Searcher

[ASG: Beginning of a Long Night]

As Joule continued to make supper, GV opened up his laptop and clicked over to a rumour site he had heard about. The search term was "Level-upper" and he set it to show him recent posts first.

July 23rd was the most recent post. That was a day before the network was taken apart. The rumour was how the level-upper placed it's users into a coma, someone tried to get the news out obviously.

Little late but at least they did try.

He checked the phone again to read the message, "Be careful, beware the return of the level-upper". He clicked over to the browser he used for Academy City's dark web and began searching around for people talking about it.

At this he found a possible source. An advertisement for someone who was selling a copy of the level-upper. It wouldn't work anymore without doctor Kiyama to manage it or the sleepers to power it.

The question then was simple: Why warn him about something that couldn't work?

Joule, having finished cooking, found bowls for the two of them and brought them and the soup over to the table. She then looked over to see him looking at the laptop.

"Is something wrong?" She asked softly. A moment later Lumen appeared next to him and looked over his shoulder.

"The level-upper? Someone is still selling it?"

GV closed the laptop and jouled Joule at the table to eat. After they filled their bowls he began to explain.

"I got a text, warning me to watch out for the level-upper. I don't know the number but there are few people who know about me and the level-upper."

Lumen, who had positioned herself at the table's head, nodded and extrapolated "You decided to check if anyone was talking about it on the dark web then? And you found that advertisement?"

GV nodded before continuing "I still hope it might turn out to be a prank though. But it does mean something, not a lot of people know enough to send me this sort of thing."

After a moment of closed eyes Joule asked "So what's the next step, ask doctor Kiyama about it?"

"No," GV shook his head before tapping the lid of the laptop "This guy is selling his copy tonight. I'll go to see if there is any problem. If all goes well I can check with Doctor Kiyama in the morning."

There was silence for a few moments as they simply ate supper. Eventually they started talking about little things. Joule slowly brought up the brainwashing that Misaka had requested of another level 5.

GV frowned at that. She had never encountered him so he had never become a target. Regardless the fact that Misaka had asked for her friend's memories to be tampered with was strange. Maybe there was truth to the rumour that all level 5s were mad to some degree. It probably wasn't that bad but it still felt wrong somehow.

After they had finished eating, GV stood up at grabbed his equipment. He swung his coat around himself and did up his boots before slipping a few throwing knives into each pocket. He looked to Joule and nodded "I'll be back a little after midnight. Try and get to bed before I get back, it is a school day tomorrow."

Joule nodded as Lumen walked through the air toward him. It was clear she intended to come so he didn't argue the point. She turned into butterfly form and followed him out the door.

[ASG: Today's Contract]

Lumen followed GV to the roof. With his boots equipped he was able to jump from building to building to lower the chance of being seen. The auction was being held in a public location in a park that anyone could come to.

He followed the map he had memorised to the location in question. As he reached it he could see there were a few other people hanging around, most of them were students but it was clear they were here for the auction and hadn't heard about how it would be useless.

He checked his watch and it was still a few minutes from the start time. He began to wander around much like the other students here until suddenly someone called out to him.

"You in the bright coat."

He looked around to see a group of tough-looking teenagers. They were likely a year or two older than him and quite thug-ish if he had to describe them.

"Leave, I don't care why a clown like you is out tonight but you're leaving."

They thought he was on a walk then? Regardless they thought he wasn't here for the level-upper at least. GV sighed "I'm here for my own reasons. I have no need to listen to your type."

That just made the group angrier "'Your type'? Are you saying we're beneath you? So confident, what's your ability then clown?"

He wondered if they even had abilities, they did look like they were the sort of people to run with skill-out. They weren't scared of him, that either meant they had abilities or else thought they could beat him without them.

Fortunately for them he didn't care enough to do anything. He could just walk away and double bank in a minute to re-enter the ground. The time to start was soon however at it was much easier if he just stuck around. If they started a fight they would lose, it wasn't like he was going to buy the level-upper so he didn't need to remove competition.

He simply wandered away from them and towards the main gathering area. The event was only a minute or two away from starting.

Back home, Joule had prepared for bed and was sitting in her room. She was in contact with Lumen so she could see as GV sat on a bench as the auction began.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door to the apartment. She ignored it as she watched the first bids be made. GV was still waiting for some evidence that would cause worry but nothing particular was coming up.

[ASG: Despair]

It was then that two things happened suddenly. The speakers around the auction area began playing a strange distorted sound that Joule recognised as a version of a Level-upper. The second thing that happened was the door of the apartment breaking as something slammed into it with great force.

Joule looked over suddenly. Her attention pulled away from whatever was going on at the auction to look out her door as a young man and a young woman entered the apartment. She ducked away before they saw her and hid under her bed.

She didn't have Lumen with her to look around with so after a moment the only way she could tell where they were was when they made a noise in the main room. They were clearly searching for something, Herself maybe?

She heard footsteps enter her room. She slowly turned her head to see the young woman's feet examine her room.

Joule stayed as silent as she could and prayed for GV to get back quickly. Suddenly the woman stopped and turned towards the bed. Had she heard something?

A click could be heard from where the woman stood.

"I am holding a gun, if you want to live then come out now."

Fear gripped Joule. Was the woman bluffing? Silently she extended a mental probe and felt for the woman's mind.

She suspected that Joule was under the bed. However it wasn't a gun that made the clicking noise. Joule just stayed silent.

"Ah well, I tried." The woman knelt down to face Joule under the bed. In her hand was some sort of small torch, the click had been her turning it on.

Joule detached her mental link but the woman reached out and grabbed her. Joule struggled and struck the woman in the face but the woman pulled her out with her other hand as she clicked the torch off. Quickly she grabbed Joule's shoulders with both hands.

Joule felt her arms go limp. She couldn't move anything anything below either shoulder. She kicked at the woman between her legs but the woman took the chance to grab at her lower back back with one of her arms. Joule's legs collapsed beneath her. She couldn't move her limbs or feel through them. The woman was clearly an Esper.

The woman placed her hand over Joule's mouth before kneeling down so Joule could hear her whispering.

"If I wanted to, I could render you mute right now. I heard you liked singing so I hope this will be enough of a threat for you to come quietly and without trying to hit me again."

Joule nodded slowly. The woman gave her a sweet looking smile before rolling Joule over slightly and touching her lower back again. Feeling rushed through her legs as Joule felt them able to move again.

She could have struggled but it was possible that the woman could do exactly as she threatened or worse. The woman helped her to her feet and then took hold of one of her still paralysed hands.

"Well then, lets go. Our boss wants to meet you."

Where was GV? Why wasn't he here yet?

End of chapter.

Now here's a thought: I don't know if this arc will actually be any good. I know roughly how it's going to go but not the specifics. I literally made this kidnapper's esper ability up while I was writing this chapter.

So please do comment if you think there is an issue with it.