Chapter 47

Courtesy is Compulsory.

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"So what's this place all about?" Dave asks with what he is positive shouldn't be recognized as an insufferably smug grin at the fact that Mindy is the one in the know again. The look on her face lets him know that his attempt at not being caught out has been in vain. She points briefly at Kochou.

"She probably knows more than I do, fuck-knob. I only watched like the first three episodes and I only bothered with that because of a review online. We can pull out a Pensieve and watch those three again if you really want to, but the gist of it as far as I know between what I watched and some blogger that was all excited about it is that some big corporation found a bunch of alien eggs on a crashed ship, genetically fiddled with them somehow, and are releasing them into the wild. They have some kind of soul bond, love at first sight or touch or spit swapping, or whatever. So if somebody comes up to you puckered up, my recommendation is that you go for a cunt punt, cause I ain't interested in sharing. Beyond that, all I know is that they've been raised to believe they have to fight their sisters for some kind of prize, and they aren't allowed to leave the city. So, basically, as long as any of them are going for the prize, they are all stuck in this stupid contest thing. And that is pretty much where my knowledge ends."

The gray-haired alien, who in spite of her hair color still manages to pull off a young, cute, sexy librarian look complete with the glasses on strings and breasts that look like she's trying to smuggle perky bowling balls that are blatantly on display over a small corset, slowly raises her hand. Dave quirks an eyebrow.

"Yeah? This isn't class, if you have something to say, just say it."

She looks a bit flustered but gamely responds.

"I was just wondering why you are so against finding love? It seems very strange to me that you would put protections in place and make plans to avoid such a thing." At Mindy's glare, she collapses on herself a bit and murmurs. "Sorry. I was just curious."

Dave shrugs. "Honestly Mindy, if what I am thinking is actually the way it goes, that's a pretty legitimate question from her point of view. I'm guessing relationships that include more than two people are pretty common with your species?" He has turned back to the woman for the last bit. She nods hesitantly.

"It can. It depends on the Ashikabi. Some are strong enough to attract multiple Sekirei, and some only a single one. Some even get stronger as they wing their mates and so attract more and more powerful Sekirei as they go. I don't know as much as I would like, our studies were more geared toward learning to fight and to be useful in this world, rather than learning our history as a species."

Mindy latches onto that.

"Learning to fight? So they actually do teach you? I wasn't sure based on what little I'd seen, it all looked pretty pathetic in the show for the most part." At Dave's look, she shrugs. "Some of them have a lot of power, but they tend to be more fast and strong than they are skilled. I'm sure there are outliers, but based on the three episodes I saw? Those idiots with the bug zapper ability tree are actually pretty decent in combat as far as these things go. Upper middle tier, maybe. Again though, I don't really know that much. And I've never seen this one at all." She turns to Kochou. "What's your shtick? All you Sekirei have something you can do that is a bit more than a tad unusual."

Kochou shakes her head, trying to decide why she is even staying with these strange people, but she answers anyway. She has no reason not to.

"I'm a Technopath. I can use and manipulate electronics remotely. I guess you could call me a 'brain' type Sekirei, as other than the standard increases over the human form that all my kind have, I'm nothing special in combat."

Dave snorts. "Nothing special in combat, and you can remotely use technology with your mind? Well, sure. If you walk into combat with a kitchen knife, you are going to have a bad day. We just need to get you some better toys."

Mindy breaks in at this point. "Before you make any offers, I think we should make sure she understands what she might be getting into."

Dave's confusion is apparent. "How so?"

Mindy sighs in frustration.

"Look, I wasn't kidding when I said they have some kind of love at first kiss thing going on. It's apparently a huge thing for them, even causes these big wings of light to sprout from their backs. But the thing is, I don't know if being in the group, being attached to our soul in that way, would touch off that reaction. Remember Butterfly's semblance? That was awesome, and looking back on it the panic when we found out was actually kinda fucking comical. But this? This wouldn't be. Eventually, we'll be gone. Not sure I am hugely interested in leaving a bunch of broken-hearted aliens behind if it turns out that our standard training methods did more harm than good."

Kochou shakes her head. "Gone? You mean dead? Because if you have plans that will see you dead, then yes. Please stay away from my sisters. If our Ashikabi dies, we fall into a comatose state. Not quite dead, maybe. But not a fate I would be looking towards." Then she perks up a bit. "But as for training with you, that shouldn't be a problem. There is a genetic component to the bonding, without the kiss it just doesn't happen."

Mindy scowls. "Willing to bet your life on that are you?"

On firmer ground, the alien woman nods assertively.

"Yes. Yes, I would, actually. I've both studied extensively what they allowed us to know and dug around in their computers to learn about the rest when I came into my abilities. I suspect that they sent me out early just because they realized what I was doing, in fact."

Dave and Mindy exchange a look, and with a sigh, she motions her hands in front of her face. Kochou jumps back, nearly falling off the trunk she had been using as a seat.

"What in the world... Why is there a video game text bar in front of my face asking if I want to join the group: Alien Training?"

Mindy is pinching the bridge of her nose. "If you press yes, we will have you in our group. Members in our group get a few pretty sweet bonuses, including quicker skills training and increased statistic gain for working out. Think of it as a mind-type ability if that helps you sleep better at night. But if you end up joined at the soul to us for pressing yes, just understand that at some point we'll be skipping to another dimension. Not our choice, and it's gonna happen. While we won't actually be dead, I can't help but think that might be a bad day for you."

She looks at Mindy doubtfully. "Are you sure this is a soul thing? I would think telepathy could do something like this easily."

Dave, seeing the look on Mindy's face, breaks in at this point.

"Look, you don't have to do it. But for what it's worth, you've already said that you suck in combat, and it sounds like you are going to be seeing a lot of combat at some point. If you're sure that this isn't going to trip off anything irreversible on your end, then what exactly do you have to lose?"

Cautiously, Kochou reaches out and places a finger against the acceptance icon. Nothing seems to happen, and she lets out a breath that she hadn't even realized she was holding.

Mindy smiles. "Well, that's a good sign. Go ahead and say status, get a feel for what the system does, and decide what you want to work on. Don't forget to say 'map' at some point as well. We flipped it so things don't pop up automatically anymore, but that is a good one to have active. We're going to get back to our own training for a bit longer, that bullshit with the electric idiots cut us off halfway through it. Feel free to join in anytime. Just expect to get knocked around a lot."

Kochou is considering for a millisecond explaining that as a Sekirei, she was probably out of their league already but that she would happily accept any pointers they might have. She stifles that when she remembers that Mindy had taken out the lightning twins in less than a second and in an entirely different form. A bird that likely weighed less than a pound. Then as she watches their hands flash before them and their clothing change, she gets a serious shock.

The armor hid everything quite well, but these two are both in a physical condition that would make the most dedicated Olympian green with envy. She finds herself closing her 'status' page and settling in to watch them spar.

Like all before her, she is shocked at what she sees. She knows of Sekirei that she believes could take them. A few. Not very many, but a few. That aside though, even the most skilled among her people were obviously not trained like these two were. Because these two, on a pure skill basis, were in a league of their own. Punches, grapples, kicks, holds and flipping around the warehouse like they are on wires. Neither of them ever seem to stop moving, though she is quickly getting the impression that Mindy's skill and speed outstrip her boyfriends, while he comes across as a machine that just doesn't care what you do to it and continues to fight regardless.

Frankly, they are both terrifying. If humans can actually achieve this, then she knows a few Sekirei that will be in for a shock at some point.

She does get back to her status eventually, and then joins the sparring where she gets her ass handed to her over, and over, and over, by both of them. That said, they are exceptionally good teachers and walk her through what she did wrong every step of the way each time.

By the time they call it for the day and wander off to get cleaned up, get some lunch, and then settle in for the work they have planned for the day? The poor little alien is rapidly coming to the conclusion that the warm, fuzzy, pleasant feelings that she has when either one of them touches her, even in a spar, are probably a bad sign. But they are too good to give up and in the end, she doesn't say anything.

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S.S.S.S.S.S

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She makes it until dinner before she finds her questions overwhelming.

"How do you have trunks with more space in them than should be possible, and where in the world did you get that van you were working on? The electronics in it are like nothing I have ever felt before." She turns to Mindy. "And how do you turn into a bird?! None of this makes any sense!"

Mindy laughs at her, and Dave tosses a french fry at Mindy in an effort to get her to calm down.

It doesn't work, but at least now she's annoyed at him rather than mocking the poor alien.

"You need to understand that we aren't telling you that we'll be skipping dimensions because we read about it in our horoscope. We know it's gonna happen because it's happened before. A bunch of times, now. We tend to pick up new stuff when we hit a new dimension. Kinda build ourselves up, you know? A couple ago we picked up magic. That's where the trunks and the bird came from. The Car is from the last one. If you see either of us glowing, that's a whole other set of abilities, and the primary weapons we use are a combination of a tech world and a magic one. We made modifications."

Her expression is doubtful.

"Magic? So you can turn into an animal too?"

Dave nods. "Sure, but not right now."

Looking as though she has found a weak point in the 'magic' defense, she looks pointedly at him.

"And why not? I am quite curious about this."

Dave laughs. Not mockingly, but rather in good cheer.

"And I don't mind showing you. But right now I'm eating, and I wouldn't fit in the break room in my animal form anyway unless I was laying down. Which I have to think would take something away from the demonstration."

She looks up at the eight-foot ceilings and her curiosity soars to new heights. Mindy speaks though before she can get her next set of questions off the ground.

"So, not going to lie I was really worried about inviting one of you into the group, but if it's working the way it's supposed to, maybe we should extend the invitation to some more. We have the room, and if Kochou here is any indicator, a bunch of them desperately need to learn how to fight. That display this morning was pathetic." She turns to their guest. "No offense, but I know a ten-year-old that could kick your ass."

Kochou reddens a bit but doesn't deny anything. Dave nods thoughtfully.

"Yeah, she'd be at least ten by now." He sighs. "Wonder how the shrimp is doing?"

Mindy shakes her head, obviously annoyed. "Good, supposedly. With any luck, we can figure out a way to visit her someday."

Kochou is a lot of things, but stupid isn't one of them.

"Somebody you had to leave behind, I would guess?"

Dave nods, and answers after a sip of soda.

"Yeah, Rebecca. Good kid. She's a Faunus. In that world, it just means that she has animal characteristics. In her case, butterfly wings and a pair of antennae. She was Mindy's primary student for the better part of a year at one point. And yeah, she could kick the hell out of you. She took her training seriously, had to pretty much. That world is infested with these undead monstrosities they call Grimm. There, you either learn to fight or you never leave the cities and hide behind those that can."

Mindy picks up the explanation.

"We aren't sent to places unless there is something very wrong going on. Something that we need to stop. Here? I couldn't tell you exactly what that is yet. But I'm leaning toward this contest that is likely to wipe out a sentient species as being the likely culprit. We'll see. But I wasn't kidding. We could throw a Fidelius charm on this warehouse and just start inviting them back here for training and a place to learn a bit before they have something bad happen to them."

Dave grimaces a little. "The mild muggle repelling wards are one thing, whoever owns it can obviously make it in here if they need to. A Fidelius is pretty much just theft. I'd rather try to figure out a way to just buy it legitimately if we can. Then we can put your Fidelius up and I won't feel like slime for doing it."

Kochou looks a little startled. "You are squatting here... I guess I really should have seen that coming, as based on the description of your past, you would have no legal background. If... If you like, that is something I can help you with."

Mindy looks interested and Dave nods.

"Sure, we'd love the help. Always better to be legit if you can be." He pauses. "How would you do that?"

Kochou shrugs. "Everything is on computer. If I get to a decent connection, it wouldn't be difficult to write you into the system. I know the MBI computer network well, and since they purchased Tokyo from the government and renamed it they are the ones that keep track of the residents and their legal standing. It probably wouldn't qualify as a truly legitimate standing in the sense that there wouldn't be paperwork to back it up. So if somebody started looking into things, they could find out there is a problem. But for purchasing an otherwise abandoned property, I can't see there being an issue as long as you have the money, and the identification can be obtained easily enough by putting the digital copy in the system and then putting in a request to get a replacement sent out."

Mindy is looking at her a bit funny. "The Japanese government sold Tokyo? How the hell did that happen?"

The alien shrugs. "Shinto Teito, which is what it is called now, was sold for an unbelievably large sum of money to MBI a few years ago. They have been slowly consolidating their autonomy since. That is actually why the docks are so slow and this warehouse abandoned. The company wants control over the entrances and exits to the city to prevent any Sekirei from being taken against our will. It's been tried by various governments before." She cocks her head to one side. "I suspect that this is also to keep us from leaving on our own, though if true, that part hasn't been elaborated on aside from them telling us to stay in the city. Anyway, there are only three docks currently in use, and the ships that are allowed to use them are owned by the company. Most other organizations in the transport business have chosen to move their operations to nearby cities rather than fight a losing battle with the landowner here."

The two gamers trying to sort out how that would even happen. But after a few moments, Dave turns back to Kochou. "Sure, you know what? If you can get us enough legitimacy to buy this place, we'll do it. Set up a little alien halfway house so they can get some real training before they get tossed in whatever grinder is coming up. How long do you think it'll take?"

She shrugs. "A few minutes to get it set up. Then a day or two to get the new identification mailed to us. I have a post office box near MBI headquarters that I can use as a mail drop if you like, at least until this property is yours." She frowns. "I will need access though, and with all the utilities shut off here I will likely need to visit an establishment that will accommodate me for a bit to get it done."

Mindy pops another fry in her mouth, swallows with some soda, and turns to Kochou.

"That shouldn't be hard. You want an escort? It's a little crazy out there for you it seems like."

At the woman's hesitant nod, Dave takes the last bite of his hamburger.

"We should probably see about doing some food shopping while we are at it. If we are planning to feed who knows how many people, particularly ones that run a bit hotter than the standard, I would imagine we'll need stocked cupboards."

Kochou speaks up at that. "I can help with the food costs. MBI has issued all of us a credit card that can be used for basic purchases while we look for our Ashikabi. It has a limit, but it is paid off every month and food is a small cost compared to living arrangements."

Dave and Mindy look at each other and Dave laughs while Mindy smirks.

"Don't worry about it, for now, if it looks like we might be running short we'll let you know. You should use that card though, get anything you think you might want while we are footing the bill for room and board. I'm guessing a computer to start with."

She nods but frowns a bit as well when Dave finishes.

"I actually have a small place and a computer, but going there to collect everything would likely be a problem without a truck. Not that I really have much, but trying to pack it all back here would be... Awkward."

Dave grins. "We'll stop by your old place tonight too, let you get that squared away. And don't worry about getting all your stuff back, we got you covered there. For now, though, let's go ahead and give you the show and tell on my animagus form and then get you to the computer you need to do all this."

If she had thought they were exaggerating about his size, this has set her straight. A beautiful, majestic animal nearly ten feet tall, nearly all of which is bone and muscle. Then she is shocked to the point of her mouth flopping open like she's looking to catch flies when he grows another three feet, and wings that look fully capable of carting small airplanes into the sky unfold themselves from his back.

She'd never really considered herself a horse person before, but after this, she'll never look at them the same way again.

Not to be outdone, Mindy goes to her Kestrel form and then flips over to her Hippogriff form. By unspoken agreement, they both become human again, save for the massive wings they are now carrying on their backs.

"Are those real?" Is her whispered question.

At their nod, she isn't really sure what else to say.

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S.S.S.S.S.S.

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She is still at a loss three hours later. It had taken them less than ten minutes to make her every worldly possession disappear into what they are calling their inventory, and she had used her own computer before they packed it up to insert them into the system. She had also checked the price listed on the warehouse they were in, and as she had surmised it was available for merely a bit over the back taxes, as the owners were desperate to get out from under it. The shopping trip was a massive eye-opener simply because of the sheer volume of groceries they purchased. They each grabbed a cart, filled them, exited the store, and found a spot between a couple of cars and not easily visible on any cameras they can see, then put everything in their inventory and went in to do it again. Twelve times. Twenty-four carts worth of groceries. About the sixth time they went in, they are getting some odd looks from the store's proprietors. But since they are paying for everything in cash, it isn't like anybody is going to stop them. By the time they finally leave, Kochou can't hold back anymore.

"How much do you think we'll eat?! Most of this will go bad long before we could get to it!"

Mindy shakes her head as they walk along, dressed in her casual t-shirt and jeans combo, as is Dave.

"That would be where you're wrong. All our trunks and our inventories have stasis built-in. You put something in them, nothing changes. Ever. It doesn't get older, it doesn't go bad, even the temperature stays the same. Hot soup stays hot, and ice cream stays frozen." Then she shrugs. "We tend to prefer to shop like this just because it's way easier on us to already be fully stocked if we get dumped in some shit-hole dimension where there aren't any stores around. It's happened a couple of times."

Kochou shakes her head. "You have a lot of power, but I'm not sure I would wish to live your lives even so. But anyway, while you were checking out last I received the notification that your identifications will be in the mail tomorrow. As it is still issued by the country rather than the city, it will take them two days to reach us most likely. Until then, I went ahead and purchased the warehouse for you to guarantee that it would be available and lock in the price. They'll expect payment in no more than a week's time, and they will need to see the identification when papers are signed, I assume. But we won't have to worry about it being sold out from under us or anything like that." She looks at the two. "They were willing to accept barely more than the taxes owed, so I didn't figure that you would mind. Regardless, I have seen to it there is a buyer's remorse clause in the contract, so we can back out with no penalty right up until we actually give them their money."

Mindy suddenly stops moving forward, and instead reaches out to snag Kochou by the arm, dragging her back at the same time. From between a pair of cars, a dark-haired young man of average height and build staggers out onto the sidewalk, arms out and lips puckered.

Dave reaches out a hand which then clamps around the man's neck with enough force to make his eyes bug out a little. He then picks the man up like this, moves him so that his own body is between the creep and the ladies, and then drops him. Whereupon he falls directly on his ass.

Dave doesn't even manage to be mad. He sounds more confused as he speaks to the man, now scrambling to get back to his feet.

"So, as I understand it, that was effectively an attempt at sexual harassment at the least, straight-up attempted rape at the worst. Anything to say before we turn you in to the authorities?"

The man is looking something between confused and pissed off as he gets into Dave's face.

"What are you talking about?! This is Shin Teito, and I recognize her picture, she's unattached as recently as this morning. Did you claim her? Because if not, she's mine!" He smirks. "Besides, if it involves these alien bitches, the cops don't care. Won't get involved."

Mindy has a wide grin on her face now, and Kochou is looking something between nervous about the situation and in wonderment at Mindy's expression. Mindy snickers at her and leans in close to whisper in her ear.

"It takes a lot to piss off Dave, but this idiot is jamming his thumb on every fucking button he can reach. This ought to be good."

While she is whispering, Dave has taken a moment to pop his knuckles.

"So, you're telling me that no matter what happens here, the police absolutely will not get involved, huh?"

The punk's expression becomes pure smugness laden with conceit.

"Of course not you damn idiot, they won't touch any situation that involves one of these alien sluts. I checked it all out really carefully, now get the hell out of my..."

The loud cracking of breaking bones rings out across the intersection, with a dozen or more interested onlookers finding that they are suddenly much less excited about sticking around. The man is now on the ground again. Laid out on his back and is mewling in pain as he tries to hold his jaw together.

"You know, as I understand it? You stealing any kisses from these pretty ladies would result in a severe, life-changing event befalling them. I don't think that is particularly fair. I think you should have a life-changing event, so you can tell what it is and why you shouldn't force them on others. But never let it be said that I'm not fair. I'll give you a choice. I can grind the bones in your arms and legs to paste and let you spend the next few years learning how to function again, or I can tear your lips off as a warning to others." He leans in close, his morning star appearing in hand, the heavy, blood-stained lethality of it a stark change to what had until now been merely a scuffle between two people. There is a gasp from the man and then silence.

Dave steps away quickly and scowls.

"Idiot pissed himself and fainted." He thinks for a moment, then shrugs. A quick stomp on either leg and arm nets him a few broken bones. Nothing like the kind of damage he might have preferred, but enough to keep this particular pain in his ass out of circulation for a year or more. Then he starts walking towards their warehouse.

Mindy laughs at the shocked expression on Kochou's face, leaning in again she offers another whispered explanation.

"Nothing will take him from zero to lethal faster than something like that. Dude's lucky there was witnesses, or he'd be dead. In our original dimension, he went by 'Kick-Ass' and I'll admit it took him a while to live up to it. But he sure as hell does these days."

Then Mindy sighs, shaking her head. And coincidentally missing the half sigh and reddened cheeks on the face of Kochou.

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S.S.S.S.S.S.

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Author's Note:

This is likely to be another jump that takes a while to get done with, though in this instance it isn't because they couldn't handle it quickly, but rather because they need to learn what they need to do. Until then, they have a basic idea of how to at least be helpful.

Take care of yourselves, and the next chapter might be a few days. So don't panic if you haven't seen anything real soon. :P