TWO – EPISODE CONTACT
Heavy mist, dim lights of burning incense sticks casting an eerie glow against the tombstones. Two silhouettes sprawled against the concrete benches of the cemetery, others solemnly around the grave.
The air was still and noiseless, but that never lasts.
"Hey, look," said Akihiko as they struggled to keep up with Mitsuru and Aigis. "We were pretty drunk last night- I'm sure it was a mistake. Mitsuru? Hey, c'mon now-"
"We miss him as much as you do, sempai, but-" started Yukari.
"But nothing. I need to make sure," snapped Mitsuru as she stopped in front of his grave. "Aigis!"
"Yes, commencing terahertz scanning... complete. Mitsuru-san... there are no abnormalities."
Mitsuru closed her eyes and breathed out. "Thank you, Aigis. Alright, I'm satisfied- it was a trick, not a ghost."
"A trick?" asked Akihiko. "Mitsuru, what are you talking about?"
"Guys, did you really forget that Aigis isn't flesh and blood? She replayed last night's events for me. It wasn't the alcohol that did it- somebody or something that looks just like Minato passed us last night."
"B-but that's impossible!" protested Junpei. "We were all there at the funeral! We saw his body!"
"And Aigis confirms it."
"Oh, er, was that what that terawhatsit was about?"
"...yes, Iori-san. That was what the terahertz scanning was about." Mitsuru brushed a stray lock of hair aside. "I'm sorry for dragging you all out here with me. Let's get out of the weather."
"Aren't you curious as to what the trick is?" said a new voice through the mist. "And tell your robot not to start something she can't finish."
Mitsuru placed a hand on Aigis's arm, raised and pointed at the shadows of the nearby trees. "Aigis, not yet. The taser might not be enough anyhow. Who is it?"
"I tried getting in contact over the phone with you yesterday, Kirijo-san, but your secretary rebuffed me." complained the voice. He stepped out- a mess of unruly hair over a dark, featureless coat. Hard eyes flickered across the faces of the former SEES members. "It wasn't about our negotiations- or, rather, it was in the interest of being able to continue our negotiations while you are still head of the Kirijo Group." He dropped his cigarette, smothering it under a heel.
"...Tetsuya Juno. The younger brother to the Juno group's president," said Aigis. "He was the one that called two nights ago."
"You know, you're still pointing that taser finger at me," he said, raising an eyebrow at Aigis. "Is this really any way to treat a potential business asset?"
"It is if I deem him a threat," said Aigis coldly.
"Wait, stop. Mitsuru, who is this creep?" asked Akihiko.
"Like he said- a business partner," said Mitsuru angrily. "What the hell is this about?"
Tetsuya wordlessly pulled out a large phone. Though grainy, the picture was unmistakably that of Minato. "See, that's also what I'd like to know."
It is some strange, unwritten obligation that all cults meet in dark secrecy. To be fair, as its leader, he fully knew why. It was the excitement it generated- and atmosphere in which even mundane words could be laden with terrible importance and urgency. Appearance was everything, especially for the weak-minded.
And this time, he'd get it right.
"Master, we are all congregated," whispered his aide.
"Thank you, my dear," he breathed, weakened lungs struggling out each syllable. The creak of an ancient wheelchair stirred through the silence. "Inform the Messiah... more have come to bring tribute..."
Juno Incorporated was headquartered in the middle of nowheresville. It occupied a small town along Alaska's coast, and if it weren't for the economic gravity it wielded, the area would've been a ghost town long ago. It had offices throughout the industrialized world, in L.A., in New York, and even a glitzy, steel bars and mother of pearl windows front all the way in Dubai; its refusal to relocate its HQ to, say, warmer and more industrious climes confuses all external observers.
Alex Juno knows why. It was something his parents told him, and a bit of a joke between himself and his twin. There are hundreds of ways to end the world, he had been told, and thousands of ways to prevent it. This was one of them.
"One of what?" his twin would ask, a jackal's grin leering out through the cigarette smoke of the local bar. "Damnation or salvation?"
"Depends on which end of the gun you're on," Alex would reply.
And the Borealis shimmered above.
His cell rang.
"Alex Juno speaking," he said, voice graveled with the ravages of liquor.
"Bro, status update: they gave me access to the Aigis memory banks. I'm not convinced."
"Well, that was expected. Hey, you still with them?"
"Yep. Kirijo-san, my brother wishes to speak to you- I'll turn on the speaker, as I think you'll all be interested in listening in on this."
The shuffling of a phone being handed over. "Ah, Kirijo-san. Good evening- my apologies for keeping you and your friends up so late."
"Mr. Juno, what is this about?" she asked.
"A small case of necromancy, seemingly- and I don't mean your old friend. I am aware, idly, of his significance- biological memory is unreliable, but good old silicon stores data for a long time indeed. You can be sure that the Juno Group respects his role in our continued existence too much to be the perpetrators of his doppleganger."
"Uh-huh. Thank you. Now, can you please get to your point?"
"Ah, the point. The point is thus: I wished to establish a business relationship with your group, not only out of admiration for the successes you've had in the Japanese market, but because a threat that concerns us both has, almost literally, crawled out of the grave. Our grandfathers were allies, Miss Kirijo- distant cousins, apparently, and much to my family's misfortunes, they... agreed... on a number of key issues. Are you beginning to understand?"
"...continue."
"The Juno Group has had a number of... domestic disputes, since ten years ago. It turns out that a lot of our more... traditional members were allies of my grandfather. They have been quite upset since your late friend's sealing of the Maternal Being, though it wasn't until they made their move that I was aware of the extent of their treachery. Miss Kirijo, they wish for a return of the Dark Hour, and I am disheartened to admit that I think they might be able to pull it off."
Silence. Mitsuru narrowed her eyes in anger, in confusion. "That's impossible. The Dark Hour exists only because of Nyx. With Nyx defeated-"
"Nyx was sealed, Miss Kirijo. Let me reemphasize- Nyx was locked away, not destroyed. Though the essence of Death remains in the world, there is no mind to guide it... for now. They, of course, believe they can rectify this situation."
"How."
"Why, simple: unlock Nyx. Let us not forget that it was the Kirijo Group's own research that determined that the interplay between the spirit and the body- Cartesian dualism- was not as discrete as originally supposed. They've made a soul trap for Mr. Arisato, and they fully intend to use it."
"That's why my brother asked me to get a hold of all of you," interjected Tetsuya. "You all were closest to him- and you all know how best to fight shadows." He shrugged. "I was an Apathy Syndrome victim- I don't very much feel like returning to a state of mindlessness. So it's either you agree to fight again, or I end up nuking Japan."
"W-wait- NUKE us?!" exclaimed Junpei. The rest of the room was in shock.
"...Tetsuya, what the hell are you doing?" asked Alex, suddenly extremely sober.
"Explaining the reality of the situation, bro. The leylines focus right over Gekkoukan High- a nice, big shock will disrupt their plans for at least four, five centuries. A thousand ways to prevent the end of the world, eh?" A jackal's grin.
"Miss Kirijo, my brother's being... being moronic. It was never my intention to use that level of firepower to deal with this situation," said Alex hastily. "And definitely not to cause an international incident. Tetsuya, what the hell?!"
"I don't trust them."
"You've got some nerve, pal!" snarled Ken. "What the hell is all this about?"
Tetsuya's stony glare focused on Mitsuru. "It's about doing whatever the hell's necessary to stay ahead of their damned cult. We're months behind their activities, Alex, and the first full moon's in two weeks. If they lost their strength, then the only trump card we have is the Fool, and that's not good enough for this game."
"Tetsuya, don't you dare-"
"Dare what? Do something rash? Like this?"
A pistol materialized in his hand, pointed at Mitsuru. He grinned as Aigis locked her hand up in front of him, and with a flourish, redirected the gun to his own head. The jackal's grin grew to a cackling laughter as five triggers beat him to it.
"Oh, you utter bastard," muttered Alex. "Tetsuya! Tetsuya, you hear me?! If you're still alive, I'm going to fucking kill you!"
"Hey, if I'm a bastard, that makes you one too," gasped Tetsuya as he picked the phone quickly, in between bouts of utter chaos. "Hey, talk later, the gym teacher's tossing a fireball at- AUGH! MY FAVORITE COAT!"
The phone died. Alex rubbed his temples irritably. "Bartender, another whiskey. Please. As much as you can legally give me."
He was still laughing when the dust settled, if a bit strained due to taking a direct attack to the chest. The others weren't nearly as amused.
"Oh, the power!" cackled Tetsuya as he laid sprawled across the floor. "The ridiculous power! Ten years since Nyx, and still you possess the gift! I am pleased; my brother will be pleased, as soon as he gets over his hangover tomorrow. Kirijo-san, as I have been given significant diplomatic abilities as the Juno Group's representative, I will consent to whatever plans you might have for the upcoming ordeal."
"And what..." breathed Mitsuru angrily. "Makes you think... we'll work with you after this?"
Tetsuya sat upright, suddenly serious. "Because you'll need my help to get rid of that."
The moon glared a sickly green, a smile of menace and portent upon its prey. And rising from the skyline was a familiar, and dreadful, sight.
"Good thing you all kept your Evokers, eh?"
AN: shitshitshit, too many goddamn monologues, and all from the original characters. Ep 3 will be better, I promise.