The Conference

[ACSRT: Exterior]

Joule, Saten, Uiharu and Misaki sat in the car as her chauffeur, the man from before, drove.

"You two," The level 5 began as the car bumped, she was gesturing to Uiharu and Saten "will be playing defense. You'll be in charge of keeping the clone safe."

"A clone? One of the sisters?" Uiharu asked. Misaki gave her a smile, it wasn't that warm but it was more like a smile of 'well done, you're following along'.

"Indeed." She said "I believe Gensei Kihara was aiming to kidnap her for some reason. I've hid her somewhere safe. I want you two to ensure she stays safe while Joule and I go on the attack."

Saten nodded "Of course we'll help there, but will you two be okay?"

That question was aimed more for Joule so she nodded "As long as there isn't anything immune to us..."

She threw a quick glance Misaki's way and the level 5 shrugged "We'll be fine. If there are robots, I'll just control people to turn them off."

Joule looked out the window and Misaki nodded "Over there, that's our destination; Ideal."

"Ideal?" Saten asked "I've heard that name before...?"

Uiharu's glanced out the window at it too "Yeah, wasn't that...?"

"Cutting that off there." Misaki said quickly, grabbing a remote "Don't wander off while you're protecting the sister. I wouldn't want you getting distracted."

A button was pressed and the two girls sat up, turning away from the window.

Joule felt sick.

"They want to help, why did you have to do that." She whispered quietly.

"It's my secret." Misaki replied, equally quietly "So I need to be careful with it."

Joule didn't know what the secret was meant to be, but the fact that Misaki would want to hide it from her allies was worrying.

The car slid to a stop and Misaki led the way out and waved to her... bodyguard? The man that helped her out. Joule really should learn his name at some point.

"Lead them to the sister, protect them all."

The man gave a nod and Joule realised he wasn't controlled. Had Misaki hired him or something? That was a messure of trust on it's own. It wasn't that she was without trust then.

Saten and Uiharu glanced at Joule once more as he led them into the building. Misaki turned away "Come along now, we're pressed for time."

Following her down a street, Joule found a truck with a man waiting next to it. Before the man could react, Misaki had raised a controller and pressed a button.

"We'll be getting in the back now." She said with a smile "Would you mind driving us to the Esper Powers Research Conference?"

"Where?" The man began to ask but Misaki pulled out what looked like a tiny GPS and pressed a button on it.

"There."

The man nodded, his eyes sparkling as he watched the two of them climb in the back.

The truck started and the two girls sat down while they felt it turn out onto the street.

At first, there was silence between them but Joule wanted the answers to some questions.

"If I may ask, what is your connection to the sisters?"

"Hmm?" The telepath grunted "It's nothing that specific, I'm a little bothered by the idea of clones of level 5 espers being used by that man for a plan."

Her emotions felt a lot colder now, Joule reflected, Misaki wasn't trying to put on any kind of front.

When they had met earlier, she had been smiling even as she erased memories and convinced Joule to help her. Her smile had kept up all morning but now it had finally fallen.

Sure, when she looked at Joule, the false smile appeared but most of the time...

"I don't mean to pry-"

"Says everyone who prys." Misaki countered quickly.

Joule sighed "I am prying then, while that reason makes sense, I don't think that's the complete answer."

"Then you aren't blind." Misaki snapped but said nothing more.

The shift had been sudden so Joule glanced away.

"Where are we going, and what are we doing?"

"The Esper Powers Research Conference," Misaki began "As you heard me tell the driver. Gensei is there. We're going to foil whatever plan he's made there. Maybe I'll erase his mind at the same time, if anyone deserves that, he does."

Joule breathed out slowly and nodded "Before he gets the chance to do anything else."

Misaki returned to that false grin and fake cheer "Yep, I think it's time to put an end to his schemes."

The truck arrived to the destination and the two of them got out. Misaki returned the driver's will and told him to return to his normal buisness. As the man drove away, the two of them looked down the street.

"The Conference is just up ahead. The security on the way has already been neutralized."

She held out a hand to Joule and gave a flirty wink "Now then, come along. Let's rip his plots to pieces."

Joule nodded and they both started down the street.

"What do you want me to do?" Joule asked.

Misaki smiled her way "I want you to boost my ability. I've already checked and you could allow me to push mine beyond my normal limits."

Joule nodded.

"I'll leave it all to you then."

Was that relief in her? Was she happy she wouldn't have to do anything.

Regardless, it didn't matter. Gensei Kihara was going down.

Joule began to hum. It was the same song she'd used during the STUDY.

[ASG2: A Flash of Azure (Joule)]

Misaki smiled as Joule opened up some of her own resources for her to use.

"Thank you."

From the feedback of the song, Joule could feel that she was being honest. There was a lot more that she could feel now too.

Misaki was scared too. Her determination was strong though.

And overall, Misaki believed that what they were doing was 'right'.

End of chapter.

A combination of the two best telepaths in academy city? The guards don't stand a chance.