CHAPTER 16:

SABOTAGE

The next couple of weeks were increasingly tense, especially after CHALDEAS began showing the very first Singularity. Singularities were the name given to events in time that could not be observed via SHEBA, and a sign of interference with history, changing its course. For now, it was small and relatively benign, but CHALDEAS was unable to guarantee the survival of humanity in the coming century, and Olga-Marie made the order to accelerate the Master recruitment process.

Tensions were rising even more, between Olga and almost everyone else. True, Harry understood how pressure could cause such things. He remembered the argument between him and Ron during the Horcrux Hunt, exacerbated by the Locket. But she could stand to be less of a bitch, especially towards Hermione. The only people she seemed to tone it down around was Lev, Delphi of all people, Melusine, and Da Vinci.

It rankled Harry that Olga would treat her former tutor like crap, but Hermione had him and Barghest promise not to intervene. He hoped Hermione knew what she was doing. Lev seemed to be subtly marginalising her, and he felt more should be done.

In any case, they finally got some background about Ritsuka Fujimaru. Although his family was not a notable Magus family, his mother was actually the bastard child of Tokiomi Tohsaka during a youthful dalliance, long before he married his actual wife Aoi Zenjou. Yet after learning of his heritage, Ritsuka sought out his aunt, Rin Tohsaka. He didn't want the Magic Crest, he just wanted pointers in magecraft. He would be considered a 'spellcaster', a Magus who only used magecraft not to strive for Akasha, but for other means. In other words, something of a dilettante.

Ritsuka had also been influenced by Rin's husband, Shirou Muramasa-Emiya. Ritsuka had a similar bent for justice as the adopted child of the Magus Killer, apparently. This, Hermione had learned from Waver Velvet, who was coming to Chaldea with the last wave of Masters, Grey in tow.

Once the last set of Master candidates were brought in, Olga-Marie intended to launch an expedition to resolve the Singularity that had appeared. Said Singularity had centred on Fuyuki in early 2004, the time when the Holy Grail War had happened. For now, the Singularity was quiescent, but it needed to be investigated and resolved soon.

Though not just for the danger it posed to human history. Harry got the feeling that Olga-Marie was desperate to prove her father right, to restore his reputation and her own after his death and some of his dodgy dealings came to light. To prove that Chaldea had a purpose. It stank of Ahab to him, and Lev's influence seemed to make things worse.

It was on the day the last Master candidates arrived that they finally met the young man who, in another timeline, would fight to save the world…

"Are you okay, Mash?" Harry asked as they walked down the corridor. 'They' being his family, Mash, and Fou. The last batch of Master candidates had arrived and, save for one, been processed.

The artificial human opened her mouth to say something, before she reconsidered. "I'm…I will admit, I'm nervous, Harry. It'll be my first Rayshifting deployment, and…what if my Demi-Servant powers don't come forth? Or if I can't summon that shield to act as a catalyst?" She sighed. "At best, I can then offer on-site logistic and intelligence support, but…"

"Don't worry, Mash," Barghest said, gently laying a hand on Mash's shoulder, the one currently not occupied by Fou. "I know you will rise to the challenge. You are more than strong enough."

By now, Mash knew that Barghest had met a future version of her, albeit in an alternate timeline. Barghest and the others kept details from her, though some, like how Mash was able to become a Demi-Servant in earnest, they simply didn't know, and Mash was sworn to secrecy on what she was told. It didn't help the young artificial human's self-esteem as much as they hoped, but it did give her a small boost of confidence.

Mash looked to the windows, to the Antarctic blizzard blowing outside. "I know I've said it before, but…thank you, all of you, for showing me such kindness. I know I haven't ventured beyond your estate in Oxford when outside Chaldea, Harry, but…just seeing the sky, at day and at night…"

"Hey, you're part of the family now, Mash," Delphi said. "I mean, Roman and Leona are pretty much your parents, as is Aunty Hermione, but…I love to think of you as my adorable little sister. Hopefully, we can take you to all sorts of places around the world." Then, her face creased into a thoughtful frown. "Now that I come to think of it, though, why's the first Singularity detected in Fuyuki in 2004?"

"Well, it's the time when the Holy Grail War, the first one, took place in our neck of the multiverse," Harry said. "Zelretch told me that the Fifth Holy Grail War in certain timelines also takes place around that period, though thanks to timey-wimey crap, it can vary to a degree. In other words, we can't expect the same Servants that happened in this timeline to appear in this Singularity."

Melusine frowned. "Harry, you were in Fuyuki for a time, yes? I'm surprised that the Director didn't take you off the bench if you have some familiarity with the city."

"I only know so much. I went there mostly to get trained by Kiritsugu Emiya years ago. And Pepe had been there a few times, so there's a member of Team A who's got some familiarity."

Any further discussion was halted when Fou cried out softly, and scampered off Mash's shoulder, haring down the corridor. The quintet followed, to find a form collapsed just outside of the special Simulator designed to help newcomers acclimate to being Masters. Fou was licking at the face of the person, who was groaning.

Harry carefully helped the figure to sit up, only to freeze in surprise. The short messy mop of dark hair was familiar, as were the aqua eyes. Mash, meanwhile, said, a little nervously, "Umm, Senpai? I know you may be jetlagged and overwhelmed by the Simulator, but it's not the time or place to sleep."

The teenager blinked his eyes blearily, looking at the people surrounding him, staring briefly at Barghest's hulking frame, before his eyes widened in recognition at Harry. "Oh, sorry, sorry! I had a bad night's sleep before I left," he said, getting to his feet with Harry's help. "Combine that with a long flight, and the fact that I'm still not sure what this Chaldea place is for…yeah, I'm pretty tired."

"Your English is good," Harry noted.

"My father was a Japanese-American," the teenager said. "And thanks for saying that. You're Harry Potter, aren't you? I don't really follow events in the wizarding world, but I've heard about you."

Harry was a little wary, but the teenager's enthusiasm wasn't that effusive in a way that many fans were, and the smile was friendly, not fanatical, so he smiled and shook the teenager's hand. "Okay. Nice to meet you…?"

"Oh, right. I am Ritsuka Fujimaru. Please take care of me!" He gave a brief bow.

"Nice to meet you. This is my daughter, Delphi, my wife, Barghest, Barghest's friend, Melusine, and this is Mash Kyrielight, a researcher working for Chaldea. Oh, and that is Fou, a Privileged Life-Form who is basically given free rein over Chaldea. He doesn't usually like going near people apart from us and a friend of ours."

Harry was grateful that Barghest and Melusine had schooled their expressions upon seeing the past self of the Chaldea Master they had encountered in their Lostbelt. But Ritsuka shook their hands, even as Fou decided to head off elsewhere. "Hi. Sorry about this, this whole recruitment by Chaldea came out of nowhere, and I'm still coming to terms with it, so I'm pretty nervous."

"It's okay, Senpai, I'm nervous too, and I've been here for years," Mash said. "Do you know anything about Chaldea yet?"

Ritsuka ran a hand through his hair. "Not much at all. I got told by Professor Velvet on the plane trip over something about safeguarding the Human Order and using Servants to do so…I mean, I only heard about Servants in passing once before when my aunt was tutoring me about magecraft. I'm pretty much only a spellcaster by Magi terms. Honestly, I'm more of a novice when it comes to, well, anything to do with the Moonlit World."

"In a way, that may be to your advantage. Chaldea is somewhat meritocratic compared to the rest of the Moonlit World, after all, and I'm sure we should get you up to speed."

Harry scowled briefly when he turned to see Lev approaching, but schooled his expression. While elegantly-dressed, Lev Lynor still annoyed him. Something about his jolly and affable demeanour seemed vaguely false. Then again, with Magi, it was a good policy to be wary around them. He undeniably had style with his top hat, green suit, and long hair, but that style seemed almost as Victorian as the average wizard. "Professor Lynor? I thought you and the Director would be preparing for the briefing?"

"True, but Professor Velvet had a few things to discuss with the Director and with Doctor Granger," Lev said. "Clock Tower politics, you know how it is. So, this is the last Master Candidate?"

"Yes, Professor," Ritsuka said, standing up straighter. "I'm Ritsuka Fujimaru, a pleasure to meet you."

Lev shook hands with the teenager. "Heh. That's the spirit, Fujimaru. Though you've been talking with these people, it seems."

"And waking him up," Melusine said. "The simulation of a Spiritron Dive and commanding Servants didn't do his jet lag any favours."

Lev roared with laughter. "No, I suppose not! But still, once the orientation is over, you'd better head to the infirmary. Spiritron Dives can cause a form of somnambulism on occasion. Sleep-walking, in other words. Still, we'd better take you over to the orientation ASAP. The Director isn't particularly forgiving to newbies, or anyone for that matter, so we'd better get you there."

"I'll take Senpai there, Professor, don't worry!" Mash said.

"Senpai?" Ritsuka asked.

"In some ways, every person about her age or older is her Senpai, don't worry about it," Lev said. "I'll escort you both to the orientation. Potter, you and your group can take it easy for now. We'll handle the newbie, and if we need you, well, I'm sure I can have the Director swallow her pride."

After saying their farewells, Lev, Mash, and Ritsuka left, with Harry and his family watching them go. "Should we have let them go with Lynor?" Melusine asked.

"I know we don't trust him, but he won't try any overt power plays with Waver around," Harry said. "Waver may not be as powerful as Lord El-Melloi, but he has some pull and a good reputation, and Olga was his student. Anyway, c'mon. Let's see if Da Vinci has anything interesting to discuss…"

"I've just gone over the physiological data gleaned from Fujimaru, relayed from the scan run while he was in the Simulator," Da Vinci said, the Renaissance Woman tapping away at an iPad as they convened in her Workshop. "As a Magus, he isn't much better than Kadoc, though he has similar Rayshift and Master compatibility. But the Tohsakas are amongst the most renowned Japanese Magi lines for a reason, obscure though their line was until recently."

"Yeah, Zelretch basically set one of Rin's ancestors 'homework', to recreate the Jewelled Sword," Harry said. "Capable of drawing upon the Second True Magic to some degree."

"If I recall correctly, Asian Magi are often treated poorly by Western Magi," Barghest mused, frowning. "Japanese Magi in particular, until the Holy Grail War brought them to the forefront. Western Magi tend to look down on them."

"Sad but true, even if Japanese Magi are no less capable of magecraft. Indeed, the wielder of the Fourth True Magic is Aoi Aozaki," Da Vinci said. "Of course, they can also be as cruel."

"Yeah. Kiritsugu Emiya's father was a nasty piece of work," Harry said.

"Is it not odd that such an average Magus, one who could only be considered a 'spellcaster', would be the one to become Chaldea's most prominent Master?" Melusine asked.

"Hey, pressure makes diamonds, that's what the saying is," Delphi said with a shrug. "Dad didn't have anything real special compared to the average wizard, his mum's protection aside, and yet, he beat Voldemort. Sometimes, normal people can rise to the occasion."

"Exactly, and when you think about it, it makes a lot of sense," Da Vinci said. "Too many Magi lack empathy and an ability to empathise with others. Yet a Servant was originally a person, and empathy and diplomacy would be, to anyone with a relatively normal viewpoint, veritable boons in dealing with them. Of course, for Magi, that is what Command Seals are there for, a whip to goad on a stubborn beast."

Before they could say anything further, a whipcrack-like noise echoed just outside the door, which opened to reveal Hermione, Olga-Marie, Grey and Waver. The quartet tensed, but once the door slid close behind them, Olga shook her head. "Damnation, I let the stress get to me too much."

"You didn't have to slap Ritsuka," Grey observed.

Olga shot her a glare. "He was falling asleep in the middle of an important orientation. Yes, I understand that he was suffering from jet-lag and the after-effects of the simulated Spiritron Dive. But everyone else was listening to me as attentively, or at least pretending to. It doesn't bode well of a Master candidate if he can't push himself to stay awake during a briefing, let alone a life or death situation." She began rubbing her forehead. And then, in a quieter, less stern and angry tone, she muttered, "Hermione…I'm scared."

"…I know, Olga, I know. And I want my suspicions about Lev are as baseless as you hope them to be," Hermione said, gently rubbing the younger woman's back, a far cry from the tension that seemed to be between them earlier. "At least we know now that, no matter what my opinion of your father is, he wasn't wrong to found Chaldea."

Harry's family were staring at the two women in surprise, until Barghest observed, "I understand now. Your feud…it was false."

"Exaggerated," Olga said, waving a hand dismissively. "Hermione and I had more than a few actual arguments, especially after what she told me of what my father intended. I scarcely believe it even now, and yet, you and Melusine are the living proofs that Lostbelts exist. But after a few, I realised that what she claimed about Lev, that he was isolating and marginalising me, was potentially true." After a moment, she added, "How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself, as I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on."

"Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 5," Waver observed. "The line where Hamlet declares he would feign madness to try and draw out King Claudius' true character, as well as those of his allies."

"Exactly," Olga said. "I needed to show that a tension existed between myself and Hermione, hence my benching you four." She indicated Harry and his family. "It was a reasonable way of keeping you at arm's length without taking things too far and alienating you. Unfortunately, I had to keep Mash in the dark too."

"So why tell us now?" Harry asked, even as he mentally applauded Olga and Hermione for their acting ability.

"Because if anything is going to happen that will cause trouble for Chaldea, it will be just before, during, or after its first mission," Olga said. "Da Vinci is already aware of my act, though Dr Archiman isn't. And she's already done some preliminary analysis of the Singularity. Whatever it is, something has put it into place very deliberately. And not just to try and distort history. There's a very real possibility that this Singularity is bait in a trap."

"…A trap?" Grey asked.

Suddenly, there was a series of short, sharp rumbles in the distance, and the floor shuddered. The lights went out, and were soon replaced by dim red emergency lights. Klaxons began wailing a cacophonic dirge. As they reeled in shock, an automated announcement began to play from the PA system. "Emergency. Emergency. Fires have broken out in the Central Power Station and the Command Room. Fire containment procedures will be activated shortly."

After a moment's shock, Olga then looked to Da Vinci and Hermione. "Da Vinci, Hermione, with me! We need to check the condition of the reactors!" She then looked at the others. "Harry, get Barghest and Melusine to the Command Room! If anyone is still alive, help them! Velvet, Grey, Delphi, stay here until we've stabilised the situation!"

"Fuck that, I can help!" Delphi said. And with that, she Apparated away.

Harry grimaced at his daughter's impulsiveness. Like father, like daughter. "Dammit…Melusine, Barghest, hang on…"

They soon found the Command Room filled with flames, and Ritsuka dashing in, Delphi not far behind. As they rushed in, Bubblehead Charms helping prevent smoke inhalation, Harry noted the devastation. The Rayshift Coffins were badly damaged, and whoever was in them were either dead or dying. He winced at the thought of Team A being amongst them: he hated Beryl, but the others seemed all right for Magi, even with the knowledge of them being Crypters.

He then looked at the control room above, and felt a chill run down his spine. Most of the area was a blackened ruin, and if Hermione hadn't left when she did, she, along with Olga, may very well have died. As it was, so many people were dead, or else badly-injured, though they were yet to find anyone who survived yet.

But why do this? He suspected bombs were used, but why do this to Chaldea? Who would do this too? What did they have to gain?

Before he could even start considering an answer, he heard Delphi call for him, and he hurried over, to find Mash, clad in a figure-hugging bodysuit, one used for Rayshifting. The artificial human had a massive concrete block over the lower half of her body. Ritsuka and Delphi were trying to pull the concrete block off her, only for Barghest and Melusine to do so with ease.

However, Mash's lower half was…well, at the risk of sounding morbid, mashed. As soon as he saw the injuries and the massive pool of blood, he wanted to vomit, but instead, Harry began casting every healing spell he could. Meanwhile, Ritsuka and Delphi held a hand each, trying to reassure the pale girl, while Fou whimpered.

Harry knew that his efforts were probably in vain. He was no doctor, but he knew that crush injuries were far from trivial. So he began speaking, even as he cast more spells. "Wake up, damn you."

Mash looked up at him blearily, pain writ in her eyes. "Harry?"

"I'm not talk to you, Mash, I'm talking to that lazy, prideful bastard inside you. You call yourself a Heroic Spirit, whoever the fuck you are? An innocent girl is about to die because you can't be arsed to help her! Some hero you are."

"Mash, what does he mean?" Ritsuka asked.

Harry brought his face up close to Mash, only half paying attention to the announcements on the PA system, saying something about CHALDEAS, Rayshifting, and Master candidates. "Whoever the hell you are inside Mash, wake the fuck up right now, and save her! Because if you don't in the next ten seconds, I'll drag you out of her and force you to help her!"

As a countdown began over the PA, Mash's expression changed, becoming stern and impassive. Her eyes turned golden. And then, she said, "It is done."

Then, suddenly, a blue swirling vortex, like something out of Doctor Who, consumed them all…

CHAPTER 16 ANNOTATIONS:

Okay, a bit of a rushed job and a bit of a crammed chapter, but hey, we introduced Ritsuka, and got through the opening events of Singularity F.

Firstly, Hermione and Olga conspiring. This has been what I intended for a long time. While not quite my original intention for the fic, I thought it'd make better sense for Olga and Hermione to play up their rancour publicly to fool Lev. They don't know he's a Demon Pillar, and Olga's been kept in the dark about Roman's true identity so far, but still…

Also, why bring in Waver and Grey? Grey doesn't get seen to interact much with Arturia, even in fanfics, so having her at Chaldea might be interesting. And I'm going to have a handwave that Grey won't suddenly become a Saberface, so her issues with her ancestor will be less than in canon.

Waver, on the other hand, is someone I'm considering as a love interest for Hermione. They have quite a bit in common, though their respective stations meant that they hadn't had much of a chance for romance…until now.

Finally, Harry's speech to Mash, or rather, Galahad. I think Galahad treated Mash very callously, and if his portrayal in Moonlight/Lostroom is actually canon, then I think he deserves to be treated like the villain he actually is. Merlin's remarks about him are telling, that Galahad is detached and even heartless from a certain point of view. Harry doesn't know for sure that Mash has Galahad, nor does anyone else.

I also had, in my mind, the energy of the Fifth Doctor's speech at the end of Episode 3 of the Doctor Who story The Caves of Androzani. Although he's talking to Stotz, a gunrunner holding him at gunpoint, it's also hinted that the Doctor's speech is also intended for himself, as he's on the verge of regeneration, and he fears that, if he regenerates at this point, he can't help his dying companion Peri. I wanted Harry's words to have the same feeling as the Fifth Doctor exclaiming, "So you see, I'm not gonna let you STOP ME NOW!"

But at long last, the Grand Order begins! And we'll start to see Servants appearing!

This is the first half of a double-update, by the way.

No numbered annotations this time.