"So, you're really going, Emiya-kun?"
The ruffling sounds of weapons and other supplies being shoved into bags halted for a moment, before resuming. The red and white headed man didn't turn back to look at her when he answered, "Afraid so, Tohsaka. Looks like there's a good chance of a magus using the chaos of the fighting for their experiments. If I go, I should be able to limit the casualties to a bare minimum, try to ease tensions and apprehend the magus, before they send someone else and end up getting everyone killed."
The woman known as Rin Tohsaka frowned, drumming her fingers against her crossed arms, her aqua eyes levied in a glare at him as he turned around to face her. Long wavy brown hair he still expected to be done up in twin tails, even if she hadn't worn them in that style since before they came to London, rested on her shoulders, dressed in a form fitting sweater and thick red coat that reached below her knee-high boots. She probably would've taken the coat off by then if she hadn't seen him packing when she returned to their shared housing.
She had to lift her head slightly as he stood up, as he was starting to tower over her by that point, having evidently finally hit his growth spurt.
"You just came back from another suicide mission, you're still injured you idiot! Do you want to die?" She almost barked, her gaze shifting to the bandages that she knew were still there, hidden under his layers of black and red clothing.
"We both know I heal fast Tohsaka," He stated dismissively, pulling up his bags to his shoulder, "These wounds aren't anywhere near as bad as they look, and will be gone by the time I'm there."
She sighed, "And you're not going to let me change your mind, are you? I could always gandr your ass, you know?"
He laughed, patting her head, "I'd rather you didn't. Don't worry Tohsaka, I'll be fine."
She shouldn't have, but she actually believed him when he said that. She should've stopped him, should've gandred his ass like she said. But she didn't. She let him leave. Watched him walk out the door, not knowing that would be the last time she'd see him.
See him in person that is.
The image from the static ridden television screen still played in her mind from time to time. That smile...that damned smile. She should've stopped him. Not just him going there, but from all of it from happening to him in the first place.
She should've stayed by his side.
"Dokutah, can I see your arts some more please?" Innocent eyes gazed up from behind brown bangs, long ears resembling those of a rabbit's twitching slightly on the top of her head as she peeked over the man's desk. The man's quick scribbly writing paused, as his silver eyes shifted from the papers to look at the young girl.
Compared to himself, she was absolutely tiny, her white shirt nearly reaching her knees, looking up at him with hopeful eyes practically pleading with him to follow through with her request. Letting out a light sigh with an easy smile, his unoccupied hand ran through his brushed back white hair,
"Again Amiya? I still don't understand why you find my forgeries so entertaining."
Despite his words, he lifted his hand to the side, and with a quiet mutter drew it down through the air. In an instant, a teal light flooded through his arm, trailing in a circuit like manner and the air in front of his hand glowed, solidifying into the desired shape. And in an instant, the light was gone, the only sign it had been there being the sparks trailing down and fading away, and the blade that found its way into his grip like second nature, in a motion that had been practiced more times than he could possibly remember.
The eyes of the girl, identified as Amiya, were practically sparkling as she looked at the sword in his hand in awe. It was a curved sword, its pearlescent white blade practically gleaming in the room's lighting. Almost bouncing in place with a large grin on her face, she definitely seemed pleased at his showing.
"I know that one, you use it all the time! That's Canshow!"
Chuckling as he twirled the blade for her amusement, he corrected her, "Close but not quite, its name is Kanshou, Amiya."
She seemed to freeze in place at his comment, a pink coloring coming to her face, before almost deflating on the spot, shrinking in on herself in embarrassment at her folly, to the doctor's amusement as he let out a laugh.
"Don't look too down, how about I show you a few more projections?" He said, dismissing Kanshou in a shower of sparks. His words had their intended effect, Amiya's expression returning to its joyous excitement, her embarrassment forgotten already.
As he started to mutter again, his automatic door opened with a quiet but noticeable noise, along with a voice, "Doctor EMIYA, your presence is required at the bridge." Recognizing the voice, Amiya turned around to see the familiar face of Doctor Kal'tsit, her pale green cat ears twitching slightly as she looked over the room.
Letting out a sigh, EMIYA stood up from his desk, "Understood, will you be filling me in on the situation now or on the way?"
"On the way."
"Understood," He said with a nod before turning to Amiya, ruffling her hair despite her voiced opposition, "Sorry about that Amiya, duty calls. I'll make sure to show you some more projections later if you still want, okay?"
And with that, he followed after Kal'tsit, his black coat trailing behind him like a cape as he walked at a quickened pace, not even giving her a chance to reply. After a moment's hesitation, her little legs started moving on their own after them.
After him.
Like Wrought Iron
Chapter 1 - The hero of justice suddenly finds himself in an unusual situation in another world!
There was a hill.
No, that was wrong, there were many hills, seemingly never ending, gentle slopes of pale grass and patches of dirt. Cast in a thick fog, he wandered aimlessly, constantly bumping into...something he couldn't see, to the sound of turning gears in the distance, seemingly from nowhere yet everywhere.
He didn't know where he was, he didn't know where he was trying to go, but...he wasn't afraid or uneasy. He didn't know why, but he felt almost at ease there. If not for the slight pain at feeling like he was missing something, something that should've been obvious.
But there was nothing there.
So he kept wandering the unknown landscape, bumping into things he couldn't see and listened to the sound of gears, hidden behind the fog.
He wandered for what seemed like forever, never tiring, yet never finding anything new in this land. Until, the fog began to thicken. Slowly at first, unnoticeable to him, until he couldn't see his burnt hand in front of him. And yet still, he continued to wander, until his feet left the ground.
Was he falling?
He honestly couldn't tell. With no feeling of wind brushing against him as he descended, or the weightlessness as his body tumbled like a leaf in the air, it was entirely possible he wasn't falling. But, he couldn't say for sure that he wasn't either.
And then, with a click, his metal plated shoes touched the floor, red fabric draped out his sides and pooled on the ground.
Checkered tiles were visible under him, the fog forgotten.
"Ah, it's you." a voice spoke, the first words he had heard since he was aware, and suddenly, he remembered he could speak, but still found himself unable to make any words come out.
Looking around himself, he seemed to be in a corridor, its ends cast in shadows he couldn't see through, with the wall across from him dominated by a glass window that went as far as he could see.
A girl was standing there, her back to him as she stared out the window. She was shorter than him, though large rabbit ears twitched slightly atop her head, closing the distance somewhat. A baggy black and blue coat hung along her frame reaching halfway down her tights covered thighs.
He could feel his eyes widen at the sight outside the window, thick white clouds blanketing the view, with what seemed to be a giant yellow eye, numerous times larger than his entire body and almost reptilian in appearance, staring down at them.
"It's been a long time since we've last seen each other." She continued, seemingly unfazed by both the monster outside the window and his reaction.
"During this time...you've been teetering on the edge of a cliff. You may have forgotten who you are, but just remembering your name is enough."
His name? He was duly aware he must have had one, as he slowly stepped towards her, but seemed to not have moved from his initial spot.
...IY...
...ou...
That's right…
E..iY..
...h...ou
He could remember, he knew his name.
Emiya Shirou.
He was Emiya Shirou, he was sure of it. A weight seeming to lift off his shoulders as he assured himself of his identity. Glancing down, his vision was met with the familiar sight of blue denim and sneakers. A pale hand from his side raised, his fingers flexing as he thought to himself.
Why had he been so unsure of his identity? It was like he had forgotten for a moment there...
"...It's time." The girl spoke again after a long pause, almost as if she had been giving him the time to remember, "Don't linger here for too long."
She slowly turned to face him, but he couldn't make out the details of her face, something obscuring it from him.
"After all, you aren't my guest yet, nor should you even be here. She still needs you. December 23rd. You might not remember what this date means to you, and this will thrust you into peril."
As she continued, he could feel his strength leave him, his vision failing, as the world fell to black slowly. A dull sense of pain erupted throughout his body, as his sight left him, along with the feeling that he had fallen backwards, his back pressed up against another surface.
"...No…" He could hear her voice again, more distant than before, but still clear to him, his mind clinging onto the only thing besides himself.
"You must try to remember."
And as her voice faded away, he became aware of other sounds and sensations surrounding him. An EKG beeped, the sound of his heartbeat slow but clear to himself, as light blinded him. And voices spoke around him, not the girl's voice, though he was quickly realizing he couldn't remember her voice or appearance anymore as his heart rate slowed.
"...circulation resumed...vitals stabilized...cardioplegia solution injected…" the distant voice spoke, as he duly noted the EKG went flat.
"...Body temperature low...administering Hexamethasone 20 c.c., now…" Before returning to normal, stronger than it had been before.
"Get the hemostat!"
"...Conditions stable... beginning resection... be careful of VFib…"
"...Sorry...for making you suffer again…"
The voice continued, the sound of an injection loud in his ears as his vision faded away again.
He didn't know how long he had blacked out, a second, a minute, an hour, a day? But he could hear a voice, as his vision started to return, blurry and bright he could almost make out a hand reaching for him.
A nostalgic feeling overtook his heart, and for a second, his old man's image came to his mind, though it was gone as quickly as it came.
"Take my hand!"
He could hear her voice, and he slowly reached out, his muscles screaming at him as his weakened hand collapsed into her's. Her grip on his hand tightened slightly, and the nostalgic feeling was there again as he could make out the warm expression on her face, so close to his.
"...Emergency…"
"...Help…"
"...It's done...!"
He felt his vision fading.
"Doctor, Doctor!" Amiya's voice frantically cried out, echoing in the empty concrete facility room, her expression slowly shifting from relief to panicked. "Medic, how's Doctor doing? Just a moment ago, we were holding hands...so why...why is Doctor still not waking up?!"
"Amiya! Don't panic, just calm down first!" Medic, the dog-eared girl with short brown hair and dressed in a black and blue coat and skirt on the other side of the sarcophagus, urged her as she continued to work on the man covered in layers of clothing in the open machinery.
As if realizing what she was doing, Amiya faltered slightly, "Ah...s-sorry."
Not looking up from her work, Medic continued, "You always get so flustered when it comes to the doctor. But, Amiya, if the worst came to pass...what would you do then?"
Amiya looked down at Medic's words, her hand tightening its grip on the doctor's pale hand as a frown broke across her face. "...I'm already prepared for that. We would continue to follow the plan."
"I understand. Anyway, I'll do what you requested."
"I appreciate it. About the doctor…"
"Don't worry Amiya, all vital signs are stable now." Medic said, "I'll do one more inspection, just for you."
"Thank you, thank you very much!"
"Mhm, breathing is slightly shallow, but blood pressure is normal. There should be no causes for concern."
He started to feel consciousness return to him, a loud groan escaping from his lips, audible past the gas mask strapped to his face. He could hear excited voices around him, though the words weren't initially clear as he tried to force down lingering dizziness.
"...I'm so happy...Doctor…"
He reached for the edge of the tomb, trying to pry himself from its embrace.
"Ah careful!" The other one cried out, moving to stop him, "You mustn't do that, don't try to move yet. Your body still hasn't adapted to this."
His weakened body couldn't stop her from holding him back, pain aching throughout him. What had happened to him? Where was he, why was he in this thing, what was he wearing?
"Doctor?" The first girl spoke again, reaching out to touch him. And why...did she have donkey ears?
"Who are you?" He managed to speak, his voice rough and coarse from disuse.
A look struck her face, her eyes widening slightly as her bottom lip quivered for a moment, that made him feel sick inside.
"...Doctor...it's me…"
Her voice was weaker, less joyful than it had been just a moment before, "It's me, Amiya. We've come to rescue you."
He struggled to move towards her, though with his still barely responding body he couldn't get far, "Why...are you calling me Doctor? Do you know me?"
"You...You're a member of Rhodes Island, just like us….as well as my partner."
"Doctor Shirou Emiya. You're my most important person. You don't remember?"
Sorrow was the dominant emotion he could feel, as he forced himself from the sarcophagus, still looking at her. He didn't know her, had no memory of her, had no memory of being any sort of doctor, or of this Rhodes Island she spoke of. The last thing he remembered was leaving for…
And yet, he couldn't make himself think she was lying.
And...he didn't like seeing her sad. "I'm sorry...my memories are hazy, I...don't remember you."
A look of relief came to her face, though it was still overcast by the mournful surprise at the knowledge of him forgetting her, "It's not your fault Doctor, and even still, we made it this far. We can't give up now."
As he slowly pulled himself up, his legs buckled under his own weight for a moment, Amiya letting him lean against her as he found his footing, "You'll always be the most important person to me Doctor. No matter what happens, this will never change. So that's why...please give me a little more time, however little it may be."
He didn't verbally respond to her, simply nodding into her shoulder as the strength came back to his legs, allowing him to stand upright. Though her grip on him lingered for a moment, as if scared he would collapse again at a moment's notice, which was admittingly a justifiable concern given the situation.
"Does the doctor really have amnesia?" Medic muttered, a concerned expression on her face. But she was obviously loud enough for Amiya to hear, as she turned to look at her.
After a moment's hesitation, she responded, "I'm sure everything will be fine if we give Doctor some space…"
Behind his mask, Shirou looked around the room and at himself. Layers of coats and jackets covered his frame, the most obvious being the massive black raincoat and pale surgeon's outfit that reached down near his knees. It was baggy, uncomfortable, with wires and tubes sticking out of him. Choosing to ignore it for the time being, but deciding he'd get out of it later, his gaze wandered through the room, examining the other occupants, all of them sporting animal features like Amiya he noted, quickly as he noted the room's state of disarray.
"Where are we?" He asked Amiya, the words not being as painful to force out as the ones before. There was still a dry rasp to it, but to less of a degree than before, and would have probably been solved with a bit of time and rehydration. Though he doubted she'd be able to give him the answer he really wanted, unaware of just how much he didn't know his situation. People didn't normally have animal ears and tails, so where was he?
"We're safe here," Amiya started, "it's-"
Her words were interrupted by the sounds of banging in the near distance.
"H-huh, what's happening-"
"Amiya we've got a problem!" A man, heavily armed with his features hidden by his layers of clothing shouted out, the sounds of breaking glass and wood in the distance closing in, "Someone broke into the facility! The way they're dressed...they don't look like Ursus soldiers!"
Breaking down the door, hollars rang through the air as they broke into the room. White hoods pulled up over their heads, casting shadows over blood splattered masks with the only feature being the holes for their eyes. Bullet proof vests strapped over the chests, and an orange badge on their sleeve, a stylized symbol resembling a strand of DNA branding it. Clutched in their hands were various weapons, from meat cleavers to crowbars and crossbows, as they .
"What the-?! They're attacking, Amiya, they're heavily armed!"
As he spoke, bolts fired from a crossbow narrowly passing Medic's head, before embedding in the wall behind her. She let out a scream of panic as she stumbled back, her life having flashed in her eyes.
"Be careful everyone, take cover!" Amiya shouted out, as the members of Rhodes Island began ducking and moving out of the way to behind cover, with her grabbing onto the tensing Doctor's arm and pulling him behind a pillar.
"So much for safe," Shirou muttered out in a voice just above silent, though even if Amiya noticed she didn't say anything as she continued,
"...These outfits, are they from the Reunion movement? But why would they...Guards! Prepare for combat!"
"Roger!" A guard shouted out, as an explosion erupted next to him, a thrown grenade blowing up in the air, tossing him to the floor as he avoided the brunt of it.
"Damn it, are they after the Doctor?!"
"No, nobody should know about the Doctor being here! Are you able to reach Kal'tsit?"
"No, the equipment isn't working!"
"...Someone has cut off our communications. Have we been discovered by the Ursus government?"
"What do we do now?" A guard asked, taking a shot with his bow at the reunion members rushing them, an arrow embedding in the eyehole of one.
Amiya bit her lip as she looked down towards the floor by Shirou's feet, before slowly saying, "Kal'tsit won't be able to command the battle as we had originally planned…"
Her gaze slowly shifted up to look him in the face, a trusting look in her eyes, "Doctor Emiya...I hope that...you'll be able to take command."
"Isn't that a bit too risky?!" Medic called out from her cover, "The doctor only just came to!"
Rather than backing down, Amiya seemed more confident than ever as she said, "I'd like to give it a try. Even without memories, the Doctor has fought alongside us before."
"We've been through so much together," She continued, stepping closer, "Doctor, I know that you'll be able to do it."
And for a moment, he wasn't there in the room being attacked by Reunion standing next to Amiya, but some distant land, the evening sun bearing down on him, a white cloak covering his upper body, an unsettlingly familiar sleeveless black chestpiece in silver trim visible under it before he glanced up from his spot, sitting on a rock to look at...someone, before they spoke, their words understandable but voice incomprehensible, as if he had forgotten its sound, "I know that you'll lead us to victory."
"I know that asking you to do this is very sudden and inconsiderate, but please...lend us your aid. We'll be here-"
"Of course." He interrupted her, raising a hand to ruffle her hair, "How could I say no to such an earnest request?"
It was what heroes of justice did after all, wasn't it? Save people, and answer their earnest requests. So what if he couldn't remember them, or had any idea where he was? He'd be a horrible hero if he'd let something that minor slow him down.
A blush rose up in her cheeks, as she smiled before saying, "I know you can do this. Please take command of Rhodes Island!"
Nodding, his gaze moved from her to examine the area around him. Fighting rang out around him, as members of Rhodes Island fought back against the charging Reunion members, maintaining cover. But...it wouldn't be enough he realized.
They'd be overwhelmed if they stayed there, they didn't have enough resources, with too many entry points to cover, and more and more Reunion members seemed to be coming. They needed to get out of there, find some better point with enough distance between them and the Reunion members they could more easily handle them at less risk.
And his body was still recovering from being woken up from the tube, he probably wouldn't be able to trace anything that could help them out of the situation, or reinforce his body to superhuman levels to assist in the fighting. He couldn't just brute force his way to saving them this time.
He needed to think. He needed more time. But he couldn't get more time...but maybe he could get the next best thing. He just hoped his body would be able to handle it so soon.
And so, the familiar words came to him, whispered out quietly. Though, from the perking of Amiya's ears, she had heard them as well, and recognized them and their meaning.
"...Trace...on…"
The hammer of a gun slammed down in his mind.
Hidden by the layers of clothes covering him, trails of neon light lit up across his body, his body strengthening. He could feel his pulse speeding up, blood pumping through his body at an accelerated rate, and as his mind raced, becoming quicker and quicker as it was strengthened, it was almost like the world slowed down around him.
He winced at the recoil, could taste the blood leaking out his mouth as he kicked his body into overdrive and something internal broke. But he'd have to manage, at least this much. At least right now.
His eyes darted around, glancing over the operators around him and the area they found themselves in, looking for any advantage he might use.
A moment passed before he began shouting, "We're moving out! Maintain cover as much as possible and move quickly! You!" His gaze turned towards a specific guard, pointing with his hand towards a raised spot of cover that worked well as a vantage point, "Cover us from that point! As soon as we're far enough, abandon post and start following us, and if any Reunion member gets too close, get out understand?"
As he moved to follow his commands, Shirou turned to look towards the rest of the operators as he continued to shout, "Focus on moving out and staying alive, only engage the enemy if absolutely necessary! We'll engage proper when the location benefits us more!"
As arrows and crossbow bolts flew through the air, the members of Rhodes Island slowly began falling back, escaping the room into a long corridor, members of Reunion slowly trailing in after them.
"You and you!" Shirou called out, pointing towards two operators, "Deploy there as to create a chokepoint, you'll receive covering fire from him!" He pointed towards a sniper operator, "Who'll be deployed at this location, Medic I want in the back to check on the wounded, they're all minor injuries but I'd rather be safe!"
"Aye Aye Sir!"
"Understood Boss!"
"Yes Sir!"
They moved quickly and efficiently as they followed his commands. And as they fought, the number of Reunion members on them decreased, with them steadily abandoning position to take up new ones on his orders for what felt like hours, but could've only been a couple of minutes at best.
"This is the last one!" A Guard shouted, bringing his blade down on a Reunion member wielding a cleaver. Crying out in pain, the Reunion member dropped to the ground in a bloodied heap.
Breathing heavily, the members of Rhodes Island were alone again, the only signs of Reunion having been there being the damage to the building and the corpses littering the ground.
"Target eliminated," A guard heaved slightly as he spoke, relief and disbelief evident in his voice, "Dr. Emiya's commands were perfect, just like Amiya said. That's definitely reassuring!"
Shirou stared out over the scene in front of him, his jaw clenched under his mask as his eyes trailed across the dead. He still didn't like this. He had killed before, in situations just like this, though he had always been the one doing the killing instead of ordering it, for the sake of saving someone else. But that didn't mean he had to like it. But despite his best efforts, he still couldn't save everyone.
Not yet.
Unaware of his inner thoughts, Amiya smiled as she spoke, "See, that wasn't too bad, right? Compared to everything you've been through, this is like a walk in the park!"
His head turned away from the battlefield, looking at her as he mulled over her words. A walk in the park, huh? Well if this is what they considered walks in the parks here, he wasn't sure he wanted to visit their parks any time soon.
A groan interrupted his inner thoughts, the Reunion member thought dead raising to his feet, a mad glint visible through the pits in his mask, "Why are you here...you're not from Ursus...we won't...let you get in the way of our duties!"
His muscles tensed, about to desperately lunge at the unprepared Guard, before the sound of a cracking whip echoed through the room, a metal strip slashing into the Reunion member, dropping him dead.
"Don't even think about it!" The owner of the whip yelled out. Straight black hair swayed at around halfway down her back, with perky dog-like ears on top of her head, as she stepped forward. She was dressed in what appeared to be customized police gear, with her baggy pants held up by a sash instead of a belt, and her toned midriff proudly on display, her shirt and chestpiece not extending down to cover that part of her.
A stern frown and glare made up her expression, auburn eyes under thick furrowed brow staring at the guard who had just been attacked as the barbed whip coiled in her grip.
"Instructor!"
"What are you spacing out for?! You almost got yourself killed!" She barked at him, her voice booming in the room as the guard visibly shrunk in on himself at her words.
"I-I'm sorry!"
"Quick! Get back to position!" She continued to bark, jerking her arms apart to crack the coiled whip with her words. The guard visibly flinched, immediately fixing his posture as he saluted her, "Yessir!" before scuttling away back to his position before he angered her any further.
...A dominatrix? That was almost certainly wrong, but that was the feeling Shirou got, as he stood there silently, Amiya stepping forward as she approached the pair.
"Dobermann! You made it!"
"It's an emergency," She said with a small sigh, her hands, and coiled whip, lowered to her side, "My team was attacked by Reunion as well. I rushed over to join you as soon as I could."
"Why would Reunion attack us...?" Amiya questioned, seemingly to no one in particular, not that anyone had an answer for her at that moment.
"An organization made up of the infected," Dobermann spoke, seemingly also mostly to herself, "I've always thought they were a bit on the extreme side...and now to resort to violence, and in an Ursus city no less? A death wish."
Properly addressing Amiya again, she continued, her tone once again firm, "The situation is only going to get more chaotic from here on out. Amiya, we need to leave Chernobog right now."
Nodding in agreement, Amiya turned slightly to look at him as she said, "Okay. We've already rescued the Doctor, so we can retreat according to plan."
Her gaze moved from Amiya towards him, moving up and down his body in examination, "And this is Doctor Emiya?"
"I still don't know where this whole Doctor thing came from, but yes, my name is Shirou Emiya."
A thick eyebrow raised in response to his words, "I see you have a sense of humor then,"
"No, no…" Amiya interrupted Dobermann, having flinched slightly at her words before continuing, "Doctor...isn't doing very well right now. To put it simply...Doctor has amnesia."
The other eyebrow followed the first, as a moment of shock appeared on her face, before settling back into the stonier expression from before. "Amnesia? What are you going to do now? Weren't you planning to transfer leadership to-"
"Doctor still has the capacity to command." Amiya insisted, glancing at him as if it would boost her confidence in her words, "At least, I've confirmed that from the previous battle."
Dobermann was silent for a moment, before she nodded her head, "I can't bring myself to trust a stranger so easily. But I do trust you, Amiya."
"I understand."
She turned away from Amiya, directing her attention back at him before she spoke again, "Doctor Emiya, I am Dobermann, captain of OP Team E1. We are going to escort you from Chernobog, the Ursus city we're currently in, back to Rhodes Island. We're in an abandoned facility and should now head west."
"But...since we're cut off from Dr. Kal'tsit, Dobermann and I have to lead our separate teams westward to a rendezvous point before confirming our signal to retreat. That is, assuming all goes according to plan." Amiya said, adding on to Dobermann's explanation.
"It'd be nice if things went that smoothly. Today is our last opportunity to get you out of here Doctor Emiya. But, I have a bad feeling about this." As she spoke, Dobermann's eyes moved away from him, glaring at nothing.
"I'd be more worried if you didn't get a bad feeling, given the situation." He said, eyes glancing at the corpses that still littered the floor.
Before she or Amiya could respond, Medic suddenly called out, "A-Amiya!"
Directing her attention towards the dog girl, Amiya asked, "What's the matter?"
"It's...it's a call from Rhodes Island!" She said, her gaze switching from them to the lightly vibrating device in her hands frequently. Amiya's expression brightened at her words, striding over quickly to her as she asked, "Are our communications back on? Is it Dr. Kal'tsit?"
"Sorry, but not quite." A woman's voice with a metallic ring spoke in response from the tablet. Amiya's eyes widened in realization as she said, "PRTS?"
"The Emergency Neural Connection Request System was activated. Interference has also been detected from Rhodes Island's end, and only partial Neural Network connection is possible. Currently unable to establish communication with Kal'tsit, who has yet to return to Rhodes Island. Your safety is confirmed; therefore, my mission is now complete." The voice droned on robotically.
"This piece of...do we really have time for this?" Dobermann groaned in irritation.
"If you do not need to connect to Rhodes Island, communication will be severed momentarily. I am sincerely sorry for having interrupted your party."
"Wait, wait! Don't hang up, I still need your help!" Amiya panicked, grabbing the device from Medic's hands and shaking it as if hoping that would stop PRTS from hanging up. When PRTS did in fact not hang up, she sighed in relief, turning to Dobermann with a sheepish look on her face, "Dobermann, the Doctor could really use this."
Dobermann sighed as she turned away, "I know, but make it quick."
Amiya turned towards Shirou then, before speaking, "Doctor, PRTS is one of our...partners. It will show you what to do next. Time is of the essence, so I'm going to reconnect you to the Rhodes Island backup system. This way, we'll have an edge in battle. It's different from giving verbal commands and might be a bit difficult to get used to, but once you've learned how to use it, everything will go over much smoother."
Taking his silence, him waiting for her to continue, as hesitation, she continued on, an almost pleading look to her face. "...Please trust me. Just like how you used to. PRTS...let's start."
"Identity verification required. Select verification method."
"Ah, Doctor...please say something."
"So I'm assuming I've already been chipped for this thing before I got stuffed in the box?"
"Verification complete. Security clearance: 8. Welcome home Dr. Shirou Emiya."
And then suddenly, his vision shifted as he was connected into the system. Pixels flooded his sight as icons and symbols appeared in the corners of his eyes. And then, for a moment, he was no longer standing there in the abandoned building with the members of Rhodes Island, instead standing on a metal flooring, in what appeared to be the bridge of a ship, dozens of people working around him, not even noticing him. And then, just as suddenly as he was gone, he was back.
"W-What the…?"
"I'm sorry Doctor, were you surprised?" He heard Amiya's voice. But, she hadn't opened her mouth to speak. Was this what she meant by different from verbal commands…?
"I'm sorry I didn't have more time to explain it Doctor, but with PRTS we can direct messages with our thoughts over short distances as long as we're connected to it."
"Freaky," Shirou said with a sigh, "But I can definitely see the use for this." Just what was this place though? This certainly wasn't anything like the Earth he remembered, something like this was definitely outside the reach of technology as far as he was aware, and he was certain this wasn't any type of magecraft. It didn't smell of magecraft at least.
The closest thing he could think of was the mental link between masters and servants from back in Fuyuki...not that he was competent enough to be able to do that but still. And even then, as far as he could tell, this was pure technology. Add that with the animal features they displayed and the sarcophagus they pulled him out of, he definitely wasn't in Kansas anymore.
Honestly he should've been glad that they spoke the same language at least.
But, it did leave another question. How did he get here? It must have happened sometime after him leaving Tohsaka's, but when? And how? How long has he been missing? How was Tohsaka? Because he doubted she would've been pleased with him ending up in some other world, if that was actually what this was.
He would probably be in for one hell of an earful if she knew.
"Are you okay Doctor…?" Amiya asked, slowly reaching out for him, and breaking him out of his thoughts.
Shaking his head, Shirou turned to her, "Yeah, I'm fine, sorry. Just getting my thoughts together a bit. We're supposed to be heading out soon right?"
"Yes," Dobermann said with a nod, "We have a lot of ground to cover and not a lot of time."
"Then let's get going."
With some nods and short confirmations, they started moving again. As they moved out onto the streets, a chilling noise could start to be heard. Quiet at first, distant, but growing louder and louder, closer and closer.
Until it was right on top of them.
A riot. Violence, hatred, fear, fire, it was all familiar to him. He knew this sound, having jumped into them numerous times before in his life. As they stepped, they could see it. Reunion attacking the city, raiding buildings and attacking civilians, screaming and shouting. What was most likely the Ursus guard being overrun by the waves of Reunion, unable to assist the citizens not near them as they fell back towards presumably more "important" sections for protection.
"How could this be…" Dobermann muttered in a voice that bordered on horror and disgust, "What in the world is going on here?"
"Why...why is Reunion doing this?" Amiya almost whispered, as if her voice had left her at the sight of the violence.
Dobermann and the other members of Rhodes Island were speaking, but Shirou couldn't hear them anymore. The sound of his heartbeat was deafening as horror built up in him at the sight. People were dying, people were being killed right in front of him. This...this would not stand. A small step at first, followed by a whisper, followed by lines of light illuminating his skin under the layers of clothing, lead to a lunge.
"Doctor?!" Even in his current state, he could still make out Amiya's voice, but he couldn't be bothered to pay attention to their reactions, his focus squarely on the chaos in front of him.
"...Please, at least spare my child!"
And at the sound of a cry his target was clear as day for him, lights illuminated under layers of clothing as sparks lit in his waiting hands. And with the sound of shattering glass, a familiar weight was in his grip in both hands. He lunged towards the Reunion member in his path, one of the married blades brought down on them, slicing through them like smoke through air. Not letting their partner respond, the other blade was thrust forward and slashed to the side, bisecting them.
Only sparing a glance to ensure the mother and child's safety, he was off again, lunging at the next Reunion member, ignoring the pain as his body tore itself apart under the pressure of reinforcement. He couldn't do too many projections, his body wasn't up for it. He'd have to make due with just Kanshou and Bakuya. Though, it didn't seem that would be a problem, the noble phantasms shredded through the members of Reunion easily, they weren't anywhere near as strong as servants or the monsters he had fought before fortunately. They'd be more than enough.
Almost immediately after he started his rampage, he noticed the members of Rhodes Island joining in on fighting against Reunion, blades slashing out, bolts and arrows flying through the air all around him. Caught by surprise in the ambush, the members of Reunion couldn't put up a struggle in time, all but wiped out off the face of the earth.
Lunging towards a straggling member, Shirou brought both blades down on them, slashing them apart as they lashed out, their mallet smacking against the helmet on his face with a cracking noise, but not doing any real damage.
"You bunch...aren't from Ursus…" They groaned out, collapsing into a bloodied mess, dead.
He stood there, Kanshou and Bakuya in hand, and decided against dismissing them, as he looked around the battlefield. Members of Reunion littered the ground as corpses, Rhodes Island spread out across the area, tending to each other's wounds and those of the civilians. Dobermann was staring at him, a conflicted look between disapproving and impressed on her face.
"Looks like they didn't have time to notify the others...but while Amiya might find your methods preferable, running in without any input was reckless and foolhardy. But...I can see why you were spoken so highly of by so many. You are quite capable." She said with a drawn out sigh.
Before he could respond to her, his attention was diverted at the words of the medic from before, "Amyia...she's heading over to them…"
His eyes trailed over towards the direction she was facing, as Amiya approached an Ursus mother and her two small children, dusty brown hair and bear like ears twitching, faces nervous and tear ridden.
"Are you okay?" Amiya asked, concern in her voice as she moved to help them.
"T-Thank you…"
"It's no problem, it's our…"
The mother made a choking noise, her eyes having trailed down, noticing something on Amiya as panic returned to her voice, "You...Y-You're also an infected? What do you want?! Don't hurt my children, I'm begging you, please don't hurt us…"
Ugly sobbing could be heard as she grabbed her children, desperately trying to shield them from Amiya, as if she were going to suddenly attack them.
"..." Amiya was silent for a moment, a pained look on her face, though not exactly surprised or shocked at the result of the conversation.
"Find a safe place to hide."
She then turned away, starting to walk away, though the Ursus mother seemed unable to notice, still sobbing as she begged for mercy from the girl that wasn't standing there anymore.
She returned to the group, Medic giving her a concerned look. Giving a small smile to reassure her, Amiya asked, "Has everyone gotten enough rest?"
"Ah, I'm fine…"
"Why is she afraid of you?" Shirou asked. It didn't make sense to him. He was no stranger to people fearing or hating him despite him saving them. But, that was because of the things he did to save others. So he couldn't blame them. But what did Amiya do? She hadn't been violently slicing the members of Reunion to shreds, she wasn't the one covered in their blood, with the tools used for the violence still by her side dripping onto the pavement. So why was she the one feared?
"...Dr. Emiya...you've asked a similar question to me before…" Amiya started, stopping for a moment before she continued, a downcast expression on her face, "It's because I'm an infected. Dobermann and I, and most of the members of Rhodes Island are as well. Even those Reunion members we just fought, we've contracted a terrible illness. Something that terrifies most people, 'Oripathy'."
"Those who have contracted Oripathy are called the infected." Dobermann added in.
"Dobermann…"
"Ursus has always treated the infected harshly. I mean who doesn't? Ursus just happens to be particularly cold-blooded about it. Civilians are taught to fear the Infected through propaganda. Nobody even bats an eyelid when the Infected are hunted down, and some even cheer for it. That's why Reunion chose this place…"
"However…" Amiya started, "This time...it's not just a simple protest anymore."
Dobermann nodded as she continued, "They've begun to resort to large-scale violence. When Ursus puts an end to the rioting, the infected in Chernobog will only face more cruelty…"
She trailed off for a moment, turning towards Shirou, who's fists were clenched tightly around the handles of Bakuya and Kanshou, growing more and more angered by the word.
"...In contrast, with you here Doctor Emiya, perhaps Rhodes Island's situation will improve."
"How so?" He wasn't sure how they wanted him to improve the situation, if he had been here for enough time to get such a notoriety, he must have known about the situation with the infected. And he would've done everything he could've to fix it, but it was clearly something he couldn't do simply, if he hadn't solved it yet.
"Both Kal'tsit and Amiya have mentioned that you are a cutting-edge Oripathy researcher."
Excuse me, what? He liked to think he wasn't stupid, but he knew quite well he wasn't some cutting edge researcher on anything! Maybe swords at best, but it was kinda hard not to be one when your soul was filled with them!
Unaware of his shock and internal rejection of her statement, Dobermann continued on, "But with your memory loss, I doubt whether you'll be of any use again."
"Ugh, Instructor, that's way too harsh!" Amiya chimed in with a grimace, though Shirou found himself agreeing with the dominatrix, he was not going to be very useful in any high end research more than likely!
"...Perhaps you'll be able to master the theories again after some reviewing, just like how you relearned your commanding and combat skills? To be honest, I never thought a neurology doctor could also be a master tactician and hyper competent soldier...but after seeing you I can somehow understand it. I mean, Rhodes Island itself is very similar to you." She trailed off, glancing at the members of Rhodes Island. Medics tending to Guards and Snipers and the civilians still there and willing. A guard off to the side, trying his best to avoid a medic with a syringe in hand, before eventually getting pinned down by her and given the shot with a comical cry.
"...This is what Rhodes Island does," Dobermann continued, "We're looking for a cure to the infection, as well as mitigating the problems associated with the infected."
"That's right," Amiya agreed with a nod, "It's not enough to only conduct research, or to only try to resolve conflicts. We must address all the problems surrounding the infected. This is the only way for Rhodes Island to give all the infected a chance at survival…"
"We understand them better than most others because we, like them, are also infected. No matter who is involved or what is required, Rhodes Island seeks to put an end to the spread of hatred and disease," Dobermann paused for a moment, fully turning to Shirou as she finished, "Dr Emiya, perhaps this will be your calling as well. At least, that is my wish."
A feeling of righteousness wormed its way into Shirou's chest as they described Rhodes Island. It sounded so right. He understood why he joined up with them, before he lost his memories of arriving at this place. He nodded to them, "I'll do everything I can."
Smiles found themselves on the pair's faces at his words. Then a look of concern broke out on Amiya's face as well as realization as she approached him, "Wait, Doctor, your face. Your helmet is cracked, are you alright, do you need to see a medic, are you bleeding?"
As she started to ramble and panic, Shirou lifted his hands up as he tried to calm the rabbit girl down, "I'm fine, I'm fine, only the mask is damaged, I'm not even hurt."
With her showing no signs of calming down at his words, continuing to ramble and panic, he grabbed the back of the helmet, undoing the bindings before pulling it off.
"See? I'm totally fine, not a scratch on me."
She stopped speaking, a shocked expression on her face as she stared at him. Her hand raising up slowly, pointing at him in surprise. "D-Doctor…?"
"What?"
"Y-Your face…"
Huh? What was wrong with his face? His gaze shifting towards the nearby reflective surface of a broken window, his expression shifted to match her's more closely.
Softer features with a less defined jawline, a head of hair fully red without a strand of white, pale unburned skin, and a pair of amber eyes stared back at him. And now that he realized it, he had chalked up his wobbliness to having been just woken up, and it was certainly that in part, but he realized he was a fair bit shorter than he remembered.
If anything, his body matched his appearance back in Fuyuki more than anything! What had happened to him?! The only response he could come up with to this sudden discovery was a simple one.
"EHH?!" A loud cry rang out from him as he reeled back at the sight of his more youthful appearance.
Author's Note: And first chapter is done, while fairly canon complicit so far, I don't intend for it to be that way for long, hopefully in a chapter or two we'll get to see the actual repercussions of our favorite hero of justice being the new designated savior of Terra. Hope you've enjoyed so far, till next time!