On the Precipice Between Worlds. Chp. 11

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by Marteddu

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Fate watched and listened intently as Emiya and Yuuno both pored over the strange construct they retrieved from the broken warehouse.

"There's definitely a lot of protections against analysis on this. Just about every single form of sensor we have at our disposal can't make heads or tails of it." Yuuno bit the end of his pen, while he circled around the object. It looked like a simple piece of driftwood suspended in air, upon an altar composed of gray stone. Nothing at all like something that could stump the TSAB research division. "Emiya-san, do you recognize any of this? Or, perhaps, do you have something at your disposal that can disrupt it?"

"My Structural Grasp is only finding empty air, and I can't see any signs of magic besides that. My apologies." Emiya grimaced and crossed his arms as he looked upon what they recovered from Charon. A mere day had passed since they were recovered from their mission, and Fate was able to tell that Emiya looked forward to witnessing the TSAB's ability in reverse-engineering magic, as they did deconstruct personal, interdimensional travel shortly after encountering him. However, he was now frowning, as no sudden breakthrough was being realized. "I'm not a specialist in this, and you'd need one to take apart the secrets of a Magus."

Fate could only sigh and agree, as she recalled the multitude of times Homunculi gave their lives without a second thought, in order to curtail a single clue from falling in the TSAB's hands. That mindset was installed by their creators, thus she reasoned that the protections and assurances involved in things they truly valued would be comprehensive.

"From the readings taking during the battle, we can tell that it was emitting some sort of signal through dimensions, but that ceased the moment it left the planet." Yuuno brought up the compounded logs and analysis conducted by both her and Nanoha's Devices on a holographic screen. Normally, Fate would have to squint and focus in order to begin discerning the message behind a wealth of information on any subject, but this time she couldn't help but blink at the dearth of information she looked upon. "And… that's all we have. We know that it's a transmitter, and some of the parameters involved in its activation, but we don't know where its transmitting to."

"Therefore, until all its defenses are discerned, we can't hunt down the ship." Emiya groaned and Fate couldn't help but frown at the news. Days and days of patient surveillance, a single night of incredible, risky action, and then the result was an object that defied everyone's expectations as the key that would solve the current mystery. "Is there any way I could help make things faster?"

Fate wished to hear of some strange material, perhaps an ancient artifact, that could be chased down an discovered that could help.

However, the short-haired, lab-coat clad blond simply shook his head.

"Its… it's very strange. The magic behind the Jeweled Sword, and even the communication spell, practically unraveled when we pursue it. However, this is more within our expectations of the magic of your world, Emiya-san." Yuuno stared at the piece of esoteric, strange magic at the center of the room, being carefully studied by the entire ship's Research and Development division. "In fact, I would go as far as to say this is the norm expected of the Magus Association, whereas those two pieces of magic you had were not. This, the defenses analyzed in the Clocktower, and the equipment we recovered from the Enforcers… they're all incredibly difficult to decipher and deconstruct."

Fate froze at Yuuno's words, and with a glance, she confirmed that her newest ally was surprised by the information as well.

Though a part of her told her to simply keep her words to herself, Fate uttered the words she knew they were both thinking.

"Emiya-kun… the man you called Zelretch… is it within his ability to grant us perfect artifacts to reverse engineer?" A deep, unsettling feeling welled up within Fate's gut, as Emiya turned to her with golden eyes opened wide with shock. Though a part of her quailed at the thought of insinuating further that Emiya was part of an elaborate ploy, her mind continued to break apart the information they gained, as she approached their new ally. "Emiya-kun, please, tell us if it's possible that we were MEANT to discover how to traverse dimensions, and perhaps even rescue you!"

"I… he's… he's a very secretive man, and very few people know how powerful and truly skilled he is, but I think that he can do it." After a second of struggling with shock and surprise, Emiya's brow furrowed and his fists clenched. He began to breathe deeply, and relayed the information he was asked for in a tone that was nearly cold. Still, though, Fate could detect a mix of anger and regret flowing in his words. "But why? Why would he do that? It doesn't make any sense."

Fate wanted to gather more information, and calm him down, but before she couldn't refrain from falling deeper into the abyss of paranoia as her brain examined the situation as logically as possible.

Shirou Emiya was predictable. She recalled all the examinations he was put through, the surveillance data gathered on him, an even her personal experience with him since they met. Though the extremes of his actions were disconcerting, such as his willingness to be hurt or sacrificed, his methods and plans could be discerned with relative ease. He would do everything in his power to save others, even if it meant abandoning his home… and giving powerful technology and magic to others.

The only individual she could think of who would do such a thing would be Zelretch, or at least as Emiya described him.

It was possible that the man knew of the TSAB already, as he utilized the "True Magic of the Operation of Parallel Worlds." Therefore, he could create artifacts that were perfectly suited for the discovery of its scientists and researchers. Given his description as a man who abhorred the current Mage's Association and their tradition, while considering his ability, Fate could discern him as the sole mastermind of the current conundrum.

However, even though she suspected him, Fate bit here thumb in frustration as she couldn't discern a reason why the "Wizard Marshall" would do such a thing.

Her information was limited, and Fate knew that she couldn't find the truth, yet she relentlessly turned the information again an again in her head.

Until the door to the laboratory opened to reveal a breathless Nanoha.

"The Clocktower has made contact with the TSAB! They've sent envoys to headquarters and they're beginning talks right now!"

The deepening pit within Fate's stomach plummeted as a thought occurred to her.

Wouldn't it be in the favor of a smaller polity, if a larger nation bent on enforcing justice committed a grievous crime on their soil?

Or, at the very least, wouldn't an organization bent on keeping its secrets want to gut a force investigating them as quickly and speedily as possible?

…

Both Nanoha and Fate looked upon Hayate worriedly, after their friend delivered their latest orders.

Effective immediately both she and Nanoha were on extended leave, along with the entire crew of the ship that they were serving on.

"It… they wouldn't listen to me at all. It was so strange, like everything was planned." Hayate held her head in her hands, as she looked over the standing orders given to them. The ship was making its way to the nearest TSAB dock, where it would it be interred for "maintenance," despite the fact it was mere weeks into a two-year-long voyage. "Emiya-kun mentioned something about the Mages of his world readily using magic to manipulate people… do you think its possible that the TSAB is compromised?"

Fate wanted that to be the case, for there to be a strong, sufficient reason for them to fight against the current orders, but that wasn't the case.

"It's likely that the TSAB sent envoys right after we initiated our mission, and move forward while keeping us in the dark and away." Fate spoke with some difficulty in remaining calm. When Nanoha looked at her worriedly, she calmed herself somewhat, but it took a substantial amount more effort than she anticipated. "They most likely began preparing to move and make contact after they realized its existence, and hastened their plans when we moved to rescue Emiya-kun."

TSAB procedures typically discouraged long stakeouts, as well as entire ships being on standby for weeks at a time. They were not an investigative force, but a peacekeeping one, which focused on threats right in front of them. Yet they were permitted to stay out of sight and out of mind for weeks, while things happened that they could not influence.

"Sorry, Hayate-chan, but an Intelligent Device would be capable of identifying and disrupting those signals… so the TSAB gave us up without any magic involved." Nanoha's usually cheerful mood was soured by current circumstances. Her lips were a thin, grim line as while she stood before Hayate's desk with her arms crossed. "I can't believe that they're doing this. They KNOW about the Clocktower and its Mages from Shirou… even if only a quarter of the things they do is true, they'd already be too horrible work with!"

Fate wanted to agree, but could only recount the results on the investigation on their newest acquisition.

"But they're the only ones who can break through the protections they put on their artifacts. If we don't work with them, then we'll be wasting time. The TSAB won't be able to use what we've gained." Fate had no reason to doubt the fact that the TSAB intended to take down Charon, and that someone noticed the truth in regards to the magic from Emiya's world sooner than they did, and decided against sharing the truth with them. "The Mage's Association will take back the artifacts, but they are just as interested in defeating Charon, so they will work together."

At the cost of their current mission, Hayate's future chances of advancement, and perhaps… perhaps even Shirou Emiya's freedom, the TSAB will solve the problem Charon presented directly and concisely.

Fate was about to ask about Emiya's fate when she felt an unnatural shift in space and time, and suddenly found herself face-to-face with herself, Nanoha, an Hayate.

Despite the fact her two friends were with her, in a vast room compose entirely of white marble, instead of the TSAB warship that they were supposed to be in.

Fate barely managed to utter a yelp of surprise before finding it necessary to catch Emiya, as he was pushed toward her, by a figure clad in a black coat.

Though she had her suspicions about the circumstances already, as she helping Emiya up, she was still surprised as a table set with a plethora a food appeared before them, and as their "other selves" began serving them.

However, she was not at all surprised, as the sharp features of Zelretch presented themselves as he pulled back his hood, unveiling gray windswept hair and a sharp beard.

…

Zelretch sipped on a glass of wine, while lavish plates of roasted beef, potatoes, and buttered greens were set before them.

Or, rather, set in front of their unused seats.

None of them moved to take their seats, until Zelretch sighed and shook his head after a long, contemplative seat.

By the time his class touched the table, they each found themselves seated.

"Now, now. Even if you all feel at a loss, that doesn't give you permission to mind your manners." Zelretch spoke with the same tone as a mischievous elder, and despite the wizened lines on his face, his small grin was lively and cunning. "Tuck in for a bit, while I collect my thoughts, and wonder what to say."

Nanoha and Hayate both looked to her, and Fate instinctively turned to Emiya with the silent plea for an explanation.

Their newest ally, and source of information in regards to the entity that casually kidnapped them from their space-faring, interdimensional vessel, met their combined looks… and sighed as he began to eat.

While the food was delicious, Fate found herself incapable of savoring a single bite, as the man across the table from them seemingly exuded no power… yet undoubtably, irrevocably showcased his magical superiority.

She counted the seconds until he "gather his thoughts" and nearly sighed in relief when he decided to speak suddenly.

"This is always the difficult part. I need to ensure that the Clocktower and TSAB don't come to blows, but still prevent Linker Cores from spreading across Earth by keeping you four active." Zelretch gazed upon each of them for a moment, but his scarlet gaze lingered on Emiya. The every-present grin on his face widened ever so slightly at the glare that her received from the younger man. "I need to hem in the Clocktower. Ensure the Church doesn't snoop to closely, an assure Atlas that the end isn't approaching… again."

The man meandered with his thoughts for a few more moments, each word inspiring rising dread from Fate's heart, until Emiya spoke.

"Tell us what we need to do to ensure peace, and stop Charon, please." Emiya didn't hesitate to bow his head. "I don't know why you chose me, or why things happened as they did, but—

"No, no, no. Not buts, Mr. Emiya. I'm more than happy to explain." The red-eyed, centuries-old Mage, Fate observed, had a cgentler smile on his lips as he spoke with their newest ally. "I did all that I did to make sure you all did what you needed to do, at the place where you all need to be, and hopefully finish matters before two slightly different mages wreak untold havoc by choosing to fight."

With a gesture, the food on the table disappeared, and Fate looked upon her copy as it laid out a series of pictures.

Pictures that made Fate's head ace, as a deep sense of foreboding filled her heart, as if she was witnessing countless tragedies with her own eyes.

"So, don't worry Mr. Emiya, this is all within the stipulations of your employment with me. We will indeed be doing all of this for the sake of saving many, many innocent lives." Zelretch took a single picture from the pile, which attracted Nanoha and Hayate's attention away from their own possibilities. Thus, Fate wasn't alone in uttering shock, as she looked upon a noose through Emiya Shirou's eyes. "Because, now, if we do not you will all meet rather grisly fates in the wars ahead."

A/N: After much deliberation on both my and the commissioner's part this fic is now discontinued and with all chapters released. While we were pleased with the commission between the two of us, one of the primary goals of this venture was to have a fanfiction that could be enjoyed by both fandoms, which was not achieved.

As such we have reevaluated what sort of fiction we aim to write and have begun work on another project with the thoughts and criticisms made by readers in mind, but also staying close to the principle of creating something we both take pride in and enjoy.

Thank you all for your support up to now, and please look