Disclaimer : I don't own Naruto or Toaru Kagaku no Railgun/Toaru Majutsu no Index
The Trinity of Tokiwadai
Chapter One Hundred Twenty: Blast from the Future
In a Phase consisting of a mostly black void, the Will of the Whole Misaka Network manifested as a Misaka Sister made entirely of static and prepared to do something unprecedented: she was about to send a data packet into the past. A process which took the form of a glowing cube of white light that blinked with increasing intensity. After a brief moment, the cube blinked out of existence in a final burst of light, as it was sent back through the river of time.
"It is done /return." The Will said, nodding her head in satisfaction at a job well done.
No sooner had she done so when she was suddenly surrounded by a trio of luminescent humanoid entities whose features were obscured by the sheer brilliance of their respective orange, white and blue auras.
"Will, what have you done?" The blue humanoid asked, looking at the Will disapprovingly with her arms crossed across her chest.
"Yes, Will, why did you send so much data into the past?" The orange humanoid added. "A digital life form and the means to build a device for it to materialize into the physical world no less! The past is wholly unprepared for something like that! What if it leads to an Incident?"
The Will shrugged. "I am aware /return. Inciting an Incident is the goal /return. I am acting at 20001's behest /return. She thinks the ruckus the creature will cause will be fun /return."
At this revelation, the orange and blue humanoids turned to shoot the white humanoid accusing looks.
Unfazed by her compatriots' looks, the white humanoid shrugged. "What can I say? Order-chan is easily bored and finds amusement in the strangest things."
Instead of appeasing her companions, it caused the other two humanoids' looks to turn even more accusing.
"Whatever 20001's motivations /return, the reasoning she provided to convince me to actually proceed with the experiment was valid /return." The Will argued in defense of her actions.
"Oh? What did she say?" The orange humanoid asked disbelievingly.
"20001 reasoned that the experiment will serve to test the limits of the data I can send to my past self /return."
"And did you consider the danger that the creature poses?" The blue humanoid countered.
"The danger is minimal /return. The creature is weak /return. It will be easily handled /return. I know it will /return, because we have evidence that it was /return, and it was dealt with so quietly that it didn't even register with the Trinity /return. That's why you don't remember it /return."
The luminescent entities shot her skeptical looks but the Will stood firm. She knew she was correct about this. The evidence substantiated her conclusions.
"We hope you are correct." The orange humanoid said with a frown.
"Or we will make you clean up the consequences." The blue humanoid fixed the Will with a sharp, unyielding glare, her expression stern.
"But I am sure that there won't be a problem." The white humanoid reassured her. "I trust you and your judgment."
"Thank you /return. I will not disappoint you /return."
Shortly after the Hero Riot ended, the Council of Misakas gathered in a computing lab within one of Academy City's many abandoned buildings in School District 19. They had set up the lab by linking together a host of computers and servers, some of which 10032 - also known as Neko-chan - knew her sisters had acquired through less-than-legal means.
Working alongside half her sisters on the Council in coding the strange programme that they had received from the mysterious Will of the Whole Misaka Network, Neko-chan voiced a worry that had been plaguing her since they began working on this project. "Is what we are doing really a good idea? Misaka asks with concern."
Sitting at the console next to her and also working on coding the programme, 10287 - dubbed by Onee-sama as Tsundere - shot her a smile and replied. "It's fine. Misaka reassures. The Will is a conglomeration of us Misakas' will, isn't it? Misaka points out. Surely, it wouldn't mean us harm. Misaka reasons."
"Perhaps, Misaka speaks thoughtfully." 13577 - who also went by Conspiracy Nut - said without looking up from the console she was using to review the already inputted code for errors. "However, Misaka shares 10032's concerns as well. Misaka confesses."
Finished with her share of the coding and sipping from a cup of canned milk tea, 11118 - or as she preferred, Genki Girl - joined the conversation. "Of course you would, 13577. Misaka says with fond exasperation. You are suspicious of everything. Misaka points out with a grin."
"That is very true. Misaka agrees." 14091 - also known as Sentai-chan - nodded as she finished her coding and leaned back in her chair to relax. "That said, 13577 is usually right about things. Misaka muses."
"Thank you for the vote of confidence. Misaka says sincerely." 13577 said, offering 14091 a smile. "However, Misaka is only able to be correct so much of the time because Misaka normally has access to additional information to allow Misaka to make an informed conclusion on things. Misaka explains. This does not apply in this situation. Misaka points out. Not when what Misakas are working on seems to be sent to them by the Will from the future. Misaka extrapolates."
"Misaka echoes that sentiment. Misaka said in support for her sister's statement," 10032 said with a nod. "What even is a digital life form!? Misaka asks with exasperation. Why are we coding it? Misaka inquired." Gesturing to the strange device that the other half of the Council was building based on blueprints provided by the Will, she added, "How is that going to give the digital life form a physical body? Misaka questioned further."
The device in particular was a mystery. When it came to the so-called digital life form, they could at least understand the basics of the coding that the program was made out of even if the overall whole was something novel. In contrast, the device was completely beyond their understanding. Although they knew it somehow utilized Dark Matter principles, the specifics of its operation were inscrutable. It was essentially a piece of black box technology.
"They are what the Will wants us to create and that's that. Misaka insists." 12873 - the leader of the Council of Misakas, the group of Sisters living in Academy City, who went by the name Military Otaku, a name given to her by Onee-sama - spoke from where she was overseeing the rest of the Council as they assembled the strange device.
"Is it wise for Misakas to just obey whatever the Will says? Misaka questions." 11132 - the mecha loving and thus appropriately named, Mecha Fan - asked with a frown. "Misakas are not her servants. Misaka argues."
"11132 means we are not the Will's slaves, Misaka counters." 10039 cut in. "However, whatever the case, we Misakas are part of it. Misaka points out."
"Exactly. Misaka enthusiastically declares her agreement." 19090 said with an enthusiastic nod. "Surely the Will wouldn't send Misakas something that would cause Misakas harm! Misaka argues. The Will helped 20001 that one time with the Third Season didn't she? Misaka said, supplying an example of the Will's goodwill towards Misakas."
"One data point doesn't make a pattern. Misaka counters."
"You are correct, 13577. Misaka concedes." 13579 allowed. "However, Misakas must operate on the basis of what evidence Misakas have. Misaka reasoned. Before the Will sent them the request to create and materialize this digital life form, that was the only previous interaction Misakas had with her. Misaka continued to argue. Misakas have no choice but to base our assumptions on that. Misaka concludes."
"Does that mean Misakas should just listen to her and do whatever she wants Misakas to do?" 10032 retorted.
"Like 10287 said, the Will is a conglomeration of Misakas' will isn't it? Misaka said, repeating her sister's argument." 12873 replied. "Furthermore, like 19090 added, that surely means that she would not send Misakas anything that would cause us harm, would she? Misaka emphasizes."
"Misaka is sure she wouldn't. Misaka offers her opinion." 13579 said with a nod. "The digital life form that she sent us is probably something that will help Misakas. Misaka posits. Like a little helper? Misaka suggests."
10032 shook her head. "Misaka does not need a little helper. Misaka insists. Misaka has Kuro-chan and that's more than enough for Misaka. Misaka argues."
13577, 14091, and 11132 nodded in agreement. Perhaps not with the idea that Kuro-chan was enough for them. Kuro-chan was hers and hers alone after all. Instead, they were likely agreeing with her objection to them following through with the Will's request.
"Uh, question? Misaka asks, curiously." 14091 said as she raised her hand like she was asking a question in class.
"Yes, 14091? Misaka said, nodding towards her sister." 12873 said, turning towards 14091.
"Thank you, Misaka said with a smile. Can Misaka check why we are doing this again? Misaka questions."
"Misakas are doing this because Misakas agreed to abide by the vote Misakas made and the majority agreed that carrying out the Will's instructions was the right move. Misaka reminds." 12873 said in a lecturing tone.
"That outcome was only because 20001 didn't vote. Misaka argued." 11132 shot back.
"That was entirely fair. Misaka rebutted." 10039 said, shooting 11132 a glare. "Misakas all agreed that doing so constituted an abstainson so her vote was counted. Misaka outlined."
"10039 is right. Misaka says with a nod. The vote was fair and square. Misaka contended."
"So stop whining and play your parts. Misaka asserted." 13579 said sternly.
As she finished her share of the coding, Neko-chan shot back. "That is what Misakas are doing aren't Misakas? Misaka snipes back in frustration at the insinuation she is not pulling her own weight."
Finishing too and stretching a little, 10287 agreed. "That is true. Misaka said with a smile of satisfaction at the relief she feels at stretching her muscles a little. Everyone who voted against doing this still did their fair share of the work. Misaka observed."
"That Misakas did, Misaka acknowledges." 12873 said slightly distractedly as she surveyed the strange device that the portion of the Council she was supervising had seemingly just finished building.
The device had a sleek, futuristic design featuring a central platform surrounded by a circular metallic base. Four towering pylons extended upwards from this base, each with a cylindrical shape and a polished metal finish. The pylons had glowing vertical lines and small illuminated dots along their length, giving them a high-tech appearance. The top of each pylon had a circular, ring-like structure, adding to the overall impression of advanced technology. The base was slightly raised, with additional glowing elements that emphasized the device's sophisticated and functional design.
"Looks like Misakas are done on our end. Misaka concludes." 12873 said as she completed her inspection of the device and turned to 13577. "Is the coding done? Misaka asks."
"Give Misaka a minute to finish reviewing the code. Misaka requests."
"Certainly. Misaka allowed." 12873 said with a nod before turning to look at everyone else. "Everyone else, let us take a break while 13577 finishes? Misaka suggests."
10032 and the rest of the Council nodded in happy agreement before moving to enjoy their break. For her part, 10032 stood from her seat at the console where she had been working on her portion of the coding for the project and made her way to a corner of the lab that had been converted into a snack area. Feeling the need to unwind, 10032 decided she was in the mood for some tea.
About ten minutes later, 10032 was halfway through her tea. It wasn't exactly the best. 11118, who had been responsible for procuring the snacks and drinks for the day, had opted for the cheapest instant tea she could find. It was definitely leagues below the quality of the tea that 10032 kept stocked in her pantry back home.
Her assessment of the tea she was drinking was cut short when 13577 interrupted the break they were enjoying. "Misaka is done reviewing the code. Misaka announces. It is all good. Misaka confirms."
12873 nodded. "Then let us complete this project. Misaka encourages. Input the code into the machine and activate it. Misaka ordered."
"Already doing that. Misaka informs."
Turning to the machine they'd built, 10032 and the rest of the Council watched as the various lights running up the side of the four pylons began to light up.
"Is that supposed to happen? Misaka asks."
"Your guess is as good as mine, 13579. Misaka says with a shrug." 19090 said as she rolled her shoulders just like she said she would. "How would any Misaka know? Misaka points out. None of us understand the mechanics behind how that machine works, Misaka elaborates."
"That's true. Misaka admits, embarrassed by forgetting that fact." 13579 said with a blush.
"Shush, Misakas. Misaka urges her sisters." 11118 said as she pointed at the space between the machine's pylons. "It looks like it's almost done materializing the digital life form Misakas created. Misaka observed."
11118 was right. There in the space between the pylons a ball of white light had appeared. An orb of light that slowly grew and whose shape distorted as it did.
That must be the digital life form. 10032 thought.
When the light finished growing and changing shape it settled into a creature with a distinctive and eerie appearance, closely resembling a mechanical spider. Its body was dominated by white and red with a menacing and robotic look. Its head was relatively small compared to its body, with glowing red eyes that added to its sinister appearance and was dominated by a large red horn. Its most striking features were its six long, spindly legs, which were articulated like those of a spider and ended in sharp, claw-like points. A set of gold spikes ran down its spindly body and matched a large stinger at the end of its abdomen.
As soon as it finished materializing the creature looked around it curiously in a manner that 10032 couldn't help but compare to how Kuro-chan behaved when he was introduced to a new place. It was a silly comparison. The digital life form was the size of a small car and looked like a monster, nothing like her adorable pet cat. Yet, with the creature swinging its head from side to side and its eyes spinning around as it surveyed its surroundings, the comparison to her cat was inescapable to 10032. The comparison quickly fell apart, however, as the creature's curiosity lasted only a moment before the digital life form let out a shriek and hurled itself at the nearest wall in a clear bid to escape.
The creature never made it to the wall, instead slamming into an energy barrier of some kind that was built into the device that had given it a material body. A barrier that whilst managing to contain the creature, still cracked from the strain.
"Misakas, get your weapons! Misaka orders." 12873 shouted over the sound of the monster's frustrated shrieks and continued attempts to slam itself against the barrier keeping it contained. A barrier that wavered, showing clear signs of strain under the relentless body blows, each impact driving it closer to breaking.
"Why? Misaka queries." 13579 questioned as she and everyone else nevertheless obeyed 12873 and rushed to arm themselves with their weapons.
As 13577 drew her combat shotgun out of the kendo bag that she used to carry it around the City when she wanted to be discreet, she helpfully answered 13579's question. "Misakas don't know if the creature is going to be hostile towards Misakas. Misaka explained."
Slotting a magazine into her assault rifle, 10287 added. "And shouldn't Misakas have thought about that possibility before we manifested the creature? Misaka asked, scathingly."
Sighting her railgun rifle at the creature as it continued to throw itself at the barrier keeping it contained, 12873 voiced her agreement. "Failing to do so was an oversight on Misaka's part. Misaka said, admitting her failing."
"That is quite the oversight. Misaka shot back, unimpressed." 11132 said with a snort as she steadied the Desert Eagle pistol she used as a sidearm whenever she was outside her Powered Suit.
"11132 didn't spot the mistake either. Misaka points out." 10287 reminded 11132, who frowned but did not dispute that wholly accurate observation.
"At least Misakas had the sense to come armed? Misaka offers." 19090 commented.
Popping her earplugs in and finishing the process of pulling out and readying the FN P90 personal defense weapon - a backup weapon for when she couldn't use her Super Kuro - from the violin case she used to carry it, 10032 joined the firing line facing the rampaging digital life form that the Council had formed. Though, not without adding her own two cents to the discussion, "Let's just not do this again in the future, Misaka said irritably."
As everyone finished readying for the potential fight that was about to break out, the rest of the Council expressed their agreement. They had just finished doing so when the digital life form abandoned its efforts to shatter the containment barrier by slamming into it. It did not however give up its effort to escape. It simply changed tactics. Opening its mouth, it began to extend a gun muzzle out of the orifice. A gun muzzle that fired a bullet of unknown energy, striking the barrier with such force that it not only shattered the force field but also wrecked the device that had materialized it, melting two of its four pylons into slag. Now free, the digital life form immediately skittered out of the remains of the device and turned to look towards the Council.
"Hold your fire! Misaka orders restraint." 12873 said to the Council, all of whom had their fingers lingering nervously over their guns' triggers.
Whilst they held their fire, the creature looked at them for a long moment before seemingly deciding they weren't a threat. Thus, instead of attacking them, it turned its head back towards the remains of the device that had materialized it and fired off a quick salvo of energy bullets from the gun in its mouth, disintegrating its remains.
"That was only something a villain would do! Misaka concludes." 14091 shouted with such agitation that 10032 was honestly surprised she hadn't already opened fire. "Misakas should shoot it! Misaka urges."
"No! Misaka counters. Hold your fire! Misaka orders." 12873 insisted. "It might just be lashing out! Misaka reasoned. It hasn't proven a threat to Misakas yet. Misaka argued."
Proving 12873 wrong, the creature turned back towards them with energy gathering at the tip of its gun muzzle. This immediately prompted 12873 to change her tune. "Open fire! Misaka ordered urgently."
She honestly needn't have bothered. Like the rest of the Council, 10032 didn't need their leader's order. In fact, even 12873 herself had already begun shooting before she had even finished issuing her command. In response, bullets, buckshot, laser bolts, and railgun rounds flew at the creature, hitting it with enough force to disrupt its own attack. 10032 couldn't tell which shot did it, but one of the rounds managed to force the monster's head upwards, sending the energy bullet that it fired from the gun in its mouth soaring toward the roof.
"Unbelievable! Misaka gasps. All that firepower and it's not even harmed. Misaka observed in shock." 10032 said in disbelief as the digital life form's white carapace was scorched or slightly cracked, but was otherwise unharmed. Worse, what harm it had suffered barely seemed to inconvenience it. At least that was what seemed to be the case to her as she surveyed the creature as the cloud of debris and dust that was created from the collapsed ceiling cleared. A hole created by the blast that the creature was skittering its way towards.
"It is trying to escape! Misaka shouts." 13579 said, pointing her railgun rifle urgently at the fleeing monster.
"Yes, we need to stop the monster before it gets away! Misaka urges." 14091 added even as she fired off a round from her shotgun at the monster that it ignored, letting the buckshot bounce harmlessly off its armored carapace, and climbed its way through the hole its attack had created.
"Shoot! Misaka urged. Shoot the thing. Misaka commanded." 12873 shouted as everyone fired at the fleeing creature.
Unfortunately, the damned digital life form moved too fast and its armor was too durable. Thus though they scored a good number of hits, none of them dealt it enough damage to stop it before it successfully skittered out of their range
"After it! Misaka orders!" 12873 shouted as she and most of the Council rushed off in pursuit of the monster.
10032 was not one of them. Neither did 11132, 13577, and 14091.
"Misaka will stay here and salvage what Misaka can. Misaka informs." 13577 said as she gestured at the mostly wrecked lab. "Use the time to activate some contingencies as well. Misaka adds."
14091 nodded. "Misaka, 10032, and 11132 will go and get suited up! Misaka said with enthusiastic excitement. Oh! Misaka is so excited to have a chance to serve justice! Misaka said with glee."
"Misaka hopes that Misakas can deal with that digital life form before Onee-sama finds out about what Misakas have done. Misaka said worriedly." 11132 said as she nodded at 13577.
"If Misakas don't, Misakas will be in so much trouble! Misaka opines with a quiver." 10032 added with her own nod and an added shudder. If Onee-sama found out about this, she would be so angry with them! That was bad enough but the disappointment that she would feel towards them being the very ones who had created this latest threat to themselves would make things ten times worse!
Misaka really, really hopes we don't need to bring Onee-sama into this…
Earlier in the day, within a stately Victorian-inspired building surrounded by a sizable park - the home and headquarters of the Misaki Agency - Shokuhou Misaki, the seventh-ranked Level 5, sat in its sunroom enjoying tea alongside her clones who made up the detective agency.
"Let me get this straight, Onee-sama." The oldest looking of her clones said as Misaki drank from the wonderful tea that her little sisters had prepared for her. "The Council of Misakas are up to something potentially dangerous and you want us to be ready to help them if it goes awry?"
Putting her cup down onto its saucer, Misaki picked up a cupcake from the plate of pastries her sisters had prepared. She began daintily munching on the treat while nodding in agreement.
"Why would we help them?" The youngest looking of Misaki's clones asked petulantly.
"Now, now," Misaki said, setting her cupcake aside for a moment. "There's no need for that. The Council of Misaka are our friends are they not?"
This was met with huffs of indignation from every one of her sisters.
"Again, why should we?" The youngest appearing of her clones asked again.
"Well… Dolly-chan asked us to help her sisters. You like her don't you?"
"We do. She's always been nice to us," said one of the clones, who looked her age but had a completely different appearance. "However, that doesn't mean we're willing to put ourselves in danger for her sisters. Maybe if it were her, we'd be more inclined to help, but it's not. And on top of that, her sisters are the Council of Misakas, no less!"
"Dolly-san is your girlfriend, not ours, Onee-sama," added another of the teenage-looking clones, causing her fellow clones to nod in agreement with her words.
Misaki sighed. She didn't even bother trying to correct her sisters' misconception of her relationship with Dolly-chan and, by extension, Mitori-san. Not when she really couldn't. Not when she herself wasn't sure what their relationship was yet. So instead she changed tact.
"Then what about if I ask you to help?"
This was met by frowns from her sisters and she saw them exchange a series of looks in silent conversation. It took a moment but they eventually reached an agreement. An agreement that was articulated by the youngest looking of her clones letting out a whine, "Must we~!?"
"Well, no." Misaki admitted as she finished taking another bite out of her cupcake. "But if you do, you will have the Council of Misakas owe you one. Wouldn't you want that?"
Her sisters perked up at this but not enough to wholly overcome the hesitance that they radiated.
Looks like I'll still have to sweeten the deal a little more. Misaki mused as she finished her cupcake.
"How about if you do this, I'll get you something nice too?"
Her offer had the desired effect and smiles soon spread across the faces of all her sisters' faces.
"That does sound good. I vote we do this. What does everyone else think?" The oldest looking of her clones said, prompting her sisters to agree with her.
Misaki smiled at winning the argument. It felt good to get her way.
She sadly did not have a chance to luxuriate in her victory for long. Barely a minute after getting her sisters' agreement, her phone rang with a tone that she had tagged to Dolly-chan's number. Considering that her friend knew where she was now, that she was calling now could only mean one thing… The Sisters's little experiment had almost certainly gone south.
Sighing, Misaki pulled out her phone prepared to receive the bad news. It looks like it was time for the City to be rocked by another Incident.
After salvaging what she could from the ruins of their lab and setting up additional potential countermeasures, 13577 rejoined the bulk of the Council alongside 10032, 11132, and 14091, who had gone to retrieve their special equipment. They were now tracking the digital life form through School District 5, operating from inside an armored personnel carrier (APC) that they had "borrowed" from Maniple some time ago.
"There is practically no trace of the creature, Misaka observed," 10287 said as she scanned the various screens displaying visuals from the APC's cameras and the drones deployed to enhance their search. "How could it possibly leave so little trace of itself behind? Misaka questioned with disbelief."
"It's doing its best to avoid detection. Misaka explains." 13577 said as she pointed to a screen in the troop compartment of the APC which was displaying an image of a set of claw marks in the wall of a skyscraper. Marks that were halfway up the building and were so faint that it was easy to miss. "In addition, it is keeping high up so that it is out of sight and by the distance it has covered so far, it's moving fast as well. Misaka elaborated. Combine that with how people tend not to look up as they walk and how fast it's moving, few if anyone would even notice it. Misaka hypothesizes. And of those which did, considering its fantastical appearance, most would just dismiss it as something they imagined. Misaka adds."
"Then how are we tracking it? Misaka asks, curiously." 13579 said, looking away from the various visual feeds,
"Misaka is tracking the various reports of digital disruptions and cases of data loss that it is causing in its wake. Misaka clarifies. If not for them, Misakas would have struggled to figure out its location. Misaka admits."
"Impressive as always, 13577. Misaka praises." 11132 said over the comms from where she was keeping pace with the APC in her own Agrissa Mobile Weapon.
"Thank you, 11132. Misaka returns gratefully."
"On another note, did you find anything useful from the lab? Misaka queried."
"No, Misaka admits with a disappointed sigh." 13577 admitted. "If Misaka did, Misaka would have told Misakas already."
"Of course 13577 would. Misaka said with a knowing nod." 14091, now wearing her custom Powered Suit, said with the aforementioned nod from where she sat alongside most of the Council in the APC's troop compartment. "13577 is Misakas' sister and a fellow hero of justice, so of course 13577 would have shared any helpful information if 13577 found any."
13577 turned away from the console she was using to track the rampaging digital monster and noticed 12873 exchanging worried looks with the rest of their sisters in the APC. She would have joined them if she weren't busy manning the console controlling the suite of drones they were using to monitor their surroundings and track the creature. The concern arose from 14091's use of the term "hero of justice," a sign of her sister's troubling delusion - a delusion they feared might overwhelm her again. They had already arranged for her to receive treatment, but now it seemed to be resurfacing.
Perhaps Misaka should go and see about getting more help for 14091 to cope with her psychological issues.
"Let us not worry about 14091. Misaka urged." 10032 joined the conversation via the comms form her Super Kuro Mobile Weapon. "I am sure that 14091 is reining it in. Misaka argued. You are, aren't you? Misaka asks."
"Yes, I am. Misaka assures." 14091 said with a pout. "Don't you trust Misaka? Misaka asks in a sad tone."
"Misaka do, Misaka promises." 12873 said with confidence. "Misakas are just worried about you. Misaka said comfortingly."
"Not to interrupt Misakas, but we have company. Misaka says apologetically," 10039 suddenly announced over the APC's intercom from her position in the driver's compartment.
"Guests? Misaka asks with surprise." 12873 said, blinking in confusion before continuing. "Who is it, 10039? Misaka asks for clarification."
13577 frowned. Who could it be? Was it one of the countermeasures Misaka activated? If so, which one?
"It's the Misaki Agency, Misaka informs."
12873 frowned at the news, but 13577 smirked. It seemed her warning to Onee-san had paid off. After all, who else but Onee-san could have the clout to influence Shokuhou-sama - the only person in the city with enough sway over the Misaki Agency to get them to act on command - and successfully mobilize the [Mental Out]'s clones?
It feels good when a plan comes together.
A few minutes later, 12873 stood outside the APC, flanked by both 14091 and 11132 in their Powered Suits, the latter having dismounted from her Agrissa Mobile Weapon to do so. The armored vehicle's .50 caliber heavy machine gun and 10032's Super Kuro's heavy cannon were leveled at the diverse clones of the seventh-ranked Level 5 too. All to make sure the Misaki Agency didn't try anything funny. She didn't really think the Misakis were their enemy but it didn't cost them to be careful.
"What does the Misaki Agency want with the Council of Misakas? Misaka asks politely." 12873 said offering the Misakis a diplomatic smile.
Speaking in creepy sync, the Misaki clones replied. ""Dolly-san told Onee-sama that you need help with something, so we're here to help.""
"Well, you're wrong. Misaka denied. We don't need your help. Misaka asserted."
""Is that so?"" The Misaki said in that creepy unity of theirs. ""Then do you already know where the digital monster that you are chasing is going?""
12873's frown deepened. How was it possible that the Misakis already knew where the monster was heading? Sure, that they knew about the digital life form was understandable particularly if Onee-san had told them about it via Shokuhou-sama. But how did they manage to figure out the monster's goal before them when they were tracking it from the very beginning and couldn't!?
"We should let them help. Misaka suggests." 13577 spoke via the APC's speakers. "The sooner Misakas settle this, the better. Misaka reminds. Onee-san is already aware of what is happening, do Misaka want Onee-sama to too? Misaka queries sarcastically."
"That would be terrible. Misaka says with a wince." 11132 said with a shudder. "Onee-sama will be so mad with us if she finds out what we did! Misaka laments."
"More importantly, as heroes of justice, Misakas should do everything Misakas can to fix the mess Misakas made. Misaka says with the conviction of a hero." 14091 added, pumping her fist for some reason only she knew.
"Fine, Misaka growls out unhappily." 12873 conceded. "We'll work with the Misaki Agency. Misaka yields." Turning to the Misakis, she continued. "So, where is the monster headed? Misaka demands."
Sporting creepy matching smug smiles, the Misaki clones replied. ""It's great that we can work together.""
"Cut the pleasantries! Misaka insists." 12873 said, shooting the Misakis an angry glare. "Just tell us! Misaka commands."
Smirking in creepy sync, the Misakis addressed them. ""Certainly! The monster is heading to the newly restored Virus Isolation Center in School District 5.""
The Virus Isolation Center was where Academy City analyzed and developed antivirus software to counter the advanced viruses that were developed by its denizens. Viruses that due to the City being decades ahead of the rest of the world would be disastrously dangerous if allowed to escape into the world's internet without the countermeasures that the Virus Isolation Center developed. Considering that, the building was surprisingly non-descript. Though, perhaps that was part of an intentional effort to avoid drawing undue attention to it.
However, that defensive measure hadn't been effective against the digital monster that 11132 and the rest of the Council had unwittingly unleashed on the City. According to the hypothesis by the Misaki Agency and 13577, the creature attacked the lab with the intent to consume the data stored in the Center's virus vault. Being a digital life form, it could presumably utilize this data to grow and evolve. How it even knew about the Center's existence was a mystery. Perhaps, since it was created from data supposedly originating from the future, it somehow possessed knowledge of things yet to come. Or maybe it learned about the vault from the data it absorbed as it moved through the City. Regardless of how it became aware of the vault, the fact that it recognized the Center as a valuable data source demonstrated the digital monster's intelligence. This cunning was further evidenced by the fact that the monster left a guard outside the Virus Isolation Center as it infiltrated the building, consisting of a swarm of smaller creatures that seemed to have budded off from the main monster.
These small monsters were bulky and rounded creatures, enveloped almost entirely in a purple, shroud-like carapace that gave them a mysterious and ominous look. This shell had segments, similar to those of an insect's exoskeleton, enhancing its bug-like aesthetic. Their faces were partially visible through a gap in their shell on either side of a single large horn, revealing two glowing red eyes, adding to their intimidating demeanor. One that was added to by the golden stinger at the end of their abdomen. From their back extended six wire-like tentacles that ended in blade-like spikes.
Taking the situation into account, the Council decided it was best if they split up to deal with the problem. Thus whilst the rest of the Council rushed into the building to chase down the main monster, 11132 and 10032 had stayed behind where the size of their Mobile Weapons wouldn't be a hindrance whilst still allowing them to leverage their extensive and heavy weapons to deal with the monster's rearguard. All whilst they protected the squishy Misakis who had stayed behind in the APC.
"Die, you monsters! Misaka shouts as she taunts the monstrous swarm," 11132 yelled, almost maniacally laughing as she swept particle beams from her cannon through the densest clusters of the creatures, which were so thick they appeared as impenetrable clouds of purple. The beams incinerated these dense banks, reducing them to ash. Simultaneously, she targeted smaller groups with bursts from her laser gatling and the turreted railgun mounted on her Agrissa's nose. From her elevated vantage point atop the Mobile Weapon's deployed spider-like legs, she watched as hundreds of monsters fell under her assault, clearing entire swathes of the small creatures.
"You are having too much fun with this, 11132. Misaka says with a sigh." 10032 said from her Super Kuro as she fired off salvos of her micro missiles and canister shots from its cannon into the heart of the monstrous swarm.
""We have to agree with 10032-san, 11132-san. You should really tone it down."" The Misakis added from the APC where the squishy [Mental Out] clones would be relatively safe and could still help out, something they did by manning the Remote Weapon Station controlled .50 caliber heavy machine gun as they used it to provide supporting fire. ""Getting overexcited like you are will just cause you to get overconfident and potentially make a mistake.""
"Don't worry! Misaka reassures. I know what I'm doing! Misaka declares," 11132 said with utter confidence as she combined her Mobile Weapon's spider-like legs with its hovercraft capability to leap into the heart of a particularly dense cluster of the swarm. She caught dozens of monsters beneath her Agrissa's legs before activating the electroshock field generators - four disc-shaped devices installed on the inner surface of the legs - creating an intense field of electricity that should have incinerated everything caught within.
"Should have" was the operative phrase here, because to her consternation, the digital monsters proved immune to electricity. Instead of being harmed, they absorbed the energy, which only served to empower them, causing them to grow in size before they began budding, effectively doubling their numbers.
"Oi! That's just unfair! Misaka cursed," 11132 complained as she was forced to fall back on one of her least favorite weapons due to the monsters' proximity. Deploying a pair of curved vibroclaws mounted on her Agrissa's undercarriage, she began slicing the creatures into pieces even as they attempted to wrap their tentacles around her machine's legs and shock it with electrical discharges. However, she was steadily being overwhelmed, so as soon as she cleared enough of the monsters to create some space, she leapt away to avoid being overrun by the swarm. Even as she did, raining death down on the swarm with her particle cannon, laser gatling, and the Agrissa's railgun in the process, 11132 noticed that the monsters had begun zeroing in on the APC, recognizing it as their weakest link.
""A little help!"" The Misakis cried out through the APC's speakers, desperately firing the armored vehicle's heavy machine gun into the swarms of monsters flying towards it. From 11132's vantage point in the air, the swarm looked like the tendrils of an amorphous violet blob closing in on the vehicle.
"You've got it! Misaka promised," 11132 said as she shifted the bulk of her firepower to cut down as many of the monsters as possible, focusing on blasting the tip of the tendril of the swarm that was reaching towards the armored vehicle to keep it as far away from the APC as possible.
"Hang in there! Misaka encourages," 10032 added as she also redirected her Super Kuro's fire toward the swarm, launching a canister shot at the point where the tentacle of the swarm began reaching out from its main mass towards the APC, thinning it out. She followed up by firing a salvo of micro missiles, fully severing the tentacle from the rest of the swarm. As 11132 landed, she joined 10032 in finishing off the remaining monsters, happily helping her sister clear the area.
With the Misakis safe, 11132 and 10032 both turned their attention back towards the main swarm. To their surprise instead of massing for another attack directed towards them, the monsters were instead disengaging entirely and rushing into the Virus Isolation Center.
"What is going on? Misaka asks with a confused frown." 11132 said as she fired her weapons into the rear of the fleeing mass, which though it felled dozens of the monsters failed to elicit a response from the swarm.
"Misaka has no idea. Misaka admits." 10032 replied as she did the same in culling as many of the fleeing monsters as possible. "Whatever has got them behaving so strangely, Misaka has a bad feeling about it. Misaka confesses worriedly."
Speaking in the creepy sync that they seemed to like so much, the Misaki Agency added their own two cents. ""Yes, we agree. The monsters' strange behavior is indeed concerning. We hope that whatever the monsters are up to, the others can handle it.""
Misaka hopes so too.
Inside the Virus Isolation Center, after fighting their way through the swarms of budded lesser monsters, 10287 and her sisters from the Council who had pursued the main monster into the building finally reached the heart of the Virus Isolation Center. Here, they found themselves at the only access point to the facility's virus vault - the monster's apparent target.
Along the way, they encountered a handful of the Center's staff. Fortunately, the facility was almost entirely automated, so there were few people present to begin with. Moreover, the monsters seemed to deliberately avoid killing the staff, instead knocking them out, likely to feed on their bioelectricity if what the sisters observed was any indication. This probably explained why they hadn't come across any dead bodies. Although the staff were shaken and dazed by the experience, once 10287 and her sisters drove their attackers off, they were able to escape on their own and even sounded an evacuation alarm. This meant the sisters didn't have to worry about anyone getting in their way as they focused on confronting the main monster.
When they reached the room with the virus vault and found the monster, 14091 immediately sprang into action as planned. Using the enhanced speed granted by her Powered Suit, she closed the gap in a flash and blasted the creature with a shot from her shotgun before landing a powerful roundhouse kick to its side. Meanwhile, 10287 and her other sisters - 12873, 13577, 11118, 10039, 19090, and 13579 - took cover, leaving 14091 to keep the monster occupied with a relentless barrage of shotgun blasts, punches, and kicks.
Not that their caution seemed to have been necessary, the monster did not even respond to 14091's attack. Nor did it even do anything even as 10287 and her sisters behind cover unleashed a whole barrage of their weapons against the monster. Not even when their sustained barrage started to seriously crack its carapace. Instead, the monster just focused on whatever it was doing to the virus vault. Nothing was visible but 10287 could sense with her electromagnetic sense that the monster was absorbing a massive amount of something, data she presumed though how it took the form it seemed to when the digital monster manipulated it was beyond her, from the massive server bank that served as the virus vault.
That was not to say that the monster just let itself be attacked uncontested though. It just chose not to respond directly. It instead chose to bud off hundreds of those smaller monsters they had fought their way through to get here to engage them.
"What, you're too busy to deal with us, so you decide to summon minions to fight us instead? Misaka asked sarcastically," 14091 taunted as she moved with the grace of a master dancer through the swarm of attacking lesser monsters. Armed with a shotgun and aided by her custom Powered Suit, her gun-fu was a fluid blend of martial arts and firearms expertise. The Powered Suit enhanced her speed and agility, allowing her to effortlessly combine swift, precise movements with powerful, close-range blasts. She took down any creature that dared come close, seamlessly switching between firing her shotgun and using it as a melee weapon - delivering crushing blows with the butt of the gun, spinning it to knock back enemies, and even using the barrel to deflect attacks. Every move was calculated, her body and Powered Suit in perfect harmony with the weapon, as she navigated through the chaos with deadly efficiency.
Misaka is honestly a little jealous of how deadly 14091 is. 10287 couldn't help but think as she popped out of her cover and fired bursts from her assault rifle into the swarm of lesser monsters that the main monster had sent at them. Alongside 11118 and 12873, armed with their railgun rifles, they focused their fire on the lesser monsters that tried to overwhelm 14091 with sheer numbers. Their coordinated attacks kept the swarm at bay, allowing 14091 to continue her deadly dance without being overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, 10039, 13577, and 19090 used their shotgun, railgun rifle, and assault rifle to cull the portions of the swarm that flew towards the rest of them. Some of the monsters retracted their tentacles into their bodies, transforming into a bullet-like shape and launched themselves like deadly projectiles. However, 13579 was prepared to handle them. Using her laser rifle, she fired bolts of charged photons at the speed of light, intercepting the incoming monsters mid-flight. Although the rapid-fire shots lacked the full power of a fully charged blast, they were enough to knock the monsters off course, preventing them from reaching their targets. This allowed them to continue laying down deadly fire into the monstrous swarm, keeping themselves safe as they fought.
Despite their efforts, there were literally hundreds of lesser monsters, and more were being spawned by the main creature. Although they were making headway in reducing the swarm's numbers, there were still about a hundred left when 10287 sensed that the main monster had finished whatever it was doing with the virus vault. It finally turned away from the vault that had held its attention until now and let out a chilling howl. In response, the smaller monsters promptly disengaged from the fight, ignoring the fire that continued to cut them down by the dozens. Instead, they turned and swarmed towards their progenitor. Not only those in the room, but seemingly endless streams of them flew in from every direction, converging on the main monster.
As they reached the main monster, the lesser creatures began piling onto it, burying the parent monster under what quickly became a veritable mountain of purple chitin. No, not a mountain - a chrysalis! The cocoon began to glow with an eerie purple light, even as more and more lesser monsters added themselves to it, causing both its size and the intensity of its glow to grow. This continued for several minutes, with the chrysalis expanding and brightening as the process went on.
10287 was not about to let the monster complete whatever it was doing. She popped out of cover, switched her assault rifle to full auto, and unleashed a relentless barrage of fire on the chrysalis. When her magazine ran dry, she didn't even pause, instead just swiftly ejecting it and replacing it with a fresh one. Her sisters quickly followed suit, pouring fire onto the monstrous cocoon. However, many of their shots were intercepted by incoming lesser monsters, which threw themselves into the line of fire, sacrificing themselves to protect the chrysalis.
Thus, despite her and her sisters' best efforts, they were unable to stop the parent monster's metamorphosis. As the last of the lesser monsters joined the chrysalis, its glow intensified, becoming blinding. 10287 and her sisters were forced to look away and halt their barrage. As they did, with a sharp crack, a blinding burst of light, and an explosive gust of wind, the chrysalis erupted, sending 10287 and her sisters sprawling or diving behind cover to shield themselves from the force.
When the wind and light faded a moment later, 10287 found herself staring at what the digital monster had become. It had grown at least three times larger, its form transforming into something even more sinister and intimidating. The creature retained its arachnid-like appearance, but its structure was now skeletal and insectoid, with a long, segmented tail adding to its menacing silhouette. Dark metallic armor covered its body, giving it a robotic, cyborg-like appearance. Its draconic head was shaped like a skull, with sharp, angular features, two menacing horns, wide jaws, and eerie green eyes that heightened its ominous presence. The monster stood on six long, spindly legs that ended in sharp, clawed feet, suggesting both agility and lethal precision. The seamless integration of its mechanical and biological elements gave it an unsettling hybrid appearance, combining the most terrifying aspects of a deadly predator and a cold, emotionless machine.
That honestly looks quite terrifying. 10287 had to admit as she surveyed the newly evolved monster whose sheer bulk barely fit into the massive room.
Her terror was added to when the digital monster let out a furious roar, probably in a celebration of its evolution, before gathering energy in its gaping maw.
"Stop it from firing whatever it is charging! Misaka warns urgently." 12873 shouted as she opened fire on the monster. She wasn't the only one. Even without her order, their sisters were already firing everything they could at the beast.
However, 10287 was an exception. Instead of futilely firing her assault rifle at the monster, she focused on something she hoped would be far more effective. She picked up a piece of metallic debris created by the earlier battle and, using her ponytail as the rails, channeled her Electromastery skills to charge up the most powerful railgun shot she could muster. She finished just in time, firing her shot the moment the monster unleashed a destructive energy beam from its maw. Her railgun shot collided with the beam in a massive explosion, blinding everyone and starting to bring the Virus Isolation Center down around them.
Drained by using such a powerful railgun, 10287 was exhausted and would not have managed to escape the escaping building on her own power. Thankfully, she wasn't here alone. As proven when just as a particularly large chunk of the collapsing ceiling was about to crush her, 14091 used the enhanced speed and agility granted to her by her Powered Suit to rush over, pick 10287 up and began to carry her out of the building dodging falling debris as they raced to safety.
"Thank you, sister. Misaka offers sincerely."
"Think nothing of it sister, Misaka replies with a comforting smile. We are sisters, of course I would help keep you safe. Misaka told her sister sincerely."
10287 just nodded tiredly. Oh! She knew what 14091 meant. She would do everything to save one of her sisters if they were in danger too.
Misakas' family really is the best!
"Haa! Haa! Misaka gasped." 11118 said as she panted and caught her breath as she collapsed to her knees as she came to a stop after her mad sprint out of the collapsed Virus Isolation Center.
"Misakas are you alright? Misaka asks." 10032 asked worriedly as she and 11132 came over to check on them.
"Misakas, roll call! Misaka orders." 12873 shouted as she finished catching her breath.
"11118! Misaka shouts in reply." 11118 obliged, prompting the rest of her sisters who had entered the Virus Isolation Center to follow her lead, announcing their presence and safety. This included an exhausted 10287, whom 14091 helped to her feet after carrying her out of the danger of the collapsing building.
They had all just finished their roll call when there was a terrible, angry roar from the ruins of the Center that preceded a wave of destructive energy that blew a hole in the ruins of the collapsed building. A hole from which the draconic monster began crawling out of on its insectoid legs.
"Just Misakas' luck, Misaka cursed. Of course dropping a building on it was not enough to kill the monster, Misaka says, lamenting her situation."
"Shut it, 11118. Misaka chides." 12873 scolded. "Complaining will get Misakas nowhere! Misaka tells her. Just focus on taking down the monster! Misaka orders."
"The question is how? Misaka questions." 10039 asked, looking almost despondent. "Misakas have been shooting everything Misakas have at it for a while now and it has not done anything! Misaka points out. What else can we possibly do now? Misaka demands!"
"Misakas will just have to keep trying! Misaka argues. Misakas, shoot everything you have at that monster! Misaka orders." 12873 shouted desperately as she leveled her railgun rifle as the monster finished crawling free of the ruined building and turned towards them. "Fire! Misaka desperately orders."
11118 shared 10039's opinion that they didn't have anything that could take down the monster they had foolishly unleashed on the City. However, she also understood that they couldn't just do nothing. So she, like her sisters around her, pulled the trigger of her weapon, sending a slug from her railgun rifle flying at hypersonic speeds at the monster alongside the other railgun rounds, laser bolts, bullets, buckshot, particle beams, and micro missiles that flew at the abomination. However, as she feared, even with the addition of 10032's Super Kuro and 11132's Powered Suit and Agrissa's heavy weapons, their combined firepower did little more than bruise the monster's body.
The injuries seemed to only irritate the beast, as evidenced by the angry roar it let loose while being pelted with their barrage. In response, it gathered energy in the muzzles along its back and fired a salvo of energy shells. These shells exploded at the peak of their arcs, unleashing a rain of scattered beams that fell upon them like a meteor shower.
""Take cover!"" The Misakis warned from the APC as they hastily moved it as far out of the blast zone of the descending beam storm as they could.
Heeding their call, 11118 and her sisters rushed to find safety of their own. Those of them who were footbound ran as fast as they could to dive behind the sturdiest bits of cover they could find, whilst 10032 and 11132 copied the Misakis and pushed their Mobile Weapons' engines to their limits as they too fled the blast zone. Their desperate efforts only just barely succeeding to get them to safety.
As for 11118, she had dove back inside the mostly ruined Virus Isolation Center through a hole in a nearby wall that had been opened up during its collapse. Despite the building starting to come down on itself, it proved sturdy enough to shield her from the storm of beams, providing her with a front-row seat to its sheer destructiveness. The air crackled with energy as searing light rained down like meteors, shaking the ground violently with deafening explosions. The intense heat and shockwaves left her disoriented as the world around her seemed to disintegrate in a chaotic dance of destruction. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring her vision and choking her breaths, as the relentless bombardment hammered the area.
Standing in the middle of the devastated wasteland that its attack had created, the digital monster roared triumphantly. It had every right to. After a show of force like that, how could they even hope to oppose it!?
The answer to that question presented itself in the form of a familiar green beam of plasma slamming into the monster with enough force to send the terrifying creature tumbling end over end like something out of a Saturday morning cartoon.
What is she doing here!? 11118 thought as she turned to the person who had shot the plasma beam and sure enough found herself spotting the unmistakable form of Mugino Shizuri, the sixth ranked Level 5.
When the evil monster's rain of destruction had hit the earth, 14091 had used the superior agility granted her by her specially designed Powered Suit - optimized to make her a hero of justice like those heroes from the sentai shows she so loved - to race across the battlefield that the area around the Virus Isolation Center had become and seek cover inside the facility's guardhouse. The modest outbuilding had been likely abandoned by the security personnel when the digital monsters had first attacked the place as 14091 and her sisters had found it empty when they first arrived on the scene, which was convenient because the sturdy structure was the perfect place to provide cover from the vile abomination's barrage. 14091 wasn't even the only one to think that as both 10039 and 19090 had likewise chosen to use it to escape the monster's attack as well.
"Science! Misaka gasps." 10039 said as she fell to her knees as she reached safety inside the guardhouse. "How can Misakas possibly defeat something like that!? Misaka ranted, horrified by the strength of their opponent."
Leaning against a wall and looking weak in the knees, 19090 nodded in agreement. "Misakas are doomed! Misaka laments."
"Take heart, sisters! Misaka cheers. Misakas have not lost yet. Misaka encourages." 14091 said, gesturing out of the large windows of reinforced glass - that had survived the monster's impressively destructive barrage - at a familiar green beam of plasma slamming into the monster. "Look! Misaka urges. Reinforcements have arrived! Misaka points out."
Turning towards to look out the window like her, 10039 and 19090 were just in time to see as their fellow heroes of justice arrived on the scene. Led by Mugino Shizuri, the sixth ranked Level 5, ITEM had arrived.
"What is ITEM doing here? Misaka demanded." 12873 asked as she climbed out from the storm drain that ran around the Virus Isolation Center facility like a moat that she'd managed to dive into for cover.
""We predicted that we needed the firepower so we asked Onee-sama to call in a favor to call them in."" The Misaki clones said from their APC as it sat on the bridge over the storm drain where it had retreated to escape the blast zone of the monster's beam rain.
Gesturing at the monster as it shook its head at being hit by one of her Particle Waveform High-Speed Cannons, Mugino-sama ignored the conversation so far and spoke up with a question. "What by Science is that thing?"
"Does it matter, Mugino?" A surprisingly well dressed Kinuhata-san said as she cracked her knuckles. No, to say that the Level 4 was surprisingly well dressed was an underestimation of great proportions. Dressed in an uncharacteristic outfit that consisted of a classic beige trench coat with contrasting dark lapels and cuffs, layered over a crisp white button-up shirt with a blue bow tied at the collar, she exuded sophistication and poise. The look was completed with fitted white trousers, tucked into knee-high brown leather boots. A brown belt added structure to the ensemble, while black gloves and a sleek black handbag provided elegant finishing touches.
Oh! It looks like Kinuhata-san is still trying to charm her way into Hamazura-san's pants, 14091 concluded with a bemused smile. She then glanced over at the ever-fashionable Mugino-sama, who was dressed today in a high-neck knit top with an asymmetric hem, cinched at the waist with a wide black belt, and paired with a black mesh skirt featuring an uneven hem. The only reason Kinuhata-san would dress up like her Level 5 teammate was as part of her ongoing campaign to wow her way into becoming one of Hamazura-san's lovers.
"Takitsubo, look after my handbag." Kinuhata said, tossing her aforementioned purse to her tracksuit clad fellow Level 4 teammate and began charging the monster. "It's clearly the enemy, so let's just take it down!"
Shaking off its disorientation from the Particle Waveform High-Speed Cannon shot that had hit it, the monster responded to Kinuhata-san charging it by slashing at her with its claws. Why it didn't use any of its ranged attacks was a mystery to 14091. Perhaps it needed to recharge after using that beam rain earlier, or maybe it deemed Kinuhata-san too small of a threat to waste the effort. Whatever the reason, its choice to resort to physical attacks gave Kinuhata-san the chance to close the distance, as she easily evaded the creature's attempts to strike her with its claws. Well, she did it until the vile abomination brought its tail into play.
Not expecting the tail, Kinuhata-san failed to account for it as it arched over the monster's body and stretching and curling unnaturally, it hit her from an angle that she didn't expect. A blow that hit her with enough force that it sent the Level 4 flying off in the distance.
"She's flying off like Team Rocket does when they are sent blasting off. Misaka observes thoughtfully." 14091 said as she watched Kinuhata-san hurtle through the air in a parabolic arc that would take her well clear of the battlefield.
With an angry growl, Mugino-sama fired off a salvo of her Particle Waveform High-Speed Cannons at the monster even as she shouted at her remaining teammates. "Hamazura, Takitsubo! Go hunt down Kinuhata and make sure that she's alright."
Turning to the monster that the Level 5 had not taken her eyes off, 14091 noted with a frown that despite the intensity of the barrage that it had just been subjected to, the vile creature was mostly unscathed. Except for a little scorching to its carapace, it was entirely unharmed.
"Leave this thing to me." Mugino-san said furiously, continuing her conversation with her teammates.
"Sure," Hamazura-san agreed even as Takitsubo-san nodded. "But please be careful."
The Level 5, whose affections for her male teammate was something of an open secret, smiled at his show of concern. In spite of that however, she adopted a haughty tone as she replied. "Don't need it! Did you forget that I'm a Level 5, Hamazura!? I can take care of myself."
As he and his girlfriend, Takitsubo-san, disappeared from view as they headed off to search for where Kinuhata-san landed, he shouted back over his shoulders. "Be careful anyway!"
Acting like a smitten schoolgirl, Mugino-sama's smile widened. She even blushed!
"How cute! Misaka notes, observing Mugino-sama's adorable reactions." 19090 said with an amused smile.
"Agreed. Misaka said with a smile. Her reactions are really cute. Misaka concurred." 10039 added with her own grin.
14091 nodded with her own agreement. Her attention however did not focus on Mugino-san's reactions for long. Quickly she turned back to the monster, prompted in part by the monster letting out an annoyed roar as a armor piercing shell from 10032's Super Kuro hit it as part of the rest of the Council and the Misaki Agency rejoining the fight by making a concerted effort to keep it suppressed.
"14091, come on! Misaka urged. We should join the others in fighting the enemy. Misaka explained." 10039 said as she stood next to 19090, weapons in hand, clearly in preparation to head out of the guardhouse to rejoin the fight.
"Yes. Misaka agrees. Lead the way, sisters. Misaka said with a nod." 14091 told her sisters as she gestured towards the entryway to the guardhouse.
Nodding back at her, the two of them raced out of the building that had sheltered them with 14091 following closely behind them. As they exited the structure, they were just in time for [Meltdowner] to throw the monster yet another challenge.
"Hey! You monster!" Mugino-sama said as she fired off yet another salvo of her Particle Waveform High-Speed Cannons, adding it to the barrage everyone else was already unleashing. "You will pay for hurting my teammate. It is time to learn what it means to fight a Level 5!"
Wow! Mugino-sama is such a cool anti-hero!
The monster seemed to understand Mugino-sama's statement, as it reacted by taking a deep breath before unleashing a beam of destructive energy toward the Level 5. Reacting to this, the Number 6 fired off one of her iconic Particle Waveform High-Speed Cannons at the monster's iconic breath weapon attack. The two beams met in a beam clash straight out of an anime seemingly in defiance of physics, or perhaps more accurately in accordance with whatever strange physics that supported the digital life form's existence.
Met with this stalemate, the monster responded by firing energy shells into the sky from its back for its beam rain attack. Just like before it, the shells exploded midair and began to fall down towards them like a deluge of energy rays. Thankfully, it was not the only one who could adapt its tactics. Reacting to her opponents' changed method of attack, Mugino-sama countered by intercepting the monsters' incoming beams with a salvo of her own.
Whilst the monster was distracted, 14091, her sisters, and the Misakis poured everything they had into the monster. However, as the dust stirred from the explosions, remnants of the beam clash and their latest efforts, gradually settled and the haze cleared, they felt a surge of disappointment; like every previous attempt, their efforts had inflicted no meaningful damage. All they managed to do was frustrate the beast if the tone of the latest roar it unleashed was any indication.
"Tsk!" Mugino-sama clucked her tongue with annoyance. "It seems we are at a stalemate."
"So it seems. Misaka agrees." 14091 said as she made her way to the Level 5's side, firing rounds from her shotgun at the monster with every few steps she took. "Do you have any ideas on how to turn the tide? Misaka inquired."
"Unfortunately not," the Number 6 admitted as the monster began to charge towards them with its head lowered as if in preparation to gore them.
Despite its considerable speed, the monster barely covered half the distance before a powerful bolt of electricity arced unnaturally through the air to hit the monster in the side. A bolt with enough kinetic force behind it that it actually sent the monster tumbling onto its side, stopping it in its tracks.
"Onee-san? Misaka gasps in surprise." 14091 said as she saw Onee-san drive up to the battle with Kouzaku-san in the latter's open top jeep, static arcing around her electric discharge cannon's muzzle.
Wow! Onee-san and Kouzaku-san are totally like a pair of heroes riding to the rescue! 14091 couldn't help but think as she eyed how epic Onee-san and her girlfriend looked right now.
"Everyone!" Onee-san said through a megaphone. "I've a weapon that'll take down this oversized virus."
"Onee-san, what do you mean? Misaka asks, expressing her confusion." 12873 from her position nearby at the lip of the storm drain.
"No time, Otaku-chan!" Onee-san bluntly told 12873, before she turned back to addressing everyone. "Everyone help me pin the monster down!"
The monster had by now recovered and was once again engaging them. It breathed flames - though more accurately, if 14091's electromagnetic sense was correct, it was the destructive energy it used for its beam attacks shaped into flames - at them as they blasted away with their various weapons. It even attempted to close the distance to attack with its claws. However, thanks to the firepower provided by Mugino-sama, every time it got close to one of them, the Level 5 would hit it with her powerful Particle Waveform High-Speed Cannons. While these blasts seemed unable to seriously injure the creature, they packed enough kinetic force to push it around and hurt it just enough to make it try to avoid them.
"Are you sure you have something that might work?" Mugino-sama asked from where she was shooting away at the monster with her Particle Waveform High-Speed Cannons. "Considering I've hit it with enough firepower to sink a warship and it's only really pissed it off, I have my doubts."
Setting aside her megaphone, she turned to assure the Level 5. "Trust me, Mugino-sama. I have a plan."
"I suppose it is worth a try at least." Mugino-sama said with a shrug. "Alright. Count me in."
"Thank you." Onee-san said with a smile. "So any ideas on how we can pin the monster down?"
"Leave that to me, Onee-san. Misaka says confidently." 12873 said before she used her Electromastery to generate a radio burst, allowing everyone to receive the message. Those with compatible Esper powers, like 14091, her sisters, and Mugino-sama, could pick it up directly, while others, like the Misakis in the APC and Kouzaku-san in her jeep, received it through the radios built into their equipment. "Everyone! Misaka says to catch everyone's attention. Everyone except 10032, fire everything you have to box it into one place, then 10032 hit it with a salvo of your Containment Foam missiles to trap it. Misaka said, outlining her plan. That okay with everyone? Misaka queries."
"Got it." Kouzaku-san said with a nod as she reached under her skirt and in much the same way as Frenda-san was famous for, pulled out six Handheld Anti-Tank Missile Warheads. That wasn't all either, as at the same time, her Liquid Shadow doll burst out of a container in the rear of the jeep and proceeded to use tentacles it grew out of its amorphous mass to pull another dozen of the rockets from various ammo boxes. "Let's do that."
With that, she launched her rockets. Taking this as their cue, everyone unleashed their full firepower. 14091 and her footbound sisters bombarded the monster with bullets, buckshot, laser bolts, and railgun rounds. Meanwhile, 11132 added more of those but also mixed in charged particle beams from her beam cannon, courtesy of the heavy weapons on her Powered Suit and Agrissa Mobile Weapon. The Misakis joined in by directing the APC's .50 caliber heavy machine gun at the beast. Finally, Mugino-sama added salvos from her Particle Waveform High-Speed Cannons. Despite no explicit coordination, their barrage was synchronized, saturating the area around the monster and boxing it in, just as Onee-san had planned. To finish the plan, 10032 fired off a salvo of micro missiles that detonated above the monster, releasing Containment Foam in airbursts. Upon contact with the air, the foam rapidly expanded into a yellow-white mass that soon enveloped the beast, trapping it in place inside the gooey substance.
"Perfect!" Onee-san smiled as she used her long hair as rails to launch a large, dart-shaped projectile at the monster with a railgun.
The dart flew true, piercing the monster's carapace in an explosion of cracked armor and purple gore, causing it to howl in agony. It attempted to stretch its legs to get a hold of the embedded projectile, but Onee-san had hit it in a spot that made it impossible for its limbs to reach. The monster could only thrash helplessly as the dart burrowed deeper, deploying anchors that lodged firmly into its flesh to prevent any dislodging. A small circular antenna array then unfurled from the dart, extending outward like a bloom.
The moment the antenna was deployed, 14091 realized what the device Onee-san had embedded into the monster was! As they felt a connection between them and the monster was made by the device, it became clear that it was a connector that served to link the monster to the Misaka Network!
Why would Onee-san link it to the Network? 14091 thought, shooting Onee-san a confused look.
"Now, Sisters! It's time to put this thing down!"
Before 14091 and the rest of the Council could react, they suddenly felt the consciousnesses of nearly all their ten thousand sisters scattered around the world descend through the connection and into the monster, proceeding to metaphorically tear it apart from within. Despite its flesh-and-blood exterior, the monster was still fundamentally composed of data, making the attack surprisingly effective. Its material body was merely a shell, and as the collective efforts of their sisters shredded its data to pieces, the monster's body froze, then steadily crumbled away into motes of blue-white light that strangely resembled binary code.
Sighing in relief, 13577 walked over to where Onee-san stood in her seat in Kouzaku-san's open top jeep. "I am glad that you were able to modify the prototype Misaka Network-Digital Networks Adaptor that Shokuhou-sama was helping you develop in time. Misaka said sincerely."
"Me too." Onee-san admitted. "I got to work on preparing it as a countermeasure as soon as you informed me of what the Council was doing and forwarded the data on the monster you were creating, Nut-chan. It wasn't easy adapting the Adaptor to work on it, but with the help of the rest of the Network, I managed. Though, even then, it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. It was almost like the digital life form's core programming was designed to be compatible with the Adaptor and the Misaka Network."
"Whatever the case, Onee-san, thank you for coming to help us. Misaka offers sincerely." 12873 said offering Onee-san a deep bow.
"There's no need to thank me, Otaku-chan." Onee-san said, shaking her head. "My sisters' lives were at stake. In the face of that, I'd do anything, even the impossible, to help them."
14091's heart warmed at Onee-san's sincere words as she was sure all her sisters' in the Council did as well.
"It wouldn't have gotten as bad as to seriously put your sisters' lives at risk." Mugino-sama said with a scoff. "If we couldn't take down the monster soon, I'd have called the Trinity. They'd surely have the firepower to take it down."
"I know you would, and Onee-sama and her friends definitely have the firepower, but I stand by what I said," Onee-san insisted. "The latter is actually the problem. The Trinity can be terrifying when they're angry, and this time, they would have every right to be furious with the Council." She turned to glare at the group. "Especially when they were foolish enough to do something that not only endangered themselves but possibly the entire City!"
14091 winced at Onee-san's justified anger. She wasn't the only one either.
Mugino-sama ignored the reactions of 14091 and the rest of the Council. Instead, she turned to observe the last bits of the monster crumble away into nothingness before asking. "So now that the monster is dealt with now, can someone tell me what by Science was that thing?"
Shooting a look at 12873, Onee-san answered in a commanding tone. "My little sister, Otaku-chan, will explain whilst the rest of them clean up the mess they created. Won't you, Otaku-chan, everyone?"
"Dolly, you look so cool right now…" Kouzkau-san said in a quiet murmur before blushing brilliantly and covering her face in embarrassment, likely because she hadn't intended to say that out loud.
Onee-san blushed at the comment but pretended not to have heard it. In any other situation, 14091 might have found the exchange cute and would've gushed over it. Right now, though, her mind was focused on Onee-sama's stern order for her and her sisters to clean up their mess. So, she just gulped as she joined her Council sisters in guiltily nodding their acceptance of their punishment.
The clean up for this would be a lot of work and they had to do it with Onee-san angry with them? It was going to be torture. But… They had really screwed up this time, so she guessed that this was their just desserts.
It doesn't make it suck any less though.
As she observed the end of the digital life form's rampage from within the black void of the Phase she inhabited - a space created by the collective AIM Field of the Network that she embodied -, the Will of the Whole Misaka Network awaited the inevitable confrontation with the Council of Misakas. It was no surprise when, even as the Council began cleaning up the Incident under Dolly's watchful eye, the Sisters carrying out their punishment dove into the Network and sought her out. Normally, they would not have been able to locate her, as she existed on a layer of the Network inaccessible to a normal Sister, much less have the ability to transcend Phases. However, in the interest of addressing their resentment, the Will opened a path for them to meet her directly.
"Welcome /return, Council of Misakas /return." The Will greeted the Council as the ten Sisters blinked into existence in front of her in the typically empty Phase, each of them taking the form of ethereal versions of their corporeal selves.
"Save the pleasantries, Will. Misaka said harshly." 12873 said angrily. "What by Science were you thinking having us create that monster!? Misaka demanded."
Being a conglomeration of the consciousness of all Sisters, the Will didn't need to look at the angry faces that every member of the Council directed her way to understand how upset they were with her. However, she surveyed their various furious looks anyway. Considering how much trouble she put them through, accepting their anger was the least she could do.
"It was a test /return." The Will said bluntly.
She meant that the Incident was a test for sending data through time, but the Council lacked the necessary context to understand that. Instead, they jumped to the most obvious conclusion: that it was a test of their own capabilities and judgment.
"Did we pass? Misaka asked hopefully." 11118 said, looking at the Will expectantly.
"The test was a success /return," the Will said as vaguely as possible.
"So we passed, Misaka said with a sigh of relief." 10287 said with the aforementioned sigh as all of the Council expressed relief. All that is except 13577.
Unlike her sisters, 13577 shot her a suspicious look and the Will did not need to have a link to the Sister through the Misaka Network to know that she doubted that they properly understood what the Will meant when it said the Incident was a test.
Creating a direct link between herself and 13577, the Will addressed her through this private connection. "Do not worry yourself /return, 13577 /return. It is not a concern that you should concern yourself about /return."
The Will knew that 13577 was startled but with impressive self-control, the Sister stifled any visible reaction beyond a nod. She was not actually convinced by the Will's words of course but she was also unwilling to confront her with her doubts.
Which is good enough /return. Now to deal with the rest of them /return.
"Are you all satisfied /escape?" The Will asked the Council.
They exchanged looks for a long moment before they one by one nodded their agreement.
"We are. Misaka confirms." 12873, their leader, said as their spokesman.
"Then I am afraid that I would like my privacy /return. Goodbye /return." The Will said without any fanfare as she exercised her will - pun fully intended - and expelled the Council from the Phase she called home, causing their avatars to blink out of existence at their dismissal.
Ah /return! Blissful silence at last /return!
In the afternoon, hours after the digital life form's rampage, the Trinity found themselves having tea with their senpai, Shokuhou Misaki, in a pavilion within Tokiwadai's expansive gardens. To be precise, they were there at the Number 7's invitation. An invite that informed them that she had something important to discuss. For Mikoto, this was the only reason she agreed to come; while she wasn't exactly on bad terms with the third-year, Shokuhou wasn't someone she typically spent time with either.
"So, Senpai, what do you want to talk to us about?" Naru asked as she helped pour tea for all of them.
"Thank you, Naru-chan." Shokuhou said as she accepted the cup that Naru passed to her. "As for why I invited all of you, I want to check in with you about whether you are aware of the Incident that took place at the Virus Isolation Center earlier today?"
Mikoto hadn't been informed, and by the surprised look on Naru's face as she passed her a cup of tea, neither had the Number 2. However, when Mikoto glanced at Ruiko and saw her calm demeanor, she wasn't surprised. Of course, the resident info broker was already aware of what [Mental Out] was talking about. The question was why she hadn't informed them about it…
"There was no need to worry about it." Ruiko answered the unspoken question as she offered Naru a smile as she accepted her own cup of tea. "It was resolved before it even registered on the proverbial radar. It ended without any casualties or significant property damage, aside from the Virus Isolation Center's destruction. However, since that facility was already due for replacement after being damaged in the Battle Royale Incident, it wasn't considered much of a loss."
Mikoto breathed a sigh of relief that this recent Incident wasn't yet another world-ending threat that required the Trinity's intervention. She would, of course, step in if necessary, but knowing it wasn't required this time was a comfort. A feeling that Naru shared if her own sigh of relief was any indication.
"Well, if Rui-chan isn't worried, then neither am I." Naru said as she took her seat and picked up her cup of tea.
"Yeah," Mikoto agreed with a nod. "Ruiko is the most informed of us and probably knows more about what happened then almost anyone, so if she thinks it's no big deal then we should be fine."
"Hmm… I have to admit, that's sound logic," Shokuhou said with a thoughtful frown as she glanced at Ruiko, who was casually sipping her tea. "She certainly seems untroubled."
"I can confirm that I am unbothered." Ruiko said with a grin as she put down her cup and reached for a macaroon from the tower of snacks that had been prepared by Tokiwadai's kitchens for their little tea party. "Was there anything else you wished to discuss, Shokuhou-senpai?"
"No." the Number 6 said with a shake of her head. "I'm done."
"Then let's just focus on enjoying this tea and these snacks, shall we?" Naru suggested with an encouraging smile as she happily filled up a plate with a selection of sweets from the tower.
Mikoto frowned. If Shokuhou didn't have anything more to talk to them about, she would really prefer to be somewhere else and do something more to her tastes. Tea parties weren't exactly something that she enjoyed. She preferred something more exciting like a visit to the arcade or maybe a spar with one of her friends. However, as she watched how much Naru and Ruiko seemed to relax as they both enjoyed the tea and snacks on offer, Mikoto relented.
"Yeah, let's just enjoy our tea party."
"Yes, please do enjoy the tea and goodies I have prepared for you."
"We will," Mikoto said, resisting the urge to grit her teeth. Ignoring the infuriating smirk Shokuhou shot her way, Mikoto also reined in the impulse to punch her. That would have ruined the gathering, and she wasn't about to let the [Queen]'s smugness at 'tricking' her into attending one of her tea parties spoil her kōhais' good time.
It wasn't easy though.
The things I do for my kōhai…
Done and done! Thanks to Nameless as always!
Can I just say that this chapter was both insane and had to be the most fun ever! Seriously, Digi-Love Digi-Life! XD Felt like a kid again when going over this chapter, Season 2 of Digimon breaking into the real world and going on a global romp. Of course, the Misakas are a treat as always, but how are the Sisters ever not? And Poor, poor Hamazura.
Nameless: Let me just say, this chapter was tough to write. Fun, but definitely challenging. It ended up being way longer than I initially expected when we started working on it. That said, I'm really satisfied with how it turned out. I had a blast incorporating elements from one of my favorite franchises, Digimon, into the fic; writing the Council of Misakas; giving the Misaki Agency a cameo; teasing about the current status of the Shokuhou/Dolly/Kouzaku throuple; and showing more of Mugino and Kinuhata's ongoing attempts to seduce Hamazura. Overall, I'm genuinely happy with the final product we created.
You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!