Honkai of Fate
Chapter 3: Calm Before the Storm
It begins… After months and months of being tested, experimented, and enduring the constant pain and torture from it, it finally begins…
"KYAA! THE PAIN!" Bella cried out in pain as she gripped on Sirin's clothes
"KYAAA! It's killing from the inside, Sirin!" Bella cried as she kept on holding to Sirin. "Don't let them put that thing in you!"
Sirin hugged Bella tightly in her arms. "Don't! Don't leave me, Bella!"
Sirin kept on holding Bella tightly in her arms, but she couldn't hold for long as the researcher separated her and Bella, and took Bella away from her.
"Subject 213 expire at 2312 hours. This batch is too weak. They're dying like flies."
Sirin tried to reach out for Bella again, but she was already taken away. "NYET! Don't take Bella away! NYET…"
Sirin's eyes started to tear up as she silently cried for the loss of her friend.
"God… If you can hear me… …I need power…" She said in a begging tone. "If only I had power…" She thought to herself.
Night time came along and during the night, things started to happen that made every staff inside Babylon Labs grow in fear of. One after the other, staffs kept on disappearing and disappearing one by one. The staffs don't know what the cause of this just yet, but those who survived because they barely escaped said that it was a ghost of a girl. No one believed them at first and they thought that they were just hallucinating or have gone insane, but they all will soon find out for themselves…
"ARGHH! It hurts! It hurts! Why does it feel like I'm burning from the inside?!" Shirou struggled as the Honkai Energy that was injected to him were becoming unbearable.
Despite the first experiment and test that happened to him before being him completely fine because he was unconscious, the Honkai Energy that was injected to him was twice the amount than he first received.
Sirin watched from the other side inside her cell, the struggle that her first friend was unbearable to watch. She became more and more angry and her hatred towards humanity grew every single day.
"Shirou…" Sirin said in sadness for her friend as she gritted her teeth and gripped her cell door tightly in anger. "Why…? Why does this always happen…?" She thought to herself as she kept on watching her friend from the other side writhing in pain as he kept on grabbing his head.
"Bella… Avrora… Agata… Galina… Everyone… They died because I didn't have enough power…" Sirin thought to herself as Shirou let out another painful cry from his cell.
"AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH! The flames! The flames! The flames burn! They burn hard and deep! The flames hurt! Please, no more! Please stop it!" Shirou kept on crying out loud and in severe pain as he grabbed hold of his chest feeling his heart burning as his tears fall to the floor.
"Shirou!" Sirin shouted towards her friend at the other side of her cell as she saw him fall to the floor and writhe even more in pain. "Someone please… Anyone… Please help Shirou… He's in so much pain…" She cried and cried again while she watched her friend succumb to the pain that he is feeling right now.
Midnight, February 1, 2000 CE in Babylon Labs.
Two researchers were for their lives as they both huffed and puffed.
"HURRY! She's right behind us!" The researcher in a brown shirt shouted as he followed the researcher in a white polo.
Right behind them was a small white girl with purple bandages on her feet and those same bandages on her left arm, the bandages reached and ended on her elbow.
"Heh. Heh." The white girl giggled creepily as she gave chase towards the two researchers.
*TAP* *TAP* *TAP* *TAP*
The researchers ran and ran until they reached the door towards the Advanced System Labs.
The researcher in a white polo huffed and cried out in a panic as he pressed the passcode and tried to shut the door. "ARGH! AAARG! AARG!" he cried out as he turned back to see the other researcher
"Please wait for me! Save me!" The researcher in a brown shirt begged and then-
*SHEEN*
"My legs! I can't feel my legs!" The researcher in a brown shirt cried out loudly as the white girl let out a creepy smile on her face.
"COME ON! SHUT THE DAMN DOOR!" The researcher in a white polo shouted.
"Loading bay doors closing." An announcement said as the doors closed and the researcher in a white polo just barely managed to escape.
The researcher in a white polo let out a sigh of relief as he sat down with his back on the now closed doors. "I'm safe… I'll just wait for help…"
Just as he thought that he was safe, the girl's bandaged hand phased through the wall and grabbed the researcher's shoulder.
"You selfish human. You even left your friend behind." The white girl said as her body phased through the door still having the same creepy smile that she had earlier. "Did you think these doors could stop me?" She asked with a creepy tone of voice.
The researcher jumped out of his sitting position in fright as he went towards the monitor table. "AAAARGH! Get away from me!" He then grabbed the gun on the table and started shooting three times towards the white girl with his eyes closed.
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
When he closed one of his eyes after a few seconds of silence…
*PFT* *PFT* *PFT*
Those same bullets that he shot towards the little girl were shot back at him, hitting his left knee, his stomach, and his heart. He dropped his gun as the bullets pierced his body and his body fell as well.
"What? I… I just shot myself?" He asked himself as his vision died out, but his last vision was the little white girl grabbing him with the same creepy smile she still has.
"You don't deserve mercy." The white girl spoke. "It was your fault anyway. You were the one that took Shirou from me when I tried to help Bella."
Just like that, the mystery of the disappearance of the staff of Babylon Labs began.
Air Terminal 1. Schicksal HQ Flying Archipelago. Somewhere in Europe in February 2, 2000, midday.
"Erm… Do I really have to wear this?" Theresa asked as she wore a Chinese dress while carrying a child Kiana in her hands.
"Sorry, Theresa, but Kiana loves seeing you in that dress." Siegfried said with a smile on his face while holding a camera in his hands.
"Anything for Kiana, I guess." Theresa said as Kiana smiled at her and grabbed her cheek.
On count of three, girls! One, two, three, and say cheese!" Siegfried said as he took the picture of a happy Kiana and Theresa together.
After the picture taking, Theresa sat on a bench with a tired face.
"Whoah. That was more tiring than I thought." Theresa said in a tired voice.
"Thank you so much, Theresa." A new female voice came in. Theresa looked over to see who it was and she saw Cecilia with a smile on her face.
"I was so happy when you agreed to help out for Kiana's special photo shoot! Kiana really likes you!" Cecilia said in a gleeful voice.
Teriri instant recovery! "Really? The photo shoot is actually less tiring than I thought." Theresa said before saying to Cecilia. "I hope you're getting better, Cecilia."
"Yes I am. Thank you, Theresa. One more thing…" Cecilia said before she got a bit closer.
"What is it?" Theresa asked
"Please swing by my place this Saturday. Siegfried's cooking." Cecilia said in a joyful tone.
Theresa immediately panicked and sweat started to drop one by one from her face. "Sorry, Cecilia~. I usually eat on my own for Saturdays." She immediately denied Cecilia's offer.
"I have no idea why Cecilia tolerated Siegfried's terrifying cooking. Was it love or weird taste?" Theresa asked to herself in her head as Cecilia looked back towards Kiana and Siegfried.
"Her man can't cook to save his own life. He makes charred disasters, not food." Theresa thought to herself again as she watched Kiana and Siegfried play together.
"Daddy!" Kiana said as she ran towards her dad.
"Come here, baby doll!" Siegfried said as Kiana ran towards her.
"Life is perfect here." Theresa said to herself.
Kiana was being carried by Siegfried and was playing with his mouth when she turned towards Theresa and waved her hand. "Aunt Teri!" She shouted.
"I hope this place can really last." Theresa said to herself as she waved back towards Kiana with a smile on her face. But that smile soon faded when an emergency call came up right in front of her face.
"Huh?" Theresa wondered. "Grampa Otto called. It looks pretty urgent."
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Tucson, Arizona United States. Afternoon February 2, 2000.
Welt J. Yang, the sovereign of Anti-Entropy was standing in front of a Rattlesnake, a robot that specializes in Area Denial and Range Support.
"Let's begin." Welt said as he raised his left hand.
"Combat Protocol Initiated. Target Locked." The robot said as it started to fire multiple missiles towards Welt. RATTLER BARRAGE
Welt stared at the incoming missiles launched towards him and activated his Herrscher of Reason powers. De Ratione Legis
Once his Herrscher powers activated, the missiles then broke in multiple different parts.
"Foo~." Welt let out a sigh. "This is far from enough. I need more power to defeat the second…" Welt thought to himself as a person came towards him, the person was none other than Dr. Lizelle Albert Einstein, Anti-Entropy's Enforcer.
"Welt, we've detected a Honkai Pulse in Siberia with sufficient amplitude…" Einstein said before continuing, "I think it's the second Herrscher. Otto of Schicksal will be making his move soon…" She explained to Welt.
"Have Tesla ready the titans for deployment in two hours." Welt commanded. "I will head to Siberia myself."
"We must prepare for the worst. If we can't convince the second to join us…" Welt gripped his hand into a fist. "Then we must end its existence."
"I guess the time of peace has finally come to an end." Einstein said.
Welt was about to leave when Einstein called out to him. "Welt, wait a second. There is still something else that I need to tell you."
Welt turned towards Einstein. "What is it, Einstein?" He asked.
"We've also detected another Herrscher or two in Siberia." Einstein explained. "However, we are still quite unsure if this is truly a Herrscher's Honkai Pulse or not as of the moment. It seems way too weak for now, like some sort of dormant being." Einstein informed Welt.
Welt nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Understood, Einstein. I will be careful. If what you said is true and it is another Herrscher, I'll try to convince it to join us if convincing the second Herrscher resulted in failure. I'll only retreat if it comes to that option." He said to Einstein as he left.
Overseer's Sanctum
"Lord Otto, we've gained more information about the Honkai Pulse that we have detected back in the Tower of Babylon back in Siberia." A woman's voice informed the Overseer.
"What's the status, Amber?" Otto asked as he sat on his chair, waiting for the response expectantly. "Is it our little Subject 320, the one that was compatible with two Herrscher cores that started the Honkai Pulse to be activated?" He asked.
"I am afraid and disappointed to tell you, Lord Otto, that it is not Subject 320 who activated the Honkai Pulse" Amber informed. "Rather it was Subject 238 who activated the Honkai Pulse to be alarmed."
Otto hummed at that. "So it seems like our little purple haired girl is our new Herrscher. Although I expected much for one of Subject 320's Herrscher Cores to be activated, I wouldn't call it a disappointment." Otto said while reading the status's that was given to him before. "At least two of the children there were able to become Herrschers, though I didn't expected for Subject 320 to be completely compatible with two dormant Herrscher Cores that we got from one of the expeditions in the moon, it's still isn't a bad result."
"I gave the Head Doctor those two dormant Herrscher Cores that was collected from the far side of the moon that is filled with lots of Honkai Energy for him to test the compatibility of one of them to at least one child." Otto mused inside his head. "But then that quack of a doctor did the unexpected and did an even crazier experiment than I thought."
"But because of that, it lead to an even bigger discovery than I what I expected." Otto smirked as he eyed on Shirou's test results. "Shirou Emiya… You are an interesting individual. Your potential is dangerous, little one. I have to keep an eye out for you."
In the Tower of Babylon…
Theresa and Pat arrived inside the Tower of Babylon. Both of them were in the middle of the cell rooms where the experimented children were held captive in.
"The call for help came from here, right?" Theresa asked as a sweat dropped from her cheek.
Hnngh… These look like holding cells. Why would the lab have these?" Theresa asked as she approached one of the cells near her.
"Help us…" A cry came from the cell as an arm grabbed the cell door.
"KYAA! It's the image ghost!" Theresa screamed as she hid behind Pat.
"There's no need for fear, Theresa! These are not ghosts!" Pat announced loudly as she grabbed the arm that was reaching out.
"Look closely, Theresa. These are just ordinary human girls." Pat informed as she tug a bit of the arm.
"Please help us, good people!" The girl begged. "Free us from this terrible place!"
*CLANG!*
The door clanged as Theresa opened the cell door by tearing it open with her hands and freed the girl inside. This continued on and on until multiple cell doors were opened.
*CLANG!*
Another cell door opened and this one was Sirin's cell door.
"It's alright girls! You can come out now!" Theresa said as she gave a friendly hand towards the girls inside the cell. "You're all in safe hands!" She said cheerfully.
As Sirin came out of her cell along with the other girl with her, they both gathered towards the rest of the girls that was locked up.
"Thank you for tearing down the door." A girl thanked Theresa, making her flustered and blush a bit.
"Don't thank me! I just didn't find the key!" Theresa said as she placed her hands in front of her. "That's definitely not my usual way of opening doors!"
After a few moments, Pat came rushing towards her as she ran from the other side of the cells that they were just opening up.
"Theresa! Come with me over here, quick!" Pat grabbed hold of Theresa's hand as she rushed towards the other side of the cells that they just opened where unopened cells were located.
"Whoah! Slow it down, Pat!" Theresa shouted as she got dragged by Pat towards the other side.
They soon arrived at the other side and Pat stopped right in front of another cell.
"Alright, Pat! What's the big idea? Why did you dragged me over here?" Theresa asked.
Pat just sighed as she turned in front of the cell that they stopped. "Just take a look, and help me open this door." She said as she grabbed hold of one side of the cell door.
Theresa looked inside the cell door and saw Shirou, and he wasn't looking good. His arms and legs were covered with bandages, he looked a bit fatigued, and he was laying on his cell room floor.
This was shocking for Theresa, to say the least.
"A boy?!" Theresa gasped in shock as she grabbed hold of the other side of Shirou's cell door. "What's a boy doing here? I thought they were just experimenting on female children?" She asked as she opened the cell door with her hands with Pat.
"HRRNGH!" Both Pat and Theresa forcefully opened Shirou's cell door open.
*CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!*
After Shirou's cell door was forcefully opened, Theresa grabbed him and carried him outside. "Thank goodness that he's still alive." Theresa let out a sigh of relief.
"It seems that he was also one of the experimented ones." Pat said as she grabbed hold of Shirou's left arm. "It also seems that he was one of the most experimented ones here. I can't help but feel sad for him…" She said in a sorrowful tone.
Just then, they heard footsteps rushing towards both of them. She was panting out of breath a little bit as she grabbed hold of Shirou and hugged him.
"Shirou!" Sirin shouted.
"It burns… hrngh… it hurts…" Shirou mumbled as he slowly opened his eyes and saw Sirin. "Sirin…?" He asked as he became conscious.
"Yes! It's me, Shirou!" Sirin exclaimed as she hugged him even more. "I'm so glad you're alive! Please… Don't leave me as well…" She said with tears falling from her eyes.
After a few minutes, Theresa and Pat along with Shirou and Sirin came walking back towards the other jailed children on the other side.
"Records show that these children are test subjects under the Advanced System Labs." Pat informed. "Part of the Honkai Adaptability Trials, it seems." She guessed.
"That explains the wounds and bandages on them." Theresa said as she turned back to the kids that she and Pat just saved.
"Yeah. And based on the bandages and wounds on them, it looks like the girls didn't suffered as much as that boy earlier." Pat said. "But that doesn't mean that they didn't suffer either."
"Mission briefing mentioned none of this." Theresa said
"Perhaps someone doesn't want you to find out." Pat deduced. "The truth is that Schicksal recruits thousands of orphans like them every year. Nobody cares if these orphans die."
"No Pat." Theresa said as she grabbed one of the girls' shoulder. "Somebody does care about them."
"I definitely care about them." Theresa thought. "Find shelter here for the time being." She ordered the girl. "I'll send someone to pick you up after this."
"Wait, Theresa! That will be a major violation!" Pat said in a loud voice. "These test subjects are Schicksal property. We should return them to HQ." She informed Theresa. "The eggheads probably injected them with plenty of Honkai. It's madness to turn them loose."
Theresa turned towards Pat and let out a small smile. "Pat, have you heard about St. Freya High?" Theresa asked as she started to explain.
"Grampa finally agreed on giving me reclaimed island at the Far East. I'm planning to build a special sanctuary for victims of Honkai testing. It will serve as a school that teacher them how to wield and master their powers. When they graduate, they'll become Valkyries with happy lives like you and me, Pat." Theresa explained.
Pat just sighed at Theresa at that and scratched the back of her head. "Fine, whatever you say, Theresa. But what about the boy?" She asked. "You said Valkyries specifically, are you also planning on enrolling the boy there and train him to become a Knight?"
"And that as well, of course! Please have faith in me, Pat! This will be out pledge!" Theresa said enthusiastically as she turned towards the once captive children. "Follow us!"
"A stupid Valkyrie with a stupid dream." Sirin muttered to herself as she grab hold of Shirou's hand and started to lead him somewhere.
"Huh? Did you say something, Pat?" Theresa asked as she turned towards Pat.
"Well, Theresa, I have orders to make your stay comfy and avoid getting in your way." She said as she crossed her arms together. "Since you're also the mission lead, I guess I have no choice but to obey."
Theresa smiled and gave Pat a thumbs up. "Thank you so much, Pat!"
"Hmm… More Honkai residues on the prison door." Pat thought to herself as she started walking somewhere. "I remember them seeing at the…"
Reactor Pile, around midnight…
*HUM* *HUM*
The reactor hummed as the Honkai Energy that was inside it was stirring.
"Um… Sirin, what are we doing here?" Shirou asked as he turned towards Sirin who has her left hand on her face.
"I almost used up all of my powers yesterday…" Sirin said.
"Um… Sirin…?" Shirou asked in a tired voice
"But the reactor will give me more… I can feel it… pulsing within me… I will become stronger…"
"Had enough fun yet, "Ghost" of Babylon?" a female voice said as Shirou turned around and saw Pat standing behind both of them.
"It's you…" Shirou said.
Sirin turned around and gave Pat a cold glare. "You… The one who wanted to return us to those who tested us… How did you find us out?" Sirin asked, her voice cold and sharp.
Pat grinned as she placed her huge briefcase on the floor. "Oh, I just have a keen eye for dirt that girls like you leave behind. Guess they didn't teach you how to wash your hands." Her briefcase then started to change and turn into a shape of a minigun. "Residues on the prison door matches the ones that I found here." Pat explained as her "briefcase" turned into a complete form of two miniguns. "Then there's the issue with the missing readings of the reactor file."
"Where is that little nun?" Sirin asked, her tone of voice never changing. "Are you alone."
"Don't mean to scare you, little "Ghost", along with you, little boy." Pat said as she aimed her miniguns at Sirin. "But I actually brought two little friends with me." M134 VULCAN, 6-barrelled Honkai powered rotary minigun X2! "Wanna say "Hello" to them?"
Sirin let out a maniacal laugh as she spoke. "KYAHAHA! You think you can stop me, Valkyrie? You're just the start of my path of revenge!"
"Sirin, what do you mean by that-?!" Shirou was just about to speak when Sirin knocked him out.
"Please be quiet for a while, Shirou." She said in a soft voice as she laid him down. "I promise that this will all be over soon."
"Revenge?" Pat asked as she readied her guns.
"Those who injected us with the Honkai…" Sirin's voice became creepy and dark. "The people who all those tests on us…" She let out her left hand. "…told us that we were serving a divine purpose… of perfecting the so-called Stigmata for Schicksal Valkyries like you… They said orphans like us should feel grateful that we can die for your sake." She said as she pointed her right hand at Shirou. "They even made Shirou suffer more than anyone else!" She shouted loudly.
"I refuse to die for anyone's sake! To hell with Schicksal! To hell with Valkyries! YOU should feel grateful that you'll be the first of many to taste my true powers!" Sirin shouted loudly as she snapped her fingers on her left hand.
"Well I'll take that as a hello to these little friends of mine!"
WHRRRR!
Pat readied her miniguns to fire, but when she was just about ready to fire…
SHEEN!
Pat's eyes went wide as she realized something was wrong. "Wait! Is that spatial distortion around me?" She thought to herself…
Day 2…
Mia: Patricia Highsmith. Her blood and weapons were found near the reactor pile.
Schicksal realized that they were dealing with something capable of defeating A-Rank Valkyries. Overseer Otto, already knowing the situation before hand, took notice of this. Two more Snowwolf Squad Valkyries were deployed to the Tower of Babylon. The legendary knight was also called upon to lend his support.
Five kilometer away from the Tower of Babylon, three individuals were standing out in the freezing cold as they ready and prepare themselves for the upcoming battle that they are about to face.