Chapter Two: The Artificial Extraterrastial Mage
Inside a hospital room, Homura could be seen lying unconscious on a bed with his hands and legs bound. On his body, multiple tubes and wires could be seen connected to him.
In the neighbouring room, looking at the sleeping Homura through a one-way glass window, was Nanoha and the others.
Of the nine mages present, only the Three Aces and Vita were injured. The ones with the heaviest injuries were the Three Aces, but they managed to get away with only a few broken bones and a fractured arm each.
"What are the results, Shamal?"
Pointed her pointer at the holographic screen that showed Homura's body, Shamal began her explanation.
"After the examination, it's clear that this boy is an Artificial Mage, one with exceptional magical power reaching at least S Rank."
Hearing Shamal's words, Fate's expression slightly soured.
"However, that isn't the boy's most defining trait."
Calling up another holographic screen, Shamal pointed at the picture on it.
"As you can see, this boy possesses a bizarre cellular structure never seen before in humans."
"Upon a more comprehensive investigation, I discovered that other than human genes, this boy also holds extraterrestrial genes within his body. What's more is that his alien genes are overwhelming a large portion of his human genes, making him more alien than human."
"It is also likely that those genes are the reason for his capability to use the device you took from him."
"...What about his human genes? Have you found out where they came from?"
Taking a moment to digest the information, Hayate switched the subject and asked.
"Not yet. But there is a high chance that the human genetic parent has already passed on."
Shamal answered, shaking her head.
*Beep!* *Beep!* *Beep!*
A rapid beeping could be heard from one of the holographic screens that showed Homura's brain activity, attracting the attention of the mages.
"It seems like he's waking up."
...
"Ngh..."
Letting out a soft groan, Homura slowly opened his eyes.
Trying to sit up, Homura felt his arms and legs chafe against his restraints.
"..."
Frowning, Homura turned his head to survey his surroundings.
'I'm in a...hospital?'
From the dozen of medical equipment around him and the tubes attached to him, Homura quickly deduced his location.
'The Evol-Driver and the bottles were taken.'
Looking down at his body, Homura found that his clothes were changed and his possession had been taken.
However, Homura was relatively unworried as he was aware that he was the only one who can use the Evol-Driver.
'Should I break out? The restraints aren't that tight, and there isn't anything to restrict my powers.'
As Homura was contemplating whether or not he should escape, the sound of doors sliding open could be heard.
"You're awake."
Lifting his head, Homura found the Three Aces walk in with the Wolkenritter in tow.
"Yagami Hayate, Takamachi Nanoha and Fate Testarossa, the TSAB's Three Aces. I suppose those four behind you three are the Wolkenritter."
Having studied up on all of the prominent members of the TSAB, Homura quickly identified his visitors.
"Hoh...Seems like you have studied us."
Raising an eyebrow, Signum commented at Homura's knowledge.
"...What do you intend to do to me? Are you going to throw me into prison for stealing a Relic? Or do you intend for me to give you information about the Doctor?"
There wasn't a need to hide his affiliation with the Doctor, considering that only the Doctor had access to the Gadget Drones that initiated the attack on the ruins.
"Will you give us that information?"
This time, it was Nanoha who spoke.
"No."
Without hesitation, Homura mercilessly crushed that tiny hope that Nanoha had on gaining any information about Jail.
"However, I do not mind telling you other things."
Homura added without any change in his expression.
"Why the sudden cooperativeness?"
At Homura's offer, Vita couldn't help but feel suspicious.
"Think of it as a reward for being capable of defeating me, even though it happened while I was weakened."
With a thin smile, Homura mocked.
"You-!"
"Vita-chan!"
Angered by Homura's provocation, Vita moved towards him but was stopped by Hayate.
"In exchange for my freedom, I will tell everything I know except information about the Doctor."
Homura continued, his face reverting back to its default blank state.
"Other than information about Jail Scaglietti, we don't have much to ask."
Hayate said.
"Then, that's too bad."
With a sigh, Homura tensed his muscles and pulled.
*Pak!* *Pak!* *Pak!* *Pak!*
With four consecutive snaps, the restraints that held Homura to the bed broke.
*Fwoosh!*
In a blink of an eye, Homura disappeared from the bed and reappeared at the room's entrance.
"Ciao."
Without waiting for anyone to react, Homura said his farewell and quickly ran out of the room.
'The damage was more significant than I expected. Just one teleportation already tired me out.'
Although he looked perfectly fine, Homura's back was soaked with sweat.
"Hey! Stop!"
The voices of Nanoha and the others could be heard as their rapid footsteps echoed throughout the hallway.
'I need to find the Evol-Driver and the bottles before I can leave.'
Sharpening his senses, Homura tried to feel for the presence of Nebula Gas.
'Over there!'
After a few seconds, Homura looked to his right to find a room with the sign, [Maintanence Room], by its door.
Running into the room, Homura ignored the woman that was stunned by his sudden entrance and dashed towards the table that had his Evol-Driver and bottles.
Grabbing his Evol-Driver, Homura placed it onto his waist, allowing its belt to fasten itself.
"Freeze!"
Just as he was about to insert his Evolbottles into the slots, Homura was faced with multiple weapons pointed at him.
"..."
Without transforming, Homura's current weakened state left Homura with no other choice but to raise his arms in surrender.
...
Having been subdued, Homura was brought back to his hospital room with multiple binding spells placed on him.
"So, what do you want to know."
Since he was currently incapable of escaping, Homura decided to cooperate with Nanoha and the rest.
Realizing that having too many people interrogate him may be stressful, the group decided to send Fate to question Homura.
"Then let's start with introductions first."
Fate began the interrogation with a kind smile.
"Homura."
"I see. That's a nice name."
"..."
Despite being slightly annoyed by Fate treating him like a child, Homura remained silent and kept a calm face. Though technically, he was still a child.
"Can you tell me what this is?"
Picking up the Evol-Driver, Fate asked.
"That's the Evol-Driver, the device that I use to transform into Kamen Rider Kaiser. You shouldn't try using it until you have the required Hazard Level."
"Hazard Level?"
"It means your resistance towards Nebula Gas. To raise your Hazard Level, either through experimentation or continuous usage of purified Fullbottles."
"Nebula Gas? Fullbottle?"
Fate was getting confused by the unfamiliar terms that Homura was saying.
"You see that bottle over there?"
Using his chin to point at the Phoenix Fullbottle among the Evolbottles, Homura continued.
"That's a Fullbottle. By shaking it, you are introducing purified Nebula Gas into your body and slowly raising your Hazard Level. You can try doing so if you want to, it won't harm your body. But you don't have to do it if you don't trust me."
Homura explained, earning a few suspicious looks from the mages in the other room.
"...I'll trust you."
After some hesitation, Fate picked up the Phoenix Fullbottle and replied with a smile.
Shaking the Fullbottle, Fate felt her body start to heat up, and her wounds begin to itch.
Seeing that Fate's body was starting to turn pinkish, Homura knew that the Phoenix Fullbottle's effects were kicking in.
"The Phoenix Fullbottle can enhance your self-regeneration, allowing you to increase your healing speed. After a few more shakes, the damage I dealt on you should be mostly healed."
Fate couldn't help but believe Homura's words, as the pain from her fractured arm and broken bones had mostly subsided as she shook the Fullbottle.
"It's hard to believe that Scaglietti can make these Fullbottle things."
Placing the Phoenix Fullbottle back onto the table, Fate's voice was filled with surprise.
"Because he didn't make them. The Doctor found the Fullbottles."
Homura denied Fate's assumption.
"He found them?"
Intrigued by Homura's words, Fate asked for clarification.
"Alongside the alien genes that are inside my body, the Doctor found the Fullbottles and a damaged Evol-Driver from the base when he first moved there. The only reason why he was able to fix the Evol-Driver and make the Evolbottles was that he had the Pandora Box to help him."
"Pandora Box?"
"It's an extremely powerful Lost Logia, which has the power to destroy the entire world upon completion. Not even the TSAB's Headquarters or the entirety of Midchilda would be spared from destruction."
Hearing Homura's explanation of the Pandora Box, an expression of shock appeared on everyone present, except for Homura.
"Then we have to retrieve it immediately! Before Jail can complete it!"
Fate unconsciously shouted.
"That's impossible. The Pandora Box is missing two panels, making it impossible to be completed. Unless the Doctor can find a natural pure-blooded Blood Tribe alien, he can only dream of completing the Pandora Box."
Homura quickly dismissed the worries of Fate and the others.
"How can you be so sure?"
Fate couldn't but ask upon hearing Homura's calm voice.
"That's because the Blood Tribe has only one pure-blood member left, and he isn't very receptive of people like the Doctor. Besides, the Doctor isn't even aware of this method."
"If Scaglietti isn't aware of your method, why is it that you know of it?"
Fate was beginning to become suspicious of Homura.
"Haven't you heard of genetic memory? Even if they are only fragments, they still hold some important information."
A faint mocking expression appeared on Homura's face as he answered Fate's suspicion.
"...Alright then."
Though still somewhat sceptical of Homura, Fate chose to believe him and began on a new page of questions.
...
Having completed her interrogation of Homura, Fate returned to the neighbouring room.
"It's still kind of unbelievable that Scaglietti managed to get hold of such a dangerous Lost Logia. Even if it is incomplete, we have to retrieve it from him and keep it locked away inside the TSAB's vault."
With a resolute expression, Hayate declared.
"I'm with you on that, but we have no clue as to where to even start searching."
Nanoha said, reminding Hayate about the fact that Scaglietti has remained uncaptured by the entire TSAB for many years already.
"All we can do right now is trust Homura's words. There isn't really much we can do about the Pandora Box."
Fate added on, dousing cold water on Hayate's burning will.
"...Haaaaah...Then what should we do..."
Feeling somewhat depressed at the two-in-a-row rejection, Hayate asked dispiritedly.
"Just what we've always been doing. I'm sure that we will be able to find Scaglietti on the way, so we shouldn't let it hinder our progress."
Nanoha suggested optimistically.
"Heh...Guess so."
Seeing the ever-smiling expression on Nanoha, Hayate couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
"What about the brat?"
Pointing at the sleeping Homura with her thumb, Vita asked.
"Hm...I don't really know. Even if we imprison him, Scaglietti can most likely create another one of him."
Glancing at Homura, Hayate thought about what they should do with the boy.
"...Why don't we hire him as a Contract Mage?"
Fate suddenly suggested.
"Eh?"
Caught off guard by Fate's suggestion, the other let out a confused sound.
"Considering that he was using non-lethal force in our fight and that he gave us some valuable information, we should be able to limit Homura's punishment to probation instead of imprisonment."
"But he is still an enemy agent! There is a chance that he might backstab you in the middle of a battle!"
Vita shouted.
"When I was talking to Homura. I could feel that he didn't really like Scaglietti, and since he was relatively cooperative, I think that he can be trusted."
Fate insisted with a determined voice.
"...Hah...Fine."
Understanding that she wouldn't be able to change Fate's mind, Vita relented.
"Then, I'll leave negotiating with him to you."
Placing her hand on Fate's shoulder, Hayate said with a refreshing smile.
"Eh!? You aren't going to help me!?"
Fate asked with a shocked expression.
"Of course not. The boy has interacted with you more, and he seems to trust you the most out of all of us. So it's obvious that you be the one to recruit him."
With the expression of 'obviously' on her face, Hayate replied.
"We'll leave it to you then, Testarossa. See you later."
Patting Fate's shoulder, Signum left the room followed by Hayate and the other Wolkenritter.
"Good luck. I'll see you at your house later."
With a smile, Nanoha also left the room while waving goodbye.
"Nanoha!?"
Shocked by the 'betrayal' of her friends, Fate couldn't help but fall to her knees.
"This can't be..."