Er – hello! Once more I come to you, my dearest readers with a new chapter. I don't quite know how many I'll be able to produce before the weight of life once more crushes me but I'll do my best! *Sweats*
I greatly appreciate the kind words I've had in the reviews and the follows and favorites this story has had.
Review responses to follow!
DragonKeeper10: The fate of humanity is more important than any dread our protagonist feels about Fou!
Icychiller: I always intend to be verbose when I write but I guess I have read one too many of the stories by FTDS… Well, no matter. I'm glad you have enjoyed what I've wrote thus far.
Trevor: I have not read any of the novels based in the Narutoverse so I was unaware of that tidbit. I do acknowledge that even without access to his chakra, Naruto is still an unbelievable beast. I don't want to just handwave away that fact so I'll have to consider how to tackle that.
The Black Latios: Stay tuned then!
Before the ever present act of disclaiming ownership, I leave you with the album I wrote this chapter to: DISPOSE by The Plot in You.
Now then… Eugh, actually I think we've done this song and dance enough. I own nothing! There, that's that.
Onto the actual reason you're here!
xxx
Chapter 2; Singularity F, pt. 2
It was hot. Well, that's an understatement. A city in flames is what we were in after all. As I took a look over at Ai, she was trying to subtly fan her face to cool down. Well, I wasn't too much better; I just hid my discomfort better. Mash on the other hand… She seemed perfectly fine despite also carrying that massive shield with her. 'A servant's constitution…' I mulled over that, a wry grin playing at my lips.
We still had some distance to cover before we reached the leyline that Doctor Romani had told us to head towards. I kept my head on a swivel, constantly weary of being ambushed. Mash was also on alert while Ai had a more carefree look upon her mien. But judging by the way her eyes flitted around, she was still being observant of our surroundings. The… ugh… the squirrel demon was pretending to be harmless within Ai's mop of rust colored hair. As I looked over Ai's hair, a random thought popped into my head. 'She's not going to be reckless and claim to be an ally of justice, right?'
The short girl must have noticed my gaze, because she gave me a cheery grin and a peace sign. 'This girl… I wonder if her optimism will hold up.' I gained a grim sense of determination. I knew I'd have to give my everything so her smile wouldn't fade. I wonder how long it's been since I wanted to protect anything more than what my duty dictated? 'My duty…' I thought with a derisive snort. I had carried that burden for longer than I had any right to. When would I be allowed rest? Everyone was gone after all. When would I get to see them again?
As my thoughts began to spiral in the direction of depressive, anger inducing and defeating, Ai managed to do something to pull me from them. She tripped. I watched her stumble forward in slow motion, my eyes checking the ground she was walking on for an offending object. There was nothing there. Then I examined her, watching her body tilt forward, her face going through the motions of startled, embarrassed and then resigned; as if she was accepting her impending doom. Once again I was struck with the thought of a pair of words. 'This girl…'
Just before she went past the point of no return, I was by her side and steadying her. "Woah there, Ai. Don't lose your life to nothing." Her face displaying abashment, I ruffled her hair. Mash had just been about to intervene but having seen my actions, released the tension she had built in her legs. "Ai-senpai, are you alright?" She questioned, concern painting her features. Ai made to wave her off but with the narrowing of Mash's eyes, she relented. "Ah… I'm just a bit worn out."
I considered that. Ai was just a teenage girl after all. Even with her marked determination, it's likely she would need to rest soon. "Mash, are we near to the leyline the Doc mentioned?" She nodded. "In that case, we'll rest when we get there. That alright?" With Ai giving a nod of assent, we pushed on. I kept near to the redhead, making sure to steady her when she got too exhausted.
After another thirty to forty five minutes, we made it to the leyline. Ai was obviously running on fumes so once we made it there, I nudged her to a piece of rubble and forced her to sit down. "Rest, Ai. Mash and I will take care of getting the supplies here." Clearly grateful for the rest, she sat there obediently.
With Mash giving me direction, we got the magic circle setup and then the violetette used her noble phantasm as a catalyst to contact Chaldea.
'Bzzt… bzzt…' I gave Mash a concerned look, which was returned in kind. She went to try again when we both tensed. The sound of footfalls had just reached our ears. My senses didn't say there was any of those demons near and I couldn't feel the overwhelming strength of a heroic spirit either. That meant whatever it was, it was most likely to be an easy fight for Mash, if it proved hostile.
But our defensiveness proved to be pointless, because from around a nearby building walked the director, Olga Marie. Her expression was clearly frightened when she first noticed us until she recognized our uniforms. She scurried over to us.
"Finally! I have found someone in this hellscape!" She took my, Ai and Mash's measure before settling on questioning Mash. "You – you are Mash Kyrielight, yes? Give me details on the situation." Despite her demanding tone, it was clear she was out of her element. Still… at Mash's initial hesitation, I gave her a subtle nod.
"Director Animusphere, I am not one hundred percent certain but I am of the believe we are in a Singularity. In the city of Fuyuki, somewhere in Japan." Olga contemplated her words. "Fuyuki… I can't see this city being vital enough to the human order to contain a singularity though?"
"Nevertheless, it is. We've got to correct it." I interjected. Olga startled for a moment, having forgot I was there clearly. "Ah! Ahem. Yes, you're right… er…" She stumbled for my name. "Naruto." I supplied. "Yes, Naruto. You were one of the master candidates, were you not? I recall your name, you had some abnormalities within your dossier…" She seemed about to go on a tangent so I quickly nipped it in the bud. "You can grill me later, Director. First you should go sit down with Ai. You seem to be just as exhausted as her." Olga took notice of Ai, who was still sat.
"Yes… I will do just that." With Olga now resting, Mash and I turned out attention back to getting in contact with Chaldea and getting supplies issued.
xxx
After an hour of being forced to wait for a response… "Bzzt – Come – bzzt – Blasted thing! Wor – bzzt. Come on! Work! Wait – I see we're connected! Field team, are you able to hear me? This is Doctor Romani back at base." Mash visibly deflated with relief at hearing the doctor once more. I was right there with her. "We hear you, Doctor Romani. Are you able to issue the supplies to us now?" I responded. "Right away. Aheheh, I swear, the Director is going to kill me if she knew I was hitting the communication device to get it to work."
I could feel the hackles on my neck raise, feeling Olga's ire raise behind me. "Oh – is that how you think I'd react, Doctor Romani?" The director growled out. "Oh – ah, director! I didn't – I mean; err… I didn't know what else to do!' Olga sighed out a breath that indicated how much she suffered at this man's hands. I felt for her.
"Nevermind that. Doctor Romani, why are you operating the communication device in the first place? Where is the ops team?"
"Director… I'm the highest ranking member left alive. Procedure means that I'm the one who has to handle this. I mean – you're the one who wrote the guidebook on this." A glance over my shoulder revealed how distraught Olga was at the idea her facility had suffered so many deaths.
"What- what do you mean!? It couldn't have, how could, dead? Everyone's – everyone's dead?" Her head drooped.
"Doc, those supplies?" I questioned after a moment.
"Right… here they come." After a few more moments, mounds of supplies made their way to us.
We'd need a basecamp while we explored this singularity and this made just a well a location as any, I mused.
So while Ai rested and Olga brooded, Mash and I took to setting up some defenses and various other implements we'd need while we tried to figure out how to solve this miscourse in human history.
We couldn't fail and not having a safe place to rest would be folly in such a critical mission.
I took a glance at the hellish terrain around me. I wouldn't let this become the fate of humanity. It was my duty. My burden.
Heh, I guess in the end, I'm the one who's an ally of justice?