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: I am so glad to see you catching up with the chapters you were missing bubble duckie. I hope you keep enoying.
The Shadow by Aleksei Volken
Chapter 8. Nothing is what it seems.
— X —
"What you are you do not see, what you see is your shadow."
—Rabindranath Tagore
— X —
TSAB's Headquarters, Section 9 offices, Special Unit for Public Safety
Midchilda City. Day 24, Tenth Month, 2044 - 10:15 hrs.
"It's a bit hot, isn't it Shamal-san?" Nanoha asked, glancing at the light scarf that Shamal had worn around her neck since the morning and that she hadn't taken off at all.
"The air conditioning in Section 9 is much more intense than in the research wing… I don't want to get a sore throat with all the work we have," Shamal said without even looking up from the pile of papers she was going through, making sure that the scarf did not leave anything of her neck exposed... Signum was going to pay for that... soon.
Both investigators were in the Section conference room, very similar to the one they had in Section 6 waiting for Major Natsume.
Unlike what Hayate and Fate used to do of working with all team members to share information, Natsume assigned tasks and worked with each investigator or group of investigators separately.
Nanoha and Shamal did not have an exact idea of what the others were doing or details regarding the jobs the Major entrusted to them.
Natsume walked into the room minutes later with a coffee in hand. After a short, cool greeting, she sat at the head of the table and waited for comments from her investigators.
"We have confirmed that the virus is fully built in the laboratory. Although it's no conclusive evidence yet, as originally estimated, the Vandein Corporation has developed similar structural components for government projects."
Shamal said that while looking at the different documents that she spread on the table as she spoke.
"Is something bothering you, Dr. Yagami?" Natsume asked, narrowing her eyes to look closely at Shamal.
Without noticing the examination she was undergoing, Shamal continued speaking as she always did whenever she was very focused on something.
"Beyond the structure of the virus, which is impressive in its complexity… To have a practically perfect mortality rate and overwhelming mobility… the virus is atypically… selective…" Shamal said.
"Explain yourself, Doctor," Natsume requested, sitting up straight in her chair.
Shamal activated the screen in the living room to project a map. She located at the center point, the Subway Station attacked, and subsequently, a perfect circle was drawn around the station.
"Together with CCE, we made a detailed mapping of the fatalities and how they became infected," Shamal began showing the map. "To begin with, all the people were infected within a maximum range of half a mile from the epicenter of the explosion. Exactly. Nobody outside that range was infected… In addition to that… within that range, not all the people who were exposed were infected but finally, we have identified that all the people who were infected and died have a set of characteristics in common."
"Finally?" Natsume asked.
Shamal slowly nodded, "The CCE had not given us this information until this morning because they corroborated it three times and had to run several tests and even DNA mapping of several victims to be sure…"
Nanoha, who hadn't said anything so far, stood up with a frown.
"All infected people, and only those infected, had a special recessive gene that causes a very particular type of anemia... one produced by a deformation of the red blood cells, so to speak."
Yuri Natsume frowned as did Nanoha. Science wasn't her area of expertise, but she wasn't stupid either. What Shamal said seemed to be turning into something very serious.
"All of them, Dr. Yagami? All those people had that anemia?"
"No," Shamal replied with determination, looking at Natsume worriedly, and stood up and went to the work screen to draw some charts. "That is the actually serious thing, the people did not have the disease. You see Major, the genes from which we all inherit all our traits may be dominant or recessive. A recessive trait is usually overridden by the dominant one. The recessive traits are only present when the contribution of that particular gene is recessive in both parents. All the people who were infected in the attack did not have sickle cell anemia, since they had both a dominant gene that inhibits the malformation and a recessive gene that promotes it... In this scenario, only a small percentage of their cells were deformed, not enough to develop the disease."
"Are you saying that the virus… chose them based on that trait?" Nanoha asked, amazed.
"Even worse," Shamal replied without sitting down. "That's why the people from CCE wanted to corroborate the data so many times, all the people that were infected only had a minimum of ten and a maximum of twenty percent of deformed cells… that is an unprecedented level of accuracy and selectivity as we have never seen in a virus before."
The three women remained silent for a few seconds until Natsume asked.
"How did they figure out the pattern?"
"When we were trying to contain the infection and… treat the infected, we ran several tests. At first, we didn't notice because it is a relatively low percentage but one of the techs did and wanted to verify it. Most overwhelming was the finding that the disease only occurred in individuals who had that particular recessive gene. They didn't even have the disease. Other people with other cell deformities, not caused by that particular gene, did not get sick, nor are they carriers."
"That is horrifying, Shamal-san," Nanoha said, suddenly pale.
"What's wrong, Agent Takamachi?" Natsume asked, puzzled.
"I have been working on profiling the organization that could have committed the attacks on the bank and the subway but this fact changes the whole scenario…" Nanoha said as she made furious annotations and corrections on the documents that she had already prepared to show to Natsume.
The red-haired did not give the Major time to say or ask anything.
"The capacity that Shamal-san describes in that virus can be used with extreme precision… I don't think that infecting people with a recessive gene on a particular type of anemia was the primary goal," Nanoha said, staring at Natsume. "I believe such virus can be programmed according to specific genetic traits, so specific that it would allow them to assassinate a person in particular or a group of people…"
As Natsume did not say anything, Nanoha added, "These people, the group that planned and executed the attack, were testing the effectiveness of the virus… And they didn't care about killing over three hundred people and wounding as many for that test… They are people who have an ulterior motive much more sophisticated than any serial killer… Since they didn't care either about giving us the many leads that we already have on them. They have a goal and they will stop at nothing to achieve it… With a weapon like that virus, they could kill you or this country's Prime Minister or whoever they want without a problem… they would just need to program it… Because, according to what Shamal said, the virus also seems to have temporal and spatial resilience. No person outside the area of impact was infected, even if they may have had the recessive gene."
Natsume activated her personal intercom at that moment.
"I need an urgent meeting with Admirals Graham and Harlaown… immediately."
— X —
As much as she had tried her best, even skipping lunch, Nanoha couldn't free herself to return to Section 6 until after three in the afternoon that day.
And even when she did, leaving the Section 9 facility was not as easy as she had anticipated.
"Going somewhere, Agent Takamachi?" asked the voice Nanoha was fearing to hear when she was hurriedly gathering the documents and data she would need for her work.
Nanoha turned to find Yuri Natsume staring blankly at her.
"I've already sent you my updated report regarding the profile of the organization behind the attacks," Nanoha replied calmly. "At this moment, I am headed to Section 6 to continue with some aspects of the investigation of the serial killer and kidnapper… Colonel Yagami told me that General Bassanius has been very anxious since he was notified of the last victim found."
"I thought I gave you instructions to limit the scope of your responsibilities in that case, Agent," Natsume added in the same cold, expressionless tone.
"You did, Major, with all clarity… However, in light of the new facts found... which are also detailed in the report I delivered to you and Colonel Yagami, Admiral Harlaown authorized my participation in additional activities."
Natsume remained silent for a while looking at Nanoha.
"Is that the only reason for such an interest you have in working on Section 6?" she asked straightforwardly. "Nothing to do with, say, Enforcer Testarossa?"
Nanoha nearly jumped upon hearing her boss's question.
"The most important reason that drives my work at TSAB is to prevent innocent people from getting hurt…" Nanoha said, trying to control her nervousness since what she was saying was the absolute truth. "There is nothing I want more than rescuing those girls that are in the power of the madman."
"Because you yourself were in the power of one?" Natsume countered.
Nanoha's countenance broke momentarily, but she endured trying not to feel resentful towards her boss for the remarkt. For that too, she had prepared herself for during her months of training in Vaizen although she didn't expect Natsume to be the kind of person who would bring up that information. Apparently, Fate had been right about her and shouldn't be trusted.
"Because beyond being my duty… it's the right thing, Major," Nanoha finished.
For a few seconds, the two women looked at each other, each assessing the other.
"Keep me informed of your activities, in the meantime, I will review your update regarding the profile of the Huckebein organization…"
Nanoha was going to get ready to leave her but that last comment from her boss stopped her.
"Oh, no, Mayor… I wouldn't assure you that the profile I have delivered belongs to the Huckebein organization."
Natsume looked at Nanoha puzzled.
"If what I think is correct, perhaps the person who has planned these attacks is not the same person who has executed them... From the information I have gathered regarding the Huckebein organization, they respond to a profile of the mercenary type... they will do anything for which they will receive a payment or have some type of profit or very high remuneration. They are professionals, I don't know what their motivations are, but they don't have idealistic traits of any kind. The person or group of people responsible for intellectually conceiving attacks like these correspond to a very different profile from that of the Huckebeins."
Natsume became serious again as she watched Nanoha take her things and prepare to leave.
"If you'll excuse me, Major, I will be in Section 6 should you need anything," the red-haired said before leaving the small office she shared with Shamal in Section 9.
After Nanoha's departure, Natsume activated her personal intercom and sent several messages.
If what Takamachi said was correct, the situation was going to be much more difficult than she thought. She needed the investigator to focus one hundred percent on the affairs of Section 9, not distracted by hunting down maniacs no matter how committed she felt to it.
If things continued like this, she would have to take some drastic measures... sooner than she had thought.
— X —
TSAB's Headquarters, Section 6 offices, Special Unit of Violent Crimes
Midchilda City. Day 24, Tenth Month, 2044 - 20:00 hrs.
For the next several hours, Nanoha worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Alto and Lucino on the investigations that she and Fate had agreed on the day before.
Fortunately, Fate was extremely efficient and while Nanoha was away, she had her team moving forward with the necessary tasks.
Pretty much everything needed to run again the DNA tests on the still-unidentified limbs was ready.
Fate's entire team had been engaged in some task: The young computer whizzes had updated all the information in the database of missing women along with all the cases of murders or mutilations of women within the Cranagan-Midchilda area of the last ten years; Vice had gotten all the material from Kaori Makimura's investigations, and while Zafira and Signum went one journey after another to get all the biological material and samples they would need for the DNA tests, Fate had struggled with Ryōko Yakushiji all day, getting the necessary clearances with the Cranagan and Midchilda Police departments.
From what Alto and Lucino had told her, Fate had been on a roller coaster all day, but she had been able to get what they needed in record time.
Nanoha was however a little disappointed that she still hadn't been able to see the Enforcer and while she was reviewing the preparations to restart the DNA tests, she wondered if she would get a chance to see her before she left.
Very discreetly, she glanced at the wall clock in the group work area that Hayate's three teams were assigned to.
"Good evening, Nanoha-san," a jovial female voice beside her greeted her
Nanoha turned around surprised to find Admiral Lindy Harlaown next to her and immediately stood up to greet her. Even those who were not or hadn't been military within the group addressed with the maximum respect to the renowned Admiral.
Until then Nanoha noticed that Fate, with a contrite face, was standing next to the Admiral. The two of them were so professional at work that Nanoha sometimes forgot that they were mother and daughter.
"Admiral… Fate-ch...I mean, Enforcer Testarossa…"
"Oh, come on! Nanoha-san, you don't need to worry so much with the formalities with Fate," Lindy said, patting her daughter's shoulder. "Actually, you're still collaborating with her group and we all form part of the same team."
"Nanoha," Fate greeted her in an excessively formal way for how relaxed their last interactions had been. "Thanks for coming and staying for so long, Signum told me that you even skipped lunch and have been working with Alto and Lucino all afternoon."
"No, no… no there's nothing to thank me for…" Nanoha quickly assured, still puzzled by the sudden visit of the Admiral and by Fate's attitude. "This is what we agreed on yesterday and we need to continue as much as possible ID'ing this subject."
"Fate has told me you have everything ready to start the DNA tests again," Lindy said, turning serious for a few minutes. "It was really quite a complicated deal of paperwork we had to do, but your theory is quite plausible… I am quite confident that we will have good results…"
"... About that," Lindy continued, smiling again, "Fate has excellent news for you, but before leaving her to it, I came here to personally thank you…"
Nanoha stared at the Admiral intently waiting.
Fate took a deep breath.
Lindy waited for a few seconds and since Nanoha wouldn't say anything, she added, "...Yes, Clyde and I want to thank you for the invitation."
"... Invitation?" Nanoha asked, slightly raising her eyebrows.
Lindy eyed the redhead carefully and her smile slightly widened.
"... Yes, for the dinner invitation… with your family…" Lindy said, slowly, as if making sure that Nanoha would receive the message clearly. "Your father… in person, called Clyde this morning… inviting the Harlaown family to have dinner at your home… the day after tomorrow."
Nanoha did not even try to stop her jaw from dropping but she did manage to hold back before asking "What?!" to the top of her lungs.
Fate, who had her arms crossed over her chest and her chin resting over her fist, looked at the flabbergasted and stupefied Nanoha and shook her head. She had no idea either of what was going on.
Her mother had dropped the bomb when she was on her way to Section 6 barely a few minutes ago.
Lindy was tremendously happy, given the circumstances, and was giving Fate various directions for the event, which the Enforcer no longer even remembered.
"I wanted to ask you if there is something, in particular, we can bring, something your parents particularly like that you can recommend?" Lindy asked with a smile.
Nanoha was still in shock and with her mind blank.
Her parents… had invited Fate's family over for dinner at their house?!
— X —
Suburban area of Midchilda City. Altseim South District. Takamachi Residence
Day 24, Tenth Month, 2044 - 21:00 hrs.
Following Admiral Harlaown's announcement, Nanoha had left several instructions in the Section for Alto and Lucino and then bolted for her parents' house.
When she arrived, her family was getting ready for dinner. When she started working at TSAB, although everyone was very concerned about the 'little one' of the family, they only sent her brief messages asking if she needed to be picked up at the office or if they should wait for her for dinner. However, ever since she had been moved to Section 9 and the days of intense work she had had, they only asked her to let them know if she needed anything.
The red-haired was never getting home earlier than ten at night, and sometimes, much later.
That day, all of the Takamachis including Kyoya and his family, were about to start having dinner when Nanoha barged into the dining room of the large family home.
The cheerful and lively atmosphere they had was suddenly frozen at the sudden appearance of Nanoha, who arrived all hurried and had not even taken off her black TSAB uniform yet.
"Honey…" Momoko said, surprised but happy to see her daughter. "How nice you got out early today! You're right on time… go clean up and come have dinner with us… Sometimes I worry too much about your eating schedule… you need to organize that work of yours a little better to eat properly."
Miyuki was already standing up, getting a place ready for Nanoha.
"Today's dinner is delicious, Shinobu and mom are practicing new dishes for Midori-Ya… You are going to love it… I love that they use us as guinea pigs!"
Kaede and Kyo, Nanoha's nephews, had already run to greet her, hugging her.
"Nanoha! ... Nanoha! …" the children shouted, overjoyed to see her aunt at a time other than the weekend.
"Well, now we'll have less dessert for us, dad," Kyoya said with good humor since in reality they always saved Nanoha generous portions of everything his wife and mother cooked for them.
Nanoha was still standing at the entrance to the dining room, still not sure what to say. Everything looked so natural and perfect that she didn't know where to start.
"Are you still not sitting down, Nanoha?" Her mother chided her a little, already about to sit at the table as well.
The redhead warmly greeted her nephews who were still clinging to her and rushed to at least take off her jacket and wash her hands.
When they finally got everyone seated at the table, Shiro at the head of the table gave thanks for the food and everyone attacked the new dishes that Shinobu and Momoko had prepared.
During the meal, Nanoha did not find the right moment to ask what had brought her so quickly to her parents' house. TSAB and her new job had never been an easy subject for the Takamachi family.
It was until the dessert was served and Nanoha hadn't had a bite of it yet even though everyone was almost finished and asked for more, that Shiro, staring at her daughter, asked the question.
"Is there something worrying you, Nanoha?"
Without the need to be asked, everyone at the table fell silent and looked at the aforementioned.
Nanoha knew that she wouldn't have a better chance.
"Uhmm… not exactly… dad… I…" Everyone's eyes on her, waiting, were not making it easier to find the words so Nanoha decided to narrate what had happened… "Today... Admiral Lindy Harlaown came to see me... to thank me for the dinner invitation…"
Shiro and Momoko's faces remained unchanged. Miyuki and Kyoya looked at each other and held back their smiles.
Nanoha waited but no one said anything. Not even her nephews.
"I was a little surprised… the Admiral told me you called her husband in person, dad."
"That's right," Shiro said with the greatest naturalness in the world, "I called Clyde Harlaown to invite his family to dinner the day after tomorrow."
Nanoha blinked like a surprised owl looking at her parents.
"I… I mean, I thought you didn't…"
Momoko reached out to take her husband's hand, looking at him tenderly in a silent request that he no longer kept her little girl on edge.
Shiro made a very slight nod, squeezing his wife's hand.
"Yes, I know we haven't held TSAB in high regards, but it's not TSAB who we invited over for dinner… but the Harlaown family."
Nanoha looked at her family, disconcerted.
"What did we do before we started eating dinner?" Shiro asked his daughter with a smile.
Nanoha frowned until Kyo, her older nephew answered for her as if it were obvious.
"We were thankful for the food… Nanoha, we always give thanks for the food before we eat."
The agent was still a bit lost, so her father decided to go for the direct answer.
"We have been… unfair," Shiro said, putting his hands in front of him and clasping them tightly, "Especially me, I've been unfair to those who are now your coworkers, Nanoha. There is something I hadn't understood, not until a few days ago… after the terrible events in Midchilda's Subway."
They all got serious. Kaede and Kyo got off their chairs and each went with Kyoya and Shinobu to sit with them. They always did it like this when Shiro told a story and it seemed like that would be a good one.
"It takes a lot of courage and determination to protect the ones whom we love," Shiro said, breathing deeply and looking around him, where all the people he loved were. "But behind that undeniable courage is without a doubt the world's most powerful force. We are willing to give our life for those we love… However, to give your life for someone you don't even know… that is the true calling and sense of duty."
"At first," Momoko said, continuing her husband's reflection, "we wouldn't have wanted for any of you to pursue a career where you put your lives at risk for anything or anyone… We love you and you are the most important thing for us, and we also know how difficult it can be in the army and special forces."
"However, after the experience we all went through, after the attacks a few days ago… I've remembered that it is thanks to those people who have a true calling to help and protect that many of those people are alive…" Shiro paused to contain his emotion since, up until that day, they hadn't talked about the terrible experience they had experienced months before. "Do you know what Clyde Harlaown's position is at TSAB, Nanoha?"
Nanoha thought about it for a few seconds before shaking her head. She knew by heart the structure of the Special Units but she hadn't paid much attention to the rest of the Bureau's organizational chart.
"Clyde is the Director of the Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction Section of the Tactics Division, however, in his early years he was a quite deft field ops agent, just like his son Chrono, right now… Sniper and explosive devices expert."
Nanoha nodded, remembering that she indeed had read that fact at some point.
"Months ago, when we were all trapped in that building at the University… Clyde did not have to be there defusing bombs, Nanoha. No one would have said anything to him if he had been sitting at his desk in his office at TSAB, which I suppose is impressive and very comfortable, giving orders and waiting for the results of the course of events…"
Shiro paused as Nanoha looked at him flabbergasted. She had no idea her father had found out about the details of that harrowing moment in their lives.
"He did, nonetheless… and he did because it was a critical moment because many people were at risk, not only us… All his family was there, Nanoha… His wife, his son and his wife… His daughter… your fellow worker, Enforcer Testarossa…" Shiro said, looking at Nanoha so meaningfully that even the red-haired blushed. "They were all there trying to save all of us that were there… all of us."
Nanoha knew it. She had seen the work firsthand during the subway bombing. There she had been part of that group of people and she knew of the commitment with which they carried out her work.
"We never… Never thanked them for that, Nanoha," Shiro continued. "I was so angry for the danger in which our family, the people I love most in this world, had been… that I was unable to see how unfair I was being… What happened months ago was not TSABs fault, it was not Agent Testarossa's fault… and it was not your fault either, Nanoha."
At that moment, Nanoha, with a lump in her throat, was trying her best not to cry.
"If they, the agents that are now your fellow workers, had not been there, and had not risked their lives as they did… If Clyde and Lindy Harlaown had not taken the decisions they took… The monster would have won…"
"You have decided you have the calling and the desire to fight monsters like those, Nanoha," Momoko added. "Every day we suffer tragedies and some people are devastated by those tragedies and can never recover… We have fought day to day to recover and move on… And for that reason, we are very proud of your courage and your decision to be a TSAB Agent."
"Is the monster coming back?" Kyo asked, still holding on to Shinobu.
"No dear, your grandma has taken care of that monster forever," Shinobu replied, tightly hugging him back.
Kyo looked at Momoko.
"No one messes with my family, sweetheart," Momoko replied with an angelic gaze. "And now your auntie Nanoha is also going to make sure we are all safe."
"Are you going to kill monsters, Nanoha?" little Kaede then asked, in Kyoya's arms.
"That's right," Miyuki replied, noticing Nanoha did not still have all her feelings under control. "Your aunt Nanoha is going to kick the asses of those monsters sons-of-bi…"
"Miyuki…." Shiro, Momoko, and Kyoya reprimanded her in unison very seriously. The little ones always repeated word by word everything that Miyuki taught them.
"Just as we are your family and you can always count on us, now you belong to TSAB and its team of special units... And I know from my own experience that they always take care of their own," Momoko said, remembering her days as a TSAB agent in an area even more delicate than the one her daughter was developing in, "We can only be by your side and be grateful to them."
Nanoha then remembered Fate's words about Admiral Lindy, days before, "...Now you belong to TSAB and my mother always takes care of her own."
Deeply moved, the red-haired could not find the words to thank her parents' support and felt her heart light as she hadn't felt it in months.
"Is there any chance that there will be some of Midori-Ya's special chocolate cake for that dinner?" Nanoha asked with a very enthusiastic smile.
"I've heard that cake has many fans in the Harlaown family, so mom, Shinobu, and I are planning on preparing two…" Miyuki said, winking at Nanoha.
Nanoha raised her eyebrows and blushed slightly thinking that now that she was a TSAB agent she had to go through her mother's agent file again. Apparently, her parents were investigating VERY thoroughly in relation to her work, her colleagues... and Fate.
The talk went on for a long time and Nanoha was finally able to devour and enjoy her dessert thinking about how lucky she was to have the best family in the world.
— X —
TSAB's Headquarters, Section 6 offices, Special Unit of Violent Crimes
Midchilda City. Day 26, Tenth Month, 2044 - 17:00 hrs.
For two whole days, Fate was extremely worried just thinking about the dinner with Nanoha's family. Despite the arguments of Signum and Hayate that it was more than a good sign, an excellent one, Fate could not feel completely at ease.
Nanoha had not said a word to her about that since the night both had found out, she only had told her not to worry and to give herself a chance.
After the talk with her family, Nanoha had decided not to say anything to Fate so as not to influence in any way. Fate, noticing the serene look in Nanoha's blue eyes, took it as a request for trust from the redhead and decided to take it easy, concentrating as much as possible on the work until the agreed date.
The following days the rookie investigator had arrived directly to Section 6 to run again the DNA tests on the unidentified limbs with the help of Alto, Lucino and the most recent (and temporary) arrival to Fate's team: the young but promising Laguna Granscenic, Vice's younger sister and who belonged to Griffith's team but who had been temporarily transferred to Fate's team.
That was the good news that Fate could not give Nanoha at the time, that she would finally have help in the scientific wing since they did not have Shamal.
Nanoha already knew Laguna but had not had the opportunity to work with the young woman until then. The four of them advanced quickly while Fate, Zafira, Signum, and Vice concentrated on compiling all the information about the cases that Kaori Makimura had worked as a police officer or was working as a private investigator.
By the evening of the agreed day for dinner at the Takamachi house, Fate summoned everyone to the meeting room at an earlier time than usual.
Nanoha's scientific and technical team came to the session with unusual enthusiasm. So much so that Nanoha could barely contain her anxiety to present the results they had found.
By the time Fate entered the boardroom, various images were already displayed on the screen and Nanoha was standing in front, ready to speak.
"Okay, it seems you found results…" Fate said with a smile, looking proudly at Nanoha.
"More than you can imagine," the investigator replied, her eyes glowing.
Photos of four women were displayed on the screen.
Nanoha did not wait any longer.
"From the unidentified limbs, that belonged to twelve different people, we have corroborated that six belong to these four women reported as missing several months ago… and two… correspond to this girl who was already identified previously as murdered."
Nanoha displayed on the screen the photo of one of the first girls they had already identified.
"Mirallia Haw…" Nanoha explained. "A limb from her had already been found when her head was discovered, however, the other limbs were not correlated to her, until now."
Fate looked seriously at her team. She did not even ask if Nanoha was absolutely sure of what she was saying.
"That is very serious. Alto, Lucino, who were the coroners that ran the tests?" Fate asked, cutting to the chase.
"They were different pathologists, Fate," Alto replied. "But they all belong to Cranagan's jurisdiction."
Fate had asked Superintendent Yakushiji to have a meeting with General Bassanius on her behalf that afternoon, to inform him of the progress of the investigation. That is why the extroverted Superintendent was not in the meeting with them at the time. With the results that Nanoha was showing, she didn't know if Yakushiji not being there was turning out to be favorable or unfavorable.
In any case, she would have to involve Yakushiji to clear up that part of the investigation.
Fate looked at Signum.
"I believe the Superintendent is going to be very interested to know why this information was not uncovered at the time, Signum. Work with her to track these girls down and incorporate their data just as we did with the first victims."
Fate's second-in-command stoically breathed in and nodded…
"Could we consider that the four girls are in the power of our guy?" Vice asked, worriedly.
"At least there is no confirmation that they are dead, Vice-san," Nanoha pointed out.
"However, just as Fate said, it's very serious that it is until now that the tests were run again that it's corroborated that four of them were missing and reported as such," Signum added. "And there is one thing that I find odd…"
"What is it about, Signum-san?" Nanoha asked.
"I'm sorry for the interruption, Nanoha," Signum added, "but now that we've updated the information with this data, I see there are three cases… three women from whom three limbs have been found prior to the confirmation of their deaths: Kaori Makimura, Rei Miyamoto… and now Mirallia Haw. I think it's odd because, during the inspection of Makimura's private office, Zafira and I found a business card of Haw among all the objects we classified.
Signum synced her device with the screen to show the digital image of a printed business card.
"Mirallia Haw"
The Midchilda Metropolitan
Photographer
"That paper is of very dubious quality," Lucino said, arching her brows. "I can almost imagine what kind of pictures that poor girl had to take."
"The important thing is that Haw and Makimura knew each other, somehow," Fate said. "This is the first time in the case that we can establish some sort of connection between the victims."
"Makimura was a private detective when she disappeared, but remember she was a cop first, Fate," Signum intervened. "And if Haw worked for a red top tabloid, it's quite likely they knew each other… well… maybe it's just speculation but what if Makmira let Haw take pictures… you know, sometimes cops do that."
Fate thought about it for a moment. It wasn't ethical, but it happened.
"Zafira, very tactfully, since we know that is a sore topic for cops, dig into that newspaper and the pictures taken by Haw and check if Makimura was in any way related to them."
"You got it," the hunk said," but there is one more thing…"
Zafira signaled to Signum for her to proceed with the information.
"As I was saying, we classified all of Makimura's belongings. They were all unclaimed. The landlord of the office that she used as an office, had all of them in a warehouse and claims that he put several ads in the newspaper in case someone wanted to claim the belongings. He was about to throw everything away when we arrived yesterday. Makimura paid six months of rent in advance a little bit before she disappeared and that's why he had kept them for so long, but he couldn't wait any longer. Apparently, Makimura does not have any relatives or acquaintances whom she left in charge of them, nor did the Cranagan police need any of her belongings."
"Including the information of the cases she was working on?" Fate asked.
"Including that. Apparently, no one wants problems they didn't ask for, Testarossa. From what Zafira, Vice, and I checked, Makimura dealt with traditional cases, divorce investigations, infidelity, and some cases regarding personal security… however… one of her latest cases was about a missing person."
Fate frowned.
Signum read directly from her device.
"Shinsen Tennozu… who, incidentally… is just not anyone. She is an important businesswoman belonging to a prominent family from Midchilda. According to the notes and the various documents we found at Makimura's office, she was trying to find the whereabouts of that woman."
Fate looked at Alto and Lucino at that instant and the girls ran to run a verification query.
"And she's not reported as missing according to Makimura's information?" Fate asked.
Signum shook her head.
"There is no police report at least, Zafira verified with Cranagan's Police today and we're waiting for confirmation from Midchilda's Police."
"In the database of missing women there is no record of a woman with that name," Alto stated at once.
"Neither do we have data that any DNA samples were provided from her," Nanoha added.
Fate looked at the time on her device.
"Makimura went missing, allegedly, while she was investigating the disappearance of this woman… Tennozu," Fate summed up."And we can infer that Makimura and Haw knew each other at least on some superficial level…"
"We need to know more about the investigation Makimura was doing on that woman, Fate," Nanoha pointed out. "If, as Signum-san mentions, she's such a prominent woman, we need to talk to the family and find out why there are no police records on her disappearance."
"Of course…" Fate said, checking her device again. "Zafira, Nanoha and I need to leave right now… but you make the arrangements for an interview with the Tennozu family tomorrow, first thing in the morning… You, Nanoha, and I will go. Signum, you will have a meeting with Superintendent Yakushiji directly in Cranagan. Vice will come with you. Don't tell her yet about Makimura and Tennozu… we need to clarify what happened with those DNA tests before anything else."
"Do you think our subject may be at Cranagan's PD?" Vice asked.
Fate turned serious and thoughtful for a moment, just like everyone else. However, it was Nanoha who replied.
"It would have to be an atypical cop, Vice-san," the red-haired said, shaking her head. "Honestly, it wouldn't fit the subject's profile."
"Why not?" Vice asked again.
"The subject we're looking for does not receive orders, he gives them…" Nanoha answered. "It's someone that has a substantial amount of resources, not just those that a police officer could have access to. Although it is quite strange that so many tests were wrongly correlated, I don't know if that could be the product of the work of a cop."
"Alto, Lucino, review the information that the guys found on all the Makimura cases and prepare a special dossier on Makimura and Haw in our database, everything we can find on them… Don't give Yakushiji access to that just yet, I will brief Hayate of our progress."
Having said that, Fate stood up.
"Fate," Nanoha called her.
The Enforcer turned her entire attention to Nanoha.
"I'd like to thank Laguna-san's help," Nanoha said, looking at the young agent who had been overwhelmed with all the data of the case the entire reunion. "The truth is I have been so busy with several things in Section 9 that, without her help, finishing all the tests and the correlations in such a short time would have been impossible… She did everything I asked and much more…"
Laguna Granscenic was red and embarrassed for Nanoha's compliment.
"Being efficient runs in the family, Nanoha-san," said Vice, very proud of his little sister.
Everyone laughed, Fate included, already at the door of the conference room, ready to leave.
"It seems you have a very nice work environment in this Section," said a voice that made Fate turn immediately to find Yuri Natsume's cold and serious look.
"Do you have a few minutes, Enforcer Testarossa? There are… a few things I'd like to talk to you about," Natsume added before Fate could reply anything.
"Not really, Major, can we talk tomorrow?" Fate said, shifting her smile to a serious and impenetrable face.
"I'm afraid not, Enforcer," Natsume insisted.
Fate knew she could continue refusing but that would take a heavy toll on the entire Section 6 interactions with the recalcitrant Major, and perhaps even to Nanoha.
"Wait for me at my office, please Major, I'll be right there in a minute," Fate conceded at the end.
Just as she hadn't said hello, Natsume didn't even say goodbye.
Everyone on Fate's team made a gesture of annoyance.
By the time Natsume walked away, Nanoha was already by Fate's side.
"I have nothing pending with Section 9, Fate-chan... I have delivered all the reports and analysis that the Major has requested about the Huckebein organization and the organization that I think is really behind planning the attacks... There is not much else I can do there, that is why I have focused on the case we have here."
Fate placed a comforting hand on Nanoha's shoulder.
"I know Nanoha, don't worry. Go ahead as we agreed, everything here is underway. I will meet my parents and Chrono; We will be on time at eight."
The redhead nodded as Fate headed to meet with Natsume.
Upon reaching her office, Fate found Natsume, already settled on the sofa in her office.
The Major barely waited for Fate to close the door to start the offensive.
"Agent Takamachi has a great potential and can get very far in TSAB or the federal organizations, do you know that, Agent Testarossa?"
Before Fate could even reply to the question, Natsume added.
"Her results in the case we are working on are crucial for Agent Takamachi's career, much more than what the results could be in the case you're dealing with, Agent… We are talking about National Security."
"Maybe," Fate said as soon as Natsume paused. "But the lives of the people we are saving are no less important. However… Regardless of that, the designation of Nanoha to help on the Section 6 case has not been a decision I made, Major; we've already had this conversation before."
"Agent Takamachi's role was as Liaison between Sections for the areas where our cases have points in common. But you have requested the Agent's participation in many other tasks," Natsume indicated; throughout the conversation, she had been sitting on Fate's sofa while the Enforcer had remained standing by the door.
"Nanoha's participation, in this case, has been authorized by the corresponding commanders, I assume that for a valid reason… Besides, she has not neglected her duties in Section 9," Fate pointed out calmly despite Natsume's attacks. The Enforcer knew that if the Major was there fighting that battle with her, it was because she had not been able to win it at a higher level, she had to be patient and resist without falling into her provocations.
"The Admirals have taken those decisions based on your recommendations and trust that you have done them with a professional sense… something I'm not so sure about."
Fate frowned at Natsume's sudden attack. She was getting a very bad feeling about the direction that conversation was headed.
"I really need to get going now, Major, if you have anything specific to tell me, tell me or make the requests you deem necessary to the superior commanders. Trust that I will do the same," Fate said in a determined but still neutral tone.
As Fate would not swallow the bait of her provocation, Natsume slowly stood up.
"I believe your intentions towards Agent Takamachi are neither professional nor ethical, Agent Testarossa… They never were. Even when the Agent was still an external consultant to TSAB, you got involved in a relationship with her that resulted in the same Dr. Takamachi and her family being kidnapped."
Fate tensed her jaw and clenched her fists trying to control herself.
"... I don't know the reason yet of why the superior commanders were so indulgent with you after such a blatant violation to the Bureau's ethics code, but even assuming your actions were the result of a genuine interest towards Agent Takamachi… then get out of her way and let her develop all the potential she has."
Fate, still restraining herself, replied with a cold voice, "The commanders made the decision they considered the most appropriate, Major if you do not agree, file the resources you deem necessary... Although it does not seem that this is closely related to the case that Section 9 is in charge of."
"It is very related because it will be necessary for Agent Takamachi to take on larger responsibilities in the immediate future, and you and this case, with which you keep her chained to Section 6, are a drag for her."
Fate, afraid of losing her self-control, opened at that moment the door of her office.
"If that's all you have to say, I will excuse myself now, Major."
Natsume standing in front of Fate, still took her time heading to the door; she stared into her eyes and asked,
"How much more damage, in addition to what you already have done to her, are you willing to do to Nanoha Takamachi… Fate?"
Natsume did not wait for an answer and left by the door Fate was holding open.
Fate was still positively furious, propped with both arms on her desk when her parents came to see her.
"Fate! Lindy exclaimed, seeing her daughter still in her uniform. "It's almost half-past seven! We called you fifteen minutes ago…!"
Despite the challenge of his wife, Clyde did notice Fate's attitude.
"We saw Major Natsume leaving," Clyde said. "Is everything all right, Fate? ...Graham and I had a meeting with her yesterday. She's a really tough woman to negotiate with but brilliant. According to what she showed us, Shamal and Nanoha have done exceptional work…"
"Clyde," Lindy interrupted him very seriously, both Admirals were already in civilian attire, very respectable, unlike Fate. "We will not talk about work now, let Fate finish, we're already running late."
Fearing that something last minute might delay her, (as always), Fate had brought the clothes she would wear for that night with her to the office. It took her just two minutes to change her uniform and get ready.
Her parents had decided on a casual outfit for the meeting. Clyde was wearing a sports jacket without a tie, and Lindy was wearing a fall color dress with a very warm scarf for the already chilly weather for those days in the city.
Fate had been spending hours the past few days thinking about what to wear. Aside from uniforms and training clothes, her small wardrobe was either very casual with jeans and T-shirts, or extremely formal like a pair of evening dresses and a tuxedo. She didn't think any of those clothes were suitable for the occasion. She finally decided to try something different and bought a light brown skirt, a pale blue blouse and combined them with a light long jacket and long boots, both in brown leather.
With her long hair loose, the effect had been simple yet spectacular.
Clyde even raised his eyebrows, noticing his daughter looked much more youthful and relaxed than usual.
And he was not the only one.
As they walked through the corridors of the office towards the parking lot where the Harlaown's driver was waiting for them, several coworkers, men and women, gawked at Fate who looked like a model walking down a catwalk.
The Enforcer was so nervous thinking about the meeting with Nanoha's family and still with Natsume's words spinning in her head, that of course she did not notice the effect she was causing.
— X —
Suburban area of Midchilda City. Altseim South District. Takamachi Residence
Day 26, Tenth Month, 2044 - 20:05 hrs.
"So you also kick the asses of those monsters sons-of-bee like my auntie Nanoha?" asked innocently Kyo, Nanoha's little nephew, looking at Fate in all her height, which had increased a couple of inches thanks to the heel of the boots she was wearing.
The blonde Enforcer blushed.
All the Takamachis suddenly froze, except for Miyuki, who covered her face with her hand.
Lindy wide smiled.
After the introductions and the slight confusions that happen for all large families in such social gatherings, Kyoya's little boy took advantage of the first moment of silence to ask the question that really interested him.
"Miyuki Takamachi…" Momoko mumbled looking at her eldest daughter.
"Kyo, that's not the right way to say it," Kyoya clarified, taking his son's hand.
"That's what auntie Miyuki said Nanoha did… But she looks very nice…"
Fate's blush, if it was possible, increased.
Lindy decided to intervene at that moment. Gracefully kneeling at the boy's height, the Admiral said, "We all do that, Kyo-kun… Fate-chan is very nice but very good as well, just like you auntie Nanoha."
Unbelievably, and thanks to the abilities of their driver, the Harlaown spouses and Fate made it barely five minutes after the set hour. Reason for which Lindy was upset all the way; thankfully for Fate, the one guilty of the delay, Chrono was already there with all his family, including little Vivio so everyone was able to get inside and start the evening without any other setback.
Little Kyo's question relaxed the mood quickly enough and Kyoya's children gave a warm welcome to the twins, Karel and Liera, taking them to the garden to play.
"Just for a little while, Kyo, Kaede… we'll be having dinner soon," Shinobu warned them and then got quickly engaged in a conversation with Amy and Miyuki about the kids and the endless energy they always seemed to have.
Vivio, still holding Amy's hand, ran at that moment to hug Nanoha whom she hadn't seen for months.
The investigator also squatted down to hug the girl and receive a bunch of drawings that Vivio had made for her.
"Vivio has you always in her mind, Nanoha," Lindy said looking at them.
"Is that so, Vivio-chan?" Nanoha asked, looking at the drawings and happy to see the child healthy and adapting to her life with the Harlaowns. She was still behaving shyly, but according to what Fate had told her, she was starting to talk at certain moments with the close family.
"Is this the little girl you talked to us about?" Momoko asked as she observed Shiro offering something to drink to Clyde and Chrono.
"Yes, I worked with Vivio-chan for several months while doing an internship in the University of Midchilda," Nanoha replied, wondering if one day she would be able to tell her parents about the history of the girl and her participation in the case that had changed their lives.
The red-haired turned to look at Fate. The blonde was still standing and unlike everyone else who seemed to have quickly found their place, she didn't know very well what to do with herself.
"Would you like to see the garden, Vivio-chan? We have a pretty fountain outside, where the kids are playing," Nanoha asked the girl who nodded vigorously.
"Will you come with us… Fate-chan?" Nanoha asked with slight shyness.
The blonde nodded, almost in the same way Vivio had, and the two agents went to the garden each holding Vivio by the hand.
Lindy and Momoko looked at their daughters on their way out and then both mothers exchanged a meaningful look between them.
Despite it being already dark, the garden of the Takamachi residence was very large and the distribution of the lighting did not leave any corner uncovered.
The garden design, in keeping with modern Japanese tradition, had a sober and quiet design with sidewalks where one could walk and large areas of grass where the kids were running at that time, and a small fountain with koi fish.
Fate and Nanoha walked to the fountain for Vivio to see the fish and the three of them sat on the edge.
For a while, Nanoha and Fate were like that in silence, just enjoying being there, of having those unexpected moments, laughing seeing how their nephews played on the grass. The mothers of those four would scold them for getting their clothes dirty so fast, but none of them cared.
"Nanoha wants babies?" Vivio asked suddenly, startling both investigators.
"Wow… Vivio-chan," Fate had already told her that Vivio had started talking but she never thought she would talk to her so fast and with that question in particular. "Well… you see… I…"
Fate smiled and looked at the Agent trying to overcome her surprise and give an answer.
"Vivio always asks interesting questions," Fate said, trying to help the redhead. "That is a very difficult question, Vivio-chan…"
The little one, now much more used to Fate and her family, got closer to the Enforcer, sitting on her lap.
"I think for the moment I'm happy with my nephews and now with you Vivio-chan… I hope we have a chance to see each other more," Nanoha said after a while.
"Fate-chan?" the little girl asked.
"You are more than enough Vivio," the Enforcer said, hugging the little girl a little more.
At that moment Karel approached Vivio to come to play with them for a while since little Kaede was asking for her insistently.
Reluctant at first, Vivio agreed to go with her little foster brother.
When they were alone, Nanoha took the opportunity to ask.
"What did Major Natsume want?"
Fate stiffened and averted her gaze from Nanoha's blue.
"How much more damage, in addition to what you already have done to her, are you willing to do to Nanoha Takamachi… Fate?"
The last thing she wanted to do at that moment was remembering Natsume's words.
It was true. She had hurt Nanoha. She could not change the past, just the future ahead of her. And in that future, she had contemplated protecting Nanoha... always, but the Major's words had rattled her.
What if in that determination she ended up, in fact, hurting her more?
"Nothing important," the Enforcer said, turning serious all of a sudden. "Do you mind if we talk about that tomorrow in the office?"
For what she herself had gone through with Major Natsume, Nanoha wasn't so sure that it was nothing important but she let her be.
From where they were, through the large windows that overlooked the dining room of the house, it could be seen that the two families were having a meeting without any misfortunes to regret.
"It seems that everything is going well with the gathering," Nanoha said suddenly, nervous.
"It was a very nice gesture from your parents Nanoha, thank you very much... My mother was very pleased and she gave a good reprimand to my father and me for delaying us."
"Oh! ...I'm so sorry Fate-chan… but I'm very glad you came," Nanoha said, smiling.
"Also…" Fate started to say and stopped when she couldn't find the words to continue.
Nanoha smiled at her, encouraging her to continue, "Also… Fate-chan… Do you want to know if we are having chocolate cake for dessert?"
Fate laughed, easing up some of the tension.
"Also…" Fate continued, gathering her courage, "for me it's very important this invitation from your family… you see, a few days ago when I brought you home and your brother was outside waiting for you… I…"
Nanoha waited patiently.
"I… was wondering if one day I would be… someone welcome in your house… and to think that now I am here, with my family thanks to an invitation from your parents… It truly makes me really happy," Fate finished looking at Nanoha with all the intensity she was feeling at that moment reflected in her eyes.
Nothing Fate had said was supposed to intimidate her or make her feel uncomfortable in any way, however, Nanoha was suddenly left without knowing what to say to her.
Every time, and especially after that action by her parents, Nanoha felt that she had to give herself a personal moment to talk to Fate but on the other hand, she didn't feel ready to take that step yet either.
"... Especially if we are having Midori-Ya's chocolate cake for dessert…" Fate added trying to lighten back the mood as soon as she noticed the redhead's fluster.
"That outfit suits you very well," Nanoha said, taking the resource that Fate gave her knowing that this was not the time for anything else, "It was quite a surprise that Kyo considered you so cute, he usually doesn't see anyone pretty other than his mom or his grandma."
Fate blushed again.
"You look beautiful, Nanoha," Fate said looking at Nanoha, who for that night had chosen a light dress in pale red and an open sweater in the same color. The clothes, without being exotic or sensual, made Nanoha look very warm and feminine.
After that, the two remained in silence looking towards the house again where the adults seemed to talk animatedly.
"Don't be nervous, Fate-chan…" Nanoha said, interpreting the anxiousness she felt in Fate as nervousness for the encounter with her family. "My parents are happy that you are here, give yourself the chance to get to know them… They really want to get to know you all... For me, it was quite a surprise… But… It has been the best surprise in my life."
The redhead looked at Fate with such intensity as she said those words that Fate's heart sank with emotion.
Smiling wholeheartedly, for the first time in the day, the blonde nodded and stood up, extending her hand towards Nanoha, "Shall we go back inside?" She asked, looking warmly at Nanoha.
It was her first visit to Nanoha's house as a guest and she didn't want to give the wrong impression on her family.
Nanoha took Fate's hand to get up and they walked a few steps like that, holding hands until they ran into Miyuki who was on her way for them and the kids for dinner.
"We will serve dinner soon," she said looking from the corner of her eye at the linked hands of her sister and Fate, "Give me a hand or we will have the kids sitting only until dessert is served."
Fate and Nanoha giggled and between the three of them, they led the five kids to the table.
Momoko took care of the distribution of the places and made sure to have Fate very close to her to chat with her during dinner.
Shiro and Clyde, very formally, did the honors by uncorking some wines, and Lindy went out of her way to admire the dishes that Momoko and Shinobu had prepared for the occasion.
The initial toast was made by Shiro thanking for the presence of the Harlaowns in their home and thanking everyone for the support they were giving their little girl in her new job as a TSAB agent. Nanoha protested saying that she was no longer a little girl, of course, causing everyone, even Fate to laugh.
The Admirals could not give details of Nanoha's work, and the Takamachis knew it, but they did assure them that the excellent work that their daughter carried out was highly appreciated by all and augured her a brilliant career.
Dinner went by, warm and pleasant as if they had known each other long before.
And Nanoha, seeing how her family embraced the Harlaowns, who had already warmly welcomed her into their home before, thought about how right her father had been with the decision.
Months before, that meeting between their families would not have been possible and she had not even imagined that it could happen, but being there at that moment, she could not feel happier.
"I think you chose well, sister," Miyuki murmured, sitting next to Nanoha, at a certain point of the night in the ear of her younger sister.
Miyuki had already spent a long time watching Nanoha lovingly gazing at everyone gathered and especially Fate, who blushed from time to time but seemed to survive Momoko's intense interrogation.
"She is the ideal person for you," Miyuki said, attacking the remaining slice of cake again.
Nanoha's smile faded slightly.
She wished it were so. That Fate could be the ideal person for her. What she doubted deep down in her being was if she could be the ideal person for Fate.
— X —
The ringing of her phone woke Fate from the deep sleep she was in.
The Enforcer barely found the device as she struggled to focus the time on the clock beside her bed. It was barely after four in the morning. She had arrived at her house after dinner with the Takamachis, at the stroke of midnight after her parents had accompanied her to pick up her car.
Only one person called her at that ungodly hour and it was never for a good reason.
"...Hayate… please… not another tragedy…" the Enforcer mumbled as she activated the channel of communication to speak with her boss.
"Fate…" Hayate's voice said straight to the point. "Head to Midchilda's Central Police Station... Ginga and Tiida are waiting for you there... Signum and Zafira are on their way... Sophia Bassanius…"
"Oh no… they found…" Fate did not dare to ask if they had found her body or a part of it as she got up, turned on the light and started looking for her uniform at the maximum speed her sluggish brain was allowing her.
"No…" Hayate replied, knowing what Fate meant. "They found her… alive… Fate…"
— X —