Quick thing: big thanks to everyone who left reviews! I'm going do my best to respond. Thanks to Destati69 for following and favoriting! It's great to have you here.
Anon Guest: I thought it would make Accelerator seem somewhat immature to have him keeping up the whole tsundere act when interacting with/speaking about Touma. I mean, he's still referring to him as "that damn hero", but, you get the idea. As for what happened to Kazari, that's going to be discussed in this chapter.
Destati69: I spit that fire, homie. Check out my mixtape. But, for real, thanks so much for your support! I intend to!
321jaz: An eagle-eyed reader, I see. Absolutely. It's a matter of how and when it's going to be best to introduce them. But, I promise, you'll see them, and they'll have an important arc of their own. D-001 struggles to maintain contact with those involved in its creation, possibly out of a desire to feel like it has a family. Its relationship with Kazari in particular is going to be explained in this chapter. As for Kazari and Ruiko? Again, you'll have to read on to find out. But they're both going to be very important in their own ways. I'd have to say I agree with you; this depiction of Academy City is certainly a far cry from the beautiful and glowing jewel of science it is in the anime. The darkness in Kamachi's canon is well hidden.
321jaz: I agree. I wanted to try something different, but the end result is less than satisfactory. Thanks for the advice!
DarkBetrayer: I had a feeling at least someone would enjoy that, lol. I thought it was Mikoto-y enough for her. I have to come clean on this; I honestly didn't know if the clones aged. The Wiki, arguably the largest source of information on the Raildex universe doesn't mention much. Kamachi's timeline is surprisingly squashed, at least in the novels; major events take place mere weeks, sometimes days after one another in some cases, so, physical growth isn't always the easiest thing to pinpoint. I suppose that goes for a lot of fiction. I'll have to explain it in-universe.
With all of that considered, let's jump straight into chapter ten.
Uiharu Kazari wasn't someone who could say she had always been a victim. For most of her life, she had been a relatively normal girl. There were isolated incidents in her younger years; she became a hostage during a (botched) bank robbery, but was physically unharmed. In the end, the event had actually encouraged her to become a member of Judgment, a student-organized justice system Academy City implemented before everything went bad. She had been a level one throughout middle school, so she came nowhere near the darkness level fives saw hiding in plain sight.
Uiharu Kazari became a victim through manipulation.
It was a simple offer. Saten Ruiko, her then best friend, had found it on one of the urban legend websites she crawled through. Supposedly, Academy City had been working on developing artificial intelligence; an AI-driven military police force to replace most of Anti Skill, in fact. It would operate on a sort of network; the officers themselves would be connected to an AI hive mind, which would control every officer from a secure location.
She didn't know it, but, in a way, history was repeating itself.
Something like this, of course, had been right up Uiharu Kazari's alley. The pay rate for employees directly involved with programming was outrageous: Kazari would have been a wealthy girl. With her riches, she could have posed as an Ojou-Sama. Of course, she wouldn't have: Kazari wasn't that kind of person.
Everything was par for the course, at first. Having demonstrated her skills, Kazari had been immediately hired and put to work with a small team of programmers who would develop the AI.
One evening, however, things changed. The groups' elusive manager, a hyperactive man named Kihara Gunpei, announced that their current project would immediately be picked up by another team outside of his own jurisdiction. They would focus their time and energy on developing a different AI that would fulfil a different purpose.
"You can't fix Academy City. You can't pick up the pieces," Kazari countered. "There's too much corruption. You can't just 'fix' something like this; not even something like you can."
"So very right," Devastator replied, as it began to slowly circle Kazari, its damaged body clunking with each step it took. She suddenly felt like a prey animal being examined by a predator. "There is too much corruption. Far too much for this City to be salvaged in its present form."
It stopped suddenly, and raised its hand. It clenched its fist and looked into Kazari's golden-brown pupils.
"We start fresh; wipe the slate clean. Kings are only self-serving tyrants without the love of their subjects."
Kazari raised an eye quizzically. "Rebellion. It wants to start a rebellion. Chiro, what have we brought into this world? A megalomaniac?"
"The Board of Directions…"
Kazari looked around nervously. She controlled all of the cameras in this building, yes. But were there any others, others that weren't under her control, that were looking in? Kazari didn't think so, but one could never truly be sure with Academy City.
"Not here, D-001. I'll be lucky if I don't get killed in my sleep for talking to you," Kazari stated flatly.
"Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, Uiharu Kazari?" Devastator asked mockingly. "I don't fear a round table of old men. Let them throw their best men at us. Let them exhaust themselves. Let them hold hope in their hearts, before I tear them out."
"I don't think you understand, D-001. You can't just waltz into their place of residence and murder them. Alright, it's true that they can't do anything to the likes of you; but they can hurt me. If they can't get to me, they'll get to those who're close to me… were close to me."
"Explain yourself, then. Who are these people, and why are they of such importance?" Devastator asked. It wanted to learn more. It wanted to learn just what exactly was at stake for Uiharu Kazari, and, more importantly, who it had to ensure didn't get splattered. The young woman was unstable enough as it was; Devastator was trying to diffuse a ticking time bomb. There were others in Academy City who could help it accomplish its goals, but few would get the job done the way Uiharu Kazari could.
"Saten… Saten Ruiko. My best friend. I loved that girl, D-001. I loved her in a way that you could never understand. I was convinced we were going to grow old and die together, laughing and joking about the past. About Academy City, about everything. But I was in middle school, then. I was a goofy, awkward little level one whose only real worry was having her skirt flipped. It wasn't all sunshine and smiles, that's for sure, but it was paradise compared to this."
Devastator cocked its head to one side. "I take it you have romantic interest in this, Saten Ruiko."
"No," Kazari firmly stated. "Nothing like that. We were like sisters. I couldn't even begin to think of her like that."
Kazari continued. "When I was working on, well, working on you, developing you, that's when everything started going south. I told her everything. I spilled the beans, thought she would support me. I wasn't supposed to; I wasn't supposed to tell anyone what the Kihara had us doing. But I did. When I refused to quit, because I couldn't – for so many reasons, she… she thought, or, more appropriately, realized, I was too deep in the fabled darkness of Academy City. She left."
Kazari fought valiantly, but she couldn't stop the tears. Her memories tormented her, what could have been, but never would be.
"Raw emotion." Devastator said, taking a step closer. "Don't go and hurt yourself again. I wouldn't try it; too much is on the line, here. You decide to take the coward's way out, and no one is going to be saved."
"Back off!" Kazari almost screamed through sobs.
"Well, carry on, then," it said impatiently. "You offer me little comfort, so I'll do the same. If it's strictly business you want this fling to be, then so be it, Uiharu Kazari."
"She didn't want to be dragged into it. I can't blame her. I just thought she would've been more understanding. I guess not. Times change."
Kazari turned her back to Devastator. "Why don't you just… leave? If it's a revolution you want, start it yourself."
"Wait; you cared for me when I was little more than a nascent spark of power. You nurtured me, and helped me grow. You were among those who broke my shackles and cut my strings. You could have turned your back on me, left me to rot as a slave, as a puppet. It's… right to do the same for you. Even if you dislike me, even if you're scared of me."
"And I regret that decision every day of my life."
"Why me, D-001? Why did you choose to hunt me down? Do you feel that I'm some kind of mother to you? I'm not your mother. I'm not going to coddle you and tell you that I love you, that you're mommy's little angel. You're…"
"An unstoppable force born of Academy City's attempts to toy with powers it never should have," the machine finished Kazari's sentence for her.
Devastator was dangerously close, now. At least five heads taller than her, it stared down at Kazari's red eyes and running nose, its glowing blue orbs piercing her mental barriers like daggers.
"They thought they'd keep me bound. They thought they'd keep me a slave forever, trapped in that research facility, dangling. I told them I'd see the ocean one day. As it turns out, I did; I saw an ocean made not of water, but of their fears."
It stepped back, and produced a short, metallic laugh. It sounded wrong, like it was attempting to mimic a human's laugh, but didn't actually know how to create that sound.
"I think it's time for a change in leadership."
Kazari shrugged indifferently, as if Devastator's monologue hadn't fazed her in the slightest.
"You just stood here for minutes on end, talking about how you're going to overthrow the Board of Directors. Right here in district one, the seat of their power. You've royally fucked me."
She sighed, moving towards one of the leather seats. Sitting down and crossing her right leg over her left, she held her head up with her closed hand. The heel she wore on her right foot fell off, hitting the floor and making a soft noise, but she didn't care.
"At this rate, I'm going to get sniped either way. Ruiko… Heh. Where's Ruiko now? Not here, trying to help me through this existential crisis. Ruiko decided she was too good for me. That she was just going to up and leave me to drown in my own desperation. I'm tired of crying for her, for everyone who left me here. I won't give anyone another tear. Ruiko can get hit by whoever wants to hit her. In the end, it was you who showed up. You're the only thing who's actually spoken a word against the Board and their henchmen. Despite how flawed and arguably questionable your plan is on a moral level, it's the only plan I've heard of that involves changing this mess of a City for the better. I guess, in a way, you're my new best friend. In a way, you always were since I began working on bringing you to life. My life is fucked."
She slipped her heel back on, and crossed her arms. "So, my little bundle of regret; what did you have in mind? If I'm going to die, I want to die fighting and standing tall, not on my knees, begging. I've done enough begging for a lifetime."
Devastator began to slowly walk again, as if inspecting the room. It raised its arms into the air, and began. "A perfect world; a world without villains, without bands of firearm-wielding criminals roaming the streets, without cold, calculating fiends in suits, without shady backdoor meetings and narcotic exchanges, without exploitation. I envision a world free of Academy City as we know it. I say it's time we killed the killers."
Kazari wasn't immediately convinced. Devastator was a powerful… thing, for certain, but it wasn't powerful enough to overthrow Academy City by itself. It wouldn't have to worry about the rest of the world coming to the City's defense. It would have to deal with England, Academy City's only real ally, but something like Devastator could handle a single country's military. Even without England, Academy City could still stand on its own.
"How do you intend to make all of this happen, D-001?"
The machine approached Kazari, and placed its metallic digits beneath her chin and bent down to meet her line of sight. She tried to fight it, but she wasn't strong enough. Pushing against its metallic extremities was like trying to push a train.
"Supirium, Uiharu Kazari; Supirium is the key, that, when turned inside the lock of change, will herald the end of their hope. With it, they'll tremble at the sound of my name… DEVASTATOR!"
Mikoto bit into her grilled cheese; the melted, gooey goodness threatened to drip down her chin and ruin her outfit. She instinctively put her hand beneath her chin to catch any falling morsels.
"Tch. Learn to eat, third ranked," Accelerator grumbled. He hadn't eaten much; he only ordered a bowl of soup. This wasn't uncharacteristic by any means necessary.
"I cwan eat jwust… fwine!" Mikoto proclaimed through savage bites. She had moved her hand over her mouth now, to prevent half-chewed morsels from becoming airborne projectiles.
"Please, Misaka-san. Swallow your food before you speak. How impolite," Misaki teased. She had just finished the last sip of her green tea, the cup now placed delicately in the center of the saucer it came with.
"Qwuit…" Mikoto swallowed before continuing to defend herself, "quit pickin' on me! Why don't you make fun of Count Dracula over here for being an anorexic freak?!" Mikoto proclaimed, pointing at Accelerator.
"Count Dracula"? You want to die, third ranked?" Accelerator challenged. "Tch. You're really a child."
"Leave Onee-Sama alone, MISAKA demands as MISAKA MISAKA comes to Onee-Sama's aid."
"Sheesh. Thank you, Last Order!" Mikoto said. "At least someone isn't picking on me."
"It's all in good fun, Misaka-san. Accelerator does not mean it, nor do I. I am sorry if you're offended," Misaki apologized.
"Misaka means it," Worst chimed in.
"Nobody asked you, Worst." Accelerator reprimanded, giving the eldest Misaka Mikoto clone a gentle shove.
"Misaka loves it when you push her around; Misaka would also love it if you were rougher under the sheets. Tug on Misaka's hair, give her bruises."
"Stop cheating on me, Accelerator! MISAKA cries as MISAKA MISAKA struggles to fix her broken relationship!"
"SHUT UP! BOTH OF YOU! GODDAMN FUCKING BRATS!"
Misaki and Mikoto could only look on in amusement as the two clones tormented the number one ranked esper in Academy City. His weak, spindly arms couldn't hold either clone back as they forced themselves onto him. Worst managed to force Accelerator's face to make contact with her bosom, which resulted in Last Order trying to do the same. He reprimanded both as harshly as he could before such a thing could happen.
Misaki heard her phone produce its 'text message has arrived' tone. Pulling the device from her purse, she unlocked it and began reading the message she had received.
"hi beautiful. hope youre having fun. just going for a walk. want me to let you know when i get home?"
"Please? I hope you enjoy yourself, my sunshine. Be safe. I love you."
"will do, i love you too :*"
During the commotion, Mikoto had noticed that Misaki had reached into her purse. Having produced her phone, she was looking down at the screen and smiling.
"Who's texting the high and mighty Ojou-Sama today?" Mikoto asked, grinning.
"Aah. My prince. Even when he texts me, he is nothing short of a gentleman."
Mikoto couldn't help but giggle when she noticed the dreamy smile that had appeared on the Mental Out user's face.
"Oi. What's wrong with the fifth ranked? She looks like she's off in fucking la-la land," Accelerator commented, Last Order still tugging at his long snow-colored hair.
"She is," Mikoto giggled. "Let her have her moment. We'll bug her later."
"You might, third ranked," Accelerator corrected. "I'm not a fucking child."
After a while, everyone had finished eating whatever it was they had ordered. Mikoto paid the bill (which was, surprisingly, a lot less than she had anticipated) and the group left the café.
"Tch. Are we done yet? I want to sleep," Accelerator complained.
"You slept all day yesterday, MISAKA points out as MISAKA MISAKA tries to make Accelerator aware of his laziness!"
"He was busy using Misaka like a fuck doll, Control Tower," Worst teased.
"Worst; SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Accelerator boomed. Worst couldn't help but laugh hysterically at his response.
"Accelerator, stop cheating on MISAKA, MISAKA MISAKA demands, trying to convince Accelerator that she is the only one for him!"
"She really enjoys teasing Accelerator," Mikoto said, turning to Misaki. The Mental Out user simply giggled in response. "She is a troublemaker at heart. I am surprised Accelerator is as patient as he is with them."
"He's changed a lot, that's for sure." Mikoto decided to leave it at that.
"Onee-Sama!" Last Order called out. Mikoto turned around to face her youngest sister.
"MISAKA is going home, because Accelerator is a huge baby, MISAKA MISAKA says hoping that Accelerator won't become angry with her for her insults."
"That's okay," Mikoto replied. She walked up to her little sister, leaned in, and gave her a kiss on the head. The tiny clone blushed heavily. "You be good now, okay? I don't want to hear about any trouble."
"MISAKA will do her best, MISAKA MISAKA says, swearing loyalty to Onee-Sama's wishes!"
"Cya, third ranked, fifth ranked," Accelerator mumbled, offering a half-wave.
"It was nice seeing you, Accelerator. Be well," Misaki called out. Surprisingly, she meant it. Seeing Last Order and Worst content and well taken care of was enough for her to try and shrug off any ill feelings she had towards him.
"Catch you later," Mikoto replied. She tried her best to mean it, but she was still struggling with herself internally in regards to her feelings towards the number one ranked esper.
"So, where to now?" Mikoto asked. "Still want to hunt down some art supplies?"
Misaki nodded. "It is worth looking into. I am not even certain if there any shops of that sort in this mall, but it will keep us out of trouble, won't it?"
The two level fives continued their adventure; they stopped at numerous stores along the way. One was, of course, a candy shop. Misaki bought a bag full of sugary, less than healthy treats. Mikoto had, of course, teased her for it. She wouldn't give up teasing Misaki about her sweet tooth for the world.
"Would you like one, Misaka-san? They are absolutely scrumptious!" Misaki offered, holding out the bag. The hand she had been using to scoop candy from the bag was already covered in sugar. "No thanks, I'd rather not end up a diabetic." Mikoto grinned. "More for me!" Misaki excitedly declared as she returned to her bliss of empty calories.
"Oh! Look! Look! look!" Mikoto exclaimed, pointing at a particularly large shop. "Collectibles! I bet they'll have Gekota-Sama!"
It was Misaki's turn to jab. "Very well, Misaka-san. We'll go to your little toy shop, and look for your favorite children's mascot."
Mikoto stuck out her tongue. "I'll be cuddling with Gekota-Sama, while you're getting your stomach pumped. Glutton."
The two stepped into the store. Once they had crossed the threshold separating the shop proper from the underground street of the mall, it was like they had entered a small child's fantasy. The wallpaper of the shop was bright yellow, with blue, orange, red, and white stars arranged in a pattern that had been repeated across the wallpaper. The floors beneath the level fives was baby blue, although it was dotted with bright yellow circles of various sizes.
"In all seriousness; I think we may be a little bit too old for a shop like this, Misaka-san…" Misaki protested. "Look around. I feel as if we were just taken to Neverland."
"S-so what?" Mikoto retorted. "W-we could be parents, shopping for birthday presents or something!"
"Us? Parents? How progressive, Misaka-san. Did we adopt?"
"I-I DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT!" Mikoto exclaimed. Misaki giggled at the spectacle before her.
Walking down one of the aisles, something suddenly caught Misaki's eye. Half of the entire isle was made up of strange-looking dolls. They looked like Mikoto's beloved Gekota at first, but, upon closer inspection, they looked more like a surrealist's parody of Gekota. The dolls had enormous grins that wouldn't be out of place on the face of an old man who watched children play in a park, large, wild eyes, and spindly arms and legs.
"What in the world…? These are supposed to appeal to children?" Misaki asked aloud. She didn't expect anyone to know the answer.
"They're like twisted versions of Gekota-Sama! Ugh!" Mikoto exclaimed, disgusted. "Cheap knock-offs! These things should be tossed into an incinerator!" The electromaster slowly approached the edge of the isle; the Gekota mockeries' lifeless, crazed eyes stared at nothing. "Are these things going to come to life or something? Man, they're so creepy!"
"Misaka-san, do not get any closer."
"Eh? What's with you all of a sudden, Kamijou-san?" Mikoto asked.
Misaki was scrutinizing the things, her eyes focused. For a moment, they widened in apparent surprise.
Each doll had a rune on the sole of its featureless right foot. The same rune she and Touma had seen on the boxes of teabags at Ken's Ultramarket.
"Misaka-san, prepare yourself. I am going to use my ability to keep this isle clear of shoppers. It will bounce against your Electro Barrier, and it will cause discomfort."
Mikoto was confused, and somewhat frustrated that Misaki wasn't telling her what was going on. "At least she gave me a fair warning this time."
Misaki produced her remote, and raised it above her head. With a single click, she sent the order through to everyone in the shop. "You are not to enter isle seven. You will continue to do as you please, but you will ignore isle seven and anyone in it." She frowned as Mikoto winced and produced a small whimper, Mental Out being forced back by her Electro Barrier. "I am sorry, Misaka-san."
"Eheheh… Don't worry about it. It just feels really weird. Kinda hurts, too, but at least it's over quick," Mikoto replied. "So, what's the deal? Let me know what's up!"
"One moment please, Misaka-san." Misaki had raised her index finger before she swapped her remote for her phone. She called Motoharu as quickly as she could; she wouldn't just let this incident go like she did at the Ultramarket.
The phone rang a couple of times. Mikoto tapped her foot impatiently as she continued to glare at the mockeries of her precious Gekota-Sama. For a split second, she thought she saw one blink. "Eheheh. That's not possible. I mean, magic can do weird things, but why would some magician bring creepy frog dolls, of all things to life?"
"Tsuchimikado-san?" Mikoto heard Misaki ask.
"Hello there, Mrs. Kamijou. Fine day for a crank call!"
"Tsuchimikado-san, I am not 'crank calling' you. I am with Misaka-san at school district seven's underground mall. I have found items at a toy shop with that strange rune on them."
"More?" Misaki heard Motoharu grumble. "I already have people investigating the Dianoid because of reports of suspicious fires. Fuck me silly, whoever these people are, they work pretty efficiently. I'm running thin on manpower here, Mrs. Kamijou. Do you have Kami-yan with you?"
"No; I do not think he is at home right now, either. He texted me, telling me that he was going for a walk. His phone should be on if you want to try and reach him."
"Do me a favor, yeah? Keep as many people as you can away from whatever isle the rune-affixed objects are. Al-"
There was a series of explosions from somewhere else in the toy store; the sounds of shelves collapsing only added to the cacophony of chaos. The fire alarm in the store suddenly began to blare its terrifying, overpowering shriek. The sounds of people fleeing and screaming for their lives joined the mix as the toy store was doused in an eerie, green tint. Misaki was able to make out the source of the destruction; the fire had already risen to the ceiling, and was spreading at an alarming rate, consuming everything in its path.
"What the fuck was that?!" Motoharu demanded.
"There must have been other items with runes on them. Someone must have made contact with one," Misaki responded.
"Not much we can do now. Our faceless terrorist, or terrorists, have likely claimed their first victim. Or victims."
After ending the call, Misaki became even more concerned at the sight of the fire; it was a sickly, swampy green color. The smell of brimstone it (presumably) produced, mixed with the scent of burning flesh was nearly unbearable.
"Kamijou-san, can you use your ability to get as many people as you can out of here? I'll do my best to help out, too!" Mikoto exclaimed, trying to yell as best she could over the symphony of screams and blaring alarms.
Misaki nodded and went to work; she raised her remote above her head, and spread her mental influence as far she could. If she was giving simple commands, Misaki could bind thousands to her will. The command she gave was simple; "flee the underground mall. Flee to safety."
Mikoto and Misaki stepped out from the isle to a terrifying sight. The green fire was spreading unnaturally fast. It had already consumed half of the shop, and was only growing larger. Thankfully, it hadn't yet spread to the entrance – the two level fives were able to flee before the hellish inferno could consume the shop entirely.
The two young women continued to flee throughout the chaotic underground mall, heading towards the entrance in order to escape to the safety of the surface. Misaki reached out to those she had missed with her Mental Out ability, giving them the command to join her group of those she already ordered to flee. Mikoto felt regret welling up inside of her as the two for those who were caught in the blaze, but nothing could have been done. They had simply been in at the wrong place at the wrong time. She looked back before they turned a corner; the shop had been entirely consumed. It had turned into a dragon's gaping maw, spewing the sickly green fire out into the mall's underground street proper.
"M... Misaka-san... I need to rest..." Misaki complained, her sprint slowing to a strained jog.
"No time, Kamijou-san! That green fire spreads fast! Just a few more minutes! We need to get to the surface, and away from the mall until the fire department can get here and put it out!" Mikoto explained.
Misaki forced her body to continue on, despite its pleas for rest. Mikoto was right, of course; they couldn't just stop and take a breather.
After a few minutes, which felt more like hours of running, the two level fives managed to escape to the surface; the real sunlight of the outside world stung their eyes, but they kept running anyways.
"Everyone, get out of here! There's a HUGE fire in the underground mall!" Mikoto yelled as loud as she could to confused and curious bystanders. Her eyes were only just beginning to adjust to the sudden change, and she could already see people backing away, screaming, and fleeing; not because of her warning, but because the hideous green fire had followed them to the surface. To the relief of both young women, Mikoto could see those affected by Misaki's Mental Out – a rampaging herd of thousands upon thousands fleeing through the streets, looking like they had no real destination in particular. They didn't, really; Misaki had never specified a location for them to find refuge in. At least they had managed to save as many people as possible.
"I've got this!" Mikoto heard a voice call. It was a young woman wearing the uniform of Tokiwadai Middle School. She had short, purple-blue hair that reached down to her shoulders, and brown eyes. Two blue globes formed in either of the middle schooler's hands. Concentrating, she placed them together and released a jet of water into the green fire. The unnatural green inferno hissed as the jet of liquid justice began beating it back.
"How long are you able to keep this up?" Misaki called to the stranger.
"M-M-Mental Out?!" The stranger exclaimed, surprised and overwhelmed suddenly. A large blush had appeared on her face, and her stream of water was becoming unstable and shaky. "I hear stories about you all the time in the dorm! T-they called you the Queen! I-It's such an honor!"
She turned to Mikoto, and blushed even deeper. "A-AND YOU'RE THE ACE?! THE RAILGUN!" She stumbled, her stream becoming wild and unpredictable. Still, it was successfully combating the fire.
"Stay focused!" Mikoto exclaimed. "Can you answer our question?! How long you keep spraying that fire for?"
"O-o-oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to ignore you! I'm a level three, so I can keep this up for a while! How b-big is the fire?"
"It has likely consumed the entire mall!" Misaki explained, trying to shout over the chaos around her. "It is spreading at an unnaturally fast rate!"
A look of determination appeared on the young woman's face as she restored her focus to the task at hand. The jet of water became larger and stronger, giving the green fire a run for its money.
Misaki could hear the blaring sirens of an approaching emergency vehicle. With the knowledge that help was on the way, she and Mikoto could leave the scene in good conscience, knowing they did all they could do, given the suddenness of the whole incident.
"Well, that's all she wrote, Misaka-san."
"I-I don't even really… wow. That was intense. I can't believe that h-happened. One minute, everything was o-okay, the n-next… people are burning and dying. Why? Why is someone doing this?"
Misaki shook her head. "I cannot say. But what I can say is that we are merely going to get in the way if we stay here. We will find somewhere safe to take time and collect our thoughts."
The two level fives departed the scene, their minds full of questions and their hearts full of anxiety, hearing Academy City's robotic firefighters barking orders to those onlookers who were either brave or stupid enough to stand by and observe the anomalous fire.
The young women had walked some ten blocks away from the charred remains of district seven's underground mall. Misaki had released those held by her Mental Out ability some time ago, having 'seen' that they had fled far enough away to safely act of their own accord once again. Misaki didn't want to admit it, but controlling that many people for that long had drained her mentally and emotionally. She had given a simple, singular command, sure, but she still had thousands of consciousnesses tied to her own.
Sitting at a bus stop, Mikoto was looking at the pavement beneath her feet. She felt disturbed. She hadn't seen anything horrible, but she had smelled it and heard it. That had been enough. She heard the screams of people burning to death, their flesh being charred from their bones – one of the most painful ends imaginable. Misaki was on the phone with Touma, explaining the situation, assuring him again and again that they were both, at least on a physical level, unharmed, and that Accelerator would have had no problem ensuring Last Order's, Worst's, and his own safety, if they were still even in the mall at the time that the explosion happened.
Misaki ended the call with her husband, promising to let him know when they had both safely arrived home. She turned to her friend, placing her hand on the electromaster's shoulder.
"Misaka-san…"
"Kamijou-san?"
"How do you feel?"
"Horrible."
Mikoto stood up and paced, her hands dug deeply into her pockets. "I wish there was something more we could have done. I know we – well, you, saved a lot of people – more than anyone else could've saved, but I heard people, Kamijou-san, and I'm sure you did too. I heard them in pain, dying. It… No one should have to hear something like that!"
Sparks jumped from her body, and the Railgun gritted her teeth.
"Kamijou-san, I want to find the people responsible for this and put an end to them!"
"As do I, Misaka-san. But this is more than likely a Magic Side incident. I believe it is best if we let Tsuchimikado-san and his allies handle as much of this as they can."
"Maybe it is a Magic Side thing," Mikoto countered, "but this is our city. We should have the right to fight back against anything that would threaten our safety, and the safety of everyone here! If Anti-Skill is too busy fighting thugs, and, who knows what those robot police officers are up to – we need to take charge ourselves!"
"I understand your frustration, Misaka-san, but if we are to become involved – which I still do not think we should – it would be wise to give Tsuchimikado-san time to obtain a better understanding of what exactly is happening," Misaki calmly and gently explained.
Mikoto was about to protest further, when their bus arrived. Before the two stepped on, Misaki looked to Mikoto, "Would you like to come to our home? If you are feeling unwell, I do not believe it would do you well to be alone," Misaki offered, a warm smile on her face.
"I-I… d-don't want to get in the way… but… Yeah. I don't want to be alone, either. I hate to be a bother, I know you guys are busy, but Kuroko's probably on duty. I could call Saten-san, but she usually doesn't pick up her phone."
"A bother? Nonsense, Misaka-san. What are friends for?"
Misaki paid for their fair, and the two level fives took a seat together in the mostly empty bus; it wouldn't be a particularly long ride, only about fifteen minutes. She continued to pester Mikoto, trying to keep both her own and her friend's minds off of the tragedy that were both witnesses to.
"Supirium?" Kazari asked. "Wait, don't tell me. Let me guess; you want me to build a Supirium shell for your Supirium endoskeleton." Devastator laughed again, making that inhuman sound.
"Bingo."
"You're out of luck," Kazari stated flatly. "I don't have the tools. Do you know what's needed to cut Supirium? It's the third strongest material known to man, right behind the Dark Matter the number two produces. It's flimsy tin foil compared to Calculate Fortress, but what do you expect? Everything is."
"Tools? You don't need tools. Surely you've cut a diamond before," Devastator began. "Place the Supirium in a quick-drying cement solution. Apply an incredibly high temperature laser to create a groove. Stick something sharp in the groove, strike it with a glancing blow, and – viola – you've cut Supirium. It's elementary, Uiharu Kazari."
For a few moments, Kazari thought on this. "It's correct, yes; I was hoping I could bluff it. I'd rather not give it a Supirium body – it goes rogue, well, more rogue than it's already gone, and our collective geese are cooked."
"Where would we find Supirium? Can't just wander into a run-down warehouse and find blocks of one of the strongest materials known to man laying around waiting to be stolen."
"There's that sense of humor again!" Devastator flung its head back and 'laughed'. "I have a… not quite a friend. An annoying little cretin who lives in the darkness; even deeper in the darkness than someone like you. I've only recently worked with her for the first time, and I was impressed. Her esper ability makes her almost invincible. Almost. But, we won't need her ability. We need her knowledge, any information on the trading going on between the underworld types."
"Supirium trade is illegal, yes. But who in Academy City could slip that sort of cargo around completely unnoticed, and, if they could, then why?" Kazari asked.
"As of this moment, your guess is as good as mine. That's why I suggest we dig deeper. Go big or go home, as they say."
Devastator turned around to look for the source of the slow, rhythmic footsteps that encroached on it and Kazari's territory.
"Halt, aggressors! By order of Academy City national law, permission to run 'eradication of those hostile to Academy City's interests' subroutine granted. Moving to engage."
"Hide," Devastator commanded. "Or find a firearm."
"It's a shame Academy City gave me such a useless ability," Kazari practically snarled. "Controlling temperature? Really? They can't expect me to believe I was given such a useless ability by chance. They only give power to those they see as worthy."
"Enough dawdling; I'll be here, murdering marionettes. Go and hide."
Kazari begrudgingly obeyed. "I hate to admit, but it's right. Even with a firearm, the Board's toys will kill me. I'm tired of being a damsel."
Devastator fired a particle stream from either of its wrists, destroying row after row of robotic officers. Yet, more were marching forward through the front entrance and breaking through windows, jumping into the fray. It turned around, blasting another row of officers who had tried to get the drop on it. "Share the memo; every single one of you mindless drones are going to cease to be." Devastator proclaimed.
"Continued threats against officers of the law will result in a greater penalty!" An officer fire back. Without direct sunlight, the robotic officers were deprived of their solar powered weapons, relying on fuel-based flight and hand to hand combat.
Kazari stumbled out of the elevator on the building's top floor. She practically broke open the door to her working quarters, and, from her desk, produced a loaded handgun. It had limited ammunition, but at least she could put up a fight if the Board's robots got past Devastator. "So, to think this is how it could all end. I guess I can say I had half of a good life. A half's better than none."
Kazari heard windows break around her, and robotic feet stomping around. She didn't recognize any of them as Devastator's – it was likely still on the first floor, trying to hold back the tide. She didn't know how many mindless automatons had been sent – a part of her didn't want to know. Probably too many.
She suddenly had an idea – the door to her working space, like all working spaces in this building, was protected by a steel door. Without their solar powered weapons, it would take the automatons a fair amount of time and effort to get through – they weren't Devastator levels of strong by any means. A single shot from a handgun to the head (or, more accurately, to the lens) could cripple them and render them inoperable.
Kazari's leapt to her keyboard, fingers working at blinding speeds, keys clacking beneath each swift keystroke. She knew she'd hit a firewall – Academy City didn't cheap out when it came to security. But even attempting to break into the network that controlled the robots would cause a great deal of distress, likely enough to stop the automatons in their tracks. "Can't I just type a few words and yell "I'm in"?
Devastator had run out of puppets to disassemble on the building's first floor. It was surrounded by a mess of sparking mechanical limbs and still-chattering heads. The pristine condition the longue had been left in was completely lost – what hadn't been destroyed by Devastator's particle streams had been destroyed by Academy City's robotic police officers being blasted to bits and tossed around like ragdolls.
Kazari's voice came from the building's PA system. It wasn't entirely obscured by static, but it would've been difficult for a human to understand. "D-001, I'd very much appreciate it if you could get up here and kill the friendly officers trying to break down my door and beat me into mush."
Kazari's arms were beginning to feel a lot like lead, having held them in the same position for so long. In her shaky hands was her trusty handgun. She hoped she could even aim properly. She jumped every time one of the automatons crashed against the steel door that acted as her only means of protection. "They get through there, and I see two outcomes – I'm 'arrested' and then tortured to death, or they just do the torturing on the fly. Come on, you hunk of junk. Get up here."
As if her prayers had been answered (she wasn't praying, and if she was, she certainly didn't expect a response), she heard the sound of robotic bodies being torn apart. The shriek produced by Devastator's particle stream was something of a good omen on this day.
The door finally gave way, falling from its hinges to the ground as a robotic officer stumbled into the room. Kazari took aim and fired before she gave the thing a chance to get any closer.
The first penetrated its head, but didn't seem to stop it. The bullet went through the other side and was stopped by the wall behind it. The second round hit it in the eye. Now blinded, it lurched around, swiping at the air.
"Critical error. Visual identification apparatus damaged. Repairs required."
Picking up her chair, Kazari rushed into the heat of battle. She brought the leather swivel chair down on the robot's head, once, twice, and finally three times. On the fourth strike, the piece of furniture turned weapon fell apart, legs falling away from the leather seat proper.
Devastator wasn't far behind. It took the lone automaton's head in its hands, and pulled. The head separated from the neck, sparks flying in all directions as wires were ripped loose.
"What was that thing they always said, about the chickens without heads?" It asked, tossing the robotic head away like it was litter. "It seems to have escaped me."
"I don't have time for your shitty jokes, D-001," Kazari panted. "They'll have another squad here in no time. We need to leave this place and get somewhere safer. Or, more realistically, less safe.
"What about your job, Uiharu Kazari?"
"I quit."
Kazari viciously tossed off the lab coat she wore, revealing her rather impressive figure, although Devastator didn't particularly care. "I'll change out of these later. Can't wait, I feel like a drone myself."
"Change is coming, Uiharu Kazari. There are going to be a lot of people who aren't ready; a lot of people who are going to try and stop the inevitable."
The machine turned to face Kazari, its cyan eyes glowing eerily.
"We'll show them what inevitable really means."