Act 3: Chapter 2 - Imperial Scavenger Hunting

After Theron and Saten have calmed down from their banter, the former gives the girls a tour inside the Ebon Hawk. While they're awed and impressed, the four girls had mixed opinions.

They see that the ship is cool looking and all, from the cockpit to the cargo hold to the med bay, and lastly to the starboard and port side bed rooms. However, the interior is poorly design as the Hawk is too cramped for more passengers or crew members. Not to mention the fact that there's no room for a kitchen and bathrooms for the said bed rooms.

Agreeing with them, the Jedi was hoping to ask Uiharu for help since she's a tech/weapons expert and somewhat of an engineer in vehicles besides being Academy City's 1st-ranked computer hacker. Once she's fully rested, of course. However, that wasn't just what he needed to talk to his friends about and told them of Accelerator's visit.

"So Accelerator is saying that there are remnants of Imperial forces that haven't been apprehended after the invasion?" Konori questions.

"Yep." Theron answers.

"Did he give us any leads on where they're hiding at?"

"Not really." He mutters in annoyance. "Said something about doing it on my own. More specifically, on our own."

"Well that's just great. So very helpful." Misaka sarcastically comments.

"But I do have some good news."

The girls perked up with more as he takes them to the ship's communication room close to the cockpit. He then types on a computer that accesses any known active Imperial channels on the planet.

"For the past few days since my encounter with the Second Brother, I hacked into their comms to triangulate their current location. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that some of the locations I've been to in finding them were decoys."

"And you never told Accelerator this?" Saten raises an eyebrow.

"No." He shakes his head. "The less I involve more people in our fight, the better. Not even Yomikawa."

"But Yomikawa's a nice woman." Shirai interjects. "Why do we need to keep her in the dark?"

"Because we need to figure out what the remnant invasion forces are up to first, so this is going to be a reconnaissance mission only. And until then, we don't tell Yomikawa anything about this mission."

Shirai notices that he's hiding something from them again.

"Can you guys give Theron and I a minute?" The Teleporter asks her friends. "I need to ask him something."

Her friends leave the room and the door closed behind them. Theron turns on the room's sound dampener to avoid being eavesdropped.

"What do you mean we can't tell Yomikawa?" She questions him suspiciously.

"Listen, Shirai." The Jedi begins explaining. "I'm not sure if I'm right or not, but..."

"He's hesitant on something." She thinks in her thoughts while listening to him carefully. "What is it?"

"There's something wrong with Yomikawa." He answers. "I don't know how to explain it but there's something off about her. When she learned about some of my past, she immediately trusts me after saving Academy City and Earth from the Empire. And the way she's behaving in these last few days, it's like she has experience with the Empire but doesn't."

"That's impossible, Theron!" Shirai says in disbelief. "She's been loyal to the good people of Academy City for years. There's no way that she's a traitor. Besides, she never had any ties to the city's dark side since she first came here as a teacher and a member of Anti-Skill, so I think you're being paranoid about this."

"I'm not saying that she is a traitor. This might sound hypocritical, and admittedly, it is. But Yomikawa's hiding something from us and-."

"Stop. Just stop." She interrupts, not wanting to hear this from him anymore. "You need to trust her just as you need to trust us. Okay?"

He sighs, even though he remains suspicious about the woman.

"Alright. Fine. But I don't like this."

"Come on." The Teleporter says as she disables the dampener and opens the door. "We should go check out the remaining decoy locations to find the real one."

"We?" He questions in confusion.

"We as in you, me, and Sissy." She clarifies. "Uiharu's out of commission, and we'll need Konori at the branch office to be our eyes and ears while Saten and the baby stay with her for the time being."

"You had this all planned out for awhile, didn't you?"

"Yep. And we're doing this together as a TEAM." She smugly answers.

"Great! Then let's go to work."


School District 10

Abandoned Warehouse

As a reconnaissance team of three, the Jedi and his two friends at Tokiwadai arrived at an abandoned warehouse that's either an empty hideout used as a decoy to escape from the authorities or used as a real location the Empire is using for whatever reason.

"Are you sure these are the right coordinates, Theron?" Misaka asks him. "You and Accelerator theorized that this could be a trap of sorts."

"Well if it is a trap, then Shirai can teleport us out of there should the trap be an explosive. No harm done." He calmly answers, having faith in the Level 4's ability.

"That's putting it mildly." She deadpans.

He could only shrug as he then Force pushes the door down and enters inside the empty build with his friends.

"Too bad I don't have psychometry." He admits. "Not many Jedi and Sith have that skill."

"Isn't that the ability to sense an echo of the past by touching the object an individual has lastly used?" Shirai recalls. "There's a Level 3 Esper at Tokiwadai who can read those memories within animals, if I'm not mistaken."

"I'm surprised there's a Force technique similar to the rare Esper variant." The Railgun admits.

"Except that the Force is life energy that resides within us. And we Force users can perform these techniques so long as we don't exhaust or kill ourselves in the process." He compares. "Like you said about the Esper version, the Force's own version is very rare for anyone to have except that a few are born with it instead of being gifted like the Espers do."

"Looks like we'll have to do this the old fashioned way, then." The Teleporter sighs. "Let's look around for anything out of the ordinary. If we're lucky, then there might be a clue that could lead us to the remnant Imperials hiding in this city."

"Got it." He nods as the three look around head to toe.

It didn't take long, but Misaka senses EM waves emitting upstairs, and she and her friends followed the source of it. When they reached the room, they found some kind of device that's been installed on a wall and giving off a blinking, red light signal.

"Konori, are you reading me?" Shirai contacts through her earpiece-like phone.

"Yep. I read you, guys." Konori answers. "Find anything over there?"

"Yeah." Theron nods while checking his datapad. "Looks like the Empire has one of these relay boxes hooked up to a wall. If I'm right, they're being used to bounce any comm signal from one relay to the next, nearly impossible to trace where the source is originating from. Which explains how Anti-Skill couldn't find them in the first place."

"Maybe if I could use my ability on this relay, then I should be able to trace each one that's around the city from here."

"How will you do that?" He curiously asks.

Misaka smirks.

"A girl never reveals her secrets." She says before touching the relay and sends an electrical surge to it.

The data then transfers to Theron's datapad as it cross references the number of decoy locations, narrowing it down to one specific location.

"This can't be right." He says in disbelief. "The signal's coming from School District 23, south from my home in the city outskirts."

"You've got to be kidding me." Misaka groans. "Now we have to go back to that district again?"

"Guess we have no choice then, huh Sissy?" Shirai shakes her head.

"If that's the case, do you guys need backup?" Saten asks over their earpieces.

"No, stay with the kid, Saten." The Jedi answers. "We must ensure that the Second Brother doesn't get his hands on him. He could sense us if you and I use the Force in the open."

"Be careful." She says.

"We'll be in touch." He assures her before ending the call.

"She really sounds worried for you." Shirai smirks.

"Yeah, so?" He shrugs. "That's what friends do."

"Or maybe it's more than that." Misaka teases.

He blushes and looks away.

"L-Let's just stay focus, okay?" He says, avoiding the topic as he walks out of the room.

"He seems too shy to admit having feelings for her." The Railgun whispers to her BFF as they follow behind him.

"Agreed, Sissy." The Teleporter agrees with her. "Uiharu even sees that those two are comfortable with each other but haven't realize that they're in love with each other. Yet."

"Whatever you're gossiping about, I can hear you, ya know." Theron interrupts them, annoyed.

"We know." They said in unison.


School District 23

Endymion

5:30 PM came as the trio arrives at the other side of the closed Endymion City that surrounds the space elevator, covering an entire city block within the 23rd School District. The trio are now on a rooftop overlooking the elevator lobby entrance with Theron using his rifle through a scope to keep a look out for any Stormtroopers.

"Endymion." Theron says while looking at the remains of the tower. "Or what's left of it, anyway."

"You can say that again." Misaka agrees with him, using a pair of advanced binoculars from space given to her and Shirai.

"How can humanity's greatest achievement ended up being shut down?" He suspiciously wonders. "I mean, they could've used its defense system against an incoming Star Destroyer if the tower wasn't shut down and all. So, why didn't they keep it active to prepare for that invasion a few weeks back?"

"Honestly, we don't know." Shirai shrugs. "It was a few days before last year's Daihasei Festival, and it involved a special event from the famous pop singer Arisa Meigo. And this is where things get complicated because the details of this incident are very sketchy and were classified to the public."

"Arisa Meigo." He repeats the mention of the name. "Oh, yeah. I think I've listened to her songs a few times during my three years in hiding."

"Saten's a big fan of hers." Misaka recalls. "The four of us girls ended up meeting her and became part of a photoshoot."

"I was confined to a wheelchair, Sissy." The Teleporter deadpans. "I never even get to join you in those lewd outfits for cosplay and-!"

She didn't finish her sentence as Misaka bonks her hear head hard with her fist.

"Finish that sentence, and that won't be the only thing you'll be thinking about." Misaka warns her, annoyed.

"Wait, that was you, Saten, and Uiharu in that photo, Misaka?" He asks, looking away from his rifle's scope. "Wow. I didn't realize that was you guys till we first met, and boy, Saten looks hot in that outfit. Her curves are very impressive to her hourglass body, and I've always wondered who that shy-looking girl is until now. I feel almost sorry for her. Almost."

He then noticed being stared at by the two Tokiwadai girls.

"N-not that I'm being all pervy and whatnot, it's just that Saten is sexually attractive for any guy to be smitten of, ya know!" He denies with a nervous chuckle.

"Gee, I wonder who that guy could be." Misaka and Shirai sarcastically thought smirking.

"So what exactly happened to Endymion?" He asks, changing the subject.

"Long story short, the elevator almost collapsed that would've screwed the entire northern hemisphere up big time, elevator no longer appears in Academy City's skyline, and not long after, Arisa mysteriously disappears." Misaka finishes the story.

"Without a trace?" He further questions before laughing. "People don't just vanished, Misaka. Since Arisa was last seen up in space, she might've got back down to the surface without anyone noticing or she might be dead since everyone doesn't know what exactly happened on that day last September."

"Good point." Misaka shrugs. "No doubt that Touma had something to do with her rescue and disappearance. I'll have to ask him later about that."

Just then in the distance where the Elevator use to stand - which is just the base part of the tower - two Imperial LAAT/le patrol gunships land in the elevator courtyard where a familiar face walks across a bridge that connects to the elevator surrounded by a large circular moat. His black cloak on him moves by the wind of the transports landing near Endymion City. He even has an escort of Death Troopers with him.

"There's our Sith apprentice/Inquisitor, guys." Misaka whispers to her friends beside her who are looking as well.

"And an escort of Death Troopers. Shit, that's just great." He mutters.


"You're late, lieutenant." Second Brother bluntly says to the man in person.

"Apologies, Second Brother." The Stormtrooper lieutenant says after hopping off the patrol gunship with what's left of his troops. "It took a bit longer to avoid being spotted by the authorities here."

"Save the excuses, lieutenant. Did you find the entrance to the temple?"

"Yes, sir." He complies, showing a holomap of some ancient caverns beneath Academy City sewers. "Unfortunately, the entrance requires more than just the Force as the door sealing the only way to the temple requires a key of some kind."

"What key?" The Sith Inquisitor asks.

"We don't know yet but I'm certain that it's the right place, sir. Shall I double my efforts to try and open it for you?"

"That won't be necessary. Keep a low profile until I contact you again. Your comrades in Anti-Skill custody weren't so lucky. Pray that you don't make the same mistake."

"I understand, Inquisitor. And what of the Jedi?"

The Inquisitor chuckles, confusing the lieutenant.

"He already knows, lieutenant." He answers, looking at the distance before turning towards his Death Troopers. "Hunt him down. I know he's here somewhere."


Theron has already hacked into their comms to listen in on what they're saying. But when he heard what the Inquisitor says a out the young Jedi, the boy begins to panic.

"We need to get out of here. Now." He warns the Tokiwadai duo, surprising them. "The Second Brother knows I'm here."

"What?!" They exclaimed in unison.

Before they could react, an Imperial patrol gunship appears from beg with a search light shining over the teens.

"Karabast." Theron curses under his breath.

"Konori, Saten?" Shirai attempts to call them but receives static in her earpiece. "Damn it, he's jammed our earpieces!"

Theron aims his rifle at the gunship and fires a shot at it, disabling it as the gunship loses power and spins out of control before crashing back to ground level.

"Shirai, get us out of here!" He shouts.

She nods and grabs onto her two friend's shoulders before instantly teleporting away with them from rooftop to roof top. Eventually, they arrived at the School District 7 border and Shirai pants from exhaustion.

"That was too close!" Shirai says, catching her breath.

"At least Theron didn't end up in the hospital this time." Misaka jokingly agrees.

"Hey! I was completely unprepared for his first appearance not too long ago." Theron retorts, offended.

"Guys! What happened?" Saten questions over the comms. "We just lost contact with you for a bit."

"We're alright." Misaka answers. "That Sith Inquisitor set a trap for us and we escaped without any injuries."

"Sith Inquisitor." The Jedi repeats. "That's a better name than just calling him an Inquisitor or Sith apprentice. Gets confusing since the Second Brother is both of them at the same time."

"Can you do me a favor and shut up, Theron?" Shirai glares, annoyingly. "Good grief. Your inputs are really that bad sometimes and we were lucky that we escaped before he could capture us, knowing that he could possibly use the Force to absorb Misaka's attacks with ease."

The Jedi raises his hands in defense, getting what she means. Somewhat, in a sense.


School District 7

177th Branch Judgement Office

"Well, that was exciting." Theron sarcastically comments as the three walk the steps upstairs toward the office.

"Let's not do that kind of thing again, okay?" Misaka suggests. "Next time, we need to anticipate what he's predicting on when we would find him again."

"But that's hell impossible, Misaka!" He argues. "I always cover my tracks before going somewhere else! The question is, is how. How the fuck did he know I would show up where he was located? That makes no sense at all."

Just as he says those words when opening the door, an unexpected visitor is face to face with the three while Saten and Konori looked nervous.

"What makes no sense?" The visitor Yomikawa asks with a grown in her face.

Theron, Misaka, and Shirai have shocked expressions on their faces.

"Uh, Yomikawa came for a visit and found out what the five of us were up to." Saten nervously explains with a chuckle. "Sorry."

"What were you five thinking?" The Anti-Skill officer lectures on a motherly way. "Pulling off a mission behind my back that nearly put yourselves in danger? Is this the kind of trust I've faith in? All of you, including Uiharu, are still children. Whether you have powers of not."

"I haven't been a kid since I was eleven, Yomikawa." The Jedi shot back at her. "And if that's going to stop me, then you're poorly mistaken of what and how I can do the things that are beyond any normal person, whether on Earth or elsewhere."

His friends look on in shock that he's talking back to the gym teacher/part-time Anti-Skill officer. Even rebellious Espers like Accelerator couldn't stand up against her motherly personality to children of all ages in Academy City.

"Look, I get it. You don't entirely trust me just as I'm trying to earn that trust." She calmly says. "But you're still young, Theron. And I don't want you to recklessly endanger yourself and your friends."

Theron sighs.

"Yeah. Whatever you think is best for us, mom." He sarcastically acknowledges with an insult at the end of his sentence.

After earning an earful lecture from Yomikawa, the teens explained on what they've learned at Endymion City. Theron went on that the Second Brother is looking for a temple somewhere beneath Academy City, and that it's been going on beneath everyone's noses for years without the previous Superintendent even knowing somehow. Concerned, Yomikawa suggests to keep this off record from her superiors including Accelerator as she fears that the other board members would start looking for this temple that would be the key into fully restoring the city's dark side. Not liking the idea of keeping the 1st ranked Level 5 in the dark, the teenagers agreed and promise to tell Uiharu when she has fully recovered. After that, the gym teacher in her green track suit informs them that it's already past curfew before she heads home for the day.

"I'm heading home now, guys." Theron says as Saten hands the kid they his from Yomikawa back to him. "I bet you all have a few morning classes, so I'm gonna start working on the ship again tomorrow."

"Yeah." Saten nods. "I'll ask Uiharu to come over to your place with me when class is over."

He nods back and everyone says goodnight to each other before heading back to their homes.


Later...

"Welcome home, meatbag." R4 beeps it starts raining outside their home.

"Thanks, bud." Theron says before changing the subject. "There's something I need you to do for me tomorrow."

"A special mission?" The astromech chirps. "About time, other than working on the Ebon Hawk. Oh, I found working replacement parts for the ship and brought them back here we can work on tomorrow."

"Good work, R4." The Jedi says.

"So what mission do you have in store for me?" The droid asks.


School District 7

Yomikawa Residence

"Welcome home!, says Misaka Misaka as she greets her with happiness."

"Glad to see you too, Last Order." Yomikawa smiles after entering her apartment. "Where's Accelerator and Worst?"

"Worst is on her way home from grocery shopping and Accelerator is in his room reading, answers Misaka Misaka with fully honesty."

"Looking forward to her cooking again, then." The woman chuckles. "Too bad Yoshikawa moved out a few weeks back so she can move in at her new place. She'd have love the food. Anyway, let me know when Worst is home and we can start making dinner. "

"Roger that, Yomikawa!, Misaka Misaka salutes." Last Order giggles.

Yomikawa opens the door to her bedroom and enters before closing and locking it. Closing the curtains, she then walks up to a tall dresser and pulls the bottom drawer handle, opening a hidden room.

The woman enters inside and the hidden door shuts behind her before the lights flicker on. There was a mirror with make up and facial disguises on a table. She walks up to another table with a bulletin board on a wall, covered with newspaper articles. The woman carefully removes the facial disguise off of her, revealing her chest-length black hair tied into a ponytail as she looks at a specific article with a special date on it:

May 18, 2033

EARTH LIBERATED! DARK WARRIOR VANISHES WITHOUT A TRACE!

"He's alive." 'Yomikawa' mutters with her REAL voice as she also looks at the article's photograph of the Second Brother.

To be continued...