A/N: And so you begin the 530-page saga I had written 11 years ago, for FE7 Rekka No Ken.

Chapter 1:

Paranoid Agent

So you're Amelia? Guess we're partners, huh? Well, I'll be seeing you at Elibe. ~ Jack

It started with a visit from this shady guy who wore a suit.

Well, I was at home, watching a girl cross the street outside my window. She was chatting away into a cell phone –– that lucky girl –– while I sat gnawing on my pencil with the worst kind of a math problem on that bright blue piece of paper. I can't say I hate math, but I don't particularly like it either. So I was sitting at my desk like a bump on a log, staring outside the window, dying of boredom while I listened to Avril Lavigne's "My World" on the radio. It was late summer –– and the first day of school. Isn't it wonderful that I had homework on the first day of seventh grade?

Sorry, sorry. I got off track.

Then, at around three, this guy drove in this car and parked by the sidewalk. He got out and strode to my door.

This is what jumped at me when I saw him.

1. He was bald. (Okay, what's wrong with noticing that first?)

2. He had this sweet car!

3. He wore a suit. And he didn't particularly look friendly. FBI agent?

4. He held a parcel.

He rang the doorbell.

Should I answer it? No. Mom said never open the door when home alone…

But curiosity got the best of me. So I answered the door. And I sorely wish I didn't.

"Are you Amelia Athena Johnson?" he asked when I had opened the door.

"Yeah. What's up?"

"This is for you. See this carefully. And respond quickly." The man had a face you wouldn't think would ever smile, and eyes were hidden by sunglasses. And a big nose. After a solemn nod, he handed me the parcel. Then he quickly turned and strode back with long strides.

"Wait! How do I respond?" I asked. "I don't have your phone number or anything, sir."

"You'll know." The he shut the car door, started up the car and drove away after he shot me a hesitant glance.

I stood at the door for a minute or two, then went inside and locked the door. Setting the parcel at the breakfast table, I grabbed myself a Three Musketeers and checked my watch. Two hours 'til Mom comes back.

I stood at the breakfast table and unwrapped the chocolate bar as I examined the parcel. It was a rectangular cardboard box, and I could easily cup it in my hand. It had a single strap of tape enclosing it, so I used a knife to slit through the tape. Setting back the knife, I opened the box. Inside was a silver cube with a button at the top. Curious, I pressed it.

I don't know what I was thinking. I should have been wary that this thing came from a stranger, and it may be harmful. Of course, I wasn't exactly thinking back then.

The silver cube split almost completely in two, then the separate parts fell against the table. A mechanic whirring was emitted from the device and suddenly ––

There was a screen in midair of a woman, also in shades. She wore her blond hair back in a tight ponytail. Her red lipstick stuck out shockingly against her pale, gaunt face.

"Ah, yes, I've got her." She spoke. I jumped, startled. She wasn't speaking to me. "Took you long enough, Leea." I merely gaped at her, brows cocked and mouth dropping to the floor. "Yes, we know all about you, Amelia. Your mother is Patricia Johnson and father James Johnson. You gained your mother's previous last name for your middle name. You call your younger brother…Wartface? Certainly not my idea of a nice name. You don't mind if I call you by your nickname?" I shook my head, finally gaining the sense to shut my mouth. "Your favorite color is violet, you hate sushi and pumpkin juice. Yes, we know more. Shall I keep reciting?"

"No, thank you." I said, finally taking a bite of my chocolate.

"Good. If you said yes, this would be my answer: I don't have the time to waste reciting useless nonsense. Now then, let's get to business." She took off her shades, revealing shining sapphire eyes. "You are wondering what in the world is going on? You are one of the select few who will work for Paranoid. Paranoid is a group of agents who work together to keep the foundations of the universe from collapsing due to living beings."

Just to make this melodramatic, imagine me with eyes the size of grapefruits.

"Now, Bruce will pick you up tomorrow right after school. He's the guy who gave you that package. Say nothing about this to anyone."

I nod. "Wait…who are you?"

"Mallista. Remember that."

Then the screen blinked off like a TV. I stared at where it was, suspended in air with nothing to hold it. It was holographic. "Wow…" I whispered in awe.

Mom came home an hour later, and I managed to finish my homework before she got home.

"Any homework?" she asked as she opened the fridge to grab a snack.

"Nope."

"Good." She brushed up her hair a bit. "Anything interesting happen?"

"Nope."

"Meet any new friends?"

"Nope."

She looked at me with a worried glance. "You feel alright? You usually talk more than that. Aren't you going to fuss or complain about something?"

"Yep and nope."

She shrugged off her wistful look and sat on the couch, turning on a show she watches everyday.

I couldn't sleep that night. I was pondering everything that happened during the afternoon. First some bald guy with a neat car hands me a parcel that turns out to be some hologram projector and I'm supposed to be an agent for Paranoid?

I watched the clock tick away drudgingly slowly at Algebra. I was ahead two grades for math. So I was sitting with ninth graders. Which is sort of scary. Mr. Dash droned on and on about something equals MC squared or something. One minute closer. The boy who sat next to me was busy taking notes. Taking notes, to him, is doodling on the corner of the paper. He was drawing some anime character, it seemed. It looked like something that would pop out of my brother's GBA. Two minutes closer…

I packed my stuff into my bag and was out the door a second or two before the bell. There was the sleek car. It was a convertible. Awesome. It was dark blue. And totally off the hook. Bruce, with his bald head shining in the sun, was tapping his fingers against the steering wheel to the beat of a song on the radio. I crossed between the school buses to the car.

"Bruce?" I asked, just to be sure. He nodded, jerking his head, indicating to get in. I did. "Where are we going?"

"Paranoid Headquarters." And with that, we were off.

It was a pleasant ride with the wind against my face, streaming my long black hair back. I turned down the radio a bit.

"So, Mr. Bruce, what will I do there?"

"You'll see."

I let it pass. "You have kids?" He nodded. "Daughter? No? Son?"

"Two."

"Do they work for…Paranoid?"

He nodded again.

I tried creating more small talk, but Bruce simply turned up the radio. Either he wants to hear the radio or he just doesn't want to hear me. I shrugged it off. We drove through the city and I began to think.

Wait, what if this is some trick where these guys are trying to kidnap me? Is this for real? God, I didn't even think about this! I'm so stupid!

My stomach had been alight with butterflies, but now it felt like a hole had sucked up everything in it. What am I thinking? Paranoid, a group of agents who protect the universe? My God, this is so fake! But what could I do now? Nothing! I'm in this car going around the city and away from home with this lunatic who thinks I will be of use to save a universe? Pff! I can't even save myself from a pop quiz!

But what if it is for real? Man, that would be so awesome! Am I like a secret agent? Do I get to spy on famous people? Maybe I'll have to get info on the war at the Middle-east? Heck, that would be too cool.

After worrying and keeping from jumping with excitement, we finally reached a hotel –– Holiday Inn –– and Bruce led me to the second floor to a small cozy room. It reminded me a lot about the Matrix, and how the main character was led to some room like this. There were two armchairs, one that Bruce offered me, and the other where Mallista sat with her legs crossed and her eyes glued to a magazine. She finally let the magazine flutter to the coffee table set between us, took off her glasses (I don't know why she wears them inside), and spoke in her clear voice.

"Yes, yes…just the type of person we need…"

"What type of person?"

"A clever person. You really are progressing in school, aren't you?"

Why is she asking me about school? "Yes." I don't see why I didn't think this out completely beforehand. That's not clever…

"Because we need a clever person right now."

"You can't let a computer handle it?"

"No." Her sapphire eyes flashed at my remark. "That's why we brought you in."

"Why me? There are tons of other people out there you could call on."

"We have our reasons. Just let us do the thinking and you do the doing."

"That isn't exactly considered clever, but since I don't understand the situation, I won't make trouble." I said coolly, watching my words take effect.

"That's a smart girl." Mallista spoke in a very feminine voice. Bruce stood behind my armchair, and I watched Mallista look past me to him. "Now, are you willing to work with us?"

"Do I get paid? Do I miss school?" I eagerly asked.

"You get paid, I can make arrangements for that. But the missions won't be set so you miss school. We want you to be cunning, don't we?"

I didn't care for the way she spoke. "What kind of missions are these?"

"They will be dangerous, no doubt. But we can withdraw you timely so you don't end up dead. There will be trials for you in each. You must overcome them."

"Is there any training?"

"Your training comes from school and what you care to learn. There are different types of missions, but this will suit you. You'll do fine. You just need a brain and guts."

"What kind of dangers?"

"If you get hurt, you will be perfectly normal back here."

"What if I choose not to do this?"

"Then you go back and die of boredom doing math homework again and live a perfectly normal life."

Live a perfectly normal life? No way. But this will be dangerous. What the heck, I won't lose my life in this. And I won't get hurt. What have I to lose? I get paid too!

"Can I check out what kind of mission you would like me to do?"

"No. You must swear an oath of secrecy to us, and tons of other stuff. We can make you pay dearly if you break our rules. But you're a good girl, aren't you?"

"Well, I don't have anything to lose do I?"

"You accept?"

"…Yes."

They made me swear a stupid oath and stuck something invisible to the naked eye on my arm. Then they can scan my arm so that I'm not a fake and so the 'Teleporter' doesn't send a fake around and can recognize me. This whole thing with saving the universe sounds so childish now. Seriously, I can't believe they make such a fuss over a fake thing!

Well, maybe it's not false…ugh. Whatever. I won't believe anything until I see it with my own eyes…

Then I was taken from that hotel to this other room that was supposedly a closet. Mallista did something in the back and ––

The back wall disappeared! So we climbed around the mops and brooms and buckets cramping the room and into a stairwell that led down. There were pale green lights that would turn on if you were on the stairs, then turn off when you passed by. The stairs were of cement, carpeted in green –– or maybe it looked green in the light. The passage was rather narrow, just enough to let Bruce and his muscle-filled sturdy body through without scraping his shirt against the wall. You can hear the cloth rubbing against the wall; it was irritating. The ceiling was lost in darkness, though I had a feeling it wasn't too high up. And down we went for what felt like hours.

Mallista stopped abruptly in the dim light. To the side, there was a place where you could slide an ID card. The light blinked from red to green in an instant after a she swiped her card. I couldn't see what it looked like in the dim light. The door slid upward, like a gate to a castle. But it was four or five inches of solid metal; there was no way you could get a glimpse of anything through that.

I followed Mallista forward, followed by Bruce.

It was like I stepped into a stadium.

We were standing on a platform overlooking a massive area. There was a lot happening down there. To my right, there was an elevator in which Mallista stood waiting for me. I followed her in and watched through the glass walls as we descended to where all the action was taking place.

There were large screens, probably the size of my bedroom wall, which were observed by at least a handful of people dressed in the white like scientists. And some were speaking into headphones and doing things with computers, typing madly.

"Whoa…" I marveled at all the work occurring. At the far side of the wall, there was a hall lit by the pale green lights again. Many people passed by or came through or went into it from the stadium-room. The flurry of activities filled me with excitement. I gasped as I looked up at the ceiling. It was like a computer screen, the entire thing flashing lights into designs and sometimes showing radar screens too. It showed what went on outside sometimes.

"That isn't the best part," Mallista replied, smirking at her awed expression.

I kept taking everything in, barely able to keep the throbbing amount of excitement from flooding out. My whole body was twitchy and hyper with it, as if I ate a jar of sugar before I got there. The elevator stopped its smooth descent and the doors slid open.

We stepped out, and the loud buzzing of words hit my ears for the first time. It was so weird, how I felt at that place. I felt hyper, excited, anxious, nervous, and I felt like I couldn't breathe or I'd miss something. My eyes were all over the place, taking in everything as the three of us made our way through to the hallway I'd spotted from the elevator. The people here looked completely normal. They ignored us as we passed. And pretty soon, after a final glance back of the immense room with the ceiling probably three floors higher up, we entered the hall. I followed Mallista, who, with her business-like skirt hugging her knees, walked as if she owned this entire thing. Finally, we came to a door, where Mallista swiped her card again. It slid effortlessly and silently into the wall, and we entered another room.

This one was smaller, but it too had a large screen to one wall and two glass cylinders that lay horizontally at opposite the screen. Inside the cylinders lay two figures, and they seemed asleep. There was a complicated array of buttons and levers against the screen, which was attended to by another person. The other person was wearing a helmet-like gear. On the glass right before the person's eyes, there were green figures and writing flashing. The persons hands were moving over the buttons and levers impossibly fast.

"This is one of the teleporter rooms." Mallista spoke. "Here, two people are laid into those cylinders. They are transported to another dimension entirely, and there, they fix any thing that goes wrong. The attendant, the person whose at the desk with all those keys watches over them, so he or she can withdraw the person from the dimension if something were to go wrong.

Your work will be very simple. You won't come to harm. You will be paid. And if you want adventure, you've got it with us. There is nothing to lose here. I'm sure you will like very much to be working with us," Mallista said with a genuine smile. "And I'd be delighted to be working with you. I will be your attendant."

"Why?" I frowned. "What's so special about me?"

"Your mother never told you? Ah, well, I suppose it was for the best. Your grandfather worked here before. He was famous within the colleagues of Paranoid."

"What did he do?"

"He founded it."

I was astounded.

"He designed these machines and then formed an alliance with a rich man. That rich man is now owner of Paranoid. His name is Victor Manny."

"Victor Manny…" I said. "My grandfather really did this? Amazing."

"Yes, then he taught a group of people how to operate them all. And now, Paranoid has three hundred thousand members in thirty-two cities around the world."

"Whoa…"

"I see that it is time for you to leave today. You will return tomorrow."

"How long do these missions take?"

"It might take months in the other dimension, but here only a couple of hours would pass."

"So…it would be a couple of months for me?"

"Yes. Once you're there."

"What if a person gets stuck in the other dimension?"

"I can promise you that wouldn't happen. It never happened before, which was in the last fifty-seven or so years. And we have to give you training."

"With what?"

"The a weapon."

"I'm going to need a gun?"

"No. Perhaps a sword. Or martial arts. You need to know to defend yourself."

Why? Just the thought chilled my blood. How close to death could I get? They told me they would keep me safe…

"Mom, why didn't you tell me?" I asked when she came home and we were alone. Cassiele, my brother, was playing video game downstairs.

"Oh!" She looked at me with pain. "They told you! I told them to stay away, but they –– you didn't agree to work with them, did you?" Her voice trembled as she spoke, blue eyes rimming with tears.

"I…why not?" I asked, alarmed. How stupid could I be! I didn't even ask her about this. I didn't get her permission, never told her anything! How could I keep my own Mom in the dark about something like this?

"Because…things…happen."

"What kind of things?"

"Well, after each mission, it just changes the people who go there. Forever! They…just aren't the same anymore. Your Uncle Max went there." Uncle Max was my mother's younger brother. "And when he came back…he was different. Not as innocent as he used to be. Not like a kid anymore. The way he changed…that's why I didn't tell you anything about this. Or your brother. I didn't want that to happen."

I felt guilt thrumming against my heart. I'd just gone and done something irreversible without knowing anything whatsoever about it. What have I gotten myself into?

The next two months were spent training. I learned a lot of karate, and another martial art that taught me to focus my energy to one part of the body. Gosh, I can never remember the name of it…It was a lot of hard work. My Sensei wasn't very nice. He kept me working until even my eyes dripped with sweat. And let me tell you, that's possible. He was a cruel, merciless man who was all too stern. One wrong movement, one second lost in thoughts, one moment of lost concentration and I am sent flying.

But it paid off very well. My brother, who went to sixth grade and was a full head taller than me, couldn't beat me when we play-fought anymore. Hah! Mom wasn't too happy with it. And when Dad called all the way from Seattle, Washington (my parents are divorced) to Madison, Wisconsin, I told him everything. He was rather proud.

"That's my girl. She's smart, she's tough, and she's out to get you!" was what he had said. Cassiele had no idea what was going on, other than karate lessons. Real long karate lessons. I had homework to do, but I did the small stuff (like a page of work for each subject) at school during lunch. The tests were too easy. I was accelerating in P.E. That is a miracle. Earlier on, I was rather…say, fat. Now, I was slender, and it felt great. People often noticed scars or bruises on my arms or legs and they wouldn't ask. They knew about my karate. My friends were astonished at this new…whatever they call it.

Then, Sensei moved on to teach me how to defend myself with a long stick. I can never remember what he says. But the movements are easy. I remember when to pull out which one. I just can't remember their names.

We were sparring intensely (for me) the day Mallista said I should begin my mission. She said I was going to a place called Elibe. And I smiled. I couldn't wait.

"Are you ready?" Mallista asked.

"I…I think so," I replied nervously. I lay back in the teleporter, which was one of the cylinder things.

"Remember, in case of emergency, you can always use your E-CUB to contact me." Mallista began tapping away again at the desk. I saw on the screen that the radar was searching for Elibe.

"Elibe: found. Search is complete," chimed the screen. "Set at five minutes to launch." Then, 5:00 appeared on the screen and began a count down.

"You've got your staff and sword already transported there. You'll be fine, Leea," Mallista assured me. "You'll have a partner on this mission too. He should be here by now. Jack's always late."

As if on cue, Bruce came in, followed by a boy a bit older than me. The blond hair hung to his head and framed his face in a way.

"Jack! What took you?" Mallista scolded.

"Hey, I gotta get everything set, don't I? Can't forget anything at the last minute," he said. He came up to my teleporter and looked at me through the glass that slid over me. "So you're Amelia?" I saw him smirk. "Guess we're partners, huh? Well, I'll be seeing you at Elibe." His hazel eyes were taunting as he left with a wink. I stuck out my tongue at him. He saw it and smirked back again. "I'm ready to go," he said to Mallista.

"I'd know you're ready if you were in the teleporter already. Now get!" she replied without half as much patience as she had with me.

Jack climbed into his teleporter and disappeared from my view when he lay himself down. Bruce came up to the gap between the teleporters, where there was a button on the wall that activated the teleporters. The timer read 1:25.

"Amelia, you be careful. And listen to Jack. He'll help you through this mission," Bruce said to me. It was the first time he actually talked to me instead of replying. Then, turning his head to Jack, "And you behave, son. Or else you'll get it when you get back home."

"Don't worry, dad! Why would I misbehave on such an important mission?" Jack answered. I rolled my eyes, annoyed. I have to have this guy for my partner? And that will be for months? Just my luck.

"Ten…Nine…" The timer began to count down.

Oh, God. I'm getting scared now! Perfect.

"Six…Five…Four…"

"Good luck!" Mallista said, then turned back at the screen.

"Two…One…" I saw Bruce press the button while I heard the screen chime again. "Initiating teleport for...Jack Paulson and new member…Amelia Athena Johnson."

Then all went black.

"Are you awake?" asked a voice.

I snapped open my eyes and shot up. I was in something like a hut, it seemed. A woman with green hair (Yes. Green hair.) spoke to me. She had matching eyes and was taller than me. She wore clothes of a tribeswoman.

"I found you unconscious on the plains. I am Lyn of the Lorca tribe. You're safe now. Who are you? Can you remember your name?"

"Of course I can remember my name. It's Amelia."

"Your name is Amelia? What an odd sounding name. But pay me no mind. It is a good name. I see by your attire that you are a traveler," she continued. I looked at what I was wearing. I had a green robe over a plain and comfortable green outfit. I saw two pairs of boots by the door; one must be mine.

"What brings you to the Sacae Plains? Would you share your story with me?" Lyn asked.

Sacae Plains…aha! That was north of Bern.. Mallista told me that I was a strategist who is trying to hone her skills by traveling and…

Before I can answer, a racket outside was brought to Lyn's attention.

"Hm? What was that noise? I'll go see what's happening. Amelia, you wait for me here."

And she was swept outside before I could reply. I observed the hut I was in. there was a cabinet of pots and chest lay atop wooden boxes. There were curtains draped all around the place, and the roof was a thatched dome. Seems like a place Native Americans might fancy. Not that I had a problem with it.

Lyn returned to the hut wide-eyed. "Oh, no! Bandits! They must have come down from the Bern Mountains! They must be planning to raid the local villages! I…I must stop them!" she said to me. I stood up from my sitting position on the floor and stretched a bit, then staggered dizzily for a couple of seconds. "If that's all of them," Lyn said, eyeing me carefully, "then I think I can handle them on my own. You'll be safe in here, Amelia."

When I finally had my balance in check, I said, "But I can help!"

"What? You want to help? Well, can you use a weapon?" asked Lyn, rather surprised.

"Yes. Well, no. But I'm a tactician. Well, a sort of strategist." I said, scratching my head uncertainly.

"So you're a strategist by trade? An odd profession…but…Very well. We'll go together." With that, she left and strode through the field with me following. There was a light breeze that sent waves through the grass. The sky was an azure sea filled with strips of clouds here and there. Something was buzzing in m ear. I felt around my ear and found a small earpiece in my right ear.

"Leea, could you hear me?" Mallista's voice rang through it.

Lyn was several paces away from me. I whispered back, "Yes."

"Good. Now I have to teach you how to do this. Have Lyn go as far through the field as you can, so that the bandit sees her."

"Over here! If you want to help, Amelia, I could use your advice. I'll protect you, so stay close to me," Lyn said over her shoulder. "I need to be closer to the enemy."

"Let's go get that bandit over there!" I said, pointing to the one that was standing lamely about in the sea of grass. Lyn nodded, and then we hastened across.

"Yes, this should be close enough."

The bandit spotted us and began to run toward us, an axe rose high above his head. He was swifter than I expected, and the axe wasn't a very pretty sight.

"Uh-oh! That bandit's spotted me! Let's close in and attack!"

Soon, he was upon Lyn and me. Lyn swiftly dodged the harsh blade and unsheathed a slim but sturdy sword. In a moment, the sword was sticking out from the bandit's side. The bandit cried out in anguish and countered with a swing at Lyn's side. The axe bit into her right arm, but thankfully, that wasn't her sword arm. She sent the sword into the bandit's skull and the bandit fell, blood pooling around him.

Lyn pulled out her sword with a bit of a difficulty. Her right arm bled profusely. I watched, fearfully. What will happen to her arm?

"Victory!" she gasped. "But I've been injured. I have need of a vulnerary." Her breathing was shallow, and she was a bit pale.

"There's another bandit over by the ger to the west," she said, her breathing shallow. At my baffled expression, she said, "You don't know what a ger is? It's a type of round hut. Many nomads live in huts like these."

We made our way north, then stopped again. "Hmm…I would do well to use this time to administer a little first aid. I'm carrying a couple of vulneraries in my satchel. They should heal me up. Would you get one for me?" Lyn said, glancing at her wound. I opened the satchel she carried at her hip and took out a bottle wrapped in an animal skin and handed it to her. I knew it was a vulnerary, considering it was the only thing inside. Upon taking a sip, Lyn's wound began to vanish, replaced by new skin that was unscarred and good as new.

"Thank you, Amelia. Now, let's go get that brigand over by the ger."

I nodded, and we were off again. I began to wonder where Jack was. "Lyn, did you find someone else near me?" She shook her head. Great, I'm alone.

The bandit caught sight of us now. "Who do you think you are? You think you can stand up to Batta the Beast?" He was a blond man with a bandana.

Lyn ignored him, whizzing through the air. She struck him with the bloody blade in the arm, tearing it. Batta (what kind of a name is that?) slashed with his axe at Lyn, who couldn't parry now, catching her leg and slicing away, leaving a deep gash.

"Whew! He's tough! It all comes down to the next blow! Amelia, if I fall, I want you to flee. You must escape!" she said, gasping sharply when she tried to move her leg.

I won't stand here and do nothing! I rushed up to Batta, ducked a blow to the head and kicked at his arm, sending the axe away when he tried to counter.

"Lyn! Finish him!" I cried, nimbly dodging a huge fist. I saw Lyn's surprised face nod. Suddenly, she split into three different figures. She disappeared.

Holy crap! There are five Lyns attacking this guy!

"What? How…How did you ––

I watched in awe as the enemy fell to the ground, horribly carved into pieces. Lyn stood to catch her breath for a moment. "Whew! That was close! I sorely underestimated him. Sorry if I worried you. I'll need to be stronger if I'm going to survive…Strong enough that no one can defeat me…"

"That…was too cool!" I replied with a smile. I checked the bandana on the dead guy's head. "You don't mind if I take this, do you?" I asked, showing her it. She gave me an odd look, but shook her head. "Come on, we have to get that leg of yours fixed."

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