Notes: This does have a written version of some of the episodes, so spoiler warning. This was needed to set up the encounters later, plus I like making it more dramatic than the episodes.


For years, the young albino boy lived on his own. Loneliness was insufferable, but as always there was no hope of ever ending the endless cycle of violence around him. He had trudged through years of people trying to kill him to take his rank, but did no one realize that he just wanted to be a normal person? Just wanted to have friends. Tired of this, Accelerator of course agreed to a project to become a level 6, with the hopes that once he reached that level, maybe no one would get hurt by him anymore. Maybe he could be able to have people close... but even then at least he'd be so strong that no one would dare challenge him. Then possibly this fighting and death surrounding him would go away.

Accelerator followed the scientists' instructions, going into the research facility he'd be visiting every single day to make this happen, multiple times a day. He didn't quite know what the whole experiment would end up entailing, he did know that it would be him fighting one of the other level 5s, the Railgun. But that was about all he knew on the matter. Into the elevator that opened up to a large room, he didn't realize that he was stepping into what would begin his greatest mistake. The large white room had a glass window in it where the researchers did their thing. Confident in how this was going to go, Accelerator smirked as he looked over at the chestnut haired girl standing with her back toward him.

"Yo. So you're my partner for this experiment?"

The face he saw was vaguely familiar for some reason when she turned toward him. He couldn't place it. But that didn't matter, standing with his hands in his pockets.

"Yes! I look forward to working with you! Answers MISAKA."

Accelerator noted the familiar ring of that name, for some reason it brought back that feeling that he wasn't remembering something.

"It's my first time fighting a level 5 too. I'm kind of looking for-" He cut off mid sentence, noticing her cock a pistol in her hand. Why would a level 5 have a gun?

"Everything is under control. Says MISAKA, showing off her enthusiasm about this first battle." As she spoke she dropped in a crouch and pointed her gun at various directions before continuing. "By the way, I have received permission to shoot you. May I really?"

Accelerator ignored her, his head cocking to the side as he began to lose his excitement. Something wasn't how he expected it. The buzz and warning of a voice called his attention up toward the window as the gold toothed scientist spoke.

"All right, let us begin the first experiment."

"Let us fight to the death! Says MISAKA as she commences combat!" Accelerator's gaze moved from the window to the girl who began to run around him. She fired one shot, it deflected from his reflection into the wall, same as every following shot. He could see her confusion, he didn't even have to look at her to see that.

"Are the bullet trajectories being changed? Wonders MISAKA as she opens distance and analy-" But as she pulled back, there was a familiar figure right behind her she bumped into. It was Accelerator, now in quite the foul mood. He couldn't remember something and it was bothering him, not to mention this game was underestimating him, or at least it felt that way.

"Who the hell do you take me for?" He demanded, as she turned toward him he flicked her with his hand, using the force to send her flying into the air. She promptly went flying into the air before tumbling and skidding to a stop. Accelerator took a long look at the girl. He couldn't figure out what about this girl bothered him so much. Irritated, he turned toward the glass window again.

"Hey! What's the meaning of this? Is this really a clone of a Level 5?"

"Please ignore the power gap with the original. The clones share their memories through a network. Through 20,000 battles, they will continue learning and building experience. The last few might not be so easy to defeat, even for you."

"So you mean I gotta keep fighting these weaklings?" Accelerator asked, this wasn't what he thought it was going to be. "Tch! What a letdown. This time it was just her, then." He turned away, disgusted now and preparing to leave this stupid experiment, since he had obviously just won.

"Yes, however, the experiment has yet to be concluded. It won't be until you dispose of the subject behind you. Completion of the project requires the elimination of 20,000 armed clones. The target has yet to cease operations. Continue fighting."

Accelerator looked back at the scientist, he didn't want to kill her. Something made the thought itself terrible. He tightened his lips in irritation and inner turmoil, but did not show it. He was tempted to blast through that window and just smash that scientist's head instead. But his attention was called by the helpless girl's soft voice as she reached for the pistol.

"I... understand... I will now... resume the experiment... Says MISAKA, following her orders." Her shaking hand landed on the pistol softly.

"Eliminate? Cease operations? Does that mean-?" He had been asking, just hoping that it really wasn't that. But the sound of the gun firing sounded as his reflection sent a bullet flying. He turned to look at the now wounded clone. Blood was seeping from the bullet to her mid torso. Probably pierced the lower lung and damaged the diaphragm. He watched her vulnerable look as she looked down in shock at the wound, dropping the weapon. Accelerator's eyes were wide as she fell to the floor, obviously dying. The red forming a puddle around her.

"It's dark...It feels like I'm sinking into deep waters... Is... this... death? Asks... MI... SA... KA..." She halted her movement, the first of 20,000 kills had met her end.

Accelerator's eyes stared at her. Mesmerized by the sight of death, it was a strange and mixed feeling. It left him with a bitter taste in his mouth, and yet... it made him excited, which only furthered his disgust for it and himself. He finally tore his eyes away as he sighed. "So that's it."

"Good work! This concludes the first experiment. They will grow stronger as we progress, so please bear with it. Just keep disposing them as such. No need to hold back. You are fighting synthesized masses of drugs and protein. Mere puppets."

Accelerator huffed quietly as he left the room. He would be killing these clones. Multiple times a day at this rate. Was it wrong? Probably. But the only people telling him anything told him it wasn't.

Accelerator thus began to take part in the many experiments following. He grew drugged with power. When one kills another, that feeling corrupts the murderer. It threw him further into the darkness. No matter what little voice in his head reminded him that these were really people, he couldn't stop. He had grown addicted to the feeling of life in his hands. A taste of being God, maybe. All Accelerator knew, was that he gradually forgot the reason for doing this experiment in the first place, replaced by the power hungry desire to become comparable to godhood. He wanted to be all powerful. But he couldn't even remember why anymore. Loneliness? It didn't hurt so much, he had buried it with the many clones he massacred. Nothing hurt so much anymore. He just went every day, killed clones as ordered, as many as required in a day. It was a great feeling, exhilarating, it pushed off those feelings that hurt so much. He never did figure out why the clones seemed so familiar to him. Guess he would find out one day, not that it mattered to him all that much.


Accelerator was not the only one changing. Mikoto had grown up as well. An incredible drive to get stronger had brought her to where she was now. She had trained hard, and through hard work, she had become a level five. Even though she had grown into such a position, the girl was hardly all that mature. Obsessed with the frog mascot, Gekota and collecting Killbear stuffies. She had no idea what her DNA was being used for. As far as she knew, the Radio Noise project had been cancelled and no clones were ever produced. Carefree living and happy times in making Academy City better filled her time.

Mikoto's mother no longer was around constantly due to Mikoto living in the Tokiwadai dormitory. With a certain perverted teleporter. But hey, Mikoto managed to foil all of her weird attempts somehow, though usually they backfired onto one of her other friends, like Ruiko. Over all, Mikoto had many friends, she found the lonesome feeling from being away from her parents completely gone when she was with her friends. They were like a family. Even more than that, it was like she had sisters of her own.

Like any other teenage girl, Mikoto had her likes of things, though her tastes were typically rather childish, she had a boy she liked: Touma. Though half the time she didn't know what to think of him with his moaning about misfortune. But he always managed to get on her nerves. And he never noticed how she felt about him either. That tended to wear her out. Today was like any other, Mikoto was just out at the mall to get herself some new pajamas. Well, on her way to go to the mall. She was looking in the store windows when she noticed something in the crowd. She didn't know what it was.

Just a white haired person, but when she did a double take and looked to see who it was, he had already moved on. She thought she had seen that face before. But it was too late to know for sure. Shrugging it off she continued walking. Briefly reflecting as she wondered if she should join up with Kuroko today to help Judgement out with any problems, something Mikoto did often. Who knows? Today could hold great excitement! It always did. But then again, as Mikoto's thoughts wandered she recalled the rumors Mii had told her about, that a level 5 had been cloned. That was an interesting and not so great idea. Giving Mikoto a bit of a disturbed feeling.

She had even been dreaming of an encounter with a scientist she had had years ago recently. Weird. As she walked however, the nasally tone of a certain roommate cut into her hearing.

After the short conversation it had turned into Kuroko complaining about all the childish things in their room, to how they were obviously going on a date. More and more annoyances. But Mikoto was used to it. She brushed it off as usual.

They never did make it to the mall. Actually they ran into some trouble that day, but after the excitement over some cards in alleyways was handled, Mikoto heard something that made her incredibly suspicious and confirming her worst fears. Ruiko had told her that she had seen her AT the mall. Mikoto was beginning to suspect that... something was going on that she wasn't going to like.

That was before she learned of the person behind the cash card incident. Shinobu Nunotaba. The girl had been there when she gave her DNA map for a medical condition. Curious, Mikoto hacked into the science facility. Confirming the fact that the project, Radio Noise had been cancelled because Tree Diagram calculated that the clones could not reach her power level. Relieved Mikoto had put away her thoughts of it and went back to her carefree life...

Until that evening.

That was when Mikoto had been hanging out with some children due to boredom, a strange feeling had hit her. Her electromagnetic field had caught an identical one on her radar. That was when the realization of what she had been fearing came true.

There, in front of her, it was like seeing a mirror... a mirror of herself with goggles being the only difference between the two. That meeting with 9982 changed everything she knew in life. She didn't understand what was going on exactly because the clone hadn't given her much information, but with the help of Kazari... Mikoto figured out the codes and understood the true project happening right now.

The Level 6 Shift Project.


That was when Mikoto realized that 9982 would be in danger. Because that number... was the same one for tonight's experiment. Mikoto hurried, even if she had only just met the clone today, even if it was artificially made... She was still a human being! To be slaughtered in this manner... was just brutal! That girl that had the strangest bond with Mikoto, having somehow managed to take the badge from Mikoto that she earned from going through several vending machines. But now Mikoto was late, the 9882nd experiment was already underway! The Strongest esper was fighting with this clone she had met at this very moment! She might not make it in time!

But by the time Mikoto made it to the place where the experiment was supposed to have taken place, they were gone. She sighed in relief, thinking that it had all been some sort of elaborate prank.

"I knew it. There's no way that crazy plan could actually be..." But as she turned to leave, her foot nudged something that created the sound of metal on concrete. Mikoto felt a chill go up her body as she dared to look down. It was as she feared... the goggles that 9982 had been wearing. Her eyes widened as she drew in a shaky breath. This... this madness was really happening! What could she possibly do?! She didn't care, shaking it off as she ran down the only route they could have gone. She had to help the poor clone somehow! However, her thoughts were startled by the sound of an explosion in the nearby vicinity. It must be there! No one else was out because of curfew! Bursting into a sprint toward the bridge she came onto the scene.

Mikoto came to a stop, leaning over the side of the bridge as she realized what was happening. Her blood ran cold as she recognized the girl who had saved the cat with her earlier that day, missing a leg and sitting in a puddle of her own blood, holding the precious badge that Railgun had given her. "No... way..." Mikoto was in shock, her eyes wide as she began to realize, this was no joke. This was the cruel, horrible and cold reality.

"NO!" She screamed when the train came out of the air and crashed onto the unfortunate clone who was faintly smiling, despite her pain, at the Gekota badge.

Accelerator stared at his handiwork, watching the blood seep out from underneath the vehicle he had just thrown onto the girl. He found this ending slightly different. Not used to any sign of emotion from the clones, this was an odd finale. But it was over. And he spoke it by spinning around slowly and throwing his arms out like a circus master after the end of a show.

"And thus concludes tonight's experiment!"

"We've made quite a mess, I wonder if they can clean it up. Not that I care." He added as an afterthought. Tucking his hands into his pockets while turning to walk away. But as he was talking to himself about stopping by a convenience store, lightning shot at him from the side. Reflected, of course. But he lifted his head to see a clone? What? Wasn't it only one tonight? But the scream of rage coming from the 'clone' was uncharacteristic of them. Confused, but intrigued by this headstrong female who charged him without fear and without thought. He took his hand away from his neck as he stared at the girl who seemed to be enraged.

She was still yelling as she slammed her foot against the gravel and used magnetism to pull out an onslaught of iron sand. Accelerator's eyes widened as a slight smirk formed on his face. Now THIS was what he was talking about! As he watched, the iron sand shot up into the air. This was... it made him feel excited, more than just killing clones, it made his insides quiver, not with fear, but anticipation! That rage was top notch!

"Awesome! Awesome! A new ability?" He taunted as it shot toward him. Mikoto was trying to crush him with the vibrating particles. For once, the desire to kill drove her fury. She wanted him to cease to exist! And that excited him beyond words. She wasn't even taking her time to try and analyze him like the others. He savored that look of shock across her face when he spoke again.

"Oh? Controlling iron through magnetism? That's an interesting way of using your powers." But he decided to mess with this girl a bit, reflecting all of the iron sand away and cutting off the magnetic field for a moment so it all fell to the gravel, ineffective. He enjoyed her realization of it's futile attempt.

"Well, since I know how it works, it's useless anyway." He was smirking, hands in his pockets as Mikoto tried to use her head a little bit more. How could that have not wounded him? But her eyes landed on something... what was once the part of a human being, the leg of 9982 was laying in the gravel.

Horror filled Mikoto, as well as a cold feeling, deep inside of herself. She gripped her arms, looking down as the terror of the situation hit her again. She couldn't stop screaming as her magnetism picked up the iron parts of the railroad from the rail yard. Her screaming continued as she hugged herself tightly, she wished she could wake up from whatever manner of a bad dream this was!

"Huh? That power... you...?" Something about her brought a nostalgia, but instead he smirked as he came to the realization of who she was by title. His reflection sending the iron rail ties back at her. Forcing her to dodge as she looked on in shock. But even as she tried to figure out what had just happened, he smirked and gave a giggle.

"I see! I see! I thought something was strange that things weren't going according to plan. You're... the original?" He was excited as he continued, not aware that he had sparked something off inside of Mikoto. "Clones are the substitute for the original. So it means, if I finish you off, I can cut short the boring work. I was already getting sick of it. I'm counting on you, original." As he stepped forward, Mikoto stepped back.

What was going on? She suddenly felt something strange, she recognized this person for some reason, now that she wasn't attacking in rage. He was that guy from the street earlier! But... where had she seen him before that? Not to mention panic at his death threat. Mikoto had so many thoughts running through her head that she didn't know what to do. She gritted her teeth after a momentary look of vulnerability. Causing even Accelerator to pause. Where had he seen a look like that before? But not to mention, she was holding her hand out as well. As if threatening him.

"Why? Why are you taking part in such a project?!" She demanded, for some reason it hurt to know he was in this project, though she didn't even know him!

"What's with this all of the sudden?" Accelerator asked her seriously, that tone of voice, sounded like something he couldn't place. His smile gone as he stared at her for a moment.

"Answer me! If it's someone like you... Someone with as much power as you, couldn't have been forced to do it! What's your reason for participating in such a crazy project?! Do you have a grudge against her?!" Mikoto was more desperate for answers than she should be, as if somehow pleading for it not to be what she knew was probably true.

"Reason? My reason... well..." He trailed off, smirking as he held his hand up toward the moon and gripped his fist, pushing these strange thoughts aside. "Well, I want to obtain the ultimate ability." He ignored that look of shock across Mikoto's face as he continued. "Level 5? The top in Academy City? It's not something boring like that! It's the absolute power that will make people even thinking of challenging me, unacceptable! I want to become invincible! If you're a level 5, you understand, right?" But after he finished his little speech, he realized she was bursting with electricity. But that rage, once more made his heart skip a beat.

"What's that? Absolute power? Invincible? For something as stupid as that... you... You killed her for something like that?!" Mikoto was so enraged, she couldn't hold in the fury and it was coming out through her lightning around her. Letting loose the coin to release her signature move, the electromagnetic cannon, the Railgun.

Accelerator had paused as he listened to her, for some reason, her words rang into his conscience, something he thought was long dead. 'For something like that...?' He wondered, but then, before he could think any further, she blasted away at him. Only it reflected away, blasting through some of the standing rail ties and leaving them smoldering. He watched her stand there in utter shock before pushing aside his thoughts and smirking.

"That's harsh. Don't say it like I'm some murderer. I'm just facing some imitations that were made at the push of a button." He repeated the words he had been told so many times, not looking at her for some reason. But then he realized that look of shock on her face, she wasn't even paying attention to his excuse.

"Why are you so tense?" Receiving no answer he lit up at the reason. "Oh! I see! Sorry, sorry, that move you just used was your best one, right? Well, we are both level 5s, but I never thought you would be so pathetic!" He watched her for a moment, waiting for some kind of retort. But she didn't say anything so he continued, while approaching her slowly. "So then, it's my turn. I'm not expecting much, but come entertain me a bit, third ranked girl." He taunted, hoping to see that enraged expression again, a psychotic smirk across his face.

Mikoto was staring in shock and horror, but her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice. Her own voice. She looked back slightly as the clone spoke.

"Please wait. Battles outside of the project's simulated predictions will cause a calculations error, MISAKA warns." Mikoto's eyes widened at the many clones standing there, for the purpose of cleaning up after the battle.

"Especially since Big Sister is a level 5, the distortions made would be exceptionally huge."

"Trying to cut short the time needed is foolish, and can cause concerns to the possibility of failure."

"In addition, MISAKA had been matched with the subsequent experiments scheduled."

"Tuning has been conducted, and changes in the experiment would be extremely difficult."

..."MISAKA persuades."

Right as the last clone finished, Accelerator rolled his crimson eyes.

"Tch! I got it! I understand! I was just having a bit of fun. Don't speak in relay, it's creepy." As Accelerator spoke, he began to approach Mikoto. "Oh yeah, come to think of it, I haven't introduced myself. I'm obligated to your clones. After all, they are helping me become invincible. I have to be thankful." He murmured as he stopped right behind her and leaned to whisper into her ear.

"I'm... Accelerator. Nice to meet you."

As he began to walk away, Mikoto could distantly remember the name for some reason.

"Don't you have any clue who I am?! I'm Accelerator!"

Mikoto couldn't stand up anymore as she fell to her knees. She didn't know him, and yet, she felt like she did. And it seemed to hurt that she couldn't do anything to help these clones of herself.

Or the one killing them.