"Please remind me why we are all sitting in the private shared bath discussing our future plans?" Mei asked scathingly.
"Fan service for the reader," Tesla quipped back.
"But Dr Tesla, Frederica, no physical descriptions have been made to help the imagination—"
"What are they talking about?" Mei muttered.
The redhead genius idiot and the tactless puppet continued their own quiet and intense discussion. Mei sunk deeper into the water and let the kinks on her body slowly ease away. She had to admit that the idea of getting some proper rest and relaxation after running for so long was probably good for her health.
'Hopefully the animate inferiority complex comes up with something useful tonight. I would guess we have maybe a day before trouble comes looking. That or I finally collapse.'
An intense gaze was focused on Mei. Her eyes found the source in Kiana. The girl had her head just above the water. Those crystal blue eyes were boring into Mei's…
"Herrscher Cores don't help," Mei taunted. "You've got three and still no bigger."
Kiana's face blushed as her thoughts were laid bare. Mei gave an honest, throaty laughing.
"I seem to recall you taking every opportunity to hang off me. Glomp when I wasn't looking. And there was that time at the Onsen in Tohoku."
Kiana's face was a shade of crimson so brilliant it would have blended in with an apple cart. Mei flashed a winning smile and felt the last of the knots in her back come apart.
"So your fetishistic inclinations aside," Mei inquired, "Just what is your plan, Dr Tesla?"
"Flight, misdirection and keeping those idiots at Shicksal and World Serpent stumbling oafishly around."
"I need more than a tweet."
"Firstly, we need to talk about you."
'Twenty questions time. Let's see how close she gets.'
Mei shrugged and settled into the water. Perhaps the good doctor had a bright idea occasionally. After all, Mei was feeling the best in ages.
"Ask away."
"You appear to be in a great deal of pain."
Mei gave an ambivalent wave of one hand.
"Yes and no."
"Are you or are you not a Herrscher?"
"I'm more of a Herrscher than Kiana."
"That I find difficult to grasp."
"Use your imagination, Dr Tesla."
The impatient redhead gritted her teeth. Still, it was obvious that several thoughts and theories were tumbling through her head.
"At the height of the Herrscher of Void's power our sensors detected her energy output at over 4000 HW. Ningyo, what do you make of her?"
The cyborg stretched out a hand and grasped Mei's bicep. Dark eyes flickered briefly with blue symbols.
"Nominal Honkai energy levels consistent with Valkyrja possessing artificial stigma, Dr Tesla, Frederica. No Herrscher energy detected."
"You've learned to mask yourself?" Tesla inquired.
Mei shook her head.
"Approach the problem differently, Doctor. The Herrscher of the Void radiated that much power because she didn't care about anybody in close proximity. I, on the other hand, am not homicidal. I don't want to spite Kiana after her own sacrifice to save this city. I'm turning my energy inward. This body isn't accustomed to this much power. Restraining it takes a great deal of focus."
"She hasn't slept once since finding me," Kiana added.
"What do you make of her, K423?"
Kiana responding more strongly and positively to her experimental serial name than her actual one. That was a bad habit Mei was going to beat out of her. With her guilt complex it would take time. But Mei wasn't going to let the foolish girl out of her sight anytime soon.
"I can recall what I did as the Herrscher. Mei is strong. But there is still a difference between us."
The Herrscher of Lightning snorted.
"Like I said early, three cores doesn't make you any bigger. Besides, it's not the size of the core, it's the Otto you're killing it with."
Kiana frowned.
"Ever since you reawakened you've become… well you've become a bit of a bitch. I'm getting tired of you just—"
All the water within thirty centimetres of Mei disappeared. Piping hot water rushed in to fill the void, sending ripples and waves sloshing about the indoor bath. Mei's eyes were that distinct crimson with a vertical pupil.
"I didn't even think about that little trick. I could probably disintegrate the entire building if I started putting real effort in. The entire city is alive because I'm directing almost all my will toward keeping this power in check. Cut me a little slack. You must understand, Kiana, that we're fundamentally different people.
Firstly, there is the difference in psyche. Even if you've partially accepted yourself as a Herrscher, you have no desire to be one and at an unconscious level hate it. That cognitive dissonance means you're not tapping into your full potential. I have embraced being one.
Secondly, your Herrscher aspect is divided from your human aspect. Whatever lies within you, it hates you and wishes to be free of its prison. You spend too much time fighting it and cannot use all of your power without risking letting it loose. Inside my mind that voice is gone. The Raiden Mei you once knew is gone. She is fused with the Herrscher into something that has accepted herself, both the positive and negative aspects.
Finally…"
Mei's aggressive rebuttal slowed. Her body language changed from antagonistic to more composed, more gentle. There was a sympathetic touch to her voice and genuine empathy in her eyes.
"… Your body isn't like mine, Kiana-chan. I'm just a human at the end of the day. Trying to hold this much power is pushing me close to breaking point. Your body, who you are, was built to house the power of a Herrscher. The Schariac and Kaslana families with their natural stigmata, the genes of the Herrscher spliced into you, the Cores in synchronicity with their host. You are the perfect vessel. And I hate Otto for that. I hate him for making you his tool. And I thank him for bringing into existence someone who I love and cherish. A friend that saved me at my lowest moments.
I'm facing an upward battle, Kiana-chan. But I'll make it because you and all my other friends and family are worth it. I'll bear this burden because you are worth it. Because you matter."
Mei sighed and sunk deep into the water, her nose barely above the surface, her now clearly fatigued features speaking much of the struggle she kept hidden behind a snarky attitude. Kiana bobbed over and hugged Mei. Rested her head on Mei's shoulder. The two friends said nothing. The gentle hiss of steam and lap of water at the edge of the bath covered the room.
It was up to Dr Tesla to break the moment
"You haven't slept?"
"Mmm."
"How long do you think you can keep going?"
There wasn't anything that needed to be said. Just the slow shake of Mei's head.
"Ningyo and I will leave immediately."
"Just the pair of you?" Kiana asked.
"If Mei is this exhausted the trip might just put her over the edge. She needs to conserve her energy."
"Your plan?"
Tesla grinned and pointed at Kiana.
"You, of course. You are familiar with the lake seven kilometres north of the Arc City perimeter wall?"
"The one infested with aquatic Honkai beats?"
"Perfect place to hide the Helios. The crew are waiting on standby. I won't signal them. That might give their position away. I hid my Hephaestus Mech at the city perimeter. Ningyo and I will pilot the Hephaestus to their location and ready the ship. Then I'll signal you. You use your Void powers to travel to us and we're off. There's a Honkai faraday cage within the Helios. Mei can rest safely until I come up with a more permanent solution."
Kiana frowned.
"It's not as easy as clicking my fingers. I cannot just open a Void portal anywhere yet. There are gaps that I step through. The father away, the harder it is for me to find the right gap. Once you signal, we may have to travel some distance to find the right gap."
Everyone looked to the silent and previously ignored fifth occupant of the bath. Amarant sat at the far end of the bath and watched everyone with fearful eyes. Dr Tesla appraised the guide.
"I can pay you a great deal. Just guide these two to wherever they need to go as fast as possible. Dangerous back alleys, busy markets, vertically up buildings if necessary. Just get them wherever Kiana needs to go."
"I'll also need time," Kiana added. "Opening a portal across such a distance will need a great deal of Void energy."
"How long?"
"Probably a few minutes."
"Let's hope Schicksal, World Serpent and the Arc City defences are looking elsewhere."
Mei pulled her boots on. The bath had made a significant difference. Her body wasn't a leaden blob anymore. The static numbness in her extremities had faded too. The pressure still remained behind her eyes and it would only continue to build unless given a chance to vent.
"Ready?" Kiana asked.
Mei grabbed her jacket. It was now just a matter of waiting for the signal. She noticed Kiana tapping one foot impatiently.
"You're not going anywhere, you know," Mei said bluntly.
"Huh?"
"Don't play idiot with me."
Amarant coughed from where she stood far back from the pair.
"Should I give you two some-"
"No," the two Herrscher responded.
"What do you mean, Mei?"
"I know exactly what you're thinking. We've been together so long it's not hard. You put on a brave face or pretend to be a fool. You also think you're fooling me. It's a poor act to my eyes. I know you're grim and serious when I'm not looking. I'm telling you again, you're not going anywhere."
Kiana's body language was defensive. Mei gave not an drop of sympathy as she continued.
"You want to know why Otto did what he did? Because he wants to control you. It's one thing to have a mindless puppet that he grew and then gives orders to. It's another to let you see the world for yourself. He wanted you to live. He wanted you to make friendships and connections. Otto wanted you to experience joy so it would be easier to manipulate you. The Overseer doesn't need to track you down. He never did. He might not even have the strength to capture you. But he can go after the Major, Bronya or myself. He can target the people you cherish the most. He'll take us and give you an ultimatum. And you'll come running to him because no matter how much you deny it you love us with all your heart and soul. You'll do anything and commit you heart toward whatever he wants because of the consequences. Running off to some random wilderness won't save anyone. It'll kill everyone. He'll make an example of one of us just to drive home the point. Then he'll threaten the rest. If you hide and keep your distance, then you have as good as killed anyone you've ever cared about."
Mei sighed slowly.
"I get you're hurting. I really do. I felt the same. Yet you still held our your hand. Stop being a hypocrite and show some actual trust in us. We'll protect you and you'll protect us. If the threat of the Herrscher of the Void weighs so heavily on your conscience then know that I will stop her and bring you back much as you did for me."
There wasn't any flicker. Nor was there any sound. Mei rushed Kiana with a blade in hand. The silver-haired girl was fast. Mei in her disabled state was faster still. They ended with the blade at Kiana's throat. Time dialled back to normal. Amarant flinched when she realised what had happened.
"The Herrscher of the Void might possess incredible powers, but she cannot think or move as fast as I can. I can tear your throat our before your brain has even registered the information being sent by your retina. All that Herrscher energy within I can draw out immediately. Before you even open a Void portal or summon a lance I've acted. You are powerful. So am I."
Mei removed the blade from Kiana's throat and slipped it back up her sleeve. She slowly took Kiana's hands in her own.
"I'll watch over you. I'll listen to you. I'll keep you in line if something goes wrong."
Mei held a hand up and clenched it tightly.
"I'll help you train so that you command the Herrscher within, the Honkai power within, not the other way around."
Kiana grimaced and looked at the ground out of the corner of her eye.
"That was a cute little speech," she muttered.
"Spent most of my time in the bath thinking it. Pretty proud of myself."
"2 out of 10."
Mei thumped Kiana's arm affectionately. Their moment was interrupted the ting of a phone message. Mei withdrew the phone from her pocket and read the message
[Trouble. Looks like Arc City defences found my mech. Been slowed down. Get ready to move now. Should be fine when you jump.]
Mei showed Kiana the message. Kiana hissed.
"They know we're here."
"Likely my fault."
"Too late to complain. I will need a moment."
Kiana stepped back and closed her eyes. She less saw the world and more felt it. In her mind she knew her destination. She could picture the lake with the bubbling Honkai crabs and squid, its dark water drinking all nearby light. Feeling a gap in this phase of existence, Kiana traced back the corridor to an entry point. The image bloomed in her mind's eye.
"A tall building. Modern construction. Surrounded by apartments and older structures. Parks on the ground. There are large letters on the side. AM. Beneath is ANI."
"AM-ANI automation and machinery," Amarant said from her corner. "I can get us there. If we use public transport, then it's fifteen minutes."
"No. We go on foot."
"An hour at most."
Mei's shark smile unnerved Amarant.
"Remember. If we are caught they will interrogate you. Try to imagine how pleasant it will be."
The blue haired woman nodded slowly.