WARNING: This fanfiction is NanoFate and it is rated M for strong, disturbing, violent, and explicitly sexual, content and situations, as well as intimate scenes between women. If this type of content is not to your liking, or if you are underage, please do not read it.
DISCLAIMER: MSLN Characters belong to their rightful owners. All the situations and characters presented in this work are fictitious, any similarity with real, historical, or present situations or individuals, is not intentional.
TRANSLATOR'S NOTES: Thank you all for reading. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I do. And if you do, maybe drop a few lines so we can know!
The Shadow by Aleksei Volken
Chapter 6. The calm before the storm.
— X —
"Yet there is a mystery here and it is not one I understand: Without this sting of otherness of —even —the vicious, without the terrible energies of the underside of health, sanity, sense, then nothing works or can work. I tell you that goodness —what we in our ordinary daylight selves call goodness: the ordinary, the decent —these are nothing without the hidden powers that pour forth continually from their shadow side."
— Doris Lessing
— X —
Suburban area of Midchilda City.
Day 20, Tenth Month, 2044 - 07:00 hrs.
Fate's cup violently crashed against the polished wooden floor of her apartment while the television showed an image that should have not been there….
After her midnight meeting with Nanoha, for the first time in days, Fate had finally been able to sleep and rest in the process. That morning she had woken up feeling restored, her mind fresh and alert. After showering, she even felt hungry and in the mood for preparing herself a cup of coffee and toast with jam…. Something that did not happen often.
It was already mid-autumn and the sun was usually slow to break out in the morning, but that day promised to be exceptionally clear and golden; some light rays already filtered through the large windows of Fate's loft, and the Enforcer was happy for no reason in particular. So while she was messing around preparing that simple breakfast, already dressed in the uniform and ready to leave, she turned on the television and set the volume as low as possible.
Last night's meeting with Nanoha had not been exceptional. It had practically been a work meeting. But it had been very nice to simply spend time with the red-haired. Talk with her and listen to her. Watching her as she spoke and moved her hands; notice the slight changes in her face when she was thinking completely concentrated. Observing the little details in her eyes, her eyebrows, her lips, her hair. Fate had looked at Nanoha like very few times she had been able to do, absorbing every detail and although Fate's drawing skills were quite limited, since she went to bed last night, she could close her eyes and 'see' those details of Nanoha again and again.
"You should ask Nanoha for a drink or to eat out… and not speak about the job this time," Fate thought as she had her coffee and idly looked at the television.
Then it happened.
The face of the fake Alex Rowe appeared on the screen, Sophia's alleged boyfriend.
In her rush to grab the remote and turn up the volume, Fate had slapped her cup and plate and her whole frugal breakfast had ended up on the floor.
"… The Federal Authority for Tactics and Strategy, TSAB, through its Division of Special Investigations has made known this exclusive information, requesting the support of the community from the Midchilda-Cranagan Metropolitan Area," reported a stunning and attractive communicator with exotic features, "This morning, the police sketch is being released to the media of an individual who has instrumental information for the solution of various kidnapping cases but who so far has not been able to be located…."
The on-screen image at the moment split showing the sketch on one side and the presenter on the other, changed to only show the sketch and several numbers to call and provide information to TSAB.
"This person is being looked for to provide relevant information about these cases and it is of vital importance that if you know this person or someone who knows this person or someone related to him, you can provide the information to TSAB at the numbers indicated as soon as possible since he might be in danger right now…"
Fate slammed the cover of her kitchen counter. Her mobile device began to ring. The front identifier told her that it was Nanoha.
"How the hell did that happen?!" she asked almost in a scream without greeting.
"I have as much clue as you do, Fate… that's why I was calling, I didn't know if you were watching it…" Nanoha said as calmly as possible. It had nothing to do with the problem that news represented, but suddenly, the rookie agent realized that she had no idea what Fate's morning routine was like. She knew she was a die-hard workaholic and that her pantry was usually empty, but she had no idea at what time she woke up, what she did afterwards, not even what she liked to have for breakfast or do in the morning.
Fate took a deep breath. Her outburst had been unfair,
"I'm sorry, Nanoha," she said after a while. "It's been a shock to find the news on nationwide TV, especially after what we talked about yesterday… Who else knew about what we discussed yesterday?"
"No one," Nanoha replied seriously and to the point. "I have not talked to anyone about our talk yesterday."
After a few seconds, which Fate used to hastily grab her things, she finally said, "That news, out in the way they did may put Sophia Bassanius and the other girls that guy has in his power at risk… We have to meet with the team in the office as soon as possible…"
"Very well," Nanoha said, in turn. "I'm on my way."
"And… thanks for calling me, Nanoha," Fate added as a goodbye. "Truth is, I don't usually watch the news in the morning, the office sends me a summary that I review on my way to work… The order must have come from very up to be out on the morning news and in the way they did…"
"It's fine," Nanoha said, "I was very surprised too…"
"I need to call Hayate right now… I'll see you soon," Fate said and after Nanoha's goodbye, hung up.
Already on the sidewalk of her building, she still stood in front of her car thinking for a couple of seconds before putting on the receiver and dialing Hayate's number.
"Took you long enough to call," Hayate said without a greeting.
— X —
Location Unknown.
Day 20, Tenth Month, 2044 - 07:00 hrs.
The entire table where they were having breakfast flipped over.
Veyron rose to his feet like a tornado and grabbing Fortis by the lapels of his jacket, nearly lifted him off his feet.
"What the hell is that shit about?!"
Arnage, Veyron, Fortis, and Deville Huckebein, just as Nanoha and Fate had been doing that morning, were having breakfast in the industrial facility that had been their home for the last fourteen months and were watching the news with more attention than usual just waiting to see what else was said about the attacks. What they least expected was to see the almost delicate face of Fortis, portrayed to perfection in digital charcoal; the revelation left everyone, except Deville, with their mouths open and Veyron, subjected to a violent rage fit against his partner of weapons.
"Why the fuck do those motherfuckers have a sketch of you?! ...And linked to a kidnapping case we have nothing to do about?! … What the fuck happened?!"
"That's exactly what I'm wondering, Veyron…" a soft feminine voice exclaimed. "Let Fortis go, Veyron… so he can tell us…"
Veyron, still furious, looked at Karen. Cypha, behind her, beckoned her to do what the Boss was saying and to do it… quickly.
Reluctantly Veyron released Fortis by throwing him against the wall.
Karen looked at her second-in-command.
"I'm waiting, Fortis… What's going on?"
The aforementioned had not even had the opportunity to process the impression of seeing his face on the screen, even less to understand why they associated him with kidnapping.
"I have no idea ..." he said with all the sincerity he could, looking at Karen. All the other members of the Huckebein clan, even Arnage who did not know the limits of prudence, were silent amid the disorder caused by Veyron and the tension between Fortis and Karen.
"This could put us in a very undesirable risk situation given our circumstances, Fortis…" Karen said with an ominous voice looking at the screen, "Think about it... there must be a very good reason for TSAB to have launched that statement on the channel of most-watched and most-covered news, giving it even more relevance than to the subway attack... We want attention but not of that kind, specifically, NOT about us."
Fortis clenched his fists.
"We do everything as a team and we are always aware of everyone's movements… We have been STUCK in this hell hole for MONTHS. How the hell can I be associated with anything other than the project we're working on now?"
"THAT… is exactly why I would like to know," Karen said, narrowing her eyes. It didn't take a genius to tell that Fortis was hiding something. And Karen Huckebein was not naive. Even without the sweat beading slightly on Fortis's forehead, she would have noticed.
For a while, she still tried to find out the reason directly from the source but over and over again, Fortis denied knowing the reason until Karen finally let him be. She would eventually find the answers she was looking for.
After fixing the mess caused by Veyron's impulsiveness, those who still could or wanted, ate breakfast a bit annoyed and then everyone focused on their assigned tasks. They were going to get into the hardest part of the plan shortly. That involved a lot of preparation but also a lot of waiting times that drove them crazy.
That had been the reason why Arnage had helped him at first.
By mid-morning, the girl could not handle it anymore. The most impulsive of the Huckebeins took advantage of one of the many comings and goings her task involved and approached the desk where Fortis worked to lean on the shoulder of her 'older brother' observing the detailed precision work that he was carrying out.
"Your girlfriend wouldn't have something to do with this disaster... would she…?" she asked with a whisper, "My support in your 'clandestine affair' did not include taking my chances with Karen…"
Fortis looked at Arnage sternly. That was not the time, much less the place, for them to discuss that topic.
She gave in slightly in her badgering but didn't stop looking at him.
"Not now…" Fortis whispered but his serious countenance did not fool her for a moment.
"You haven't heard from her… since she stood you up."
Fortis sneaked a peek to make sure no one was watching or worse, listening.
It had been almost a full week since that day; Fortis had waited for more than an hour for Sophia and she had not arrived. She hadn't contacted him since.
"There's nothing between us," Fortis said. "She's just a distraction in the middle of this fucking mess in which Karen dragged us into… We had never been in such a lockdown and committed to a single job. Don't you ask yourself why, Arnage? They have never been able to catch us and that's because we never place all the eggs in the same basket… we never stay still. We've been in this hole… almost as if we were waiting for them to come for us like sewer rats…"
"Don't change the subject…" Arnage replied, turning to observe around her just like Fortis had, "This is not about Karen or this job… we already knew it was going to be different from everything else… It will put us on another level… What matters now is what the hell is going on… Did someone kidnap your girlfriend? How can they have that picture of you?"
Fortis had already been pondering the possibilities since that morning. Arnage did not know that Sophia had introduced him to her sister and she must not know for any reason.
No one should know that someone outside the organization and the world in which he moved, knew him.
He had to find a way to investigate what was going on without alerting others.
Even if he had used a false name, if Karen found out that Sophia and Euris Bassanius knew him, both girls would be dead.
— X —
TSAB's Headquarters, Section 6 offices, Special Unit of Violent Crimes
Midchilda City. Day 20, Tenth Month, 2044 - 08:00 hrs.
"You cannot be serious… The only thing you'll achieve is for those girls to die, did you tell that to General Bassanius already?"
Fate was standing in the Section 6 conference room with Hayate, Deputy Director Carim, and Major Yuri Natsume, looking defiantly at the latter.
It seemed Nanoha did talk to someone about the ideas they had discussed the previous night and that had precisely been Major Natsume,
Shortly after Fate and Nanoha left the night before, Natsume had managed to get permission from the top brass of TSAB and other military and government agencies to release to the media the sketch of the individual that Euris Bassanius had identified, referring to the case of Section 6... and even General Marius Bassanius had given his authorization for it.
"That's what had to be done, Enforcer Testarossa," Natsume said, looking at Fate impassively, sitting relaxed and with her hands resting calmly on the table, "Many international, security, military, and police organizations have been after the Huckebein Clan… for years. It is known that its leader is a woman, young to have that position but no records have been found about her in any country and in any database... The only known faces of the organization were, until yesterday, Cypha and Veyron Huckebein, and there has certainly been a reason for it. The two of them were selected to be exhibited and nothing has ever been found about them, ever. Everyone in the organization was real ghosts... until now... Any information we can obtain about that individual is crucial to solving the cases of the attacks, to prevent other attacks from taking place and to arrest them."
"Do it with your resources," Fate replied challengingly. "I have to do exactly the same for the girls that a madman keeps captive and what you have done puts them in danger."
"I do," Natsume replied. "Agent Takamachi's reasoning is completely valid. There are very few chances that the individual from the sketch is your guy, Agent Testarossa... we've come out to the media with a smokescreen in that sense. Besides us, only two people know that what we said was not true, Agent… The man from the sketch, who IS a member, for now still unknown, from the Huckebein organization… and your murderer… Believe me, today's release is going to shake them both."
Fate looked for Hayate's gaze with desperation. They had already made a mistake when giving false information in a press conference to taunt a murderer and thirteen people had died.
Hayate didn't leave Fate alone.
"I understand your point, Major," Hayate said, drawing Natsume's attention to her. "But maybe you should have taken a little more time to consider her implications. Just yesterday we agreed that we would work collaboratively, Section 6 and Section 9. There wasn't much collaboration on that press release and trust me… there are a lot of angles you aren't considering."
"Colonel Yagami is right," said Carim, whom Natsume had olympically jumped over, as well as over Lindy Harlaown, to get the approval she needed for her plan. "Unfortunately there is a history of very serious consequences when provoking serial killers in a less prudent way."
"Oh…" Natsume exclaimed, turning to look at Hayate and Carim. "I know of the difficulties you had with that case a few months ago… Certain collateral damage is unavoidable at times and certainly, we have no guarantees that it's the same situation this time. Agent Takamachi's profile on the killer indicates…"
"Preliminary profile," Fate interrupted her. "The final profile is not done yet and we can't have any guarantees."
Natsume raised a brow and asked, "Have you read it?"
"Yes," Fate lied with absolute confidence. She only knew what Nanoha had told her last night. Nanoha's assignment as the liaison for the case had barely been announced at midnight, of course, she hadn't been able to check anything in official documents.
Natsume eye Fate carefully before continuing.
"Then you know that you're looking for a person… from an elite, with many resources, who is several steps ahead of you and your investigation… and that you, on the other hand, have no solid lead to follow… Is that right? ...What was your plan, Agent? Wait for more women to be found… in pieces? Or wait till more go missing?"
Hayate stood up when she noticed how red Fate turned after Natsume's incisive comments but it was Carim who spoke from her seat, looking coldly at Natsume.
"That remarks are unnecessary and undeserved, Major," she said firmly. "The case is under Section 6 jurisdiction, effectively for barely two days now. And it arrived at our hands because no one had been able to do anything, not even identify that it was the same subject kidnapping, mutilating, and killing women. The progress that Fate's unit has had is significant."
"That's what we have to focus on," Natsume argued. "We have to focus on the results and take advantage of the opportunities that come our way. Isn't that right, Enforcer? Your agents masterfully capitalized on the very serious mistake of exposing classified information to a civilian… The excellent assessment of the situation by Agent Takamachi is an opportunity that should be seized without delay. Now we just have to prepare for the unexpected and try to capitalize on it as much as possible."
— X —
Fate walked to her office trying to get rid of the feeling of discomfort that was flooding her.
Her discussion with Natsume was simply impossible, there was no way to convince her that her decision had been wrong... or at least very poorly timed.
"I have to put everyone on alert. The only thing that damned woman is right about is that we have to prepare for everything…" Her line of thought was interrupted because as soon as she got to her office she found Nanoha waiting for her.
"Hello," Nanoha greeted with a professional smile.
"Good morning," Fate replied with a smile that looked tired more than any other thing.
Very briefly, Fate informed Nanoha of the future of the meeting and the results, or rather the 'no results' that she had obtained.
"I did not talk to Natsume about my ideas, Fate," the red-haired with emphasis. "I had considered telling everyone in today's meeting, but after what we talked about last night, I was reconsidering my suggestion of publishing the sketch."
"How did it happen then?" Fate asked without intonation, leaning on her desk. "She had all the details of what you told me yesterday."
Nanoha looked at the device in her hand.
"Do you remember Colonel Yagami did not like me taking my notes in paper?"
Fate looked at her and nodded.
"Besides telling you last night, the only place where I put the notes relative to what we talked about was here," Nanoha said, raising in her hand the device that Rein had given her barely a few days earlier.
Fate asked Nanoha for the device and inspected it. All the communications were regulated and for better efficiency, all the information was handled in a centralized way with a high level of encryption. After the incident with Section 9, the only ones with access to the information in those devices from Section 6 were them. No one else was supposed to have access to that information.
Not finding the information she was looking for on Nanoha's device, Fate went to her desktop terminal and contacted Alto through the personal intercom they used inside the office.
"Alto, please check the privileges assigned to Nanoha's device… I need to know who has access to see the information that she is updating."
It took her less than a minute to give Fate the answer.
"You… Hayate, just like it's with all of us… but since two days ago it has an important update. Also having access to her files are Admiral Lindy… and Major Natsume."
— X —
On seldom occasions did Fate ever visit her mother at her office in TSAB.
And there was a reason for that.
She didn't want anyone to ever slightly insinuate that any of her accomplishments were due to her personal relationship with Lindy and Clyde Harlaown. For Chrono, it was different in some way. He was their legitimate son, born to a high military pedigree; not only no one could blame him for being brilliant, super-efficient, and heroic… her brother HAD the obligation to be, which was a burden in itself. However, Fate knew that for her, it would be different; she would have to earn herself her honors.
Lindy did not share Fate's opinion but was well aware of how her daughter thought, so she knew from the very first moment that her visit was not just a courtesy.
Fate arrived perfectly on time for the appointment she had requested with the Admiral and after the initial warm greetings and tea, they sat down in the large armchairs that Lindy had in her office.
After letting her mother take the first sip of tea, Fate got straight to the point.
"Why do you have access privileges, even higher than those Hayate or I have for Nanoha's device?"
Lindy inspired. She would have preferred Fate not to find out about that particular detail. Her daughter could be too impulsive at times.
"Nanoha is a brilliant woman," Lindy said looking at her mother, but Fate did not make any gesture, she just waited. "And with a huge potential to become an elite special agent… However, everything in this life requires time to grow, to flourish to its maximum splendor. Nanoha needs to develop that potential, gain experience... learn the game."
Fate remained immutable, just waiting.
"Yuri Natsume is a young woman who knows the game, like Hayate, Signum or Misato… However, I'm afraid that she, unlike our friends, had no one with her in the path she has gone through. She has forged herself, alone and in the heat of extremely difficult and dangerous situations. She has survived and grown, which is a great merit…"
"But you don't trust her…" Fate finished.
"No dear," Lindy corrected her with a smile, "It's not that I don't trust Major Natsume, let's say that I just get prepared… for the unexpected."
The reference did not go unnoticed by Fate.
"You know about the meeting we had," she said and it was a statement more than a question.
Lindy nodded.
"Natsume went over our heads, Carim and mine, in the chain of command without any remorse or consideration… what's more, without explanations. Someone like her doesn't do things without a reason."
Fate understood then why her mother hadn't been at the meeting that morning. Even if it was in a small way, a message had to be sent to Natsume.
"Why do you think she did it then?" Fate asked, quite interested. "Well aside from the fact that someone with a lot of power must be backing her up for her to do what she did without worrying about her back."
"Oh, I think she's very worried about her back, dear," Lindy said, raising her eyebrows. "If she did what she did, and in the way she did, is because she had no choice. Natsume has to be desperate to solve the case of the attack and capture the Huckebeins, but she knows there is no little enemy. She moves in very dark and dangerous waters, where the one that is her ally now can then be her enemy. Confronting Carim and myself is collateral damage too high for her career, no matter who her sponsor or sponsors are. For her to take that risk, the reward or the risks must be much higher."
Fate swallowed hard. The case of the girls was appalling, that was true, but the case of the terrorist attack had implications that went way beyond.
"Are you worried about Nanoha in some way?" Fate asked.
"If you check Shamal's device you will see that I have the same access privileges in her case as in Nanoha's. Let's say it's a safety measure."
Fate looked at her mother's calm serenity and didn't quite believe her but didn't argue.
"Natsume is also part of your team, like us," Fate said with a slight smile.
"Major Natsume has my full support, Fate… we could be fabulous allies. She just needs to realize that the enemies are elsewhere."
Fate looked at her mother in admiration.
"I hope one day I can be as wise and as good in what I do, as you do, mom," Fate said with that spontaneous sincerity that she had had since she was a child and that sparked with her comment a flowing and refreshing laugh from the Admiral.
"You will be, darling," Lindy said, caressing Fate's cheek, "Especially if you keep growing and developing those skills that you have along with your team…"
"If they don't get poached from me first..." Fate argued with some bitterness.
"Section 9 won't be a permanent position for Nanoha and Shamal, but it will be a great opportunity for them, Fate… We're living in very dark and uncertain times, we all need to be better, stronger, wiser, and be very alert. You will always be able to count on Nanoha and Shamal, wherever they are, and that will be part of your strength."
"I don't know if I 'just'... want to count on Nanoha in that way, mom," Fate's plans did not include having a personal conversation of that nature but perhaps because of the direction their conversation was headed or of the last days spent with Nanoha, Fate did not hold back. "She is VERY important for me, mom… like no one has been until now."
Lindy looked at her daughter carefully. Fate had never talked to her about someone like that. What's more, for years she had not been able to get Fate to date someone steadily despite everyone making an effort to introduce girls to her. The Admiral adored her little one but she was also very aware of the particularities of her adoptive child.
"Is she…?" she asked with an innocent smile.
"She is," Fate stated outright.
"What are the names of Nanoha's best friends, Fate?"
Fate was stunned by the question.
"Uhmmm… well… there's the cheeky blonde," Fate motioned to look for something in her jacket.
"Without looking at your device…"
Fate looked at her mother with a frown.
"What's her favorite food? ...What does she like to do on the weekends? ...Does she go to the movies? ...What book has brought her to tears?... How does she live with her family? ...What does she dislike the most? … What are her most precious memories...?"
With each question Lindy dropped on her like slabs of lead, Fate sank a little deeper into the overstuffed chair.
"Chocolate...cake…?" the blonde tried. "She brought that to the end of the year dinner…"
"Because you like it, Fate!" Lindy exclaimed, widely opening her eyes.
Fate raised her hands in front of her as a sign of peace and tuning down the frowning on her face.
"What have you shared with her aside from work?"
Fate immediately thought of the passionate moments they shared and couldn't help but blush.
"Okay, yes, that part counts too…" Lindy said, making Fate's blush reach a deeper shade. "But it's not the only thing… Not if she really matters that much to you… I think you are important to her but maybe she doesn't know if you are interested in her for something more…"
"I talked to her, mom," Fate said somewhat abruptly, trying to change the subject as quickly as possible. Talking about sex with her mother had never been her strongest suit. "I didn't know where she was going when she said goodbye to me at the beginning of the year, but I told her what she meant for me and that I would wait for her… that's why it's been so disconcerting that now that she's back she has systematically… avoided me."
"It's been a week, Fate… and it has not been one of the easiest in our lives… If you told her you would wait for her, then why the rush?"
Fate weighed her mother's words.
"Why don't you take the time to just... get to know her... and let her enjoy being with you in a facet that is not from work? ... Ask her out without pressuring her, do something fun, which would be very good for you for a change... maybe you can meet her friends and win them over a bit... you will need allies when you have to face Nanoha's family... Have you thought about that, Fate?"
Fate shook her head in concern. She hadn't thought of ANY of it and neither had she considered she had to. And suddenly, her mind was blank.
— X —
TSAB's Headquarters, Section 6 offices, Special Unit of Violent Crimes
Midchilda City. Day 20, Tenth Month, 2044 - 18:00 hrs.
It was the last day of a terrifying workweek that had started with the attack on the Bank of Midchilda, her assignment to the first serial murder case in a long time, the brutal subway bombing, and most especially… Nanoha's return to her life after months.
Fate felt physically tired but her mind hadn't stopped since the talk she had with her mother in the morning.
"Ask Nanoha out."
In the different activities she had during the day with her team, that had been her only recurring thought. Every time she loosened the tight grip on her mind a bit, Fate ended up thinking about that question and the possible answers.
"What if she says no?"
That had been one of the answers she had foreseen and it had not been particularly encouraging.
"... Fate… Are you all right?"
Fate stood up startled upon realizing who was at her door. Apparently, Nanoha had arrived and talked to her several times already before Fate realized it.
Nervously, Fate tried to arrange the documents that she had scattered all over her desk and that she hadn't been reading for a long time.
"Yeah… yes, of course… sorry Nanoha… I was… distracted," she explained, blushing a little.
Nanoha hid her smile. Fate looked adorable when she got flustered like that but there weren't many chances to see that side of the usually hard and professional agent.
"I understand," Nanoha said, stepping into Fate's office cautiously. "The guys told me that they already have their assignments for this weekend. I have the final profile ready, there are not really many differences… we have not had any news since the press release this morning… so we are all investigating. Alto and Lucino have not found anything relevant… Signum accompanied me to several interviews that I have to correlate, as well as the information that Zafira and Vice gave me from their fieldwork… And I have to do all that during the weekend... I have prepared a report for Major Natsume and wanted to know if you need us to work on something in particular additionally these days… to include it…"
Fate clenched her jaws. She also used to work on weekends. Excessively.
"Yes," she said after a while. "I'd like to see those correlations together, of course… if there is some way that we can find a lead that takes us to that subject, it will be through something that the families or friends from the victims can tell us…"
Nanoha took out her device to take notes of what Fate was telling her.
"... but I also think we could use a break to clear our heads, don't you think?"
The red-haired looked at Fate with arched brows.
"...I mean… it's been such a terrible week…" Fate said as naturally as she could. "We need something more than just recharging batteries… Would you like to go out for a walk tomorrow… after we work with the correlations?"
There it was!
Fate had said it… in the most natural way she was able to and taking advantage of an opportunity that she considered unique.
Nanoha was thunderstruck.
Fate was asking her out?
Fate felt like she was starting to sweat with every second that passed and Nanoha did not say anything.
"Actually… Fate… I…"
"She's going to say no," Fate sensed with the certainty of a sword of Damocles hanging over her head.
"I know you just returned from Vaizen," she was prompt to add, "And that surely you have a lot of stuff to do and you want to be with your family, Nanoha… I know and really… I don't want to pressure you… it's just that it would be very nice to spend some time together… clear ourselves from all this nightmare of a week, from work… and just… have some fun..."
Nanoha was now truly looking at Fate flabbergasted.
"Enforcer Fate Testarossa Harlaown… is suggesting we do something… fun? … WOW!" Nanoha could not believe what she had just heard.
"Actually… Fate… I was going to tell you that I'd really like to do something together…" Nanoha said with a smile. "I was a little surprised by your sudden suggestion, especially with the case, but you are right… It's been some hard days and now we are like in a… breather…"
Fate took a deep breath at that moment.
"...So I think that's an excellent idea… What will we be doing?" Nanoha finished now leaving Fate dumbstruck.
The Enforcer hadn't thought of ANY idea yet.
"It's… well, it's a surprise," Fate said with a smile and as nonchalantly as possible.
— X —
TSAB's Headquarters, Section 6 offices, Special Unit of Violent Crimes
Midchilda City. Day 21, Tenth Month, 2044 - 08:00 hrs.
TSABs offices, which were abuzz with activity during the workweek, were incredibly quiet on the weekend despite the on-call duty and special duties that always required staff on site.
All of TSABs agents, and it was something Nanoha was just beginning to learn, had to be alert and ready to be called, be at any time on the night, weekends or holidays.
She had thought that one, her first 'working' weekend, would be intense, especially considering everything that happened during the week, but never did she imagine that going to the office would cause such enthusiasm in her. Along the way, she repeated to herself time and again that Fate's invitation was NOT a date. More like a cordial outing between friends or colleagues… and she wished it were that way.
However inside, Nanoha felt exhilarated.
Happy.
They meet since eight in the morning to work with the correlations of the interviews that Nanoha and Signum had done and in a few hours they had elaborated a gigantic map of the Midchilda-Cranagan metropolitan area where they marked the last known whereabouts of each one of the victims, they places where they lived, worked and performed they main activities, from banking to the gym, even laundry, grocery shopping or went for coffee; the most common routes they followed, where their families and friends lived, their coworkers as well their service providers… The lives of nine women, mapped in as much detail as possible.
After the hard work of doing the integration, Nanoha and Fate sat in front of the digital map. After a while, Nanoha asked Fate to turn on and off different components in a seemingly erratic order.
Fate was not as quick as Alto, Lucino, or the very expert Shari, but she moved through the controls swiftly, doing what Nanoha indicated to her.
"Do you have modeling algorithms there?" Nanoha asked without taking her eyes off the map.
"Yes, what do you need?" Fate asked, immediately activating new functions in her app.
"Based on the density of the specific points of each girl, I need to generate... a 'propagation cloud'... I also want to give weights to each position based on the time they spent in each place or the number of times they visited it, to generate a heat map... I want to see which were the areas where they spent more and less time respectively... Just do not include in the calculation, the coordinates of their last known position or the position where we know they disappeared."
Fate looked at Nanoha with her eyebrows raised until the researcher turned to see her.
"Anything else?" Fate asked with a smile somewhere between amused and surprised.
"All for now, Enforcer… Is it a very difficult task for you?" Nanoha asked with a wicked smile.
Fate chuckled and worked excitedly in the map control terminal. She could not let that challenge go by just like that.
Little by little, the surfaces representing the movement zones of the women appeared on the screen in a color gradation from blue to red. Red represented the areas where the girls spent the most time.
"Do you want me to intersect them to see what are the common areas?" Fate asked when the twelve surfaces were finished.
"That is an excellent idea," Nanoha said, moving her head. "But not just yet, first I'd like to analyze each distribution map individually."
Then, Nanoha selected one of the girls.
"Let's see Sylia Stingray," Nanoha asked. Fate turned off the records of the other girls, thinking that was one of the cases that intrigued Nanoha the most.
When Stingray's density map was unfolded, Nanoha's next request surprised Fate more than anything before she had requested.
"Could you now display the population density in that area, please? ...And also the commercial density map, the public transport routes, the traffic map in the time range that Sylia's disappearance is estimated, and the estimated kidnapping area."
When everything was displayed on the screen Nanoha stood up and approached the screen, looking at it closely.
Fate followed her after a few minutes.
"You have a theory," Fate said after a while.
"Something like that," Nanoha replied, and after checking some data on her device, she added, "Look, Fate-chan… Sylia Stingray was a super successful businesswoman. She owned several high couture boutiques in Midchilda and her brand was, well is, of export… she moved around the city in a complex way… she lived and moved in residential areas with high added value and security; she had several business partners, business and personal commitments… however…"
Nanoha pointed at an area on the map.
"Many Fridays… like the day she disappeared, she went… she merely went around this area on the way back from the recurrent meetings she had with the Women for Technology Group," Nanoha emphasized on the map. "A lower-middle-class residential area where most likely no one knew about it… and that has the least amount of human and vehicle traffic within the time range that Sylia stopped communicating."
The area mentioned by Nanoha was a residential area with tall buildings but with a very low density of occupation. It wasn't a particularly dangerous area like others in the city... just run down.
"According to the police report," Nanoha said, turning to look at Fate, "Sylia called her office leaving her women's meeting to say she was on her way, as always, but she never arrived. Sylia Stingray's car was found several blocks away from this area, in a known and safe area, but with a completely flat tire. And she was simply not heard from anymore. As if she had vanished into thin air… Just like Sophia."
Fate was starting to see Nanoha's point.
"I think the subject ambushed Sylia in this area," Nanoha insisted, "But then moved her car to the place it was found."
"And all that without anyone seeing him?" It was now Fate's turn to check her device and then looked at Nanoha with a worried look on her face.
"What's wrong?" Nanoha asked.
"The area you mention," Fate said, "Does not yet have surveillance camera monitoring because it is not really a high crime area, it is not a commercial area and it has a low population density... however, the area where Sylia's car was found does have video coverage but... THAT particular day… they were undergoing maintenance."
"So there are no videos."
"Exactly," Fate corroborated, thinking about the implications that that simple detail could have.
Nanoha looked at the map again.
"Quickly, Fate… let's include the positions of all the surveillance cameras and their ranges of operation, as well as the patrol routes of the Cranagan and Midchilda police with detailed schedules... We will also need the positions of the field policemen…"
For another good couple of hours, Fate and Nanoha almost frantically integrated more information into the already overloaded map and went through the patterns of the other two cases that intrigued Nanoha so much: Lacus Clyne and Kyoko Tokiwa.
It was three in the afternoon when Nanoha looked at Fate with a terrifying conclusion.
"These girls don't know him, Fate, however, he knows them from a to z… and he also knows like that, both the Midchilda and Cranagan Police Departments."
Fate did not say anything.
"Let's review the six remaining cases and I assure you, we will find the same patterns. The girls were kidnapped in their most vulnerable zones of movement that they did not know they were because they did not seem so. Look, Fate-chan," Nanoha said vehemently, "We usually take care and pay more attention to our surroundings in dark, dangerous, busy places… unknown ones. This guy ambushes them in areas that are not like that... but, they were places where nobody knew them or where they passed very infrequently, and he does it right in the time range in which there are very few people or traffic precisely in that area; where there was or is no video monitoring for whatever reason, and there was no police presence either; in quiet areas of low crime incidence but relatively deserted... However, the trace left of their disappearance will be within their movement zone but... relatively distant from the true area where they were kidnapped."
After a pause, Nanoha added.
"This is not an opportunistic killer, Fate-chan, he's a professional hunter and that's why he chooses these women… they're the ultimate challenge. Hunting a prostitute that will get into anyone's car means nothing to him. He doesn't want easy prey, quite the opposite… and more than that, he prepares the area where he will hunt. He sets traps, plans each detail, and exploits the context to be successful."
"Doing that requires more than just knowing everything about the girls," Fate said with a heavy heart. If the other six cases, as predicted by Nanoha, confirmed that pattern, breaking the news to Hayate and the other commanders was going to be a bomb.
"That's what I'm saying, Fate-chan!" Nanoha insisted. "This guy is either a cop or works for the police department… He must have the same information we have available to plan his hunting."
"He would need internal data from both departments," Fate added, "Cranagan and Midchilda…"
"In a way, that narrows the search," Nanoha said, getting to frantically work on her terminal. "Maybe we should call Alto and Lucino, these queries in the databases are more complicated…"
The growl of Fate's stomach that interrupted Nanoha's idea was so loud that it made her even turn to look at the blonde in surprise.
"It's after four in the afternoon Nanoha… we've been here for hours," said Fate who was indeed starving, "You're right, we need one of those two. Lucino is on duty tomorrow... how about we finish the remaining correlations tomorrow and work with her on the database. We need to have the data for all the girls before we have a final hypothesis that we can report."
"You're right, I'm sorry," Nanoha said dejectedly since she hadn't even noticed the time and suddenly remembered that Fate had invited her for a walk... Not to work all their day off.
Before leaving, they left some more data in processing and Fate blocked the terminal with her personal password. What she least wanted was for someone undesirable to see that information before they had it ready.
— X —
Downtown of Midchilda City.
Day 21, Tenth Month, 2044 - 17:00 hrs.
By the time they finally left the office, the golden sun of the autumn afternoon was still shining on an intense blue sky, the streets were quiet, and perhaps because of the attacks that week, people moved in their activities without fuss and with silent diligence.
Fate drove to a downtown area where they could park the car and walk to a nice quiet place with a terrace to eat something that Fate's stomach was crying out for… literally.
Despite what Fate had said the day before about going out and 'clear their heads from work', Nanoha continued to talk for a long time regarding the hypothesis that their activities for the day had triggered. While they ate and Fate pretty much devoured the gourmet salad sandwiches that they ordered, the Enforcer also devoured with her eyes the different passionate gestures with which Nanoha explained the ideas that she was developing.
Luckily for them, they were in civilian attire and were not attracting the attention of other patrons. Fate noticed the image of them reflected in the large windows on the roofed part of the restaurant and realized that they only looked like two friends talking animatedly about an exciting book or movie.
The blonde deeply breathed in, calming down her eagerness. That day was going fantastic, she shouldn't ruin it, nor rush herself so she just let Nanoha talk about what she needed to talk about. If it was work… then work it would be.
After a while, when they were enjoying dessert, Nanoha was able to finally direct her attention to other details.
It was getting chilly as the sun was setting and suddenly Nanoha remembered that Fate had suggested they should do something fun.
"I spent all the time talking about work as we ate…" the redhead said with an embarrassed smile. "And I haven't let you talk much either."
"It's fine," Fate assured her placidly. "It's been quite an experience to listen to you… But now that we've eaten something… I still have a proposal to fulfill."
Nanoha looked at the blonde with her smile widening.
"You've had me intrigued since yesterday," she admitted. "What does the elite Enforcer Fate Testarossa consider fun?"
In response, Fate stood up, took her leather jacket from the chair, and motioned for Nanoha to follow her.
They did not touch at any time but they walked, very close to each other, through several streets without hurry, just enjoying being with each other on a pleasant afternoon. Enjoying having time, of being alive.
Fate wouldn't disclose anything about where they were going and she talked about the surroundings, the weather or something that attracted their attention, and apparently for no reason, asked a personal question every now and then.
"Since you got back, I haven't asked you… How are your friends? ...Alisa and Suzuka…" Fate asked at one moment while to herself she thanked her mother and TSABs database.
Nanoha hid her surprise at Fate's question.
"Both about to finish their doctorate…" Nanoha replied lightly. "We've been in touch but I haven't seen them since I got back. They are still living in the apartment we shared and they may keep it once they finish… I have to see them and catch up with them."
Fate just asked Nanoha to send them her regards. "One step at a time… no rush," the Enforcer thought.
Nanoha took advantage of the topic to tell Fate several anecdotes about her childhood friends, although as they kept walking, the rookie became more intrigued about her final destination.
They had already left the pedestrian, shopping, and entertainment area behind. The area where they were walking at the time now looked a bit different to Nanoha. It seemed more of an... adult entertainment. She had never been to that area of the city before... It had never occurred to her before that such an area could exist.
Little by little Nanoha noticed couples of two boys hugging or two girls holding hands, as well as several places like coffee shops or bars with waving rainbow flags.
Nanoha had never asked Fate about her preferences. The attraction had happened between them without looking for it or even thinking about it. They hadn't talked about their respective pasts either with other people, they hadn't had the time and the red-head felt she was suddenly nervous. She looked at the blonde from the corner of her eye; Fate looked calm and collected, like very much in her element. Nanoha couldn't imagine when Fate had free time to go and hang out in a place like that.
Her mind wandered a bit wondering if Fate liked to go to places like that and maybe… even flirting to pick up a girl? She kept stealing glances at the Enforcer and as hard as she tried, she could not picture her in that role.
Almost without any previous warning, Fate took Nanoha's arm and motioned to cross the street to take a secondary road. As they went around the block from where they were walking, Nanoha was stunned when she came face to face with a large number of people and a huge old multi-story building.
Fate, standing next to Nanoha, was smiling and carefully observing Nanoha's puzzled face.
"I don't know if you're going to like it," she said sincerely, "But trust me it will be fun."
A gigantic canopy that vertically covered the entire facade of the building, read with equally gigantic letters: "COLISEUM OF MIDCHILDA"
Nanoha turned around, at last, to look at Fate.
"Did you bring me here… to watch some… wrestling matches?"
Fate felt her ears burning up. Maybe she had royally screwed up… but it was done, so she timidly nodded.
She was about to apologize to Nanoha telling her to go somewhere else, when the red-haired burst into laughter, took Fate's hand in hers, and all but dragged her to the box office to buy their tickets.
As they were arriving a little late, the session for that afternoon had already started but they were lucky and Fate managed to get places near the ring.
Once inside, the arena was like a real Roman coliseum. The seats were spread over several levels around the ring and above it, a complex lighting system allowed a spectacular view from all angles. Everyone was screaming and the euphoria and adrenaline were running high.
During the different encounters, Nanoha screamed her lungs out by shouting in favor of various fighters or booing others, and even taught Fate how to whistle at the referee when he seemed partial to either side. They had a good laugh with the exclamations of other passionate spectators, dodged a couple of fighters who were about to fall on them, and even greeted several sweaty gladiators who passed by them.
Nanoha would tug at Fate's jacket at different times to draw her attention to some detail and pretty much throughout the entire evening, a perennial smile remained on both of their faces.
It was about nine when the session was over and they left along with the entire crowd.
They made their way back to Fate's car with the stars already twinkling above their heads and they talked about the matches or what this or that contender had seemed to them. Even passing through the 'gay' part of the city seemed to Nanoha more interesting and picturesque, because the places already had the bright lights on, music filtered into the street in several cases, and many more people swarmed around exploring which would be the best option for that weekend night.
Fate, however, did not make any comment regarding that ambient and they kept going until they reached the parking lot where they had left the car in the afternoon.
"Can I take you home?" Fate asked casually when they reached her car.
Nanoha thought about it for several seconds. She had been with Fate all day and it hadn't weighed on her for a single second. Part of her didn't want that day to end and she didn't want to say goodbye to Fate there to take a cab. It was too impersonal for her after the day they had shared… but she didn't want to rush anything either.
"I'd appreciate it," she finally said as Fate opened the car.
The two looked at each other for a few seconds, deeply, and a wave of warmth spread between them.
Nanoha rushed into the car and Fate followed suit.
During the ride, Fate talked about the work to do and told Nanoha about a decision she had just made.
"Tomorrow... I'll work with Lucino, Nanoha ... you don't need to go to the office."
Nanoha looked at Fate in surprise and almost disappointment. Her protests were immediate but Fate did not let her continue.
"No… wait, Nanoha, hear me out for a second... please?" Fate's tone was so soft that when she asked, so different to the tone she used to firmly indicate orders, Nanoha just remained silent even unwillingly.
"I want you to spend the day with your family, Nanoha…" Fate argued, turning her gaze away from the street every now and then to look at Nanoha, "Today we have made such progress… you can't imagine how much… I really appreciate the effort you have made and that you are doing for this case, especially with your new assignment to Section 9. And precisely for this reason, you also have to take advantage of the time you have now to be with your family."
Nanoha weighed Fate's words. Shiro hadn't said anything but she knew that he hadn't liked her working that day and Momoko hadn't been happy to see her daughter leave on the way to the office. And she certainly hadn't told them that she would do something with Fate afterwards, so they would surely think that she was leaving work at that time.
"We can be called in for an emergency at any time Nanoha, your life is going to have a radical change now that you are a TSAB agent…" Fate continued, "Besides, today's afternoon was... really very nice... You have to give yourself the opportunity to have moments like this, with your family."
Nanoha blushed at Fate's words.
The way, sadly, was way too short for Nanoha's liking because they arrived quite quickly at her parents' house and Fate was already parking in front of the entrance.
For a few seconds, they just looked at each other in the half-light of the car as the last time.
"Do you promise you'll let me know if any of you need anything?"
"Absolutely."
Nanoha slightly nodded.
Both stayed very still.
"Thanks for everything… Fate-chan… Just like you said… it was quite a surprise!" Nanoha said. "I would have never guessed the famous Enforcer Testarossa would have such hobbies."
Fate laughed. They looked at each other and Nanoha knew she had to get out of that car right NOW.
"See you," Nanoha said with a contained voice and got out of the car as carefully as she was able to. She didn't feel exactly in complete control of herself.
Fate waited until Nanoha crossed the threshold of her house and even a little longer to drive away and head to her own apartment feeling happy in a new and indescribable way.
— X —
TSAB's Headquarters, Section 6 offices, Special Unit of Violent Crimes
Midchilda City. Day 23, Tenth Month, 2044 - 08:00 hrs.
Nanoha went through the employee security of one of the pedestrian accesses of the TSAB complex and directly to the offices of Section 6.
A rational part of her brain told her that she should go to Section 9, report to Major Natsume, or at least notify one of her gray, impenetrable Section coworkers that she had already arrived and had duties in her role of Liaison with the Section 6 but her apprehensive need to know the results Fate and Lucino had found the day before, were stronger.
Just as Fate had asked, Nanoha had spent the day before with her family and it had been excellent. Spontaneously, they had had a family meal where even Nanoha's friends and Shinobu's family had unexpectedly joined. The meeting had ended up being like a welcome party for Nanoha for her return.
Since the nightmare to which they had survived ten months ago, Nanoha hadn't been so aware of how lucky they were to have days like that one, bright days shared with everyone she loved. Her family had survived and were right there by her side, and although she could never again believe in the illusion of safety and certainty, she could intensely enjoy those moments precisely because she knew of the fragility in which they were held.
And her family and friends knew it. After the attack on the subway that week and all the people that had perished, many asked Nanoha how things were going and they were glad that she was collaborating to make the city a safer place.
Shiro tried to hide it but Nanoha read a certain gesture of pride when her friends congratulated him on Nanoha's work at TSAB.
Nanoha smiled remembering those moments as she checked his device as she approached Fate's office. There were still no updates on the case. The information was exactly as she and Fate had left it two days before.
"... even if that's her role, I remind you that officially Dr. Takamachi belongs to my team, Agent Testarossa…"
Nanoha was taken aback standing by the open door of Fate's office.
Yuri Natsume and Fate held a tense conversation where apparently she was the central topic.
The two women glanced at Nanoha briefly and then returned to their personal duel.
"Dr. Takamachi," Fate said, "is doing an efficient work as Liaison for the Sections Major… I see no point of conflict."
"Exactly," Natsume pointed out coldly. "Her role is as Liaison… not as an investigator assigned to the case neither as part of your team… the doctor has considerable responsibilities in Section 9 to attend to."
Having said that, Natsume ended the conversation and went to the door.
"I see you've been informed, Agent Takamachi," she told Nanoha. "Given the situation, you can work together with Enforcer Testarossa's team today but I need you to precisely define your responsibilities. Report to Section 9 before we begin, I have instructions for you. Meet me in my office in fifteen minutes."
Without saying good morning or excusing herself, Natsume vanished towards her new domain in Section 9.
Nanoha looked at Fate disconcerted.
"What was Major Natsume talking about?" she asked, "Informed about what?"
Until that moment Nanoha realized how heavy-eyed and tired Fate looked for that time of the morning.
Fate looked at her with a serious and worried face.
"I got a call from the Midchilda Police very early in the morning... They found the body of one of the girls on our missing list."
— X —