Blossom Apartments, Ottawa, ON, Canada
8:23am, December 23, 2016
"I was planning on going Christmas shopping today, but this is more important. Kuroko, you'll have to go without me."
Rob winced. "I'm sorry, Mikoto. And Kuroko. You had plans. We can do this later."
"Think nothing of it, Rob-san. This gives me an opportunity to get something for onee-sama. If you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way alone." Kuroko teleported out of the common room.
"You had best be going as well, Kino-san. The fewer people there are who see what's about to happen, the fewer distractions we'll have in doing it."
Makoto looked at Ami. "If you want me to stay ..." Ami shook her head. "All right. I'll go wait outside with Accelerator. I never thought I'd be waiting around with him."
And then the only people in the room were Rob, Mii, Ami, Hyoga, Index, Mikoto, and the Misaka Sisters. Mii locked the door behind Makoto and sat beside Rob.
Mikoto looked around. "I understand why the four of you are here - it's your mindlink. Why am I here? And the rest of us?"
"Everybody else is here because we need their help. You're here to make sure no disaster happens, Mikoto-san."
"What can I do to stop a disaster, Mii-sempai?"
After a moment, Rob sighed. "We know you can use your ability to tap into computer networks. The books say you can also tap into the Misaka Network."
"They do? How?"
"It would be more accurate to say that the Original can join the Misaka Network, Niiko Misaka replies."
"And we will have to guide you in to do that, adds Mimi Misaka." She said that in a more grown-up tone of voice than she usually used.
"Yeah. And once you're in, you and your sisters get to stand guard over Mimi while she does her Last Order thing again."
"Which I really do not want to do, Mimi Misaka states for the record. But Hyoga-san needs my help, Mimi adds."
Mikoto narrowed her eyes. "Why not?"
Again, nobody answered for a moment. Finally, Rob asked, "Haven't you watched your anime or read the books at all yet, Mikoto? If anything goes wrong - hell, if things go right - both Mimi-kun and Hyoga run a serious risk of personality death. Remember when everybody in Academy City fell asleep, and you had to answer Index's science questions on the phone while dodging lethal attacks?"
"Is that what was going on? You were saving a life? Somebody should have told me!"
Index put her hand on Mikoto's hand. "I'm sorry, we didn't have time. But we're telling you now."
Mikoto took a deep breath, then let it out. "Okay. What's your role in this?"
"The same as it was last time; if Mimi goes into a coma, I will bring her back."
"And it was Kamijo-san who brought Hyoga back that time - but that's my job now," added Rob.
"Okay, let's say this works and everybody's still themselves. What happens then?"
"Then, we go through the link between Misaka Misaka and Kazakiri Hyoga - Last Order and FUSE=Kazakiri - and teach Hyoga-san how to control her link with Konori-san, Mizuno-san, and Donaldson-san, Rei Misaka explains."
Mikoto thought for a moment. "So, the plan is that I'm going to join the Misaka Network, my youngest sister is going to put her life on the line to extend that network to Hyoga-san, and my other sisters are going to teach her how to not share her thoughts. You're going to go angel for this, right?"
"I'll have to," Hyoga replied.
"And is this room big enough to hold you in your angel form?"
After five seconds, everybody stood up at once. Five minutes later, the group had settled into the sparring room.
"I like this chair, comments Rei Misaka. It is quite comfortable."
"Don't get too used to it," Rob replied. "Louis XV style furniture is much more expensive than what we can afford for our apartments right now."
"Perhaps I should live in this holosuite, then, Rei Misaka replies."
"Nobody lives in the sparring room! This is where Mako-chan and I spar!"
"I apologize, Original, says Rei Misaka with contrition. I will remain in my one-room apartment for now, Rei Misaka adds."
"For now?"
Rob chuckled. "Wasn't the plan that eventually you'd be going home? And even if you're staying here for the long term, somebody's going to move out into their own place sooner or later, so an apartment or two will be freed up eventually."
Mikoto nodded. "That makes sense. But we're getting derailed here. What do we do now?"
"Please sit between Kokono Misaka and myself, asks Nana Misaka." As Mikoto walked over to the ottoman, Ami opened the Mercury Computer and started taking measurements of the Misakas.
"On the recommendation of Washuu-chan, we have been studying the Original's neural patterns since we arrived here last month, admits Niiko Misaka. Please make yourself comfortable, Niiko Misaka adds."
"Washuu-chan again," Rob muttered. "What's with her, anyway?"
Mii reached over and took his hand in her own. Whispering, she replied, "She's a super-genius."
Rob looked around. "And how many people in this room qualify for Mensa membership, again?"
"Just you and Ami. Especially Ami. The rest of us are smart in some fields, not in every field. But Washuu-chan is so much above Ami as Ami is above ... not anybody who lives here, but you know what I mean."
"Yeah. And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
"I didn't take any offense. Besides, you aren't as observant as I am, or as good a cook as Mako-chan is, or as good with computers as Kazari-kun is, or as compassionate as Usagi-san is, despite having a higher IQ than any of us."
"You're right. Mii, do me a favour? Keep me humble that way, please?"
She smiled. "Of course. Oh, it looks like the Misaka sisters are ready."
"We were just waiting for you to notice, Mikoto Misaka replies."
"Oh, shit."
"Hey, it's easier to identify myself in the link this way! I'm still me!"
"Don't scare me like that!"
"How would you prefer to be scared, Nana Misaka asks?" Rob blinked, and blinked again. Nana was still grinning.
"Nana-kun, if you can keep that ability to show emotions after we've finished, this will have been worth it even if Hyoga can't control the empathic link. And I'd prefer not to be scared at all, thank you."
Ami looked up. "This is amazing. Their brains are actually in resonance! I've never seen anything like this before."
Niiko looked at the Mercury Computer's screen over Ami's shoulder. After a moment, she said, "We have. Or, rather, Mikoto has, Niiko corrects herself."
"Those are similar to the charts I saw while the Level Upper was active," Mikoto added.
"I wonder whether there's a connection, Rei asks in idle curiosity, knowing we'll never receive an answer."
Ami sighed. "Getting back to what we're doing here..." The Misaka sisters blushed, including Mikoto. "... I think we're ready to go on. Mimi-chan, are you ready?"
Mimi took a deep breath, then sighed deeply. "Haiiiiiii."
Rob stood up, walked over to Mimi, and squatted so he could look her in the eye. "Mimi-kun, if you don't want to do this, then we'll find some other way."
"No, it's all right. I'm a big girl. And I'm part of the Misaka Network, Mimi adds. My sisters will protect me, including Mikoto-neesan."
"If you're sure...?"
She nodded. "I'm sure."
"Okay. And thank you, Mimi." Rob returned to his seat.
Once he'd made himself comfortable and Ami had sat beside him, Index reached out and took Mimi and Hyoga's hands in her own. "May the two of you find success in this effort of yours."
The Mercury Computer beeped. Ami glanced at it, then smiled. "That blessing couldn't hurt, and might help." Rob frowned for a brief moment at that, then shook his head as if to clear it.
Mimi and Hyoga looked into each other's eyes, losing themselves in the other's gaze, finding kindred spirits in each other's souls. Eventually their breathing synchronized. "This is much better than the brute-force method Academy City used," they said in unison.
Index and Ami smiled. Mii and Rob grinned.
Hyoga stood and transformed into her angelic form - not her full form, but an angel with smaller wings that could fit in the room without crowding everyone. All of the Misaka Sisters, including Mikoto and Mimi, also stood up ... and smiled.
"Of course," Hyoga said in wonder. "How could I have missed something so obvious?"
"It wasn't obvious, not until we showed you," Mimi replied.
"You're right. What else do you see?"
"Look here - these strings."
"Red strings, from my finger to my beloveds' fingers. They're so fragile."
"Are they?"
Looking through the glasses that Skuld had given him, Rob could actually see the strings arc between himself and Hyoga, between himself and Mii, between himself and Ami, between Hyoga and Mii, between Hyoga and Ami, and between Mii and Ami, now that they had been pointed out. For a brief moment, he thought he could see another red string around his finger, but he couldn't tell where it lead. Then he noticed a gleam on the strings that wasn't there before.
"Not any more." The strings faded out of Rob's view... but he knew they were still there. Hyoga smiled, and kissed Mimi on the forehead. "My gift to you." She repeated the kiss and the comment with each of the Misaka Sisters. Then she walked over to Rob. "I'll see you later, my darling."
Everybody who was standing collapsed.
Rob was standing and had Hyoga in his arms before she could hit the floor. Ami caught Mimi, and Mii made sure Niiko didn't hit Mikoto as they fell almost on top of each other.
After a few minutes, everyone was awake and aware again. "Is everybody okay?"
"We're all back to the way we're supposed to be, Rob-san," Mikoto replied. "I think."
"I confirm that the Misaka Sisters are all right, Niiko adds."
"I just realized," Rob commented. "You haven't called yourselves by your full names since Mikoto joined your link."
Rei Misaka shrugged, then looked startled at the action. "Is it necessary, Rei asks?"
Rob grinned. "No, I suppose not." Then he turned to Hyoga. "How are you doing, pretty lady?"
"Give me a moment, please." She transformed back to fully human, then gave Rob a hug. "I'm doing just fine, darling."
"Get a room, you two, Niiko mutters." She did mutter, too.
Rob laughed. "Technically, this entire building..."
"...belongs to Lord Phantomhive, not you," Mii finished. "So they're his rooms. Get a room, you two - and we'll see whether you really have the link damped down."
Ten minutes later, Mii and Ami weren't feeling anything more than a pleasant happiness.
Blossom Apartments, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Noon, December 23, 2016
Ami cornered Rob before he could walk into the common room for lunch. "Do you have a moment?"
"Of course."
"You didn't look happy when Index blessed Mimi and Hyoga."
Rob sighed. "Index knows too many dangerous spells. Her magic is supposed to be locked away, for both her safety and the world's. How was she able to bless anyone?"
"Oh." Ami thought for a moment. "We'll have to keep an eye on her, then."
Blossom Apartments, Ottawa, ON, Canada
12:02pm, December 23, 2016
"I have a question, Niiko states."
Mikoto raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"It's a statement that functions as a request for information, but that isn't important right now."
"Did you just make a joke?"
"Yes. Was it a good one?"
"It's a bit cliched, but it's still funny. What did you want to know?"
"When are you planning on telling everyone else that you are still linked to the Misaka Network?"
"Do they need to know?"
"I suppose not, Niiko replies."
"Then we don't need to let them know."
8:23am, December 23, 2016
"I was planning on going Christmas shopping today, but this is more important. Kuroko, you'll have to go without me."
Rob winced. "I'm sorry, Mikoto. And Kuroko. You had plans. We can do this later."
"Think nothing of it, Rob-san. This gives me an opportunity to get something for onee-sama. If you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way alone." Kuroko teleported out of the common room.
"You had best be going as well, Kino-san. The fewer people there are who see what's about to happen, the fewer distractions we'll have in doing it."
Makoto looked at Ami. "If you want me to stay ..." Ami shook her head. "All right. I'll go wait outside with Accelerator. I never thought I'd be waiting around with him."
And then the only people in the room were Rob, Mii, Ami, Hyoga, Index, Mikoto, and the Misaka Sisters. Mii locked the door behind Makoto and sat beside Rob.
Mikoto looked around. "I understand why the four of you are here - it's your mindlink. Why am I here? And the rest of us?"
"Everybody else is here because we need their help. You're here to make sure no disaster happens, Mikoto-san."
"What can I do to stop a disaster, Mii-sempai?"
After a moment, Rob sighed. "We know you can use your ability to tap into computer networks. The books say you can also tap into the Misaka Network."
"They do? How?"
"It would be more accurate to say that the Original can join the Misaka Network, Niiko Misaka replies."
"And we will have to guide you in to do that, adds Mimi Misaka." She said that in a more grown-up tone of voice than she usually used.
"Yeah. And once you're in, you and your sisters get to stand guard over Mimi while she does her Last Order thing again."
"Which I really do not want to do, Mimi Misaka states for the record. But Hyoga-san needs my help, Mimi adds."
Mikoto narrowed her eyes. "Why not?"
Again, nobody answered for a moment. Finally, Rob asked, "Haven't you watched your anime or read the books at all yet, Mikoto? If anything goes wrong - hell, if things go right - both Mimi-kun and Hyoga run a serious risk of personality death. Remember when everybody in Academy City fell asleep, and you had to answer Index's science questions on the phone while dodging lethal attacks?"
"Is that what was going on? You were saving a life? Somebody should have told me!"
Index put her hand on Mikoto's hand. "I'm sorry, we didn't have time. But we're telling you now."
Mikoto took a deep breath, then let it out. "Okay. What's your role in this?"
"The same as it was last time; if Mimi goes into a coma, I will bring her back."
"And it was Kamijo-san who brought Hyoga back that time - but that's my job now," added Rob.
"Okay, let's say this works and everybody's still themselves. What happens then?"
"Then, we go through the link between Misaka Misaka and Kazakiri Hyoga - Last Order and FUSE=Kazakiri - and teach Hyoga-san how to control her link with Konori-san, Mizuno-san, and Donaldson-san, Rei Misaka explains."
Mikoto thought for a moment. "So, the plan is that I'm going to join the Misaka Network, my youngest sister is going to put her life on the line to extend that network to Hyoga-san, and my other sisters are going to teach her how to not share her thoughts. You're going to go angel for this, right?"
"I'll have to," Hyoga replied.
"And is this room big enough to hold you in your angel form?"
After five seconds, everybody stood up at once. Five minutes later, the group had settled into the sparring room.
"I like this chair, comments Rei Misaka. It is quite comfortable."
"Don't get too used to it," Rob replied. "Louis XV style furniture is much more expensive than what we can afford for our apartments right now."
"Perhaps I should live in this holosuite, then, Rei Misaka replies."
"Nobody lives in the sparring room! This is where Mako-chan and I spar!"
"I apologize, Original, says Rei Misaka with contrition. I will remain in my one-room apartment for now, Rei Misaka adds."
"For now?"
Rob chuckled. "Wasn't the plan that eventually you'd be going home? And even if you're staying here for the long term, somebody's going to move out into their own place sooner or later, so an apartment or two will be freed up eventually."
Mikoto nodded. "That makes sense. But we're getting derailed here. What do we do now?"
"Please sit between Kokono Misaka and myself, asks Nana Misaka." As Mikoto walked over to the ottoman, Ami opened the Mercury Computer and started taking measurements of the Misakas.
"On the recommendation of Washuu-chan, we have been studying the Original's neural patterns since we arrived here last month, admits Niiko Misaka. Please make yourself comfortable, Niiko Misaka adds."
"Washuu-chan again," Rob muttered. "What's with her, anyway?"
Mii reached over and took his hand in her own. Whispering, she replied, "She's a super-genius."
Rob looked around. "And how many people in this room qualify for Mensa membership, again?"
"Just you and Ami. Especially Ami. The rest of us are smart in some fields, not in every field. But Washuu-chan is so much above Ami as Ami is above ... not anybody who lives here, but you know what I mean."
"Yeah. And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
"I didn't take any offense. Besides, you aren't as observant as I am, or as good a cook as Mako-chan is, or as good with computers as Kazari-kun is, or as compassionate as Usagi-san is, despite having a higher IQ than any of us."
"You're right. Mii, do me a favour? Keep me humble that way, please?"
She smiled. "Of course. Oh, it looks like the Misaka sisters are ready."
"We were just waiting for you to notice, Mikoto Misaka replies."
"Oh, shit."
"Hey, it's easier to identify myself in the link this way! I'm still me!"
"Don't scare me like that!"
"How would you prefer to be scared, Nana Misaka asks?" Rob blinked, and blinked again. Nana was still grinning.
"Nana-kun, if you can keep that ability to show emotions after we've finished, this will have been worth it even if Hyoga can't control the empathic link. And I'd prefer not to be scared at all, thank you."
Ami looked up. "This is amazing. Their brains are actually in resonance! I've never seen anything like this before."
Niiko looked at the Mercury Computer's screen over Ami's shoulder. After a moment, she said, "We have. Or, rather, Mikoto has, Niiko corrects herself."
"Those are similar to the charts I saw while the Level Upper was active," Mikoto added.
"I wonder whether there's a connection, Rei asks in idle curiosity, knowing we'll never receive an answer."
Ami sighed. "Getting back to what we're doing here..." The Misaka sisters blushed, including Mikoto. "... I think we're ready to go on. Mimi-chan, are you ready?"
Mimi took a deep breath, then sighed deeply. "Haiiiiiii."
Rob stood up, walked over to Mimi, and squatted so he could look her in the eye. "Mimi-kun, if you don't want to do this, then we'll find some other way."
"No, it's all right. I'm a big girl. And I'm part of the Misaka Network, Mimi adds. My sisters will protect me, including Mikoto-neesan."
"If you're sure...?"
She nodded. "I'm sure."
"Okay. And thank you, Mimi." Rob returned to his seat.
Once he'd made himself comfortable and Ami had sat beside him, Index reached out and took Mimi and Hyoga's hands in her own. "May the two of you find success in this effort of yours."
The Mercury Computer beeped. Ami glanced at it, then smiled. "That blessing couldn't hurt, and might help." Rob frowned for a brief moment at that, then shook his head as if to clear it.
Mimi and Hyoga looked into each other's eyes, losing themselves in the other's gaze, finding kindred spirits in each other's souls. Eventually their breathing synchronized. "This is much better than the brute-force method Academy City used," they said in unison.
Index and Ami smiled. Mii and Rob grinned.
Hyoga stood and transformed into her angelic form - not her full form, but an angel with smaller wings that could fit in the room without crowding everyone. All of the Misaka Sisters, including Mikoto and Mimi, also stood up ... and smiled.
"Of course," Hyoga said in wonder. "How could I have missed something so obvious?"
"It wasn't obvious, not until we showed you," Mimi replied.
"You're right. What else do you see?"
"Look here - these strings."
"Red strings, from my finger to my beloveds' fingers. They're so fragile."
"Are they?"
Looking through the glasses that Skuld had given him, Rob could actually see the strings arc between himself and Hyoga, between himself and Mii, between himself and Ami, between Hyoga and Mii, between Hyoga and Ami, and between Mii and Ami, now that they had been pointed out. For a brief moment, he thought he could see another red string around his finger, but he couldn't tell where it lead. Then he noticed a gleam on the strings that wasn't there before.
"Not any more." The strings faded out of Rob's view... but he knew they were still there. Hyoga smiled, and kissed Mimi on the forehead. "My gift to you." She repeated the kiss and the comment with each of the Misaka Sisters. Then she walked over to Rob. "I'll see you later, my darling."
Everybody who was standing collapsed.
Rob was standing and had Hyoga in his arms before she could hit the floor. Ami caught Mimi, and Mii made sure Niiko didn't hit Mikoto as they fell almost on top of each other.
After a few minutes, everyone was awake and aware again. "Is everybody okay?"
"We're all back to the way we're supposed to be, Rob-san," Mikoto replied. "I think."
"I confirm that the Misaka Sisters are all right, Niiko adds."
"I just realized," Rob commented. "You haven't called yourselves by your full names since Mikoto joined your link."
Rei Misaka shrugged, then looked startled at the action. "Is it necessary, Rei asks?"
Rob grinned. "No, I suppose not." Then he turned to Hyoga. "How are you doing, pretty lady?"
"Give me a moment, please." She transformed back to fully human, then gave Rob a hug. "I'm doing just fine, darling."
"Get a room, you two, Niiko mutters." She did mutter, too.
Rob laughed. "Technically, this entire building..."
"...belongs to Lord Phantomhive, not you," Mii finished. "So they're his rooms. Get a room, you two - and we'll see whether you really have the link damped down."
Ten minutes later, Mii and Ami weren't feeling anything more than a pleasant happiness.
Blossom Apartments, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Noon, December 23, 2016
Ami cornered Rob before he could walk into the common room for lunch. "Do you have a moment?"
"Of course."
"You didn't look happy when Index blessed Mimi and Hyoga."
Rob sighed. "Index knows too many dangerous spells. Her magic is supposed to be locked away, for both her safety and the world's. How was she able to bless anyone?"
"Oh." Ami thought for a moment. "We'll have to keep an eye on her, then."
Blossom Apartments, Ottawa, ON, Canada
12:02pm, December 23, 2016
"I have a question, Niiko states."
Mikoto raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"It's a statement that functions as a request for information, but that isn't important right now."
"Did you just make a joke?"
"Yes. Was it a good one?"
"It's a bit cliched, but it's still funny. What did you want to know?"
"When are you planning on telling everyone else that you are still linked to the Misaka Network?"
"Do they need to know?"
"I suppose not, Niiko replies."
"Then we don't need to let them know."
--
Rob Kelk
Sticks and stones can break your bones,
But words can break your heart.
- unknown
Rob Kelk
Sticks and stones can break your bones,
But words can break your heart.
- unknown