Tales of The Multiverse
Chapter 9
Changing of the Guard, And Residents of the Moon?
Mega Man and Lucia had kept quiet on his little episode for the rest of the trip, before everyone was up and about as they were finally closing in on the pier. When it came time for them to dock, the ship pulled up to an open pier and they quickly tethered the ship into place, and of course couldn't help but notice the other large vessel that actually had an Old Blood Mechanic logo on it, the gear with the leaf in it.
"So this was the vessel you saw?" Felicia asked.
"Yeah. We should probably find whoever it is that owns that ship before we leave," Spider-Man replied. "But that as it may, who's ready for some swift law and justice?" he started strutting off for the governor's building.
"Finally, some regular civilization and people," Jennifer couldn't help but remark as they wandered the streets, with a few people walking about. The clothing was a technical mixture of regular, ragged, and very much stylized as no one really dressed like each other for the most part. A bit of time later they were mounting up the stairs heading for the office on the top floor of the governor building.
"I hope Governor Dahlgren is in, she's about the only smart one on the whole council," Link commented.
"Yeah I hate to say it the other one is a bit weak willed to seriously do anything. Only thing he was actually serious and stern on was during that one trial," Batgirl said.
"Don't remind me," Jack quipped.
"I'm gonna need a bit of a history lesson after this," Felicia remarked.
"We all will," Regina added. Meanwhile, within the council room, Scharnhorst was pacing around as Dahlgren was seated at the main desk. He was a well fit woman, around Hannah's age, maybe a touch older. She had deep brown hair and violet eyes, with her smooth hair being around shoulder length. She was wearing very stylized clothing, which had a blue cape secured around her neck via a clasp fashioned after a zeke with it's wings spread, and a big round red gem beneath it between her breasts. The dress she had on was blue on the sides and sleeveless, and the skirt was roughly diamond shaped, thus showing off her hips at the sides of a bit, but most of all down the entire front of the dress from the front and cape down was comprised of what could be best described as almost a golden scale looking, very ornate. Around her waist as a blue belt with a pouch on her right, and a red buckle with some sort of white design on it.
And lastly she had on a pair of knee high blue boots that had a flap rim at the top and had a split in said flap in the middle beneath her knees.
"Frankly Scharnhorst, I'm finding this all rather suspicious. Jack and his companions literally attacked you, and yet you and your troops are no worse for wear beyond some of them being shaken and you being in a fowl mood. Which to be frank is almost a constant for you," she said as she hand her fingers together and her elbows on the desk, not looking too thrilled.
"Even so Jack and his companions have been causing us nothing but trouble, slowing progress, causing damages, making upheaval, I won't stand for it any longer!" Scharnhorst protested.
"And what I can't stand," Mega Man's voice suddenly bellowed from the other side of the double doors which he then firmly kicked open and stomped in, with everyone following behind him. "Is someone abusing their power for their own sick gain, no matter how high on the food chain they are, they're wrong and are simply a criminal in the end."
"Criminal, me? You must be joking. You're the criminals by being a vigilante lot," Scharnhorst spat.
"And you're nothing more than a power hungry fool who see's humans and animals as nothing more than mere tools," Mega Man said bitterly as he held up his trembling right fist, a very faint glow coming off the back of it before he firmly waved it aside. "The worlds have seen enough dictators."
"It's your word against mine!" Scharnhorst spat.
"Wrong, it's your word against yourself," Batgirl stated as she pulled out the recording device from her belt and hit the play button, and it played back the conversation she and Hammer had back when they went to rescue Regina, and back in the spire where they found Lucia. Only ones who looked on in astonishment was Link, Jack, Felicia, Jennifer, and Dahlgren while Scharnhorst and even her guards looked on in horror. "I believe this sheds some new on light past events, doesn't it? Shall I give some best educated guesses?"
"Be my guest," Jack replied in a very satisfied manner.
"Yes, please," Dahlgren said, sounding both intrigued yet a little angry.
"Up until this moment, particular poacher attacks have been qualified as just that, poacher attacks under the guise of trying to up their game, or taking their revenge on Jack. However only a few instances was this true. There was the siege on his garage, them attempting to use a child for their own twisted means, the instance of stealing the pile driver, and then when they stupidly started that wild fire trying to bag some sandbucks. And then lastly, when they tried to take control of that satellite weapon. But who was it that wanted that weapon in the first place? It was you," Batgirl stated as she gave a pretty mean glare in the end. She then started pacing about the room, gesturing with her finger every so often as she continued speaking. "You wanted that weapon for whatever sick demented idea you could dream up. But what of the other poacher attacks? Them controlling a shivet with technology they wouldn't have known how to use unless someone came to them with it, their attack while Jack and his friends were trying to herd the macks, when Lasherd tried to kill Jack and Hannah while they were trying to bring back the medicine for the plague you nearly unleashed upon the city, the volcanic eruption that could have nearly wiped out an entire settlement, all because you had them along when you took control of a robot that's similar to Mega Man here. Bout the only time you didn't have them involved for one of your schemes was when you dammed up the river and were trying to take control of uncontrollable digging robots. All because you wanted a "mechanical mole that wouldn't give you any backtalk"! Granted that last part as more of my own interpretation but close enough." she then coyly smirked while crossing her arms.
"You can't take this seriously!" Scharnhorst protested trying to hopelessly save face before Dahlgren firmly slammed her palms on the desk, making everyone jump as she rose to her feet.
"Oh we're VERY serious Scharnhorst," Dahlgren said very bitterly. "I've been waiting for a really good excuse to get you off the council for a good while now, and now I have the proof I need. So it's very much true then, whenever Jack was doing well in his endeavors for the good of the people around here, you've willingly attempted to commit outright premeditated murder on them! We're here to protect and serve the settlements, not snuff out their lives for our own selfish gain!" she then firmly pounded her fist in utter anger and rage, something she's likely kept bottled up for a very long time and is finally letting it all out.
"Guards, arrest her!" Dahlgren ordered as she pointed at the now ex governor.
"No! You won't lock me up!" Scharnhorst protested as she and her technically loyal guards began to run, to where Scharnhorst hit one who was armed and a shot fired. Everyone quickly ducked or dove to the floor as this happened, Mega Man using his body as a shield as he tucked Lucia into a corner.
"LOOKOUT!" Spidey yelped as he tackled Dahlgren to the floor as the shot flew into the room but harmlessly hit nothing of importance while Scharnhorst made her escape.
"Everyone alright?" Link asked as he had used his shield to defend some of them in case the shot went in their direction. Mega Man released Lucia and knew she was fine, but their attention turned to the desk and started heading that way.
"Yeah, the shot missed by a mile," Jack replied.
"PHH...some mile!" Jennifer said as she lifted her head from the floor, a hand on the back of her head.
"Whew…that was a fierce speech there Governor Dahlgren," Mega Man commented as he and Spidey helped her get to her feet.
"…my name's Lorraine," she said.
"Yeah well we just…wait what?" Spider-Man asked in shock as Mega Man looked on equally shocked.
"Did you just…?" Link asked as he pointed at her a little.
"My name is Lorraine Dahlgren," she replied.
"…you don't reveal you full name to everybody, do you?" Batgirl asked as she pointed at Lorraine with a sly smile.
"Not always," Lorraine smiled back.
"Ummm...what about Scharnhorst?" Felicia asked as she peered down the hall.
"That, might not be a problem," Batgirl replied.
"Why's that?" Lorraine asked as everyone looked, and Batgirl got up and went to a window as they heard something, and opened it up as they suddenly heard the entire conversation being broadcasted across the city outside, prompting Lorraine to open another window to listen in surprise.
"It's like every radio turned on in the city!" she exclaimed.
"Someone just helped us expose Scharnhorst for the scum she really is. But why?" Jack asked in utter disbelief.
"I need to go see father!" Felicia said as she quickly turned to leave, but stopped dead in her tracks at the sight before her. Two women were in the doorway, one a young healthy woman, and the other was an old elderly woman with dark skin. The young one had very short smooth blond hair, bright eyes, and looked to be about the age of Hannah and Jack roughly. She was garbed in a black dress tunic that was an open V neck of sorts, that showed off her breasts and her bare back a bit. There was a white line around the opening of the top, and it had short sleeves that ended above her elbow. Around the waist were several white lines, and the front and back of the skirt had a pattern of different colored triangles alternating between light and dark. Her hips were exposed but she had on a pair of pants and boots that were like Hannah's, and on her hips was a loose belt with several pouches as well, with a knife clearly holstered on the back with the handle pointed to her right arm.
And lastly was a necklace with some sort of material strung around her neck. Meanwhile the old woman had a yellow head scarf around her head, and wore red robes and carried an old walking stick.
"Wh...who are you two?" Mega Man asked in shock.
"I'm Quirt Crofter. And this is Aduwa, my mentor," the blond replied.
"Aduwa? One of the Old Blood teachers?" Jack asked in astonishment.
"The same," Aduwa replied as she stepped forward.
"And what brings you here?" Lorraine asked curiously.
"Business of course and information," Aduwa replied.
"To what and whom?" Spider-Man asked as he perched on the desk, a hand to his chin.
"That is if you don't mind us being, I guess blunt," Link remarked.
"Being direct is sometimes best. It's about Hannah, whom I see is now missing," Aduwa replied.
"What? W...where is she?" Lorraine asked in shock.
"Would you believe us if we said a magical bracelet took her away?" Link asked.
"After seeing the stars tear open in the broad sunny skies, what won't I at this point?" Lorraine asked.
"I had been attempting to cooperate with the grith and gather information on her for some time. Something just seemed, unusual about that girl," Aduwa stated.
"She isn't a native to Wassoon, or this world it seems," Quirt said.
"She's...she's what?" Felicia asked in a bit of disbelief.
"She was not born here. And she did not really confide this in anyone, but she's an orphan of an unknown past and origin," Aduwa replied.
"But, why didn't she tell me this?" Jack asked, a bit astonished.
"It's less that she didn't trust you Jack, you have proven yourself a fine mechanic in this region. No, I suspect she wasn't really prepared to share that information, or, felt it wasn't as important. Either way, that, "bracelet" took her either to her true home or, she's now lost in the multiverse, perhaps," Aduwa stated.
"She wouldn't be that lost, she's one of the smartest women I know," Mega Man said.
"I ain't referring to that kind of lost. She's more likely lost within one self as reality sets in," Aduwa retorted as she lightly prodded Mega Man's helmet with her stick.
"In other words, you're saying she doesn't really know who she is..." Mega Man paused. "Like a lost child not knowing where to go..."
"She'll likely return once she finds the answers she seeks. However, you can't dally here," Aduwa stated.
"You're right, we have more Chaos Emeralds to find, along with this Annet Myer," Link said.
"This Annet is quite clearly the key to a lot of this. Find her and we might begin to unravel this mystery of all these worlds and gateways. And learn of our past," Quirt said.
"You're right. I have a promise to keep, and I haven't broken it, and I'm not about to break it now," Mega Man said. Spider-Man pondered for a moment upon hearing that, trying to recall when Mega Man had said he was keeping a promise but was drawing a blank.
"But...not to sound rude but, how am I supposed to get home? Helen must be worried sick..." Jennifer said, finally speaking up after a bit.
"I think your best bet is to stick with us, we'll find a way, don't worry," Regina put a hand on her shoulder. "Besides, if I had to guess at this point, you have a role to play in all of this."
"Also Jack, don't worry, you can leave this place to me, I'll make sure things are settled while you're gone," Quirt said.
"Jack, good luck," Lorraine said a bit softly.
"Thanks. I'll need it," Jack said as everyone started to head out.
"Mega Man, Lucia, a moment?" Lorraine asked, making the two stop. Lorraine gazed upon Lucia for a bit, taking in a lot of information and comprehension of the situation. "Take care of her, won't you? I'm sure that's your duty."
"I will. You have my word," Mega Man said.
"And Lucia...I know we only really just met but, I feel I understand your importance a great deal already. After all, you traveled across space and time, and hypothetically came from the heavens on an important journey. As the proper governor now, you have my parting blessing from this world, as much as it is," Lorraine said humbly.
"Thank you Lorraine Dahlgren. I won't forget your sincerity, kindness and compassion towards the people of this land. It was only a short while as you said but, I feel I got to learn a great deal about you. May we meet again," Lucia said before she departed, Mega Man following behind her.
"That boy is branded," Aduwa remarked a moment or so after the doors were shut.
"Branded, Aduwa?" Quirt asked.
"He has a very special mark upon him, and he carries something truly special. The grith felt it and informed me of this," Aduwa replied.
"I saw his hand glow for a moment, a symbol was on it for a brief second, I didn't get a good look at it but...is that what that was?" Lorraine asked. Aduwa then chuckled a bit.
"There have been year long rumors, legends, myths and what have you about that one piece. That one single elusive piece that was seemingly gone before recorded history. True, in a sense it has been "lost" for untold centuries, but it wasn't due to someone losing it or causing it to fly across the boundaries of space and time itself," she said.
"Then, how did this "piece" come into his possession?" Quirt asked.
"There was one rumor not very many people took stock in, but now that I've seen him myself, I'm beyond certain. It was given to him by the divine one herself long, long ago before passing," Aduwa replied.
"Who is this...she you speak of?" Lorraine asked.
"The great lady," Aduwa began.
-The X-Mansion-
Selina was sitting in one of the library rooms, in her costume and mask off her face as she held onto the emerald in the palm of one hand, and the back of the other against the side of her face with her legs crossed. She was gazing rather deeply into it, hearing it's faint crystalline hum the whole time. She was trying to gaze into it, while at the same time, felt like she could almost probe into it's depths in some capacity. She could feel a raw power inside it, it was almost as if it was beckoning to be used. She held it a bit closer as she tried to peer deeper inside, somehow also reaching her will into it, but then there was a bright blue spark that coursed through her fingers and down her arm, a pain shooting down it as it then shook violently.
"AIEGH!" she yelped as her whole arm jerked, inadvertently flinging the Emerald as it then clanked across the floor while she grasped her wrist, curling up in the seat almost into a tight ball, groaning in agony. Meanwhile a large furry blue fellow scooped up the Emerald into a container and sealed it shut.
"You should be more careful, my fine fellow nimble feline," he said. Selina looked up to see Beast in a pair of pants and a lab coat, but his chest and feet were still bare, and was wearing one of his signature pair of spectacles.
"Oh Hank, that flowery speech of yours almost always cracks me up," Selina somewhat chuckled through the pain as she uncurled herself a bit.
"Laughter while a good medicine, can't cure all ailments regrettably. Are you alright?" he asked as he put a hand on her shoulder.
"Well I feel like I touched a live wire," Selina replied as she flexed her fingers, finding they were still moveable as always so she wasn't crippled thankfully.
"Suppose we should be thankful you aren't entirely fried. But is that all you feel?" Hank asked as he held her out of the seat. Selina pondered for a moment,trying to feel internally in a sense but did notice something.
"I think I feel a bit hyper all of a sudden," she chuckled.
"I believe that could be a momentary buzz," he remarked.
"Could be," she laughed.
-Danger Room Simulation-
Jill had put in a unique simulation to run in the danger room computer. The danger room was setup in such a way to create situations as real or artificial as possible. Down to even being able to just about replicate locations and times to a near accurate T. However she had went with a unique case of artificial. Her foes were basically polygonal representations of zombies, the cerberus dogs, the green clawed hunters and such she had encountered in the past. She had setup the course in a unique fashion, black walls and floors and vacant areas leading out into digital space. There were grid outlines giving off the feel that the place was comprised of almost digital blocks. Dispersed around the area were weapons and ammo and she basically had herself a course to run. She appeared at one end and had to reach the goal at the other side.
Once she appeared within the digital space she took a bit of a breath, armed with only her handgun and what digital bullets she allowed herself to carry she started off. She ran down a slope and into what was fundamentally acting as narrow alleyway passages as she darted down the corridor, passing by various nooks in which the digital zombies started coming out of. She kept running, and ducked when one zombie come out early and made a grab at her, but once she heard a distinctive clicking noise she hunkered down briefly and launched herself forward as the floor dropped out from beneath her, leading to digital space below. She landed and got another click, and repeated this process repeatedly for a few steps before doing two quick running steps and actually leaped over a gap, grabbed onto a pipe and swung herself forward onto solid ground with a bit of a grunt. She looked back for a moment to see the digital trap doors seal back up in the middle, giving a faint clunk of sorts, and couldn't help but smile in amusement when the zombies started stepping on the first door, and then dipping forward when it opened up, and she used the open space she just cleared, watching them tumble downward a good ways, mindlessly flailing before digitally coming apart and vanishing.
She continued on her way, running through some small digital water puddles before slowly walking down a sharp turn with basically fire escapes on the walls, keeping her eyes trained on them, and soon digital Umbrella soldiers came out, going by descriptions some people provided on how they looked. She'd easily manage to pop them off like as if they were typical targets in a shooting range, which they technically were, but some got some shots off and nearly nicked her a few times as she took them out. Sighing she had cleared them before she had to reload her clip, prompting her to quickly run ahead, not sure if the sim would have them re spawn as it were.
"DUAH!" she yelped when a hunter sprung from her right and floored her as it landed past her, before turning and coming at her with a hiss. "These guys were always vicious!" she did a quick side roll into a low crouch when it did a leaping swipe at her, missing as she then unloaded into it's back with quick five rounds. It turned and charged at her, but she turned and launched herself forward, managing to make that flaming aura appear around her as she squarely shoulder checked it in the face and knocked it back, making it digitally disintegrate before it could hit the ground.
"Hah...hahhh...so I still got that move," she panted a little, feeling a bit of exertion from that ability returning but then stared ahead as she saw a familiar face coming towards her as well as hearing those familiar loud thumps as she saw that real ugly face and black leather in the distance. "I knew I shouldn't have have included you as a random spawn!" she protested before turning on her heel and sprinted down the other path at top speed.
"~UWHWAAAAAAAHHHH!~" the Nemesis creature bellowed before it started sprinting after her.
"AIIIIIIEEEE THIS HAS GOTTA BE MY BIGGEST BLOND MOMENT!" Jill scolded herself as she darted through a small doorway passage and zoomed down a long corridor before the Nemesis burst through said opening. On her right she saw a large door to her right, prompting her to go for it and firmly grip the handle, turning it she launched herself out as she held onto the door but her feet hit nothing. "UWAH!" she realized as the door kept swinging there was in fact no floor on the other side and she swung until the door swung and hit the other wall, sticking in place as she dangled over the void. She looked at the open doorway as she heard those thunderous rapid steps closing in, soon seeing those once in a lifetime moments where Nemesis turned sharply, only to squarely step on nothing and tumble out the door, bellowing one of it's signature roars as it tumbled down into the void.
"Sheesh...this door is like one of those random old superstitious castle doors for ghosts. Now how do I get outta this?" she looked around as she couldn't seem to get the door to swing back despite shoving her leg on the wall, but she noticed a platform to her left that had a notch in it. Curious she stretched her leg out a bit, managing to slip her foot into it from below and pull, actually sliding a platform out towards herself. Once close enough, while a bit awkward she managed to get her legs onto it and carefully push herself along the wall to be on it properly and stand up. Sighing she noticed a ladder and started scaling it. "Didn't expect a preinstalled shortcut of sorts," she remarked as she scaled. Once at the top she was essentially on top of a roof with a helipad, which she was meant to reach via a longer route but she apparently located via an alternate route the system installed to keep her on her toes. She looked around as she walked forward a few steps before hearing maniacal laughter, seeing a shape step out from behind a nearby block, causing her to yelp and fire her gun, nailing the figure, only for her to realize who she had hit before it vanished, and the feminine voice saying the training sequence was completed. The digital world faded away as did her gun and she was back in the real world, blinking a bit at what she had just done.
-Minutes later-
Jill was back in the regular mansion corridors, finding Selina in the dining area with Beast nearby along with other members of the X-Men, such as Jubilee, Gambit, Wolverine, Storm, Cylclopes, Rogue, ect. Dazzler meanwhile, a woman with short blond hair, with a red head band garbed in a brown jacket, dark blue jump suit with a star on the chest and knee high boots with pink edging came in via the hallway on the opposite side Jill approached from.
"Hey, how was the training session?" she asked.
"...a bit too on the nose at the end," Jill replied.
"Why, what happened exactly?" Selina asked as she looked over.
"I just blasted away the Joker in a startled panic," Jill replied, causing a bit of a deadpan silence. "I know. I only added him among several others to give me a challenge and keep me on my toes at the end but, of all the ones to pick randomly it picked him. Considering he's sorta involved in our case a bit, that's a bit much I feel."
"Where did you actually hit him?" Selina asked a bit astonished.
"Right in the face. It was only via the purple suit did I realize who I nailed," Jill replied.
"Somehow that feels fitting," Selina remarked. "Although I suppose that's a bit cruel in a way."
"Hmmm maybe dis a sign," Gambit quipped.
"Remi!" Rogue protested mildly.
"Hey, it's no skin off mah nose if somebody offs that clown. After all, dat's one Joker I'd like to keep outta mah hands at all times," Gambit retorted. "After all, deh sayin's go, keep an Ace up yo sleeve, or have an ace in the dah hole. Not a wild card joker in the dah deck." he flashed the ace of spades and ace of hearts in two quick flicks.
"For once I actually agree with the kajin," Wolverine said.
"Hey hey hey! I didn't mean to start a murder debate!" Jill protested a bit.
"Hey, guys?" Batgirl's voice suddenly spoke on the communicator Selina had in her belt, prompting her to take it out.
"You're back now?" Selina asked, a bit startled, but also a bit relieved to hear from them they had been gone so long.
"Yeah, it was a bit of a trip. We have a number of new arrivals and...minus one. We've lost Hannah," Batgirl said regrettably.
"What!? Not Hannah! How'd this happen?" Jill exclaimed as she rushed over.
"Lost in the sense she's now who knows where in the Multiverse. Although we're gonna need to do something once we get back to the mansion. We have a small experiment we'll need to try. Make sure Jean or the Professor is in when we get there. We'll be there in awhile," Batgirl replied before she cut the transmission. It was about two hours later after the call as Selina and Jill watched out one of the second floor windows and saw the red Cadillac pull up, followed by a more enclosed van, and then lastly Batgirl on her bike. They instantly noticed the new blond in the passenger seat of the Cadillac while Wonder Woman landed near them.
"So what's our status?" Batgirl asked as she dismounted as Jack and Felicia exited the car.
"Things have been rather calm at present, but I'm not sure what I'd be if I didn't mention I've been feeling quite a few disturbances, or at the very least several disruptions. Like as if something had been tearing through the void and passing through," Wonder Woman replied as everyone got out of the van, much to her surprise on the count, save for Hannah's exclusion, there were now four additional members to the group. The most normal looking of the bunch was Jennifer, while the more striking was clearly Lucia. But, being the compassionate being that she was, she approached the one who seemed the most lost of the group. "Why hello there!" she approached Jennifer.
"I...hello," Jennifer said, a bit startled to be addressed first really, almost half expecting herself to fade into the background.
"I didn't mean to startle you but, how did you happen to join our group? You don't seem like you're, well, pardon the term but a native to where Jack hails. She looks more fitting the locale," Wonder Woman then motioned to Felicia briefly.
"Well, I'm from 1997 London. I...fell into the river and...somehow wound up in a jungle. That might explain the whole...well, tearing through the void and passing through as you said," Jennifer replied.
"A reasonable assumption on your part. There's been a lot of that going on. Anyway, let's handle quick introductions," Batgirl said. "This is Felicia Fessendon, a scientist who's working on crops."
"Charmed." Felicia bowed her head and even did a little curtsy, very lightly lifting the sides of her skirt. Her polite manner brought a smile to Wonder Woman's face.
"And this is Regina. A special field agent of sorts. to what government and types of missions she's on is anyone's guess but she's on our side at the very least." Batgirl motioned to her.
"Not far from the truth. I will say it's nice to be back in modern society at least." Regina put a hand on her hip and mildly tilted her head.
"And this is Jennifer Simpson from London. Bout all we know of her besides she has a friend named Helen." Batgirl gestured to Jennifer.
"Helen Maxwell. She's my guardian. And, in a way my older sister." Jennifer gripped one of her arms slightly.
"Your guardian huh? Well, and this is Lucia of the Blue star."
"Blue Star?" Wonder Woman tilted her head.
"I believe the Blue Star is what you call Earth, and the Silver Star, now called Lunar, was your moon," Lucia replied.
"Lunar the Silver Star huh? Interest. Well, everyone, this is Wonder Woman, Princess Diana of the Amazons."
"Princess?" the four asked in unison, a bit surprised.
"...of the Amazons?" Jennifer added as she took Wonder Woman's appearance and demeanor a bit more with this new information to process a bit, causing Wonder Woman to put her hands on her hips and tilt her head a bit.
"What, don't I look the part?"
"You're just...more beautiful, and...surprisingly a lot more regal and refined, and dignified than I'd have pictured an amazon," Jennifer replied honestly.
"I get that at times. But I'm also full of other surprises, young one," Wonder Woman laughed as she patted Jennifer's shoulder, giving her a pleasant smile. "But...if I may change to a more serious topic, where's Hannah?"
"I think we have a better way to fill everyone in on exactly what happened. Let's go to Cerebro," Batgirl replied.
-In the main control room beneath the mansion-
Jean Grey, garbed in her orange and blue uniform was seated in a large chair while a helmet was upon her head, that was connected to various wires to the ceiling while she had her eyes shut, retrieving the memories from Jack, Batgirl, Link, Regina, Felicia, and Jennifer and distributed them to everyone else from the start of their journey. She only retrieved what she deemed necessary. She eventually opened her eyes once she had finished.
"You guys sure had a lotta fun without me," Wolverine remarked.
"Trust me bub, you'd have had a blast, that much is certain," Spider-Man retorted.
"But now onto the other matter. Who is this Annet?" Storm asked.
"Lucia, come here," Jean requested, and Lucia did so a bit curiously. "Don't worry, this won't hurt. Just relax." she gently put her hands to Lucia's face as she focused, going into her mind, looking for a mental picture of Annet, and was able to find a clear image of her face, hair and eyes, and soon displayed it upon a monitor as she pulled back.
"So that's what she looks like," Mega Man said.
"Hmmm, tanned skin, vivid green eye and striking golden brown eyes. A very distinctive beauty indeed. Present company also withstanding," Beast remarked, referring to Lucia in particular.
"Do you think you can find her?" Jack asked.
"Knowing someone's essential signature is one thing Jack. I can more easily look for Hannah, but simply looking for someone based upon a mental image is another matter entirely," Jean replied.
"In other words without a mental signature is like looking in a criminal database without so much as a name or fingerprint to go off of," Spider-Man remarked.
"Not to mention we don't know if she's on this Earth or a different era Earth," Felicia said.
"If she was I think we'd actually know," Batgirl said as she pressed a button to get a print out of the picture. "Although with our database, we can probably search do as best we can with this. But I'll link up to the Bat computer from another room."
"Not much else we can do except wait," Link commented as everyone started leaving, although Mega Man lingered for a moment before he finally started to follow once everyone was out of the room essentially.
"Mega Man," Jean called, causing him to pause and look back. "You seem a bit troubled. What's wrong?"
"To be honest, I'm not really sure. Although how can you tell?" he asked.
"Well, besides being somewhat obvious slightly, you also aren't entirely a machine," Jean replied.
"...what?"
"You have a mind Rock. An actual human mind."
"You looked?"
"No, but I can certainly sense it. Sensing a present mind is different than outright diving into one. Sensing a mind is the same as knowing someone's in the room with you via visual contact."
"That makes sense in a way."
"I, could take a look if you want me to, and maybe make sense of what's troubling you? That is if you aren't able to really tell me."
"To be honest I dunno if you can make sense of it either. At most I have are these fragments...but they just don't make any sense."
"Well, I can at least see what's there. I'll only look, I promise I won't try and force anything."
"...alright, do it," Mega Man said as he approached, and Jean gently put a hand to his head, focusing a bit to see what these so called fragments were, soon seeing those visions, some emotions, but those most of all the voice. "Well, what do you make of it?" he asked after a bit.
"I can't say I can make any sense of it either. After all, you were built from scratch with no organic of mental material, and yet...somehow I didn't sense it before, unless there was just so much going on before it...feels like as if this...mind of yours has been laying dormant and has only just now awoken. If...that makes any sense."
"I'm afraid it doesn't."
"Well...it's the best I was able to determine. At most we can do is let it run it's course now but...I don't think there's any cause for alarm." she sat back in the seat a beat as she removed the helmet.
"Now why do you say that."
"Well, it's less that your current self is being overwritten in a sense as much as...it's a part of you that's merely, returning. If anything you're just going through some sort of awakening. That's the best I can gleam from these fragments. What they entail...I'm afraid I can't answer."
"Well, I did say there wasn't much and I guess what answer I did get is better than nothing."
-Uncle's shop-
"Well, is everybody ready?" Hannah asked.
"We have most of the essentials. Spare clothes, food, currency," Jackie replied.
"Some light reading material," Jade added.
"And numerous spell ingredients, just in case," Uncle also added.
"Will currency even work where we maybe going?" Tohru asked.
"Well, it's better to have than not to," Jackie replied.
"Alright. Then let's get going. Bracelet," Hannah held it up. "Take us somewhere we can find someone who can help me learn about myself." and with that a vortex opened like before, this time a lot tamer and calmer, barely any wind.
"Whoa. Somehow I was expecting this to be more intense," Jade remarked.
"It was. But I think since I'm in a calmer state of mind, so is our portal. Come on," Hannah said as she lead them through and they followed suit, and soon the vortex closed without any incident.
-Elsewhere, several minutes earlier-
Neifirst was walking down what appeared to be an elaborate palace corridor, her cape draped over her shoulders as she went along with a fine feminine strut, but then her attention turned to a door ahead of her to the left being semi open, before then swinging open.
"Mother!" a young girl exclaimed as she bolted out, having vivid violet long hair, that was in long stylized pigtails, and had matching bright blue eyes to match. Said pigtails were secured via long blue ribbons and the length of said tails went down to her shoulders and were rather full in their own right. If loose the hair would be a few inches down her back. She was garbed in a deep blue military looking jacket that hugged her figure a bit, along with a short pleated skirt and plain boots as she came right at Neifirst and leaped at her with a firm embrace. "You're home!" Neifirst did put an arm around her and another on the back of her head.
"Haman darling!" Neifirst said happily although a touch startled. "I'm happy to see you too, but why are you in military uniform?" she lightly held Haman back to take full note of her current manner of dress. While the jacket did more of less modestly fit the skirt was getting a bit, short in some respects.
"Well, it's the only thing of mine that currently fits," Haman replied sheepishly.
"Of course. I can certainly see you're maturing rather fast. Especially in the height department," Neifirst laughed a little, having a pleasant smile on her face as she patted Haman's shoulder.
"Do you think I'll look as mature as you do, mother?" Haman asked rather earnestly.
"My dear child, you're already a sweet flower right now. But, I can tell in a few short years you'll be a stunning woman in your own right," Neifirst replied. "Unfortunately I'm only here on a brief visit. I just came to check on some things and to give our people some news. But, we can spend a little time together before I have to depart again." she turned Haman around and started walking with her down the corridor.
"But can't I come with you?" Haman asked.
"No, not yet I'm afraid. But eventually you'll be prepared to take on anything," Neifirst replied as they went along, before they went through a mechanical automatic door on the right and entered a high tech section with several people in lab coats doing scans and data collection on a large scale. Eventually, an older mature woman with shoulder length, brownish blond hair approached, having a blue shirt, a shorter white coat, and a knee high grey skirt with black heels approach. "Have you found anything on Annet?"
"We had a solid bead on Myer and the Fernandez for a time, one of our units had them tracked and we have the footage, and their key signatures to help us track them down easier. However, Ms. Myer proved too powerful, and wrecked out unit when it nearly had both at once," the woman replied with a bit of a deep voice, but a very cool and precise tone. "Not longer after the destruction of the unit, we realized their traces suddenly vanished."
"They got transported?" Neifirst asked.
"Very much so, it was an unstable portal, and we detected a similar surge linking to a form of London from the realm with the dinosaurs reborn. But then most of all we picked up on an even more massive surge before that. I presume you know of these?" the woman asked with a bit of confidence.
"Indeed I do. As well as that third one that occurred there as well thanks to my other contacts. But have you been able to locate Annet again?" Neifirst asked.
"For a time yes, but then we lost track again due to a rather unusual circumstance while they were out on the road. If not for our equipment being on the lookout at all times we wouldn't have noticed the phenomenon," the woman replied.
"What phenomenon is that?" Haman asked with a raised brow.
"A dimensional merging of the worlds. Near identical ones starting to, well, interlace. This happened before but it's happening again. Two worlds just silently merged with another one that had a merging before. She's in the world with well, where the outsiders have started taking up residence. And more over, we were able to determine the destination in which Myer is heading," the woman replied.
"And where might that be?" Neifirst asked with a very curious brow.
"She's heading back to Chicago. Where she had previously stopped by that "Last Chance Garage". I'm sure you know the one."
"That realm is starting to get a bit cramped in a sense. Hm. Well, now I know where I have to go, thank you," Neifirst said before suddenly there was a brief alarm, causing people to quickly get into position, they all stayed silent since the answer was to come in a bit.
"The Ambassador is on the move again! She just left her location! Trying to determine where she's gone through the linking rift source..." one of the operators said. "...that one?"
"One that's with?" Neifirst asked semi coyly.
"The Senshi."
"The Senshi? Those scouts?" Neifirst asked, almost amused.
"The same."
"Who are the Senshi?" Haman asked.
"Female guardians. I wonder what compelled our sweet ambassador to seek them out, if it was intentional," Neifirst stroked her chin a little.
"Something come up, sis?" a woman spoke from behind, stepping through the doorway.
"I was about to call you Claire. I have a mission for you to undertake," Neifirst replied as she turned around to address the woman, who had incredibly long orange, fiery hair that went almost to her feet, and similarly colored eyes. She wore what appeared to be a black mini dress, with a short red jacket with red gloves and tall knee high boots to match. She then leaned against the doorway as she crossed her legs and arms. "I need you to find and bring the Wassoon Ambassador, Hannah Dundee here. She could use some enlightenment I suspect."
"Another wayward to the flock, hm? Will she come willingly?" Claire asked, although her tone suggested she'd enjoy things slightly being rough.
"I suspect not. And of course the Sailor Senshi will likely get in the way. But I imagine you can subdue them if need be without harm?" Neifirst asked coyly.
"Like you need to ask or have any real doubts big sister," Claire replied as she held her arms out in a mild coy shrug. "You raised me well after all. But before I go, I suspect you have some news to share? Big, news I wager?"
-Minutes later-
A large crowd of people had gathered around a town square that was overlooked by a tall building that had a balcony, in which out strode Neifirst followed by Haman who did stay back as Neifirst continued forward into the very center, as Claire resumed her casual demeanor at one of the walls of the entrance.
"My people," Neifirst said as she held out her arms. "Our waiting is finally over, the goddess of the Blue Star is finally among us! And her journey has finally begun in earnest!" everyone started cheering, while Haman looked exceptionally ecstatic at hearing this, having known of this event coming for some time.
"So she has shown," Claire remarked.
"While a bit of time still must pass, what I promised you, the justice that shall finally befall those who wronged you, and our new world to rise from the ashes, that time is finally drawing near! But we must remain ever vigilant, for if we fail now, all we had set into motion will be for nothing. I ask you to continue and remain strong, and stay with me! Our future, our bright future, is finally dawning! Our new era!" the crowd was a loud bellowing of cries and cheers, soon chanting her name as she smiled broadly.
"Haman!" Claire called and motioned her over, which she did after a second. "Go to Tala. If she isn't already, try and get her to divine any information on Hannah Dundee. Meanwhile, I've got to go and escort our lovely Ambassador here." Haman nodded before Claire walked over to Neifirst, arms still crossed.
"Mind if I borrow one of our dimensional vessels? Because just flying her here as a flame wouldn't be very comfortable, it not just make her tight lipped and willed," Claire asked.
"It would allow you time to actually be on more stable speaking terms in a way, and maybe make her more willing to listen," Neifirst replied.
"If, she doesn't resist my fiery personalty," Claire quipped as she put a hand to her chest. "Ciao sis." she twirled her hand away and ignited a flame over her entire body before then streaking across the sky, leaving a brief burning trail.
-In another world-
A vortex opened up at the edge of an alley in the middle of the night, and out stepped Hannah and her group before it then shut. They were in a rather bright city but in a vacant street at the moment despite the lights being on.
"Well it's a regular city, but where are we, if still on a normal-ish earth?" Hannah asked.
"It must be Japan, that sign has Japanese characters on it," Jackie replied as he pointed to a billboard.
"Swell. I don't speak Japanese. I can speak Chinese, English, a little Spanish but zero Japanese," Jade mildly protested while also counting off on her fingers.
"Sadly I'm not familiar with how the other languages even sound," Hannah remarked.
"Well, maybe we'll get lucky somehow," Tohru said as they started walking along. After a bit they noticed they were walking along through a housing district as most of the buildings were actually houses. However after a moment Hannah got a bit of a glazed look in her eye as she started heading off in a different direction, much to their surprise as she was heading for a house. However as she was standing outside the front door she shook her head as she heard voices inside, clearly speaking English but, something was very off about one of them.
"That...that can't be right," Hannah said.
"What's wrong?" Jackie asked.
"I...can't explain it but I have to get inside. You go hide," Hannah replied.
"Hide? What for?" Uncle asked.
"One lone person is a lot less suspicious than a whole group," Hannah replied, they nodded in response and ducked around a corner. Hannah then knocked upon the door, bust suddenly she heard Jade making a faint noise, making her look. She jaw Jade looking a bit alarmed as she was gesturing at her own hip, which made her raise a brow before looking down wide eyed when she realized her gun belt was very suspect. Grimacing she frantically undid the buckle and removed it as she heard someone approaching, and then quickly pitched the belt to Jade her caught it, making Hannah relax as she turned to face the opening door. Much to her surprise a blue haired girl opened the door, although her hair was much much shorter, she still had vivid blue eyes as well. Both seemed a bit equally surprised to see each other.
"Hello? Can I help you miss?" she asked, sounding rather pleasant and sweet.
"Hannah Dundee. I'm sorry to barge in at such a late hour but you see I'm frankly a bit lost. Could you help me out?" she replied very honestly.
"Well, I'm not sure how I can help," the girl replied. Although she did raise a curious brow as she looked Hannah over, as if just noticing something, causing Hannah to tilt her head in confusion.
"Ami, who's at the door?" Hannah's eyes widened at hearing that voice, it, sounded like her own as she looked past Ami. She didn't see the source but heard it come from a lit room in the back off to the left. Before Ami could reply, she gasped when Hannah gripped her shoulders and lifted her off the floor and put her to the side before running to the door and looked inside, finding inside was a kitchen with two other girls. One was blond, with very long pigtails, almost going to her feet and was very lush, and had dark blue eyes. She looked about the same age as Ami, but the other one was a striking individual. She was very tall, and had green eyes and very lush brown hair in a full ponytail, and both looked at her in alarm.
"Hey, who are you?" the blond asked, a bit shocked.
"And what are you doing in my house?" the other one spoke and Hannah's pupils shrank as she developed a severe case of the shakes. She clearly heard her voice coming out of her mouth.
"T...that's n...not..." Hannah stuttered and chocked, her voice barely audible before fell back against the wall behind her and slid down to the floor.
"Oh my gosh!" Ami yelped.
"Hey are you alright!?" the blond called as the trio rushed to Hannah's aid, whatever brief hostility or caution had diminished when Hannah's health seemed severely in question.
"What's wrong? Did something happen to you? Were you attacked?" the one with Hannah's voice asked, and hearing that voice only made Hannah stare into her eyes, which began to unnerve her a little. "Wh...why are you looking at me like that?"
"Y...you have...you have my voice," Hannah replied, causing all their eyes to widen, Ami and the blond looking back and forth between the two as the distinctively heard the other's voice coming out of Hannah's mouth.
"That's impossible!" she finally blurted out.
"Lita, I distinctively heard your voice coming out of her mouth," Ami replied.
"And you want to know what's even weirder about all this?" the blond asked.
"What, Usagi?" Lita asked as she looked over.
"Is that not only does she have your voice, she's clearly America, but is speaking fluent Japanese!" Usagi replied as she pointed. This statement snapped Hannah out of her stupor.
"Japanese!? But you're speaking to me in perfect English!" she protested. The trio then gave her the blankest of stares to process what they just heard for a moment.
"I don't think she's lying. We're clearly hearing Japanese but yet she's hearing English," Ami said.
"But how can that be?" Usagi asked. Hannah was left pondering this as well for a moment until she reached into her pocket and looked at Lucia's pendant, causing them all to stare. It was giving off an unusual shine for a moment before it finally stopped. Hannah then looked at all three.
"Girls, I'm seriously in need of help. And I think you're the only ones who have some experience in, unusual matters," she stated. "I think this just served as our translator." about then there was a knock at the door again.
"Did you come alone?" Lita asked.
"No, I didn't want to alarm or frighten you but, I think I did anyway," Hannah replied as they helped her to her feet as she then went and opened the door for them.
"You alright?" Jade asked.
"Yeah, just had a bit of a shock. Just to be frank, you might want to maybe check into a hotel for the night, I don't this house can fit eight people," Hannah replied. "But otherwise, after that, you should try and get a lay of the land. We maybe here for awhile. For now, come on, we have a bit of a story to tell."
"Actually you might not have to," a woman's voice spoke from the stairs, prompting them to look and see a cat standing on the railing, not quite black fur but the striking detail was the crescent moon on it's forehead. "If that pedant belongs to who I think it does, we might need a quick explanation," she replied, making everyone look on in shock before a beam spread out from her moon and was placed upon their heads, and went and also connected with the other girls. There was quite a unique flux of memories traveling to and fro from all of them, specifically only the most crucial of details, and this lasted only a few minutes before she gently broke it off.
"Ahhhh..." Hannah groaned as she began falling backwards, the girls catching her.
"I think I'm still a bit overly new to this..." Hannah replied.
"Whoa, mind meld city!" Jade protested a bit, taking a bit to process everything.
"I think we should get going. Hannah should be safe here for now," Jackie said as he started to usher Jade out.
"Why are we leaving?" Tohru asked after the door was shut.
"Because I think we need a bit to process this information, and it's a bit better separate," Jackie replied.
"Hey, you'll be alright," Usagi said, trying to reassure Hannah as she looked a bit overwhelmed before just looking utterly tired.
"I just...feel so tired..." Hannah said as she slumped against the wall, starting to slide down again but they caught her and kept her from going down to the floor again.
"She's totally exhausted. I can't say I'm surprised with what she's been through these past few days," Lita said.
"Luna, do you know who this Lucia is? Or Annet?" Usagi asked.
"Annet I do not. Lucia however is quite the story. You see, our old Moon Kingdom has quite the long history. Dating back several generations. This "Multiverse" according to some old sources, was once far more open. We could visit other realms and the like easily before. But, for some reason these realms were sealed shut. Cut off from the rest. There was a myth of the Blue and Silver Stars and the goddess that lives in the Blue Star. But now as we see, it is no mere myth, Hannah has met her, and carries her pendant. It's not just a keepsake, while the goddess herself does not need it per say, it grants others as we've witness and experienced ourselves, a means to hear others speaking in the language of the one listening. A very special gift of communication," Luna replied.
"But if that's the case, why do we clearly share each other's voice?" Lita asked as Ami noticed Hannah's belt on the floor and retrieved it.
"I saw her walking down the street, and she seemed to go into a trance and was coming here like she was being called. I think she was being drawn here. Perhaps you share a connection of some kind," Luna replied. As they were talking though Hannah had silently passed out in their arms.
"Well, there must be some reason but...it's so strange," Lita said.
"What is?" Ami asked.
"Despite having just met her, and learned of her through her memories, I can't help but feel so sad for her...both for her being an orphan and not knowing who she is. She just wants answers," Lita replied.
"Perhaps it's not so strange. In a bizarre way, I feel like as if she belongs with us to a degree. That maybe what drew her in," Usagi said.
"Maybe, but come on, let's get her into bed," Lita said as she got behind Hannah and put her arms around Hannah's torso, while Usagi lifted Hannah's legs by her ankles and backed up a bit while Lita got around and started walking up the stairs backwards, carefully carrying her up, a bit effortlessly since Lita was so strong.
"We should go and see Rei in the morning. Her fire reading should give us more answers," Ami said as she followed, carrying the belt still.
"It better, I'd hate for them to have come all this way for nothing," Usagi remarked.
"It might not have been entirely for nothing if current events are to be gone by," Luna said as she followed them. They took Hannah to the bedroom and carefully tucked her in after pulling back the blanket, laying her out carefully and then pulled the blanket up to her neck.
"This might sound silly but..." Lita paused.
"But what?" Usagi asked.
"I just hope we can become friends with her. Because right now I think she needs the comfort of those she can count on," Lita replied.
Chapter end.