Some say courage is the refusal to flee against superior forces, to fight until there is nothing left,
and that retreating is great cowardice. Others say it is greater courage to know when it is prudent
to withdraw, to strike at a more opportune time, and that to brashly face a greater force would
only end in futility. Regardless of opinion, none would dare speak up in this situation.
There was no other choice but to run. The opposing force was too strong, greatly underestimated
by TSAB analysts. Even after so many skirmishes, the enemy was barely understood, leading to
many ill-fated ventures. Now, a lone man ran through the alleys of rubble and ruin, pursued by
numbers unknown.
“Have we lost them?” a quiet voice came from within the man’s coat, a tiny head with long
silver-blue hair peeking out.
“I think so… I don’t sense any nearby…” he whispered back.
Peace is often fragile, shattered by the smallest of conflicts. Yet from this tiny incident spawned a
greater number of battles in which the Time-Space Administration Bureau found difficulty in
combating. Lost artifacts of times long past, strange automatons that moved and operated with
an efficiency and power unseen in the centuries they had slept. Neither living nor dead, but
soulless machines without morality, only the cold efficiency of mechanical perfection.
Leaning against the side of a building, Noland released a small sigh of relief. The enemy was
relentless, untiring in their hunt for mages. Lost Logia? Ancient relic? There was no real way of
categorizing them. What they were, and their purpose, was well known: mage hunters.
“How did this all happen? Everything just kept going wrong…”
“No plan survives contact with the enemy. There was no way we could’ve known,” the knight’s
words did little to console the girl.
Although a task best suited for Riot Force Six, they were woefully underprepared for the sheer
flexibility and adaptive power of these… “Robos.” Far more advanced than the Gadgets utilized
during the Jail Scaglietti Incident, these humanoids shared a sort of hive mind and could copy as
well as counter virtually every spell thrown at them. Despite all their training and preparation, the
enemy forces had scattered the teams. It was virtually all luck that Reinforce Zwei managed to
reunite with a friendly face, even if he was almost useless in this situation.
Or was he?
“Get down!”
The wall next to them exploded, flinging shrapnel all over as dimly glowing eyes pierced the
cloud of dust. From the hole came a one, two, three, four figures, clad in identical blue and white
robes and even the same hair. In their hands were swords, each of them the same as the other,
crackling with strange electricity.
“
BZZT—Enemy sighted. Proceeding with elimination—
BZZT.”
Noland had already dropped into a defensive stance, a single dagger his weapon against these
foes.
“Get away from here, Lady Reinforce. I will hold them off as long as I can.”
“No way! I can’t leave you here! We need to get back to the others together!”
“We don’t have time to argue, Lady Reinforce! Get out of here now!”
The enemy struck, their faces a bizarre mask of riveted metal, yellow lights as eyes, and large
grill for a mouth that seemed like a permanent insane smile. Sword meet live steel as Noland met
their attacks and deflected them as best he could. At first, they seemed awkward and weak
compared to the knight, but this situation quickly changed.
“
BZZT—Combat analysis complete. Technique identified as Ancient Belkan Close Quarter
Combatives. Adjusting attack algorithms—
BZZT.”
Suddenly, they moved with frightening precision, deftly avoiding Noland’s attacks and preventing
his counters. A blade trick, a feint and a pivot, in an instant they seemed to dance around the
knight, whittling away at his defenses. Noland’s movements gradually became less focused and
more desperate, his speed and precision unable to keep up with the literal swarm of attacks that
seemed impossible to avoid and even more so to counter. At last, the Robos’ came in for the kill,
simultaneously thrusting their swords at the knight. Despite his best efforts, Noland was impaled
in four ways, in his chest, his back, his side and his belly.
“B-bastards…” Noland coughed up a mouthful of blood.
“
BZZT—
Kekekeke. Enemy neutralized. Proceeding with elimination—
BZZT”
Was… was this the end…?
No. No, he wouldn’t allow it. These abominations could not be allowed to harm anyone else!
There was still one thing he could do.
“Lady Reinforce, you… You need to get away from here. I’m going to—uugh—I’m going—
GRAGH!” another sword was thrust into his body, cutting off his last words.
“
BZZT—Be silent, meatbag. Killing you will not take long.
Kekekeke—
BZZT.”
“He-heh. I-is that so?” blood was quickly filling his mouth, choking him with every word he
managed to get out. “You abominations don’t know a thing! Killing… killing is an art.
Manslaughter. Murder. Homicide. Genocide. Regicide. Deicide. Stained upon my hands are the
blood of the sacred and the blood of the damned. You know nothing. I’ll show you…”
Noland reached up with a shaky arm to grasp the bloodied wrappings that sealed away his eyes.
With a jerk, the scraps of magical fabric were torn away, revealing the burning red eyes of lunacy
underneath. A crazed grin spread across his face as the whirling madness of insanity stole away
Noland’s mind, a familiar but gut-wrenching feeling.
“
I’ll show you what it means to kill things.”
--
Pressed closely against his chest, Reinforce Zwei could hear, could feel Noland’ heartbeat as
they ran from those strange “robos.” Her small form, cradled snugly in the knight’s coat, was
warm and strangely comfortable as she guided the blind man in their escape. It comforted her,
strangely, that Noland also felt fear, his heart thundering next to her head, when they were
discovered and cornered by the enemy. And when Noland fought back, she knew somehow,
that he fought not for victory, but to protect her. She could not insult him by fleeing and leaving
him, even if he told her to. And even as terror seized her heart as the knight was finally defeated,
his blood spilling and soaking her clothes crimson, she felt at ease.
Why did she feel this way?
I’ll show you what it means to kill things.
A chill ran down her spine.
Suddenly, she felt like she was being pulled into his very being.
A fury of red upon a sea of black, violently swirling and thrashing in turmoil. In this boiling sea of
chaos, Reinforce Zwei felt as if she were but a tiny ship amidst a raging hurricane. Tossed around
and battered relentlessly, the tiny girl was almost lost to the vortex of madness. Otherworldly,
inhuman howls reverberated amidst this cacophony, churning the waves even more. Yet amongst
this violence, she could see a tiny, almost invisible mote of light.
She reached for it, stretching her arm and willing her being to fly closer to the light. It felt so far
away, yet deceptively close. The light was so small it barely fit in the palm of her hand, yet it was
warm, like when she was hidden in Noland’s coat.
She held onto that light as tightly as she could, clasping it against her chest. This light, the only
solidarity Reinforce knew now, was suddenly extraordinarily precious to her. It pulsed to a
steady rhythm, as if it were a heartbeat.
His heartbeat.
Held at her chest, at her heart, the beat was in harmony with her own. With each beat, the
warmth spread, the light growing brighter. From a pin-sized dot, it grew into a baseball, a
basketball, greater and greater, until finally, the girl could no longer hold on to it.
She released the orb and let it rise into the “sky,” the chaos parting as it traveled higher and
higher. In its wake, a calming, cooling effect, until finally it reached its apex.
The “sea” had calmed, though under the waves it still churned. The “sky” had cleared, though in
the distance the storm still rumbled. The sun had risen, though only for her. But at least here,
now, there was peace.
--
Unison successful. Synchronization: 98%
--
Kill! Kill! Destroy them all! Crush this inhuman junk and tear them apart!
No programs or algorithms could give any edge to these Robos, the sheer ferocity of the Mad
Knight’s rage trampling what feeble defense they put up. Electric swords and precise attacks
beat upon his armor with growing futility, like striking a stone wall with a wooden stick. In their
mechanical precision came their folly; incapable of survive even a single blow from the knight
and unable to predict his rampage, the Robos locked up in their analysis. How pathetically quick
they fell, though terrors they were but moments before. And amidst the massacre Noland roared,
victorious once more.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, he woke up. The head of one of the Robos, false blond hair and bright,
square yellow eyes upon “skin” of green metal and rivets, dangled from his hand.
What… what just happened? All around him was carnage, the aftermath of some twisted
slaughter. But instead of blood and flesh, machine oil, gears, hydraulics, and wires littered the
battlefield. It was quiet now, with he alone standing victorious. He then realized something
amazing.
The world. He could see the world! Vibrant; colorful; alive! Never before could he witness the
world around him with such clarity of sight and of mind, not since the times of Ancient Belka.
How was this possible?
He held his hands up, marveling at their platina finish.
His armor!? What… why was it white? Pure and shimmering, not blackened and pitted. Unlike
the fearsome obsidian and scarlet armor of the Lunatic Knight, Noland now stood as a gleaming
paladin
What was going on? Wait. Reinforce Zwei. Where was she?
“Lady Reinforce? Are you there?” he asked, both out loud and in his mind. Almost immediately,
he got a response from within.
I’m right here! Reinforce Zwei’s cheerful voice rang clearly in his psyche, as if she were a part
of him.
“You unisoned?!”
Yup! And quite successfully too! It was a little crazy at first, but I got my bearings!
“But… what of Cocytus?”
WHO DARES INTERRUPT?! As if on cue, the hateful roar of Cocytus damn near drowned
out his thoughts.
You be quiet desu yo! You yell too much!
DO NOT SPEAK TO ME WITH SUCH DISRESPECT, TRASH.
You don’t scare me!
I WILL SUFFER NO TRESPASS.
Cry some more!
How strange it was… What was once a nightmarish whisper in peace and a damning roar in
battle suddenly be reduced to an almost harmless prattle that quarreled childishly with little Rein,
leaving his own mind and sanity clear of any influence. Yet, he still felt his body strengthened,
every bit of him as light as air. Such raw power at his command…
Now if only the voices in his head would quiet down a bit.
YOU KNOW NOT WHAT YOU DISTURB.
I am getting really tired of you.
BEGONE FROM HERE WRET—
Guuh!
Silence.
Suddenly, Noland had a mental image of Reinforce Zwei standing over the fallen body of
Cocytus, her right hand a clenched fist.
“…Did you just punch out—“
You want some too?!
It seemed even Reinforce was being affected by the residual rage. “Let’s go look for our friends,
then. Lady Reinforce.”
Ah! Yes! I-I’m sorry for yelling at you, Noland-san. All this, you suffer with every waking
moment… you didn’t deserve that.
“It’s quite alright. I am very surprised at these… changes as well. But in any case, let us be off.”
Then, to the skies!
As if on command, a pair of charcoal wings erupted out of the knight’s back. With a single,
grand sweep, they were airborne.
--
Although they were scattered, the mages had managed to regroup to some level and get to
shelter. At least, these mages did. Keroko Georashi Takamachi lead this rag-tag group, remnants
of several teams spliced together. Thus far they’ve managed to escape capture, or worse,
“retirement,” but now they were at their wits’ end. Cornered like rats, those infernal machines
were gradually smashing their way through whatever defense the mages could muster. Now
most of her team was injured, her effective fighting force down to a bare 30%. For now, they
rested in a ruined remnants of a hotel lobby, every possible entrance boarded up and sealed
from prying eyes. They were safe… for now.
Keroko was not going to complain about the unfairness of it all, how these Robos seemed to
counter everything they threw at them, or how the machines seemed to adapt in an instant to
whatever surprise they concocted. No, there was no room for complaints. Even now, as her
time grew shorter and shorter, she refused to even admit to the growing worry and despair in
her heart.
A wall nearby suddenly exploded, blasting wood, sheetrock, and brick everywhere and
flooding the room interior with dusty sunlight. With grim finality the enrobed figure of a Robo
stepped through the rubble, its bright yellow eyes slowly, almost gleefully, scanning the
assembled mages.
Dammit.
“
BZZT—
Kekekekeke. The rats’ nest has been found. Proceed with extermination—
BZZT.”
And just as sudden, another, even louder explosion detonated outside. It rocked the very
foundation of the building, unsettling dust and cracked paint from the walls and ceilings. At first,
Keroko and the others thought it some horrible weapon that the Robos were bringing in, but
then, they realized the almost human-like franticness of the Robo’s voice.
“
BZZT—Alert! Unknown hostile is attacking! Regroup and—
GYAAGGH”
The Robo was pierced through at the chest, a rippling crimson spearhead punching straight
through. In an instant following, the spearhead exploded in a flash of red, taking its victim with it.
What followed was the familiar symphony that was battle, the cries of the defeated echoing with
tearing metal and crackling electricity. Keroko cautiously crept up to the opening in the wall,
peering through it with guarded curiosity. She gasped at what she saw.
His wrath falls from the heavens.
As her fellow mages gathered behind her, several voiced their shock, and some, their horror.
Raw, monstrous power, combined with refined precision and brutal ferocity, a gleaming white
blur plowed through the gathered army of Robos like a sweeping scythe cutting through tender
grass. In mere moments, the once seemingly invincible Robos had been decimated into scrap.
Silence soon took the field. The dust was settling; he approached.
Seven feet tall. Plate armor. Its profile matched that of the Lunatic Knight, a form that all of them
feared would present itself upon the battlefield. Though the man underneath that armor was a
good person, his madness knew no friends. Indeed, it was a barely hidden fear that Noland
would someday succumb to the insanity, and today, it appeared to be very possible.
Yet, something about him seemed… different. White armor aside, the figure stood tall and proud,
not hunched like a wild man. Instead of ravenously searching for more victims, he remained at
guard, vigilant and aware. Without a doubt, this was the berserk knight that everyone feared…
or was it?
The monstrosity stopped just before the hole, turning its head to Keroko. A moment of silence,
everyone’s breath stilled. Then, he spoke, his voice distorted, but still clear and very familiar,
“Lady Keroko. How it does give my heart cheer to see you unharmed.”
The girl, along with her ragtag squad, all blinked is surprise. As the being addressed, Keroko
carefully looked over the knight.
“Noland? Is… is that you?” she asked with uncharacteristic uncertainty. A part of her was ready
to bolt at a moment’s notice, though she controlled that admirably.
“I am,” he nodded.
The Ace jumped up, dashing up the knight—Damn he was tall! “My God, it is you! But how?
Why? And where’s Reinforce?!”
The armor shrugged, an action that seemed atypical for the usually formal knight.
“This situation is one that I do not fully understand, but am wholly grateful for. Lady Reinforce
Zwei is here with me. Somehow, we unisoned, and it seems Lady Rein has cooled the fires of
my madness, leaving my mind clear and free. You have nothing to fear from me, Lady Keroko.”
The redhead let out a long breath, relief washing over her. Those with her may not feel the same
way, but she trusted the Noland completely and unerringly.
“Well, I’ve got good news too. Everyone’s fine, but they’re all on the run from these Robos.
Now that we’ve managed to push them back, we gotta keep the momentum going. Are you
with me?”
Noland brought his fist across his chest, thumping the armor as he did so. “With all my—no,
our—strength. Lady Reinforce is with me, with us. And we are with you.”
“Heh. That’s unfair, Noland! Really unfair! How the hell do you expect me to keep up?” the
Ace chuckled and shook her head. “Well, whatever. Shall we?”
The paladin held out his hand to Keroko in response, one that the girl took without hesitation.
“
We will bury them.”
2009-06-07, 14:21
Author
Would this be "GAR" then? 
Nolan does have such an interesting backround, especially with him teetering on the edge of madness so much of the time. I wonder if Rein will end up changing somewhat after this experience? ^^
), but they came to live happily on Earth with Kaprika's two magic guardians.
) here was shown by Lowe and FlameSparkZ an interesting doujin that in his terms struck a crack vein. It's "Fate/Kaleido Liner" and you'll find it on Manga Fox. Now, if you'll excuse me...
