A Certain Pilgramage

Things went to hell practically from the start. Oriana led the pair to the airport, where they would 'hitch a ride' with one of the outgoing cargo shipments. Academy City might have technology 20 to 30 ahead of the outside world, but it still existed within an archipelago. It lacked the means to be entirely self-sufficient. So it regularly purchased supplies from overseas or the mainland. That, however, was on normal terms. Since World War III, this has drastically changed.

"I was hoping to get in position before they canceled the route altogether, but it seems we're out of luck," the magical courier excused.

But the process was the same even if her intended target no longer was. They could still stowaway on a shipment, but it would likely be to Russia instead of the intended China, and on a HsB-02 that could go over 7000 kph instead of a C1-30 which, couldn't. The courier claimed it shouldn't be a problem.

"Stop," Saten informs, and when someone like her does, everyone responds.

The way they described a Certain Right Eye to the magician was that they called Saten a Gemstone. A Gemstone is someone who belongs neither to the Science Side or the Magic Side, who achieved their ability "naturally." They explained, the Right Eye can see something like the future, but multiple futures. They summarized it even further by calling them the Paths of Possibility. Oriana seemed skeptical. Of course they said not a word about the entire world being supported by it.

"What is it?" Frenda nearly began to sweat just from the tone alone. She could get the idea of what that might mean.

Currently the trio waffle through the crowds of Academy City's only airport in District 23, a scene not entirely unfamiliar to Saten. What wasn't familiar was the mobs of angry travelers, heavily equipped Anti-Skill keeping guard, and general lack of explosions. Since the start of the WWIII, many have been wanting to leave. Either to escape the reaches of war, or to continue their normal business travel. Flights have been placed on heavy restriction and only a very select handful are allowed through. But the girls have already passed such checkpoints thanks to Oriana's magic/stagecraft, and along with all their illegal cargo in tow. That isn't why Saten stops them now.

They eagerly look to their spiritual guide, but the holder of the Eye of a Magic God isn't too keen to share what she's found out in the open. Quickly glancing around, she leads them to a largely hollow food court. It was meant for cover, but they go ahead and order a quick bite to eat as well.

"We're trapped," the party is informed.

Surprising, neither Frenda nor Oriana comically do a spit-take.

"Your eye didn't pick it up?" Frenda worries.

Saten shakes her head, "No. I kept it peeled for any foul play while we were coming this far, but as soon as I spotted trouble I couldn't find a way out of it."

The one who's been closest to her since acquiring such an ability finds this hard to believe.

"It's like this," Saten explains, "it's like they managed to poison me with my knowing, and when I finally realized they did, it's even too late to apply the antidote."

Oriana, who's task it was to ensure their safety and anonymity, finds this hard to believe. Glancing this way and that, "It doesn't look like we're being surrounded."

Shaking her head, "No, it isn't that kind of trap, and they don't realize we're here yet. But they are expecting us. Each and every one of these flight have unscheduled stops where the cargo and passengers are going to be thoroughly checked. In a confined space like an airplane cabin, your magic won't be able to hide us."

"So we just turn around and find another way out of Academy City," Frenda offers.

Again, "No, that won't work. It might not look like it, but the airport is under lock down. Security is letting people in, but the only way out is by plane. If we try to leave on foot, we'll be spotted and captured."

Objecting, "My magic-"

But Saten still stops her, "Your magic is specialized for hiding in plain sight and escaping pursuit. We're at an airport. Inside we might be able to escape notice, but if we go outside we have nowhere to run to and no crowds to hide ourselves in. Even if your magic hides our identities, orders are to shoot on sight of any trespassers. They'll figure out who we are after we're on the ground bleeding."

Thinking for a moment, Frenda comes to the conclusion, "This strategy seems awfully specific."

Nodding, "I think they're catching on to what my eye can do. This kind of time-delayed tactic stretches further than my eye can 'see.' Thankfully I caught the major trap ahead of time, but the minor still has it's grip around our necks."

"So you're saying we can't board a flight, and we can't leave the airport?" Oriana questions.

"That's right. I've been trying to 'see' a way out of this, but nothing's working. Fighting our way out doesn't work. They have several heavy tanks and fighter waiting in response for any misdeeds in the airport. The path we used before at the VIP runway is a no go. We won't even get close. I'm trying everything I can, but I haven't found anything."

But there is one logical assumption, "So if we can't catch a flight and can't leave the airport, doesn't that mean if we sit tight, we won't be in danger?"

Sighing, "As far as I can 'see,' that seems to be the case. We might not have an escape, what we do have is time. Like I said, they haven't realized we're here yet, so they're not going to turn this place into a battlefield over the littlest thing."

At least that gave them room to breathe.

"Hate to break it to you," Oriana informs them, "but my magic can't last forever. The spells I cast on us make us unnoticeable like extras in a movie, but as soon as it slips we're going to pop up on every camera, scanner, and whatever else Academy City might have to trace our identities. If we're planning on staying for a while, we're gonna have to find a place to tough it out where we can't be observed and recover."

And that is a difficult task for Saten's eye. It's really difficult to tell the process of what's happening down her paths, what she clearly sees is the outcome. Just because she 'sees' them resting peacefully in a storage closet doesn't mean they're safe. They could be on a thermo-optic scanner and she'd never know. The reason she can see UNDER_LINE is only because she's aware of it, and knows what to look for. Or at least she thinks that is.

The three continue their impromptu lunch in silence while continuing to ponder ways out of this situation.

"What if-" bouncing ideas off of the seer.

"No, that will-" and she shoots them down.

This continues for the better part of two hours, with very little progress being made. But that isn't to say none.

"They say," Frenda starts, "that peace bought by the end of a gun lasts only as long as you have bullets. Basically, if we take their weapons, they won't be able to use them against us!"

In other words, hijack one of Academy City's supersonic jets. Something so fast even the city's own technology won't be able to stop it. In theory it's solid, but,

"The problem is getting a jet in the first place. Smuggling ourselves aboard is one thing, but capturing it entirely and taking it for ourselves is another. And need I remind you about the arsenal lying in wait specifically for us? The gear we have on-hand won't make a dent to it. Even if we manage to make it to the cockpit, we'll still have to make it to a runway and take off. We'll be shot to heck well before that happens."

"A distraction?" Oriana offers.

Saten's expression somewhat darkens, "Oriana, your magic is the only thing that really stands a chance against Academy City's counterattack. But if you're not careful, you will die. Even then, they have more than enough resources to handle you while keeping an eye out for us. We lack the total firepower to completely fend them off."

"Then we just need more firepower?" Frenda asks.

"If it was just that simple."

Pointing to the blond mercenary's phone, which is supposed to untraceable for now, the owner discovers she has zero service.

"Academy City could limit the cellphone traffic and monitor each and every call from the only tower in the area, but they decided not to take chances and cut off service entirely. They really want us trapped here and isolated."

"I can still talk to people through magic," Oriana offers, "but Éponine would never go for it, and anyone else I could get in contact with will be outside the city and likely already have their hands full."

So again, they've hit a dead end. Taking a plane by brute force seems to be their only option, but at present they're still sorely outgunned. If only there was a way to overcome that handicap.

Their discussion hits another dead end while they continue to exercise their gray matter. Too much time passes in this way.

"Hey," Frenda notices something, "is it just me, or has it gotten even quieter?"

Oriana's honed instincts kick into gear and she becomes alert, but Saten is slow to realize Magic God Eye and all.

"Huh? You're right."

With the heavy restrictions there wasn't much traffic in the first place, but now it was practically abandoned.

Still, Saten notices, "It's just that there isn't any scheduled flights for a while."

Frenda gulps hard while Oriana is likewise concerned. Realizing this, even Saten can't keep from sweating.

"It's a Blackout."

Since Saten is so focused on finding a path to escape the airport, she doesn't bother 'seeing' ahead to what they're going to say (and generally stopped doing that as she considers it rude).

"It means they've intentionally created a gap between flights to give downtime to the entire airport."

"Normally airports run 24/7 no matter what," Frenda takes over. "The major ones are designed to continue functioning without any downtime. A lull in flights is incredibly rare, so if we're seeing one now it's intentional. Basically, anyone walking around during a Blackout in an airport can't be up to any good."

"They're closing in," is the easy conclusion.

Finally, Saten 'sees' it. Cancellations across the board as the Airport is put on complete lock down. They don't put an immediate pursuit on this trio, but they more or less know they're there.

"You're doing something to keep them from narrowing down our location?"

Oriana nods, "Yeah, I'm doing my part." Then looking to the girl through her long blond hair, "But it's not enough, is it?"

Though she hates to, Saten has to shake her head.

Sighing, Oriana laments, "So in the end, I'm only good for buying time."

"Hopefully time is all we need," Saten says worriedly.

No matter the situation, they can't do to stick around in one place for too long. The girl with the Eye of a Magic God leads the trio trough a series of terminals, hallways, and tunnels to keep at least one step ahead of their pursuers.

After a while, she begins to see it, the moment of their capture. First they come with armed soldiers, and the girls can hold them off with Oriana's magic and the weapon's they smuggled into the airport in their duffel bag. Next are the armored mechs and aerial weapons (if they choose to flee outside). Frenda is the first to be killed. She's always the first to be killed. Oriana puts up a valiant struggle, but if she doesn't flee she'll be killed in front of Saten. Finally is the girl herself, their target. Sometimes she's taken through nonlethal measure, sometimes they blow a hole in her stomach and rip out her eye before she can die. But each and every time they acquire what they set out to achieve. Each and every time Saten's eye is ripped from her skull.

Eventually, Saten ceases walking forward. The two others take this as a signal and follow suit. They don't like this development.

"I don't see a way out of this," she informs them. "This is a Dead End."

Upon hearing that, neither of her companions knew what to say. For Oriana, it might not seem as critical, but for Frenda, it's no different than being told she has a terminal cancer. Dead End. It meant there is no path towards salvation. It meant all they could do is wait for their deaths.

"Are you sure?" there's more than a little panic in the small mercenary's voice. "Have you tried everything, I mean, maybe if-"

"I have!" the girl shouts in frustration. "I've tried everything I can think of. Looked for any little path or outlet I could try. But I couldn't 'see' any way out of this. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. No matter what I tried, it always ends the same way."

Tears threatening to spill on Saten's cheeks, balled fists trembling; Oriana begins the grasp the severity of the situation. She'd only been told of Saten's ability, never really seen it in action to great effect. So only the benefit of a doubt could be given when told it can grant miracles. Unless she could see it for herself, the tall blonde couldn't really appreciate what a truly fantastic tool that eye can be. However, she's starting to understand just how truly hopeless this situation has become.

"Then this is it, eh?" Oriana's voice carries a maturity neither of the younger two could hope to match. She leans against the wall and crosses arms across her ample chest, "Not really the way I planned on going out, but trying to save a girl who has an entire city aiming for her life, can't say it's so bad."

The tone of acceptance only hurts Saten more, but Frenda empathizes. While one is from the Dark Side of Academy City, the other traversed the underbelly of the entire world. Which one is worse isn't a debated that needs to be had. Both wade through ugliness, filth, and death. Both Oriana and Frenda can accept that their deaths would be rapid and sudden, fallen face-first in a dark alley from a threat they never saw coming. Well, at least this kind of end is that bad.

"I'll turn myself in," Saten announces. "If I do that, the both of you should be able to get away. Sorry I can't give you a guarantee, but I can't see any further than when my eye is taken from me."

Frenda remains still and in silence to Saten's suggestion.

"Yeah, I'm not having that," Oriana scoffs at the girl's selflessness and goodwill. "I accepted a job and am going to see it through."

"But-"

"I'm an adult and a professional," speaking matter-of-factually, "if I were to abandon a girl to save my own skin, let alone not being able to look myself in the mirror, nobody would ever hire me again. Sorry, but I'm not going to let you sacrifice yourself for me."

"But, I don't want anyone dying for me! You'd be throwing your life away! If I-"

"It's my life to throw away," Oriana puts her foot down. "I might not have been on the right side of everything, but I've always tried to do the right thing. Letting you to get killed on your own, sorry, but there's no way I'm just going to sit around and let that happen. Unless you actually want to try and physically stop me, I suggest you give up on that surrender mentality."

No, Saten couldn't even come close. Like Frenda, Oriana is exceptionally skilled in martial arts. Even with her right eye, there's no way the middle school student could overpower the skilled mercenary and courier.

"That said," Oriana pounds a fist into her hand, "if I'm gonna go down, I'm going down with a bang! I'll rip this airport apart before I leave this mortal coil!"

Great, and become terrorists. The media coverage would be atrocious. Their funerals will be the biggest disgrace-

!

"He he he," a low mumble splits through the atmosphere like a knife. But this cut didn't come from the outside, but in. "Ha ha ha ha ha!"

Saten's hysterical laughter has both mercenaries taken aback. Oriana almost worries over the girl's fractured sanity, but a grin begins to creep on Frenda's lips. She sees it.

"Excellent!" Saten flamboyantly flings her arms wide. "I should have known it from the start! There's no way I could get out of this situation! Impossible! He he he."

"Saten?" Oriana, clearly uneasy, is almost even scared.

"That's right!" Saten's rage is directed at the much taller blonde. "Go nuts! Go hog wild! Tear this airport asunder! That's exactly what you should do! Have a ball! Have a blast! Indiscriminate rampage and violence for the sake of it!"

Gradually Saten's maniacal glee fades. The experienced magician is still taken aback, but she's able to meet the girl in the eyes. Something still seems, broken, about Saten, but it appears as though she's in the right frame of mind.

"Listen Oriana-san, this is where we'll part. I asked you to bring me to the Angelican Church, but getting me out of Academy City is enough. We'll make do on our own from there. So stop worrying about me. Go all out. And I mean it. Throw everything you have at them. And then, escape. You'll know the opportunity when it arrives."

While it wouldn't be strange if Saten was dismissed for merely making ramblings, and Oriana is tempted to think so, there's something about the girl, not only confidence, but a certainty that makes the older woman's unease and worries fade. Make no mistake, Oriana was in fact scared, but no longer. She herself can't describe why.

"Got it." After nodding firmly and turning around, she take only a step before looking back, "Ruiko, never give up like that again. Even if you come across another Dead End, challenge it. Lower your chin, lean forward, and charge straight ahead. See which gives first; your head, or the wall blocking your path."

And with those final words, Oriana Thomson returns down the path they came.

Frenda hasn't spoken much in a while. When the pair are alone, that ban is lifted.

"What are we doing?"

Saten remains silent for a while longer, continuing to peer down the path where Oriana disappeared down. But she can't stay there forever. Taking a deep breath and exhaling, she turns, grabs her partner by the shoulder, and marches forward.

"We stick together. We're not even close to being safe."

Like before, they stick to the obscure hallways, back exits, and all matter of chicanery to keep from being spotted. While it doesn't appear they're being monitored, Frenda is strict to follow Saten's every instruction. The cute mercenary almost thinks they weren't in any danger at all, but then a heavily armed soldier, nay, but this point it's obvious they're Hound Dog, crosses their path. He doesn't see them of course, as Saten knows the exact position to stay in his blind spot. For a moment he appears to be looking directly at them, but then moves on like he never saw a thing.

And then an explosion rocks the airport. Oriana has begun.

From there their pace picks up a little bit, either urgent or less caution be required. Frenda doesn't really care which. She's just glad progress is being made.

"How's your eye holding up?" the girl asks in earnest. "You've been using it nonstop for several hours now."

Instinctively, a hand goes up to Saten's temple. There's a noticeable pulse; what one might expect from a comic character who was suffering a headache.

"I'll survive," then laughs at her ironic use of the expression.

But something else was on Frenda's mind, "Why did you encourage Oriana to be a decoy?" another large explosion is felt, and a trickle of drywall crumbles down from above. "Before, you said she wouldn't be enough of a distraction for us to get away safely."

"That still hasn't changed."

And a notion instinctively comes to mind, "You lied? Then she's-"

By bringing a finger to her lips, Saten signals to 'silence.' Frenda knows better than to challenge by making a peep.

They are currently going through another narrow walkway, but ahead it clears into what appears to be the main terminal. If they continue forward, they'll expose themselves and likely get spotted in short order. Saten crouches low and waits in place. Of course Frenda follows.

Just ahead, a group a Hound Dog stops in their path. He appears to have his rifle and focus pointed ahead, but like Saten and Frenda, he's merely holding position. To his side, another member fans around and begins walking into their hallway. Frenda wasn't certain to what extent Oriana's 'stealth magic' was still viable, but the two girls are definitely going to be spotted at this rate.

Then a massive explosion rocks the grounds, a quake unlike any of the others before. Windows shatter and lights flicker. It's difficult to keep standing even when down to a crouch. But this was what Saten had been waiting for. She charges forward with Frenda certain to keep no more than two paces behind her. Ahead, the Hound Dog squad turn to the source of the disturbance. Whatever it is, they don't like it a bit and begin firing with their loud and scary automatic weapons. They completely miss the pair that pass, literally, right behind them.

Though she was completely expecting this, the roar of gunfire still frightens Saten somewhat. But she's courageous, and doesn't miss a step.

Now in the open of a main terminal, there's a lot of space with nowhere to hide. But also, no eyes are on them. Lights are flickering so disturbance in the electrical grid is obvious, but an airport is a vital facility where loss of power equals a loss of lives. With Oriana reeking havoc, of course the normal electrical grid would be disturbed. But then the auxiliary power kicks on, then the backups, then emergency backups, then power is rerouted, and all other technical theater just to keep the lights on. There are hundred of backups to keep one of Academy City's most vital facilities up and running, and Oriana is blowing through them like paper. While she would likely never completely disrupt the facility, she is literally destroying their automated security, including the cameras and sensors. And this point, only human eyes would be enough to spot Saten and accurately track her.

The pair head downstairs (sliding across the handrail rather than running), and make it to Baggage Claim. They head for the conveyor belt and then inside. Thankfully it's no longer running so it's not like trying to go against the tide. Still, Frenda struggles to move in such a confined space while dragging the weapon bag behind her.

"Are we doing what I think we're doing?" Frenda asks sarcastically.

"If you mean hiding ourselves in luggage and wait until we get placed on a flight heading outside Academy City; no, we're not. We're going to dance across the runway and steal a jet."

The answer didn't make the cute blonde feel any better.

"Since WWIII started, Academy City has been keeping the majority of it's arsenal and heavy vehicles in District 23. We're going to hop aboard one of the automated supply transports heading for Russia."

Perhaps in a bit of irony, had the pair decided to go through one of Oriana's two other options, crossing over the USA or taking a long boat ride, this exact same scenario would still be playing out. At this stage of the game, the only way to have stayed safe in Academy City was to remain in the Glowing Garden for the rest of their lives. Neither of them would have chosen that no matter the circumstances.

It's a long narrow tunnel, and thankfully the both of them are small enough to fit through. They finally make it through to the tarmac. What awaits them is chaos.

The concrete runways are in tatters, portions of buildings have been broken off and lay in unnatural positions, fires burn from lord knows what, and general debris is everywhere. Likewise is there shouting, gunfire, explosions, rending metal, and otherwise mechanical grindings that might be coming from the heavy armors. There's also a lot of magic, and all that entails. Neither Saten or Frenda could accurately describe all the supernatural sights and sounds. Thankfully, they didn't have time to try.

"We need to keep going!" Saten yelled, invisibility and silence practically irrelevant at this point.

They struggle as far as cover would take them, a golf cart-like vehicle used to travel the vast runways in little time. Frenda makes for the steering wheel, but Saten stops her.

"They have tracking missiles."

The mercenary cocks an eyebrow, "For this little lawnmower engine?"

Shaking her head, "No, for," her hands fumble about as she's trying to find the words, "electronics."

It takes Frenda only a moment, "You mean Electromagnetic Wave Frequency-"

"Yeah that," Saten puts a stop to how much more knowledge the (likely) school dropout has over the middle school girl. "I said we'd 'dance,' didn't I?"

Saten wraps an arm over Frenda's shoulder in a half embrace, "This will have to be very precise. Walk when I walk; don't when I don't."

"Well, this is my kinda of dance floor," her partner jokes to perhaps ease her trembling. "If you will do me the honor?"

"Lead away."

And they march. All matter of bullets, rockets, grenades, fireballs, ice spikes, lightning, and magic stuff cascade around them. It doesn't take long for the two of them to get spotted, but the warzone is so chaotic it's impossible for all of Hound Dog- no, Academy City's forces to shift focus on them. Those who do barely even have time to aim their weapons before they struck from an unseen angle, are interrupted, or otherwise miss with their lethal weapons.

The Saten-Frenda Pair are impossible to predict and get a solid lock on. First they walk as if nothing more than a stroll, pause when a bullet spray is about to be fired, and run and zig-zag. It's like this is nothing more than a rhythm video game, and there are steps icons they have to follow to the beat of music. At one point the pair even spin and Frenda is dipped. This kind of surreal dodging feels too out-worldly even for Academy City.

Through this hellish storm the pair gradually make their way to a hanger that has been miraculously untouched. As Frenda has been honestly too terrified to even look back, she hasn't noticed the abnormality. She only knew secondhand about magic, so there was a lot she simply gave the benefit of a doubt, so she's slow to pick up on something that should have been obvious.

If it were Oriana alone, she would have been overrun long before now. There are currently others fighting against the Academy City forces alongside the magician.

"Ruuuuuuuuu-iiiiiiiiiii-koooooooooo!"

As well as others fighting alongside Hound Dog.

As that impossibly familiar voice causes Frenda to cower in terror, Saten sweeps the smaller mercenary off her feet and they both nearly fall. As that happens, a greenish-white beam sweeps over their heads.

"That super ain't cool!"

A rotor blade from a helicopter cuts across the battlefield, but hooks just before cutting the pair in two, and generally misses the duo.

"They're here too?" Frenda's now in tatters.

Saten helps urge her friend along, "Don't worry about them. Just focus on me. We'll get through this."

Another of Meltdowner, Mugino Shizuri's, lasers cuts across the battlefield and heads directly for the pair. But before it melts the atoms that compose their bodies, a lightning strike derails it's path.

"Saten-san!" a familiar voice cries.

"Keep going," now, Saten seems to be urging herself instead.

Even with the focus shifting to them, the pair manage to enter the hanger and a jet just so happens to be inside. Although, it's not what one would normally consider a "cargo jet." It is almost 80 meters long. One would never expect, or accept, that it could reach speeds as high as 7000 kph. That is Saten and Frenda's ticket out of this nightmare that Academy City has become.

Once inside the shelter (?) of the hanger, Saten releases her hold on Frenda and begins to run.

"Come on, the cargo door is wide open! I think they were starting to load supplies inside when Oriana-san went on her rampage!"

"Of course they were," every time, Frenda is still amazed at how well that eye can find the best possible path. It's convenient to the level of absurdity.

Inside the jet are only a few pallets full of boxes secured to the floor. They swiftly race around and make for the cockpit. However, a single obstacle obstructs their path.

"Saten-san," a strained voice nearly sobs, "it's true, you really are alive."

And Saten walks right passed Shirai Kuroko. With strange timing, she chooses now to replace the green and blue ribbon over her right eye. Frenda isn't sure what to make of this, but she joins her companion in the cabin.

Dumbfounded at being ignored, it takes Shirai several moments to recover, "Wait!"

As Saten had seen all the way through this path, she already knew the exact command to enter to get this flight going. And as she's returned her eye patch, that meant both her and Frenda are now entirely safe.

"Yes, I'm alive," Saten finally responds. "But I'm kinda in a hurry, so if you would please stay out of my way."

"What are you talking about? You're alive! You're gonna come back with us!"

Frenda meekly secures the bag holding all the weapons stolen from Hound Dog previously, takes the copilot's seat and buckles in.

"Shirai-san," Saten speaks deliberately, "have you thought that, if I was alive all this time, why have I not tried to get in contact with you all?"

Shirai is too perplexed by Saten's attitude to even consider a response.

"You've seen it, right? You'd have to be blind not to. What's taking place outside, right now, is all in an attempt to kill me. Now tell me, honestly, do you think you can protect me from that?"

The last of the console commands have been set, so the girl finally turns and faces her former companion, but still friend.

For once, Shirai is short on words. This is far from a normal situation and it would be impossible to keep her head in the game at this point. Saten went from dead for nearly a week, to suddenly alive and in front of her now. Oh yeah, and there's a massive battle taking place with her at the center. No matter how Shirai found out about this incident, there was no way for her to be mentally prepared.

"I've been doing what I could on my own," Saten turned to Frenda, "and luckily my new friend here has been incredibly generous. But if you're saying you want to come with me, then I'd welcome you aboard."

The way the girl said this was far from welcoming. She knew the Level 4 Judgment's answer before it was given.

"Where are you going?"

Tapping the pilot's seat, "This flight is headed for Russia, right smack dab in the middle of World War III. Where I go from there, however, I can't tell you. Not unless you come with me. If any information about my location gets leaked-"

After inputting all the information in the console, the jet runs through a systems check and begins preparations for flight. The jet-propelled turbines have started spinning, and the aircraft has started to taxi towards the runway.

"-this chaos will only follow me there."

It's obvious Shirai doesn't know what to say. Normally she's completely composed and objective, but so much is happen so quick, she can't string two thoughts together.

"No, we just now found you! You can't leave like this! Just get off this plane and come back with me! We can think this through!"

Saten cruelly shakes her head, "No. Going with you wouldn't make me any safer, and I'll only drag you into hell with me."

"How can you say that!"

An entire bipedal tank has been launched/thrown at the jet as it comes to a halt outside the hanger. Bolt spark as it's caught with electromagnetic force. Before it can crash into them, it's placed harmlessly on the ground. The two quarreling girls didn't even look at it.

Sighing, "I wish I had time for this. I really do. Then let me put it bluntly; You can't help me. You're too weak. If I go with you now, your weakness will only get us all killed."

Even if it came from a good friend whom it was expected from to speak their mind, Shirai couldn't take that lying down, "What?"

Throwing an arm out to all the chaos taking place outside the window, "You see that? That's what I'm been struggling through for the past week. This isn't new to me. If you're ready to trek through this kind of nightmare every day from now on, then you are welcomed to come with me. Otherwise, get off my plane."

The jet stumbles as one of the tires rolls of debris. Both girls keep their footing.

"I'm not leaving this plane without you," the Level 4 Judgment declares.

Removing that eye patch, "You can't make me. I'm stronger than you now."

This comment actually makes her friend smirk. Saten sees it, in all it's naked form; the elitism of Espers. Even if they were friends, Shirai is a Level 4 and Saten is (was) a Level 0. The student of the prestigious Tokiwadai School for Girls can't help but scoff at the girl's declaration.

"Don't get full of yourself just because you survived this much!"

An instant later, Shirai is gone. Teleported, to be more precise. She returns right in front of Saten. The Level 4's intent is to simply grab her friend and leave the plane, and a moment later leave the airport and District 23 entirely. After all, why should she even flaunt her strength whenever fighting was beneath this situation anyhow. That's how domineering her manipulation over space is. Saten doesn't even have a say in the matter.

Or shouldn't. The exact moment when Shirai phases back into reality, a period that was near instantaneous, a thrown fist is waiting for her face.

As it came so unexpectedly, the teleporter couldn't focus and complete her original intention when the two came into bodily contact. Shirai's helpless but to accept the blow, plowing into her cheek, and sending her hurling out of the pilot's cabin. She doesn't exactly tumble and roll across the floor, but she does use momentum to her advantage and place some distance between them.

"Lucky shot," Shirai accepts. "I didn't really have anyway to come at you except from straight ahead."

Indeed, the pilot's cabin was cramp enough as it was. Predicting where Shirai would teleport to could be accomplished even by an amateur. Strategically, the Level 4's opening move was in poor choice.

But what also is in poor choice, is Saten following Shirai into the wide open cargo hold, which possesses very little in cargo.

"That wasn't a very bright move," Shirai schools the amateur.

Again the Level 4 teleports, this time to the rear and the left. And yet a gain, a fist is found hurling right into the middle of her stomach. Shirai can only accept the blow, but as she's entered full battle-mode she won't be sent reeling a second time. Reaching for the arm that's plowed into her, the teleporter's fingertips just miss making contact. After connecting with the punch, Saten skips back and is now out of reach.

By now it's obvious to Shirai that something is up. Let alone Saten's newfound strength, but also that the teleports are being predicted. The Level 4's focus instinctively turns to that prosthetic right eye.

"You," she spits between breaths, "you can't really see the future, can you?"

This surprises the holder of the Eye of a Magic God. Exactly how much has this Judgment learned about her?

"No," Saten states the truth, "I can't."

Shirai does it again, this time low and with a sweeping kick. It's an angle too low to punch at, so all Saten can do is skip and little and dodge. All the same, there was zero percent she would have been touched by that attack.

The Level 4 remains in that crouched position contemplating. This is all very abnormal. If Saten was in fact telling the truth, she can at least determine where Shirai is going to teleport to. This is very peculiar. Not only that weird right eye, but also the Level 0's fighting potential. Never before has she displayed this level of ability in a straight fist fight. In fact, Shirai was uncertain if the girl had ever been in a fist fight at all.

In truth, Saten had only started training with Frenda just the other day. As the cute mercenary was bedridden at the time, all she could really do was give instructions. All they really covered were footwork and punches. Still, compared to being completely uninitiated, the rank amateur was still much stronger than before.

If Shirai could have remained completely objective, she would have realized her own hand-to-hand combat skills greatly outclassed Saten's meager instruction. Even with that strange eye that seems able to predict movements, it isn't impossible to still completely overpower the amateur. However, Shirai's poor analytic skills are the result of a weakness every Esper possesses. When their ability has been stripped away, they become shells of their former selves. It's linked to their innate sense of superiority. It's a major reason a certain boy and his mysterious right hand could triumph so well against overwhelming differences in power.

Shirai's fingertips sweep across her thigh. More specifically, the needless she keeps hidden underneath her skirt. Normally these are used by her ability for ranged attacks. They'll either be plugged into an opponent's body directly, or into clothing so they can be pinned and subdued.

What happens now, however, is that Saten moves. It doesn't take much, leaning to the side, raising a foot, taking a step; to make Shirai's attacks completely ineffective. Psychologically, it serves to further back the Level 4 into a corner, making her judgment even rasher.

Saten begins barreling forward, arms tight and head slightly lowered almost like a bull. Shirai panics, teleporting out of range in giving herself time to think.

A helmet crashes into Shirai's face the moment she does. In the time it took for Shirai to retreat, the Level 0 (in Shirai's mind) grabbed a helmet from one of the Hard-Velocity Dive Suits off the wall, and threw it to where the Level 4 would be. By this point she should have expected as much, but with how poorly she's coping with Saten's psychological strategy, the Level 4 Judgment never saw it coming.

"Ahhhhh!" she actually cries upon being hit.

Knocked to the ground, Shirai's arms are losing the strength to further resist. Something was born in the heart of the veteran Judgement and Level 4. It is fear. As primal man feared the dark, feared the unknown, Shirai has started to fear Saten's Right Eye. No, feared Saten herself. This person only physically resembles (and barely at that, Saten's appears bigger in certain areas than before) the friend she knew.

"What happened to you?" the mighty Level 4 weakly spits out.

Saten cracks a grin, "If I tell you, I'll have to kill you. Learning what I've become means throwing away the life you've built to this point. If you can accept that, I'll be happy to tell you everything."

As the fight is obviously over, Saten lowers her fists. Just at that moment, the turbine engines begin to spin at a furious rate. It's heard clearly from inside the aircraft.

"But make up your mind quick," the possessor of the Eye of a Magic God informs. "There's no hopping off this train we're on. This aircraft travels at a speed of 7000 kph. I would think teleporting in the midst of that kind of velocity wouldn't be too good for a human body."

On the floor, Shirai grits her teeth and balls hands into fists. She's frustrated, and oh so disappointed. Saten didn't even need to use her right eye, the answer had been plastered on Shirai's face since the beginning.

The friend and Level 4 Judgment vanishes as she teleports, and doesn't return.

For a few moments longer Saten continues to stare at where Shirai laid. The ship's speed increases and the G-Force rises. She can't continue standing there much longer.

"Tell Uiharu I'm sorry," she speaks to no one.

K, I really need to kick myself in the butt and get these things posted. At the time of this posting, I have over 50 pages of non-proofread material. Unfortunately it's not all for Echo; as I stated I have a second project that's well on it's way. As for this story, it's still coming together at a gradual pace. It's like when I get stuck working on Echo, I move over to the new one, and when I get stuck there, I return and make progress here. Whatever the case I haven't stopped writing but have somehow gotten lazier.

Anyway, I'll keep doing my thing and try to get these posted when I have the chance (not having internet at work sucks). Until next time,

~Kyle Castorena