in response, knocking Lynn’s fist to the side.” “Just like that,” she pointed out. Crash looked over, she’d kept her arm in place where he’d pushed it to the outside. “Your body knows what it’s doing. Trust it.” The test pilot nodded mutely as she pulled her arm back and took a fighting stance. After a moment, she instructed again. “Watch my face,” she indicated. “Don’t telegraph what you’re thinking. Ready?” Crash locked his eyes on Lynn’s. “Okay…” She inhaled deeply and then let it out, relaxing and loosening up, then paused for several seconds. Crash was beginning to think- “FACE!” He moved on instinct to swat the blow away again. Lynn’s eyes flicked off his to the hand he used for a moment then back to him. “STOMACH!” ‘Swat!’ “Throat!” Deflected. Lynn then decided to change up on him. “KNEE!” Crash bent and swatted, but missed as she snapped a soft kick to the side of his knee, causing him to hop the blow off slightly. However, she didn’t really strike with force, intending only to make it sting. “You don’t have to hold still,” she advised. “If you can avoid the blow by dodging, do so.” Crash nodded and resumed the stance he was using. (Forum Insert:: Music Cue for almost the entire remaining chapter.) “KNEE!” she snapped. Again, she lashed out with her leg, but this time Crash snapped the intended target back in a step motion. “FACE!” and she took a swipe again. This time Crash tilted his head back, using the combination of the slight distance gained from his step and the motion to make her strike pass inches in front of him. “Very good,” she commented. “See, you are perfectly capable of reading these moves. Now I’m going to speed this up. Get ready for a combo. And relax… you don’t need to be tense.” Crash nodded, trying to follow her method of loosening. After a few more seconds, she stepped in. Crash caught the motion and started moving his hands before her mouth opened. “FACE!” ‘SWAT’ “STOMACH!” ‘SWAT’ “STOMACH!” ‘SWAT!’ “FACE!” ‘SWOOSH!’ Crash ducked back as he read her motion, flowing from the reverse punch around the spin on her foot into a kick, and stepped back. Then she picked up even more speed. “FACE! KNEE! STOMACH! SHOULDER! FOOT! FOOT! CHEST! THROAT! GROIN! FACE!” In a blur, the test pilot rapidly worked to keep up with the wild and varied barrage, no longer even paying attention to what she was saying, and gulping internally at a narrowly avoided groin strike before jumping back completely to clear her face swing. “Very good!” she nodded as she came to a stop. “I see I can dispense with the informed attacks. The next set will have no warnings. Don’t get hit!” Crash blinked and took a surprise step back, but before he could open his mouth, the shock enforcer was coiling into an attack stance. The first move she let loose was a roundhouse kick, closing the distance at the same time. Then she repeated the move and used the momentum to launch into a series of blows that conserved her angular momentum as well as minimized the time between one attack and the next. Crash responded to the attack by backpedaling away from the two kicks before slapping a blow down and stepping over a sweep. Lynn increased the rate of her attack once more, stepping in close and attempting to either punch him, or slap him in the face with the flat of her hand, just because she could. He couldn’t quite tell, but he swore he caught her smirking when he slapped that one away. This went on for several more seconds as the test pilot systematically retreated to control her distance from him. “You. Can. Do. This.” she commented between swings. And then she finished with a flourish by stepping out of a spin and lashing her palm flat and forward. Crash rolled sideways and let it hit air. Lynn paused in the finishing stance. “Simple,” she nodded. “Look how well you avoided that mess.” “Did you try to SLAP me in the face?” Crash asked. Lynn smirked. He been able to pick that detail out… “What’s it to you?” Crash bristled. She DID, she did try to sneak a cheeky little insult to mock him. Good thing it didn’t land. Lynn saw his eyes twitch ever so slightly. Good. “Now if you want to make something of it,” she commented. “We’ll take this up a notch. You are welcome to attack.” And she stepped in again, slower once more, but still rather quickly as she launched an assault. Crash backpedaled from the attack, a little shocked at how fast this was progressing. Catching an opening, he took a swipe, which was blocked easily, forcing him to defend against a snap combo as she took revenge on the attack. Again, he saw an opening and started to go for it, but rescinded half way there when she came around to counter it with a weak strike, causing him to flinch and step back before it could land. “You’ll never hit me second guessing your moves like that,” she snapped after the follow up sweep. “If you’re going to fight, you’re going to take a few hits. Stop thinking about it and get used to it. It’s more important to know what you can and can’t handle.” To emphasize her point, Lynn feinted twice and tapped a snap punch into Crash’s open shoulder. The pilot winced, but the blow wasn’t intended to really hurt more than just be felt. Crash jumped back and sized her up for a moment, absent-mindedly rubbing the spot she hit. “Right…” he commented, eyes narrowing. “Stop thinking…” “Exactly!” Lynn responded. “Don’t think, DO.” And to her surprise, Crash planted his foot and launched a true attack. The blows were sloppy, but quickly showed clear intent to hold the initiative, keeping her defensive as they reversed the overall picture of who was forcing who to backpedal. Quickly bringing herself back up to speed, Lynn let her combat skills take hold and found an opening in his moves to launch a counter assault, reversing momentum again. This went on for a few seconds until Crash likewise turned the offensive about… with the same exploit she’d just used. He couldn’t have learned to recognize that! Could he? “Incredible!” she snapped in the middle of her retreating exchange. “Pay attention! This is what you can do and more!” Crash blinked wide eyed, realizing how fast his body was moving in response to her, and for just a moment, slowed down. Lynn smirked and shot in on the opening he left, only to blink in surprise when the opening closed itself via Crash slapping her strike aside forcefully. That’s when it really hit her. While working him over, she’d been more occupied with building his confidence than evaluating him as a fellow combatant. That last sloppy response made her realize one important factor. Without their magic, he was the physically superior specimen. He was bigger, stronger, and had much farther reach, and he was in great shape. Lynn leapt back as he seemed to take energy from the confidence he was gaining to accelerate his assault. On top of things, big didn’t mean slow. Crash was up to speed, and Lynn was amazed. He was lightning fast. Almost as fast as her in a powered down state. In the accelerated attack, he quickly drove the shock enforcer back as she relaxed to evaluate him some more. His moves were fast, but he was very sloppy. His techniques little more than close mimics of actual refined combat moves. He was wasting precious energy and time telegraphing the moves he was making and striking many a time with more force than he had to. Against anything less than a person specialized in open hand close combat, it would remain unnoticed, but for her, it was showing in bright neon lettering. He would wear himself out if he didn’t go for a- Crash pushed her defense to the side, long enough for his foot to snap into the air above his head. -Finishing Move! Lynn responded with insane speed, rolling counter-intuitively into the kill zone of the attack and lashed out with her foot, knocking Crash’s planted leg out from under him. The test pilot toppled instantly. Lynn then realized what he did as her thinking caught up with her. Add flexibility to the list. That was a heal kick he’d attempted. Crash struck the ground, but didn’t stop there, even as Lynn followed up to hit him while he was on the ground. He rolled clear of her attack and pushed himself to his feet, immediately having to skip back several steps as Lynn arrested total initiative and drove him retreating across the rooftop. Crash finally managed to fight his way to a stop and leaned into a tight guard, breaking into a counter offensive that drove her back as fast as she had driven him. This time the moves, while still sloppy, were a lot tighter, almost as if he’d already worked out what was wrong and was fixing the moves up to make it work. Not wanting to let him slack off, Lynn broke his guard and pressed a counter-attack, coming well inside his reach and exchanging strike attempts so close she noticed how fast his eyes were darting back and forth. Crash snapped a punch and used that to step back out of the fray and coil his body. Lynn prepared to close in and prevent him from launching when she realized he was already half way there. His foot coming up and over so fast into a heal drop that her only option was to catch and roll with the blow before trying to dump him off to the side. The enforcer was genuinely shocked. Did he actually recognize the mistake of his previous heel kick and corrected it in that brief amount of time? The problem with the previous kick was that it was a two step up-and-down motion. Which left it wide open during the momentary pause at the top of the swing. In this one, he’d launched it as a circular sweep from the side, cutting the time on it in half. He was doing spectacularly, but it would take more than just some hand to hand to get him comfortable with his techniques. He would still require having a feel for his powered up state. Given how his body seemed to be fine, it was probably safe to do so. “Look at that!” she snapped as they parted. “You have a master fighter’s reflexes. Even if you’re sloppy. You actually surprised me with that kick.” “I did?” Crash asked. Lynn nodded. “I’ve not sparred with someone capable of landing a straight blow on me except for the most well trained hand to hand experts,” she complimented him. Of course, she left out that she wasn’t fighting to the fullest of her natural talent, but he needed the confidence. “You’re still lacking in subtlety though, but I have just the trick for that.” With a snap, she activated her barrier jacket, going from her regular enforcer uniform to a white body suit. She could visibly see Crash try to hide a cringe, obviously understanding where this was heading. “Transform and power up,” she ordered. “You know what your body can do, now you just need to see your power at work.” “Is that a good idea?” Crash asked. “I’m over a hundred times stronger in the armor and if I slip up in that it’ll end up hurting-“ “Don’t THINK” Lynn admonished. “Just DO.” Crash shut his mouth and activated the Olympian armor with a flash of light. “The armor is merely an extension of your body,” Lynn advised him. “It doesn’t do anything you don’t tell it to do first. If you punch, it punches. If you dodge, it dodges. It’s your body it’s following, not a predetermined path. If you jump…” Lynn pushed off the concrete and flipped backward in a wide arc to land on the elevated part of the roof. Over a dozen meters away. “…It jumps!” She finished. “Now jump up here!” Crash took an apprehensive breath, but obeyed, jumping up after the enforcer in a slightly steeper arc, without any of the fancy flipping she had done in the process. He landed with a mild thud that made him wince as cracks splintered out from where he’d come to a stop. Lynn regarded the damage left without betraying any emotion. It gave her an idea on how to teach this lesson, without having to make him more nervous by fighting in his armor. “All you need to do,” she explained. “Is learn to recognize exactly how much more powerful your armor makes you, and learn to recognize the difference. It’s just a simple matter of learning control. Power is nothing. If you can make the armor do things as gently as you desire, you’re in full control.” With that she turned, looking down at some of the balconies below. “This is what we’re going to do,” she instructed. “Follow me. Land where I land. And all you have to do, is land softly.” And she jumped. Crash watched her seem to float silently until she landed like a cat on a pillar for a balcony rail below. Looking back up, she waved him down. Crash leapt into open space… Apprehensive as he aimed for her. As he approached, she bounced down to a lower balcony as lithely as a gymnast. Crash hit the pillar with a thud, feeling a slight shift as it cracked and tried to crumble from the impact. “Use some flight magic to lighten the load,” she instructed. “Float that landing!” Crash leapt again, following her down and taking her advice to try and soften the landing. Lynn split her legs and pitched backwards off her perch with a flip. Roland, Hayate, and Shamal were still conversing when Lynn’s sudden landing on the balcony beyond Hayate’s window caught the General’s attention. As he gave a startled look, the other two turned to observe as Lynn, staring at something above her, hopped back from one rail pillar to the next deftly, then did a back flip over to the next before leaping on out of sight. A second later, an even bigger surprise happened when a matte gray eight hundred pound power armored suit landed with only a mild clank in the same spot, on one foot. Then it bounded quickly to the next step and mimicked the flip by twisting first. Then it too leapt clear. For a few seconds, the three stared out the window, until finally, they looked at each other. Roland and Shamal then raced for the balcony and threw it open as fast as they could. “Keep it up!” Lynn responded as Crash followed her across the length of the building, hopping from balcony to balcony in a clumsy, but softening chase. At last, she ran out of building and bounded cleanly onto the top of one of the parking lot lampposts. Crash landed on the balcony she’d left and turned, then stopped and crossed his arms. Lynn looked down at her perch and understood. Even landing lightly, this one wouldn’t hold that armor. “Okay!” She shouted. “Try and keep up!” And with a spring, rocketed upwards into a high arc, leaving a faint silver blue trail of the flight magic she’d used to massively augment the jump. Crash crouched, the Grav Drive having warmed up, and leapt after her. They arced over the highway running behind RF-6 Headquarters and landed on a building across it, but she didn’t stop, choosing instead to bound farther and higher onto a taller building, making her way towards the largest buildings she could find in the area. Crash worked doggedly to land exactly where she had been, as if trying to jump on her. Lynn didn’t make it easy, but she didn’t make it too hard by staying only half a jump ahead of him. Soon the two were bounding a quarter mile at a time, their ground speed higher than most light aircraft as they leapfrogged about the district. Things got increasingly more difficult when Lynn suddenly decided to land on a delivery truck moving down the highway, before bouncing into the gap between two buildings and wall jumping back and forth up the side of them. It was an exercise in precision and speed, one that Crash concentrated all he could to prevent damaging the vehicle when he landed with a hollow thump and took off again without so much as a dent. As he ascended into the gap, he put his arm out to soften his impact into the wall, and then pushed up and off to the other one, then repeated Lynn’s moves before following her out of the gap at the top onto the rooftop. He landed deceptively soft as she took several running bounds ahead across the rooftop before taking a diving leap over the side. He could do this! And what’s more… this was… FUN! Inhaling deeply, Crash smiled, and took a running start, diving headfirst over the side… To be presented with a rooftop a lot closer than he had predicted. Twirling rapidly and controlling his descent, he hit the roof and launched himself forward into a roll before pushing off with his hands and bounding right to his feet and into a dash behind Lynn. Who bounded off an air conditioning unit the size of a truck and over the side of the building. This wasn’t so bad! The armor was so responsive, that if the HUD wasn’t there, he would have forgotten it was there in the first place. About then, a message alert popped up in the corner. Cranagan Center Air Traffic Control (CCATC): -CLASS B AIRSPACE CLEARANCE APPROVED- Altitude and airspeed restrictions canceled. “I didn’t request a class B airspace transition,” he blinked in confusion, absentmindedly following Lynn through another bound off a highway right in front of a slightly surprised motorist. Watching Lynn bound in front of him, and realizing he hadn’t had this much fun since that first flight test of the armor, a devilish grin washed over his face. As they bounded their way back westward, he pushed off sharply, climbing through his arc much faster than the enforcer did. Timing the stunt just right, he swooped up behind her and above, just fast enough to easily slip his arms under hers, and hook her below the shoulders. “What the-“ she began, craning her neck back to look up at him. “What are you doing?” “I feel like having some fun,” Crash crackled. “What’s the fastest you’ve ever gone?” “I can hit mach one in an attack dive,” she snapped. “Why?” “Way too slow!” Crash smirked behind his faceplate. Transitioning into full flight, he leveled them off, but kept her held firmly in his grip. “You ever heard of advanced barrier shaping principle?” he asked. “It’s got some really neat uses.” “I’ve heard of it,” she commented. “But I don’t normally have time for ‘neat’ uses.” “Oh you’ll like this one,” the pilot crackled back. Looking down, he watched the coastline approach as he took them out of the city and into the bay. He was picking up a little speed as he did so. “The idea is that shaped barrier principle can be used to simulate complex mechanical designs. In fact, an aerodynamics barrier is a very simple use for it.” “What’s that got to do with how fast I’ve gone, or what we’re doing here?” Lynn asked. Crash checked again, the coast passed below them and they were now over the water. Commanding silently, the armor and the device running it responded by activating the barrier. Lynn looked as a cone shaped barrier formed around them, followed a moment later by a second barrier that looked like two funnels meeting end on end. “What are-“ There was a crack back behind their feet, and a glow, and she felt as if someone had just strapped a rocket to her as they began to pick up speed rapidly. “This is called a SCRAMJET!” Crash crackled over the noise. “It’s the engine principle that makes this armor capable of doing mach three, and it’s made completely out of barriers! HOLD ON!” The enforcer’s eyes nearly bugged out as they passed through the mach one threshold; moonlight briefly reflecting off a conical cloud that formed as they continued to accelerate. She wasn’t used to this. This wasn’t what she was trained for. This wasn’t what she had in mind. Maybe this was a bad idea after all. Crash leaned back slightly, causing them to climb. “Mach two!” he announced. “We’re clear to go as fast as we want out here.” With that, he rolled on his side and yanked them to the left, causing her heart to skip a beat. And after a moment, he snapped a roll the other direction and turned hard again. “Mach two point five!” He announced over the din of the super cruise ‘engine’. “Two and a half times faster than you’ve ever gone! Now to get some altitude!” Crash yanked hard upwards, causing Lynn to feel vertigo she felt only during her most intense attack moves, but worse. After a brief climb, Crash suddenly rolled on his back and pitched himself back to level off, causing Lynn a elicit a yelp of surprise. “Now who’s scared?” he asked in amusement. “Cruisers in orbit go faster than this. Relax, or you’ll miss the light show.” Light show? Lynn calmed herself slightly trying to figure out what he was talking about. Looking around, she realized that at the speed he was holding, they’d already carried out to sea quite the distance from Cranagan. Away from the light of the city, the moon reflected off the waves far below them in a hazy pattern, and the clouds around them were lined with silver. However, out ahead of them, was what he meant. A solid mass of silver topped clouds stretching in a line from the north to the south, flickering constantly with the internal lighting of lightning. The effect was stunning. “That’s beautiful…” she stated in surprise. Seeing things like this from orbit didn’t have quite that feeling of… REAL, that this had. Being in the middle of the picture was a little different than observing the painting from a distance. “Isn’t it?” Crash asked in response. “This is where it’s at, being in the middle of it and seeing nature at it’s most awesome. And that cold front is about get a LOT more awesome.” “Wait, you’re going to fly INTO it?” Lynn asked. There was a line one didn’t cross when it came to ignoring your fears, and doing things that were just plain stupid. “Oh HELL no,” Crash crackled back. “We’re not flying INTO it. At this speed we’ll cause compression lightning non-stop and I don’t even want to think about mach three hail stones. I’m not crazy enough to see if this suit can survive that kind of punishment, barriers or no. We’re just going to get… a little closer. You up for it?” Lynn took a breath and looked around. He hadn’t lost it after all. That was a good sign. Might as well have some fun. Looking up, she smiled, and nodded. Crash, for his part, was just having fun flying like he’d always wanted to, but having been stressed and worried almost from the day he’d gotten this suit, he’d never had the chance. Now it was back. The feeling he’d lost months ago. The reason he was a test pilot. ‘Crack!’ They accelerated again, this time Lynn watched their surroundings as Crash picked an altitude that placed them amidst the most clouds, giving a true sense of speed as they raced past. They closed on the cold front that lurked far out to sea, the wall of storm clouds looming up before them menacingly. With a single sharp roll, Crash began a turn to the south, his turning radius stretching for over a mile at this speed. But he lined it up perfectly and before long they were skirting the front of the weather system. Huge cumulonimbus clouds billowed on their right, blinking brilliantly in the dark as they tore a line sometimes, just feet away. After a bit of altitude shifting, Crash found where the lower clouds depressed back into the storm, and where the higher clouds spread out above them, leaving a gap of clear air, and flew them right into the niche. Now the flickering light show was on three sides, with moonlight and the distant glow of Cranagan off to the left. Lynn relaxed completely. This is what it felt like to just cut loose and have fun with magic. It was exhilarating. After about a minute of straight up cruising, Crash yanked them up and to the left, passing only just barely through the cloud tops of an anvil before leveling off at thirty-five thousand feet, pointing them back towards Cranagan. “I guess I should thank you,” Crash crackled at length. Lynn craned her neck and looked up. “You helped me find something I thought I’d lost,” he continued. “I owe you one, thanks.” “Don’t mention it,” Lynn smiled. “I was just trying to make up for my mistake this morning.” “You’ll have to teach me some of those moves though,” Crash commented. “I’m apparently not half bad, but I’m no expert. And Fox doesn’t teach as well as she learns.” “She did good enough,” Lynn laughed. “Hey,” Crash interjected. “You CAN laugh! And here since I met you I thought you were nothing but business.” Lynn laughed again. It felt so good. Ten minutes later they were sub-sonic again, coasting in gently to the rooftop of RF-6 headquarters. Crash set down like a feather, letting go of Lynn as he transitioned from flying to a brisk walk as if it was nothing. “Easier than I thought,” he commented. “Just ease the angle right into a walk and reach out, nothing to it.” With a flash, he powered down, returning to his normal uniform jacket. Lynn did the same and they both made their way for the door. It was then that Crash noticed they weren’t alone on the roof. Shamal was there, looking like a very angry mother hen with her arms crossed in front of her. Vita was next to her, almost seething with anger, but strangely quiet, Graf Eisen clearly out over her shoulder. Roland was behind them, his emotions masked behind his game face. “Uh oh,” Crash muttered to the enforcer quietly. “Mama bear isn’t happy, and she brought papa bear and hammer bear with her. I think we’re in trouble.” Lynn quickly melted into her own game face in response. “You!” Shamal pointed at Crash. “I told you that you weren’t even supposed to be UP and about, and here you are not only participating in strenuous activity without my approval, but flying… FLYING! You’re as bad as Nanoha! Back in bed. NOW!” Crash tried to suppress a laugh, but knew there was no arguing with the doctor this time. Not when she had her right hand hammer girl with the anesthesia at the ready. Crash walked up to them but stopped just short as he glanced at Vita. And a silly thought popped into his head. He’d won their little bet after all. “You owe me a ‘bed time’ story,” he pointed out. “And I’m not going to sleep until I get it.” Vita’s eyes widened in shock, and she worked her mouth several times before she completely lost her ‘Hired Muscle’ composure and lowered her head, shaking it. “Whatever,” she grumbled. “Just go get in bed… And don’t think for a second I’m going to tuck your ass in.” “Fair enough,” Crash smirked, then moved forward, stopping next to Roland. “Funny thing,” he stated curiously. “Did you hear from anyone about airspace clearance?” Shamal glared at the two. “I authorized no requests for Class B airspace clearance,” the General commented coldly. “Didn’t think so,” Crash shook his head and continued on, Vita giving him a gentle ‘move prisoner’ kind of poke with Graf Eisen. After a moment, Shamal sighed, and shook her head, casting a softening glare at Lynn before she followed. For a second, the general stood quietly, glaring at the enforcer until Shamal’s footsteps retreated. Then, he let his poker face slip, and smirked. “After all,” he commented dryly to his remaining audience. “I didn’t receive any ‘requests’ for Class B airspace clearance, or altitude clearance, or speed clearance. How could I grant them?” Lynn’s mouth dropped open as the general turned away. He really was two-faced! Done. EDIT: Spoiler for Notes:
Among my things of research for this chapter... I went though information on things such as refrigerants. I also double checked my research on PTSD and treatments for it. Along with my notes over on Spacebattles, I also remembered not to put the 'condition' "Hypermana-shock" as a latin name (Hyper-Venificus-Shock)... Since I just mentioned in the last chapter that they don't know ABOUT Latin, let alone know it at all. Among other things I went through, was a brief research into book number five of Those Who Hunt Elves for researching Junpei (Crash)'s Heal Kick technique. Both as a shout out to the character Crash is based on, and as actual material. I also double checked what kind of Air Space Clearance Crash recieved. Class B airspace exists around airports such as those of Los Angeles or Chicago O'hare. Since Cranagan is a large city like a combo of LA and Tokyo, obviously it would have a huge airport with the same Air Space Classification. Also of worthy note is that at least in US Aviation laws, it is illegal to go supersonic over inhabbited land (like a city) without a very good reason (And authorization after that). The reason here, that Crash waited until he was over open water before kicking up the speed. Last edited by AdmiralTigerclaw; 2009-12-22 at 22:51. |
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2009-12-23, 11:42
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Link #21326 |
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Test Drive
Author
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: USA
Age: 33
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Quote:
I'm joking, of course. Love you DC, and the one-shot is just as good as it is heartbreaking.  Now I want to see Lindy's side of it, just to make up for how awful Precia was! 
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2009-12-23, 21:17
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Link #21327 |
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Burst Mode
Author
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Windsor, Ontario
Age: 37
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Well here's my Christmas fic for your reading pleasure! I make no guarantees on how funny/not boring it is
Spoiler for How the Nakajimas Saved Christmas:
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
“… u… ru…” The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. “W… ke…” The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of… “S… b… u…!” Sugar-plums danced… “I said wake up damn it!” “Huh, what?” Subaru’s head snapped up from her drool soaked pillow and looked around in confusion. Quickly coming to her senses, she scanned the darkness to find two familiar silhouettes. “Nove, Wendi, what is it? I know you want to open presents, but it’s not morning yet…” “We know that!” Nove whispered fiercely. “But we have a problem!” “Me and Nove went downstairs to take a little peek,” Wendi explained. “But there’s some strange person down there!” “What do you mean?” This caused Subaru to spring out of her bed. “Is it a burglar?” “We’re not sure, but it could be!” Wendi said urgently. “Come on, we’ll show you!” The three cyborgs made their way downstairs on their tip toes, careful not to cause the floorboards to creek. They poked their heads through the doorway into the living room, where they saw a large shadow shuffling in the blackness. ‘See, we told you!’ Nove said mentally. ‘You’re right!’ Subaru frowned. ‘There’s no way I’m letting some crook steal Christmas! Let’s get him, girls!’ The other two nodded as they slowly crept into the room. The intruder seemed too busy in whatever he was doing to notice the three girls, so they easily got the drop on him. With suppressed battle cries, they jumped him and let their fists do all the talking. The shadow gave muted yelps of pain as he was pummelled until his movement eventually ceased. “Wendi, get the lights!” Subaru ordered. Wendi obliged and with the lights on, the three studied their quarry. He was fat, wore a red suit, and had a fluffy white beard. Subaru, Nove, and Wendi looked at him, then each other, and then him again. “AHHH! WE KILLED SANTA CLAUS!” Subaru and Nove screamed. “… You mean he really exists?” Wendi blinked and then she freaked out. “AND WE KILLED HIM!!!” “AHHH!” “WAAH!” “GAAAH!” “What’s all this racket down here?” The violent trio turned to their three older sisters who had ventured downstairs. “Gin-nee, we didn’t mean to!” Subaru sobbed. “We thought he was a burglar!” Nove explained. “It’s all Nove’s fault!” Wendi pointed. “Oi!” “What are you three…?” Ginga moved her sleepy gaze to the floor where the man in red lay motionless. She lingered a moment before she turned to leave. “… I’m still tired so I’m going back to bed.” “Ah! Gin-nee! Don’t turn away from the reality before you!” Subaru reached out to her fleeing sister. “Don’t worry, he’s not dead.” Cinque said calmly, having crouched down to feel the man’s pulse. “You two did quite the number on him, though.” Dieci noted. “But what do we do? If the Bureau finds out we hurt some one…” Nove trailed off. “… Would the Bureau really believe we beat up Santa Claus?” Wendi wondered. “What do we do if he doesn’t wake up?” Subaru worried. “… With all the noise you’re making, not even the dead could get any rest.” A groan escaped the fat man. “Santa! You’re ok!” Subaru brightened. “I can barely move, actually. Little help here?” He asked as he failed to lift himself up. With their cyborg strength, Subaru and Nove easily got him onto the couch. “That’s much better.” Santa sighed. “Here, Santa.” Nove offered him a plate of milk and cookies. “These are for you.” “Thanks.” He weakly raised an arm and took a cookie, some how managing to get it to his mouth. “But this isn’t enough to change the fact you three beat me senseless.” “We’re so sorry!” Subaru, Nove, and Wendi bowed simultaneously. “Apologies can come later.” Santa frowned. “The problem at hand is how I’m supposed to deliver the rest of these presents in this condition.” “So you’re saying you’re the real Santa Claus?” Cinque inquired sceptically. “The one and only.” He said. “But I suppose you want proof… Well, in her letter, Nove wanted a PS9, Subaru asked for some high quality oil for her device, and you, Cinque, asked for a stu…” “Aaaah, ok, I get it!” Cinque flushed. “You’re the real deal.” “So, do you still have a lot left to deliver?” Dieci asked. “Of course he does!” Nove snorted. “He has to deliver to all the houses in the universe!” “Even with magic today, doing something like that is impossible.” Santa chuckled slightly. “No, since long ago I’ve actually divided up the workload amongst my staff, each person covers a different area. This year, I’m only responsible for delivering presents to Clanagan. That said, I’ve only hit a few houses so far…” “Then we’ll do it!” Wendi declared. “It’s our fault you’re like this, so it’s the least we could do!” Santa stared at her incredulously. “So you’re saying you’ll take my sleigh, ride around the city, and deliver the presents?” Ginga thought it over for a moment. “… Since this is a dream, we might as well go for it.” “… I don’t think the situation has registered in her head yet…” Subaru sighed. “Do any of you girls even have a licence?” Santa asked. “You need a licence to drive a sleigh.” “Really?” The others looked between themselves. “There’s only one person…” --- “PAPA-RIN!” Wendi shouted as she barged into his room and leapt towards his bed. Genya’s highly honed reflexes caused him to turn over, making Wendi bounce off the mattress. “What is it, Wendi?” He mumbled. “You’re not opening your presents until morning.” “Big trouble!” She called. “We have to save Christmas!” “… That’s nice. Make sure you’re home by curfew…” “But we need your help!” Wendi said. “You’re the only one who can drive Santa’s sleigh!” “Huh?” Genya finally opened his eyes to look at her, also noticing the rest of his daughters standing in the doorway. “What are you talking about?” “Come downstairs and you’ll see.” After trudging down the stairs, the father of six spied the stranger lounging on his couch. “Who is this?” He asked. “Can’t you tell by looking?” Subaru asked. “Dad, it’s Santa Claus! We thought he was a burglar so Nove, Wendi and I beat him up, but because of that he can’t do the rest of his deliveries!” “… I’m going to call the police.” Genya muttered, turning to leave. The younger half of his daughters quickly clung to him. “Nooo! He’s really Santa! And he needs our help to save Christmas!” “Santa Claus? Are you serious?” Genya sighed as he turned back. “How do we know he’s not just some wacko in a costume?” “Genya, when you were seven you wanted the Super DX Combining Godrandum.” Santa stated plainly. “… Santa, huh?” Genya scratched his head. “And you girls beat him up, so it’s up to you to make the deliveries?” “That seems to be the case.” Cinque nodded. “Santa said we need a licence to drive the sleigh, and you’re the only person who has one!” Nove added. Genya sighed again. Of all the messes he thought he’d have to bail his daughters out of, this wasn’t one of them. “… Your sleigh and reindeer are on the roof, I’m assuming?” Genya asked the other man. “That’s right. The list and present bag are also up there too. Just follow the directions, drop off the right gift, and move on. It’s a simple, efficient system.” Santa explained. “Guess we have no choice.” Genya said. “Ok, Ginga, you stay here and tend to our… guest.” “Ok.” Ginga nodded, thinking that treating the injured was a boring way to spend a dream. “The rest of you are with me.” He ordered his other daughters who responded in the affirmative. “Ah, if papa-rin is going to be driving, you have to look the part!” Wendi suddenly declared. --- Minutes later, Genya, now wearing the famous red outfit with a faux beard, placed a ladder against the side of his house. “So, where exactly did you get this outfit from?” He asked. “Don’t sweat the small stuff!” Wendi grinned. “Let’s just go!” They all climbed up the ladder and stood on the roof. They then found themselves gawking as they spied the big red sleigh and the nine animals tied to it. “Wow, it’s really Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donnor and Blitsen!” Subaru cried. “And Rudolf too!” Nove added. “Who the heck are you guys?” Rudolf asked. “Where’s the old man?” “He talks!” Wendi gasped. “It’s getting him to shut up that’s the problem.” Comet muttered. “Hey, shut your hole, Comet!” Rudolf growled. “I’m the leader of this here operation, so show me some respect!” “Whatever, let’s just hurry up and get this over with.” Dasher said gruffly. “It’s freaking cold up here.” “You should just retire already, gramps!” Vixen snorted. “… Don’t get me started on the things I could say about you, Vixen.” Dasher retorted. “You wanna fight?” “You’re on!” “… Kind of ruins the fantasy, doesn’t it?” Dieci sighed. “… You said it.” Cinque agreed. “Ok now, settle down you guys.” Genya spoke up. “Santa had a little… accident and can’t make the rest of the deliveries. So we’re here in his place.” “You mean the fat man’s out of commission?” Dancer’s head perked up. “All right!” Prancer cheered, shrugging out of his reins. The others followed suit as they began glowing and within moments the deer were replaced by nine men. “The boss isn’t around, so let’s all go get drunk!” Cupid declared. “Yeah! I know this place that’ll still be open!” The Nakajimas could only watch as the reindeer jumped off the roof and made their way down the street. “… So they were familiars…” Dieci noted. “… For being creatures that only have to work one day a year, they’re surprisingly lazy.” Cinque added. “Great, now what are we supposed to do?” Nove growled. “Without the reindeer, how can we move the sleigh?” “Should we go after them?” Subaru wondered. “Even if we did, they didn’t seem too interested in doing their job…” Wendi sighed. She then noticed Genya, Cinque, and Dieci send looks at the younger siblings. “… What?” Moments later, Subaru, Nove, and Wendi found themselves tied to the sleigh. “… You can’t be serious.” Nove said. “Whose fault is this, anyways?” Cinque asked dryly as she, Genya, and Dieci sat in the sleigh. “You have to take responsibility.” “But Cinque-nee…” Nove whined. “Give it up, Nove.” Subaru put a hand on her shoulder. Besides, our Wing Road and Wendi’s board are the only things that can move the sleigh anyways.” “We might have another problem.” Dieci piped up. “All that’s back here is an empty sack.” She held up said item. “What? But isn’t there supposed to be a huge bag filled with tons of presents?” Wendi asked. “It’s completely empty.” Dieci emphasized her statement by holding the bag upside down. “Not even a single ribbon.” As soon as she said it, a ribbon fell out of the bag. “Huh? But there was nothing in here a minute ago…” This time she reached down into the bag. “Huh? I can’t feel the bottom…” “Hm, perhaps it’s connected to some sort of pocket dimension?” Genya pondered, activating the terminal in the sleigh and causing a list of names to appear. “Let’s try this… Timmy O’Tool’s gift.” When he said it, a bulge appeared in the sack. Dieci reached in and pulled out a wrapped box. “So that’s how it works.” Cinque nodded sagely. “I wonder if it works for other things too.” Wendi asked as she leaned over the side. “Like… what if I wanted some hot chocolate?” Dieci pulled a thermos out of the bag and handed it to her sister. “It’s got little marshmallows in it and everything!” Wendi cheered as she looked inside. “I wonder if it has an Anywhere Door or a What-if-box?” Genya grinned, but his expression slowly faded when he saw his daughters’ blank stares. “… Youngsters these days have no appreciation for the classics…” He muttered. “… Well, now that we know how this works, it’s time to get going!” Subaru announced. “Set up!” Wendi and Nove did the same, donning their barrier jackets and devices. No sooner had they done that when Subaru clutched her waist and the other two began rubbing their legs together. “C-C-C-Come to think of it…” Wendi shivered. “O-O-Our barrier jackets leave a lot exposed…” “D-D-D-Definitely not winter appropriate.” Nove said behind chattering teeth. “You’ll need something warmer.” Cinque nodded, smiling slightly as she looked back at Santa’s sack. --- “If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear Commander Yagami was here…” Subaru muttered as she ran her hand across the felt antlers that decorated her hat. “Well, at least it’s warm.” Wendi shrugged in her brown jacket. “It sets the mood, doesn’t it?” Cinque noted as she adjusted her green outfit. “If we’re all done playing dress up now, let’s get moving.” Genya sighed. “We’re going to have to work hard to make up for lost time.” “Yes sir!” His daughters saluted. The younger girls took their positions, with Subaru and Nove flanking Wendi, who activated her board. “Wing Road!” Subaru called as the glowing paths shot from her and Nove’s feet into the sky. They pulled the sleigh with their combined strength along the path to the air. “Where is our first stop, father?” Cinque asked. Genya looked at the terminal and read off the name. “That’s it over there.” Genya pointed to one of the houses. “Take us down there, girls.” They did so and the sleigh slid to a stop on top of the roof. “That wasn’t too hard.” Subaru said. “Yeah, we might be able to do this after all.” Nove agreed. “Here’s the present.” Dieci handed the box to Subaru. “Ok, so I guess we have to take this down the chimney…” Subaru glanced over at the stack of bricks. “Uh… Go for it, Wendi!” “What? There’s no way I can fit down there!” Wendi objected. “Nove should do it!” “Like I could fit down there either!” Nove huffed, folding her arms across her chest. “I might get stuck…” “Yeah, Wendi your chest is the smallest, so it has to be you!” Subaru said. “What? Mine are no smaller than yours!” Wendi shot back. “If Santa can do it,” Dieci interjected. “Then so can you.” “… How does Santa do it?” They all wondered. --- “Uh oh.” “What is it, Santa?” Ginga asked. “… I forgot to give them my size altering device!” --- “We’re screwed!” Wendi moaned. “The only one of us who could possibly do it is…” They all turned and looked at their second oldest sister. “… Ooooooh no!” Cinque waved her arms in front of her. “You’re not stuffing me down there!” “But Cinque-nee, we need you!” Nove pleaded. “Don’t you want to save Christmas?” Wendi asked, face assuming the puppy dog formation. “… I guess I don’t have much of a choice…” Cinque finally gave in. “But how am I supposed to get out?” Dieci silently took a rope out of Santa’s bag. “… Ok, tie me up…” Rope secured around her waist and present in her arms, Cinque began her descent down the chimney. “Don’t worry, Cinque-nee! We’ve got you!” Nove, firmly gripping the other end of the rope, assured her. “… It’s a good thing I’m not claustrophobic…” As she was engulfed by the darkness, Cinque gulped. “At least I hope I’m not…” “Are you ok?” Subaru called down after some time passed. “I’m fi…” Cinque was cut off by a cough. “When was the last time these people cleaned this thing?” After some more time, the short cyborg finally felt her feet touch ground again. Pushing open the fireplace door, she entered into the unknown family’s living room which had been decorated in a festive manner. Dusting some soot off her package, Cinque placed the item under the tree. “That does it, I guess.” She sighed. She made to leave, but she then spotted the plate of treats that had been set out. “Guess this isn’t so bad.” Cinque mused as she took a bite out of a cookie. “I could get used to this. Good thing there wasn’t some kind of…” That’s when she noticed the Doberman that stared at her from across the room. “… Vicious dog.” The combat cyborg held eyes with the beast, both ready to strike when the moment presented itself. Cinque considered using the cookie to distract the animal while she ran to the chimney, but cursed her luck when she realised the baked good was chocolate chip. A low rumble escaped the dog’s throat as Cinque slowly moved backwards towards the fireplace. “Take it easy, boy.” She whispered. “I’m leaving right now, so there’s no need to worry…” If the Doberman understood her, it clearly didn’t believe her words for it charged. Cinque scrambled away as fast as she could, tugging on the rope as she ducked into the hearth. She could feel the dog’s breath on her heals as she was pulled up by her sisters. “That was a close one…” She breathed when she was back on the roof. “Are you ok, Cinque-nee?” Nove asked. “I’m fine, but this job is for the dogs.” Cinque smiled sardonically. After shaking off the soot that covered her, the small Number hopped back into the sleigh and they took off to the next house. This process repeated itself for several houses, but to Cinque’s relief, not everyone kept pets. However, they soon ran into another problem. “Um… This house doesn’t have a chimney…” Wendi noted. “This is a problem…” Cinque muttered. “How do we deliver the present to this one?” “It’s not like we can pass through walls…” Subaru and her sisters looked like they had found the solution to world hunger. “Why didn’t we think of this before?!” --- Sein was roused as she heard rapping on her bedroom window. When she glanced over she was surprised to see her sisters, dressed as reindeer, peering inside. “… That’s the last time I have any of Sister Schach’s special eggnog before bed…” She muttered as she pulled her covers over her head. When the knocking continued, Sein decided it was too annoying to be a hallucination so she went over to her window and opened it. “What are you…? Woah!” Before Sein knew it, she had been grabbed and tossed into the back of the sleigh, which then took off. --- “… So let me get this straight.” Sein said. “You beat up Santa Claus, and now you have to make deliveries for him?” “That’s right.” Cinque nodded. “And you need me to get into houses that have no chimneys?” “That’s also correct.” “… Got yourselves into quite the pickle this time.” Sein laughed. “But it sounds interesting. Plus, I wouldn’t be much of a sister if I refused to help you guys.” “We appreciate it.” Cinque smiled. They returned to the chimneyless house from earlier, and Sein, now dressed in a warm green jacket, hopped out and did some stretches. “Ok, time to go snoop around in some stranger’s house!” She cheered as Dieci handed her a present. “IS: Deep Diver!” Sein stuck her finger down into the roof to check things out, but quickly pulled it out as her face flushed. “Ehehe… The master bedroom is right below here…” She chuckled awkwardly. “Let’s just say some one is getting some intense love this Christmas…” Genya and Cinque coughed, Wendi grinned, and Subaru, Nove, and Dieci blinked innocently. “Let’s try over here then…” Sein moved down the roof and stuck her finger in again. Seeing the coast was clear, she jumped inside the house and it wasn’t long before she swam back out. “That wasn’t nearly as hard as I thought it’d be.” She mused, wiping the crumbs from her mouth. “It has been surprisingly uneventful, hasn’t it?” Wendi nodded. “I say that’s a good thing.” Genya said. “Let’s move on to the next house.” And so they did. The established system ran quite smoothly, with the only issue raised being Sein’s inability to consume any more cookies. “Maybe all that milk will help your chest grow!” Wendi quipped, earning her a bonk on the head. “Hey, it’s Nanoha-san’s house!” Subaru called when they approached the home and landed on its roof. “So that means the next gift is for Vivio.” Wendi concluded. “It is.” Dieci confirmed, handing the gift to Sein. “Well then, here comes a special delivery for her majesty!” Sein declared as she sank into the roof, only to pop up again moments later. “It seems we have a restless child on our hands.” She smirked. --- Vivio poked her head over the back of the couch, keeping a keep eye on the fireplace next to the Christmas tree. ‘Why do Nanoha-mama and Fate-mama keep insisting Santa is real?’ She pondered. ‘Even Yuuno-papa keeps saying so! They can’t honestly think that I’m not smart enough to know he couldn’t exist!’ She wasn’t able to stay awake the pervious years to catch her parents in the act, but this time for sure she was going to witness it! Her ears twitched as she heard something coming from the chimney. Much to her surprise, the little girl witnessed a figure seemingly materialise out of the fireplace. He was a large man wearing a red suit, with white curls hanging from his chin. Vivio quickly covered her mouth as she gasped, but her position was revealed and the man looked in her direction. He simply smiled at her, shot her a wink, and placed a box under the tree. After munching on some cookies and taking a swig of milk, he waved to her and disappeared back into the wall. Vivio quickly ran to the fireplace, opened the doors and looked up, only to see nothing there. Unable to contain herself, she ran upstairs, whipped open the door to her parents’ room, and dive-bombed the bed. “SANTA IS REAL!” She squealed. --- “Thanks for the assist, sir.” Sein said to Genya as he sat back on the sleigh. “No problem.” He grinned. “Children should all have dreams to believe in.” “The sun is going to rise in a few hours.” Dieci warned. “So I think we better hurry.” “There’s only a few names left to go, so we’re almost there!” Genya declared. And thus the Nakajima family plus one flew off into the night. --- “Home sweet home.” Wendi said as they landed on the roof of their house after they returned Sein to the Saint Church. “Done already?” Nove blinked. “I could probably handle delivering to another city.” “Yeah, I’m not tired at all.” Subaru added. “That’s easy for your girls to say.” Genya sighed as he climbed out. “But for this crotchety old man, I’m exhausted.” After helping their father off the roof, they all returned to their living room, where an odd sight greeted them. “You have to do your jobs properly. You can’t just ditch and go drinking whenever you want to, got it?” Ginga lectured the nine reindeer familiars that sat prostrated before her. “… Yes m’am.” They groaned in unison. “Oh, you’re back.” Santa greeted. “I hope you don’t mind, but I sent your daughter to round up these lazy bums.” “No, that’s fine.” Genya replied. “We managed to do all the deliveries with little problem.” “That’s wonderful news. Thank you for taking care of that for me.” Santa said as he got to his feet. “Are you ok now, Santa?” Nove asked. “Should you be standing up already?” “Don’t worry about it, Nove.” He laughed. “I’m tougher than I look. If I had a nickel for every time I was injured and some one had to cover for me, I’d be a very rich man.” “But… After what we did to you…” Nove looked down. “I bet we got put on the naughty list…” “Don’t be silly, Nove.” Santa patted the girl’s head. “You were just trying to protect your family. You might have done some bad things in your life before, but I know you’ve turned yourself around and are trying your best to be a good girl. The same goes for the rest of your sisters. So take a look under your tree, and you’ll see your gifts are already there.” “Thank you, Santa!” Nove brightened at the news. “Awww, Nove is such a softie.” Wendi chuckled. “S-Shut up! I am not!” Nove huffed, causing her family to laugh. “Well then, I must be returning.” Santa announced. “Let’s go boys. I’m sure Mrs. Claus has plenty to say to you when she hears about your conduct tonight.” With that, the man and his nine grumbling familiars filed out of the house. After a pause, the girls followed after him, running out onto their lawn in time to see Santa take off. “Tea’s not going to believe this when I tell her!” Subaru whispered as she watched the sleigh fly away. And they heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” Spoiler for My Christmas card to you all:
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2009-12-23, 22:22
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Link #21328 |
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Queen of Tragedy
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Place of rocks and trees, and trees and rocks...and water.
Age: 33
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Hey, finished the Christmas short!
(So RB, no wanting to mob me anymore!). I included the first one again just for those who don't want to go back a few pages to read it.Again, the not so happy Christmas short: Making Mother Happy on Christmas AKA Christmas with the Testarossas Spoiler for Making Mother Happy on Christmas:
“Arf.”
“Coming!” Arf quickly hid her box of dog biscuits and jumped over to Fate’s side, shifting into her wolf form before lowering her head for Fate’s hand. “What does that…woman want next?” “Mother asked me to find an artefact for her.” Fate closed her eyes, and called out her Barrier Jacket, tying her cape around her shoulders before taking hold of Bardiche. Their teleportation circle sprang into being beneath them, the coordinates already fixed in Fate’s mind. They had a routine now. “Maybe she should try getting her butt out of that chair and doing work herself for once,” she heard Arf grumble before they vanished into a column of yellow light. *** Panting, Fate swung Bardiche back, letting the expensive but non-magical necklace drop back amongst the other jewellery. Not an artefact, but someone had probably used it for magic before, hence why Bardiche had picked up some traces on the gem. She wiped her forehead, staggering a little before leaning against the broken glass counters. This was the eighth store she had visited, and from the time it didn’t look like she could make it to a ninth before the stores opened for the morning shoppers. “Fate!” Arf hissed from where she was keeping a lookout at the window. “Someone’s coming!” They ducked out the back entrance, shutting the broken door as silently as they could before sneaking around onto the street again. Fate released her Barrier Jacket and tucked Bardiche into her pocket, trying to hopefully blend in with the early shoppers walking on the sidewalks of the shopping district. “There are a lot of people this early,” Fate murmured to Arf, who only wuffed, as she couldn’t answer aloud and the observation wasn’t worth commenting on telepathically. “I wonder why?” She paused at a crosswalk and read a sign hanging off a department store building. “Christmas sales? Already?” There’s only a few days left until Christmas, Arf pointed out. Is it? I didn’t notice… With all the missions that woman keeps sending you on, I’m surprised you even noticed that you need to sleep every 24 hours. Fate decided to refrain from answering, as she knew that Arf would only get annoyed if she tried to defend Mother. She loved Arf, but Arf just didn’t understand the relationship between her and her mother. “Hello!” A saleswoman smiled at her. “Are you looking for presents for your parents?” “Um…” Fate wished that she could hide behind Arf, but the lady had already looked her in the eyes and it would be rude not to answer. “Y-yes…for my mother…” “We have some nice clothing on sale, why don’t you come in and see if you can find something you like?” The saleswoman coaxed, gesturing towards the glass sliding doors of the store. Arf growled, her thick ruff rising but Fate quickly wove her fingers into Arf’s fur and scratched her neck soothingly. “Ah…” the lady gulped, eyeing Arf with some trepidation, “Pets aren’t allowed in the store…” “She’s…my aid dog,” Fate lied, feeling her entire face grow red. Thankfully, the woman seemed to take her blush as embarrassment of admitting that fact instead of guilt at lying, and after a few hasty apologies she bowed them through the door. Brushing her hand over the racks, Fate asked timidly, Arf, do you think Mother would like one of these? Arf hesitated, then licked Fate’s palm and rumbled soothingly in her throat. I’m sure anything you want to get that woman would be nice, Fate. More boldly, Fate browsed through the racks, pushing aside outfits that were entirely unsuitable. Then one blouse she disregarded revealed a knitted purple sweater behind it that made her pause. Gingerly, Fate touched the sweater and felt threads of memory come to her—she had, with Linith’s help, gotten Mother a purple sweater before. Mother must have liked it, because she had looked so happy and wore it often when they went out on picnics. This one even looked like it, although Fate hadn’t seen Mother wear hers for a while. Maybe Mother had lost it… Fate looked at Arf. Um… Arf wagged her tail encouragingly. Fate didn’t even look at the price before handing it over to the cashier for gift-wrapping. But just as the man rang up the purchase and handed her the bag with a smile, Fate was struck by second thoughts. Arf…maybe I should work harder to find that artefact instead…I think it would make Mother happier to get that than something like this… You could give her both, Arf suggested, and although Fate knew Arf tried to hide her doubts she picked out the forced cheeriness anyways. I’m sure that no matter what, she’ll be delighted with anything you get her. *** “Fate.” Fate inched forward—she was ashamed of her hesitance, but her legs trembled when she crept towards Precia’s chair. “Y-yes, Mother?” Precia stared at her, then held a box up by the wrapped ribbon, as if it was a disgusting piece of garbage that she wanted to avoid touching as much as possible. “What is this?” “It’s…a Christmas present,” Fate stammered. “B-because I’m s-sorry…I couldn’t find the artefact, but…but I’m hoping that you’ll like…like my present instead.” She flinched under the weight of her mother’s cold eyes, but then Precia sighed, lowering the box into her lap. Fate scooted closer, watching Mother’s face eagerly. Impatiently, Precia tore the wrapping paper and let the pieces fall onto the floor, lifting the lid to the box callously. She stared at the sweater for so long Fate forced herself to speak past her terror and anticipation, “M-Mother? Do you…” The oddest combination of emotions flooded across her mother’s face: shock, recognition then a warm affection that Fate longed for, that she hadn’t seen for a few years now—then that loving expression changed abruptly. Ripping fabric echoed through the room as shreds of purple wool landed violently on the ground, and Fate curled into a ball on the floor at the sound of Precia rising from her chair, her face pressed into the stone and her whimpering as the only sound in the ominous silence. *** Arf almost missed the faint sound of the great doors opening, but when she did she quickly took her hands off her ears and raced over, catching her precious Fate when the girl staggered into the outer hall. Fate had put her cape back on to hide the worst of her injuries, but Arf could still see angry red weals winding down her arms. “Fate!” Cradling Fate against her chest, Arf put her ears back in frantic concern. Stirring slightly, Fate coughed, turning in Arf’s grip until blank red eyes stared through her limp hair into Arf’s. “Arf…we…we need to go…look for the artefact.” “We don’t need to do anything for—” Arf erupted, knowing that Precia could hear her and not caring a whit about it. Fate interrupted her, her voice so weak Arf didn’t have the heart to speak over her. “I made Mother sad…because I didn’t get her what she wanted. I keep making her sad…Arf, please.” Although it broke Arf’s heart to see the effort that took from her precious master, Fate straightened and smiled weakly. Standing on her own, Bardiche in hand, Fate whispered shyly with strains of broken love in her eyes, “I want to make Mother smile on Christmas.” And now the very much happy Christmas short :What Mom Wants for Christmas AKA Christmas with the Harlaowns Spoiler for What Mom Wants for Christmas:
What Mom Wants for Christmas AKA Christmas with the Harlaowns Ah, darn. Fate frowned as the tape dispenser went empty at her last pull, her other hand trying to hold the corner of the wrapping paper in place. She knew that she should have done this earlier, but spending Christmas Eve morning at Nanoha’s had made Fate forget all about the presents that she hadn’t finished wrapping. Putting a sweater over her half-wrapped present to hide it, Fate snuck downstairs and knocked on Chrono’s door. “What?” Chrono opened his door a crack. Fate shifted nervously, seeing that he seemed a little annoyed. She didn’t see why, as Amy was here early for Christmas Eve dinner that day and he was always more relaxed and less serious when she was over. Which was nearly all the time anyways, so Amy even had her own room, although she spent a lot of time with Chrono. “Um…can I borrow some tape please?” Chrono’s head disappeared for a moment, then reappeared, dropping some tape into her hand and closing the door again. Fate hesitated at his door, wondering if he was mad at her and if she should apologize for something, but decided that it must be a boy thing and not her fault. Chrono was really serious but he was always nice to her. She made her way back up the stairs before the sound of Lindy’s laughter made her pause at the top. “…and Fate-chan said to him shyly, “I think the plug is on the other end.” Poor Chrono was so mad!” Lindy laughed again, and the purple-haired woman on the holoscreen joined in as well. “Did he redo them?” Admiral Leti asked, chuckling as she took a sip of her tea. “Yes, all sixty feet of lights,” Lindy smiled. She sighed happily, leaning back in her chair. “I wish you could have joined us this year.” “Maybe next year, I can get the time off,” Leti said. “But listening to your stories almost makes up for it. So, what do you think the children are getting you this year?” “I try not to think about it,” Lindy replied, mixing some more milk into her tea. Fate didn’t understand why Nanoha always winced whenever she saw that. Tea tasted better that way. “That way I can be a hundred percent surprised on Christmas Day.” Leti chuckled. “Griffith always gets me a scarf. I have a full rainbow by now.” “Ah, but you love them all,” Lindy told her. “Oh! Do you know what I really wish for this year?” “Another pair of gloves?” “No, I have plenty of those already,” Lindy laughed, making Fate’s heart freeze when she thought about the half-wrapped pair of leather gloves hidden in her room. “I saw this porcelain angel, the kinds that you put on the tops of Christmas trees? It looked so fanciful, although the paper one Fate-chan made in school looks much nicer on our tree. I just liked how adorable it looked, and the craftsmanship was admirable. They hand-made those, so each one looked different.” “That seems very much like you,” teased Leti, although Fate didn’t hear the rest of their conversation. She ran silently into her room, dropping the tape on the floor and frantically pulling the gloves out of the neatly folded wrapping paper. The receipt was somewhere—Fate found it in her jacket, and she quickly pulled it on and darted ghostlike down the stairs and out the door, waking Arf from her nap by the fireplace. “Fate?” Arf loped in her puppy form next to Fate as the two ran to the bus stop. “What’s wrong?” “I need to get a new present,” Fate said tightly, her hands clenched tightly around the gloves in her pocket. “Today?” Arf asked incredulously. “Christmas is tomorrow!” “It’s important,” Fate scuffed her boot anxiously on the sidewalk. The ground was covered in ice, but no snow yet. The radio said that it would be a white Christmas though, and Fate had looked forward to having the first perfect Christmas with her new family. But now all she felt was tension, and even picking up Arf to hold her close to her pounding heart didn’t ease the anxiety. Last Christmas hadn’t gone nearly as well, with poor Hayate and the Book of Darkness incident making that day a sombre one instead of joyful. This year Lindy had invited all their friends over to the house for dinner on Christmas Eve, although everyone insisted on bringing a few dishes so that dinner would be a sort of potluck. Fate checked the time on her cellphone—still early, so she had a few hours before dinner time. She felt torn, knowing that she was supposed to help Lindy in the kitchen, but she had to find what Lindy wanted… Arf licked her cheek. “What’s wrong with—” “It’s not what Lindy-san wants,” Fate interrupted, watching the bus come and stop in front of them. She switched to telepathy when they got on. I need to refund these gloves then find a…a porcelain angel. I think there are lots of— No, it has to be these handmade ones…where they’re all unique. Arf gave her an incredibly human, exasperated look. Do you know where to find those? No, Fate admitted, shivering slightly. She had been in such a rush to get to the shopping district she had forgotten to put on more than just a jacket. Arf warmed her hands but her face felt icy. But I’m sure that the store won’t be that hard to find… She was wrong. Four hours later, they were still circling the streets although most of the incredibly last-minute shoppers had left for dinners or parties. Which, Fate noticed with a fallen heart, is where she and Arf should be as well. Two hours ago, Lindy had called to ask worriedly where Fate was, and Fate had stammered something out about needing to get something desperately for Christmas. Fate just couldn’t go home without having found Lindy’s present. She sounded frightened enough that Lindy had told her gently not to worry about dinner preparations, but to be sure to come back in time to eat with everyone. And now, it was nearly too late to do that as well. Fate stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, prompting Arf to pause and look back at her. Fate? It’s useless. Fate felt her chest tighten up, but she didn’t cry. She never did. I can’t even do this… Fate…Arf walked over and pawed at Fate’s leg until the blonde bent and picked her up, hugging her friend tightly. Why don’t we go home? Everyone must be there already. Lindy was nothing like Mother. Fate knew that, but she felt the same way towards both of them. It made it hard for her to think at times, especially since she knew how everyone always felt angry whenever they spoke about what Mother had done to her. But they didn’t understand that in her head, she loved them both and wanted nothing more than to make them happy. Nanoha was always telling her that Lindy’s nice and wouldn’t do anything bad to Fate, but Fate didn’t know if she had to act differently back towards Lindy. Maybe Lindy viewed Fate differently than how Mo—Precia did, but Fate didn’t know how to make her smile except for what she always tried and failed to do with Precia. All Precia wanted was for Fate to get her what she asked for, what she wanted. She didn’t want to fail with Lindy. But it looks like she did, again. Precia was right. Fate could never do anything right. “Fate-chan?” Without needing to turn around, Fate whispered, “Nanoha?” A gloved hand touched her shoulder gently and turned her around. Nanoha smiled at her, her blue eyes sparkling. “Fate-chan, I’m so glad I found you.” She frowned, then unwound her own scarf and wrapped it around Fate’s neck. “Let me text Onee-chan and Onii-chan and Chrono-kun so that they’ll stop looking.” “They’re looking for me?” Fate asked weakly, shivering more even though Nanoha’s scarf warmed her body and her heart. “You stopped answering Lindy-san’s calls, so we grew worried. And when you didn’t come back for dinner, we came to look for you.” Nanoha finished texting and put her phone in her pocket, tucking her arm through Fate’s. “Let’s go back to your house, okay?” Fate just nodded, too tired to protest. Nanoha kept a light chatter as they walked to the bus stop, giggling at some of Arf’s funny responses and not seeming to mind that Fate stayed mostly silent. When they got back to the Harlaown residence, Fate froze, seeing Lindy waiting by the front door through the window. Nanoha tugged her along though, and only let her go when Lindy saw them and rushed out, enveloping Fate in a hug. “Fate! You’re so cold—come inside, I’ll get you some hot chocolate.” Lindy kissed her forehead and turned to Nanoha. “Nanoha, why don’t you go tell everyone that Fate’s back, and that they can start eating?” “Okay!” Nanoha pulled off her boots, and looked at Lindy, then at Fate. “Ah…come on, Arf, let’s go tell everyone together.” After they scampered off, Lindy guided Fate into the kitchen, coaxing her to sit on the counter and began preparing two cups of hot chocolate. Fate shuddered, looking down at her hands trembling in her lap, waiting for Lindy to start speaking. But Lindy only hummed as she poured the heated milk into two cups and stirred in choco powder before topping it off with a small handful of marshmallows. She walked back to the counter and sat down next to Fate, placing one cup in front of her. “Here, Fate-chan. Careful, it’s hot.” “Thank you,” Fate murmured, warming her hands on the mug. Lindy sipped from her cup, sighing in contentment. She smiled kindly at Fate. “Did you find what you had to look for?” Trembling, Fate shook her head quickly, then looked down again. She didn’t drink yet, not wanting to drop the cup in case— In case what? Lindy would never hurt her. Silently, Lindy drank from her cup again, and this time Fate mimicked her, feeling her insides warm up almost immediately. By the time she finished the entire mug Fate felt her shaking stop, feeling calmer than before. She looked up and saw Lindy watching her warmly, and Fate managed to keep their eye contact without turning red and looking down again in fear. “Now, why don’t we join everyone else in the dining room?” Lindy held out her hand. Fate nodded eagerly, smiling back bashfully and carefully putting her hand in Lindy’s. They walked into the dining room and were immediately assaulted by a giggling Nanoha who dragged Fate off to sit with Hayate, Yuuno, Arisa and Suzuka. The dinner dragged on late into the night, only ending when the adults noticed that the kids were falling asleep on their feet. Fate mumbled goodbye to Nanoha, who didn’t reply as she was entirely out, sleeping in Shiro’s arms as the Takamachi’s thanked Lindy for the dinner and left, the last guests to leave. The Wolkenrittir had already driven Arisa and Suzuka home with Hayate, all three of them half-asleep. Dimly, Fate felt herself get lifted off the couch and she wrapped her arms around Lindy’s neck, pressing her face into the woven comfort of Lindy’s sweater. Chrono yawned, and called up to them, “Good night Mom, night Fate.” Lindy responded for both of them, as Fate couldn’t seem to make her mouth work. “Good night, Chrono-kun. Good night, Amy.” “Good night!” Gently, Lindy guided Fate through brushing her teeth and washing her face, although Fate was barely aware of anything except for the softness of her bed when Lindy tucked her in and kissed her forehead. “I didn’t—” Fate roused slightly, trying to remember something that had been bothering her earlier. A soft hand on her cheek made all the bad thoughts vanish though, and Fate snuggled into her blankets contently. “Good night, Fate-chan.” *** “Fate-chan, wake up!” Fate moaned and shifted, opening her eyes blearily. A fuzzy image of Amy appeared in front of her, wearing only a sweater over her pajamas. “It’s Christmas! We’re opening presents!” “Presents?” Fate perked up and scrambled out of bed, hearing paper crunch underfoot. She looked down. Wrapping paper? All of a sudden she remembered, and felt her stomach drop. But she had no time to panic, as Amy had rolled Fate up in a fleece blanket and practically carried her downstairs to where Lindy and Chrono waited by the Christmas tree. “We’re all here! Now can we finally start opening presents?” “Amy, you’re acting like such a kid,” Chrono complained, but he was smiling. “Here.” He passed Fate an armful of presents, then handed Amy a similar pile. “Are these all for me?” Fate asked, amazed. She blushed, not wanting any of them to laugh at her silly question. No one laughed though, and Lindy’s eyes only looked warm and kind of sad when she petted Fate’s head and said, “Yes, they’re all for you.” “Here, open mine first!” Amy fished out a box from the pile. Chrono cleared his throat, causing Amy to giggle and amend, “Well, mine and Chrono’s.” Fate shook the box curiously, making the rest of her family laugh. She started to pick at the tape, but when Chrono mimed ripping the wrapping she tore happily into it, sending shreds of coloured paper onto the carpet. A ghost of a bad memory came to her but she ignored it, more excited with what she had just unwrapped. “The newest Device Maintenance Kit! Thank you so much!” “Eh,” Chrono crossed his arms, his face turning red, “Your old one didn’t have the new components to manage Belkan equipment…and it wasn’t a lot of trouble.” “Chrono-kun fussed so much about ordering it ahead of time, he made me—” “Amy!” Fate laughed, grinning happily. She opened Lindy’s present while Chrono and Amy bickered some more, thanking Lindy for the new clothes while Lindy gave her a hug. Then Fate remembered, and she stiffened, feeling her mouth turn dry in panic. She hadn’t gotten anything for Lindy at all— “Mom,” Chrono held out a box. “Here, open this first. It’s from Fate and me.” Both Lindy and Fate turned to look at him in surprise. Smiling, Lindy took the box from him, and Fate saw, still confused, her name written on the card beside Chrono’s. “Thank you, both of you!” Lindy beamed at them, making Chrono grin sheepishly while Fate blushed, a bubbly feeling appearing inside her chest. While Lindy unwrapped the present Fate gave Chrono a grateful, glowing look. He winked at her. “Ah, how did you know I needed a new pair of gloves?” Lindy slid the white leather ones on, her entire face alight. “I have so many plain ones, but these are the loveliest pair I’ve ever owned.” She smiled at them, making Fate dazed with the happiness and love radiating from her Mom. “Of course they are—they’re from my kids, after all.” While Chrono and Amy went to the kitchen to make lunch, Fate helped Lindy clean up the wrapping paper scraps and empty boxes. Even though she was floating on clouds after the joyous morning, a knot of tension settled in Fate’s stomach again. She quietly stuffed paper into the garbage bag, so caught up in her thoughts that she jumped when Lindy put a hand on her head. “Is something wrong, Fate?” “Um…” Fate struggled, wanting to confess the white lie Chrono had told earlier and miserable over a worry that had settled inside her and wouldn’t leave. “Yes?” Lindy prompted gently. Fate didn’t want to put the lie to Chrono—besides, she was incredibly grateful that he had helped her out. In private, she was going to give him a hug for it, but she’d have to make sure that Amy wasn’t around to tease him. So she asked her other question. “M—Lindy, I…did you really like the gloves? I know that you…already have a lot of them…” “Ah,” Lindy knelt and smiled, brushing Fate’s hair back. “I do have many pairs of gloves already. But these are extra special because you and Chrono gave them to me.” “But…” Fate hesitated. “They’re not what you really want.” Lindy laughed lightly. “From my kids, it doesn’t matter what I want. Fate, anything you or Chrono give me are wonderful and special. It doesn’t matter to me what it is. Do you see?” “No,” Fate admitted, hanging her head. She felt Lindy wrap her arms around her, and Fate hugged her back, still bewildered but the longer Lindy held her the more it all started to slowly make sense. “Nothing makes me happier than loving you and Chrono, and knowing that you two love me too,” Lindy said warmly. “Even if you two hadn’t gotten me anything at all, I would still be happy.” “I understand,” Fate whispered, holding Lindy tightly. If she hadn’t gotten any presents at all, she would still be happy, much happier than she had ever been before. “Merry Christmas, Mom.” As promised, I fixed it! EDIT: Extended ending, hopefully that rounds things up better!
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Last edited by deathcurse; 2009-12-24 at 01:07. Reason: EXTENDING ENDING |
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2009-12-23, 22:29
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Link #21329 |
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Queen of Tragedy
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Place of rocks and trees, and trees and rocks...and water.
Age: 33
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I loved it, how the cracky elements tied in perfectly with the serious elements, like the Wing Roads and Deep Diver...awesome! Need a license to drive the sleigh...."special eggnog"....Doberman+Cinque+chocolate chip cookie = RUN FOR YOUR LIFE CINQUE!....Pure win .
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2009-12-23, 22:32
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Link #21330 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Age: 41
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And of course the pic is going straight to my harddrive. Quote:
Of course, given that they tend to look a battle as a series of one on one duels, rather than a coordinated action to a specific purpose, that doesn't completely surprise me. I am however, deeply disappointed that Crash never once uttered the line 'I know kung-fu.'  Quote:
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2009-12-23, 23:15
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Link #21331 |
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Goat Herder
Author
Join Date: Jun 2008
Age: 36
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*goes to brush teeth*
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2009-12-23, 23:21
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Queen of Tragedy
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Place of rocks and trees, and trees and rocks...and water.
Age: 33
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Then again, with my sadistic nature, if I broke your heart it means the short did what it was supposed to do! Quote:
Yeah, the first was a downer, but what can I say? I like writing Precia.... Quote:
, after the first piece, it had to be cavity-inducing . I'm debating touching up the last paragraph, but hey, Christmas shorts are allowed to be sweet beyond measure!
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2009-12-23, 23:35
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Link #21333 |
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
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New Advertising strategy...
A Correspondence Through Time And Space A Doctor Who/MGLN Crossover Disclaimer: Doctor Who belongs to the BBC. Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha belongs to Seven Aces and other respective copyright holders. With regards to these two, I own nothing. It came across my attention that, surely, the Doctor and the Time/Space Administration Bureau must be at least aware of each other? Unfortunately, utterly lacking good plots, I really could not think of a good excuse to throw the Doctor onto Mid-Childa, especially given how Tenth is so close to leaving us… Until it struck me that what if the Doctor decided to find a pen-pal through time/space and, by sleight of (the author’s) hand, those messages ended up on Mid Childa or the TSAB? Spoiler for Chapter One:
Dear Reader: I do not know who will eventually receive this message. However, I do wish to start a constant correspondent with whoever receives this; and the more, the merrier. I’m The Doctor, although if you must settle for a name, John Smith will suffice. I’m a 903 year old Time Lord from the planet of Gallifrey, located in the constellation of Kasterborous; and…I like bananas. They are a good source of potassium; make sure you eat a lot of them. Unfortunately, that is where the nice things end. I lost one person very dear to me. My powers as a Time Lord-well, okay, really my travelling vehicle, the Time And Relative Dimension In Space (TARDIS)-allows me to go through any period of time I like. Provided, of course, I do not interfere in big, important, fixed events in time; that is a big no-no, or I will create paradoxes which take a long time to fix; otherwise Reapers will come and devour all of time. Sorry, I’m detracting. What I mean to say is, recently, after a chain of events involving Cybermen (think a brain in a metal body), Daleks (think killer pepper pots), an invasion of Earth (thanks to Torchwood’s meddling) and the Void (the wall between alternate universe-yes, those do exists), I’ve lost the one person I truly love. Of course, the story goes far greater than that but I would rather not bore you to death with every little detail, including the color of my suit on that day. I burned a sun away just to see her for the last time. Yet I still could not say all my words before I had to go. She would never hear the words I had to say. So here I am, condemned to be alone, floating around in the Time Vortex, waiting for my dear TARDIS-she is very, very temperamental-to land me at some point. Yes, really, I fly around at random, because-or in spite-of my powers over time. So while waiting for something to happen, I’m going to check my fridge to make sure I’ve gotten rid of all the pears (hate pears), and hope the TARDIS takes me somewhere interesting. Oh, and before I forget-the entire point of this message is to try and find a pen-friend. I hope you don’t mind? Yours, The Doctor (a.k.a. John Smith) ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Doctor Smith: Hello! My name is Vivio Takamachi and I am six years old. I am from the planet of Mid-Childa, which is located…I don’t know how to write it, so I’m going to have to explain later. I’ll ask Nanoha-mama when she comes back. I don’t like being lonely, so I’m sure you don’t either. Can you please tell me more about everything you have written about? I have so many questions! Why is a pepper pot alien meant to be scary? What does you spaceship look like? Why would people want to put their brains in metal bodies? Are you an alien as well? What is a Time Lord? Do you do magic like us, or do you use something else? Please, do tell me! Don’t worry about permission. I asked Fate-mama if it would be okay to write to you, and she said yes. I have to go to bed now. I await your next message. Please call me Vivio. Yours, Vivio Takamachi ************************************************** ************************************************** The Doctor read the reply and, under his breath, muttered oh no… Little does he know, not only has he run into something he had intended to run away from; he has, in fact, stirred the hornet’s nest. Sure enough, a few more seconds (relative to him, anyways) later… ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Doctor: I may have given permission for my daughter to write to you as a mother. As an officer of the Time/Space Administration Bureau (TSAB), however, I must remind you: You have yet to account for your actions regarding the Lost Logia of Chulan Nanobots, as well as aiding a wanted fugitive (former Captain Jack Harkness) of the Time Agency sub-branch in escaping arrest. This is on top of additional charges of at least one extra-dimension time line disruption, one charge of dimensional destabilization, one charge of dimension breach, and two charges of reparable time line subversion. Furthermore, you are an involved suspect in at least another twenty plus reparable time line subversion cases. Although Earth is a ‘non-administrated world’, it does not mean we have taken no notice of your actions. Just as my daughter is waiting, I am also waiting. Please note that serious infractions threatening the time/space continuum will not be tolerated, and you will be brought in for questioning and imprisonment if the TSAB deems necessary, Time Lord or not. You have been warned. Yours, Fate Testarossa Harlaown, TSAB Commissioned Officer ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Doctor: Reading your letter to my daughter, my impression of you is that you are someone who is definitely not a selfish criminal, or one who would release wanton destruction upon the space/time continuum. However, the severity of your charges speaks otherwise. Therefore, I must ask that you explain your motives to me. I am sure that you have already received another twenty (or even thirty) messages from me, both official and unofficial, all of which contain nothing more than a simple request for an explanation. Only when you have explained your motives can I help clear your name; otherwise you will be continually placed on an arrest warrant. Lastly, given how Fate had to send her message, I would assume that you have been ignoring our messages. This time, between you and me, I would highly suggest not doing so. Without giving away too much, this time we WILL come looking for you, and by then, should I fail to receive any explanation whatsoever regarding your motives- I will have no choice but to find you and personally make you explain. Please heed my words. Yours, Nanoha Takamachi ************************************************** ************************************************** Sighing, the Doctor saw no choice but to begin writing a reply… Spoiler for Chapter Two:
Dear Officer Testarossa: I am writing to say that I have done nothing wrong on my part. I must also ask-if you are so stringent on such matters, can you explain the TSAB’s absence when the Daleks interfered with the time line of the Fourth Bountiful Human Empire, reducing the entirety of the population to game show addicts? Why was the TSAB absent when the Daleks threatened to burn the entirety of the Earth down? Where were you when Torchwood breached the void, allowing the Cybermen and Daleks to pour forth? Or is the TSAB just another bunch of Judoon hit men, hiring your ‘police’ services out to whoever pays you the most? Answer my questions responsibly, on behalf of the Time/Space Administration Bureau, and then I will answer yours. Otherwise, until then, I answer to no higher authority-because I AM the highest authority there is around in my universe. Yours, The Doctor P.S: I apologise if you are offended-I only meant to direct such aggression at the person in charge. ************************************************** ************************************************** That said The Doctor composed a completely different message to Nanoha. He had no intention of allowing anyone to disturb him while he broods over the loss of Rose. Dear Ms. Takamachi: Finally, someone who actually goes beyond pointing fingers at me, simply demanding that I suffer ‘repercussions’ for my actions! I’m only explaining myself to you because I want to make sure I am left alone. Understood? One. The Chulan Lost Logia/TSAB fugitive: Well… I was a different man back then. Different man, different attitude; but if you think I will bend to someone who wants to arrest Captain Jack, despite him helping me prevent ANY casualties (yes, remember, for the first time in my life, everybody lives!), and was even on the verge of sacrificing himself (well, it was unintentional, but still), forget it. What am I supposed to do? Leave him on his ship to die from an explosion? Turn him in? Two. The Dimension Breach: Crossing into another alternate universe was not done deliberately. Something went wrong with the TARDIS. It was just flying happily along until sparks came randomly flying out. Do I look like I’m silly enough to go around breaking barriers between universes when I realise there is nobody around left to fix the gaping hole? I know what I’m doing. (Or were you actually talking the Cardiff Rift? That takes an even longer explanation. See the attachment I have sent to you about how it came about, I prefer not to bore you to death with my explanation. The short version is: I was lied to when opening it, much later some alien tried to use it-but look, it is now being watched by Torchwood. That’s all you need to know.) C-wait, I mean three. Timeline subversion/De-seating Harriet Jones: Sorry, had to be done. Your organisation, I presume, will not shoot a retreating ship? Well, she did that. I am man of no second chances, and people have accused me of double standards when I killed the Sycorax leader (with nothing but a Satsuma, Jim-Jams and a fighting hand, no less; try beating that). I give no second chances, but only when there is evidence of a second attempt, and never before hand. (The Sycorax leader qualifies because he tried to kill me when he should have taken my command and left in peace.) If the Sycorax came back a second time after I’ve given my warning, what Harriet does is fair game. Harriet fired at a retreating ship without such evidence, so she got what she deserved. On a whole, more basic level, I’m sure the TSAB does not condone killing a retreating opponent, yes? See? I’m always right! Vier. Which is German for four. Which is the case where…okay, I’ve temporarily forgotten which case this charge refers to. Just know that whatever it is, it is not my fault; I’m a Time Lord, and I’m The Doctor, and I know the rules of time like the back of my palm. I’m only addressing the major charges, simply because Officer Testarossa had decided to single those charges out. As I said, I only explained my motives because I REALLY want to be left alone. Now leave me be. Next time, expect me to ignore such requests for explanations. As I always had. Yours, The Doctor. P.S: I apologise if I should be addressing you as “Mrs” Takamachi (I should ask Jack about the proper address method whenever I meet him again). ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Vivio Takamachi: Hello! It is nice to be writing to you again. I’m sorry for bringing up the notion Daleks and Cybermen. I’m so sorry. Look…let’s just pretend I’ve never brought up those two names in my previous message to you. You are better off not knowing. Seriously, you are better off not knowing what they are; they are absolute nightmares. On those, I refuse to write anymore. Well, my ship is the TARDIS, which is a police box-something slightly bigger than a telephone booth, all blue. It is not meant to be a police box, but it got stuck disguising itself as one. It is bigger on the inside; that is Time Lord Technology; otherwise the engines won’t fit. It also happens to be an organic ship as well. Instead of ‘building’ a ship per se, each and every TARDIS is grown from a single piece of Coral. There is this one discarded piece of equipment which the ship is starting to absorb. It works both as a spaceship and a time machine. Yes, I am an alien per se. The name ‘Time Lord’ actually refers to the name of the government or the society. We gave ourselves that name because we were sworn into upholding the order of time itself. I have two hearts instead of one… Hold on, gotta go. I’d love to write more but there’s someone appearing in my ship and that is not supposed to happen… Yours, The Doctor ************************************************** ************************************************** While The Doctor is dealing with a very annoyed Donna Noble, let us turn our attention towards a certain family enjoying their dinner on Mid-Childa… “Vivio,” Nanoha asked while delivering another serving of green peppers onto Vivio’s plate, “Maybe you should not ask The Doctor so many questions? It seems like he is a very busy man. You could ask Yuuno to look things up at the Infinity Library…” “But, Nanoha-mama,” Vivio replied while pushing said serving of green peppers to the side of her plate in a subtle manner, “it is so much more interesting to ask people who have seen such things! Books only give you information-you don’t get to know the person yourself.” “Being pen friends is not just about asking them for information, though.” Nanoha continued while giving a stern you best eat your greens look at Vivio. “Maybe he has things he wants to write about as well. Perhaps you should leave your letters open-ended so he can choose what to talk about?” “Hmm…I suppose you are right.” Vivio replied, pretending she had not noticed her mother’s look. But I’ll still ask about his views on magic, she thought. Finally, the third member of the Takamachi household spoke up. “I am still not quite sure of this…Doctor.” She said, as though his name irritates her. “Now, eat your greens, young lady, before Nanoha-mama gets angry.” Later… “Well?” Fate asked. “Did our strategy work?” “What do you think?” Nanoha smiled, showing Fate The Doctor’s different replies to them. “Sometimes, you need to give them a chance to explain without being too formal.” “And it seems you have managed to feed his ego as well.” Fate muttered, reading the reply Nanoha got. ************************************************** ************************************************** By the time The Doctor bid farewell to Donna Noble, there were two messages waiting for him. Exhausted, he decided to read the message from Vivio before the one from Officer Harlaown. He was in no mood for more chastising. ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Doctor I had a friend who helped me look up the Daleks and the Cyberman at the Infinite Library. The Daleks and Cyberman are terrifying indeed, but I have to say my own nightmares are far worse. For me, there is nothing more terrifying than killing my own adopted mother, the first person who cared for me. You see, I’m actually a clone of an ancient king, and a mad scientist named Jail Scaglietti needed a person with that king’s DNA to power a lost warship called the Saint’s Cradle. He wanted to overthrow the TSAB for denying him the right to develop clones and combat cyborgs. As befits a weapon, I am treated as nothing more than a weapon. Although I was not abused, I was ignored, thrown into a corner…it was as though Jail and his cyborgs literally treated me as an object to the point where I really became an object, not a living being; they only kept me in good shape because I was the key to their plans. That was until, through a lucky accident, I managed to escape. They sent me to the hospital and I felt lonely, so I left my bed and went into the garden. That was when I first met Nanoha-mama, and for the first time, I felt kindness. Later, I was kidnapped and linked to the warship to activate it. The process linking me to the ship was painful. I was also tricked into fighting Nanoha-mama by one of Jail’s combat cyborg named Quattro. Even after I realised my mistake, the ship system took control over my body and I kept fighting my own mother. I even told her that I was only created as a weapon, that I should not live at all. Thankfully, she managed to free me and throw Jail and Quattro into prison. Sometimes I still get nightmares where, instead of her rescuing me, I ended up killing my mother. Nanoha-mama, who, despite my creation as a weapon, still adopted me as her daughter. I am usually bright and happy, but it is always in the silence of the night, in my dreams, when Jail and Quattro would return from the darkest corners of my memories and drag me through the entire ordeal again. I only dare say this to you, Doctor, because I cannot bring myself to say it in front of Nanoha-mama or Fate-mama; I don’t want them to feel hurt by reminding them of that incident. I have to go off to bed now, Doctor. Do tell me how you are doing. Yours Vivio Takamachi P.S: Do you mind if Nanoha-mama or I shared your messages with our friends? If yes, can you make a pinky promise that you will share with your friends too? I want to write to them as well! P.S.S: What do you think about magic? ************************************************** ************************************************** Although The Doctor was exhausted from running around London, he could not help but feel a pang of guilt if he did not respond to the message. ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Vivio: Well, today was a busy day for me. As I told you in the last message, someone was teleporting aboard the TARDIS, and it was not supposed to happen. As it turns out, you see, Donna-that’s her name-was tricked into consuming a certain type of energy-the same that my TARDIS uses. This was done so that an ancient arachnoid race, the Racnoss, hibernating beneath the Earth’s surface, can awaken again. As for what they want to do to the humans who live there…I will not talk about it. Do you like car chases? I have to say that today is probably the first time I’ve used a TARDIS to chase a taxi that kidnapped Donna. She had to jump across a highway while we were moving at high speed! Oh, it does bring back the exhilaration into my life. Mind you, the TARDIS is still feeling quite exhausted; I’m stuck for a while just floating around again. I also made a cash point to spew money endlessly to create a diversion; imagine the cheers of the people grabbing free cash. I managed to stop the Racnoss’ plan. I feel sorry for Donna, though; she was dragged into a world beyond her understanding. She acted very frustrated, but beneath all that I saw her fear and confusion. For her, it was going to be her wedding day! Her fiancé got killed in the incident as well. I understand her position; it’s like having the best day of your life suddenly gone wrong in a flash. It had to be Christmas as well! With regards to your nightmares and your pinky promises: I will add another thing into it. If, for whatever reason, Jail and Quattro (or any other monstrosity/combat cyborgs) escape prison and come kidnapping you again, I will be there to protect you. Why? It is because I was a grandfather, and I certainly did not like it when my grand daughter had nightmares. I may have lost her a long time ago, but that does not mean I do not understand a child’s fear. Also, if you were to look up the “child exploitation” entry in the dictionary, you will find a picture of me, standing in front of you, with the caption “not while I breathe.” Do we have a pinky promise? Yours, The Doctor P.S: Sure, unless I specify otherwise, go ahead and share my messages-like I said at the beginning, the more the merrier. P.S.S: I hope I will not disappoint you too much, but magic is really just silly superstition. I have my trusty sonic screwdriver instead. P.S.S.S: You seem awfully intelligent for a six year old… ************************************************** ************************************************** Even as he finished writing the letter, he cannot help but think: He was being too happy about the entire incident. The line “I managed to stop the Racnoss’ plan” did his feelings no justice. Apart from the TARDIS, who still needs full concentration for restoring energy, he had no one else to turn to. Or does he? He glanced at his message box again, especially at the first message he sent. Perhaps he was being desperate, relying on the kindness of strangers; strangers who he had, in a previous message, ordered to leave him alone. Yet what other choice did he have? ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Ms. Takamachi: I am sorry to write to you again in such a short time, but I hope you can hear me out on something. In a message to your daughter, I mentioned that I managed to stop an arachnoid race, called the Racnoss, from accomplishing their plans. I did not tell her, but the Racnoss planned to devour the people of Earth. Nor did I tell her the price of my success was that I had to commit genocide. I pride myself as a Time Lord of conscience (as alluded in my defence sent to you), yet here I am, killing off an entire species. I gave the Racnoss Empress a chance to change her mind, to leave planet Earth in peace and take her children somewhere else. She chose not to. I had to stop her to save the humans, by flooding their hibernation chamber. I killed the last of the Racnoss. Donna, a person who was there with me, described me as “standing there like a stranger” to the sound of the Racnoss screaming and dying amidst the flood and the fire. I had enough. I always give my opponents a chance, to leave Earth in peace, to feed on something else. All they ever do is choose to die. Why do I even bother to ask? I am long lived enough to become sick and tired of the universe. If anyone I offer redemption to choose to die anyways, what difference am I making? Please, please don’t share this message with your daughter; I do not want anyone going around thinking genocide is a heroic or justified act. Yours, The Doctor ************************************************** ************************************************** Having sent the messages, it was time to read the more unwelcome aspect of recipients who had been very angry with you. ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Doctor: I understand your goodwill, but since I am in charge of investigating your particular case it inevitably meant that you have directed your complaints directly to the person in charge. I will let it slip this time. Here are some desired explanations. One. The Dalek interference with the Fourth Bountiful Human Empire: Although I am meant to keep this secret, you should know that the TSAB was in charge of funding the anarchist group known as Freedom Fifteen, as well as supporting them with undercover operatives; Agent Suki (codename) was one of our agents. Large scale, direct military interference would only have given The Editor (or his secret backers, the Daleks) a chance to further enhance their hold over Earth’s population as the legitimate dictators, defending Earth against the ‘evil’ TSAB. Two. TSAB absence during the Dalek assault on Earth: The TSAB received no distress signal of any sort. As much of my personal distaste there is for the TSAB’s non interference policy of intra-dimension warfare, this has been classified as one (i.e. where the safety of other dimensions are not compromised; TSAB intelligence believes that the Daleks still do not have a reliable method of breaking through dimensions in a controlled manner.) See also my attachment. Three. TSAB absence during the Cyberman/Dalek breach: It is quite unfortunate that the TSAB was dealing with ‘The Jail Scaglietti incident’ at the time. I am sure you should know the consequences if TSAB is to loose control over its parent planet to an uprising; we would become the laughing stock of all dimensions and loose our credibility to keep order. That and high command’s usual negligence towards other un-administrated worlds come into play again. See attachment. Fortunately for you, Nanoha has already begun to work through the process of trying to clear your name. Make no mistake, though; former Captain Jack Harkness will have to answer to stealing Lost Logia in the first place. As a final word of reminder, Doctor: you may be the highest authority in your universe, but nobody said you were the highest authority in all of existence. Yours, Fate Testarossa Harlaown, TSAB Commissioned Officer P.S: My attachment contains statements (and profanities) I am not supposed to use to describe the TSAB hierarchy, but let me assure you, I have my fair share of disappointment at the neglect of non-administrated worlds in various dimensions. P.S.S: You have a knack for double standards, don’t you? ************************************************** ************************************************** The Doctor flopped onto his bed with a sullen mood-his mind suddenly reeled. The Phrase “Nanoha-mama, who, despite my creation as a weapon, still adopted me as her daughter” remained scorched into his mind. Those Japanese surnames, the TSAB-could he, no is it even possible- Will he have to face her again of all people, the only reason why he himself fled from the TSAB in the first place? Feeling all the worse, the Doctor drifted off to sleep. Spoiler for Chapter 3:
Long Arch, the former headquarters of riot Force 6, did not disappear completely with the disbanding of the 6th Mobile Division. Rather, some facilities were allowed to stay; especially the ones with high investments, simply because their use could be transferred to different sectors. Indeed, one may even argue that Riot Force 6 only disbanded as an official paper group; the legacy of their headquarters lives on till this day, albeit serving the Mid-Childa military in general instead. One location that was kept untouched was the highly vested virtual training ground. The effectiveness of Riot Forces’ training against Jail’s gadget drone had finally won at least some degree of favour amongst the Mid-Childian hardliners regarding what to do with Long Arch facilities. As a result, many instructors from various branches find themselves using the same training ground, recreating battle situations where one would normally need to travel off world for specialist training. Today, it is towards this training ground that a prominent instructor, The Ace of Aces, strides towards despite protests from her blonde haired partner, in the warm, yellow glow of a Carnagan sunset. “You can’t do this. Not after how you strained yourself in The Saint’s Cradle.” Fate urged. “Yes, I can, and I have to.” Nanoha replied, a hint of annoyance beginning to show. “Look, Shamal and the other doctors all said you needed to rest-“ “It doesn’t matter what they say!” Nanoha exploded, snapping at Fate, her tolerance for the day finally pushed beyond her limits. “The only way to make a difference is to sacrifice yourself for the difference you are making. Even if you slack for a single minute, there will come a time when you find yourself helpless to do anything. I know for sure that I have to make a difference the next time someone like Jail shows their face again!” “You’ve already been through this if you remember. It you have already forgotten the time when you nearly-” “Yes, but back then I did not recognise my limits. Now, I do.” Nanoha said indignantly. “It is because I have been at the stage where I pushed myself too hard, now I know when to take note and stop!” “But-” “What matters with me anyways?” Nanoha continued, without pause, her voice rising in volume. “The only reason I am standing here now is because I had sworn myself to helping people! I knew that the moment I picked up Raising Heart, ten years ago! This was my choice, my path, and I acknowledged there are consequences! Every enemy directed at me is one less live at risk; every shot directed at me is one less potential loss. Now, if you will excuse me!” “This is not what you taught your students!” Fate shouted at Nanoha. “That’s only because I did not want them to go through what I went through!” Nanoha shouted in return. “I know the consequences, and I know how to recognize them! My students would not know, so of course they should not-” The same argument could have gone on forever, if Shamal was not also taking a walk at the moment. By then, the argument between Fate and Nanoha was so heated that anyone nearby cannot help but to overhear their heated conversation. Summoning her courage, Shamal approached the pair. “Good evening, Nanoha and Fate. What is the matter?” “Shamal! Thank goodness you are here!” Fate exclaimed, exasperated. “I can’t talk Nanoha out of doing training even after you have ordered her to rest!” “Well, can you explain why you want to do training regardless?” Shamal asked Nanoha patiently. “I realised,” Nanoha swallowed hard before continuing, “I always have to be ready. I have already failed to protect Vivio once; I will not fail again.” She said with a look of steel in her eyes. “It does not matter if she can handle herself several years down the line. I need to make a difference with my efforts in the long run, not just the short run. I must keep my promise to her!” “You are already making an effort in the long-” “It would be hypocritical to train other people for the long run when I am not prepared! Also…and…” Nanoha suddenly found she had no more excuses to skim around the real reason to she wanted to practice. “It is something else, is it not?” Shamal asked quietly. With a sigh, Nanoha gave Shamal the message The Doctor had sent her regarding the Racnoss. Shamal read it. “So I see…” ************************************************** ************************************************** Sometime later that night, Fate sat down and read The Doctor’s letter to Nanoha. At the same time, she looked at the TSAB letter which stated that The Doctor had been cleared for all major charges. She may not know The Doctor that well, and he may have been a suspected criminal, but if anything, his last letter convinced her that The Doctor is a good man. Albeit a good man that, for whatever reason, is nearing the breaking point. Perhaps she needs to help The Doctor restore his faith in the people who are willing to reform when given the chance. People like her. ************************************************** ************************************************** The Doctor woke up. The TARDIS was nearing the final stages of recharging when the proximity alarm rang. “Talk of the devil,” he mumbled. The TARDIS had detected actual Judoon ships headed for Earth. Yet he was not ready to face the Judoon at all. If anything, he felt as though he should just run; away from the genocide, away from being the Last of the Time Lords, away from things he saw as his responsibility. He can only take so much, no matter how happy he pretends to be in front of everyone else. The Time War left a permanent mark on his psyche. So before he pilots the TARDIS to depart from Earth’s orbit, he decided to check his messages instead-the same messages that indirectly paved the path for him to meet Martha Jones. ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Doctor: I am actually stumped by your letter; I hope you do not mind if I have given your message to some friends of mine. Yours, Nanoha P.S: In the future, just refer to us via our first names. ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Doctor: It really is by chance that I came across your letter. I find it fortunate that it is so; I may be able to help you with your dilemma. Please let me introduce myself. My name is Shamal, and I am one of Nanoha’s associates. I also happen to be a doctor myself; and to help you overcome your inner obstacles, I wish to relate a story regarding Nanoha (with her permission given, of course.) I feel as though the two of you share something in common deep down your hearts. When she was still nine years old, Nanoha first came into contact with her magical device called ‘Raising heart’. To cut a long story fairly short, that first encounter with magic also made her realise what she wanted deep inside her heart: to help people who are hurting. From the moment she met Fate, she knew the only thing she wanted, deep down her heart, is to make people happy and help those in need. That does not stop her from using force; Mid-Childan Magic is not always lethal. Nanoha was quite willing to, literally, beat sense into her opponents as a last resort to make them listen. A friend of mine remembers her saying, distinctly, word for word, "Call me a devil... it just means I'll have to use my hellish powers to get you to listen!" Here comes the important part. To fulfil her desire to aid people, Nanoha pushed herself ever so hard even as a nine year old child. She constantly trained herself wherever possible, whenever possible-dinner time, homework time, actual training time-she always had a fraction of her energy devoted to making herself stronger and better just so other people do not have to suffer. Ultimately, she had to pay the price-she stretched herself far too hard. It all went wrong during a routine mission. By going over her limits, Nanoha suffered Acute Core Haemorrhage-a near complete shutdown of her body and mental capabilities due to over exhaustion when using her magic abilities. It took up to a year for her to learn everything once again-and by everything, I mean everything. Any task that requires muscle co-ordination needs to be relearned. From the most basic of tasks like feeding herself, walking, using the toilet; there was even a time when we thought she could not perform magic again. Finally, a person who has suffered ACH once will have a higher probability of suffering from it again. What I hope Nanoha’s experience illustrates, Doctor, is that no matter how good your heart and intentions are there will always be limits to what you can do. In Nanoha’s case, her limits were physical; and she paid for it with her physical health. In your case, I feel that flooding the Racnoss was the only option you had left-the limits you face were situational. It was not something you could control; you did what had to be done. More often than not, it is more than enough that each person has done all within their limits to make a good outcome; setting a bar too high would only lead to you hurting yourself, physically or emotionally. Please, Doctor, do not give up on your morals no matter how hopeless your offers of redemption may seem. I tremble at what happens when a person goes through the moral equivalent of Acute Core Haemorrhage. Yours, Shamal ************************************************** ************************************************** The Doctor gave Shamal’s letter a moment of thought. She was right-there was nothing else he could have done. The Racnoss Empress would not have backed down-he already knew they were a stubborn race. Of course, he still does not forgive himself for having committed genocide; nothing ever justifies it. Yet, between rampant Racnoss and humans- He would have chosen the humans, any day. Flooding was the only method available at that point in time; he had already done his best. He had been merciful and gave her one last chance at redemption, after all; as always, it was factors outside his control that dictated his course of actions. Yet this does not help him see how his offers of redemption ever help anything. Still bitter about the empty offers of redemption, The Doctor mentally prepared for another sparring letter as he opened Fate’s message. Yet this time he found a surprise. ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Doctor: This is Fate Testarossa Harlaown. I am now writing to you on personal terms now and I hope to restore your faith in offering redemption by giving you my personal experience. Before I ever worked as an Enforcer, I am also a criminal. I am not truly ‘born’ as such; I am a clone my mother, Precia, created as part of an ambition to bring back her real daughter, Alicia. In order to obtain the technology needed, my mother sought to reach a place that probably only exist in legends-a place called Al Hazard, which has the technology required for perfect resurrection or cloning. As a result, I was created to gather the Lost Logia called Jewel Seeds. These supposedly have the power to help her to break the space-time continuum. Needless to say, both you and I know what would happen if the space-time continuum was ever breached and damaged beyond repair. Imagine if you will, Doctor. Before I knew I was a clone, I genuinely wanted my mother to be happy; I was implanted with Alicia’s memories. I actually sought the Jewel Seeds to bring to my mother, to bring her sweet self back. As a result, for a time I was identified as a criminal by the TSAB for attempting to collect and activate Lost Logia. That was when I met Nanoha. At first I refused to let her near me, because I knew that I had to work for my mother, to bring my beloved mother back. So she would never have to be disappointed with me. So ‘my’ dreams of her as a sweet mother will be realised. I was willing to bear any pain my mother gave me whenever she thought I failed her. So I pushed Nanoha away and I pushed the TSAB away. Over and over again, I refused to listen to her. Until my mother told me the truth, that I am nothing more than a clone implanted with Alicia’s memories. That I was nothing but a tool to bring her real daughter back. Then and only then did I realise that I had pushed myself into a corner; that I have committed criminal acts for no excusable reason, and that I will be held to account. Yet afterward, when I was near being absolutely alone, Nanoha started to treat me as a friend. It was as though she did not mind me pushing her away in the first place; then and only then did I realise that, no matter how much we had fought before, Nanoha was willing to place our old disagreements behind. Even my current adopted family members took part in making sure that I did not receive the full sentence. In short, I was given a second chance at life when I thought I had locked myself into a prison of loneliness and regret forever. I hope my story shows you should never give up on your offers of redemption. I owe my happiness and even my current life to people who believe in offering redemption and trust-people like Nanoha and you. Yours, Fate Testarossa Harlaown P.S: I realise that our initial correspondence did not go off on good terms. I sincerely hope that this can change. P.S.S: You may have noticed that my previous ‘official’ correspondence had some contradicting points. I suppose this is what happens when someone in the department really wants to discredit a former criminal by attempting to confuse them. ************************************************** ************************************************** The Doctor sat at his chair, slightly stunned. Fate had no reason to help him. Until his latest letter, he was only a suspected criminal. She had no reason to recount her life story just because he was losing faith. In fact, not even Nanoha’s other friend-Shamaal-had any reason to comfort him. Yet here they were, comforting him, just because he was upset. They did not condemn him for it as much as he condemns himself for it. In fact, it almost felt as though they were forgiving him; something he could never do for himself. Especially not after the Time War. Not after what he had done to his own race. The there was the matter of redemption. Someone somewhere is actually thankful that redemption exists; his efforts, despite his run in with Cybermen and Daleks, are being appreciated by someone who only knows him because he was a criminal on some organisational list. Someone who probably comes from an entirely different alternate timeline; someone who he could never see face to face was telling him not to give up on redemption. The Doctor might even admit that Fate had redeemed him from his own nihilism about the lack of difference he was making. For the first time since the Cybermen/Dalek invasion, The Doctor smiled. He felt as though a slight weight had been lifted off his heart. The scars of the Time War will remain there; but for now he had some powerful painkillers to keep himself going. With that, off to Earth he went to meet Martha Jones. He did not read Vivio’s reply until he had returned to the TARDIS with Martha. ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Doctor: Please remember to keep your promise! I look forward to hearing from some of your friends as well. Please do not give me too much credit for my last letter; Nanoha-mama and Fate-mama also helped me write some of it. I also study hard so as not to disappoint my mothers. Most important of all, however, was that Nanoha-mama taught me that to help other people; I have to be strong myself. The ability to help other must originate from your own strength. Regarding magic, I think there is a misunderstanding. The word ‘magic’ here is not used to refer to superstition or silly tricks; rather, Mid Childan magic is based on very complex mathematic principles which one must have a complete understanding of in order to use it. It is also partly the reason why I study so hard; it is almost like a science into itself. Without the many theories of understanding how magic works, our entire civilisation would be going nowhere. Well, I do hope that explains the differences of perception; I do know that many people regard magic and technology as something mutually exclusive when, in reality, Mid-Childa built its entire civilisation around a fusion of magic and technology. Enough from me for now; I must return to my studies. How are you doing? Yours, Vivio ************************************************** ************************************************** Just as the TARDIS is always bigger on the inside, so its inner complexity is more than what it initially appears to be. Although it looks as if the command console is everything inside the TARDIS, the reality is that even Time Lords understand that the six crew members would occasionally prefer their own private space. As such, it came to no surprise that The Doctor is hiding in his room while the TARDIS is travelling. He did only intend to take Martha on a single trip, after all. If Martha had ever decided to listen very hard outside The Doctor’s room, she would have heard him typing away… ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Vivio: I am writing to teach you one thing: never tempt fate. (Well, although it applies equally to both your mother and the concept of fate, here I’m specifically referring to the second.) You see, in one of my letters to your mother, I mentioned the possibility that the TSAB were nothing better than the Judoon-a group of aliens that take it upon themselves to ‘uphold’ the law; although in reality they are more like an organised group of bounty hunters whose loyalty is determined by the pay offered. So, of course, as soon as I mentioned them in my letter, the next thing I know, I had to deal with the real article. Talk of the Devil and the Devil comes for tea. The Judoon had no jurisdiction over Earth (or, as I understand it, the Earth of my dimension at least). So when they think they have found the suspect in a hospital, they decided to teleport the entire hospital off to the Moon, because it is neutral territory. Imagine if you will an entire hospital of humans trapped on the Moon with absolutely no idea what is going on. To make things worse, the Judoon were dealing with a Plasmavore; a creature that mimics the blood of another species by drinking it. Needless to say, I know at least one human was killed to provide cover for the Plasmavore. What with me being an alien, of course, the Judoon even thought I was the suspect they were after. I had to take extreme measures at the end, really; I had to offer myself to the Plasmavore and make myself a victim so she would register as an alien. I must say I actually lost consciousness from that; it was only lucky that I managed to get back up somehow and disable overcharged MRI machinery (which would have fried half of the Earth’s population’s brains), thus persuading the Judoon to teleport the hospital back to Earth. The entire hospital was running low on oxygen, even; the Judoon were quite prepared to just ditch the people there. There is this one person that has been helping me out, but I would not go as far as to call her a friend yet; I’m just taking her on one trip as a gesture of thanks. Well, that is all from me for now. Good luck with your studies. Yours, The Doctor ************************************************** ************************************************** Dear Nanoha, Fate and Shamal: Words cannot describe how fantastic the three of you are. Thank you for your replies. There are still things that haunt me, but for now it is enough comfort for me to carry on. On what those are, I refuse to say any more. Yours, The Doctor Comments? Suggestions? Once again, even if you know nothing about Doctor Who, please give it a read...characterisation is something I need someone to check, after all... Last but not least, fanfiction.net link (the version with Author notes): http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5519512/...Time_and_Space |
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2009-12-24, 00:22
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Link #21334 |
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Vividly Vivio
Author
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Over there
Age: 40
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But don't mind me, it was a good read @Insane Inquisitor: I don't know what Doctor who is, and your summary just flew right over my head so I'm going to pass on this one. But good luck on it anyway @00-Raiser: awwwwwww a card! Thank you! *hugs!*
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2009-12-24, 01:11
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Link #21335 | |
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Queen of Tragedy
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Place of rocks and trees, and trees and rocks...and water.
Age: 33
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Here it is again for convenience's sake: Spoiler for What Mom Wants for Christmas:
What Mom Wants for Christmas AKA Christmas with the Harlaowns Ah, darn. Fate frowned as the tape dispenser went empty at her last pull, her other hand trying to hold the corner of the wrapping paper in place. She knew that she should have done this earlier, but spending Christmas Eve morning at Nanoha’s had made Fate forget all about the presents that she hadn’t finished wrapping. Putting a sweater over her half-wrapped present to hide it, Fate snuck downstairs and knocked on Chrono’s door. “What?” Chrono opened his door a crack. Fate shifted nervously, seeing that he seemed a little annoyed. She didn’t see why, as Amy was here early for Christmas Eve dinner that day and he was always more relaxed and less serious when she was over. Which was nearly all the time anyways, so Amy even had her own room, although she spent a lot of time with Chrono. “Um…can I borrow some tape please?” Chrono’s head disappeared for a moment, then reappeared, dropping some tape into her hand and closing the door again. Fate hesitated at his door, wondering if he was mad at her and if she should apologize for something, but decided that it must be a boy thing and not her fault. Chrono was really serious but he was always nice to her. She made her way back up the stairs before the sound of Lindy’s laughter made her pause at the top. “…and Fate-chan said to him shyly, “I think the plug is on the other end.” Poor Chrono was so mad!” Lindy laughed again, and the purple-haired woman on the holoscreen joined in as well. “Did he redo them?” Admiral Leti asked, chuckling as she took a sip of her tea. “Yes, all sixty feet of lights,” Lindy smiled. She sighed happily, leaning back in her chair. “I wish you could have joined us this year.” “Maybe next year, I can get the time off,” Leti said. “But listening to your stories almost makes up for it. So, what do you think the children are getting you this year?” “I try not to think about it,” Lindy replied, mixing some more milk into her tea. Fate didn’t understand why Nanoha always winced whenever she saw that. Tea tasted better that way. “That way I can be a hundred percent surprised on Christmas Day.” Leti chuckled. “Griffith always gets me a scarf. I have a full rainbow by now.” “Ah, but you love them all,” Lindy told her. “Oh! Do you know what I really wish for this year?” “Another pair of gloves?” “No, I have plenty of those already,” Lindy laughed, making Fate’s heart freeze when she thought about the half-wrapped pair of leather gloves hidden in her room. “I saw this porcelain angel, the kinds that you put on the tops of Christmas trees? It looked so fanciful, although the paper one Fate-chan made in school looks much nicer on our tree. I just liked how adorable it looked, and the craftsmanship was admirable. They hand-made those, so each one looked different.” “That seems very much like you,” teased Leti, although Fate didn’t hear the rest of their conversation. She ran silently into her room, dropping the tape on the floor and frantically pulling the gloves out of the neatly folded wrapping paper. The receipt was somewhere—Fate found it in her jacket, and she quickly pulled it on and darted ghostlike down the stairs and out the door, waking Arf from her nap by the fireplace. “Fate?” Arf loped in her puppy form next to Fate as the two ran to the bus stop. “What’s wrong?” “I need to get a new present,” Fate said tightly, her hands clenched tightly around the gloves in her pocket. “Today?” Arf asked incredulously. “Christmas is tomorrow!” “It’s important,” Fate scuffed her boot anxiously on the sidewalk. The ground was covered in ice, but no snow yet. The radio said that it would be a white Christmas though, and Fate had looked forward to having the first perfect Christmas with her new family. But now all she felt was tension, and even picking up Arf to hold her close to her pounding heart didn’t ease the anxiety. Last Christmas hadn’t gone nearly as well, with poor Hayate and the Book of Darkness incident making that day a sombre one instead of joyful. This year Lindy had invited all their friends over to the house for dinner on Christmas Eve, although everyone insisted on bringing a few dishes so that dinner would be a sort of potluck. Fate checked the time on her cellphone—still early, so she had a few hours before dinner time. She felt torn, knowing that she was supposed to help Lindy in the kitchen, but she had to find what Lindy wanted… Arf licked her cheek. “What’s wrong with—” “It’s not what Lindy-san wants,” Fate interrupted, watching the bus come and stop in front of them. She switched to telepathy when they got on. I need to refund these gloves then find a…a porcelain angel. I think there are lots of— No, it has to be these handmade ones…where they’re all unique. Arf gave her an incredibly human, exasperated look. Do you know where to find those? No, Fate admitted, shivering slightly. She had been in such a rush to get to the shopping district she had forgotten to put on more than just a jacket. Arf warmed her hands but her face felt icy. But I’m sure that the store won’t be that hard to find… She was wrong. Four hours later, they were still circling the streets although most of the incredibly last-minute shoppers had left for dinners or parties. Which, Fate noticed with a fallen heart, is where she and Arf should be as well. Two hours ago, Lindy had called to ask worriedly where Fate was, and Fate had stammered something out about needing to get something desperately for Christmas. Fate just couldn’t go home without having found Lindy’s present. She sounded frightened enough that Lindy had told her gently not to worry about dinner preparations, but to be sure to come back in time to eat with everyone. And now, it was nearly too late to do that as well. Fate stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, prompting Arf to pause and look back at her. Fate? It’s useless. Fate felt her chest tighten up, but she didn’t cry. She never did. I can’t even do this… Fate…Arf walked over and pawed at Fate’s leg until the blonde bent and picked her up, hugging her friend tightly. Why don’t we go home? Everyone must be there already. Lindy was nothing like Mother. Fate knew that, but she felt the same way towards both of them. It made it hard for her to think at times, especially since she knew how everyone always felt angry whenever they spoke about what Mother had done to her. But they didn’t understand that in her head, she loved them both and wanted nothing more than to make them happy. Nanoha was always telling her that Lindy’s nice and wouldn’t do anything bad to Fate, but Fate didn’t know if she had to act differently back towards Lindy. Maybe Lindy viewed Fate differently than how Mo—Precia did, but Fate didn’t know how to make her smile except for what she always tried and failed to do with Precia. All Precia wanted was for Fate to get her what she asked for, what she wanted. She didn’t want to fail with Lindy. But it looks like she did, again. Precia was right. Fate could never do anything right. “Fate-chan?” Without needing to turn around, Fate whispered, “Nanoha?” A gloved hand touched her shoulder gently and turned her around. Nanoha smiled at her, her blue eyes sparkling. “Fate-chan, I’m so glad I found you.” She frowned, then unwound her own scarf and wrapped it around Fate’s neck. “Let me text Onee-chan and Onii-chan and Chrono-kun so that they’ll stop looking.” “They’re looking for me?” Fate asked weakly, shivering more even though Nanoha’s scarf warmed her body and her heart. “You stopped answering Lindy-san’s calls, so we grew worried. And when you didn’t come back for dinner, we came to look for you.” Nanoha finished texting and put her phone in her pocket, tucking her arm through Fate’s. “Let’s go back to your house, okay?” Fate just nodded, too tired to protest. Nanoha kept a light chatter as they walked to the bus stop, giggling at some of Arf’s funny responses and not seeming to mind that Fate stayed mostly silent. When they got back to the Harlaown residence, Fate froze, seeing Lindy waiting by the front door through the window. Nanoha tugged her along though, and only let her go when Lindy saw them and rushed out, enveloping Fate in a hug. “Fate! You’re so cold—come inside, I’ll get you some hot chocolate.” Lindy kissed her forehead and turned to Nanoha. “Nanoha, why don’t you go tell everyone that Fate’s back, and that they can start eating?” “Okay!” Nanoha pulled off her boots, and looked at Lindy, then at Fate. “Ah…come on, Arf, let’s go tell everyone together.” After they scampered off, Lindy guided Fate into the kitchen, coaxing her to sit on the counter and began preparing two cups of hot chocolate. Fate shuddered, looking down at her hands trembling in her lap, waiting for Lindy to start speaking. But Lindy only hummed as she poured the heated milk into two cups and stirred in choco powder before topping it off with a small handful of marshmallows. She walked back to the counter and sat down next to Fate, placing one cup in front of her. “Here, Fate-chan. Careful, it’s hot.” “Thank you,” Fate murmured, warming her hands on the mug. Lindy sipped from her cup, sighing in contentment. She smiled kindly at Fate. “Did you find what you had to look for?” Trembling, Fate shook her head quickly, then looked down again. She didn’t drink yet, not wanting to drop the cup in case— In case what? Lindy would never hurt her. Silently, Lindy drank from her cup again, and this time Fate mimicked her, feeling her insides warm up almost immediately. By the time she finished the entire mug Fate felt her shaking stop, feeling calmer than before. She looked up and saw Lindy watching her warmly, and Fate managed to keep their eye contact without turning red and looking down again in fear. “Now, why don’t we join everyone else in the dining room?” Lindy held out her hand. Fate nodded eagerly, smiling back bashfully and carefully putting her hand in Lindy’s. They walked into the dining room and were immediately assaulted by a giggling Nanoha who dragged Fate off to sit with Hayate, Yuuno, Arisa and Suzuka. The dinner dragged on late into the night, only ending when the adults noticed that the kids were falling asleep on their feet. Fate mumbled goodbye to Nanoha, who didn’t reply as she was entirely out, sleeping in Shiro’s arms as the Takamachi’s thanked Lindy for the dinner and left, the last guests to leave. The Wolkenrittir had already driven Arisa and Suzuka home with Hayate, all three of them half-asleep. Dimly, Fate felt herself get lifted off the couch and she wrapped her arms around Lindy’s neck, pressing her face into the woven comfort of Lindy’s sweater. Chrono yawned, and called up to them, “Good night Mom, night Fate.” Lindy responded for both of them, as Fate couldn’t seem to make her mouth work. “Good night, Chrono-kun. Good night, Amy.” “Good night!” Gently, Lindy guided Fate through brushing her teeth and washing her face, although Fate was barely aware of anything except for the softness of her bed when Lindy tucked her in and kissed her forehead. “I didn’t—” Fate roused slightly, trying to remember something that had been bothering her earlier. A soft hand on her cheek made all the bad thoughts vanish though, and Fate snuggled into her blankets contently. “Good night, Fate-chan.” *** “Fate-chan, wake up!” Fate moaned and shifted, opening her eyes blearily. A fuzzy image of Amy appeared in front of her, wearing only a sweater over her pajamas. “It’s Christmas! We’re opening presents!” “Presents?” Fate perked up and scrambled out of bed, hearing paper crunch underfoot. She looked down. Wrapping paper? All of a sudden she remembered, and felt her stomach drop. But she had no time to panic, as Amy had rolled Fate up in a fleece blanket and practically carried her downstairs to where Lindy and Chrono waited by the Christmas tree. “We’re all here! Now can we finally start opening presents?” “Amy, you’re acting like such a kid,” Chrono complained, but he was smiling. “Here.” He passed Fate an armful of presents, then handed Amy a similar pile. “Are these all for me?” Fate asked, amazed. She blushed, not wanting any of them to laugh at her silly question. No one laughed though, and Lindy’s eyes only looked warm and kind of sad when she petted Fate’s head and said, “Yes, they’re all for you.” “Here, open mine first!” Amy fished out a box from the pile. Chrono cleared his throat, causing Amy to giggle and amend, “Well, mine and Chrono’s.” Fate shook the box curiously, making the rest of her family laugh. She started to pick at the tape, but when Chrono mimed ripping the wrapping she tore happily into it, sending shreds of coloured paper onto the carpet. A ghost of a bad memory came to her but she ignored it, more excited with what she had just unwrapped. “The newest Device Maintenance Kit! Thank you so much!” “Eh,” Chrono crossed his arms, his face turning red, “Your old one didn’t have the new components to manage Belkan equipment…and it wasn’t a lot of trouble.” “Chrono-kun fussed so much about ordering it ahead of time, he made me—” “Amy!” Fate laughed, grinning happily. She opened Lindy’s present while Chrono and Amy bickered some more, thanking Lindy for the new clothes while Lindy gave her a hug. Then Fate remembered, and she stiffened, feeling her mouth turn dry in panic. She hadn’t gotten anything for Lindy at all— “Mom,” Chrono held out a box. “Here, open this first. It’s from Fate and me.” Both Lindy and Fate turned to look at him in surprise. Smiling, Lindy took the box from him, and Fate saw, still confused, her name written on the card beside Chrono’s. “Thank you, both of you!” Lindy beamed at them, making Chrono grin sheepishly while Fate blushed, a bubbly feeling appearing inside her chest. While Lindy unwrapped the present Fate gave Chrono a grateful, glowing look. He winked at her. “Ah, how did you know I needed a new pair of gloves?” Lindy slid the white leather ones on, her entire face alight. “I have so many plain ones, but these are the loveliest pair I’ve ever owned.” She smiled at them, making Fate dazed with the happiness and love radiating from her Mom. “Of course they are—they’re from my kids, after all.” While Chrono and Amy went to the kitchen to make lunch, Fate helped Lindy clean up the wrapping paper scraps and empty boxes. Even though she was floating on clouds after the joyous morning, a knot of tension settled in Fate’s stomach again. She quietly stuffed paper into the garbage bag, so caught up in her thoughts that she jumped when Lindy put a hand on her head. “Is something wrong, Fate?” “Um…” Fate struggled, wanting to confess the white lie Chrono had told earlier and miserable over a worry that had settled inside her and wouldn’t leave. “Yes?” Lindy prompted gently. Fate didn’t want to put the lie to Chrono—besides, she was incredibly grateful that he had helped her out. In private, she was going to give him a hug for it, but she’d have to make sure that Amy wasn’t around to tease him. So she asked her other question. “M—Lindy, I…did you really like the gloves? I know that you…already have a lot of them…” “Ah,” Lindy knelt and smiled, brushing Fate’s hair back. “I do have many pairs of gloves already. But these are extra special because you and Chrono gave them to me.” “But…” Fate hesitated. “They’re not what you really want.” Lindy laughed lightly. “From my kids, it doesn’t matter what I want. Fate, anything you or Chrono give me are wonderful and special. It doesn’t matter to me what it is. Do you see?” “No,” Fate admitted, hanging her head. She felt Lindy wrap her arms around her, and Fate hugged her back, still bewildered but the longer Lindy held her the more it all started to slowly make sense. “Nothing makes me happier than loving you and Chrono, and knowing that you two love me too,” Lindy said warmly. “Even if you two hadn’t gotten me anything at all, I would still be happy.” “I understand,” Fate whispered, holding Lindy tightly. If she hadn’t gotten any presents at all, she would still be happy, much happier than she had ever been before. “Merry Christmas, Mom.” Added more sugar, but hopefully it all works out ^^. Thanks everyone, for the comments!
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2009-12-24, 02:20
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Link #21338 | ||
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Queen of Tragedy
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Place of rocks and trees, and trees and rocks...and water.
Age: 33
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Quote:
Quote:
, even though I prefer long fics
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2009-12-24, 09:38
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Link #21339 |
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Name means little...
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Dec 2004
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I am chickening out of long fics and couldn't commit myself to doing one ... sigh.
(dang, and can't get back onto mibbit due to being banned. botnet?)
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  It would be enough for the depressing things in life to only exist in reality. It is because that I think the birth of a story... is from people dreaming of a happy ending. ~Misaka Shiori |
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authorshipping, befriending, fanfiction, interactive fanfiction, nanoha  |
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