Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
Chapter 11: Aftermath
Xx~~*~~xX
The beep from the cardiac unit was steady, indicating the patient's life signs were stable. But the bandages covering her chest and the breathing mask over her mouth told a story that not everything was perfect, either.
"I'm sorry," Nanoha apologized softly, trying to smile. "I guess I... overdid it again... didn't I?"
Fate tried to smile as well, holding Nanoha's bandage-wrapped right hand. "Hush, you just need to rest for now, and regain your strength. You'll be back up in the sky with the rest of us soon enough."
"Thanks, Fate-chan," she replied softly, then turned her head to the other side. "And I'm sorry... Yuuno-kun... we'll have to... postpone our outing... for awhile."
Yuuno shook his head, taking her left hand. "Don't worry about it, Nanoha. Like Fate said, just concentrate on getting better. There will be plenty of time for that later, okay?"
Nanoha closed her eyes, gently squeezing their hands. "Thank you... both of you... I am glad I... have such good friends."
Shamal ducked her head into the room. "Okay you two, she needs to get her rest. You can visit more later."
Fate and Yuuno stood up, gently putting the hands they were holding back down, while Fate said, "Arf is taking care of Vivio at the moment; do you want me to bring her by for a visit next time?"
"Yes, please," Nanoha replied, her voice becoming a bit raspy. "She needs to... see that her... mama is still okay."
Fate nodded, and Yuuno and her left the room, as Shamal gently shut the door behind them.
"So how is she, Shamal?" Hayate asked from where she was leaning against a wall.
The doctor brought up several screens. "She lost a lot of blood and had several bruises and cuts. But the real damage was that her right lung was punctured and she had some internal bleeding. The nature of the attack seems to have damaged her linker core as well, due to the positioning and angle of the sword impale. It was good we got to her as soon as we did. As soon as things were quiet for ten minutes, I left the shelter to check for survivors."
"Will she recover?" Subaru asked, looking through the one-way window at the bed's occupant. Her left arm in a sling pending repairs to be done later. Rein was sitting next to her, on the window ledge.
"She should make a mostly full recovery, but it will take time," Shamal replied. "It's not as bad as the last time she was seriously injured. I'm just hesitant about her returning to active duty once she's back up."
Vita opened one eye from where she leaned against a wall, bandages wrapped around her head and right arm in a sling as well. "She won't be able to fight again?"
Shamal shook her head. "Technically, she will. And I suppose I won't be able to keep her from it. But all this damage is adding up. Sooner or later, she's not gonna make it. Although I suppose that goes for all of you. It's just my nature as a healer to keep everyone from harm."
"Ah, we understand," Signum agreed, Agito perched on her shoulder. "Every one of us here shares the desire to keep the others from being hurt if we could. We all want to protect each other. But the nature of our work, and indeed our very being, tells us that we should fight with everything we have."
There was a moment of silence then, a feeling of solidarity in purpose and thought. Despite whatever may come, they would each do their best.
Teana spoke up next. "How about the girl?"
"We got your warning," Shamal replied. "We're making sure she's not near any windows where she could see both moons on Mid-childa."
"Good," Teana replied. "The data is still incomplete, so I'm not sure exactly what positions are exact, but she was triggered to activate fully upon seeing both full moons."
"Which leads us to the question as to why Jail wanted us to have her," Fate stated softly.
Zafiras lifted his head in one of his rare human-form moments. "What do you mean?"
"Jail obviously had knowledge of the facility where we found her, since Quattro told us," she explained. "Arf was captured and sent there by whatever cyborgs Jail must have been using."
"It could be that he was hoping her powers would activate with us unaware," Yuuno told her. "From the information on Precia's notes, it was one of her plans to reach Alhazard. Clone and breed the girl, enhancing her magic powers until she could transport them there. Project Destiny or Dimension, or something. Either works. Except that at full unrestrained power, the magic goes wild and destroys things around her, by randomly teleporting pieces of things all around her in a wide radius. Lack of control is probably why Precia eventually gave up."
"Like a human bomb," Subaru said softly, clenching her fist.
"What about the male?" Hayate asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Physically, he's fine," Shamal explained, putting up new screens to show his vitals and current position in a hospital bed, strapped down. "Mentally, well, we have to sedate him or he goes wild when he wakes up. I suspect mental programming there as well."
"Is he really Nanoha's brother?" Subaru asked in curiosity.
Shamal motioned to the two other girls sitting in chairs on the far end, who had yet to speak. Arisa appeared to be unwilling, or unable, to say anything, so Suzuka poked her in the side.
"He looks and speaks like him," Arisa said after some prodding. "His twin kodachi style is that of the Takamachi family. Nanoha never really trained much under it, so she probably didn't really recognize it. But I've taken many years of martial arts, and even trained a bit under her brother. However, I don't remember him having magic."
She quieted down again, and Suzuka knew why. After they had been pulled from the ocean, the golem had been returned to the garage lab. Shari was currently working on it, but while she was fairly sure she could revive the AI, there was no guarantee she could restore its memory banks. Arisa had somehow become attached to Terra, and felt responsible for the state it was in.
"I contacted Nanoha's parents," Suzuka continued for her friend. "Nanoha's brother and sister left on a bodyguard assignment over four months ago. The details were secret, so we don't know where they are or what their status is. Contact isn't possible, and they aren't scheduled to return for another couple of months at least."
"We still have more tests to run," Shamal stated, closing down all the view screens she had opened. "Hopefully we can deprogram him as well."
"The two scientists have pretty much told us all they know," Hayate said. "They were just hired by Jail to attend to the young man's programming and development. They didn't know much beyond that work; Jail kept them in the dark."
Unseen by the rest, Fate's hands clenched.
"So what now?" Subaru asked. "How do we find Jail, rescue Erio and Caro, and kick his ass?"
No one responded for several moments, then Yuuno picked up a nearby book and opened to a specific page to show the group. "Oh yeah, Subaru, does this look like what you saw?"
Subaru's eyes widened and she nodded. "That's looks pretty close; a relic hooked up to some device."
"This was yet another plan of Precia's," he explained. "Only for this one, instead of going to Alhazard, she was planning to pull it into our space, from where it was supposed to be hidden between dimensions. She calculated that she would need a great number of relics to accomplish it, however, and she only had one. Then she learned of the Jewel Seeds and abandoned this plan."
"So what was Jail doing with it?" Teana asked.
Yuuno shook her head. "That, I don't know. All I do know, is that the attached device was supposed to work to store up massive amounts of magical power, both within itself and the relic. But the logical wide-area side effects would entail: being unable to do magic, or having it not work right, or even draining magic from beings with linker cores. I gather that's what Signum and Vita's group encountered."
Signum nodded.
"Shari talked to me about it," Suzuka said, speaking up again. "The magical plane is between dimensions, and the relics function like a powerful artificial linker core. It's only a theory, but if I am understanding what you are saying, then Alhazard itself is trapped in that magical plane. The relic devices would disrupt the magical plane when used in a set pattern, essentially opening a hole allowing the city to come into our dimension. It's all theoretical, of course."
"Does Jail want this Alhazard, then?" Subaru questioned.
Hayate shrugged. "Who knows. It's possible. But that would mean he has more of these relic devices out there, and would explain why he was collecting them." She stood up and straightened her uniform. "But this is all we know for now. Take a bit of time off to rest up, and we'll split up into teams again to see what we can discover. We'll also take turns watching over Nanoha, too. But first things first.
She paused as she walked over to the two girls in chairs. "Arisa Bannings. Suzuka Tsukimura. Please stand."
The two girls, who greatly resembled those about to be given their last meal, stood.
"Arisa Bannings, civilian and mage cadet," Hayate read off a data pad. "Suzuka Tsukimura, junior technician apprenticed to Shari. You two took out a confidential and restricted piece of equipment, damaged public property, and intervened in a military combat situation."
"But-" Suzuka squeaked.
"You will be silent, Junior Technician Tsukimura!" Hayate told her.
"That's not fair!" Arisa retorted, stepping in front of Suzuka. "It's all my fault, you can't-"
"You WILL be silent, Cadet Bannings," Hayate ordered, her voice raising slightly. "Is that understood?"
Arisa quieted down, but she still held a look of defiance.
"Now, where were we?" the Lt. Colonel wondered. "Oh yes. Cadet Bannings, Junior Technician Tsukimura. You also bravely risked death to protect this city and the lives of it's citizens, as well as the lives of soldiers in combat."
The eyes of the two girls widened in surprise and wonder as Hayate continued.
"And you defended a piece of government property against unknown hostile enemy forces," Hayate added. "So here is your punishment: Cadet Bannings, when you aren't working on your mage training, you will assist Junior Technician Tsukimura and Senior Technician Shario Finieno in the garage, getting the golem unit ready for combat. You are it's provisional pilot. If you make C rank, you can remain as it's pilot full-time."
The two girls stood there, stunned and speechless, as the rest of the group began to clap.
Hayate let it go on for awhile, then motioned for silence. "But take a good look in the window behind me. That is the very real possible result of mage work in this world. Neither myself, nor anyone here, would hold it against you if you decided to return to your world and only come on visits as civilians. You can take some time to think on it."
Arisa didn't need time, and saluted. "No, ma'am, I would be honored to accept this role."
Neither did Suzuka, as she mimicked the salute. "Same here, Lt. Col. Yagami."
Hayate finally smiled at both of them. "Then let me be the first to fully welcome you to this world. Get your butts down to Shari in the garage and see what you can do to help."
"Yes, Ma'am!" both replied at the same time, then quickly left the room.
"Subaru, could I speak to you outside for a moment?" Fate asked. The mage cyborg nodded and headed out with her, Teana following right behind.
"Are you sure about that, Hayate?" Vita asked. "Giving control of that thing to those two girls?"
"I've actually been considering a pilot to test it for awhile now," Hayate replied. "It's ours because none of the developing groups wants to admit losing it. And I get the feeling they want real combat data on it; I can probably swing some more support by providing that. I was going over lists of names to find some suitable candidates, but Arisa handled it fairly well. Once she's well-acquainted with it, I might bring in other pilots to train."
"More pilots?" Signum questioned.
Hayate nodded. "There is a chance I can swing a few more units if we prove that they are a viable force in combat, in exchange for more combat data. Regius initially denied funds for anti-AMF forces. We know why now, because he was in league with Jail and his drones. These golems are the first countermeasures to AMF weapons to roll off the line. I, and several others in the bureau, were quite impressed with it's showing.
She grinned. "Plus, being from Earth, I can't help but share Arisa's enthusiasm for mecha. Perhaps I should re-design your armor, Signum...."
The Wolkenritter leader suddenly got very nervous.
x~~*~~x
"Where is he!?" the golden-haired TSAB agent demanded to know, slamming Nove against a wall. Her voice was low, but there was no mistaking the threat in Fate's tone.
"Fate, what are you doing!?" Subaru put forth her own demand. "You said you just wanted to talk to them!" She and Ginga were just barely managing to hold Cinque, Wendi, and Dieci back from freeing their sister.
"And I am," Fate replied, her eyes not leaving Nove's.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" the captive red-haired cyborg exclaimed.
"Arf saw you attack her, you can't hide it," Fate accused. "He now has Erio and Caro, my adopted wards. And right now, Nanoha is lying in a hospital bed, badly injured. You WILL tell me where he is."
"I DON'T KNOW!" Nove shouted back, angrily. She attempted to remove Fate's hands from the front of her shirt, but found her cyborg strength couldn't budge those human arms.
"Fate, this isn't helping," Teana told her, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "It might not have been Nove that attacked Arf. We don't have enough information."
"Please, Fate," Ginga pleaded. "You have my word that my sisters are innocent."
"And mine," Subaru added.
Fate stared for several long moments into Nove's angry, wavering red eyes. But what ultimately made her release the cyborg girl was a call.
"Agent Fate T. Harlaown, there is an urgent personal message for you," came the male voice from a nearby view screen that popped up.
Fate released Nove and turned to the screen. "I'll take it here, one moment." She walked out of the room.
"What was her problem!?" Nove wanted to know. "We cut our ties with Jail! We did what you said and tried to incorporate into society."
"Please don't blame her too much," Teana pleaded. "She's stressed. Her adopted children have been taken captive, and her best friend has been badly injured. On behalf of her, I apologize." The junior agent bowed low.
Wendi put a hand on Nove's shoulder. "Just let it go, sis. Anyone of us would be upset if something bad happened to the rest of our sisters."
"Meh, you're right, not worth it," Nove replied, crossing her arms over her chest.
Fate came back into the room. "I have to go follow up a lead. Teana, you return to the facility where we found the girl, and see what other information you can learn."
Teana followed Fate to the front door. "There isn't much I can do there. The scientific team is already working on it. Let me go with you; I'm supposed to be your partner."
"And sometimes partners need to split up to follow different leads," Fate scolded her, stepping outside. "Junior Agent Lanster, you will follow my instructions." She paused, then added. "Please."
Said junior agent sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Fine, go follow your lead. I'll check up with you later when I've learned something. I trust you'll do the same."
Fate nodded. "Thank you." She walked to her car and opened the door, then paused. "I have the highest respect for you, Tea. You'll make a great agent someday."
Teana stood there, somewhat disturbed, as Fate drove away. She didn't even realize Subaru had come up beside her.
"Are you okay?" Subaru inquired, studying her friend's face.
"I don't know," Teana confessed, then shook her head. "I know what what kind of stress she must be under, but Fate has been acting stranger and stranger lately. And just now, her words... I'm not quite sure what to make of it. For one, she hardly ever calls me 'Tea' and it almost sounded like she was saying goodbye, like I wasn't going to see her again."
"Maybe there was something in that message she received?" Subaru wondered aloud.
"Maybe...."
The mage cyborg grinned. "Wanna find out? Let's go see Suzuka and Shari."
Teana stared at her friend. "Breaking into someone's private mail? Are you crazy?"
"If Fate's in trouble, isn't that what a good partner is supposed to do?" Subaru countered.
The junior agent rubbed her temples as she debated it. "Alright, we'll do it."
Subaru smiled. "That's the Tea I know. We'll take my dad's old bike, I'll drive."
"Like hell you will!" Teana growled at her. "The one time I had to rely on you for transportation, you nearly splattered us into a wall!"
x~~*~~x
"You want me to what!?" Suzuka nearly shouted in disbelief. "Do you know how much trouble I could get in?"
Arisa looked up curiously from where she was investigating the innards of the golem.
"We're REALLY sorry, Suzuka," Subaru apologized. "But Fate could be in danger."
"I know what we're asking is a bit much," Teana agreed, similarly humble.
Suzuka raised an eyebrow. "A bit much? Hacking into a senior officer's e-mail?"
"We just barely got away with having our butts saved," Arisa spoke up. "From what I can tell, Hayate is going out on a limb for us. If Suzuka gets caught so soon after, it'll be bad."
Teana sighed. "I understand, I'm sorry for bothering you."
"I'll do it," Suzuka said simply, turning around in her chair and beginning to tap into her holographic keyboard.
"Y-you will?" Teana questioned in disbelief.
"Fate has been our friend, too, for over 10 years," Suzuka replied nonchalantly. "You're just lucky Shari has gone home for the night. I'm not sure she'd go along with this. You're also lucky that she taught me a thing or two about magical bypasses. Whiskers!" The black cat jumped down from its customary high place, landing on the table beside his master.
"Thank you so much, Suzuka!" Teana said, extremely grateful.
Subaru sat down in a nearby chair, fascinated by how Suzuka was hooking the cat up to the computer. "So, how long is this going to take?"
Suzuka didn't look up. "Not sure. But you may want to get comfortable."
x~~*~~x
"I apologize for losing the Relic, Doctor," Quattro offered. "It was all my fault."
Jail was dismissive. "In the grand scheme of things, one small piece doesn't matter."
"Is that what the girl was?" the #4 cyborg asked nonchalantly. "One small piece?"
"That was an old project of Precia's," he replied, not looking up from his keyboard. "I had learned everything I could, and wanted to see if those idiots at the TSAB might discover something else. Plus, the distraction of those facilities allowed us to escape. I am a bit put off on losing the boy, as he was one of my better subjects, but... my plan goes forward nonetheless."
She glanced over his shoulder. "What is the plan this time?"
He paused and laughed. "You'll find out the same time I explain it to another dear old friend."
x~~*~~x
"I'm in!" Suzuka called, an hour later. "I've got access to her e-mail. Which message did you want to look at?"
Teana thought for a moment. "Um, probably one of the last ones. It probably came in roughly 2 hours ago, I think?"
The three other girls looked over Suzuka's shoulders as she pulled up the message. And all four girl girls stared in shock as they read it.
"She wouldn't..." Subaru began.
"Knowing Fate, she probably would," Arisa countered, standing up and crossing her arms over her chest. "Looking at the time indicated, we could probably make it if we left now."
Teana shook her head. "No, Subaru and I will go. You two are in enough trouble. And if this goes bad, we'll need someone to let the others know what's going on. We have to stop Fate. Subaru, let's move."
"Right behind you," the cyborg girl stated, following her partner-in-crime to the door.
"In all honesty, I was wondering whether you'd come," Jail said from the view screen. "I trust we have an agreement, then?"
Fate stared angrily at him, and spat out the words. "Yes, I agree. Let's get this over with."
He nodded. "Then I believe it's my turn first."
The purple symbols on the teleporter in front her flared and spun, casting an eerie light across the abandoned warehouse, lighting up the rows and stacks of crates. The light symphony built to a crescendo, flashed, and then faded, leaving two small figures laying in the middle.
Fate quickly stepped up onto the teleportation pad, picking up and cradling the larger of the two unconscious forms. "Caro, are you alright?"
"I assure you, my dear, that she and her dragon are just sleeping," the doctor informed her. "I couldn't have them causing any trouble while I teleported her over. They should both wake up soon. Now, I believe it's your turn."
"I am well aware of that, doctor," Fate told him testily, carrying Caro off the pad and laying her gently down on the blanket she had brought. She put the sleeping Friedrich down beside Caro, and tucked a letter in the girl's arm. She took one last look at the sleeping pair, then finally turned to walk up the pad.
"Fate, stop!"
The golden-haired agent turned back at Teana's shout to see her and Subaru bursting into the warehouse.
Acting quickly, Fate thrust our her hand. "Lightning Bind." The two girls froze in shock as golden rings held their wrists and ankles, preventing movement.
"This isn't the way, Fate!" Teana called. "You can't trust him to keep his word!"
"Let's just go back and talk with Nanoha and the others," Subaru pleaded. "We'll figure out a way."
Fate shook her head. "The doctor has already released Caro. I have no choice now; I must keep my word. Even though he promised not to hurt Erio, I know he still could. But still, somehow, I will save him. Tell Nanoha, Caro, and the others that, that I'm sorry for this. Please take care of Caro for me."
"FATE!" Teana shouted, trying to break free.
Her senior agent partner stepped backwards onto the teleportation pad, and as the teleporter flared to life again, she met her partner's gaze and whispered, "I'm sorry, Tea."
There was a flash of purple light, and Fate was gone.
Xx~~*~~xX
Author's notes:
Yeah, this chapter was going to be titled "Mysteries Unveiled" but it ran a little long so I had to push out some stuff to the next chapter. I may still use that title, but for now, the next chapter is titled, "Hopes and Dreams." With luck, I'll finally be going into Jail's back story and motivations. Also except to see quite a bit of Caro.
Rewrite finished. Not much changed here, just the standard cleanup. Obligatory reminder that I welcome comments and critiques, reviews, monetary donations, excessive ego-flattering praise...