Magical Atoner Lyrical Alicia

Chapter Eleven

Subaru and Alicia were floating together as the Hardsuits mustered up another attack. Raising Heart was in staff mode in Subaru's hands, humming readily, even as Bardiche was in axe mode, glowing golden.

"What do you think they'll try next?" Subaru asked, panting softly in exertion. They had been fighting most of the afternoon, and it was starting to tell on her.

"They tried range attacks and then rushed us, but we beat them back," Alicia said seriously. "I think they'll either mix it up or another rush."

The dozen or so Hardsuits hovered just out of range of their fire... well, sort of out of range. Both Buster and Plasma Lancer attacks COULD have reached them, but the suit pilots would likely be able to dodge at that range. And annoyingly the armored suits were resistant to binds.

"I think we're going to need to try that thing," Subaru referred to a idea they had batted around before the battle started, "or they'll overwhelm us or just wear us down."

"Agreed," Alicia nodded, "I'm better at that, so get ready to attack when I'm done."

"Right," Subaru agreed as she raised her staff and began to summon power.

Hardsuit pilot Ran Mizuno was frowning as she addressed her commander back at base. "I don't like this," she said, "they're up to something. We should attack now."

"You need to give your suits time to recharge," Priss Asagiri ordered, observing the battle.

"I don't think we have the time," Ran said, frustrated.

This battle had NOT gone well for the team of Hardsuit pilots. It was intended as a invasion scenario, where a mysterious new invader attacked and hardsuits were mobilized to stop it. Standard procedure was followed, so they sent out two squads of six, lead by a senior pilot. It SHOULD have been easy. It wasn't.

They tried stun fire first, then escilated up to using full firepower, all of which bleed right off the young women's energy shields. Then they tried a physical attack, mobbing the women, but Alicia hammered them back with her scythe while Subaru blasted at them. Now they were trying to recharge, and bracing for another assault.

"Energy spike!" Haruhi yelled, the boyish looking pilot hovering nearby in her off-blue colored hardsuit, her weapons suite offline as she tried to regain enough juice to fight.

"Crap," Ran growled.

"Lightning Bind!" Alicia yelled, unleashing the spell she had prepared. Instantly glowing, electric binds appeared on several of the hardsuits, immobilizing more than half of them.

"Reverent shooter!" Subaru yelled, unleashing her own spell as Alicia finished hers. Glowing red spheres of destructive magic raced out to the bound hardsuits, blasting them and sending the suits crashing back to Earth.

"Shit!" Hazuki yelped as her suit got her to the ground, barely. But her systems were blown and she was out of the fight, as were most of their team.

"Let's go," Alicia switched her weapon to scythe mode.

"Let's," Subaru agreed as she manifested more 'bullets' and readied to fire.

"This is gonna suck," Ran sighed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"This was totally unfair!" Nanoko Chiki declared, the busty redhead thumping her hand on her chair in irritation.

Priss Asagiri raised a eyebrow, the brown haired woman calmly noting, "You outnumbered them six to one, AND had release on all weapons loads. If anything, I think the two mages should be yelling about it being unfair."

At that comment Nanoko subsided, pouting slightly. "Sorry, ma'am. I just hate losing," she admitted sheepishly.

"All right folks, what went wrong?" Ran addressed the pilots even as Alicia and Subaru stood off on one side, watching.

"Too slow to press our attacks" was offered, while another pilot complained "Suits take too long to recharge after firing." They batted around various reasons for what went wrong, while Priss listened to them calmly and made notes.

After listening for a bit Alicia tentatively raised her hand, catching the commander's eye. "Could I say something?" she asked.

There were several frowns from the pilots but Priss just nodded. "Please do," she said.

She turned to face the pilots, Alicia firmly trying to control her nervousness. "While I'm not a expert, I think two errors were made," she said diplomatically. "First, you were holding back in your initial attacks, I think."

"True," Ran conceded after a moment. "We tried to stun at first, but even after we found that wasn't working, we didn't hit you full force, for fear we'd hurt you."

"Perfectly understandable," Alicia agreed, "but it's a weakness you can't afford. If I or Subaru had been willing to use lethal force..."

Haruhi nodded reluctantly. She had tangled with Alicia when she had first arrived on Earth, and her team had gotten their asses kicked. She had even advised her fellow pilots to hit the two as hard and fast as possible, but had been ignored.

"The second point is that most of you were not fully using your weapons loads," Alicia noted. As several pilots protested she pointed out, "Most of your suits have one kind or another of projectile loads. Our shields stop energy weapons... do they stop bullets?"

"Damn," Ran muttered, shaking her head.

"Not that I can't stop a bullet," Alicia smiled, "but it would have at least changed the way the battle played out, and maybe gave you another chance."

Priss nodded, "She makes goos points. I also noticed that, and was going to bring it up. You may be using mass produced suits, but they still carry a variety of weapons. Use them."

The rest of the debriefing was mercilessly short, and Alicia was faintly surprised by the pilots thanking them for their help. "I was glad to help," she replied uncomfortably.

"Have my pilots embarassed you enough?" Priss asked with a smile as she shook Alicia's hand.

"Somewhat," Alicia admitted, laughing softly.

Priss grinned. "We really don't get to practice against powered individuals very often, so you're being a great help," she explained. "We really appreciate it."

"I swore a oath to Crystal Tokyo," Alicia shrugged, "I just see this as part of that."

The two women left the base at the edge of Crystal Tokyo, walking together. They'd likely take off and fly in a bit, but for now they were just enjoying some time without school, army or other adults expecting things from them.

"Did you mean that, about the oath?" Subaru asked curiously as she looked up at Alicia.

"Yes," Alicia shrugged slightly. "I think that I owe something to this city and world for taking me in. Helping defend it to the best of my abilities seems a small enough price to pay."

"Wow," Subaru murmured. She had taken the oath when she applied to be a Citizen, going into high school. But... she hadn't really THOUGH about it too much. Maybe she should have.

Alicia smiled wryly. She apologetically said, "I've got to run, I have a appointment with a police officer from Mid."

"They aren't trying to arrest you, are they?" Subaru asked, alarmed.

"No, no," Alicia quickly reassured her, "the Palace got involved and quashed that, I think. They just asked to meet with me."

Subaru nodded, her expression serious. "Can I come along?" she asked. "Just in case."

Alicia hesitated, but she was pretty sure the police summons was harmless. Mostly. And if it wasn't... well, having Subaru as backup wasn't a bad idea. "Please do," she smiled as the two rose into the air and took off.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Samuel Accord waited uncomfortably by the cafe in the city. He appreciated that the meeting hadn't been in Arisugawa's Locket or something, as he'd be unable to get in. His companion Veronica Aston-Martin might get in, he supposed, but his boss was there in a unofficial capacity.

Sam watched as two flying girls arrived, dropping down between the silvery towers. Alicia was indeed the spitting image of Fate Testarossa, as he had seen following the case as courts back home wrangled over the case. She showed up often in images, though she hadn't attended the hearings herself.

"Sorry if I kept you waiting," Alicia apologized sincerely.

"It's fine, we got in early," Sam said respectfully. He looked at the other girl thoughtfully, "You're Subaru Yagami, correct?"

"Yes, sir," she said a bit nervously. Tellingly she did not return Raising Heart to gem mode, instead warily holding on the staff.

"Come on," Sam decided to keep things casual, "let's get some coffee. I think better with coffee." Calmly he added, "I know we've talked before, Miss Testarossa, but this is Veronica Aston-Martin, my superior."

"Ma'am," Veronica nodded respectfully as they went inside.

"She's here for non-official reasons," Sam added as they were seated and served coffee by the green haired waitress. He reached into his folder as he said, "I wanted to deliver to you personally the end of your case."

Alicia took the papers, noting they were crammed with legal terminology. "I suppose you couldn't summarize?" the young lady asked wryly.

Sam chuckled softly. "Basically all charges have been dismissed," he told her. "The TSAB museum is still not happy with you, but the legal argument that you're Fate's heir pretty much cut their legs out from under them."

"Makes sense," Subaru said as she sipped iced coffee.

"They wanted to bill you for damages, but Queen Serenity stepped in at that point," Sam snickered. "After that, they gave up."

"I'll have to think of how to thank her," Alicia murmured thoughtfully.

"Anyway, that's my end dealt with," Sam said firmly. He looked at his companion, "Do you want me to take myself elsewhere?"

"It's personal, not private," Veronica said, "stick around."

"Oh yeah, love seeing my boss embarrass herself," Sam chuckled, shutting up when she glared at him.

Veronica looked at Alicia wryly, "I assume you researched what happened to your sister?"

"I did," Alicia agreed, "she had a very full life, eventually marrying Nanoha and the two of them raising Vivio, as well as helping Fate's two wards."

"Hmm," Veronica nodded. "Vivio got married, eventually, and her and her wife had several kids. They in turn... well, let's say her kids were prolific, as well as becoming important figures on Mid."

"Right," Subaru noted, wondering where this was going.

Veronica nodded, "My great some grandmother was Vivio." She looked at Alicia, "You're my great grand-aunt, I think."

Alicia dropped her cup...

To be continued.

Notes: I consider Vivid canon for my universe. I'm ignoring Force, more or less.