(chapter 16)

Oborozuka Police Station

Smith watched as Hikari and Director Nakahara carried the unconscious councilman to the back of the police station. She didn't know what they were up to, and she didn't ask. She guessed it had something to do with the fire, the fairies, or both.

"How long do you plan on wearing that uniform, Erika?" she asked.

"I thought it looked good," Erika replied, as her holographic image changed back to 'regular' clothes.

"Magic!" exclaimed Ventris.

"Only to those who don't understand what they're seeing," said Hiroshi. "Arthur C. Clarke once wrote that 'any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.' Mama-Erika's Remote Projection Unit comes pretty close."

"I don't understand," she replied.

"Remember that giant robot?"

"Yeah. That was pretty cool. Those criminals were pissing themselves."

"That robot is Mama-Erika's current body. This is what she used to look like, back when she was still human. There's a tiny little drone inside, fitted with all sorts of technology."

"She might not know what a drone is," said Smith.

"They're those flying toys I've seen people play with in the park," replied Ventris. "I may have spent the last eight years hiding in a forest by myself, but I still watch my surroundings. Honey is the only person to ever be more stealthy than I am."

"Speaking of 'Honey,'" said Smith. "If she's hanging off him, You're going to have to enrol her in school."

"The apartments are going to get a bit cramped for a while," replied Erika. "It shouldn't be a problem, once Harmony finishes doing her safety checks."

"Who's Harmony?"

"Let me guess. Hikari didn't introduce her. I know she showed you the TARDIS 'restoration project' she's been working on. She's installed one of these RPUs into its main console. The resultant personality that has emerged has called herself 'Harmony'"

"I'll have to get details for ICEP's records."

"That's easy," replied Hiroshi. "I've seen her a few times. She looks just like what Kuroko-oneesan would have looked like, if her injuries hadn't happened, except she's blonde and has blue eyes. You'd have to leave most of your file blank, as she's not in any of your category types."

===/===

Outside the police station

Astrid is leaning on the ICEP van, talking to a young teenager, she is of a similar height and build, with tan skin and reddish-orange hair. The only thing marking her as not being human is her glowing, orange eyes.

"What's going to happen to me?"

"Fiora, it wasn't your fault," replied Astrid. "They drugged you, and fitted you with those shock restraints. Fire Chief Hiroto has offered to take you into his care. You'll be helping him and Lucoa to protect the local fairy colony."

"Why aren't you afraid of me?"

"If I was human, I might be a bit twitchy around you. It's not every day you see an Ifriit, let alone get this close. I'm just glad Agent Smith has found somewhere close by for you to live. You're pretty, and I like you." Both girls blushed.

"But I'm dangerous to be around. If I get angry, I could burn you to ashes."

"I'm probably more of a threat to you," replied Astrid, creating a ball of ice in her hand.

"You're a Yuki-onna?!" Fiora exclaimed in surprise. Less than five second later, Astrid kisses her on the lips, surprising her even further.

===/===

Oborozuka shopping district, not long after

Erika looks over at the electronics store. The display televisions in the window are showing news footage, from earlier in the afternoon, of several industrial generators being airlifted by sky-cranes. The text-banners at the bottom of the screen reading 'Atrax Engineering, Research and Development supply Oborozuka with aid, as a gesture of goodwill to the Japanese Government.' and several other stories on similar lines.

The involvement of non-humans, except for the footage of them assisting emergency services, has been quietly suppressed.

Ventris is happily clinging to Hiroshi's arm. Astrid is doing the same to Fiora. Both objects of affection are blushing madly.

"Ventris-chan, I know you can weave your own silk," said Midori, from her perch on Erika's back. "But going clothes-shopping is fun."

"How is it supposed to be fun?"

"It gives you ideas for patterns. Kuroko-oneesan used to make some complex patterns with her weaving." Her face saddened. "She's not going to be able to do that any more, since she can no longer make silk."

"Changing the subject," said Erika. "Kuroko-chan and Galadriel-chan are making dinner tonight. Let's go find something good for dessert!"

===/===

Dragons' Homeworld, Red Lake City Council Chambers

The Emperor of Demise stood near his chair, looking down at Freya. Stomcloud and Deathbolt were in another part of the great hall, either hugging, or getting hugged by, their respective 'cuddle buddies.'

"Miss O'Reilly, before the various guests arrive, you have some explaining to do. For starters, how did you come by that extremely rare Frost Dragon Hatchling? It's parents would never relinquish her without a fight. Did you eliminate them as ruthlessly as those two thousand wolf-riders?"

"Firstly. She's my daughter. I gave birth to her. Secondly, there is no way I would ever willingly give her up. Thirdly, never let her father know how rare she is. He is a money-grubbing bastard who would sell his own mother."

"Next. What exactly are you? I saw the wings."

"Even I can't answer that. My mother died due to complications during childbirth. My father was interred in a Nazi POW camp at the time, so he didn't find out about it until after the war. When I was three, my magical abilities manifested. The nuns tried to 'beat the devil out of me.' They shipped me off to an orphanage in Ireland. I suppressed my abilities out of fear of further reprisals, especially after one of the other girls died from one of their beatings. When I was thirteen, one of the nuns decided to beat me 'just because' and my magic exploded. It turned out she was a Mind-Flayer, and she sensed I was a threat. The nearby town still talks about how 'The Emerald Angel' destroyed the 'false priest and his demon nuns' . It was a further two years before my father finally managed to track me down."

"Everyone who saw you yesterday thinks you're the Angel of Death."

"Pass me that gavel." It starts sprouting leaves on contact. "Let them believe what they want."

"When the talks begin, you're going to need to get everyone's attention. They won't listen to 'a mere peasant girl' no matter how eloquently she speaks."

===/===

The great hall is full of people, human and otherwise. The Emperor of Demise is on the main podium. Front row, centre. Duchess Von Strudelheim is sitting on his left, with Mayor Wainwright beside her. On his right is a six-foot tall red-haired woman. She is wearing strange-looking armour, and has emerald-green, almost crystalline, wings.

Amongst the various representatives at the lower tables, two of the Harmony Faction representatives are looking distinctly unwell. One has bandages on his face, from a recently-broken nose. Hidden amongst the onlookers, a disguised Paladin is seriously reconsidering his assassination mission.

"Delegates, representatives, and other witnesses," The Emperor of Demise addressed the hall. "On my right is Artificer Captain Freya O'Reilly, the representative of another world. Some of you have encountered her in around town over the past few days, and she has something important to tell all of you."

===/===

Orbital Station Lethbridge-Stewart

Hikari (out of her armour), Nakahara and six fairies are watching a monitor, showing Tokugawa running through the corridors. They are eating popcorn.

"(What is he trying to do now?)" asked one of the fairies

"(He's trying to stack those crates, to see if he can escape through that window, above those cargo containers.)" replied Hikari.

"But we're on a space station," commented Nakahara.

"Aunt Kuroko was right," replied Hikari. "You're almost supernaturally fast at understanding languages."

"(He's nearly at the window.)"

"Quick! Uncle Roshi, here's the PA system's microphone."

Nakahara pushed the button.

"Councilman Tokugawa. The offer is still on the table."

Hikari's voice then came over the PA

"If you seriously don't want to take Director Nakahara's offer of life in prison, I'll give you the access codes for the loading-dock doors. We're only a few kilometres away from London. Just a quick trip out of the door, and you're there."

"(Quit playing with him. Are you sure you're not part Dark Elf?)"

Tokugawa raises his hands, and signals his surrender.

"I'll tell you everything," he says to Nakahara, as Hikari (back in her armour) reattaches his handcuffs. "My buyers, my contacts. Everything. Just tell me, how you got resources like this without my finding out."

"Kobolds aren't the only race with money," replied Hikari.