Welcome to Wednesday, and your mid-week update! Things are going to start advancing at this point towards the adventure aspects, so be ready. Once again, tips and pointers about mistakes are appreciated: I'm taking notes about whether I want to change things that are minor, or justify them later in a work around, but know that I try to remember them and make notes. Also, some things that seem like they are unclear may be explained later, so be patient: I have thought out quite a bit in advance so I think I dodged most of the major fallacies and plot-holes. But I fully expect to be wrong about that! Time will tell.

Random thoughts: The stats for this site are really cool. Despite the fact I don't update on Thursdays, those days have substantially more views than other non-update days, like Monday, and even some Saturdays. What's up with that? Also, in a random factoid, all of my reviews have come for the latest chapter, and only on the day of its release: never later. That means no one but the early birds have written a review. Finally, a few later chapters have not only more views, but viewers, than some of the early ones. Who is skipping chapters, and why? That's so nifty to see. I am always impressed by statistics, so I am probably getting more out of writing this than anyone else... Numbers, people. NUMBERS. (Speaking of numbers, just as I go to post this, A Certain Holiday Season hit exactly 5000 (!) total iews. Good lord. I'm speechless, other than to say thank you!)

Ah... Mm. Anyway, thanks for your time, and I'll see you again on Friday!

Chapter 10

8:18 P.M., December 23rd: The Dianoid Shopping Centre, 1st floor, main amphitheatre

"…when I find that Idiot, I'm going to murder him. Zap! Dead. Seriously, why is his phone off NOW, of ALL times!? GAH!" Pocketing her own device with enough fury to startle a nearby couple, Mikoto shook her head. All right, so he's still not back, I've already checked the entire main floor, the show is almost over, and he's not answering calls or texts. The guards just tell me to wait, but… She looked again at the uniformed men and women in question, working 50 feet away from the main exit to the amphitheatre where the level 5 stood.

Most were bent over boxes, where they were repackaging the planes and helicopters that had flown earlier in the show. A few more security personnel stood on watch, idling addressing questions from passer-by about the remaining craft that still lay on the floor along the hall's edge. While she monitored their efforts, Mikoto realized at last what seemed odd to her.

…If they're guards, why are they the ones packaging up these toys? There are plenty of janitors or other people who could be doing it… I knew something stunk about this! They're hiding something, them and those magicians. Up to no good, and that idiot is probably already neck deep in it. Well, guess there's only one thing to do.

Pushing herself from the wall that had supported her lean, she casually sauntered over to the wall of toys. The guards eyed her suspiciously, but she betrayed nothing but a smile.

"Hi there! I was just in the magic show, and I wanted to get a closer look at these-."

"You can't. And the show is still on, you know." One of the guards curtly answered, clearly trying to establish his authority. His female companion followed his lead by nodding assent, but Mikoto pressed on.

"O-oh, yes, well, I'm waiting for someone I'm with who… left in a hurry. So while I'm waiting, I thought I'd try to figure out how they pulled off that trick. I won't touch them, I promise! I'll stay just here!" During this conversation, Mikoto had snuck to within 5 feet of a bright red helicopter. The guards exchanged a glance, before the silent one shrugged. Stretching his neck, the male guard relented.

"You can look, but I promise you they're not birds."

"Right right, thank you!" For a few minutes, the guards watched as Mikoto peered from many different angles at the toy, but they eventually lost interest as group of young boys came to investigate. Sensing their backs were turned, the level 5 glanced around for observers before sending a small spark into a different toy, a blue plane several feet down the line.

When they had been flying, Mikoto could tell that the toys were not merely remote controlled but were also remote activated. A radio signal must have sent a small current through the motor's starter, cueing the engines to start draining battery power to spin its propellers, all without a physical switch on board. Though she wasn't sure if she could effectively fly one, she knew she could at least activate its internal engine. But that wasn't the only part of her plan.

While she kicked the motor into action, she also held with magnetic force the light steel blades of its front mounted rotor. It was odd sensation to be fighting her own power as she both assisted the engine's spin and maintained her grip, but in the short battle between her abilities and the plane's internal structure the esper won out. With a small snap, the main drive shaft broke that spun inside, and the propeller remained still.

The guards turned around at the noise, having only heard the toy's breaking. After sparing a glance towards an innocent-looking Mikoto they heard nothing else, and so turned their backs once again. The girl waited a minute longer, to ensure her cover was clear and that her plan had worked. Eventually a smile flashed across her face, and she took a few steps back.

"Thank you for letting me have a look! I think I figured it out, so… Good-bye now!" Skipping lightly off, the guards watched her shrinking back with mildly incredulous looks. Once by the doors to the auditorium again, Mikoto pulled out her phone and pretended to be checking something.

In reality, she reached out with her electronic senses across the hall. Sure enough, she could still tell the engine of that one plane was happily spinning away without turning its blade: unless you held it to your ear it would be impossible to know it was on. Impossible for anyone other than a strong electromaster, of course, who could feel the electromagnetic disturbances all electric motors make. [1] As long as she was near enough, she would be able to tell where it went.

Within minutes, the magic show ended and guests began slowly filing out from the amphitheatre in great numbers. The toys had all been packaged by now, and the guards had moved the packages onto large dollies. When there were gaps in the lethargic crowd they rolled out and away, down the Dianoid's hall. And through those same gaps a good distance behind followed one Misaka Mikoto, idly following the tracking device she had rigged. They progressed at an even pace through the lobby towards the back of the building, but the girl remained patient.

Well, I didn't expect this to be the hard part. Might as well see as much as I can first, I could always learn something.

Sure enough, the caravan led to a massive elevator, which held just enough room for all the packages of toys to fit onto it. A hundred feet back on a bench facing to the side, Mikoto calmly waited to see where they went.

When the doors closed, she noticed with surprise that they were heading down. And then deeper still. Whoa… how deep does this place go!? …Damn, it's moving out of range, I can't tell-! Standing up abruptly she sped to the elevator, just keeping the toy within sensation. It went down almost a hundred feet before stopping, leaving Mikoto just ten from the closed door of the elevator. It soon became clear the present was moving through a large complex below, but the interference of distance and solid matter became too great to accurately gauge more. Frustrated for a second, she composed her thoughts. I assumed it'd be going down somewhere, but that's really deep… Well, now I've got to get access below. I could hack the elevator, but it's too noticeable, security there will see me for sure without something to hide in. Now then…

Looking around, she noticed that not all the guards had ridden down. Luckily, while all the toys had fit, some people were considered less important and were forced to resort to a walking route. It would be harder to secretly follow them without the plane, but Mikoto had to do something. Even if I can just find their route down, I can go a little later when the coast is clear... They quickly moved into an employee's only area, which gave the girl chasing them pause for a moment. She hadn't done too much yet that was obviously illegal, but was she really willing to just trespass after them without clear evidence? She thought for a second of a certain idiot… And snorted aloud at her doubts.

"…Of course I am!" Her course decided, Mikoto ran off in hot pursuit. She was in luck: the ding of a small elevator's door closing rang out not far down the hallway she had just entered. As she approached she saw it required a passkey, but that wasn't about to slow her down. Waiting a second for it to reach the bottom and deposit its occupants, she commandeered its systems through her handheld's hacking methods and locked the lift controls down. Calling it back up, she dashed inside, readying herself for a fight should she run into someone.

Going down as far as it would take her, Mikoto was greeted by grey carbon walls when the lifts doors finally opened. Glancing through and seeing no one, she quickly erased her digital tracks in the lift's internal memory before restoring its functionality. Ducking into a closet whose door was ajar, she energized her electromagnetic senses and cast about for her lure.

It was faint, but there was the familiar signal she had created. It was even nearby, though shielded by a number of walls. Mikoto nearly ran out to find it, but halted for a moment.

Hmm… I'm used to doing this sort of thing guns blazing, but… I don't know that everyone here is an enemy. Since I can't just shock them yet, I need to sneak around… but how…? At least there aren't any cameras down here to worry about blocking, but there will be more people…

There didn't seem to be any obvious solution. She had no disguise that would work, and no hidden paths to follow. There weren't any metal ducts or vents to squeeze through, or shafts that would go unnoticed, forgotten and crowded with pipes and supports. In short, the Dianoid was a mostly solid block of carbon with only the minimum of wasted space. With a sigh, Mikoto hung her head.

"Of course I have to sneak in the one building that doesn't use metal everywhere. That's so unfair! What are the chances..." Calming down, she realized she would have to just risk it. Keeping her threat detection as sensitive as possible, she crept confidently from her hideaway and through the labyrinthine underground of the mall, towards that faint but steady signal.

!~~~~~~~~!

8:59 P.M., December 23rd: The Dianoid Shopping Centre, Sub-level 3

Touma was well and truly lost.

He had completely underestimated both his own knowledge of the mall from the St. Germain incident and the effects hiding from guards would have on his navigation. After running down the third wrong turn taken to narrowly avoid notice, he ended up crouched between two stacks of boxes, struggling to control his rapid heartbeat and re-plan his route.

Agh… Crap, this sucks! I hate this part. Why can't there just be something magical to punch? If anyone sees me now, I'll be at best captured and worst, shot! He cradled the ice pack to his skull, still vaguely aware of his lump's painful throb. Once he felt secure again and the world stopped spinning, Touma snuck out from his cover at a crawl.

He could have been anywhere, or even doubling back over previously tread ground. The only thing that remained certain was that he was still on the third sub-basement, because he couldn't risk taking a route further up or down. Hoping what he was looking for was nearby, Touma continued his trek.

Within a few minutes, he felt his luck might have turned. The hall he was about to enter was inhabited, but not by a wandering guard. Instead, a uniformed woman stood clearly on watch, protecting a door behind her. Though he couldn't read the writing on it, Touma saw at once it was important.

Right, okay! Now I just gotta distract her. I think that hall up ahead doubles around her, so if I move over there… Creeping forwards with renewed enthusiasm, the boy entirely forgot how his luck ran. A few hallways behind him, and just around the bend, a second guard was tracking him.

As the guard walked, he checked the floor once again. Sure enough, the small splatters of water were there. At first he had radioed in suspecting a leak, but as he continued patrolling he realized they were too spread out and irregular. Curiosity getting the better of him, he followed them now like footprints in the snow. He didn't know exactly what he suspected to find in the end, but guard duty was pretty boring.

Touma meanwhile had managed to get around to the optimum position, nestled behind a bunch of heavy plastic pallets. [2] The guard stationed by the door was not quite visible down a nearby hallway, but Touma had a clear shot to his real target if he sprinted around a few corridors. This of course was providing the female sentry moved. He planned to make a small noise and then circle around to the door as she left her post to investigate. If it was locked, he would jump the female guard and get the key he assumed she had on her way back. I don't like just hitting someone like this, especially if they're a woman, but she has to be involved if she's guarding something important! Right, let's-

Distracted by his internal pep talk, he failed to notice the proximity of the unknown second guard close by. Just moments before he would be assuredly discovered, Touma without thinking pounded his fist into his palm, forgetting that he still held an icepack. It flew from his hand and out into the hallway. The boy's terror at his massive mistake only grew when a heavy boot stepped hard on the bag.

It tore immediately, spilling ice water and slush from the remains of the cubes. A loud cry signalled the fall of a very confused guard, who would later swear something had jumped out at him. Down he went, gripping the pallets and dragging a number down with him. They landed atop him with a series of groans, and Touma went white with panic.

"Hey! What's going on down there!?" The other guard had clearly heard the commotion, and from the sound of her voice was hurrying over. Seizing the chance, the boy dashed from his cover down his planned path.

That works I guess! As he rounded the first corner, he heard the woman arrive.

"Hey, wh- Ah! AGHH-" From the renewed sound of violence and falling pallets, Touma could only assume she had bit the dust alongside her comrade, slipping on more of the watery mess. Shaking his head in amazement, the boy whose bad luck even caught those around him reached the door.

For once, his fortune really was good. The door didn't even have lock built into it, being an internal door in an already highly secure area. Even better, it was obviously important, for written plainly on the carbon door was the following.

Guest/Performer Accommodations: Main Floor Amphitheatre

Sparing no time Touma pulled the door hard. It resisted, until he used his right hand. Imagine Breaker burst whatever had sealed the door, and it came open easily. Slipping inside and pressing it shut, he leaned back on it to sigh heavily. His relief caught in his throat when he took in what was actually in the room. There, lying perfectly still on a table surrounded by clutter, was…

!~~~~~~~~~!

27 minutes before, at 8:38 P.M., December 23rd: The Dianoid Shopping Centre, Sub-level 3

Misaka Mikoto checked one last time to see that she was alone, before reading the sign in front of her.

Guest/Performer Accommodations: Main Floor Amphitheatre

It hung from the door, behind which the motor of her tracking device still whirred even though it had already begun to slow. It had only taken her minutes to find the toy she had jury-rigged, but the battery was not designed for long term usage. Still, it had done its job: Mikoto was now preparing to do hers.

"Perfect." They're done the show, so they should be here. And if they're not, I'm sure I'll find something. Time for some answers! Pulling it wide without hesitation, she dove headfirst into the room. "ALL RIGHT, WHERE'S THAT IDIOT!?" Expecting anything from a secret laboratory to a nefarious dungeon, she was still not prepared for what she saw.

The room was fairly large, but it was stuffed to the ceiling with paraphernalia and strange magical objects. Some rounded, some jagged, more glistening and still others shrouded in darkness, they were too numerous to really take in and too disorganized to fully survey. Statues, shrouds, carpets, mirrors, chests, and man-sized tank of water and disturbingly even a variety of weapons were haphazardly leaning over and across each other. Finally, a great many of the boxes which stored the electronic planes and helicopters occupied a large uneven cluster in the room's centre. A number of dressers, benches, and tables were barely visible beneath and behind piles of clutter, but one unusually clear vanity set [3] at the far side of the room was occupied by the magician's assistant, Miss Baker. The comb she was deftly using paused in her hair as she stared in mild shock at the newcomer.

"…Who are you?" The surprisingly calm tone served only to fan the flames of Mikoto's anger, as she stomped her foot.

"The boy you did magic on! Where-!?" She was interrupted by a loud rattling sound to her right. Whirling, she saw a section of the wall slide down, revealing The Amazing Amazo himself. He stepped over the many trinkets that had fallen in his way, brushing imaginary dust off his suit distractedly.

"My, my, Catherine, what a truly strange performance that was! I never thought coming out of retirement would be so… Hmm?" He paused upon seeing the serious look his assistant was giving him. Turning, he spotted Mikoto for the first time, and his face fell. "What? Who? Lord, what now?" Amazo's composure finally seemed to be cracking. "My first real casting in years, and this all happens now?"

"Where is he!? Where did you send him!? AND I'M THE ONE ASKING QUESTIONS HERE!"

"Master, it's the girl he was with. That boy."

"Oh! You're quite right. But how did she… Excuse me, miss, but did you not see him? We sent him back upstairs, did we not? Miss Sergeant swore she handled that…" His genuinely perplexed look momentarily rattled Mikoto. Looking around, Touma clearly wasn't in the room. For a moment, the wind was taken from the girl's sails.

"A-a-a-ah… A likely story! Magic doesn't work on him, nothing does! So how did you send him-"

"Oh, for crying out loud. We used a trapdoor, not Magic! Really now, does everyone in this place know about true Magic!? I thought this was the city of Science!" Running his hands through his hair in consternation, the Magician had begun pacing back and forth. He suddenly stopped, turning to face the brazen girl and point an accusatory finger towards her. "Regardless, Miss, Kamijou Touma is not here. And you shouldn't be either! Seriously, what possessed you to-" Taken aback at the sudden turnaround of blame, Mikoto retaliated with accusation in kind, sparks flying.

"I THOUGHT HE WAS IN DANGER, OKAY!? AND BESIDES, YOU'RE STILL THE BAD GUYS HERE!" Her shout interrupted Amazo, who seemed to wilt under the weight of her words. Though something haunted his expression, he stiffened and tried to defend himself.

"W-what? No, we're not… I swear, we're not vil-"

"Master." The sharp tone of his apprentice brought a deadly silence to the changing room. "They, or someone else, must suspect something of our plans. We are prepared for this."

"But still, a random girl…" Miss Baker's expressionless stare met his hesitation and won out. With a sigh, he continued. "You are right. I suppose we must. She is an esper of some sort as well, so it's all too suspicious…" Sensing the implied threat, Mikoto took a ready stance and began drawing her focus.

"Don't think it'll be easy taking me out! I'm getting my answers! I'm no pushover, you know!" At this, the magician smiled sadly.

"I wouldn't doubt it. In fact, I hope you're not. You might make things quicker and safer if you have some strength. Tell me, did you happen to partake in one of my candies from the show?" Mikoto's worried expression told him all he needed to know. "Ah, good. This will be easier than I thought. Do you have the Spirit of Christmas in you, I wonder…?"

"What? What do you-" She watched him square off against her, arms tensed, and Mikoto quickly cleared her thoughts. Never mind, no time for words. I'm going to want to take him out quick, and then clean up his assistant. Don't give him any time. Analyzing quickly, she launched her first and final attack. The powerful bolt of lightning might have been excessive, but it wouldn't kill him either way. It crackled angrily, closing in on its target much faster than Amazo could raise his hand to his chest. But just before it connected-

-it struck a plastic comb instead. Super-heated fragments blasted across the room in a small explosion as Mikoto flinched in surprise. W-what? When? It was only then she saw the grim smirk on the assistant's face, even though the woman was breathing hard. Next to her was Amazo, 15 feet from where he had just stood, his shoulder held by Miss Baker. Somehow, she had swapped the two objects instantly, protecting the magician from her strike. His hand was now clutched to his chest, silhouetted by a fading glow, but he released the hold to grasp his partner's arm in concern.

"Substitution, dear girl. Simple Magic, made harder the less similar the two objects are. Catherine, are you-"

"I'm fine, Master. We ought to start the broader casting now that you've already incorporated this room. There is a time limit."

"Yes, yes, I suppose so." Incredibly, the man turned his back to Mikoto and began rummaging around on a desk. Fighting back real laughter, the girl prepared to correct her earlier miss. Hah! I'm still here, you daft…

Hmm? U-uh, yeah! Now, I've got you right…

Wait. Something's wrong… my arms… sluggish?

I feel heavy… tired… what is this? When did he…

That glow. His chest. So…he already cast someth…

Heh. I didn't think… it's be as fast as that

You know, I should really be

more worried about this

just too tired though

say he's not really bad

I should help him

help Christmas

why fight

but

wait

but

that Idi-

idiot

T-t-t-t-t-t-t-tou

!~~~~~~~~~!

When Amazo heard the intruder slump to the floor behind him, he knew something was wrong.

"Hmm? Hey, wait…!" He dropped what he was gathering up and ran over to kneel beside her. Cradling the girls head in his arms. "Catherine, did you…?"

"No, Master… I did nothing. I don't understand either." Miss Baker joined them at a leisurely pace, squinting at the motionless form of Mikoto. "The magic might be interacting with her powers in a strange way."

"Hmm… yes. She clearly can control electricity, judging by her failed attack, but to even shield her consciousness with it? This city is truly terrifying to produce a girl like this." Sighing, Amazo placed a hand on her head, shaking his own in disbelief. "I don't think she's in pain. That's a relief… I can't believe she can resist the compulsion this thoroughly."

"Even if we can't manipulate her, we've taken her out of the picture." Her cool analysis prompted yet another sigh from the young woman's teacher.

"Maybe so. But still, I'd like to understand more. How many more of these espers are going to be able to resist my spells?" He straightened up, cradling the girl in his arms. He moved easily towards a table, clearing it of debris. He laid her down on top, looking thoughtful. "This moves things forward a little more than planned, but someone might notice her absence before we can start. On to act three, Miss Baker. At least we know now we won't be unopposed from within." He turned his back on Mikoto and moved to the false wall he had entered from, but stopped when his assistant spoke.

"Should we really just leave her? She is a threat."

"Yes, this is best. The spell will only get stronger here as the field expands, since this is so near the planned epicentre. I expect at some point her defences will fail, and she will assist us. The wards I will leave in place will let us know. And if not, we'll be done before anything serious can happen to her. No one's in any real danger, anyway."

"But alone? We should place a watch. It is not prudent to-" Finally turning, Amazo cut her off with a small smile.

"Always so paranoid, hmm? Well, you might be right this time, for you did also suspect that boy… We can set a guard if that will ease your mind. If you would, please call Miss Sergeant about it. This is a task for her and her forces, especially seeing as they let this girl intrude in the first place. I will see you above when you are done, after I finish my last preparations."

Stepping back though his hidden passage to a dark and empty hall, he left the wall open behind him. In the dressing room, Miss Baker walked over to a walkie-talkie by her vanity stand to make a certain timely call. And all the while, Mikoto lay still on the table, gentle arcs of lightning playing off her troubled brow.

!~~~~~~~~!

[1] This may be a slight stretch of her powers, as well as few subsequent bits this chapter, but given what she can do in other areas I'd be surprised if it was impossible. Seriously, Level 5's are broken. It's just fun to imagine what they can do, if given sufficient time and thought. I'll try to rationalize every utilization I make, and if I make a major mistake about what she could even theoretically do, then… Whoops!

[2] Pallets are the big flat things that a forklift uses to carry boxes of other things on top. They are usually wood, but this is Academy City. I explain this because I realized later not some people might not be familiar with the term. I used it earlier in the story, but if people don't know what they look like here it this scene wouldn't make much sense.

[3] A vanity in terms of furniture is a small mirrored makeup station of sorts. Used by performers, but in the past were common in well-to-do homes. Think writing desk, but for people who write on their faces. I don't know how many people don't know this, but again I realize I shouldn't assume too much.

[4] Secret note time! I really wanted to have a cool, scrolling effect going with Mikoto's blackout, but the coding here doesn't allow for any workarounds. Not tabs, not spaces; I even tried invisible characters! Oh well. It just went diagonally from the left to the right, so you can imagine that if you want to make me feel better about my failure.