A Certain Second Magic part 11

Touma felt as another portion of normality dissolved in his already insane life. Surely there were limits to how bad his luck could be? Or how strange the situations he found himself in?

Right now he was in a group that was hurrying to save a poor girl who was about to die facing the most powerful esper in the city. So far this was a normal day for him.

No the strange thing was who he was accompanying. Usually it would be Styl or perhaps even Kaori. Biri-biri usually avoided the insanity of his life, although hers was just as bad in its way. At least she did not have to deal with magic on a regular basis.

Until now.

Biri-biri had somehow cast a magic spell, something that should have caused an immense amount of damage to her, assuming she could even successfully cast it. And not just any spell, she had somehow summoned a monstrously strong swordswoman clad in dark armor. Touma could feel the threat of the woman just standing near her.

She called herself Saber of all things.

Then there was the man called Emiya. He claimed to be part of Anti-Skill, and very few people were stupid enough to claim that without something to back them up. But Anti-Skill did not usually wear powered armor. And this was fairly advanced, perhaps a few steps beyond what he had seen the MAR use when they had dealt with some of the Poltergiesting activity a while back.

The party was finished with a cat. One that he hoped to give to Misaka's sister soon. That she was one among many didn't matter to him. She had helped him a bit, and was so much less antagonistic than her older sister.

Assuming you could truly call them sisters. Biri-biri was explaining to the others what she had found, and why she had gone to the trouble to summon Saber in the first place.

Touma was well past believing in the inherent benevolence of Academy City. There was darkness here, all too close to the light. But the idea that some researchers would grow clones just so they could be killed, just so that the psychotic Accelerator could develop his powers to the point where he could become something called a Level Six.

What would Index have thought of that? To reach the level of the divine without being divine. Did any of her grimoires cover such a thing? He hoped she was okay. That Styl would take care of her.

She was probably pretty hungry by now.

Touma closed his eyes and sighed. Such misfortune.

His eyes opened when he heard the gunshots. When he saw the girl they had come to save leap at Accelerator and take a bullet for him.

Why? Why would she do that? It was noble to save people, but foolish to try to save those who were going to kill you.

He began to run towards Misaka 10032, a pool of blood slowly spreading underneath her shaking body. Accelerator was whisked away by a blue haired man, who had the same dreadful ambience as Saber.

A few more bullets spread around him, missing him slightly. But then he doubted he was the target. Accelerator seemed to be. And all around him more of the Misaka clones were coming out of the shadows, guns raised and fired at the sniper who had shot at Accelerator.

But his eyes were on Misaka 10032. He set the cat down and looked at her injuries. He knew a bit of basic first aid, but this was much too severe. Quite likely fatal.

One of the other Misaka's touched his shoulder to get his attention. "There is no need to worry, Misaka says in a calming voice. Misaka has merely performed her duty. There is no need to worry about a unit that is a mere 197000 Yen clone."

Touma glared at her, "Of course she has value. You all have value. Now give me a hand and try to help her!"

The Misaka clone looked at him, eyes wide. Her mouth opened and then closed. She looked down at her sister. "I always hate this part, Misaka says sadly. The darkness slowly edging out our consciousness. Dying is never fun. But she will always be remembered, Misaka says consolingly. Her memories live on in us."

"Out of the way," the man in powered armor moved in. There was a whine as the shell opened and the man inside reached out. "Unless you know first aid, move. Damn this is serious." He paused, "Ilya, come in. I need an immediate evac. One of the homunculi is down."

Touma asked, "Homunculi?"

Emiya just glared at him and with a his a first aid kit was opened from one of the side pouches in the armor. "If you let me I can stabilize her. Well somewhat, she has lost a lot of blood. But with immediate evac…." His face paled, "What do you mean all assets have been deployed? All we need is a chopper and…." Emiya closed his eyes for a moment and began to work on the Misaka sister.

Touma looked up to see the other Misaka surrounded by a bunch of the Misaka sisters, all trying to force her into cover. None of them seemed willing to engage with the mysterious Saber, who was holding them all back, while examining everything.

That was when Touma noticed a quick wave of shock flash across her previously entirely stoic face. She said only a single word. "Shirou?" It was like watching someone see something they desperately wanted, but knew they could never have. Something they had given up or lost forever. Just as quickly her face became impassive, and her cool green eyes met his.

Touma looked away first. Not even Kaori had a gaze that strong.

Touma turned back to Misaka 10032 and watched Emiya administer some first aid. He watched as Misaka's eyes opened.

"Why? Misaka asks puzzled. Why are you bothering with me? Not even Sister wants us to be around her."

Touma smiled, "I think you are wrong about that. She came here to save you." He paused just a moment and grabbed one of her hands. "So did I."

Emiya brushed him away, "Let me finish here, kid. You can hold your girlfriend's hand later."

Touma backed away, "The name is Touma. Kamoujo Touma. Not kid."

"Sure. Emiya. Shirou Emiya. I would shake your hand, maybe bow slightly, but I am a little busy here. Ilya is going to try to shake some resources our way. But, well. Something real nasty is happening in District 10. Technically I should be there right now." He looked down at the Sister. "You hold on now. Don't go dying on me."

There was an odd mix in the man's tone and face, a mix of hope and need. Touma nodded to himself. This Emiya NEEDED to save this girl. Why anyone would be that forceful in trying to save someone else he didn't even know, Touma wasn't sure.

Biri-biri finally managed to get over to her Sister. "Is she going to be okay?"

"Misaka repeats her demands that Sister take cover. The assassin has already taken out one of the Level Fives, and attempts have been made on two others. You are not safe in the open, Misaka demands her Sister to see reason, knowing that Sister's stubborn pride will not allow her to flee to safety."

Saber quietly said, "I am her shield and her sword. Under my protection, she will come to no harm."

The lead Misaka sighed, "Several of the Sisters are in chase of the assassin."

A different Misaka continued, "And five have already been reported as casualties."

Yet a different Misaka continued, "Clean up teams have been rerouted, Misaka states resignedly."

Biri-biri looked at the other Sisters. "Does anyone else find that a little creepy?" She shook her head and demanded at the Sister being patched up, "I came here to save you, so no dying okay? What were you thinking? That man was trying to kill you!"

"Orders."

"Our mission has changed."

"We must…"

"Protect the Level Fives"

"They are targets."

"We have been reassigned accordingly."

Biri-biri just shook her head, "I love you guys dearly, but creepy. That is so creepy."

-End Scene—

Rin smiled at Kuroko. Making the girl believe that she truly was on her side, or more importantly on Mikoto Misaka's side had been difficult, but once Kuroko had been in touch with Judgment Office 177 she quickly changed her tune.

Now it was a question of how to help. Emiya and company were marching to where Accelerator was waiting to take another homunculi's life. It was by no means certain that they would succeed.

Rin was also a little concerned as to who Misaka had summoned. Blond hair, green eyes, but black armor? Rin took a deep breath and hoped she was wrong. From everything she knew, there should be no reason why Dark Saber would be summoned by someone as seemingly positive as the Railgun.

Rin remembered with pain Shirou's confrontation with Dark Saber. Not even with Medusa's help had he escaped unscathed. Only by using two powerful Noble Phantasms had they been able to defeat her. And even then it had been close.

Shirou hadn't remembered much of it after he had been brought back in that puppet body he now wore, but Medusa had quietly told both her and Sakura about it. Rin prayed that the past would not repeat.

Rin's worried reverie was halted by a call from Ilya. "This is Rin."

"Rin. You are there with Kuroko, right?"

Rin looked over at the girl who was staring off into space, worriedly. Waiting to hear what was going to happen with Misaka.

"Yes, she is right here. Do you need us to go to your location?"

"No. Emiya, well my brother has managed to somewhat stabilize one of the homunculi that was shot. The one they had planned on saving. But… All of the normal medical assets are busy, some major event occurring in District 10." Ilya was silent for a moment. "I think it is a Servant. From the information I am getting Anti-Skill is trying to fight Berserker."

Rin closed her eyes, "Do they have any special assets that could allow them to hurt it?"

Ilya's voice was pained, "I don't think so. Maybe, maybe some of the Espers from Judgment, maybe they will call in some of the other Espers…. Rin, I am scared. Things are getting bad."

Rin sighed, her eyes tightly closed. What had Zelretch been thinking sending her here without some sort of preparation? Even the slightest bit of information, just an hour to grab the needed supplies would have made all the difference in the world.

She only had what she had. For a crazy moment, Rin wondered what Luvia was up to. Had her rival been dropped into a similar predicament?

Knowing Zelretch, probably.

How did that man expect them to learn from this? Assuming she even survived. Without her gems, heck without her normal magecraft, she was poorly suited to dealing with Servants.

Rin quietly asked, "Do you have any clue who it might be?"

Ilya was just as quiet, "A knight, all in black." A pause, "He is killing them, Rin. He is killing them and there is nothing I can do."

"Do you want me to intervene?"

Kuroko's gaze tightened, "What is going on? Is Sissy okay?"

Ilya's voice was hard, "No. We can only do what we can. Emiya needs your help. Or more specifically Kuroko. If his theory is correct, she should be able to blink the Misaka homunculi to a hospital in time to save her life. Apparently there are a few others he wants to save, but until he is certain that this one is on the way to the hospital, well."

Rin nodded, she knew Shirou well. This Shirou, any Shirou for that matter, saving people was a priority beyond his own safety. Only Sakura had been more important that his ideals in the end, and even then if Sakura was safe he would do what he could to aid others.

It was just was Shirou was like.

This Shirou was no different. She knew that he harbored some sort of power, but it was different than the Shirou from her world. It was strange, as the Esper program seemed tailor made to work with developing Reality Marbles.

Kuroko was right to fear for her friend's sanity, as well perhaps as her own. Rin wasn't sure how much similarity there were between the two worlds, but in Rin's Reality Marbles required a personal reality far out of the norm.

Rin would have to do some studying.

"What is the location you need me to go to?" Rin paused, "No, wait. Give it to Kuroko. She will be the one to take us there." Rin handed the phone to Ilya. "We need your help. My friend will give you a location and we need to go there."

Kuroko's looked at her suspiciously, "Why should I trust you? You seem sincere in your desire to aid Sissy, but I don't know. It is late and I would be breaking curfew."

Rin smiled, "Don't worry, I will handle that end."

Kuroko just looked at her straight faced, "Right. Let's go."

End Scene

Interlude One

Kaori Kanzaki stared at the line of Anti-Skill officers who were bravely and surprisingly skillfully trying to contain the armored monster before them. None of their attacks seemed to have any effect other than drawing its dire attention to themselves, but they were doing it so skillfully the monster was being distracted enough for many of the civilians to escape.

The brave members of Anti-Skill were taking fairly heavy losses. But given they were fighting a summoned spirit, they were doing much better than he thought they might be able to. A few of the heavy weapons some of the officers seemed to have might have had an effect on weaker spirits.

This one was very tough. And odd. It felt alien, as it was being powered by an odd mix of mana and AIM. That should be impossible, but she was witnessing it now.

And that was part of her problem. Lots of witnesses. While she was certain that members of the hierarchy of Academy City were likely aware of magic, and indeed seemed to be attempting to emulate and surpass it. The common citizen, whether student or esper was ignorant of the fact that magic was very real.

That was something that the Church was eager to maintain. Part of their Church's power, and indeed those of other faiths, was the fact that they could move behind the scenes. That while no one could completely disprove magic, any accidental exposure was typically rationalized away.

It was quite beneficial, really.

It was also a problem, because she was fairly sure she could hurt, possibly even kill this monster. But to do so she would have to be very public. And there were a lot of witnesses. And cameras. This being Academy City, lots and lots of cameras.

If she did this, if she carried out her duties as a Saint, she would likely be revealing the existence of magic to a very large number of people. And while there were those who could manipulate the locals to ignore what she was doing, most of them had already left the city.

Kaori however had already given up too much. She had abandoned her friends and fellows, mostly to save them from all the danger that being a Saint might bring upon them, but also so that she could act on a larger scale. When orders had been given to leave Academy City to its devices had been given, she had decided, that she at least would stay here to protect the average man from the coming storm.

Her powers had been given to her to protect.

Very well. She would face the consequences. She could not let these brave men and women suffer without support. Even if they were not entirely on her side. She drew her sword and prepared to strike.

Only to pause as beams of incredibly bright light struck the armored monster. One, two, three, four, one after the other the incredibly destructive beams lashed out. Whatever they hit was destroyed.

Meltdowner had arrived.

Kaori sighed. Maybe her direct public intervention would not be required.

The monster took several of the blasts and was pushed back.

But the beams which destroyed any solid normal matter, did not destroy him. But Kaori could tell that unlike all the other weapons that had been used, this at least had an effect.

And when the monster disappeared, she did not join in on the cheers. For unlike them she could sense it had not been destroyed. That it had merely dematerialized. She watched as the immaterial monster began to slowly move deeper into District Ten.

Kaori smiled. She would follow. The next time she should be able to hit it when there were fewer witnesses.

And unlike the others, she was fairly sure she could kill it.

End Interlude

End part.

A/N- Well, it has been a while. I hope this part is fairly decent. I will try to get the next part out in a more reasonable time, but Opportunity of Fate does take precedence. (Although admittedly it is about two thirds done, so who knows?)

Hope everyone takes care, and for those of my fellow Americans, enjoy the three day weekend.