Happy Canada Day!

For those who care, anyway. And I didn't delay this chapter for the event: After a hopefully brief delay, we're back, because this current chapter lost nearly all its content in a big computer issue last week. Luckily I keep notes, but it really killed my enthusiasm: at least the wonderful responses from the previous cliff-hanger helped to keep me at it. I'm doubly glad now that I decided to push to get out the last update while on vacation, as I had a feeling it would be an interesting one.

Things should be now be on track to continue, though, with this, the fifth and final day. There are many threads to weave, much conflict in store, and perhaps some dramatic twists. I hope you find it entertaining, and as always, thanks for sticking with me.

Chapter 17: The Fifth Day of Christmas

12:05 A.M., December 29th: An Unknown Building

"Maybe it's just my mood, but this all seems horribly familiar."

Touma eyed the narrow corridor in which he had appeared with frank suspicion. It was a stark contrast from the cool dishevelled apartment he had broken into minutes before, going from dingy and dusty upholstery to gleaming grey tile. There had been no defenses or guards he could find, so it had taken him some time to realize that the tall misplaced wardrobe in the living room's centre had been his goal all along.

Touching it had elicited a sharp ring from Imagine Breaker, and it swung open to reveal a long thin tunnel. Without much thought he stepped inside, emerging shortly in the cool fluorescent lights of this strangely familiar complex.

Now he wandered down one slate grey hallway after another, carefully listening, shoes clicking too noisily for his comfort. Irrationally irritated he finally bent down, resting both hands on the cool floor.

He eyed it for a minute.

He gave it a rap.

It sounded light but felt impossibly firm.

"These floors… Where-"

There was a bump down the hall, and the sound of marching feet.

With no time to spare he rolled around a corner, but the steps rapidly approached. His last option was a dark room, door ajar.

He sprinted through it and cowered behind its cover as a group of patrolling sentries stomped past. There were at least three, and he listened as they paraded along in perfect time.

As quick as they came they were gone, leaving him alone in the dark. After a second's fumbling, he flicked on the lights.

A cozy little infirmary was brightly illuminated, sparsely stocked with the bare essentials of first aid. He squinted at it a moment before shaking his head and leaving.

"Strange… Still, not the time. I've got to find her." The footsteps he had fled were still distantly marching; he gave cautious pursuit, keeping well back.

At points he caught sight of their backs: their heads twisting together in sharp movements as they glanced down halls. All were girls, and he recognized one as a waiting staff who'd served him breakfast many days ago.

More mind controlled people. If only they split up, I could rescue them one by one. But despite his hopes they remained bunched up tight and in short order he was obliged to follow them into a larger store room, filled with scattered crates and boxes. He dashed behind a few near a wall as they prowled the warehouse, and he took a moment to look the cartons over.

"…Wait, why is this in Japanese?"

Before he could ponder more their footsteps stopped. At the same time he became aware that more guards were approaching, feet echoing down from otherwise silent halls. His spirit fell as over a dozen starry eyed soldiers soon assembled to stand in the room's centre.

And there they stood, in complete silence watching every exit.

Touma waited several minutes before he gave up. Creepy. And bad luck. How the heck can I get out of… In his depression he leaned back, falling against a wall behind him, but it was unusually rough to the touch.

Curious, he turned and saw that he had hit instead of wall a heavy metal hatch, embedded in the otherwise smooth surface of pipe. It jutted out from the wall in a thick cylinder, running down from the ceiling before angling parallel to the ground and finally disappearing beneath him. The hatch itself was sealed, but only by a simple valve.

With nothing better to try he carefully spun it open, leaning his back in silent exertion.

After a tiny hiss it popped open, sentries none the wiser. He peered inside.

An abandoned tunnel? But why is it so smooth? This can't be an air duct, or for maintenance, so…? It looked just wide enough to fit his shoulders, but was intimidatingly dark. Yet a quick look over his shoulder confirmed his other options were few.

"Such misfortune…" His words rebounded eerily inside the dark tunnel, as using whatever leverage he could find Touma began his ascent.

!~~~~~~~~!

12:18 A.M., December 29th: London: St. George's Cathedral: Guest Room 1

"…Mmmm…?" Index awoke to a rustling sound, head twisting listlessly under her covers. The lights were off, and she could just make out the shape dressing by her bed. "…Short hair. Why are you so noisy?"

"I'm going out."

"Aw, come on. Now you want to go have fun?" From across the room, Lessar yawned, lifting herself onto her elbows. "I could show you some of London's night life, but you might be a little young to…" She paused her teasing, belatedly registering the tension she'd heard in Mikoto's tone.

"What's wrong, Misaka-san?" Itsuwa had noticed it as well, rubbing sleep from her eyes as she stiffly sat up on her bed.

"I can't find him." In the darkness she pulled on one boot after another, smoothing them out over the tights.

"Oh. I was wondering why you never got back." Lessar squinted at the room's sole clock, but then recoiled. "Wow, it's later than I thought… Here I thought you two were doing something x-rated and wouldn't be back til morning."

Her weak jibe fell on deaf ears. There was no reply as Mikoto continued to dress in the darkness, pulling back her short hair to tie something beneath it.

"I'll be back." And with that the esper slipped out their guest room door.

For a second there was silence.

"Wait, Misaka-san!"

"Esper, hold up! O-ow! Damn ******* dresser-!"

"What in my name are you mortals babbling-AGH, my bed-!"

As she left her roommate stumbling in the dark and jogged up the basement stairs, the esper wondered at her own decisiveness.

This isn't that strange, is it? The answer quickly it came to her, and she couldn't suppress a weak chuckle. "I guess I'm just used to this." Always chasing after him.

So she thought, as she slammed open the Cathedral door and leapt into the night.

12:34 A.M., December 29th: An Unknown Building

"Ow. Ow… Oww."

His utterances bled into the darkness with each shimmy of his shoulders. The climb was excruciatingly slow, giving Touma many minutes to ponder his idiocy.

Every part of me hurts. Why didn't I at least take a painkiller before… The memory flashed in his eyes and they hardened. He took a deep breath, and continued.

Until his elbow pushed through the pipe's wall and into open air.

Sliding down in surprise his hand grasped the opening's lip. With the last of this strength he hauled his aching body through the gap.

He fell on his back onto a hard floor, blinking in pain from the brightly lit hallway. Shop signs blazed around him on all sides, and he lay motionless in total confusion on the surprisingly hard tile.

The thought bothered him more than it should.

Eventually there was only one thing left to try.

He tapped the ground again.

It gave the same familiar sound, which he finally recognized.

"C-carbon? No. No way. I can't be that unlucky."

But everywhere he looked confirmed his suspicions. The walls, floors, ceiling: all were made of the same grey material. The dozens of Japanese stores inside added to the growing list of evidence. But the wet floor sign with the building's name proudly advertised was finally enough to hammer his unfortunate reality home.

"I can't really be back inside the Dianoid, can I!? Nooooo, that's not fair! Daaaamn it!"

Both hands flew to his face as he curled up like an insect in bleach, quaking in imaginary death throes. After several moments spent wallowing in anguish he fell flat again, every last bit of life drained from him.

But this time, as he looked up, there was a starry eyed face looking down at him.

"Surrender or perish."

"…A-Agata-san?" Her name popped to mind but the short brunette showed no recognition. Instead she reached inside her battle robes and dangled a simple rosary in her hand.

Which suddenly grew a long blade, hanging like Damocles' sword over Touma's neck.

"Surrender or perish."

"Wwagh!? W-wait, hold on-!"

"Perish."

The blade crashed down and bit into the hard floor as he tumbled aside. He had just enough presence of mind to ready Imagine Breaker for its second swing, and as it rang out and destroyed her holy weapon he carried it forward to meet her arm.

It rang out again, and the girl staggered forward into his arms. He held her out an arm's length as the 8-point stars in her gaze faded.

"Wha…? Oh, I'm so tired…" Agata fell limp in his grasp, and she continued as he awkwardly sought a place to put her down. "Oh my gosh… This is almost as bad as Bible camp…"

"I'll bet: you've been on your feet for… Wait, Bible camp?" He leaned the exhausted girl up against the pipe he had fallen out of and weakly she nodded.

"Training, in the Roman Catholic Church." She began to list off memories on her fingers, a dreamy smile coming over her face. "All-day marathon… Memorization challenges… Work-outs based on Catholic mythology… Tiring, but fun…"

"How insane are you magicians!? Agh, never mind, just, stay here."

Before he could stand up to look around, she gripped his sleeve. "Where is here…? I don't remember much… But you were rolling about in distress when I found you, I remember that."

More than a little self-conscious, Touma rubbed at the back of his neck. "I really don't want to talk about this horrible Hell-hole."

"Wow… Were you tortured here or something?" Her sleepy, innocent expression was not to be denied, so Touma merely sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, I'd say so. Twice."

"Is this place really bad? Like an ultra-secure prison or military base? Maybe a cultist enclave, full of demonic practitioners?"

"Worse. It's a shopping mall."

"…Did you hit your head a little?"

"L-look, we just need to get ou…" He checked him, carefully managing his expression. "Actually, you need to get out of here."

She had already spaced out a little as she searched his hairline for a bump, and so was taken by surprise at his plan. "Hmmm?"

"Go back down this tunnel; way down there's a part where it bends to the ground. There were a bunch of Mind-controlled magicians standing guard there, but they might be gone by now. The exit to this mall is down there, through a strange looking door. It leads to a wardrobe in an apartment in London, so just go there all right?"

"Narnia…? No, wait!" She shook her habit-ed head demurely, hiding her face from his inquisitive gaze. 'N-n-no! No, I c-can't do that!"

"Why not? Were small places not part of your training?"

"F-first of all, ah, I-I'm a little… C-claustraphobic." She blushed and frowned adorably at his raised eyebrow, wiggling her fingers together. "H-hmph. And second, I'll just fall asleep… I'm still really pooped. B-but third!" She raised one digit now in consternation. "My colleagues are still prisoner here, isn't that so? I have to help save them!"

Touma gazed at her for a moment.

"…You need to just stay here and hide, if you can't get out." He stood up and strode a few feet away, ensuring they were still alone. "I'm going after them all, don't worry."

"No, I can help. I have my-" The girl tried to push her upright, but wilted at the broken chain in her hand. "Oh, no…! My Cruce de Judecată…! I just got permission to… B-borrow this holy relic a few weeks ago…" [2] She yawned deeply, fighting to keep her eyes open. "Nooooo, I don't want to go back to Bible… Camp…"

In seconds she was asleep. It was only a minute more for the boy to fashion her a makeshift bed of clothing, sweaters and parkas pulled from a convenient clothing store. He regarded them, momentarily conscious of the somehow still air-conditioned mall.

His bare arms shivered a moment, remembering the cold walk here.

But he chose to not think about that.

Touma stood and, focus renewed, stepped back out into the Dianoid's hallway.

12:38 A.M., December 29th: London, Crossing of Westminster Road and St. George's Road

"I have no idea where I'm going."

Mikoto stood in the small snowy island between the complicated intersection, finally willing to admit her own idiocy.

The night was cold, the Cathedral's warmth fading fast from her memory. She was almost ready to go back and ask around the church more, confirm if perhaps she wasn't being too hasty-

Until explosion boomed, lighting up the night far away down a dark side road.

"Aha! Found you." He's got to be where the action is, he always is! Faith renewed she launched herself towards it, streaking through the air as a blur of blur.

A few eyes followed her astonishing journey, drawn out from their homes by the explosion, but she ignored their stares as she straightened her mask. This disguise is paying dividends. But now, to clean up whatever mess he's made.

She landed just outside a burning building, in time to witness two men dashing into a parked car.

"We're done here, go! Go!" One shouted, slamming the door behind him as the engine revved.

"Get in, we're peeling!" Tires squealed as the criminals' made their getaway.

But the buildings beside them remained curiously still.

Their shared elation quickly faltered, turning to blustering anger.

"Why the ***** ain't we moving!? Driver, get going!"

"The wheels are spinning, but-!?" There was a lurch, and the scenery drifted downwards: he leaned his head out the window to see the ground rapidly disappearing. "We're floating!? W-Wahaghh-!?"

The car flipped over suddenly in the air before dropping upside down. Its ceiling and doors crunched inwards, binding shut and trapping the shouting criminals inside.

"I'll let the police deal with you. Now where are you, you Idiot?" She turned her annoyance on the burning building, bending water pipes to quickly douse the blaze.

But rather than Touma, a small group of Londoners emerged from the smoke, coughing. Concerned, Mikoto rushed to their side and soon all were safely away from the wreck of their home.

"P-please, don't-" An aged man was interrupted by a coughing fit, but struggled through the pain. "D-don't hurt us!"

"Eeh? A-ah! I'm not here to hurt you; I've taken care of them, don't worry." She gestured back at the gentling rocking car as the family recovered, but the youngest, a small girl carrying a favourite toy, ran to Mikoto's side with startling speed.

"Daddy, daddy don't you recognize her!? She's the hero from TV, she saved us!"

"H-hero?" Right, damn it! How many people saw that broadcast!? Her hopes at anonymity plummeted as the rest of the family quickly nodded, making noises of recognition.

"So cool! Zapping and flying around! And such a pretty dress…" The little girl brazenly felt up Mikoto's fabric, and the esper did her best to inch away.

She's a little excited for someone whose house just exploded! "A-ah… Well, I'm just… It's not that-"

"Do not be so modest; you've done a great thing!" The man of the house crawled up beside his daughter, taking Mikoto's shaking hand in his own. "We have to nothing to give you now, but you have our deepest thanks, hero… Do you have a name?"

A crowd was drawing around them. "L-look, c-can you tell me what was going on here?"

His wife finally spoke up. "I don't really know. We're just a humble family; we've got nothing worth stealing!" She fell again to gasping as her husband comforted her, continuing in her place.

"They didn't even try, just came in, forced us upstairs at gunpoint, and then set up that bomb! Damn animals…!" His fear had turned to anger, but Mikoto needed him to focus.

"Right, thank you, but… Have you see a guy? An Asian teen, around this tall, messy hair, annoying face?"

They blinked at her as one, before the little girl raised a hand. "Oh! You mean your partner, the one who was punching that helicopter?"

"Y-yeah, sure. Have you seen him?"

"No, you're the first hero here!"

Damn it. Mikoto straightened, gazing out across the street. Wasn't the news talking about a string of attacks yesterday evening? Looks like it's getting worse out here, but I can't just keep stopping individual groups. There's got to be a point to all this senseless violence… And that's likely what he's involved with.

The esper's youngest fan interpreted Mikoto's musing for sadness, running to her side again. "But don't worry! Maybe he's out somewhere else across London, stopping other criminals! Or maybe he's going to find their boss, the Shark! I bet that bad man has a really mean plan! He escaped from the police, you know! A-after you stopped him!"

"Really!? Aw, come on, that's… Wait." The little girl's surprising suggestion gave Mikoto the insight she needed. The esper pondered a moment longer, a suspicion forming. "…Yeah. Thanks. Say, what's your name?"

"M-me? …C… Cheryl…" She stuttered, confidence waning, but her embarrassed shuddering froze as Mikoto's hand gently rustled her hair.

"You just helped me out a lot, so thank you. Look after your parents, okay, Cheryl?"

The little girl nodded, wide eyed and clutching her toy. She and all the other onlookers watched Mikoto speed off into the night, faint burst of lightning arcing as she danced atop street lamps away from the scene.

I just need to find out what all of this is about. If the Shark really is directing this, than I want to give him a piece of my mind. And wherever HE is, I'll find Touma. I'm not about to be left behind again!

Her heart pounded in her chest as she traversed the city skyline, taut with emotion as she remembered her last failed attempt to find the boy.

When she had finally pushed open the door to his room, ready to chastise him for her trouble.

Where she had found him missing, jacket lying crumpled on his bed.

12:39 A.M., December 29th: The Dianoid, 5th Floor.

"Surrender or perish."

Touma froze, not five steps from the snoring Agata. In the corner of his eye appeared two girls, standing with weapons levelled.

"Again!?" He quickly scanned them. One was unknown, dangling a heavy runed mace, but the other wielded a long katana and sported a familiar ponytail. "Uhh… Uragami-san?"

"Surrender or perish."

He almost made to run, but a particularly loud snore from the store caught both his and the magician's attention. Crap! Are they smart enough to realize she's unconscious!? Can't run, gotta think… As they turned towards the sound he raised both hands over his head. "I-I surrender!"

Both girls snapped back towards him. Though both approached, Uragami hung back, starry-eyes watching him carefully as her companion reached to her belt for a loop of cord.

He held both arms out like a contrite crook. "All right, just tie me up now." And get a little closer…

For a second he thought his bluff would hold, but the girl paused just out of reached. They stared levelly at each other, before she spoke.

"About face."

"Eh? What, I don't understand-"

"About face." She slowly pantomimed her request, spinning in brisk quarter turns.

"Oh. Got it." He spun, putting both hands together behind his back. Damn, this is going to be harder from behind…

With surprisingly speed she deftly bound him. Cursing his distraction, he leapt back. Before she could react Imagine Breaker rang out as it pushed into her stomach.

But rather than turn to his side the girl promptly passed out and slid to the floor.

Leaving him alone with Uragami, who sprang forwards.

"Perish."

"Damn it!" He tumbled into a shoulder roll, avoiding the first of a string of blows. Touma dove again and again, always just out of reach but never able to regain balance. "Why do you seem more eager than Agata-san was!?"

His question was answered by several more thrusts, each closer to home than the last. Finally his felt hit the wall and her sword point snaked towards his chest.

It jabbed into the carbon as he narrowly dodged, wincing as its edge caught his left forearm. He fell prone, but was saved from a follow-up strike when her sword proved stuck. Still staring at him she tugged on it viciously, while he floundered for a new plan.

Wait a minute. Why new? "…I surrender! Can I surrender again!?" He scrambled backwards, kicking out with his feet as she finally wrenched free. "I can't put my hands up but I surrender!"

She raised her sword, but paused.

He stared into her starry eyes.

"Stand at the ready."

"…Really? That worked? Oh, uh, hold on!" As her sword raised again he clambered to his feet, but she remained unsatisfied.

"About face."

Slowly he turned about, risking a look over his shoulder as she approached. Is she checking my bonds? Well, guess that means… Worth another try!

When he felt her lean forward he jumped back again, and just as before Imagine Breaker rang out.

The girl crumpled with a huge sigh, sword clattering down, and Touma finally breathed a sigh of his own.

"That wouldn't have worked on you guys normally. Glad you're not too smart mind-controlled like that…" Though the shallow slice in his arm bled he ignored it for now, crouching down to grasp her fallen blade. "But you're still quick. Agh…"

Uragami's eyes fluttered open, a scowl instantly formed as he sawed at his bindings with her sword. "D-don't use that… Like a pen… Knife… You *******…"

"Sorry, it's about to get worse." He sawed through part of his sleeve as she groaned, but she passed out before he finished his makeshift bandage. In minutes her snoozing form was bundled up with her sword next to Agata and the unknown girl, and he left them more carefully than the first time.

On his second attempt the halls were quiet. By the signage he was on the fifth floor, but aside from his would-be captors he was alone.

And without a clue where to go.

Must be pretty hard to patrol a place this big, even with a mind-controlled army. So where would they be… Without a better destination in mind, Touma set out for the stairs down, creeping carefully as his footsteps clicked softly of the Dianoid's carbon.

12:49 A.M., December 29th: London, Lambeth Road: Outside the Imperial War Museum

"Where are you, you damn hacker?" Though her tone remained level the security guard rapped at her keyboard with increasing fervour. Her partner leaned over from his desk, lowering his magazine.

"Are you still antsy about that glitch you found?"

"It's not a glitch! There's definitely someone on our network, I can tell! Look at our bandwidth going out! Just because I can't find what they're looking at doesn't mean they're not looking…"

The male guard sighed, scratching lazily at his ear. "It's just a memory leak or something. Shouldn't we just be glad we're not one of the places being targeted by that damn criminal, that 'Shark' or whatever? He's going nuts all over the city, isn't he?"

"And this hacker might be the prelude to something here, all-right? So ****** of back to your Sports Illustrated babes, would you?"

"…I like the articles…" As he sullenly returned to his pastime the woman stared at her screen in annoyance. From their road-side station, looked out into the clear night sky and empty streets.

Empty, save for one small figure standing by their front gate. The security guard took a closer look before sliding up her window and shouting outside. "Hey! Little girl! It's late, go home you brat! Don't you know there's trouble tonight?" The girl moved, and the guard peered closer and mumbled to herself, "Is that a costume…? Ach, whatever, I don't care. Now, back to this damn network intruder…"

Mikoto watched the window slam back down, sighing as the woman disappeared.

A soft and sweet voice buzzed through her phone.

"Are you there? What happened, Misaka-san? Your upload paused."

"I had to yank the connection, sorry. I've resumed." She had already plugged her multi-purpose cable back into the entry panel, and her screen lit up again,

"Why did you have to do that? Misaka-san, are you sure this is strictly legal? I did a bit of research, and these data points you're sending correlates to a string of reported explosions in London over the last 12 hours. You're not involved with that, are you?" Her tone suddenly became accusatory, and Mikoto paled.

"N-no!" Not yet, anyway! "Just don't worry about that, all I want to do is confirm my suspicions. All these attacks have been drawing away the police and distracting people, but I can't tell from what exactly. You can find out, right?"

"Of course. I'm running the data sets through Anti-Skill's simulation software now. It'll take a few minutes, though…"

"What? Why?"

"Anti-Skill is using a large portion of their server speed for some other use. I could divert more than I already gave, but I'm reading level 3 alerts since multiple high priority requests for more memory allocations have been ignored. I don't really want to upset them, and they might be doing something important."

"And you're the one question my criminal activity?"

"I-I'm not doing anything wrong! I'm Judgment, this is official business!"

"Official… Wait, are you going file a report? Uiharu-san, you better-"

"If you're just going to loiter, at least do it QUIETLY!" Mikoto jumped as the guard window slammed open again and the woman shouted at her. "Some of us WORK!" And just as quickly it slammed back down.

"Misaka-san? Misaka-san, is someone there?" Her friend's voice buzzed quietly through the esper's hand, and she sighed.

"No, no. It's fine. Just let me know when it's done, okay?"

"Right!"

Guess there's nothing to do but wait.

She waited.

She shivered.

She wait some more.

"Damn it."

She was already impatient.

12:54 A.M., December 29th: The Dianoid, 3rd Floor

Prowling the Dianoid was slow going. Each level Touma descended to had more mind-controlled magicians than the last. He took that as a good sign and continued carefully, darting behind display cases and plant pots to avoid their watchful eyes.

It was difficult work, creeping up to employ Imagine Breaker, and on more than one occasion he bit off more than he could chew. Though earning several bruises in the process he'd dispatched a good number, setting each aside to sleep off their long subordination to Joan's will.

He crouched beside a third floor banister, overlooking the Dianoid's grand central concourse below, still strung with Christmas garland and lights and ruined decorations. He glanced up into the expanse, remembering there were two floors above and below him with a similar view. He'd walked around these levels less than a week before, arms locked unknowingly with a certain esper who came unbidden to mind.

But he cast those thoughts aside, rubbing the chill from his upper arms. The air was somehow still air-conditioned cool, despite being disconnected from Academy City. And all the lights are even still on. This place have its own generator? I wonder what-

Something whistled through the air up the large open space and Touma reflexively dove for cover, ending up behind a large potted fern. He held his breath and waited as the sound stopped, but it was replacing by a weak grinding noise.

He heard a rustling in the plant just above and behind him, but for a long second as he covered below he heard nothing else.

"Ah ah ah, mmmm. I see you."

The voice sounded tinny with distance, but was somehow close by. Fearing the worst Touma looked up.

A polished brass periscope peered down, peeping through a gap between the fronds. Its glaring red eye blinked at him before the looking glass retracted, its grinding and rattling increasing as the rest of the magician's body ratcheted over from a higher floor to perch on the banister railing like a hawk, crashing over the terrified teen.

Daedalus chuckled with hollow pleasure as Touma pushed away and up to his feet. "I knew I'd find you closer to the bottom, ohoho, yes! Your intrusion somehow disrupted this fortress's entryway, but I suspected you would still enter nearer the original Portal. Mmmmm, as always Daedalus is right."

Touma reeled, but he quickly steeled his nerves. "Shut up, all right!? Just tell me, where's Miss Baker!?"

The magician paused, more curious than taken aback. "…Hmmm? Ohoho, you mean the Last? The woman? Well, certainly, I will take you to her. That's what she requested as well." He stretched out his arms and their wing-like shape disappeared as he clanked down to the stand level with Touma.

For a moment the boy hesitated, looking for the catch.

And narrowly blew apart Daedalus whip-like strike, his converted hand and arm disintegrating at Imagine Breaker's touch.

But the magician reformed without pause, cackling all the louder.

"Though she didn't say you had to be in one piece! Ohohoho!"

Touma swept his hand this way and that, disrupting each piercing blow Daedalus could make. At first he backed away but soon held his ground, learning his opponent's rhythm before pressing the attack. In short order it was the summon who was forced to retreat, and Touma clenched his fist proudly.

"Hah! That all you got, you weird robot?"

"Ohohohoho, no, no, no! This is merely a prelude." Nothing seemed to quell the magician's glee as he danced outside Touma's reach. "Yessss, I've worked out some new toys, but I'm saving them for your partner, that girl with the modern power. You seem different. I wish to perform an experiment from my past on you. On you and that peculiar hand."

"Why is everyone so fixated on this damn thing!?" But shouting at Imagine Breaker had never made it go away before, so he merely clenched it until it hurt. Watching carefully, Touma was surprised to see the magician nod.

"Mmmmm. I may understand your position. Perhaps this may teach us both a thing or two."

Distracted, Touma did not feel the brass tendrils worming behind Daedalus's back and under the carbon tiles until it was too late. They sprung up and around him, hoisting him by his ankles.

"This again!?" As he struggled to wave away the grasp with Imagine Breaker, the Summon spun the boy around and sprung close to his back. [3]

"That kindly little Saint won't let me enhance any of her puppets, ohoho, no." Touma heard the metallic rustling of a strike into his back. "Mmmm, so you will have to do!"

Twisting to no avail he braced himself as best he could, but instead of wrenching pain he felt an icy coolness.

It spread out from the impact point, but then he felt nothing at all.

Until he brushed his left hand up against the spot, feeling cold burnished metal and the shape of mismatched gears.

"W-what did you do!? I can't see!?" Daedalus dangled the boy a short distance away, scrutinizing his experiment. He wore no expression at all, until Imagine Breaker came into contact with the strange growth on Touma's back.

With one piercing ring the transformation ended, but rather than crying out in anger Daedalus ground his brass chin with the fingers of his spare hand.

"…How peculiar. My infection doesn't work. How very peculiar."

Still upside down, Touma sore body gave up the attempt to reach his ankle. Instead he gently waved before the magician's face like a pendulum. "Aren't you taking that a little well? I mean, whatever you did didn't work, right?"

Daedalus froze, but then just laughed all the louder. When he recovered, he pulled Touma in close. "For me, set backs are no longer permanent. I've only truly failed once, and will never again!"

"Stop there, you clanking fool!" But looked back, startled, as another shape fluttered down the stairs. On a cloud of black mist the Green Witch of Woolpit descended, gliding along the floor at jogging speed with no apparent effort. She raised a gnarled green finger, jabbing it at her ally. "You stated before that this magic you attempt would leave the victim mindless; we need to interrogate that boy. Do you listen to nothing but the voices in your own head?"

For once, Daedalus looked sour. "…It did not work anyway, so oblige yourself if you must."

He loosened his grip and idly hurled the boy her way.

"Don't toss him at me!" She recoiled, and Touma barrelled past. "That hand hurts!"

"But my dear, you are not even merged with your brother, it should… Oho?"

She followed his inquisitive eyes to see the boy tumble into a roll and hit the ground running. He sprinted for the next stairway down, but skidded to a halt when a small bird alighted in front of him.

"So, you are back, worthy foe!?" In a rush of wind Songbird took human form, a hard look in her eyes. "You may have made a fool of me last time, but now I will show… You…" She trailed off as her rival took a hard right, dashing for the railing overlooking the Dianoid lower floor concourse. "W-where are you…?"

He leapt into the air, ripping a string of lights from the wall as he went. Staples popped from the wall one by one as he swung down in an arc to the main floor below.

"Don't let him go, stop him!" The Green Witch Agnes rounded on her ally.

"Ohohoho, my my! What a leap... Hmmm?" The inventor noticed her fury, but only shrugged in response. "Ohohoh, no brass in those cables, mmmm, yes."

"Damn it, you single-minded simpleton! You just let him-!"

Their petty bickering faded in the wind his arc generated as he skidded level with the floor. He released his makeshift cable and slid across the sleek carbon floor on his sneakers, breaking into a run.

That's two too many! Gotta find Baker. Gotta punch Baker. Fix everything. Now where…!?

Belatedly he noticed that this level still had plenty of mind-controlled magicians on patrol. They turned on him and loosed their weaponry, some already in the middle of casting ranged spells.

In the brief second he had, he decided they were guarding the door to an amphitheatre. He vaguely recalled the magic show he'd seen inside with Mikoto but could ill afford the distraction.

Icicles, fireballs, boulders and shock-waves crashed around him, but good timing and several lucky swings of Imagine Breaker carried him through the assault. He made his objective, ramming open the door to crash inside.

Straight into the waiting chest of Joan of Arc.

1:05 A.M., December 29th: London, Lambeth Road: Outside the Imperial War Museum

"Almost done, Misaka-san."

'Good, thanks. It's chilly out here in these tights." But Mikoto hesitated, saying, "I'm sorry to bother you with this, but I need more processing power than these foreigners have got. You're the best person I could think of for the job."

"It's all right, Misaka-san. I'm sure it's important." Her young friend back in Academy City brightened at the compliment. "Besides, I have the morning shift anyway, and it's rather boring. I could use some data analysis to wake me up." Mikoto could hear her idle humming through the receiver, but it was interrupted by a soft gasp. "Oh! Misaka-san, I'll send you the results! I think this is pretty bad…"

The image file from Uiharu was easily overlaid on the esper's map of London. It showed a web of angry red dots, indicating attacks, combined with green dots showing police movements and reinforcements. A short time-lapse showed them radiating out in chaotic fashion from a central point.

But not chaotic enough to hide the oasis of calm in the eye of the storm. Mikoto zoomed in her map with a frown.

"…Buckingham Palace. What could they want there?"

"I don't know, Misaka-san, but this is a pretty careful operation. I doubt anyone else in London knows what's going on."

"Can you tell them? Talk to the police or something."

"I've been through this sort of thing before. They won't believe a girl from Judgment, and my English is really bad…" Uiharu chuckled weakly before perking up. "But! I can talk to Anti-Skill, and they eventually listen! We're allies with Britain, so maybe they can put out an alert!"

"Do what you can; I'm going to meet the Royals."

"R-Royals…? Misaka-sa-" But the call was cut off, and Mikoto already in motion, flinging herself off cars to gain momentum as their alarms blared into the night. She catapulted through the sky, towards the grim target painted on her map.

Because that's where I'll find him, I know it.

1:07 A.M., December 29th: The Dianoid: Main Ampitheatre

Touma faltered, unable to regain balance as he flailed face-first into Joan of Arc's bosom. She looked down in amusement as he mumbled incoherently and fought for breath in the theatre's main aisle.

"I'd wondered why some of my soldiers failed to report in. And that noise in the old-water tunnels was peculiar, but I suspected it was merely rats."

His first thought was ludicrous, even to him. My nose hurts way more than this usually… Is she flat like Mi…? Realizing what he'd just thought he blushed furiously, eyes tracking up to her bemused expression. Finally he managed to force himself upright, rubbing his nose weakly as he staggered back. "…E-Eheheheh… Heh?"

"Are you alright? I am afraid I lack cushioning there."

Touma gaped in disbelief, until the blood ran from his face. "HOW'D YOU READ MY MIND!? IMAGINE BREAKER FAILED ME AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME!" He dropped to his knees, howling in dismay.

Joan leaned back and laughed loudly. "Not you mind, boy, your face! Innocent sprat, I am a soldier first and woman second. I am not the kind to get flustered by such things as that."

Touma sighed hugely, the incredible relief that he wasn't about to get decked by an embarrassed Saint feeling like ten days of rest. But then he looked up, suddenly curious. "But what about Kanzaki-san, you-"

"Excuse me, but how is Kanzaki Kaori doing?" In a blinding flash she was in his face, peering closely at him. The mention of the Amakusan Saint's name had lit a wild fire in Joan's already starry eyes.

She blinked expectantly at the boy, but Touma merely gestured over his shoulder. "…What about them?"

A full contingent of mind-controlled magicians were surrounding him, various weapons just inches from his neck. Though most were Necessarius, a fair number sported the familiar robes of the Agnese forces or the individualistic garb of the Amakusan Christians. But all were focused with laserlike intensity on skewering Touma.

Joan glanced up, and shouted, "STAND DOWN!" As one, the group lowered their arms and stood at the ready. "They are under my command, and will not bother us, now, speak of the Saint, s'il vous plait?"

"…F-fine? A little angry, I think…"

Joan's face fell. "She is mad? Why, whatever for? I thought our duel was incroyable… Did she not enjoy it as much as… W-was I not a worthy enough foe!?"

"Well, you did take control of her friends and colleagues and attack her and me and Misaka and then she wasn't allowed after you when you fled-"

"Enough!" She withdrew in shame, waving a strong arm back as if to ward off evil. "Enough, utter not another word! I am distressed by this plot enough as it is…"

Touma sensed an opening. "If it's that upsetting… Then why? Why do all this? These people are exhausted, can't you see? Let them go, damn it!"

She recovered and looked coolly into the reflective eyes of her forces. "…They are soldiers. They fight as they need to. As I need to."

"What cause is worth fighting for if it hurts people who don't deserve it? And how can you drag them into your problems, your desires!? What kind of Saint are you!?" She flinched at his criticism, but he didn't slow. "Sometimes you have to fight, I know that, and sometimes people get hurt. I can't save everyone, not always. But just tell me, what do you think gives you the right to use people like this!?"

She hung her head a moment, short hair just shading her eyes. Like before, Touma sensed indecision.

But then her head shook.

"Right…? That is exactly it. Heh." He couldn't tell if it was a laugh or a sigh. "We must make it right. We must fix the mistakes."

"I don't really understand, but… You won't stop, then?"

Her head shook harder, and she glanced up with a weak smile that shattered his hope. "It was a valiant effort, boy, but not enough. There are reasons I will not explain binding us to this path. You may understand, when this is all over, but even that I cannot promise."

Well, damn. All right, improvised plan B! "Well, if we have to fight, can we at least do it, you know, honourably?"

"But of course." She waved her hand, and her forces backed away. "There. It is just the two of us now. And no paramours to distract us, oui?" Though she winked cheekily, Touma was distracted, eyes shifting.

"Right, yeah, so, let's have a good friendly shake before we fight."
"Shake of hands… Oh, as a friendly gesture of good will? If you insist." She stretched out her hand, and Touma did the same.

She crossed a few feet closer, and their fingers drew close.

…Come on. Just a little-

At the very last instant she withdrew, and Imagine Breaker snapped into nothing but air.

"Aah! No, mon dieu, that was close!" She took a careful step back, but was more excited than angry. "I forgot about that remarkable hand I have heard so much about! I almost gave up my soldiers to your guile; tres impressionnant!"

"Y-yeah… Sure was c-close." DAMN DAMN DAMN. This is almost as bad as fighting a Magic God, how lucky do I have to be!?

"Are you having enough fun, Joan of Arc?"

The cool voice echoed in the chamber, and Touma peered full of worry over the Saint's shoulder to confirm its source.

Striding on the stage where he had first seen the intimidating woman was Miss Baker. She was even dressed the same as before, though now she sported a warmer pair of white tights to cover the legs her black leotard revealed. Her hands were empty, but as his anxiety rose Touma watched her pockets carefully, from bitter experience aware of the tricks they could hold.

"Why do you seem upset?" Joan called back confidentially. "This intruder is powerless here, and I do not mind the chance for a rematch."

"Do not underestimate him. I have heard many things about his feats."

"…If you insist." Touma jumped as the Saint drew a short sword from an unnoticed scabbard, edge gleaning brown under the bright stage lights. She walked steadily around Touma, forcing his hands to the air as she gestured at his back. "This blade is poor, but it shall suffice. That is right, step over to the stage, youth."

He was soon frogmarched to the stage, still decorated as the magic show had left it. He sought an opening to move, to fight, but the Saint's speed was a potent threat.

"Ohohoho, how cruel, Saint!" Touma jumped again when Daedalus crashed his full weight onto the front row of seats, cracking them under the weight of his artificial form. "Mmmm, yes, I forged that sword from the finest alloys I could muster!"

"And brass makes for a poor blade. God, I grow sick of you." The next voice came from the last remaining side, and Touma was neatly hemmed in on centre stage as Agnes floated into place, her brother clutching to one side and Songbird alighting beside her. "At least we have located the intruder. And now that I've fetched my brother we've nearly all assembled. Aside from that newcomer. Did we really have to send him, the pompous wretch? I'm sure I could-"

"He is most suited to the task. And we are all needed here." Baker's head shook, but her eyes remained drilling into Touma. "You and I have much to discuss."

The boy remained silent, carefully surveying his assembled enemies. Each was formidable [4] in their own right, and though he sensed discord they looked too united for him to drive a wedge between them.

Which means I've got to fight. As stupid as it is, I've got to find a way.

He clenched his fist and raised it up.

He opened his mouth to shout his challenge.

Until the ground below everyone exploded.

Footnotes

[1] Who saw this one coming? I'd left subtle details in each Interlude, give slightly more information about where Miss Baker was hiding, so hopefully this doesn't come as a surprise. And remember, she didn't just destroy the Dianoid, she pulled it into her pocket realm.

[2] Another day, another made up artefact.

[3] Why more enemies haven't tried this on Touma is beyond me. I mean, you could argue his ability to predict attacks makes sneak attacks hard, but he's still human, with limited speed. I assume that the Magic God fight with Othinus is different, because he's basically messing with her head in that one, but a Saint should be able to trip him up no sweat.

[4] In varying degrees. Sorry Songbird. But at least her backstory is bad***. Not that just hers is, though.