A/N: Heh I kinda forgot about updating over here sorry about that. BTW The OC Syn belongs to Keroko of the AnimeSuki Nanoha boards. Yay Syn XD.

Disclaimer: Blah don't own blah blah

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha RebelS

Chapter 1

New Friends and Old Faces

The planet Eharet was dreadfully hot. It didn't help that it was a desert planet that seemed to be uninhabited save for the wild animals everywhere. It also didn't help that it was midday and there wasn't a cloud in sight, not that there ever were. There was no logical reason for anyone to go there. So why then were then dozens of men and women buzzing about a campground?

The site was large. It was after all an archeological dig. A scouting unit had found it months back while looking for life. People might not have been there any longer but they had left behind quite a bit. It was one of the largest finds in a decade, an entire city buried underneath the sand. At the center of the entire excavation was one Yuuno Scrya.

The librarian was far from out of his element as his numerous assistants had thought he'd be. Few of them remembered that the dirt was home to him. They'd all been shocked when he'd traded his usual green suit for a t-shirt, baggy shorts, a hat and layers of sun block as without it they'd fry. As the supervisor for the dig, as assigned by the TSAB, they had expected Yuuno to sit in a tent all day and leave the hard work to them so they had been shocked when Yuuno was the first to break the dirt. All of them but one.

"Mr. Yuuno!"

Yuuno looked up from the area of ruin he was working on. Ah that's where he had gotten off to.

"Mr. Yuuno. I think you'll be interested in this," A young man was running towards Yuuno, holding something in his hands.

"Look out you—"

In his haste the boy didn't pay attention to his surroundings and promptly fell into one of the numerous holes.

"—'ll fall." Yuuno sighed and jogged over to the scene. "Are you alright?" He peered down.

The boy looked a bit dazed but no worse for wear. In fact he just looked excited. "Look at this," he handed Yuuno a small digital camera and then clambered out himself. "The writing, look at the writing!"

"Alright, alright calm down John," Yuuno peered down at the small camera's screen, these old things were rarely seen out of antique shops but they were useful on a planet like this. It only took Yuuno a moment to recognize what was in the picture, a stone tablet with writing on it. "This is ancient Belkan." Yuuno turned to John, "Now what does this indicate?"

John straightened up, his face turning serious, "It confirms our hypothesis that the site is in fact a colony of the Belkan civilization."

"Wait," Yuuno held up a hand. "Remember recent discoveries indicate that in fact what we believe to be the late hub of Belkan activity could have started out as a colony as well," Yuuno encouraged the younger man to think deeper.

"Right so this could be something even deeper than a new colony," He looked down rubbing his chin in concentration.

Yuuno chuckled softly and patted him on the shoulder, "don't worry we have plenty of time to think about it."

He nodded, still looking utterly serious. "I'll go show this to the others sir."

"You do that," Yuuno watched as he ran off.

Yuuno shook his head. John S. Prius was of particular interest to him, after all the sixteen year old had served as Yuuno's apprentice for just about four years now. Officially he was a TSAB agent completing his training as a support mage under the help of the infinite library's head, Yuuno Scrya as per a certain TSAB officer's request. Though he'd been unwilling to have another person around he quickly grew used to the boy's presence.

John was the thoughtful sort. Though he'd only been five foot when he first started he now hit just under six. The years he'd spent with Yuuno had made them look more and more alike. There had been similarities from the start, John wore glasses as well and also had the unfortunate fate of being slightly feminine in appearance. But as he'd grown up, John had started to wear his hair long and started to dress similarly (though John was much more nitpicky about his appearance then Yuuno had ever been, he had even managed to stay clean in the desert). Regardless of whether or not John had started to wear his hair that way in tribute to his teacher or for practical purposes it still touched Yuuno.

Yuuno had spent the past four years filling John's head with facts and spells ensuring that no matter what he did he would be by far the best support mage the TSAB had. Though to be fair he wasn't exactly sure where John would best fit.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Yuuno jumped and fumbled with the pager on his belt. He hated the thing, on Mid-Childa he could pull up a screen with out the accursed device. Here, because of the technology gap, he had to do most things manually. Finally, he managed to find the button that turned it on.

The yellow screen popped out, a familiar face on it.

"Yuuno-kun how's the excavation going?" The brunette on the screen smiled and leaned forward.

"It's good," Yuuno laughed, it was good to see a familiar face again. "It's nice to see you Hayate."

Hayate smiled, "I wish I could say I just called up to say hi but." She looked sorry. "I have something to ask of you."

"I don't like the sound of that…"

Hayate rubbed the side of her head, "I don't think you'll like it."

As she explained Yuuno's face fell more and more.

He sighed, "I wish you'd give me more notice before you take away my best help."

She gave him a sympathetic grin before shutting down communications.

"John!" Yuuno called out, "Come here!"

John S. Prius hated being stuck in airports. He didn't understand why TSAB officers had to use public modes of transportation. There were dozens of helicopters just waiting to pick him up. It didn't help that the public planes were filthy. Well filthy by his standards at least.

He'd been delayed for several hours, no particular reason, at least none that he was told. There was no reason to complain about it anymore though. He couldn't do a thing about it and it was all over with after all.

John straightened the silver crescent pin on his lapel, fixed his collar, dusted off his jacket and ensured his uniform was completely neat and tidy. He didn't want his greeters to think he had become sloppy in his time away. He cleaned his rolling suitcase off as well, just to be certain.

People buzzed around him, each going to their place, each having a place to be at. He was the only still one. John checked his watch, he was late but he wasn't that late. Actually he wasn't sure who was going to pick him up.

"We're late!"

"I'm aware of that."

"He's probably waiting for us! That kid would keep waiting forever!"

"Somehow I doubt that."

The two noisy parties (well only one was noisy really) came into view as the escalator rose. John grinned. The two women were dressed in TSAB uniforms but John would have easily known them without the uniforms.

"'Oi boy," the shorter of the two addressed John. "We're looking for a kid, military, about," she held her hand just above her head, "this high. You seen him?"

The other smiled slightly, realizing what the shorter one missed.

John rubbed the side of his head, "Well I grew you know."

Vita blinked. "No way in hell." She squinted, "there's no way you're the brat who promised to stay my size forever."

John chuckled nervously, "Don't tell me you held me to that."

Vita crossed her arms and looked to this side with a look that clearly said she had been intending to.

Signum gently scooted Vita out of her path, "you've grown up."

It was weird that John was now looking down at Signum, she had always been at least a head taller than him. Of course even without the height advantage she still could scare him senseless. "Tha—"

"Let's go!" Vita picked up his bag with a single hand and started to haul it away over her shoulder.

Signum followed the redhead but not before giving John an approving nod.

John allowed a small smile onto his face before whispering to himself, "It's nice to be back home." He then hurried after them.

"Yes yes I understand," Colonel Hayate Yagami rested her head on her hands, thankful that she was busy with a voice only conversation. That way the person on the other line couldn't see just how bored she was. "Yes sir… I see sir… I'll make sure it happens sir." She had thought the sucking up would stop once she reached the rank of Colonel. But apparently there was no end to it. Unless she reached the top. Perhaps that was the goal she should aim for.

As the man on the other end continued talking Hayate began to idly flip her pencil in her fingers. Part of her wanted to pay attention but the man was so boring it was next to impossible. Besides she had another call she was waiting for—

A red light went off informing Hayate of another caller. Her eyes lit up at the name and rank listed below the light. She perked up.

"Sorry sir but a higher ranked officer has called me," Hayate tried to keep her voice as neutral as possible so as not to tip off that she had almost fallen asleep earlier.

After a few seconds she was able to switch calls, the new one she allowed visual for.

The screen popped up and with it the cheery face of an officer Hayate had come to know well in recent years. "How've you been Colonel Yagami?"

"Well and you Admiral Skala?" Hayate answered back with the same polite inquiry.

Admiral Akito Skala chuckled, folding his long hands together, "As fine as the circumstances have allowed." The older man smiled kindly, a rare friendly face among the higher ups. He looked older than he had been last time she saw him. Many more wrinkles framed the Admiral's worn face but the spark in his eyes had yet to die out to her pleasure. The white haired man had slicked his hair back, Hayate wasn't sure if it was to cover up the fact he was likely losing his hair or not. It was hard for her to believe he was only a bit more than ten years older than her. "But pleasantries aside…"

Hayate nodded, there was of course a reason for his call. In the military you never made friendly pointless phone calls.

"You'll be happy to know everything is in place," he chortled slightly, "I've even taken the liberty to ask them to start construction."

Hayate was a tad startled but after the immediate shock faded she found herself pleased afterwards. "I owe you more than I thought I did."

The admiral looked serious for a moment more before he dissolved into a happy mess, complete with his hair getting somewhat ruffled. "Oh no I'm just paying back a favor. Considering everything you're doing for me and for the boy," he waved his hand in the air, for a moment Hayate was reminded of Lindy. His face turned serious again, "besides you deserve this chance. We can't have you go rotting behind a desk for another ten years."

"I'm not rotting, I'm working," Hayate smiled playfully, "if anyone's rotting it's old men who have nothing better to do than help little girls."

"You wound me," he grasped his chest dramatically as if hit by a bullet. "You wound my very soul."

"You should have gone for the theater Admiral," Hayate giggled.

"Should I have?" He looked like he was pondering her suggestion.

Hayate shook her head happily but as fun as talking with him was there was still business to be discussed…

"Ten past three," John looked down at his watch. Being the head of a regiment must be a difficult job for it to cause her to be over an hour late. Then again he himself had been late as well.

He stretched his fingers out in front of his chest. His bag was gone, taken away by Signum and Vita. They had left him after dropping him off there. Now if she would just come so the officers around him wouldn't keep giving John weird looks. Being in a new place like this made him uncomfortable enough without their stares.

"John?" A confused voice made him turn.

John's eyes lit up and a smile grew. He was a little kid again, "Aunt Hayate!" he then turned bright red and snapped into a salute, "I mean Colonel Yagami!"

Hayate looked him over for a second, as if inspecting him. She allowed her self a small smile. She then looked serious, except for the playful sparkle in her eye. "At ease Private."

John's hand fell but he remained stiff as a board. "Yes ma'am!" He wasn't braced for the powerful hug his guardian gave him. For such a small woman she was very strong.

After a moment she let go and shot a glare at the lingering officers. "I'm glad you came John." If John wasn't mistaken there was bittersweetness in Hayate's words. "Now how have you been?" If there had been it was all gone now.

"I've been fine. A bit hot but Yuuno took care of me," John wondered when he had gotten so much taller than his adoptive aunt.

Hayate motioned for him to follow, "come this way." They started down the hall. "How's Yuuno doing?"

"Fine, he's obsessed with his new project. Sometimes I have to force him to eat food," John scratched his chin and looked up. "I'm not sure what he'll do without me actually."

"One time he forgot about eating for a week after he got excited about this ancient tome Nanoha found for him," Hayate looked off to side, "we found him passed out in his study, Arf started to check in on him everyday from then on," she giggled. "I wish I wasn't so busy," she sighed. "It'd be nice to see him again. It'd be nice to see all of them again." Her shoulders lowered and her head sunk down

"Uh…" John gulped unsure of what to say. "Aunt Hay—"

"Aunt Hayate!"

Their heads both snapped to the side.

A blond girl, her hair pulled off to the side, ran up to them. "I finished it! Every single paper!"

Hayate rubbed her chin, "Every one?"

"Yeah!"

Hayate held up a finger, "but you were only supposed to fill out half of them."

The girl's face fell. "I think I'm going to cry…" True to the girl's word she teared up.

John took out a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to the girl. "Here."

"Thanks," she took it and dramatically wiped her eyes.

"It was a joke," Hayate waved her hand in the air. "A joke, a joke."

"That was cruel." She looked up, truly noticing John for the first time. "Who's he?"

"This is my…" Hayate searched for the right term, "well he's like my nephew in a way…"

"I'm John. John S. Prius." John offered his hand.

She took it, her grip was unusually firm. "Vivio."

"I'm pleased to meet you."

"If you're Hayate's nephew why haven't I ever met you?" She looked suspicious of him. John couldn't imagine why. Back at the academy they had voted him least likely to ever have a mug shot.

"Well I've been working for Mr. Yuuno Scrya for a few years and I was at the academy before that—"

"You worked for Uncle Yuuno!" All suspicion was gone and she now just looked excited.

"Y-yes I was his apprentice."

"Alright I'll trust you then John-kun." She grinned so wide it took up half her face.

"Kun?" John furrowed his brow confused until realization hit him. "Oh you're speaking Japanese aren't you?"

Vivio blinked. Then she snapped her fingers, "Oh I am!" She looked apologetic, "Sorry I switch sometimes. My parents like to speak it around the house."

John shook his head; it wasn't that odd for her to be speaking that language, "it's not a problem. My device translates everything anyway." He tapped the pin on his lapel.

"So you're a mage then," She leaned up, looking into his face like Hayate had earlier.

He turned slightly red, "A long distance and support mage."

She backed down, satisfied. "I'm a mid-range and close-range mage." She tapped her chin, "sometimes I do melee." She shrugged. "It all depends on what I feel like doing."

What she feels like? John found himself wondering exactly what kind of mage was able to be all of those things.

She noticed his watch. She jumped back, "Oh shit! It's that late already!" She seemed to panic. "I'm going to be late! She's gonna kill me!" She started to run down the hall. She looked back over her shoulder and shouted. "It was nice meeting you John-kun."

"Who was that girl?" He rubbed the back of his neck. "She's incredible."

"Don't even think about it John," Hayate lightly slapped his shoulder. "If you try anything I can promise there will be no less then twenty highly skilled mages after your blood," she smirked, "myself included of course."

John looked appalled, "I wasn't thinking about anything."

"She's Vivio H. Takamachi by the way."

John choked on the air, "The Baby Devil?" She was famed throughout the military for her power and ability to cause almost as much damage as her mother.

"Yep. Now come on we have things to talk about," Hayate ushered John into her office and shut the door.

"Damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it damn it!" Vivio raced through the city cursing at the top of her lungs much to the annoyance of every mother around her.

Is cursing supposed to make you faster?

"Shut up, shut up, shut up! Don't you care if I die!" Vivio glared down at her device as she hopped over a bench. "Sorry 'bout that!" She called back to the people sitting on it.

If you die maybe I'll get a competent master

"If I die in my sleep I'll know who did it."

If only it were that easy

"You're going to the scrap heap later!" With a final sprint she skid into her destination. "Made it!" She cheered.

"And only thirty minutes late."

Vivio flinched. She slowly turned around with comedic pained look on her face. "Ah heh heh heh," she looked down at her feet. "Well you see I was."

"That actually might be a new record," The blue haired girl moved from her spot sitting on the park's stone fence to in front of Vivio. She was dressed in the Belkan Saint Church School's high school uniform, a neat brown skirt and jacket combo. "Less than an hour for once."

"Sorry Syn," Vivio rubbed the back of her head, "but things happened."

Vi got distracted by a boy.

Vivio's ears turned red and she glared down at the device, "I did not!" She turned to her friend. "Syn that's not true."

"If you plan on joining the TSAB you have to learn to stay focused Vi. You should try to keep your hormones in check."

"It wasn't like that!"

Finally an intelligent person. If you would be so kind as to be my new master Syn.

"Well you're not my type Falling Soul," Syn bent down to look at the cube in the bracelet on Vivio's wrist.

The device seemed to sigh.

"He's taking after you," Vivio groaned.

"You act like that's a bad thing," Syn raised an eyebrow.

"Well one of you is enough for me," Vivio leaned against the wall.

"You should have stayed in school, you've been getting lazy it seems," Syn reached up and flicked Vivio's forehead. Syn had a point, Vivio had only gotten later after she quit going to school. But still hearing that from Syn was…

"I'm lazy? Who always rushes to finish her projects at the last moment?"

"But I've never forgotten to finish now have I?" She smirked.

Vivio knew that she was telling the truth. In the eight years Vivio had known Syn she had never once been late, Vivio on the other hand when she hadn't been falling asleep in class was busy trying her best to remember what exactly she was supposed to do. School hadn't really been her thing, though she had been at the top of her class (behind Syn at least).

Vi would lose her head if we weren't here to find it for her

"Hey!"

"It's true," Syn nodded.

Vivio looked exasperated, "You don't have to agree with him."

"Well he's right," she looked at Vivio as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Vivio turned around, crossing her arms. She looked over her shoulder, "Valeria and Alleria would be on my side."

"Is that supposed to garner my sympathy?" She was smiling. She folded her hands behind her head. "What would you think if I joined somewhere?"

Vivio looked at Syn funny, "If I remember correctly you were the one who said 'you're all morons who don't appreciate the education we're being given' when Valeria, Alleria and I dropped out."

"Still it's boring around school without you," she looked away. Vivio knew Syn well enough to know what Syn really meant. "And I did say I'd enlist with you. Considering I've gone through that stupid training…"

"You only went through it so I wouldn't accidentally get killed and it wasn't stupid," Vivio argued.

"We already knew everything there, if the TSAB didn't force anyone who wanted to join into that boot camp."

Vivio knew this was a pointless fight. Syn would win, Syn always won. Vivio just didn't have the stamina Syn did. When Syn started on a tirade there no stopping her until she stopped, something a number of people had learned the hard way.

Vivio sat back and waited for Syn to stop.

It took Syn fifteen minutes to stop, in that time she touched on how the TSAB, while a brilliant organization as a whole, needed to look over how it managed training and not lump everyone into a single category and instead have an organized system of… and that's about where Vivio tuned out.

"Alright I get it." Vivio held up her hands in surrender. "Promise."

Syn looked triumphant for a moment before falling into a small, smug, smile, "Dinner's at eight." When she saw Vivio's confused look she added on, "You're parents still aren't home right? So you're coming over." It wasn't a request or a suggestion.

"Anything's better then takeout again." Vivio had lived off of the fast food place near her house, because it delivered and Vivio couldn't cook much without burning things very very badly, for the last week. Fate had been away for a while, that was typical for her, as an enforcer Fate was often gone for months at a time. Nanoha had been away at an instructor seminar for the week. "But didn't you have some big news to tell me?"

Syn smirked and held up her arm, showing off blue and red bracelet on her wrist. "I finally picked between melee and long distance."

Vivio tilted her head to the side, "oh did you? And what'd you pick?" Syn had been struggling between the two for quite a while.

Syn's smirk broke into a wide grin. "Both." She turned around and walked away, leaving a befuddled Vivio behind.

I think I'm in love Her device broke the brief silence.

"With who? Helskor?" Helskor was the name of Syn's device.

No, with Syn.

"Say what?!"

Vivio had a long trek home. She could have taken a bus but Vivio had forgotten her bus pass at home. She'd have to go back the other way within a few hours since that was where Syn lived but at that moment she was finishing her several miles long walk home.

After the disbanding of Riot Force Six Nanoha had bought a house in the suburbs where they had lived ever since. The physical house was a bit out of place, it was a small old style home in the midst of an army of giant cookie-cutter houses. However, it was a home and when Fate came home for however long she could it was home for her too.

The neighborhood was nice enough, they were far away enough there weren't many military families around. It was also helpful that it was an impersonal neighborhood, no one questioned two women having a daughter because no one cared. No one also cared about the fact Vivio was seemingly alone for long periods of time.

When Vivio was little and they both had to leave Vivio had been left with Hayate or Yuuno, sometimes Chrono and Amy but they were so busy with their own kids Fate hadn't wanted to bother them. As Vivio grew up she decided she could take care of herself and stayed home when they left. Of course Vivio's meals were typically mooched off of her family and friends. Even so, Vivio had become very self-reliant.

But food was far from her mind as she approached her front steps. In fact the only thing on her mind was the lump of brown material on her steps. The human shaped lump… the breathing human shaped lump. It appeared there was a hobo on her steps.

Vivio wasn't sure what to do. Part of her wanted to activate Falling Soul and smack the heck out of the vagrant. Another wanted to sneak around said vagrant and let the poor person sleep. Vivio wasn't given the chance to do either as the mound shuffled and sat up. The hood of their cloak fell back to reveal a blond head.

Vivio's eyes widened with recognition and the teen dove forward, effectively locking herself around the person's waist. "Fate-mama!"

"Vivio?" Fate looked down with sleepy eyes. "You got bigger." Fate looked tired, that was reasonable considering she had been away for the past six months. The 29 year old had acquired some more wear since Vivio had last seen her but she was undeniably Vivio's Fate-mama.

Vivio pouted, "Of course I did. You can't expect me to remain the same size."

"Of course not," Fate nodded slowly.

"Why didn't you enter the house and what's with the outfit?"

Fate smiled gently, "It's a gift to keep reporters from recognizing me so I could get home. But," She looked up and the door, "it seems my key doesn't work."

Vivio paled. "Oh yeah we changed the locks." Vivio didn't mention that Nanoha had left it up to Vivio to send Fate the new key and that Vivio had forgotten about that until very moment.

"Let's go inside then," Fate and Vivio managed to stand without having to remove Vivio's arms.

"Mm," One minute with Fate and Vivio was a small child again.

The Next Day, Cranagan

"Hayate I just got in."

"This is important."

Nanoha Takamachi sighed. She'd been back in Cranagan for a grand total of thirty minutes when Hayate called up saying it was an emergency and Nanoha had to come see her right away. So Nanoha had gone, fully prepared to defend Hayate from whatever villain was attacking her, only to find Hayate, perfectly healthy, in front of what seemed to be a building under construction. "I haven't been home yet."

Hayate waved her hand in, "You'll be there soon enough."

"So what is—is that John?" Nanoha poked her head around Hayate's shoulders to look at the young man behind her.

"Instructor Takamachi ma'am!" He shot into a salute.

Nanoha giggled and saluted back, "Don't worry too much you're practically family and there aren't any stuffed shirts around," She winked.

John looked at the ground, "You and Aunt Hayate…"

Nanoha crossed her arms and looked back at Hayate, "If you've brought John back then something must be up."

"Oh it is," Hayate looked happier then she had in a while, "I present to you," she waved her arms up towards the construction work, "Lost Property Riot Force Six is coming back!"

Nanoha's eyes lit up but she had to wonder, "How did you manage to get permission?"

"I have friends," Hayate looked innocent, "who helped me out."

"Oh come on he wouldn't let you do this. Besides you have a unit."

"Griffith's getting promoted and taking it over," Hayate grinned cattishly, "so we're all good there. Besides…" Hayate took Nanoha's arm pulling Nanoha in close so she could whisper into her ear, "keeping everyone in one place is better for them." She let Nanoha go. A serious expression crossed both of their faces before disappearing. "So will you come? John's going to be one of our forwards," she patted John on the back.

John looked surprised, "I am?"

"That's why I asked for you to come here." She turned to Nanoha, "Will you join me?"

Nanoha shrugged, "I don't know I'm kinda happy where I am."

Hayate looked shocked until Nanoha giggled.

"That's not true of course," Nanoha held out her hand, "I would join you anywhere, anytime."

Hayate took her hand. A smile grew on both women's faces, "Thank you."

John looked off to the side, clearly embarrassed about intruding on a personal moment like this one.

"How long does one person need to sleep?" Vivio rolled onto her back from her position on the floor waiting for Fate to wake up. Vivio wanted nothing more then to talk to her Fate-mama but Fate had wandered into the house, fallen on the couch and not moved since yesterday afternoon. Even after Vivio had left for Syn's house Fate still slept away and now as the day was wearing away Fate hadn't shown any sign of rousing.

Want me to wake 'er up? I could do it fast Falling Soul seemed annoyed or maybe he was just bored

Quiet please Baridiche spoke from his position on Fate's chest.

Compliant old timer

Noisy child

Falling Soul didn't say anything else.

Vivio sat up. Fate would probably be hungry when she woke up and maybe if Vivio made a—

Vivio stopped herself right there, recalling the last time she made something resembling food and the new oven she'd had to pay for.

"Vivio I'm back," Nanoha's voice echoed through the house, followed by the slamming of a door. "Was everything okay?" The sound of Nanoha's keys being thrown into their bowl.

"Mmm," Fate groaned and sat up. "Morning," She yawned.

"Afternoon actually," Vivio pointed out.

"Vivio who's with—Fate?" Nanoha stopped in the doorway, dropping her messenger bag.

"Nanoha," Fate's voice was her usual soft whisper. Something had sparked in her eyes. Looking to Nanoha Vivio saw the same thing was in her eyes.

Vivio sighed and stood up. "I'm going to stay at Aunt Hayate's house tonight," she announced.

Nanoha and Fate blinked and looked at their daughter, confused.

Vivio shrugged and walked out the door. She poked her head in the door frame one last time, "But I get Fate-mama tomorrow," she stuck out her tongue and disappeared.

That was surprisingly nice of you Falling Soul told her as they left the house.

Vivio rolled her eyes, "Don't give me that. They haven't seen each other in six months, trust me I don't want to be anywhere near them."

Oh… The AI went silent as he processed exactly what Vivio was saying. Well then… are you sure?

"I wasn't aware AI units were capable of being perverted."

I'm only a reflection of my master

"That's a lie!"

"It's been a while," Nanoha didn't quite meet Fate's eyes.

"Only six months," Fate offered as if saying that would clear the air of the trouble and worry lingering in it.

Nanoha nodded, she seemed to shrink. "Is it still…?"

Fate didn't lie or mince words, "It's still hell." They stood apart, a room of space that felt like miles between them.

Tears built up in her eyes, "And is…" Nanoha's fists clenched, trembling.

"Gone but they're out of there," Fate ran a hand through her hair.

Nanoha moved so fast Fate swore she was using magic. One second she was standing on the other side of the room the next moment she was gripping Fate as if she'd die if she didn't. "I missed you."

"Mmm," Fate gripped Nanoha back equally tight. "Baridiche."

Yes sir The lights shut off.

"All this sitting is boring" Jail's voice had a musical quality, but his annoyance was obvious. "Why is it you won't let me go yet?"

"You just broke out," The other voice was much deeper, richer, aged like a fine wine. The speaker was out of Jail's vision hidden to him. "We can't have you get caught now can we?"

"You could easily keep them from getting me," Jail waved his hand around.

"Just be happy I let you go. Besides I gave you play things."

"Don't call them that," A third voice, this one hollow and mechanical, echoed through the room serving as a base for Jail.

"Of course not Mr. Long."

The man, if he could be called that, named Long was completely covered inn metal, from his head to his feet. Whether he himself was a robot was unknown. His frame was long, and graceful like eastern dragon. Although he was covered in metal he still wore a neat clean business suit. "I agreed to help you for them but don't forget," He stood up, "that if I even smell betrayal you'll be dead before you scream."

"Of course Mr. Long."

"If I have to sit here with you two another minute I'll lose my mind," Jail spun around in his chair, letting his head roll around.

"Don't worry I'm going," Long walked out of the room in quick, steady strides.

"He's going to be a pain," Jail complained and sighed, "and I'm still bored."

"How about I give you a little project then?"

Jail sat up, "Now that," a sick grin curved onto his face, "sounds interesting."

Vivio: Ferret?
John: I owe her.
Hayate: It's like ten years ago but with more wrinkles.
John: Miss Takamachi imagine running into you here

Nanoha: I don't care what you say you're not joining!
Next time on Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha RebelS
Refusal

A/N: All will be explained in due time :3