The game's starting state

[ASCRT: Factions and Plots]

Saten and Uiharu followed the man through the building. Saten asked a question as they headed up a flight of stairs.

"What was this building used for?"

"My employer didn't seem to want you to know earlier." The man said "So you have my apologies, but I can't tell you."

Uiharu tilted her head "She's employed you? She didn't control you?"

"She didn't need to." He said simply "I'm hired help, it wouldn't do my reputation much good if I failed a client."

"And this is what she needed help with?" Saten asked, gesturing at the building.

The man nodded "This, and some other things. She also employed my services as an information broker."

"She didn't just steal the information?" Uiharu wondered and he shook his head.

"While I can understand why you'd think it, my employer doesn't invade people's minds without reason. If she's not dealing with an enemy, the worst she'll do is give someone a little order, something to distract them for a few minutes. Nothing permanent."

"So does she see Misaka as an enemy?" Saten wondered out loud.

He shook his head "As far as I can tell, Railgun is more of an obstacle to her. She'll get obstacles out of her way but she won't be cruel about it. Railgun will likely have a fun day and she'll be back to normal tomorrow morning."

As they talked, the man reached a specific room. He opened the door with a keycard and stepped inside.

Uiharu gasped slightly, she'd known about the sisters of course, but seeing a person who looked exactly like Misaka was different than just hearing about it. Saten had seen one of them before but it was odd for her too.

The sister lay on a bed in the center of the room. Behind her were multiple computer screens with a variety of biometric information on them. She looked to be out cold and Uiharu rushed over to look at the screens.

"She's fine." The man said "My employer saw to that."

"What happened?"

"A Nanodevice was implanted in her to knock her out. We're waiting for it to pass from her system. In the best case, my employer and your friend might find a control console for it where they went to shut it down."

Uiharu nodded and looked at the screens.

"Why?" Saten asked. The other two looked at her and she went on "Why? What was the point? Why would a scientist want to kidnap one of the sisters, can't they get access to them in other ways?"

"As it happens, No." The man said "I used to work in security and I had a job related to the sisters. When the project was ended, the sisters were scattered across the world. This one here," He nodded to the sister in the bed "Is one of the last hundred or so that still live near Academy City. I don't know the details but they're very well protected, they're high value assets. Almost the highest, the amount of counter intelligence devoted to keeping them out of the hands of those who aren't meant to have them is comparable to the level 5s."

Uiharu raised her voice with a question "And yet, someone still got to them?"

"Academy City intelligence is great." The man commented "But it's really corrupt. I expect the old man bribed them. Maybe he tricked some people, I wouldn't put it past him."

Saten raised her hand "What protections are actually in place, I've never heard about them."

"Nanodevices are implanted in us when we leave the city." Uiharu began "You remember that Misaka used one during the time when we met Febrie?"

"On top of that," The man began "There are check in times, more regularly depending on your rank. Level 1 is... every two weeks I think?"

Uiharu nodded "It's fairly automatic. We don't even need to do anything special, it's normally checked when we head to school."

Saten thought back, trying to remember. Eventually she shook her head "You'll have to point it out next time."

"Anyway," The man continued "Level 5s are different. When they aren't part of the underworld, they're location is logged constantly."

"On the hour." Uiharu nodded.

Saten held up her hand then "Okay, I'm sure I would have noticed that! Haven't things happened before to make that impossible? Like the time we were up in space?"

"Level 5s are always given more freedom." The man noted "I wouldn't be shocked if Railgun only checked in when she went to bed. Back on topic though, the sisters need to check in too. They do it wirelessly with their ability. They're able to do it constantly though so when one sister falls, the others can check instantly."

"If that was the case, what happened here?" Saten asked, waving at the sleeping sister.

"She wasn't afraid." The man noted quietly "When she fell asleep, she didn't know she was a target. Since then, my employer sealed her ability to prevent her from leading Kihara right to her."

There was silence in the room for a moment before Saten nods "Well then, we'll keep her safe. That was the purpose of us coming."

Uiharu nodded, pulling out her laptop as Saten took out a baseball bat and some baseballs.

The man held up his hands for a moment in Saten's direction "Why were you even carrying those?"

Saten looked down and shrugged "I keep the balls on me because of my ability, the bat... Well, it is the festival. With everything that went on yesterday, it pays to be prepared."

"Yesterday?" The man asked before shaking his head "You know what, doesn't matter."

As Uiharu typed she looked up "We haven't been properly introduced yet have we?"

The man shook his head before holding out his hand "You're right. You can just call me Mr Nokleben."

Saten paused at that "Nokleben?"

"Yes?" The man asked "Have you heard of me before?"

Saten shook her head "No, it's just... Nokleben."

Nokleben seemed to completly miss her point so Saten shrugged.

"It just sounds a little silly."

End of chapter.

And next time will be bringing this team up to the present.