Magister Negi Magi is owned by Ken Akamatsu and Kodansha Ltd. Tokyo in Japan, and by Funimation and Ballantine - DelRey in the United States, NOT by me.

SPOILER ALERT! AU story occurring after c189.

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"Those simplistic fools who wanted to buy me off couldn't have guessed what 'double or triple' my pay was even if they tried. Their own arrogance wouldn't have permitted it."
-Mana Tatsumiya. "One Million Steps : A Journey to Megalo-Mesembria and the World Beyond." by Kazumi Asakura.

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Ala Alba in the World of Magic: Tales From the Fireside.

Chapter Eight: Death Specs and a Gunslinger.

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Climbing a gentle slope through shifting fog, two tall figures, one dressed in a well worn business casual suit, the other in a nondescript long coat, approach a Stonehenge-like monument near a remote village in Wales, England.

Emotionless, dark face framed by her long, ebony hair, the first looks up at the second when they both halt at the center of the monument. "Do you have my pay?"

Perpetual smile and dangling cigarette framed by his moussed hair and five-o'clock shadow, the second figure pulls a large coin from a pocket and hands it over. "I recovered it myself. The first one you used that time."

Without even a cursory examination, the first figure pockets the coin. Having worked with this employer before, he has her complete trust. There is no need for any confirmation. "My thanks. It upsets me I was unable to retrieve it earlier."

Waiting for the Gate-spell to their destination to activate from the other side, the second figure pulls out a disposable lighter to examine the fluid level. "Awfully mercenary of you, taking payment for a job like this."

A rare smile graces the first figure's face. "You are getting a special discount, so no complaints. Besides, even considering my personal feelings, I need to accept payment simply as a matter of fulfilling standard contractual principle."

The ground beneath them began to glow as the second figure's expression became amused. "Of course. Ready?"

With the glow rapidly reaching the activation point, the first figure made a slight bow. "I am yours. Until completion of my duty."

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Megalo-Mesembrian Gate Port.

With an irregular flash of light that would have sent any experienced Gate Port worker running for cover, Takahata T. Takamichi and Mana Tatsumiya arrived in the shattered ruins of that once proud structure's arrival platform. Looking like a worldly-wise Mafia boss and his steely-eyed bodyguard, they made their way past the piles of smashed masonry and along the last remaining access walkway.

Rushing out to meet the pair, weary from days of inadequate sleep, Donnet McGuinness allowed herself a look of relief at the sight of the two unharmed transportees. "Thank goodness! You made it through before everything shut down completely!"

Takamichi paused to re-light his cigarette, inhaled, then released a cloud of acrid smoke as Donnet came to a stop. "Just a little wooziness." Takamichi paused to wave an arm at the surrounding ruins. "Konoemon told me about the possibility of Separatist involvement in this. Beyond that, has there been any word on Negi or his students?"

Donnet shook her head. "Nothing confirmed. There's been odd reports from Granicus City out on Cerberus that make me think Negi's there, but nothing about anyone else. Considering the reward for 'terroristic acts' the council's put out and how lawless that area is, I hope he's smart enough not to stay if he is there."

Takamichi glowered and looked up through a hole in the Gate Port's ceiling. ("Officious idiots! Setting bounty hunters after a bunch of kids when there's bigger fish to fry!") "Well, that's a start."

A rush of approaching footsteps brought Mana Tatsumiya's free hand inside her coat. "Professor..."

The volume of the footfalls increased until a half-dozen military mages, lead by an officer bearing the signet-gorget and staff of the Mage Council, rounded a corner and approached at a trot. Donnet started to go forward but a look from Mana froze her in place.

Takamichi ground his cigarette underfoot and casually placed his hands in his pockets. "Praetorians?"

Donnet nodded. "I don't know why they're here. There shouldn't be any trouble from your use of the Gate Port..." Donnet's expression became a grimace. "...unless a councilor loyal to the Separatists sent them!"

Signaling a halt and grounding his staff a prudent distance from Takamichi, the officer signaled his men to spread out, then focused his attention on Donnet. "Donnet McGuinness! You and these two transportees are wanted for questioning with regards to unnecessary use of the damaged Gate Port System. Such use resulting in the complete breakdown of that system. If you do not accompany myself and my unit immediately, you will be restrained and held, pending process of all related charges!"

Takamichi moved slightly to better protect Donnet and draw attention away from Mana. "I am acting under orders of Konoemon Konoe and Magus Stephen Dillane. By their word, this was a previously approved use of the Gate Port system. By whose authority do you attempt to detain us?"

Unused to anyone not instantly bowing to the authority he wielded, the officer made a growling sound in his throat before raising and pointing his staff at Takamichi. "By the authority of the Mage Council! That's all you need to know! If you refuse to comply..."

Takamichi interrupted the officer with three words. "Mana. Do it."

Mana took a half-step back into a braced position, there was a double click followed by a muffled thump, then a small black object launched from Mana's suitcase towards the group of Mage Council Praetorians.

All seven activated unincanted barriers. The object impacted at the level of the officer's face and started spinning rapidly. The man's look of angry contempt quickly turned to one of shock as massive, elaborate watch-face flashed before his eyes. An instant later a huge black sphere englobed and sealed in the officer and the six military mages, then shrank to a point and vanished.

Takamichi smiled and removed his hands from their pockets. "Excellent. It seems Satomi Hakase's interpretations of Chao Lingshen's notes were accurate in their estimate that the level of magic in this world would permit use of that device."

Donnet gave Takamichi a baffled look. Chao Lingshen? What did you do? Are they dead?"

Mana knelt and quickly began to reload the fired round from the launcher magazine inside her suitcase. "Forty-millimeter, area-effect, three-hour forced displacement round. An experiment Chao tried, but didn't use during Mahora Fest." Mana looked up to grace a surprised Donnet with a smile that gave the woman a chill. "We came prepared."

Takamichi turned to Donnet as Mana finished her preparations and all three started walking rapidly towards the exit. "I have contacts in the city who'll help us out. You better come as well."

Donnet shook her head. "I have to stay in case anyone shows up here." Takamichi gave her a raised eyebrow, but she just smiled. "Don't worry. Stephen may not be here, but he has a powerful ally on the Mage Council, so I'll go to their office directly. The council might put me under house arrest, but even under the current situation, they can't very well send the Ministra of a senior Magus and Mage Council member to the Ermine Farm without the unanimous agreement of the entire council!"

Takamichi laughed as they approached and passed through the entrance to the Gate Port. "Fair enough!" Leading Donnet and Mana on in silence, he didn't stop until they reached the end of the causeway connecting the Gate Port Complex to Megalo-Mesembria. Once there, he turned to grasp Donnet's hand while Mana kept watch for possible threats. "Good luck Donnet. I'll contact you, if I can, should we have any success."

Donnet nodded as Takamichi released her hand. "To yourself as well." She watched until Takamichi and Mana disappeared into the city, then hurried on the way to the office of her Magister's ally. ("All this intrigue and madness added to the problems we already have, just because a boy wanted to find his father! Separatist fools! I'd better hurry and go report what's happened!")

tsuzuku

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Author's Notes:

Just a few this time.

For pictures of who may be Donnet McGuinness Magister Magi, see v02, c015, p159, pnl02. DR ver. (The Magus of Negi's school, perhaps?) Also scanslated c184 and c185.

No comment on who's next.