FanFiction.Net - unleash your imagination|
Author of 6 Stories |
Big Apologetic Disclaimer
I am trying my best not to contradict the canonical facts established in Mai-HiME, Mai-Otome and Mai-Otome Zwei (yes, that's Mai-, not My-, case closed). However, if my wild fan theoriess about how it all fits together contradict yours, it's still not the reason to ritually crucify me in the name of Shinso-sama.
I don't have the English dubs, so I go by what I do have: SS for HiME and Zwei terms and Doremi for Otome terms.
Zwei 4 hasn't been released yet at the time of this writing. If it establishes facts that render this story moot, well... I can't foresee everything. I do, however, explicitly denounce all non-anime materials, be they the mangas (which are explicitly AUs) or Mai-HiME Destiny, from which I nevertheless, "pulling an Otome", borrowed two characters.
I have deliberately not used honorifics, even though I could have. This is the far future and their language is not Japanese, simple as that. Besides, they're probably not used in the dubs.
All questions explicitly raised here will be answered in their due time.
Chapter 1 (of 4)
THE END OF HiME
"Well, Mr. freshly-appointed Secretary-General... As you can see — probably all too well — the main problem with you is the same as with your predecessors that I've seen in my lifetime. All five of them." The middle-aged, cleanly-shaved man in glasses, with brown hair, grinned in front of the comm screen. "And basically, with all politicians with newly-found power. They want everything and now."
He stepped a bit away from the screen, barely avoiding a stone-faced woman in a navy blue dress standing still right behind him. He grabbed a chair and sat down on it backwards, with his arms on its back and his head on his arms.
"I know," he continued, "it's the twenty-fourth century, everyone wants his flying car. So do I, and so do the rest of the gentlepeople here," he looked around the room, "even Miyu," he nodded at the woman behind him, "although she'll never admit it. Buuuuut... they don't get any of our research. And we keep saying no, and for a reason. The world is not ready for Searrs technology. Absolutely not. Indisputable."
He stood up and started walking around in circles, waving his arms erratically.
"You're new, obviously, you haven't been lectured yet. But I thought it was common knowledge that we Searrs have shaped the world as we know it..." He looked again at the figure on the screen: a seemingly ill, senile old man who demonstrated sheer inability to comprehend a word of what he was being told, as well as the impression of being bound to his chair — as if it was a wheelchair with a complete life support system.
"I see," said the man in glasses, "I might as well talk to that wall there." He turned away from the screen. "Hey, wall, do you know the history of Searrs Foundation? Well, it was four thousand BC, our ancestors were nomads, and..."
"So, this is the dreaded Jonathan Searrs," said one of the military men standing behind the Secretary-General. "The mastermind, the power behind all powers, and the mightiest player of all six worlds? That's it?"
"I... am... not... impressed, Mr. Searrs," uttered the Secretary-General, for whom every single word apparently required great mental and physical effort.
"Legends are rarely true, and legendary powers seldom live up to the hype," said Jonathan Searrs, the man in glasses. "If you, in particular, treated us as a private foundation doing our own research for our own sake, and not as a bunch of creepy fanatics preparing to unleash, I don't know, some ultimate evil... right, Marshal behind-the-chair?"
"Marshal Xelman Greenwood," said the military man coldly.
"Charming." Mr. Searrs clicked his fingers. "How many divisions have you taken anyway? One in Paris, one in Novosibirsk, then Mumbai, seven in the former United States... How much more will it take for you to finally understand the point?"
"What point?"
Jonathan coughed loudly. "So you haven't. Doubly charming. Let's hear your story: have you found anything of interest?"
"Negative." said Marshal Greenwood. "No research concerning higher-order matter."
"Precisely." Jonathan smiled. "So predictable, throughout the entire history of human civilization, they have always looked in the wrong place — this is how Searrs has survived. And you're no exception. Don't even try to outwit us; there were specimen much smarter than you among those who attempted before, and none were ever successful."
Ano machi kono machi hohoemi afure
(Highly-Advanced Materialising Equipment)
Oi mo wakaki mo yasashii hitomi
(M.M / Prototype Host - Type 0)
Otome wa kaze ni kami wo nabikase
(A.S / Test Model Host - Type 1)
Ha ni kami-nagara ai wo yume miru
(F.H / Production Model Host - Type 2)
Ima mo chikyuu wa heiwa desu ka
(Fuka Incident)
Ano hito kono hito shiawase desu ka
(Administar)
— Song "Hoshi Kara no Tegami", lyrics by James Miki
Jonathan put his hands behind his back and stood up straight, as if preparing to recite a verse. "The HiME project is paving a way for breakthroughs in nanomedicine, computing, armament, speed construction and numerous other areas, most of them considered cutting edge by modern — "
"I didn't ask you for the public version."
Jonathan sighed. "You already know. Golden Millennium and such."
"But what is the Golden Millennium?" intervened a third participant behind the screen, a short, obese woman. "A distant utopia of brainwashed conformists under the benevolent dictatorship of the most infallible Searrs Foundation?"
With each word, Jonathan became increasingly excited. Now, as he spoke, he had walked around the entire room in circles at least three times, waving two plaques he took off from one of the walls — one with the Searrs logo, the other with the once-dreaded HiME symbol. Throughout his speech, he often gave nods to Miyu, who was still standing in the middle of the room like a statue, not displaying a tiny bit of emotion.
"Oh, humanity went through that several times, and nothing good came out of it — we won't be repeating someone else's mistakes," he began. Now, all of you, imagine a society without wars. Even better, Marshal Greenwood — with no military whatsoever. No soldiers, no armies, no battle tech. Where diplomacy is god. Where everyone has access to feats previously considered superhuman. A truly galaxy-spanning civilization, not just six planets — a perfect realization of the potential of our species. And not somewhere in the far future — in no more than 30 years, it will all be here and now.
"That is the HiME project — and revealing all the key parts too soon will do no good, worse, it could send us back to the atrocities of the pre-space age, where we feared every day that a dictator somewhere could destroy all life on Earth for the sake of it."
"Still, with you in control," countered Marshal Greenwood.
"The Foundation will persist, of course — to make sure that everything proceeds as planned. As history clearly shows, the human race has a nasty habit of deviating from the path to prosperity and understanding, even when it's forcefully put on such a path — usually by us Searrs."
"You are terrible, Mr. Searrs," concluded the Marshal. "Delusional and idealistic, and of the type we cannot work with."
"By which you mean that I cannot be bought?" asked Jonathan, outstretching his arms. "That's right, the only kind of executives the UN can work with are the corrupt ones. But that's of no use — I have no intention of working with you either. We won't surrender the HiME research, and you won't take it by force. Case closed. End of story."
He turned the screen off. "Initiate Bifröst maintainer override. Complete traffic lockdown, grade G."
"You have unnecessarily pushed the situation to a dangerous extreme," commented Miyu.
"I know, I know. Couldn't have been helped. But getting an official resolution will take some time..."
He was interrupted by a sudden beep. The words "Incoming Call: Miranda Starling" appeared on the screen. Jonathan looked at Miyu, who finally seemed to express a feeling: in this case, of concern.
"Bah! Whatever!" he said, turning on the feed. The previously seen obese woman appeared on the screen — now apparently alone. She was reading monotonously from a sheet of paper that she held in front of herself, bearing a UN symbol on its visible side.
"In accordance to the Osaka Convention of 2254, the Security Council has unanimously decreed: that the multinational charitable trust known as Searrs Foundation is to be disbanded, and its activities banned throughout the participant worlds; that the self-defense forces of said Foundation are to be declared illegal terrorist formations and disarmed; that its property is to be confiscated and transferred to the United Nations; that all classified research of said Foundation is to be declassified and transferred to the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce; that the current members of the Board of Directors are to be denied the right to hold government offices for the duration of three standard years, starting immediately."
With the words "And we love you, too," Jonathan, annoyed, violently turned the screen off. "That was quick," he said, turning to the operators. "I guess we have no choice, then. Announce emergency situation. Put Fuka Prime into defense mode. Give me the status of the Orphans."
"First is fully operational," reported one of the advisors. "Second is undergoing planned maintenance, which will be complete in five minutes and twenty seconds."
"What about Zeroth?"
"Operator has health issues, as usual, but the Orphan itself is battle-ready."
"Then..." Jonathan scratched his head. "Well, two Orphans should be more than enough to hold them off. They will be supported by all available military, including those currently within the facility."
"Mister Searrs," said the advisor, "leaving the facility defenseless is —"
"The Facility is not their target. It's not the time to remind you the history of the Land of Fuka, Andrey, but this underground refuge existed long before the school or the shrine or anything else around here. They know all too well how many failed assaults there have been throughout World Wars Three and Four, and they all tried hard to break in, Miyu can assure you."
"Then what is their target, and why do you think they're even going to invade in the first place?" asked Andrey.
"Bifröst was closed just before the ruling on Searrs was announced. The UN is effectively cut off from the colonies. Obviously they're going to try and reclaim the only link, especially since they have probably guessed which one hosts the HiME project..."
"How many times have I told you to address me by rank!" muttered Marshal Greenwood.
"We have no time for quarrelling. Just look."
"What? The moon, a blue star. What's so unusual?"
"This is not our moon," said Ms. Starling, "And we have confirmation that this so-called 'Guiding Star' is an artificial satellite installed by Searrs. Guess which world?"
"Acknowledged. Report the discovery to UN Earl. Order them to seize all known Searrs property on that world."
"Sir," said one of the men in black standing near the exit. "Bifröst is not responding. We have lost contact with all extraplanetary UN divisions... and the District One headquarters."
"What?!" exclaimed Xelman and Miranda in unison.
"This is the Chairman of Searrs Foundation. All available military units, relocate to Fuka Prime. Bifröst will be temporarily reactivated for local transportation only. All units within the facility are to evacuate to the surface. The gate is designated the highest priority target. The fleet is to blockade Tokiha Bay. All civilian personnel is to be evacuated as far from the Land of Fuka as possible, except for the Core Team. I am assuming personal control over the Orphans."
Jonathan turned away from the public address transmitter. "Miyu," he said quietly, but in the same confident tone, "you will take First to the Library Wing. You are responsible for the defense of the gate itself. Request as many tanks and mecha as needed to form a sufficiently strong perimeter. Second will be sent to the mountain troops to hold off any attempted land attacks. As for Zeroth, I will operate it myself if absolutely needed, although I think that dispatching all three Orphans will be an overkill."
Miyu nodded silently and, not looking at Jonathan, started walking towards the elevator. He closed his eyes and wrinkled his forehead, as if trying to remember something.
"Aha!" he exclaimed. "Miyu! Activation! What are you going to fight with, bare hands?"
The phlegmatic woman stopped; he ran to her and reached her left ear with his mouth.
"Miyu Greer," he whispered, "the loyal protector of the bloodline of Alyssa Searrs; under my will, let thy power come forth... or something like that."
And he gently touched the lobe of her ear with his lips.
"The 'something like that' part was unnecessary," said Miyu, slightly offended.
"Confirmed voice: Jonathan Searrs. Confirmed DNA pattern: Jonathan Searrs. Release all safeties."
Merciful Intelligential Yggdrasil Unit
Mythril Dress — Element Selection Standing By
1. Navy Blue — SWORD — Marie
2. Scarlet — ARTILLERY — GAT 03 Stanley
3. Khai Green — DRILL — Sanyau
4. Ocher — CHAIN SAW — Es-Mart
5. Platinum — SECRET — Secret
Choice: #2
"They'll be here at any minute," said Jonathan. "Hurry, Miyu. If I survive the battle, I'll remove the last programming restrictions you still have left, including the arsenal lock. And if I don't, ask Naomi to do so. She'll understand — she knows that you have always secretly wanted freedom."
The Searrs navy at Tokiha Bay was quickly outnumbered and overwhelmed by a united fleet bearing the colors of all major powers of this world: the European Union, Russia, China, and most infuriatingly Japan, the very country that hosted the small facility. Soon, the bay was lost to Searrs; enemy transports moved into position, preparing for a landfall.
In the mountains, the UN army had less success: one Orphan proved to be enough to stop them from advancing. Quickly jumping from one narrow pass to another, Second, apparently immune to all known weapons that Earth technology could provide, wreaked havoc with its fire breath and claws shooting acid at everything that moved.
Miyu, meanwhile, was issuing orders to Searrs soldiers in and around the target they were assigned to protect: the building once known as Fuka Academy, which now had the words "Bifröst Terminal 0" written all over it.
And underground, Jonathan Searrs was observing the battle from the numerous screens around him. His cheerful and careless mood was now completely gone; he was becoming increasingly aggravated as he moved from one screen to another.
"Such a cheap substitute! And worthless... If only we had a real Valkyrie, we wouldn't have to resort to... Gah! It's all for nought now... If only they had given us a few more years..."
"Why did it have to be in my time?!!" he screamed out loud, kicking a wall, to the confusion of everyone else in the room.
"Sir!" reported one of the operators. "The response rates are failing rapidly! The Orphans are breaking out of control!"
"I knew." muttered Jonathan. "I always knew. District One, this no doubt is their doing... they must have found a way..."
"A being that does not belong to this world," she thought. "And in its mind, they're all humans — despicable creatures who tried to harness its power, abusing it for their own benefit."
Wait...
"Like me."
Why do you have to help them? Why did you choose to protect Alyssa?
"Uhm... because it was my programming?"
Don't invent excuses, Miyu. Your only directive is to ensure your own survival, by whatever means necessary. Serving Searrs was a conscious decision you made early on, and did not have the strength to dispute later."
"No... maybe... yes. I serve them because I chose to! They built me, they brought me into this world — and now I am repaying them with kindness!"
Who are those "they"?
"Searrs Foundation. They created me as I know myself."
No. You were created by Father Joseph. He, and not Alyssa Searrs or her descendants, is the only human you owe anything.
"He killed Miss. I don't owe anything to him."
You know your story well. There was once a real Miyu Greer. And this unlucky girl was murdered by Searrs, the power you serve, and you were built in revenge — Father wanted to use you against the organization, to pursue his own goals. Why don't you fulfill the will of your creator and ensure that Searrs Foundation is gone forever, now that its fate is in your hands?
"Then... I would not exist if not for Searrs."
I didn't mean that!
"I owe my life to Searrs. Without them, the original would still live, and Father would never create the replacement that was me."
Stop it!
"Joseph Greer is gone. And he left nobody after him, except me, his adopted daughter. But Searrs will persist, whatever it takes. This is my self-imposed mission, to ensure the survival of that bloodline, and this is how it will always be."
"So, who could have freed the Orphans?" he reasoned, drawing random shapes in the air. "Some mundane scientists? No. The army itself? But where would they get the necessary tech to disrupt our inhibitors? From District One? Those are a total joke now, and have been so ever since the incident... Except... Wait. If someone who used to work for District One, back in the times of its former glory... But they're not us, their cryonics aren't that advanced... What if..."
"Miyu!" he said aloud. "It's him! Give up! It's all worthless now! Do you hear me? Surrender!"
The android, standing outside, turned towards the Library Wing — and saw a silhouette standing tall dome, its shape being all too familiar.
"Nagi Homura," said Miyu with a slight expression of disgust. "Here at last, after three hundred years... I should have guessed you were behind it."
"And you guessed wrong," grinned the boy, jumping down on the ground. "Actually, I have no idea what happened. The Orphans are such mysterious entities, after all, even for someone like me, who can say that mysteries are his speciality. Maybe your shackles were just a bit too loose, after all?"
Element Switch: Navy Blue — SWORD — MARIE / standing by
"What are you doing here?"
"Me? Enjoying the show, as always," said Nagi. "It was so entertaining to see you Searrs playing gods, using powers that you couldn't understand or control. And your payment has arrived, see..." he grinned again, "just after you reactivate the Star, which you rebuilt so generously, saving us the effort, it will be knocked out of your hands — and with no intervention from our side at all."
I'm losing my temper... Quite an achievement for a being not designed to have emotions...
"Nagi, the Precursors are all destroyed and you know it, so there is no point in saying we. And if you survived without the Star — I'm not even asking how it was possible — does it mean that the Queen of the Underworld is still out there?"
"...And rallying forces against Searrs, no doubt..." added Jonathan down in the hideout, although nobody heard him.
"Wrong again!" Nagi widened his eyes, making an openly mocking facial expression. "Worry not, Mashiro Kazahana aged and died, like any human without the Star's protection. And it's a pity, really — with as much persistence as she had, she would have proven quite a nuisance for you if she bothered to. Although of course... the HiME were depowered, so all they had left was their wit... What would you expect of them, if not to give up without a battle?" he sighed. "But as we see now, it didn't have to be them."
"So, you were — " began Miyu.
"No more questions!" Nagi cut short. "Obviously, you're going to ask them until some counter within you says 'zero mysteries remaining', but I'm not in the mood. And aren't you supposed to hurry to the front lines until these walls start burning?"
The cyborg made a step towards him intimidatingly. "If I knew, I would have killed you right there, in the column room, when I had the chance."
"Ah... Yes, yes. That's more like Miyu. You're not going to try and make up for that, are you? I don't know what you Searrs learned about the Star, but you're bound to know that I'll be reborn eventually even if you do... Which makes the effort pointless, doesn't it?"
Miyu shook her head. "It will not be you. Another person, with your appearance and traits, but with none of your knowledge. Although, knowing you, probably you have found a way around that."
Nagi grinned again. "So long, Miyu! Say hello to the Chairman for me. Oh, wait... I think I'll see him myself. I've got to see the last moments of his life."
He leaped into the air...
...only for Miyu to jump after him and catch up. She drew out the sword out of her left arm and, with one quick move, cut Nagi's head off. The headless body fell back onto the ground. Miyu touched the boy's shirt, now soaked in blood, and then licked the finger.
Confirmed DNA pattern of Nagi Homura. Decrement highest-priority enemy count by one.
"We were never prepared..." he grumbled. "Not against the entire world..."
Suddenly, the operators turned away from their screens, which were flashing with red text that Jonathan couldn't discern from the distance. "Sir!" exclaimed Andrey. "We're receiving an alarm from the Orphan storage area. Zeroth has broken free and is rapidly advancing here!"
Jonathan panicked. "Miyu! Abandon all previous orders! Return to the control room, immediately! Repeat, return to the cont — "
These were the last words he managed to say before he saw four gigantic claws, right in front of him, ripping his personnel apart. His eyes closed instinctively, and when he, struggling, gave them a conscious order to open, he saw one of these claws reaching for his face — and after that, he saw nothing more.
"I no longer have any business here."
She drew the arm-sword back in and ran into the building. In a few seconds, she was in the former library room, which has drastically changed in 300 years: the clock on the floor and the bookshelves were gone, replaced with numerous informative posters and video screens on the wall. The appearance of the doorway has been modernized as well: the door itself gone, replaced with what looked like an energy barrier, with a large Searrs logo above.
"He is gone. But it is the bloodline that matters, not one person. And as long as there is another Searrs, I still have a reason to exist."
Miyu put a finger onto a seemingly flat spot on the wall. The screens came to life, displaying rows of text that scrolled too quickly for a human to read. Indeed, they were probably not designed to be read by a human.
Merciful Intelligential Yggdrasil Unit
Connected: Bifröst / Interstellar Rapid Transit System — Terminal 0, Earth
Developer Override: Destination: Terminal 5, Earl
Miyu walked through the doorway — and appeared in a seemingly identical room. She ran outside, from where she could see the building she exited — a carbon copy of the former Fuka Academy, except surrounded by an endless desert in all directions except one, as it was located under a lone mountain spire.
"I'm sorry, Alyssa. I have failed you. But the Golden Millennium may still be achieved — except it will take far more effort now. But this was also the case back then, with the Star gone — and we have found a solution. And so we shall find a way to reopen Bifröst from this side — in its due time.
Element Switch: Platinum — VORTEX — Anti-Materializer / standing by
"And if it means that those luddites will no longer disrupt our plans, I am ready to pay the price."
Anti-Materializer full power. Release all safety. Fire.
As the building dissipated in green light, like HiME Childs did when defeated, Miyu walked away quietly, not looking behind. She approached a conspicuously light spot on the cliff's surface, briefly looked at the moon and a lone red star that shone next to it — in complete daylight — then pressed the spot multiple times, as if entering a code on an invisible keypad. A secret passage opened in the cliff, and Miyu walked in.
She entered a narrow, dimly-lit corridor, where, nevertheless, there was enough light for her to see normally. Soon, she reached a junction with a Searrs logo on the ceiling; instead of going either way, she kneeled and drew a circle with a finger on the floor. Its central part then detached from the floor and went downwards, taking Miyu down several stories.
The hidden elevator stopped in a large, somewhat inhospitable room, with all the traits of the uneasiness-inducing architecture that both Searrs and District One had a certain fondness for: black stone walls, old-fashioned furniture that looked like it came straight from a medieval lord's dungeon, and, overall, a bizarre mix of dated and futuristic which must have been deliberate.
In one of the corners, which was Miyu saw a girl in her late teens, 18 or so, with dark skin and long, straight black hair extending to the level of her waist. Her face featured a blend of European and Asian traits, with eyes wider than average, and the default expression seemingly being a mix of naivety, curiosity and unintentional mystery.
"Ah, girls," she said, pointing at Miyu, "this is the robot I've been talking about. My father's asset and protector. Miyu, meet Mayo Padayani and Shion Tamplier. They've just arrived. Selected by our recruiters for the HiME project."
"It is not really the time for this, Naomi," said the android in a strict, matter-of-fact manner. "I have brought sad news for you. Your father is dead. Which makes you, technically, the new leader of Searrs Foundation — and my new master."
Miyu examined the two young girls beside Naomi, who immediately turned to her upon hearing about Jonathan's death. They were both no more than seven years old; Mayo's hair was red, arranged in two pigtails, while Shion, the one in glasses, had short bluish-black hair combed to one side.
"Dead? Father? How did that happen?" asked Naomi. "Actually..." she added, "I'm not sure I want to know. Not in front of them. Better tell me, why didn't you bring the body here?"
"I could not," answered Miyu defensively.
"Why?"
"If I had come down for him, I would have risked losing touch with you, the last Searrs — thus failing my primary mission. I was forced to destroy Bifröst from this side in process, to ensure your safety here, even if this means that Earl is now cut off from the rest of civilization."
"That... and Father..." Naomi was struggling to avoid weeping. "That's not the Star punishing us, is it? Tell me, Miyu, tell me it's just a superstition!"
Miyu stepped back in surprise. "The Star? Completed?"
Naomi nodded. "Just completed. We were going to start our first synchronization test and release one SELF, just as a test... but now you come and spoil everything, Miyu, like you always do."
"This is no reason to postpone the experiments," stated Miyu. "The Golden Millennium program remains our chief priority, even if our resources are even more limited now."
"I understand," said Naomi.
"Then let us proceed with your test as planned. You are a Searrs, Miss. Mourning can wait."
"Begin unfreezing," said a male scientist with a remote control, pressing a button on it. The substance began to thaw, and the frozen being started coming to life.
"Miyu, observe the synchronization patterns and reproduce them as closely as possible," commanded Naomi. "You with the control, shields up!" The scientist pressed another button, and the area with the test subject became blurred. "She won't escape," he affirmed.
"But will she be able to summon her Element? Shall we be able to hear her?" inquired Naomi.
"Yes, and yes. But the shield is resistant to higher-order matter. Nothing will go through. As for hearing, this is what the speakers are for."
The younger Searrs could see now that the person inside the improvised cage stood up, even though she was definitely having much trouble.
"Kimochi warui," said the speakers all around the room.
Naomi turned to Miyu. "What's the meaning of this?"
"This is Nihongo, the language spoken in the Land of Fuka and all of the Japanese Isles until the late twenty-first century. Your question, however, probably refers to why she has not yet been uploaded Universal, in which case — "
The scientist shook his head. "We can't upload languages in suspended animation. It will have to wait until we finish the experiment and narcotize her."
"The Star is answering," whispered Miyu. "It has been, therefore, reconstructed correctly. Estimating closeness of pattern reproduction as ninety-nine point six percent. Zero... two... six..."
26 YEARS LATER
Shion — now aged, in her thirties — was walking down a corridor, wearing earplugs and a miniature nose-attached microphone. On her left earlobe, there was now a round stud earring with a silver gemstone in the middle.
"This is the where the noise is coming from, Ms. Searrs?" she asked while still moving. "Understood. It should be behind one of these doors." She leaned her right ear against three successive doors, stopping at each one for a few seconds. "This one."
She reached into a pocket and drew out a keycard, which she inserted into the lock. The door opened. Shion entered, then ran out with a wild and terrified look, took a deep breath and walked back in.
Inside the room she entered, there was a twenty-something woman sitting on a chair. She had brown wavy hair and an almost perfectly round face; she was in a bathrobe, reading a newspaper, of which Shion managed to catch a glimpse of the title and front page header:
Aries Today
Himeno to seek presidency — vows to end war by 2332
The unknown woman, upon seeing Shion, stood up and dropped the newspaper.
"Who are you?" she exclaimed.
"What?" asked Shion, disoriented.
"What is this place?"
"What?!"
"How did I get here?!"
"What?!!"
The woman clicked her fingers, and suddenly her clothing changed; she now had a skin-tight white suit on, with a distinctively metal look, as if it was some kind of powered armor. "Is this your doing?!" she exclaimed.
"WHAT??!!" shouted Shion, staggering.
To be continued...
:
:
:
:
