Wow, are people still reading this?

Well, it's coming up to a year since the last update, and it seems I can't keep my promises. Here's another update, and I won't promise I'll have another out sooner than this one, but we'll have to see how things go. The good part of this is my writing gets better than the last, so eventually it'll be readable.

I'll be introducing more details in this chapter and I want to stress that this is AU and everything may not make sense to the canon, and is purely for entertainment.

Alright, on we go!


"I can't believe we really got in!" Hime yelled to be heard over the crowd.

I nodded, actually happy I was able to help.

"This place is a real shit hole," Senki said from farther down the bench.

Can't say I disagreed with her, but the rundown building has actually began to feel like a second home to me. The crumbling walls, the loud and obnoxious people, and sadly, even the people standing on the stage, glad that the last show's growling lyricist was missing.

The applause surprised me, bringing me to look across the room. Martin wiped sweat from his forehead and stepped back to the microphone.

"Thank you," he said, tossing his worn out pick to the stage while grabbing a new one from under his wrist band.

He leaned back and discussed something with the rest of the musicians before nodding and returning to the mic. The drummer grabbed a new pair of sticks and adjusted the hi-hat.

"If there was ever a song that fit me, this is it," he said, giving a small laugh afterwards.

There was another burst of applause and the hit the sticks together before playing a short fill. Ending on the symbols, he continued into the next part, hitting the hi-hat and pedal in rhythmic order.

Martin gave a quick nod and leaned toward the mic, "All the girlies say, I'm pretty fly for a white guy."

More applause and cheers hid behind the loud crunch and deep thud of the musicians beginning the song.

Rather funny, but I don't think I can laugh. I was too busy trying to calm down.

My last encounter with Haruhi's closed space, while everything ended up working out, turned me off to the whole experience. The idea of having to go back gave me the chills. Another issue was the fact that I didn't know how these people are skilled in these matters.

Martin… is a gun toting lunatic. While that may work in this world, he's not an esper. How will he fare against a celestial? And considering I know next to nothing about the others, the odds aren't too good.

I jumped at the nudge and turned to my right, seeing Saori standing behind the chair.

"Geez," I said while shaking my head.

"Igor wants you."

As if I wasn't nervous enough.

"Is it bad?"

She started walking away, "It's bad he wants to see you, but good that he didn't send Ghost."

Sliding out of the chair, I grabbed the book and traversed the crowded maze of a room to head toward the back room.

I seen her too late, Tsuruya grabbed the sleeve of my jacket, "What did you say to Haruhi? She locked herself in that club room, yelling about having to find some kind of secret organization."

Pulling my arm free I continued walking, "No more than I had to."

Toshi and Roshan were sitting with their dates, two different women but equally loud.

Not wanting to be dragged into their "thrilling" conversation, I looked away as I passed and turned down the packed hallway.

Trying my best to prolong the inevitable, I pretended to wait in the line for the bathrooms.

If what I heard about the Russian leader was true, I had to think quickly and keep calm. Something I couldn't do without preparation.

[][][]

From his position on top of the building across from Comrade's, Chief hummed along to the music as he watched the interior of the bar through his visor.

"Should we move in?"

"There's no hurry," he said, "I like this one, we can wait until the next song."

"I swear, you and your classical music. I think there's something loose in your head."

"This is first level Kumi," another voice said, "In position behind Comrades. Awaiting further orders."

The sigh was loud enough to make him turn down the volume on his headset.

"Cut the formalities, it's just the three of us."

"Are you in place, Brutus?"

"Yeah, I got the side covered, Chief. Should be routine."

Chief shook his head, "With all these data children being contained, nothing is routine. They told us to be alert on this one."

"It's just Legato being paranoid. A few rebels and he's ready to start a witch hunt."

"There was another attack last night," Kumi informed, "They're saying half of them were Sky Canopy Dominion followers."

"It's the datas," Brutus answered, "We started taking them while others were observing them."

"That's none of our business. We just follow orders," Chief said, stopping the discussion before it began to make too much sense, "Remain focused and stand by until I give the signal."

"Roger," Kumi said, switching his channel to silent.

"Just when I was starting to like the new guy," Brutus said before switching his own channel.

[][][]

By the time I made my way to the office, the song had ended and the applause drove the line to half it's size.

As I reached to knock on the door, it was thrown open and the glaring form of Ghost stood blocking the way. After a moment of what I assumed was threat assessment, she stepped out of the way to allow me inside.

Igor was looking at the computer screen and nodding along to the music playing through the speakers, but waved me toward an empty chair across from him.

Sitting down, I tried to keep from glancing around the room, but my nervousness got the best of me.

The music was the same that was playing in the room and matched the beat I felt through the wall. An older song but pretty good nonetheless.

Ghost stood beside the door, arms crossed and eyes locked on me. Her kimono was the same pattern as before, but the colors were different.

Afraid of losing my soul from staring too long, I looked away, setting my sights on a large window facing the other room, realizing it was a one way mirror.

Having seen enough of the other room, I switched to the other wall. A bookshelf and file cabinet took up most of the space, but left enough for Igor to get his wheel chair around the desk. Glancing down a mir, I noticed that many of the books on the shelf had similar bindings, making me wonder how many alternate worlds existed.

Igor switched from humming to quietly mumbling the lyrics of the song.

"I'll be there when you get in a rut, that's the beauty of living my life. Hold on, baby, I'm taking you back to school."

After the chorus finished, he slowly reached over and turned down the volume of the speakers, "Sorry about that, I like this song and it's been awhile since he sang it."

Clearing my throat, "It sure beats the screaming lunatic."

"My son, Ivan."

Hammer pulled back, finger on the trigger.

"Sorry."

Igor shook his head, "I agree, something's wrong with that one.

Click, empty chamber.

"So," Igor began, leaning back and stretching, "How's things?"

"You know, about the same."

"How're you liking the world?"

My nervous brain refused to understand his question, leaving me silent with a dumb expression on my face.

Hammer pulled back.

He nodded to the book in my lap, "The book, mir."

"Oh," I said, looking down at the object I'd already forgotten, "Yeah, it's great. Still have some issues that need fixed, but that's to be expected."

"Like what?"

Finger on the trigger.

Doing my best to think quickly, "Well, the two groups seem to have a few issues with each other."

He was impossible to read, his face remaining emotionless.

"Eve and her group are attacked by Adam and his. One wants peace, but the other wants justice. Adam's group thinks they were given the worst part of the deal, and wants to live outside of the forest. Whether or not this is a test of Martin's, I don't know, but it wouldn't be hard to correct."

Igor nodded.

Click, empty cylinder.

"Martin's methods may be a little… unorthodox, but he's good at dealing with resentment. A trait of a good ruler. He hopes they will solve this issue the right way, and then they'll be awarded with what they want."

"So," I started, wanting to keep an awkward silence from starting, "This world of yours, how does it work with the overall goal?"

His face shifted, "Funny you mention that."

Hammer pulled back, finger on the trigger.

"The DC Haruhi," he said, turning the monitor toward me so I could see, "Seems… frustrated at something. Her stress levels are much higher than the day before."

"Really?"

He nodded, "It's alarming that they would increase this much in only a few hours."

Bang!

Hearing a strange sound behind me, I turned to see Ghost lock the door and approach the desk.

Igor leaned forward and rested his arms on the table, "You and Martin haven't done anything to cause this, have you?"

"No, of course not," I said as calmly as I could, hoping to fool his senses.

He held my gaze for nearly a minute before nodding slowly, "Martin can be a little bold at times, but I don't think he'd do something like this without a reason."

Turning the monitor back, looked over the levels again, "It's no secret he's unhappy with the progress we made, but it's not good to rush things like this. Let me know if he does anything rash, will you?"

The relief I felt was almost enough to throw me from the chair, but instead I nodded, "Of course."

From the other side of the door, someone jiggled the knob hastily before pounding on the door.

Ghost turned the lock and the door flew open.

Hime began to stutter, her words struggling to come out but refused to do so.

Frustrated, she took a deep breath and gestured to the other room, "Something's wrong, I was told to come get you!"

Everyone in the room exchanged glances before looking through the window, the dull tint from the mirror making it difficult to see.

[][][]

Kumi's voice was the first through the headset, "Time lock is active."

Chief sighed, "Damn, I liked that one too. Oh well, how's it looking?"

"Not good, it doesn't look like the X-12 affected everyone. Our targets are unfrozen as expected, but some of the bystanders are as well."

"We'll just take them with," Chief said as he slid a device over his forearm, "Move in."

[][][]

Martin turned away from the audience, "Usually they don't become unresponsive until we sing Feelings."

Senki turned to Igor when he entered, "What's going on, old man?!"

"First off," Martin said Everyone who isn't frozen, come over here.

The sound of footsteps on the wood floor ceased when the group was formed.

Martin began pointing.

"Name?"

"T-Toshi."

Toshi gave Roshan a nudge, causing him to jump.

"Oh, Roshan."

"Senki."

"Hime."

Martin nodded, "Alright. Did anyone happen to notice when they froze?"

Saori shrugged, "I didn't see anything strange until the tap stopped working."

Igor nodded slowly, "It's them."

Martin gave him a strange look before his eyes widened in realization.

"Ghost, Saori, get Igor out of here!"

"What's going on?" I asked, no longer content to be a witness.

Martin ran to Toshi, causing him to flinch. He quickly ripped the backpack off his shoulders and unzipped the main compartment.

"Kyon, put the book in here!"

I obeyed, my heart racing as I fumbled to fit the strangely shaped book inside.

"Who's going to tell us what's going on?!" Senki yelled again.

"The less you know, the better," Martin said, approaching Saori, "Go into the back and get them into one of the other worlds."

Saori gave the look to protest, but Martin shook his head and turned away.

Ghost stared for a moment, but ultimately gave up and quickly pushed Igor away.

"We'll be waiting," he said before disappearing down the hallway.

"Why aren't we going with them?!" Hime asked, visibly shaken.

"We're the decoy's," I said, realizing his plan.

He nodded, "Right you are. You guys are safe, it's me and maybe him that they want."

"Who's they?!" Senki yelled

There were no footsteps, but a man appeared in the doorway, some sort of mechanical helmet covering his eyes, leaving only a large smile behind.

"That'd be us."


Alright, not as long as others due to time, but I think it'll do.

The next chapter will continued from here directly. Whenever that may be.

Also, I'm rather embarrassed at the mistakes I made in the older chapters, so I'm going to try to re-edit them at some point.

Thanks for reading.