After a moment of explanation of why Last Order was screaming, she informs the groups that after investigating Misaka 11626 through the Misaka Network, she learns that her personality is just the same as the Sister on the Holocron.
This made the other Sisters who helped investigate all asked a bombardment of questions towards 11626 in how she was able to make herself speak normally rather than speaking in the third person, which annoyed Last Order.
"Wow. Misaka is now kinda interested in how that Sister did." Worst crossed her arms. "Though, when Misaka thinks about it, Misaka is pretty good in how she speaks, so Misaka doesn't really need to learn how it's done."
"Are you done already, brat?" Accelerator asks Last Order slightly annoyed.
"Yes… Misaka sighs as Misaka can finally relax from all that noise in Misaka's head."
"So, what did you find out?" Uiharu asks, being a bit curious herself.
"Sorry. Misaka apologies as Misaka was requested to keep that secret under 11626's request."
"Oh! I see. Then I won't pry into it."
"Okay, now that over with, let's start the next episode!" Saten Cheerfuly said while the Holocron responds.
Act 1: Chapter 8
July 28, 2023 (Earth Calendar)
School District 23
Academy City International Airport
"Guess this is it." Accelerator sighs, finally reaching the office door.
He could've used his ability to reach his destination while inside the airport, but decided against it due to the fact that he would end up wasting battery consumption for his electrode. During his way upstairs, he notices that the Stormtroopers didn't bother attacking him or escort him to their commanding officer. Thanks to having good hearing, he learns that they're to stand down and not provoke him in any way that could get themselves killed.
"Smart move," Accelerator said, knowing full well what happens to the sad fools who try to get in his way.
"At least they have the damn balls to stay out of my way. I've already used up fifty percent of my electrode's battery, and I'm conserving it when I'm done here with the Sister and the hostages safe." The door automatically opens and enters the room while in his 'crutch' mode. He notices that the Purge trooper is looking out the window.
"Is that the thing around your neck?" Uiharu asks the Dean.
"Yes…" Accelerator clicks his tongue in annoyance. "And I would prefer that no one asks or talks about it."
"O-Okay…"
"So that's their commanding officer in charge of this whole invasion. Huh, his armor looks different from the ones they're wearing." He observes his target. The commander turns around and slightly flinches in surprise that the one he's negotiating with is a teenage boy no older than 17. He then regains his composure and speaks first.
"I wasn't expecting the man I'm supposed to be negotiating with is a boy." PT-3571 says.
"And we didn't expect the Dean to be the same." Saten chirped, making the Number One growl in annoyance, which she didn't mind.
"Tch. Well, get used to it because I'm pissed off that you're little invasion just interrupted my nap an hour ago." Accelerator retorts rudely.
"Misaka can picture him doing that." Worst said while Last Order nodded in agreement.
"You killed a squadron of my men." He deadpans.
"I killed them in self-defense when they opened fire on me." He explains with a half-truth since he attacked first. " Well, except for the squadron leader, and HE'S not gonna be walking anywhere anytime soon."
"He has the right since its self-defense… and being the Dean." Konori noted, being a law-enforcer herself, she can say that Accelerator was at the right and technically the fact that she works for him.
3571 grits his teeth underneath his helmet but calms down immediately.
"I should kill you for that."
"Someone's angry." Kuroko mused.
"I like to see you try. Though, I'm sure as hell you'll fail like those guys in white have." The first ranked Esper arrogantly taunts. "But I have priorities in saving right now, starting with the girl and hostages you're holding."
"You better do what he says," Misaka growls.
"We'll get to that. However, I want to ask for information about your planet and your city's technology."
"We agreed in discussing the release of them first."
"I never said that."
"He actually did." Uiharu pointed out then quickly shrunk the moment she sees the Vector Maniplutor glared at her. "Sorry."
"Bastard! If you so much have already killed them before I got here, I'll kill you for that!"
"They're still alive. And if you don't want my hand forced, then you'll do what I say." The commander says, beginning to lose his patience.
Accelerator pauses for a moment. He could kill him here and now, and be done with this. But if he does, then there's a chance that they will kill the Sister and the hostages upon the discovery of their dead superior.
Left with no other choice, he gives in to 3571's demand.
The Number One fight clicked his tongue in annoyance. If he were in that position, he would have no choice to comply.
Misaka growled as statics flew out. If it were her, she would have done the same.
"Tch. Fine. What is it you want to know?"
Meanwhile outside...
"Really…?" Saten frowns.
"He better not ask me anything important." The Number One growled.
It took some time, but the trio has finally made it to the airport grounds. Only thing is, is that they're now hiding behind cover in an airport hangar being occupied by a few AT-STs and AT-ATs.
"That's a lot of walkers." Saten gulps nervously as she watches.
"That's a lot of walkers." Saten gulps nervously.
"That's starting to get old."
"Better get used to it." Konori shrugs
"They're one of the Empire's symbols of fear, after all." Theron agrees with her.
"It certainly is scary." Uiharu nervously chuckles.
"Enough to take Academy City if we don't stop them right now," Misaka says. "I'm not sure how they managed to sneak all of those vehicles into the city, as well as those Stormtroopers."
"There might be someone from the inside to that." Konori narrowed her eyes at the possibility.
"Is that even possible?" Kuroko questions but then quickly dismisses it. "No, wait, who am I kidding? This stuff happens almost every day in this city."
"Beats me." Theron shrugs. "Any ideas of how to cripple their superior firepower?"
"From what you and Uiharu have told us about them, the smaller walkers we can handle, but the larger ones are gonna be tricky to deal with."
"The AT-ATs have tough armor than the AT-STs, and both have immunity to blasters. However, the former lacks mobility in exchange for superior weaponry and tanks normal rockets, unlike the latter of walkers in exchange for mobility." He explains.
"What if we were to plant explosives inside the AT-ATs?" Saten suggests. "If they have strong armor, then certainly the interiors aren't."
"Smart thinking, Saten!" Uiharu cheers.
"Smart thinking, Saten!" Misaka compliments before looking around. "It's a miracle no one's guarding the inside of a large hangar. How stupid do you think the Empire is?"
"Oh, wow! That's the first time someone else said then there other!" Saten says, completely surprised at that small event.
"This makes things even funnier." Worst laughs at the idea.
"Really stupid." He answers. "It's not the troops' fault but more towards their leaders sometimes. The reason why is because they're more politician than military tactician. It's their ego and Imperial arrogance that makes them not the brightest bulb, and see their own forces expendable than relying on teamwork."
"What?!" Konori shouts in disbelief. "What a disgrace! Every single one of them!"
"How the Empire managed to survive this long is beyond me…" Accelerator deadpans. "At least Academy City wasn't that bad, there may have been the Darkside but still somewhat tolerable."
"Seriously?!" Misaka questions, angry that the Imperial troops are seen as a means to an end toward their leaders. "That's just-! Ugh! I can't believe that their superiors care only about power, glory, and recognition."
"Yeah, well, it's why the Empire's not gonna last long if this keeps up." He sighs.
"It better." Kuroko narrows her eyes, hoping for its fall.
"How long do you think that the people of your Galaxy might rebel against them?" Saten asks curiously, disgusted by it too. "These space Nazis just keeps stealing what's isn't theirs."
"By my prediction, in about less than a decade. Maybe even lesser than that." Theron makes an educated guess.
Oh, how right he is, after all. Well, more like around 16 years given Theron's current age.
"Huh? What does that mean?" Saten tilted her head at that narration. "Does that mean there's already a rebellion in Theron's universe?"
"Misaka remembers in the book that there is a chapter titled 'Rebels' Misaka clarifies as Misaka gilts her head as she tries to remember more."
"We should contact Uiharu and the others. They're probably worried about us by now." The Level 0 girl suggests.
"Good thinking. What's she taking so long in getting the drones back online?" He agrees as he turns on his communicator.
"I'm doing my best!" Uiharu pouts.
"Uiharu, it's us."
"Thank goodness you're still alive!" Uiharu says with relief. "I lost contact with you guys after you entered the sewers!"
"We're okay, Uiharu." Saten calms her friend. "Let's just say we were occupied at the moment."
"That's putting it lightly." Misaka mused.
"What do you mean?"
"It's a long story, but I'll tell you when this whole invasion is over."
"By the way, what's the status on those aerial defense drones?" Misaka changes the topic, getting to the matter at hand.
Everyone paid careful attention as this Uiharu explains there situation.
"I've just finished bringing them back online. They should be at the airport now."
"Do you know where the hostages are being kept at?"
"Give me a sec to check on one of the drone's surveillance cams." She says as the trio hear typing on a keyboard. "I've got it! They're being held at a security checkpoint. But it looks like there's about ten hostiles and twenty civilians. Not to mention, there are about 50 or more troops outside and are preparing to move into the city."
"Well, that's not good." Misaka sarcastically comments.
"Does the airport have an advanced security lockdown?" Theron asks.
"Tight enough to stop Esper abilities. Why?"
"We're close to the main building and are in a hangar filled with hostile vehicles and heavy artillery. We're going to destroy their fire support and advance to where the hostages are being held at. Once we're inside, I need you to jam their communications and lock us inside the building."
"What?!" Everyone except Accelerator shouted.
"Wait, what?!" The three shouted.
"You're out of your mind!"
"What my other said!" Saten said.
"It'll buy us some time." He explains. "Plus, we'll need to take their new commanding officer alive about what the Empire is doing here in the first place."
"But how are we going to get all of the hostages out? Also, there are hostages being held outside on the airfield and other hangars. We can't just leave them behind."
"That's annoying…" Worst clicked her tongue.
"Don't worry, Misaka. I've programmed the drones to take out the invaders holding the other hostages that are outside the main building. Just say the word, and I can initiate Operation: Invading Halt!"
Everyone sweatdropped watching Uiharu's dramatic moment.
"Really, Uiharu? Really?" The Level 0 deadpans towards her friend.
"What? I think it's a great name." The Level 1 pouts.
"Misaka thinks that's also a great name. Misaka says as Misaka compliments the flowerhead girl."
"Aww, thank you."
The trio sweatdropped at Uiharu's dramatic moment.
Theron shakes his head.
"Sorry, but I don't think this is the time to be naming plans." Saten chuckles awkwardly.
"Good grief." Misaka sighs in amusement.
"You're no fun, guys." The level 1 pouts.
"I agree with you, me." The Level 1 watching also pouted.
"Talk to you later, Uiharu." Theron rolls his eyes before ending the call. "Alright, let's get to work."
They immediately begin planting detonation charges Theron brought with him and started planting them inside the AT-ATs and AT-STs. After planting the last charge they then make a run to the entrance hallway that'll take them to one of the large security checkpoints that the hostages are being held at.
"Shouldn't we worry about collateral damage after we detonate the charges?" Theron nervously asks, not wanting to pay for the expensive property they're going to blow up.
"He's right to worry about that." The Judgment leader nodded.
"Don't worry about it, Theron," Saten assures him. "The city has really deep pockets, so we don't have to worry about paying for damaged property while we students in Academy City focus on our school lives."
"You do realize most of those deep pockets are what giving you a roof to sleep under and the food to fill your stomachs, right?" The dean of Academy City raised a brow towards the Level 1 watching.
The said Esper just shrank back on her seat as she chuckles nervously. "It was my other who said it?" She says, hoping it was a good enough excuse. Fortunately, the dean didn't care about that.
He sighs in relief, wiping a bit of sweat off of his forehead. No way he's paying the damages of a technologically advanced city.
Reaching down the hallway, they hid behind a corner and checked for any Stormtroopers patrolling. None so far, and they continue deeper inside the main building.
Back Upstairs...
"Finally," Accelerator says now on full attention on what his other have discussed about.
"Very interesting. I know that Earth isn't advanced enough for space traveling, but I wasn't expecting this city to produce super-powered children." 3571 admits, intrigued by the Espers.
"At least we have something that they don't." Kuroko mused that the idea as a technology that no universe has.
"Yes, everyone's awed about Academy City." Accelerator rolls his eyes at the same old reactions newcomers have with Academy City.
"Never a dull moment in this city." Misaka chuckled.
Accelerator explained the basics of Espers with different abilities to the commander. However, he withheld important information about the Power Curriculum Program, Parameter list, the level rankings, himself as the strongest Esper and secret chairman of the governing board, and the other Level 5s, including the existence of magic and a certain spiky-haired boy's unknown power as the Purge trooper, doesn't need to know. After all, he and his small forces are outsiders to both the city and the entire planet.
"Tch, at least it wasn't everything." The Strongest Esper growled
Misaka sighed in relief that a certain idiot she knows is still kept hidden from those trooper bastards.
"Thank you for this information, boy. In honor of our deal, the hostages and the girl are free to go."
"If you're not lying, then I want proof of it, not simply words coming from the mouth of an outsider."
"As you wish."
After calling then up, the door opens as the Sister is being escorted in by two Purge troopers. Her eyes widen when she recognizes him.
"Every single Sister knows about him." Worst shrugged.
"Good. She's safe. A little bruised, but safe." Accelerator mentally sighs with relief. "And the hostages?"
"Let's not get too greedy here." 3571 says. "The hostages will be set free once I give the order to my men."
Suddenly, the power goes out, and the airport has initiated lockdown to all windows and exits. The lights are now red as it has switched to emergency power and the alarms echoing.
"A lockdown?" The strongest Esper curiously wonders to himself.
"Looks like our others plans are at motion," Saten smirked.
"Sargeant, what's going on down there?"
"Sir, the hangar that stores our walkers and most of our weaponry have been destroyed!" The Sargeant on the comms report.
"What?! Then why the hell have you activate the building's lockdown protocol?"
"Sir, it wasn't us! We believe the same intruders have infiltrated inside and could be anywhere."
"That would be us." Misaka chimed.
"What the hell are you standing around for?! Hunt them down immediately!"
"Alive?"
"No. There's been a change of plan." He says before informing other troopers inside. "Secure the hostages, and fan out for possible Intruders! Use of lethal force has been authorized!"
"I like to see you punks try!" The Level 5 Railgun growls at them.
"Sir, what about these two?" One of the Purge troopers in the room asks.
"Kill them. Our diplomatic strategy has now gone to hell. Thanks to this boy's allies, " He orders without remorse.
"Tch. Figured it would come to that." Accelerator rolls his eyes.
"How can you be so calm about this?!" Saten questions the whitehaired boy.
"You do you think you're talking to?"
The Purge troopers nod and aim their E-22s at the two teens.
"Seriously? You think I'm capable of secretly bringing in allies behind your back? You really are stupid than I thought." Accelerator shakes his head with a grin.
He quickly then turns on his electrode as soon as the Sister stands back from him. The three Purge troopers were immediately sent flying to a wall or a window shutter, knocking them down momentarily.
"Take that! Misaka shouts as Misaka cheers for the guardian's other as Misaka watches the beatdown that will commence."
"Never mess with the strongest." Worst grinned.
"Come on!" He orders the Sister to follow after removing the cuffs off her.
The two then make a run for it.
"Thank you." Misaka 11626 praises as they make their escape down a few hallways and a stairwell.
"What the hell were you thinking of going alone without informing the other Sisters?" He lectures. "You almost got yourself killed."
Her face becomes shameful at this.
"Doesn't matter anymore. What's important is that you're in one piece. Next time, I might not be to save your sorry ass from getting killed."
"But Accelerator, that armored commander has some information about the Misaka Network and the Sisters!"
"I know."
"No, I mean, he literally has some of it on a data encrypter."
"Huh?" Both Level 5s, Worst, and Last Order said at the same time.
"Huh?"
"He's planning to leave the planet with it and deliver it to his superior. He still doesn't know about your true identity, but it'll be a matter of time before he finds out about your ability and takes advantage of your weakness."
"Bastard!" Worst growled as she grits her teeth.
"No! That information doesn't not belong to him! Misaka shouts as Misaka begins to worry for the safety of the Sister in that universe."
"Damn it!" He curses. "Hey, I need you to head back to School District 7. I can handle it from here."
"But it's my fault that he's got whatever data he has from my head! Let me make it right!"
"Wow… this Sister really gots some guts." The Level 4 Telepter smirked.
"Yeah… I really like to meet with her when I get the chance." Misaka proudly says as she watches her Sister's determination.
"You've done enough already, so scram!" He yells angrily, causing her to flinch as they stopped running. "I'm not gonna let some dirty bastard take advantage of me or anyone else again. And that's a promise."
"Thank you, Mr. Dean." The Railgun chimed.
"Shut up." The boy growled.
"What about the hostages? Surely they need to be rescued."
"It's no longer my concern anymore. I'm pretty sure that whoever's infiltrated inside the airport, Anti-Skill or otherwise, they can get by without my help."
11626 nods hesitantly.
"Be careful. Last Order wouldn't want you to get yourself killed."
"That's true. Misaka says as Misaka pouts towards that fact."
And like that, she runs off to find an exit.
"Tch." He says before turning off his electrode and converting his crutch into a gauntlet to help him walk normally without relying on the electrode and the Misaka Network before running back to the office where he knocked the commander down to escape from being executed along with the Sister.
But by the time he returned there, the three Purge troopers are already gone.
"Shit! They're gone!" Misaka growls.
"Shit! They must've ran off after the Sister, and I escaped our own execution." He curses as he looks around. "Looks like I'm gonna have to track them down, and quickly before they get off of Earth with the copied data."
Meanwhile...
"Sir, I can't get a hold of the fleet. Our communications must've been intercepted and jammed." One of the Purge troopers reports as they are taking an elevator down to another floor.
"Oh no! They're trying to call for backup!" Uiharu worriedly said.
"But it looks like your other made sure that the won't get any." Konori smiled.
3571 grits his teeth in anger.
"It seems that boy's friends must've taken out the troops I left behind to secure. Good thing, my communicator runs a secondary channel in case something like this happens."
He then contacts the Admiral of the fleet.
"Commander! We've been trying to reach you when we discovered that our transmissions didn't go through and-!"
"They work fast," Uiharu said as she narrowed her eyes at the fact that her hacking was beaten that quickly.
"Spare me the details, Admiral. I already know what's going on." He quickly interrupts. "The whole plan's gone to hell."
"Sir, I don't understand. The plan's gone smoothly since you last contacted me. How could this have happened?"
"We happened," Saten smirked.
"Imperial High Command has overlooked something crucial the first time we attempted to conquer this planet years ago again. And our forces' walkers and artillery have been destroyed by a hostile strike team. Requesting for immediate evac."
"Affirmative, commander. I'll dispatch one of our two Imperial I-class Star Destroyers to your position, and provide orbital cover fire."
"Crap. Reinforcement from the air." Kuroko nervously said.
"Do it. PT-3571 out." He ends transmission before looking at his two squadmates. "Evacuation has been authorized. Get all our forces to the shuttles. A Star Destroyer is on its way to pick us up."
"And the hostages?"
"Kill them all."
"BASTARDS!" Everyone shouted, Last Order just covered her ears from the loud noise, and Uiharu only covers her mouth in shock.
The elevator door opens, and the trio makes a run to where a group hostages are being held at inside the Airport.
To be continued...
"Next Episode! Next Episode! We have to know what happens next!" Saten shout towards the Holocron, which it complies then displays the next episode.
