"Volatile Tinderbox"

Earth 1 (Advanced Warfare Dimension)

Unknown Location…

She could only hear her own breathing. Her eyes were closed. Her mind was only half open. She couldn't tell where she was, and when she was in a reality. She once remembered a bright light consumed her. She could remember she had brief memories, between herself and others like her… witches. They were fighting an alien race known to witches for a while… the Neuroi. She could then remember what she felt before she was consumed by that bright light… satisfaction through a victory she never thought possible… thanks to the coordination between the witches of the 502nd Joint Fighter Wing… the Brave Witches. Question is… who was she from all of them?

"Ms. Karibuchi." A woman's voice, identifiable with almost no accent on her English. The girl could tell this woman was Liberion in a way. But while she was listening to the woman, she couldn't make her body respond even with movements. Then she analysed the name the woman called out. There were only two members of the 502nd Joint Strike Wing that had the same surname… Takami, or her younger sister Hikari.

Then Karibuchi, whichever her given name would be, replied weakly. "Who… am I?"

"Whoever you want to be. In any case, we just don't care. When she brought you to us, we only thought that you wouldn't wake up. After all, her only prognosis she gave us is that she gave you a coma on purpose." The woman responded, having been able to be brief towards the girl. "Open your eyes. Slowly. If I'm right, your muscles should start to activate now."

The girl softly groaned and let her face move. Her brows were furrowed at first since she felt that the rest of her body was just getting its senses. She slowly opens her eyes, which first gives her a vision of a blur, with mostly white in the room, but having other details, signifying she might be in a recovery room of a medical facility or barracks. As the blur was clearing up, she looked to her right. She was seeing a blonde woman wearing a black corporate attire. But with the era she last remembers she was in? She doubts that it would be normal attire. That was one thing she noticed.

She then spoke up, moving her head to face the woman. "My body… It's just returning to me. Where am I?" She spoke, having noticed her voice seemed to be younger than Takami's. She must be Hikari if she's able to remember the memories more closely. Then she felt her own skin crawl from her head down to her toes. She grits her teeth and gasped as it finished. The rush of her skin crawling was sudden. "What's going on?!"

"Take it easy," the woman said, nearing the bed railings and putting her hands on it while making eye contact with Hikari. "My name is Erica Hill. You're in a recovery room. And as I told you before, you just woke up from a comatose condition."

"Comatose? Me?" Hikari glares at Erica. "I don't believe you."

Erica was then seeing Hikari as she is with short brown hair and a lighter shade of the same color on the eyes. Then Erica was amazed of something. For a while, Hikari was able to deploy her familiar features as soon as she was showing emotion after a while of being in a coma. Just as Erica was told, there was something special in Hikari. The squirrel ears were shown on Hikari's head. Erica then took a deep breath and decided to calm herself down. The last thing she needed to be is feeling disbelief, and remain objective in all she's experiencing. "Okay, okay. I know you don't need to take it from me. But I'm sure there's a good reason that you were. So… Do you know who you were before you were here?"

"Hm." Hikari seemed to hesitate at first, but she knew she couldn't just hide it any longer. One way or the other, Erica would know anyway. She sighs and gives in, speaking out her name. "Karibuchi, Hikari. That's who I am. How long was I out?"

"If you should know, M.D. told me that you needed to be kept in cryostasis. According to her, you were asleep for two years. She put in a lot of money before ATLAS was ever aware of you. Whoever she was to you, she seems to think of you as an important part of that other world."

"Other world?" Hikari caught those words and repeated them to Erica. Then Hikari was feeling she was about to hear something she never thought possible. "What do you-"

"You're in a parallel Earth, Hikari. Not only that. There's a second factor to where and when you are now. Apart that you're from a parallel Earth, you also took part of a war in your world, similar to ours in the past except there's no alien species involved in ours. You've been sent into the future of this parallel Earth, year 2061." Erica said that slowly to make sure Hikari hears it. Absorbing the information however is a different story altogether.

Hikari is taking the news slowly, keeping the glare of her eyes away from Erica as she looked in other parts of the room, towards her bed and back to the woman. "We just destroyed… a nest."

"A nest?"

"That's the last thing I remember. These Neuroi nests are not always easy to eliminate. Usually, they're a spawning point for the Neuroi that are attacking towns and villages." Hikari then changed the subject. "Didn't whoever put me in stasis tell you anything?"

"No. I don't think so. She only told me you were from that other world. Not every detailed specific of what you were participating in before the memories were supposedly cut." Erica sighs. "You seem to take this well."

Hikari frowns at Erica. "As much as would miss my world… I don't know… For some reason I don't feel like I belong there… and that I belong here instead. Doesn't make sense." Hikari then saw Erica adjusting that bed railing on her side of the bed before she lowers the railing. "Um… Are you letting me walk?"

"According to M.D., you recover faster than usual than the normal human being does. For one thing, that's either magic or something else entirely." Erica said that, stepping back from the bed. And she eventually sees Hikari try to move herself, starting with her legs, one by one over the edge before sitting up. "That's it."

And Hikari noticed she was in a robe of some sort, in a very light green color. She then started to step on her bare foot right on the floor, one by one. She was just getting the feel for both her feet and doing it slowly. Then she had the other foot down while breathing to get her balance. "I hope my sleep was worth it. My friends… I left them behind…"

"If you say so," Erica said. And she had a glare from Hikari.

The matter Hikari was trying to understand just made her a bit upset. "I don't know who this M.D. is."

"It stands for Magical Destroyer. She's a dimensional traveler. According to her, there's no portal that exists, which could transport one subject to a parallel Earth of this one, and in this case yours." Erica was explaining this, hoping to not upset Hikari any longer. "ATLAS had residual data lying around in relation to Project Magic, the name of the contingency plan for ATLAS to escape from this world into yours. According to encrypted traffic, ATLAS lost the last of the residual data to some potential defectors. And if we're right, they have the schematics to Project Magic. The reason Magical Destroyer brought you here, is the fact that you're the last piece to the puzzle."

Hikari was dumbfounded by the plan. "What…? But I can do only so much."

"Not with the body you think you know." Erica sighs. "You better come with me. There's something else you need to know."

It wasn't like there wasn't anything else for Hikari to consider. Something about her identity made her think she's not who she thinks she is. Though strangely, she's taking this new information just steadily.

Earth 2 (Witches' Dimension)

1848 hours…

Barkhorn and Yeager were assigned together to retrieve a stashed army truck that was stored in the case of lack of logistical support for troops. Though this time had to be different, as they needed to get the J.S.U. transportation for themselves. It wasn't logical to carry them all together with the Duchess, so Sakamoto thought of defending the transport from getting hit instead.

Meanwhile, Yoshika was standing on guard with Lynette as they both hovered just at a distance from Barkhorn and Yeager. The two were able to find time while they were alone, so Yoshika started the conversation. "Lynette… About what you said…"

"Yes?" Lynette was just paying attention to Yoshika, noticing the Fusojin wanted something. And relating, she smiled. "I know it appeared it may have been blurted out, but that's true."

"I want to try believing it." Yoshika said it without completing her complete thought. Lynette already sensed there was more to what Yoshika meant. "Lynne, I think I want to make this work." She looked at Lynne's eyes and continued to speak. "I don't know how, but I think I know my instincts tell me… You were there when I was almost immobilized. You kept believing that I can keep moving. And… I should. There's no use just staying in one place."

Lynette nods. "And it all started when Rome was being attacked."

"I felt so much more when I was seeing all those lives being taken away. But it's not fair I shut myself out to those who are helping me recover… most especially you." Yoshika freed one hand and held Lynette's free hand. The Britannian witch felt it was soothing rather than take this by surprise. "Though I never knew I'd want to return the love to you too."

"Yoshika… I-" Lynette's surprise on Yoshika's recent words were accompanied with an interruption to her speech, seeing the Fusojin witch lean in and start a kiss. Lynette receives and gives back, letting them both drown in that kiss for a moment.

It only took a few more seconds just before a voice came to both their earpieces. "Bishop! Miyafuji!" Mio Sakamoto's voice, one with urgency, called out to them. The two girls pulled away from their kiss while blushing at each other. "They're starting to load the J.S.U. along with Duchess Maria. Keep them covered."

On the ground, Shirley was on the left-hand side of the cockpit, driving the truck with Barkhorn seated beside her. Patricia Schade hovered near the driver's side of the cockpit while seeing Bolton's team of infantry witches proceed with Duchess Maria to the truck.

Schade had something in mind and decided to speak to Shirley. "Hey… You got that feeling… Irons… He said something interesting about an eye watching above us from space."

Shirley sighs. "Not surprised. That broadcast was quite creepy."

Barkhorn decided to reply. "If there's truth to what he's saying, then there's a chance that he's just toying with us."

"Maybe," Schade said. "It could creep me less if they started to attack us here and now. I think I know what their next move is."

Shirley saw and felt the truck's rear door was opened. She saw Duchess Maria being loaded into the truck with the help of Kathryn Bolton. "So… I heard you guys had a lot of trouble on the rendezvous."

Bolton found Duchess Maria a seat beside her and decided to talk to the one who spoke to her from the cockpit. "Um… Yeah. Hey… You're Glamorous Shirley, aren't you?"

Shirley winced and smiled. "Yeah! Glad to know you were doing your homework. Um…"

"Kathryn Bolton," Barkhorn said as she looked at the rest of the JSU mounting into the truck. She focused her eyes on the Captain. "Joint Special Forces. I don't always hear or see you, but I think I have an idea of your reputation. Clearing the ground out of the way just to prevent the rest of us witches from encountering them from the sky is pretty impressive."

"I think you exaggerated it," Kathryn replied. "We conduct missions with assistance from a large number of regular infantry."

Shirley was just about to reply when Schade flew away. Not minding it, she continued to reply. "Good work with securing Duchess Maria. Lucchini would have been devastated if anything happened to her."

Duchess Maria gasped when she heard Lucchini's name given by Shirley. "Wait, how is she?!"

"She's fine. But with the developments? Not taking it well," Barkhorn replied. "Rome fell. And the rest of Romagna is well on its way to be in the hands of ATLAS. I wouldn't be surprised if they started to take over the rest of the world by now."

Kathryn shook her head in disapproval. "Even if they have the technology from the other world, they wouldn't rush things too quickly-"

"Maybe you haven't been informed, but Neuroi have started to ally with them!" Barkhorn replied, glaring at Bolton. "Look… We can talk about this when we get back to Sicily. The rest of the squadron are holding position above us." Then Barkhorn noticed something. Just as all of the JSU boarded, she believed she missed one more. The rear door of the truck was closed and she winced at that. "Wasn't there supposed to be one more?!"

Bolton shook her head gently, speaking while unfazed by then. "She's dead."

Barkhorn and Yeager gasped as they both looked at Bolton. They took half a minute to process it until they just decided to leave the matter at a later time. The engine of the truck was started and it was then moving on the dirt road.

Sicily base, occupied by the 501st Joint Fighter Wing…

Minna was at the control tower as she was seeing Commander Lida Yermolayevna flying in and landing on the strip. There was simply no relevant exchange between them on the radio. It's just that Lida didn't decide to contact her at all. As Minna sighs and takes off her communications headset and handing it over to a corporal, she leaves the tower. She immediately heads to the unit hangar…

Lida had just docked her unit when Minna arrived. "Ah, Major."

"What in the hell is going on?!" Minna was somewhat furious of Lida's unexpected arrival without the notification. "Commander, with all due respect, you had your earpiece."

"I lost my earpiece during the battle," Lida said and glared towards Minna. "I don't think there's any need for concern."

"You know that is crap." Minna said it calmly, still looking at Lida without jeopardizing her still demeanor. "I don't know what's more disturbing: Your alleged involvement in Eila's removal from our unit, or you, not regrouping with your own squad given that you are in charge."

"What did you say?!" Lida approached Minna with a controlled rage which allowed her to stop a feet away. "I think we made one thing clear before. You failed in your duties."

"That I have…" Minna didn't finish her statement and kept her eyes, glaring back at Lida. "…but I'm not going to stand a superior officer failing in their own duties. I've known my faults."

Lida snorts at Minna's statement. "Hmph. You're a disaster waiting to happen. What I say goes. We both know that in your failure, you led the unit to be discredited. I'm just making sure to lessen the damages, however I see fit."

And as Minna was about to reply, Lida immediately just walks past, letting her shoulder bump into Minna's without a care and keeps walking. Minna didn't stop the Commander and just looked before she disappeared from her sight. From how Minna sees this, she doesn't believe Lida is going to lead them in the right direction, with the losses their side is facing. She heard engines of striker units from a distance and she could see that Yoshika and Lynette were coming in for a landing. Minna sighs, now thinking of the future of the 501st.

Earth 1 (Advanced Warfare Dimension)

1136 hours…

"What am I… looking at…?!" Hikari had an emotion of shock on her face, seeing something she never thought was possible.

It was a white-themed laboratory chamber. There was an all-black humanoid having no face, and no skin except its very dark exterior. And as Hikari laid eyes on the humanoid that was standing though not alive, something within her subconscious hits her. She identifies with that same humanoid because parts of her felt as if she isn't her own person entirely. The humanoid seemed to resonate being what she is… especially when there were things that didn't add up to her when she woke up… why she only had clear memories of herself when she said her own name… and what her skin had done when she identified herself.

Hikari came to that point that she realized it. "Am I… a shapeshifter?"

Erica was beside her as Hikari was looking at the humanoid dummy stored in the glass box. "Experiment YR-Bravo Niner-Five. Others call it the human shifter. It is able to take the shape of subjects visually represented to them either with the use of data or just with their vision. Though in your case being beyond what an android is, your own consciousness is able to process what you can do."

Hikari lowers her head and closes her eyes. "Now I know why I have my sister's memories too… No… had them for a brief moment before I chose who I should be." She opens her eyes and looks at Erica. "I was looking for a person to emulate. Once I chose who I wanted to identify as, I get the identity. And thanks to that…" Hikari then tapped into her abilities without fear and her skin felt like it crawled.

And Erica saw more as Hikari's appearance and shape was changing. She saw Hikari remove the medical robes as the rest of the body was appearing with its own set of clothing. Soon, Erica was seeing a taller version of Hikari with longer hair and wearing a white naval uniform of sorts. As the shapeshifting was complete, Erica winced at the figure. "Who is-?"

"Takami," Hikari replied. And she noticed that her voice can be switched for Takami's voice. Using Takami's voice, she continued to speak. "She and I flew together in the 502nd Joint Fighter Wing." As she explained, Hikari looked at her own appearance by looking at her arms first, then her legs to examine herself. "I know for a fact Takami wore this uniform most of the time. I guess her 'data' is also around in memory. The rest of them are stored in memory too. I wonder why."

Erica looked at the humanoid dummy, then back at Hikari, who was then appearing as her true self, only wearing a navy-blue naval uniform minus her pants. "Finally taking your more preferred appearance."

"I know myself from the moment I was called in for a spot in the 502nd. Though my past just beyond that time is vague. I guess not all memories can be accurate." Hikari spoke in a flat tone. "I'm not the real Hikari after all."

Erica puts her hand on Hikari's shoulder. "You shouldn't beat yourself up like that. You're just as much as Hikari as you can be. Just… Existing for a different circumstance. Listen… Magical Destroyer needed you in this world to fulfill a purpose, and much more. Technological and magical prowess seemed to be in question, but not anymore thanks to you. The dummy you see with us isn't due to be activated with a personality for another 50 years. How she got her hands on the likes of you is beyond me. But one thing is certain: We cannot wait for a longer time when it comes to securing a way for a portal to the other world. We wanted to take a chance that you would be left here to accelerate our plans."

Then Hikari got a little suspicious and glared at Erica. "I refuse to believe that I'll be continuously used. Because from the moment that you've opened up that I'm not who I say I am, which I truly believe is true, you also didn't deny that I could be used once things are set in motion up to the point they're finished. Second… I never even met the Magical Destroyer."

"You're asking when you'll meet her." Erica made that assumption out loud, which Hikari answered in the affirmative with a nod. "She said she'll return the moment the portal is opened. I don't know what else to tell you, except she wants things to be set in motion too. By then, you can make your choice if you want to continue working towards a goal others tell you to go through or not."

Hikari listened to Erica and she looked away. She looked at her hand and opened it up to see her palm. She concentrated while narrowing her eyes. Soon, her hand's skin darkened. It was something she could do: Change appearance, and possibly mimic any target she chooses. "Well… Am I going to be an infiltrator of sorts?"

"Mostly, that's what your android function is for, but Destroyer wants you for the primary goal: Using direct magic power that you now possess. You'll have to make sure your usage of magic is just the same at first, as how the real Hikari Karibuchi uses magic. M.D.'s been keeping a close eye on the Project Magic specifics ever since New Baghdad where most of the armed forces and command structure of ATLAS was last seen from." Erica approached the humanoid dummy and looked at it before she looked back at Hikari. "There's a lot I have to explain to you, but Jonathan Irons, ever since he declared war on the rest of the free world wanted nothing to do with the wars of every other nation. He believes that a nation of his own would solve the world's wars. Until we finish off the remainder of ATLAS here and its deep research outposts, I say we can't pursue him yet. Though along the way… we can retrieve the schematics of Project Magic from potential defectors. They were last spotted and engaged by ATLAS mercenaries from Siberia."

"I understand," Hikari said. "All you have to do, is point me at the right direction." And Hikari's eyes, slightly glows red, while showing her eyes had advanced optics which can be meticulously seen by the naked eye.

Earth 2 (Witches' Dimension)

ATLAS Mobile HQ…

Irons was pacing back and forth in the briefing room with Dana Caulfield seated at a chair among 7 others surrounding a diamond-shaped table top. She observed him being somehow anxious, but it was easily being removed as he kept looking at her several times. It took minutes, but he was able to stop walking and take a chair across Dana's before he sits and looks at her. "I hope you knew what you were doing."

Dana narrowed her eyes at Irons but expressed her confidence. "She and I were in an operation together. Reflective thinking got us to a point where we discussed the possibility of having fought each other if the Neuroi never arrived." She was speaking and got his attention. "Us witches fought enemies, distant cousins from the Neuroi, and others who are natural dwellers of the world, but things have changed. The times, teaches us that when we have power, we seek more. She understood, and I did too. It's only a matter of holding the right type and number of friends later on for struggle to supremacy."

He raised an eyebrow, now curious of Dana's plan. "Intriguing. And you think you can turn her to our side?"

Dana smirked at him. "There wasn't any need. If what you plan about the parents succeeds, and then with mine coming to fruition, I think we can break the 501st, at least some of them. They'll lose their rationality in their decision-making, and I think you'll have an easier time dealing with them."

In a distinct mountain-range snowy region in Orussia… 2154 hours…

In a snow cabin, it seemed silent. The squad of ATLAS One-Three was able to make their way in, find the inhabitants of the home, and drag them out. There were three people: A man in his mid-50's, a woman in her late 40's and a man in his late 20's. Ghost did in the old man by smashing his head on the keyboard of a grand piano at the living room. He did that repeatedly until the skull was cracked and the man was bleeding. As soon as the man was critically in danger of dying, Ghost finishes him off with a suppressed shot from a suppressed weapon. Giant and Fish took their time with the woman and the other man, only punching them until they beat them to death. The woman had her throat slit and the last man had his neck snapped.

And dealing with all occupants, Ghost calls it in using his earpiece. "Prophet, Atlas One-Three. It's done. Request for extraction."