CHAPTER 3

*TAP *TAP *TAP

The entire place was dark. Only the lights from monitor screens and gadgets give out what little illumination there is.

"Hoo~ now this is interesting." Says the little figure with a cutesy voice. "Heeey~ I got a hold of that agent's profile."

"Now, now, isn't that something?" The tall guy figure speaks with a deep voice.

The little girl, with blonde hair and red eyes was just silent.

"Well, I'm sure we'll meet again." Speaks another voice that came from another guy. His hair was green, and his eyes was purple on one and blue on the other. "Yeah, we will."

"She's an agent, after all."

-•-

"I'm home." Fate sighs from exhaustion as she entered the house.

"Oh!" A young girl with a right eye that sparkles like an emerald, and another that burns like a ruby, greets Fate. "Welcome back, Fate-mama!"

"Welcome back, Fate-chan." Nanoha goes to the hallway to meet Fate with a smile. "It's getting late Vivio. Time for you to go to bed."

"Yep! I will! I got to see Fate-mama after all." Vivio replies with excitement. "Oh, oh! By the way, I'll go sleep in the other room. It's been a while since you two have been together. I'll be a good girl, for now."

"Ah-ha-ha-" Fate smiles awkwardly. "O-Okay. Thanks Vivio, you're such a sweetie."

"Yup! Then, goodnight Nanoha-mama! Goodnight Fate-mama!" And Vivio enters a room and closes the door.

*CHIIIG* Silently~

"So you didn't tell Vivio." Fate looks at Nanoha.

"Of course! How could I tell her about that?" Nanoha replies, somewhat a bit agitated. "I just can't."

"I get it Nanoha. You don't have to raise your voice." as Fate tries to calm Nanoha down.

"O-kay." Nanoha takes a deep breath. "So, have you eaten dinner?" Nanoha asks.

"I haven't." Fate replied with a smile.

"Good, cause Vivio and I fixed something for you." Nanoha responds with a smile similar to that of a wife offering her husband dinner.

The two went to the dining table. Food was already there.

"Oh, it looks delicious." Fate remarked after seeing the food.

The two took a sit beside each other and Fate started to eat. "It's delicious, Nanoha." as Fate speaks, with a tiny grain stuck on her cheek. "Na-Nanoha..."

*Munch*

Nanoha ate the rice on Fate's cheek. "Mou~ you're not a kid anymore, Fate-chan." Nanoha whispers closely at Fate.

"If I was, will Nanoha-mama take care of me?" Fate tries to respond seductively, and continues to eat.

Nanoha tries to pull her face closer to Fate, as if she's about to kiss.

"By the way, Nanoha, I'll be leaving immediately tomorrow. It seems that this case is getting underhanded." Fate suddenly mentions.

Nanoha was shocked. Her eyes widened up. "W-What are you talking about? You just got home! You're not even fully recovered yet!"

"I'm sorry, Nanoha. This is part of my work. And besides I'm fine now." Fate speaks in an apologetic tone as she lowers her head a bit.

"No! You're not! I know it takes time to recover from something fatal! I just know it! I've been there!" Nanoha responds as her voice raises up. "I've been worried a lot about you, and now you're telling me you have to go?"

"But I can't just say no, it's the HQ's orders." Fate tries to argue, but in a low voice.

"Then I'll wreck them up-"

"Nanoha... please..."

"Mou~ I don't care anymore. Just do what you want!" Tears were about to fall as Nanoha leaves, feeling agitated and her heart burdened.

"I'm sorry. I'll try to get this done as soon as possible." Fate says to herself, still in a very apologetic tone.

Fate finishes the food her beloved has prepared, and washes the dishes. She walks on to Nanoha's room. The lights were off, Nanoha hiding inside a blanket, facing the other way.

"Nanoha, are you asleep?" Fate asks, but silence was her answer. Not a budge from Nanoha.

"I guess, you're mad at me, huh. I'm really sorry. I'll do this quick. I promise." Fate makes a monologue and leaves the room. "I can't sleep there now, can't I?" Fate tries to smile as she sighs.

Morning came, no one was awake. Fate had to leave early. Nanoha and Vivio were still in the rooms, so Fate left without any goodbyes.

-•-

*WHOP *WHOP *WHOP

A helicopter. The noise it makes were deafening. Fate was standing in the port as she waits for her pick-up.

*CHUG*

The chopper lands. A guy walks out and greets Fate. "Agent Harlaown?"

"Yes." Fate responds back.

"We'll be bringing you to our camp."

"Camp?" Fate questions.

"Yes, camp." The guy replied. "Ever since the base was destroyed to ruins, we just set up a camp until we resolve this incident. Though we call it a camp, we're undermanned. So we're looking forward to working with you."

"Likewise." Fate responds. And the two started to get inside the chopper.

As their travel proceeds, they passed by the once TSAB base that was attacked and is now just a pile of rubbish. Everything was laid to waste by that previous encounter that had almost cost the life of Fate.

*BOOM*

An explosion was heard. A sudden quake was felt. The helicopter was hit by something by its tail. Fire was visible. It was having a hard time maintaining composure.

"We're under attack!" The man exclaimed, as they try to get off. "Flying limits are removed. Please get yourself to safety. I can't guarantee you anything. I still have to check on the pilot."

"Understood." Fate replied. "Bardiche."

"Yes sir." And a light envelopes Fate as she put on her barrier jacket.

"This again huh." Fate thought in her mind as a ball of energy with lightning flowing around it comes her way. Fate dodges. "So we meet again." Fate, as she sees for the second time that girl with blonde hair, red eyes, same face, and somehow same barrier jacket that she used to wear. But the girl was just silent, and made her stance.

Several Photon spheres amass from the girl's side. Fate knew, it's going to be tough. Fate amassed several Photon spheres herself to counter the girl's move.

"Fire."

"Fire!"

Both of them fired their Phalanx Shifts, some hit another, and some just passed through. Both, relying on their speed, avoided the Photons as they rush against each other.

*CLANK *CHING

Sparks were flying everywhere. Both were able to avoid each blows aimed at another, as the tension increases. Both were almost equal in speed, but Fate was at a disadvantage. Her opponent's size is small, which makes it harder to aim at.

*SLASH*

Fate managed to hit a slight graze onto the little girl. And the wound starts to bleed. The fight continues.

*CLANK *CHING

More sparks flew. Fate got the upper hand, probably through experience. She's pushing back that little girl, who starts to lose her composure. Now the once cold and expressionless eyes start to express the will to defeat, and probably kill, Fate.

The little girl rushed in. Fate, on the other hand, stood, kept her cool, and feel the flow of the fight. She used the little girl's momentum as she rushed against her. The little girl fell out of balance. Fate knew, it was her chance.

"Lightning Bind"

Layers of lightning twirled around the girl's small and fragile-looking body, then tightens. Fate got a hold of her.

"Trident Smasher!"

Fate shot three beams simultaneously from the same firing-point, creating the illusion of a trident's blade. She thought she'd won.

"Seriously, you're so careless."

A deep voice of a man was suddenly heard.

*CHGG*

The lightning bind was broken.

*BLITZ*

A figure of a man, with a big axe raised up in the air, was behind Fate. Fate was surprised, unable to move. It was the sight of an assassin stealthily getting behind its opponent and ready to strike.

"It's over." The man with the deep voice smirks.

*WOOSH*

-•-