I'll be honest; not only did I procrastinate on this update a fair bit, I'm still not out of the woods in terms of work. C'est la vie. Que sera sera. Accent egue. Ecetera, Ecetera. Summer will be better, I'm sure.
So, I've done this story a bit of a disservice by leaving certain aspects understated. I remember thinking near the end of Part 1 that I couldn't really justify a satisfying romantic ending if I concluded there: their just isn't enough time, conflict, or negotiation of the harem. (I also remember thinking "why can't Fanfiction give you more than 2 tags for genre?)
What I shouldn't have done is let that trick me into making rom-com the background of an action-comedy (partially because I didn't feel like I was doing a good enough job of the former at the time, and the latter is a hell of a lot easier to manage). The good news is that this very chapter things are going to start balancing out more; even better, I was planning that for a while anyway. The action isn't going to go away (this is RailDex after all), but pretty soon both MC's are going to have to start facing awkward reality and stop hiding behind masks.
Anyway, it's time for a brief recap. Our heroes have foiled one plan, but what exactly do the criminals still have in store? Are things entirely as they seem? And how did Index manage to see enough to drive the toy car in chapter 6 (I've only only got an answer for that last one: she didn't. Othinus is lucky to be alive)? Be amazed by what is revealed in this chapter of the-veering-away-from-my-intention-and-dramatically-more-complicated-than-part-1, a Certain Holiday Season, Part 2!
Chapter 8
3:54 P.M., December 26th: London: Westfield London Shopping Centre, Underground Station
"That's it! Get the crane ready! Unhitch the vault, go!"
"I-It's not responding very well, I think it hit something hard... Careful!"
"Get that freight elevator operating now! We need this topside yesterday!"
Touma was impressed despite himself. "As far as crime syndicates go, these guys are organized. You'd think this would be a bigger problem for them, but they seem pretty calm. What do you think, Misaka?"
"...Pull a train two miles in reverse and no one even cares, blame engine troubles... Ought to just take the whole damn thing and throw it across the Channel... Ignore THAT why don't you..." [1]
"R-right. So, Othi-chan? ...O-Othi-chan?" His hood was empty; she was nowhere in sight. Somehow lost in the commotion, his concern for the former Magic-God rapidly became secondary. Most of the remaining criminals already had the detached vault back in the air, hurriedly guiding it towards the freight elevator on the opposite side of the station. We're still hidden here, but they really suspect something is up...
It had gotten to the point where the guards assigned to the hostages were more concerned with jumping at small noises than watching their charges. They chattered aimlessly, some more paranoid than others.
"I'm telling ya, there was this shape in the tracks! I swear I saw flashes of light!"
"Don't give me that, you saw nothing. Too busy crying like a baby."
"So were you!"
Behind them the prisoners stood as anxious than their captors. But the detail that caught Touma's eye was the distance between the two groups; the guards had subtly shifted closer and closer to their comrades across the gap of the rail.
Looks like most of them are spooked. If there's going to be a time to get them away from the hostages...
"Touma, they've nearly got it there!" The nun pointed frantically at the elevator, whose doors were just opening to admit the vault. "But where are they going to go when it gets up there? That vault is huge!"
"They wouldn't do it if they didn't have a plan." Mikoto remained crouched low, biting a knuckle in thought. Worse, from what I'm hearing, they still haven't released the hostages up above like they planned too. "They're not talking about it in detail over the radio, so I can't-" Her connection to the radio chatter suddenly cut off, and she felt an embarrassingly warm hand on her shoulder. She squeaked in shock but avoided literal sparks. Touma flinched back, realizing why Imagine Breaker had rung out seconds before.
"Ah, sorry, wrong hand. Didn't mean to... Anyway, can you help?" Her eyes widened but she quickly turned away, surveying the room anxiously. The chains binding the vault to the crane clanked on the elevator's floor, their boss signalling for the hostages to be brought across. "I'm thinking-"
"Right, yeah, I got it! Just watch!" Rising slightly from her cover the esper channelled power through her fingertips, brushing along the one of the few shelves still standing near them. It groaned for a second under unseen stresses before sliding and scraping along the floor.
"W-wait, Misaka, I-"
It rushed towards the improvised bridge the guards were approaching, prisoners lagging behind them. They spun at the noise but only had time to dive across the gap as the first shelf slammed into another nearby. The two hunks of steel tangled together and crashed through the wooden plank, cutting the hostages off.
"Hah! There! You see-" Mikoto's satisfaction died at the sound of weapons cocking in the elevator.
"What was that!?"
"There, in the darkness! Open fire!"
Touma realized a split second faster what darkness they meant, pulling the group to the ground. A hail of gunfire ripped through their position, but as soon as she was free of Imagine Breaker Mikoto formed a quick half-shell from the debris around them
"Y-you didn't need to pull me down! I could have blocked them! I was fine!" Hiding her face as she dusted off her coat, Touma could only sigh at Mikoto's back.
"...I was going to suggest something where I punched someone, but this works."
"Forget the hostages, we have more upstairs! Go, go!" A siren blared caution, drowning out the criminal's instructions as the freight doors slipped shut.
"Don't worry, I can disable that lift-" Making a small crack in their defences, Mikoto saw in horror how indiscriminate the enemy's fire had become. Bullets consumed the underground station, and though far away from the action many strayed towards the hostages. They had nowhere to hide, cowering like the condemned before a firing squad.
"Take this, you ********!" A criminal leaned back to too launch a projectile. It bounced badly off Mikoto's shield, rolling far off target. Concrete flew in chips from bullet holes as innocents screamed, but no one noticed in the chaos the grenade tumbling their way.
It clicked to a stop, but the flash and roar of fury it unleashed hit a wall of steel and iron, slammed into the ground before the hostages. Though it vibrated with tension as further shots rang and ricocheted off it, the defense held, cupping around the hostages in a solid perimeter.
"Phew... That could have been bad." Their own shield gone, Mikoto fell back prone like her comrades. That wasn't difficult, but there aren't usually this many civilians around. Gotta be careful.
Across the room the siren finally quieted, the great elevator doors fully closed. The cacophony of fire abated, and all that could be heard were the cries of those trapped behind Mikoto's shield.
Touma nodded as he pulled himself up. "Looks like everyone is safe. If temporarily trapped. Did you make air holes in there?"
Mikoto ignored him, stamping down hard to raise an aura of dust that complemented her halo of sparks. "But they got away! They could've killed someone, we've got to go after them!"
"Shouldn't we take care of these people first?" Index's worried-filled glance back at the hostages didn't sway the Esper.
"No, this isn't over! Besides, there are more upstairs that need saving, and bad guys that need zapping!" Touma's didn't have time for even a moment of indecision before he was interrupted.
"I agree." A small figure pulled herself up from the trench of the subway, once white fur caked in grime.
"Othi-chan! Where were you?"
"Hiding. This costume isn't made to stop small arms fire." With catlike grace she scrambled up to his hood, Touma wincing at every pinch and prod of her climb. "We should move quickly."
He sighed but nodded. "Right, let's take the tunnel, I don't like the idea of more grenades if we follow them directly." He headed towards his exit, ignoring the expected complaint.
"Why!? I can handle it! You saw what- Hey! Idiot!" Why do I always end up chasing him: when is this going to work out in my fav- I MEAN, the other way!?
Behind them all Index flailed her arms frantically, jumping in front of the shell of protected hostages. "Wait, Touma! What do I do!? What about all these people!?"
"Index, stay here and keep them out of the way!"
"Wait, Touma-!" But boy, esper, and Magic-God vanished, leaving a little nun the only witness to the makeshift egg's hatching. Voices echoed from within, quickly becoming more clear.
"This wall came out of nowhere! And now it's just falling apart!?"
"I think there were some kids over there or something! And a cat, maybe?"
"Did someone save us? And who's this little girl now? What's even happening!?"
"Eeehhh..." All eyes locked on her, full of expectation and fear. Retreating to the confines of her memories, Index picked up the only information she could remember about dealing with a crisis. "Please remain calm? Oh, and move in a orderly fashion to the nearest exit!"
The crowd scanned back and forth at the wreckage of the room, eventually settling again on their erstwhile leader. Finally, an elderly man raised his hand.
"...Where's that?"
"I have no idea, but let's go! Follow me!"
!~~~~~~~~!
"All right, now where would that elevator come up... I didn't see it anywhere earlier." Touma stepped off the makeshift ladder that Mikoto formed, rising from the basement hole. They emerged in an art gallery as devoid of life as she had claimed, but that didn't slow the esper down. She dashed through the various displays, shouting back as Touma struggled to keep up.
"It's clearly out of use, so it's probably behind a wall facade somewhere. They'd open it up again if they needed it, but I can feel it out in a second..." They entered the hallway, surrounded by abandoned shops. "Then I can figure out where we can go so that no one sees us..."
"Are you still trying to be subtle, esper?" Mikoto spun and shot Touma's hood a dire look. "After that underground display?" Othinus's sardonic grin seemed designed to start trouble.
But I won't rise to the bait, you pest. "They never saw me, so it's fine! I just don't want them to connect my face to any of this; I know the consequences." Besides, the Dorm Supervisor would bury me if she found out I made Tokiwadai look bad.
"Isn't she just terrible at this?" Othinus laughed brutally, elbowing Touma in the ear. "She's about as subtle as a lightning strike."
"Heheh, that's actually pret... U-uh-hmm, actually, Othi-chan, this is clearly not the time or place! Be more considerate, please!"
As lightning arced and the lights flickered, something caught the embarrassed girl's eye. After a moments thought her powers subsided, and she gazed with interest at the overlooked novelty shop behind Touma. He peeked out from behind arms raised in self-defence.
"...I may stand out, but we can work with that."
"Wait, Misaka, where are- Why are you dragging me in here? Is this really the time to be-" She cut him off, letting him reclaim his balance as she appraised the wares on offer.
"Don't worry, I can hear the radio chatter. Plan B or whatever is still going to be a few minutes, whatever it is. We have a bit of time, and this is important."
"But where are we? Is this a gag shop?" Touma picked up a strange looking toy and pressed a button but dropped it when it shocked him for the trouble. "Looking for a firecracker or something to cause a distraction?"
"What? No, that's silly. Just pick something already." She turned her back, rifling through a stand of masks.
"Pick what?"
"A costume! We're going in disguise, Idiot."
"A costume...? We're just taking them? I don't know if..." But something clicked in the boy's mind. On second thought, I do make the news way too often. And whenever I do, things usually get worse for me. Maybe if no one knows I do something, I won't get harassed over it later! "...Actually, borrowing something might be a good idea. But, what to choose-"
"Look, if you aren't going to pick, HERE!" Lost in thought Touma saw too late the clothes rack sliding into him, falling with it in a tangle of hats and belts. As soon as he fought free more clutter piled on top, rejected masks and visors Mikoto tossed away in her own search. Recognizing when the current flowed too strongly, he sighed and set to work.
Surprisingly quickly he grasped a solution, picking up a large black bandana. Without a second glance he stretched it over his mouth, letting Othinus grumble as she tied it behind his neck. To finish the picture he pulled on a hastily chosen large-brimmed hat. "There, it's like I'm a cowboy or something. That's counts as a disguise, right?" Entertaining thoughts of Lone Rangers and heroics he balanced it on his brow as he turned, adopting a deeper and, he hoped, more mysterious voice. "Right, Misaka, who am I? Heheh."
"I guess this will do... Hmm?" She pulled on a bright blue eye mask, tying it behind her nape as she turned together. Their eyes met across the room, but words escaped them.
Mikoto broke first, hiding her mouth behind a clenched fist. "...Oh yeah, no! That's, u-uh... A really good disguise!" His eyes narrowed, initial suspicion growing until he discovered his reflection in a nearby mirror. "You, y-you might get in trouble with Disney, though..." Behind the bandana he frowned mightily, pulling it down to better seen the pattern in pink he had missed in his hurry.
"It didn't have hearts on the other side..." [2] Glancing up, Touma was similarly resigned to see the large black mouse ears sticking out boldly from his hat. [3] He gave one a flick and it bounced back with jaunty vigor. "...I don't know how I missed those, though."
"...Pfft..." He rounded on the esper as she fought back a laugh, pointing an indignant finger at her brightly sparkled and sequined mask.
"You're the one who tossed the novelty clothing at me! And besides, "Princess Butterfly Railgun" isn't much more mature!" [4] He couldn't see her blush through the cheap plastic, but the sparks were warning enough.
"S-shut up! It's not like I LIKED this or anything, but they don't carry Gek... N-Never mind that!" She made to toss her choice aside in search of another, but the burst of radio chatter stopped her cold. "Crap, we're out of time!"
"Wait, can I not switch out these out for-Whoa, hey!" Disguises intact the esper grasped Touma by the arm to drag them both back out into the hallway. There they paused as she knelt and touched the floor, giving him a chance to try again. "Everything seems quiet, so what's wrong? Do I really need to wear this-"
"Plan B is almost here! We need to find them!" Tracing the Mall's structure through its wiring was a quick task. All-right, the elevator, the elevator is... "There! This way, come on!" Mikoto sprinted back towards the main atrium, and Touma was forced to stumble along after.
The hallway soon ended but upon reaching the main atrium Mikoto froze and ducked back behind a nearby pillar, forcing to Touma to skid to a stop. As it was he balanced awkwardly, grasping the column to avoid landing bodily atop of her. Once stable he wiped sweat from his brow, taking a deep breath. Thank goodness I didn't bump into her, this is not the time to get fried. "Hey, what-"
"Idiot! Keep it down! Just look!" Properly chastised he obeyed her harsh whisper, and quickly understood.
Waiting for them under the high glass roof was a tense standoff. Mikoto had lead them back in the main concourse where Kanzaki had made her earlier exit; on either side of the large open area were two encamped forces. Deeper in the mall and with their backs to a solid white wall were the criminals, behind impromptu barricades of display carts with roofs hastily assembled from cafeteria tables. There weren't many of them left, but they still outnumbered the few dozen hostages that remained cowering with them.
Facing them down across the hall were police, clogging up the short hallway that lead to the outside. Their vehicles formed a heavy blockade outside the rows of glass doors, blue lights spinning flashy in the dwindling twilight. A few bullet holes marked an earlier confrontation, but a brave officer stood up with a megaphone, ignoring the danger as he shouted. "We have you surrounded! There is no escape: release the hostages as you promised and no one needs to get harmed!"
He was met with derisive laughter, and his criminal counterpart shouted back. "Sorry, coppers: there's been a change of plans! Give us... Give us another 30 seconds, then we can talk!" He turned back to his comrades, but Touma couldn't make out his words. Those not manning the barricade were attacking the wall behind them with hatchets and power tools, but now hurried their pace. Mikoto's earlier assessment awoke in his memory, and he pounded his palm in understanding.
"They must be getting ready to open up the elevator and get at the vault, but where are they going to go with it? ...Ah, Misaka?"Maybe I whispered too softly... The girl was frozen, staring at the thugs, murmuring to herself.
"I don't know what they're planning..." She touched her mask softly, before breaking into a grin. "But now I can finally cut loose a little!"
"Misaka? Biri-biri, what are you-!" Touma watched, astonished, as Mikoto blithely ran out into the centre of the conflict to stand bold between the two forces. He hesitated only a second before chasing after, cursing his misfortune under taught breath. It's okay, she'll protect me from the bullets, right? Right!?
He staggered out next to her just as the criminal leader turned around. From the Eastern exit police voice shouted abrupt warnings, but the two civilians that emerged to challenge him ignored the danger.
"Hey, you two! Stop there!" The thug was also ignored, as Mikoto lowered into a fighting stance.
"Just give up already!" Mikoto brewed up a display of power, lines of lightning arcing out. As a dozen guns aimed at her she surged magnetism with ease, ripping them from startled hands to land skittering on the floor at her feet. "Or I'll have to make you!"
"Who are... How... What are you..." The criminal seemed unable to parse either his circumstances or the odd pair before him, one sparking electrically and the other in raising his fists in ludicrous defiance. [5] Finally he lowered his megaphone to pick up a hand radio. "Ah, **** it. Just drop Plan B already!" The shout brought his comrades scrambling for cover, diving beneath the strange awnings they had erected from wooden tables.
Drop? Those weren't the words Mikoto had been expecting. She quickly focused electromagnetic fields upwards where they collided with something large and metal, swooping low over the glass roof. As it was, she glanced upwards a split second slower than Touma, whose instincts for disaster proved quicker.
The lighting was poor, just a dim twilight as the sun set early, but an unusual blurry shape was rapidly enlarging. The ceiling wasn't quite see through, but it didn't take long for the unfortunate boy to realize the worst case scenario was inevitably on its way.
He had just enough time to sigh. "It just had to be-"
The glass roof shattered with a earth-rending crash as a massive vehicle dropped through it directly over head. Touma barely registered it as a tank before he saw the helicopter that carried it disconnect a series of lift lines letting the heavily armoured vehicle free-fall directly onto the duo waiting below. [6]
Though shocked beyond belief Mikoto immediately caught it, slowing its fall, but from all sides the real threat emerged.
A thousand square feet of glass had exploded over head, unleashing a billion-strong storm of razor sharp shards. These now sped past their cause and though some had fragments of metal structure still attached, most were thin slivers of uncontrollable death.
I...I can't stop those AND this thing! [7] Her eyes widened, feeling for something to generate a shield solid enough to stop both glass and tank. The linoleum floor and concrete moorings betrayed her; there was metal on either side of the hall, but nothing else close enough. Not close enough to protect-!
A strong arm suddenly wrapped around her stiffening waist, and she gasped lightly as Imagine Breaker smashed her hold on the tank. That arm swung Mikoto about in a circle, and all she saw as she flew away was Touma's cheesy, confident smile.
She hurtled towards the side of the hall, sliding under a restaurant's service counter to bump against the wall. Momentarily disconnected from her power she gathered her thoughts, desperately trying to catch the tank once more, slowing it as best she could.
But it was not enough. Though Touma dove to the floor the tank slammed over him, shaking the ground as glass crashed down. Much embedded itself in the linoleum, but several shards lashed out sideways, forcing the esper to yank the counter down over her and curl it into a cocoon.
The roar dwindled to a whisper as debris settled, and the helicopter's blades hummed strongly in the otherwise silent room. Police forces slowly peaked out of hiding, before noticing with shock the airborne threat levelling two large cannons in their direction.
The helicopter opened fire, aiming too low at first striking short of the defensive line. But the its nose lifted, and the steady stream of lead carved a furrow of death from the ground. Officers scattered, most fleeing the mall entirely as their structures were dismantled under unrelenting force.
Mikoto peeled back her cover as soon as the glass stilled, and saw first the tank rapidly backing up. As it revved through temporary structures the gunmen mounted secondary gun emplacements; they sent additional fire down towards the blockade outside as the tank fired it's main cannon. The roar scattered broken glass and enveloped the abandoned police line in a cloud of rushing smoke.
A crew of criminals, ignoring the fleeing hostages, had finally cleared the elevator of the facade that covered it. The doors opened and a heavy chain was soon wrapped about the vault, securing it from all angles to a massive winch installed on the tank's rear. From the vehicle's sides four heavy pinions shot out and downwards, thick stakes driven securely into the ground. The winch engaged and with a staggering lurch the vault moved, ripping up linoleum as it slid slowly out into the open.
But the esper spared no time. She staggered to her feet, turning the now mangled counter into a temporary shield. Shots pinged of it, but Mikoto ignored the one sided fire-fight as she skidded knees-first towards the twin trenches the tank's treads had gouged out of the floor.
In between them was a motionless body.
"T-Touma!" There was no blood; the glass had not reached him under the tank's cover. And as she shook his shoulders he twitched, coughing away gun-smoke and blinking slowly.
"...Ergh... H-hey..." Guess I was right about that name thing... Still not sure if it's worth it.[8] Though the ears on his hat were bent flat, he was otherwise unharmed.
Mikoto fell back on her haunches to take a deep breath, hand pressed to still a beating heart. It was only when she caught him staring at her that she launched a sudden bolt of power his way. It was blocked by Imagine Breaker with reflexes honed by long experience, but the esper ignored her failure. "Y-You Idiot! What were you thinking!? I could have stopped it, you didn't have to... T-throw me! No one throws a Level 5!" [9]
"Well, it was nice while it lasted..." Groaning a little Touma pulled himself upright, pleased to find everything important was still attached. He looked around a little more carefully, taking stock of the chaos and the continuing criminal barrage. "...So where did that tank go?"
Inside, the driver paused. There was limited visibility, forward cameras struggling to penetrate the haze of gun-smoke, but he finally confirmed his impossible suspicions. He half-turned, shouting over his shoulder at the winch crew.
"B-boss? Boss!?" A form moved up in the tank, crouching low over his subordinate's shoulder to peer at the monitor displaying the carnage out front.
"What is it!? Just keep firing, we've got to get this vault..." The leader finally caught sight of the makeshift metal wall, filled with pockmarks but somehow still standing in the hall's centre. And for a split second, it shifted position and he saw those behind it. "Wait, are those kids still here!? And how is that one making a shield?!"
The man in the gunner's position shifted uncomfortably. "I haven't a clue, Boss, but they're directly in our escape route, what do we-"
"Just blow 'em away, we're getting out of here! Okay, go, the vault's in position!" His last words were shouted into his radio: the helicopter above ceased fire. Drifting back several meters it soon hovered directly over the vault, now pulled clear into the open. A number of lines dropped down; though the leader and few other criminals were lifted up, the rest began securing the vault to several more.
"So, Misaka, th-!" A tank shell rebounded off the metallic wall, exploding a short distance away. When he recovered his breath, Touma continued. "A-ahmm... This can hold, right?"
"Hmm?" Peering through a small hole quickly moulded in the barrier, Mikoto twisted beyond repair the last of the tank's secondary turrets, forcing its gunner to duck back inside the tank. "Oh, yeah. They can't ablate enough of my shielding before I recover the fragments. I can hold this all day." Not turning she flinched back as another shell rocked their position. She violently waved away the accompanying rush of smoke, holding back a fit of anger. "Though it's sure getting on my NERVES! If I wasn't trying to be subtle it'd already be scrap, I tell you-" But she paused mid-thought; there was a change in the air, in the sounds of the battle.
Touma heard it too; rotors strained and the engine whined, but gradually the helicopter was rising up again. Together they peaked out to see that below it hung the entire bank vault, swinging gently forward and back. And it was heading slowly back up to the hole in the roof over the tank. It gave up firing on the police position, focused on threading the narrow gap to freedom.
At the same time the ground assault's weapons finally fell silent, even the main cannon, whose barrel was pinched magnetically shut like a crushed straw. Various criminals now crowded into the tank's cabin, grounding pinions unearthed, freeing it once again. Its engine roared excitedly as its trends bit into the linoleum tiling before springing forward.
Touma flinched, but though every instinct told him to dive away, he held firm. Even as the wall Mikoto built crumbled apart, and the tank began to surge forward. Because he could see out of the corner of his eye the brash and confident smile broadly spread upon his partners face.
She reached up and, with a thin line of lightning, severed the cables tying the vault to the helicopter.
Relieved from its load the copter bounced up, crashing through a patch of remaining roof and spiralling into the open sky. But the further shower of glass was lost in the cataclysmic crash of several tonnes of bank vault onto the accelerating tank below.
Though it was able to winch one out when properly secured, no tank was design to operate under the loads it was experiencing. The engine struggled valiantly but could not keep the treads from bottoming out. The crew compartment creaked ominously over the heads of terrified criminals as the undercarriage ground along the floor, and the whole vehicle came to an unceremonious halt.
The battlefield was still again, and though the helicopter chugged noisily above it was a distant distracted. The foremost of the only two standing combatants dusted off her hands, striking a triumphant pose.
"Hah! Made that look easy. Didn't even need my Railgun." Mikoto glanced up, considering the effort required to bring the helicopter back down as well; as it was it wobbled perilously, smoke rising from its tail rotor. But before she came to a decision, she realized she was standing alone. Touma was already running past the pinned tank, back into the mall. "Wait, where are you-!?" It clicked suddenly. Oh! Of course, the hostages! By the time she spared a glance back up the helicopter was peeling away, giving up on the operation. With a grimace of diverted justice Mikoto let it go, pursuing a higher priority.
Darting after him, she turned a corner to catch him sighing in relief. The group of civilians had crammed inside an abandoned store front, unharmed and unwilling to do more than peek outside at the strange pair. "They still seem afraid. I wonder...?" Touma reached up to scratch his head, before bumping into the dishevelled hat he still wore. "Oh. Right." He made to remove it just as Mikoto slid into view, slapping his hand away. "Ah! Hey, what's the-"
"What's the point of a disguise if you just take it off!?"
"Aren't we done? I mean, everyone's safe, the criminal's are stopped? Where are you dragging me-!? And do you have to smile like that as you do!?"
"We still have to arrest them or something, Idiot! Come on." Despite her embarrassment Mikoto couldn't wipe away the grin, so she turned away. This is much better than in the Dianoid... I get to lead HIM by the nose. Hehehe...
Her hold on his collar nearly dislodged Othinus, whose cat-eared head peered out with interest. "You're going to arrest the criminals in the tank that nearly crushed me?"
"Well, yeah, they're the last ones left-"
"They're getting away."
"-and the helicopter- W-wait, what!?"
Though already back into the main hallway, both Touma and Mikoto had failed to notice the vault being pried from its perch until it slammed down to the floor. A squad of remaining criminals scrambled back inside the tank as it peeled away, crowbars and sledges abandoned in their hurry. Before she could reach out and stop them the tank barrelled towards Westfield's East entrance.
And all that stood in the way of their escape were a pair of short officers, just outside the entrance and behind the battered remains of the police barricades. One held out a small hand and blew sharply on her whistle but the tank held its course.
They couldn't stop if they wanted to! Mikoto reached out as best she could to slow it down with her powers, but shouted anyway as she and Touma sprinted after it. "Run, they're going to-!"
The two police officers dashed to each side, but held something between them. It was a long, thin strand of yellow tape. Something's off... Touma peered as best he could, finally realizing what was so familiar about the two officers, now leaning back as they pulled their tape taut. He stumbled to a standstill, mouth agape.
Outside Mikoto saw a secondary police line, down along the street where a small horde of fascinated onlookers and reporters were held back. Their shouts gave way to screams as they discovered the threat rushing towards them, scattering as best they could from its path. In desperation the esper gave up stopping it, instead wrenching herself towards it's rear in a last ditch effort to intervene.
Unaware of her efforts the tank bashed through the rubble ran straight into the tape, ready to escape the police line.
But it instead it slowed.
Despite the tank treads whirring and churning up concrete, the tank slid to yet another stop. Its nose tilted down a short flight of stairs leading to the closed-down street as the entire tank leaned forward.
"Why aren't we going forward!? Put the gas on, we just have to get outside! Just what the Hell is stopping us!?" But nothing their leader shouted at his driver made any difference, who could only gesture at the view screen in wordless dismay.
All that could be seen across it, stretched wide with the tape it was printed on, was the word 'caution'.
The tank lurched forward, and a dozen thugs slammed into them from behind. Pressed into each other there was no way to ease up on the gas, and the mass of criminals realized in creeping horror that the back end of their tank continued to rise. It soon was impossibly vertical, midway down the short flight of stairs leading to the street. There it hung, main cannon bent under its own weight, in precarious balance.
Directly in Mikoto's still accelerating path. There was just enough time for her to realize mid-flight and in panic throw on the breaks. She slowed enough to stick to its underside with a clang, wobbling from the impact.
But even to an Esper, Newton proved king. The tank absorbed the inertia and it pitched forward, momentary stability ended in a titanic crunch of concrete and steel.
Arms waving for balance on the finally stilled machine, Mikoto felt its engine expire beneath her. Its crew was trapped, the threat ended. The faint sound of coughing and moaning from within was satisfying, but not enough to distract the girl from her burning curiosity.
"How the heck..." Muttering she pivoted upon her fallen foe, catching sight of Touma sprinting though the police barricade wreckage. He stopped just outside the doors, skidding to a halt. Despite the kerchief hiding it, Mikoto could tell his jaw was agog.
Her own joined suit when the two officers strolled up to the tank, one leaping lightly on top to take hold of Mikoto's limp hand. Shaking it solemnly, beneath an oversized constabulary helmet, was Lessar. Further back was Itsuwa, standing tense but furtively glancing to the mall.
On top of the tank the two girls stood, silently shaking hands for a second before the esper leaned forward.
"...Are you two impersonating police officers!?" Her whisper was piercing, but Lessar met it levelly.
"Are you two impersonating asylum escapees?"
Wincing, Mikoto sighed. "Fair point. But anyway, what did you two-"
"There's no time, play along." Lessar snuck a glance over Mikoto's shoulder before clearing her throat. "Y-Yes, thank you very much!" She shouted into the esper's ears, eliciting a wince. "The Metropolitan police welcomes assistance from civic minded... C-civilians! You've done London a great service today, but please stay out of trouble!"
Mikoto's eyes narrowed. "Wait, service? What are you-" A light flashed behind her and she froze. Her heart sank into her stomach, locking her feet in place. She could only twist at the waist, looking behind to see rows and rows of onlookers. And in the very back, behind a line of befuddled police officers and motionless reporters, was a solitary tourist, lowering her camera.
She blinked, wide eyed, under the scrutiny of the crowd. But before they could react, a group of hostages finally shuffled out from the mall. At the sight some emergency personnel broke from reverie, bringing them through the smoking ruin and distributing first aid. And as they did, the assembly clearly heard their shouted testimony.
"...incredible, that girl in the mask ripped the guns right from their hands, with just a look!"
"That's nothing, did you see that Cowboy guy!? That tank LANDED on him, but he was fine!"
"I'm pretty sure I saw a cat, too! I have no idea what it did, but it was cute!"
"Are they superheroes? They looked foreign... They like the Asian Avengers or something?"
"That's stupid. They already have Power Rangers, and neither are real!"
"Maybe that cat was their mascot?"
"Who WERE they!?"
Oh no. Her head shook in disbelief. Oh, no no no. The girl turned back towards the crowd, now refocused on her.
A crowd exploding into shouted questions, flashes of light, shoving for position, and general chaos. Though baffled, the police fought for order.
"Well, see ya." Lessar leapt back to the ground, dragging Itsuwa away by the arm. She looked back over her shoulder and flashed a cruel smile. "You might want to get out of here, esper."
Ignored in the bedlam the two imposters deftly threaded through the crowd towards a familiar looking bus parked across the street. They passed another crowd of dusty hostages, lead up from side-road by a confused but determined nun; they grabbed her too and all three vanished in the bustle.
"Wait!" Mikoto cried, arms raised in panic. "Take us with-" But the crowd pressed in, and she was their target. Other police officers approached, questions flying. Generating a magnetic field she launched from the tank amidst shocked cries back towards the entrance's metal awning, but faltered as she saw Touma. He gave an emphatic shrug. Of course I can't just get out of here the easy way. She landed next to him and accelerated, grabbing his collar as she went. "You always make things difficult!"
"Wait, what? What did I do? Are we running away!?"
!~~~~~~~~!
"Can I take this stuff off now?" Mikoto stiffened, abandoning her attempt to peek out from the alley's entrance. Deeper in the shadows Touma examined his hat; his shoulders slackened in disappointment. "Aw... The ears got bent."
"What? Uhm, yeah, we can ditch the disguises. No one followed us." A real miracle. Thank God everyone was so confused, no one even tried. For the first time in ages she breathed a sigh of relief.
Which squeaked out in surprise as she felt hands behind her nape. They ran through her hair, which raised in static that was immediately quashed by Imagine Breaker. Stumbling away, she spun in shock, blushing face revealed.
"A-ah, sorry, didn't mean to startle you." The untied mask dangled lamely in Touma's fingers. "I figured you wanted it off, so I..." Why did I think that was a good idea? Do I want to die? He stared at her crimson face for several moments. His own embarrassment slowly drained, a sly grin crossing his face. "...Oh, that's how it is, huh? I see."
WHAT!? WHAT DOES HE SEE!? "W-what!? You see nothing, Idiot!" She reached out to snatch it but he easily yanked it away, dancing back.
"Oh no, it's pretty clear now." He pulled the strings tight, raising it mockingly before his eyes. "You've grown attached to it, haven't you? 'Princess Butterfly' sounds better than you thought, huh? Or is just that you like the sparkles? Heheh..." He span about, prancing as he imagined a princess would, spinning right into the snowball aimed squarely at his face. "Agh!"
"I-Idiot..." Drying her hands Mikoto stepped past him, picking up and discretely pocketing the mask. "Anyway, the coast is clear. Now, where are we..." She flipped out her phone and began typing, searching around for wifi she could access.
Brushing the slush from his pants, Touma stood up and peeled away his damp face bandana. "Great. I'm all wet." I have to be more careful around Misaka and dark alleys. Then again, I should probably just be careful around Misaka and dark alleys in general. "Hey, did Lessar and Itsuwa say what they were up to out there? And where did they get those costumes?"
Not looking up from her phone, Mikoto nodded. "Uhm... Uh, not really. I though they wouldn't get involved; something about politics. And that caution tape MUST have been magic... When is someone going to explain all that to me, anyway?" Her button pressing became more pointed, jabbing out keys with vigour.
Touma ignored her mumbling. "I see. It was a good thing they did help either way. That could have been bad."
"I suppose." I would have stopped it in time, somehow... I mean, they did help, obviously, but-
"I'm just glad they're okay. I had forgotten about them, so seeing them there running in the tank's path gave me a heart attack."
"Y-Yeah, I bet." It not like they wield arcane powers or anything. Geez, they were fine.
"Whatever they did worked. I'm pretty sure I saw Index too; I was worried about leaving her down there, but I'm glad she's fine."
"Mmhmm." Oh, she was in real danger. Yeah, the most.
"And best of all, she got the hostages out! I figured they would be lost for days."
"...Mm." All-right, I'll give you that one, but-
"Heck, even the criminals should be okay, once they figure out how to flip that tank back over."
"..." EVEN THOSE ********!? EVERYONE but me, huh!?
"B-Biri-biri, is your phone going to be okay? You're, ah..." Touma raised a hesitant hand as growing lightning illuminated the darkness. "Didn't you just buy that-AGH!" His fears were well-founded: a particularly strong bolt dissipated upon his hand, light shining through his fingers.
"It's fine! And don't call me that!" As the smoke cleared, she took a deep breath, and glanced down at her phone. It's smoking husk disappeared into her pocket. "I-It's fine! And it doesn't matter, I accessed a map, the Cathedral is that way, let's go, let's go go go!" Mikoto stomped down the alley, Touma following a safe distance behind. Together they emerged onto a quiet street, and whilst his companion gathered her bearings he raised a hand to shield his brow from the street-light glare and the beginnings of a light snow fall.
"Okay, if that's the subway entrance, then-"
"Ah, Misak-"
"-What IS it!?"
"S-so, it's... Is that it? Over there?"
"...Yeah. That's the Cathedral. Of course we can see it from here."
!~~~~~~~~!
She seems quiet. Is something wrong? The walk back was short, but even Touma caught wind of a brooding atmosphere. She slumped ahead of him, shoulders slack; it'd been a long time since he'd seen her quite so dejected. Is she just tired? ...I'd offer to carry her, but that seems suicidal.
They paused for a traffic light; the few cars still on the road whipped long shadows in the cold night.
"So... Ah..." She turned her head a little, cheek's rosy with the chill. He faltered, but persevered. "...E-enjoying London so far?"
Slowly she looked up to stare at him. Her eyes narrowed. "Are you making fun of me?"
"NO! No, no!" He backed away, half-raising Imagine Breaker. "I mean, obviously today wasn't the greatest but I mean in general! You've been here before, ah... D-does London live up to your memories?" You're grasping at straws here, Kamijou-san... Get ready to run!
He felt her gaze boring into his temple as he studied a snowdrift on the curb. But his instincts didn't tell him to dodge.
Instead, she laughed, two shades short of manic. When she caught her breath, she turned her face away. "...Y-yeah, actually." She shook her hair, dislodging a dusting of snow. "...Christmas was fun."
Touma hid a sigh of relief, but smiled broadly. "Yeah. I mean, Necessarius always does things in a dramatic way, but that was pretty tame for them. I haven't had a chance to relax like this since..." After I almost died in the Arctic and was staying with Birdway. Right, don't mention that.
She filled the silence with a grunt of agreement. "I'll say. Things never slow down, do they..." Her breath crystallized before her eyes, and she braced herself for the plunge. "Speaking of... Necessarius, or whatever the magicians here are called."
He raised a hand again. "S-sorry, Misaka, but if it's about magic I still don't think I'm the one who should be telling you-"
"N-no, no." She cut him off with a wave, flicking more snow from her hair. "I meant about the people... The magicians." He raised his brows in interest, and she forced herself to continue. "L-look, they're very nice people, but, it's just that... There aren't many people here I know."
Silence fell again, and cars rushed past. More wind blew in Mikoto's face as she tensed up. There. It's out there. And now I look like a jerk or a baby or something. Or worse. God, they were nice enough to invite me, and I didn't have any family plans, and they flew us out and even got Academy City to agree. And here I am, implying that I can't be left alone, and that I need him... S-someone to keep... AGH, why isn't that stupid embarrassing Idiot SAYING any-
"I see." She jolted stiff, but Touma missed her reaction. He stood there, shaking his head ruefully. "Sorry, Misaka, I hadn't thought about that. I met some many people over the last few years I don't always remember who knows who."
"I-I'm glad! I MEAN, glad t-that you understand! It can be awkward sometimes, you know?" There, that wasn't so bad... She took a deep breath. I think I managed to...
"I guess I just assumed you'd be fine, like always."
"It's okay, you don't..." ...Wait. What? "...Eh?"
"You're always fine in the end. You're pretty much the only one I can reliably expect that about." He paused a moment. "Well, usually during things like fights and that, but you get the idea."
"Uh-uhm-mm-" The gears weren't quite clicking in the esper's normally well-tuned mind.
"I don't think you have to worry, though. Itsuwa's really warmed up to you; she's usually pretty quiet. And Lessar hasn't even tried to... Actually. I don't think she'd try that on you." [10] He shook his head to clear it, unaware that Mikoto was hardly following any more. "I'll try to introduce you to more people, and not get caught up in thing. I just figured you'd let me know if you needed anything. And you did, so... That's helps! Ahaha..." He trailed off, running his hands through the snow falling on his head. Too bad I can't wear my hood anymore. Should I buy a hat?
I have no idea what to think right now. Mikoto resolved to stop doing so for a few minutes and merely stared forward, nerves thoroughly shot.
"...Anyway, I don't think I have any more major debts to repay, so I guess from now on we can... Actually, I have no idea what's going on tomorrow." Touma scratched his chin before shrugging. "Well, I'm sure it'll be fine."
"...I'm fine too, you know." His head snapped back at the sound, and he twisted around to his hood.
"Oh! Othi-chan! Sorry, I forgot you were in there, you were so quiet."
"I'm lying low." When he didn't respond she clarified. "I heard a hostage mention a cat back there. Do you know what that means?"
"U-uhm..."
"Someone saw me. I won't make that mistake twice." "I'm the world's most hated criminal; ordinary people won't recognize me, but if some powerful institutions see me running around freely..."
"You think they'd get upset and come after you?" Mikoto finally chimed in, leaning around to catch the Magic-God's eye.
"Right. Also, the light's have cycled green three times now. Can we go to the Cathedral before it goes a fourth?"
The duo dashed out to beat the walk-signal, escaping the encroaching London night.
!~~~~~~~~!
Footnotes
[1] Mikoto and subtle do not good bed-fellows make. (Yes, I know she managed to sneak around a few times in the Sister's arc, but even that ended abruptly.)
[2] For those who might want a visual, just google image search flamboyant bandana; any of the ones with hearts can be a rough approximation.
[3] The google search for this one should be obvious. I actually had an friend who owned one of these, and wore it without shame in elementary school.
[4] Found this one under "pretty princess mask", a few scrolls down. It's the blue butterfly mask with sparkles (I really wish I could format links into this damn thing, but I guess the idea is to avoid spammers and risky clicks.) In the course of this story I have Googled some very strange things. If I got on a security watch list for trying to figure out what it would take to move a bank vault, I imagine "pretty princess masks" and "flamboyant cowboy" put me on at least a few more. A true auteur suffers for their art.
[6] In case you're wondering, yes, Helicopters can transport tanks; some can move loads upwards of 20 tonnes. I'll admit they don't normally drop them directly into battlefields, but I'm taking liberties and assuming the technology is just better in this world. Also, it's cool as all get out.
[7] It's time for another edition of "Rationalizing The Railgun's Power"! So, this is a tricky one. Based on the building encounter in the 13th NT light novel, (If you forget, the one where she picks up a 20 storey building full of people and uses it in an extended sword fight, without those inside getting harmed) Mikoto should be able to handle this no trouble. Just use the metal in the roof to swat away all the glass, and then keep the tank suspended, right? Well, here's my interpretation. In the light novel fight, she had a bit of time to react and prepare: the villain taunted Touma for a bit before she had to intervene. My guess is that doing really complex things, even for a ridiculously intelligent Level 5, takes some doing. In that fight, I would note her struggling substantially once the number of buildings increased: she has limits. I extrapolate this to assume that time is also a factor; doing something challenging in a split second (like now) is just as bad as doing some insane with prep time (like the building trick). Also, there's the fact she's a little surprised. Because, you know. Tanks from the sky.
On a secondary note, I really want to know how she managed that trick against the Old Mummy Priest or whatever. Feats like that require explaining, if only for the sheer wow factor.
[8] It was a long time ago, but to help out the forgetful he references his thoughts in the denouement of A Holiday Season Part 1, and the only way he get her to not call him Idiot.
[9] "And I don't care if you punched out Accelerator; he still only counts as One!" (Did I mention I love bad jokes?)
[10] Even he can tell her efforts to get a rise out of him is specifically targeted. Whether or not he knows why is a different matter.