(A New Distortion and a new tale to spin on this everlasting weave of stories. Let us see where this one shall take us shall we?)
Bold = English Conversations
Bold + Italics = Japanese Conversations
Distortion 7
Previously on Canon Distortion
Caroline was just minding her own business, working tirelessly on her project when she was suddenly chased by two people. Not knowing who they were, She ran as fast as she could to safety with Makoto instructing her to run into the abandoned NOL Otsu Office for cover. Once meeting up with Makoto there, they immediately ambushed Caroline's pursuers only for Makoto to be shocked when it turned out that Noel Vermillion was one of them who chased after Caroline…
And Now, the continuation of Canon Distortion
A red haired man was sitting on the elevator, groaning in pain as he looked at the bullet wound he had sustained. Red stained through his torn black coat as he exposed the flesh wound. Biting his lips a little, he pulled out a gigantic hunk of metal shaped into a maw and pressed it right on the bullet wound. Luck for the red haired man it seemed that the bullet had passed through completely and was not lodged inside him so it was safe for him to do what he was about to do without having to remove the bullet later on.
"AHHGGHHH! This better be worth it." The man complained as the maw began to glow red hot and soon began to sear the man's flesh. He would scream out in agony but he was used to this kind of pain already, despite the youthful appearance he had, he in truth was someone whose experienced hell much worse than this as soon the bullet wound was gone and what was left was just for him to go and meet up with his partner to get the person they needed.
"I swear… why does everyone have to make this so difficult." The man complained as the elevator finally arrived at it's destination, signaling to the man that he should be ready. This woman, Caroline, was clearly not a fighter but smart enough to use her tools against them in a way to not engage in fights. But in a rooftop like this, there was no way for her to escape unless there was some sort of escape route she could have taken.
'Alright… You can do this!' The man thought as the elevator opened and he charged out of said elevator, he was ready for a fight, any kind of fight as he held his maw tightly on his hand as he scanned his area real quick before his eyes land right on his target but it wasn't what he had expected. He had expected to find his partner fighting against said target, keeping them distracted so that he could finally take them down and restrain them. Instead the sight that greeted him could have been much more different.
"MAKOTO!" His partner cheerfully said, tackling down a squirrel beastkin as their target was just staring at her and the person she tackled down with a look of shock and confusion. The woman his partner had tackled down was Makoto Nanaya, a person he had not seen for quite some time as her fluffy squirrel tail softened the tackle as she herself was scratching her head as he couldn't help but walk towards the scene with interest.
"So this is where you have been this whole time huh Makoto!" His partner said with even more excitement as she couldn't help but rub her head on Makoto's tail, grabbing it and pulling it closer to do so. Makoto Nanaya herself had a red glow across her face as she shook her head before putting her hands on Noel. "Y-Yeah… it is… Now can you get off me before I die from your cuteness overload?" Makoto said as his partner, Noel Vermillion blushed and shook her head, realized what she was doing.
She soon stood up, allowing her slim and petite figure to show as he couldn't help but scratch his head. He still to this day couldn't help but feel lucky to have found a woman like her as he couldn't help but interject. "Yeah… Maybe save the cuteness overload when we aren't on the job alright Noel." He said as this attracted the three women's attention as Noel scratched her head with a tongue sticking out, realizing her silly mistake. The other reactions caught him a bit off guard though.
Caroline looked like she had seen a ghost, in fact she had to rub her eyes a little to confirm the person she was looking at. "Commander Hunter Long of the Vermillion Dragons?!" She said as Hunter shook his head before putting his gigantic maw away. "Yup… Don't have the position anymore but I have some questions as to why you know about that." Hunter said as he decided to not focus on that, the more important thing was looking at Makoto's expression as he couldn't help but get mixed signals from it.
"Hey...Hunter." Makoto said, a discomfort present in her voice as she tried to force a small smile out, to the girls, it seemed like she was being modest. After all, she was probably running on adrenaline and needed time to calm down but to Hunter's eyes, she was clearly uncomfortable the moment he came in and greeted himself. "Hey Makoto. How you been?" Hunter said, deciding now wasn't the time to bring up that as he turned to Caroline and walked towards her.
"YOU SHOT ME!" Hunter suddenly yelled, his calm demeanor giving way to a more appropriate look of anger as Caroline looked at him with the level of shock that a person should have. "I DIDN'T MEAN TO! THAT WAS A WARNING SHOT BUT YOU RAISED YOUR SHOULDER AT THAT MOMENT!" Caroline said, defending herself as Hunter wasn't buying it. "BULLSHIT! YOU PLANNED IT TO BE THAT WAY!!" Hunter shouted, thinking that she was just trying to hide her guilt when it was clear what she had done to him.
"Hunter!.. She looks sorry for shooting you. Can you just accept that?" Noel said as Hunter looked at Caroline and saw her beady eyes before sighing. "I will forget that you shoot me only if and only if… You come with me and Noel." Hunter said as Makoto couldn't help but realize something was up as she stood up. "Alright you two. Before you guys do anything of the sorts… What is going on and why do you guys need Caroline?" Makoto questioned as the two looked at Makoto and nodded their heads.
"Caroline Patricia Smith… Professor Kokonoe has asked for your assistance in something." Noel said as this made Makoto's eyes widen as Caroline herself couldn't believe what she had just heard. "Ummm Tell me that again. I just need to make sure I am not hallucinating." Caroline questioned as she rubbed her ears. "Professor Kokonoe.." before Hunter could finish sentence, Caroline couldn't help but make a grin on her face as she knew what she had to do.
Caroline: Do you two have a way to communicate with her?
Noel: She did give us her frequency to contact.
Caroline: Perfect, start trying to call her
Hunter: Umm… What for exactly if I can ask you.
Caroline: One… to gloat, Two… To hear her ask for my help and not have her errand people do it.
At first Hunter felt insulted but then realized the wisdom of her words and could symphatize with her. Makoto however was interested slightly in this mostly because Professor Kokonoe would send Hunter and Noel of all people to Otsu to get one of her most hated rivals. It was then she noticed something. "Hey wait a minute you two, isn't Tager supposed to be with you two at all times?" Makoto questioned as Noel and Hunter looked at each other.
"Yeah about that… Kokonoe said that she needed to do some adjustments to him and thus he's with her at the moment… being subjected to her experiments." Hunter said, shivering as Makoto figured that was some sort of innate trauma. "In that case, isn't it dangerous for you two to be wandering around like this? You both are wanted fugitives of the NOL now aren't you." Makoto continued as Hunter nodded his head at that.
"She explained that it was a quick retrieval mission and we wouldn't be at much risk in the process. Personally, coming to Otsu is always a risk for very obvious reasons that don't need to be said." Hunter said as Noel finally picked up Kokonoe. "Hello Professor? We have met Caroline like you asked us to." Noel said as Caroline tapped her shoulder and whispered into her ear and set the transmission to be able for everyone to hear the conversation.
"Good… Is she fine?" Kokonoe asked as Caroline smiled. "I didn't know that you actually cared Kokonoe." Caroline said as Kokonoe sighed at what was happening. "Just had to hear me ask for your help huh." Kokonoe said as Carolime shrugged her shoulders. "Oh? That voice doesn't sound like a person who needs the help from a scientist of my caliber." Caroline questioned as she wasn't trying to be arrogant to Kokonoe but she just wanted to feel like for once, she was on top of Kokonoe.
"God I don't need you. I can do this by my…" Before Kokonoe could finish her sentence, the four noticed sounds coming from the room Kokonoe was in as she in. Rumbles and mumbles were heard before another voice came through the comms. "AHEM!.. Hello there Caroline Patricia Smith. This is Kagura Mutsuki talking to you." The male voice, Kagura Mutsuki said but before Caroline could answer, Makoto herself couldn't help but snap hearing said voice.
"EHHH… Kagura… as in the Kagura Mutsuki!" Makoto questioned Kagura immediately recognized the voice coming through. "Oh? Is that you Makoto? it's been so long since we last talked from that Christmas party. Did you enjoy..." before Kagura could finish that sentence, Makoto immediately smashed the wall next to her hard, breaking it to several pieces as she made sure he could hear the impact of her fist smashing into said concrete.
"You talk about that party one more time, and this fist is going to go to places where no fist should ever be! Especially for a man!" Makoto shouted with an anger in her voice as what he had said struck a nerve on her, reminding her of the time she was depressed and was trying a lot of things to cure said depression. One night stands were one of them and now that she remembered Sora and how the two dated, she couldn't help but feel like she betrayed his trust despite the fact that she didn't know better.
"Woah calm down there Makoto. It was just a tease." Kagura said, realizing that he had struck a sensitive topic for the beastkin. "Now get Kokonoe back in the call, there's no way she's weaseling out of this conversation that she and Caroline need to have right now!" Makoto said as she looked at Noel and Hunter, realizing that the two of them and Caroline had taken cover behind the stairway door as Makoto couldn't help but blush greatly at what had just happened.
"You… You guys didn't see that. Just wipe that out of your memory right now…" Makoto said but was met with more silence. "I SAID RIGHT NOW KAGURA! DON'T MAKE ME REPEAT MYSELF SIR!" Makoto shouted as the three of them immediately nodded their heads as Kagura sighed and allowed Professor Kokonoe to talk once more. "Makoto Nanaya… you sure have been busy. I see you're in Otsu along with Caroline." Kokonoe said as Makoto would have said something like, "No shit Sherlock." But decided to show some restraint.
"Yes I am. I'm busy pursuing my own leads right now and tensions with the NOL and Otsu are getting higher as we speak." Makoto explained as Kokonoe nodded her head. "Yeah, I have been keeping an eye on the situation there just in case. But that's not important. Right now.. I just need your help with something Caroline." Kokonoe asked, deciding to get straight to the point as Caroline cleared her throat, immediately putting herself to business mode.
"Alright Kokonoe. What's the catch." Caroline said as Kokonoe audibly flinched upon Caroline saying that. "You're always trying to hide something, trying to pull a fast one whenever and wherever you can. Spill it if you want me to help you." Caroline said, her voice firm as she couldn't hide her shit eating grin at the power position she had. Oh for how former employees often feel the urge to one day be on an equal footing with their bosses. Caroline was living the dream.
"Look… I don't have to tell you anything. Just be glad I am asking for your help here! I am trying so hard to not murder you right now." Kokonoe replied as Caroline covered her mouth, stopping herself from laughing as she could feel Kokonoe emitting such a tsun energy right now, something that she would have never expected from her former boss. "Well… if you're not going to tell me what it is, You're going to have to give me a really really nice incentive bonus to convince me to help you." Caroline asked.
"God damn son of a… Okay… give me a second." Kokonoe said, disconnecting the call as this gave Noel, Hunter and Makoto some time to talk to Caroline while they waited for Kokonoe. "Geez, talk about hostility towards your former boss Caroline." Makoto said as Caroline rubbed her nose a little. "What can I say, she's got this coming for the longest time." Caroline replied, happy to dish out what she felt was well deserved justice to a woman who was spoiled with everything in her life.
"But is that really necessary? Professor Kokonoe's such a nice woman after all." Noel said as Caroline wagged her finger towards Noel. "Don't be fooled by that she cat, she's a true demon true and true, the blood of her parents run deep within that 100 year old granny." Caroline taunted as Hunter couldn't help but laugh at that. "You should be considering yourself lucky at the fact that you're here and not in front of her then, She would chew you silly for such comments." Hunter said as Makoto couldn't help but get pulled into the lively scenery before the image of Sora being sacrificed to save Hunter popped into her mind, immediately souring her mood a little.
'God.. Why did that have to come into my mind all of the sudden?..' Makoto thought as she focused and buried that thought behind her mind as the communicator came back to life, Kokonoe clearing her throat as she seemed to be ready with her response. "Alright… first of all, this is definitely going to be a temporary thing. No matter what you do, there is no way in hell I am going to be working with you again. Got it." Kokonoe said, trying to show that she still had some control over the situation.
"Why I wouldn't have it any other way. If you tried to say you would give me a job at Sector Seven, I would have outright rejected." Caroline said as she relaxed her face, stopping her grinning to be serious for once. "The best I can offer you right now would be cash. Around 1 to 2 million blaybloo to help me with this stuff and keep what we are doing to yourself. How does that sound?" Kokonoe asked as Hunter had to hold his chest a little when he heard the amount.
"1…1 to 2 billion… Blaybloo." Hunter said, his face becoming slightly pale at the number as Noel herself while not as shocked as he was, could understand the reason why he would feel such shock in the first place. "There there Hunty, hang in there." Noel said, walking over and patting him on the back to make him feel reassured. But Makoto and Caroline seemed unfazed by that number as Kokonoe herself noticed.
"Just wondering about that… that 1 to 2 billion blaybloo is coming out of Mr Mutsuki's pocket isn't it." Caroline questioned as Kokonoe scratched her head. "Do you accept my current offer or not?!" Kokonoe quickly retorted, neither denying or accepting Caroline's question as Caroline felt it was safe to presume that it was coming out of Mr Mutsuki's pockets and she had a bit more leverage power. "Then you got to do better. I am covered in cash for the rest of my life to work on any project I want." Caroline said, pausing to give Kokonoe time to let that absorb into her.
"If I want money, I can just ask my Boss to do so. No, money's not what I need right now. I need something especially important from you." Caroline explained as this got the interest of Noel, Hunter and Makoto as they couldn't help but lean in to hear this conversation much closer. Kokonoe realizing she was put into a corner by Caroline's choice of words, had no choice but to listen to her former colleague's demands if she wanted her help.
"Firstly, I want a lab where you are at currently for me to keep working on my own projects while I help you with yours." Caroline said as this immediately made Kokonoe look at Kagura who shivered as he knew what that meant as he wanted to reject the idea but soon relented, having to take what he was being given. "Fine… that's easy to do. But that's not your only demand isn't it." Kokonoe said as Caroline couldn't help but take a deep breath as she knew what she was asking next could be seen as pushing it.
"More importantly, I want to have two of your nuclear missiles for my own use in my work." The moment Caroline said Nuclear missiles, everyone couldn't help but be taken aback. Hunter and Noel looked at each other with concern before turning to Makoto who had turned away from them, trying to hide her own shock from them as Kokonoe couldn't help but feel tense hearing that. "Nuclear missiles? Come on professor, you don't happen to have a couple of nukes lying around now don't you." Kagura questioned as the silence the professor gave him answered it all.
"When… When were you going to tell me about the Nuclear missiles you're hoarding right now?" Kagura questioned as Kokonoe took a deep breath before shaking her head. "How in the hell did you hear about that Caroline?" Kokonoe asked, having no time to feel any kind of anger as she took a couple of deep breathes. "I hear a lot about you from the criminal underworld Professor Kokonoe. Former SSS class criminal, You can wipe away your rap sheet but the underworld always knows the dirty secrets." Caroline replied as Kokonoe shook her head at that.
"Damn Otsunian criminals, Always playing dirty to get what Otsu wants." Kokonoe mumbled. "It's not their fault Kokonoe, the whole world is watching them, scrutinizing their every move. It's only a matter of time before the NOL tries to wipe out Otsu like how they did to the Ikarugan Foundation." Caroline replied as Kokonoe bit her lip at that. 'So that's why the Otsu four made the request for the Idea engine at that time...' Kokonoe thought as she felt a sense of frustration grow as this had the potential to hamper her plans.
"Regardless of how you know… I'm not planning on handing you any of my nukes." Kokonoe said, wanting to stay firm as she was unsure what Caroline was planning to do with nuclear missiles of all things. "Then you won't get my help. Simple." Caroline replied as Kokonoe was about to react as Kagura knew he had to act. "C-Come on now Professor Caroline. There's no need for us to be so hasty with our decisions. Why don't we try offering some other alternatives." Kagura said as the desperation in Kagura's voice to get the help Kokonoe needs prompted Noel and Hunter to try and help.
Noel: Yeah! I am sure there's something else that can work in place of a nuclear missile of all things!
Hunter: Like she said. Maybe instead of a nuclear missile, we can just get you nuclear material or Kokonoe could give you parts to build your own giant death robot.
Kagura: Like they suggested. There's many other options for us to pursue that are not nuclear missiles of all things.
Caroline: I won't accept any other option other than nuclear missiles. Yes you can get me Nuclear materials but the stuff that is used in nuclear missiles is weapons grade. I need the nuclear material to be military rated for me to know it's going to be of a purer purity.
Kagura: Okay maybe that came off a bit forceful, Why don't you tell us why you want nuclear missiles in the first place?
Caroline: it's simple really. I need it for my work.
"Your work? Why don't you tell me further about said work." Kagura said, trying to woo her with his charm, something which Makoto could immediately sense and flinch as she looked out at the city to let the conversation continue. "Well if you put it like that… I could tell you about my work. Of course it will require us to have some time and also a whiteboard for me to explain every single theoretical I have ever learned to you in a manner that wouldn't confuse an average joe like you." Caroline said as Kagura's eyes blinked for a bit before he simply smiled.
"If that is the case, why don't you let my friend's colleagues take you back to where we are and we can have a nice private chat in my ro." before he could finish his sentence or even express his desire, Makoto and Hunter each placed a hand each oh Caroline's shoulders, shaking their heads as Noel looked at the gesture in confusion. "Whatever you do, don't fall for this asshole. he's a god damn womanizer through and through." Makoto mouthed, making sure Caroline understood her as Caroline had the perfect response in that situation.
"Oh but I should let my boyfriend know that someone is interested in my work. I wonder how he would feel about that." Caroline chimed, immediately deflating Kagura as he walked over to the corner of the room and gloomed. "And she has such a nice voice too. I bet she looks like a beauty in person too." Kagura said, sounding defeated as while he liked women, he wasn't going to stoop as low as to steal another man's woman away from them.
Kokonoe didn't know how to react at that moment, disgust at the attempt Kagura made to flirt with another woman. Or the fact that Caroline was willing to do anything to get what she wants. "In any other case, If you can provide me two well maintained nuclear missiles then I will consider helping you with whatever you are going to be doing." Caroline said as backed into a corner, Kokonoe contemplated her options before sighing.
"If I can offer you an alternative to the nuclear missiles… you will help me right?" Kokonoe asked as Caroline smiled. "Of course. But I want a guarantee that should an alternative not be found, you will give me the nuclear missiles I seek for my work." Caroline said, not willing to let Kokonoe try to weasel her way out of the deal she was trying to do as Kokonoe took a deep breath at the situation in front of her.
"...Fine. You will get TWO and only TWO of my damn missiles… But only if we cannot find a stupid source for your stupid project." Kokonoe said as Caroline thought of playing a cruel trick on Kokonoe, rejecting her offer unless Kokonoe said please. But just hearing her ask for her help and actually agreeing to give her two nuclear missiles for the Rev system was all the satisfaction one woman could ever need in her life for the time being and she decided to be the nice scientist for once.
"Thanks for the deal, I'll come and help you as soon as I clean some stuff up back at my laboratory. Kokonoe." Caroline said before handing the communicator back to Noel as she walked over to Makoto and wrapped her arms around Makoto's neck. "Oh you have no idea how much it makes me happy to hear that cat bitch ask for my help. Hehehehe" Caroline chuckled as Makoto couldn't help but ask about something.
"Still… Will your boyfriend be alright with you just name dropping him to Kagura like that?" Makoto asked as immediately in front of her eyes, Caroline deflated in front of her eyes. "No… In fact I don't even have a boyfriend in the first place. I just used that as a self deprecating joke." Caroline answered as Makoto couldn't help but chuckle with a small smile on her face as Caroline noticed the tension on her face.
"Still… is something the matter? You look pretty tense." Caroline said as Makoto looked at her a bit surprised before looking back at Noel and Hunter. "It's just….. I haven't seen those two in a while now and now that they are in front of me… I don't know what to say." Makoto said, hiding her true feelings about how she actually felt as Caroline herself noticed but decided not to push further. "In any other case… it looks like they will be accompanying me while I head to the professor." Caroline said.
"They sure will… I'm sure you should know this since they chased you. But they will protect you in a pinch for sure." Makoto said as she debated telling Caroline the results of her latest test but decided to leave that for later. "So what is your plan now? Wait for another mission from the bosses?" Caroline asked as Makoto closed her eyes, debating quickly on her next move as she didn't know what she was going to do.
'Should I start looking into the cauldrons again? Jump into one and hope it takes me to Sora? No that won't work. And Rachel won't bail me out of a random timeline again.' Makoto first thought as she wanted to find Sora, she wanted to save him. The issue was where to start in all of this madness. "Makoto? Is something the matter?" Hunter asked, surprising Makoto as she couldn't help but step back and look at him in the face.
"No… Not really..." Makoto muttered as she uneasy looking at Hunter right now. Here he was, standing in front of her when just two months ago, he was lying on the ground full of holes and dead. She felt very mixed emotions about it. For one thing, she didn't want to see any of her friends die, they are still an important part of her life, a light in the darkness that was in her heart so she should be happy that Hunter Long was alive and well in front of her eyes.
Yet the price being the love of her life being ripped off her hands and her memories of said lover being torn apart? What kind of unfair justice is the world trying to exact? The sacrifice for one for the life of others? Why is she being the one punished for all of this? Why was it that regardless of the result, she was going to be on the losing end of things. "I see… In any other case, I'm really glad to see that you're alright here in Otsu. Not talking for months straight, it was starting to make me and Noel worry you know." Hunter explained as Makoto listened for a bit before nodding her head.
"I'm sorry about that… been busy with you know… living in Otsu and trying to make something out of my life here is all." Makoto explained as Hunter looked at her expression before nodding his head. "I understand Makoto. Just tell me. What are you doing here in Otsu?" Hunter asked as Makoto scratched her head at that. "Well… I have been doing some favors for the Otsunian Four, and also I have been focusing on some investigations of my own that I have to keep secret for now." Makoto explained as she hoped that would have been enough to convince Hunter that she was fine.
"The Otsunian Four… I'm sorry if I sound a bit uncomfortable here it's just… Otsu's and I… we don't mix." Hunter said as Noel now joined in on the conversation. "Makoto. The professor would like to talk with you if you don't mind." Noel asked as Makoto simply nodded her head before the transmission came in on her end. "Makoto. I am just going to keep this brief, can you come with Caroline? I need to ask you a few things if you don't mind." Kokonoe asked as this confused Makoto.
"Just ask them right now. I don't mind." Makoto answered but she heard a groan from Kokonoe. "It's secret alright. Just between me and you alright. Now can you or not?" Kokonoe asked as this sudden tone coming from professor Kokonoe was beginning to worry Makoto slightly. Just what could be going through the professor's mind to warrant such a reaction like this when a simple text message or private call could have achieved the same thing.
"Fine, I will come with Caroline. But I am not promising I will stay after we discuss things." Makoto said as Kokonoe simply made a noise to show that she understood and soon hung up the call. "Well.. Looks like I am coming along for the ride with you guys. Noellie, Hunty." Makoto said as she smiled a bit before being tightly hugged by Noel. "Oh that's great to hear! I am going to give your tail the fluffing of a lifetime!" Noel said excitedly, unable to contain her excitement as Makoto couldn't help but stare at Noel's choice of clothing.
'I think I will talk about her choice of clothing later on.' Makoto thought as she looked to see Hunter blushing a bit and not trying to make himself look like some stalker. "In any other case, we got to get going right now, the sooner we transport my work, the sooner you guys can leave Otsu." Caroline said as everyone nodded their heads as Noel broke the aggressive hug to get ready to head down. But as they were about to do so, Makoto felt her phone vibrate as she pulled it out to see it was a text message.
"Is something the matter Makoto?" Hunter asked as Makoto checked out the message to see it came from Zhang Pi, Otsu's eyes and ears. Opening the message, Makoto's face went from a look of slight discomfort to one of extreme seriousness as she knew what she had to do. "We got to go now guys, troubles coming." Makoto said as she showed them the contents of the message. The reaction from the three was that of shock as the messages contents were simple and easy to understand.
"Makoto, Bad news, the scouts are saying that the NOL has sent the Zero Squadron into Otsu."
GREETINGS LOST SHEEP OF FANFICTION! HOW IS EVERYONE DOING!? I know I say this a lot of boy does time sure go fast. To think that it was 4 months ago when 2021 started. All I can say to that is at least 2021 isn't as bad as 2020 was and life as we know it is slowly starting to return to some level of normalcy. This doesn't mean we should let our guard down but at the same time, we should be glad for what we have.
SO WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT TO OUR BELOVED QUARTET!? WILL THEY ENCOUNTER THE NOL'S ZERO SQUADRON AS THEY TRY TO LEAVE OTSU!? WHAT FATE AWAITS MAKOTO NANAYA, CAROLINE PATRICIA SMITH, NOEL VERMILLION AND HUNTER LONG SOON!? Well, let us see where this will take us and I hope you all are ready for the ride ahead.