A threat from above
[ACMI2: Fanatic]
Tsuchimikado had gone to make the call while everyone made plans.
Oriana Thomson was the primary target. In theory they could get the location of the cross from her.
Everyone broke up again. Uiharu had to leave for the cavalry battle with Saten so the only way the remaining searchers could think of to find her was Joule and Lumen, they'd search the town too.
They had met her this morning and they knew what her brainwaves were meant to look like. With Lumen as the eye in the sky, Joule stayed back at the office to make communicating with her friends in the field easier.
GV and Touma were the first two out as Misaka was being held up by Tsuchimikado.
[ASMI: Strain]
"No." the voice on the other end of the phone said simply "It's too early for her."
Tsuchimikado sighed "Then how exactly do you expect me to stop a level 5?"
"Call her over." Aleister answered "And give her the phone."
Tsuchimikado winced. This could go poorly in so many ways.
He looked over at her and nodded "If you want to try and convince him, he's on the phone."
"Him?" She asked as she walked over.
He passed her the phone and she put it to her ear.
"Hello Railgun." The soft voice from the other side had something strange about it.
"You're the person in charge then?" She asked "Who exactly are you?"
He gave a soft laugh at that "You haven't figured it out? I am the Chairman of the Academy City Board of Directors. But please, call me Aleister."
Misaka paled slightly "The board of directors? Then you're involved in magic too?"
"Oh I can assure you my dear," his voice was clear and serene "I am not part of the magic side. I do know about it though."
Misaka remained quiet as the chairman continued "I'm afraid if you got anymore involved than you are right now, it could start a war. It's a bit early for that though, so you'll have to stand down for now."
It wasn't a request and Misaka knew it, but still-
"This magician has hurt my friends." She spoke, keeping her voice level "I'm not just going to-"
"If you act, I'll have five thousand of your clones kill themselves or one another." His voice still didn't change even as he told her that "Railgun, you're likely the sanest of the level fives. Prove that to me now."
Misaka's teeth clenched "Fine. Why are you doing it this way?"
"Oh?"
Misaka closed her eyes "I have no doubt that you have more options than blackmail to get me to do what you want, so why use the option that will make me despise you."
She heard another soft laugh before he answered "I will have need of you in the future and when I call on you, you'll do what I ask regardless of your feelings on me personally. Until then, keep in mind your sisters whenever I ask you to do something."
The call ended suddenly and Misaka stared at the phone in her hand. Finally a text popped up "I've heard your parents are in the city. Go and spend some time with them."
Again, it wasn't a suggestion.
Joule watched as Misaka all-but stormed out of the office, tossing the phone in her hand onto a chair, her eyes looking as if they were crackling with her lightning.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine." Misaka grunted "I'll see you all later."
Tsuchimikado sighed and left to "Cast some spells" which just sounded shady. He went alone so she hoped he'd stay safe.
"Got anything Lumen?"
"No." Her friend reported, her eyes scanning the city "She's not in this area at least. I'm moving on now."
There was no range limit with Lumen, at least not one that caused a practical problem. Lumen was like a living Radio wave with Joule as the origin. She could reach almost the entire Academy city from right here in this small office.
End of chapter.
A bit short but I wanted to cover this before the hunt for Oriana began again.
I haven't read far enough in the series to know if/how Misaka met Aleister but I hope I did a good job of getting the right feeling.