Chapter 7 Paul Toe Guys
Less than a day after getting off from guarding the perimeter, I was in my room finishing off my science homework when a sudden AIM field started rapidly expanding from somewhere in the city.
This AIM... Is on par with a Level 5 and is still getting stronger...
Resisting the urge to puke as a wave of nausea erupted from my gut, I quickly started using Vector Change to reflect AIM fields while I tried to fgure out the cause.
? Why are the objects in my room floating?
RSPK Syndrome?
Wait, how do I know that?
With a rumbling noise that sounds like thunder, the ground below me started to shake.
No way, an earthquake too!
By the time I rushed out the door however, the shaking had already stopped, with the night almost as silent as it was before, except the sounds of Len and Tsubaki doing God knows what next door.
The next day, I spent the morning researching what could possibly have caused the phenomenon the day before, the other Judgment members attending some talk with Anti Skill.
"Hmm? An article on RSPK?" I muttered to nobody, being the only one in the office.
"Recurrent Spontaneous Psycho Kinesis syndrome, also known as RSPK Syndrome is a condition in which an Esper loses control over themselves, causing a sudden an unconscious outburst of power.
That would explain the floating objects and earthquake but how is it caused?
Poltergeist?
Clicking the link and opening a new tab, it was a Judgment report from some organization called MAR.
Poltergeist, the result of simultaneous outbreaks of RSPK Syndrome converging and manifesting. To the human perception it feels like an earthquake.
So the recent earthquakes weren't earthquakes at all but poltergeists...?
The sound of the door distracting me from my thoughts, I looked up just in tine to see Iwanami and Kuromaru return.
"Ryu-san!" Iwanami said, dragging the unnecessary honorific, "Studies show that if you spend too much time behind a computer, your eyesight will worsen!"
"Uh huh." I mumbled, returning my attention back to the screen in front of me as I continued to search for causes of RSPK.
"Neh, don't ignore me Ryu-san!" Iwanami said, attaching herself to my back while trying to pout.
"Don't you have work to do?" I replied cooly, my temper slightly frayed by my lack of success on the forums.
"You're so mean Ryu-san!" Iwanami whined, continuing her pouting spree, "And I was just about to ask you if you wanted to go with me to the fireworks festival near the river tonight!"
Now she's really starting to annoy.
"Iwanami, just what is it with you, acting so hostile most of the time and so sickeningly sweet now, are you some kind of warped tsundere?"
"Waaah! Ryu bullied me!" Iwanami yelled, faking tears and crying to Kuromaru who welcomed her with open arms.
If I hadn't seen this routine so often I'd actually be surprised.
Keep smiling Kuromaru, as much as you comfort her you STILL aren't going to get her to date you. She never dates coworkers. Me included.
Forwarding the website to my phone for future reference, I left the Judgment office in the late afternoon, my stomach rumbling like the recent earthquakes likely because I skipped lunch.
Pulling out my phone and dialing Len's number, as i expected, Tsubaki answered, "Hello, Len's phone."
"Hey Tsubaki."
"What is it Ryu?"
"Are you going to the fireworks festival tonight?"
"Umm, I don't think so, I don't have a yukata to wear."
"You could just come in casual clothing."
"Eww no! Ryu that's so untraditional!"
"Alright alright, suit yourself. See ya."
Closing the phone with a sigh, I guess I'll be going alone tonight then.
The firework festival was actually quite fun, sampling bits of food and playing traditional festival games really reminds me of the festivals that I used to go to when I was young.
After my third unsuccessful try at catching a fish with the scoop, I simply gave up and started to make my way to another stall until I saw Misaka and Kuroko accompanied by Uiharu and Ruiko.
Should I join them? Nah I guess a greeting will suffice.
Nodding at Misaka over the distance after catching her eye, a look of shock crossed her face before she suppressed it, looking as calm as ever as she returned my nod, Ruiko pulling them elsewhere.
Apparently I'm not the only one who has eyes on Misaka.
Kiyama Harumi.
The researcher that created the Level Upper network, controlled over 10000 brains and thousands of abilities.
Taking great care to not be noticed by her as I walked over to her, pretending to be absorbed by the festival until I reached her.
"Kiyama-san, if you would so kindly..."
"I saw you making your way to me, so you can drop the ambush act." Kiyama said, cutting me off while still scanning the crowd.
"W-what?"
"I am a researcher, small details like faces in the crowd are not something I would miss, especially not someone with your face."
Dragging Kiyama away from the crowds to prevent ourselves from being overheard, I started to scrutinize her, "My face? I fought you once and you remember my face already?"
"No, I know I've seen your face somewhere before and I have."
"Where?"
"There was a report on you, not in the bank. I found it by chance when trying to find out why you were so familiar.
"What report?"
"A report on the correlation between Personal Realities and RSPK Syndrome. Are you aware of such an experiment?"
"No. I mean, why are you out here? Stop side tracking me! How'd you get out of the detention center?"
"I was bailed out."
"By whom? Who would... What?" I gasped, feeling a rapidly expanding AIM Field.
"I will answer your questions in due time. For now, you might want to warn your friends up there about what's about to happen." Kiyama replied, walking off.
Before I could chase her, the AIM Field coming from a lookout point overlooking the festival continued expanding even beyond the scope of a Level 5.
I lost my dinner to the drain as I regurgitated it. My ability can't handle an AIM Field of this magnitude.
Bringing up Reflect to block the AIM Field once again, the ground below me started to rumble and crack as another earthquake took place.
An earthquake? No... A poltergeist!
Far above at the lookout point, a pillar supporting the overhanging balcony crumbled causing the section above it to collapse with it.
Taking the shortest path to the lookout point, a tree that was uprooted by the earthquake started to fall right onto the path I was about to run into.
Reaching out with telekinesis, I miscalculated the vector, allowing the tree to continue falling unaffected.
Well, here goes nothing.
Touching the tree with a hand that randomized a vector in every possible direction, causing the tree to explode, literally.
A few splinters leaving minor scratches on my face and arm, I ignored them as I continued up the path, only reaching the still standing portion of the balcony when the earthquakes had already stopped.
Jogging over to Misaka and Kuroko, they seemed to be waiting for a lady wearing a singlet and pants standing next to a powered suit to finish talking into her earpiece.
"...Yes, fortunately no one was injured. More importantly, in order to prevent panic, please come up with a cover story for the public. This of course wasn't an earthquake but a Polter..."
"Poltergeist." Kuroko said, completing the lady's sentence.
"Yes, this is a Poltergeist." the lady said.
"Thank you for helping my friend." Kuroko said, she and Misaka bowing to show their gratitude.
"I'm relieved that no one was injured." the lady said, her face showing genuine happiness.
"By the way, what are the doing? Are they measuring the AIM diffusion field at this location? Does the MAR allow you guys to detect abnormalities in fields in the first place?"
"Kuroko... That many questions..." I started to say.
"What is your name?" the lady asked.
"I'm Shirai Kuroko from the 177th Judgment Branch."
"I see, the 177th must have great personnel to have figured out the link between RSPK Syndrome and AIM Fields."
"RSPK is caused by someone intentionally interfering with the AIM diffusion field. The simultaneous occurrences en masse cause a Poltergeist effect."
"A large AIM disturbance is also found near the sight of each Poltergeist event." I said.
"If you had told us this during the joint meeting, we, as Judgment could have helped to screen out suspicious people..."
Well, I wasn't at the meeting itself so I wouldn't know what was going on.
"That's Anti Skill's responsibility." the lady said, folding her arms.
Classic confrontational body language there.
"Like I said in the meeting, Judgment will be responsible for countermeasures related to problems caused by rumors. We prefer you to concentrate on daily safety measures." the lady said.
That totally sounds like a job they'd give Judgment.
"Oh, Ryusuke-san, you must be wondering who this is, this is Telestina-san, she works for MAR, Multi Active Rescue." Kuroko said, as Telestina held out a hand for me to shake.
Shaking the proffered hand, Misaka's features had a thoughtful edge to them as she wondered aloud,
"Is there anyone else who is able to interfere with the AIM diffusion field?"
"Anyone else?" Telestina asked.
Misaka must be thinking about her run in with Kihara Nayuta. That little girl and her absurd ability to actively overload and control other Esper abilities.
"Misaka-san, we'll be accompanying Haruue-san to the hospital." Ruiko said, as she and Uiharu got into the MAR vehicle.
"Oh, we're coming too." Misaka replied, starting to head towards the vehicle as well until Kuroko warned her about their dormitory supervisor patrolling the corridors.
Time for me to take my leave as well.
Returning to my room in the wee hours of the morning again, my bed literally called my name as I had a quick shower to remove any dirt I picked up before falling into my bed and into the throes of sleep almost immediately.
The next morning, I took a light breakfast takeaway and ate it on the way to my destination, the 132nd Judgment Branch.
"Yo Ryusuke! What are you doing here so early in the morning?" Kuromaru asked, rubbing his eyes as he sat up from the couch, his bed on some occasions.
"Back at you, why did you sleep here instead of returnig to your dorm?" I replied, sitting at a terminal and booting it up.
"Had a lot of paperwork to do. Why are you here?" Kuromaru asked.
"To search the Bank. The 177th Branch had a breakthrough. They found that the Poltergeist events are triggered by someone intentionally interfering with the AIM diffusion field."
"What? So what are you searching for?"
"Espers that can manipulate AIM Fields."
Entering the search criteria into the Bank a quick scroll down later, only 7 names returned. Two could be discounted because they were Level 1's and 2's. To cause a Poltergeist event, I'm quite sure the ability has to at least be a Level 3.
A few phone calls later, another two names were checked off with alibis. Only three names were left on the list: Ryusuke Isha, Takitsubo Rikou, and Kihara Nayuta.
The first one has an obvious alibi. The second and third were unreachable.
Rikou was not enrolled in any school so locating her would be difficult. But Kihara should be released in an hour or so.
I'll get Kihara first.
"Ryusuke! Don't you need a Judgment band?" Kuromaru asked, a green band in his hand.
"She's from Judgment too." I replied, running out the door and around the corner.
I've seen her ability first hand, and I know what it can do. She's practically the perfect candidate to cause a Poltergeist.
Just remembering her ability gives me the shivers. Even if I were to fight someone like her, how can I win? Her fighting style takes advantage of her biological enhancements and the opening she creates in her opponent's defense by manipulating their ability.
I hate this, this rushing in without a plan.
But for the sake of Academy City... Oh hell why am I trying to sound so noble? This isn't me. I'm not like Misaka, even if I wanted to protect everything I hold dear, I can't.
Minami-sama... I'm sorry yet again, for my powerlessness. I guess I was really not fit to be your brother.
For the umpteenth time, I'm reminded of my own limits.
That red bag, those pigtails, that's Nayuta. No doubt about it.
Casting aside my own feelings, I slowed my run to a walk as I headed over to Nayuta, slowly matching her pace and following her.
Her figure suddenly disappearing around a corner gave me a shock.
Shit! She saw me!
Electromaster Personal Reality online.
Giving chase to a nearby park, Nayuta finally slowed down before turning around to face me, "So, may I ask you why you have been tailing me? Onii-chan?"
"Kihara Nayuta, I'm here to question you about your involvement in the recent Poltergeist events."
"Oh? Question me on who's authority?"
"None. As a member of Judgment, you should have an alibi for last night right?"
"Even of I do, why should I tell you Reality Shift-san?"
Why does that name sound so familiar..?
Taking advantage of my momentary lapse in focus, Nayuta immediately started dashing forward as a sensation of being scanned from the inside out enveloped me.
My right hand started charging electricity.
No way!
Looking up in horror, Nayuta had disappeared from my field of vision only to reappear right in front of my face, reaching for my neck.
She knows about the 0.5 second charge time that electricity requires before it can be released?
In order to release electricity, an Electromaster needs to make calculations and preparations. Air ionization and to what extent are all done in half a second, how does this girl know...
Shit! She fought Misaka! Of course she'd be well read on an Electromaster's strengths and weaknesses!
With no time to aim the electricity forming in my hand, I immediately willingly overloaded the current build in my hand, detonating the air around me and sending me flying backwards and out of her reach.
Ow, the shockwave from the blast really did a number on my hand. There's definitely going to be bruising on it tomorrow.
Shutting down all Personal Realities I was controlling, I rolled in a random direction just in time to see Nayuta flash past.
"Really, is this the standard of Reality Shift? Stop holding back! I know you can end this in less than a second."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." I retorted, desperately trying to come up with a plan.
If I use any ability, she will overload it and use it to her advantage, but if I don't use an ability, she'll automatically win by default because of all the enhancements she has on her body.
Come on... Think...
"What's the matter Reality Shift onii-chan? If you aren't going on the offensive I will!"
Why does she keep calling me that? Oh crap!
Raising my arms and blocking a light punch from Nayuta, I was sent flying and tumbling for several meters.
Ow...
Electromaster Personal Reality online!
"Reality Shift onii-chan, could it be that you really forgot?"
"Forgot what?" I replied, suddenly aware of the uneasy shifting feeling I get before my ability overloads.
"Oh my so they were right!" Nayuta squealed, vanishing from the visible spectrum.
Now!
Ignoring the sparks that started to flare in my hand, I immediately opened up the Vector Change
Personal Reality and set it to reflect everything in front of me.
Not trying to dodge Nayuta's attack, I took her attack head on and watched in glee as her arm hit my vector shield and turned upon itself.
But it did not break.
"Wha... What are you?" I cried, as Nayuta simply stared at her arm, skin colored covering peeling off to reveal the mechanical arm underneath.
"Heheh, so you have Accelerator's ability as well. But the same trick won't work twice!" Nayuta said, rushing in for another attack.
Narrowing all the possible mediums for attack, I started adding rules to the reflect shield like reflecting electricity, heat, anything that was not necessary like gravity or air.
Confidently standing in the face of her oncoming attack, Nayuta struck a clean blow to my face, sending me reeling.
No way, reflection didn't work?
Rechecking my calculations again, Nayuta giggled, "Once you know what you are up against, it's almost too easy to exploit the weakness. Your reflect isn't a perfect shield. It has a very obvious flaw. Vector Change only manipulates force vectors, it does not manipulate what gets affected. By stopping and pulling back just before impact I'm simply making your reflect work against you."
"How can you... Come up with something like this?" I mumbled, the aftershock of getting punched still pulsing on the point of impact.
"It's nothing to be surprised about, seeing as my uncle was Accelerator's power developer. Naturally a teacher would know his student's weakness right?"
Standing up shakily, I slowly brought out an arcade coin from my pocket and held it in my hand.
"So you really have forgotten everything. I guess I've been wasting my time here, I was hoping to face off the legendary Reality Shift. Not some copycat."
"Say that again!" I roared, flipping the coin into the air.
"Don't bother. Are you forgetting what my ability is? You can't use the 'Railgun'. At your level of electric control you're still a Level 3."
She's right. At my current level I won't even be able to make the coin shoot faster than the speed of sound. But... But!
Charging electricity in my left arm and doing vector calculations at the same time, as soon as the coin touched my hand, I altered its vector to shoot right at Nayuta, using electricity to boost its velocity.
Hearing a bang as the coin broke the speed of sound, I stumbled a bit before falling to one knee, the large electrical discharge taking its toll.
"Not bad." Nayuta sneered, raising her hand and catching the coin, "You broke the sound barrier, but by using two abilities."
I'm out of tricks, this is it, I'm done.
"So I'll give you a little reward for your effort." Nayuta said, pulling out a pink handphone, "Here's five key phrases to the answers to all of the questions I'm sure you want to ask so pay attention."
"Reality Shift. Testament. Institute of AIM Fields and Personal Reality. Special Ability Institute. Proximity Trace." Nayuta said, adding emphasis on the last key phrase.
"Wait..." I said weakly, getting back onto my feet.
"What is it? I need to go back and review the battle data, and get repairs done so make it quick."
"Where were you last night?"
"You're still on about the Poltergeists? I can assure you I have nothing to do with the recent Poltergeists, but there are deeper, darker things that you should be worrying about." Nayuta replied, disappearing once she finished speaking.
I better head back to the Judgment Branch. I'm in no condition to chase after Rikou right now.
One short trip back to the 132nd Branch later...
"Ow! Ever heard of bedside manner Iwanami? Girls should be more caring of the injuries their comrades sustain!"
"But Ryusuke-samaaa, I'm gving you PLENTY of bedside manner! It's delicacy I'm lacking!"
Taking another stab at my injuries with a cotton bud laced with disinfectant, Iwanami was clearly not good with dressings as she overwrapped every external injury I had, bruises included.
"Is your final goal to make me look like a mummy? Because you're definitely succeeding."
"Shaddup and stay still!" Iwanami growled, pulling out another roll of bandages.
Making a silent promise to myself to remove at least half the bandages when I leave, I tolerated Iwanami's 'care' for another half an hour.
Damn that was annoying.
Ripping off half of the bandages that were simply overkill, I checked if the forum had any updates on my phone.
None huh? There goes that lead.
Well, no point pushing myself too far, I'll just have an early night and start information gathering in the morning.
Waking up a little later than usual, I headed out after taking a quick stop by Len's room.
I didn't dare go in, with Tsubaki inside, even I don't want to know what they're doing.
With no leads on the case, I decided to do a little personal investigation into what Nayuta said to me yesterday.
I'll research into Testament another time. My target right now is Special Ability Institute.
Should I go to Judgment to gather the info?
No... I shouldn't use Judgment resources for personal matters.
Where's the nearest phone booth?
Pulling out my phone, I opened up Misaka's Personal Reality and began to focus. Academy City's internet is based on electricity networks as well. So if I use her ability...
Processing the flood of binary that entered my mind, I quickly slowed down the overwhelming flow of information, processing it in packets.
Misaka must have very good processing power herself if she is able to do something like this so easily.
Got it! Special Ability Institute, formerly known as Special Ability Holders Multiple Alteration Technologies Research Institute. A research facility in the 10th district that has been... Closed down?
No! And I was getting so close to the answer!
Going to the tenth district anyway, it was not hard to find the Special Ability Institute, it was still intact, but had a lot of scarring from bullets and scorch marks.
Before hopping in I did a quick scan of the grounds and as I thought, the area was guarded by security robots.
I'll study the patrol patterns and then break in when I have.
Several hours later, I slumped with my back leaning on the gate in defeat, for some reason, I could
not find a logical pattern to the security robot patrols.
And even if I broke my way in with brute force, I still won't have enough time to search the facility.
Guess I'll have to come back another day then.
Taking a shortcut back to my dormitory for dinner, I passed by the hospital I stayed at looking over at nothing in particular until a specific vehicle caused me to stop and take a closer look.
It was a blue sports car.
Normally I wouldn't care about sports cars and what color they are but this car has something that I remember, a small dent in the side when I was sent flying not too long ago.
Kiyama Harumi's car.
So she's here huh? I guess I might just have a lead after all.
Getting dinner at a nearby restaurant across the hospital, I quickly wolfed down a quick meal while keeping my attention focused solely on the car, waiting for Kiyama to return.
She has to use that car sooner or later.
An hour later, my efforts paid off as a familiar figure with dusty brown hair emerged from the back entrance of the hospital, heading for the car.
Your mine!
Paying for the food, I ran out of the restaurant, altering the vectors below my foot to send me flying into the air, absorbing the kinetic energy from my falling body to reduce the impact as I landed a few meters away from her car.
I was aiming to land right next to her car, but I guess I wasn't accurate enough in the force applied.
"Going somewhere?" I called out, ready to stop her if she ran.
"Oh, you again." Kiyama remarked, looking unfazed by my sudden appearance.
"What kind of response is that? Why are you even here to begin with?"
"I'm sorry, I'm a little busy right now, would you like to talk later or...?"
Getting into her car before she could stop me, all I heard was a sigh from her part as she got into the driver's seat and started the car.
"Since you're coming along with me, I don't suppose I can ask for your help?"
"Only if you tell me what you're doing."
"I need a bit of data and it's essential to curing the children. So I'm going back to my old workplace to see if it might be there."
"So basically you're breaking and entering."
"You don't need to say it so harshly, the place is abandoned."
Nodding as I glared straight ahead, Kiyama drove the car out of the car park and onto the highway until she spoke again, "Why are you helping me?"
"Because from what you say, what you're doing is beneficial, and also I have a few questions."
"You're awfully pragmatic for a high school student you know? Now that I mind."
"Then will you answer the questions that I have to ask?"
"Only if I know the answer."
"What do you know about the report that you said you had found? The one about me."
"It's nothing important really, just a short report on a Poltergeist that occurred when the Personal Reality of a test subject was tampered with, and the links that were discovered between Personal Realities and AIM Fields."
"Who wrote the report?"
"Kihara Amata."
Is this how I know about the Kihara's?
"Was there anything specific in the report?"
"No, but the Poltergeist did alert Anti Skill to the facility and they shut it down a few days after the incident."
"..."
"Are you alright?"
"I guess I'm no closer to finding the truth then."
"Don't be so down on yourself."
"Wait..."
"Yes?"
"If I help you save the children, will you help me find out more about 'Reality Shift'?"
"I don't see any reason not to."
"I'll hold you to that."
With that exchange, we reached the 'Advanced Education Department'.
"We're here, what we're looking for is the computer data loggers that are found deep within the facility. It should be in the experiment laboratories, in the lowest level."
Nodding in response, I walked up to the nearby gate which was barricaded.
So... Do I blast my way in? Or unlock it?
While in the middle of my childish dillema, Kiyama simply walked up to the door and looked at it intently, "I have the passcode to the entrance, but the locking mechanism itself has no power..."
"Oh I can help you with that." I said, walking up to the keypad ionising the air around my fingers before touching the keypad.
The effect was immediate with the door sliding open immediately.
"It seems that you control more than one ability, how do you do it?"
"By the time I finish explaining, the security robots will come, can we talk about this later? The bank should have the explanation you want as well." I replied, walking in and opening the next door in the same way.
Letting Kiyama in first, I followed her as she passed by classrooms, science laboratories, everything you'd expect of a regular school.
Until she opened the staircase and went downstairs.
The room that we walked into, overlooked what I had no doubt was the area where all the equipment was located to conduct experiments, there were telltale holes on the floor that showed the wiring and pipes. Clearly a lot of machinery used to reside in here before being removed.
Pulling out her handphone, Kiyama dialled a few numbers before holding the phone to her ear, "There's nothing left here... Yes I'm leaving."
"Where to?" I asked, as Kiyama hung up the phone and turned to leave.
"Back to the hospital..." Kiyama started to say, before the door burst open with Misaka behind it.
"You huh?" Kiyama muttered, unfazed by Misaka's appearance.
Seriously, nothing catches this woman off guard.
"As I thought, Kiyama Harumi." Misaka said, glaring daggers at Kiyama.
"Do you have some busi-" Kiyama started to ask before Misaka cut her off, "Is the incident this time your doing as well?"
"What if it were?" Kiyama replied.
"Kiyama-san, please don't..."
"There's no way I'd forgive you!" Misaka screamed.
Piss her off...
Charging a large amount of electricity, Misaka let it loose in a large burst, shocking everything around her from the walls, the ceiling...
Me and Kiyama...
If I hadn't converted the excess electricity into energy stored within my body, I have no doubt that Kiyama and I would be twitching on the ground from the shock.
With a large ringing sound, the entire facility came back to life, the electronic equipment flickering back as if it was powered down only yesterday.
The ringing sound being the security alarms.
"Tha... What happened?" Misaka gasped, looking around at the now reactivated facility.
"I'll head out first then." I whispered to Kiyama, before heading towards the other door out.
"No choice now." Kiyama said, dragging Misaka out the doorway she was blocking.
Leaving the facility after sabotaging the alarm system, (I stuck a fist through the control panel and it stopped. Nuff said.)
Using Vector Control to take 10 meter steps back to the hospital, I reached there just in time to see Kiyama's car pull into the carpark.
Coming out of the car and entering the hospital via the staff entrance again, Kiyama took us up an elevator that led to one of the private wards in the hospital.
In the ward, there were 10 children. Although I didn't recognise any of them, I instantly realised who they were, these 10 children, are the children that Kiyama had taught.
"This is..." Misaka said, too shocked to finish her sentence.
"You must know, after peeping into my memories. These are... My students."
"So the one behind the Poltergeist is you after all!" Misaka yelled, starting to release more electricity.
"Yes." Kiyama said, completely calm despite the fact that she was practically admitting her guilt.
As Misaka started to charge electricity, I held out a hand, ready to absorb at least some of the electricity she fired out, "Calm down Misaka, there must be a good explanation for this."
"Indeed." A voice to our right said, causing us to look at a familiar frog faced doctor, "The circumstances behind it are a bit complicated. Also, if you don't mind, this is a hospital. So could you refrain from throwing your electricity around?"
"You're that...!" Misaka gasped, realizing who she was talking to.
"It's been a while, both of you." the doctor replied, nodding at both of us.
Hiding her frog faced mask behind her, Misaka quickly asked what was going on.
Looking down before looking at us again, the doctor simply replied, "Kihara Gensei. He's the one that started it all."
Why do all the Kihara's sound so familiar?
Leading us into a room, the doctor opened up a video file. It was a recording of Kihara Gensei, and his plan to create a Level 6, and achieve SYSTEM.
It was a well sounded plan, but the briefing did nothing to highlight the potential side effects of his plan.
Ending the briefing with the true goal of SYSTEM, the way Gensei put it foward, sent a shiver down my spine, "This crystallized ESPer essence will unlock the dark secrets that will allow us to reach the will of the heavens. It will be the torchlight of science that guides us on the road to SYSTEM."
Closing the video before turning to us, the doctor said, "I talked to him later and asked him about the side effects that he neglected to mention. He claimed that his experiments were steadily yielding results, and that his experiments had no victims. I don't know what he thought of them as, but there were victims. I got involved in that incident and learned the details. And then I confirmed everything for myself. The Child Errors that Kiyama is trying to save, were the test subjects for the crystallized ESPer essence."
"What I told you back then... About that experiment to analyze forced ability overload, even that was just a cover. What you saw was the true experiment to test crystallized ESPer essence exposure." Kiyama said, her fist shaking with rage.
"No way... All to reach Level 6, which no one is even sure is possible? These children were put into this state just for that insane experiment!" Misaka asked, practically yelling out her last question.
"Misaka, try to see it from the scientist's perspective. To someone like Kihara Gensei, a few Child Errors are nothing compared to the chance to actually obtain a Level 6. The idea is that attractive to them." I said, trying to avoid looking directly at her.
"All I was able to do was save their lives. Luckily it didn't take very long to gather them all up, I carry quite a bit of influence in this area. I wanted to consult with a specialist in order to revive them."
"So you bailed her." Misaka said.
"I was the one asking for the unreasonable, I'm grateful for the doctor's help. Due to my having access to these facilities, I've made progress in finding a way to revive them."
"Then why haven't you?" I asked Kiyama.
"You can save them then?" Misaka also asked.
"No, another problem has surfaced." the doctor said.
"Whenever they get close to awakening, their AIM diffusion fields show irregular patterns, and their abilities overload, which leads to simultaneous RSPK syndrome outbreaks." Kiyama explained.
"That man's research has advanced, the crystallized ESPer essence at the stage I knew about shouldn't have caused a Poltergeist outbreak. But the improved crystallized ESPer essence..." the doctor said, with Kiyama finishing his sentence for him, "It rendered these kids comatose, and caused ability overload."
"So whenever they try to wake up..." Misaka said, Kiyama again finishing her sentence for her as well, "Yeah, a Poltergeist happens."
It's a bit freaky and annoying when she does that.
"Isn't there anything you can do?" Misaka asked.
"I'm developing a vaccine program to suppress the outbreaks. However..." Kiyama replied.
"You've hit a snag." I said.
"Yes, the crystallized ESPer essence was based on chemicals from the first human test subjects, known as the 'First Sample'. It's imperative for me to see the analyzed data from that experiment to complete the vaccination software."
"So the reason you were at that facility..." Misaka said.
"I was looking for that data, there wasn't anything left though. But I'm not giving up, that data is vital for research into the crystallized ESPer essence. There's no way they would have destroyed it. It has to be out there somewhere and I'll do whatever it takes to find it."
I opened my mouth to ask another question but Misaka beat me to it, "And what if you can't find it?"
"I'll awaken these children anyway."
Shocked and horrified at her answer, Misaka was furious, "Even though it will cause a Poltergeist?"
Misaka, you shouldn't be quick to step on other people's feelings.
As if on cue, Kiyama turned around and retorted, "Well I can't leave them unconscious any longer!"
"There might be an alternative." I whispered, hoping nobody would hear me.
"What?" Misaka and Kiyama said at the same time.
"My ability involves the memorisation of AIM Fields and adapting of Personal Realities. Since this is a problem with your students being unable to perceive reality properly, I might be able to see what's wrong. I can't change or affect another person's reality, but I'm sure you both can access the technology to do that right?" I said, looking at the doctor and then Kiyama.
Giving me a curt nod before stepping aside, I slowly reached my hands out to the nearest student and closed my eyes.
Proximity Trace online, AIM Field registered, now analyzing Personal Reality... Personal Reality damaged, due to unknown levels of neurotransmitters and hormones. Now attempting to locate flaws in Reality logic patterns... Flaws... innumerable... This is bad!
Quickly pulling myself out of the student's mind, I vomited on the floor as I lost the fight against the nausesa I was trying to hold back.
"Don't push yourself too hard." the doctor said, rubbing my back as a cleaner robot came by to clean up the mess.
I hope I never see that robot again, man to have to process literally 'everything'...
"Now that all of your options are exhausted, isn't it time to let us take over?" a voice said from behind the doors as they opened.
"Telestina-san!" Misaka said in shock.
"Sorry, I followed you." Telestina said, not looking sorry at all.
"Who...?" Kiyama asked, before getting cut off by Telestina, "We're the Multi Active Rescue Squad. We're here to take custody of the children. Please do not resist."
Screw them, I'm trying again.
Turning around and ignoring everyone else, I quickly delved into the student's Personal Reality again, trying harder to compare the logic pattern flaws against a clean logic pattern. Mine.
Pushed roughly by one of the MAR suit operators, I had no choice but to withdraw back to my own consciousness, the feeling of nausea still assaulting my senses.
Falling to my knees as the MAR powered suits removed the children one by one, too weak to stop them, I powerlessly watched as Misaka left, Telestina leaving shortly after once all the children were collected. Leaving Kiyama and the frog faced doctor behind as I myself stared at the floor.
It can't end this way can it? So what if MAR can save them, what about Kiyama being reunited with her students? This is not the kind of ending I want! This is not the kind of ending I will accept! What is my power for? To fight right! To protect right! I will change fate with this power! To bring the happy ending that everyone wants! I cannot give up here! Even if it takes everything I've got, I'll just give more! Just you all wait, the climax has yet to come!
-End of Chapter 7-
And that's it for another chapter! Read, Review, Favorite, etc.