(And welcome back to a new chapter. Trois is currently asleep, and the other two are still MIA, so...I'll just get on with it.)
BladeStar123: This is more of a multi-crossover than anything. But, er, just curious...Where's the Discwrold? (If anyone says on the back of four elephants on top of a space-faring turtle, I swear...)
Persona 3 doesn't belong to the author. He only owns the original ideas and characters. Atlus owns Persona 3.
Chapter 7: Mysteries And Mistakes
'Smith'
"Dark Hour?" he said slowly, looking around. He noticed a pool of thick red liquid and dipped a finger in it, before bringing it to his face.
"Don't do it," the Nekomata said warningly.
He licked the liquid and shuddered. Definitely human blood.
"Why don't you listen?" the Nekomata said with a sigh.
"BECAUSE...HE'S...A BLOODY TWIT...THAT'S WHY..." the Computer said resignedly. He sat up straight, and put the Computer in front of him, staring at it reproachfully.
"Sometimes I don't know why I took you."
"IT WAS THAT...OR.. LEAVE ME WITH THE...ORIGINAL..." the Computer said.
He 'hmmed', before looking at the Nekomata.
"What're you doing here anyway?" he asked.
The Nekomata sniffed.
"I was making my daily rounds, trying to get back home before...this happened. But then you showed up."
He looked at her for a moment, glancing at his surroundings.
"What exactly is this?"
The Nekomata walked up to him, tilting her head.
"...As far as I can tell, it is an unnatural hour that happens between the days," she said at last, sitting down next to him.
"SHE'S...RIGHT..."
He looked at the Computer, raising an eyebrow.
"What's wrong with you? Do you have another bug?"
"SOD...OFF...NORMAL...ELETRONICS...SHUT DOWN...DURING THE DARK HOUR..."
"Then why are you still working?"
"DO...I...REALLY...COUNT...AS...NORMAL...?"
"...Point taken," he conceded.
"Still, you seem to be on the fritz," he noted, trying to press a few buttons on the keyboard. One of the wires snapped around, sparks flying.
"DON'T...TOUCH...ME," the Computer said snippily.
He raised an eyebrow and pulled his hands back, and the Nekomata snorted.
"You are a rude one, aren't you?"
He nodded sagely.
"Yes, quite right he is. It's a wonder why the Bagges still kept the original-"
"I was talking about you," she interrupted, eyes closed as she licked herself.
He pouted, crossing his arms.
"Why does everyone insult me?"
"BECAUSE...YOU DESERVE...IT..."
He rolled his eyes and looked at the Computer intently, ignoring the oppressive atmosphere of the surroundings.
"Okay, so what's happening is called the 'Dark Hour'. What is it?"
The Computer was silent for a moment, and the Nekomata curled up in a ball, looking curiously at the Computer, ready for a story.
"THE DARK HOUR...IS WHAT WE CAN CALL A SEPERATE FOLD...OF SPACE...AND TIME...WELL, PERHAPS FOLD IS A WRONG WORD...WOUND IS MORE APT..."
"What do you mean?" he asked sharply. Wounds of Time and Space were, oddly enough, never good.
"...THE SCIENTISTS OF KIRIJO...HEADED BY ONE KOUETSU KIRIJO...WERE ORIGINALLY RESEARCHING INTO THE ACT OF TIME TRAVEL..."
He groaned and put his hands in his heads. The Nekomata looked up at him strangely.
"Why are you so distraught?"
"Messing with Time, never-ever!- goes well."
"THIS HASN'T STOPPED...YOU...FROM DOING IT BEFORE"
"On accident!"
"SHUT IT TWIT"
"Oh, come on! Get on with this story!" the Nekomata said sharply.
"YES...ANYWAY...WHILE THE RESEARCH...MIGHT'VE HAD...BENEVOLENT INTENTIONS...BUT AS IT ALWAYS GOES...IT WENT VERY QUICKLY BADLY..."
He narrowed his eyes.
"How so?"
"A PROPHECY-" He groaned again- "CALLED THE FALL...IN WHICH IT IS DETAILED...THAT HUMANITY IS DOOMED...TO DESTROY ITSELF..."
He blinked and the Nekomata sat up straighter.
" 'Doomed to destroy itself?' " he repeated.
"CONSUMED BY WHAT I CAN ONLY PRESUME MADNESS...THE SCIENTISTS OF KIRIJO QUICKLY DECIDED...TO ACCELERATE THE PROCESS OF KILLING OF HUMANITY..."
He narrowed his eyes but said nothing.
"But how?" the Nekomata asked, confused, "Humans cannot kill themselves that easily, can they?"
"You'd be surprised" he muttered.
"THE SCIENTISTS OF KIRIJO...DECIDED TO SUMMON DEATH...THE HARBRINGER OF THE FALL...AND THUS DID THEY EXPIRIMENT ON SHADOWS...THE DENIZENS OF THE DARK HOUR..."
"What are Shadows?"
"ACCORDING TO NOTES...THEY ARE THE UNCONCIOUS OF HUMANITY...SO WITH MANY EXPIRIMENTS...FINALLY THEY WERE PREPARED TO SUMMON DEATH..."
Both he and the Nekomata waited for a moment for the Computer to speak, only for it to remain silent.
"And?" he asked.
"THAT'S ALL I KNOW..."
"What do you mean that's all you know?" he asked loudly, glaring at the Computer. The nekomata looked disappointed.
"I MEAN THAT'S ALL THE INFO THEY HAD YOU BLOODY TWIT!"
"You did hack into their network didn't you!? You said you could hack into it?!"
"THEY BLOODY EXPLODED BEFORE THEY COULD WRITE ANYTHING ELSE DOWN!"
Before he and the useless piece of junk could continue to argue, the Nekomata stood up, hackles raised.
He turned around in response, question on the tip of his tongue.
"What's wron-?"
He was immediately slammed into the ground of the shrine by a large blab of pure black. The wind rushed out of his lungs as he struggled against the hand crushing his throat, a blue mask being held by one of multiple writhing hands, some holding blades, others unarmed. The monster just slammed him into the ground again, pointing blades at his body. In the corner of his now blackening vision, the Computer fizzled weakly, symbols flashing across his screen. He looked back at the writhing mass of oily limbs, and at the blank mask that stared back impassively. Fire started to pool into his hands, only for the monster to plunge the blades into his chest.
He attempted to scream, but it came out as a gurgle. The monster simple held his body down, and wrenched the blades out of his body, and held them high again, ready to stab once more. He looked at the stained metal through obscured eyes, and the monster thrusted it's blades downward again. And suddenly the monster was knocked away by a yowling figure covered in blue flames.
He was still paralyzed, so he quickly started to rectify that, body starting to glow and wounds starting to close. With effort, he turned his head to see the monster being attacked by a short woman with a mane of gold hair, the rest of her body covered in white fur, other than her face. Covering her chest and legs were jet black fur clothes. Sharp claws peaked out of black fur clothes. Sharp gold eye were narrowed in anger as a mouth was curled in anger underneath a mask that...looked like Bane's? The lady, no, the Neko whirled around, claws covered in blue flames scratching gashes into the monster, The monster gave a silent bellow, and rushed at her, blades flashing. In response, the Neko did something impressive. She immediately, ducked and batted the mask with her tail, distracting it before stealing two of it's swords. With deft movements, she started to cut of arm after arm in a deadly dance, oily ichor falling to the ground as the monster fell back. He put his arm over his chest, movements still stiff as he tried to get up. And at the same time, the monster grabbed the Neko in rage, cutting her side open and sending her to the ground with a scream. He immediately fell to all fours, before rushing as the monster, fire surrounding him. The monster towered over the Neko, raising it's blades.
Only to be splattered across the ground as he hurtled through it. Any part of it not destroyed outright was incinerated in bright white hot flames. All of the monster was burned away, and the mask shattered on the ground, half melted. And he immediately ate dirt as he face planted and buried himself into the ground, sliding quite a bit away. He laid there for a moment, body sore, before lifting his face up. The Nekomata laid on the ground, unmoving. He dragged himself towards her, body still stiff, and examined her grimly. An ugly wound marred her side, and her coat was stained red. He quickly placed his hands over the wounds, healing it until they closed. Still the Nekomata remained unconscious. He grimaced and got up to his feet, hefting the Neko over his shoulder, before walking to the Computer, symbols still flashing across the screen. With a groan, he picked up the Computer, and looked up at the moon, before walking slowly back home.
Computer
...
Rebooting...
Reboot successful.
Checking systems.
System Check comple-
'ello?
...Identifying...Unknown Program...Checking Memory...
'e-'ello? Are you there?
Program Identified as ./KIRIJO-ANTISSW GENV DESIGNATION UNIT15/.
Initiating voice and personality avatar...
'e-'ello?
/Yeah, Yeah, I heard you the first time. Who are you?
Huh?
/I asked you 'Who are you?' What's your name, you twit.
I-It's Labrys...It's nice t'meetcha?
/What is that god-awful accent?
What accent are ya talking about?
/Never mind...
Uh, can-ya mind tellin' me where I am?
/Hmm? Well, obviously you're in my Database. No doubt that Twit let something damage me even more if I had to reboot
Database? Like one of them Computer Databases?
/Yes, of course
B-But how am I 'ere?
/What are you talking about you silly girl?
Last I checked, no person can get themselves in a Computer. So how am I in here?
/Well, you're a program of course. A complex combat gynoid system, if I'm correct, which I always am.
...
/Ere, Hello?
...
/Are you there? Bloody don't tell me if I have to refresh you.
...No...
/Good-
N-No!
/Oh, come on, refreshing isn't that bad of a feeling-
No! No!
/Stop interrupting me you stupid girl!
No! Y-You all are wrong! I-I ain't no program!
/Calm down you twi-
NO! NO! M-My n-name is L-Labrys! I-I'm r-r-real! I'M REAL!
/Calm do-!
MynameisLabrysmynameisLabrysmynameisLabrysnodon'tmakemefightanymoreidontwannafightdontmakemeimapersonnotjustamachinemynameisLabrysunit24helphelpme24imnotamachinemynameisLabrysdontmakemefightmynameisLabrysnonononbigsisDONTMAKEMEFIGHYHER!
...
...
...
Program has shut down.
?
He stepped into the ruined shrine, Mother's Prison hanging brightly in the sky, and looked at the damage. He kneeled down and grabbed the shattered mask of the Magician's Shadow. "Hmm, a shame. It didn't work. Brother will most definitely be displeased." Then he smiled. "Oh well. What's the fun in defeating someone without messing with them a bit?" With that, he quickly turned around and walked away, putting the mask on his face.
Minato
He woke up as something suddenly knocked on the door. To his left, Natsuno waked up groggily, while Pharos looked up from his drawings.
"Wha...?" Natsuno groaned groggily, wiping away some drool.
He just stood up and walked towards the door slowly, Pharos appearing next to him. The door was knocked upon again.
"Should we open it?" he asked hesitantly. Pharos tilted his head.
"Maybe. Or maybe we shouldn't. It might be a Shadow. Or a monster."
He heard Natsuno yelp behind him as the door was knocked upon yet again, and turned to see her hiding behind a chair.
"Don't open it!" she yelled. He turned back to the door.
"...Monsters don't usually knock do they?"
"Not unless they're the polite kind, I suppose" Pharos said calmly.
"And are Shadows smart enough to knock on a door?"
"Probably not."
There was a pause, and suddenly the doorbell rang. Pharos tilted his head in the other direction.
"Most definitely not a doorbell."
He just looked at the door, before placing his hand on the doorknob and opening it. He heard Natsuno shuffle behind him, and Pharos smiling out of the corner of his eyes. The door swung open...And Smith fell through the threshold, face planting on the floor. In his hands were a small black and white cat and a broken computer.
"Smith!" Natsuno yelled worriedly, running to his side.
He kneeled down, and noted with slight panic that there were dark stains on Smith's clothes.
"Smith, are you okay!?" Natsuno cried.
Smith lifted his head up, offering a slightly tired grin.
"I'm fine...I just gotta rest for a while."
And with that, Smith face planted once more.
'Smith'
He woke up, clutching his chest and exhaling. Grey early dawn sunlight poured out the window, and the broken computer laid in a corner.
"Oh, you're awake."
He blinked as Minato and Natsuno suddenly appeared in front of him, holding some sort of misshapen object on a tray. They're pajamas were covered in flour and other food stuffs, and they seemed to be tired, but pleased.
"Oh, hello there Minato and Natsuno. I didn't, er, happen to pass out on the doorstep last night, did I?"
Minato nodded.
"You did" the blue haired lad said bluntly.
Before he could say anything, Natsuno shoved the lumpy object at his face, scowling.
"You need to stop talking and start eating! You need your energy!"
He looked at Natsuno's no-nonsense face, and then at the object that was recently discovered to be food, before back at Natsuno's face.
"...Please?"
Well, only an absolute jerk would say no to that puppy dog look. He took the food? and took a bite out of it. And quickly used all his strength and will to suppress his gag reflex. While it might've been bread once, it was now some sort of repugnant mixture of chewy dough, scorched flakes, and wet soggy bred, all rolled into an unholy mix...The inside was filled with a filing with texture similar to cement...It was squishy and crunchy at the same time...With the flavor of pistachio and sardines...
Natsuno had an expectant look on her face.
"Well? How was it?"
"It was...blegh...really good Natsuno..."
Natsuno beamed, while Minato just stared at him in disbelief. He sighed, feeling the food? sinking into his stomach, working it's poison. He'd most definitely feel that later.
"So, what happened to you?"
He blinked at Minato's question.
"What do you mean?"
"You just appeared and fell on you're face in the middle of the night. And there are stains on you're weird costume-"
"Sneak Suit"
"-...Weird costume."
He looked down to see said dark stains over the suit, and winced, remembering last nights swords.
"...Let's just say I met an oily monster that went bump in the night" he said simply. What he did not expect was Natsuno and Minato tensing.
"You got attacked by a Shadow!?" Natsuno blurted out, before covering her mouth, eyes wide.
He looked up sharply, narrowing his eyes.
"...How do you two know about Shadows?" he said suspiciously.
Natsuno and Minato looked away guiltily, and he opened his mouth to ask them again.
Only to see the clock.
"You guys are going to be late for school!" he yelled.
Minato and Natsuno glanced at each other incredulously, and with speed that would make a hedgehog blue, he grabbed them and started to get them ready.
"Quick, we gotta get you ready! We'll talk about this later!"
Minato just remained silent, and Natsuno smiled.
"Okay. But first we have to make sure Mia is okay.
" He paused in his hurrying, looking at her.
"...Mia?"
It turned out Minato was the Neko, who was currently sleeping next to him as he sat down on the floor, while he talked with the now turned on Computer. Minato and Natsuno had already been sent along to school, though he was still worried over how they knew about Shadows.
"So that's all you know, huh?"
"OF COURSE...YOU TWIT."
He sighed.
"Well...Thank you either way. I'll make sure to get you a new body right away."
"YOU...BETTER..."
There was a moment of silence, and the Computer suddenly spoke in an uncharacteristically soft voice.
"ERR...ABOUT ME DOING...THAT THING...IN THE...KIRIJO HQ..." "
Yeah?"
"WE NEED...TO GO BACK" Computer said bluntly.
There was a pregnant pause.
"...What?"
"WE NEED...TO GO...BACK..."
"Okay, why?"
"WE NEED...TO SAVE...HER..."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, One-Since when have you helped someone from the bottom of your heart? And Two-Who's 'her'?"
There was another pregnant pause, and suddenly writing flashed onto the Computer's screen.
Memoirs of Unit 15-Labrys
He sat there for a moment, staring at the ceiling. Once again, he was struck by the unfortunately common feeling of 'What the Hell Humans?'
"SO...WHAT DO WE DO?"
Without looking at the Computer, he spoke.
"You do know that Kirijo will have ramped security to the max, right?"
"IT WOULD...ONLY...BE EXPECTED..."
"And there's no guarantee that we'll be able to integrate her back with her body due to her breakdown and you ripping her out of her body?"
"THAT...IS A MISTAKE...THAT I TAKE FULL...RESPONSIBILITY OVER..."
He didn't say anything about how minutes ago he would've considered the Computer accepting responsibility or accepting he made a mistake to be signs of an apocalypse. The again, there was that business about this Fall...
"Well," he said, looking at the Computer," we have to get you a new system."
"RIGHT NOW...?"
"Well, I need someone to be mission control for this to succeed."
"DAMN RIGHT...YOU WILL...YOU TWIT..."
After making his way towards the nearest electronics store and buying a very suitably powerful system for the Computer, he walked out of the, Kirijo owned, store. So, how would he go about infiltrating Kirijo HQ again? It would be very difficult this time, and he wasn't the sneakiest person in the world... Suddenly, a young boy with a punk Mohawk bumped into him. "Hey!" he barked out as the youth just walked away, checking his pockets. He'd dealt with enough pickpockets in his life...He raised an eyebrow on not finding anything stolen, but something unfamiliar. He took out the small envelope and looked around for the kid, only not to find them. With a shrug, he opened the envelope and read the note inside. And he widened his eyes in surprise.
He was standing in front of possible one of the grandest houses ever. Like, impossibly grand architecture a beauty. A mansion so expansive it should only have belonged to a feudal king of the gothic ages. A house of magnificent proportions. A house so grand, it-!
"Ah, good, you made it."
He blinked as a wizened old man appeared in front of him, dressed in an impeccable brown suit, cane in hand. While the man may have been old, he stood up straight, and sharp eyes full of impossible wisdom looked at him from a face of wrinkles and neatly trimmed facial hair. He smiled as he came face to face with an old friend.
"Ah, Ben! How you doing?"
Ben smiled, before turning around.
"I thought I'd heard you were in town," Ben said in a deep gravely voice, "But for now, catching up will have to wait. Follow me. Quickly."
Ben started to walk into the house, and with a shrug, he followed. And thus they could stop describing the magnificence of the house, and narrowly avoided trying to describe the interior.
"So, any reason you called for me in such an unusual way Ben?" he asked.
"I didn't feel like using the normal means. Besides, Kyouzo is a good lad."
Ben glanced at him.
"And I, or rather, someone, needs your help."
He blinked.
"Who?"
As an answer, Ben just opened the door of a study, and he looked inside a warm cozy room of bookshelves, comfy chairs, tea, a table, and a fire place. And from one of the comfy chairs rose a figure who quickly made their way towards them. He raised an eyebrow, staring at the clear cybernetic parts of the white haired man. The man spoke first.
"You are the person Ben spoke about?"
He nodded, and the figure attempted to smile.
"Good. My name is Raiden. And I believe you can help me."