A Certain Musical Diva?
[ACMI: Yami no Naka]
"Therestina?!" Joule was shocked but the woman just smiled a cruel smile. Joule took a step away but before she could run, Therestina reached for her.
The robotic hand of her suit closed around Joule's arm and held tight. Joule tried to struggle but Therestina chuckled and gripped tighter. Joule's eyes opened wide and she gasped as she felt a crack from her arm. Her arm had been broken.
Therestina still had the same evil smile but she spoke quietly "Hello there Joule, you will be my hostage for the next few minutes so please try to calm down. I don't need to break anything else do I?"
Joule remained quiet but stopped struggling. Therestina's voice changed slightly then, as if she were trying to joke "Now Joule, let's try to find your friends~"
She began to pull Joule along by her broken arm, Joule hissed at the pain but followed along sedately while looking for a chance to get away. Therestina's grip was strong thanks to the suit but it might have issues.
Only at this point did Joule see what was in her other hand, a lance of some sort. She wondered what that was for but they made there way to the control room which was luckily empty. Therestina grumbled as she tapped a few keys before standing up straight. Joule was able to read off the screen.
Capacity down program loaded
Executing in 180 seconds
Therestina noticed Joule looking at the screen before pulling her along "Come on, it will take us about three minutes to reach the bottom floor.
Because of her pace, Joule was forced to walk quickly to avoid hurting her arm further. As they walked Lumen flew over to her shoulder from below them. Joule looked at her captor but she didn't seem to be aware of Lumen.
Lumen was spoke quickly "Our friends are all below, GV and the rest of team one have just arrived outside."
Joule had to focus through the pain to think her messages to Lumen "Do they know she is coming?"
Lumen the butterfly turned a little pink, Joule wondered if she were blushing "Well, I wasn't able to tell them due to wanting to hide my existance."
Joule simply remained quiet as Lumen cringed "Well I have gotten so used to hiding from them, I am fairly sure Misaka would be able to see me easily."
Within 30 seconds they were outside the main room where the pods were. Just before they reached the door, Capacity down began.
Honestly, Joule didn't feel that different. A slight headache maybe but it wasn't as bad as some awful sounds she had heard. She appeared to be in the minority however as she suddenly heard cries of pain from within the door.
[ACSR: Zetsubou wo mo koeru]
"That sound again!" Misaka's voice was clear as the door opened without a noise. As Misaka continued "It can't be-" Therestina spoke up "But it is! You pesky meddling brats!"
Therestina threw Joule to the side and she landed on her broken arm. She couldn't hold it back this time and she cried out in agony.
Over by the others, Therestina lifted the lance she had with her and used it to smack Kuroko and Misaka to the floor.
As they struggled to stand, Therestina smiled and held aloft a small glass capsule that contained some sort of red crystal.
"This really has been an annoying experience but I can finish this all before those idiots upstairs reach us."
"Why?" Misaka spoke as she was trying to stand again "Why would you go this far? You were experimented on too right? Doesn't that make you a victim in this too?"
Therestina didn't turn around at first "You're wrong, I am not a victim. I am academy city's ultimate dream!" after that statement she half turned to show Misaka the red crystal "This seed of greatness was born thanks to me. And I intend to let it bloom. Using this I am finally going to create a level 6!"
"A level 6!" Misaka was shocked "No way!"
"Oh yes," Therestina had turned back to the pod where Haruue was now trying to get as far from her as possible in the small space "This young girl is about to become the first esper in the city to reach level 6! The power of the other children will flow into her!"
Joule had managed to sit up and as she cradled her arm, Kuroko had also managed to sit up. she was till holding her head, the level upper was clearly having it's effect on her and Misaka.
Therestina had continued to explain her plan, how Haruue's power level shifting would allow her to recieve signals above her normal level and it would help her resonate with the crystal. "High level telepaths are quiet rare after all." Joule looked up suddenly at the same moment that everyone turned to look at her. Therestina smiled and continued "From what I have read Joule, you too have the potential to do this. You too have shown feats above your normal ability from singing. If Haruue fails I could always torture these two until you... cooperate"
Joule's face sunk at what she was implying but Therestina just smiled "I only have one step left to perfect the crystal." She reached towards the control keyboard of the room but Misaka called out "Don't do it!"
Misaka was clearly in great pain but she stood and talked "Do you not realised what will happen? If you are using the children to create something for the crystal you will likely cause them to awaken and poltergeist out of control!"
"I am aware." Therestina had looked towards Misaka, that creepy smile never changing "The whole city might well be destroyed. So what? I don't see the issue as the city was only built to create a level 6. If that is done what is the point of the city anymore?"
Misaka looked shocked but she tried to focus and managed to create a few sparks of electricity. Before she could do anything though Therestina had swung round the lance and used it to lift her into the air by her shirt.
The pain in Misaka's voice was clear, Joule knew that the others couldn't reach them in time.
She knew she had to sing to give them a chance.
"Are you sure?" Lumen warned her. Joule nodded "We need to do it." and focused, the capacity down sound becoming a wavelength in her mind.
Joule began to hum at first, it seemed no-one could hear her over capacity down so she raised her voice just slightly. Lumen was singing with her but they both knew they needed more to defeat whatever giant speaker was sending out Capacity down.
Joule took a breath before she and Lumen began singing in earnest.
[ASG: Rouge Shimmer]
Therestina was the first to react, she turned quickly but before she could do anything Misaka dropped from the lance and took control of the magnetic force to throw the robotic suit (with Therestina inside) to the other side of the room.
"How?" Therestina yelled "Capacity down is still in effect, you should be powerless!"
Misaka looked towards Joule to see what she was doing at stopped in shock. Behind Joule's back was another girl singing along with her. The girl had blond hair and was dressed like an idol. Along with the idol's appearance came true music, a track for Joule to sing to.
Therestina followed Misaka's gaze but all she saw was Joule singing "You too! How are you using your powers now?"
As her attention moved, Kuroko stood up and teleported.
Her leaving was not seen by anyone as Therestina had draw their attention with a laugh, After the laughing she spoke "Fine then, looks like it's time to change tactics. Fortunately I have a plan B! I am going to blow you away!"
The lance opened up to reveal it was some sort of cannon that began to crackle with an electric charge.
"I built this weapon after carefully analysing your ability, it is even more powerful than your railgun!"
Misaka looked up suddenly as she pulled out a coin "Even if it is, won't you be destroying your 'samples'?"
Therestina laughed once again "At the current angle the only things that will be broken are you and the girl behind you. Joule can replace the girl and we can be back on schedule!"
Misaka looked at Joule who was lost in the song "If you really think that she would help you then you are truely mad. How bitter would you be if you thought so little of other humans?"
"You may be a level 5 electromaster but in this city," Therestina had to raise her voice to be heard over her personal railgun "You are nothing but data! Just a bunch of data with two legs and-"
Misaka cut her off "That is where you are wrong, the people of this city are more then that. Anything is possible in this place. Here we can reach greatness on our own. In a way that can only be done here. So then-"
"You think you're human beings?" Therestina laughed as the gun charged and Misaka flipped her coin into the air "You are all just samples, that is what academy city was made for!"
Misaka was determined "I'll stop you, for the sake of my city!"
The launched the coin just as the cannon fired, the two railgun's met in the center of tha hall. They seemed to have equal force but Misaka knew something important, the cannon would be able to release a constant blast for longer. So she would need to overpower it.
Joule's song rang through her head, giving her strength. Misaka focused and pushed more energy through the stream.
The point of contact between the beams began to move, it was pushed towards the cannon.
An explosion ripped through the facility as Therestina was thrown away from her detonating cannon.
Capacity down had stopped so Joule stopped singing and fell to the ground.
[ACSR: Kiyama-sensei]
A few minutes later Team 1 had reached their location, Dr Kiyama took the first sample and began to work with the equipment to wake the children.
She tapped the enter key and looked towards the pods which slowly opened. The friends who could still stand (Team 1 mostly) gathered around the pod with Banri inside and they waited.
The girl slowly moved before opening her eyes and mumbling a good morning. Around them the occupants of the other pods were waking up.
Dr Kiyama looked at the gathered friends and bowed "Thank you all."
A while later all of the children were with the friends on the roof of the hospital that heaven canceler ran, the friends had been running late but Kuroko snuck in a teleport so they would all be there on time.
They held their breath as the blimp came by to show the video that they had recorded.
The video started and Dr Kiyama in her hospital room saw the children wishing her a happy birthday.
Around the city there were those in the know and those who were not but they all saw this happy thing.
Joule looked around at her friends that she had made since coming to academy city and smiled.
GV hadn't come to the roof with them all but he did look up and smile, he had more important things to do. Like plan how he was going to explain another jump in power for him and Joule.
End of chapter (and arc)
...Wow.
To be fair I don't like the last parts of the chapter but those who know the Anime episode can agree when I say it ended quickly.
Either way, The arc is done as is season 1 of railgun.
Main change to the status quo? Misaka now knows something is odd about Joule's power and there is definately camera footage of Luxcalibur.