What is required

[ACSRS: Determination]

Joule held on to Misaka's arm. It looked like she was going to shake herself free but Joule loosened her grip just slightly. Misaka looked at her as if trying to figure out what she was thinking.

Joule looked at the seating and asked "Can we sit before I start?"

Misaka nodded slowly and they both sat down. Joule had let go of Misaka and now held her hands together as if thinking before finally saying "Going to finish this problem alone without checking in with the others? Let's look at the possibilities; best case scenario you manage to find the right lab first time, manage to get all the information we need from it and destroy STUDY in that one raid without getting yourself or anyone else hurt during the attack."

Joule raised an eyebrow as if to say "That isn't very likely."

Misaka crossed her arms "Seems fine to me."

Joule nodded but continued "Results: the others are annoyed you left them out, they would be happy that Febrie is safe but you putting yourself in all that danger would worry them, if you haven't noticed they want to help with this. They showed you that only this morning."

Misaka's eyes finally lost a little bit of the resolve but she just shook her head "If everyone is safe that is still a positive in my book."

Joule sighed "Worst case scenario then. you target the wrong building. they have a trap there, possibly something with capacity down and you are captured or killed."

At this Misaka looked angry, Joule suspected she was likely thinking something like "Are you underestimating me?"

Joule shook her head and continued "Results: Your friends worry, some of them might try something stupid to try and find you but you left no trail for them to follow. Febrie would die."

Misaka's anger rose and she spoke with force "That won't happen."

Joule sighed "I did say worst case, but things can go wrong. I'm just asking you to check in and continue to work with us rather than going on your own."

Joule suspected that within Misaka's mind was a war between her desire to keep her friends out of danger and the rational part of her mind that listened to her. Joule continued "All possible outcomes of going it alone at this point risks at least some form of backlash, even in the best case it would look like you don't trust us enough. We have got this far together and only now are you breaking away." Joule stopped here and put on a voice that wasn't even imitating anyone in particular but simply making her sound like someone else "Was she just using us or does she not trust us? If she really trusted us then she would trust us to help her."

Misaka stopped suddenly. Joule worried she had been too harsh by suggesting that they might lose faith in her but Misaka looked up "You wouldn't though," her voice was somehow both stating a fact and pleading that she was right "You and the others know that I'm like this by now, I like to deal with these problems myself."

Joule sighed in relief "Yes, we do. It does worry us though. We showed you this morning that we are willing to help. Even if it is to just act as your support or as your back-up."

Misaka opened her eyes wide "Wait are you saying that I would still go in alone, none of you would put yourself in danger by coming?"

Joule nodded with a slight smile on her face "Can you imagine Uiharu demanding to come in with you?"

Misaka sighed and Joule held out a hand "Let us help, we will support you if you only ask."

Misaka paused for a moment before taking her hand and smiling. Nothing more needed to be said on that matter. Joule was ready to leave so she stood up. Misaka's hand pulled away as she stood herself but she held up the hand in a 'stop' motion and spoke "Thank you for this."

Joule turned and smiled "Don't worry."

They both headed back to the judgement office.

[ACSRS: Reality to Confront]

They got back as Uiharu was looking at a collection of profiles, scrolling through them.

The entire group was there minus Kongou and her friends. Saten was sitting on the couch and Febrie was sleeping on her lap. Kuroko was looking at a laptop that had it's own information but from her face she wasn't able to discover much. Konori was doing much the same but as far as Joule knew she still had to do the normal office duties and so was unable to directly help.

The first to notice Joule and Misaka's arrival was Saten who waved. After that the others looked over and they all soon gathered around the table to hear what they had found. Misaka explained about how the deadline to save Febrie was shorter than they had thought.

Saten was the first to react "72 Hours to live? Oh no... That's all?"

Uiharu returned to her computer and brought up the list she spoke with determination "I have here the profiles of those people who regularly come to the Reach Assembly but have dropped out this year, I have shortened the list in other ways too so most of these are likely to be members of STUDY."

Everyone except Saten gathered to look at the names and faces of STUDY.

As they gathered Febrie slowly woke up. Saten greeted the sleepy child.

The door slammed open and everyone looked over in shock but it was only Kongou and her friends. Kongou carryed a gift with her.

Kongou was excited "Good afternoon, how is everyone? We brought something we think you ladies will be excited about."

Uiharu looked over with excitement "Really, were you able to get a lead?"

Kongou's mood started to deflate "Oh? No, we weren't." Her friends apologised too, apparently they had looked all over the city for the man.

With a flick, Kongou's fan folded out "Never fear! Give us more time and I know we will find him." She began to look embarrassed as she continued "Anyhow, we are here on other business today. We came because we have a little gift for Febrie."

Febrie tilted her head and asked "A gift, for me?"

Her friends explained that while they were out searching the city they found an adorable outfit and thought to buy it for Febrie.

Everyone watched as Saten opened the box for Febrie, it looked like a copy of her dress that was in white rather than black.

Febrie sounded really happy as she thanked Kongou and her friends who blushed.

Everyone watched as Febrie danced around happily with the dress. But as she moved she seemed to get dizzy, Saten caught her as she fell and layed her across her lap again. Febrie's face was flushed. With that, everyone's focus returned. They got to work.

Joule grabbed a laptop of her own to help but she turned to watch Saten get another lolipop for Febrie.

End of chapter