Chapter 15 Situational Volatility: Hair Trigger
Waking up in my own room, the events that transpired last night was a bit fuzzy no matter how hard I tried to recall it. I fought Accelerator, that much is clear, but who won? It can't be me since he's such a monster, yet it can't be him since I'm still alive. Whatever happened, the fight really did a number on my body as I still feel the aches and bruises from Akiha's healing last night.
Akiha's... Healing?
Quickly checking my body for any bite marks that Akiha might have made, I found none despite checking myself over multiple times. Indeed, this is strange.
My memory should become clearer in time, for now I'll just eat...
Wait, am I eating breakfast or lunch?
How can I not know the time after waking up? This must be remedied... Like NOW... 9am?
Akiha's not up yet... Yes! Now I get to be the one preparing the food!
Happily skipping into the kitchen and a quick searc of the food cupboards later, I could swear Akiha was smiling on her futon pile in the main room; The cupboards were all empty.
Dammit, I knew there was a reason she didn't wake up... Well, no point crying about it now, guess I'll go out and get the groceries... Or I could get what I need from Len.
Going to the room next to mine and knocking on the door, with no sound and no signs of life coming from the room, Len must have slept over at Tsubaki's. It's a simple matter to open the locks since they're all magnetic, but what kind of food does Len eat? I swear, if it's cheese balls and biscuits again... Eh?
Opening the cupboards where he normally stored food, they were all empty save for a note in one of them, "To the food thief, (yes Ryusuke I know it's you), there is no food here, and there won't be ever. Tsubaki's cooking is just too awesome! Too bad you don't have a girlfriend to cook for you huh? Hahaha!"
"That son of a bitch!" I snarled, crumpling the paper and heading out to the nearby supermarket.
Less than half an hour later, laden with enough food to last a week and more than I could carry telekinetically, I staggered back into my room, biodegradable plastic bags hanging from both arms.
"Ah, you're back with the shopping? Good! I can start fixing up breakfast!" Akiha said, poking her head out from the kitchen, wearing her favourite white flower print apron.
"Dammit Akiha! You did that on purpose didn't you?" I yelled, dumping the groceries on the floor.
Judging by that all too familiar crack, I think a few eggs broke...
"Oh my, be more careful next time! I think you broke something!" Akiha said, faking a look of horror before picking up the plastic bag that made the sound.
Yeah, she's totally faking that look!
"Oh well, looks like it's omelette for breakfast today then!"
Dammit... If I hadn't broken so many eggs I could fix some rice to go with that... Akiha's omelette rice is to die for. If I didn't know any better I'd say she's worked in a maid cafe before.
"Oh Ryusuke! Do you want to eat your omelette of is your fantasy of me in a maid outfit enough for breakfast?" Akiha said in a sing song voice while offering a plate.
"I-I'll take that!" I stammered, taking the offered omelette.
For an omelette made from already cracked eggs, it was delicious.
With breakfast over in a few minutes, (the omelette was that good), I left Akiha to watch another episode of Magical Powered Kanamin while I left the room to wander. The show won't keep her occupied no matter how long it is or how many episodes are shown, meaning... I'll have to compensate for the fact she'll be out and about later.
Damn, what a pain in the ass...
Taking a left at the next corner, a familiar face brought a smile to mine as I recognised who it belonged to, Misaka Mikoto, one of the 7 Level 5's in this city... Wait, that's not Mikoto...!
The characteristic military goggles... Those expressionless eyes, that must be... One of the clones!
What the hell is she doing just wandering around? What if she gets seen by Mikoto!
Rushing over to the clone, the clone turned at the sound of my footsteps and quickly studied me from head to toe, "Judging by your appearance, according to the Bank, you must be Ryusuke Isha. MISAKA says, recognising the familiar face."
"Misaka right? Why are you here? What's going on? Why aren't you dead? Weren't you killed by Accelerator?"
"Those questions can only be answered if you are part of the Experiment. MISAKA will now ask for the confirmation passcode. MISAKA says, attempting to affirm your participation in the Experiment."
A passcode? Shit! I don't know anything about a passcode! What am I going to...
"ZXC741ASD852QWE963. MISAKA says, saying the test code, please respond with the appropriate answer passcode."
Wait, that passcode, it's a cipher based on 18 keys on the keyboard, the extreme left 9 and the number pad. The pattern starts from the bottom row of the letters and moves from left to right. The second part of the sequence is from the number pad, from the extreme left, it travels from top to bottom... Alright I've figured out the basics of the test code, but how is the passcode structured? Am I just supposed to reverse the order of the letter and numbers? Or am I supposed to alternate the sequence?
"Taking your silence as the answer, MISAKA concludes you are not part of the Experiment. MISAKA says, disclosing no further information..."
"Wait, the passcode... Is 123QAZ456WSX789EDC."
Blinking once at my answer, MISAKA nodded, "Passcode accepted, what would you like to know? MISAKA says, acknowledging the pass code."
Ok, that was a total fluke... That and the moron who designed the code is an idiot.
"Why are there clones of Misaka Mikoto? Where did they come from?"
"MISAKA was created for the sake of the Level 6 Shift Experiment. Created from the abandoned Radio Noise project, MISAKA exists solely to provide combat experience to Accelerator so that he may reach Level 6. MISAKA says, explaining your query."
"What is the Radio Noise project?"
"Radio Noise, the experiment to recreate living clones of the Railgun, Misaka Mikoto. The program was shut down indefinitely due to the clones only obtaining 1/20000 of the specs of the original Railgun. MISAKA says, recalling the data clearly."
Why is she narrating everything she does?
"What about the Level 6 Shift Experiment?"
"The Level 6 Shift is an experiment designed to raise Espers capable of reaching Level 6. Currently, there is only one Esper capable of that feat..."
"Accelerator." I said.
"... In order for Accelerator to reach Level 6, he would have to go through 250 years of curriculum. In order to speed up the process, it was decided that live combat would be the most effective way to raise codename: "Accelerator" to Level 6. It was calculated via Tree Diagram that killing Railgun 128 times, Accelerator will reach Level 6. However, it was also theorised that raising 128 Railguns was impossible..."
"So they used Radio Noise. But didn't Radio Noise clones only reach a fraction of Railgun's potential?"
"... And thus an alternative calculation had to be done. Tree Diagram calculated that by killing exactly 20000 Sisters, Accelerator would reach Level 6. MISAKA says, taking a quick breath from the long explanation."
"So that means... You will be..."
"Yes, MISAKA is to take part in the Experiments as well tonight. MISAKA says, declaring her intent."
"But you'll die! Don't you get that? Why do you do this? Why are you participating in this fucked up program?"
"MISAKA is a clone. One that is produced at 180,000 yen a unit, and is not even anywhere as powerful as Onee-sama. We're all just dolls. MISAKA says, explaining her existence."
"No... Way..." I muttered, leaning on the wall, trying to digest all this information.
"MISAKA will be going now, if you have any other questions, you can ask any of MISAKA's Sisters. MISAKA says as she walks away."
Who the hell would think up such a stupid program? Is Level 6 that much of a big deal? This is the second time they've come up with a screwed up way of attaining Level 6.
"[That's because even scientists are interested in understanding the will of the heavens.]" my voice said, echoing inside my mind.
This voice... It can only belong to...
"[Kihara Kaho.]"
"[Your powers of deduction continue to astound me as always.]"
"[You really need to work on your sarcasm.]" I retorted.
"[Well, sorry for saving your broken ass. I have better things to do in my own time than protect you from your own bloody mental breakdowns you know.]"
"[What mental breakdown? I was just...]"
"[Excuse me amateur, but I'm the expert here, so shut your useless trap and listen. Stop questioning this City. You'll go mad even before you consider the morality of what goes on under the scenes. You honestly think that your life is what Academy City is all about? Think again. Take my advice, if you want to search for clues about your past, go ahead, I need the information as well. But keep your nose out of other matters that don't concern you.]"
Withdrawing as quickly as he appeared, I leaned my back against the wall and slid down.
What can I do? Tell Misaka? That won't do anything... Stop the experiments? Something this big will definitely be run by an army of research facilities. I can't shut them all down myself, not to mention the chance that the information linked to my past might also be in a facility I destroy...
Wait... That MISAKA was carrying a gun right? I sensed something metallic in her bag... If she uses it on Accelerator she'd die from the bullets! Gotta disable that gun somehow!
But how do I find her? Running around aimlessly wouldn't do me any good unless... Aha!
Turning a corner in an abandoned alley, the clone was walking around in back alleys, trying to stay out of public streets as much as possible. Makes sense since the Experiment is meant to be kept from the public eye.
Using electromagnetism, I slowly engaged the bolt carrier group in the rifle, no easy feat while trying to keep the rifle from making the characteristic metallic click as it was cocked. Holding the round in the chamber in place, I fed another round in via Telekinesis, the brass cartridges and tungsten carbide rounds designed for piercing heavy armour making it impossible to manipulate via electromagnetism alone. As a finishing touch, I misaligned the firing pin. When the rifle is cocked or fired, the double feeding will prevent the bolt carrier group from firing a round and even if she was skilled enough to clear the chamber while running, the firing pin would never strike the primer properly. That rifle's as good as a dud now.
With a silent pat on my own back as a reward for a job well done, I started looking for my original objective, the Foreign Genealogy Research Laboratory. It was abandoned years ago, but its name was in the diary entries I found so it definitely has some significance of what happened to me and why I have an alter ego in my head.
I had barely made it through the front gates when a syrupy sweet voice echoed through the grounds causing goosebumps to erupt on my skin, "Really Reality Shift. Playing the hero again? Please, haven't you fucked enough lives already? How many more must you send to hell before you're satisfied?"
"You were watching?"
"Of course. You just doomed another clone to die you know 'hero'." Maka said, spitting out the title she gave me with disgust.
"No! I just..."
"You disabled her rifle. Now how is she going to fight? Do you ever think your actions through?"
That bitch...! She never gives up does she?
"Maka Konore you bastard!" I yelled, spinning around to face her, my combat abilities all activating one by one.
"Long time no fight, dick." Maka sneered, walking out of the shadows behind the gate, "You're getting careless. Aren't you supposed to check for life signs before breaking and entering? You're losing your touch."
"This place is abandoned. What am I supposed to look for? Birds and insects?"
"Just because a place is empty doesn't mean it's got nobody around you shithead. It just means nothing LEGAL is going down. Don't you know Skill Out likes to make hideouts in abandoned buildings?"
Knowing places like this, I doubt legal thongs were going down when it was open anyway.
"So what are you doing here?"
"I'm here for you, stupid. I wanna continue where we left off."
As happy as I would be if Misaka said that to me, the last time I met Maka she tried to kill me. No doubt this would be attempt #2.
"You caught me off guard last time. Care to fight me when I'm going all out?"
"Would you?" Maka jeered, taking another step closer, "Would you really? This city is watched by satellites 24/7. Do you really think they'll let you get away once you start flashing multiple abilities?"
"I can think of just one to use to dispatch you."
"Oh? Is it by any chance called... VECTOR CHANGE?" Maka yelled, screwing my ace in the hole.
"Do you honestly think I'd go into a fight without doing a little check into my opponents strengths and weaknesses? I know how to punch through that pathetic defence!"
"[Shit! She knows about the reverse punch method?]"
Deactivating Accelerator's Personal Reality, I took my stance, Energy Manipulation, Electromaster, Pyrokinesis and Telekinesis the remaining active Personal Realities. I'd use Mega-Gravity as well... But calibrating that damn thing is a bitch. Almost as troublesome as Accelerator's Vector Shield and I still don't fully understand it.
Ready to receive any attack Maka might throw at me, I raised my centre of gravity slightly now that I no longer had Vector Change to protect me. Maka's next move... Totally caught me off guard.
It was a thrown knife to the face.
It wasn't one of her duelling knives, rather a balanced kunai, hidden in her clothes.
Absorbing some of the kinetic energy in the knife, I tried to twist my body out of the knife's path but only made it far enough for it to graze my face. Still, considering the fact that the knife didn't embed itself into my face, a scratch is definitely an acceptable outcome.
"Really? No reflect? You actually thought there's a way around that invincible shield? Your faith in yourself is pathetic! Time to pay for your most costly mistake!" Maka yelled, knives at the ready.
Shit! Vector Change on...
My thoughts cut off by a blur rapidly closing in on me, I absorbed a small amount of her kinetic energy before releasing a small telekinetic explosion to slow her even further. It was too close a call as her knife ran through the tip of my hair while I was in mid-roll.
There she goes again... Keeping up the pressure, now I definitely have no way of using Vector Change on her... But I still need to take the fight to her... Fighting her unarmed is bad so I'll need to find something to function as a weapon for now... There!
Dodging to the side and picking up a small broken pole, it felt heavy in my hands until I used magnetism and Telekinesis to lift it.
"Do you honestly think that shabby piece of metal can stop me?"
Not giving me a chance to reply, Maka leaped forward again, swinging her left hand out in a wide arc only to be countered by my "shabby piece of metal". Grinning maliciously, Maka swung her right hand, cleaving the entire pole in half.
Well... At least I have two smaller poles now... But I really need a better weapon... What if I do the same thing as last time...
Gathering iron sand from the ground and compressing it with Telekinesis. Throwing away the pole in my left hand, I grasped the makeshift iron sand katana in my free hand, parrying another blow from Maka as I started the speed forging process.
My mobility hindered by the amount of concentration spent on forging the katana, I barely dodged Maka's attack only to realise she only attacked with one hand.
What's the other...
My question answered even before I could form the question, a dagger appeared out of nowhere from Maka's shadow, slicing through my left arm.
"Aaahhhh!" I yelled, losing my grip on the nearly finished katana.
"You've got no weapon! You're dead!" Maka yelled, closing in for the kill.
"It's... Not over... Yet!" I roared, throwing the pole piece in my hand causing Maka to slide left in order to dodge it, giving me time to pick up my katana in my right hand, the pain in my left arm making it impossible to clench a fist, let alone hold anything.
Swinging the katana clumsily, the lapse in my concentration making it difficult to use any of my abilities. The blade being in my non-dominant hand working against me as well.
Panting as I put some distance between us, I tried to stop the bleeding, Maka causing the wound to bleed faster.
This isn't getting anywhere...
Grasping the blade in both hands, I yelled from the pain of using my arm, and also as a failed intimidation tactic as I charged straight at Maka, blade drawn back and ready to strike.
"Don't get cocky!" Maka yelled, daggers drawn.
Swinging my katana haphazardly in a wide horizontal arc, Maka was forced to bring up both daggers to defend, the impact of metal on metal sending sparks flying.
Turning the tide, I started flailing around with the katana, creating a flurry of ill placed strikes in Maka's general direction, not giving her a chance to counter or a chance to dodge. With each parry another strike was made, with every strike the impact that sent shockwaves through my bones got harder and harder.
Pushing Maka back, slowly running out of breath, with each step I took, I closed in on Maka, fury fuelling my attacks and anger slowly clouding my judgment.
"Close combat is not suited for you." Maka whispered.
What?
Parrying my last attack, and giving me a straight kick into the gut, Maka broke out and turned the tides in less than a second. Only then did it dawn on me: I was never forcing Maka back. She had planned to be forced into a corner by me the whole time, tiring me out and giving her the chance to get breather and recover.
I had been played for a fool!
"Maka!" I screamed, forcing my aching muscles to raise my arms and by extension, the katana ice again, now aided by magnetism.
"Too late." Maka whispered.
Running at me, Maka knocked the katana out of my hand, the other dagger drawn back to slice through my neck.
So this is how it ends huh...?
Maka swinging the dagger with ferocity that was impressive for a girl of her stature, I wracked my brain for a solution, there must be a way out! A loophole, a flaw, an error I can exploit!
Coming up with only blanks, I was certain that my life was over until the knife stopped, millimetres from my neck, "Stop."
The voice was mine... Kihara Kaho's come out again... Using a small but strong application of Telekinesis, he stopped the knife blade in place and was now glaring at Maka.
"Who the fuck are you?" Maka growled, glaring at me, sensing the change in aura.
"Long time no see Maka-chin."
"What...? You're supposed to be dead...! Kaho!" Maka gasped, nearly dropping her daggers in shock.
"Why are you so insistent on killing me?" Kaho asked, his straightforwardness making any chance of a conversation impossible.
"You fucked up my life! You fucked up my ability! Now I'm..."
"You don't know that for certain right? Your memories of that incident are gone."
"How do you..."
"Mine are gone as well. I wouldn't expect you to remember, if I'm not wrong, the Testament machine was used to salvage the unharmed portions of my brain to create a new persona while I was supposed to be removed or suppressed. I wouldn't be surprised if they did the same to you."
"[How the hell do you know that?]" I yelled at Kaho.
"[I have been involved in many experiments and projects. I can make educated guesses. Where do you think your analytical ability comes from?]"
"Then why are you here?"
"You're trying to kill me. I'd ask you to desist, while this useless persona of mine finds the truth."
"Why don't you just take over and do it yourself?"
"Don't you think I would've done that if I could? I am an unwelcome existence. I can only assert control for several minutes at a time. And even then, Ryusuke himself has to allow me to manifest."
"So... You mean..."
"My time is up, leave Ryusuke alone. Or you will force my hand." Kaho said, disappearing again, my body falling to one knee.
Standing up once again, in control of my body, I looked up at Maka, clearly still caught in the dilemma of whether to kill me or not.
"I'm trying to find the truth. It would be beneficial to both of us, so can you please just step aside?" I said.
"I-I know it will! Shut up Kaho! I-I mean Ryusuke!" Maka yelled, walking out of the facility, her cheeks tinged red in what could actually be a blush.
As I thought, the journal entries continued in these computers, salvaging what was left of the data was made easier by the fact that I didn't have a murderous psychopathic girl on my tail... For now...
July 31st
Subject "Kihara Kaho" completed his SYSTEM scan without incident. Through use of "Testament" we were able to input necessary logic patterns from other Espers, giving his Personal Reality's control area an expansion. Why we are doing this is a mystery to me, it's an order from the higher ups.
August 5th
Subject "Kihara Kaho" is being sent for another SYSTEM scan. He is not the Level 4 telepathic that we were meant to believe. What we were told when subject "Kihara Kaho" was brought in was that he was a powerful telepath. Even his SYSTEM scans indicated this. High level telepaths are rare. What subject "Kihara Kaho" is, could be even rarer.
August 7th
SYSTEM scan results are out. Kihara Karegawa, subject "Kihara Kaho"s adopted mother has a lot of explaining to do for withholding information. SYSTEM scan results now show subject "Kihara Kaho" ability Empathic Mind altered to ability Reality Shift. designation change Subject "Kihara Kaho" to "Reality Shift".
August 15th
Subject "Reality Shift" moved due to &:?94dl : :&,8?k&s8, destination Minaho Cerebral Research Institute.
Moved due to what? The data's corrupted... Dammit! Looks like the answers I want requires a run through another facility... What a pain on the ass. Why can't they just do everything in one facility and be done with it?
Checking the time on my phone, the readout display was expanded due to the phone being in standby, "21:15"
Wasn't the experiment at 21:30? Shit I only have 15 minutes to save the clone!
Dashing in the direction of the alleyways that the clone was loitering around, my thoughts went into overdrive, concocting cruel ways MISAKA would die at Accelerator's hands, each scenario more brutal and sadistic than the last.
If she dies... Because she can't use her rifle... It'll be on me, all my fault...
Stopping to catch my breath, I slammed my fist into the wall in anger, reopening the wound on my right arm and bruising the knuckles.
Despite the stabbing pain in my arm and hand, my anger and guilt refused to subside. Clenching my fist and opening it to check that nothing was broken, I moved on towards the Experiment site, my anger still seething in my gut like a poisonous vat.
Undoubtedly my anger outweighs my guilt, but if I let it cloud my judgment while protecting the clone, it's all over.
Arriving several minutes late, the sound of Accelerator's raucous laughter alerted me to their location. Same alleyway, two corners down.
Two corners worth of dashing later, I stopped myself from rounding the corner at breakneck speed and straight into what would have almost certainly been my death, I listened in on what was going on, the metallic clicks of a bolt being engaged echoing through the alley.
She's trying to cock her rifle now... I gotta act fast!
"Weapon jammed, multiple bullets in the chamber seems to be the cause. MISAKA says, analysing the problem and utilising the appropriate solution.
My heart pounding in my ribs, I turned my head around the corner, I quickly made sure that I wasn't in Accelerator's line of sight before taking a look at the situation. MISAKA had managed to clear the rounds out of her assault rifle and was bringing it up to face Accelerator but he was faster, swinging his hand across her rifle causing it to explode in her hands, the pieces flying everywhere.
Several pieces embedded themselves into her hand causing her to scream, while the pieces that hit Accelerator however, simply bounced of him and flew at MISAKA. Stabbing into her like darts on a dartboard.
"No!" I yelled instinctively, attracting the attention of both combatants.
Shit!
Turning the corner and running for the first turn I saw, I quickly stopped and started looking upwards for the most easily accessible roof. I can't outrun Accelerator, so hiding is my only option.
Leaping into the air when I heard the slow tapping of Accelerator's footsteps round the corner, I quickly ducked behind the wall overlooking the alley below, my heart going into adrenaline rush overdrive. Looking over the balcony meant instant death for sure, staying here was definitely not an option. I'm definitely screwed if Accelerator himself can smell fear, because I was practically broadcasting it.
The seconds ticking by turned into minutes, the minutes turning into hours.
"Oi you shitty brat! If you don't come out now I'll kill the stupid clone back there!"
Accelerator's wrong, he doesn't need to go back and kill MISAKA, if she doesn't get urgent medical attention in a few minutes, she's as good as dead.
Picking up a stone, I quickly tossed it over into the alleyway on the other side of the building that I was sitting on, desperately hoping Accelerator would take the bait.
Indeed he did because a few minutes later, I heard his footsteps disappear in the direction of the stone. Hopping over several building roofs to get to one of the buildings overlooking the alley MISAKA was in, I took a long route that took me as far from Accelerator as possible.
Hopping down and rushing to MISAKA's side I quickly did a scan of her injuries, and judging from blood loss alone, she won't have more than a minute or so to go.
I need to move her, somewhere more public in case Accelerator comes back! But moving her would rob her of time she's already running out of... Her breathing is ragged and there's a signs of wheezing, and one of her lungs isn't inflating. Her hands looked like she smeared them in red paint with several fingers bent at odd angles.
What do I do in a situation like this...? Calling an ambulance would just result in her being taken to the morgue and I will get lumped with a lot of awkward questions.
Sitting next to MISAKA, I gently cradled her head, tears flowing from my eyes and dropping onto her head, "MISAKA... I'm so, so, sorry..." I sobbed.
Looking up at me, her eyes void of emotion as usual, MISAKA struggled to speak, "MISAKA... Does not understand... Why you are crying... For every MISAKA made... A replacement... Can be produced at a small price... MISAKA... Is just a borrowed heart placed in a body... Of drugs and chemicals..."
"Shhh, MISAKA, don't day anymore, save your energy. Life is precious MISAKA. Nobody should have to die for someone else for something so pathetic... You may be a borrowed heart... But you're still human... I'm so sorry..."
Looking down at MISAKA, I noticed her eyes simply staring into space, her ragged breaths no longer echoing in the silent alley.
"MISAKA...?" I whispered, nudging the clone, "MISAKA!"
No! I can't let her die here! Gotta perform CPR...
My sense of reasoning clouded, I desperately tried to find a way to place my hands on MISAKA's chest to start the compressions until it dawned on me: Why am I doing this? Even if I manage to bring her back. Then what? Bringing her back would just bring her more pain from a body that is already as good as dead. Then why? Because of my own selfish desires. Because I had a hand in her untimely death. Sure she would have died eventually... But I removed her only chance of fighting. In the end, it's because of my own selfishness, that I can't let this go.
Glaring at my hands, now stained with MISAKA's blood, I wiped them off on her skirt, the stains etched into my hand forever. Using two fingers, I closed MISAKA's eyes, just because she's a clone, it doesn't mean she doesn't deserve a little dignity in death.
Standing up with renewed vigour, I made my way out of the alley the promise I made burning a fire in my heart. I will not stop until I bring this screwed up experiment down to its knees. I don't care whoever stops me, I don't care if I get brought down in the process. Killing 20000 people for one's own gain is fucked up.
So this is what Academy City is like huh? If only all the parents out there knew what they're sending their children into.
Glancing at my phone's clock, normally I wouldn't care about the time during a period like this, but the time had a newfound meaning to me.
MISAKA's time of death: 21:53
-End of Chapter 15-
And that's a wrap! Sister's Arc in full swing now! You know the drill! Read and review! What other trials would Ryusuke face? Where is Misaka Mikoto? Will the Sisters ever get any screen time that doesn't involve death? Find out in the next chapter!