(Chapter 4)

Kobayashi's apartment, at the same time

"So," said Kobayashi. "Now the dragons are distracted, care to tell me about the other thing you're keeping secret?"

"I've been dreading this," said Erika. "My parents haven't even been told. They've only known about relationship with Freya for about a week. However, they probably haven't told your parents, or Grandmother, for the same reason yours hasn't told mine."

"They're afraid of how they'll react to finding out their niece is in a lesbian relationship," replied Kobayashi.

"Yeah. Ironic, isn't it. Freya's father was fine with it. She told him on day one. In her family's culture, 'coming out' is admitting that you know how to use magic. Freya had been hiding that for years, but the circumstances that led to me meeting her forced her hand."

Twelve years earlier

Freya was so proud. Her daughter had inherited her mechanical aptitude. She was afraid the corrupted gene-loom had caused issues similar to what had happened to the others. Hikari was obviously extremely intelligent, and even had her enhanced abilities. They were just 'scaled down' due to her smaller size. Mr Takahashi, next door, had invited them to visit, revealing that he had guardianship of a tribe of 'real' fairies. One of his charges had spotted her. They knew she was 'different' to normal fairies, but welcomed her anyway.

Hikari liked to build things. When she was six months old, she had designed and built a suit of exo-armour, complete with holographic micro-projectors, so that she could pass for a human, and explore the neighbourhood.

Not long after that, she decided to build herself a full-sized transforming mecha.

While she was preparing the components for the mecha's battle computer, her magical abilities spontaneously manifested. It turned out that not only was she a Dark Mage, but the clay she was using for the ceramics was from a recently-made unmarked grave.

++VF-NXprototype-DREADWING: Where am I? Why is it so dark? Why can't I move? Oh no! I'm still a prisoner!

++MechaFaerie1337: Don't blow a circuit. Who are you? Or, to be more accurate; who do you think you are?

++VF-NXprototype-DREADWING: My name is Erika Kobayashi. I was supposed to come to New York as an exchange student. It turns out my 'hosts' were part of an international kidnapping ring. They drugged me, and I woke up bound and naked in a basement somewhere. I have no idea if I was there for days or weeks, but they must have finally got bored of doing things to me. The last thing I felt, before waking up here, was a sharp pain in the back of my head. So, are you a prisoner, too?

++MechaFaerie1337: Hang on a moment. This is going to be hard to explain.

...light...

...and a fairy?...

"Erika? Can you hear me? Can you see me?"

"Yes," responded a slightly tinny voice."What the hell?"

"Fan-smegging-tastic," said the fairy. "I've temporarily networked you to this laptop, and can show you ...well, you." The view swivelled, to reveal a mecha-otaku's wet dream.

Inside an engineering scaffold was a partially-constructed giant robot. It looked like someone had taken a VF-1A Super Veritech from the Macross anime, and then ramped up the technological upgrades to eleven.

"When this, well ...when you are completed, you will be fully transformable. I've used my dimensional engineering know-how to fit this out with both a FTL and Vectored Impulse drives. I've miniaturised a deflector grid, and cloaking system. Once I've installed the weaponry, you will be equivalent to a GDC frigate. Now that I know you're in there, I'll have to adapt a SHIP unit."

"GDC? SHIP?"

"Galactic Defence Command. My mother works for them. However, she's currently on indefinite leave, so she can raise me. SHIP stands for 'System Holographic Interface Program. I'll have to build a remote projection unit, so you can interact 'normally' with the environment. You're currently on my mother's Mobile Dry-dock"

A six-foot-tall, curvy, redhead walked past the laptop's field of vision. "Wow! Who is that gorgeous vision of loveliness?"

"That would be my mother," replied Hikari. "She kind of gives me free reign of her fabrication facilities."

A few days later, Erika was testing her Remote Projection Unit, on Earth, in Freya's father's mechanics workshop. In the last week, she has found out that aliens are real and fairies are real.

...and now, as a couple of blonde women walked into the workshop, vampires are real...

One of Freya's cousins was married to a vampire. Her wife was a liaison between the FBI, and the San Francisco Vampire Council. Their cover was as the owners of 'Nightclub Draculina' (it was actually a safe house and field hospital for both agencies).

Apparently, some yakuza boss wanted the nightclub for a front. He bribed a few government officials, and framed Nina's and Cammy's head bouncer for murder (i.e. 'play ball with us, and the charges will disappear').

"The murder victim that they were framing them for happened to be me," said Erika

"Wow," said Kobayashi. "So, do Uncle Shiro and Aunt Maria know?"

"No. They have no idea that I have gained a few tonnes, since I last saw them," replied Erika.

Kobayashi laughed.

"It did end up getting complicated. I was actually telling Mum and Dad about my 'new job' at Atrax Engineering, Research and Development, when the Okinawa police knocked on their door, to inform them of my death."

"Fuuuck," said Kobayashi.

"Yeah. Because the existence of non-humans was classified, I couldn't tell them," said Erika. "They were really livid. Dad actually handed the phone to the officer at the door, 'to speak to the so-called dead person.'"

"I can see how that would cause issues."

"The 'official' cover story for the Japanese Justice Department was the Los Angeles DA's office had misfiled a missing person report they were sent from New York."

Outside the uniform shop

Two women are sitting on a bench, eating Takoyaki. The redhead was dressed as a delinquent biker, the dark-haired woman, next to her was wearing a cosplay high school 'uniform' of some kind.

"That is Illulu," said the redhead. "She works part time at the local candy shop. She's obviously not human.

"Obviously. Horns, pointy ears, and those proportions," said her companion. "However, I am more concerned about the two six-foot redheads."

"Why is that?"

"You haven't seen the uniforms Smith has designed for when MON becomes 'official' yet," she replied, as she pushed some buttons on her cellphone. "Hey, Smith! It's Doppel. We've got a situation. How soon can you and Tio get here?"

inside

Mrs Yamada was only mildly surprised to see the six-foot-tall girl suddenly become a six-inch-tall fairy.

"This is why I have a GDC identification card, Mrs Yamada," said Hikari. "The documents I gave you were authorisation from the Department of Education to provide school uniforms outside of the regular tender process. My GDC identification is for a uniform in this size."

"I understand. I take it the beige and black uniform is just cosplay?" asked Mrs Yamada.

"Technically," replied Kuroko. "It's actually the uniform from an alternate timeline, so it's cosplay now."

Rings of purple runes surrounded Hikari, and she was back to 'normal' size again. "Still can't get that to last for more than six hours," grumbled Hikari.

"Let's start getting you all measured then," said Mrs Yamada.

outside

Agents Smith and Tionisha met up with Zombina and Doppel at the bench. Smith was talking on the phone. "Are you in position, Manako?" What was that flash of purple?

Looking into the store front, she could see what was concerning Doppel. Accompanying this Illulu girl were three other girls. The two tall ones were wearing uniforms that EXACTLY matched the uniforms that were currently being manufactured in Tokyo, for her Monster Ops Neutralisation division.

"Either we have a security leak," said Doppel, "or there are some cosplayers got really lucky with their colours."

inside

While Illulu was being measured for her uniform, the other girls were sitting on some nearby chairs, listening to the radio. There was a jingle from the door, as someone entered.

"I'll be with you in a moment," Mrs Yamada called out from inside the dressing room.

"Take your time," said the new customer.

IceQueen001: Why have you two gone pale?

MechaFaerie1337: We know that person.

WebWeaver101: She's this world's version of my godmother.

IceQueen001: Really? Keep calm. She doesn't know either of you. She's obviously just here as a customer

The newcomer sat herself down next to Kuroko.

"Nice costumes, Miss uh-Kobayashi," she said, looking at the nameplate on Kuroko's uniform.

"T-thanks," replied Kuroko. "I've had this for a while."

"It looks very well made," she replied. "So does Miss O'Reilly's costume. They look almost like the real thing."

Kuroko raised her right arm. "We had to use good materials, otherwise the sleeve would tear whenever I pulled it over this prosthetic."

The newcomer looked at the indicated arm, and realised that it wasn't a costume prop. She could faintly hear the actuators in the fingers, as 'Kobayashi' flexed her hand.

Mrs Yamada brought Illulu out of the dressing room.

"Your new uniforms should be ready before school starts." She then looked towards the other girls. "I'll just tend to this customer, before I measure Kuroko-chan. A sleeve that will fit around that arm will need some extra measurements."

The newcomer stood up and greeted Mrs Yamada.

"Good morning, my name is Miss Smith. In a few days, we're opening some government offices nearby, and I am just scouting local tailors for sourcing and repairing staff uniforms."

She handed over a business card, and turned back towards the girls. "I might see you again sometime," she said in a voice that strongly implied 'I will see you again, very soon.'

Miss Smith then exited the shop.

WebWeaver101: You know she's going to find out where we live.

MechaFaerie1337: We'll figure something out. If she's anything like General Smith, a few decent cups of coffee should keep her friendly.

IceQueen101: We're still going to have to inform your parents.