"So what is on the flash drive?" Tatsuya asks as he and Archimedes head down into the lab.
"Prototype software I had some programmers in the HAR department whip up. I had them strip out all of the programs that dictate the regular functions of the HAR, like cooking and cleaning, and had them replace them with the best movement drivers available. I also only have it equipped with rudimentary AI, capable of monitoring system status and streamlining commands but not much else. After I confirm that my Hydra's will function properly with this, they should be more responsive and I may even be able to use some of the leftover memory for my own calculations."
"So will the Hydra's be still be able to accomplish basic tasks without your input?"
"No, there aren't any basic protocols to be executed anymore. I only have the AI installed to reduce latency and help me with some of my calculations. I can handle all the higher functionality, only the most basic software required for functionality is installed. It should help, but I can't say for sure until we look over it. They will become the equivalent of my puppets, only able to move while I am pulling their strings."
Archimedes plugs the flash drive into a console, stepping aside as Tatsuya sits down and begins ripping through the code at a breakneck pace. Archimedes looks on casually, not even trying to keep up with Tatsuya's insane processing speed. Tatsuya knew his terminal better than the people who originally built it. Not only was he able to react to everything that came up on the screen with an inhuman reaction from time, he was able to predict what would be coming next. Archimedes admired this skill greatly, but knew that it came to Tatsuya with a great price. Archimedes asked Tatsuya how he felt about what had been done to him, and if he would have rejected it if he had been given a choice. This was one of the few things that Tatsuya had revealed himself to be unsure of. The choice was a paradox unto itself. While the current Tatsuya would undoubtedly go through it again for Miyuki's sake, he was not able to speak for who he had been before the operation. This only served to pique Archimedes' interest even more. The "experiment" that Tatsuya was put through was one of the only things he could not find information on in the Yotsuba's databases. Even when he questioned Maya about it, she just gave him a knowing smile before changing the topic.
"I'm done."
Tatsuya's voice breaks through Archimedes' stupor.
"What's the verdict?"
"I took out some coding that was superfluous but my limited knowledge of how the HAR's are programmed prevents me from doing more."
"Alright, throw it over to my terminal, I'll look over it again later while I prep it for upload. I need something to keep me occupied during those god awful security protocols the JSDF make me go through before updating the Hydras they keep on base."
"It's only to be expected. You haven't been associated with them long and you didn't necessarily make the best first impression."
"Time is of the essence. Handing over my Hydras to them limits how much I can physically interact with the models ready for deployment. I needed them to know who exactly they are dealing with. I needed tangible bargaining power in order to get what I needed. I needed… To give a show of power to expedite the process."
Archimedes could feel the tension in the room. It was only to be expected, but it was a still overwhelming given the nature of the attendees. Stray Psions buzzed throughout the room, which Archimedes could feel as they bounced off his own. Archimedes had been in situations with more magicians present and under higher stakes, but these were teenagers who were still learning how to properly control their magic. Archimedes leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and focusing on the Psions colliding with his own. While his sensory abilities paled in comparison to Tatsuya's, it was not without its own benefits. Archimedes could absorb the stray Psions that came into contact with his own, both increasing his available energy and absorbing fragments of information stored in the Psions themselves. Psions are used to enact a magician's "will" on the world around him/her, and justly contain the information needed to make that happen. However, each Psion can only hold so much information which is why so many are used with each casted spell and magicians are required to have such a high number of them. This volume often meant that the information gleaned from this ability is useless, but the possibility for useful information shot through the roof with large crowds such as this. By filtering out general and repeating information, Archimedes could cut through the sheer volume of information and find useful insight. This time, Archimedes was not pleased with what he found. It wasn't much, but there was an unnatural calmness buried in the sea of unease. Archimedes began to probe at this as the forum started. He moved his own Psions slowly and methodically, tracing the trickle of Psions that contained this ill-felt ease. He eventually reached the source, a small cluster of Psions isolated from the rest of the forum. Archimedes figured they must be outside, due to the complete absence of any other clusters of Psions. But as he begun to try to pinpoint their location, the ease suddenly transitioned to killing intent. Archimedes shot out of his seat, intent on getting to Tatsuya. But as he did so, a sickening crash resounded throughout the building.
Archimedes quickly makes for backstage, knowing full well that he would be useless if direct conflict broke out. He vaults onto the stage, sliding on his side over the polished surface. He shifts his center of gravity, using his momentum to roll to his feet. He turns his head, glancing back to assess the situation. He is pleasantly surprised to see that the situation had already been handled, and with extreme precision. But that pleasant feeling was short lived, as more explosions were coming from across the school grounds.
"Tatsuya, I'm moving for the student council room!" Archimedes shouted before darting towards the backstage door.
The student council room was the ideal place for Archimedes in this kind of situation, as it was isolated and had reinforced walls. That along with all of the "toys" in the Public Morals Committee room below. It also had near unrestricted access to the entire school's network. He burst out one of the side doors, Eureka quickly falling from his ring and taking the form of a jet black wolf.
"Eureka, stay close and defend me. Do not wander too far."
"As you command."
Archimedes begins moving towards another side entrance nearest to the student council room. Archimedes was able to move unhindered until opening the door. Armed men quickly rounded a corner just as 3 armed men round a corner.
"They must have been waiting for someone to open this…"
This door required a special combination linked to a student's ID card, only members of the student council or those given special permission could open doors like these.
"Step away from the door." The man in the lead commanded.
Eureka stepped out from behind him, snarling.
"Student is armed with a familiar! Assuming hostile! Target the student!"
Eureka jumps at the men while Archimedes leans against the wall. The men open fire on Eureka, the high powered rounds ripping into Eureka. However, these rounds do not even phase Eureka. They are stopped inside Eureka, dropping harmlessly to the ground. He tackles the man in command, ripping his throat out. Two thin black spikes emerge from Eureka's back, his back legs being absorbed into his body as penance. The spikes pierce the two men's skulls, killing them instantly. The two men drop to the ground, blood dripping down their foreheads. The spikes are reabsorbed back into Eureka's body, who is greedily slurping blood from the throat of the man he pounced. Archimedes watches with interest as Eureka grows just a little bit bigger by the second.
"Eureka, to my side."
Eureka turns back to Archimedes, the scarlet blood of the fallen soldier being absorbed into his being.
"Of course, master."
Archimedes and Eureka enter the school, making their way to the student council room with haste.
"Stand guard at the door." Archimedes commands as they enter the student council room.
"Understood."
Archimedes sits down at the terminal, casting necromancy on it and scanning over all the cameras.
'Not good…'
The armed individuals were all over the school, engaging teachers and students alike. The most frightening part was that there were some students fighting alongside the soldiers.
A small tap at the window draws Archimedes' attention. He turns and sees a small drone he summoned earlier. He opens the window and the drone flies inside. Archimedes takes the wrapped package from the drone before taking control of it to use for reconnaissance. He pilots the drone back out the window as he sets the package down on Mayumi's desk.
'I hope I don't have to use this, but I need it on hand just in case.'
He unwraps the package to reveal a large hand gun. It is covered in runes, all of which meet to form an intricate design that open with a flourish at the opening of the barrel. As Archimedes reaches down, the runes begin to glow a dull crimson. He grasps the gun and it flashes a bright crimson for a moment before dying back down to the dull glow of before. He continues to monitor the campus, powerless to interfere. He watches as Mayumi moves towards the student council room with haste.
'Eureka, let her pass.'
'As you command.'
Mayumi opens the door, her head still turned towards the direction of Eureka.
"It isn't like you to not be looking forward when you enter the room." Archimedes says, vacating Mayumi's chair.
"I knew that you were the only one in here. What was that out there?"
"I'm sure you are aware that I am exempt from practical's due to my ancient magic? He is one of the fruits of that magic. My ancient magic involves familiars. I am unable to use other magic due to the nature of how they are summoned."
"I see, is that why you are carrying that gun?"
Archimedes looks down at the gun that is lightly pulsating in his hand.
"Yes, it is a sort of fundamental familiar. The runes channel my Psions and make this handgun as powerful as a anti-mage rifle."
"Any other time I would be required to report this to the administration, but I'll let it slide this time given the circumstances."
Mayumi sits down at her desk, bringing up the cameras on the terminal.
"Thank you for your discretion. I'll take care of monitoring the cameras, go ahead and make any calls you need to."
Mayumi tosses a small portable headset to Archimedes.
"Then you'll need this. I am giving you permission to access the Morals's committee's comms."
Archimedes nods and slips it over his ear as he walks to the main terminal. He can hear Mari barking orders and waits for a lull to interject.
"Watanabe-Senpai? This is Shiba Archimedes. I have access to the school's cameras and humbly request temporary strategic command over the Public Morals Committee."
Barely a moment passes before he gets his response.
"Do it."
Eureka is laying at the front of Mayumi's desk, which is currently occupied by Archimedes. Archimedes had called Eureka back in after things started winding down, but kept him in his wolf form in case anything unexpected happened. He had already sent his drone home with his pistol, not wanting it to draw anymore unneeded attention.
"Alright, once you have your statement taken by a teacher or police officer return to the Moral Committee's room, Watanabe-Senpai will be having a de-brief there. Good job everyone."
Archimedes took the headset off and shook out his hair. The Morals Committee members had throughly impressed him. He had known going into it that they were all very talented people chosen for their high combat magic capabilities, but also new that they lacked actual combat experience. They had handled themselves well, dealing with the situation calmly and objectively. Archimedes had planned for at least 3 or 4 of the members breaking down in the face of trained soldiers equipped with anti-Mage armaments, but they all stood their ground and made it through.
But Archimedes could admire the actions of those students later. Right now, he had to deal with Tatsuya. Tatsuya opened the door in his normal fashion, completely shielding Miyuki behind him. However, this time he stopped just past the threshold of the room.
"We are heading to cut off the head. Transportation is being arranged. Let's go."
Archimedes nods and vacates the chair, following Tatsuya out the door with Eureka at his side.
"What the hell is that thing?" Erika asks with all her usual charm.
"This is Eureka, my familiar. Eureka, go say hello."
Eureka promptly obeys and sits in front of Erika, raising a paw for her to shake.
"You know what, I am not even going to question this. Enough crazy stuff has happened today."
"Everyone get in. We are leaving." Juumonji orders.
Archimedes gets into the back of the Humvee between Erika and Miyuki.
"So… Is 'Eureka' coming with us or…" Erika begins.
Eureka responds by compressing himself into his cat form and jumping up into Archimedes' lap.
Erika stares at this development, dumbfounded, before shaking her head and muttering "Not questioning it."
As they breach the compound, Archimedes elects to stay by Tatsuya. Archimedes is well aware of his strengths and weaknesses, knowing full well that he was better suited to a support role rather than the front lines. But Tatsuya knew that as well as he did. Tatsuya would not bring Archimedes along unless there was something that had to be seen in person. Even then, Tatsuya would usually choose letting Archimedes cast Necromancy on him instead. This was something Tatsuya felt Archimedes must be present for, and Archimedes was not about to argue.
Therefore, Archimedes followed behind Miyuki and Tatsuya as they entered the compound proper. They were soon greeted by quite the curious man.
"Welcome! Nice to meet you, Shiba Tatsuya! This hime-sama must be your sister Miyuki, right? And that boy behind the two of you must be your cousin, Archimedes."
The man's movements were extravagant, far too much for any sort of habit. He gave off the feeling of an overzealous actor purposefully trying to over-act.
"You must be the branch commander for Blanche." Tatsuya states coldly.
"Forgive my rudeness. It is as you say. I am the Japanese Branch commander of Blanche, Tsukasa Hajime."
"Is that so?" Tatsuya responds, unholstering one of his CADs.
"Hm, a CAD. I thought you would have brought a firearm. That said, you certainly are a bold one! You came forward heedless of any sort of cover. No matter how skilled a magician you may be, you can still be killed by bullet wounds!"
"I am no Magician." Tatsuya retorts without a hint of fear.
"Ah, I see. You are still just a student after all. I forgot about that after your fearless entrance."
"You talk too much. But there must be some power behind those words if you can spur all these people to support you."
"You are quite clever despite your youth. But with the dry demeanor of yours you will become an old timer in no time."
"At any rate, I advise you all to surrender. Lay your weapons down and put your hands on your heads."
"Such confidence! Where does it come from? After all, you are a weed that doesn't excel in magic, are you not? Oops, I'm sorry. I meant to say 'Course 2 student.' If you think the magic is the be all and end all, you are sadly mistaken. You have to be at least equal to us in strength before you start making demands. But despite that, I am going to make you an offer.
Join us.
I have heard great things of your cast jamming abilities without Antinite. I am quite interested in that.
Sadly, this exercise so far has been a complete failure. What we managed does not even to begin to recompense the time and effort it took to indoctrinate those students. However, I am willing to put this down as a win if you join our ranks."
"So that is why you had Mibu-senpai and your brother approach me. You just want to be able to use my cast jamming."
"Hm… While I do like smart children, you are confusing me a great deal. Your words and thoughts are so brilliant, but your actions are downright foolhardy. Well, I guess I will just have to chalk that up to the foolishness of youth. You all are so stubborn, you resist even in the face of certain defeat. Well, I guess I have no choice."
Tsukasa's movements began to resemble that of one skilled in slight of hand tricks as he threw his fake glasses into the air. He raised his forehead and caught Tatsuya's gaze.
"Shiba Tatsuya, become one of us!"
It was silent for a moment, but was quickly broken by Archimedes laughter.
Tsukasa stared at Archimedes with a sly grin.
"Do you not understand what happened boy?" Tsukasa asked, his tone overflowing with mirth.
"Oh, I understand. I understand everything now. My, it would seem that Tatsuya was concerned over a mere parlor trick. Well let me put you at ease, Tatsuya, that man's farce is nothing like my abilities."
"Oh? You wield a magic similar to my own? You seem mighty confident in your own abilities despite mine already proving themselves by converting your cousin."
Archimedes shakes his head at Tsukasa while sighing with a grin, much like one does when dealing with a confused child.
"What you just attempted was not magic, it was a simple parlor trick. Here, let me educate you on just how wrong you are."
Archimedes removes his contacts and looks to Tsukasa with a fiendish grin.
"Kneel." Archimedes commands with a sickeningly sweet voice.
The whites of Archimedes' eyes turn dark as the void and his Psions surround Tsukasa. Archimedes quickly overwhelms Tsukasa's subconscious with sheer mental force and takes control of his motor functions, forcing him to kneel.
Tsukasa looks at his body in shock, but regains his senses quickly.
"Tatsuya! Kill those two beside you!"
Tatsuya instead raises his CAD towards the armed men.
"Shoot those three dammit!"
The men's guns clatter to the ground in pieces.
Archimedes releases control of Tsukasa's body, causing him to topple to the floor.
Tsukasa clambers to his feet and retreats further into the compound while his men begin to panic.
"You two go on ahead. I will deal with these men." Miyuki states, a cold determination in her eyes.
Tatsuya and Archimedes nod in response before beginning to follow the fleeing Tsukasa with no real urgency. The men part the way for the two boys as they approach, unable to properly comprehend the situation. One regains his senses and attempts to hurtle his knife at Tatsuya in a final effort.
The man is encased in ice before he can even start his wind up.
"Don't waste too much energy on these people. They aren't worth your time." Tatsuya casually calls back.
"Of course, Onii-sama."
Archimedes and Tatsuya moved unhindered until the last room. The final 10 terrorists loyal to Tsukasa were waiting behind the door, their aim trained on the door. Without even stopping, Tatsuya cast decomposition on the pieces keeping the weapons together. Archimedes and Tatsuya walked through the door as the weapons fell to the ground as useless scrap metal. At that same moment, the room filled with an excess of Psion noise. Tatsuya was unaffected, but it hit Archimedes hard. Archimedes could feel the Psions all around him, and their erratic movements made it feel as if fire ants were crawling beneath his skin. He could vaguely make out the sight of Tsukasa's lips moving, but was more concerned with the thing on the man's finger.
"stop that…" Archimedes whispers.
He sees Tsukasa turn towards him through hazy vision.
"i said… stop… that… NOISE!"
As Archimedes shouted, he forced all of the Psions under his control to move to the same position as the epicenter of the noise.
Suddenly, the noise stopped.
Archimedes pushes off the wall he had been leaning against and straightens his back. He wipes a cold sweat off his brow and allows his Psions to return to their normal roaming state.
"How were you able…" Tsukasa started.
A look of clarity crossed Tsukasa's faced, quickly replaced by one of pure fear.
"No, don't tell me… You are one of them aren't you!"
Tsukasa scrambles backwards to the wall furthest from Archimedes.
"Monster! Stay away from me! I know what you are! You demon wearing human skin!"
Tsukasa was interrupted by a blade piercing through the wall behind him. He fell to the ground watching in terror as the blade sliced through the concrete like tissue. The wall crumbled to reveal Kirihara, looking as if he literally cut his way through the complex itself to get there. He looked down at the frightened Tsukasa on the ground.
"Who's this guy?"
"That's Blanche's commander." Tatsuya responded nonchalantly.
Rage filled Kirihara's eyes.
"You were the one who tricked Mibu!" He yelled, raising his sword and activating Sonic Blade.
Tsukasa screamed and activated his Antinite once again but with an exponentially higher output of noise. The sheer amount of noise was too much for Archimedes, who fainted on the spot.
It was now May, and all of the aftermath regarding the terrorist incident was just about wrapped up. Mibu was being released from the hospital and Tatsuya, Miyuki, and friends were going to visit her to celebrate.
As Tatsuya and Miyuki arrived, they were greeted by Erika, who wore an inquisitive look on her face.
"Is something wrong?" Tatsuya asks.
"Yeah… Where's Archimedes?"
"Now tell me, why did you refer to me as 'a demon wearing human skin?'"
Archimedes was inside Tsukasa's cell in a high security magical prison. Through the Yotsoba's connections, Archimedes had managed to secure a meeting with Tsukasa. Specifically, one off the record and very private.
"I merely called you what you are." Tsukasa answers with a goofy grin.
Tsukasa was under heavy sedation, as the first time he had met with Archimedes that day led to a violent freak out on Tsukasa's part. He was noticeably calmer now, and in the perfect state for Archimedes to subtly influence Tsukasa using necromancy.
"That's very vague. Could you be more specific?"
"Not really~~ A demon is what you are called, but I don't know exactly what that entails. Our leader warned the higher ups about your kind. I wasn't given many details but it was said that you had the ultimate form of mind control. We were told to get away as soon as possible if we ever met one of your kind~~"
'So there are those who are out there who know who or what I am.' Archimedes thinks to himself.
"Tell me. Who is this leader of yours and where are they?"
"No idea~~ Never met the guy in person."
Archimedes sighed heavily. While he had realized he would probably glean only a small amount of information from Tsukasa, he was throughly disappointed in how little the man in charge of anti-Mage activity in Japan knew about his own organization's leadership. Archimedes could understand that the overwhelming majority of a terrorist organization did not know the identity of their leader, but a regional chief not knowing who they were serving? That was absurd. Tsukasa was either too trusting or a pawn in a much larger game.
"Anything else you want to know, you inhuman monster?" Tsukasa asks with a giggle.
"Not unless you remember anything else that you were told about me."
Tsukasa rocks back and forth on his bed, making a small creaking sound as he looks blankly up at the ceiling.
"Hmmm… I think that's it."
"I'll take my leave then." Archimedes says as he gets to his feet.
Archimedes is about to signal for the guard to open the door when Tsukasa pipes up.
"I remembered one last thing. Our leader referred to you as the last of your kind!"
Holy fuck this took a while. Sorry about that. I promise the next few chapters will not take so long to come out. Hinting more towards what Archimedes truly is, interested in seeing what you guys think.
See you guys in the next chapter!
