MGLN: Through a Mirror, Darkly
Chapter 2: Nightfall
Xx~~*~~xX
"...and so I'll be away for at least another week, maybe two," Fate said from the screen. "I'm sorry, I really wanted to be there for-"
"It's okay, Fate-chan," Nanoha soothed, smiling. "I know how much your work means to you, and I know you're helping a lot of people. You should know by now we understand. Yuuno and Vivio will understand, too."
“I'm sorry,” Fate apologized again with a short bow, and then she looked up, her expression thoughtful. “It still bothers you, doesn't it?”
Nanoha knew to what she was referring. “I'd be lying if I said it didn't. I would like to be back on duty, helping to train new mages.” She placed a hand on her belly. “But we decided to have a child, and so I know this is only temporary.” Unspoken was one of the letters from her parents, that stated that Kyoya and Shinobu couldn't have children for some reason, and there was no idea when Miyuki might find someone. While they never said it out loud, Nanoha could read her parent's unvoiced wish about continuing the Takamachi line. With that thought, she began to ask, “Have you decided if-”
Fate quickly shook her head. “No, at least, not at this time. I am happy with Vivio, Erio and Caro. And there is also Karel and Liera I can see from time to time. I'm content with that, and my work.” She smiled warmly. “And your baby as well.”
As she suspected, the uncomfortableness was there again, hidden behind Fate's smile. It only further confirmed Nanoha's suspicions that Fate was uncomfortable with the idea of having a child, but she didn't know why. Did Fate think she couldn't have one, being a clone? Shamal had confirmed that Fate was perfectly human, and thus was capable. Maybe Fate was unsure or uncomfortable with the prospect of childbirth in general. Of course, Nanoha was a bit uneasy, too, but that hadn't stopped her from tackling difficult choices before.
She decided she wouldn't press the issue, and perhaps see that when Nanoha made it through her pregnancy fine, and was holding a new life, Fate might change her mind. “Alright, as long as you're happy. I just hope you can make it home soon; I do miss you.”
Fate's visage softened, even she smiled fondly. “I miss you, too. I'll try to arrange something in the next week or two. Don't you have a checkup with Shamal today? Maybe she can help with your restlessness.”
Nanoha nodded. “Yes. And I will go, no need to worry. It was just a bit of a bad dream; I don't even remember it much.”
Fate studied her partner's face for a moment. “Alright, I have to go now, but you take care. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Nanoa replied easily, the atmosphere between them changing almost instantly, with all questions and doubt fading away, replaced by fondness.
Despite whatever else may come between them, there was always that bond that would hold them together, no matter what.
x~~*~~x
"An interesting, if dangerous, game you're playing, Dagger," the woman in the corner offered absently, continuing to clean her gun device as the other man entered. "Are you sure it's okay to let her go like that?"
Dagger sat down in front of his large computer, observing data on several screens. "We can track her anywhere, and we'll know if she does anything outside of the plan. But don't worry, she won't betray us. She can't. The powerful spells we have placed on her assure that."
"I wasn't quite referring to her, but to your real plans, concerning-"
"Do you play chess, Grenada?" Dagger suddenly asked, although he continued without waiting for an answer. "Some might say the queen is the most powerful piece on the board, but it is the king. For only he who holds the king in the end, wins the game.” He swiveled in his chair to face her, and she got the impression there was a grin under his mask. “And I hold not one, but two kings... or perhaps they might be considered queens. It is proof that I alone am worthy of the task laid before us. The others dither about, unwilling and unable to make the hard decisions necessary to ensure the survival of humanity. Thus, it is only I who can deal with the coming calamity."
It was times like this, when Grenada could sense the sheer force of personality from the man; it was for that reason that she was willingly joined him, even though she didn't yet know his real identity. All her life she had simply flitted about, doing what she willed with the power she possessed. But it was Dagger who had finally given her purpose. He was the flame, and she was the moth, and it might end up burning her some day... but she didn't care. In fact, in made her that much more excited.
Her eager grin stretched from ear to ear. “And I merely want a spot in this new world you will create. I haven't lived this long, without being able to tell which way the wind blows. A bullet can only travel in the direction the gunner aims it, after all.”
“Stick to your role, and your place in the kingdom to come shall be assured,” Dagger told her, then returned to observing his screens. “The light rewards those who are diligent. And I wouldn't have saved you, had you not shown the potential for serving the light.”
Grenada raised her weapon, which resembled an Earth Uzi, glancing down the sight as she pointed it into the shadow of a nearby corner. “And you have been silent all this time.”
"I have nothing to say," a light female voice sounded from the corner. Her face was obscured by shadow, but a streak of light revealed small locks of pale green hair around her shoulders. “I only seek one thing.”
"And that is what I will deliver to you,” Dagger directed toward his other subject, obscured in shadow. Then he swiveled back to face his gun-device-toting underling. “You, my dear Grenada, need only direct your concerns to yourself."
Grenada shook her head, still not quite understanding what Dagger's game was; he was incredibly secretive. "As I said before, interesting game you're playing. So many people with so many desires, and yet you bring them together and manipulate them well."
Somehow, the expressionless mask seemed well suited to Dagger's next line. "It is a game I must play well, if I am to save all of us.”
x~~*~~x
“Did you finish your assignment yet, Corona?” Rio asked as the three friends collected belongings at their lockers. Vivio turned her head to catch the reply, ignoring the hustle and bustle of various schoolkids mulling about in the hallway.
The auburn-haired, and shyest member of the trio, raised her head. “The essay about what we want to be when we grow up? Yes, I finished it several days ago.”
Rio grimaced and planted her hands on her hips. “Figures. You always finish them so early! Let me guess... you wanted to be a librarian in the Infinity Library?”
Corona embarrassed blush was all the confirmation needed, and she desperately sought to take the focus of attention off herself. “What about you?”
The most energetic member of the small group jabbed a thumb at her own chest while displaying a proud grin. “You're looking at the future Strike Arts Champion of the universe!” She giggled at Corona and Vivio rolling their eyes, and then focused in on the latter. “What about you, Vivio? Did you finish it? What do you want to do?”
“Um, I actually haven't finished yet...” she started to say.
“What?!” Rio nearly shrieked. “I actually finished an assignment
before Vivio?” She eyed the other girl. “You didn't lose your ability to write or something, did you?”
Vivio shook her head. “I just wasn't quite sure... the directions were to limit it to being one thing, and I don't know how to do that. I feel like I want to try everything.” Her different-colored eyes took on a bit of a glassy look, as if she was looking at something far away.
“You don't know what you want to be when you grow up?” Corona questioned.
“Not really,” she admitted with an abashed look, coming back to the present. “I feel like I have lots of time, anyway, so why rush it?”
“Well, that may be, but you still have the assignment to turn in tomorrow!” Rio countered, then grinned. “Hey, maybe you can be my rival!”
“Rival?” Corona blurted, shocked.
“Well, Vivio does Strike Arts, too, and my future championship rise won't mean anything without a rival that I have to face in the final battle!” Rio explained with stars her eyes, holding up a clenched fist.
Vivio grinned and lightly pushed Corona towards the other girl. “Why me? Why not Corona for a rival?”
“I-I couldn't...!” Corona protested, cheeks blushing again.
Rio grinned, showing lots of teeth. “Maybe you could both be my rivals! Who says I need just one? But don't you want a rival, Vivio? Someone to push you to be your very best? I'm sure if you had one, you'd be able to focus on what you really want to do.”
Vivio opened her mouth to reply, but was as surprised as her two friends that nothing came out. Why was that? Did she want a rival? She heard stories that her mamas used to be rivals, and it was because of Fate that Nanoha pushed herself to learn magic better and find her role in life. But what about Vivio? What did she want?
“It's okay, Vivio,” Corona said softly, lightly touching the other girl's shoulder. “You don't need to know now, anyway. You'll figure it out someday.”
Vivio found herself matching Corona's soft, comfortable smile. “Thanks, you always know what to say.”
Rio rolled her eyes as Corona blushed again, and then pulled the girl back while giving Vivio a slight push away. “Anyway, isn't it time for your meeting now, your majesty?”
This time it was Vivio's turn to blush, but Corona came to her defense again, whirling and planting her fists on her hips. “Rio! You know she doesn't like being called that!”
But Rio was already backing up and putting her hands up in a defensive motion. “I know, I know! I'm sorry, just a little teasing.”
Corona shook her head, and then turned back. “But she's right. We'll meet up with you later at the gym. Nove said she'd teach us another move today, and-h-hey!”
“We'll see you later!” Rio echoed, while dragging Corona away by her shirt collar.
Vivio couldn't help smiling and giggling as the pair moved off, now noticing that the hallway had grown mostly quiet in the meantime. It was the end of the school day, so most of the students had probably headed off already. However, today was a day that Sein and Deed needed to talk to her about a few things.
She sighed. It was tough being the reincarnated Saint. It wasn't just the expectations of the school and students, nor the repeated use of “Your Majesty” as her title; it was also all the extra stuff she had to learn about her heritage and the role she would play in the Church. Such as attending religious rituals, meeting dignitaries, and being a diplomatic figurehead. And more than one couple wanted their union blessed by the Saint. At least, that's what Otto had explained before she left for Earth. However, neither Otto nor Deed had ever made it seem like Vivio
had to do it, but she was old enough to see the hopes behind their eyes.
She closed her locker while slipping on her backpack and turned to head down the hall, but immediately had her movement arrested as she collided with another body.
“Hey, watch where you're going!”
“I'm sorry, I was just-” Vivio started to say as she took a step back, craning her neck up a bit to see the taller girl and the two behind her. “Quinn?”
Vivio had heard of the older girl; 16 years old, with a reputation as being a bit of a delinquent. She toed the line enough to avoid getting thrown out, but she was hardly someone you wanted to hang around. Her two lackeys were Kaena and Gwen, and for some reason, worshiped the ground Quinn walked on.
“Oh, I'm sorry,
your majesty,” Quinn offered mockingly with a short bow. “Did I not lower my head for you?”
“Please, you don't have to call me that,” Vivio insisted, but inwardly she was wondering what to do; she did have a meeting to get to. “If you'll excuse me...”
She attempted to step around Quinn, but Kaena blocked her path. “In a hurry to get somewhere, your majesty?”
Another attempt to get around Kaena, only resulted in Gwen adding to the blockade, making Vivio proclaim in a frustrated tone, “Excuse me, but I'm in a bit of a hurry.”
Quinn's voice echoed from behind. “Oh? The little darling of the Saint Church is actually acting serious about something? I thought she'd just be playing around as usual. After all, isn't that what she likes to do? Play and fool around and not take anything seriously? Unless it's committing mass murder, that is.”
Vivio turned, her voice cracking in a way that surprised her. “I don't-”
Quinn finally leaned down and shoved her face into Vivio's space. “You don't what? Don't care? That much is obvious. You come in here and prance around like a little princess, and everything is handed to you on a silver platter. You won't get your hands dirty, and instead rely on everyone else to do it for you. Then again, you are a
King.” The last word with laced with considerable disdain and mockery.
Rio and Corona appeared to be long gone, or at least out of telepathic range, but Vivio was hesitant to call for help after what Quinn had just said. Why did it sting so much? She knew enough not to back down against bullies, and if she went into her adult form, she could probably take all three. But fighting at school was forbidden, unless it was an official match. One could be arranged if students had a disagreement, but somehow Vivio doubted Quinn would be open to that.
Quinn finally poked her chest. “Well? What are you going to do about it? Call for help, your majesty? Run away crying? Or are you going to get your own hands dirty?”
Vivio opened her mouth, but it was someone else's voice that spoke.
“That's enough, Quinn!” came the command. All four turned to see a small nun, almost half Quinn's size, stride up to the woman and place herself in front of Vivio. “If you want to deal with her majesty, you will first have to deal with me.” She held up her unactivated device in the palm of her hand; a miniature pair of tonfa on a linked chain.
Quinn glared. “Chantez. I should have figured one of the King's stooges would be around.” She dismissively waved her hand. “Whatever, I was just speaking my mind. Kaena, Gwen, let's go.”
Just like that, the incident was over, and Vivio let out a small breath of relief. “Thank y-”
“She was partially right, you know,” Chantez said suddenly, her back still to Vivio. But she turned around, her expression admonishing. “I do respect your majesty, but I wish you would take things a little more seriously. You must think of your position here, and everyone's feelings, please?”
Vivio was taken aback, but stuttered out a reply. “O-okay.”
Chantez smiled and nodded, and then waved as she moved off, leaving a still-troubled and confused Sankt Kaiser behind. While Vivio was grateful that the incident was resolved peacefully, she still felt troubled inside, and she wasn't quite sure why.
x~~*~~x
"Here is all of the information you wanted, Miss Sephia Chevelle," the Infinity Librarian said, opening a holographic screen. "I'll transfer it to your device."
Thank you, Mr. Yuuno Harleown Takamachi," the prim and proper woman replied with a short bow, belying her nature as a dangerously-skilled Bureau Enforcer. He didn't know too much about her, as even with the Bureau, she had been more of a solitary and secretive presence. All he knew was that she was one of the few Aces of the Bureau, S rank.
Yuuno put a hand behind his head, almost embarrassed. "No need to be so formal; you can just call me Yuuno, haha!" After he laughed it off, he looked at her. "But it's not often we get someone in here requesting data on the earliest origins of magic. Will this really help with your case?"
"Partially... Mr. Yuuno," she answered, almost stumbling a bit over the shortened name. "And you may refer to me as Sephia. But in answer to your question, it might help shed light on a matter I am investigating, and perhaps change the mind of one I know. But that is all I can say. However, I must confess not all of the information requested was purely business. A small part was personal.”
Realizing she wouldn't be more forthcoming, and knowing that Enforcers sometimes needed to keep some secrecy, Yuuno nodded and guessed as to which part she was referring to. "Well, as the data will show, it was the ancient Al Hazardians who we have records of being the first to make major experiments with magic, but there is evidence that it goes farther back. No one knows who became the first mage, though there are hints it was in existence and discovered by the very first humans." He shrugged and threw up his hands. "For all we know, it just might be a natural phenomenon!"
For the first time, Sephia smiled. "A natural phenomenon that can bend or ignore the very natural physical world?"
"Heh, you got me there," Yuuno admitted with a shrug. "It could indicate the presence of some intelligence, but if magic existed before our records, and is so ingrained with reality while simultaneously also able to deny it, then such an intelligence would have to have existed at the beginning of our universe."
"So why don't you say it honestly?" Sephia asked, partially teasing, but also seemingly probing for something.
He did see where she was going. "You mean, I would be referring to some sort of God?" At her nod, Yuuno shrugged again. "While I respect beliefs, like the Saint Church's, I have to admit my domain is more of the scientific nature. I can't deny that this isn't the first time I've wondered about the nature of magic in our reality, but I can't necessarily believe in a God, either, until it has been proven."
Sephia seemed to hesitate, and then pressed a small card into the palm of his hand. "It is normal to have questions and doubts. If you are curious for answers, you might like to come to one of our meetings. I must go now, but I hope to talk to you more. If not, I appreciate all your assistance."
Yuuno glanced down at the card in his hand:
Church of Origin.
Who am I? What is my purpose? Where are we going?
These are all questions we have about ourselves. Together, we can find our answers by going back to the beginning. Only by answering the questions of where we came from and why we are here, can we begin to find purpose in our lives.
What followed was the address of a small church in a small town outside of Clanagan. When he looked back up, Sephia was gone. He chuckled to himself, and then slipped the card into his pocket.
“Religion does not interest you?” Alicia questioned from the bracelet on his wrist. “I find it an interesting part of human culture. The ability to believe in things that are not proven is illogical, but fascinating. I only regret that I lose much of my knowledge of Al Hazard when I transferred to this storage device.”
Yuuno shrugged. “I have to admit, religion never appealed to me much, although I didn't have anything against it. It can motivate people to act for the betterment of all, such as the Saint Church, the most popular religion on Mid-Childa.” People such as Carim, Schach, and Verossa were proof of that, but he didn't feel the need to speak that part out lough. “However, as someone with a scientific mindset, unless it could be demonstrated, I'm not apt to believe in it.” He put a hand behind his head and laughed. “Until 'God' decides to talk to me, I'll simply chalk it up as merely one interesting hypothesis in the sea of many.”
Alicia had gone silent, as she often did, but Yuuno's mind was made up for now. He wasn't that interested in being converted at the moment, though maybe he might talk to her again about it. So, while Sephia made a convincing case, he was afraid he would have to turn her down. He'd have to make a point to return her card to her sometime later.
x~~*~~x
“You're fine, and so is the baby,” Shamal confirmed with her hand on Nanoha's bare belly, greatly allaying the young woman's fears. “Klarer Wind detects no problems. If you're having trouble sleeping, though, I can prescribe some medicine which might help.”
Nanoha shook her head and lowered her shirt after Shamal removed her hand. “No, I think I'll be fine. I was just a bit worried about yesterday.”
The Belkan doctor opened up several holographic screens, pointing to one in particular; a reverse-color picture of her baby in the womb, with one bright spot clearly highlighted. “This might be the reason; your baby's linker core is active. I think you might have subconsciously drawn some magic from him or her, or he/she lent you some.”
Nanoha was grateful Shamal was still keeping the gender of her baby a secret; the young mother-to-be wanted to be surprised at the birth. “But I thought a baby's linker core doesn't form and become active until at least a couple of years after they are born?”
“That's usually the case,” Shamal confirmed. “But it's not unheard of for the unborn to have one, and have it be active; that's why I asked that you refrain from using magic until after the birth. It's not known what kind of effects it might have on your child, both short and long-term.” She formed an amused smile. “Though it wouldn't be like you to let someone get away with a crime right in front of you, without doing anything.”
Nanoha smiled sheepishly, knowing she had disobeyed the doctor's orders from before. But firing off that shot to stop the thief had been so second-nature that she had acted without thinking.
“I'm sorry, I'll try to refrain from now on,” Nanoha offered as she slid off the examination table.
Shamal merely gave a look that said “uh huh” before closing up the holoscreens and walking Nanoha to her office door. “I don't think that brief use did anything; there is certainly no evidence of abnormalities. But if you have any other issues, no matter how minor, let me know, okay?”
“I will, and thanks,” Nanoha said, allowing Shamal to open the door and see her out.
And inside, she felt better after all, so if this was the worst worries her pregnancy generated, then she realized she should count herself lucky.
x~~*~~x
“General, may I speak with you a moment?”
Atrai paused to gauge the young woman seemingly waiting for him in the hall. “Lt. Colonel Hayate Yagami. I suppose I can spare some time for you as we walk.” He partially turned and handed a data pad to the other woman walking beside him. “Chiage, you know what to do with this. Have the transcripts and notes summarized for my next staff meeting, please.”
“As you wish, sir,” his aide-de-camp curtly replied, before taking off ahead of them down the hall.
Hayate easily fell into step beside the tall man, as he assumed a more leisurely pace. “Thank you, General. I would like to-”
“Please, just call me Atrai,” the seemingly affable military man told her with a grin. Then he sobered up. “Just don't use my family name.”
“I only know a bit about your family, but I suppose I can understand-”
Artrai's countenance promptly turned dark. “Please don't mention them again. I've put my past behind me.”
Hayate was a bit surprised at that, but given the little she had learned about his rough childhood growing up, she supposed she couldn't blame him. However, it would make what she had to say a bit more difficult, if she couldn't put it in the context she had intended.
The General surprised her again, though, by taking the initiative. “So, Lt. Colonel Hayate Yagami, what brings the famed Naval Investigator to me? I've been watching your progress ever since you showed up in the Bureau, and I have to say, I am highly impressed, especially given your own family troubles.” He leaned down a bit, dropping his voice lower. “And I don't care what people say; I don't hold the Book of Darkness incident against you at all. It took real strength to overcome, which impresses me.”
Atrai was proving to be a veritable font of surprises, which was almost throwing Hayate off. “Thank you, but I had help from friends.” She tried to regain her equilibrium. “But I what I wanted to talk to you about, was your Saint Church Initiative that you have pending before the council. Do you really feel it is a good idea to bring the Church under direct Bureau control?”
“Of course,” he answered sharply without missing a beat. “Don't get me wrong, the Church does do a lot of good. But its autonomy is becoming a bit of a problem. For a couple of years now, my people have been hearing things, rumors coming out of the Church's territory. It has us concerned, and currently, if we want to conduct any intelligence-gathering or stage any raids, we have to coordinate with the Church.”
“And why is that a problem?” Hayate countered, still trying to figure him out. She actually hadn't had much contact with the man before this, and so this was as much to understand him, as it was to talk about his initiative pending before the council. “I know Carim; she's a good woman.”
“Indeed, she is,” Atrai agreed readily, surprising Hayate once again with that admission. “But I think she relies too much on her prophecies, to really understand what's going on in her organization. And while I place great trust in her prophecies, too, they aren't a replacement for good 'ole military intelligence. We need to be able to act independently in order to get at the growing infestation.”
Hayate stopped, causing him to stop as well. “What do you know? What's going on?” She had heard some rumors as well, but they were mostly vague. The church had a few small sects here and there; mostly different denominations like Christianity had on Earth. But there were rumors of ones meeting in secret and planning an overthrow of Mid-Childa and the Bureau. However, Hayate had a hard time believing that was even possible.
“I'm sorry, but I can't tell even you,” he said sadly, shaking his head. “Just trust that what I am doing is the for the best of the Bureau. If you can convince your... friends to side with me, perhaps I can share some of my intelligence with you.”
[Genya and Auris,] Hayate realized instantly. She was well aware of the man's prejudices, but hearing how he pronounced “friends” stills truck a nerve in her. “I can talk to them, but their minds are their own. However, if you work with them, they might be more amenable to what you have to say.”
His facial expressions promptly turned dark and almost unreadable, even as he partially turned away from her. “I can't do that. They shouldn't have their positions. In fact, it was you who should have been Bureau Chief of Staff. But you wasted your potential and gave it away to... that
ordinary woman.”
This time, Hayate didn't hide the steely ice in her voice. “I'll ask you now, not to refer to her, or them that way in my presence again.”
“Then answer me as to why you waste your potential in this low office?!” he demanded, suddenly whirling on her. “Your talents are wasted in Naval Investigations!”
The accusation took her aback, but she recovered quickly enough. “I feel I can do the most good here at the moment. That is all.”
“Bah, such a waste,” he grumbled, turning away again and taking a step before pausing. “You had talent, potential, just like another I used to know. You could do so much more good, but you hide in your current post. I really thought you wanted to take control in order to move quicker and protect the Bureau; that is why you created RF6, was it not?” He shook his head. “Bah. Our talk is over. When you decide you're ready to do what it takes to protect people, we can have another chat.”
Hayate was silent, watching him go as he proceeded down the corridor without her and turned a corner. As much as she wanted to deny it, his words did strike a nerve inside. Forming RF6 was a way for her to get around the bureaucracy, to handle threats before they grew too big. In that light, what he was doing with his Saint Church initiative, wanting to nimbly move in and get at problems quickly, wasn't too different. How could she argue against that?
And how could she answer his accusations about her shirking her potential? She had thought about climbing higher, but she felt that would come with time, when she felt ready. She also knew climbing higher would mire her in that very bureaucracy she sought to avoid. Given time, she felt she could streamline things as she rose in the ranks, but what if she could do more good by climbing higher now? What if he was right, on both counts?
The Lt. Colonel shook her head and sighed. She didn't know the answers to those questions, but something about the Saint Church certainly had him spooked, that much was for certain. So what if he was right about that? Was there a greater danger there than she realized? She remembered trying to convince disbelieving higher-ups about the dangers of the relic incident, so perhaps she couldn't afford to take this threat lightly. One thing was clear: she needed more information.
“Rein, are you there?” she asked, opening up a communication channel.
A holographic screen opened, showing the beaming face of her unison device. “Hi hi! I'm here!”
“Do me a favor, and set up a meeting with Carim,” she requested, beginning to move purposefully down the hall, the screen floating along beside her.
“Okay!” Rein answered cheerfully. “What do I tell her this meeting is about?”
Hayate thought for a moment. “Just say that it's something I would like to discuss in private.”
x~~*~~x
Jeremiah acted quickly, turning around and grabbing his son who had tripped and fallen in the family's flight from their home. Ignoring the flames growing around them, he scooped up his 6-year-old son with one hand, while his wife carried their 4-year-old daughter. An explosion in the distance provided impetus to his flight.
“Daddy, what's going on?” the young boy complained in a scared tone; obviously, he sensed the danger as well.
"I don't know, but we need to go!" Jeremiah answered curtly, not really understanding himself what was going on. Another explosion, closer this time, punctuated his urgency. A phone call from old man Feris had woken him up, warning him of an attack, before it was cut off and the phone went dead. They lived in a small community almost out in the middle of nowhere, in southern Mid-Childa, though; who would even want to attack them?
The passenger door on their old truck slammed closed, letting him know that his wife, Sherry, had just secured herself and their daughter, and were now waiting on him and their son. Jeremiah wasted no more time, covering the remaining ground to their vehicle with several long strides, ignoring the blistering heat of the wood buildings and trees aflame all around them.
He had just finished fastening his son in the back seat, when something exploded nearby, and an objected landed just behind him with a thud. He quickly glanced back, inhaling sharply at the sight of the smoking, charred human laying there. The repugnant smell of burnt flesh filled his nostrils; it was almost too overpowering.
"Honey, we need to go!" his wife called, desperation in her voice, although she was doing her best to control it.
"But, it's Feris!" Jeremiah spouted in disbelief, leaning down to roll the old man over onto his back, growing sick to his stomach at the sight of the blackened and blistered skin.
To his surprise, unfocused eyes moved and focused in on him. "Run..."
"Who?" Jeremiah demanded to know. "Who is attacking us?"
Feris's eyes rolled up into his head and he went unconscious before he could give a reply, but movement from in Jeremiah's peripheral vision refocused the man's gaze toward a wall of flame in the distance. In disbelief, he watched a form emerge from the flame, seemingly completely unharmed; a near-black shadow against the heat. Was she a mage? Or something else?
"You might want to do what he told you," the form casually announced as it strolled toward them, the voice and more visible features identifying it as a woman, a staff in her left hand.
But there was something in her voice that disturbed him. And perhaps it disturbed their daughter, too, because she broke out crying and clutched desperately at her mother in fear.
The figure paused a few meters away, something unregistered passing in her blue eyes. "You're... her mother?"
"Yes!" Sherry replied, her voice wavering as she sought to keep control of herself, hugging her daughter tightly in her lap.
The woman raised her staff and pointed it at Sherry, but she seemed a bit hesitant.
That disturbing feeling in his gut growing ever larger, Jeremiah moved to step in front of his family, shielding them with his body, just in case. “Who are you? What is going on here? Are you responsible for this?”
The blue eyes seemed to flash with something, perhaps anger. "Protecting your family?"
He nodded slowly, trying to figure out if this woman was the cause of the attack, or if there was something else going on. If she was behind it, he wondered if he could distract her with something, to get enough time to jump in the car and speed them all away. But nothing came to mind, except for himself. If he threw himself at her, he could possibly buy enough time for his wife and kids to escape.
"You think offering your life as a sacrifice will protect anyone?" the shadowy female demanded in anger, seemingly reading his mind, and then shifted her outrage to Sherry. "And you... you hooked up your life with the likes of... him? You think he can protect you?!" Several long seconds passed, before the staff lowered, the woman's expression unreadable. "I suggest you take his advice and run."
She promptly took to the air, sailing straight up into the night sky. Relieved, Jeremiah wasted no time in leaping into the truck, swiftly starting the engine and pulling out onto the dirt road. He didn't know what was going on, but the safety of his family was his first concern. And with his phone not working, he needed to find some way to contact the Bureau, or at least the local authorities, about what was happening.
"Look, daddy, there's another moon!" Jeremiah's young son wondered aloud from beside him in the middle seat as the truck rumbled along.
His father glanced into the rear-view mirror, noting the new large ball of light in the sky, wondering where it came from. But that momentary distraction proved costly; when his eyes returned to the road, he swerved to avoid some people in the road, fleeing on foot and apparently trying to flag him down. The old truck careened off the road and into the muddy grass, but Jeremiah managed to keep it upright and bring it to a stop after a skid that caused it to make a 180 degree turn. From that angle, the entire family was given a perfect view through the windshield of ball of light in the sky as it exploded downward, consuming the town, and rapidly growing in size.
Instinctively, Jeremiah covered his son with his body moments before the wave of dark pink magic reached them.
x~~*~~x
Nanoha jerked upright in bed, gasping deeply for breath.
Immediately, her body delivered sensations to her brain, notifying her that her nightgown and hair were matted to her body by sweat; even the blanket was partially sticking to her still, but eventually gravity proved to be the greater force and it slipped off her chest. Unconsciously, she hugged her body as the cooler air in the room brushed against her hot and moist skin, causing her to shiver in response. But the chill that went through her body, wasn't entirely from temperature difference alone.
The nightmare had seemed so....
vivid.
Although she could barely recall any details now as it faded from her mind, she was still left with the unmistakable feeling that she had done something horrible. Part of her felt glad she couldn't remember much, but when she glanced at her hands, for a moment, she could swear she saw them stained red with blood.
Instinctively, she looked to her left to see if she had woken either of her partners, but then realized Fate was still on her mission and Yuuno must have been delayed so late at the library, that he spent the night there. It wasn't too unusual; it was a habit he had developed while single, when he became too backed up with requests. He had tried to get help to deal with them, but there were scant few people available who could really search and pick out information from the massive tomes in the library. It was the main reason why it had been so unused for so long.
Still, the absence of both her husband and wife, left her feeling forsaken. She desperately felt like she needed a comforting presence, but even Vivio was out tonight, spending the night with her friends, Rio and Corona at the former's house.
“I'm alone...” came the unbidden whisper from her lips.
Even as she spoke the thought, she quickly dismissed it and shook her head. Neither Yuuno nor Fate had deliberately left her alone; it was just the terrifying remnants of the nightmare still forcing itself through her mind. Her stomach was decidedly feeling unpleasant about the whole thing, however, so she decided to get up and head to the bathroom to get some nausea medicine, and a towel to wipe the sweat off her body.
Opening the medicine cabinet, she was a little distressed to see her hand was still shaky; deep and calming breaths did little to quell it. But gradually, she got herself under control and retrieved a few pills from behind the mirror cabinet. These were leftover since her early pregnancy days, to help deal with morning sickness. They were also something that she thought she'd never need again.
She quickly downed the pills with some water, and then found herself staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was particularly mussed up and matted in places due to sweat, but that wasn't what bothered her. For a moment, she almost thought she saw someone else looking back at her.
Someone with her face, but that wasn't
her.
“Just a bad dream,” she told herself, shaking her head to clear her mind, which seemed to help calm her body. Or maybe it was the nausea pills beginning to work. “Wasn't real. Honestly, Nanoha, since when have you let a little bad dream shake you so much? Just need to get back to sleep.”
And as she laid back down and pulled the covers over her body, she had almost dispelled most of the remnants of the nightmare, trying to turn her mind towards happier thoughts.
x~~*~~x
"What the hell happened here?!" Nove demanded to know, speaking aloud the thought on everyone else's mind, but in her own brash manner.
For once, Subaru shared Nove's vulgar attitude. Dieci, Wendi, and Cinque also came up on either side of the pair, while the rest of the rescue unit spread out around them. But there seemed to be little they could do now; there seemed to be no one left to save.
They had received the call to action 45 minutes ago, and had take nearly 30 minutes to assemble and get here. The report only stated that some heavy magic was in use, and also signs of an attack in progress. But there was nothing here now.
"Are we at the right place?" Wendi questioned, unable to take her eyes away.
Subaru double-checked her coordinates, then looked back up solemnly. "Yes. This is... was the town of Cantor. And now it's..." She couldn't bring herself to finish.
"And now it's just a damn crater," Nove finished for her as the quintet surveyed the scene.
"A big one," Dieci agreed., her binocular eyes scanning the entire area. "I'm not getting any life readings, either...."
Fires flickered in various spots around the large rim, and from various spots within. But the town of Cantor itself, population 436... was gone.
Xx~~*~~xX
Author's notes:
Although I prefer the spelling of Shante, it looks like the official spelling of her name might be Chantez, since in the naming convention of the series, she might be named after the Mazda Chantez.
2012-06-11, 06:06
Author
