Friday, Sep. 11, Room 050 (Mrs. Weller's Room), Goldhelm Secondary School, Vancouver; After Class
"So, it's the first Friday of the school year," Heather reminded Thorne. "So, what're we gonna do today?"
"I totally forgot it was Friday," Thorne chuckled. He thought about his options… "Wanna go shopping?"
"Ooh yeah, totally! The mall?" suggested Heather.
"Sure," Thorne smiled with a nod.
Friday, Sep. 11, Lavendera Mall, Vancouver; After School
"Mm, it's nice to hang out with you without having to worry about people's opinions," Heather smiled.
"If you say so," Thorne said, rolling his eyes a bit. "I want coffee."
"Sure," Heather smiled. "There's a Dollar Star at the food court."
Thorne walked up to the counter of said Dollar Star after following Heather to the kiosk.
"What can I get for you?" asked the barista. It was a young-ish man with short hair and glasses, and an ironic handlebar moustache. He certainly fit into the role of his job.
"Can I get a vanilla mocha?" Thorne asked, preparing his card.
"Coming right up! Can I get a name?" the barista asked.
"Huh?" Thorne asked, having lost his attention staring at the guy's face. "Uh, Thorne."
"Thorne?" the barista chuckled. "Wow, cool name."
"I get that a lot," blushed Thorne.
"Is there an 'e' in there?"
"Uh, yeah, at the end," Thorne chuckled.
Heather giggled and approached the counter. "I'll have a pumpkin spice latte made with black tea."
"Getting in the spirit of the season?" the barista asked. "Sure, one pumpkin spice latte with black tea. That'll be ready in a few minutes. Name?"
"Heather," she answered.
"Gotcha," nodded the barista.
The two received their drinks faster than either of them expected. They both sat down at a table. "Is Thorne crushing on a Dollar Star barista?" Heather asked cheekily.
"What? No," denied Thorne. "Don't jump to conclusions."
"It did appear that you lost focus while interacting with that man," Seven added.
"Oh you shut up," Thorne groaned. He took a sip of his mocha. "So, do we want to stop anywhere?"
"We'll see. I'm kinda hungry," Heather sighed.
"Have you been eating enough?" Thorne asked, concerned.
"Relax, Thorny, I ate at lunch," Heather chuckled. "But I'm craving… noodles."
"Noodles sound great. But I don't know if there's anywhere near here where we can get any."
"Would you like to enter PsykoWeb, Agent Belle?" Seven asked.
"What? We never agreed on that name!" Heather snarled, flustered. "Anyway… sure, I guess… I've got a few hours before I need to be home for dinner."
"Oh," Thorne sounded. "I guess we're going. Let's find a spot where we won't get seen teleporting."
Friday, Sep. 11, Yomotsu Sector, PsykoWeb; After School
"That was trippy…" Heather shook her head. "I think I'm getting more used to it, though."
"You look good," Thorne said with a smile at the leather-jacket detective.
"I'm flattered," she replied sarcastically. "So, this is PsykoWeb? It looks… remarkably like a regular Vancouver street… except the sky's a weird blue, and… what the fuck is that?"
Seven stepped in to explain, "We have deduced that the gargantuan object casting its shadow over this sector of PsykoWeb is a replication of the Yomotsu Hirasaka arch found in real-world Japan."
"Oh, cool, I've heard of that. It's a big plot point in this anime I like," Heather grinned.
"You like anime?" Thorne asked, a bit taken aback.
"Yeah, got a problem?"
"N-no," he insisted. "We've made it our primary goal to reach the arch itself."
"Doesn't sound too hard," Heather nodded. "It looks like a long walk, though… is this really to-scale with real life?"
"As far as we can discern," Seven nodded.
"Just great…"
They walked onward, attempting to navigate the labyrinth of city streets.
"You know," Heather commented, "for a replication of Vancouver… I feel like my Headquarters had more people in it."
"You're right," noted Thorne. "Huh?"
They came upon a huge wall. It wasn't like any regular wall they were familiar with, though. There was a row of road signs laid out in front of them, but past it was a bizarre monolith that looked like a magical border of existence itself. Seven scanned it, a scanning red light coming from his digital eye.
"It appears that this is the border of the Yomotsu Sector," he explained.
"It's like a forcefield," Thorne said with awe.
"It looks thoroughly impassible," Seven explained. "Should we turn back, Leader? Perhaps there is a different route we could take."
Heather squinted her eyes. "For some reason, I get the feeling that there's something on the other side…"
"Me too," added Thorne. "Maybe it will reveal itself to us soon… Oh hey, look over there, we can walk down that alley."
After walking for a longer period of time, they felt even closer to the Yomotsu Hirasaka arch… It looked closer, too.
"What do you think will be at the arch?" Heather asked, still walking.
"I have no clue," Thorne admitted. "I'm guessing… maybe some kind of Shadow?"
"I hope we're prepared, if that's the case," Heather sighed. Her crossbow was attached to her back.
A robotic sound beeped behind Thorne and Heather.
"Was that you, Seven?" Heather giggled. "What does that noise mean?"
"That sound was not of my doing," Seven answered matter-of-factly.
"Huh?" Heather gasped. She turned around, along with Thorne and Seven. However, there was nothing there.
The robotic sound happened again.
"Where is it coming from?" Heather asked, sounding a bit frustrated. "Show yourself!"
Just then, a non-discreet red dot appeared on the ground between all three of them. A sphere of energy crashed into the ground! Thankfully, all three of the Persona users were able to jump out of the way in time.
An Android appeared before them, almost identical to Seven, although this one had broader shoulders and details in dark green.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Thorne asked, stepping up bravely.
"I am Android 11," the Android answered. "I have been ordered to eliminate you, and Android 07. I was not told there would be a girl with you, but my orders extend to her as well." There was a click sound, and suddenly there were two cannons that appeared on the Android's shoulders. It charged them with flaming energy.
"Who's given you these orders?" Thorne asked.
"I will not reveal that information to a nosy young brat the likes of you," the Android snarled. "Your fate has been sealed."
Heather stepped up, sighing sarcastically. "I guess this is gonna be my first battle with my Persona. I would've preferred a more dramatic opponent."
Thorne smirked, chuckling. "I believe in you, Heather! Show them your bravery!" Hamlet appeared behind him, the Heir of Denmark's long coat fluttering in the wind he created himself.
Brutus appeared behind Seven, posed in a position ripe for battle!
Madam Madcap materialized behind Heather's shoulders, her fancy dress swaying elegantly. The Persona opened her mask-shaded eyes and glared at Android 11 as if to say 'How dare you oppose my other self?'.
"Heather, take the first move!" Thorne offered.
"Gladly!" she shouted back. "Persona!"
Madam Madcap summoned a cutting wind that Android 11 had to steel itself for to avoid being blown away! On top of the intense glistening razor wind, huge bullets formed from the cutting gust, which danced through the air and made impact with Android 11! The Android was knocked down, weakened by the wind attack! But as it was falling down, it fired its cannons! It shot two huge orbs of pure fire right at Thorne!
He was well prepared, though. "Counter!" he ordered. Hamlet jumped out in front of him and slashed the flames with his rapier, sending them right back to Android 11!
It was Seven's turn next! The allied Android charged up his own cannon, and fired a gatling of Nuclear energy at Android 11.
Heather rushed forward and tied up Android 11 using a rope that materialized in her very hand. Her elegant movement made it look as if she was creating a painting while she was really binding the enemy. The world around her transformed into the familiar interrogation room.
She sat up on the table, tapping her fingers against her bent knee. "Tell me, who is your master?"
"I will not divulge such information to you." Android 11 remained persistent.
Heather loaded her crossbow as nonchalantly as if she were checking her fingernails. "If you tell us, this will be much easier for you."
"I have specific orders. I will not disobey them."
"That's fine then." Heather sighed, and slid off of the table. She walked around to the other side of Android 11 and put her hand on its weaponized shoulder. She leaned in and whispered, "Your non-cooperation makes this even more fun."
She pressed the tip of her crossbow up to the Android's head.
"You know, it's not too late to tell me," she reassured.
"I know," Android 11 snarled. "Do it, then."
Android 11 fell to the ground after having a crossbow bolt shot through its head. However, it didn't appear to be down yet! It quickly got back up and the interrogation room faded away!
The restraints on the Android disappeared along with the interrogation room! Android 11 immediately took its opportunity to retaliate! "Take this, foolish human!" it snarled as it launched an intense flame at Heather!
Heather attempted to dodge the flame! However, she couldn't jump out of the way in time! The intensity of the blast knocked her back! "Heather!" Thorne called. "Hang in there! That looked like a strong hit…" He clenched his teeth with worry.
Heather got back up to her feet. "It was..." she coughed, "uh, nothing. I'll be fine. Keep your focus, Agent Rose!"
Thorne nodded to Heather, and summoned Hamlet. "Persona!"
Hamlet appeared, stylish as ever. He brandished his rapier and held it in front of him. He dashed over to Android 11, and prepared for a powerful slash! "Whether 'tis nobler to suffer, friend?" the Persona asked starkly. He released all of the power he had built up into a powerful, ice-coated slash which pierced Android 11!
"Madam Madcap, come to me!" Heather called.
"I am at your surface, my young beauty," her Persona responded, materializing behind her. Madcap put her hand up to her mask and a gust of cutting wind blew from behind her! The wind spiraled around Android 11 in a tornado, cutting into the A.I. like tiny throwing knives!
"Persona!" Seven called, summoning Brutus. Brutus appeared silently behind Seven's shoulder. "Heal Heather's wound."
Brutus turned to face Heather and put his hands together, as if to pray. A pink aura came to glow around Heather's body. She felt refreshed as the glowing aura rejuvenated her energy and reduced her pain.
"Wow, thanks, Seven," she sighed in relief. "I owe you one!"
"It is my duty as an Android to protect PsykoNet users," Seven recited.
Thorne chimed in, "It seems like you and Android 11 have very different duties as Androids."
Android 11 went to attack Thorne! It rushed towards Thorne, preparing to dig its metal fist deep into the teen's skull! However, Thorne used his Persona's Counter ability in perfect timing! "Excalibur, Counter!"
Excalibur bursted out from Thorne's chest and slashed Android 11 just as it left an opening as it was raring to land its steel punch! Excalibur followed up the Counter attack by creating multiple balls of dark energy, and volleying them into Android 11's body!
Android 11 took the hit without a verbal response. It fell back, starting to smoke. "Retreat is necessary. I have failed to fulfill my orders. I will return for you, filthy spies." Android 11 gathered as much energy as it could to make an escape! The electricity that flowed through its body was orange, like fire, as opposed to Seven's electrical energy, which was green, like his Nuclear attacks. Orange energy crackled around Android 11 as it gathered it power reserves. It used the gathered power to jump high into the air, landing on top of a building!
"Get back here!" Heather demanded, attempting to make chase, Madam Madcap hovering behind her.
But, Android 11 had already made its escape.
"I guess we should return to reality and get some rest, then?" Thorne suggested.
"That seems like a rational plan," Seven replied. "I will meet you in your cellular device."
"Who knows what crazy stuff we'll find when we go back," Heather joked.
