Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha - Ai Hazard

by Memor-X

4 Years after the JS Incident Nanoha and Fate have finally confessed their feelings for one another before Fate left to become a Mobile Enforcer. With Fate's return a year later as a full fledged Mobile Enforcer Riot Force 6 has came back together. Yet the peaceful family life Nanoha had hoped for may not last as a light it shone to reveal the truths behind the myths. [Ch.8 is up]

7. Chapter 5: Mobile Enforcement

Author's Note: as i said from here on out i use the format i am normally used to when writing scenes for games which normally involves adding the time/date plus general location. all times are listed as Local Time unless the Timezone is added after the time suffixed with -T, it should be obvious what they mean. ie. MC-T = Mid-Childan Time.

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Volume 2: Variable Desire

Chapter 5: Mobile Enforcement

[29th November 0081, 6:01 AM - Section 6, Mid-Childa] - Morning Bliss

As the morning light shone into the room Fate squinted from the rude awakening. Less than 24 hours together and their room was a mess with their clothes all over the place. Fate slowly got up as to be sure not to wake the sleeping Nanoha and silently walked to the wardrobe to get a dressing gown.

Just as Fate went to leave she looked back over to Nanoha who was still asleep, breathing softly through her just open mouth. Fate couldn't stand it and slowly went back to the bed, leaning down to seal Nanoha's slightly parted lips with her down. As Fate went to leave the room she saw Nanoha curl up more, now smiling.

Fate's plan was to fix up breakfast for Nanoha and have it ready when she woke up. It was the least she could do after having been apart for so long, raising Vivio by herself. She slowly walked down the hall as to make sure that even the slightest noise didn't wake her sleeping beauty, all the while holding into her dressing gown to make sure it didn't open up unexpectedly. She noticed that almost everyone were lounging on the floor asleep, most didn't go to sleep until much later.

Fate arrived in the cafeteria/kitchen/dining area, originally thinking she was alone Fate noticed Hayate on the nearby sofa with a cup of coffee with Rein sitting on the table eating away at a waffle which was just as big as she was. Hayate got up and followed Fate to the kitchen while Rein remained focused on her food.

"Surprised to see you up so early" Hayate commented,
"And why is that?"
"I figured neither you nor Nanoha would let the other sleep last night" Hayate let out with a snicker,
"At first I thought that was what things were leading to as well when Nanoha pulled me onto the bed and got on top. But all she wanted to do was cuddle"

Fate turned her back to Hayate to begin cooking. Hayate put her cup down and snuck up to Fate pulling down her dressing gown "so the two of you just cuddled in your underwear" she laughed.
Fate pushed her back and fixed up her gown "I always sleep in my underwear, you know that. It's just that I was surprised when Nanoha slept on top of me in just hers"
"I'm just surprised Nanoha showed restraint. Thought she'd ravage you the moment the 2 of you are alone to make up for the year apart"
"Is it just me or do you sound like you wanted us to make love and be able to hear every detail"

Hayate began to laugh "of cause not I just want my two best friends to be happy"
"Well thanks anyway, for being there for Nanoha while I was away. If you need anything..."
"Record your love making" Hayate interrupted. Fate blankly stared at Hayate's request making sure she knew that there was no way something as intimately private like that would be recorded for her benefit.

Fate resumed cooking while Hayate finished her drink. Just as Hayate finished Rein flew over carrying her waffle. Fate cooked listing the two talk, now understanding why Hayate wanted Riot Force 6 to come back together. The Wolkenritter were Hayate's Family however Hayate was the kind of person who also included her closest friends into her family. With everyone going their separate ways after the JS Incident was like her family breaking apart. Seeing Nanoha lonely while Fate was gone probably forced Hayate to realize what she had lost as well. Hayate probably had planned to bring everyone back together the moment Fate returned since even if she did it sooner, Hayate's 'family' wouldn't be complete.

Fate finished cooking and took the tray and plate back to her and Nanoha's room. Everyone began to wake up as Fate made her way down the hall, getting themselves ready to start moving in. Fate remembered that Teana still had her duty on the Claudia and figured that because Fate herself didn't have too much stuff to move she'd help Teana move, that way Chrono wouldn't have to delay his departure from Mid-Childa's Orbit.

Fate walked into her and Nanoha's room quietly hoping not to disturb Nanoha however Nanoha was already awake,
"Sorry, id didn't mean to wake you" Fate apologized
"It's ok, it's not like I could go back to sleep after that sweet present you gave me" Nanoha replied pressing her index finger to her lips
"I thought you were sleep"
"I was at first but I pretended to sleep when you kissed me, didn't want to ruin it"

Nanoha sat up as Fate placed the try over her legs before planting a kiss on Nanoha's cheek before starting to tidy up the room
"What are you doing?" Nanoha asked
"I got to get dressed to help people move"
"Dam, I would love to spend the entire day with you dressed like that. Minus the dressing gown"
"Well, maybe another day" Fate blushed

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[29th November 0081, 9:41 AM MC-T - TSAB Warship Claudia, Mid-Childa Orbit] - Moving

Fate and Teana had boarded the Claudia and began to move their stuff onto a Teleportation Glyph which was connected to the Boarding Station within Ground Forces H.Q. where Zafira and Vita was moving the stuff that was teleported down from the Claudia onto a truck while Signum and Shamal moved their own stuff to the truck.

"So, you enjoy yourself last night" Teana asked
"Yeh, it was nice to see everyone again and then to hear Hayate suggest we all move in together at Section 6"
"You ok with Erio?"
"Geez, why does everyone keep bring that up. He's 18 now, it's not surprising"
"That's strange. You would think any 18 year old would jump at the opportunity to live in a place outnumbered by women"
"Because I raised him better than that"

The teleportation glyph lit up before a white cone appeared in the centre. Teana and Fate would send the cone down with their stuff and wait for Zafira and Vita to send it back up when they were ready to receive the next load. Teana and Fate was focusing on Teana's stuff first because she had more and the teleportation glyph couldn't transport huge loads as it was design only to transport roughly 4 people at a time.

As the 2 finished loading Fate triggered the Glyph before turning to Teana "so...did you and Subaru get up to anything at the party"
Teana sighed "she was really drunk"
"Drunk people are quite suggestible. You could have gotten a really romantic confession from her"
"But it won't be any good if she wakes up in the morning and can't remember it. Sure I want it to be romantic but what if she remembers and regrets it? Hell what if she doesn't? What if she doesn't feel the same and only said she did cause she was drunk and hates me for taking advantage of her"
"You're thinking too much into it"
"Also she was passed out"
"Well there's nothing you can do about that but I do have a feeling that Subaru feels the same towards you"
"Well, maybe during Christmas I'll give it another shot"
"Provided she doesn't get drunk again" Fate laughed.

The 2 continued to talk before the glyph lit up again but this time instead of the white cone appearing it was Vita
"How much is there left" Vita asked
Fate looked over to where Teana's stuff was "well it seems that all of Teana's stuff has been moved so it's just a couple of boxes for me" she replied pointing to her boxes

Vita examined the boxes before shaking her head "truck is full and I don't think we have enough space for them"
"Ok, I'll try this" Fate replied taking out a Glove with a Purple Gem from her pocket
"What's that?" Teana asked as Fate slipped the glove on
"When you get to the rank of World-Shift Enforcer you're given a device used to help store stuff, I named mine Dimension Galaxy"
"Belkan Compression Magic" Vita commented
"You've used it before?"
"Never seen it myself, I just know of what was in the Tome of the Night Sky, which isn't much mind you. That probably suggests it development was influence by outside sources, Al-Hazard most likely"
"Well they couldn't fully reverse engineer it so you can't store too much in it. Lucky I don't have much stored anyway"

Fate walked up to the first box and placed her hand on it "Dimension Galaxy, Compress, Set ID to M1"
"ja mein Meister, Anfang Kompression auf Zuteilung Raum m1 [yes my master, beginning compression to allocation space m1]"

Light began to pour down from the gem and over the box like a waterfall before it itself turned into a light and was sucked into them gem. Fate proceeded to do the same to the second box
"Dimension Galaxy, Compress, Set ID to M2"
"verzeihen Sie mir, mein Meister, Objektgröße Kompression zu groß ist, die Kapazität erreicht [forgive me my master, object size to compression is too large, capacity reached]"
"Just sit it on your lap" Vita commented.

Fate and Vita walked onto the glyph, Just as Fate was about to activate it she noticed that Teana wasn't standing with them but seeing them off
"You're not coming?"
"Just leave my stuff in the room. When the patrol is finished I'll unpack then"

Teana waved as Fate activated the glyph. After a short while Teana opened a line to the bridge "Admiral Harlaown, we're done here"
"Ok then, terminating connection to Ground Forces H.Q glyph. We'll be heading out in 5"

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[29th November 0081, 10:02 AM - Nakajima House, Mid-Childa] - Price of devotion

Subaru staggered though the door and collapsed onto the couch with Ginga following behind gently closing the door
"Ahhhh! Don't slam the door" Subaru yelled holding her head
"I didn't"
"Grrrr, why does my head hurt so much?"
"It's called a hangover"
"How did she even get one?"

Cinque walked into the room with a piece of toast hanging out of her mouth. Ginga sat next to Subaru and began stroking her hair as if Subaru was a cat, "it seems like she overworked herself and the system used to breakdown damaging substances malfunctioned so it didn't break down alcohol and Subaru got totally wasted"
"This the welcome home party for Fate"
"Yeh, Hayate also suggested we all move in to Section 6"
"I heard. At the moment it's only Nove because she feels that the training platform at Section 6 would be perfect for training Vivio. The rest of us will probably be moving at a later date"

Wendi, who was hiding behind the couch, peered over it watching Subaru and clapped her hands causing Subaru's hangover induced headache to flare up.
"Wendi! Cut it out" Cinque demanded while grabbing Wendi's hand
"Oh but we don't get hangovers so this is the perfect time to study their effects"
"You're not studying, you're being a pain"

Subaru rolled over and stared at the ceiling "I hope I didn't embarrasses Tia" she sighed
Ginga leaned over Subaru's face blocking her view "you groped her a few times"
"While you're up there, could you get a pillow and kill me"
"No"
Wendi ducked back behind the couch before coming back up with a pillow in her hands "quick or slow"
"I said no!" Ginga demanded rising her voice slightly while snatching the pillow, only realising that her yelling was aggravating Subaru's headache before apologising.

"why did you do this to yourself anyway" Ginga asked as she treaded Subaru's hair in her fingers
"Because I want Tia to be proud of me"
"Why?"
"Because if she's proud of my hard work then she'll like me"
"You two are friend aren't you?"
"I mean really like me like how I really like her like how a girl really likes a girl if the other girl was a guy and she she really liked him and he really liked her, and, and, and I don't know, my head hurts! Don't ask be complicated questions" Subaru complained

Ginga looked behind her hearing someone opening the front door and saw Nove placing a box down before heading back to her room, "where's Dieci anyway?" Ginga asked.
"Asleep, that last mission took a lot out of us. We didn't back to Mid-Childa until a couple of hours ago anyway" Cinque replied flopping down onto the opposite couch
"Aren't the rest of you going to sleep?" Subaru asked flapping her hand
"Nove had a nap on the way here. I'll have one after Nove has left and Wendi is probably going to wait until everyone else is asleep"

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[29th November 0081, 1:19 PM - Section 6, Mid-Childa] - Calm before the storm

"Oh wow, it's almost like an engagement pendent"

Caro was examining Nanoha's new pendant which Raising Heart sat in. Caro was the first to be fully settled into Section 6, and with Vivio over at Rio's place Caro was keeping Nanoha company at Fate's request to prevent Nanoha helping everyone move and just relax.

"So how much did it cost?" Caro asked while handing the pendant back to Nanoha
"I don't know, and I don't really care. No matter the monetary value it is worth far more in sentimental value because it was given to me by my Feito" Nanoha smiled as she put it back on
"For the record, it cost 3 months full wage and I had to gather all the materials myself"

Fate used Dimension Galaxy to remove the box she had stored and also took out a card and handed it to Nanoha "that's the woman. She's a bit rough around the edges however as you can tell her work is top notch. Her brother works as a freelance Device Meister"
"Is someone hinting they want a similar necklace?" Caro joked
"no, I just figured if Nanoha is doing anything in that area and needs either Raising Heart or a pupil's device looked at she can go there" Fate replied picking up one of Teana's boxes.

Nanoha threw herself back laying down on the couch holding the pendant in her hands "putting the money aside the fact you collected all the materials to get this made just makes me love it more"
"I don't get it though, you said Fate was going to give it to you after your first date, why do you have it now" Caro asked
"It's a token how we'll always be toge..." Nanoha stopped and suddenly sat up just as Fate was coming in for another box "Feito! We need to have a date!"
Fate stopped "ahhh, asking like that kinda ruins the mood for it but I promise once everything has settled down I'll take you on one" she replied before continuing.

Nanoha fell back onto the couch "I wonder if I should wear what I wore at Hotel Augusta" she pondered thinking of what her first date would be like
"No! You have to find something else that no one has ever seen you wear before. That way it's special to Fate as you picked it out just for her"
"How do you know this stuff? You're 15, you haven't started dating"
"I read a lot" Caro replied smiling

Subaru walked in wearing black tinted glasses and collapsed on the sofa next to Caro. "You still have a hangover" Caro asked poking Subaru's head.
"Yeh, the problem which allowed me to get drunk is fixed but I still have to live with this for the next few hours" Subaru moaned while trying to swat Caro's hand away.
"It's your own fault for working yourself to breaking point. we're stronger than humans but not invincible" Nove commented walking past Subaru with one of her boxes before walking backward back to Subaru, "and I'm not moving your stuff for you!" she yelled planting her foot onto Subaru's behind. Subaru just moaned into the couch "just dump my stuff at the door and I'll move it once I've recovered"

Nanoha sat up as she heard Hayate and Fate complaining about one another, "I don't care. You've done your own stuff, Teana's and some of my stuff, just relax already" Hayate ordered while pushing Fate onto the couch. Nanoha shifted herself around allowing Fate's head to fall onto her lap when Hayate pushed her.

"Well, I supposed I'll relax if I can remain like this" Fate said looking up at Nanoha. Nanoha just smiled as she stroked Fate's head.

After Subaru recovered enough to move properly she began to move her stuff from the door however every time we walked past the couches she would look out the window "that's is going to get annoying"
"What, waking up every morning seeing Ground Forces H.Q?" Cero asked
"No, their live fire practice if we combat cyborgs get a hangover again"
"What are you talking about" Fate asked sitting up before being forced back down by Nanoha
"Well when people get hangovers sounds are louder than usual which causes headaches. However even after the headache we combat cyborgs still have the 'enhanced' hearing so even at this distance I can hear the life fire practice at H.Q"
"That's some hearing" Nanoha commented
"Actually I think you might be hearing back fire from the transports, all of them" Caro said

Everyone in the room made their way to the window and saw what Caro was talking about. Coming from the ground near H.Q was a small plume of smoke "every one of them can be down can they?" Ginga asked
"Back on Earth we had this saying called Muphy's law I think"
"Murphy's law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong" Nanoha corrected

As the girls watched on, the side of H.Q exploded "what the hell!" Vita yelled out as she jumped back in surprise
"You're not hearing live fire but the echos of explosions you idiot! Ground Forces H.Q is under attack!" Ginga said smacking Subaru in the back of her head

Everyone's pagers began to go off informing them of the attack however Fate's pager delayed before the message came in; she opened up her orders on a holographic screen.

"What does it say" Nanoha asked looking over Fate's shoulder
"Any Enforcer currently not investigating who can visually confirm the in-progress attack on Ground Forces H.Q in Mid-Childa, please provide assistance in repelling the assault."
"Seems like the rest of us are on relief effort and establishing a perimeter" Caro said as her Barrier Jacket materialized while adjusting Kerykeion on her hands

"Raising Heart, the pendant won't get in your way will it" Nanoha asked
"No, my master, I have noticed, personal upgrades possible, using pendant materials"
"I'll need to practice with that first so hold off for now"

After Fate's barrier jacket materialized she faced Nanoha and put her hands on Nanoha's shoulders "your pager didn't go off so you don't have to go"
"That may be true but I'm not going to wait here while everyone else goes off" Nanoha replied removing Fate's hands from her shoulders. Fate nodded knowing there was no way to convince Nanoha otherwise.

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[29th November 0081, 10:05 AM MC-T - Gruen High Security Orbital Prison, Uninhabited World #9] - Unsuccessful Interrogation

"Nuca Lnycran! [Rose Crasher!]"

3 TSAB guards were thrown back down the hall leaving a trail of rose petals behind. Almost as if the petals were laid down as a red carpet, a single man with short black hair walked down the hall slowly to one particular cell.

"Jail Scaglietti" he said leaning forward onto the bars
"And what do I owe the pleasure" Scaglietti smirked still lying on his prison bed refusing to face the man
"Where is Variable Mako?"
"I don't know what that is"
"Pimmcred [bullshit]"

Scaglietti turned his head to the man at his cell upon hearing the strange dialect. It wasn't Belkan or Mid-Childan and he was sure it came from the purplish-blue gem that was on the man's neck piece which meant it was a device. The language a device spoke was an indicator of the magic system used; an unfamiliar language meant an unfamiliar magic system.

"Who are you" Scaglietti asked sitting up on his bed
The man adjusted his pose and fixed his neck piece "for the current time, my name is Kage"
"Where are you from?"
"Now that is none of your business Scaglietti. It's improper to ask questions when you yourself do not provided answers to queries addressed to you"

Scaglietti leaned back against the prison wall with his arms crossed smiling "but I did answer you"
"Yht e cyo oui'na moehk [And I say you're lying]"
"that's enough Miyanu" Kage scolded the voice coming from the gem.

Kage leaned onto the bars of the cell "I however agree with Miyanu. you're lying; There is no way someone like you would be blind to its discovery, especially if one may consider its connection to Saint's Cradle"
"oh, that Mako. I'm sorry but we call it a different name so I didn't know what you was talking about" Scaglietti replied.
"well with that cleared up, where is Variable Mako" Kage asked once again
"I'm afraid you seem to be accusing me of something I did not commit. I have been inside this cell for the past 5 years so I can't have done anything. you also cannot blame me for the Bureau misplacing their possessions"
"uh dra luhdnyno oui ycc, Variable Mako tuach'd pamuhk du dras [on the contrary you ass, Variable Mako doesn't belong to them]"
"and you're the only person on the outside who would have reason and the means to steal them" Kage added
"well even if I did know something, it's not like I have any incentive to help you"

Kage sighed, just as he was about to rebuke Jail his attention was drawn to the entrance where he had walked in from where he could here a couple of voices approaching.
"You are in a highly restricted area, stay where you are!"
"he said stop you idiot!"

A woman with long glowing golden hair ran around the corner into the room and ran past Kage
"It can't be" Scaglietti said stunned, his gaze fixated on the woman who had just ran past, because of the position of the lights he could only make out her shape and her long golden hair however that alone was enough for him to question what he saw.

The woman stopped and reversed herself to the cell "well, well, well, Scaglietti. I'm glad I could see you at least once, rotting in a cell" she laughed
Scaglietti got up and slowly made his way to the bars of his cell trying to identify the woman "you can't be her, There's no way"
Scaglietti could just see her face but not enough to identify her, rather he saw her smile "Your Project Fate was a failure" she rebuked.

TSAB guards ran past the entrance Kage and the woman came in before one noticed the 2 inside the hall, "down here, she had an accomplice!" he yelled out. A couple more guards rallied behind him and they aimed their weapons at Kage and the woman
"whoops, time's up" the woman said grabbing Kage's hand and pulling him with her. as they ran the guards opened fired, Kage looked back to confirm which magic system they were using however just as he noticed the Mid-Childa sigils he noticed a red mark on the underneath side of Scaglietti's arm.

The 2 fled the hall with the guards pressuring them, one of them stopping at Scaglietti's cell checking to make sure that it hadn't been tampered with to allow is escape. after all the guards had left the area Scaglietti smiled to himself, "so that's your plan".

"Dam these TSAB people are uncultured. What kind of barbarian fires at those who hold no hostile intent?" the golden hair woman complained.
"I heard them yell out for you to stay put"
"they had their weapons armed and aimed at me; you think I would stick around for that!"

The 2 came to the main corridor leading to the hanger but just as they entered a group of guards ahead of them positioned themselves like a wall and aimed their weapons. Kage threw off the golden hair woman's hand and ran ahead. the guards opened fire at Kage however with little effort he was able to dodge the blasts while keeping his forwards momentum until he was within an arm's length.

Kage reached to one guard and pulled them in close to him, kneeing him in the head before knocking out each of the other guards clearing a path, his movements almost resembled a dance than a fight. A guard took his staff and held it above his head, Kage jumped up avoiding the staff being brought down to his head and landed on the guard's shoulders, wrapping his legs around the guard's neck Kage shifted his body weight to slam the guard down on the ground.

A couple more guards appeared out from the hanger in front and fired at Kage, dodging once again while running towards them he dropped to the ground and slid to a pole. The plan was to latch onto the pole with his legs and swing around taking down the guards in front with a long range spell while then swing around facing the other way to try and pick off the guards behind, but as Kage slid into the pole he smashed his groin into it

"owe" he whimpered. the golden hair woman held out her hand before the gem on it light up "Plasma Lancer"

arrowhead shaped bolts of energy formed around her and shot out knocking out the guards at the hanger entrance. She stopped suddenly at Kage's side skipping on one foot slightly just as Kage put up his hand "Simde-Tavahcan [Multi-Defenser]"

the guards behind the pair opened fire just as a wall of shields covered the hall blocking all the shots. the golden hair woman helped Kage up onto his feet "we still not use to the new 'equipment' are we"

the woman helped the staggering Kage to the empty hanger, making it to the very end. the guards from before poured in having gotten through Kage's wall and blocked the way back trapping the pair. The golden hair woman smiled as she and Kage held each other before the two of them fell backwards off the platform, the guards rushed forward to where they fell and looked down seeing no bodies.

When the 2 fell backwards off the dock the golden hair woman opened a portal beneath them before falling in, in each other's arms the 2 now floating though a corridor of space separate from all other dimensions.
"Kage split the exit and redirect to Novus and Mid-Childa" the golden hair woman said while letting go of Kage
"may I ask why?"
"plan B. learned that Mako D has gone missing and with Mako A gone Mako C is all that's left. I can probably locate where the 3 will meet up by using the Paradox Hourglass"
"that's explains Novus, but what about Mid-Childa"
the woman took the gem off her glove and handed it to Kage "go to Ground Forces H.Q and see what information they have on the thefts of Mako's A and D"

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[29th November 0081, 1:53 PM - Ground Forces H.Q, Mid-Childa] - Kage

Nanoha and Fate flew to Ground Forces H.Q and entered through a hole on the side which, the result of the explosion they saw from Section 6. Inside the place was a wreck with unconscious mages everywhere. The 2 women dropped down and slowly walked through the battle torn hall monitoring their surroundings, they could see that none of the mages were badly hurt and was only knocked out which indicated this wasn't a serious attack, however as they followed the trail of destruction they realized they were headed to the archives, regardless if this was a serious attack or not, if the attackers were targeting the archives they could get their hand on classified information on current operations, research and unit placements.

The two armed themselves ready and entered the archives "put your hands in the air and cease your activities" Fate ordered the moment they entered.
"I'll be with you in a moment Lady Fate. Please be patient"

in the room surrounded by screens was a single man with short black hair. What he was wearing was strange as Nanoha recognized it as something similar to a Kimono, what's more, the man was alone and he addressed Fate without even confirming that she was the one talking. Nanoha charged up a shot and fired it at one of the screens dispersing the holographic view. The man closed the other screens and turned to face them.

"I did say I would be with you in a moment"
"who are you" Nanoha ordered aiming at the man
"the name I go by at this moment is Kage" he replied bowing with his right hand
"you addressed me right away, as if you knew me, how?" Fate asked
"we have not met personally but I have heard a great deal about you. Fate Testarossa, product of Project F, perfected by Presea Testarossa. Your basis was that of Presea's biological daughter Alicia Testarossa, killed in an accident. You were created to seek out the Jewel Seeds in order to open a way to Al-Hazard for Presea; however she was foiled by the TSAB. Current information reveals you now work for the TSAB as one of their Enforcers"

"how do you know all of that" Nanoha asked gripping Raising Heart tighter
"None of your business. if you excuse me I'm have a job to do"
"Accel Shooter"

Kage went to turn around to return his attention to the console yet Nanoha fired at him, just before impact Nanoha redirected the spell to miss. Kage turned and held out his hand "fine, seems I have to deal with this"
"Lryeh Peht [Chain Bind]"

A set of 4 chains shot out from Kage's outstretched hand like a bombardment spell. due to its speed Nanoha was unable to put up any defence when the chains struck her pushing her back into the wall above the door she and Fate had walked in. the chains wrapped tightly around Nanoha's body before fusing into the wall.
"Nanoha!"
"she's ok. I want to avoid a fight however if I must I rather a fair one with equal number combatants" Kage commented as he drew out his sword from under his Kimono

"Haken Form", Bardiche's axe head flipped up 90 degrees before the curved blade of golden energy shot out, Fate readjusted her stance holding Bardiche in 2 hands, poised ready to fight. Kage kicked off the ground and charged at Fate stopping a step short to slice Fate. Fate jumped back and swung Bardiche to Kage's side who blocked it by swapping the hand he held his sword and blocking Fate's swipe with it, despite the strength Fate was using Kage held Bardiche in place with just one arm.

Kage opened his free hand allowing mana to gather. at first the energy was white before it slowly changed colour to red and the partials swirling around in his palm began to resemble petals. "Nuca Lnycran [Rose Crasher]", Kage crushed the mana into his hand and with a close fist punched in front of Fate, while his fist didn't contact the magic shot out throwing Fate back leaving a trail of rose petals along the ground.

Kage held his sword to his waist and lowered his stance. "Dne-Vmunym Jejecaldeuh [Tri-Floral Vivisection]", spinning around the blade sliced through the air releasing small flower petal-like particles of mana, every one of them razor sharp like a blade, shooting off in all directions.

"Defenser", because Kage had attacked immediately after his previous attack Fate was not prepared to defend so Bardiche's Auto-Guard kicked in protecting her. Kage dashed to Fate's unguarded right side but his sword was stopped by Fate's reflexes using Bardiche's blade to defend. Fate began to charge up a counter attack however Kage noticed Fate's action and swung his leg hooking Fate's neck and throwing her behind him.

Fate stabbed Bardiche into the floor as she skid backwards holding out her free hand. "Plasma Smasher", A large blast of lighting fired out from a Mid-Childa circle almost encompassing the room however Fate limited the power to ensure that she didn't hurt Nanoha in the process. "Nuca Lnycran [Rose Crasher]", Kage once again gathered mana in his hand and upon crashing it punched the floor causing an explosion of rose petals that engulfed him. when the blast from the Plasma Smasher came into contact with the petals it was stopped in its tracks however for every moment the blast contacted with the petals more of them would burn away, eventually the blast won over and shot through the room.

when the blast cleared there was nothing left in its path. the floor burned away, a huge hole in the wall and there wasn't any trace of the petals or Kage. Fate knew however Kage hadn't been vaporized. She looked up to see him slowly floating down, now with a set of wings on his lower back and a wing behind each shoulder, all which matched the colour of the gem on his sword

"Load Cartridge", the Barrel on Bardiche ejected a spent cartridge as it rotated ready to use the next one,
"Belkan?" Kage said readying his sword
"Plasma Lancer", with the magic boost from the cartridge the arrowhead shaped energy bolts shot out quicker. while Kage was able to block some with his sword he was forced to fly backwards to avoid getting hit while readjusting his swords' position to block the other bolts.

"Data collection complete"
"What Data collection" Fate asked
"that was not me" Bardiche replied

the main monitor lit up with a dark silhouette appearing on it "information on the location of Variable Mako has not been in-putted. Mako A and D are missing and an investigation is under way to determine the cause. I have collected data relating to the disappearance of Mako A and D"
"Excellent work Ballad" Kage thanked the figure before producing a gem of the exact same design as Bardiche's. Kage held the Gem to the screen allowing it to establish a connection with the figure on the screen began to fade from it.

"who the hell are you? you know my past, you wield a device using a foreign Magic System and now you have a duplicate of Bardiche"
"unfortunately I have not been authorized to reveal that information" Kage replied as he held out the gem behind him opening a portal "however I believe we will meet again Lady Fate, and if it is the Reunion of Fate, you will have your answers"

Kage snapped his fingers releasing Nanoha from the bind as he went to walk through the portal before it closed behind him, preventing anyone from following.
"Feito! are you ok?" Nanoha asked running up to Fate
"yeh, I'm fine" Fate nodded as she got up. She couldn't get Kage out of her mind, how he knew of her past and the duplicate Bardiche.

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[30th November 0081, 10:36 AM - Ground Forces H.Q, Mid-Childa] - New Assignment

The Attack on Ground Forces H.Q wasn't as nearly as bad as it looked as there was only structural damage and injuries caused by it. Reports on the attack revealed that apart from having 2 devices, Kage was alone, and that everyone he attacked had only been knocked out.

Fate had delivered her report the previous night and was called back to Ground Forces H.Q, this time to receive orders as a Mobile Enforcer. Fate had a feeling this would happen as the TSAB would not let someone who attacked Ground Forces H.Q get away.

Fate had just about to reach the door when she noticed another woman with white hair which covered one of her eyes and the signature Mobile Enforcer cape approach the same door.
"oh I'm sorry, do you have a meeting with the Commander" Fate asked bowing her head.
"no, I just have a report to deliver along with Location Registration Forms. I'll just be in and out" the woman replied. "Fate Testarossa Harlaown?" she asked looking up and down Fate's body
"ahhh yes, and you are?"
"Minerva Cross" the woman replied before they shook hands

"Cross as in Enforcer Director Cross?"
"That would be my child-like father Kaien Cross" Minerva replied. Kaien Cross was the current director of the Enforcer division of the TSAB. Despite being one of the greatest Enforcers Kaien was seen as a child due to his personality. His only daughter Minerva on the other hand was no nonsense and serious about her work, the complete opposite of her father.

"You seem quite the contradiction. You worked your butt off to get to be a Mobile Enforcer, yet you didn't claim every shred of credit in your achievements and played down your involvement on your way up"
"I didn't want to seem like a kiss ass. all I wanted to do was to be with my girl..." Fate stopped. while it wasn't outright a bad thing, because of the multi-cultural society that had developed on TSAB Administrated world, Mid-Childa in particular, there was some people who didn't like the idea of same sex relationships.

Minerva chuckled "you don't have to worry. I've had my heart broken by my fair share of women in the past. It's good to see your advance yourself to be with the one you love more freely. Your girlfriend must be truly be grateful to have you back"

Minerva followed in after Fate entered the room. the 2 women made their way to the desk at the other end and stood at attention before saluting. A man with a fancy looking eye-patch waved his hand singling them to relax as he continued to read a dossier. The man was known only as Roxas, no one knew if it was his first or last name and he would not reveal any more than this, people didn't know if it was even apart of his name at all. Roxas was the current supreme commander of the TSAB Ground Forces division who, after the death of . Regius Gaiz, offered to move his office to Mid-Childa.

"Commander Roxas, I have my report of the surrounding area following yesterday's attack along with my Location Registration Forms" Minerva said as she placed the stack of papers on the desk
"thank you Minerva. Also, tell your father that if he doesn't stop harassing me with stupid messages, I will have some of his Enforces investigate his private life and get him demoted" Roxas replied while still reading. Minerva saluted before going to leave the room, as she passed Fate she nodded her head.

The moment Minerva closed the door Roxas looked up slightly, "please sit down Fate, we are currently waiting for one more" he said before returning his attention to the documents he was reading. Just as Fate sat down the door opened once more, Fate turned her head to see a small girl with long while hair and coat. When the girl closed the door Fate recognized the eye-patch over the girl's left eye which belonged to Cinque. Roxas looked up slightly from what he was reading one again and nodded to Cinque before closing the dossier and taking out another of similar siz, placing it in front of Fate.

Roxas pressed a button on his desk activating a number of monitors; while most were blank one was a communications line to Lindy.

"Ok, let me get right to the point. for a little over a year we have had in our procession a series of 3 warships of advance design which we have labelled the Mako Trio"
Roxas pointed his thumb behind him, at that some moment 3 monitors lit up with an image of 3 similar ships.
"From my right we have First, Second and Third Mako. a week ago, Third Mako activated on its own and went amok before disappearing. 2 days ago there was a Dimensional Quake which the Ashinra and the Kaizer was caught in the after affects. In the reports of the Admiral Lindy Harlaown submitted she indicated that strange creatures which had the ability to duplicate themselves. Shortly after the Dimensional Quake Second Mako activated and disappeared however leaving far less damage then Third Mako. Now yesterday this place was attack"

"May I ask how all that is related?" Fate asked
Roxas pointed his thumb back again, another screen lit up this time yet this time it was a screen capture of Kage. "the man you detailed in your report as calling himself Kage. During his attack we had someone or something invade out network looking up Variable Mako. Third Mako has Vari written on it, First Mako has Able and Second Mako has Mako, if combined these 3 it would read Variable Mako. since we know nothing of a Variable Mako and your report details that he did collect information on it we can only assume he was looking for the Mako Trio"
"Also, the sword I see in this image of Kage looks similar to one used by a woman who appeared on the Kaizer and dispatched the same creatures that were on board the Ashinra. They also seem to dress similarly" Lindy added
"Yes, the report from the Admiral of the Kaizer indicated there were 2 women but only 1 could be properly identified. They may in fact be connected to Kage"

"Where is First Mako now?" Cinque asked
"here on Mid-Childa. I have requested the Dimensional Navy place 3 warships in orbit and 2 at striking distance of the site" Roxas replied to Cinque before turning his attention to Fate "Fate Testarossa Harlaown, your first assignment as a Mobile Enforcer is to discover the locations of the missing Mako Trio warships, learn of the person or people behind their disappearance and determine Kage's intentions. Should an attempt on First Mako be made you'll also be required to return to Mid-Childa and aid in the defence"
"May I ask why Minerva is not being assigned? She is my superior in terms of experience as a Mobile Enforcer"

Roxas sank back into his chair "we picked up Second Mako's signal just after it disappeared but lost the signal soon after. The signal came from Carnaaji". Fate's mind froze when she heard that name. Only 1 person's face came to Fate's mind. "I am assigning you because of your connection to Carnaaji and know you will handle the situation, whatever it may be, delicately"

Fate got up from her seat and saluted, just as she was about to leave Chique called out to her, "Fate, one moment". Chique got up and walked along with Fate as the 2 walked out. "N2R was sent to stop Second Mako but its defences are beyond anything we have seen, even Saint's Cradle. it's not a regular Anti-Magic Field but some sort of Anti-Magic Disrupter. our IS abilities may not be classified as magic however they do have trace amounts of Mana, these trace amount is all Second Mako needed to nullify our attacks. I should not have to explain any more than that for you to understand just how dangerous these ships are".

Nanoha was waiting patiently for Fate in the front reception entrance. Because she didn't have an appointment with Roxas nor was at a rank to be given clearance without one she couldn't go along with Fate. The moment Fate came out of the elevator Nanoha ran up to her as if the two had been separated for a year.

"so?"
"I've been given an assignment"
"so where do we go first?"
"Well apparently they picked up...wait, what do you mean we?"

Nanoha turned away "I thought we could work together like we used to" she said looking down to the ground touching her index fingers together.
Fate approached Nanoha and wrapped her arms around Nanoha's waist, resting her head on Nanoha's shoulder. "Oh how I wish I could have that but last time Vivio was at school. She's on holidays now and someone needs to look after her"
"It's ok, if she doesn't stay at a friend's place there is plenty of people I trust at Section 6 which can watch over her. Unlike in the past where I had a bunch of strangers wondering the halls" Nanoha smiled as she spun around.
"if it's ok with you to leave Vivio behind then we'll go back home, tell Vivio of our plans and get to work"

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[30th November 0081, 9:05 AM - Alpine Residence, Carnaaji] - Missing Element

Nanoha and Fate notified anyone who was at Section 6 of what they were going to be doing and about Vivio's arrangements. While Vivio was slightly upset at first that she would be separated from her Mamas she reminded herself that everything was going to be fine. The 2 women also had to wait an hour before they left as the dimensional shuttle to Carnaaji would take 4 hours, however Carnaaji was 7 hours behind Mid-Childa so the timing actually worked out perfectly for them.

Carnaaji was uninhabited apart from the Alpine family. Lutecia and her mother Megane was relocated here while Megane was under rehab after waking from her coma and while Lutecia served out her sentence for her role in the JS incident. After Lutecia's sentence was served the 2 remained on the planet, with Lutecia keeping in contact with Erio and Caro via her summons.

When Fate revealed where she and Nanoha was going her fears started to become confirmed when Caro said that she hadn't seen Lutecia for almost 9 months or heard from her in the past 3. The fact that Second Mako's signal was at one stage traced to Carnaaji Fate had feared that Lutecia may have been involved, unwillingly, and that Scaglietti was once again behind everything.

When the 2 women could see Lutecia's and Megane's house Fate breathed a sigh on relive. if someone was forcing Lutecia to do something by holding her mother hostage they would have been attacked by now. The 2 however remained in their Light Mode Barrier jackets, unlike their normal ones their Light Mode ones was a partial manifestation of their normal Barrier Jackets but allows near the same protection. Nanoha's was just her normal one but without the top coat over top while Fate had hers redesigned to look the one she wore when she was a child, this time without the cape.

Nanoha hugged Fate's arm, "oh Feito, I had always dreams of seeing you dressed like that again. I was thinking of making it for you for my birthday but my wish came true early"
"Nanoha, please stop that, it'll be embarrassing if Megane and Lutecia saw us like this. we're on a mission" Fate said blushing while Nanoha giggled.

The two arrived at the front door of the large house. the house was designed to accommodate 6 people because it was unknown if Lutecia could gain more summons. Since Fate was the one assigned to the mission she was the one who had to lead "Megane Alpine, this is Mobile Enforcer Fate Testarossa Harlaown, I need to..."
Just before Fate could finish the door flung open with Megane standing there "oh thank goodness, tell me you have good news about my daughter"
"I'm sorry, I came here to ask you some questions about anything going on in the area. What's this about Lutecia?"
"Oh dear. Please come in, I'll fix up some tea"

After sitting down Megane joined them carrying a tea set. she was looking much better now than she did the last time Fate and Nanoha came a couple of years ago, however it was obvious she wasn't getting much sleep as her hands started to tremble as she poured out the tea. Nanoha got up and helped her before returning to her seat with both her's and Fate's cups.

"Megane, where's Lutecia?" Fate asked
"I don't know, she disappeared a little while ago. I thought maybe she ran away because in the past 9 or so months she has been looking a bit bigger so I've been trying to balance her diet. I feared she started to hate be for that"
"Lutecia's around the age where she would be worrying about her body weight so I very much doubt she would run away from you helping her" Nanoha commented
"Yes that's what I thought. I contacted the TSAB about seeing if they could find my daughter. When I heard you I thought you had come with news on her"
Fate shook her head "I'm sorry, I'm here for a different matter, when was the last time you saw her"
"about a week ago"

the fear that alleviated from Fate's heart began to return. If Lutecia disappeared a week ago she could still be involved with the disappearance of Second and Third Mako. Fate readied her hand to hold Bardiche "Megane, is there anyone else here besides us, anyone threatening you or your daughter. Remember that no matter who they are they won't hurt you while we are around"

Megane shook her head "no one is threatening me, he assumed that as well"
"He?" Nanoha asked
"I thought we would meet again when it would be the Reunion of Fate"

Nanoha and Fate quickly got up when they recognized Kage's voice as he entered the living room from the kitchen.
"Hold it" Kage announced holding with his hand out "I have no desire to fight you"
"you attacked Ground Forces H.Q" Nanoha replied
"Actually I defended myself. I asked for access to their investigation of Variable Mako however they refused. When I went to get the info myself they attacked me so I defended myself"

Fate and Nanoha relaxed themselves. During the attack Kage only knocked out those he came in contact with and the structural damage was mainly caused by Kage defending himself from ranged attacks, with this in mind the 2 women believed Kage wasn't hostile.

"Why are you here?" Fate asked as she watched Kage take a seat before sitting back down herself
"same reason as you, Mako D's signal was detected here before the TSAB lost it"
"why are you looking of the Mako Trio, the Variable Mako as you call them" Nanoha asked
"Variable Mako is a stolen ship. While we have yet to receive any order regarding it, she has determined that it would be less trouble down the road if we destroyed it now. Given current events it seems it seems the right idea" Kage sighed at the end
"She?" Fate asked
"my partner, who right now is trying to figure out the motives to obtaining Variable Mako apart from destroying the TSAB"

Kage got up and straitened his kimono, "thank you for the tea" he said bowing to Megane before leaving.
Fate and Nanoha got up and bowed to Megane as well before going after Kage, "wait" Megane called out, "if you see my daughter, tell her that I love her and want to know that she is ok"
Nanoha nodded "you can tell her that yourself when we convince her to return".

When Nanoha and Fate caught up to Kage he was just about to use a spell that Fate recognized as the one he used to open a portal after their fight "hold it! We're not finished"
"What?" Kage sighed turning around
"who are you working for" Fate asked
"classified"
"unless you work for the TSAB that word means nothing to us" Nanoha pointed out
"tell me, if a civilian ask you something in relation to a current operation, would you diverge the information to them? it's the same with you two, to us you are civilians"

Fate glared at Kage "what is this Reunion of Fate"
Kage opened the portal behind him "I don't know, that's what she calls it. I have a suspicion that next we meet, it will be the Reunion of Fate" he replied as he walked though closing the portal behind him.

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[30th November 0081, 4:39 PM - Sakura Park, Mid-Childa] - Lutecia

Caro sat on the bench after finally getting a break from her duties; recently she had been preoccupied with thoughts of her friend Lutecia. It had almost been 10 months since they last saw each other and 3 months ago Caro called about a time when next they could. Lutecia's reply however was not what she expected, Lutecia lashed out before closing the communication and they hadn't spoken since.

Caro had originally thought that she had done something to upset Lutecia and tried getting into contact. Just recently she learned from Fate and Nanoha on the phone that Lutecia had disappeared and became worried that she was in trouble. Lutecia's outburst 3 months ago was an attempt to push Caro away to protect her.

"Does she still not trust us enough to know that we can help her?" Caro said to herself. Caro went to get up and leave for Section 6 when she could just here someone sobbing. Caro following the noise back to the staircase leading into the park, in the corner sitting in the shadows was a girl wearing a black strapless dress with purple woollen frills and sleeves connected to the dress via 4 ribbons.

"I just want to go home" the girl sobbed
"Lutecia?" Caro asked

Lutecia turned her head and saw Caro standing there "Caro, help me, it hurts" she said standing up
Seeing Lutecia from behind Caro though she might have had an injury but when Lutecia turned to face Caro she noticed the cause of Lutecia's pain. "how did this happen?" Caro asked
"Caro, he..." Lutecia's plea stopped mid-way as her irises changed colour from red to yellow before slowing walking up to Caro.
"Lutecia, however this had happened know that we can..." Lutecia reached out and grabbed Caro by the throat; "Lutecia, stop, I, can't, breathe" Caro struggled as Lutecia put pressure on her windpipe. Caro tried to use Kerykeion but Lutecia noticed its activation and grabbed with her free hand and used Asclepius to cancel out

Caro tried to get out of Lutecia's grip however her actions was using up what little air she struggled to take in. her vision started to darken and as she felt her consciousness begin to slip away. Her last thing she saw before everything going black was Lutecia's irises slowly devolving back to their normal red colour

"Ca...ro" Lutecia sobbed just as Caro's eyes closed.

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[30th November 0081, 5:58 PM - Dimension Station, Mid-Childa] - Pending Storm

Fate had called Hayate to see if she could use a Dimensional Transfer spell to quickly pick her and Nanoha up after she began to regret informing Caro of Lutecia. while Fate knew of a Dimensional Transfer spell it wouldn't be nearly as affective as one that Hayate would have in the Tome of the Night Sky which would still have the same Dimensional Transfer spell that the Book of Darkness would use.

After picking up the 2 women Hayate had transferred themselves to the Dimension Station where she had her car waiting. Before getting Fate's call she and Shamal was out shopping getting some extra ingredients for a feast they were going to prepare as a proper first dinner for everyone, the night after the attack on Ground Forces H.Q everyone was too busy with the aftermath to have a proper meal together.

Upon getting into the car Fate rested her head on Nanoha's lap in the back seat. "you think the reason why Caro hasn't heard from Lutecia in 3 months is because of what's been happening now?"
"you mean breaking off contact to avoid getting her friends involved? quite possible" Nanoha replied while stroking Fate's head

"I can't believe that Kage guy thinks he's entitled to classified information" Hayate complained
"He did say that the Mako Trio was stolen, maybe they were developed by whoever he works for" Nanoha replied
"so he thinks we stole them?"
"Maybe but I think he already knows that we found them so some third party stole and dumped them" Fate commented
"it's still scary to think about though. From what I heard from Cinque just one of those ships could outmatch Saint's Cradle. now you have 3 of them, just who could have built them" Shamal remarked while keeping her eyes fixated on the road

Fate rolled over and snuggled her face into Nanoha "if I only have one more act as their guardian left I want it to be that I can ensure the safety of their friend"
"If you only have one then don't waste it on something like that. Save it and let me help Lutecia in your place"

Fate was just about to go to sleep when Shamal hit the brakes hard causing Fate to roll off Nanoha's lap as the car came a violent stop.
"oh thank goodness, Shamal you have to come real quick"
"Erio?" Fate said climbing out of the car. Erio was standing in the middle of the road with Strada in hand

The 4 women followed Erio a short way down the road to the main entrance to Sakura park where Erio jumped the railing by the stairs. Fate looked over the railing as she started to descend down the stairs seeing where Erio landed, as she reached half way she noticed Erio crouching down.

"Caro!" Fate yelled as she jumped the railing and landed next to Caro picking her up in her arms "Caro, Caro! open your eyes, please"
Fate carried Caro over to a nearby bench laying her down gently before Shamal began to examine her. "she's breathing but it's very weak. Bruising around the neck would indicate she was strangled so probably passed out from a lack of oxygen to the brain. Weak breathing would indicate damage to the wind pipe"

Shamal placed her hand over Caro's bruised throat before 2 of the 4 rings to Klarwind transferred to her hand from her neck chain. "Beruhigende heilen [Calming Heal]", as the spell activated a gentle green glow emitted from Klarwind encompassing Shamal's hand. the bruises on Caro's neck began to fade away and her breathing started to improve
"Lu"
"relax Caro, just breath in nice and slow"
"Lu...te...ci...a"

Fate crouched down by Caro "what about Lutecia?" she asked
"it's...not...her fault"
Erio tightened his grip in Strada "are you saying Lutecia did this to you"
"what happened" Fate asked helping Caro sit up
"After your call I *cough* heard someone crying. When I went to see who *cough* who it was, that's when I saw Lutecia. I think someone is controlling her, because *cough* because she was saying she was in pain and wanted me to help *cough* *cough*" Caro explained while trying to catch her breath

"Quattro?" Nanoha asked
Fate shook her head "highly doubt it. the relic inside Lutecia was removed so Quattro couldn't control her, even if she had other means she and the other numbers who remained with Scaglietti are under 24 hour watch"
"but we can't rule out that Scaglietti had a backup plan in all of this"

Fate's phone began to vibrate in her pocket as she was helping Caro, Fate took it out and tossed it to Nanoha who answered it and put it on load speaker

"this is Fate"
"Mobile Enforcer Fate Testarossa Harlaown, this is Roxas, we have a Code Red. the facility where First Mako is being kept is under attack, one of the patrolling warships have been shot down but what has been described as a giant insect while swarms of other insects are attacking the mages on the ground. Return to Mid-Childa and provide support. any reinforcements you can provide will be greatly appreciated" Roxas ordered before the phone hung up.

"Bugs? tell me it's not Lutecia" Erio said
"probably is, she disappeared from her home a week ago when Third Mako disappeared and Second Mako's signal was lost at Carnaaji" Fate explained
"but she's not doing this because she wants to. Something is controlling her!" Caro pleaded
"Either way we have to get going now and stop Lutecia before anyone outside Riot Force 6 does. if the TSAB learn she's involved, she won't just get a limiter this time around"

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[30th November 0081, 6:40 PM - First Mako Hanger, Mid-Childa] - First Mako

By the time Fate, Nanoha, Hayate, Shamal, Erio and Caro arrived 3 of the 5 warships assigned to protect First Mako had been disabled. While not destroyed there was no way they could operate after sustaining the damage they had. Hakutenou ripped out the engines of a 4th before throwing it at the approaching Caro who was riding Voltaire, Voltaire was able to catch the ship and place it down before charging at Hakutenou.

Erio was riding Fredric who Caro unsealed and was drawing the attention of the Jiraiou who were bombarding the mages on the ground, Hayate unioned with Rein and was providing support to the mages while Shamal tended to the wounded and provided logistical support. Each of them had a green dot on them which Shamal used to establish a telepathic link between them all to allow easier communication.

Fate and Nanoha however was flying around hoping they could find Lutecia outside the facility. As the 2 flew over the facility Nanoha noticed the main hanger starting to open, fearing the worst Fate led Nanoha down into the hanger. Inside was Lutecia using her Insekts to start taking control of First Mako. just as Fate was about to yell out to Lutecia she crouched down in pain

"Lutecia, what's wrong" Nanoha yelled out as the 2 women rushed to Lutecia's side however was stopped when Garyu dropped down striking the ground in front of them

"Standby Ready, Setup"
"Don't get in our way Garyu" Fate yelled out as her barrier jacket and Bardiche materialized.
"Garyu!" Lutecia cried out.

Fate could see from the side of her face that Lutecia was in tears from pain. Garyu flew back to Lutecia and helped her up but the moment he let go of her she dropped back down. While Lutecia was in pain the Insekts stopped working on taking control of First Mako and instead just remained where they were.

"Standby Ready, Setup" Nanoha ran to Lutecia with Garyu not taking any notice, until Lutecia extended her arm signalling Garyu to attack. "Protection", Raising Heart's Auto Guard kicked in stopping Garyu's punch before Fate flew in and kicked Garyu.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" once again Lutecia scream out while crying and Garyu abandoned his attack to be with Lutecia. The Insekts seemed to be timed to when Garyu would attack and then abandon his attack in response to Lutecia. Lutecia was finally able to get up on her own and remain up, as she faced Nanoha and Fate they noticed she had her free hand on her belly which had become incredibly large.

"no, that can't be" Fate said stunned at Lutecia
"Lutecia, who did that do you, give us a name and we'll make them pay" Nanoha yelled
"I don't know, please help me" Lutecia replied crying. she threw her head back as she began to scream out in pain once again, as the pain began to subside again Fate and Nanoha noticed the Insekts working again. Lutecia regained her pose and opened her eyes; her irises have changed from Red to yellow.

"Todesdolch", Lutecia held the hand Asclepius was on in the air before being it down, numerous dark daggers appeared and rained down as Lutecia brought down her hand, hitting the ground and exploding as they trailed to Fate and Nanoha.
"Round Shield", Nanoha held Raising Heart out in front and blocked the daggers which reached them but the attack of a ploy, Garyu used the explosion as cover to come in from Nanoha's blind spot.
"Thunder Arm", Fate slipped around Nanoha and using her left arm now enhanced with her just cast spell, blocked the extended blade from Garyu before attempting to counter with Bardiche's Haken Form, however Garyu quickly flew back avoiding the attack.

as Nanoha defended she notice Lutecia's irises slowing returning to their original red all the while just hearing her whisper something under her sobbing voice
"It's my fault, it's my fault, it's my fault" she repeated
"None of this is your fault, we can help you" Nanoha yelled as Fate and Garyu clashed around her
"But I killed her with my own hands"
"Who?"
"Caro, I KILLED CARO!" Lutecia cried out, her left eye returning to its normal red while her right going back to yellow
"Caro isn't dead, Erio found her and found us where Shamal was able to repair the damage to her windpipe"
"she's alive? But now she'll hate me for what I did to her"
"that's not true! She suspected from the moment you attacked her you was under someone's control, she pleaded with us to help you. She's out there now fighting because she's here to help you, we all are, just give us a name"
"I don't know how he did it, I keep hearing his voice in my head. I won't ever forget that li...AHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Lutecia's red eye went back to yellow as she screamed out. First Mako began to start up as Lutecia, Garyu and the Insekts disappeared. Outside Hakutenou and the Jiraiou disappeared, originally thinking that Fate and Nanoha was victorious the mages outside began to cheer out before the hanger roof exploded and First Mako began to slowing ascend. The last remaining warship began to open fire on First Mako but all the attacks were block by its own defence systems

"Voltaire, please, my friend may be inside" Caro pleaded, Voltaire armed and charged its 3 magic cannons to disable First Mako. These magic cannons while not on the same level as the Arc-en-ciel found on a lot of TSAB Dimensional Navy Warships was the closest rival to them. Voltaire fired it's magic cannons however just as they were about it an even greater shield appeared around First Mako nullify the attack.

Descending down was Second Mako which was apparently transferring its defensive systems to First Mako. Voltaire fired off his magic cannons a second time, this time aiming at Second Mako but just like with first Mako the attack was nullified, in split second timing Second Mako stopped its defence of First Mako and focused on its own, the only way to hit either of them at a distance was to strike both at the same time. Voltaire flew off to try and get close however just as he went to grab First Mako the 2 ships disappeared using what everyone could only assume was a Dimensional Transfer spell.

Far from the battlefield was a lone woman with long glowing golden hair, she bit down on her thumbnail as she watch the 2 ships disappear "dam it, all 3 will be together, I have to find out where they will strike next".

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[30th November 0081, 11:06 PM MC-T - Gruen High Security Orbital Prison, Uninhabited World #9] - Monster behind the mask

After First Mako disappeared with Second Mako the TSAB had informed every warship to be on attack status and lookout of any of the Mako Trio, while Fate went back to her investigation. While unable to stop the loss of First Mako she could still find out what would happen next and stop it. Given Lutecia was behind it and from what Nanoha heard Fate had a suspicion that somehow, Jail Scaglietti was behind it, this suspicion become more founded when Commander Roxas revealed that before Ground Forces H.Q was 'infiltrated' by Kage. Kage and a woman had broken into Gruen and spoke to Scaglietti, while the details were unknown neither Fate, Nanoha nor Hayate thought it was just a coincidence that Scaglietti was visited by Kage, who was planning on destroying the Mako Trio.

Because neither of them could rule out that one of the remaining Numbers, Uno, Tre, Quattro or Sette, would be acting on their own Hayate suggested they interrogated all 3. because the time it would take to gather all 5 in once place was not available to them Fate, Caro, Nanoha, Cinque, Hayate, Shamal and Zafira arrived by ship at Gruen where Scaglietti was, from there Hayate would then use a Dimensional Transfer spell to transport everyone but Fate and Caro to the Labsorum Orbital Prison Facility over the Uninhabited World #17 where Uno and Sette was, then from there Hayate would leave Nanoha and Cinque behind while going to the Gerda Orbital Prison Facility over the Uninhabited World #6 where Quattro was with Tre hvaing been moved to Gerda in the past year as a good behaviour reward for the two of them. The 3 groups had screens activated so all 3 could communicate with each other, not just for the investigators but the inmates as well.

"all right, listen up!" Fate said demanding the attention of the 5 prisoners, "for the past week 3 ships of unknown origin have been stolen, Lutecia seems to be the culprit however none of us believe that crap. It's more believable that any, if not, all 5 of you are behind all of this"
"have we not been on our best behaviour since our imprisonment 5 years ago? Something goes wrong and you right away suspect us!" Tre rebuked
"apart from the fact Quattro controlled Lutecia during the JS incident we know Scaglietti was visited by a man yesterday" Hayate replied

Fate leaned on the bars to Scaglietti's cells "shot black hair, somewhat feminine stance, asking about ships. ring any bells?" Fate asked
"now that you mention it, there was this weird guy who was asking about some Variable Mako, he obviously meant the Mako Trio" Scaglietti mockingly replied smirking
"how do you know about them, they were only discovered about a year ago" Nanoha asked looking at the screen with Fate in it
"I was visited by scientists who were working on understanding the Mako Trio and came for my help in confirming if the Variable Trio were in fact prototypes to Saints Cradle" Scaglietti replied
"And?"
"I told them no. firstly it's not 3 ships to test different properties of one ship, the 3 ships combine into one all power ship. secondly, it's not Ancient Belkan, it's far to advance for that"
"you're even more guilty as you know of them" Fate said to Scaglietti walking back to the screens "so speak, what have you 5 been up to"

All 5 remain silent not speaking a word; Hayate knew that none of the Numbers were going to speak freely due to their loyalty to Scaglietti even if they were promised to be release. Hayate looked over to Rein who in response nodded before hopping off Hayate's shoulder and taking out her tome, using a bind she chained up Quattro.

Hayate opened Quattro's cell "Zafira, go inside and break every one of Quattro's toes on one foot before breaking the limbs in that leg, after your done repeat the process with her other leg and arms",
"yes Mistress" Zafira nodded as he proceeded to enter the cell
Hayate turned to Shamal "Shamal, if Zafira breaks all of Quattro's limbs and I haven't told him to stop, you are to heal her so he may repeat the process"
"but Hayate-chan, this is nothing short of torture" Shamal said voicing her concern
"so? if they don't want to talk we'll make them talk"
"Hayate! you can't do this, they're still human" Nanoha pleaded
"no they're not! Because they refused to enter rehab like their sisters they are not registered as 'human' so they have no rights as one"

Quattro panicky kicked her feet when Zafira went to grab one before Rein tightened her spell on Quattro's limbs so she couldn't move.
"no, please, don't" Quattro said panicking as Zafira grabbed her big toe in his fist. It wasn't just Quattro was pleading for mercy, everyone else except Rein and Zafira was begging Hayate not to go through with this. As Quattro watched Zafira's biceps begin to twitch as he went to break her big toe Scaglietti ran up to the bars of his cell and yelled at the top of his voice
"QUATTRO! TELL THEM!"
"SCAGLIETTI-SAMA ORDER ME TO TURN OFF THE SUPPRESSION SIGNAL 9 MONTHS AGO!" Quattro screamed out.
"Zafira!" Hayate called out with her hand out, Zafira let go of Quattro before leaving the cell. When he had closed the cell door Rein dispelled the bind dropping Quattro on the ground

"Sorry everyone, but I needed it to look convincing. I knew Scaglietti would break" Hayate laughed. As everyone sighed in relief Cinque notice Uno was now looking away from everyone.

"spill it, what's this suppression signal" Fate asked Scaglietti,
"I'm sorry Scaglietti-sama" Quattro begged on the verge of tears
"It's ok, I told you to tell them so you are not at fault" Scaglietti replied as he walked back to his bed
"the suppression signal was used to prevent the Numbers from giving birth to my clone until after my demise by suppressing the embryo's development. originally a random Number would be chosen to reactive a sub suppression signal within the clone in their womb until they gave birth and the clone was fully developed"
"but we removed all the clone from the Numbers" Hayate pointed out
"Whoever said it was just the Numbers" Scaglietti smirked as he sat down
"that means for the past 9 months Lutecia wasn't getting bigger because of her diet. she was getting bigger because she was pregnant, and if the signal was disabled 9 months ago that means..." Nanoha said
"She should be just about ready to give birth; the clone would be taking control of her body within 2 weeks of the birth. to be honest it is a pain, if she was a combat cyborg the clone could have been born in a matter of days but we had to wait 9 months"

"You Monster!" Caro yelled out as she lunged at Scaglietti reaching in with Kerykeion, Fate noticed Kerykeion charging up to use Wing Shooter without an aria and quickly pulled Caro away from the cell
"Caro, calm down" Fate asked Caro trying her best to hold her back
"Monster! Pervert! Bastard! how could you force yourself onto her, she was 10!"
"Christ you people let your imaginations run wild. Do you really think I had intercourse with every one of the Numbers? Of cause not, if I did the Numbers with my genetics would be flawed because of the possible incest while the others would have new genetic traits. I implanted the already established embryo inside them, genetics already a duplicate of my own so all that was needed was to use the womb to finish the development. I can assure you that I did not force any sexual act on that girl"
"when did you implant the embryo?" Hayate asked
"When I implanted the Relic into her, just like I did when I implanted Relics into the Numbers"

Nanoha covered her mouth before throwing up; learning that Lutecia had an embryo of Scaglietti implanted inside of her when he implanted the Relic Quattro used to control her, Nanhoa's thoughts suddenly went to Vivio who, just like Lutecia, was implanted with a Relic. Seeing Nanoha throw up and what Scaglietti just said Fate knew what was going through Nanoha's mind and glared at Scaglietti

"you prick! It's bad enough you did that to Lutecia but you also did it to our little Vivio! I'll kill you!" Fate yelled
"And when you let your imaginations run wild you lose your concept of logic. Why the hell would I put one of my clones inside the Saint's Vessel you so cutely call Vivio." Fate stopped just short from calling out Bardiche "the point to the Vessel was to control Saint's Cradle though it, which means to stop the Cradle the Vessel needed to be destroyed. Why would I put my clone inside it if it was just going to be destroyed if I failed?"
"It's ok Nanoha, we know the signal was turned off 9 months ago and it was Lutecia who started to give birth. Even if there was one in Vivio we now know to look for one inside her if she does have one" Shamal reassured Nanoha

"ok Scaglietti, what are you planning with the Mako Trio" Fate asked
"I don't think I'm obliged to diverge that"
"If you don't talk I'll kill one of your Numbers" Hayate said
"No, I think I'll call your bluff there"
"just what are we to you" Cinque asked
"Cinque, what are you talking about" Hayate asked looking at Cinque though the screen

"You know, you're a direct clone of Scaglietti" Cinque said looked over to Uno "he doesn't care about any of us"
"shut your mouth Cinque! What would you know!" Tre yelled lashing out
"Cinque, he stopped Hayate in torturing Quattro" Nanoha said
"And he wanted to properly commemorate Due's death which was why I knew he wouldn't let Quattro get harmed" Hayate added
"You're wrong; you got lucky in picking Quattro. tell them Uno, Quattro is one matter but Tre and Sette should know the truth"
"There's no need to tell me, I already know" Sette said hanging her head, for the first time there was a hint of emotion in her voice

"Sette, what is it" Tre asked
"Due succeeded in her mission, even though she died Scaglietti-sama properly commemorated Due's death because he was proud of her for her success. Quattro far exceeded Scaglietti-sama's expectations modifying our younger sisters, Sette included, before their activation and her management of Lu-ojou-sama and of the Vessel" Uno replied
"Quattro may have gotten defeated however how could she have none that someone would shoot though the entire ship just to hit her. You won't hurt Quattro and I don't care what you do to the other 3, kill them if you want" Scaglietti added
"How? We were loyal to you, we refused to enter rehab and be imprisoned for you!" Tre said
"no, Sette refused because you refused Tre, and we entered rehab because we learned the truth, the only reason why you and Uno were loyal was because your part him, but Uno knew full well and was condemning herself" Cinque said

Tre slumped down on her bed "all these years I thought we were loved" she sobbed
"Oh don't go crying now, you're a big girl, get over it" Quattro snidely remarked
Tre stopped sobbing before picking up her cup and throwing it though her cell and across the hall at Quattro cutting the side of Quattro's cheek "you bitch!" Quattro yelled when she noticed that she was bleeding
"don't ever talk to me again!"
"oh boo hoo, just because you find out you're not the favourite you throw a fit, grow up"
"shut up!"

"Tre, you can still enter rehab" Cinque pointed out trying to calm Tre
"That's right, and I'm sure Saint's Church will accept you to work with Otto and Deed after you finished rehab" Hayate added.

As Hayate was using her Dimension Transfer Spell to pick up Nanoha and Cinque at Labsorum Fate and Caro began to head back to the hanger, before Fate left she looked over her should to Scaglietti "after all this is over, I'm going to see that we get the death sentence invoked, just for you"
"I doubt you'll succeed, in the end you'll back down" Scaglietti laughed as Fate walked out "and even if my death will come, I'm adequately protected" he said to himself while holding his right forearm.

Fate met back up with everyone else at the hanger as they waited for their ship to arrive to take them back to Mid-Childa, now knowing that Lutecia was pregnant with a clone of Scaglietti they had to find her a soon as possible, not because that this clone was controlling Lutecia and was in control of the Mako Trio, all the women knew full well that a 15 year old will have difficulty having a natural birth, even if it went somewhat smoothly Lutecia would be mentally and physically scarred for life.

"I'll save Lutecia" Caro said to herself,
Nanoha draped her arms down Caro from behind "we all will"

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[31th November 0081, 5:29 AM Section 6, Mid-Childa] - Sleepless Night

After getting back to Mid-Childa Fate delivered her report. This was of little comfort as while everyone now knew that Scaglietti was behind Lutecia's actions and there was little they could do. Lutecia would be with the Mako Trio which had since disappeared so the only thing anyone could do was to try and rest up so that the moment they find Lutecia they could save her.

Nanoha opened her eyes seeing Fate curled up and digging her face into Nanoha's chest, patting Fate gently as not to wake her Nanoha looked over Fate to the clock to see the time but her attention was drawn to the light in the hallway. Nanoha slowly got out of the bed and put her dressing gown on before leaving the room. the light was coming from the living room's front entrance light which normally would be turned off during the night, but someone had turned it on to give themselves some light to see and to avoid disturbing anyone. Curled up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate was Caro, Looking out the window lost in thought.

"Caro, why are you up so early" Nanoha asked as she sat down next to her
"I couldn't get to sleep, whenever I closed my eyes all I could see was Lutecia suffering"
"so you came out here to calm yourself"
"No, I was hoping that if Lutecia regained control she would try and contact us about where she was" Caro replied pointing to the phone on the table, "why are you up?" Caro asked
"I noticed the light as I was waking up"
"sorry" Caro apologized
"You don't have to apologize for anything, I was planning on getting up early to make breakfast for Feito, speaking on which, you want me to make you something?"

Caro nodded before Nanoha left to fix up something for the 2 of them. The kitchen separated the 2 social areas on the floor; one was styled like a cafeteria while the other was the living room, both large enough for all of Riot Force 6 to hang out at the same time and still leave plenty of space. The difference with the lower floor was that only the cafeteria was connected to the kitchen while the living room was separate. Nanoha had made a strict rule to the trainees that only small snacks and drinks could be taken into the living room.

Since Riot Force 6 had moved into the upper floors Nanoha had yet to think if it would be appropriate to lecture the trainees about eating large meals in the living room when everyone else was doing just that, however she still had her entire vacation break to think on that. Nanoha fixed the 2 of them up something warm considering that spring mornings on Mid-Childa was still a bit chilly and Caro might have been up for hours in the cold.

When Nanoha returned she saw Caro trying to keep herself awake as her head kept drooping off to one side before she would suddenly wake up and sit back up,
"How long have you been up?"
"I don't know but it was 3 am when I decided to come out here"
"well it might be better you have a little nap"
"But what about you're cooking"
"I can rewarm it, and it would be better for you to be rested, the moment we learn of the location of Mako Trio we'll be sure to request you come along"

Caro slightly nodded however instead of leaving she took the plate Nanoha had prepared for her and proceeded to eat. Nanoha decided since Caro wasn't going to rest up she might as well help by giving her a slight pickup. as Caro went for the hot chocolate Nanoha made for her Nanoha swapped it over with her coffee.

"Is it all right I drink this?"
"I don't think there is an age limit to coffee, sure it's unhealthy for children to drink it at a young age but you're not that young" Nanoha chuckled

After finishing the food Caro curled with the coffee mug leaning against Nanoha "I should have known that Lutecia was in trouble from the last time we talked"
"when a woman is pregnant her hormones are a bit out of whack so can be prone to mood swings" Nanoha replied holding Caro in her arm
"It wasn't a mood swing, she was trying to distance herself from me and Erio on purpose, I just wished she trust us a bit more"
"We always push away the people we care about the most when we fear that we ourselves may cause them harm, it's only natural"

Nanoha's attention was brought to the TV screen up on the wall, as soon as she laid eyes on the image she quickly got up "you!"
On the screen was a black figure, its shape all too similar to the one that appeared in Ground Forces H.Q when Kage infiltrated it, the black figure with a voice identical to Bardiche.
"Paradox Hourglass" it said before the screen shut off suddenly

"Nanoha, who was that?" Caro asked
"It doesn't matter, you need to get ready. I think I know where Lutecia is"

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[31th November 0081, 12:06 PM Storm Raider Transport, Novus] - Selfish Duty

Nanoha had woken Fate and Hayate up about the message before Hayate contacted Vice Granscenic to transport them to Novus, the planet where the Paradox Hourglass was located, in hopes that they could get there without alerting the TSAB.

"Why would this Bardiche sounding guy hint at here? Even if the Mako Trio were located here would we be getting in the way if we arrived?" Caro asked
"Kage wants to destroy the Mako Trio but he doesn't come off as someone who takes lives unnecessarily, he probably worked out that Lutecia was involved and because we was so friendly to her mother figured out she was our friend, he probably wants us to save her before he destroys the ships" Fate replied
"you think he's going to help us?" Nanoha asked
"I doubt it" Hayate responded looking over the co-pilot seat into the back of the transport "from what I have heard of the Mako Trio a frontal attack is not a wise idea, a sneak attack however could get passed the defences. Weather we succeed or fail this Kage guy is probably going to remain in hiding until he strikes"

"I'm not picking anything up on radar or any SOS signals" Vice noted
"Lutecia's Insekts can jam communications, any TSAB Agents probably got wiped out unable to send any SOS about an attack, however if you haven't pick up any of the Mako Trio then let's assume we haven't been detected and go stationary" Hayate replied
"I need to get in closer to scan the cave the Hourglass, I will let you know once it is in range" Storm Raider said just as Vice was about to throttle down

"If Lutecia is here we need a plan, particular if Scaglietti plans to use her body as a shield" Caro said
"Well Scaglietti's clone is inside of her so knocking her out won't do any good cause he'll probably just force her body, we need to be able to remove that clone here" Nanoha thought a load sharing her thoughts
"Given Lutecia will probably in the final trimester a caesarean may be our only hope, but if that clone will just control a knocked out Lutecia then it won't just let her lay there even if we use a Bind" Hayate called out from the cockpit
"Mein Meister, wenn ich deaktivieren Sie alle scheitern Safes und Ziel der Klon, ich könnte es mit der Kompression Magie I verwenden extrahieren [My Master, if I disable all fail safes and target the clone, I could extract it with the Compression Magic I use]" Dimension Galaxy said speaking though Fate's pocket.

Fate took Dimension Galaxy out of her pocket and held the glove in her hand with the gem facing up "those fail safes are there for a reason"
"Richtig, sie sind an Ort und Stelle wegen der unbekannten Auswirkungen auf die Magie hat auf Ihrem Linker Kern, wenn große Volumen komprimiert werden, die Entfernung von nicht-Safes wird mir erlauben, zu versuchen, den Klon zu speichern, werde ich von Ursache abmelden Sie als mein Meister, so dass jede wirkt sich auf die Kern-Linker nicht auf dich [Correct, they are in place because of the unknown affects the magic has on your linker core when large volumes are compressed, removal of fails safes will allow me to attempt to store the clone, I will of cause deregister you as my master so that any affects to the linker core will not affect you]"
"but where will you get the mana you need to execute your magic?" Nanoha asked
"ich werde des Klons Linker Kern verwenden [I will use the clone's linker core]"

"and why don't you tell Fate what will happen if you attempt to store more than your capacity even with the fail safes off" Hayate called out.
Dimension Galaxy fell silent until she finally replied "ich werde nicht mehr existieren [I will no longer exist]"
"No, I won't allow you to sacrifice yourself" Fate argued
"Ich kann nicht zulassen, dass mein Meister besiegt werden [I can not allow my master to be defeated]"
"Give it up Fate, she's made her decision" Rein said as she floated in from the cockpit "Belkan Devices are stubborn when it comes to ensuring their master's victory, and not to sound cruel or anything but we have little option in being able to save Lutecia without risking her life"

Fate looked down to Dimension Galaxy "are you sure you want to do this"
"wenn ich nicht ich werde so viel Schaden wie möglich zu tun [if I fail I will do as much damage as possible]" she replied

Storm Raider came to a stop and began to scan the mountain range ahead where the Paradox Hourglass was located
"there is a lot of interference inside the cave however I do detect an anomaly" Storm Raider reported bring up an image of the cavern where the hourglass would be found, it was all static however there was a small bight dot in front of it

the same image was on a holographic screen in the back allowing Nanoha and Fate to check it out "yeh, this is the normal interference the Paradox Hourglass gives off, the dot is the abnormality?" Nanoha asked
"appears so, why?" Vice replied
"because the dot is a Linker Core which seems to become visible within the Paradox Hourglass's interference"

"Anfangen [start]"
Hayate took off the head set and walked out of the cockpit to the back of the transport, her Knight Clothing forming around on her as if she was walking through them, however what was missing was from her Clothing were her black wings. "Vice, unless we call for you keep your distance, if the Mako Trio is here we have a better chance in avoiding them being smaller targets" she said

the back hanger door to Storm Raider opened as Rein flew up close to Hayate. When the doors fully opened 3 sets of black wings materialized on Hayate's back. Hayate walked to the edge of the door and turned to face every else before falling backwards out of the transport with Rein following her.

"Standby Ready, Setup"
Nanoha Barrier jacket formed as she got up and made her way to the back as well, she looked towards Fate staring down at Dimension Galaxy "don't worry Feito-chan, we'll do it as a last resort". Fate looked to Nanoha to see her smiling face just as she closed her eyes and fell backwards
"Axel Fin"
Just as Nanoha's feet lifted up when she fell backwards a set of pink wings from on either side of her shoes preventing her from falling and allowing her to fly off in the same style as Hayate did.

Caro got up and prepared to unseal Friedrich however Fate got up and placed her hand on Caro's shoulder
"The cavern isn't very big and Friedrich wouldn't have much room, I'll carry you there myself"

"Standby Ready, Setup"
Fate's Barrier jacket formed on her as she walked to the back of the transport and opened her arms for Caro. Caro leaned her back into Fate with Friedrich in her arms; Fate wrapped her arms around Caro holding her under her arms and pulled Caro back as she fell backwards from the transport
"Sonic Sail"
mana wings generated near Fate's wrists and ankles, 2 sets for each ankle and a set for each wrists forming a total of 6 sets, as Fate and Caro fell Fate spotted Nanoha and Hayate up ahead, Fate rolled her body around before flying off tailing the 2 women.

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[31th November 0081, 12:41 PM Paradox Cave, Novus] - For Lutecia's freedom

the cave network which lead to the Paradox Hourglass was promptly named the Paradox Caves by the TSAB. after the hourglass was discovered a detachment of mages were always on guard, however at the entrance they had all been killed with signs showing they had been electrocuted. the girls had to save Lutecia before the TSAB sent mages in to investigate the deaths otherwise Lutecia, regardless of her being controlled, would be held responsible.

the women arrived in the central cavern, the towering hourglass with the double helix twist of the bi-directional sand welcoming Nanoha and Fate back here after having fought in front of it almost a year ago. In front of it was Lutecia, trying to push her bulging stomach in but every time she did she screened out in pain, red bolts of energy arcing between her and the terrain around her.

"Lutecia!" Caro yelled out as the women landed
"Caro? Thank goodness, you really are alive" Lutecia sobbed as she saw the familiar pink and white hooded barrier jacket. She wiped the tears from her eyes as she stepped back "you have to leave, I can't stop Sca...AHHHHHHHH!" energy arced from her again; it was obvious something side her was electrocuting her.
"we know what's going on, we know Jail Scaglietti has a clone of himself inside you and it started to grow 9 months ago, we're here to stop it" Caro yelled out trying to reassure Lutecia
"Then please go, I don't want to hurt you like last time but his voice is getting louder and I'm having less control every moment, please!"

the 3 women took hold of her Devices and the Tome of the Night Sky appeared suspended in the air in front of Hayate and opened up "surrender to him and let us deal with the rest, we won't let anything happen to you" Hayate said.

Lutecia was hesitate at first however when she saw the determination burning in Caro's eyes, she knew that she could trust in Caro and her friends to find a way. Lutecia closed her eyes one last time knowing that next she opened them, one way or another, this nightmare would be over.

Lutecia opened her eyes again, this time the irises were yellow. Now knowing what was going on the girls recognized that they were Scaglietti's eyes. "kill them!" Lutecia ordered, a magic circle appeared beside her before Garyu flew out of it heading straight to the women with one of his blades extended

"Haken Form", Fate kicked off the ground just as Bardiche changed forms and blocked Garyu's charge, Garyu raised his free arm extending another blade to come down onto Fate from above, Fate swung Bardiche causing it to grind on Garyu's first blade and block the second, Fate continued to swing her shifting her body and just as Bardiche's blade slid off Garyu's Fate smashed Bardiche's pole arm into the side of Garyu's head.

"Axel Shooter", Nanoha fired a barrage of shots at Garyu forcing his back further from Fate, the 2 had planned to keep Garyu at bay away from Hayate and Caro so they could focus on Lutecia more, deep down Fate was hoping they could find a way to stop Scaglietti without risking Dimension Galaxy.

Lutecia began to summon a swarm of Insekts along with Transport Summoning Type I Gadget Drones, "where the hell is Scaglietti hiding those things" Hayate complained, Rein and Friedrich flew off to engage the Insekts while Hayate began to hover off the ground as she closed her eyes
"Never missing and never tire, from a thousand yards take down your prey, Yew Pfeil!" she chanted, 2 Belkan Magic circles formed and shot our arrows of light pricing the Gadget Drones right in the centre, prioritizing the drones that were about to shoot.

Caro ran towards Lutecia, she remembered learning about how a baby could die within the mother's womb if enough of an impact was made. while Caro didn't like killing, the "thing" in Lutecia was an exception. With Lutecia preoccupied with summoning to notice Caro's approach Caro skidded in before kicking her foot while spinning her body

"Boost Up, Strike Power", when her leg started to come towards Lutecia she enhanced the strength in the kick however Lutecia quickly covered her stomach and absorbed the impact in her forarms, the force of it threw her back into the hourglass. Lutecia held up her right arm before throwing it down in Caro's directing causing the dark daggers which had just formed to shot down towards Caro, Caro rolled to her side narrowing missing the explosion from when the daggers hit the ground

"Wrought Iron Summon" Caro began to summon, transmute and control iron chains in hope that she could restrict Lutecia but just as the chains shot out towards her Lutecia held out her hand with mana beginning to form in front of it. Caro had seen this attack before however something was off, normally the mana was coloured purple but this time it was a mix of purple and red with the red mana discharging of where it was gathering, Lutecia fired the blast at Caro breaking apart the chains before it hit the ground right in front of Caro throwing her back.

Lutecia threw more daggers at Caro who was just getting up, seeing as she had no time to avoid them she held out her fist, "Wing Shooter", shooting as quickly as she could Caro destroyed the daggers but this didn't stop the daggers exploding right in front of her, the damage was minimized by Kerykeion's Auto-Guard.

Caro got back up on her feet and one again ran towards Lutecia, as she got closer she went to deliver a left hook to Lutecia's right which Lutecia blocked with ease, Fate had trained Caro with some close combat physical attacks with Erio, Erio advised Caro to never make her first attack her main and always have a follow up attack, doing this Caro spun her body around in the opposite direction and bashed the side of her hand into Lutecia's neck.

Lutecia dropped to the ground and the Insekts and Drones she summoned stopped moving. Caro sighed with relief before she noticed Fate and Nanoha was still fighting Garyu, Caro remembered what Fate and Nanoha had said about when Lutecia regained control the Insekts stopped and Garyu went back to Lutecia.

She looked around and noticed that the Insekts and Drones began to glow red before Lutecia swipe her leg, seeing it just in time Caro jumped backwards out of the way. Lutecia slowly got up as Caro tensed her fists "no, you're forcing her to fight regardless of what happens" Caro said to herself, her voice trembling.

Fate saw in the corner of her eye Lutecia get up and Caro's expression, it was as they feared, even if Lutecia was knocked out Scaglietti was just going to force her body to fight,
"Mein Meister, es jetzt zu tun haben, wir [My Master, we have to do it now]"
"But!"
"Ich kann nicht wie die anderen zu kämpfen, lassen Sie mich dies zu tun [I can not fight like others, let me do this]"

Fate stole herself and accepted that nothing she could say could convince Dimension Galaxy, as she reached into her pocket Garyu saw this as an opening and went straight for Fate avoiding Nanoha's ranged attacks.

"Flash Move, Round Shield", Nanoha abandoned her attack and flew in front of Fate and protected her from Garyu's attack, Garyu quickly strafed around to behind Nanoha thinking she couldn't set up a shield in time but Nanoha sensed Garyu's movements and while still keeping the Round Shield up held out her free hand "Direction Shield".

Garyu attack was blocked but not as well as what Round Shield had did as it more looked like the new shield absorbed the impact, Garyu tried to go for Nanoha's new blind spot but the new shield followed him, the advantage to the Direction Shield was that it could be moved without having to be recast but the problem was that it wasn't as strong as the Round Shield.

Garyu continued to try and get though with Nanoha straining to keep up, Fate kept her eye on Caro and on Garyu's movements. a split moment just as Garyu passed Fate's vision was all she needed, "Caro!" Fate yelled as she threw Dimension Galaxy before loading Bardiche with a cartridge "Load Cartridge, Plasma Lancer", Fate shot the Plasma Lancer at Dimension galaxy pushing it higher into the air, the spell ripping apart the glove leaving only the gem.

Caro heard Fate and saw Dimension Galaxy in the air but could see it could land short behind Lutecia, Caro went to run past her but Lutecia grabbed her arm, Caro apologized to Lutecia in her mind before grabbing her long purple hair and pulling it down forcing her to fall on her back, with the opportunity Caro ran and dove to catch the gem just before it could be smashed on the ground.

3 Drones flew right at her firing their lasers, Caro was able to put up a shield but with their constant attack she couldn't move, a light blue light shot though one of the drones while the last 2 explodes from behind.

"are you ok Caro?" Rein asked as she flew up close to her and Friedrich flying opposite, Caro nodded as she got up,
"Stellen Sie mich auf dem Bauch. [place me on her stomach.]" Caro held Dimension Galaxy with the flat side out and charged at Lutecia, Drones and Insekts swarmed them as they approached. Rein shielded Caro from attacks while Friedrich and Hayate from a distance tried to take as many out, Caro also weaved and dodged Lutecia's own attacks trying to limit the strain on Rein.

As Caro got close she moved to Lutecia's side and lowered her stance and held out her hand, as she passed Lutecia the hand Dimension Galaxy was in connected with Lutecia, just as she let go she rolled on the ground and slid to face Lutecia.

"Anfang Kompressions [beginning compression]"
Dimension Galaxy began to glow brighter than anything Fate has seen before, energy arced between Lutecia, Dimension Galaxy and the ground as Lutecia screamed out in agony; however it was looking as if she was gaining control as she used her Repatriation spell to send the Insekts and Garyu anyway. deep down Caro was hopeful it would work but this suddenly changed to despair.

"YOU WERE TOO LATE!" Lutecia yelled though her screaming with a hint of glee, suddenly teleporting away.
"dam it, where is she!" Fate yelled out
"Everyone, get out of there, 3rd Mako is about to attack!" Vice's voiced echoed.

Nanoha, Hayate and Rein quickly flew out while Fate detoured to pick up Caro and Friedrich before following them. Just as they exited the cave a high powered magic blast ripped through the mountain causing the cave network and the cavern to cave in, the Paradox Hourglass was undamaged from the cave in but now it was impossible to get to.

Outside the Mako Trio was converging on their location with 1st Mako in the centre, as it flew above them the women notice a form of dust falling from it. Fate held out her hand to catch dust but when it gathered Fate's heart sunk, the dust was the same colour as Dimension Galaxy, and with Lutecia's ominous words and the Mako Trio flying Fate knew that Dimension Galaxy had failed.

Nanoha cupped her hand and covered Fates while holding it from the bottom with her other hand "we have to keep going and finish this, otherwise Dimension Galaxy's sacrifice would be for nothing." Fate nodded as with her free hand wiped a tear that was just forming. Nanoha removed her hands from Fate allowing the wind to flow in carrying the dust out of Fate's hand as she bid farewell to Dimension Galaxy. Today was the most they had spoken to one another and even if Dimension Galaxy was a copy of an original she was still glad she could have met Dimension Galaxy.

Rein unisoned with Hayate causing her hair to turn blonde while Caro unsealed Friedrich's form "we'll keep the ships busy, Lutecia and Scaglietti will be on 1st Mako" Hayate ordered, Nanoha and Fate nodded in response just before they flew off while Hayate and Caro set off to each tackle one of the 2 ships.

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[31th November 0081, 1:05 PM 1st Mako, Novus] - The third wheel

Nanoha and Fate flew as fast as they could to the main deck of 1st Mako, as they landed the 2 saw Lutecia on the ground on her back in a pool of blood, her stomach now flat, dress ripped and the front of her skirt wet from blood as well, the 2 women could only guess where the blood was coming from.

With his back to them watching Friedrich and Caro face 2nd Mako while avoiding 3rd Mako's attacks was Scaglietti, hearing the two women land he turned to face them. he had scars across his face, his middle finger on his right hand had fused with the fingers on each side, his left eye was totally bloodshot and his left leg caved in from deteriorated muscles, while Dimension Galaxy failed to extract him he was in a bad shape.

"Takamachi, Testarossa, last time we spoke you threatened to have me executed Testarossa, now's your chance",
Fate griped Bardiche hardener trying to resist falling for Scaglietti's taunts before Nanoha stepped forward

"What did you do to Lutecia!"
"What does it look like, she gave birth to me, though given it was rough and messy thanks to that device of yours, she probably won't survive"
"You bastard!" Nanoha yelled
"Oh please, the pain she was having was contractions, had you not interfered I probably could have been born with no complications"

"You're saying that Lutecia is going to die because of us, you're the bastard who implanted a clone in a her body in the first place!" Fate yelled
"If you're looking to blame someone for the girl's demise, technically it was that Dragon Summoner" Scaglietti remarked.

Nanoha and Fate readied themselves as a Scaglietti formed a glove on each hand; Nanoha reviewed what she read in Fate's report about the claws and how their method of attack was treads of mana which contains Anti-Magic properties.

"Barrel Shot", Scaglietti with his deform arm used one thread to wrap around the an invisible Bind-type spell instantly shot from Nanoha's attack, with 2 more threads he ripped up some of the panels on the decks and used one to stop the bombardment while a second collided into Nanoha from the side.

Fate had used her Blitz Action to get behind Scaglietti as he fended off Nanoha but as she brought Bardiche down a thread from each finger on Scaglietti's another hand shot out and merged into a single solid beam and pushed Fate back.

the 2 women got back onto their feet as they assessed the situation. while not physically built to fight Scaglietti had not even move an inch,
"Load Cartridge, Axel Shooter", "Load Cartridge, Plasma Lancer"

The 2 women shot their attacks into the air above and controlled them to surround Scaglietti; Scaglietti smirked as he watched all the fired blasts stop and aim strait for him. Nanoha and Fate loaded more cartridges as they prepared bombardment attacks
"Strike Stars", "Plasma Smasher"

the 2 bombardment attacks fired singled the other attacks to all coverage on Scaglietti, the smaller shots began to pummel down from above before the 2 bombardment attacks collided into each other. After the attacks subsided and the smoke cleared Scaglietti still stood there smirking with all 8 treads acting as a shield.

"is that all?" he rebuked. He lifted his hands slightly began lashing the 2 women; some of the threads broke off and became chains binding Nanoha to the ground and suspending Fate in the air. Scaglietti slowly limped his way to Fate, as he reach her he held her chin within his claws "you should be nicer to your father"
"I have none" Fate spat
"On the contrary. Your mother believed that the prototype energy generator meltdown was because she ignored safety regulations? I knew her talents as a researcher on Familiars so I had the High Council pressure her superiors while I sabotaged the project, my plan was to disgrace her but it worked out better that she went insane and perfected Project Fate for me, had it not been for me you wouldn't have been created."

Scaglietti tightened his grip on Fate's chin as he flicked his deformed arm back allowing threads to reform and thicken into a blade. "Feito!" Nanoha yelled struggling to get free as Scaglietti aimed and trusted his blade aiming for Fate's heart. However a black miasma engulfed Scaglietti's arm and blade and the moment it dissipated they were gone, it was unsure whether it was some sort of spell that made his arm no longer exist or if he's deformities also include a lack of pain reception but Scaglietti didn't react to the spell.

"Excellent work Scaglietti, you've really outdone yourself"

Scaglietti looked up to where the voice came from; sitting on top of the overhang into the ship was Kage clapping his hands "with such a hole you've dug we won't have to worry about a grave when we kill you"
"I have 2 of the 3 Aces of the TSAB at my mercy and the third will be joining them soon, what could you do?"
"Firstly you're using Lost Logia against Lost Logia. in that kind of matchup the one with greater control wins" Kage said as he stood up "and secondly, how can your attacks be Anti-Magic but be mana driven, it's because your using cheap tricks by cancelling out the equations used in the Mid-Childan and Belkan Magic Systems, though I have to admit you're a genius to do it in real time like that but it's still a cheat"

"Cdyhtpo Nayto, Cadib [Standby Ready, Setup]", Kage jumped into the air and pulled off his collar where the gem was, holding out his arms to either side his clothes disappeared from his body in burst of light, however it was what happen next which shocked Nanoha and Fate, Kage's hair grew longer and his limbs and features morphed with his chest expanding, now, Kage body looked like a woman, covering her breasts with one arm and her waist with the other.

A black ribbon materialized and wrapped tightly around her chest binding her breasts, a light blue almost white shirt with long sleeves stitched itself from like coloured strings. She kept her breasts covered until shirt had completely formed before a darker toned vest formed over top. long loose leg dark blue pants materialized on each leg starting from her waist, it wasn't until the waist of the pants had formed before she removed her hand.

the dark blue kimono reformed slipping down her arms and resting gently on her shoulders yet it didn't get done up instead remained open, the gem attached itself to the base of a hilt before connecting to a blade and dropping down to the woman sliding into a sheath that materialized on her back, the sword and sheath generated 2 copies either side and rotated while remaining attached to the centre blade, the 2 copies had black gems on their hilts rather than the light blue/purplish gem on the centre sword.

The woman landed on the ground, she straightened up she pulled out the centre sword just as a set of wings formed on her, a set on her lower back and a wing behind each shoulder, all of which matched the colour of the gem on her sword "Jail Scaglietti, by order of the Hazard Suspension Crop you are to surrender control of the Variable Mako to us" Kage ordered in a now female voice.

"How about you make me!" Scaglietti yelled out, the threads from his remaining claw shot out and combined into a lance.
"Nuiht Creamt [Round Shield]", as the shield formed Nanoha and Fate was able to clearly see the Magic Circle Kage used, it wasn't like the ones used in Mid-Childan or Belkan magic. While it was a circle there was a line coming from the centre of it to the top, the circle almost looked like the symbol used for power buttons on a computer but with a second circle on the outside and the line ending just a little bit outside of the second circle. much like Mid-Childan circle the equations for the spell were located within the circles however even with the break at the top one could see that the equation wasn't a complete loop, as if it was a long equation with most of it hidden within the line.

Scaglietti's lance slammed into Kage's shield which initially stopped but as he push more force into it the shield began to crack, just as it shattered Kage slanted her body so her head moved out of the way of the lance. Scaglietti went to side swipe Kage but Kage blocked the lance with her sword before cutting it.

Kage kicked off the ground and flew at Scaglietti, her free hand allowing mana to gather with the petal like partials swirling around in her palm, as she got closer she crushed the energy in her hand, "Nuca Lnycran [Rose Crasher]", Scaglietti's threads formed a barrier and absorbed the impact before throwing the absorbed force back at Kage pushing her back.

"he may rely on cancelling out the equation but he still has some strength" Kage commented to her sword as she got up
"Y vnuhdym yccyimd ec buehdmacc so myto, e cikkacd fa ica Jaldun [A frontal assault is pointless my lady, I suggest we use Vector]"

Kage nodded before rotating the sword in her hand positioning the sword so the blade now ran down her arm and the gem was facing outwards
"Kmobr Lryhka [Glyph Change]", a magic circle appeared within the gem as Kage held it up in front of her, in her free hand between her finger were similar magic circles but the equation in them was different not to mention they were different colours to the crystal blue colour her magic circle had been currently. As if walking through a book flipping it pages with her fingers Kage twitched her fingers cycling though the circles before a light green one was in between her index and middle fingers.

"Vector!" Kage called out as her index and middle fingers clamped together, the circle inside the gem changed to the same one that was in Kage's fingers before the colour reverted back and fading away. Kage once again charged at Scaglietti, the treads from Scaglietti's claw became thicker and resembles flexible blades before thrusting his hand towards Kage.

"Jaldun Bmyda [Vector Plate]", just as Kage's foot touched the ground a black arrow appeared pointing to her right, the moment her foot came in contact with it she suddenly disappeared appearing again to another arrow with a curve, as her foot touched this she disappeared again before appearing again where yet another arrow was, this repeated as Kage made her way around Scaglietti, the way she was moving was as if the entire time she was still running strait.

Fate, as an expert in high speed combat could tell that Kage was actually moving incredible fast between the arrows, however even though she could keep her eyes on Erio when they trained she could just barely keep her eyes on Kage.

Scaglietti spun around, as the blade came towards Kage another arrow appeared but this time it wasn't painted on the ground but was lifted up pointing into the air. Kage was shot into the air avoiding Scaglietti's attack; more arrows appeared in the air as she kept staying in his blind spot before an arrow pointed towards Scaglietti.

"Jaldun Drunh [Vector Thorn]", Kage flew down at Scaglietti who has just enough time to block the attack, like last time the attack's force was absorbed however this it wasn't thrown back at the blade. Kage's blade broke through Scaglietti's defence yet Scaglietti ducked down to avoid the sword as Kage flew back up.

Kage stepped on another plate and began to fly around Scaglietti leaving behind a trail of petals before being shot back down to the deck, "Dne-Jaldun Jejecaldeuh [Tri-Vector Vivisection]", Arrows appeared under the ring of petals all pointing to Scaglietti shooting them at him, Scaglietti's blade like threads split apart and began to rip up more panels from the deck and created a multi-layered dome around him, the onslaught of petal like blades rebounding, digging and cutting the plates.

Kage stood there as she watched the attack subside and the dome come down with only the final layer being unscathed, "hmmmm, it's not that you don't move from that position because you don't need to, you can't move to well due to the muscle deterioration" Kage commented.

Kage stepped forward onto an arrow and short forwards however as she approached Scaglietti the gem on her sword began to flash, "lnedelym fynhehk, ihcdypma syhy kahanydeuh vun Jaldun Bmyda, ypund! ypund! [critical warning, unstable mana generation for Vector Plate, abort! abort!]"

the warning came too late, just as Kage was about to step on the next arrow it disappeared and in its place was a multitude of arrays whose points all touched right where Kage's foot touched the ground, Kage stopped suddenly as if paralysed before arrows of random shapes and directions appeared randomly around the area. Kage shot from one to another, thrown around like a rag doll bounding around in a pinball machine before she slammed into the railing on the edge of the deck hard, coughing as the wind was knocked out of her.

"E's cunno so myto, dra sidydeuh silr ryja tacdypemewat dra Mehgan Luna [I'm sorry my lady, the mutation much have destabilized the Linker Core]"

Scaglietti smiled as he raised his arm, 3rd Mako slowly ascended and aimed a cannon at Kage, thinking it was aiming at Nanoha and Fate, Hayate and Caro lunched a pincer attack only for 2nd Mako to activate the defences protecting 3rd Mako

"A Legend or Myth is a misinterpretation of facts; I will prove that with your death"

Scaglietti looked up into the sky watching the storm clouds gather, while it wasn't strange for a storm to occur during this time of year on Novus, Scaglietti was suspicious of the timing. Just as 3rd Mako was about to fire a great bolt of lightning shot down striking the cannon on 3rd Mako and right though it's hall, a second bolt shot down striking the chains holding Fate before leaping to Nanoha and destroying hers.

The bulkhead doors leaning into the ship were blown open by a bolt of lightning narrowing missing Scaglietti and bouncing off the side of the deck, as thunder echoed around the ship and lighting struck down all around them a woman walked out from the ship, her long golden hair styled as twin tails which practically glowed and sparkled as it fluttered in the wind.

"Fei...to!?" Nanoha couldn't believe what she was seeing, she even had to check back to where Fate was to confirm. This woman who just walked out of the ship looked exactly like Fate, maybe just a little younger. Her barrier jacket was reminiscent of Fate's from when she was a child except rather than black and red it was white and silver and over top of it but still under the cape was a Kimono the same colour as Fate's coat. in her hand was a bearded axe shaped Staff, apart from slight feature differences, it looked like Bardiche.

"you!" Scaglietti said staring at the woman before flicking his threads
"Lighting Defenser", Nanoha remembered the voice of the Bardiche copy who spoke to her and Fate in Ground Forces H.Q and who told her to come here, the threads wrapped around the barrier before discharged electricity began flowing back though the treads electrocuting Scaglietti, he quickly detached the threads before reforming them into long reaching blades and went to slash the woman from the side.

"Clodra Form", just like Bardiche, the head of the staff flicked up and a yellow blade extended out give the appearance of a Scythe, as the blades came in the woman swung the scythe and smashed the blades before holding up her free arm
"Volt Lancer", a magic circle of the same design as Kage's but yellow appeared beneath the woman's feet as Bolts of Lighting formed above the woman before shooting down, Scaglietti reformed the threads from the broken blades and formed a barrier stopping the bolts.

"Glyph Change", like with Kage a magic circle appeared within the gem if the woman's Bardiche-like device as she held it up in front of her while in her free hand she cycled through a number of magic circles before the one she wanted was in between her index and middle fingers.
"Pierce!" she called out as he fingers came together and the magic circle in the gem of her Device changed before regaining its original yellow colour and fading

Scaglietti combined the threads into a lance and shot it towards the woman; the woman held out her Device but showed no indication she was going to defend with it
"Lighting Arm", with her free arm the woman blocked the incoming attack with the back of her arm however as Scaglietti tried to pull the lance back it remains stuck to the defensive spell.
"Clodra Saber", much like Bardiche's Haken Saber the woman flung her device's blade like a boomerang towards Scaglietti; unable to get his lance free Scaglietti's lower half was sliced in 2 before the lance finally shattered.

Scaglietti, with only is arm remaining tried to drag himself away but stopped when he heard a loud clang of something metal being stabbed into the deck, as he looked behind him he saw Kage, standing behind her sword.

"Jail Scaglietti, like the Time Space Administration Bureau we try and capture criminals alive, but on top of hurting Fate you hurt my Trishia, for that you die" the woman said, her voice matching that of Fate's as well

"Kmobr Lryhka [Glyph Change]", Kage began to cycle though the circles in her hand before arriving at a circle which the circles was a dark purple and the line was red.
"Aria", as like last time the circle in the gem changed but this time the colour didn't but instead remained as it was originally, a black mist gathered around Kage as the same magic circle appeared beneath her while a second one appeared in front of her,

"I gave birth to a ten-hundred lives, and watch the loss of fifteen-hundred more, no pain or sorrow, their memories live on, now join their darkness, Disappear!", As Kage chanted she brought her hands closer to the second circle pushing black mist into the centre, as she finished the chant her hands was struggling to stay in position almost as if she was trying to push in any further.

The golden hair woman walked up to Kage and rested her chin on Kage's shoulder "but we are not unsocial barbarians, while you may not deserve it, your death will be quick and without pain"
"Aria Project!"
"Ouse Himm! [Yomi Null!]"

After Kage released her hands from the magic circle a black orb engulfed Scaglietti before it disappeared leaving nothing, even the section of the deck that was in the orb was gone leaving a clean cut in the metal

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[31th November 0081, 1:30 PM 1st Mako, Novus] - The Hazard Suspension Corp.

"Feito!" Nanoha yelled as she ran up to Fate checking she was ok, the golden hair woman was standing at the railing at the deck's edge using the lighting in the sky to destroy 2nd and 3rd Mako, it was obvious it was actually a spell similar to Fate's Thunder Fall which made Nanoha even more suspicious of her, Hayate flew down and deunisoned with Rein as the 2 went to check on Fate and Nanoha.

Caro jumped of Friedrich and sealed his from and started looking all over to Lutecia, however because she was looking for her standing she kept missing her, it wasn't until she noticed blood in the corner of her vision did the colour in her face drained.

"LUTECIA!" she screamed as she ran to her, kneeling in the pool of blood Caro picked up Lutecia's cold body, her blood soaking into Caro's robes and barrier jacket staining them a deeper tone than the pink in her robes.

"no, no! wake up Lu, come on, open your eyes, please!" Caro sobbed, she held Lutecia's cold limp body tighter in a vain attempt to transfer her own body heat to revive her, small droplets fell creating tiny windows where one could see the crimsoned stained panels of the deck before it clouded over once again.

Fate felt her chest get stabbed as she listened to Caro's piecing wails, she became her guardian to make sure this didn't happen, but right in front of her eyes Caro was in so much pain and there was nothing Fate could do, cursing her inability not only to help Caro but also for having let Lutecia die right in front of her and Nanoha.

Kage began to slowly approached Caro staggering every so often; the golden hair woman saw Kage staggering in the corner of her eyes. "Trish" she muttered as she wrapped up the destruction of 2nd and 3rd Mako.

"Stand aside" Kage asked bordering on a stern order, Caro look up to Kage before laying Lutecia down.
"Kmobr Lryhka [Glyph Change]", "Elivia", Kage changed the circle in the gem of her sword before laying it down, 2 Magic Circles appeared beneath Kage and Lutecia before Lutecia began to emit a green glow around her body

"naylrac syq yhymocec majam uv uha suhdr, untan? [reached max analysis level of one month, order?]"
"extrapolate data using known effects of pregnancy and heal up to ten months"
"Dasbunym Raym [Temporal Heal]"

the blood on the ground dried up becoming a chalk before a breeze whipped it up in a funnel reaching an apex before fading away, as it disappeared colour began to return to Lutecia's pale skin.

"Sahdym Cuudrehk [Mental Soothing]", when all the blood chalk disappeared from the ground the magic circle under Lutecia resized and centred beneath her head as Kage moved her hand over Lutecia's head, after the lighted dimmed Kage stood up and looked at Caro

"I can only account for 10 months' worth of damage so anything from before then would still remain, mental trauma from this ordeal has been eased however she will still remember, all she need is rest and support" Kage said holding her head up with her hand as a headache began to flare up.

Caro quickly turned to see Lutecia taking small short breaths before quickly crawling over to her,
"Lu, Lu!"
"since...when...did...you...start...calling...me...lu?" Lutecia asked taking a short breath between each word
"thank goodness" Caro sobbed, her puffy read eyes streaming more tears than before "I thought I lost you"
"I believe one can be seen as dead for a little while before they actually die, giving one a slight chance to revive them" Kage commented

Kage walked off for a little bit before her legs gave way, "you ok Trish?" the golden hair woman asked as she caught Kage and helped her back onto her feet "you used Aria which always takes a lot from you, plus there's what happened with Vector", Kage nodded putting her sword away.

"Kage, I want my answers now!" Fate said as she, Nanoha and Hayate got up
Kage nodded "I did say you will have your answers when we met again and it was the Reunion of Fate, it is now that time"

the golden hair woman looked towards the sky and pointed her Device, Lighting began to arc into a single point and started to gather
"Volt Smasher will be charged in 3 minutes"
"make sure it does not fire until I give the command" the golden haired woman replied to her device "I want to make sure nothing interrupts us" she said as she looked back down towards the women.
"who are you, and how do you know me?" Fate asked

"really, just the first one would have been enough" sighed the golden hair woman "Kage, as you been lead to call her, her real name is actually Trishia"
"and you" Hayate asked

the golden hair woman looked to Fate with a gentle, warm smile of one thinking back on happier times with a loved one "Alicia Testarossa"
"but, but that's not possible" Hayate stuttered "I was told you had died"
Alicia nodded "yes, I died in 0039 NC"

Hayate furiously shook her head "no, that's not what I meant, in 0065, The Jewel Seed Incident"
"well, technically I was still dead then" Alicia chuckled "but I think I understand what you mean, of cause there is only 1 explanation"
"Mother is alive, and made it to Al-Hazard" Fate replied

Alicia nodded "yes, Me and Trish are a part of the Hazard Suspension Crop. an arm of the Scholars Faction which mainly deals with Magical Incidents on behalf of the Maestro 5, we came here following the Variable Mako which was a prototype Warship that went missing about a year ago" Alicia clasped her hand on top of one another as she brought them to her chest and closed her eyes "but I jumped onboard for this mission because I had hoped I could finally meet you"

Alicia took a step towards Fate but stopped as Nanoha pushed front of her Fate, grating her teeth as she gripped Raising Heart tighter "you keep away from her"
"I see, this was anticipated and I understand how you..." Alicia suddenly stopped as an energy shot buzzed right by her ear
"shut up! you don't understand a thing, you think you can just watch us get into trouble and come waltzing in to save us and think we'll forget everything"
"Nanoha, please" Fate begged
"it's because of you Feito-chan suffered!" Nanoha yelled staring down Alicia with hate filled eyes; all Alicia could do was stand there shocked, her eyes glistening up.

"you bitch" Trishia said as she stepped in front of Alicia "no one speaks to Alicia like that, I'LL KILL YOU!", Trishia drew her sword and charged at Nanoha with lighting fast speed, so fast that not even Raising Heart could use her Auto-Guard

"Blitz Action", Bardiche voice echoed in Nanoha's head as Trishia's sword cut deep into the shoulder of the woman standing in front of her, at first Nanoha feared that the golden hair was that of Fate's, but it was how it glowed which stunned her.

Trishia pulled her sword out and staggered back, her arm shaking furiously, losing the strength in her hand she dropped her sword, "Ali...cia?" she said, her voice trembling with fear as Alicia stood in front of Nanoha, the wound on her shoulder giving birth to a growing stain on her kimono and cape.

Trishia dropped onto her knees and screamed as she dug her nails into her head, Alicia slowly walked up to Trisha and keeled down in front of her, lifting up Trishia's face by her chin with her left index finger, she stared into Trishia's wet yet fearful eyes as she brought her face close to Trishia's before sealing Trishia's gaping mouth with hers.

Trishia began to lose strength and started to fall backwards yet Alicia held her with her right arm as her tongue invaded Trishia. Alicia pulled back as she continued to star into Trishia's now wanting eyes, the fear which had filled them only moment ago was all but gone.
"Alicia, why?" Trishia meekly asked
"because had you hurt that woman, Fate would have been hurt inside." Alicia helped Trishia back onto her feet before mana wings appeared near her wrists and ankles.

The 2 began to walk away before Alicia stopped and looked backed at Fate "Mother, she knows what she has done, and wants you to know, that she's sorry".
"Volt Smasher has been configured to only fire when there are no life signatures within the vicinity" Alicia's Device said just before the 2 women took off hand in hand.
"Vice, 2nd and 3rd Mako have been destroyed and 1st Mako is set to follow, we need you to come here so we can load Lutecia on-board" Hayate ordered.

As the Transport arrived Caro picked up Lutecia in her arms insisting that Lutecia held her around the neck before carrying her on-board and laying her down on one of the seats, as the transport took off Nanoha, Hayate and Fate watched 1st Mako get struck down by an intense bean of energy which shot from the point where the lighting was gathering, as to what Alicia's Device had said, it didn't fire until they were clear.

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[31th November 0081, 11:46 PM Section 6, Mid-Childa] - A Second Chance

Fate walked into the bedroom after walking out of the shower wearing her black lace underwear, on the trip back from Novus Nanoha had rarely spoke and even Vivio was getting worried, even now Nanoha was lying in bed with her back to Fate wrapped in the blankets.

Fate climbed onto the bed and gently placed her hand where she figured Nanoha's should was "Nanoha, is something bothering you?"
"I must have ruined things"
"you're thinking of Alicia"

Nanoha nodded, since leaving Novus she realized what she had said and done, Fate had always been forgiving of what Presea had done to her yet Nanoha couldn't let it go, "I can never forgive Presea but she acted the way she did because she lost Alicia, so I blamed her for everything"

"My mother didn't mourn Alicia properly and believe it unfair she was the one to survive" Fate said as pulled down the 'hood' Nanoha had created with the blankets. Fate threaded Nanoha's hair between her fingers before caressing her own cheek with it "one could say it was Alicia's fault, but remember, her death was a result of TSAB High Council's Infinite Desire Project. in a sense, you should hate them for my treatment"

"I should really apologise to Alicia, I wonder if we'll see her again" Nanoha suggested
"we will, remember, Kag...no, Trishia said that they didn't came for the Mako Trio in the first place, we might see them down the track"

Fate patted Nanoha's head as she leaned over and kissed her cheek "I won't ask you to forgive my mother, but if she really wants to patch things up, please get along with her" she said before throwing herself back into the bed "and if she's laying, I'll stand aside and let you do whatever you want"

Nanoha unwrapped herself from the blankets and rolled onto Fate, as she pulled her body up to level her face with Fate's, her similar pink lace underwear tickled Fate's bare skin, her hands clasped Fate's above her head as Nanoha lowed her face to kiss Fate, a small one before she brushed past Fate's cheek and kissed her just under her earlobe.

"Ah! Nanoha, what are you doing"
"an apology for what I did" Nanoha said as she kissed her way down to Fate's collarbone
"there no need, mmmmmm, no need to" Fate moaned

Nanoha didn't stop, prompting Fate to hook her leg around Nanoha and flip her onto her while kneeling over her, "I was kinda scared when you was acting like that, I've seen you act out before but never like that" she said as she rested her head on Nanoha's chest, "but I kinda liked it, to see you so fired up like that, it was almost a turn on"
"a turn on?"
"almost a turn on, I don't get turned on to people trying to hurt each other, it's more you dragging me away to keep me to yourself" Fate giggled.

Fate yawned as she nestled her face into Nanoha's chest while Nanoha hooked her legs around one of Fate's while resting her hands on Fate's upper back.

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Next Chapter - Chapter 6: Storms, Stars and a Flower of Shadows