MGLN: Through a Mirror, Darkly
Chapter 3: Insecure
Xx~~*~~xX
“Vivio, is something wrong?” Corona questioned. Perhaps because she had known Vivio longer, but between Vivio's two friends, Corona had been better at reading Vivio's expressions and moods. “You haven't been as cheerful all night.”
The three, now bundled up in their futons and facing each other in Rio's fancy bedroom, were technically supposed to be asleep. But none of them had felt the need to sleep just yet, and Corona had noticed something behind Vivio's normally bright eyes for awhile, so she finally decided to ask about it.
Vivio shook her head, and was about to deny anything was wrong, but Chantez's words came back to her again, and she bit her lip. “Do you guys think... I'm not considering your feelings?”
“Where did you get that stupid notion?” Rio almost demanded to know, her expression bewildered. “You're one of the nicest people I know!”
“I have to agree with Rio,” Corona added, only concern evident on her face. “Where did this come from?”
Hesitating for a moment, but only seeing acceptance in her two friends' expressions, she decided to finally spill the beans about what happened earlier that day. When she was done, she was surprised to see Rio so angry.
“I'll pound that Quinn in a meat sandwich!” she declared with a clenched fist. “That will teach her to mess with my friends!”
Ever the non-confrontational diplomat, Corona placed a hand on the purple-haired girl's arm. “You can't do that, Rio! Didn't you listen to Vivio? We want to avoid fighting if we can!”
“Hmph, fine,” Rio stated, clearly not happy, but only somewhat mollified. “For now. But I still don't see why you'd let something like that bother you, especially coming from someone like that.”
Vivio shook her head. “It's not Quinn so much, but also Chantez, and well...”
Corona's visage softened in understanding; Vivio's status was well-known among the church's members, and Chantez had been one of the more... fervent worshippers. “The whole Saint Kaiser thing still bothers you, doesn't it?”
“I thought I'd mostly gotten over it, but I suppose it still kinda does,” Vivio realized aloud, surprising herself with the admission. “I mean, I know it's mostly a matter of affection when Otto or Deed calls me 'your majesty.' But I'm also supposed to have this role, to be someone for the people of the church. I know they don't put any pressure on me, but a lot of people look up to me. I've been happy to do it, since they've been so kind to me, but... I don't know if that's who I am.”
“I don't know about that, but we can ask her,” Rio suggested, in a moment of thoughtfulness. “I've never thought of you as anyone more than who you are. Maybe that's why you like to try so many different things, though? You're tryin' to find something.”
Vivio stared at her. “I hadn't really thought of it that way, but I guess you're right.” She sighed. “I guess I wonder what I'm supposed to do with my life. This whole Kaiser thing makes me feel...” She paused, struggling to come up with a word. “Trapped, I guess.” She shrugged helplessly.
“You don't have to be the Kaiser for the church, do you?” Corona asked, although it sounded more like a suggestion.
“Well, Otto and Deed have never said it outright, but I don't want to let anyone down, either,” the young confused girl confessed. “And I still feel a bit bad because Otto left.
Rio frowned... and then reached out and slapped Vivio.
“Rio!” Corona gasped, worried.
Vivio held a hand to her burning cheek, staring at her friend, eyes wavering. “Rio...”
“You're Vivo Takamachi, not a Saint or a Kaiser or anything else!” Rio told her strongly. “When you and Corona rescued me from kidnappers,, did you do it because you were the Kaiser? Or because you wanted to?”
Vivio shook her head. “No, because I...”
"Because I'm a boy, and boys are better at being a hero!"
Her fist clenched; did she even take that action because of someone else?
Rio rolled over onto her back, pulling her sleeping bag up to her neck. “I don't know much about this Kaiser stuff, but you should do stuff because it's what you want to do. Not because of anyone else. But that's just what I think. Good night.”
Corona reached out a hand to touch Vivio's shoulder. “Vivio...”
The other girl gave a melancholic smile. “It's okay, Corona. It's my fault. I was just worrying too much. Maybe I have been ignoring other people's feelings, or maybe I'm not not finding what it is I should do. But Rio's right; that's something I have to find out for myself.”
“Now you're getting' it!” Rio said, eyes closed but smiling.
“Thank you, Rio,” Vivio answered, pulling up her own sleeping bag.
The two other girls could practically hear the blush in Rio's voice. “Yeah, well, it's no big deal.”
Corona and Vivio glanced at each other, and then broke out into giggles, with Rio joining in after a moment. They must have finally made too much noise, because the voice of Rio's mom came across from the other side of the door, telling them to go to sleep.
As Vivio let her eyes closed, she still felt a confusion inside, but she felt she just might just be on the cusp of finding a path just for her.
x~~*~~x
Wendi waved at the newcomer. “Sis, over here!”
Ginga quickened her pace to come up alongside her adopted sibling, and although she was smiling warmly, the situation on the ground here hardly called for it. “I got here as fast as I could. I heard you two found something.”
The other woman nodded. “Subaru, Nove, Cinque and I had been searching all night, but there isn't much left to get clues from. But then Dieci's eyes that managed to find the nearly buried wreckage among the rubble, and what was hidden underneath.”
“They were buried?” Ginga inquired as the pair approached the temporary medical shelter, although there apparently wasn't much need for it. At least, until now.
“The medics are stabilizing them now, after the emergency surgery,” Wendi stated, pausing at the entrance, not wanting to get in the way of the hustle and bustle inside. “A boy and girl, approximate ages 6 and 4. They've been non-responsive since we found them inside that wrecked truck.” She shook her head. “Poor kids. Being buried alive with their parents, who didn't survive. I wonder if they even know that their mother and father must have protected their children with their own bodies.”
Ginga carefully controlled her emotions, trying to keep her expression professional as she gazed at the two children in separate beds, wrapped in bandages, unmoving and staring up at the ceiling. “I read your initial report on the way over. I'd have to agree on your assessment that the truck was flung several hundred meters and then buried by dirt and debris. It's amazing that they survived at all.”
Wendi folded her hands across her chest. “Well, you'll have to wait if you want to talk to them. They're still in shock, and there is no telling when they'll come out of it. They are being prepped for transport back to Clanagan, though, so you can go with them. I know Subaru said she wanted to head back with the kids and you, and help with the investigation.”
“I think I will, but we still have some time, so I'd like to look around first,” Ginga told her, making some notes into a data pad. “Can you show me where you found them, and then the epicenter of the blast?”
Wendi nodded., stepping away from the medical shelter entrance and bringing out her device. “Sure thing. Waverider, please.” As she leapt into the air, her jewel device changed instantly into her air board, forming a platform that she easily landed on.
Ginga accepted the hand up from her sister, hanging on as the surfboard cyborg took to the air, inhaling sharply at the devastation below. “I saw the pictures, but seeing it in person like this...”
“I know what you mean, which is why I wanted you to see this,” Wendi agreed grimly. “Cinque has expanded the investigation to other nearby towns, trying to see if anyone else saw anything, and she told me to tell you that she'd like to help with this case. I'd almost join, but I'm no good with things like research and stuff.” She held up a clenched fist. “Just tell me when you find the bastard that did this.”
Ginga didn't reply, the sight of the huge crater where a town once stood, preventing her from answering one way or the other.
x~~*~~x
“Thank you very much!” Hayate acknowledged with a warm expression to her young escort.
The young female nun holding the door open for her, beamed delightfully. “You're welcome!”
As the door closed, Hayate turned to see Carim looking amused, from behind her desk. “I see you've met Chantez Arpinion. What do you think of her?”
“I must say, I was expecting Schach to meet me and show me in, but that young girl reminds me of Schach in some ways,” Hayate mused as she took her seat opposite Carim.
“Your instincts are good; Chantez is actually Schach's pupil,” Carim confirmed with a nod. “Schach is out on assignment right now, so Chantez is filling in.”
“Pupil?” Hayate questioned, frowning slightly. “I don't recall Schach ever mentioning her. When did this start?”
“I'm not entirely sure, but I've kept Schach fairly busy lately, so I'm not surprised she didn't mention it,” Carim replied thoughtfully, then shook her head. “Anyway, what brings you by today? The request I got from Rein was rather vague.”
Instead of answering right away, Hayate turned serious and kept her gaze steady. Carim took the hint and hit a button under her desk, which closed the curtains and turned on internal lighting.
“There, the room is magically sealed,” Carim informed her friend, the undertones of her voice indicating she understood Hayate's unspoken tone. “No one can hear or eavesdrop. So what is so important?”
Hayate paused once more, before replying. “How much are you keeping track about the Church's various... denominations?”
“Trying to be more politically correct?” Carim mused out loud, the edges of her lips turning slightly upwards. “It's okay, you can say what you mean to me. There are sects out there that have branched off a bit too much from the main church. We only call them denominations in public.” She leaned back in her chair. “And to answer your question, we do try to keep tabs on each one, though some are more secretive than others. But you wouldn't come all this way, and want this intimate of a conversation, just to chat lightly about those. What have you heard?”
Hayate remembered asking the same question the Atrai, though she planned to actually answer Carim, and thus had tried to carefully construct her words prior to this. “We've heard rumors of some of those sects planning something. We're not entirely sure what, and to be honest, I never held those rumors very high in regard, but...”
“Atrai sent you, didn't he?” Carim said, although her tone indicated it was more of a rhetorical question.
“Not really,” Hayate quickly denied. “Although I admit he seems to have his suspicions. So I wanted to ask you, personally, if you think anything is going on we need to be aware of. I know that, because of the Church's autonomy, the Bureau lets you handle your own internal matters. But I also know how things can spiral out of control if we don't speak the truth to each other.”
Carim studied Hayate for a short while, and then sighed. “As I said, we do keep tabs on other sects, but freedom of religion is also very important to us. Despite what certain cults or sects or denominations may say, we believe they have the right to say it, and to worship how they choose. At this time, we don't have any concrete evidence of anyone planning anything. And you can tell General Atrai that we will remain autonomous; we won't subject ourselves to direct Bureau control. This is the only way we can guarantee we retain those freedoms.”
“Carim, the Bureau isn't your enemy, nor is it a bad thing to be a part of it,” Hayate tried to impress upon Carim, and then spread her arms wide. “And neither am I. Despite our past disagreements, you know who I am. You can tell me.”
“Even if I do 100% believe you, and I do, neither one of us will be around forever,” Carim countered. “Things can change. As I said, the only way I can guarantee the freedoms for the Church and it's people, is to keep it autonomous, and for us to handle our problems on our own. I know the Bureau isn't entirely happy with an independent country on their home planet that they don't directly control, but we've been as accommodating as we can.”
Silence descended as the two intently studied each other, sending identical gazes of affirmation and confidence, willing the other to bend. But in the end, neither did, and they both instantly sighed and smiled, the charged air seemingly evaporating.
“As I recall, we've had many such disagreements before,” Hayate mused, leaning back in her chair.
“And we probably always will,” Carim agreed, chuckling, and then her expression moved back to being serious. “Please believe, that if something comes up, I will tell you. We've worked together before.”
Hayate nodded. “The JS incident, with the relics, I remember. But that was you helping us with a larger Bureau issue. I just want to do the same: have the Bureau help the Church with a larger issue. If you can tell us anything... And even your own prophecy signals that something is coming, just like with the JS incident.”
Carim closed her eyes and recited her own prophecy, made earlier that year.
“A dragon's struggle against the world serpent shall signal the rise of Belka. After a time of peace, believers shall invoke the false devil, which shall descend up the ancient country and tear it asunder. Friend shall be put against ally. The fourth shall be born, and darkness will cover the land. Destiny rests upon three children.”
Hayate waited until Carim opened her eyes and continued with the conversation. “Very well, because you're a friend, and I still value you that friendship, I will tell you this much: we have heard rumors, too, of cults that want to overthrow the Bureau. It's not exactly a new feeling, since as long as the Bureau and the Church has existed, there have been those who have called for its destruction.”
“But something has changed recently,” Hayate stated, reading between the lines.
“As I said, nothing concrete, but there have been members of a few different sects that have signaled that the end times are near,” Carim answered carefully. “It is a bit unusual for several different ones to make that same call at the same time. And even more rumors that faith will be rewarded in the coming days, as a new order supplants the old.”
Hayate raised an eyebrow. “That's all?”
“That's all I can say for certain, for now,” Carim confirmed, but Hayate got the impression there was still a little she was holding back. “Please believe that I will tell you more when it is called for.”
“Does this have something to do with sending Verossa to Earth?” Hayate questioned, scrutinizing the Church leader's face for clues.
Carim's expression indicated she was a bit surprised that Hayate knew, but she quickly returned to keeping her face neutral. “He is tracing a lead and if he finds what he's looking for, then I might have some concrete evidence for you. But I don't want to jump the gun, and please don't tell anyone else, not even your family, about any of this. Secrecy is of the utmost concern. If word gets out that the Saint Church can't handle it's own affairs, Atrai's initiative will gain weight.”
Hayate finally relaxed into a smile. “Whatever our differences may be, you are still my friend, Carim. That won't change. I thank you for what you have told me, and if I discover anything, too, I will let you know. In the meantime, I'll see if I can reign in Atrai. Auris and I have a feeling he is hiding something, too.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it,” Carim answered with genuine admiration and esteem. Her tone mirrored Hayate's thoughts that, despite their differences, both women were still committed to finding common ground and understanding within their two roles.
x~~*~~x
“Mama, I'm back!” Vivio stated upon entering the house, pausing in the doorway to wave goodbye to the Wesley family car as it pulled away.
“Did you have a good time?” Nanoha asked, coming into the entry way while wiping her hands with a towel. “Remember to take your shoes off.”
Vivio lightly blushed in embarrassment, once she realized she had forgotten to do so. “Sorry!”
Nanoha bit her lip as she studied her adopted daughter. There was something a bit different about her, as if she was genuinely happy, or there was a new confident air about her. Either way, Nanoha felt the time had come, and leaned down to hug her daughter.
“Nanona-mama has something for you,” she said with a smile, taking her daughter by the hand and leading her into the living room.
Vivio immediately glimpsed the white box on the coffee table. “What is a this? A present?”
Nanoha nodded, releasing her daughter's hand. “You've done well with your studies, and worked hard on the basics. Since you're in fourth grade now, I though you deserved this! I wanted to wait until Fate-mama was back, but it looks like she'll be delayed longer.”
Vivio wasted no time in popping the small box open, her brow furrowing in confusion. “A bunny?” she gushed in awe, then jumped back, startled when it took off and began flying around.
“The bunny is just the outside,” Nanoha explained, amused, to her daughter that was now suddenly behind her. “There is a regular device inside, that was custom made for you by Mariel. It has no name yet, so you'll have to give it one.”
“My own device?” Vivio nearly exclaimed, curiously approaching the floating bunny that waved at her. After a moment of going through names, she settled on two. “I'll call the bunny 'Kris' and the official name of the device...” She paused, looking up at her mama and the red jewel floating nearby, smiled happily, and spoke a name that filled Nanoha's heart with warmth: “Sacred Heart.”
x~~*~~x
“[This is T,]” the invisible woman sent telepathically, using the earlier established code. “[O4 has joined the party.]”
“[Roger, T,]” came the reply from after a moment. “[O5 looks to be arriving now as well.]”
Teana kept still, carefully controlling the magic that rendered her invisible both to the naked eye, and to all possible sensors. Optic Hide was one of the few spells that she was fairly good at, and she had made sure to refine and improve it over the years. And now, it let her observe the arrival of a supposed cargo ship that arrived at the port a short time ago, which was immediately towed to this hanger at the edge of the port. It was a nondescript vessel, seemingly making a normal cargo run and thus ordinarily would probably have not drawn any notice]. But things had changed recently.
Teana couldn't shake Fate's assertion that more was going on here, and a little checking confirmed her suspicions; the Bureau was getting anonymous tips to trouble spots all over the known universe, and even outside Bureau space. Many Enforcers and Agents were striking at suspected hotspots and bringing down criminals and organizations.
[But why?] Teana allowed herself to form the most important question in her mind. [And now? Who would be in a position to know all this, and why would they tell us?]
Part of her hoped this latest tip, that several high-ranking members of the Orion crime syndicate was meeting on this world, might provide some answer. The Bureau did have suspects that might be behind it – mainly businessmen – but it had yet to be able to put together any solid evidence. Just circumstantial hints behind smuggling and black market operations. The syndicate was very, very good about keeping their own fingers clean, and letting patsies take the fall.
[If there was one member of the group that wanted to eliminate his rivals, this might make sense,] she reasoned. [Anyone on our suspect list that doesn't attend, would thus be a prime candidate for our anonymous tipster friend.]
She bit her lip as Cross Mirage zoomed in and expanded upon O4, the codename for the lead suspect on the ship. Her brow furrowed as her mind raced to identify him, but Cross Mirage was faster, listing his name as one Michi Baleno, the owner of a large, private company that manufactured various pharmaceuticals. There was more information, but he was now entering a black, nondescript vehicle with his entourage.
Teana immediately knew she needed to follow that car, or at least tag it with a tracker beacon, but how? It would be headed to the meeting site, and despite them knowing that the Orion members would arrive at this starport, they still had no idea where the actual meeting would take place. Such things were usually determined only at the last moment, in order to prevent anyone, like the Bureau, from setting up spying devices or spells beforehand. And if Fate was unable to track her target without them spotting her, this opportunity would slip through their fingers. Despite whatever motives the anonymous tipster had, this was a prime chance to take down the upper echelons of the Orion syndicate.
Thinking quickly, Teana outlined the path the car would follow through the warehouse, and then she leapt from her spot to a catwalk, landing easily enough. The sound of machinery beginning to unload the cargo ship was enough to hide any noise she made. Concentrating, she judged the distance and raised her gun, firing an invisible grappling line above the large hanger warehouse door, then swung down through the air to land softly on top of the car as it exited. Despite the magic strain to completely erase her presence, she held her breath, expecting at any moment for the car to stop or someone to shout a warning.
However, after several moments, when the car failed to stop or slow down, she allowed herself several panting breaths and laid down flat on top of the car as it sped up. The magnetic seals in her gloves and boots activated then, allowing her to easily hold.
She would have preferred to follow from the air, but despite her best efforts, she still couldn't actually fly. She could float, slowing her falling speed dramatically, or balance atop the platform created by her magic circle, but that was it. However, between her grappling lines and gun thrusters, it was good enough to pass the aerial test for Enforcer status. And being able to lighten her body enough to float, was sufficient to land on top of the car without making any noise.
“[T here, escorting O4 to party,]” she finally sent, once she felt secure enough.
There was a long pause, before Fate finally responded. “[Acknowledged. My date is escorting me, too.]” There was another pause before she ended with: “[Careful, T.]”
Teana had to suppress a laugh. [Careful, indeed.] Enforcer Agent Sephia was on standby with the regular enforcer squads, but Teana had to wonder... how exactly was Fate following her own target?
x~~*~~x
“Wow, very nice!” the young woman gushed once she was inside the back seat of the car, sliding her hands admiringly across the soft velvet of the seats. “You must be very rich and famous; Supool Lagomorph seat covering is very expensive, especially considering their endangered nature.”
Galiboni puffed on his cigar and grinned, eyes tracing up and down the girl's feminine curves, barely hidden by the slick yellow and black dress; he was looking forward to exploring those curves later, after his meeting. “Let's just say, I have connections.”
She shyly smiled as he slid his arm over her shoulders and patted her thigh, and she playfully swatted his hand. “Now now, you naughty boy.” Then her expression turned a bit coy. “But if you're good, there might be time for that later...”
“Oh, if you only knew how naughty I was,” he told her with a glint in his eye as the car took off. If she was as good in bed later, he'd definitely consider tipping that escort service. Hell, perhaps he'd even buy it outright.
There were many fine things in life, but there was nothing Galiboni liked more than women; especially ones were just refined enough to know about those fine things, and smart enough to keep their mouth shut. In that light, this Felicia fit the bill to a T. It might have been the long, flowing golden-hair, or the way her eyes seem to speak volumes about her inner depths, but he was instinctively drawn to her, when given his choice of women at the brothel. It was one he had visited a few times before, and thus could trust the owners to give him what he wanted.
“We have just notified about the location,” his driver from up front informed him as the vehicle hummed along the road. “We'll be there in 15 minutes.”
Galiboni sighed, and contented himself with her body next to his. [Business before pleasure,] he reminded himself regretfully. He tipped his hat, then blew out a ring of smoke. “I'll look forward to later, then.”
Her deep, red eyes twinkled mysteriously. “As will I...”
x~~*~~x
“What! ?” Nanoha nearly shrieked.
“I said I'm going to be at the library all this week and next,” Yuuno repeated with a gruff and annoyed voice from the view screen. “I have a new intern to train.”
“So you're just going to leave us here AGAIN!?” Nanoha accused, her voice raising. “I THOUGHT you were coming home tonight. I had a great dinner prepared, and now it's going to go to waste!”
Yuuno shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. “Not my problem.”
“'This' problem belongs to both of us!” Nanoha shot back, gesturing to her expanded belly while glaring at him. However, he continued to look at something off screen, an odd look in his eye, and then it hit her. “Who is she?”
“Who?
Her eyes narrowed. “The intern you're cheating on me with!”
He finally looked at her, and frowned. “It's none of your business. And I don't need this. Goodbye.”
The holographic screen disappeared, causing Nanoha to let out an angry growl and stomp her foot. She struggled to even remember why she was even with him, with no success.
A new screen popped up. “Hello there, Na...oh, let me guess... you just got done talking with Scyra?”
“Fate-chan,” Nanoha grumbled, putting a darker emphasis on the honorific. “If you've come to torment me, I'd request that you attempt it in person.”
The golden-haired girl grinned, showing teeth. “Oh, nothing would give me greater pleasure. But I warned you about him. All men are like that. I told you that having his child wouldn't do anything to keep him with you.”
A slipper flew through the holographic screen, barely phasing the image. “I don't need that from someone whoring it up all over the universe. How many beings, human or otherwise, have you screwed since we last chatted?”
Fate 'tsk'ed while wagging her finger. “Now now. Just because you can't have as much fun as me... although I should thank you for how you 'saved' me all those years ago, and then stood by while that woman adopted me. It opened my eyes to the reality of humanity.”
Nanoha almost winced at both the memory, and the words that were laced with venom. “I'm not responsible for how you screwed up your own life. I tried to help you and you slapped my hand away.” She shook her head. “Anyway, spit it out; what do you want? I somehow doubt this is a social call.”
Fate's Cheshire smile hinted at the enjoyment lurking just beyond that crazed mask expression. “Well, I haven't just been screwing around out here... I've been making certain... friends, shall we say. And I've been keeping tabs on you. I think you might be interested. We could use someone with your power, and I'm sure you'd like to be rid of that thing within you.”
Shocked, Nanoha glanced down and rubbed the growing bump on her belly, suddenly feeling a mix of warmth and revulsion. She didn't know which it was, until she raised her head again, barely cognizant of the eager grin spreading across her face.
“When?”
x~~*~~x
Nanoha gasped as she opened her eyes, hands instinctively flying to her stomach, confirming that her child was still there. Letting loose a sigh of relief, she turned to her side and pulled the covers tighter over her body, noting that this was the second nightmare in a row she'd had.
[It wasn't like that!] she desperately told herself, still unable to shake the feeling that the dream was real. [I don't hate Fate nor Yuuno, so why...] She clenched her eyes shut and shook her head, trying to dispel the utter disgust she had felt in the dream.
What in the world was going on?
She remembered when Vivio used to have nightmares, and Nanoha had awoken her adopted daughter from them more than once. Despite her telling Vivio that they weren't real, the child still couldn't shake the feeling for a long time. It was the biggest reason she had continued sleeping with her mamas and papa for a long time. She didn't do it as much as she used to now, but Nanoha was perhaps realizing that she longed for that small body next to hers, wanting it more than Vivio did. With her relationship to Fate and Yuuno now, her bed was rarely empty, except for times like last night and tonight.
Were her insecurities, that she didn't even think she had, coming to the surface and being expressed in a dream? Was she beginning to feel abandoned?
[I've spent the night alone many times, though,] she reasoned. [And Fate and Yuuno aren't like that... So why?]
With no answer coming to her, she slowly allowed herself to drift off to sleep once more, trying to ignore that small, unpleasant feeling that had formed in the pit of her stomach.
x~~*~~x
Teana very close to giving up. Even though Optic Hide was no longer very magic draining, she had been keeping it up for quite a long time, and thus had begun to run low on magic. Once she did, she'd become visible and would mostly likely be spotted.
Just enough luck was on her side, however, when the long car pulled into the darkened parking garage of a disused office building. She expected the people inside to head for the elevators, but the small group headed over to a corner, where she could now see several other cars parked.
She quickly leapt off the car and landed behind a concrete barrier, finally releasing the Optic Hide spell to conserve what little magic she had left and to let it recover. Hopefully, she would be sufficiently recharged when action was called for. Her hands instinctively brushed over the cartridges in her coat pockets, the confirmation boosting her confidence.
Moving slowly, she crawled along the ground, still behind the barrier, trying to get closer in order to hear better. Once close enough, she had Cross Mirage amplify the sound, piping it into her ear piece communicator. She also had her device enhance a reflection of the meeting from a mirror hanging nearby; it was one of those that allowed cars to see around a corner in the confined spaces of a parking garage.
“We all here?” one of the men said.
“Still waiting for... ah, here he is,” another answered gruffly. “You're late, as usual, Galiboni.”
“Stow it,” Galiboni replied gruffly in an annoyed voice. “Let's get this going.”
“I think we all know why we're here,” the first one stated. “Business has been bad lately. Profits are down in most sectors. Especially yours.”
“It's the Bureau,” Galiboni argued back with disgust. “They've been coming down extra hard on my territory, which has made most of my suppliers scarce. Someone was supposed to be handling that.”
“There is only so much I can do,” came another gruff male voice from the far side, and Teana had to shift a bit to see who it was. Unfortunately, his face and body was obscured by shadow, and Cross Mirage could only passively amplify the ambient light so much; she didn't want to risk active spells just yet.“I've passed along all information I have been given.”
Teana froze. [Passed along information? Is someone leaking information from the Bureau?] The implication was there, but conversation had been vague so far. She needed more, but unfortunately, she wasn't going to get it.
Someone – whose gait appeared to mark them as female – began walking around the outer edge of the gathered vehicles. Teana wondered what she was up to... until the woman appeared to stare directly at the round mirror.
“We have a spy!” came the call, a split second before the concrete barrier exploded.
Only her quick thinking and reaction speed saved her from being splattered, as Teana came up from her dive and tumble, pointing her gun and prepping a Crossfire spell. “I'm Enforcer Teana Lanster from the Time-Space Administration Bureau. I am hereby ordering all of you to stand down and come in for question-”
She didn't get the chance to finish.
The woman who had initially fired on her, brought out a second gun device and began peppering Teana's location with magical bullet fire. The Enforcer Agent was already in motion, however, releasing her own spell of a half-dozen guided magical shots. But the woman easily shot them down with a spray of magical bullet fire, and then the two dueling, dodging and diving while trading attack spells. However, Teana's mysterious opponent had a considerably higher rate of fire, as if she was firing a pair of machine guns. So far, Teana had managed to dodge, but her biggest worry was that the other participants in the group were getting away.
“[Fate, Shari, Sephia, if you can hear me, they are escaping!]” she sent telepathically, as the regular communication lines had been jammed immediately after the warning had been shouted.
And then the barrage stopped for a moment, as Teana rested behind a thick pillar. “Lanster, did you say? How interesting.”
Teana's brow furrowed. “What-”
Once more she was cut off as the pillar exploded. Teana dove and tumbled as her auto-barrier absorbed and deflected the concrete shards, firing stun shots into the smoke cloud, but when she heard the quiet 'click' behind her, she knew she'd miscalculated. But it was the words spoken next, that really made her blood run cold.
She could hear the grin in the voice. “So, it looks like this will be the second Lanster I take down.”
Xx~~*~~xX
Author's notes:
One of the lines in StrikerS that struck me, was when Hayate talked about how she had disagreements with Carim. But that was never elaborated on, and I found an opening in this fic to expand upon the concept. I won't say too much more, other than this isn't the last of it, as it will come up again.
I know that Vivio's name for the bunny looks like it is supposed to be Chris, but I like the name Kris better. So, I'm exercising Author's prerogative to use that name. Similar to how I use Raging Heart instead of Raising Heart. =)
2012-06-20, 08:00
. I'll still be writing more Hayate x Vivio Files to come, and look out for Shigan and Extrinsical's stories too.
Author
