The great city chapter 2: Invasion

[ Touma]

I sit awkwardly in the food stand with Misaka. All the cities vendors are now automated so they are open 24/7 however because its 2:00 in the morning Mikoto and I are the only ones there. I think back to our mission and how we were able to slip back into our old banter so easily and a smile slips into my face. Mikoto looks at me curiously, "Why are you so happy?"

I take a sip of my soda before answering with a sigh, "Just thinking of the way things were, before the war."

Mikoto hesitates before answering, taking a bite of her burger. "Do, do you think things will ever be like that again? Back to normal?"

I look down at my fries. Honestly, I don't. I've long since lost all hope of things becoming 'normal'. However as a commander I can't tell one of my troops that, it's my job to keep up morale, yet the more time I spend with people the more it seems like I'm failing. Regardless I still have to answer her, "One day, after we beat the magicians everything will be good again. Maybe not back to the way it was, but better. With everyone unified we can build a better future, one where everyone's happy."

I see Mikoto smile and a small blush dashes her face. "You know, that's what I like about you. You'r always optimistic. It's inspiring. If you weren't my commander I would have probably stopped hoping a long time ago."

Now it's my turn to blush. At the same time I feel my face heat up my eyes droop before I force them up again. Time to sleep has been few and far between these days but I can't just leave Mikoto in the middle of a conversation. "Thanks that really means a lot to me Biribiri." I smile at the mention of my old nickname for her.

She crosses her arms still blushing, "Geez when are you going to stop calling me by that childish nickname I -"

In the middle of her sentence I get a dizzying feeling its hard to stay balanced on my chair, 'come on body! Stay awake just a little bit longer!'

"Hey! Are you listening to me? What the hell is wrong with you when a lady is talking you nee-". I lose my balance as my eyes finally shut, my last conscious thought, 'Fukodaaa!'

[Somewhere In England]

Three figures with black robes on stand in the middle of an empty cathedral.

The one on the left speaks in a feminine voice, "I don't like this plan at all, we need to crush those heretic's with our own might and let god wreak his vengeance upon them."

The figure to her left speaks in a monotone voice, "We've evaluated all of our other options. We could continue this war forever without either side giving in. When surrender means certain death neither side will concede until they die. They are self sustaining as they synthesize their own food, their force field is able too fend off all outward attacks and they seem to have an infinite supply of power. The plan that I've proposed yields the greatest chance of success." She turns to the last member of their group, "He has assured us he can get the job done."

The first figure crosses her arms. "And that's supposed to put me at ease! How can I trust someone who could be playing both sides?"

The middle one speaks again, "Do we have another choice? He seems to be the only one who can get in and out of the city."

The first girl crosses her arms in disagreement but says nothing else. The last figure finally speaks out, "Now that that's settled I'll be going. I've got a party to plan. Ladies " he stops and bows, "Until we meet again."

The first one scoffs, "Jackass."

[Misaka]

Freaking stupid Touma, has to pass out when I'm talking to him! I mean geez! I brought him to the hospital worried and practically in tears because I thought one of the wizards might have placed some sort of curse on him, but it turns out that he's just too stupid to sleep. Who goes 4 days without sleeping?

I cross my arms as I sit on the chair next to his hospital bed. I would shock him if it weren't for all the sensitive equipment around me. I touch my rapier handle thinking about it. I wonder when mail time is?

Ever since the war started our forces have been split into two groups. Defense headed by Touma, Accelerator and I, based in academy city. And a mobile offensive force lead by Teitoku. Due to the guerrilla nature of our offense they have very little time to come back to the city therefore the primary communication used by soldiers on both sides is mail that is taken over about twice a month.

Mail is the only way I can communicate with Kuroko. When the announcement went out that they needed volunteers for a counter attack against the magicians Kuroko was the first to Sign up. I was right behind her, after all we both lost so much to the magicians. However the director had other plans, as apparently my services are needed more here. It's been almost 6 months since the last time the main group has been able to come home. And while her letters are a little mushy for me, it's good to know that she's alright.

I look down at Touma and smile again. So many of us have lost friends that it makes the few friends we have left all the more important. I frown as I think back to that day. The day Kuroko and Touma became even more important to me.

[2 years ago]

Saten, Uihadu, Kuroko, and I were lazing about at the usual coffee shop. Telling stories, laughing, with the occasional skirt flipping. Our lives weren't exactly simple but they were happy. None of us could have predicted what happened next.

At first no one knew what was going on. I wasn't actually there when it happened but I heard two strangely dressed figures appeared in the middle of the city. One was a woman in black robes with tanned skin and white hair. The other was a short man in red robes with a red vest, who had pale skin and no hair.

A large crowd gathered around the two with every person bustling to see the strange figures. They had no idea.

The resounding shockwave shook even the cafe, sending our drinks toppling over. Saten and I stop up at the same time. I turned to look at Kuroko, "What was that?"

Kuroko took a napkin and wiped the juice that spilled on her sweater. "No need to concern your self onee sama, ill go check it o-" before she could finish her sentance there was another tremor that shattered the glass of the cafe windows followed by a bright flash of light and a wave of heat.

I look at Kuroko forcefully, "I'm going with you." This time she just nodded and grabbed my hand. I turned to Saren and Uiharu before we left. "You two should head to Judgement branch office and see if Konori Senpai needs help. We'll head there afterwards."

Uiharu nodded and Saten gave us one last look before leaving, "Be careful guys."

Kuroko teleported us to the top of a nearby building. We both crept over to the edge and looked over. What we saw almost made me throw up. There were students, dozens of students. Dead. Each and every one of them with body parts strewn around. Before we could attack there was an announcement made over the city intercom *attention all students, we are under attack. There are two enemies in the city square. They are both enemies that posses mysterious powers. All high level espers please help with their elimination. They should be exterminated with extreme prejudice. This is not a drill. This is not a test.*

Exterminate? They want us to fight and kill these people. I look down at the field and see other kids responding. Some are running, some are cowering, some are fighting. I can see pyrokenetics lobbing fire at the enemy while psychics throw rocks and cars. All of these people are fighting to protect their home. Even though some look like level twos or threes they're still trying their best.

Kuroko turns to look at me "Onesama? What are we going to do?"

"We're going to fight."

Kuroko looked taken aback, "fight?"

I nod and look over at the city in turmoil. MY city, My home. "This is our home Kuroko. And these are our friends and classmates. I won't let these intruders destroy what I love. You don't have to follow me, I'll understand if you go to the judgment branch with Uiharu and Saten."

Kuroko seemed to think for a moment. Then she disappeared. I expected Kuroko to fight with me; she's always had my back. But I guess this was just too much to ask. And with that thought I leapt from the roof.

I used my static electricity to stick to the roof and slide down to the ground. When I land everything stops. Students turn at me and smile "look the railgun is here!"

I stand up and look at the crowd of students. "You've all done a good job and should be proud of the right that you put up. You can all rest now. Older students get the younger ones to safety. All of you should head to the nearest judgment branch or anti skill base. I'll take care of this." The students quickly began to file out happy that someone is willing to give them a brake. However the happy moment was short lived.

The bald man steps forward, "Do you really think that a girl like you can take us? We'll kill all you heretics and tear your blasphemous city down in our holy crusade!" A crusade? Are these guys some sort of religious nuts? Regardless, I've already made up my mind. These people have killed to many of my classmates to leave here alive.

I reach into my pocket and pull out an arcade coin. "What are you gonna do with that? You think I'm gonna play with you little girl? We'll play alright, ill rip you the fuck apart!" He starts slowly approaching me while banging his fists together, he seems to have some strange tattoos on the backs of his hands. I'm nervous, I've never killed anybody before, the academy gave me permission, they said that these people need to be eliminated. But do I really trust the city? After all they've done? No. But I trust my heart and it tells me that these people cannot be allowed to live. I flick the coin into the air and build up electricity in my hand.

"Let me show you, why they call me the railgun." I launched the coin at full power. Three times the speed of sound. When the smoke clears there's nothing left of him. The woman that's been silent up to this point turns and looks at me. Not with malice or any sort of sadness for her comrade. She only has an analytical stare.

She raises her hand towards me and I can see that it's crackling with some sort of strange energy and I freeze up. I try and move my feet and I feel stuck is it magic? No, I'm afraid. The energy in her hand grows more intense and I close my eyes. I deserve this. No matter what horrible things that man did I killed him. No one has the right to end another's life. I'm a murderer. I grit my teeth and wait for the end.

It doesn't come. I look up and see the woman on the floor, with needles sticking out of her body. Kuroko is standing in front of me. "You didn't think I would just leave you, did you onee sama?"

I ran over and hugged her, "Is it over Kuroko?"

She put her arms around me and I relaxed into her embrace. "I think so, Onee-sama. When I left I went to look for others that needed help because I figured you would be fine on you own. It seems this was a planned attack because there were four simultaneous attacks on the city. All of the enemies but one were taken down. The other escaped. Let's go over to the judgment building to meet up with the others."

[current time]

A couple tears fall onto Touma's bed as I recall the most painful part of that memory. When we arrived at the judgment building. We were there, as the entire building collapsed, killing everyone inside. Saten, Uiharu, Konori Senpai, so many others dead. The magician that got away snuck off to the judgment building and used sacrificial magic to destroy the building supports and bring the whole thing down. There were 126 people inside.

That was the wake up call for a lot of us. It was when we realized exactly how serious this is. The next day the city's leaders explained the threat that we were up against. Then they told us that they planned to fight back; they asked for volunteers. Everyone answered. Everyone wanted payback.

We didn't realize we would be separated. The next week, after the force field was up and the defense forces in place, the offensive group set out. Kuroko and I both wanted to go, however apparently my abilities were needed more in the city. I don't know how they thought that me, The Railgun, a walking force of destruction was more useful here. They even put accelerator here and while I don't like him and want him to stay as far away from Kuroko as possible, he should be on the front lines. Hell, he could BE the front line!

I asked Touma about it several times and he just told me to "trust in the directors judgment". That's not why I backed down though. I don't trust the director, I follow his orders and I've never even seen him. I know that he's hiding things from us. He allowed magicians into the city before and he pre built the psychic towers like he was prepared for war.

The only reason that I don't force my way into his office and force him to answer to me is because I trust Touma. While I disliked him at first, he's now one of the only 2 friends I still have. The few others I had that survived the attack were scared off by my new, distanced demeanor. Touma is the only one that I truly trust in the city, even if he doesn't know it.

I lay my head down on his chest and can hear the rhythmic beat of his heart. I smile. I've lost too many friends in this war; I won't lose anyone else. I can't protect Kuroko but I will protect Touma, no matter what.

Wow I had a lot of fun writing this. If you enjoyed it please let me know by posting a review and if you didn't review telling me what you didn't like.

As far as my other stories go the next update will probably be shadow hunter but not for sometime(there are a couple long scenes I have to right) but I promise you when it does come out it will be a great chapter, with lots of stuff you didn't even know you had questions about revealed.

As far as something UN expected, ive barely started the next chapter but now that this is done it moves up one space on my priority list so ill be working on it more.

The next chapter for this probably won't be up until I update my other two stories. (unless a lot of people say they want it more)

As allways Reviews are appreciated. Thanks for reading :D