[ Claudia / October 1, 0078 06:41 ]
The Claudia was buzzing like a huge beehive. The anticipation of a decisive battle put everyone on their toes, from the captain to the last midshipman. In all the fuss, Teana found that she wasn't needed anywhere in particular. After Commander Harlaown finished her briefing, there were still a couple of hours before they reached the Mid, so Teana gave in to Subaru's begging puppy eyes and let Ginga-san whisk her away in an unknown direction. Excluding the extended Harlaown family, she didn't have anyone else to turn to on the entire ship, so there she was, wandering the corridors and counting minutes until deployment.
As she swept past an observation deck, a figure disturbing in its familiarity caught her eye. A tall man in brown uniform was standing alone with his back turned to her, looking through the thick glass at the stars outside.
"Excuse me," Teana approached him carefully.
"Yes, brave Major?" Dr. Jail Scaglietti turned around with that unbearably smug grin on his lips.
"How…" Teana inhaled sharply. "How the hell did you get out?"
"Oh, that was easy, Major," Scaglietti chuckled. "Revered Sister Schach chose to relieve the knights who guarded me, and your own troops' discipline is, I am afraid to say, incomparable to the one conferred by faith…"
Teana pointed her gun at him.
"I don't know exactly how you pulled it off but you are going back now."
"Oh please, Major."
With a never-fading grin, the Doctor made a step towards her. Teana's finger tightened on the trigger. He took another step.
"Restrict Lock!" she yelled as she released the spell.
Eight wheels of bright orange energy appeared out of thin air and closed upon her wrists, elbows, ankles, and knees.
"Cross Mirage, release lock!"
Nothing happened. The Device stayed inert in her immobile hand. She tried struggling or gathering some mana for a counter, but Nanoha-san's favorite binding spell was meant to restrain beings much stronger than her.
And as she leveled her eyes at Scaglietti, she understood.
"You… tampered with my Device."
"Indeed, brave Major," Scaglietti reached out for her gun, tapping it lightly with his finger to summon a diagnostics screen.
"Don't touch it!" she yelled, but he ignored her, sifting through the data he pulled off Cross Mirage's memory.
Teana forced herself to calm down.
"I had Shari examine it earlier."
"Ms. Finieno is a talented Meister, Major," the Doctor replied absentmindedly, "but as much as the Bureau dislikes admitting it, I am still the father of the modern Device technology."
"What exactly are you looking for in there?"
"Isn't it obvious? I need to get off this ship. Last time I got involved in a battle for Mid-Childa, it didn't go well for my health…"
"And what will you do once you're free?"
"Probably break out those silly girls still loyal to me and go off the grid until your Bureau forgets about me."
"I will not forget this, Doctor."
Scaglietti finally let go of her Device and flashed a broad grin at Teana as he stepped back.
"I am sure it will be every bit as fun as it was years ago with Testarossa. Have a nice life, Enforcer."
As he turned around and walked away, Teana hoped badly that the Restrict Lock would wear out sooner than it'd take someone to find her. She had no idea how she was going to explain what had just transpired.