Discordant Harmony
Chapter 7
The Power of Capitalism
"You do not get
What you want.
You get what you
Negotiate."
(Harvey Mackay)
"Mimi! Attack is coming to the right, dodge!" Whispered her ally as he jumped on the wall and his sticky boots activated. He ran on the wall of an abandoned warehouse as he unloaded a fresh new clip of phaser rounds, yet his target weaved through them naturally as if dancing. He warned her of another kukri blade having been thrown at his sister, this woman seemed to have an innumerable supply.
"So freckin' annoying, ALRIGHT!"
Responded back an annoyed young demi human, yet not at her brother Hetaro who had issued the warning, but at the foe in front of their eyes. This woman simply was in a different class unto herself. Mimi gritted her teeth as she pulled out another two fragmentation grenades and chucked them at her.
Yet, to her annoyance once more Elsa smiled as she cut them cleanly in half with impeccable timing. She licked her lips as she kept a wary eye out for her third target. She couldn't see the remaining of the triplets, and she would be called a fool if she thought he had died from her sudden ambush. His clever mind exhibited itself among his smooth and rapid command to his siblings.
Her eyes also twitched in irritation, as she had let this game go on for far too long. Her target had already disappeared several minutes ago, and she still couldn't see the guts of one of these munchkins. She sighed as she forcibly activated her hidden power and smirked:
[Zero Ignition: Cursed Doll Amplification, Freeform]
She gritted her teeth as her brain went into an overload mode, yet just as quickly her special abilities healed any lingering headaches and with new eyes she appraised this small skirmish:
"So slow, so meek, so vulnerable to cold, sharp, nano carbon tungsten metal piercing those soft, squishy entrails. Ahhh, the excitement to see your guts, is truly stimulating!"
"Ya crazy as fuck lady, now drop dead, TIVEY DO IT!"
Mimi and Hetaro were done buying time for their final sibling as he commed them on their Metias to get the hell out of the warehouse. They dashed as fast as their Zweven boots allowed and rolled out of the warehouse before they heard Tivey declare with excitement:
"Phase 2 of soaring eagle, dancing tiger complete, Art… Is an Explosion!"
As he finished saying his chunni words, which made Mimi and Hetaro feel pity for their forever single sibling, the warehouse erupted in green fire and blue sparks of electricity. Tivey had ignited the charges they brought with them, and they were truly the highest quality Plasma bombs and EMP grenades on the black market, so deadly they weren't permissible to be sold legally. Luckily, Anastasia Hoshin's companions were always ready for everything, as is the Iron Fang's way.
They all sighed in relief as they looked at each other and bumped fists. Mimi laughed in glee as she pounced up and down excitedly and said:
"Yoo, that lady was scary wasn't she? If it weren't for the three of us always bein' prepared we might be toast!"
Hetaro and Tivey nodded their heads in unison as they both voiced their opinions:
"That Crimean Assassin was a monster, no doubt about it." Hetaro stated as he wiped sweat off his eyebrow.
"We shot her over two dozen time with high impact phaser rounds, which can melt metal and she regenerated almost immediately." Tivey said as Hetaro interjected.
Yeah what was up with that?! If it weren't for the plan to lure her in the explosion, this battle could have been the end for us!"
Mimi was saddened briefly as the toughest fight of her life could have ended with their death's, yet her eyes grew in excitement as she replied back to her flustered brothers.
"Look on the bright side! Yo, we beat the Crimean Assassin Elsa! Ricardo and Julius are gonna be so jealous, hope Boss gives us head pats and some creds to play around the city once all the craziness dies down!"
Hetaro couldn't help it, he gasped in joy and chuckled as he knew perfectly well that the personality of their captain, and the knight of Anastasia Hoshin. They would be pouting in jealousy for sure!
"Ana-Sama ain't one to skimp out! She'll take us to the best restaurants and splurge I bet. After all she had always wanted to be rid of El-."
His words where cut off as he felt dizzy and funny, and he looked down and saw with confused eyes a blade that was stabbed in his abdominal areas, he grew woozy and almost fainted as both Mimi and Tivey screamed in despair.
"BROOOO!"
As they rushed to him they were intercepted by the Assassin, yet her eyes contained no mirth, as half her flesh on her face seemed to have melted off, yet again. In less than a minute her smooth, dangerous, alluring façade came back, as if she hadn't just been subjected to temperatures exceeding 700 Fahrenheit. As both of the remaining uninjured siblings trembled in fear, Elsa chuckled with no emotions as she coldly concluded:
"Enough games you irritating trio of worthless talents. I gave my precious time and even wanted to see some guts but no more, I am FURIOUS! My target is gone like the wind by now, and my reputation will be in shambles if it's heard some minors stopped ME, from executing a contract! Now, prepare to-."
"Hiya, I know a thing or two about contracts, wanna sign one with lil' ol me?"
Before Elsa could even react in surprise, Anastasia de-cloaked herself using the Veil Technology that Flugel had developed, turning the user invisible and nearly impossible to be detected. Only 5 existed in the world, and Ana had to pay an absurd amount of credits and favors to get the real deal. However, that is Anastasia Hoshin, one that is always ready for anything. She quickly picked up the unconscious Hetaro after administered a few shots of nanobots that would mend the wound in about ten to twenty minutes and staunch the bleeding as they treated any internal organs.
Her smile was well practiced, yet her eyes were devoid of her usual humor, this bitch had injured one of her only friends and someone she treated as her little brother. The merchant would find the best way to win, there was no doubt about it.
As both women looked at each other, a fierce battle of wits began.
Elsa looked at her opponent that barely reached her chest and smiled as she relaxed again and thought:
"Anastasia Hoshin, CEO of Hoshin Conglomerate, one of the richest people alive, yet their dossier is filled with strife and sad stories. Of being abused and whipped as a child and fending for herself at the tender age of 7. How pitiful, how my heart yearns to comfort her past self, by stabbing it until it beats no more. Death, is always the solution to every problem. Besides, she has no potential combat abilities. It's said she is frail from overworking herself and a hidden disease that is rumored but has never been proven. Interesting, to see the guts of someone terminally ill, yet enough games, I don't have the time."
"So, by contract what do you mean Anastasia-Sama?" Elsa replied as she was already getting ready to pull out her knifes, yet the following words made her drop all pretense of killing them.
"I can free ya from that dreadful contract with Capella Emerada Lugnica."
A short phrase, yet a devastating one for the assassin as she reeled in shock and for the first time showed anger in her eyes as she fearfully said:
"That's impossible, no one can do that and live. Nor would they continue living after Mama heard these words full of deceit and content. "
However, looking at Anastasia standing in front of the relieved Tivey and Mimi who checked on their brother with worried frowns, she seemed to not be bluffing. Elsa truly thought her world was turned upside down, and as she thought of the possibilities her instincts acted first, to test the ability of the so called Queen of Foresight.
She threw a kukri blade aimed at Anastasia's throat, yet the blade shattered as a simmering force field appeared around the Merchant Queen's body. A high fluctuating barrier that seemed to dim as the force of the knife was too much and it petered out as it died. Anastasia never flinched nor missed her opportunity as she declared to the stunned Elsa:
[Zero Ignition: Art of The Deal. Compound Interest mode: Freeform Contract]
Anastasia's multiple releases from her zero chip almost made her bleed out of her eyes and pass out, yet the attributes were forming. Her mind hyper analyzed the situation, informed her of the invested dividends in each action, of the equity she stood to lose if she failed, and the investment she would gamble with.
Her eyes smirked as she used Art of the Deal and replied back to Elsa who was confused as to how every word this woman in front of her said swayed her unstable mind set:
"The only one losin' out of this little spat between us gals is you, Elsa. Even if you successfully manage to kill me and my companions, which I can assure ya, you won't. You'll still have to deal with Capella's fury that you couldn't manage your mission. Add on to that the contract you signed to supposedly take out Subaru's life with who I can assume are the Luddites of Gusteko, then ya really don't possess that much of a foreseeable future. However, if we analyze the conditions you're in, then don't ya think you stand much more to gain with this lil miss? Think, Elsa, think, who else cares for ya? Or your sister Melli? No one gives a rat's ass, but here I am, out of the kindness of my small, tender heart, trying to give ya a chance? Even after you hurt one of my adorable little bro's? And you seem to throw it away like if it was a snake about to rip out that throat. Let's see here, working for me? Gettin' paid better than most people in this free market world. Two? You get to see your sister Melli more, maybe she can even play with the young ones, after curbin' y'alls murderous habits after all. Three? Freedom to a certain degree, certainly better than what ya suffer under that vile woman which I know you fear with body and mind. So what'll it be? Time's money, and ya wastin' mine."
Elsa couldn't be more surprised as her eyes briefly shook and she thought of her sister, of what they went under the cruel and dangerous entity known as Capella. However, much she wanted to deny it, mind and soul were in agreement.
Accepting this contract would be for the best after all, wouldn't it? Her mind seemed to deviate under the normal macabre one as her logical side wanted her to already sign the contract and be done with it. What was this pressure?
This intimidating girl in front of her who she had dismissed as just a small target to get rid of suddenly became as large as a sequoia tree. Tall and unfathomable. Mighty yet humble, such words which she would never usually listen to shook her mind to shreds, she was unaware of how successful Anastasia was at getting what she wants. After all, she is a greedy gal, and this bitch hadn't paid the price for injuring her little brother.
As Elsa pondered these thoughts, Anastasia dipped her head and said:
"Hmph, keep bein' a slave to that crazy bitch, let's go gang, we have other places to be at, ya know?"
Tivey, Mimi, and a recently awakened yet still weakened Hetaro shook their heads at the audacity of their boss. How her tiny form who doesn't even wield weapons could exert such an aura of authority.
Elsa tried to regain her usual mind set as a cold murderous assassin, however due to Ana's ability she felt as if she was exposed, her soul and true self laid bare for the world to see. She shook her head as before she even contemplated signing a devil's pact with this sly fox, to at least confirm some things:
"Wait, how do you know I serve under Mama? And how do you even know about Melli!"
Anastasia furrowed her delicate brows as she put her hands in her pockets and shrugged as she replied:
"When will people stop underestimatin' the Hoshin network? When I tell em' what they ate last night? Or how many people are not loyal and cheat with scum? Maybe when I inform em' about the illegal shady activities they do at the seedy parts of tha world. Anyway, just know I'll protect ya, but I got conditions. This lil lass hasn't been hoodwinked before, and it ain't starting now."
Elsa gritted her teeth, yet she saw an opportunity to escape the clutches of the woman she feared with all her soul, she whispers quietly, yet Anastasia heard her just fine due to her own cybernetic enhancements. Suiting her more for spy craft than humble leader of a global conglomerate:
"What.. are these conditions you speak of?"
Anastasia chuckled as she thought:
"Hook, Line, And Sinker."
She replied casually, as if without a care in the world:
I will employ, you and Melli, as well as keep you from Capella's wrath as for the following conditions are met,
"Don't touch Natsuki Subaru
Don't betray me or my allies
Thirty day contract
And you'll be at my beck and call."
"Like the Bitch you are," however these thoughts were kept to Anastasia as she smiled innocently and then proffered her hand to Elsa and continued:
Well' whatcha' waitin on? Let's deal!"
Elsa still hesitated but her logical side won out and she shook hands with Anastasia Hoshin, who just smiled mischievously as the parasitic nano worm weaved its way into Elsa's brain without her even knowing a dormant virus was resting in her frontal lobe. Yet, before Elsa could scurry away Anastasia's eyes hardened as she declared:
"Ay, where ya goin' so casually, isn't it proper to show some respect to your new mistress?"
Elsa's eyes shook as she gulped down her humiliation and bowed slightly as she replied:
"Elsa Granhiert, the Crimean Assassin, vows to uphold her oath by the dragon's name."
"Not bad, but that bow was a bit… lackin'? Lower."
Contested Anastasia as her eyes became steel and Elsa just realized she may have made a mistake, yet there is no cure for regret. She bowed deeper, yet the Merchant Queen wasn't satisfied and yet again said:
"Lower."
Elsa was trembling with rage but got down on one knee, Anastasia smirked yet whispered to her ear:
"Get on yer fuckin' knees, this the price for hurtin' someone dear to me."
She was so furious she wanted to slash her throat, yet her instincts told her she would die the minute she did and she got on both knees as Anastasia pushed her head to the floor with her posh boot and smirked as she cheerfully said:
'Much better, I'll be expectin' great things from ya, Elsa-Chan, now get outta here, I'll contact you when needed."
"Yes…. Mistress."
Elsa left as her rage collided with her survival instinct, and Anastasia saw her off with a joyful wave of her hand.
When all was said and done they departed from each other, Ana asked the triplets who were each carrying a still weakened Hetaro:
"Hey, y'all did great munchkins, we'll go eat some burgers once this crisis is over with, ya hear me?"
All three looked excited, yet Tivey, the more reasonable one of the trio asked his mistress a question:
"Don't you think you let her off a bit too lightly, I mean sure Hetaro is fine for now and will recover, but we almost died."
Here Anastasia sighed and hugged all three of them as she fiercely declared:
'Y'all my family, and I'll be damned if anythin' happens to y'all without any swift retribution. Don't worry Elsa and Melli will come work for us, but after a month, don't blame this young lil miss for doin' something rash."
As her eyes hinted at a promise of future revenge she almost forgot the reason they were in Neo Shibuya at the residential sector. She hurriedly looked at the triplets and questioned:
"So, y'all met Natsuki Subaru? How is he as a person? I'm mighty curious to be honest."
Mimi's eyes widened in surprise as she exclaimed in joy:
"He was such a badass, facing off that scary lady while saying 'come and have a go, if you're tough enough! Nobody actually ever say such weird words, but they sounded cool!"
Here Anastasia chuckled as she was glad the trio was ok and Subaru was alright for the moment. She couldn't move just yet, however her knight and bishop, Julius and Ricardo respectively, were on her orders to intercept any outside threats. She looked at the darkening sky and wondered:
"Natsuki-san, I can't wait to meet ya. I wonder, if ya will be the key to this fractured map I received?"
(Scene Change)
"Sissy to your left!" Shouted out a blue haired girl that grasped a man and punched him with such force he was sent fifteen feet away and crashed against other low level mercenaries.
Ram heard her dear sister and dodged a spike plasma spear as she pirouetted and threw a seemingly invisible boomerang that grew in size as she shouted:
[Zero Ignition: Storm of Fula!]
And the boomerang grew in size and the gale force ripped some people asunder as they howled in pain. She sidestepped someone else as her weapon returned to her hand and she elbowed them in the face, causing the mercenary to crumple on the ground like a sack of potatoes.
She shook off that weird analogy and glanced briefly to see how her mistress was doing, and was shocked to see her sweating and seemingly out of energy. However, one glance at the enemy confirmed why. Three Life Drain specialists, people who could use their advanced cybernetics to make a person fatigued beyond exhaustion simply by being within five feet of them, where surrounding Emilia as they made her so tired she just wanted to lay her head down on the ground and pass out.
With growing alarm and unease she shouted to Rem:
"Rem-nii, our Lady is in danger!"
Rem was about to curse, yet the sky trembled as they all looked up. It seemed a whisper quiet helicopter was passing by yet something darted out of the transport and seemed to approach the ground.
"What the hell… are they insane?" Axel, the mercenary leader muttered under his breath."
The individual landed on the ground with such righteous force that the ground shook and the battle where Emilia, Rem, and Ram where taking part seemed to quiver and no one had steady footing.
He got up and dusted himself off, blue hair tied in a long ponytail radiated in the darkening sun and twilight of an epoch, as he declared who he was with a smirk and a raised samurai sword:
"Cecilus Segmunt, on orders to capture the women known as Emilia. Now, this is so tiresome, sigh. Fuck, Vincent really, I just wanted to relax. Fortunately this scenario seems like fun."
He hadn't realized that his magnificent and imposing aura, combined with his landing, facilitated the destruction of the building where the battle took place, and a tired Emilia couldn't hold her footing any longer and fell backwards, as Rem and Ram screamed in despair as their young lady disappeared. Yet, it seemed not really, since another person fell from where Emilia had fallen with a groan and rubbed her head.
"Owwwwww, what the fuck Shaula, why did you push me."
Both Rem, Ram, and Cecilus looked in surprise at the newcomer. They recognized that she looked identical to Emilia, yet contrary to what Emilia was wearing, she was clothed in the darkest black, and seemed to have a pair of tonfas and a short knife in her hand. Before Satella could say anything Rem and Ram grasped her shoulders and looked at her with a confused yet mistrustful expression as they intoned:
"Who are you, and where is our Lady?! Our lady would never utter such profanities, so she can't be you, or is it the other way around, hmmm?"
Satella was just so confused she didn't even know how to roll with what was happening, as the last thing she remembered was the minor tremor of earth and Shaula pushing her away as she clashed with an unknown enemy.
Before she could respond, Cecilus unsheathed his sword and smirked:
"So.. you're Satella, well fair enough. A fair deal indeed, come with me and I'll only hurt you a bit."
Her eyes as well as Rem and Ram's opened in disgust and all three said:
"Scumbag's deserve to perish!"
Surprisingly all three showed good chemistry and chuckled as Satella bounced to the balls of her feet and decided to form a temporary alliance between these two twins. All three looked at Cecilus who relished the challenge and positioned himself as he intoned:
[Zero Ignition: Heavenly Sword, Blue Lighting mode: Freeform]
All three girls felt how strong this man was yet with determined expressions they decided enough words where needed and rushed at him, the battle surely to be legendary, while more confusion was sprouted elsewhere.
(Scene Change)
All she saw was darkness, yet finally she glimpsed a sliver of light and ran to it without arms, legs, or body. Just an intuition that when she reached the light everything would be all right again.
With a groan she waked up to a tiny A.I spirit in front of her eyes, she was bewildered to say the least before the spirit said:
"Hmm, white and purple clothing, yep, despite the identical appearances, you aren't Satella, however if you aren't her, then who are you?"
Emilia was flustered as she just said:
I'm Emilia, just Emilia, I don't even know who Satella is."
"How curious, the fact that both of you are identical and seem to get flustered quickly. However Satella would have already said fuck, she acts like a goody two shoes around Subaru, but she loves to cuss, that weird lass."
Responded back Lamia as she organized that she wasn't a threat. She looked at her real self, Shaula, as she ran across buildings and shouted:
"A little help, wouldn't hurt this first class lady you know dammit!"
Emilia was still shell shocked that she had woken up in such surreal circumstances, but there in front of her eyes was the proof, a crazy looking brown haired girl was jumping off ten story buildings like nothing as she dodged and weaved what seemed like tentacles that were hostile in intention. As Emilia widened her eyes and got up on shaky legs she heard a mirthful chuckle and turned around.
In front of her was a small woman with crimson eyes and short orange reddish hair dressed in provocative clothes. And it seemed her arms and limbs could become fluid and stretch to unimaginable heights as they attacked Shaula . However, the Scorpions lady wasn't one to stay still and yelled:
"[Zero Ignition: Hell Snipe, Glorious Sunshine mode!]:
And it seemed like small balls of energy fused together to become a massive orb that fell down on the woman in front of them, seemingly obliterating her to atoms. However, she came back like nothing and joyously shouted:
"Have you ever seen a Tardigrade? Those little microscopic bugs can even survive radiation and the vacuum of space, what are these insignificant attacks in front of I, Cardinal of the Saint's Holy Order, representing Modesty! Capella Emerada Lugnica!. You sniveling worms and maggots which reek of such lustful thoughts should be purged! Sinful vile pieces of shit, let the purge commence for our lady's hard work to be done! Repent putrid filth,
"[Zero Ignition: Dance of worms]"
"Fuck! That's like the fifth time she's said her name, dammit Lambda gimme some good advice, nothing seems to harm her!"
Yelled Shaula as she prepared other versions of hell snipe yet she morphed into a flea, fly, rodent, anything to avoid being getting hit by her. However, Capella wasn't passive as she launched huge debris at Shaula as she picked up anything from hundreds of pounds of debris, to hover cars, or anything when she morphed her body to her liking.
Emilia didn't like what she was seeing and she steeled her determination to help this queer lady and her spirit A.I as she shouted:
"[Zero Ignition: Balance of Frost]"
She froze Capella as an absolute Kelvin level of temperatures was seen, and it took longer for Capella to become free yet she huffed and panted as she angrily screamed:
"YOU! You're that other girl, the useless one aren't you! The one not loved by all, such as I am. How pitiful, how sad, how I cry for your future. Oh wait! YOU HAVE NONE! Die you sack of meat!"
Multiple tentacles formed as with razor sharp edges they almost skewered Emilia to death, yet Shaula intervened with her pole and scattered them all.
While Capella raged in fury, Shaula had a smile as she shook the still confused Emilia's hand and cheerfully said:
"Hey, you aren't half bad for this first class lady to recognize your skills. Let's say we team up and beat her, I'll make sure Subaru treats you to a meal. He just loves treating everyone so much, hehe."
"Hey he really doesn't, he cries every time you swindle him!" Yelled a pouting Lambda, yet she was ready for this fight to be over as well.
Emilia took a deep breath, and with fire in one hand, and ice in the other she resolutely concluded:
"I ~reaaaally~ want this to be over with. Let's go Shaula-san, Lambda-chan. Time to show this sad woman what true self-worth is." Exclaims Emilia as she brought out her full might:
[Zero Ignition: Calamity of Glaciation, Urban mode]
Author's Notes:
Shit, on a roll I suppose, hope the three people that read this enjoy this chapter! I had a lot of fun writing it. For those curious about Zero Chips, you will see, and only Re:Zero characters have them, but not everyone! Thank you for reading and comment with whatever you want, I'll reply!."
Signing off, Thanks Comrade Elmo and Sussy Baka kill with this chap.