Song: Spy ["Who Can You Trust" Music Video by Ivy Levan in HD (1080p)]
"I'm really starting to question Hakase's sanity at this point."
Saten could hear the incredulity and general concern leaking from her Level 5 friend's voice. Not that she could blame her, because Saten was just as worried as Misaka, and even Shirai despite just meeting the Doctor and was worried about him hacking into the security cameras of the city and of an entire police organization. If he could just do that, then he has to be a potential threat to the city.
...Not that he would of course. At least she hopes so.
From one of the scanners - in first person POV mode, they could see the Doctor, who had recently just surrendered, being led and cuffed by the Krullian-disguised Anti-Skill officers and placed him inside an armored bulletproof van. Saten could see what the Doctor was seeing through something called sonic contact lens.
Seriously, that's actually a thing? She thought, with bewilderment and excitement.
It essentially works just like his sonic probe, but for the eyes. He even mentioned that he used to wear sonic sunglasses (*1) back in the day. The point being that in the universe that the Doctor came from, there are a variety of advanced and sophisticated technologies under the term "sonic" that do specific functions, depending on the device in question.
From the corner of her eye, she would see her chestnut-haired friend, wearing casual clothing and a cap on her pony-tailed hair, using her electricity to stick through the nearby walls and jumping off from one of the buildings, landing in an alleyway and crouched, waiting for an opportunity to get closer while avoiding being detected by the Krulls. She was also wearing black shades, providing Saten and the others with another viewpoint to monitor the current situation.
"Keep an eye on that Gallifreyan," The officer in charge of the squad would bark his orders as he headed inside along with the captured Time Lord. "I want at least four men on the watch, two of whom would prepare their aim on both sides of the chest. We can never be too careful, as we all know how Gallifreyans are quite duplicitous, this one most of all."
"Aww, that's the nicest thing you ever said about me," The Doctor spoke, with a mocking tone of humor. "I suppose you got the part where the Doctor lies from all of the stories you've heard?"
"Silence, Gallifreyan scum," The officer rebuked while one of the officers riflebutted the Doctor's face with his sidearm at the same time, making everyone watching twitchy. "The only reason you are alive right now is because you have appealed to a reasonable parley with our commander. We Krullians may be savages according to your kind, but we are not without sophistication."
"...Oh really," The Doctor, after moving a bit of his jaw, would look at the officer with a grave yet undecipherable expression, which made some of the Krullians aim at him, looking unsure and there was even a hint of fear. "Sophistication is not something I would reckon to find in the Krullish vocabulary, just asked all of the worlds you lot had butchered in the Dark Times."
The officer smiled, with a bit of his crocodile teeth showing its vicious glee. "Times have changed, Time Lord. We have since learned to adapt to varying degrees in order to survive our exile, an exile that was caused by your kind and their sanctimonious pomposity, thinking that they are the ones who rightly deserved to control time the most."
"I'll admit," The Doctor shrugged. "I don't really have much of a high regard for my people in general, but better them being in charge than a bunch of cannibals who, when put in charge, would enact the most twisted sense of enjoyment that could possibly be devised by bio-lifeforms everywhere."
The officers would gurgle in laughter.
While Saten was listening to this conversation carefully, she recalled something of what the Doctor had said before getting himself captured. Try to keep your enemy talking, the Doctor said. That was how he would usually do things. On the one hand, it felt like a complete lack of self-preservation on the part of the Doctor. On the other hand, it provides some testament to the Doctor's experiences, and Saten couldn't help but wonder.
...This was not the first time the Doctor got captured.
She didn't know whether to feel impressed or concerned.
"That right?" The Doctor looked bemused. "Or is it because... your normal methods don't seem to work on this planet? You lot don't just stay on a planet for too long without something happening. That makes me suspect that the locals of this world aren't something you can just brush over."
The officer chewed his mouth a bit. "We've had a few... complications."
"Complications?" The Doctor prodded, being a bit inquisitive. "Like what? You already have devices that could render espers caput in terms of their powers. What more problems are there?"
"You know nothing, Gallifreyan," The officer shook his head as he sat down on the other side of the armored truck, which was now starting its engines and accelerating towards the road. Unbeknownst to the officers inside, Misaka would jump right, hopping to the right side before going up, using a bit of her electrical current to soften the landing and prevent any kind of noise from occurring. "And if you knew exactly what kind of world you've found yourself in, you wouldn't act so cheeky."
The Doctor became silent, yet covered with a cheerful outlook.
"I guess that new friend of yours is really getting himself right into the frying pan."
Saten and the others would look at someone present from one of the scanners. It was a woman with a beautiful if not currently serious face and dark blue eyes, whose dark blue hair was tied into a ponytail, with arms crossed.
Saten would recognize this woman as Aiho Yomikawa (*2), a member of Anti-Skill, and a physical education teacher at a certain high school (*3).
"Ma, then again, I don't think I could complain too much," She would say. "From what that man sent me, it seems pretty legit to take seriously, not to mention that he's got the monsters distracted, which makes things easier for some of us to move in and take them by surprise."
Before his capture, the Doctor made contact with Yomikawa and provided convincing evidence of what's happening within her organization. Once that's hammered out, including all of the minor details, it was all too simple for Yomikawa to mobilize a specific unit, composed of officers whom she trusted and are verified by the Doctor as human, with some assistance from Judgment, courtesy of Shirai, the only active member of Judgment involved in this operation who has some general knowledge of the situation.
As for Saten, she's currently providing mission control for everybody. Doctor's orders, literally. She even has her own headphones and an accompanying microphone. This role was something completely new to her. Usually, this was Uiharu's job who provides mission control. It's sort of a nice change of pace for her, because it was better than doing nothing while her new friend, her other friends, and a few others are out risking their neck in trying to stop a potential alien invasion.
And that was also a new thing for Saten.
If they screw this up, she's gonna be looking at blood soaked streets where cannibalistic aliens would eat everybody alive... and worse. Not exactly the type of tomorrow that she's looking forward too.
...
...
Misaka could feel the turbulence of the armored van, which swerved through several roads. Using something called a perception filter (*4), which takes the form of a silver electron-shaped necklace, it practically made her almost invisible, and nobody on the sidewalks would pay attention.
"...Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
Except for one annoying blonde, whom she spotted in the corner of her eye, whom Misaka could not help but side comment with an irritated tone.
It was a quick passing, with both of their eyes locked on to each other, in a brief moment, before the armored truck turned left.
Misaka shook her head.
Well, she thought, we already got Hakase with us, so it's not like I'm gonna need that blonde bimbo's help anyway.
...
...
Her name was Misaki Shokuhou.
A young woman with blonde hair, a Tokiwadai middle school uniform, and a handbag with a star attached to it. She had just come out from a Burger King (*5) restaurant and took a bite. She could still recall the delicate taste, the tomatoes and lettuces, the meaty crunches and raw onions, which she chewed on. It brought back a few treasured memories for her.
Memories that she could no longer relive again, except perhaps in her mind.
In her musing trips down memory lane, she noticed something from the corner of her eye.
"Ara? Misaka-san?"
She muttered softly as they briefly locked eyes on each other before the truck turned left, obscuring the chestnut-haired Level 5 from view.
Now what would Misaka-san be doing this time? She thought. Not that she cared what that unclassy gorilla would do in her spare time, but... she does acknowledge that the Railgun had a tendency to get involved in important events, such as what had happened during their first year (*6), and what had happened with Level Upper (*7).
Shokuhou tends to keep herself updated on the general events, major or minor, through the use of her network and connections.
Perhaps I should try to find out just what's the next interesting thing that Misaka-san had gotten herself involved in, Shokuhou thought with bemusement and interest, wondering about Tokiwadai's Electric Princess hitching a ride on an Anti-Skill vehicle.
...
...
"There," Mugino Shizuri would point towards the armored van and the recognizable Railgun who was sticking on the roof. "Follow them, but keep your distance."
"Yes, ma'am," A foreign man in a black suit would speak as he brought his foot to the pedals, starting the acceleration of the green automobile that they were occupying.
Looks like that old hag's right. She thought with bemusement. Though I'm kinda pissed off that I wouldn't be able to fight that brat, but a job's a job, and at least the hag's paying for it. Saving the world from literal man-eating aliens just so happens to be a bonus.
...
...
Misaka waited patiently as the armored van would pass through several intersections and roads. Then the van would turn left and enter an open tunnel, one that was clear of all vehicles. All the while, through her comms, she would begin to hear chattering and see the scene through one of the lens of her shades.
"Sir, we have cleared the area of any traffic. You are clear to proceed," One of the officers in the comms spoke with the superior officer inside the armored truck.
"Good work, soldier," The superior officer commented.
The tunnel was brightly neon-lighted, and the walls were marble cement. Then she noticed something as a few moments have passed.
"...!"
A newly formed hole would appear from the side of the tunnel, revealing a secret passageway through which the armored van would go in. Slowly, Misaka felt like the road was taking in a deep dive, downwards, indicating that she was now underground. As another few moments passed...
"...Ah!"
Her eyes widened due to what she was seeing. Quite a sight to behold. She would see a large, wide open cavern, with various buildings and hovering craft seen from above the seemingly digital bright orange-tainted skies of the afternoon, emulating the time scale above the surface area. The road was an open highway leading straight to a large facility nearby.
"No way," Misaka heard Saten's voice in the comms.
"What is it, Saten-san?" Misaka asked.
"...I just remembered something about a rumor," Saten spoke while recalling something. "There's this rumor of a tunnel that led to some secret place deep underground, somewhere above the sewer system. If a person is lucky enough to use it, one would find a strange magical city with strange people living there."
...Okay, that was way too on the nose, Misaka thought dryly, glancing through the sights.
Normally, she wouldn't entertain any of the so-called urban legends (*8) circulating within the city, but she supposed she could make an exception to the rule. After all, she never really considered the possibility of aliens existing before meeting the strange Doctor.
Even now, some part of her was still doubting it. A part of her would rationalized that maybe this situation was some kind of twisted experiment gone wrong within the city. That happened before with Level Upper after all. But that theory was blown out of the water considering there's literally an underground city with flying cars and various craft hovering above.
"...What's that rumor called again, Saten-san?" She questioned.
"Umbrella City (*9)," Saten answered.
"...Command, this is Unit 2-5, we're almost through the gate, requesting entry for prisoner transport," Misaka could hear one of the officers, who was one of the drivers, from the comm-links.
"Copy that," Another officer responded. "All available units within the facility are to exercise extreme caution when handling the prisoner. I want all eyes trained on him, bound hand and foot, to keep him from escaping and doing something that could jeopardize our internal security."
Now was the time for Misaka to drop herself off. She jumped away from the van and landed towards a nearby street light. Waiting for the armored truck to distance itself, she started to jump a few meters in succession, from a neon headlight to another, before she began to jump even higher, allowing her to fly overheard and stick a landing through a nearby wall that was a few meters near to the facility.
She would flip to the building's rooftop and begin to jump ahead...
...Launching herself into the air as sparks would emanate from her body and her chestnut brown eyes. Before she made a landing towards the wall, a few meters near a guard's post. Then she decided to crawl ahead and lift herself up from the balcony and...
"Wha-"
...Decapitates an unfortunate Krullian guard with a materialized iron sword made up from the ground. A bit too gruesome, but Misaka doesn't really feel that much guilt in doing that to a monstrous cannibal that was going to eat her alive anyway if he ever got the chance. Then with a snap of her fingers, sprinkling a few silent streams of lightning, she set the cannibal to ashes, removing all traces of the body's existence. Then she would look at the next places where she could jump over.
...
...
The Doctor was dragged off of the back of the armored truck as multiple officers wearing body armor were seen aiming at him with their guns. There were even large tanks that were aiming at him.
A bit too excessive, isn't it? The Doctor thought with amusement.
"Ah, my Lord Doctor."
While the Doctor was being led, and bound with chains from head to foot by a few nearby Krulls, he would see what he'd guess to be the head-honcho of the group. He wore the same Anti-Skill uniform as the rest of the Krulls, but the man was tall and had greyish hair. His brown eyes carried something of a sharp-edge to it. The Doctor felt like he was looking at a crocodile's eyes. Fitting for one of the most heinous predators of the Dark Times.
"It is truly gratifying to finally meet you, face to face."
"Well," The Doctor shrugged with a subtle smile. "Thank you I suppose for accepting my parley, even though you tried to order your men to kill me not a few hours ago."
"Apologies," The grey-haired officer replied. "One cannot be too careful when it comes to hearing of your arrival. Gallifreyan or no, your stories are legendary enough that you could very well be a potential security threat to our empire."
"Hmm, yes, an ancient intergalactic empire hiding in a..." The Doctor noted his surroundings with curiosity. "Underground City?"
"Umbrella City to be more specific," The grey-haired officer replied.
"Hmm. A bit too Resident Evil-ley (*10) for my taste for names," The Doctor pointed out with tact.
"Maybe so," The Doctor looked interested as the grey-haired officer agreed with his pop-culture reference. "But it fits the description of this city."
"A city that you're in charge in?" The Doctor asked.
"By the will of Gy'thar (*11), no," The officer shakes his head. "This city is very diverse, you see. Various alien cultures and species have settled down here into this planet, with independent yet secretive autonomy."
"That's very odd," The Doctor's interest was piqued. "The Krullians were never really one for good neighbors."
"What you say is true, but all races, even us, must learn to adapt to the times," The grey-haired officer spoke.
"Funnily enough, that's exactly what one of your subordinates would say," The Doctor gestured his head towards the officer in command of the unit that arrested him.
"Ah yes, I trust that Private Wakamiya (*12) here had provided some level of hospitality for a Lord of Time such as yourself," The grey-haired officer commended the sergeant of the unit.
"All I do," Said the officer in question. "Is for the service of our Righteous Queen and of our Glorious Imperium."
Righteous, the Doctor thought dryly, even Queen Bess (*13) wasn't as excessive as the Queen of the Krullians, and she was far from the definition of a saint either.
"Come, follow me," The grey-haired officer gestured while boasting. "Let us talk while I give you the grand tour of our facility."
"Before you take me to your prison cell, you mean?" The Doctor could not help but dryly asks.
"Ah, that is so," The grey-haired officer sported a look of light bemusement and sophistication. "If only because the Queen herself would want to speak with you after I have informed her of your request."
...
...
A couple of moments prior...
"This is Captain Reese of the Squeakers Unit, to whom am I speaking to?"
"Oh, don't give me that, please," The Doctor looked annoyed, while holding his hand to a phone. "You lot have been trying to hunt me down for the entire afternoon. You know who you're talking to."
A few moments later, the Doctor could hear a soft, but deep jubilancy echoing from the chatter.
"I was wondering when you would decide to attempt this tactic, my Lord Doctor."
"And I would presume at least that you're this commander who directed orders to your subordinates to kill me," The Doctor related.
"It is true," The officer affirmed. "And as to my real name, I am Commander Gyr'linder of the 75th Harvest Infiltration Division."
"Commander Gryr'linder," The Doctor replied. "As a way of setting the flags straight, why don't we do a bit of parley?"
"Parley?" Gryr'linder spoke with amusement. "Do you expect me to believe that I would entertain such a triviality?"
"I mean, come on, an infamous Time Lord like me in your custody, better alive than dead, could very well provide a beneficial audience for both you and me towards your current ruler?" The Doctor offered.
"You intend to seek an audience with Queen Nyr-al XII of the Krullish Empire, while bound in chains as a prisoner and a potential meal," Gryr'linder mused at the concept. "A very tempting offer, Time Lord, but that still doesn't answer my question of why should I entertain such a thing. After all, your exploits are rather legendary, the man who fought in greater conflicts that could drive anyone mad, and ended them with a swift moment. Better dead than alive, is what I would prefer in inverse."
"Though if you know who I am, then you already know how many people before have tried the tactic of killing me. Didn't really work in the long run. Are you really willing to risk that without me being so close and absolutely sure that you got me?" The Doctor countered.
"You say so, but it matters not by halves," Gryr'linder gravely replied. "We're both limited within the confines of this city. Neither of us can pull the trigger on each other without drawing any unnecessary attention."
"It seems a bit too late for that, considering one of your men tried to blow me up in public in broad daylight," The Doctor countered.
"A triviality that can be covered up by a mere mention of an official operation involving an unauthorized alien in Academy City with confirmed motives of terrorism," Gryr'linder proposed.
"Let me guess," The Doctor didn't back down. "You already circulated my identity as someone to be targeted for questioning."
"The city's process of law is quite intriguing to manipulate, you might say," Gryr'linder spoke with glee.
And then, all of a sudden...
...The earth would shake (*14).
No, more like quaked.
"Woah!"
The Doctor would feel the turbulence and rumbling of the ground as he falls down.
"...What?!"
It was a bit violent as the nearby doors would be heard to break and fall, the sounds of glass smashing into pieces, and cracks appeared in the asphalt ground. It only lasted for about one minute before it subsided, with the Doctor getting up.
"Ah, I suppose it is that time of the week then," Gryr'linder would speak in amusement.
"...What?!" The Doctor exclaims again, with a bewildered.
"What you have just experienced is merely a series of earthquakes that have been causing a bit of a ruckus amongst the populace of the city. I can assure you though that this is not the doing of our empire, but of something else. Of what, well... that's the interesting part," Gryr'linder explained, never losing the amusement in his voice.
"Let me guess," The Doctor's tone was dry. "The so-called shades of this city are responsible."
"Ah, so you are aware," Gryr'linder took a more thoughtful tone. "I wonder who told you that."
"Ehh, just a little birdy with no consequence, not too big of a deal," The Doctor replied with a casual tone. "But in any case, I suppose that I could broker a bit for information."
"Information?" Gryr'linder inquired.
"I have the mind of about a thousand years worth of knowledge and lore," The Doctor proposed. "You mean to tell me that you lot aren't the least bit curious of what's inside my head?"
"...Hmm, tempting," Gryr'linder spoke meticulously. "I will have to make contact with my Queen and inform her of this matter."
"Oh, do get along," The Doctor said with a cheer. "And I wouldn't worry about me escaping, because I know that you've already tracked my signal through this call. Just know that I'll be waiting for my royal escort."
"You jest, Time Lord, but it is commendable," Gryr'linder said.
Trivia For Chapter:
(*1) - When he was in twelfth incarnation, the Doctor, in addition to his iconic screwdriver, would also wear sonic sunglasses.
(*2) - From Toaru Wiki - Yomikawa Aiho (黄泉川 愛穂 Yomikawa Aiho?) is a character introduced in Toaru Majutsu no Index. She is a P.E. teacher at A Certain High School, and is good friends with fellow teacher, Tsukuyomi Komoe. Also a member of Anti-Skill, she cares for the well-being of children even if they are criminals, and absolutely believes that she will not use a weapon on children.
(*3) - From Toaru Wiki - A Certain High School (とある高校 Toarukōkō?) is the term used to refer the yet-unnamed high school that the protagonist, Kamijou Touma is enrolled in. In the Toaru Majutsu no Index universe, it is the school in Academy City with the most named characters, next to Tokiwadai Middle School.
(*4) - From TARDIS Wiki - A perception filter, also known as a perceptual filter, was a telepathic effect which misdirected the senses around itself or the person using it.
(*5) - From Wikipedia - Burger King Corporation (BK, stylized in all caps) is an American multinational chain of hamburger fast food restaurants. Headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida, the company was founded in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida–based restaurant chain.
(*6) - References to the events of the First Year Arc from the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (manga).
(*7) - References to the events of the Level Upper Arc from the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (manga) and its' anime adaptation.
(*8) - From Toaru Wiki - Urban Legends (都市伝説 Toshi Densetsu?) are a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true. As with all folklore and mythology, the designation suggests nothing about the story's veracity, but merely that it is in circulation, exhibits variation over time, and carries some significance that motivates the community in preserving and propagating it. Urban legends are a unique part of the world of Toaru Majutsu no Index, specifically Academy City. The legends and rumors are quite often important to the plot later on, and in Toaru Kagaku no Railgun is a central point in several storylines, having many storylines based on an urban legend.
(*9) - Umbrella City is a secret refuge city located deep underground, where dozens of alien species were living in relative peace.
(*10) - In both the Whoniverse and in the A Certain Magical Index Verse, there was a video game franchise called Resident Evil, the first of the games appearing in 1996.
(*11) - During the Dark Times, there is a god of chaos called Gy'thar, the Dark God and King of Pleasure and Profanity, worshipped by the Krullians and a few other races. He is considered to be a god of pleasure, pain, hedonism, excess, perfection and decadence. Lust, pride and self-indulgence are the hallmarks of all who follow it.
(*12) - The human cover name for the Krullian in question. Not his actual name.
(*13) - From Wikipedia - Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603)[a] was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last monarch of the House of Tudor.
(*14) - At around the same time this was happening, there was an earthquake, connected to a series of earthquakes that have recently plagued the city. This indicates the timeframe of the story, which would be around the Poltergeist Arc.