The plan for climbing babel.

[ACMI: Academy City]

The first step of the planning was who should go, the problem was that the mages lacked tickets to get any of them up there. GV had found an answer for that problem.

"My ticket is still unclaimed right? I can make my own way up so one of you could use it."

He hated the idea of letting Joule go somewhere dangerous but by this point he trusted Misaka to keep her safe in his place should he not be present. He left to begin planning his own ascent leaving the question of who got his ticket to the group.

There was some discussion to give it to Stiyl, their leader, but he had suggested another option who they were now waiting for.

A knock came at the door of the office's door and a woman with long black hair and ripped jeans walked in.

Touma nodded in recognition.

"Kanzaki, thanks for helping out."

She shook her head.

"There's no need to thank me. I like this plan better than Tsuchimikado's idea anyway."

Index was quiet as she looked when Kanzaki glanced her way.

Saten raised a hand.

"If I may ask Miss Kanzaki, why are you the person they chose?"

In response, Kanzaki nodded.

"I thought you may ask that, I'm sorry but I can't give a complete answer now but we're hoping I may spot a something that might control Arisa's powers."

"So you could help disarm the ritual?"

"Indeed." Kanzaki nodded again.

So the plan was formed.

Misaka, Kuroko, Uiharu, Saten, Joule, Touma, Index and Kanzaki would be heading up the elevator.

GV would "Make his own way up." Joule guessed he'd probably do something brave like hang on to the bottom of an elevator as it made it's way up.

The rest of the mages would wait on the ground to try and stay in contact with the team going up.

They had tickets that would set off just after noon. They'd arrive about fourty five minutes later at the top. Once they reached the top, the team would split again. Touma, Index and Kanzaki would look for the ritual's core while Misaka and the rest of them would use the tracker to find Arisa to check on her along with knocking out any security that might hinder their and the other team's progress.

Both teams would need to use stealth to reach their targets. The time limit was one hour as soon after that the performance would begin and very likely the ritual would begin at around the same time.

The question of how the teams would keep in contact was the problem. Phones would't work for the half hour before the performance began and any magical forms of communication couldn't be used by the espers and telepathy tends to bother mages. Eventually a solution had been found. A telepathic link specifically between Joule and Index.

"I'm not a mage, it'll be fine." Index had assured them. Kanzaki had looked a little bit uncomfortable about it but had eventually accepted it, saying "It's probably the best option."

With the plan set, everyone had rested for the night.

The next day, Arisa left early to head to Orbit portal. She had been given an implanted tracker so they could extract her in an emergency. Along with the tracker she had what Uiharu called an implantable panic button so she could call for help.

Everyone ate an early lunch before setting off for Endymion.

[ACSR: Plot]

The lines were packed and everyone made their way through slowly. The elevators themselves had four seats per "car". Each was padded and sealed to ensure the safety of the passengers.

Four seats caused an issue, it meant that not all of Misaka's group could go up together.

Saten waved slightly.

"Don't worry, I'll go with the mages. I wanted to talk to them anyway."

With that agreed. Everyone else boarded the first "car". Only then did another problem come up.

"Joule are you okay?"

She shook her head softly to answer Uiharu's question. The actual seats of the elevator looked off to her.

"Bad memories of being unable to move."

"Claustrophobia? You've never mentioned it before?"

"I'll tell you later but being unable to move while going up a s- tall tower brings up bad memories." She quickly changed her words as she spoke.

"Will you be okay."

Joule closed her eyes and nodded as she felt Lumen land on her.

"I'll be fine, it's for Arisa after all."

She climbed in next to Uiharu who gave her a nod to reassure her. The other problem was Kuroko. She had to be helped from her wheelchair to one of the seats. Staff members assured her that the wheelchair would be kept safe and that there would be one she could take while at the top of the tower.

Once they were all in, harnesses closed down to hold them in place. Joule squeezed her eyes shut and Uiharu placed a hand on her for a moment to see if she was okay.

Joule nodded and the roof of the "car" closed. The team felt a shake as it began sliding along rails to the main shaft.

The world turned as it went vertical. It left Uiharu and Joule looking straight up while Misaka and Kuroko looked straight down.

Slowly they started moving up. Then it got faster. Before too long it felt like they were moving quite fast indeed.

The feel of earth's gravity and the G forces of the speed that they were going made Joule feel distinctly uncomfortable. What had the staff said? That the car would move at over 2Gs when going full out?

She tried to keep her breathing stable as the car continued to accelerate.

Light filled the car as screens appeared. It was entertainment while they travelled. At the top right corner of the screen, Joule saw a count down.

Fourty four minutes until destination.

End of chapter.

The only scene in the movie I could find where an elevator car is seen, it is a one-seater. That just feels dumb to me so I expanded it slightly.