CHAPTER 14:

BODYSNATCHER

Celenike Icecolle Yggdmillennia struggled to keep the contemptuous sneer off her face as she looked at the gathered Masters of Yggdmillennia and their respective Servants. The only ones absent were that creepy little shit Roche and his Caster, Avicebron. Not that Celenike had a leg to stand on in the creepiness stakes, but she only cared about that enough to know to conceal it from others.

That fat oaf Gordes, that crippled little slattern Fiore, that wimp Caules…and Darnic, a man who thought he held her leash. Also present were the Servants. Saber, a silver-haired man in armour. Lancer, a blonde-haired and bearded regal-looking man with sunken eyes. Archer, an overly serene man with brown hair and green eyes and a horse tail coming from his arse. Berserker, a red-haired young woman in a bridal dress and who acted like a dog. And Rider, her Astolfo, an effeminate, pink-haired young man who looked so much like a girl.

Darnic, from where he was standing next to Lancer's throne, declared, "The operation was a success. Despite some problems, we not only successfully drove off Archer and Rider of Red, but we have captured Berserker of Red. Caster believes he may be able to bring him under our control, albeit with difficulty, or at least persuade him to fight for our cause. Spartacus, after all, is known for rebelling against oppressive authority, and we can paint Clock Tower as supreme oppressors. Which is the truth."

Celenike suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Darnic made himself out to be a crusader for the Magi who were discarded by Clock Tower politics, but any moral high ground was negated by the fact that he basically ate infant souls to retain eternally youthful. Celenike certainly intended to do the same, but she didn't intend to be a hypocrite about it.

Archer coughed quietly to gain attention. On everyone looking at him, he said, quietly, "I believe Rider of Red to be more than just a female Attila the Hun. She sensed my divinity, and her claim of having killed gods did not appear to be hyperbole. The weapon she wields…it is the Sword of Mars, but…I can only hope that I am wrong, that she merely inherited the sword."

"What do you mean, Archer?" Darnic asked.

"With your permission, Darnic, that is something I would prefer to discuss with you, Lancer and Fiore in private. It is only a hypothesis, nothing definite, but I fear that she may in fact be our toughest opponent." There was a strange…antipathy in Archer's face when he said that.

Darnic nodded. "I look forward to your explanation, Archer. However, this battle has not been without its downside," Darnic said, glaring at Gordes. "Saber of Black's identity as Siegfried has been uncovered by Rider of Red, Altera, also known as Attila the Hun. While we now know Saber's true identity despite Gordes' insistence on secrecy, the Red Faction doubtlessly know already. Of greater concern is Gordes' imbecilic actions during the battle."

"He was losing himself in the battle! He only wants to prolong it by fighting an opponent!" Gordes snapped. "I wanted him to end it swiftly, and as his identity was already known, allowing him to use his Noble Phantasm was a…"

"Silence," Darnic said coldly. "You wasted a Command Seal on a relatively trivial matter. Saber's task was to distract the attacking Red Servants, and killing them was a mere bonus. In addition, as Rider of Red already knew who your Servant was, she also may have had an idea of how and when to counterattack when Saber unleashed Balmung. You did not think of that, did you?" Gordes paled. "Exactly. That is why I forced you to use a second Command Seal. In addition, I would suggest communicating with your Servant a bit more."

"He's a liar!" Gordes snapped. "He claims to have no wish for the Grail! But all Servants are supposed to have a wish for the Grail, to consent to being summoned! I would have thought revenge against Hagen, or perhaps to revive Brunhilde! And given his actions against Lancer and Rider of Red, he must be desiring to test himself in battle, not actually do his damned job!"

"May I speak?" Saber asked.

"No!" Gordes snapped.

However, Lancer held up his hand. "You may, Saber."

The silver-haired knight nodded in thanks. "What I said to my Master was that I didn't know what my wish for the Grail was," Saber said. "Not that I didn't have one."

Darnic nodded thoughtfully. "So, in other words, a failure to communicate. Gordes, let this be a lesson to you. You get more flies with honey than vinegar. Now, to more concerning issues. After last night's incident in Trifas, we have worked to try and find any trace of Kairi Sisigou and the person accompanying him, along with their respective Servants, Saber and Rider of Red. We thought of Sighişoara, but we haven't found a trace, and any agents attempting to find the Church's coordinator have ended up with memory loss. However, we lucked out with one of our agents in Târgu Mureş."

Fiore frowned. "That's outside our normal territory," the wheelchair-bound young woman remarked.

"Indeed, but I had at least one informant in every city and town in Romania," Darnic said. "My informant happened to spot a group of British newcomers arrive not long ago. She decided to gather intelligence, as Clock Tower is based in Britain. In addition, they were accompanied by a little girl who literally defied description. As in, she could give only a vague description, despite giving detailed descriptions of the others. She decided against informing me until she had more information. However, yesterday, while watching the home this group rented, she saw them leave in the company of Kairi Sisigou, Saber of Red…and the Master of Rider of Red. Only, she was able to get a better glimpse of him. It seems that Rider of Red's Master is our errant Homunculus. True, he was under concealing clothing, including hat and sunglasses, but she noted his facial features, and when he removed his sunglasses at one point, she noted that he had the same mismatched eyes the one who escaped did."

Celenike felt a thrill go through her body at that. The Homunculus escaping was a big humiliation she had to endure, to say nothing of Darnic's rebuke. She had been allowed to summon Astolfo as Rider, but on sufferance. When Rider learned of that escapade, he promptly laughed at her, the disrespectful little trap! He'd even expressed delight at the Homunculus escaping, saying it was good that he'd woken up and escaped. Rider was hers to do with as she wanted, and yet, he didn't really respond to her sessions with him. If anything, he seemed bored, as if her ministrations were beneath him.

"What do we do about the matter?" Celenike asked, trying to keep the eagerness out of her voice.

"For now…nothing, save for gathering intelligence," Darnic said. He held up a hand to forestall arguments. "This group has two if not three Servants. It's a possibility that the girl whom my informant cannot describe is Assassin of Black, as she can give detailed descriptions of the others. Even if we retrieve the Homunculus for Caster's Noble Phantasm, we may lose the Servants we send there. In addition, only Kairi Sisigou is the known quantity here. He is the only Master of Red, aside from the Homunculus, that we have seen."

Fiore frowned. "Uncle Darnic, may I make a suggestion? It is admittedly a long shot, but if this group seems to be separate from the main part of the Red Faction, do you think we can sow discord by divulging what happened with Ruler? It may be that the Red Faction has splintered, and that one part desired Ruler's demise. But these people may not want Ruler dead, and even if we cannot get an alliance, we can still divide our enemies."

"…An intriguing idea, Fiore, and one that has merit. True, they clearly trusted the rest of the Red Faction enough to send Rider of Red to assist Archer and Berserker of Red. But their separation from the main group does imply something we can potentially exploit. That being said, how will we do so?"

With considerable difficulty, Celenike had to stifle a sadistic smile, and said, "I believe I can help in that regard. Rider is one of the most alacritous classes, after all. What's more, his friendliness will help put them at ease. And in truth, he has been rather bored, cooped up in here."

She noted the sceptical looks on virtually everyone present, and strangled an urge to snarl at them. True, she didn't expect them to think of her as anything but sadistic, but she had hoped they would understand a façade of pragmatism. It was so torturous, trying to hold off on indulging her desires.

In truth, she had no intention of allowing Rider to do such a thing. The moment he confirmed he was with the Homunculus and his little group of allies, she was going to use as many Command Seals as she could to have him kill them, or die trying. Especially the Homunculus. True, Rider would likely die in the process, but she had little use for a toy that was uncooperative and who had mocked her. He would die in anguish and despair at having killed them. He had way too many scruples. She'd claim that the Red Faction splinter group had betrayed them and attacked. The thought of doing this made her glad that none of those present could see the state of her underwear.

And once Rider was dead…well, there were plenty of Masters she could take a Servant from. That fat oaf Gordes and that wimpy little shit Caules were the prime candidates. The latter was probably wisest: his Berserker was fairly calm for someone from that class, she was very much a looker even if she wasn't a talker, and Caules still had three Command Seals, whereas Gordes had squandered most of his.

Darnic, after a moment, nodded. "Very well. Rider, your instructions are to head to where this splinter faction is under a flag of parley."

"I could always use my cloak," Rider said. "It's big enough to be a white flag."

"You will approach these people carefully and non-aggressively, and divulge this information to them. If they do not react with hostility, try to get as much information from them as you can," Darnic said. "If they do react with hostility, retreat. Do not attempt to engage them. Celenike, monitor the situation and, if need be, use a Command Seal to retrieve him. I will have someone monitoring you."

Celenike fought to keep a triumphant smile off her face. Oh, she would use a Command Seal. Just not for that reason. She'd just have to find a way to distract her minder. But her fantasies of carnage were interrupted when that creepy little shit Roche entered the throne room. "Uncle Darnic? There is a problem. Harry Potter's body is missing. Teacher says that the Bounded Field around the castle hasn't been tripped, so he's hiding out in here, assuming that someone hasn't broken him out."

Darnic frowned. "I thought Potter was braindead. How was he able to break out? What did the life-support readouts say? Have they been tampered with?"

"Teacher said they had been, but he couldn't investigate any further, due to needing to deal with Berserker of Red," the little brat said.

Darnic frowned. "…Very well. We are on Orange Alert status. Homunculi are to search every corner of the castle. Every Master is to be with either their Servant or a Homunculi contingent at all times. Celenike, unless you wish to abort the mission you are sending Rider on…"

"I can look after myself. Besides, I doubt Potter would have any desire to hide anywhere in my Workshop…"

After sending Rider away, making final discussions with the others, going for a quick meal, and dismissing her Homunculus escorts, Celenike trotted into her Workshop with a spring in her step. This was actually an opportunity. She'd track down Potter, subdue him, and take her time with him. She stopped by her Workshop, little more than a dungeon, to ready the facilities there. She sensed a presence in the shadows, but dismissed it as being a Homunculus. Hmm, maybe she could torture and rape one to death as an appetiser? But then, she heard a single hissed word.

"Crucio."

The pain she felt was exquisite. To almost anyone else, it would have been unbearable agony. To Celenike, who, while not quite a masochist, did get off on the strangest things, well…her screams, muffled by the Bounded Field she herself put into place, were not mostly of pain, but of intense pleasure, and when the pain ended, a blush had come to her cheeks, and she was panting heavily. She whirled to where the voice was, only to be met with a pair of crimson, reptilian eyes set in a very familiar face.

What she felt next was even more disturbing, and yet still exquisite. She felt something rifling through her mind, before the mind withdrew. "I see," a high, sibilant voice spoke from the familiar face. "Hmm…the Homunculus…I would bet that it was Potter. I wondered why there was a vacant body ripe for me to take over."

"What do you mean?" Celenike chuckled in disbelief. "You're Potter."

"Oh, that? An easy mistake to make. Potter's not home, so…I've decided to use his body." And Celenike believed him. The mannerisms were too different.

"Oh? And who are you, then?"

"I am Lord Voldemort," he said. "Well, part of him, anyway. Now, I considered getting your allegiance…but I think earning your allegiance is going to be more trouble than its worth. I already have all I need to know from you, and your Servant will be useless." With that, his hand lashed out, and grabbed her by the neck. As she struggled against the sudden grip, he placed a finger on his lips as he throttled her…and then snapped her neck.

Voldemort looked down at the woman he just killed, and smirked. A shame, really. She was very much like Bellatrix. But he was doubtful he could tame her when time was of the essence. However, her mind proved useful enough.

He looked down at his body. There was something apt to taking Potter's, though he needed to draw upon its magic to regenerate some of the missing organs. Still, the information he got from her head was most enlightening.

With a smirk, he took one of Celenike's knives, and got ready to go to work. When this was over, nobody would claim the Holy Grail but him. Only Lord Voldemort deserved the power of a god. And he would ensure he got it by summoning a Servant…

CHAPTER 14 ANNOTATIONS:

Oh dear. Voldemort is still around. Yes, that's the Scarcrux using Harry's body as a meatsuit. I actually decided on that late into writing this, so I wrote in a few scenes here and there to foreshadow it. I realised that I am yet to actually write a story where Voldemort goes for the Grail (Zabaniya aside)…so this is it.

I actually had in mind a few bits of dialogue from the 1996 Doctor Who TV Movie, particularly those regarding the Master. In fact, the scene where Voldemort snaps Celenike's neck while shushing her is pretty much what the Master does to the wife of the man whose body he took over.

Review-answering time! Dragon Man 180: Sieg is pretty central to the story of Fate/Apocrypha, but having him changed around or substituted for actually helps the story in some regards. The biggest upshot is that Siegfried doesn't bite the dust, at least at this point. It also means Jeanne is less distracted by her feelings for Sieg, and may be less vulnerable to Shakespeare's NP as a result.

ZLC genesmith: While you have a point, Dragon Man 180 didn't bring up Salter.

No numbered annotations this time.