2016-12-22: Relationships and Other Problems

[robkelk]

Chapter 2: Other Problems

---

Washuu's lab, The Masaki residence, Vancouver, BC, Canada
December 22, 2016
3:11pm PT


"This is the best Christmas present ever! Or Startica present. Or..."

"We get the idea, Washuu-chan." Rob hoped his interruption was enough to nudge Washuu's enthusiasm into a useful channel.

Luckily, it was. "This is the first time I've ever been able to get before-and-after scans of somebody who's gone through the ultimate re-creation process! Thank you, Rob-san!"

"So, what did I come out as?"

Washuu's mood shifted as if somebody has mentioned Washuu's Pore to her face. "I don't know. You're not an esper, or a god or demigod, or a demon, or a mage, or anything other than human as far as I can tell."

"A mutant? A metahuman?"

"Both of those terms beg the question. Since I can't give a name to what you are, I'll describe you instead. You have psychokinetic powers over dihydrogen monoxide, but nothing else. The nanomachines that I had injected into you are nowhere to be seen, but their effects are still ongoing in your body. You're also substantially more able to tolerate trauma, temperature extremes, and radiation."

"'I'm tough. I can take it.' I remember thinking that while I was trying to rescue Hyoga - or while I thought I was trying to rescue her."

"And your will influenced your alteration. Other than what I've described, you're a baseline human. Oh, and your changes are at the genetic level, and they're inheritable." Washuu turned to Hyoga. "As for you, I need to call in an expert."

Hyoga's cellphone rang once. She pulled it out of her pocket and frowned at the lack of caller information on the screen. Before she could say anything, the lens of the phone's camera started to glow... and Peorth stepped out of the camera. "I'll save you a call, Washuu."

"Please, call me Washuu-chan!"

"Is that the wish you want to make? If you deserve a wish, you'll probably only get one, ever."

That question brought a rare annoyed frown to Washuu's face. "No. No, it isn't."

"All right, Washuu. You've already run your tests." Peorth wasn't asking. "Go ahead and tell her what you know, and I'll fill in the missing pieces that I can reveal."

"Right. Hyoga, in your current form, you're a normal 18-year-and-one-day-old girl. Well, normal for your friends; you picked up a few abilities when your body was put together. You've taken the translation effect that Yggdrasil placed on all of the displacees and generalized it; if there's a language on Earth that you don't understand, nobody speaks it any more. You have Mikoto's electromagnetic shield, and 1/64th of her genetic pattern, too. You have Rob's durability, resistance, longevity, and 1/64th of his genetic pattern. Nobody's going to hurt you except with an area attack."

Hyoga looked at Rob with a smile on her face. "We're barely related!"

"And I see your hormones are working normally for a baseline human. I also spotted 1/64th of Usagi's genetic pattern in your makeup; I think you might have copied her good luck. I don't recognize the other 61/64ths of your DNA pattern. As for your angelic form... I'm at a loss."

"Which is where I take over." Peorth turned to Hyoga. "Would you transform, please?"

She did, and her largest wings touched the ceiling. Washuu blinked. "That roof's 50 meters high. What kind of angel are you?"

Peorth donned a pair of glasses and looked Hyoga over, very carefully. "Much like your human form, your angelic form draws on a mix of sources. I see something of Noble Scarlet in you. I'm surprised you chose her instead of one of the more powerful goddesses' angels."

"I didn't choose anyone, at least not consciously."

"Pardonnez-moi, mademoiselle. I also see a bit of Aiwass in you, but that looks like it was in you before your re-creation. You have other kinds of angels in your makeup... Oh! I see how they fit together now! You're a guardian. Not a cherub, but you have their ability to keep track of those who needs your protection. Not a goddess's angel, but you reflect the souls of your chosen bondmates the way they do and they reflect your soul. I could go on if you needed to know, but, alas, you don't need to know. But I'll tell you this: you have discharged Garm's geas on you."

"Garm's hold is gone?"

Peorth turned to Rob. "Over her, yes. Not over you. You told Belldandy that you accepted your geas willingly, you foolish boy. You have to be the hero for the rest of your life."

He grinned. "There are worse fates, milady Peorth."

"At least you're getting the hero's reward along with the hero's burden."

"What reward would that be?"

"Your reward has more than one name: Ami, Hyoga —" She wondered why the Ultimate Force stopped her from saying anything more... and why that state of affairs was protected information. She assumed that somebody was either ready or almost ready to make a wish that would affect Mii.

Rob finished the sentence for her. "And Mii. My loves. I hope your phrasing is poetic, and they aren't my property."

"They are not your property, and you are not their property. And now I must go; I'm a very busy goddess." Hyoga's phone's camera lens glowed again, and Peorth disappeared into the light.

"But..." Hyoga sighed. "How do I do those things she said I can do?"

"We'll worry about that later," Washuu replied. "Do you two want to stay for dinner?"

Rob smiled. "Sasami's cooking? I'd be an idiot if I were to decline."

"It's that good?"

"Some of her recipes are better than Makoto's. But before we go..."

Washuu sighed. "What do you want?"

"I just want to know how long I can expect to live, assuming I don't take any undue risks."

"You're a Hero with a capital H; taking undue risks is in the job description. But I expect you'll both live to see at least your three-hundredth birthdays, just like Mii. Maybe you'll last longer, maybe you'll be hit by a battle-cruiser tomorrow." Washuu started closing computer windows, then stopped. "I never did find out what you all want for Christmas."

Hyoga took Rob's arm and snuggled close. "What I want, only Rob can give me."

Washuu looked at the couple, then sighed. "You can answer Sasami yourself, then."

---

Ottawa, ON, Canada
December 22, 2016
10:24pm ET


Rob and Hyoga stepped through the permanent portal, their arms filled with wrapped presents. "We're home!"

"Welcome back," replied Maika as she stepped forward to take some of the parcels from Hyoga. "Have you eaten?"

"Yes, we have. Rob was right; Sasami-chan is a good cook."

Rob almost made a teasing complaint at Hyoga's lack of trust in him, but thought better of it. "Are Mii and Ami home?"

"I'll go get them." Maika passed Ruiko and Ami at the mail room's door.

"Welcome home! Did you bring us any souvenirs?"

Rob nodded at the presents that he was still carrying. "Have you been a good girl, Rui-chan? I think there's something in here for you..."

She looked at the load of wrapped boxes (some of which Ami was taking from Rob), thought for a moment, then said, "Maybe I should wait until Christmas Day, after we get back from the Christmas Eve concert. Rob-oji, when are we going to host instead of visiting?"

"We'll host the next get-together, I promise. Let's invite everybody to skate on the world's largest outdoor rink when it's open, probably some time next month. Do you know how to ice skate?"

"I've never tried."

"If you ask nicely, maybe Mako-chan will teach you."

"Maybe I'll teach Rui-chan what?" asked Makoto from the mail room's doorway.

"Can you teach me how to ice skate? Please?"

"What, right now?"

Rob chuckled. "How about the two of you go some place quiet and work out whether you're going to do that."

Ruiko grinned while Makoto narrowed her eyes. "You're trying to get rid of us."

Rob nodded. "What Hyoga and I have to discuss with Ami and Mii is between the four of us, at least for now. Okay?"

Makoto sighed. "Fine. But I expect you to tell me what happened," she said to Ami just before leaving with Ruiko.

A moment after they left, Mii walked in, closing and locking the door behind her. The mail room was an odd place to have a quick meeting, but it had the advantage of being private when the doors were closed. "Maika told me that you wanted to talk with me."

"Yeah. We have the results of Washuu-chan's tests ..." Ten minutes later, Rob finished "... and I wasn't about to do anything until we knew what you thought."

"And, since what I want takes two willing people, we haven't done anything yet."

Mii nodded at Hyoga's comment, then sighed. "I was hoping you'd wait until I was old enough, but that isn't happening now."

Ami smiled, almost sadly. "I knew you wouldn't wait for me, but I expected that to happen ever since I realized I wanted a much older boyfriend."

"Woah!" Rob held up a hand in a 'stop' gesture. "We don't need to do anything right now, if you want us to wait."

"Oh..." whispered Hyoga.

Ami looked at Hyoga, then turned back to Rob. "Yes, you do. As a Warrior of Love and Justice, I think it would be unjust for you to deny or delay your love."

"We aren't denying it." Hyoga took Rob's hand in her own. "And I want to... but I don't want to hurt either of you."

Mii moved behind Hyoga and hugged her. At the time, it seemed the most natural thing to do. "Ami and I discussed this before you even manifested in this universe, Hyoga-sa... Hyoga. We know that we're sharing our beloved with each other. I'm willing to share with you as well."

"So am I," added Ami. "Of course, it's up to Rob whether he wants to do this."

Rob sighed. "It's up to all of us. Don't make me feel like you think you're my servant - or worse, my property. I don't want that. I want all of you - my beloveds - to have your own lives that include me, not to be just part of my life."

"In that case, I want the same deal from you," replied Mii. "No special treatment goes both ways."

"Likewise," added Hyoga.

"Which means it's unanimous," Ami finished. "We are sharing our lives with each other, but we aren't chained to each other. So you two go share each other and don't worry about what I think."

"You're sure?" Rob and Hyoga asked almost in unison, as if it was scripted.

Mii looked at Rob, grinned, and let go of Hyoga. "That's not a gun in his pocket. You'd better do something about that."

"Hey! I'm not -"

"I know you aren't. Yet. Teasing you is fun, Rob." She kissed him on the cheek, then headed for the door. "Let me know how things go, okay?"

---

Ottawa, ON, Canada
December 22, 2016
10:45pm ET


"I still think you're making a mistake, Ami. You could have any boy you want."

"I don't want a boy, Mako-chan. I want a man. And the man I want is Rob. Even if I have to share him."

"Okay, I can understand that. I think. That's better than some of the stories on the Internet about us."

"Some of my classmates showed some of those to me. Who out there thought that we're a romantic couple?"

"Some of the animators, apparently, or ... Ami? Are you okay?"

"I... I think so... Igottago!" She bolted for the door.

By the time Makoto got to her apartment's door, Ami was already past Rei's apartment and opening the door to her own - which she slammed behind herself in her haste to get through the doorway.

'What's gotten into her?' Makoto wondered.

* * *

Mii sighed as she half-watched some Looney Tunes cartoons. If only she was older, she could have been in the same room as Rob and Hyoga right now... taking part... feeling... what she was feeling right now...

She turned the TV off. "Pronoun trouble" would have to wait. She knew she shouldn't be feeling the way she did just then - especially considering how unsexy a show she was watching - but she couldn't help it.

* * *

"Oh, oh God! This is fantastic!"

"Oh, oh, darling..."

* * *

Ami could hear everything that was going on in the apartment immediately below her... but she was too busy to listen.

* * *

Mii was at the opposite end of the building... but she could "hear" everything in her mind, too.

---

Ottawa, ON, Canada
December 22, 2016
11:54pm ET


"Oh, God. How many times did I just ... Oh, ..." She collapsed from exhaustion.

* * *

"Oh, God. How many times did I just ... Oh, ..." She collapsed from exhaustion.

* * *

"Oh, God. How many times did we just ... Oh, ..." They collapsed from exhaustion.

---

Ottawa, ON, Canada
December 23, 2016
6:51am ET


"Good morning, ladies!"

Mii and Ami both blushed at hearing Rob's greeting... and blushed even deeper when they saw Hyoga was with him. "Good morning... Is something wrong?"

"No...?" whispered Ami.

"Maybe?" Mii whispered.

From the common room's doorway, Makoto said, "There you are! Good morning, Ami! Why did you take off so quickly last night?"

Ami's blush deepened even farther at Makoto's question.

"What happened?"

Mii looked at him in surprise. "You know what happened! I could hear the two of you!"

"You heard us? From the other end of the building?"

"So could I..." Ami whispered.

"I didn't think we were that loud!"

Makoto looked at Hyoga. "You and Rob-san... Whatever you did, I didn't hear it."

"But..." Mii looked puzzled.

"Oh, no! The link!"

"What link?"

Rob grimaced. "We didn't tell you because we didn't think it was any of your business, Mako-chan. Peorth told Hyoga that she has an emphatic link with the people she loves."

"The people I want to protect. I didn't realize that it's a two-way link! I'm sorry!"

Ami smiled shyly. "Don't be. It... wasn't unpleasant."

"it was very pleasant..." Mii breathed.

"You need to keep control of that link!"

Hyoga turned to Makoto, tears in her eyes. "I don't know how ..."

---

Ottawa, ON, Canada
December 23, 2016
8:23am ET

"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. You need to resolve this before the party tomorrow, and 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 here to see what's about to happen, the fewer distractions we'll have in doing it. You don't have to go all the way to Montreal, the way Kazari-san did, but I think it's best if people who aren't directly involved in what we're going to do are in the same room."

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?"

It only took two seconds for everybody to stand up at once.

While everyone else headed for the building's pocket dimension, Rob motioned to Mii to stay behind for a moment. "About your 'very pleasant' comment, that's the second time that I know about that you've reacted that way to a couple enjoying each other's company."

"Before you say anything else," Mii interrupted, "I'll point out that enough people have voyeuristic tendencies to make porn a successful business."

"I think maybe we have different definitions of 'voyeur', but you've made your point. I'll shut up now. Let's go join the others."

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-bedroom 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 of this building and 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 Kokoro 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."

He remembered some advice that he'd given Ami back when Setsuna and Hotaru arrived in Refuge, but he couldn't remember the context or the exact discussion. But he had something more important to do just then. "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. 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.

---

Ottawa, ON, Canada
December 23, 2016
Noon ET

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."

---

Ottawa, ON, Canada
December 23, 2016
12:02pm ET


"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?"

She wasn't about to discourage her clone's attempt to develop a sense of humour. "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."