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The two parties were locked in place, one with hate filled glares, the other with shocked expressions. Nils' mouth hung open, trying to say something, but no word escaped from her throat. All she really could do was constantly switch focus between Piika’s lifeless body and the Drone that had managed to kill her, along with a seemingly possessed El. Laki took the entire scene the hardest. She couldn't believe that one of her teammates was lying cut in pieces on the ground and that a little white haired Drone had managed to do it. Her eyes drifted to Piika’s head, which displayed the ever so familiar “Fatal Error” sign, but instead of it being plastered on dozens of Worker Drones, it was now on one of her friend's faces. Her eyes snapped back to her murderer, then to an El that clearly had something done to her. The air was thick with an increasingly heavier tension, no one moving a finger, the previous all consuming silence returning with a vengeance. But then, a weak laugh broke the atmosphere before it could further suffocate everyone.
”Ha….ha ha…” Laki choked with an uncharacteristically worried tone.
”R-Really funny you guys.” she said as she slowly raised back on her feet.
“You c-can stop it now, it's not funny anymore.” she sounded like she was about to burst into tears.
”H-Hey Piika, really cool trick you pantywaist, now come out from wherever you are…”
But only more silence and a morbid expression from Nils followed her words.
”If this is payback for those pamphlets, Nils, you got me good, you and El really made me think that Piika….Piika….”
”Fatal Error” glared back at her with all the conviction in the world, as it finally dawned on Laki the severity of the situation. She began giggling again, but instead of sounding like she'd have a mental breakdown, it instead sounded much more sinister.
”You waste of a processor actually killed her…”
Haruka took a defensive pose, ready to spring into action at any moment. Laki kept looking at the ground.
”You killed one of my band members…”
Her right hand retreated into her arm.
”And now you're keeping another one of them hostage…”
”So it's only natural that I returned the favor….”
Wide circles and a face splitting smile exposing her entire denture raised to look at Haruka and Aoi.
”By making sure your deaths will be as drawn out as possible!”
From her right arm came out a single cylindrical device that she threw not at the duo, but straight towards the town. Seeing this, Aoi deployed El’s wings and clumsily flew to catch the device, the moment she made contact with it it opened, revealing a yellow glowing core of energy that kept getting brighter, a red warning sight signaling that it had reached critical mass. Not thinking twice, she threw the thing as high in the sky as she could. The explosion that followed was like someone turning on the light after getting used to a dark room, painfully illuminating everything as a fireball expanded in the sky, the shockwave almost knocking everyone on the ground off their feet. The light made all the Fire Brigade drones that were hiding in town visible, the shadows barely providing any cover. This wasn't going to be a problem for them, however, as Laki sprinted towards Haruka, blades ready to reduce the little Drone to pieces. As prepared as she was, Haruka was still taken aback by the sheer savagery of Laki’s attacks, continually forcing her to take on a defensive position as she blocked her blades, sparks flying everywhere. Seeing this, Aoi descended to try and help her friend, but Nils intercepted her, knocking her to the ground. She tried pinning her down with her legs, but Aoi was much quicker, rolling to the side and quickly getting back on her feet. Nils, surprisingly, took Aoi in a hand to hand combat, clearly not wishing to hurt El, but still trying to beat out whatever was controlling her. Yet, not a single punch or kick managed to land, Aoi dodging or blocking every hit with unnatural precision.
”EL!” Nils shouted.
”I know you're still in there somewhere! Fight this bloody, whatever it is that's inside of you!”
But her calls remained unanswered as Aoi dodged yet another punch, but this time she grabbed Nils’ arm, lifted her up and slammed her into the ground. Further in the back, Haruka kept her defensive position, blocking every one of Laki’s attacks. Seeing how the Drone had no trouble protecting itself from her blades, Laki then switched up her strategy, retracting her blades for a pair of guns.
”Oh great….” Haruka said.
She barely had time to think out her strategy as a hail of bullets came rushing towards her. With fast movements and her projectile tracker hitting the 5th gear, she was able to deflect a good chunk of the bullets with her blade, yet many still flew dangerously close by her or tearing into her clothes as they shrieked past her, a close call with one almost slitting her check, but it instead got a bit of her hair. But she knew she couldn't keep this up as more and more bullets tore holes in her dress, while Laki didn't show any sign in stopping her assault. Staying in one place would be suicide, so instead she began running, Laki’s bullets closely following her. Taking a glance at Piika’s body through her peripherals, she tried to make a Solver hologram, but quickly remembered that Aoi was in that other DD’s body. The hail of bullets then stopped, Laki growling as she had to reload. Sensing this window and not wanting to let it pass, Haruka tried to reach for the trees for cover, but in her mad dash for safety she tripped, taking a face full of dirt and grass. With a double click and a sinister grin, Laki unleashed a wall of bullets, ready to tear the Drone to shreds. Laki kept unloading everything she had until she only heard repeating clicking noises. She eagerly looked on, ready to see the shredded corpse of that annoying WD, yet all she saw was a bladed wing, lifting itself up to reveal Aoi protecting Haruka. She felt like she was about to snap at any moment, her guns once more clicking back to life to reload, but this time it wasn't her that opened fire, Aoi instead using El’s plasma cannon to fire a ball of white hot plasma, instantly engulfing Laki in a blinding light before the explosion followed, causing the ground to shake once more.
”Damn, nice shot.” Haruka said.
”Yeah. But I doubt that's enough.” Aoi narrowed her eyes, watching with intent as the cloud of smoke dissipated.
The two then saw a pair of wings interlocking with each other, forming a protective shield. Nils' wings were first to stretch out, revealing that just like how Aoi acted as a living shield for Haruka, so did Nils, rushing in right before the ball of plasma made contact, although Laki seemed to had also been prepared to shield herself, Nils coming to her aid allowing them to almost form a dome of blades. Nils exchanged glares with the WD and Poltergeist, while Laki looked at Nils almost with awe.
”Nils….t-thanks.”
”Button up, clodpoll, you almost got yourself killed with your little episode.”
The two parties were once more in a standstill, wearily anticipating each other's moves. Back in town, the Fire Brigade Drones were watching the entire ordeal with bated breaths.
”Sir.” one of them dared break the tense atmosphere, speaking in a hushed tone.
”When should we enact the next step? Haruka's holding her ground, but we aren't sure for how long.”
Mr Takahashi’s voice erupted in everyone's head.
”Right now.”
”Haruka, do you copy?” his voice resonated in Haruka’s audio receptors, a clear feeling of determination in his voice.
”Yes, Takahashi-sama! I can hear you.”
”It's time for phase two. And remember, no matter what, keep running until you've reached the assigned destination. Do not worry about my men, we knew what we were getting ourselves into when we came up with this plan.”
Clenching her teeth and fist, she spoke once more.
”Understood.”
”Let's vanquish these demons once and for all.” and with that, the transmission ended.
Haruka then looked at Aoi, who was still staring down the two DDs.
”Aoi. It's time.”
”Right.”
Nils and Laki looked on at the duo, their eyes becoming wide circles when Haruka’s blade glowed once more. In a blink of an eye, Aoi’s grasp on El was released, the Poltergeist sinking back into Haruka as her orange eyes became cyan again. El felt momentary relief, but it quickly disappeared, having gotten a hunch of what was going to happen next now that she was free. In those last seconds, she simply gave a peace sign and a weak smile to Nils and Laki before her head and hand were severed, the heated bladed cleaving through metal like butter, before Haruka lunged for one more downward slash, bisecting the DD. Nils shouted in protest while Laki simply screamed, the former retracting her right hand, but before she could deploy a weapon, they were both met with a shower of arrows. This time they had their wings to shield themselves, but the annoying projectiles still managed to keep them in place. Looking to her right, Haruka saw the Fire Brigade Drones running past the gates, giving all they got as they kept hailing the DDs with their arrows.
”Miss Satomi!” one of the Drones shouted.
”You may proceed now! Do not worry about us! The objective of the mission is far more important than us.”
While she desperately wished to stay and aid them, Haruka knew that they spoke the truth.
And with that, she gave one final nod before sprinting into the forest.
”Oh no you don't!” Nils shouted as she tried firing at the ronin, but she was once again pelted by arrows.
”Annoying little-!”
”I've had enough of this…” Laki spoke with a monotone voice.
Nils turned around to see her holding her microphone, a blank expression making way for a sinister, yet hate filled expression. Back in the forest, Haruka ran with an energy she too was amazed of, traversing through the path Mr Takahashi had assigned. Through the corners of her vision, she caught occasional glowing eyes staring at her, encouraging her to continue forward, silently transmitting the same words the Drone from before had told her. Finally, after what felt like hours of continuous running, she reached her destination: a massive clearing, mounds of dead leaves and dried up grass and tree trunks dotting the area. A few more steps and she was in her assigned spot. Now all she could've done was wait. She eyed the path leading to the clearing with anticipation and dread, her hand shaking on her blade's handle. She knew what was going to happen, but now that she was where she was needed, at least things weren't going to be in vain. There she stood, unmoving, focused, waiting for the moment when it would all go down. All around her hollowed out husks of trees yawned at her with their seemingly endless abyss, faint sounds resounding as small breezes passed through them. If her sprint felt like hours, then this wait now felt like an eternity, time seemingly stopping in place. While things had gone according to plan, Haruka still couldn't shake the feeling that something was horribly wrong. Even though she knew it was just her inner worry, she still contacted Mr Takahashi.
”Takahashi-sama?”
”Yes, Haruka?”
”Any news from the Drones in the forest?”
”So far, nothing. They're all waiting.”
”And the Drones from town?”
”No signal.”
Haruka bit her lower lip.
”It's going to be hard, but I will make sure that their sacrifices won't be in vain.”
”We will all see the morning sun. I promise that.”
”Sir?” another voice interject.
”Yes?”
”Was it part of the plan for the Brigade members from town to also arrive?”
”WHAT!?”
”Sir, I think the-” the signal was then lost.
Immediately after, another transmission popped up, this time from a frantic voice, audible screams in the background.
”SIR!! The Disassembly Drones! They've taken control of-!” The signal was once again lost.
Haruka didn't need the call to hear the screams as now they were faintly audible from far ahead.
”No no NO!” Mr Takahashi yelled, clear distraught in his voice.
And just like before the yells began, silence once more blanketed the land.
”Haruka.”
”Y-Yes?”
”Take cover. The plan has changed. And do not move until I give you the signal.”
”.... Understood.”
With that, Haruka hid in a tree trunk, making sure that she still had the path in view. And she found a good hiding spot in time, as immediately after, rustling through the thick vegetation could be heard. Along with….a voice, like that of an idol singing one of her pieces. It sounded so mesmerizing, like it was physically worming its way into her head. Like it was trying to convince her to leave her spot and go look for its source. Yet, she knew that if she followed its temptation, only death would follow. She gripped the wood around her, almost beginning to crack from how hard she was squeezing. Then all of the sudden, the voice vanished. Only to be followed by footsteps. Looking up, she saw the Fire Brigade Drones, except that instead of their eyes having their usual colors, they were all yellow. They stood unmoving, like they were puppets that their ventriloquist decided to sit on their shelves, stiff and no life to them. From the path, Nils and Laki appeared, the latter clearly enjoying this moment.
”Well. Look what we have here.”
”Is this the hiding spot?” she asked one of the Drones, to which they nodded in approval.
She scanned the entire area, easily picking out the numerous hiding spots. Haruka then received one more transmission from Mr Takahashi.
”Remember. Do not engage until the signal.”
Immediately after, all the remaining Fire Brigade members erupted from their hiding spot, this time armed with guns.
”FIRE!” Mr Takahashi yelled from afar, all the Drones preparing to slam the triggers on their weapons.
Yet, Laki was much faster with her's, taking one deep breath before beginning to sing. It was once again a hypnotic melody, but this time its effect was so much worse, feeling like you were thrown into an all consuming trance. The piece itself sounded nice, typical of an idol star’s performance, every heart filled word resonating in everyone that heard them. All the Fire Brigade Drones then lowered their weapons, their eyes slowly turning yellow. Mr Takahashi pressed his hand as hard as he could on the sides of his head in a vain attempt to block the voice, but this wasn't a normal sound, it was of an unnatural origin, one that burrowed in your very existence, no soundproof headphones being strong enough to snuff it out. He too then raised up and joined his zombified men, moving towards Laki like a pet to their master. Haruka was basically screaming in her mind to drown out the voice, but it was useless as she too fell to its spell. Rounding all the Drones, Laki finished her latest piece as now she gathered all of the remaining resistance. She looked at every single one of them until her eyes fell onto Haruka, her smile turning into a snarl.
”Not yet.” she growled under her voice.
”First, I want to have a bit of fun.”
”What exactly are you planning on doing?” asked Nils.
”Hm hm, I'm glad you asked.”
With a single swing of her finger, the Fire Brigade members with the guns all pointed their weapons at their compatriots that had followed Laki and Nils, the latter backing up a bit from the sudden action.
”On your marks~”
All the Drones had their fingers on their triggers.
”Get set~”
”Fire~” she said with a nonchalant voice.
In that instant, all the Drones from town were gunned down, torn to pieces by the hot projectiles, tearing through plastic and metal alike, yet not a single fire touched Laki or Nils. A few seconds was all it took to kill them all, reduced to piles of scrap on the ground.
”Now then.” Laki put her finger under her chin, her hand taking in the position of a finger gun. The Drones reciprocated the action, except with their real guns.
”On your marks~”
”Get set~”
But before she could finish, Haruka began moving in front of Laki.
The two DDs looked on in shock, especially Laki who was still holding her finger under her chin. Haruka didn't stop until she was inches away from Laki, at which point she looked up at her and smiled a wide grin. The two had no idea what was happening, that is until Nils took a closer look at Haruka's eyes, which she could've sworn that they were supposed to be yellow after Laki’s song.
And not two bright cyan Xs.
Instantly, it all clicked in her head.
”LAKI, LOOK OUT!!” she yelled as she pushed her to the side, but she didn't have time to dodge as Aoi jumped into her.
The sudden act and her falling to the ground made her lose focus, causing whatever spell she put on everyone to disappear. Haruka took a deep breath before choking, finally feeling her body and mind free again. Mr Takahashi and the rest of the Fire Brigade reciprocated the act, although they fell to the ground, many holding their heads like they had a nasty headache. Looking forward, the ronin saw Nils standing hunched over, not moving a finger. Peering down at her hands, she saw their orange lights.
”Aoi?”
At that moment Aoi looked up, having managed to seize Nils' body.
”That…was quite the bold move.” Haruka said.
”Yeah, even though this wasn't my original target.”
The momentary relief was then replaced by panic as they both realized it at the same time. Haruka tried unsheathing her sword, but Laki was much quicker, severing her left hand as she was knocked over.
”HARUKA!” Aoi shouted, but she too was kicked into a tree.
”I am so, so sick of ALL OF THIS!”
Laki’s right hand was replaced with a device that had a hexagonal stamp at its tip, a light on its side switching from red to blue, pointing it at Aoi.
”I don't know what you are, but I've had it with you!”
But before she could do anything with it, she was struck from the side of her head by a long rod, once again knocking her off her legs.
”Megumi!?” Haruka shouted as she held tight to her dripping wound.
In a flash, Megumi looked at Haruka, eyes going wide from seeing her missing hand.
”H-HARUKA-CHAN!? What happened!? Are you ok!?”
”Hey it's not like it's the first time this has happened.”
”But you're supposed to take care of yourself more!!”
”Kinda hard when these are the things we're fighting.” she glanced at the spot Laki fell on
But she wasn't there. Turning back, she saw the DD, long claws ready to stab Megumi from the back. She rushed forward to try and tackle her from the way, but Laki was once again quicker, sinking her claws into….
Nils.
Her claws had pierced right through her chest, the center one clearly sticking out from where her core light would be. Aoi then left Nils' now limp body, returning back to Haruka. Laki, horrified, retreated her claws, letting Nils fall to the ground. She couldn't fathom the moment, her mind simply refusing to acknowledge what she had just done. Nils took one last look at Laki, flashing a weak smile.
”If you're wondering….what me and El talked…it was me kicking your arse….after the concert…h-ha..haha…” before a “Fatal Error” flashed on her visor.
Laki was on the brink of tears, but instead of crying out in pain, she did in anger, lunging at the two WDs. However, Haruka was now more than prepared, even with one hand, she unsheathed her blade in one wide arc, slicing Laki’s lower right arm clean off while also creating a large gash on the top of her chest. Not giving the DD any more openings, she dove forwards, slicing Laki's remaining arm off, inflicting yet another deep gash, this time on her abdomen. Using the last remaining strength in her, she pointed the blade forward and pushed ahead. Laki, horrified, tried getting out of the way, but it was far too late, the blade piercing through the center of her chest. All she could let out was a whimper as she too finally went limp, falling on her back as Haruka removed her blade.
Time was seemingly slowing down as she kept falling, everything around her was losing color, turning into a mass of white, everything except for the night sky. Her eyes looked on, wondering to herself.
Was this how it all ended?
”Is this how my dream dies?”
The stars looked incredibly bright and welcoming, almost like they reminded her of something. Yes, she had seen those lights before. Those stage lights. The glowing sticks the crowds held and how they cheered on. How she wished she was the one that stood before all of those. Hundreds of images then flashed before her, but not of her current career, not with Nils, El or Piika, but of a life she had long forgotten. The first time she held a microphone. A young girl showing her how to sing. Her face, how she cupped her hand onto hers, telling her to hold that microphone tight and to never let it go. Her first taste of life on stage. The hateful words of those that saw her as nothing more than a toy.
”Who is she kidding?”
”Drones can't sing, they can't even think on their own!”
”She’s lucky that she wasn't thrown in the trash.”
”She's lucky”
”Lucky”
”Lucky”
”Lucky”
Then, one final image flashed. Her, being alone on stage, singing her core out to empty rows of seats, before a stage light fell from the ceiling, its brightness engulfing her entire being. She then finally hit the ground as it all went dark. In that nebula of final thoughts as her vision was falling apart, one last sentence formed, barely escaping her mouth, inaudibly to almost everyone except her.
”Everyone…. I'm so sorry…..you all had….to meet me….”
[Fatal Error]
Haruka let out a sigh of relief. It was finally over. They had won. No longer having the strength to stand up, she began falling onto her knees, but Megumi was faster, catching her before hitting the ground, putting her arm on the back of her neck as she tried raising her back up.
”We really did it, huh…”
”Indeed we have, Haruka-chan.”
”You have no idea how proud I am of you.” Aoi's voice resonated in Haruka's head.
”Proud of us, you mean.” she replied back.
”You saved my ass tonight more times than I'd like to admit.”
Haruka couldn't see it, but Aoi was blushing a bit.
”You're talking to Aoi-sama, right?”
”Yep. And she's saying that you also did a great job. You put quite the show back there in town.”
”I'm surprised you didn't break character once knowing you.”
”Haruka-chaaaan, I'm not that big of a scaredy cat.”
”That lightbulb incident a few weeks ago tells me otherwise.”
They both began giggling, although Haruka's was a lot more of a wheeze than a proper laugh. A light then began to shine from far away, catching everyone's attention. The sun had finally returned, signaling the beginning of dawn and that of a new day.
”Takahashi-sama.” Haruka called out.
”Hm?”
”You promised that we would all get to see the sun rise.”
”Indeed I have.” he said as he stared at the growing ball of light at the horizon.
His eyes, however, then drifted to his fallen men, his smile slowly fading away.
”I just wish things had come out better.”
”But it's like I said.” he then turned to face Haruka and Megumi.
”Our lives are not important, what is important are yours and everyone else's from Inoshima. We live to protect those that we care for, and we live to protect you.” he said as put his arm on his chest.
The Fire Brigade Drones then performed the same gesture.
”Never forget that.”
Both Haruka and Megumi returned a smile.
”So anyway, what are we gonna do with the Disassembly Drone bodies? Leave them to burn in the sun or torch them ourselves?” Haruka asked.
Magia Record OST - Creeping Darkness
”Dramatic entrance. I think you can leave them to me~”
Everyone's eyes became wide circles, as they turned around to greet who they knew was speaking. Sitting in plain view was Paddy, her mask burning its eternal smile in everyone's visual receptors.
”O-Oha you, Paddy-sama..” Megumi choked out, her fear being palpable in every word.
”Oha you to you all, too. My apologies, but I have eavesdropped quite a bit on your conversation.”
”I am indeed proud of all of you for beating such odds. Especially you, Haruka.” the last sentence almost sounded like it was two people speaking with the same voice at the same time.
”...Thanks!” despite her limbs having a metal exterior, she could still feel goosebumps all over her.
”Now then, enough chit chatting, I think that you all are very, very tired. You can leave all these bodies to me! Or not, I just want the Disassembly Drones.”
Not even questioning her further, everyone grabbed whatever they could and began sprint walking through the path in the forest.
”Hey, what about the Disassembly Drone bodies in front of the town?” asked Haruka.
”Oh don't worry about those, I have also taken care of them, I did want a 3 am snack after all.”
”Alright, thanks, bye!” Haruka ran with an energy she thought she had completely lost, Megumi struggling to keep pace with her.
With no one left around, Paddy diverted her attention to Nils and Laki's bodies. A metallic scraping sound could then be heard, becoming more and more audible.
”Little toys, left abandoned by Mother in the wake of her passing. How sad. But now you have me. We will have so much fun together.”
Long jagged metal blades similar to the jaws of an insect erupted from underneath Paddy's ”jaw”, a long black tongue licking them with feverish intent. Like a predator on a fresh kill, Paddy pounced on the DDs, starting with Nils, tearing one leg and shoving it down her mouth, razor sharp jaws making light work of the metal like scissors through paper. Then followed the rest, with each joint, with each limb, her hunger grew more and more until she finally left all manners behind. Face sinking into the abdomen, tearing into synthetic organs, devouring ribs and metal bones alike. Not one scrap left, not one drop of oil unlicked. The core still beeped a faint light, weak and powerless, a gaping hole trying to close itself up, no fight could be put, only submission as it slid down her tongue. Four insect arms then grabbed the other body.
Claws scraping, jaws tearing.
With each crack, with many gulps
The hunger fell back to its napping
Maggots scream, Mother begs and yearns
For one to hear her crying dolls.
The sun hung low on the horizon, peaking above the mountains like a child that had just woken up, ready for his mother's breakfast. Another day had finally arrived in Takamagahara.
Another day in such a strange, strange land.