A/N: Sorry for the late update. After this, there won't be an update for a bit as I will be focusing on adding a chapter to MaE. Also, Serac and Darkside are properties of XSerac.
Blaze Shadow: Thanks.
Watch Wannabe: Well, to balance things out, this has more scenes.
Nederbird: Swiss rolls eh? I'll try.
Tikigod784: Thank you.
TzuiAssassian: A typical manga development huh? :P
Chapter Seven: Phantom
Nature was calming. There was just something about it, the sounds, smells and sights, which soothed the soul and calmed the mind. Kaede breathed the fresh air gratefully; glad to be away from the urbanised campus. Here she would be able to focus on her training much more, and dispel her worries. Her camp had already been set up, and she was sitting idly one a rock overlooking a small stream where she often went fishing. She tossed up one of her daggers, easily catching it by the blade when it fell back down. Often, when troubled, she'd sit and think. Only…
What was she supposed to think? She was feeling a bit left out perhaps? Everyone having boyfriends but her? That was ludicrous. Over half the class was without a partner, so that definitively wasn't it. But there was something in that. Something…missing.
That was it, something seemed to be missing. The kunoichi shook her head. She must be ill or something, to think such thoughts. Everything she'd need she had. Looking out at the setting sun, its rays turning the sky a blazing orange, she was surprised to hear herself sigh. Shaking her head, Kaede smiled ruefully. Best to get down to training to forget her worries. If there was nothing to be done about it, it was senseless to worry after all.
With a casual flick of her wrist, she sent the dagger in her hand flying to spear a fish that had leapt from the water. Quick as a flash she plucked it from the air as she somersaulted over the stream, landing gently on the opposite bank. She inspected her handiwork as she slid the blade from the creature, nodding her head in satisfaction. A couple more and she'd have a fine dinner to round off the day.
All she had to do once the fishing was complete was to collect enough wood to begin a fire. Now Kaede knew she could worry about that, albeit slightly, simply because she could rectify that situation. Smiling at her chain of reasoning, Kaede drew out another couple of knives, taking careful aim.
"Idiot-idiot-idiot!" chanted Luke over and over, running as fast as he could. Every time he glanced behind he could just make out Miss Asakura pursuing him through the crowds. Luckily, Hiro wasn't with her. Avoiding the reporter would be far easier than that killer. OK, so he killed the scum of the earth, which technically makes him a good killer…which wasn't that far from his own position actually. Shaking his head clear Luke continued to run. He'd manage to get away as long as…
"Stop, thief!" cried Asakura, inspiration striking her.
Luke groaned and rolled his eyes. She actually resorted to that he thought dejectedly, sidestepping a burly man who seemed ready to punch him down. Frankly, when on a crowded street and chasing someone, it was efficient to label them a thief and leave most of the work to good Samaritans. Shameless exploitation true, but if it works, it works.
He continued his run, using all of his knowledge of Mahora that he remembered. Luke turned and spun, ducking and flowing through crowds swiftly, putting more distance between himself and Miss Asakura. The youth ran down alleys and boulevards, now and then dodging somebody who got in his way, attracted by the reporter's cries of "Thief!"
Thinking fast, Luke leapt down yet another side alley, only this time, instead of running down it, he leapt into a dumpster. Far from noble, but whatever worked was fine with him at this point. Peeking out from beneath the lid, holding his breath against the foul stench, he watched the school girl rush pass, intent on catching him. As soon as she had turned the corner at the opposite end of the alley, the blonde jumped out and ran back the way he came.
Luke sighed in relief at having avoided the reporter that time. Of course, knowing her, she'd now put a wanted ad in the school newspaper. Luke's face fell. It looked like it was time to lie low for a while. And he had so been looking forward to sleeping in a proper bed too.
"Mistress?" asked one of the three mice floating in front of her. Chisame turned to face it, waving for it to continue. "No major disturbance has been detected. The intruder seems to be simply randomly scanning files. It is probably searching for something."
Another mouse spoke up. "Probability of this being a virus has therefore been reduced by 79. Conversely, chances of it being a hacker are up 89," it reported, as the third rodent joined them in floating in front of the net idol.
"No malignant effects have as yet been inflicted on the OS. It is still unknown what the information being sought is," finished the newcomer, all three familiars looking to Chisame for their next orders.
The girl looked thoughtful, considering her options as shoals of fish swam by, representing the endless tiny tasks the computer did in the background without her knowing. So some cocky young fool thought he could get the better of her did he? Well, she'd soon prove her superiority over him! She turned back to her loyal followers, who immediately lined up at attention in front of her, awaiting her command.
"Alright, here's what we're going to do," smiled Chisame evilly. "First, reroute the directories so the scan continues to look over the same files. That should buy us some time. In the meantime, we locate the source of the hack and follow it back to its source. Then, let's do a little scanning of our own before hurling this guest out."
The mice bowed as best they could, before Chisame dismissed them with a wave, sending them flying off to perform the things that needed doing to bring her plan to fruition.
Time crashed onto itself far below. Eternity howled as it whirled around the fortress, newly built and ancient beyond measure. As imposing as it was, it was merely a gatehouse. Vast tapestries decorated the endless hallways, stretching into infinity, each and every one of them unique, a snapshot of time. He paid them no mind as he walked down the abandoned passage way, his footsteps echoing in the limitless darkness. Any intruder who'd find their way into this building would become lost for all eternity, surrounded by images of what may have been if they had chosen otherwise in their lives.
The ultimate defence. Yet he could easily bypass it all, for he knew the secret codes and passages which led to his destination. Suddenly, the hall ended, despite stretching on forever in front of him, and instead he was in front of a colossal wall, stretching in all directions to beyond sight. And set into it was the Eternity Gate. One of the singly most powerful artefacts to exist. A vast golden portal, its doors gleaming gold, etched with carvings depicting all of history. Creation, Armageddon, humanity, xenos, all was portrayed playing its part in Fate's grand design, silver threads linking everything together.
No mortal mind could look upon it and live. The sheer scale and nature of the Gate blasted the sanity of those who dared look upon it. But it held no power over him. He stepped up to it, the threads coming alive, and like serpents, wove their way around a particular carving, before spreading outwards, expanding it in all directions. It took less than a second, longer than an eternity. He now stood before an entrance into another chamber, his destination. Without a backward glance, he stepped through, the doorway behind him reforming back into rock as the Gate assumed its normal appearance once more.
Now he stood in a fully enclosed chamber, the source of light a single gleaming star far above. The circular room was dominated by a large table, with symbols that had lost meaning before time began, and that were yet to be created. Five alcoves were spaced equally in the walls of the room, like the one from which he had entered, but apart from that, the walls were bare and solid. There were no windows or doors. Not even time reached this place.
Stepping forward, he drew his blue cloak tighter around himself as he tapped the brim of his ochre wizard hat in salute. Reaching into the folds of his cerulean garment, the figure drew out a small object, a symbol of his standing. It was a gleaming needle, marking him as a Fateweaver. He placed it on the table, indicating his involvement in this audience. To his left, another man entered the chamber, emerging from the alcove and dropping an onyx bead onto the table, the mark of the Enforcer. Sharing a look with his brother, the Fateweaver nodded in acknowledgement before a slight tinkling signified the arrival of another Talon. His chosen relic was a gold gear. The Fateweaver raised an eyebrow slightly at this. It had been a long time since that item had rested on the table.
"Report Darkside," hissed the Guardian, swathed in red robes. Despite having his face hidden within the deep hood, the light still glinted off the lens where his eyes should have been.
"Her will has been done," replied the Fateweaver, a hint of an emotion ghosting across his face at the use of his name. "My mission has been a success. The being known as Ezekiel has been neutralised, Zegar," continued the young Talon, using the Guardian's name.
"Good work, brother," congratulated the Enforcer, Serac, in his monotone as the Guardian clenched his fist, the clockwork machinery in his artificial arm whirring as it carried out the motion. "You have shown yourself capable as a Talon, succeeding where Zegar failed," he added, looking over to the red robed figure.
With a sigh, he unclenched his fist, and nodded. "Indeed. I recognize your achievement in managing to track down the creature and in stopping it."
Darkside acknowledged the praise with a nod in the Guardian's direction. "Your knowledge of the creature was invaluable," replied the Fateweaver, the closest he'd ever come to thanking the most scarred Talon.
The Guardian regarded the younger man coolly before reaching for his symbol. "Then in that case, I shall leave you to your duties, gentlemen," he said, pocketing his golden gear as he turned on his heel and strode towards his alcove, disappearing into the darkened wall.
The brothers watched him go before sharing a farewell glance as they too collected their items and left the chamber. Two Talons had not been present. There was nothing unusual in that, there were often duties which kept them too busy to attend these sessions. In truth, Darkside had expected only his brother to come, but on closer inspection the Guardian's attendance wasn't surprising either. After the war, he had been essentially obsolete, as since then the threats to Fate's dominion were easily handled by Serac. True, none of them came close to the scale of the war, but that was all that was left now.
The Dahaka situation had been assigned to Darkside, and it had been carried out, with a mortal acting as his sword against the creature. But it wouldn't have been half as easy as it had been were it not for the blade Zegar had given to him on the commencement of his mission. Striding back to the weaving chamber, Darkside put all thoughts regarding the guardian and his successful mission to one side. He was going back to where he belonged. And he had tales that needed ending.
