Targeting what's left

[ASG: The Muse's Tears]

Joule looked at the screen of the borrowed laptop. It was late so they had all gone home but Joule had taken the laptop to see if she found any great clues. So far she hadn't so she had gotten ready for bed. Yet she couldn't stay away from the laptop and looked over the buildings owned by STUDY.

GV had made his way through most of them but hadn't found much. According to a note left on the fridge he had left just before she had gotten home to target another one.

Just as she thought that the door opened and GV entered and sighed. He suddenly noticed Joule sitting at the dining room table and nodded "Hey, I'm back."

"Welcome home GV!" Joule said, falling back into the old routine. Lumen appeared and sniffed the air once "Why do you smell like smoke?"

Lumen couldn't actually smell but Joule had smelled something strange as GV entered. GV sighed "Apparently the security system was rigged to lock all the doors and start a fire when an intruder was detected. I managed to escape through the roof as the fire followed me."

Joule's face was concerned "Are you okay? Do you need me to get the medical kit?"

GV shook his head "No need, no serious injuries that I couldn't restore."

Lumen nodded sagely before peaking one eye open and smiling "Yes, yes. Barbequed GV. A delicacy in some places. At least you aren't as hurt as you were after you fought Viper."

GV chuckled but saw Joule's face fall "What's wrong?"

Joule shook her head "It's just... Every building you have targeted in the last day had an issue."

GV shrugged "None were really hard, I even avoided an ambush from those espers."

"Said espers were really weak too, you really have nothing to worry about Joule." Lumen said quickly.

Joule looked back at her computer and asked "It's been bothering me a little that STUDY might have figured out your pattern. I know you are searching the less likely places first but that just means they have less to protect. They wouldn't have used the fire today if that lab had something truely important."

GV nodded and smiled "I'll choose something different tomorrow, if your right that will throw them off. I'll be careful"

Lumen smiled as Joule spoke "That's all I ask."

[ACSRS: Determination]

"Found it." Uiharu called out.

They were all back at the Judgement office the next day. Febrie had spent the night with Uiharu and Saten.

Everyone was doing the same sort of thing as yesterday but Uiharu had called out after only a minute or two of work. Everyone gathered to look as she pointed at a building.

"It's a factory in district 17 that STUDY owns and they paid a lot to increase it's security only a weak ago. In addition when they bought the factory they paid an amount greater that it would normally be worth."

Saten looked over at Febrie before looking back at Uiharu "If it is a factory do you think they made Febrie there?"

Kuroko nodded "Or they could have made the candy there. If we could discover it's components are then our deadline vanishes."

Everyone was looking at Konori playing a game with Febrie as Misaka spoke "I can think of one way to check. I raid the factory, we need to move quickly."

Joule raised an eyebrow "And what if you get caught or worse?"

Misaka closed her eyes in thought but it was only a moment before she opened them again and spoke "I have a plan actually, I have been thinking about it since we talked in the hospital."

Kuroko now looked between the two of them "Sis, what do you mean when you say 'plan'?"

[ACSR: Precious Friends]

Misaka paused a moment before speaking "You know those trackers you get given when you leave Academy City?"

Uiharu tilted her head "The nanomachines?"

Misaka nodded "They work while in Academy City too, they can last for up to a week normally. I looked them up. I plan to ask the doctor we know for some. You guys can then trace me with them."

There was a pause as Misaka bowed quickly "You don't have to if you don't want to. I-"

She cut herself off with a breath before continuing "I am asking you. You don't have to help but I'd appreciate it."

Kuroko was the first to speak "Of course, I'll help."

Uiharu nodded. Saten gave her a thumbs up. Joule shrugged and then gave Misaka a smile. Konori nodded.

Saten then piped up "I think Kongou and her friends would want to help too."

Misaka closed her eyes and smiled.

Soon after Misaka had left, Joule thought of something. She looked at the others and spoke quickly "Be back in a moment." before rushing out after Misaka.

She caught up to her only a minute later. Misaka had barely left the offices.

Misaka raised an eyebrow "What is it Joule?"

Joule unclipped one of her butterfly hairpins and passed it to Misaka. To Misaka it looked like the butterfly fluttered it's wings slightly as it was passed.

"I want you to have this, for good luck." Joule said as she used the remaining pin to place her hair into a ponytail.

Misaka smiled back, as she lifted the hairpin to clip it in her own she again saw the butterfly move slightly but decided to ask Joule about it sometime in the future.

Joule bowed quickly before turning to return to the office but before she did Misaka spoke "Thank you Joule, I'll keep it safe." Joule looked back smiling "And my lucky charm will help keep you safe."

End of chapter.

Yes, Joule just gave the Lumen hairpin (At the current point in time she just has two butterfly hairpins but Lumen sits on one and pretends to be that butterfly. As only high level espers can see her it is rarely required but just to be safe)