Asa mo yoru mo koi kogarete hoshi ni naru yo kimi mamoru tatakai wa yukue shirazu
(From the sky the camera falls down on the nation of japan and then close up to the Skywall, where the red light beams down on Chifuyu, as she reaches out. Scene changes to Sento the light going up his body, Sento brings his clenched fist close to his chest before reaching out. In the background Stalk looks on.)
ashita to kinou no kousaten de majiwaranai kimi to boku ima iku yo boku wa nagareboshi
(Sento stands with everyone looking on with a serious face. Scene changes to Chloe in tears as Sento reaches out before a Shadowy hand grabs Sento's hand. Scene changes to Build, Cross-Z, and Akats standing ready to fight.)
IS Infinite Build
sekai ga kuchihatete mo kawaru koto no nai mono ga aru
(Camera flashes to Ichika's face then Cross-Z, then to Cross-Z jumping off a building and flying into battle. Scene changes to Cecilia taking aim with her rifle and firing off a shot)
namida wo koraete demo mamorubeki mono ga bokura ni wa aru
(The shot passes Rin, who swings at the camera, Charlotte blocks incoming fire before firing back)
nanmannen nan okunen mae kara no messeji ga tainai de uzukidasu narihibiku
(Changes to Laura swinging her cannon and aiming before firing off a shot, the shot flies past Akatsu as she thrusts with her blade, under the helmet Houki let's out a tear.)
shagareta koe de asu wo yobu kizu darake no te de kimi mamoru
(Grease drops towards Cross-Z with her weapon at the ready, Cross-Z spins around and thrusts his blade at Grease, their weapons let out a shockwave of energy as the two steare each other down. Scene changes to Tajimi and Phantom Task behind her. Looming over all of them is a Mech hidden in Shadow, a beam charges up before firing at the screen.)
I continue to fight I continue to fight
(Gentoku walks forward with Yamada behind him. Camera changes to an up close look at Gentoku up close, looking at one half of Gentoku's face is with a creepy smile. Camera switches to other side to see a dulled out Gen with purple crack veins creeping up his face. Stalk Revels in everything.)
asa mo yoru mo koikogarete hoshi ni naru yo kimi mamoru tatakai wa yukue shirazu
(Sento Drives his bike before swerving to park as he looks over the ridge. Looking over a hill, Sento looks on at Hokuto's army. Stalk flies in with new armor covering her.)
ashita to kinou no kousaten de majiwaranai kimi to boku sadame wo kirisaku nagareboshi
(Camera flies past the cast in different poses looking at the camera M's face shows anger, as camera changes to Sento also with a serious face, before Chifuyu drops in besides Sento. Sento and Chifuyu reach out to each other, but a shadow creeps up Sento's hand. Sento brings his hand close to his eye, the camera focuses on his eyes to see a shadow in both eyes.)
hakanaku kiete nakunaru koto sae kowakunai
(Still focusing on the eye, appears an all black boots, hand, chest piece, then belt with a Red Trigger upon it. Then to Normal Build as his helmet folds out, the camera pans back to look down upon the entire cast. Camera changes to a Full Bottle being tossed before being paused in frame.)
Construct 76: The Past
Unknown Location… We are Observer
Louise slams her fist against the table. "What the hell do you mean it can't be repaired?!" She shouts to her mechanics. "It just means that, what Build did to your suit is enough to call this IS Destroyed." The chief Mechanic explains to Louis, to which Louis grinds her teeth in anger. "What a conundrum." Arachnid says stepping from the shadows. "Spider." Louis says stepping back from the table.
Louis: Thanks for those Smashes, whole lot of good they did!
Arachnid:(walks over) You got what you paid for, you wanted Smash, and I gave them. I never said that they would be useful.
Louis:(groans) And now we're down a good chunk of our forces and the fight today is a complete loss! How the hell are we gonna drag England into war now?!
Arachnid:(leans on table) I have a… Solution.
"What is it?" Louis asks, as Arachnid reaches into her pocket and takes out a bottle. Placing it on the table, she turns the bottle to face everyone. "A… Chameleon?" Louis asks reaching over and picking up the bottle. "Yes, as you know. Emergency meetings are going to happen in Parliament. It's only a few weeks till then." Arachnid says leaning off the table and walking over a Nebula Gas chamber. "We can make up for our lack of troops with Smash, and the "Evidence" needed to pin the attack on Touto." Arachnid says snapping her fingers, activating Guardians in the back of the room. They step forward with Touto symbols on them.
Louis:(steps over) So we kidnap more people, make them into Smashes, attack Parliament, and pin the attack on Touto…
Arachnid:(nods) Exactly, and for that… Louis?(places Steamgun) Ready to become a real Phantom?
Louis: ….(smile)
We are Sento
I lean against the wall, observing Cecilia and Chelsea dueling. Chelsea is excellent in Fencing, I thought it was a bit much to see Cecilia dueling with her IS on. Chelsea dodges a swing by Cecilia to which Chelsea quickly and swiftly responds with her own counter attack. Christ, between her and Chifuyu, I couldn't tell you who would win. Both are impressive with the blade and formidable… I shudder to think what she could do if she had an IS made specifically for her. Altho the idea is interesting too. "Kiyaa!" I hear as I look back to the fight to see Cecilia defeated by Chelsea.
Chelsea:(puts out hand) That makes 0 out of 50 my lady.(smiles) Do you ever get tired of dueling me?
Cecilia:(takes hand) Against you? Never. Besides, I'm getting better,(looks over to Sento) how long did I last Sensei?
Sento:(pulls up Timer) … 5 minutes. Compared to your previous dual, it's a whole 15 seconds longer. You're ability to parry is better.
Chelsea:(looks at Cecilia) Time is not the issue. Good of you to incorporate the air to your advantage.
Sento:(nods) Agreed. I'd recommend trying to pair fencing with a pistol or submachine gun. Keep your enemy on their toes. You don't have the luxury to switch out combat styles on the fly like I do.
"I see..." Cecilia mutters as she considers the possibility. "That would be the best compromise." Chelsea argrees before point to Cecilia. "You're greatest strength is your shooting, if you can do that at short distances, you open a lot more possibilities for yourself my lady." Chelsea points out, I step forward and open my HUD to show the Blue Tears along with a series of upgrades.
Sento:(going though upgrades) I've been working on these upgrades for you're IS, their only concepts right now, but with your permission, we could go through with the improvements.
Cecilia:(puts up her hand) Not for now. We need to report our findings to everyone. Now is around the time. Let us not keep them waiting.
Sento:(looks at time) Right, I guess we should meet with them.(turns to Chelsea) Thank you for your help Chelsea-san.
Chelsea:(bows) Many thanks to you as well. Be well Sento-san.
With that the two of us head off to Cecilia's office. Entering her office, Cecilia takes a seat at her desk while I sit in the table before her desk. "Setting up the call." I say opening the call. Our call is picked up and on the other side we see the Japan team. "Cecilia, it's good to see you." Ichika greets. "Are you holding up over their?" Houki asks. "Fine, it's good to you're faces. I'm still shocked that you have a sister Ichika." Cecilia says.
Ichika:(groans) Tell me about it. Still, things here have been quite… Well, as quiet as it could be on a battlefield.
Chifuyu:(steps over) We been deployed to multiple fronts, currently the war is in a deadlock. But we haven't seen Grease too much. The rare occasions, but their holding back for reinforcements.
Houki:(points to corner) Chloe's been listening in on enemy chatter, finding out what she can. How are things on your end?
Ichika: Hopefully better than ours.
Sento:(shakes head) No, things are getting complicated. We knew Phantom Task would be here. But what was a surprise, is that an ambassador of Faust is here too. Their kidnapping people and turning them into Smashes.
Chifuyu:(crosses arms) Well that complicates things. Who is our ambassador?
Cecilia: A member of Faust similar to Stalk or Rogue. In that they use a Steam Gun to transform. She calls herself Arachnid.
"Great. Spiders… I hate Spiders." Houki mutters. "Odd, I'd figure you'd hate Cobras." I joke, which gets a chuckle. "Yeah, Cobras and Spiders." Houki says.
Elsewhere… We are Observer
Grease and the Trio are back at the Faust base getting a check up. "Hello~ gentlemen!" Tabane greets entering dressed in a Cat onesie. The four look at Tabane in confusion. "Why the hell are you dressed like that?" M asks Tabane.
Tabane:(cat like) Nya~ Don't worry about that Nya~ we just need to finish thi-(ears perked up) Hmm?! Ah… Ah… AHHCHOO~!
M:(looks at Tabane) Ugh… the hell?
Akaba:(looks at Tabane) Uh, Tabane-san?
Aoba:(tilts head) You uh… Sick their ma'am?
Tabane:(steps out) Is someone talking about me elsewhere?
"If they are, they have to be smack talking you!" Kiba says, getting a chuckle out the M and the other two. "Either that or their talking about how much of a ha-" M is cut off when Tabane suddenly appears in front of her with a blade up against the eye. "Listen here you! I may be older than you but I feel 18… Anything other than that, I'll kill you… Clear?" Tabane says in her Stalk Voice. "Y-Yes M-Mam!" M says in fear.
We are Sento
Sento: Back on topic, she's the one who's been causing trouble. But I think there's more to it.
Ichika: What do you mean? All you have to do is beat her and things will end.
Cecilia:(looks at Ichika) I'm afraid it's not that simple Ichika-san. While it's true if we take out Arachnid, it will stop the Smash from appearing here, we still have to deal with the remaining members of Phantom Task, there's also the matter of the ring leader.
Sento:(looks at Cecilia) Right, you said that Invisible Louis had some kind of connection to your family?
Cecilia:(nods) Yes, perhaps my family had an encounter with her. Before you landed the final attack, she seemed to put things together. Who could it have been? My mother? Perhaps one of my Aunts or Uncles?
Kanzashi:(looks over) Maybe your Father? With how unassuming he is, who could suspect him?
Cecilia:(smiles) Kanzashi-san, my father was many things, but a Spy could not be one of them.
Tatenashi:(crosses arms) Maybe that's what they want you to believe.
"I still doubt it." Cecilia says. Guess that shows how little of an impact her father had. I turned my attention back to the topic. "There's another thing that peaked my interest in my last interaction with Arachnid." I speak up getting everyone's attention. I pull up an image of Arachnid. "I don't know how but… She's Arachnid and she's related to me." I say, getting everyone's interest. "What do you mean?" Ichika asks me.
Sento:(leans back) She made references to me being her "Senpai"(Chifuyu freezes) She was likely a scientist who was working under me.
Houki:(crosses arms) Wow… Still… a Kouhai… Maybe this person had a close relation to you?
Sento:(sits up) Likely… Though I can't be sure of anything…(looks over to Chifyuy) Chifuyu is something wrong?
"N-Nothing… I need to go, I have somewhere else to be." Chifuyu says before leaving. "Hmm… Okay? I'll send you a report." I tell Chifuyu. Is she jealous? I didn't think she's the type…. I sigh at the realisation that I will have to explain to her the situation between us… Assuming I find out. "Still, now we have a clear objective. We need to take care of Phantom Task and Arachnid." I summarise. "We'll keep in contact." I say hanging up the call.
Sento:(crosses arms) Now then, it shouldn't be too long before we get the call from MI6
Cecilia:(puts hands together)...
Sento:(looks at Cecilia) Are you okay?
"Hmm? Oh… Yes." Cecilia says going silent again. Is she still thinking of the comment that Kanzashi brought up? Perhaps the thought did cross her mind after all. I opened my mouth to ask, but it's interrupted when a call comes in to Cecilia. "Unknown caller." Cecilia notes looking at me. It's MI6. We nod to each other before Cecilia answers. "Cecilia Alcott." Cecilia answers. "Come to MI6. We'll be expecting you and Build." The voice on the other side says before hanging up. Quick and straight to the point. Cecilia stands up from her desk. "Let us go then Sensei." Cecilia says leaving the room, with me close behind.
Elsewhere… We are Arachnid
"AAAARRRHHH AH! AAAAAHHH~!" Louis screams from within the Nebula Gas Chamber. I look over the procedure. That's when a scientist walks over to me. "Is something the matter?" I ask as the scientist hands me a phone with Stalk calling. "I see. I'll take it now." I say grabbing the phone out of the scientist's hand and answering.
Stalk:(over the phone) Hello! Spider-chan!
Arachnid: Stalk.
Stalk: What's with the downer attitude? I assume work goes well over there?
Arachnid:(nods) Yes… Just… I saw Senpai again… He really doesn't remember me.
Stalk: A shame. You know, I am looking into a method to getting his memories back. Just wanted to tell you that.
Arachnid: Good to hear… Staging for Phase 3 is beginning. England is going to be part of this war soon.
Stalk: Good. I'll let you know if anything happens. Caio.
With that the call ends and the Gas Chamber opens with Louis stepping out. "Figure it would work." I say walking over grabbing the Chameleon bottle. "I… Feel… Powerful..." Louis says making fists. A scientist hands a Transteam Gun to Louis, before I hand her the Chameleon bottle. "Go ahead." I tell Louis as she snatches the bottle out of my hand. Taking the gun Louis looks at the bottle before smiling and shaking the bottle and opening it. Then inserting the bottle into the gun. "Chameleon!" The gun exclaims as standby music plays. "Chouketsu." Louis mutters pulling the trigger. "Mist Match!" Mist spews out of the gun and engulfs Louis. "Chameleon! Cha-Cha-Cha-Chameleon! Chameleon! Fire!" Louis begins to laugh from within the smoke.
We are Cecilia... SIS Building
I enter the SIS Building and walk straight to the front desk. The woman at the desk looks up from her computer. "Ah, Lady Alcott. Welcome. We've been expecting you." The woman says and she calls someone. "Lady Alcott is here." She says, then hanging up. A few seconds later, a pair of women walk over in security outfit. "Please, follow them to the offices." She says, I follow the two towards the elevator and into the elevator. "Home." One of the security mutters as the door closes. The ride down is silent, as we enter the familiar office rooms that John brought us to. Could my father have… Worked here?... Was what Louis said was… Just something to get me off my game?... The thought is cut off by the sound of the elevator arrive at "Home." The doors part with John standing at the door.
John:(puts up hand) I'll take care of her from here. Good work you two.
Cecilia:(steps out of the elevator) John, good to see you.
John:(nods) Same to you as well… Now all we need to wait on is Build.
Cecilia:(points to John) He's right behind you.
John:(raises eyebrow) You mean "Us?"
Build:(steps out of John's shadow) No, when she means "You" She quite means…(pokes John's cheek) You.
We are Sento
"Wha!?" John jumps back in surprise, quickly pulling out his gun and pointing before realising it's me. "You! Do not sneak up on me." John warns me lowering his weapon. "But isn't that what Ninja's do?" I ask John simply walks past me, ignoring my comment. "We think we have a lead on our group." John explains as we follow him into an investigation room.
John:(points to wall) We have been tracking recent activities around the docks. Odd weapons and other possible methods of Phantom Task arming themselves. We found that there has been a surge in of smuggled objects into port, as well as in Human Trafficking rings.(looks at Build) What do you make of it?
Build:(crosses arms) Well, from what I could guess… What's being smuggled in are likely Guardians, Mass produced IS's, as well as Nebula Gas from Hokuto. That's probably the reason for the Human Trafficking… Ugh~ The idea disgusts me.
Cecilia:(crosses arms) You're not alone.
John:(crosses arms) Trust me, the feeling is mutual. All of this seems to be pointing to an attack on the Emergency Meetings at Parliament happening in a few weeks.
Maria:(walks in) Which is why we need to cut the head off the snake as soon as possible.
Build:(looks at Maria) Then we need to get started.
Maria:(puts up a hand) Before that, we need you to do something for us.
I let out a sigh. "If it's about my belt you aren't-" Maria cuts me off. "We showed you that we were detaining Smashes. Since you seem so adamant on not sharing your technology with us… We ask that you handle the Smashes." Maria asks me. I know their game. They'll record me and collect what they can… At least, they can try. I shrug. "Shure, I'll handle them. What kind of Hero would I be if I can't help people in need." I answer Maria. Though, I'm sure Cecilia sees through me. She knows or at least has an idea on what I am doing.
We are Cecilia
I know Sensei has hacked into MI6's systems. He'll delete the recordings as soon as he finishes dealing with the Smash.
We are Arachnid
I stand silently atop a roof alone. I look at my phone with my schedule listed on it. "The meeting is tomorrow..." I mutter before looking up at the sky. More human subjects... I think to myself. I can't bear to look at the faces of the ones being Nebula gassed. I look down with my Spider bottle in my hand. Katsuragi Senpai… I'm sure if you remember or even know but… When you do, I need to know… Do you think what I am doing is worth it? I think remembering the initial tests of the Smash process.
Years earlier…
I look on in horror seeing a young man being strapped down to the chamber. How many people does this make? I wonder while looking at the chamber. "- is something wrong?" Katsuragi asks walking over. I look at him before looking at the man in the camber.
Arachnid: Senpai… Are we… Is what we are doing really for the greater good?
Katsuragi:(steps over) Yes, but… Others will not see it that way. Not that I blame them, many will say that the lives loss will be unnecessary. But I am ready to shoulder that burden. - I ask you again, will you not leave? You can still leave and not get caught up in this.
Arachnid: Senpai…
Katsuragi:(looks at Chamber) I already bear the mask of a Devil, anyone connected with me will likely be targeted.
Arachnid:(looks at Katsuragi) Is that why you stopped talking to your mother?(Katsuragi is silent) Senpai…
Katsuragi: This is the path I have chosen, if you decide to follow me, you will not be remembered fondly. I don't know if you can do it. But I will -
Present…
Memories are fuzzy… It hurts to remember. Senpai… Whatever you are doing now, whether it's facing me or something else. Or helping people… Maybe Sento… The other you, that exists now looks at you differently. What does he think? Is there still some part of you in this new personality? Questions swirl around my head, the door behind me opens. I grab my Steamgun and aim at the door, only to see one of the Faust members standing there.
Arachnid:(Sigh~) I asked to be alone.
Gas Mask: Apologies. I came to tell you that the Shipment of Nebula Gas has arrived.
Arachnid:(turns away) And, the Walkers or the IS's?
Gas Mask:(nods) Both have arrived as requested. We are simply awaiting the subjects.
Arachnid: Good.
I step out off the roof onto a wire. Walking out into the web I set up, I look up at the night sky with the moon shining down. "Then it's not much longer." I say before looking up at the sky. Senpai… I will share your burden.
Construct 76 Complete