Chapter 5

"You're Merlin?" Hakuno asked.

"Indeed," the wizard said, "Not what you were expecting."

Hakuno expected him to be an old man with a long white beard, but she decided to keep that to herself. At least he was a genuine wizard in life who became a caster class servant. Hakuno questioned how Archimedes could be a caster; in life he was a scholar, a scientist, not a mage. Archer had explained to her that scholars, artists, and musicians would fill the caster class, not just mages. The grail turned their fame and knowledge into power. Hakuno thought it didn't make sense, but then again, she did fight the embodiment of nursery rhymes during the war.

"You're the replacement for Archimedes?" Archer asked raising his eyebrow.

"You can say that," Merlin said, "Some servants are given roles by the moon cell. To defend, maintain, usually the most powerful are placed in that category."

"Perhaps you can finally tell us what the threat Kotomine was talking about, or was it another one of his lies?" Archer asked getting straight to the point.

"It wasn't a lie, there really is a threat to SE. RA. PH and to the Earth," Merlin said.

"The Earth?" Hakuno asked.

"Yes," Merlin began, "During the maintenance, the moon cell looks over all the data it has gathered during that 14,000-year period."

"That does make sense," Hakuno asked.

"That is what draws it," Merlin said. Hakuno and Archer looked at each other in confusion, then back at the wizard.

"It?"

"The Umbral Star," Merlin said, "14,000 years ago during the last maintenance check. A meteor entered the solar system and passed over Earth. But it left something behind… A monster, one that wished to extinguish all life on Earth."

"What?" Archer asked.

"You realize you just said the Earth suffered an alien attack, right?" Hakuno asked in disbelief.

"My dear, you are currently inhabiting a computer that is within the moon, which also so advanced, there is no possible chance that humanity could create it and you question the existence of aliens?"

"He actually has a point," Archer said. Hakuno sighed.

"Does he?" Hakuno asked, "Because life still exists on Earth, even after all this time."

"Now she has a point," Archer said, "I doubt the civilization's from that era had the power to destroy that monster."

"Destroy it? No, but they had the power to stop it. Also, to be more specific, the monster was a titan," Merlin clarified, "And the Umbral Star still exists, it soars through the cosmos even now as we speak."

"So, we need to prepare for it's arrival?" Archer asked.

"I don't think we have anything that can stop a meteor," Hakuno said.

"We don't, humanity doesn't have the technology to destroy the Umbral star yet," Merlin said, "Which is why the SE. RA. PH has managed to buy them time."

"Time?"

"The Moon cell is giving off a signal, that prevents the Umbral star from finding the solar system. The cosmos is in constant motion, the solar system is not in the same place it was 14,000 years ago."

"Then what is the problem?" Archer asked.

"The problem is velber," Merlin explained, "a part of the Umbral star crashed into the moon 14,000 years ago. It sent the Titan to Earth, and it still exists here in the moon cell. And it has awoken."

"So, we need to prepare for the velber?" Hakuno asked.

"And the titan," Merlin explained, "The titan has been placed in a stasis sleep and is waiting to be unleashed. That is Archimedes' intentions."

"Why would Archimedes turn against the moon cell and humanity?" Hakuno asked, "Why would he side with a killing machine?"

"Originally, he went to velber to try and destroy it," Merlin explained, "But it corrupted his programming, now he sees humans as irrational and unnecessary, that the Umbral Star is the greatest source of logic."

"And as a scientist, he couldn't help himself," Archer said.

"He also wishes for the Umbral star to return to our solar system," Merlin explained.

"So, he'll go after the broadcaster that hides our location?" Hakuno asked.

Merlin shook his head, "The only way to do that, is to destroy the regalia." Hakuno glanced at her ring. "As long as the royal authority exists that signal exists, but he couldn't get close to you."

"Because we declared him an enemy," Hakuno said.

"Yes, that was wise on your part, but thanks to the incident on far side, Archimedes had a new window of opportunity," Merlin explained, "When Hikari received a wish from the grail he also received the right to wield a regalia. Unlike you, Hikari had no way of knowing Archimedes had defected. So, he approached the young master and tricked him into going into velber and into the Titan's lair."

Hakuno's eyes widened, her hand went to her mouth. Archer simply stood there.

"Archimedes plan was to arouse the Titan with his regalia, destroy him and the artifact, then team up with the titan to destroy you and your regalia," Merlin concluded.

"Well something seemed to have gone wrong," Archer said, "The boy is now split in two, as is his regalia."

"Three actually," Merlin corrected.

"What?" Hakuno asked.

"Apparently, young Hikari is more resilient than Archimedes had planned, he split the regalia into three."

"Doesn't that just make Archimedes' job easier?" Hakuno asked, "If he just destroys one…"

"That's not how it works, my dear," Merlin interrupted, "The signal can only be destroyed if a regalia is whole, if a small piece of it is destroyed, even if you destroy the rest of the pieces, the signal will remain."

"You said three," Archer said, "Two regalia's went to two servants."

"Yes."

"Where is the third?" Archer asked.

"The cyber frame is made up of three aspects: the mind, soul, and body. Nero has the mind, Tamamo has the soul, the body, unfortunately never left the Titan's lair," Merlin explained.

"Oh no," Hakuno said

"Why did the master split with it?"

"Once the regalia has chosen its owner, it becomes one with that master," He turned to Archer, "Why do you think your master can enter the ring so easily? It's because it is part of her now."

Hakuno took a breath to process the information just given to her. The threat came from a meteor that is embedded in the moon cell, which is being controlled by a titan. Which almost destroyed all life on Earth and is going to try again unless she stopped it. She almost missed being in the grail war.

"Alright, we need to get more info about the titan," Hakuno said, "It was defeated once, maybe we can find out how."

"Knowledge is power," Merlin said approaching Hakuno and taking her hand, "I am more than willing to help you. Being a sovereign is very difficult-…" Archer got between them, if looks could kill Merlin would be dead.

"Your job is to help us destroy the titan and protect the moon cell from the Umbral star. Anything else is an overstep," Archer grabbed Hakuno's hand and lead her out of the throne, "Master, it's time to retire for the night."

"Archer, wait a minute." Hakuno was basically dragged back to her room. Once she was inside, Archer basically slammed the door. He leaned against it, releasing an irritated and exhausted sigh.

"What's gotten into you?" Hakuno asked, "He's trying to help us."

Archer was silent, Hakuno let out another sigh, she really didn't want Archer to be genuinely mad at her. So, she approached him, she reached out and touched his cheek, "If you're jealous, don't be. I love you."

"It's not that… exactly," Archer spoke, "Although, I will still be keeping an eye on him. He is part incubus. It's what he might try to turn you into."

"Turn me into what?" Hakuno asked.

"A perfect king." Venom leaked from the word 'perfect.'

Hakuno furrowed her brow, "Isn't that what we need?"

Archer sighed and pulled Hakuno into his arms, "I've told you about the king of knights, haven't I?"

"Yes," Hakuno answered, "Mordred's father. You told me, she is the most powerful saber. That her kingdom was the closest thing to a utopia humanity could have."

"She achieved those at the cost of her humanity," he then looked her in the eye, "Answer this question: Is the king alone?"

"No," Hakuno said, "He may rule it, but the king isn't the country alone. He must have the aid of others to guard it. But then again, I don't know the first thing about being king."

"Arturia, would have said yes," Archer said, "She devoted her whole life to her country, but despite what she said, she had no personal happiness." Hakuno gazed up at him, "She was not allowed to admire flowers and butterflies or fall in love as a little girl. Merlin raised her to be machine in service to a country that wouldn't accept her for being born a woman. Despite that everyone relied on her and when she was gone they fell apart because of her absence. Which made her existence as a servant simply a cold reminder, of what she believed was a mistake. She was never truly happy. Being a perfect king, isn't the solution, for the king or the country. I couldn't help her, I will not allow that to happen to you."

Hakuno wrapped her arms around him, "You don't need to worry about that. I'm not doing this for the moon. I want to make this world a better place, because I want to live in a happy world. I'm just a selfish person."

Archer chuckled, "That's fine, I'm a selfish person as well. I simply want to keep you to myself. All of you, your mind, soul, and body."

Archer couldn't stand the thought; Hakuno being split in three and two being sent to be with someone else. If that happened, he'd fight the entire moon cell to get all of her back.

Hakuno smiled, "I guess, we're just two terrible people."

Suddenly, Hakuno felt light headed. Her sense of sight and touch became hazy. When her senses were restored, something was obviously wrong. The shoulder her head was resting on, was covered by golden armor and the torso was also heavily armored. She felt a hand run through her hair, "Speak for yourself mongrel. But, that is what makes you so endearing."

Hakuno pushed the man away to look at… Archer? The bowman looked at her confused. Why did she push him away?

"Wait? What?" Hakuno felt his arms and torso. The arms were covered in clothe and the armor wasn't so bulky.

"What's the matter?" Archer asked.

Hakuno sighed, "The stress must be getting to me. For a second, I thought I was being held by someone else. He had gold armor, and he called me 'mongrel.' I must secretly be a masochist or something. How else would I… What's the matter?"

Archer looked pale, like he seen a ghost.

"Archer?"

The bowman looked down. Hakuno looked at him worried. Suddenly, she was pulled back into his arms. His lips sealed over hers. Hakuno squeaked in surprise, which gave Archer an opportunity to explore her mouth. Hakuno, felt dizzy again, but this time she knew the cause. Archer released her lips, to let her catch her breath. She gasped, her face was flushed, she didn't have the energy to respond when he spoke, "While in our room, in my arms, you dream of another man?"

Hakuno tried to catch her breath, she needed to say, 'it wasn't like that.' But Archer captured her lips again. The kiss was just as intoxicating as the last one. Hakuno could feel her legs losing strength. If Archer wasn't holding her, she might have collapsed. She barely registered it, when Archer lifted her in the air and started walking towards the bed. He released her lips again, "That is something I must rectify."

This fic is rated T. Remember that. Although, I might write a side story that may have a higher rating at some point. Wink.