AD 2206, 6/12, Sector 7 – Kokonoe's Laboratory

Carl grunts as he barely manages to pull himself free of the magnet in time to dodge Kokonoe's wrench. He's been on the backfoot for this entire fight, not ready to face such an onslaught. He'll have to think of something soon or this will have all been for nothing.

Behind him, Kagura groans as Tager slams against Mumei.

Across from him, Hibiki and Bullet are a blur of flame and shadow, each trying to land a blow.

Kokonoe grunts as she stops the arc of her wrench short to redirect her efforts. "Just give up already. I don't have time to be playing with you, kid."

Carl glares. "Then why did you bother kidnapping me, Professor Kokonoe?"

Kokonoe huffs, "Because you're dangerous. That's all there is to it."

Carl scoffs, "I'm dangerous? That might be true, but then what could we say about you?"

Kokonoe rolls her eyes. "Real cute one-liner." She summons a massive drill-hammer and swings for Carl's abdomen. "But I don't debate with dropouts."

Carl cries, "Vivace!" Twirling around the swing, he sends more Ars Magus into Ada's limbs, willing her to break away from her own magnetic holding. "Con Fuoco!"

Ada comes free with a vicious pull, twisting her arm rapidly as she elongates her claws to tear into Kokonoe's barely forming Barrier.

Kokonoe hisses as she's thrown back into a wall. She glowers at Carl and pulls out a gun of some sort, shooting a fireball into the air. She then rushes forth with surprising speed, slamming her wrench into Ada's face, cracking it further. She then slams it into Ada's gut.

Carl rushes forth, pulling out Bishop to lash out with a series of rapid stabs. "Allegretto!"

Kokonoe simply smirks and ducks away, tossing out a magnet to wrench Bishop out of Carl's cloak. She then swings hard for Carl's head.

Carl dodges back, right into the path of the rapidly falling ball of flame. He screams as it strikes him dead in the chest, burning through his shirt and singeing his skin.

Ada turns to him worriedly, leaving herself open to a devastating blow from the drill-hammer.

Kokonoe grunts, "That should do it. Time for your nap, Carl." She rears back and swings…

…Right into the flat of Mumei, as Kagura parries her blow.

Battered and thoroughly bruised, Kagura huffs, "C'mon, Kokonoe. Can't we talk this out?"

Kokonoe glares. "I don't think so, Kagura. Carl here is a ticking time bomb. You know damn well that I'm not just going to let him run around."

Carl manages to pry his eyes open to see that Tager lies dented and beaten on the ground. Ada is in no better shape. Her face is a spiderweb of cracks. Carl pulls himself to her side to assess the damage, vision growing dim…

This isn't going to end well if he can't convince her to stop.

Kagura heaves, groaning with each movement as he does his best to hold off Kokonoe. Carl hadn't stood a chance against her genius and skill, and in this state, neither does he.

Kagura huffs, "Look, I know Clover's left some bad impressions, but he's not a threat!"

Kokonoe scoffs, "Why? Because you two got all buddy-buddy? Look, Kagura. Relius left him that 'eye' for a reason, and I'm not about to find out what that is the hard way!"

She throws out another magnet, and Kagura strains to stop himself or Mumei from flying into it, leaving himself open for a wrench to the jaw. Seeing stars, he falls back into the magnet anyways. He groans as Mumei drops from his grasp.

"Finally." Kokonoe rolls her eyes as she watches Kagura feebly try to free himself. "These guys have been nothing but a pain in the n—!"

Kokonoe freezes as the flat of a blade slides onto her throat. She glances over her shoulder to see Hibiki staring at her evenly.

Hibiki murmurs, "I suggest you surrender, Professor."

Kokonoe looks around to see Tager and Bullet out of commission, each one unconscious. She glares at Hibiki wordlessly, brilliant mind racing for a way out of this.

Hibiki turns their blade, and a small droplet of blood runs down her neck. "Please, Professor."

Kokonoe growls in frustration, tails whipping about wildly as she stares daggers at Hibiki.

The assassin come secretary merely deadpan stares in return.

Kokonoe hisses as the blade digs in a millimeter deeper.

Kagura groans, "Hibiki…"

Hibiki turns their gaze to Kagura, frowning.

Kagura shakes his head and turns to Kokonoe. "Kokonoe, let's talk this out, yeah?"

Kokonoe glowers at Kagura. Finally, stamping her foot, she huffs, "Fine! We'll chat, but don't expect me to start singing kumbaya!"

Hibiki slowly retracts their blade, a deadly promise.

Kokonoe turns to see them relatively unscathed. Shit. Guess that means she'll have to wait for Tager's self-repair to kick in. She doesn't like her odds against the assassin after using so many resources subduing Carl and Kagura…

Kagura sighs in relief as he manages to pulls himself off the magnet. He stares at Kokonoe evenly. "Look, we both know that you don't want Clover running around. What I'm saying is you don't have to lock him up in a box to get what you want."

Kokonoe scoffs, "So, what? I just ask him nicely to stop using that 'eye' now? Gimme a break."

Kagura shakes his head. "Do you even know why he's doing all of this?"

Kokonoe scowls. "Save me the sob story, Kagura. I know what Relius did to get Nirvana online."

Kagura's eyes widen. "Then what the hell, Kokonoe?"

Kokonoe huffs, "Look, there's nothing I can do for that girl now. She's just a power source at this point. You'd have to make her a body, which is a pain in the ass, by the way, and move her soul into the damn thing. Even then, there's no guarantee that it'd take."

Carl frustratedly yells, "But it's a chance!"

Kagura and Kokonoe turn to face the young puppeteer, who glowers at the professor.

Carl continues, "I'll do anything to save Ada! If you want me, then take me, but help her first!"

Kokonoe scoffs, "Didn't you hear me? We'd have to move her soul to a different body. I don't have one, and why the hell should I make one? Do you have any idea what you're asking for?"

Kagura cuts in. "Kokonoe, think about it. If Carl's sister is out of Nirvana, he'll gladly hand it over, and he won't have a reason to use that 'eye' anymore. It's a win-win." He smirks charmingly. "Besides, it's not like you have anything to lose."

Kokonoe glares at Kagura for a moment, clearly thinking this over. Then, she sighs, "Fine. Let's say I do this for you." She turns to Carl. "You'd really be fine with being my prisoner if I help her out?"

Carl nods firmly. "Like I said, I'll do anything. Just, please, help us."

Kokonoe groans, racking a hand over her face. Then she yells, "Fine! I'll help the stupid brat with his doll trouble. Just…" She gestures wildly. "Just stay over there or something! This is gonna take a while."

With that, Kokonoe stalks over to her computers, muttering under her breath as she goes.

Kagura, feeling triumphant, calls, "See? Like I said, win-win!"

He tries his best not to deflate as Kokonoe flips him off.

The smelting is nearly complete, good. The sooner she gets this done, the sooner that brat will stay out of trouble.

Tager huffs, "Kokonoe, why are we doing this?"

Kokonoe sniffs, "Because your asses got pounded and I don't feel like taking in a rerun." She sighs, "Besides, Carl and Nirvana are too much of a pain to have running around. So, if I can take them both out of the picture without Kagura bitching about it…"

Tager nods. "I can see the logic, but what do we do if this fails?"

Kokonoe shrugs. "Try to beat their asses into submission again." She glares. "Now stop distracting me. Making a person is harder than it looks. Go watch our guests or something."

Tager sighs, but obeys, and Kokonoe feels a distant pang of guilt. She pushes it down. She's got no time for distractions. If this is to end how she wants it to, she'll need to concentrate fully on the smelting.

Kagura sighs in relief as he watches the body form completely. It must be close. It's been at least half a day since they got here, and they could all use some sleep. Well… most of them. Hibiki being calm as ever.

Carl fell into unconsciousness a few minutes ago, and Kagura is doing his best to hide that. He's got the kid curled up at his side, wrapped in his cape. He hopes Kokonoe won't notice.

Hibiki hums, "It looks like things are wrapping up at last, sir."

Kagura nods slowly. "Yeah. Gotta say, I didn't picture it going like this."

Hibiki glances at him coolly. "Do you regret it?"

Kagura glances down at Carl's peaceful face. "Nah. He's a good kid. Just needs guidance." He puffs his chest. "Which is where I come in, naturally."

Hibiki rolls their eyes good-naturedly. "Of course, you do, sir."

Kagura smirks as he sees the hint of a smile on that pretty face. He then glances up to see the pod glowing as Kokonoe announces the final phase. He shakes Carl awake, murmuring, "Looks like you're up, kiddo."

Carl feels himself straining as he uses his eye fully for the first time. Concentrating with all he has to see and touch Ada's weary soul. The room bathes in azure light as his socket glows colder than ever before.

As Carl focuses on the soul, he carefully wills it to leave Nirvana, and it does. Painstakingly slowly, but moving nonetheless. As he feels his nose begin to drip blood, he focuses harder, the world around the soul growing blurry as he wills it toward the newly smelted body.

He watches it embed itself slowly into the form, and as soon as it feels safe, relinquishes his grasp. The world goes dark after that.