Swords, arrows, and zappers chapter 9 – how to save them.
This will cover episode 6-9 of railgun and there will be one more batch of railgun episodes before I reconnect with index for the end of this arc.
I will start the chapter will my part of the story between Mashiro and Mikoto as well as give Mikoto a companion for her mission, but it will come into play more in the next chapter
Mikoto pov
it was then, the boy with white hair said to Mashiro "so the one that got away returns." But she replied, "the one that left you a wounded dog." More clones then came out and soon after convinced the strongest level five to let us escape and then the lilac hair girl from Mashiro's place drove up in a small car and said, "need a ride out." but the darker skinned double said "you got it fixed. Al lets get home and get my sister cleaned up. I have to explain some things to her." we then got into the car, and I asked my 'sister' "how did you hurt the strongest Esper in the city?" she replied "his power can't stop what is said to always hit its mark. As for the ranking its just numbers Alister put on the level five espers that I am not sure of the meaning of."
while I was lost in thought, we made it to Mashiro's apartment, and she brought be to her bathroom to get changed. I was surprised by how big the bathroom was and the bathroom is and the clear split between the toilet and the bath area. we both stripped down and got into the bath as Mashiro said "I asked Al to stay out, but her story will play into things later. Just be quiet and listen while I tell you, my story."
She then started with "I started out as three beings one much like I am now and a sort of magical clone, the clone only known as Misaka 9465 and the hero known as Shirou Emiya that made the choice to pass on when he felt his life lost all meaning. But the hero knew he might be needed again and set a up a way to return. When 9465 was on the verge of death she made a wish to anybody that would answer and the one that did was the sun god Apollo. He gave her the card with all that was both the magical clone and the hero. That gift gave her the ability to call forth weapons that could hurt Accelerator." I was about to ask how but she just raised her hand and said "some weapons of legend were claimed to never miss their targets, the arrows of Robin Hood, the Bullets of Billy the kid, the crossbow bolt of William Tell and the ultimate move of Okita Souji. In history each may have missed from time to time but in legends passed down that became noble phantasms they always will but at cost to the user."
She then took a breath and restarted with "After the three beings in still merged escaped, they started to fuse into what became the current me. but when that happened, I learned I carried the blessing Shirou Emiya held and am fated to kill gods that go rouge or could be a treat to humanity in one way or another. A Campione or a nigh immortal god slayer among other things. I can say the hero could have been considered pretty much in Esper term called a gemstone. So, on complete merger, I became a level five Esper with both the level three electro master power and the level five ability called blade works. At least that's how the testers define my ability. But along with that, I have the abilities from Shirou's birth mother the moon goddess Artemis, the digital goddess BB, the Chinese water god Gonggong and the roman god of keys Portunus."
I then asked could you stop this experiment, she replied "no, even if I was willing to kill Accelerator, I don't think that would stop the experiment and already being on the city's radar, I can't really help you at least directly help you. But I can provide some help and once you are on the right path. Just call me back when you are on that path, and I will offer help in the ways I can." I then left the shower room only to hear my sister talking to a girl in English that I could only make out a few words of. but as I was changing, she came in and did as well saying, "I have to meet one of Shirou's old friends in the park." Then said, "as an immortal Shirou spend time with a few other immortals but it isn't my place to reveal who those are, and you likely need to return to your dorm."
With that I finished getting changed to and head back but on the way back to the dorms, I once again met the strange girl named Shinobu and hoped she could put me down the right path.
Mashiro pov
As my sister left the bath, I received an Iris message from Thalia Grace saying, "lets meet and talk in that park near your place." I then asked, "did my mother point you to me?" she replied "no, my brother Apollo did, and I want to do now it catch up, it's been way too long since I spoke with old friends and Sik can be a bit stale."
When I met Shirou's old friend in the park, she said to me "I like the new looks but too bad you already gave up your maidenhood or your mother would accept you as a hunter. Are you going to collect boys like you did with girls in your old life? I saw the one that claimed your maidenhood." I replied "maybe, I will maybe a I will just keep him or maybe I will collect both boys and girls. But I do want to warm you to leave the nun alone. The Anglicans are okay with Touma keeping her but I don't think they would be happy with her changing hands anymore." I then asked "is there good reason for your visit? I can tell you have been watching me." she replied with "I don't think stopping the experiment is your only reason for not killing that boy Accelerator." I replied "he is one of our friends reborn that much I am sure, which one is much harder to say. He could become a hero again with just a little bit of humbling and I am sure many demigods from the camps were reborn in this time. We are at a point where the fate of the world is on the edge. Both the magic and science sides don't like each other and could start a war at any time. Even the gods are scared of level six espers." Then Thalia replied "Apollo isn't allowed in this city due to a deal with your mother. The gods don't want the risk of demigods born among the science side." It was after that; I made a key with my power and said, "stop by my place any time."
Mikoto pov
when I ran in to the girl, she told me that most don't view the clones as real humans. then that she was involved with both the project to make level five espers and the level six shift. Then she told me that the team suspects Mashiro could be a clone but can't even touch her. she then explained what caused her to leave the project and I explained I wanted to get my DNA map back. I knew I would like to need this girl's help to try and shut the project down. when I finally made it back to the dorm, I just told Kuroko I spent the night at Mashiro's place.
it was after that, I used a money card my sister left to treat my friends to sweets and told them, I spent time with my sister, which wasn't completely a lie but not the whole truth. It was during our talk, Uiharu asked me about a code and one hearing it, I had to fight back throwing up over remembering what the white haired Esper did to my clone. Then before I could, Saten brought up the arcade and I figured it could help me clear my head. There we saw my sister playing a fighting game with another girl that looked older than her but had short black hair. I figured that may have been her old friend and was happy to see at least one clone in a good place.
After leaving the arcade, I met Shinobu again and she told me there were twenty places I would have to check and destroy to stop this experiment. I knew if I could find them, I would need the help my sister could provide. I then got the locations of all the labs from the girl and called my sister to get the help she could offer. I then went over to her place to see a girl that looked in her late teens and my sister said "this is Okita Souji Alterative Kai. She can help you invisibly and if things get out of control, I can swap places with you and offer help." At first, I could just use data of the locations and hacking to damage a few of the labs enough to stop them. But after I took down three from hacking alone, they caught on and forced me to attack directly with Okita's help. My sister told me Okita was the hero of legend but had always been born female, but the case of being alterative Kai she had been combined with a hero named Annabeth Chase for greater intelligence and the water god my sister controlled for the ability to used water in battle. she both had perfect stealth and could move like water but agreed to only be a second set of eyes and ears as long as I could handle the issue on my own.
It was after my cyber-attack; I went to my sister's place to rest and plan the next phase of attack. I then kept attacking the labs one by one with Okita aiding me to destroy the labs. We left one evidence, but I wondered if the people in charge started to wonder if it was me. but the attack we are wearing on my body and even with Okita's advice i knew it wouldn't be long until I would encounter even more resistance.
Mashiro pov
While I had to stay out of the attacks, I was able to help by spending time with Kuroko and helping her deal with the return of the money cards and helping a kid find one of the so called lucky cards. I was able to help a kid Kuroko was aiding to feel better and help Kuroko feel better about my sister doing stuff on her own, then I helped the kid find a four-leaf clover to raise his spirits as my sister continued her work.
Mikoto pov
on the way to the next facility, I finally found one of the enemies I had been waiting for and it was a person using bomb stuffed animals. I was able to use random debris as shield, but the girl even planned for that and put bombs inside. When I found the bomber, she was a blond girl and knew enough to hide from my attacks. But I was able overcome all her bombs and use all the metal in the area to overcome my enemy. Okita helped me get around, but I was worried soon enough she would have to join the fight. But I soon cornered the girl and she thought she could turn the tables with more bombs but before I could catch her she used a stun grenade. I at least managed to learn this girl was a mercenary of the type to work for anybody as long as the pay was right.
After that, her next attack was rockets and they gave her the chance to escape but I was able to use EM waves to cover for the lack of senses to dodge her attack. But when I was about to attack again she used weird words to confuse me and then switched to a gas bomb. A bomb that kept me from using my attack, I wasn't sure if I Okita was going to have to join the battle soon. In our battle I was worried the girl would ignite the explosive gas with her heels but she seemed to have plans for it as well. when she used an explosion, I barely held out. when she let out a spiked heel, I managed to block it and then get her in a choke hold and after she flipped me out, the girl revealed the gas wasn't as dangerous as she said and I finally use my power and was about to finish her off until, her reinforcements arrived.
Those came in the form of an older girl that fired a large beam to melt through the wall. The girl then berated her underling and then prepared to confront me. but I tried to respond with debris only for her to blow away my attack and then counter with her own. But I managed to escape and try to counter with an electric whip. But the leader prepared to send another follower after me. I then kept clashing with the leader girl while the black haired girl was prepared to attack me. but I was able to create a smoke screen to escape the group. At the same time, I worried about Shinobu and how she could stop the plan. but as I ran I learned the team of girls was able to find me and attack with more bomb stuffed animals. With that I figured that black haired girl could pinpoint my exact location.
But I was still able to stop the attacks from the bomber and the leader girl. but at least I was able to dodge their attack but not without taking a little damage. But from checking I could tell the leader had a power much like mine. It wasn't much longer that Okita told me, "another servant is close, it is time to me to join the battle soon." at the same time, I figured out the leader girl was likely a level five like myself and was ready to clash with me girl on girl.
Chapter end
The next chapter will have the clash between the two level five espers while servants clash in the background as well.
Then I will return to the Index side and Toma while Mashiro tried to get him involved to begin final act of the sisters arc
But first Towa will learn the fates of the members of Sensui's group and then meet with the other retired spirit detective to see what is next for her and Yusuke.
For updates
week of 2/19/23 the fox and the dog [last chapter of yuyu hakusho arc]
week of 2/26/23 Swords, arrows and zappers
week of 3/5/23 Moon and sun return [start of season 4]
week of 3/12/23 Swords, arrows and zappers [finale of sisters' arc and angel fall arc]
week of 3/19/23 Moon and sun return
dates subject to change
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