"How the hell did you transported anyway? I'm pretty sure TSAB don't allow teleportation in their HQ."
"They did. I was punished after that. Being under surveillance for 2 months isn't fun at all" Yuuno massages his temple. He still felt unconfortable thinking about it..
"Oh?" Due grinned "I would have though your inner perv would be delighted to have someone following you."
"I said it was an accident!"
"Riiiiiiight."
After that, they both fell into silence. While Due return her attention to the TV, Yuuno simply content himself with watching his companion.
His first impression of her was that of an insane bloodthirsty assassin. But after rescuing and spending some time with her, he realised that it was all part of an act. One moment she could be a maniac, another a teasing seductress. She had once told him that she didn't really know what her real personality is like, owning it to her father.
When he created her, Jail Scaglietti wanted a model that was capable of long term undercover mission without being discovered. So she was designed with the capacity of imitating every possible physical details that the one she is disguising as might have. Be it a small verbal tic, a slight wave in their speech pattern, or a small twitch whenever someone mention a certain word, she can imitate them all perfectly. But that was just her Inherent Skills, Liar Mask. It creates only optical illusion, not personality. To that end, Jail installed a program in her that allows the blond to have multiple personality. Or more accurately, multiple traits of personality. It was a very complex and difficult thing to do, seeing as people can be walking paradox themselves.
To Yuuno though, she was just a -well friend is obviously not the right word- valued companion. Somehow, the though that she is capable of killing him should she chose to didn't scare him the slightest now. He wonder why he didn't feel like that around his childhood friends. Perhaps it is because his hand is more stained then they are…
"If you wanted to look, all you had to do was ask." Due's voice snapped Yuuno out of the rather dark path his introspective was heading. Embarassed, he scowled at her.
"What, just saying." Saying so, she sit up and leans toward him, making sure that he had a good view down the gown she was wearing.
Blushing furiously, Yuuno turns his head away. He desperatly push the heavenly sigh out of his head.
"Pft… Hahaha" Due pulls back, laughing all the way. "Man, you could never resist that trick."
"Not my fault." Yuuno replies, all the while making sure his eyes never stray down.
After a while, she spoke up.
"Hey bookworm, shouldn't you going home already? It's getting late." . Mentally thanking her, he put on a smile.
"Yeah, thanks for worrying, Due. I appreciate it."
"Meh, it's fucking boring here. At least I have something fun to do when you're here. Try to come back soon, will ya?"
"Will do."
Waving goodbye, Yuuno closes the door to her room. Never once did he notices the slight blush on her face.
- Elsewhere -
Chrono Harlaown frowned as he steps out of the teleport pad. He disliked coming here, but new discoveries forced him to do so. Nodding to the guards, he enters the room that they had prepared for this conversation.
As he waits for his reason to come here, the Admiral recounts the situation that came up. A few days ago, during a raid on a border world, his crew has discovered a hidden bunker. When they scanned it, they were shocked when it shows a large storage facility, almost half the size of the one at TSAB HQ. When he received the information, the former Enforcer had personally led a squad down to investigate. What they found was a large stash of uncategorized artifacts, relics and weapons of differents designs. Checking the information in the bunker's database, the owner of said bunker was…
"Ah, hello there Admiral. To what do I owe the pleasure this visit?"
Jail Scaglietti. The instigator of the JS Incident.
"We have discovered one of your hidden base on Unregistered Planet 616." Chrono stated "I was send here to interrogate you about the matters."
"I see…" The doctor chuckles "I'm in a good mood lately, so I guess I'll humor you. But I'm afraid I need to call Uno. My memories aren't as good as they were, you see"
"Very well." Chrono was secretly glad the scientist seems to be a bit more lucid than before. The look in the man's eyes were drastically different from the madman at the end of the Incident.
"Oh, and I would like a favor, if you don't mind."
Weighing his options, Chrono decides to acquiesce to his request.
"If it's within the scope of reason, then I shall do my best."
"Could you bring me a bottle of red wine? I have heard that one of my daughters was killed, and I would like to commemorate her death."
Chrono blinked at that one. As far as he knows, all twelves Numbers are accorded for, with 7 of them under supervision by others while 5 of them is under TSAB juridiction.
A holoscreen popped up and a purple haired woman appears.
"You requested me, doctor?"
"Yes, would you be a dear and recount what is it that was on Unregistered Planet 616? It has been quite some times since we went there."
"Of course, doctor."
"Pardon me … "Chrono had to ask "But what do you mean by "one of your daughters was killed"?
It was Scaglietti turn to blink. "Due was killed by Zest, was she not?"
Due… ah. Yuuno's secret crush. The Admiral couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckles at that one.
"Then it seems that you were mistaken. One of our employees at HQ managed to stabilizes her long enough to get her to the Hospital. She is still recovering even now."
"Due… is alive?" Chrono narrows his eyes. Jail's face had immediately light up at that prospect. It was a look that he knows. The joy of a father. Whether is it a good thing or bad he didn't know.
"Yes. However, as soon as she is fully recovered, we will send her here."
"I see." The doctor quiets down, before he speaks up.
"Admiral." Uno decides to join in. "The storage that you spoke about house many dangerous objects. I would suggest you get someone knowledgeable to look over it."
Before he can reply, Jail cuts Chrono off. "And I would like to meet the man who had saved my daughter. I … want offer him my gratitude."
At first, Chrono considered asking for an Intelligence Division member, like Verossa, but after hearing Jail's request, Chrono realises that he can kill two birds with one stone.
"I believe I can fulfill both of your requests. I will return with him later. Goodbye, doctor, Ms Uno."
As the guards escorts Jail back to his cell, Chrono wonder if this is a right thing to do.
Logically, as the Head Librarian and archeologist, Yuuno is probably the best candidate for this job. Well versed in the various eras of the time, Yuuno has proven more than once his expert in historical artifacts. Even now, he is still one of the most sought after lecturer. Not to mention, aside of identifying the artifacts, they still need to categorizes it. Chrono hates to admit it, but the Head Libraian is good in that regard. Unless the volumes is too large, one can expect the data requested to be found within less than a week. And with all the regular request from different sources, that is something of an achievement for Yuuno.
Emotionally, he is tied to Due, whom Chrono notices had taken a liking to ferret boy. He had only visited her a few times, but he had saw how different she is when Yuuno is visiting. Whenever someone else visits, she is rather… hostile, making scathing and mocking observations. Not a lot of people visit after that. But Yuuno…. Chrono had by chance comes in once during his friend visit. The woman was teasing Yuuno mercilessly, and Chrono had never seen his friend so embarassed. Well, except maybe when Chrono was teasing him.
'Ah well. This should be fun.' Chrono always make sures that his friend is not harmed, physicaly and mentaly, but teasing is another matter entirely.
- Later date -
"You want me to what?" Yuuno can't believe what his friend/tormentor just asked him.
"I said, I want you to accompany me to Gruen" Chrono replies
"Chrono, why would you want me to come with you to a PRISON FACILITY?"
"Because it would be fun?" Chrono smirks at the incredulous looks on Yuuno's face. "Joking aside, it's related to the JS Incident."
That got Yuuno attention. "What do you need me for?"
"We just discovered a lot of artifacts on one of Jail's bunker. Many of them belongs to era other than Belkans Age, so I went and ask Jail about it. He agreed to help, but contacted Uno, his secretary, because she's the one with all the data. She recommended that I should find someone knowledgeable in the field."
"Frankly, we don't know what those artifacts are, and how dangerous they can be. So getting data straight from the source seems like the best option. We could rely on the Library, but with the numerous cases coming up lately, I doubt you'd have much time to took care of something so time-consuming."
"… As logical as always." Yuuno commented "Allright, I'll do it. You'll own me though."
"Of course." Chrono's grin was worrying Yuuno slightly, but he brushes it off. After all, what's the worse that can happened?
- Gruen, 1 week later -
"Good morning ." Chrono greet the purple haired man and his companion.
While Uno simply nods her head, the doctor looks at the man behind Chrono.
"Might I inquire who this is?"
"Yuuno Scrya, Head Librarian of the Infinity Library." Yuuno offers the man a nods.
"You requested someone who is knowledgeable, and in my eyes, few are more knowledgeable than this man." Chrono explained.
"I see… and my other request?" Jail asked.
"The same person." Chrono merely tilt his head. "He was the one who saved Due, and even now is one of her most frequent visitor." Yuuno looks at Chrono questioningly. What does his relationship with Due has to with this.
Jail shift his stance so that he could have a better look at Yuuno. The blond fidgeted slightly under the scrutinizing stare, before he blinked.
"I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for saving my daughter" Surprisingly, the prisonner had offered him a small bow, before extending his hand. Glancing at Chrono, he received a nod.
"It… was nothing" Yuuno shakes the hand. Afterward, he turn to Uno.
"I believe that you are the one who holds the information?"
"Yes" She confirms his question by opening up a holo-screen.
"Then, shall we begin, Ms … ?"
"Uno."
As they all sit down, Uno noticed that Yuuno has opened up more than one holoscreen, each filled with text. Deciding to ask him about it later, Uno opens up the first file in her archive.
"Series UP-616, Artifact#01" the image of a beautiful sword appears on screen. The blade was silver, while the handle was blue, with decorations adorning the handguard. "Name: Caledfwlch."
"The Sword of King, correct?" Yuuno asked, his hand rapidly typing on the holo-keypad.
"Yes. It was found on Unregistered Planet 15.”
"Interesting…" Yuuno muttered, even as his concentration never leave the multiple screen.
"Artifact #02" Another sword popped up. It was remarkably similar to the previous one, only not as decorated. "Name: Merodach2."
"The Original Sin?" Yuuno blinked "I had thought that the Caledfwlch WAS the Merodach."
"Correct. However, it appears that someone had tried to replicate the original sword, but failed." Before Uno can explain, Yuuno spokes up.
"Hmmm… that explains the wrong marking on the blade. The engravings is clearly Belkan in nature, while Merodach is from the Nairemus era."
As they continues to work, Uno found herself interested in the young man before her. Someone so young, and yet knows so many things about ancient history. Every time she names an artifact, he would mention something in the records, only for her to rebuff his statements. Sometime, he would accept her explanation, but there are time where they would engage in an discussion. Their argument seems to amuse the 2 other person in the room. Jail would watch on with amusement, while Chrono would occasionaly mutter "Another one…"
"Excuse me, but would you like to take a break?"
"While I would not mind, might I inquire why?"
"I have just finished multiple requests before arriving here. As such, all this multitasking is taking a rather heavy load on my brain."
"You do not have a Device?" Uno blinked. She was sure that the librarian was using a Device to help him with the multitasking, but from what he is saying…
"Unfortunately, no Device seems to suit me. As such, I do not possess one."
Now Uno was even more intrigued. A mage usually only can do one task at a time. But from what she had seen, Yuuno Scrya had been multitasking all this time: Registering new data regarding the artifacts, classifiying them, research on the artifact location, researching on how to handle the artifact and sending it to the Admiral.
Author's Notes:
First of all, thanks to Lyco for sending this to the folks at AS.
2nd, thank you, to whoever had taken an interest in this. I hope I lives up your expectation.
If you have any question, if you saw any plot holes, please contact me through Lyco. I appreciate the help.
2012-04-09, 19:02
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