MGLN: Future Tense
Chapter 4: Discoveries
Xx~~*~~xX
Her eyes widened and her lips slowly curved into a surprised snarl as she touched down admist the wreckage. Most of the fires were out, but some pieces of twisted metal still smoldered, and the metallic smell of burnt flesh and steel almost overpowered her nostrils, forcing her to cast a quick spell to form a golden shield over her nose and mouth to filter out the putrid air and allow her to breathe. What had happened here?
Her grip tightened on her weapon as she spied an enforcer nearby, half buried in rubble, and she quickly leapt over to him, blasting away the material covering him and rolling him over onto his back to check his neck pulse.
"Who did this?" she demanded to know.
His eyes fluttered open slightly, but they were unfocused and he was delirious. "Demon... destroyer... oooh..."
And then promptly passed out again. Given the look of his lower half, the blood covering his twisted legs, she figured it was a miracle that he was even still alive. Still, he might be saved if the medical unit got here fast enough, though she wanted answers now.
Setting him down, she spied three more enforcers nearby and went to check on them. One was obviously dead, a small hole in his chest that cut through his left lung, while the other two appeared merely unconscious, but also bruised and bloody, as if they had been physically beat up. Attempts to wake either of them failed, and she snarled again as she glanced around, detecting no other signs of life.
[Six of my men were stationed here, and only two, maybe three are still alive!?] she thought in disbelief.
She raised her right hand and spoke to her weapon. "Interface with any working systems still in the area. Get me the identities of everyone who was here in the past few hours."
"Processing," her device replied. "Several fragments retrieved from surviving black boxes."
A holographic screen opened to her left, showcasing Hayate's face. "What are you doing, Fate?"
The golden haired woman didn't even turn as a second screen opened, various faces of her enforcers and prisoners cycling through. "Someone attacked one of my bases, and I attempting to find out who."
"Leave that to others, I have a special mission for you," Hayate informed her. "There is some trouble on world #32 that I need you to handle personally."
“This shouldn't take me long,” Fate countered, still studying her rotating screen of pictures.
“Leave that to someone else,” Hayate repeated in a more commanding voice. “And return to Clanagan. This is urgent.”
Fate finally turned, raising an eyebrow. "You're trying to keep me from this; You're hiding something. What? And why?"
"I don't need to explain myself," Hayate told her tacitly. "You will go where I order."
Fate's face suddenly jerked back to the other screen, as something familiar caught the edge of her peripheral vision. "Replay that last image!"
Bardiche complied, and Fate's eyes grew wide as the picture zoomed in on her face and time stopped.
The enforcer commander stood there, her grip tightening on Bardiche's shaft, her eyes studying every curve of the face in the picture; the long, brown hair tied in a pony tail, and the big blue eyes that glared defiantly as pink magical energy erupted from her hands all spoke to a woman who had died years ago... or had she?
Nanoha...
It couldn't be, Fate decided; it was impossible! Nanoha looked like she hadn't aged a day from when Fate last knew her!
“Bardiche, reply any audio associated with this image and time frame, and relay to my communicator,” she commanded, reaching a finger up to right ear.
Fate closed her eyes as a sweet, lyrical voice she hadn't heard in decades sounded in her ears, tuning out Hayate calling Fate's name. Unbeknownst to her, the enforcer's hands began to tremble as a wellspring of emotions she thought long buried began to well up against her will.
Eventually the audio ended, and she became aware of Hayate addressing her. "It's not who you think it is. Jail created a clone, for a purpose we don't know yet. It's not her."
"I'll find out," Fate announced finally, her eyes snapping open again, her mind made up.
"No," Hayate repeated firmly. "As I said, I have a different mission for you. I'm assigning someone else to this."
"Like hell!" Fate shot back, finally turning to glare at the Supreme Commander's screen. "I should be the one to do this, because I-"
"That is exactly why you can't!" Hayate nearly yelled, finally raising her voice and cutting the other woman off. "I know very well how you feel; you're too close. Jail was probably counting on that as a psychological tactic against us. Whatever he's programmed this clone to do, I need someone who can knows what she can do,
and can keep a clear head."
"Don't you think I know that!?" Fate nearly snarled rhetorically, glaring at Hayate for several moments. "I won't let him pervert her memory with an abomination!"
For several long minutes, the two women glared at each other, defiance mirrored on each visage, each wondering whether the other would break first.
It was Fate, who finally spat out an exasperated, "Who?"
It was Hayate's turn to pause before answering, "An old protege of yours. She can easily match whatever this Nanoha-clone can dish out."
This time, Fate
did snarl. "No! I'll handle it!"
She promptly took off into the sky, the holographic screen keeping pace along beside her.
"Return to Clanagan, Fate, that's a direct order!" Hayate commanded, but it fell on deaf ears as Fate cut the connection.
x~~*~~x
"Uno, slow down, the others need to rest!" Nanoha beseeched the cyborg, sparing a glance back at the three adult prisoners, one of which carried one of the children.
Nanoha herself carried Livia, while Uno carried two others and led the way. The rest of the prisoners had dispersed and gone their different ways, a few with some of the children since they were from the same village, but Ken and two of the others had decided to follow Nanoha. Whether it was just because they were headed in the same direction, or another reason, she didn't know, and hadn't felt comfortable asking.
"We have to keep moving," Uno told them without looking back. "There is a minimum of 22.4 minutes from the time I triggered the alert, to the nearest point at which that facility can receive reinforcements. They will obviously search the area, and a satellite passes overhead in approximately 2.4 minutes."
"Then we need to find some place to hide," Nanoha deduced, glancing around a the forest trees.
"Based upon the ground surveys, we should reach such a location in 2.2 minutes if we maintain this pace," Uno informed them.
Nanoha spared another glance back, but Ken and the other two nodded at her, despite looking winded; they'd keep going somehow, until they reached safety. Nanoah switched Livia into her other arm, being used to harder workouts, but wondered if the others could last as the ground grew rockier along Uno's chosen path. It was apparent that they were gaining some elevation.
But they did make it, Uno leading them into a cave in the lower foothills of a mountain range that had just enough room to enter, although Nanoha had to duck a bit. Uno set her children down and continued moving forward, making Nanoha wonder what she was up to as her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness within, then became aware they weren't alone; something was in there.
[A razorbear!] Nanoha realized as the large animal lunged at Uno, who promptly sidestepped and slammed it into the ground, then broke it's neck. She stared at the surreal scene; it was over so quickly that she could hardly believe what had just happened; out of the corner of her eye she could see that her companions were equally in shock.
The moment was broken by Uno collapsing to the ground, and Nanoha set Livia down to quickly cross over to the cyborg, rolling her onto her back. "Are you okay?"
"I am a bit weak," Uno confessed, her head barely moving. "I used up most of the rest of my rationed power. But you and the others can cook the bear for food. That should provide us with enough energy to reach Hellena tomorrow. I presume you wish to return the girl to her father."
Nanoha nodded, realizing for the first time just how far Uno was pushing herself to help her. Nanoha removed her own brown cloak and folded it up, using it as a pillow for Uno's head.
"That is not needed, as I do not require the comforts weaker humans do," Uno told her flatly.
Nanoha couldn't help but smile. "Uno, thank you."
The cyborg merely raised an eyebrow, as one of the former prisoners began to skin the bear.
x~~*~~x
Light droplets of rain alighted upon her barrier jacket and exposed skin, as Fate flew through the sky, scanning the forest below. Logically, she knew there was little chance of her finding the Nanoha clone now, but something inside her still drove her on.
"It's okay, Fate-chan, I'll be fine, just like always!"
"Nanoha!"
Fate's teeth clenched against the cold, even though her barrier jacket provided ample warmth; but the cold came from within, not without, as long-buried memories resurfaced.
"Nanoha, stop!" Fate cried, advancing forward. "You can't!"
Binds went up, holding her fast, and she glanced back at the person who had cast them, the only one with enough magic power and mana to hold her like this.
"You can't help her," Hayate said sadly. "None of us can. She's the only one of us who can do this."
"Let me go, Hayate!" Fate demanded, voice raising. "If we don't do something-"
A horribly pained scream sounded from in front of them, snapping Fate's head forward again. "NANOHA!"
"Damn it," Fate hissed under her breath, a tear appearing in her eye. "I don't want this!"
They couldn't see her, as the bright, white light was growing, consuming everything; and it would reach them soon. But they held their ground, their faith in their comrade secure.
And the light began to fade.
"Caution, flight level unstable," Bardiche intoned, as Fate wobbled a bit in mid-air, the tips of the trees coming closer, her clothes slowly becoming more moist as the spattering of rain grew in volume.
She had done it; she always had, of course. But this time there was a grave cost. Her body was still warm as Fate took the other woman's hand, but it was growing colder. Nanoha smiled at them, but was unable to speak.
"Do something!" Fate shouted in anguish at Shamal, who was busy scanning the body.
"Everything's deteriorating!" the doctor replied, just barely managing to hold her composure. "Every organ, every part of her; it's a miracle she's even holding together!"
Fate noticed Nanoha trying to mouth something, and she leaned down to put her ear to the other woman's lips, but she could only fear the barest whisper of breath against her cheek.
And then she was gone.
Fate barely managed a landing on the soft forest floor and collapsed onto her knees. "Damn you, Jail... Damn you for making me relive this! I dealt with all this years ago!"
Her wet cheeks told her otherwise, but she told herself it was just the rain. Still, there was a knot inside her that she needed to get out; a buildup that threatened to tear her apart as she lifted her face to the dreary sky and screamed, a howl that was punctuated by several lightning bolts that arced down from the clouds above, exploding upon the ground all around her.
x~~*~~x
Nanoha gazed into the darkened water of the small lake, barely lit by the light of the twin moons, mostly shrouded by clothes. A mirror image that was her own, and yet not her own, stared back at her; it was a visage she had seen so often in the mirror, but was it really her? And now, she kept seeing the images of Randy in her mind, his body being struck, the blood flying out, and then dying in her arms.
He was someone she barely knew, and wasn't close to at all; the same should have been true in reverse. And yet, there was a familiarity there, a tenuous link, and he decided to toss his lot in with her. Why? Who was he? Who was his grandfather? What did he say his name was?
Nanoha rubbed her temples as she thought back and light droplets of rain began to fall; did she know a Randy? The maddening thought continued to taunt her, just out of range on the periphery of her mind as she felt more than heard Uno's quiet steps come up beside her; the cyborg was back on her feet after their dinner.
"Who was he?" Nanoha asked softly without looking up. "Who was his grandfather?"
"I analyzed his DNA from a blood sample taken from his staff and compared it to my internal database," Uno replied after a moment. "His grandfather was Randy Kales and he served as part of Admiral Lindy Harlaown's crew for a few years. I believe you were 10 years old at the time."
A light flashed in Nanoha's mind. "I remember! Alex and Randy; I barely knew them. I think I only talked to them a few times. I, or rather the real Nanoha, was only nine years old at the time. And yet, somehow, his stories of me encouraged his grandson enough to betray his friends and companions to help me."
And there it was, the reason for the crushing weight she had been feeling ever since they left the base: because of her. Simply because of who she was, a man gave his life after a few moments of meeting her; if she hadn't gone on the rescue, he would still be alive. It had to be done, and she still believed it was the right thing to do, but that didn't make it sit any better with her.
Uno took a hold of Nanoha's arm, trying to pull her away from the lake as the rain continued to intensify. "Come, we should go back inside the cave before we get too wet."
Nanoha didn't reply, but instead reached down to pick up a small stone and tossed it into the water, her mirror image distorting and fading among the ripples.
Then both paused and looked up as something like a banshee's howl distantly echoed off the trees and hills, coupled with multiple flashes, with the sound of thunder following several seconds later. They slowly locked gazes after, each having the same thought:
What in the world was that?
x~~*~~x
Nanoha realized she wanted to ask Uno more about what happened, about her friends, and the past when they returned to the cave, but the cyborg indicated that she should hold off for now; she didn't seem to want to let the others they were traveling with know who Nanoha was. The cloned girl supposed she could understand that; the less people who knew who she was, the better; it would also keep them safe.
But why was Hayate even an enemy in the first place? Why had she changed so much to cause her to inflict all this on the people? Ken and the others were literally terrified of her, which didn't fit the image of the smart, confident, but humble young woman she used to know.
And what of the others? Fate, Yuuno, Vivio, and her other family and friends.... were they a part of this, too? Apparently, her answers would have to wait.
Fortunately, she wouldn't have to wait too long, though, as after setting out the next morning, and parting with one of the prisoners who took three of the children with him back to his village where they all came from, the rest of the group eventually arrived back in the fishing village of Hellena late that afternoon.
Uno had been setting a slower pace this time, claiming it was mainly because by this time the bureau would have enlarged the search area to a much larger radius, and without the sentinel drones they'd have a much harder time finding them. Also, the next satellite wouldn't pass overhead for hours, and they would have plenty of time to find a hiding spot before then. As far as the Bureau was concerned, they could be anywhere on the continent by now.
At least, that was her excuse, but Nanoha wondered if Uno wasn't just softening a bit.
Still, the return of Livia to her father persuaded the man to use his boat to take the small group to Organtz after a small dinner. And so, late that night as the old vessel creaked it's way across the ocean under shrouded moonlight, Nanoha was finally able to ask Uno her questions upon finding a moment alone with her.
“My memory banks contain no mention of Yunno Scrya or Vivio Takamachi,” the cyborg told her, disheartening the cloned girl. “Other than their status as of the end of the Cradle incident. We were in prison for several years with limited contact of the outside world, and once Hayate finally released us to work for her, she still curtailed where we could go and the information we had access to.”
“And Fate?” Nanoha probed hopefully, even though she felt a sense of emptiness at the lack of knowledge about her childhood friend and daughter.
“Currently Hayate's head enforcer,” Uno informed her solemnly. “It was rumored she had custody of Vivio, but I am unaware as to what the current status of your daughter is. However, like Hayate Yagami, Fate Harlaown isn't the person you used to know; she commands the entire enforcer division with precision and fear.”
Nanoha gazed down into the water, barely able to see her reflection in the darkness and small lapping waves. “I see. How about my family?”
“I assume you mean your one from Earth,” Uno replied. “I regret that is also information I do not have. Mid-Childa has lost contact with much of the other worlds in the dimensional sea; communications is directly monitored and handled by the Bureau now.”
“Well, what can you tell me!?” Nanoha asked in exasperation. “What happened, other than my death, that caused all of this? Because it couldn't have been just me! Hayate, Fate... none of them would have wanted this kind of world!”
Uno merely gazed at Nanoha, her face a mixture of curiosity and vexation; but then she finally spoke. “While your death was the start that caused Hayate to campaign for more resources to handle lost logia on Mid-Childa, what finally pushed her to aiming for the top positions was an event that happened two years later; two members of her family, Zafira and Shamal, died in a terrorist bombing.”
x~~*~~x
Ken's eyes were wide as he stood just inside the a doorway, listening to the two women talk outside. He had just come up to get some air before turning in for the night, and caught the tail end of the conversation. Despite wanting to hear more, he didn't trust his shaking legs to not give him away and thus went back down below, while two words rang through his mind, over and over.
Your death...
He grit his teeth, willing his body to stop, with only moderate success. [Who the hell is she!?]
x~~*~~x
"Well, well, look who's back," Wendi noted snidely as Fate entered Hayate's command room. "How nice of you to join us, Fate S. Harlaown; Did you have a good cry?"
The wall next to Wendi's head exploded in a shower of golden sparks, as Fate casually lowered her smoking fingers, not even bothering to look at the cyborg girl glaring back at her; but Fate smiled inwardly at detecting the slight fear in the girl's eyes. There was no way Wendi would have known about Fate's momentary breakdown, so it was only an a calculated guess designed to hit close to home.
"I'll thank you not to shoot up up my command center," Hayate reminded her Enforcer commander without bothering to turn her chair around from her screen. "I take it you are ready for your new assignment now?"
"Don't toy with me, Hayate, we both know what this is really about," Fate told her pointedly, then turned her head slightly to glare at another woman, standing half in shadow, in the corner, her face hidden. "You better bring her in alive."
"Don't tell my sis what to do!" Wendi growled angrily, leaping in front of the hidden woman; she was rewarded when the woman reached up and affectionately helped brush the debris from the cyborg's hair.
"I give the orders," Hayate declared quickly to prevent the two from coming to blows again, finally turning to gaze at her insubordinate subordinate. "Never forget who calls the shots here."
Fate met her gaze for a few seconds, then shrugged. "So what is this assignment you have for me?"
"An old friend of ours," Hayate offered mysteriously, smiling slightly. "We've obtained some intel on her location, and I need you to head up the localized search."
Fate raised an eyebrow. "Why me? Other than than you want me off the Nanoha-clone case."
Hayate opened an window, displaying an image and stats, nothing that Fate's visage slowly darkened. "Go take your anger out on her. And bring any of her companions to me."
The Enforcer commander looked back over at Hayate, sparing a side glance to the woman behind Wendi. “One condition: you bring this Nanoha clone in alive.”
Hayate nodded, which Fate seemed to accept as she turned and strode out of the command chamber, while Hayate leaned back in her chair and smiled.
"Are you sure that was a wise idea?" the woman behind Wendi in the corner inquired. "I thought you wanted her ability because-"
"My reasons are my own," Hayate reminded her. "Besides, my intelligence suggests it's no longer worth it; it has been getting steadily less accurate these past few years. And I know Fate will bring her in alive, anyway; there is information she wants, so Fate won't let her die until she gets it."
The woman in the corner shrugged, as if she really didn't care much. "Is that what you want from me, too? Bring in this Nanoha clone in for information?"
Hayate paused for a minute before answering. "We don't know what Jail intends for her. The clone itself could be Nanoha in every respect, and be unaware of whatever programming he has instilled in her, and could cause a lot of damage, so there is only one thing we can do." The Supreme Commander of the Bureau swiveled her chair to face her other subordinate.
"For her own good, I want you to find her, and then kill her."
The woman half-hidden in shadows finally leaned forward, wrapping her arms tenderly around Wendi's neck; Teana Lanster slowly smiled and licked her lips.
Xx~~*~~xX
2010-06-21, 18:09
Author
Seems Tempy was very friendly to you with your question, honestly.
