The Archon of Zero Chapter 4: Ghost's of the Past, a Familiar of Zero + Game X-overs Crossover fanfic

A/N: And we're back for another episode of the Archon of Zero! Following the reviews of course, you all know the routine.

DaLintyMan: Take COVER! He'll make a difference soon, particularly in the Fouquet and Albion story arcs.

SkylineMaster: Hail to the Zero Queen and Zero and a Vampire are first priority and are typically written first with more details. This story, along with the Sekirei X-over are second priority and are written when possible. And when I have writers block.

Necrofantasia: Intentionally OP, I don't always like balancing my characters Ya know :) Powered armor or other items? Plausible, but I'm unwilling to say much else at this point.

Alviss Hall

One Hour Later

"So, the reason you're called the Zero is-."

"Because I cause huge explosions, alright!"

After quickly cleaning up the classroom that was effectively bombed by Louise's magic the two of us went to lunch. I joined Louise at the table, much to the displeasure of the nobles surrounding us.

I began to throw one of my Pineapples into the air, catch, and repeat, "Oh how I wish for someone to test my patience."

Louise looked at the grenade in confusion, "Is that a piece of fruit Major?"

I couldn't help but grin, "No, certainly not. It's a Pineapple grenade." Eyes grew wide at that revelation as I continued, "Interesting story behind it actually, during the first war with the Skirth, my predecessors used to paint them yellow, just like the fruit of the same name and leave them out as booby traps. Turns out the Skirth couldn't resist the taste," I paused for dramatic effect, "Of molten shrapnel."

If only I had a pair of sunglasses with me.

Her eyes widened humorously, "Is that safe?"

"Completely! Now if I were to take this pin out," I grab the pin and yank it out, releasing the safety and scaring half the room to death, "Now I can't throw it around as the safety has been removed. If I were to toss it, the primer would activate and the fuse would begin to burn." I clicked the pin back into place, "Safe again, most grenades work in the same premise, but the fuse times vary a little bit."

Louise's expression darkened, "Is there any weapon you don't have?"

I put my elbows onto the table with a loud thud, "Honestly, I don't know how many guns I actually am holding. I carry basic items, food, even vehicles."

"At least you have something you can do for the exhibition then."

"What exhibition?"

In essence the next few minutes was learning that as a familiar I was required to participate in the annual Familiar Exhibition in front of numerous high nobles and even Royalty. No pressure Fox, no pressure at all.

"We also need to get you a sword, as a nobleman, using firearms is considered in poor taste."

I raised an eyebrow, "I have a few swords," I took a moment and realized that the type of swords I have would probably bring too much attention, "And they probably would draw too much attention. Alright, you win, when do we go?"

"Tomorrow, during the day of Void, there are no classes in session."

I nodded, "Seems reasonable enough. Since you have been trouble with magic, haven't you been concerned about your own safety?"

She gave me a scowl, but it slowly drifted away as she broke eye contact, "No, I'm perfectly fine!"

"Did I ever tell you about my life back home?"

She seemed to lose her edge right then and there, "No, you didn't Major."

"Well, I'm around 30 years old, I've been married and had kids. So I can tell when a young person is lying to me."

She rolled her eyes in frustration, "Founder, you are so frustrating, you know that?"

I couldn't help but smirk, "It's a talent I'm afraid. I'll tell the rest of that story another time perhaps; I think it's time we get you set up with a means of protecting yourself when I'm not around." I take her by the arm and drag her out of the dining hall as the other students both giggle and sigh collectively with relief.

We head towards the gate and she starts to relax her previous resistance, "Where are we going Major?"

I smile, "We need to teach you how to shoot, and handle a knife for that matter. Everyone was a soldier back home, from the single mother to the elderly, it became necessity with all of the skirmishes and wars we fought with the damn Skirth. This world is obviously dangerous, and you need every advantage available to survive."

"I suppose you have a point Major, I don't think I can handle those big guns you used in the duel-."

I shake my head, "We are not giving you the big crazy guns to use, they take a huge amount of practice to wield, maintain, and even carry. We're going to keep things as simple as possible."

We head out the Academy gates and walk towards a hill to the left, opposite the burial mound where Saito lay. A brief hand squeeze from Louise made me realize she hadn't forgotten her experience there the previous night. I smiled slightly, out of her sight, 'She reminds me a lot of my own daughter.'

I immediately brought out three large cardboard target's, roughly man-sized that we often used on the range for our small-arms drills. I picked up a piece of hardened plastic, attached a target to each and stuck them in the ground, at ten, twenty five, and fifty meters away, all the while keeping 5 feet between them.

Louise recognized the targets shape slowly, but a metaphorical light bulb went off in her head (or at least the appearance of such a light bulb) when she figured out that those would be the targets she would be practicing on.

I walked back to Louise and set up a small folding table, around waist high next to her, "Alright Louise, are you left, or right handed?"

She thought for a brief second, "Right."

"Alright, you are going to follow my instructions exactly Louise. It's for your own safety and that of others, understood?"

She shook a little bit, most likely out of annoyance, then nodded. When she was in MY firing range, I was King.

I began to search my inventory for the perfect sidearm for such a dainty young woman.

Weapon Codex: RS8 Series 10mm

Manufacturer: Drake & Co. Firearms

A newer, less powerful sidearm created by Drake and Co., this small and concealable sidearm is chambered in the moderately powerful 10mm cartridge. The weapons smooth design, recoil management, and 14 round magazine capacity gives a high quality personal defense weapon for those securing private sector locales, or for home defense. Options for an integrated suppressor and a built-in laser sight come standard.

I set the RS8, and four magazines of 10mm Super on the table in front of Louise. She simply gazed at the weapon, either out of fear or confusion.

"First rule of using a firearm, 'Never, ever point it at someone unless you intend to kill.' Accidents happen more frequently when one isn't taking a weapon seriously. While this is not as powerful as most guns, it can still easily kill someone."

I picked up the pistol, "This is RS8 series pistol, it fires the 10mm Super cartridge. It is designed as a self defense weapon, rather than as a weapon built strictly for war. Each magazine," I pointed to the four full clips in front of her, "Carries fourteen 10mm rounds, and is extremely reliable, jamming and misfires and incredibly rare." I set the weapon down on the table in front of her, "Pick up the pistol Louise."

She gingerly grasped the handle in her right hand, and held the now shaking hand with her left, "Good, how does the weight feel?"

She pointed the weapon upwards, causing me to hold it from letting the barrel face her, "Never, ever look into the barrel of a gun. Assume it is loaded and should the trigger be pulled, intentionally or otherwise, it WILL fire."

She nervously nodded, "It feels okay, but a bit heavy, is there anything lighter?"

I shook my head, "That's the lightest pistol I have I'm afraid, the M806," I pointed to the pistol on my own hip, "Weighs more then one and half of those. The AM-67's I used in the duel are three times the weight of these pistols, unloaded. Those aren't even the heaviest, but that's not really important."

A frown went across her face, "O-okay, w-what do I do n-now?"

I pointed to a magazine, Use your left hand, pick up one of the magazines, and slide it into the receiver on the bottom of the gun. It will only slide in one way, so you don't need to worry about breaking it."

She took the chrome magazine and started putting it in before realizing she had it facing backwards, and correcting it. The magazine slid straight in, and secured itself with a satisfying *CLICK*.

"Good, now there are three more steps that must be taken before you can fire; first, take the upper slide of the pistol, and pull it back towards you with your left hand." She began to pull it back and stopped part-way. "It has to be pulled all the way back," I coached her on and she successfully pulled the slide back, and placed a round in the chamber.

Good, now on the left side of the pistol, there is a small lever,just above the trigger guard," I pointed to it, "Flip it so it lies parallel with the barrel." She flicked the safety off and carried the weapon cautiously in both hands.

"Good form, keep both hands on the pistol when moving and when firing if it all possible, it will keep you steady. Finally, put on your ear protection," I popped two expanding ear-plugs into her ears; the odd shake of her head showed me they had expanded to fill her ear drums. I leaned down towards her right ear, "Aim the weapon, and gently pull the trigger."

She nervously extended her arms out straight (which I corrected by slightly bending her elbows), attempted to look down the sights, and cautiously pulled the trigger with her eyes closed instead.

*BANG!*

The weapon's swift report echoed across campus as Louise opened her eyes to find the RS8's barrel smoking and a shell-casing falling onto the table. I leaned over to her, chuckling, "You missed. Try again, this time with your eyes open Louise."

She rolled her eyes, took a stance, and kept her eyes open this time as she fired, and flinched from the light recoil. A small hole impacted in what would've been the left shoulder of the first target.

"Better, now try two shots consecutively. Try to make them hit the same general area."

She drew the weapon and fired two shots, both which landed in completely different areas, the left shoulder again and the right hip.

"Now, it seems you can control it, you just need practice. So, you remember the safety switch from earlier?" A nod was her response as she glanced back down to it, "Flip it so it's pointing downwards." She did so as she extended her arms, "Now be careful, it's going to shoot three rounds in a short burst, so be prepared. Fire."

The clearly nervous Louise pulled the trigger.

*BABABANG*

The weapon recoiled at the end of the third shot, spooking Louise with the sudden kickback. I was stunned to see a perfect grouping of three small holes over the left chest, a triple kill shot.

"That, was surprising. You seem to handle burst fire better then single shot with the RS8."

"That's unusual?"

I nodded, "Highly, most people don't use burst because of how unpredictable it can be. You however seem to have good control of that function. Remember however, you will run out of ammo much faster when using burst, so keep that in mind."

Louise was actually beginning to sweat, from nervousness or exertion was anyone's guess.

"Alright, I want you to switch back to single shot, and empty the magazine into the first target we've been shooting at. Go!" In a surprising move, Louise smoothly brought the weapon up to eye level, switched the gun to single shot, and began to fire rapidly into the now fluttering target.

BANG

CLICK

Louise seemed confused until she saw the weapon's slider had changed position, showing that the chamber was completely empty, along with the magazine. She looked to me, "Hit the magazine release, it's a button depressed into the grip," she briefly searched for it, pressed it, and the now depleted magazine fell to the ground. "Place the weapon on the table with the safety on, and follow me to the target."

She followed me close by, her hands obviously shaking from the experience, especially when she saw how she did, "I did all of that?"

I nodded, "You did pretty well, although ten meters with a handgun is not terribly difficult, I'd say you'll be fine. We can stop for today in any case however, we can leave the targets out and come back after shopping."

Louise nodded, "That would work Major, I think it's time for some more class however, so we best get going."

As we went back into the Academy I began to notice we were being watched, but by whom?

That Evening

"Good night Major."

"Night Louise."

With that, Louise Valliere fell into a dark, and terrifying reality.

Flashback

3 Years Earlier

". . . This just in! Skirth forces have invaded Tau Sigma V! All residents are encouraged to seek shelter is designated hab-shelters and those with combat experience or militia duties are to report to your duty stations.

Louise was stunned at the devastation, buildings ablaze and the dead in the streets. She could hear a cacophony of gunfire and other sounds she couldn't begin to describe emerge from around her as a soldier, obviously military ran up to her.

"Captain! The residential habitats are under attack!"

She could feel herself respond in the Major's voice, "Well what are we waiting for Marines?! A gilded invitation? Oorah!"

"OORAH!"

The next few minutes had Louise rushing through the ruined business district, the signs of war and battle displayed as far as the eye can see.

As soon as the group reached an intersection, their pointman was instantly heaved into the air by what appeared to be a giant roach, the man was screaming as he came down into the insect's powerful jaws, cutting him into two ragged chunks of meat.

"CRYON! OPEN FIRE!"

Heavy gunfire from the entire group began to paint and ricochet off the bug's hardened exo-skeleton as it began to lob organic fireballs into the withdrawing troops.

"Someone get the Goddamn Smatta out here!

Weapon Codex: Flak 16 Single Man Anti-Tank/Anti-Air (SMATTA) Recoiless Rifle

Manufacturer: UTC Defense Tech

This terrifyingly powerful anti-armor weapon is the most powerful single shot heavy weapon, short of the HAMR or M75 TIC weapons systems, available to the UTC Marines. The weapon is a breach loaded modified rocket mortar designed to fire hypersonic rockets to destroy heavily armored targets, such as Cryons, and heavy dropships. The warhead has enough explosives and velocity to punch through starship plating, and can be used against infantry, with horrifying effect.

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!"

Louise heard a brief *WOOSH* as a hypervelocity rocket punched through the Cryon's shell, detonating inside, spraying the entire platoon in greenish yellow blood.

"Move out!"

As the team made its way into what appeared to a series of living spaces, Louise found herself gagging at the sights she saw. Adults and adolescents killed in their beds, while children hid, often catatonic under their own.

As the team went further into the building, Louise began to realize that the Major knew where he was going, like he actually knew the place. A horrifying reality dawned upon her when she found herself kicking a door open, only to find a blood bath. Reptilian corpses lay strewn about, most missing limbs or entire sections of their bodies. She was running through the condo, yelling names she couldn't understand and as she entered the bedroom the world seemed to stop.

She fell to her knees, gasping for breath as she began to sob. In the bedroom, a young woman, no more then 28 lay dead with dozens of blade wounds to the torso, a pump action shotgun by her side, clearly out of ammo. What solidified her horror was a bloodied and dismembered little girl, not much smaller then Louise laying in the corner, covered in scorch marks, a little toy pistol next to her.

Captain, we need to go-."

"GIVE ME A MOMENT!"

"Y-y-yessir."

The marines with the Major walked out of the room, and Louise immediately found herself alone in a nightmare that simply wouldn't end. She took a pair of blankets from the closet, laid the bodies down, and covered them with the blankets. With tears covering her vision, she reached for the woman's hand to find a wedding ring, topped with a sparkling diamond. She looked behind the bed and found an intact family photo and stowed it on his person.

The last part that Louise saw was the Major turning towards the remains of his wife and young daughter, and simply gasped out, "I'm sorry."

"LOUISE!"

Her screams nearly knocked me off my feet, the volume was simply unimaginable.

"Major! I-I-I didn't know!"

It was my turn to be confused, "What are you talking about?"

"Something called Tau Sigma V-."

My eyes widened as I fell to my knees, tears already beginning to boil over as I threw my face against her bedsheets, and began to sob.

The straw the broke the camel's back.

I was shocked when I was grabbed from behind by Louise.

"L-l-l-louise?"

"I-I-I-I think I understand why you've become the way you are Major, and for what it's worth, I'm sorry."

To say I was stupefied would be a mild statement, "How much did you see Louise?"

She closed her eyes, "Everything from the odd screen and voice to when you left the house for the last time."

"I should be apologizing to you, you shouldn't have seen that-."

I was shocked to find her hands on my face, and her forehead against my own, "Louise, we can't do this. I don't want to make a mistake, for you or myself."

She flicked me in the forehead with a scowl, "What makes you think we would do anything? Are you being a common dog again?"

I couldn't help but chuckle, as she joined me we both began to laugh louder and harder. The tears no longer from pain or sorrow, but from laughter.

It had been the first time in three years since I had spoken to anyone about Charlene's or Lily's deaths.

A/N: A slightly shorter chapter to show just how much Foxhound had been through, and why he had such a dark, brutal attitude towards Guiche and nobles in general. Or at least just having a dark brutal attitude period.

In any case, I apologize for the lack of Zero and Vampire chapters lately, I've been having some trouble finding good content for it, and stuff for Hail to the Zero Queen has been coming so readily I felt it best to advance that story for now. ZaV Is NOT on hiatus, I just need to come up with some content for the story itself.

Take care everyone!