Statue

[ACMI: Academy City]

Saten managed to catch up with Index first followed a few moments later by Joule. The Cat, Sphynx, ran down a side street and the three of them charged after it.

"Is this normal for your cat?" Saten panted.

Index nodded sharply as she quickly turned a corner and leaped blindly for the spot she thought her cat would be. She landed on hard ground while Sphynx stood atop a pile of boxes nearby.

"Cut of his escape." Joule whispered to Saten who began to slowly creep round the other side of the boxes. While she did that Joule took a few steps herself to allow her to face the pile of boxes from a third angle.

When she was in position and Index had got up the three of them slowly approached the boxes. When they were close enough they lunged. Sphynx neatly leaped over Saten's head and ran off into the open.

Index pouted "Not again."

Saten laughed while merely smiled. The three of them then ran out after Sphynx into an area full of partially constructed buildings.

"Sphynx!" Index called out, her eyes dancing about looking for the cat before finally resting on him. Sphynx was looking at a partially removed sheet that was blocking the way into a construction yard.

Index ran over and the others walked over to join her.

"There you are, little rascal." Index complained. Sphynx gave a small meow as she lifted him by the scruff of his neck. "If you don't stop being so difficult you're going to be in a heap of trouble young man."

She hugged him close with a pout on her face as he struggled "Come on, we have to go back to the loud mouth. You behave!"

Saten shrugged and smiled at Joule at the reference to Misaka but then she tapped on Index's shoulder.

"Come on then. No need to get annoyed."

Index had her crossed arms firmly holding her cat in place and she began to walk back the way they had come. Joule looked at the cat that was suddenly staying very still.

"He is a very nice cat though. Did you get him from a shelter?"

"No." Index shook her head "I just found him one day and brought him with me. He didn't have a collar so I'm fairly sure he was stray."

Saten smiled at Joule "You like cats?"

Joule nodded "I like caring for them. They can fend for themselves but still choose to stay with you. I wish our apartment allowed pets."

Saten gave a sly smile "Oh, so thats why you like-" she was cut off by a sudden rumble from the ground below them.

[ACMI:Emptiness]

Sphynx began to freak out in Index's arms and the three of them looked around in apprehension.

When the Manhole cover in the floor nearby started to shake violently they all took a quick step away from it.

"Is this an earthquake?" Saten asked shakily "Or is someone causing poltergeisting?"

Index frowned "I don't think it's normal. It sounds..." She paused a moment to listen "like footsteps!"

[ACMI: Jellyfish]

The cover rose, pushed up by the surrounding road that was ripping itself up. The earth twisted and became a hand that was about as large as any of them were tall. The hand flexed before forming a fist. Index only barely managed to pull the two of them down before all three of them would have been crushed. The three of them looked back as the ground in a large radius around the cover started shaking too. Forming together into a giant Humanoid form.

Saten was the first to act. She rose to her feet and grabbed Joule and Index to pull them to their feet too. She then had to tug Index away as she was looking at the monster with a strange facial expression that mixed analysing and awe. Her eyes looked hyper focused.

The monster roared and Joule heard a whisper from Lumen "Her mind just went into overdrive. It's astonishing, she's recalling hundreds of things and looking for relevant information in a logical way."

It was then that Index started to speak. It sounded like she was reciting from memory.

"Basic theory from Kabbalah. Originated in the sixteenth century. Primary applications are defense and the elimination of hostiles. English Puritan formula combined with the original. Language changed from hebrew to english. Judging by formulaic construct, remote controlled."

Her eyes returned to normal and she finished the thought "And in that case;"

The monster raised it's hand to try to squash them again but index spoke a few letters quickly "T T T R;" [Turn To The Right]

Just before it struck the monster's hand swung to the right, smashing against an unfinished building.

The other two girls looked and Index in shock but she didn't break eye contact with the monster.

"Index? What are you doing?" Joule asked softly.

Index replied without looking away "This is a golem that is controlled by someone far away. I know how to slip orders into it's command structure."

This time the golem raised it's other arm but as it tried to drop a fist on them Index spoke quickly again "C F A;" [Change for above]

The golem's swing went straight over the three girls but without a moment to break Index continued " L;" [Put In Order Reverse The Left Leg]

It's left leg buckled and as the golem tried to regain balance it fell over backwards.

Saten was in awe at this point "You're amazing, you have the ability to control other abilities."

Index shook her head "I am not an Esper. In truth I have no abilities that I can use to fight. But I can disrupt this spell with proper knowledge. That is my skill, Spell intercept. The application of knowledge to take control of another's spell."

The monster rose to it's feet as the two girls now looked confused. Joule raised a hand slowly even though Index wasn't looking their way "You said spell. Are you saying this is magic?"

Index nodded quickly as the monster once again prepared to strike "C R; B B F; D;" [Change Right] [Bind Both Feet] [Turn The Neck And The Waist In The Opposite Directions]

The golem flailed around as it fulfilled the three orders she gave it. It's arm swung right while it held it's feet in place. It then allowed the punch to carry it clockwise while it's neck turned counter clockwise. The end result saw it slam right into a building the right of the three girls.

Index ducked low, taking her eyes of the golem to grab a pin from her habit before standing and locking eyes on the monster. She spoke quickly as she stood again "I still need to stop it, first I need to cripple it's ability to repair itself."

Once she was up she jumped back and the others took a few steps back to follow her example. A foot fell just in front of her as the golem stepped towards them. She threw the pin she had taken off to hit the other foot of the golem. The pin hit the foot and sank into it as if it were made of quicksand.

As the golem took another step forward, it's foot began melting into the ground. As it placed it's right hand on the ground to steady itself that began sinking too.

Index smirked and spoke "This might work." She then removed another pin and prepared to throw it.

The golem roared and it's other foot went forward quickly. The impact from it hitting the ground threw Index back to where the other girls were. The three of them looked up to see the golem reaching for Index.

Index through out a quick "C R;" but it did nothing as the golem raised it's other fist from the ground to pound both into the ground knocking all three girls off their feet.

Saten was quick to the rescue again as she pulled Joule up and then went for Index who had fallen prone.

The golem took this time to raise both hands and roar. Index looked up at it " G;" [Make Both Feet Parallel And Destroy Center Of Gravity]

Unfortunately the golem failed to react other than to roar. Saten pulled Index to her feet but she soon collapsed again, her legs were shaking too much to hold her up. The golem took this time to rip it's other foot free of the ground.

Saten spoke quickly "Index, tell us what we have to do to help you."

Index swallowed before speaking "The golem switched from remote control to self control. I can't use Spell intercept anymore." She looked up at the golem sadly "You two should run, it's targetting me."

Joule glanced at Saten "Run to get Misaka. I'll try to keep her safe."

Saten nodded and sprinted away. Joule lifted Index to her feet again and helped her to stay that way.

"Don't do this." Index spoke quietly "Only I have to die."

Joule shook her head "Misaka will get here. I'll help you until then."

Index just closed her eyes tightly and murmured "Touma."

The golem flung it's fist towards them and Joule gave a sharp pull on Index. She wasn't strong enough. They both fell to the floor, Index atop Joule.

As the punch headed towards them, helpless on the floor, someone arrived. The girl jumped and Joule watched her arc through the air right into the golem who was knocked to the floor by the strength of the girls kick.

Joule tried to see who it was but she couldn't see her very well. Maybe they wouldn't need Misaka after all.

End of chapter.

It's a long one! At least longer than normal. I just really like this fight as it is one of the only times Index gets to show off.

Either way cliffhanger. At least it isn't as annoying as the actual cliffhanger in the actual Anime.

I did change some of Index's intercept commands just to make them more readable. The writter apparently didn't know the plural of foot while he was writting this chapter.