MGLN: Future Tense

Chapter 2: The Road to Hell

Xx~~*~~xX

The slow patter of raindrops on the leaves overhead was the only sound in the vicinity, as the two travelers took refuge under a small rocky cliff gulley in the forest. Ever since the short discussion after the revelation earlier, Nanoha had lapsed into silence, her thoughts confused. She was still aware of her companion, the cyborg Uno, watching her impassively, but the majority of her thinking had to do with her new reality.

Nanoha stared at her companion, suddenly and keenly aware her heart pumping blood through her body, and said the only thing she could think of: "I'm not dead!"

"I was hesitant to say before, at least until we got out of the city, because I was unsure how you would react," Uno admitted.

"You said that once I was outside the city, I was free to do as I wished," Nanoha countered.

"Yes, that is true, but I think it would be within your interests to understand everything that has happened since you died," Uno replied.

"There you go again; I'm not dead!" Nanoha argued, then paused as a horrible feeling flooded over her. "Unless I'm a..."

"Correct," Uno told her, pausing also and turning to look back at Nanoha. "You're a clone. The real Nanoha Takamachi died over 50 years ago."

Nanoha studied her hands, pondering how she was supposed to feel different, if she wasn't the real Nanoha Takamachi. Then again, who is to say she wasn't? She didn't feel anything out of the ordinary, she still felt like Nanoha; but then again, wouldn't a clone feel the same way? And did it really matter? Fate was a clone, and Nanoha was more than willing to accept her as a real human; but then again, Fate was a clone of Alicia, and they were two separate personalities despite the genetic similarities.

[Perhaps I should take a new name?] she wondered inwardly. [If I'm not Nanoha. But if so, what should I call myself? What name should I take? What was my grandmother's name? Seikou?]

She closed her eyes and shook her head, realizing that a new name was the least of her worries; if this really was the future and everything she knew had changed, she needed to decide on a new course of action.

[But what?] the thought came, which was promptly pushed aside as she opened her eyes and noticed two hands holding objects in front of her. "What's this?"

"One of the apples and a protein bar," Uno answered, her features unreadable in the darkening evening from where she sat next to Nanoha. "You need to keep your strength up."

"Thank you," Nanoha told her and reached out for them, then paused. "Wait, what about you?"

She shook her head. "I can control my internal functions to limit my energy output and slow my metabolism; I won't need as much sustenance as long as I keep my activity low. However, I have no real offensive capabilities, and as a mage, you need nutrition to keep your magic up in case we run into unforeseen circumstances."

"I can't possibly take all the food!" Nanoha insisted, withdrawing her hands.

"This is not all the food," Uno replied simply, placing the two objects in Nanoha's lap, then pulling her cloak back to reveal a couple of packs around her waist. "I have enough here for two days, but we will need to buy some more in a town. If you wish me to continue to travel with you, that is."

Nanoha sighed, deciding it was better not to argue about food, and carefully bit into the better portions of the apple, swallowing before asking the thought on her mind. "How?"

"I do not understand," Uno stated, confused.

"How did I, the other Nanoha, die?" Nanoha inquired, in between bites of her meal.

Uno was quiet for a moment, perhaps gathering her thoughts. "The exact details of your death were classified. I was still in prison at the time, and the doctor was never able to learn exactly what killed you. All we know is that it concerned some lost logia."

[Figures,] Nanoha thought, surprising herself at how dark her thoughts were turning. She shook her head, then asked, "Even if I believe you about all this, which I am still thinking over... how does my death amount to all of this? How does that make Hayate into an enemy?"

"It wasn't entirely your death," Uno answered. "There were several other factors, but Jail determined that your death was the start, the key moment when things began to worsen on Mid-Childa and in the universe. The doctor believed that it was then that Hayate began to work harder to get more mages into the Bureau, and train them harder, so that such a situation would never happen again."

A strange humming sound began to resonate from above somewhere, causing Uno to quickly turn silent. Even if the darkness, Nanoha could see Uno's eyes widen slightly and a finger going to her lips to indicate that Nanoha should be quiet. Eyebrows narrowing in confusion, Nanoha glanced upward, but she couldn't see anything from underneath the rocky cliff overhang and the thick tree cover. After a few minutes, the humming faded entirely.

"I do not think they detected us," Uno stated at last, scanning the vicinity.

"What was that about?" Nanoha wondered aloud.

"Sentries," Uno replied. "Robotic patrols. You might recognize them as descendants of the old type-3 drones you fought against during the JS incident. Hayate may be searching for us outside the city as a precaution or it could be just a standard patrol. I believe there there is a strong probability she thinks we are still hiding within Clanagan."

"Is that why you insisted we keep moving until we got to this place?" Nanoha questioned, gesturing at the rocky cliff overhang.

Uno nodded. "Yes, to hide our thermal signature."

Nanoha sighed, finishing off the protein bar. "I still don't understand why I need to hide from Hayate. She's a friend of mine! Or at least, of the real Nanoha. I don't think she'd treat a clone any differently."

"As I said before, she is not the Hayate you knew," Uno repeated. "Once she gained a leadership position in the Bureau, she slowly turned the planet into a totalitarian state, in the name of keeping its citizens safe. I'll tell you more tomorrow, but you should try to get some rest now. I would prefer to get moving again before light."

Nanoha gazed at the other woman as she debated the suggestion, but the cyborg's expression was inscrutable. For some reason, Nanoha found the other woman's presence somehow comforting; maybe because Uno was at least a familiar face in a strange world, and Nanoha felt the cyborg was being truthful and straight with her, despite how strange the circumstances. She didn't fully trust the cyborg yet, but she decided that cautious trust was the best policy at the moment, at least until she knew more.

And truth be told, she was a bit sleepy. "Alright, tomorrow then."

She leaned back against the dirt wall of the gulley and closed her eyes, soon finding herself fast asleep.

x~~*~~x

Her mirror image stared back at her. "Who are you?"

"I don't understand," Nanoha asked, confused. "Aren't you me?"

"You are me," the other version of her said mysteriously. "And you are not."

"I'm a clone," Nanoha answered. "At least, I think so. But I know I am real, too... aren't I? And you are the other me, the one who died, the original."

Her double gazed impassively at her, as if waiting for something. "Search for the truth about us."

"The truth? I don't understand."

"Search for the truth, and you will understand," the original repeated, fading from view.

"No, wait!" Nanoha called, reaching out to touch the other, but passing through the dissolving image as it rippled, as if she were plunging her hand into a watery surface. "I have more questions!"

But the reflection was gone.

Nanoha awoke at the gentle prodding, rubbing her eyes, her cloak a bit moist from the morning dew.

"We should get moving," Uno was saying. "The sun will be up soon, and I would like to be further away from Clanagan before then."

"I still don't understand why," Nanoha asked tiredly, the unsettling dream still fresh in her memory. "Where are we going? And why?"

Before she responded, Uno reached into the neck of her jumpsuit and pull out a cracked pendant. "The doctor said I should get you away from Clanagan before showing you this, but I think we are far enough for now. It was slightly damaged in the fall and I've been trying to fix it all night."

As Nanoha watched in curiosity, Uno opened the pendant which began to emit a glow, forming a miniature hologram of Jail's human form that smiled as it spoke.

"Greetings Nanoha... machi," the image said, occasionally fading out to static as it played it's recorded message. "I bet you... wondering what's going on. Uno can... history. But I... dissatisfied with Hayate's rule... keeps me on a short leash, haha. I always... control, but not with the way things are. Several months ago, I... unknown visitor. He offered... to change things. I received... genetic material to grow a clone... head to mountains... someone waits for you... not sure whether... plan will work... I am intrigued, but you... free to do as you wish... Uno, do whatever you can to assist... luck."

Nanoha blinked as the image faded. "That's it?"

"As I said, it was damaged," Uno stated, sliding the pendant back down her jumpsuit. "There are apparently some coordinates in there, but I can only partially access them. I need some tools to fix it, which is another reason I would like to get to another town soon."

"What is this plan?" Nanoha asked, standing with her. "And now that I think about it, Jail said something about the future of the world depended on me, somehow."

"The doctor never shared it with me, and now I know why," Uno answered as they began to walk. "He must have suspected one of us was working for Hayate. All we knew was that we started cloning someone several months ago, which turned out to be you. He did honestly seem to believe that you could change things, however, if that is what you wish. Per the doctor's order, I am under your command now; I shall assist you in whatever way you desire."

Nanoha paused and glanced at the woman, but Uno appeared quite serious. "And if I want to return to Clanagan and talk to Hayate?"

"I would advise against it, but if that is your wish, I will help you," Uno replied reluctantly. "I admit I am unsure what Hayate might do with you, but I will probably not live long."

Nanoha spared a glanced back the way they had come, which she knew to lead to the city. She was free to do what she wanted, but would returning honestly be the right thing to do? If Jail and Uno were right, doing so would kill any chance at the mission's success which somehow hinged on her; and she'd never know the reason why she had been brought back.

"What do you recommend, then?" Nanoha inquired.

"If we continue traveling northeast, we'll reach the small harbor town of Helana by evening," Uno explained. "If they don't have what I need to fix the pendant, we can take a boat across the ocean to Organtz; it's a large commercial town where many come to trade. I admit I am curious as to how the doctor feels you can change the world, so even if he had not ordered it, I would still journey with you."

[She's not the only one,] Nanoha realized, then sighed. "Alright, let's do that. This way?"

Uno nodded as the two began walking again. "Nanoha, I want to thank you. I know you have no reason to trust us, given our past history."

"I still don't, entirely," Nanoha admitted. "But I do believe in giving people second chances. I can return to Clanagan at any time to confront Hayate, but for now I'll see what Jail's plan entails. Once I know, I decide what to do then."

Uno's lips turned upwards slightly, in what almost looked like an attempt at a friendly smile. "Fair enough."

x~~*~~x

"City sweep is 68% complete," an emotionless voice intoned from her computer station. "Estimate completion in eight hours. It would be faster, but we are undermanned at the moment."

"Jail would have to make his move now, with most of our forces off-world," another female voice noted derisively from where she lounged off to the side, partially obscured by shadow.

"Don't forget who he is, Wendi," a deeper female reminded her.

Wendi leaned into the light and barked a short laugh. "Ha! As if I'd forget something like that, Nove! I'm just surprised Tre and Sette still followed him. You'd think, after all these years, they'd know better. I'm only surprised Quattro sold him out."

Nove snorted. "She'd sell out anyone if the price was right. But I still think I should have handled his interrogation; Quattro has yet to show any results." She glanced over at the woman in the command chair and cracked her knuckles. "I still can..."

Hayate leaned forward, folding her fingers in front of her face in quiet contemplation as she glanced at her own screen. "We shall soon see. Send him in."

The door to the command center wooshed open, and wheels creaked as the midget robot was pushed into the room by the #4 cyborg who promptly made a showy bow. "Apologies for the delay, but the doctor's mind is proving most resistant to my methods."

Static occasionally flickered across the robot's screen, but Jail's face was still visible. "I know your construction and limits of your abilities, dear Quattro."

"He is right about that," Wendi agreed. "Hacking machines is more your forte, and despite what he is now, he still has a human brain."

"Why don't I show you just how well I can hack brains, human or otherwise?" Quattro offered, smiling with teeth.

Hayate cut them off before they could continue. "Enough. Wendi is right, but remember, doctor, that I had that container robot built just for you, to haul your brain around. Quattro, what did you learn from Tre and Sette?"

She shrugged. "Sadly, not much. Just that they were to escort and protect that Nanoha clone. They didn't know why, or where she was headed, though. And I very thoroughly probed their minds." She shot Wendi an inviting look.

"So, my dear doctor, this is how you repay me?" Hayate questioned, slowly rising from her chair and producing a remote control. "I pulled you from prison, gave you room to conduct your research, and even spared your life, and this what I get? Tell me: what are your plans for that Nanoha clone?"

"It was actually a surprise for your birthday party, but Quattro had to go and ruin it," Jail replied.

Hayate casually hit a button on the remote and lights flashed in the thick, murky, yellow liquid Jail's brain rested in, accompanied by horrid electronic screams. Nove and Wendi looked away, while Quattro watched eagerly; but the three computer technicians just ignored it as they concentrated on their screens.

After one full minute, Hayate cut it off. "You know I don't want to do this, doctor. You're a valuable resource and it hurts me greatly that you'd betray my trust like this. Just tell me what I want to know and this will all be over; I might just let you finally die, too."

"Don't tempt me," Jail's voice replied, heaving.

Hayate ran a hand through her short, white hair as she closed her eyes and took a breath. "Girls, leave me."

Obeying immediately, Wendi, Nove, Quattro, and the three technicians got up and left without a word, knowing better than to question her orders. As the door slid shut, Hayate checked her screen, activating the room's barrier system; no one could get in or out now.

"Well then, doctor, it's just you and me," Hayate told him, then flashed for a moment as her hair turned back to brown.

"And me," Rein said emotionlessly, floating down to merge with Jail's brain.

"Rein will probe every nook and cranny in your mind," Hayate told him impassively. "And in the end, I will know everything. It won't be pleasant, and it will be painful; I've specifically told her to make it as agonizing as possible."

Jail's image on the screen began to contort, his mouth dropping open as his head flopped around.

Hayate clucked her tongue at him. "You forced me to take this measure. I didn't want to, but I must know what you've been up to. Oh, and try not to think about your Nanoha clone, and desperately try not to think about where she is going."

The screaming continued until the robot's vocal processor burned out, the supreme commander of Mid-Childa and the Bureau closing her eyes to visualize in her mind the images and thoughts Rein was sending her.

Then she heard Rein's surprised voice, which mirrored her own astonishment. "[Hayate!]"

"I see it, Rein," Hayate noted, eyes opening again as she stared in disgust at the midget Jail robot. "To think you would go so far as to wipe your own memory of your plans..."

x~~*~~x

Helena was just as Uno described; a fishing village complete with a few seafaring ships that ferried people between three other towns. But that still didn't prepare Nanoha for the state of the village; the buildings were all wood in various states of disrepair, and even the ships were made with timber. Apparently, Hayate had diverted all mineral resources to the construction of drones, spaceships, and other weapons to outfit her army.

They would have arrived much earlier if Uno had let her fly them here, but the cyborg had warned her not to risk using magic carelessly. Apparently the sentinel drones could detect magic in use and so it would give them away; Nanoha had to hide the fact that she could do magic, unless it was really necessary. The only good news was that the drones comprised most of the forces on Mid-Childa; the actual human mage soldier count was rather low, as the majority were currently engaged on other worlds.

"Here," Uno directed quietly, as the two entered a seaside bar that was decently filled with patrons. "There should be someone here who owns a ship we can book passage on."

Nanoha remained quiet and just nodded, trying her best to look inconspicuous. Fortunately, most of the occupants showed various levels of intoxication, or were otherwise engaged in various jovial conversations or listening to the piano player in the corner, so the pair were only given cursory glances. Uno led them to the bar, leaning over to whisper in the barkeep's ear, who pointed out a circular table with a lone individual under a straw hat. The cyborg nodded and the two went over to sit down.

"We hear you own a ship which can take us to Organtz," Uno inquired as they sat down.

The man was leaning back some, and his hat was tipped down far enough to hide most of his facial features. "Used to. The government has put a moratorium on travel. I ain't goin' nowhere."

"We can pay well," Uno indicated, reaching into her cloak and bringing out some of her money.

The ship owner lifted his head slightly and gazed at the coins, before lowering it again. "Nope, sorry. You couldn't pay me enough to go against the government."

Nanoha narrowed her eyes; the man was trying to hide it, but she could tell he was afraid. "What's wrong?"

"None of your business," he shot back tersely, then lifted his drink and took a swallow. "Now get lost. Don't make me say it again."

Nanoha glanced at Uno, who shrugged, clearly at a loss for what to do.

"Thank you anyway," Nanoha replied, the two getting up and moving to an empty table while a barmaid, who couldn't have been older than twelve, brought them a pair of drinks; Nanoha couldn't tell if they were alcoholic or not, though. "Now what?"

"I am unsure," Uno admitted. "I was not expecting Hayate to lock down trade routes so quickly. We could keep moving; the next town is two days travel, with no guarantee we could get a ship there, either. We could possibly wait until nightfall and steal a ship-"

"No," Nanoha said quickly. "I won't steal."

Uno looked up, meeting her gaze, but quickly relented, obviously disappointed. "Well, there are other towns that might have the tools I need, but-"

The bar's door slammed open, interrupting Uno as the piano music died instantly and the room went deathly quiet. The two women glanced up, seeing two enforcer soldiers standing there, war staves in hand. Nanoha couldn't help but notice how different they were from the old bureau's mages; a yellow lightning bolt symbol adorned the black chest armor, and the staves were double-bladed with a green jewel between them, obviously functioning as melee weapons in addition to magic blasters.

"We're looking for someone and we received information that they are here," one of them intoned ominously, eyes sweeping over the room as his partner began searching person-to-person. "Cooperate, and we'll be gone and your life will return to normal."

Nanoha tensed up, but felt Uno's hand on her knee.

"Well, Randy?" the one in the doorway asked.

"She's here, I'm picking up a reading," Randy replied as he swung his staff around slowly, pointing it at various people. "There!"

He suddenly leapt the bar and grabbed a barmaid who was hiding underneath it, as she shrieked, "Let me go!"

It was the same young barmaid that brought them their drinks, Nanoha realized; the one who couldn't have been older than 11 or 12. To her surprise, the man they had attempted to book passage with immediately jumped to his feet and sprinted towards them.

"No, please let my daughter go!" he nearly shouted, begging. "She's just a young girl!"

"Easy pops," Randy's partner threatened. "You know the rules. All mages must enlist with the bureau for mandatory service."

"But she's not a soldier!" the girl's father pleaded. "And can barely use any magic at all! She'll die if you send her into combat!"

He promptly doubled over as Randy's partner jabbed him in the stomach with the dull end of the staff. "She'll be well-trained and well looked after, you should be glad; she'll do a lot better than you will in this dump."

Nanoha shot Uno a dark look, knowing the other woman got her meaning.

"We can't!" Uno insisted in a barely audible voice. "We can't risk you being discovered! Even if you save her, more enforcers will arrive. We'll both be caught. There is more at stake than just one girl. Remember the boy!"

Nanoha's jaw clenched as she remembered jumping in to help that boy, and Tre giving her life so that Nanoha and Uno could escape, but she still didn't have to like this. What did the world matter, if a single innocent life was sacrificed? It ran contrary to what Nanoha had believed in for her entire life.

"What will happen to her?" Nanoha asked, as the girl was dragged to the entrance.

"Probably taken to the local processing facility for initial internment along with the others they pick up, and then later shipped off to a training facility," Uno guessed. "Perhaps off-world."

"Others?" Nanoha questioned, her left eyebrow raising slightly as she pictured more people like the girl being rounded up.

The bar's silence slowly gave way to music and light conversation as the two enforcers left, the girl's father still on the ground, holding his stomach and crying. "Livia..."

The name was different, but it was close enough to send a cold shock through Nanoha's body that practically drove her to her feet. "Find me later."

Before Uno could ask, Nanoha was in motion, jumping onto the back of the Captain and wrenching him to the floor. As his partner turned in surprise, Nanoha sprung up and punch him across the face, pain lancing up her fist at the action. She ignored it, however, quickly turning and beginning to break the binds that held the girl, pulling at them with all her might.

"Don't interfere with official bureau business!" the captain demanded, pointing his staff at Nanoha and firing a green beam.

Instinctively, her hand went up and formed a Round Shield, but the blast shattered it and impacted her body, sending her flying against the wall. Dazed, she wondered why a standard enforcer's magical short could be so powerful.

"Captain, she's a mage!" Randy declared, stating the obvious.

"Of course she is, you idiot!" the captain replied angrily, advancing and firing again. "Help me take her down!"

Nanoha had managed to put up another shield, but combined firepower of the two energy beams blasted her out the door where she landed on the ground in a heap. As her consciousness faded, her ears caught one last line:

"You are under arrest..."

Xx~~*~~xX