Ragnarok

By: Aviantei

17

Breakdown

The rest of the story was relatively simple. With her Reality Alter and Kaluhiokalani's help, Karellen had been able to rewrite the entries of herself, Jarrett and Colleen in the CMA's records into something much more harmless, and then she'd reunited with them back at the con dance and had an overall great time. After they'd made it back home, Karellen told them everything and—praise be to her friends—they believed her, especially when she'd showed off a small fraction of her Alter.

From there, Jarrett and Colleen awakened their own Reality Alters, and Karellen used her abilities to both protect them and to keep tabs on the CMA so they wouldn't get caught. It was in the middle of trying to dig up more info at a convention six months ago that they'd gotten caught but faked their Neutralizations to get away.

"Okay," Shizuo said, "but that doesn't explain how you knew the CMA dragged us here." That was fair. The first encounter was whenever Karellen had learned about the Agency, and she'd only wanted to get back home.

"I mean, the short version is that we didn't do anything. We just made sure the CMA wasn't after us, but then we went to a con six months ago and…I got cocky."

Karellen didn't like talking about it, but she couldn't avoid it either. Shizuo raised an eyebrow, but didn't press any further. Still, she couldn't expect Shizuo to trust her without being honest, so she decided to press on.

"Six months ago we went to another con. I decided that my powers were strong enough to get a one up on them. So I used my Alter and broke into a Command to pull up more data. Jar and Col thought we were being badasses, so they agreed to help. And I dug in deep and undid some of the Alter locks to realize you guys had been pulled here from your world. Except someone noticed and tried to come after us, setting all the Agents after us, and…Kaluhiokalani took the fall so we could get away. She was already investigating the CMA anyways, so it was easy. I decided to stay out of all this Agency shit, but then your little Command went after me anyways. Ta-da."

When she finished, Karellen gave Shizuo time to process the story. Their isolated hallway was silent for quite a while, and Karellen's anxiety started to kick in. Shizuo knew that Karellen's ability was based in writing, and her CMA file still had evidence of her fanfiction archive. He could have just taken it all as a story, a lie to get on his side.

Shizuo's eventual sigh was loud and half a growl of frustration. Karellen flinched despite herself, and soon Shizuo was digging into his pockets, pulling out a pack of cigarettes along with one of those little ash collectors. After taking a few paces down the hall so Karellen wouldn't be in the range of his smoke, he lit one up, and Shizuo had smoked through two of the things before stowing the pack, lighter, and ash collector back in his pockets.

"How old are you again, kid?" Shizuo asked.

"Eighteen," Karellen answered on reflex. She could almost hear it already: the argument that she was too young to deal with any of this. "Don't you give me any pity, Heiwajima-san. If I didn't have to deal with this, do you think I ever would have stuck my nose in it? I just want to write stories and learn about mythology. But here I am, and you could even argue that this is because of you and Izaya. So just fucking don't."

Shizuo sighed again, but this one was much more tired, almost sad, and Karellen realized who she was talking to: someone whose life had been a mess ever since he was a small child because of his powerful strength, someone who'd also had to deal with Orihara Izaya fucking up his world ever since the beginning of high school. Karellen didn't have the right to complain to him. "Yeah, I know," Shizuo said, walking back towards her. When he was close enough, he reached down to pat Karellen's head, and she blushed. "Like you said, you got dragged into this, plus you wanna get us home. If we're lucky, we can solve all our problems in one go."

"You… You believe me?" She hadn't expected it. Shizuo had been suspicious of her for so long—and he had every right to. And while the idea of having one of her favorite characters think she was just trying to trick him was unfortunate, Karellen had expected him to stick to that conviction all the way until the very end when Shizuo and Izaya went home, never to be seen again.

But the look on Shizuo's face was softer than Karellen had ever seen it in person, and he even smiled. "After all the time I've spent around Izaya, I've got a pretty good nose for bullshit. But you don't smell like you're trying to cause trouble at all." Shizuo extended a hand, though when he helped Karellen to her feet, it was with a strong enough tug that she thought her shoulder might pop out. "Now, let's see just what these walls are made of."

And while Shizuo was gearing up to use his strength to aid in their success, Karellen took a moment to duck her head and wipe her eyes.

Oliver Grewal tried to not let the shock he was feeling show on his face, but it was difficult, far too difficult. Though the CMA was somewhat unconventional in their goals and methods, they still prioritized keeping their activities a secret. At a convention, it could be easy to get caught off guard for targeting people, even if it was with something as harmless as a Neutralizer. CMA Agents knew how to act natural and unaffected by their surroundings in favor of a larger act.

And yet Oliver couldn't keep his composure over what he'd just heard:

Everything your mentor told you before was true.

While in training, CMA Agents worked under their more experienced seniors. They'd learn tips on how to handle missions and would receive active backups until they were effective enough to work on their own. The range of intimacy in these relationships varied; some were nothing but efficient professional connections, while others grew into closer bonds that persisted even after the training period was over.

Oliver's connection with his mentor had been one of the latter. He still felt that way, even though she was no longer a part of the CMA, dismissed from her position in a quiet operation that swept any evidence of her involvement in the Agency's ranks under the rug. She was still alive and well, as far as Oliver knew, but the higher-ups had very much implied that he was not to contact her. For anyone that asked, they cited that she was a traitor, someone that had been trying to undermine the CMA's mission and let Chaos have free reign over the world.

What made the story more difficult to deal with was that it was true.

But how in the world does BUN-P4P4H know that? No, no, she has to be bluffing; there's no way anyone outside the Agency should know anything about that—anything about her—

"You look like you have questions, Oliver," BUN-P4P4H said, not even looking concerned at all by her situation: restrained, no weapons, on the roof of the enemy's headquarters. Her tone was so concerned and even motherly that Oliver was reminded of his mentor, though the two looked nothing alike at all. "I'm sure you don't know all the answers. But I could give you some. I know much more about what's happening than anyone at the CMA would want to ever admit."

No, no, don't fall for it. She's just making things up. You just have to deliver her to Commander Singh and let her take care of the rest. Do not fall for this.

"I don't want to hear any of it," Oliver said, turning away from BUN-P4P4H. There was a tie connected to her restraints, so she couldn't just run away. "I'd rather not knock you out again, so just follow me. We don't want to hurt you."

BUN-P4P4H didn't fight, following behind Oliver without any struggle. However, that didn't mean she was willing to keep her mouth shut. "Sure, sure, the CMA doesn't want to hurt us directly. But what you guys are doing is just going to hurt everyone in the long run. You know that, don't you?" Oliver picked up his pace, entering the headquarters building and leaving the roof behind, the lights almost blinding in comparison to the dark outside. It didn't help, though, since BUN-P4P4H's voice just echoed off the walls of the otherwise empty hall. "You're not helping anyone when you get rid of Chaos. You're not even getting rid of it. You can't act like you don't know that."

Don't listen; don't listen. It doesn't matter.

"You know that you're just collecting it, right? Now, what would an organization that acts like 'Chaos' is the worst thing ever want to do with collecting all that force? You know that Izaya and Shizuo are here because of that, right? That kind of power can tear apart worlds, and you lot have been at this for a while. How much 'Chaos' do you have built up in this place?"

So what? Even if I know that, there's nothing I can afford to do about it.

"You're still here, Oliver, so what are you going to do? You can't tell me that Kaluhiokalani would just want you to sit around and still do nothing—"

Oh, she does know what she's talking about.

"Don't say anything else!"

The words snapped out of Oliver's mouth, and he found himself trying to catch his breath. He'd rounded back on BUN-P4P4H, and she was looking at him with a faint disbelief at his sudden change of tone. Oliver didn't even know what had been the exact thing to set him off. Was it the sound of his mentor's name after so long of everyone pretending like she didn't exist or the accusations leveled at the CMA?

But they were true. They've always been true. This organization has always existed to—

I can't let her say it, though. If she says anymore, then—

In a cold sweat, Oliver worked on calming himself, imploring for BUN-P4P4H to understand that it was too dangerous to talk, too late. They were already trapped, already vulnerable to the head of the CMA's every whim, because this headquarters was under her complete control. It didn't matter that the door back outside was nothing but a few feet away; there was no way to escape, and any way out was just a taunt.

Because that's how it's always been. For the Agents, for Orihara and Heiwajima, for Kaluhiokalani—

—and for me.

"Talking about it isn't going to get anywhere," Oliver said, his voice coming out much softer than before. "So don't make this harder on either of us. Just come along with me so we can get this whole mess over with and get you back home." Because at least BUN-P4P4H and the others could go home. Oliver was just stuck here. He pivoted around, guiding his target into the elevator and opening up the special panel with the cardkey that Singh had included in his upgraded equipment. It was the first time he'd ever been able to go to the CMA's basement, let alone able to press the buttons himself. "You can tell me stories all you want, but it's not gonna change a thing."

"Oh, I see," BUN-P4P4H said, sounding casual and not the least affected by Oliver's lack of cooperation. "You're not just acting like this for your own good. You're a coward."

The hum of the elevator was the only sound, but even that faded out of Oliver's awareness as a buzzing feeling of anger wormed its way into his brain. This—this kid had no idea what she was talking about, had no idea what they all went through—

His gear-covered fist slammed into the wall of the elevator, denting it. BUN-P4P4H jumped, looking startled, and Oliver tried and failed to take even breaths to calm himself down, but it wasn't working. "Don't talk like you know us. Even if—even if you know about her, you don't get any of it all. Even if the name 'Chaos' is bullshit, it doesn't change the fact that that power you all have is dangerous. You have to know that. Hell, you used it to fight me—"

"I think most people would call what I did self-defense. After all, you're the one who came after us. All of you came after us. And for what?" BUN-P4P4H looked just as upset as Oliver felt, and the worst part was that he could understand. "That boss of yours is going to do something dangerous with all that power they've stored up. And if you take me down there, all you're going to do is speed that process up. Now, are you going to do something good with your mentor's legacy, or are you just going to play like you're a pawn and do whatever the big bad says?"

Oliver opened his mouth to retort—and then the elevator stalled, shaking before coming to a stop. According to the readout, they were on the basement level, but not deep enough to be where they needed to go. The interface on Oliver's visor updated with security info, showing that someone with a high level of authorization had blocked this elevator from letting them go any further down.

"What?" He hadn't meant to blurt the word out loud, but it had spilled out anyways. BUN-P4P4H tilted her head, curious, but Oliver was too busy trying to figure out how to finish his mission if things were like this. "I have high clearance right now; how does anyone even—?!"

"I'm willing to bet on someone's Alter. Oh, or Izaya doing something clever. Or a combo of the two" And BUN-P4P4H being calm wasn't helping Oliver's panic in the slightest, no it wasn't. If Commander Singh had let them infiltrate this far, then— "Hey, are you having a panic attack? Don't forget to breathe, okay, that's important—"

It's okay, Oliver. Take your time and breathe.

Damn. He missed Kaluhiokalani so much that it hurt.

Oliver had been willing to stay where he was, so that she could be safe, even after everything. But if things were getting to this point, if Singh was willing to have Orihara, Heiwajima, and two BUN level targets run around downstairs, then what had been the point of any of what Oliver had done these past two years?

Hands shaking, he reached for the release mechanism on BUN-P4P4H's—no, on Colleen's restraints. "I need your help," Oliver said, the words coming out as a rush. He expected her to refuse, but all Colleen did was give him a smile.

"Right. Let's do this thing."

"'It's not about what I made her do for me, it's about what I can make her do'? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

As expected, Jarret looked livid as he asked the question, rounding on Izaya. Considering that he was still just a kid, it was almost impressive, but nowhere enough to intimidate Izaya. He worked close with the yakuza and faced down Shizuo's single-minded rage on a regular basis. One upset teenager—even one with reality altering powers—wasn't enough to scare Orihara Izaya. As far as he was concerned, Jarret was just another form of entertainment in this already amusing adventure Izaya had been dragged into, the next fun chapter following his sudden arrival in this world.

"Come now, don't pretend that you're not that bright, Jar-chan," Izaya said, throwing way more fuel onto the fire than necessary and enjoying the ever-increasing blaze. "You've already parroted my words back at me. Surely you've processed what they mean already."

"That's not what I'm asking, and you fucking know it!" Jarret reached out, grabbing for the front of Izaya's shirt. He let the kid get away with it, though Izaya could have dodged without much issue. "You put something in that shitty deal of yours that means you can control her or whatever. So what were you planning to make her do?" There wasn't just anger in Jarret's eyes, but fear, too, an absolute worry for his friend that was both pure and oh so easy to exploit.

"That's the million-dollar question, now isn't it?" Jarret grit his teeth, looking very much like he wanted to punch Izaya, but not going through with it. Izaya didn't even bother to hold back his laughter. "You don't even have a guess? I know that our wonderful Karellen-chan is a big fan of mine. Surely you at least know from her that I'd choose to make her do whatever makes things the most interesting?"

Jarret snarled, "Karellen isn't yours."

"Oh, implying that she gets to be yours instead? I don't think so. Especially not if you don't say anything." Jarret paled for a split second, though it wasn't all that longer until his anger remembered its place and spiked back up in full force. "Well, it's not like I care either way, and I'm impressed that you can care about it right now. Aren't we in the middle of something a bit more important? Though I'm honored that you think little old me is more dangerous than the CMA right now."

While Shizu-chan seemed to care about going back home, Izaya wouldn't have cared either way. He was someone that wanted to have fun, no matter the circumstances, which was why he had no problem joining up with the CMA or with running around on this little adventure. It was overall amusing, no matter which way he decided to take it.

If he was right about their illustrious High Commander, then the CMA wasn't much of a threat to him, even now. But for Jarret, Karellen, and Colleen, the circumstances were very different. Getting caught here (as if they weren't sitting ducks in the middle of a trap) would be a much worse outcome. And Izaya had to admit it would be just a little sad to lose such interesting abilities, but he'd never regretted the way that he showed his love for humans before and he wasn't going to start anytime soon.

"Ughhh, fuck this!" Jarret's stance shifted, indicating that he was ready to swing, but Izaya didn't get the opportunity to dodge. Jarret didn't get the opportunity to finish his swing, either, both of them pausing as a distant crash resounded through the air, followed by another, the vibrations of the impacts enough to shake the floor as they drew closer, and Jarret's survival instincts overrode his agitation for Izaya as he started to panic. "Is the building collapsing?! Is the CMA trying to bury us in here?!"

"No, it's not the CMA," Izaya said with absolute certainty as the sounds drew closer, the crashing joined by a steady roar that he knew all too well. "That would be Shizu-chan running out of patience."

Jarret paled, understanding the implication well enough. "He's going to tear the building down. We're all going to fucking die."

And Izaya got to laugh for all of two seconds before the wall ahead of them burst open in a cloud of dust and rubble, bringing the smell of cigarette smoke with it.

[Author's Notes]

I mean to finish drafting this fic last year, but that didn't happen. Thanks to vhatisname for favoriting and following in the meantime.

There's two more chapters after this one, and they'll update every other Saturday. Want something to read in the meantime? My kny fic walk steady on this cruel world's path updates on the alternating Saturdays, and I think it's pretty darn good.

Next time: 18 - Ragnarok. Please look forward to it!

-Avi

[09.18.2021]