Thirty-four, that was the number of confirmed casualties at the moment, and that number was rising with each body found.

And to think...the worst thing I thought I had to worry about today was not getting on Olga's bad side. Romani couldn't shake the stress that made his shoulders and neck feel like he was lugging a globe as if he were Atlas. How could he? Dammit, he took the mug he had in his hand to his mouth and let an extra-cream cup of coffee roll down his throat. Usually this would calm him, maybe get himself in the mood to watch a Magi*Mari later, but today was not the day for that.

He was thankful that he had managed to shut down power to the central facilities when everything went to hell, it saved a few people. But he wishes he could have done more.

The staff that survived were currently doing their best to get operations back in operation, Olga Marie and Lev Laniur were currently MIA, and the Caster on hand was doing his best to get the FATE system back in working order. Whatever had tried to take Chaldea out in a fiery blaze, had failed, though that didn't mean this was a win for the UN-sanctioned security organization.

Besides the deaths of personnel, the line was quiet.

Romani's throat burned and he gagged trying to cool his mouth. His tongue had burned and the fluffy-haired man thought that this was just the cherry on top of the cake that had been made of rusty needles and arsenic. The worst kind of cake.

He put the mug down in disgust. How did this happen? Obvious answer, sabotage, and I don't need Sherlock Holmes or a Caped Crusader to know that. Question is, who in Chaldea was and is the turncoat? On paper, today's operations were an A+ in how they were supposed to play out. Rayshift, Team A to the anomaly, they kick ass, take names and come home as unknown heroes to the rest of the world. End of story, repeat steps one through three with Team B and so forth. And boom, save humanity from the apocalypse to occur in 2017 that SHEBA had predicted.

Caster would have said I'd like to see that Richards hack, manage that, and Romani would just nod and smile, still questioning the Caster's preference in his summoned form.

The line was quiet, and the Chaldeans had tried to contact everyone in the phonebook.

The Clocktower-nothing.

SHIELD-no answer.

Atlas Institute-nada.

When that failed, contact was attempted with organizations not really allied or interacted with, such as The Church and SWORD. He really didn't understand how he couldn't get the SWORD, their HQ was orbiting the Earth. One would think they'd survive the incineration. But to Romani's draining optimism, there was no one on the other side of the line. It's almost like the world ended...

Chaldea seemed to be the last man standing by some fluke of causality, and Romani, he was now the man behind the wheel. He knew why Chaldea was still here, not burnt to a crisp. Protections were placed, fail safes in case the best laid plans went amuck. That if, that's if everything was truly all for not-coms may just be on the fritz still.

But I had really thought there'd be someone else in their corner. He thought glumly as he left himself resting in his chair. He rubbed his temples and tapped his toes, the edge of everything still snapping at his sanity.

While things were worked on, he snuck into the medical room to try and find a moment of peace. What he came to find were the only survivors that had been found at ground zero of the blast. Team A, found amongst a group of twelve that had somehow gotten out of the fire. They were alive, just not there. The injuries they had suffered had left them comatose, and the suggestion of euthanizing them or putting them into cryostasis had been brought up to him at various points over the past two hours.

He...didn't need any more bodies to bury, so much to some of his colleagues' dismay, he let them live. In some vague wish that'd they get up one day, get up to what? The aftermath of judgement day? STOP IT, just because there's no answer...it doesn't mean Chaldea's failed.

Though the eight of Team A being out of their coffins and lined up against the wall outside of the command center did tell the doctor one thing, Someone actually managed to save them, and he thinks he knew who.

He had viewed the recordings of the fire right before the rayshift had fully-activated. Though the footage quality was less than stellar, Romani had been able to make out a figure getting bodies out of the fire all while doing acrobatics and superhuman feats no mere mortal that wasn't a physical magecraft master could do. Even then, most of those guys can't stick to walls like it was second nature.

The figure had been masked, a red one at that, and they fired strands of white from their palms.

And according to the systems that had been restarted, there were possible acting Chaldeans in Singularity F. And for his money, Romani had a hypothesis that it was the 'supposed' civilian that somehow got placed/recommended into the candidate pool without knowledge of magecraft and its inner workings. Just a gut feeling I guess..

It would make Marisbury and Olga cringe knowing that a cape had weaseled their into Chaldea, though he was sure at least the young director, if she was indeed still alive, would appreciate the back-up and the fact that Peter had at least tried to save people. Or should I call him by his alter ego? Never actually met a superhero, so I'm unsure on how to act about this. That's if his suspicions were true, I can't just say, hey-you're that spider-guy from New York, right? That'd ruin any trust they had between them, and the Parker boy was already iffy about Chaldea in the first place. But it'd make sense, he knew the current Sorcerer Supreme, an individual that had gone against the Mages Associations rulings of anonymity by partaking in the defense of New York during the 2011 Invasion alongside other caped or metahuman individuals that had begun to pop up at the turn of the millennium.

The Previous sorcerer supreme wouldn't have allowed this, and the Church and Association had tried many-a-time to assassinate Stephen Strange and have someone else take the mantle so that they could wipe away the planets' populations growing suspicion of Mystery. They already believed a man could fly, and that you could create constructs with hardened light, why wouldn't they start to believe that maguses weren't just found in dime store paperback fantasy novels.

If he was an outside viewer to this, Romani would have found it funny, he didn't share the vile that the idea of superhero brought to maguses. He actually found them quite cool in a way. He'd rate at least one of them with his idol Solomon and Magi*Mari. Maybe Luna Snow, though she was more of an idol than superhero.

But he wasn't an outside viewer, he knew how the Association ran, more or less, and knew that information of magecraft getting out would continue to extinguish it. And they needed it to try and get things back together.

Notwithstanding, Singularity F was their current issue, besides a master being chosen by the system, nobody had been able to locate Mash. And Romani honestly hoped she had been rayshifted along with this unknown master and not squashed to death by the building. She doesn't deserve that...after everything we've put her through. Just give the kid a break. He had to admit, she had done...pretty well since I first met her, she was-is-is almost like a regular teenage girl. And she had been actually quite excited to tell Romani about a lunch she was going to with her senpai, before Team A was supposed to enter the Coffins. She had such a blush on her face...

Even through the grimness of the present, the doctor couldn't help but smile a small, sad, smile. She almost made it, she had finally found someone she was comfortable with. Someone...possibly not normal-but hey, still works! Maybe it could've been more than that- He taps his forehead, She's alive Roman, keep with the program!

So here he was, still, awaiting any news of getting a transmission through to Singularity F. On pins and needles the thought of Mash's body being of the ones reported to him making him have to tap his forehead to stay focused on a better result. Cynicism wasn't needed right now, or probably for a while.

He went back to his cup of coffee, and took the handle into his fingers. The heat of a fresh brew was almost gone, and Romani took the warm cocoa-bean drink in gratefully. Drinking it until it was out with one gulp. That was the stress getting to him again. I shouldn't be in here, I should be with the rest of them. I should be helping. Over the years he had worked in Chaldea, he had picked up the tools of trade for various aspects of their operations. He knew very well he could get the transmitter working to properly view and be viewed by those in the singularity.

So why wasn't he helping out, making the evolution of things go faster? Because I'm afraid I might be wrong, that Marisbury's plan was doomed from the start and that...Mash is actually dead...and that she'll never forgive me...He inhaled, then exhaled with his eyes closed. For seconds, he didn't open them as he simply breathed.

He let go of the mug and let his eyes open. I'm the man on the wall now, I can't just let everything Chaldea stands for, good and bad, be in vain. With that, he exited the Medical Room and went to what was left of Central Command. Change is constant, Roman, and the best path forward starts with giving a crap!

The city smelled like the worst sort of nightmare to Peter as he and Mash faced off against man in blue wizard's cloak. Faced off, being an untrue term to use as Pete and Mash were still vying for who would protect who, against the man who just burned Lancer alive.

"Look, Mash, you had a chunk of building fall on you-I'm sure you're not batting a hundred yet." He got his foot in front of hers, She was just going to kill her, end a life like it was nothing. The lavender head, did the same move,

"I can confirm, Master, that I'm optimal to face the enemy." She said absolutely, before adding "...please stop trying to get in front of me" almost like she was embarrassed by him.

Maybe if you didn't try to go all Punisher on someone. Cute or not, I have standards thank you! "Mash, I don't know how long you've been in the business, but people like us don't make those permanent judgement calls." He began pushing against her shield with strength he'd use against Tombstone. "We don't have the right!" He picked up traction and began pushing the shy girl back.

Mash dug her heels to the ground and with strength equal to that of his, the teens found themselves deadlocked while the man in blue watched on like this was a comedy bit. "Master, please, I know this is still new to you, but please, just trust me. I don't want to have to hurt you!"

"And here we go with the threats! If I had a nickel for every time someone threatened me for doing the right thing, I'd buy frigging Roxxon!"

"Humble much?" the man in blue asked.

"I don't need commentary from a guy who took fashion advice from J.R.R. Tolkien!" the brunette shot back, applying more pressure, pushing the shield-wielding girl back.

"Ooh nice come back! How long did that take you to think of?"

"I..I said that wrong, I meant please, Master...I don't want you to get hurt!" At this, Mash returned the favor, equaling the force Peter was using. "Senpai, take a moment, remember where you are-I..I know this is overwhelming, it is for me as well. But we shouldn't be doing this...we have a contract!" Peter felt a pain in his heart at the way she said it, like her dreams had just been crushed a second time by him and the way he was.

I don't need to know where I am, I...I-god how do the A-listers deal with this stuff? He dug his heels to the ground, and with herculean might, he took hold of the sides of the shield and tried to pull it from Mash.

Mash, her grip like iron, didn't let go. This struggle resulted in them seeing each other, face to face, eye to eye. And Peter couldn't help but avoid her gaze, a gaze that looked like she hadn't expected this, a gaze that told him he was hurting her. But her expression was still resolute despite this.

She almost killed someone Pete, don't fall for it! "And what, let you kill again? I'm not going to just standby and let that happen! We have power Mash-and that means-"

"Oh here we go! The big impassioned speech!" He joked, laughing uncontrollably. "My god...you really are like him." Peter bit his lip, looking over at the guy before turning to Mash who was still matching him in strength.

"That means we need to be better than the bad guys." He said through gritted teeth. Her lilac eyes, still wounded, told Pete she had no idea what he was talking about. Pete, you're at loss here. Do something drastic or you're going to...I don't know what I'm going to do. He could fight her, already sort of was. But his spider-sense hadn't gone off once during their battle of strength. What the hell is going on?

"Alright, *snicker*-alright, that's enough for me!" The man in blue had walked over to them, still trying to get the last of his guffaws out in small chuckling bursts.

Mash and Peter looked to him, and found themselves unconsciously backing away from each other to meet the possible challenge the man would bring. To be continued...but I really hope it doesn't. He sized up his potential opponent, Looks limber judging by the muscle under his clothing, probably used to fighting. He used fire, so unless he has a partridge in a pear tree of molotovs under that cloak, I'm guessing he's a pyrokinetic. I haven't really gone up against one of those, not counting Johnny.

The man in blue swiveled his head to both of them with a critical eye, "If you're thinking about fighting me-don't bother. I have nothing against either of you, my beef is with the blackened," He gave the teens thumbs up and cheeky smile, "Which you guys helped me with, so thanks!"

"Thanks he says, excuse me for not accepting your gratitude!"

"You're excused," he smirked, revealing his teeth.

Take a breath Parker, maybe-most likely, definitely-he's not with Lancer. He's probably just one of those psychos that take the law into their own hands, like Foolkiller.

"Blackened?" Mash asked,

"Probably their organization name, like Hydra and the like," He slowly let himself go into a controlled relaxation, his spider-sense wasn't blaring at the moment. "Question is, and you can answer this for a cookie too, Twisted Sister, where the holy heck were the Avengers? 'Cause I'm pretty sure-" He motions to the devastated city "-this would call for some Avengers assemble beatdown action!" The image of the city, its smell, made his stomach turn, he tried his best to shake it off as the adrenaline in him died down.

"Avengers? We only had one avenger here and that bastard barely did anything before everything went to hell!"

This gave Peter pause. A rogue avenger? Okay let's go down the list here. With the level of destruction it could have been Thor, Hulk, maybe Iron Man. Though I wonder why the hell they'd go rogue-could be mind control? Or is this a dark future, but time travel isn't possible, Reed would have told m- Peter was taken away from his thoughts, Mash gave him an unsure look.

"Senpai, this wasn't the Avengers, they don't exist yet,"

"What do you mean they don't exist, earth's mightiest heroes, the guys who make crime fighting seem like a lifestyle-" which it honestly kind of is, bad for chilling with friends though "-quit pulling my leg here Mash."

"Avengers? Earth's mightiest heroes? I mean if you consider constant anger and salt, mighty, then I'd agree." Blue Man commented, Pete shooting him a glare that he just smirked at.

"The heck are you talking about, you stroll through a city wearing that and you don't know about the guys who saved the planet?"

"Master…"

"Saved the planet? Those rage quitters couldn't save themselves out of a cardboard box working together."

"Do you not watch the news? That was the talk of the world for a few weeks back in 2011.

"2011?! Did Lancer hit you too hard or something?"

"No clue, all remember is her burning alive!" he felt Mash grab his shoulder softly, and he felt the stress running through shoulder.

"Senpai-we're in the past. The city of Fuyuki, Japan in the year 2004."

"2004?" The number hit him like a bullet to the chest, that hadn't exactly been a good year for the Parker household. Especially when you're young, but still old enough to remember that you actually had more than an Aunt and an Uncle.

"Singularity F is what Chaldea designated it when SHEBA notified us of it. It's the whole reason we were sending in Team A." She looks at her shield in puzzlement, "And it looks like, despite the fire, we were still able to successfully rayshift here."

I'm going to have another migraine, aren't I? "Small miracles, but time travel? You don't honestly expect me to believe that, when we were swallowed by light, we were flung back to the past like Marty Mcfly?"

"Marty Mcfly?" she gave him a puzzled look.

"Back To The Future, I'm going to marathon those movies with you one of these days once we get out of this." He pinched his temple as he had finally begun to feel the cut he had received from lancer, That's gonna hurt in the morning, crap. He did his best to remain calm, though, it seemed Mash and Blue Boy noticed that he was reeling for a second before he put on the façade.

Mash got to his side and took a hold of him, "Do you need any medical attention, senpai?" She asked earnestly, and worryingly, like Peter and her didn't just almost hash it out earlier, "I may not be skilled, but Dr. Roman did show me some basics!"

"I'm fine Mash, nothing a little bed rest won't fix." Healing factor should take care of it in a few days anyway. "Wait-you know Roman?"

"Yes, I..I mentioned him when I was taking you to your room."

And he mentioned you when I first met him, cool, connected the dots on that one. Good going, Parker.

Besides like a few snide comments, the man in blue was just watching them now, he then entered the conversation again. "Most guys would dive at the chance have a lass like her check on them,"

"Well, I'm not most guys." He got away from Mash, the guy's comment making him self-conscious. "So what's your deal then, we're apparently in the past (should I avoid stepping on butterflies) in a destroyed city called Fuyuki or Singularity F. And you just burned a woman alive, I still haven't forgotten that bit!" He pointed to him accusingly.

"I'm the only Caster left, lost master, the only sane servant left in a grail war gone to shit."

"None of what you said made any sense to me pal." And why do I keep getting called 'Master', am I having some kind of weird dream that's an analogy for sex?

Deadpanned, Caster looked to Mash, "Is your master slow?"

Mash shook her head and raised her shield to Caster. "He's new-and I'd appreciate you not insulting him!" she threatened, her cute voice having a hinting hard edge to it. Peter put a hand on the shield, motioning her to put it down.

"New huh? Hmm, get yourself some red hair dye and you'd look just like him-even have the same eye color." He shook his head and let out a snicker. "Well let me put it plainly, new master, you're standing in hell right now, and you just went toe-to-toe with a strong servant without dying. So either you're a really skilled novice-or...I'm not exactly sure, but I wouldn't mind going a round or two with you," he sucked in air and whispered something under breath. "But if you're here for the grail, it's already spoken for and I called dibs on getting it from little miss laser sword and her sword throwing boy toy. 'Cause I have worked very hard at taking out the competition while handicapped as a Caster and I don't need some rookie getting in my way!" He took a breath, "So either help me get it, or get in my way and I can be done with both of you! I have no grudge against either of you, but the war is half-on and I'm still rearing to stomp the sanctimonious ass of anybody who gets in my way!"

"Geez, with an offer like that, who would refuse?" he mocked.

"Are you always this annoying?"

"I don't know, does it sound like I am?"

"Least the other guy didn't have a mouth on him."

"Well good for him, why don't you get married!"

"Senpai, please stop antagonizing him,"

He bit his lip, I'm getting too caught up in this, dang it. Take a moment, breath. "...look...I-"

He was cut off, as a glowing blue form of one Romani Archaman appeared before the group of three. "Excellent, we finally got a signal through-and-Mash, what are you wearing? I thought I raised you better than to wear something like that!"

Mash went up the projection to report in, leaving Peter with Caster. "I'm called Caster, if it wasn't obvious before." He gave his hand for a shake,

"Why would I shake your hand?"

"Because you're meeting a legend." He remarked proudly.

"And who would that be?" He left Cu behind to meet up with Mash.

"...Kid's got an attitude. He wouldn't last a round of endurance training with the old hag." Cu was about to turn and leave, but he took a moment, he pursed his lips and cussed to himself. He faced and went to find out what the deal was with this novice master and cute shielder. I am so going to pay for saying that, aren't I?

Peter came up beside Mash, with Caster trailing behind. "...when I was overtaken by light, I came in contact with a disembodied servant whose master didn't survive. He made a contract so that I could survive and use his abilities to save my Master."

"Did you get his name?"

"While he gave me the knowledge to fight, and some added strength on top of that- I wasn't able to recognize his noble phantasm," Mash looked down in shame, "Unfortunately, he left before I could."

"Well, no use crying over spilt milk. But it's nice to know one of Chaldea's projects was successful. A demi-servant actualized, wow...I'm glad you're okay Mash.." He softly spoke, turning his attention to Peter. "And I see you're our final master candidate, congrats, sorry there's no champagne and cocktail shrimp."

Pete shrugged, had only caught the tail end of the conversation but still appreciated the attempt at humor, "No problem Doc," He took a moment, he quickly went to the back of his right hand, where the shield mark was still laid. He decided to take a guess at the connection here "I got this because I'm a master candidate, right?"

"You were chosen by our system, and it seems you're surviving the experience so far."

"Barely!" Cu said behind him, Romani acknowledging his existence with a quirked brow.

Mash pressed on, "When me and Senpai rayshifted, the process separated us. Luckily Fou was able to lead me to him before he was seriously injured in his battle with an enemy lancer."

Like a ghost, Fou came from nowhere, and sat next to Peter, his spider-sense once again, starting to buzz when the little fluff ball was around. Where the hell did you come from?

"Kyuu!" he said snidely.

"You battled a lancer? How'd you manage that, they're usually considered one of the fastest servant classes besides rider?"

Peter's pupils shrunk and scratched the back of his in embarrassment. "I took track and field back home. Makes' ya really limber." He lied, Crap, I've been going off for the past few minutes to Mash and this jerk like I was wearing the mask. I need to get under control before my secret's out...priorities Parker, that should be like the sixth thing on your list with what is going right now.

"Senpai, track and field, from what I've read-doesn't make one able to shoot-"

He cut her off fast "Soooo, Doc, I need you to settle a bet here for me! Are we in the year 2004? Because I've read Doctor Richards's papers on the laws of time and space, and he said it was near impossible to actually do that with the level of tech we have at our disposal!"

"Oh he is not going to like the fact that you mentioned that guy."

"What?"

"Uh-nothing, but to confirm, yes. You're in the past and as of right now, you two are currently, Chaldea's only acting agent on the field...and the readings, hmm?"

"What is it Doctor?"

"Well, your magical circuits have tripled since the last time I saw you but...Peter, the system can't make heads or tails on you, it just keeps reading as error."

"Joy…" Peter already knew he was in this situation halfcocked, an abysmal expression forming on his face. Where the hell do I go from here?

"Hey, come on now, don't look so glum. You got the most powerful weapon humanity has on the board right now - Mash!"

"...say again?"

"You and her have entered a contract with each other, you're her master now."

"...can we come up with a better word for this and secondly...what is she like? Is she my servant now or something?"

"Exactly."

"Huh?" He heard Caster begin chuckling behind him.

"Probably should have given you the whole spiel about how Chaldea was exactly going to save humanity while we were talking earlier...but obviously, there were other matters to worry about." He claps his hands together and nods to himself. "Our system, SHEBA, which analyses the timeline for discrepancies in the human order, told us that the world as we knew it was going to end in 2017, meaning that there wouldn't be a single trace of human life on Earth."

"No human life...then that means...oh god…" A shallow breath escaped him, "...Doc, please tell me that...please tell we just ended up some kind of weird alternate universe, don't say that...that's everyone's dead…" he begged,

Romani grim reluctance was all the answer Peter needed, seeing the ghost of reaction the teen was about to have-he spoke. "It may just be our external communications still the fritz. The way I'm talking to you is different from the way Chaldea communicates to the outside world." He said reassuringly, Peter's nerves unwinding, if only a little.

"That's...okay, thanks Doc. Good to know!" He gives a soft smile, eyes worrisome. But, if he's wrong...that means...I don't want to know what that means. "Team A was a part of the way you guys were going to stop the end of the world...and since me and Mash are the only ones here. It's up to us?" He scratches his forehead, a vibration coming over him as the possibility of everything he knows and loves-annihilated. "How...*gulp* how would we go about doing that?" He asked hesitantly, the image of Aunt May or Mary Jane dead somewhere flashing into his psyche. This feels out of my league....

"Hey Hey you're good. We're just facing the possible Armageddon-but-but and this is a big but-"

"Doctor…" Mash warned exasperatedly.

"Hey, just trying to lighten the mood-but what I'm saying is, there is a way to stop this Peter. And that's Ma-"

The connection became glitched, before disappearing completely, leaving the four along and back to the wasteland of crimson and darkness.

"We lost him…"

"Most likely because Chaldea is presumably running off of bac-"

Peter's palms sparked, his teeth grinding against each other, "...he was going to tell us how to freaking fix this and we lost him!" He needed an outlet, he needed something to punch. Of course it cut off at the part when I was going to get answers, of course. That was just his luck, it was always his luck. What if Doc was wrong, what if everyone is dead? How the hell am I going to-

A firm hand clutched his shoulder, it was Mash, she seemed to be making it a habit of hers. "We'll make connections again, Senpai, don't worry. Please."

His palms stopped collecting static and he let himself be consoled. "Thanks Mash," He looked at Caster warily. "Don't suppose you got a reason for sticking around here, something about a grail or some crap-and hey, aren't you surprised we're from the future?"

"Not much surprises me, especially when you're a heroic spirit-because that's when you see the really weird shit."

"Heroic spirit?"

"Kyuu." the fluffball rolled his eyes.

He rolled his eyes at the furball, "Excuse me for still being a few steps behind everyone in the terminology department." He cracks a few of his more stressed joints. "Okay, moving past that, but returning to it eventually, Mash-since you actually know what Team A was supposed to do, what's our move here so we can get away from Mr. Incinerate-A-Chick-Alive over here." He motions to the Azure Caster unkindly.

Before the heroic spirit could fire back, Mash began. "We'd need to find the closest leyline, there we'll be able to set up a base camp so we can plan with the Doctor." She took a moment and cased the area, "The closest one is deep within the center of Fuyuki, and we should be able to reach it within a half-an-hour."

"Cool, alright we got a basic plan of what we're doing." He motions to Mash dramatically, "Lead the way Captain Chaldea!"

"Captain Chaldea?" She looked at him unsurely.

"You're using a shield, call me a hack for making an obvious joke, but if it works, it works." Still...it feels weird making a joke to her like this, I mean, she did try to kill someone. Enemy or not, I'll have to keep an eye on her so that doesn't happen again.

Mash takes the lead, and Fou stays behind a second, "Fou." The squirrel-thing gives him an unimpressed glare.

Why do I get the feeling he knows what I'm thinking? Pete shrugs and begins to follow, only to dead stop as Cu trails behind him. "No way jose."

"You're still miffed that I took out Lancer, aren't you?"

"What was your first guess, man? That I was jealous of your wooden stick?"

Cu looks to Mash who had stopped to wait for Peter, "Hey lass, can you please explain to your master here the whole deal with heroic spirits. 'Cause I don't know how long I can take his constant holier-than-thou attitude!"

"It's not being holier-than-thou, it's having human decency, ya jerk!"

"And that's your issue right there, you're treating the situation as if I did the worst thing imaginable!" Cu got in Peter's face. "When I'm doing the exact thing I was summoned for?"

"And what would that be? Overcook the Christmas ham?"

"I'm a heroic spirit-" He points to Mash, "She's a heroic spirit! THAT MEANS WE'RE HERE TO KICK ASS, TAKE NAMES, AND ENJOY NOT BEING STUCK IN OUR OWN PERSONAL PURGATORIES!" He summons fire, the spider-senses flares and Peter grabs him by his wrists to restrain him in motion not dissimilar to that of a master martial artist.

"I don't care what you call yourself-or what weird little paradigm to use as a justification to kill! There's too many of you jackasses in the present doing crap like this and I'm personally tired of it!"

"Kid, just because you took on Lancer and survived, doesn't mean you're tough shit! You're still human and me...I'm a guy who's been fighting longer than you've been in diapers!" He grins devilishly, "You still needed that cute girl's help to even the odds and even then-your own sense of morality kept you from attaining victory!"

His strength, judging by how much he's using it, is weaker than Lancer-I can take this guy! "Victory? This isn't some game-that was a life, a living, breathing life, and you took it away from her!"

"SHE WAS ALREADY DEAD YOU DUMBASS!"

"Well now she is!"

Mash put the shield in between them, causing both Caster and Peter to take steps away from each other.

"I will defend my Master if you do that again Mr. Caster." she warned with a determination in her lilac eyes. She then turned to Peter, looking a little distraught. "Senpai, a heroic spirit is someone recorded, thanks to their deeds in life, into the throne of heroes after their death. They're summoned using magecraft by viable masters and do the bidding of said masters."

The word throne made his head fuzzy for a second, "So wait, when Lancer was-"

"Killed, she didn't necessarily die. She was just taken back to the throne to wait for another chance at being summoned." Caster explained, his features still irked by Parker. "It's the fate of all summoned from the throne, to be reborn in bodies made of mana, fight, die-repeat, ever and ever until one of us finally gets what we want! Whether it be from a battle, a wish, or just to know what it's like to live again." He softened, "You're still young, and judging by the way you fight, you're used to going against tough foes. I can understand, I had to learn as well back when I was still alive." He approaches Peter. "But if it makes you feel any better, when you go against another servant, remember you're not killing them, they're already dead, and they'll still be dead if you ever see them again."

The Caster looks to Mash sorely. "If you're going to be her master, you're going to have to shape up and get over yourself! Because she's going to rely on you, just as much as you're going to rely on her." He moved away from them and motioned to follow, "You said you're looking for a leyline in the center of the city, I know where that one is, I used it to kill the Berserker of Red, bastard kept going on about oppressors or some crap like always..." He led the way, leaving Peter almost feeling hollow as he let the information roll over.

He can't be serious. You can't bring the dead back to life...well I'm dealing with magic right? So maybe. God, what I'd give to have Strange in my corner right now. He'd know what to, The Doc can be really vague with all the purple prose but he usually knows what he's talking about. He thought to himself as he followed, Mash and Fou following him closely, the little fluff ball riding on her shoulder as the lavender head looked at him worriedly. Heroic spirit, odd term to give someone who was turning people into statues. I'd say it's a misnomer and what about Mr. Burns over there. He's a heroic spirit as well, which means he's dead too...and if Mash is also a heroic spirit...does that mean she...I-I didn't save her did I? He didn't look back at Mash. If he did, he might have thrown up. That's just like you Parker. 'Most dashing hero on two legs' couldn't save a girl you just met...meaning she's stuck in a perpetual loop of fighting for the rest of her existence if what that guy says is true. That's no life-or I guess unlife. And what's better, I was almost about to fight her, she was just following the sick rules placed upon her. She had no choice, and Lancer had no choice. Is this what magic is, just letting yourself be pulled by strings of some messed up rule book? I can see why the Doc warned me about it. He clenched into fists and began walking faster. How can I look her in the eye now, I couldn't even do that when I didn't know what she was-I failed her-got her killed-and now I'm her master? What kind of cosmic joke is this? Because I'm not laughing. His palms popped, and her lilac eyes noticed it.

"Senpai…" she began to reach for him.

And the world apparently might be down the can, so there goes everything! What if I can never see Aunt May or MJ again? What about Matt, Johnny-is every single superhero dead as well? Apparently there's a way to stop this-but how can I freaking do that?! I'm just one guy, I've never even left New York until today! This...this isn't the type of stuff I deal with? Why couldn't Chaldea have just gotten robbed or something? Why couldn't they have accidentally got Tony Stark on the payroll? Why am I always at the wrong place at the right time? This is a job for someone who knows what they're doing, not some kid in tights! He shivered, I failed everyone, I didn't do anything when my spider-sense flared, I just figured I'd deal with it later. This is what I was being warned about right? If it wasn't Lev, it was probably something-why did I just standby kicking and screaming about crap when I could have been doing anything of worth?! The static was building. And my hands? What the hell is going on with my hands? Did that machine mess me up even more than fucking spider bite?! I just...I just don't want to be here. It was as his form began to leave view that Mash took his hand. She was shocked, a bit taken aback for a moment, but held firm regardless. "I'm fine Mash, let's just get to the leyline."

Her hand still gripped his, "We'll fix this, together."

And who's going to fix you? 'Cause I sure can't "...I'm sorry...I'm sorry I couldn't save you." He got out of her grip and sped to catch up to Cu. Leaving her behind.

Mash found herself at a loss, Save me...does he think...senpai no.

"Mkyuu? Fou." Fou nuzzled against her before leaping off and charging at Peter. He jumped, and Peter caught him by his scruff. "KYUU!"

"I'm not in the mood, furball!" He sets him down. With that, he stuffed his hands in his pockets in a huff.

Fou sneered, returning to Mash who was feeling twinge down on herself now. Drama...this is what it's called. The self-loathing he has, it's sort of like Romani when I see his facade crack. The Doctor would usually just try to push it aside with a joke and smile like nothing was wrong. Maybe that's what he does under the mask I saw him wear. She followed Peter hesitantly, unsure of what she could say. Even with the info the Doctor had shared with her, she was still so naive to the expression and emotions regular humans felt. She wanted to console him, make him know everything would be okay-but there was a wall, and that was quite obvious to her. In essence, he's the most human person I've ever met. She had plenty of people since was born, but she's always been faced with a facade shown to her, staff acting like she wasn't there, being cordial only to get her out of their hair, or looking at her in shame-like Director Olga Marie...I don't blame them, I'm sure...if I was like them...I'd have the same reaction. Lev Laniur and Doctor Romani, were there, she admitted, made her feel more human than she had been or probably had the right to. Senpai, Peter, he hadn't looked at me like I wasn't what I looked like...everyone else would have just left me to die in that fire...but he didn't. She felt a welt of determination form within her. And her steps became more meaningful to them.

Mash wasn't dumb, she was perceptive enough. She knew her senpai, her master, was more than he was letting on. The mask, he was probably one of those superheroes that the Doctor sometimes tells me about. Most people in Chaldea didn't really like to discuss the rise of the capes, much less with her. But she knew the basics, from public records or stories Romani told her. The message they inspired in people, seemed a bit too unrealistic to her, especially in the world she had grown up in. But she liked it, even if it was fantastical.

But back to the point, she knew Peter was a cape, she just didn't know which one. But that didn't matter to her, he was still her senpai, someone who treated her like a person from the onset. Until I was about to end the battle, I was just doing what was expected of me as a servant. What had she done wrong, or maybe, it had something more to do with Peter. Capes, by most mages, were criticized for their lack of finality in their actions. Maybe it's that mindset that's making him so...melancholic.

"Fou?" he had noticed the furrowed brow and sad expression as she kept thinking.

"I'm okay Fou, I'm just being retrospective."

"Kyuu…" he didn't sound like he believed it.

I'm a servant, and he's my master. Why am I letting this get to me? He had pushed against it, gotten away from her and avoided her. He was acting like how everyone had ever acted towards her. But it's not for the usual reasons, I know this. Yet...that doesn't make it feel any better. How can I be an effective servant if he doesn't trust me? She shouldn't have been letting this get to her, she should just let the old programming take over, she was a tool-nothing more. But the spark of something more was already there, and she couldn't help but let it get to her.

It was her turn to be surprised, as Peter had slowed his pace to walk by her. "Hey, senpai."

"Hey, Mash." Their tones carried the same kind of reluctance. And it was Peter, as bold as he ever was, to speak first. "I'll find a way to get you out of that crappy little cycle you're stuck in-nobody should have to have their eternal slumber be sidetracked by some bullcrap magical gobbledygook." He glanced at her from the side of his eye.

"I'm...you did save me, senpai."

"But I didn't though-you're like him, you're like her. You're a servant, heroic spirit, whatever the hell that means. But I know someone who could get you out of this if we're able to find out what maniac ruined this city."

"I'm a demi-servant...that means, I'm still human. I just have the abilities of a servant. I'm still like you, but I'm now host to someone who did something great in history. I still breathe, eat, feel. I'm not dead senpai, you did save me in that fire and I'm really grateful...not many people would have…" she looked bashful, causing Peter to look at her, redden and turn away.

"I just did my civic duty as a member of the human race Mash, nothing more, nothing less." He shrugs, tugging at his collar to try lessen the heat he was feeling.

No, you did what those like you always do. Save people. "And the mask?"

Peter's eyes narrowed. "Old halloween costume, it must have fallen in my bag when I was packing. Small accident, don't read into it." He chuckles, scratching his chin in an attempt to act natural.

Mash couldn't help but smile, Peter was cute when he was embarrassed. "Don't worry, I won't." And she was being honest about that, she wasn't one to really tell a lie. She knew he'd reveal what his secret was on his own, he seemed the type. And it was the human thing to do.

A silence fell between them, Fou jumping from Mash heading next to Peter to walk by him, quickly sniffing him and seeming to make a considerate expression. As the seconds passed, neither teen knew what to add as sort of tension began to rise.

"Sooo-*cough*-Can I ask why you call me senpai? Is that like another magic term I need to learn for the final exam?"

Mash shook her head promptly, a slight blush forming on her cheeks, "It's a term Doctor Roman taught, it originates from Japan, and it's usually to refer to someone's senior."

"Oh...so I guess you call most people around my age senpai then. Makes sense, it's just like common slang I guess. It's cool, I have no problem with it."

She pursed her lips, and her lilac eyes avoided him. "Actually...you're the first person I've ever called senpai." she said meekly.

"Huh why? What's so special about me?"

"You seemed really human."

"Thank...you?"

She raised her hands in defense, "Uh-what I mean is...you just had a different air than most people I interact with and I..I felt safe around you."

She heard what could have been a gulp, then Peter laughed it off. "Aw come on, I'm not Sue Richards-now that's someone you can feel safe around!"

"Maybe, but I don't know Sue Richards, I know you. And I know it's only been a short time but I'm glad I met you and I hope I can live up to what's expected of me as a servant, Master."

Peter cringed and his face seemed to warm. "We really need to figure out a different way to describe this-'Cause I don't know how I feel about being called a master, sounds skeevy."

"Maybe."

"Moving past that, I'm sorry if I scared you when we're having that little pushing match."

"You were just doing what you thought was right, I can't blame you."

"No...but I can admit when I know I'm over my head. Heroic spirits, and if they're all like Lancer and that guy...hmm, I'll get used to it, but I feel like there's going to be a bit of learning curve when it comes to this situation,"

"Then we're on the same boat. That's the expression right?"

"Yeah, I guess we are." He raises his hand to her, "So until we make landfall, we're partners, sound good?"

Mash accepts it graciously, "Sounds good, Servant Mash Kyrielight, accepts, Master."

"Still don't like that, but if it's the proper terminology, I'll get past it."

"Fou!"

"So what exactly is he? My bet is on a pomeranian-chihuahua mix."

"Mkyuu." Fou responds staunchly.

"He's Fou, Senpai. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Yeah...nothing more, nothing less." His shoulders relaxed, his step having a bit more pep despite the atmosphere of the city. "Let's hope Merlin over there isn't leading us into a trap."

"I'll commence battle operations if he does, Master."

"Cool." He reaches into his pocket and replaces the cartridges in the devices clamped on to his hand.

Who are you, Senpai?

The Archer of White (now sole archer), his red garb flowing in the wind, saw them from where he stood guard. A new master, and a new servant, teaming up with that mangy hound from Ireland. The servant was one he wasn't necessarily familiar with, Uses a shield as her main weapon, hmm. Shielder...heard about those through the grapevine. Not many of them, and that so-called 'Sentinel of Liberty' isn't in the throne yet...so who are you?

The master, something about him made his skin crawl, and he didn't know why. Maybe he's like that idiot. No-I'd just feel utter embarrassment and shame. No...my saint saint graph feels a deep loathing for him, a spite I can't recall. And the way he moved was odd, not like a skilled mage or martial artist, no...this was instinct, almost animal-like. Something in him told him that he should just finish them off now, before the servant and the invader came for the grail.

But she held him back, and he trusted her judgement above all else. Why wouldn't he? She had never led him wrong before. So I'll wait, they'll come eventually and then, I'll see if their taking out of Lancer was just a fluke. The Archer, his skinned having burned a deep tan by the overuse of his circuits and his hair bleached the same way, smiled, the thought of ending the new master seeming very gratifying to him. He hoped they'd come soon, he was itching for a fight, the dog had been too cautious since the city fell, and he needed an old-fashioned face-to-face fight. Maybe this job is getting to me, "But it's better than constant despair, so please, come soon a new master and let me see how you like the taste of the bone of my sword…" He crossed his arms and let himself rest against the base of the mountain, and allowed the web of destiny to lead itself to the conclusion. "Let's see if you have any ideals I can shatter, heh, I could use a good idiot to impale." EMIYA chuckled to himself, and just watched, and waited.