A Saga of Tanya the Evil/The Irregular at Magic High School crossover.

I do not in any way, shape, or form lay claim to either of these works.

This is just a work of admiration from one fan, to those others that share the same interest.

The only characters or places I lay claim to are those solely of my own creation.

Chapter 13: The more they remain the same.

June 21st, 9:55 am, 2094. Present

Controlled Blast and Detonation Room, Facility 1, formerly Bunker 208

An increasingly nervous Visha listens to the doctor's lecture and explanation to the waiting brass, and can't help but wonder what Tanya will make of all of this when she comes out of the field. Finding herself standing in a different building is one thing, finding herself standing in what sounds to be the wreckage of the roof in a different building while the dust clears from a landing very much like the Door Knocker? That is probably going to be something a bit far to expect the usual calm and collected mage to accept.

She brings her attention back to the Doctor's presentation, even as she continues to cast worried looks at the monitors that are showing the SIDE platform in it's ready position to drop her friend from 15,000 feet.

"In the last year, we have made significant inroads into understanding an entirely new and previously unexplored field of interference magic, one that affects matter on a quantum level. It's most evident in how it slows molecular motion and entropic effects. We have verified this with examinations of atomic particles, both test pieces being from the same parent sample, and have been able to demonstrate that they are experiencing atomic decay at different intervals. On a practical side, the phenomenon creates an event horizon in which matter effectively becomes one solid unit, frozen in it's exact configuration. Energy as well is absorbed, but unlike kinetic energy, it retains its effective velocity and energy once the effect ends." The doctor says, as she points to the relevant diagrams and notes.

The brass nods and murmurs among themselves, basically sitting there and letting the good doctor drone on as they approach the time of the drop. The doctor goes into some of the technical notes on the drop itself, how they are taking advantage of the fact that the effect doesn't allow for any aerodynamic effects, creating the only true instance of uninterrupted free-fall found outside of a vacuum, and how it means that as long as the parameters of the drop or other delivery are precise, the landing will be on an easily predictable parabolic.

Visha, of course, has become familiar with airborne insertions from her previous time spent in the Great War, and her experiences with the V1 rocket. She can't help but feel an odd sense of nostalgia over the whole thing. Her attention is fully drawn back to the monitors as the doctor announces the time for the drop has arrived, watching as the bay door under the SIDE unit is opened, and finally the moment of release happens.

Like the others, she holds her breath unconsciously as the sphere drops, blacker than night itself. She places the protective earmuffs over her ears and waits as the monitors track the thirty second fall right up to the moment when the 60 to 70 kilo sphere hits at, according to the charts, a speed of about 300 meters/second.

The actual moment of impact is something to see, that is for sure. The pitch black sphere punches through the roof of the building and releases a concussive blast that is softened by the blast-proof layers of protection built into the room. When the dust starts to clear, Tanya is standing there with her rifle at combat rest and snapping a textbook perfect salute. Her eyes quickly sweep the area, then look up. When her eyes lock back onto Doctor Schugel there is a brief flash of something that Visha was pretty sure that she was the only one to catch. Fear.

"And that concludes our demonstration for the day! As you can see, she is unhurt by her rather forceful entry. We think that, in time, we should be able to use this process to insert small units into the very heart of the enemy, impervious to conventional weaponry and with the ability to disable defenses and stun and overwhelm the defenders." The good doctor concludes her demonstration even as the technicians and medics rush to check on the subject.

Visha follows them, wanting to be one of the first to be there for her former superior. She can see the heightened breath, the slight paling of her features and how her hand tightens around her empty gun. She knows that a long night being the younger girl's body pillow is more than likely ahead of her, but she is okay with that. In any way that she can be of use to her, she will be. For as long as she is needed or wanted, even if some of what she does goes unknown to her companion.

Visha wordlessly takes one of the blankets from one of the medtechs as she passes them, wrapping it around Tanya herself as she feels the slight tremor pass otherwise unnoticed through the smaller girl. A gentle squeeze on her shoulder seems to steady Tanya, as their eyes lock for a moment that seems to stretch on for a short eternity. Whatever moment they might be having is interrupted by the rest of the orderly horde of technicians and engineers that begin a ruthlessly efficient check of the young woman even as they lead her to a private room.

It is hours later that the two young women are dropped off outside of their apartment. Tanya seems to have recovered from the initial shock, her usual blase demeanor restored once more after the initial shock has passed. Still, Visha knows her better than any other, in either world. The days of blatant and oblivious hero worship are long behind her, instead it is a sense of devotion and a feeling of rightness that dictates her actions in regard to the other woman.

Visha smiles softly to Tanya as she starts to prepare coffee, knowing that the heady, rich scent will do more to ground her companion than anything she could say. Out of the corner of her eye she sees Tanya start to eat some of the strawberry pastries that she always has on hand after seeing how much they were enjoyed the last time she baked them. She is quiet as she sits down after placing the cup on its saucer before her friend, and takes her own cup as she watches the Argent over the rim.

Tanya takes a long, slow sniff of the heady scent of her favorite beverage, her dainty hands wrapped around it as she soaks in the heat and comfort. She finally breaks the silence that has hung heavy over them both until this moment. "It would appear that the good doctor is more like our own mad genius than we knew. It is probably a good thing that Herr Schugel did not have access to this newest magical process, otherwise I think he would have fired us out of a cannon." Her wry little smirk is back and sets Visha's heart a flutter.

It would seem that the Argent was starting to bounce back once more. Not that Visha had any doubts that she would, but it is a relief to her. Visha reaches out, resting her fingers briefly on the fingers of Tanya's right hand. "Next time, I will be there by your side, all the way down." Visha states in a manner that leaves no room for doubt. She sees as Tanya slightly relaxes, her own warm smile lighting the room as she regards her Devil of the Rhine.

"Just like when we were deployed by the V1's." Tanya states as her shoulders relax more.

"Exactly like it. I will always be your Wing, in whatever world you whisk us off to." Visha confirms.

Tanya regards her with that trademark smirk once more. "I have no plans on relocating us to yet another new world, I think that dragging you to an alternate reality should probably be a one time thing."

"But if you did, I would still be by your side. It's where I belong, always. Until the world itself crumbles." Visha says, then throws out a bit of wit of her own. "After all, who else would brew you coffee? You should know by now that I won't allow anyone else to take that most serious of duties under wing."

"I rest easier knowing that my daily libation will always be from you, Herr Serebryakov." Tanya says, then the two girls break down into an easy bout of laughter. It is so much easier to laugh when VIsha is involved, Tanya muses. Her laugh is truly infectious. It was a shame that she didn't get to hear it more often before. It almost made two lives and three worlds worth it.

No, she thought as she felt the tension drain from her body, it was worth it to have lived two lives and in three worlds to get to hear it.

The hour is late and Tanya is restless when she becomes aware of the gentle presence that is at her side, wondering once more if it's a dream. It has to be, because Visha is never there in the morning even as she feels that soft warmth climb in next to her, a comforting arm wrapped around her and pulling her into blissful rest. Tanya sighs, hoping that the dream will never end as the two wounded souls drift off to a restful sleep together.

Sunday, June 22nd 12:30 PM

Downtown Berlin, the Market.

Tanya walks with her military gait as she follows Visha for once, finding the change in dynamics to be somewhat refreshing. Usually, the thought of following someone to someplace she was not familiar with would fill her with a sense of anxiety, but that is just a vestige of the never ending war she was wrapped in. No, she could trust in Visha's judgement, especially when it came to food. No one could doubt her former adjutant when it came to good food. Just, never ask her opinion on military cuisine. It was generally best for everyone's sense of sanity to not broach that particular landmine.

"It's right ahead, Tanya!" Visha calls back, reaching back to grab Tanya's hand and drag her along in her wake as they rush to meet the ladies that had invited them out suddenly to lunch. Just a girls day, was the instructions that they had received when they had checked their messages the previous day. They were instructed to wear something relaxed to walk and socialize in.

Tanya had to admit that Visha in a dress was something that she could get used to. The simple garment flowed about her former adjutant in a way that was most appealing, on an aesthetic level, of course. Not that she would ever harbor such thoughts towards her curvaceous companion. No, of course not.

Visha looks back, catching Tanya studying her and blushes as she brushes a lock of loose hair behind her ear. Tanya dressed in the simple slacks and blouse she wore was something that she would never tire of. The fact that her boots had just a bit of a heel to them to give her shorter companion a bit of height was something that Visha would freely admit made it even more adorable to her. She was starting to accept that she had certain feelings, towards her former superior. But she wasn't willing to risk things to act on them. No, better to suffer through unrequited affections than to risk and lose everything in a gamble. She had learned that much at the White Silver's side.

Even if it did suck at times.

They both look forward as they are called from the gaggle of girls that are waiting for them ahead. Willa, Jane and Lisa are waving at them, and proceed with a round of hugs to greet the two other girls as they arrive. Quiet looks are passed among the trio as they take in the closeness of the two others, and how the looks seem to linger just a bit longer than would normally be polite in society.

The League of Latent Lesbian Liberators was ready for their opening manuevers of this war.

*A/N*

Another 2100 words down! I believe that takes me to 9.7K of my 20K target. Half way! I will do this! Maybe!

I do love my alliterations….

I may take undo liberties in licensing some literary lascivious litanies of latent language!