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houseisekai · 3 years ago

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House Isekai: A Realm Reborn - Part 3, Thunder Rolls (1 of ???)

House Isekai ARR Masterlist Here

—

Client: Marianne Von Edmund

After Duvalie, Fireteam Alpha-Nine, and Raelyn set off to Goneril territory, the newly reformed House Isekai are sent to assist the head of House Edmund, Marianne.

Although, things do not go as smoothly as Sitri hopes...

[Out of Time - Final Fantasy XIV OST]

The room displayed massive crystals that showed reflections of the group.

Although it was heavily distorted and any normal person would be barely able to hear what was being said, the figure watching had no such difficulty.

(Buck) “Alright everyone, stand down. How about this? You just tell us what we need to know about these guys, and we’ll go put a few bullets in their heads.”

(Mickey) “If bullets even work on them-”

(Raelyn) “From the one I encountered, a single Bolter round will do just fine.”

(Lisa) “If it means less fighting, then there’s no harm. Duvalie dear, do be careful at least?”

(Duvalie) “O-Of course, Miss Lisa!”

(Aigis) “That was a very fast change in attitude-”

(Rean) “You get used to it.”

(Towa) “I suppose we’ll just meet and explain everything more in detail later?”

The figure raised its hand, engines whirring and steam coming out as it did.

A portal opened in front of the group to their first destination.

The one they called Duvalie was the first one to step through the portal, followed by the soldiers.

"FIRST TELEPORTATION SUCCESSFUL."

The figure slowly turned and a screen appeared in front of it, lines of text and numbers turning green.

(Kazuma) “…Wait a second, none of them knows anything about Fodlan. Why did we let them go anywhere alone?”

(Sitri) “…That’s a good question.”

When the text finished, a crystal behind it displaying a four legged being suddenly flashed off, the light dimming and turning dull.

"SECOND TELEPORTATION INITATING."

The figure opened another portal behind the other group and patiently waited for everyone to step through. As soon as they did, the portal closed behind them.

"OBSERVING."

The crystals picture suddenly split showing two sides, one of Duvalie's group, and one of House Isekai.

It said nothing else as it quietly watched.

===

House Isekai: A Realm Reborn - Part 3

Thunder Rolls

[Raise Your Flag - MAN WITH A MISSION]

Raise your flag

With all your voice

Shout it out loud with all your voice

One day

Someday somewhere

Dream on as we wander

Under pressure, you are waiting for direction

Going on the road without your mind

All misleads they give ignoring our decisions

Killing yourself your soul we have inside

Continue the struggle and feel like you’re discouraged

Rise up again to run to the end

In between the never-ending dream

We can struggle and muzzle the world before it fades away

Raise your flag

With all your voice

Shout it out loud with all your voice

One day

Someday somewhere

Believing that we will reach that goal

Come on and Raise your flag

So just Raise your flag

No matter how many times we feel defeated or lost

As long as we breathe

As long as we carry on

Dream on as we wander

===

…

Everyone was confused on why the portal closed.

Sitri made sure no one was looking at her as she whispered.

(Sitri) “Sothis?”

(Sothis) “Uh, don’t look at me. I wasn’t even the one who opened it.”

(Sitri) “Wait, then where did…?”

(Rean) "If I know anything about her, she'll be fine. I hope the others with her don't have to put up with too much..."

(Aigis) "In any case, we should get going as well, correct?"

(Kazuma) "Yeah, we've wasted enough time standing around as it is."

(Kurt) "I am quite interested in seeing what this world is like."

(Venti) "Indeed, perhaps it'll give me inspiration for new tales to tell at the tavern!"

(Jean) "Well, we shall defer leadership to you then."

Sitri realized Jean was looking at her, which was quickly followed by everyone else.

(Towa) "I guess you technically are the boss!"

(Elizabeth) "Well, Lady Sitri?"

Sitri cleared her throat and nodded.

(Sitri) "Right. Let's move out now then."

Right on cue, a portal opened in front of them, and all stepped through it, being teleported to forest with a beaten path.

As quickly as it appeared, it closed behind them.

Once again checking that no one was looking at her, she turned again.

(Sitri) "Sothis, who's opening these?"

(Sothis) "I'm not sure...We need to look into it once we're done here."

Venti and a few of the other Knights noticed Sitri and Sothis speaking quietly, though it appeared no one else did.

(Venti) "Hey, you see that floating green thing next to Sitri, right?"

(Amber) "Y-Yeah, it popped up earlier!"

(Diluc) "It's most likely similar to Paimon. We shouldn't bother her about this when we got more important matters."

(Lisa) "So, where are we?"

(Kairos) "This would be Alliance territory. Specifically House Edmund's, I've travelled these roads with my family for merchant related business."

(Rean) "Well then, do you mind leading the way?"

(Kairos) "...Of course."

Kairos walked along the path, guiding everyone else. Everyone travelled in their own smaller groups. Sitri was with the Garreg Mach Students, Rean and Towa were with Class VII, and Kazuma and Aigis were with the Knights of Favonius.

(Elizabeth) "I am not sure how I feel about this."

(Sitri) "About what?"

(Helena) "Pretty sure she means House Isekai."

(Elizabeth) "Well, it's not just THAT but...-"

(Kairos) "She means that we don't know how we feel about working with these offworlders."

(Astrid) "Hey come on, I'm sure we all have our doubts but at least give them a fair shot."

(Stefan) "Yeah, if Lady Sitri and our leaders trust them, its for a reason."

(Helena) "If nothing else, they know how to fight what we're up against better."

(Sitri) "You all were chosen for a reason. Your skills are the most exceptional of the three houses, and they will be a core part of this house in the days coming.

(Elizabeth) "Y-Yes, Lady Sitri."

(Kairos) "...Understood."

Aigis looked uneasy as she turned to the others.

(Aigis) "If this is how the current houses feel about House Isekai, I am concerned to think on how the rest of Fodlan thinks."

(Kazuma) "Yeah, people like Ainz and Slayer didn't really help our reputation much either.

(Amber) "But your old group saved this world, I thought everyone would adore you guys."

(Aigis) "It is not as simple as that, I'm afraid."

(Kazuma) "Long story, we'll tell you guys when we get back."

Kurt and Juna couldn't help but listen in on the conversation in front of them.

(Kurt) "Hmph. Were it so easy."

(Juna) "Instructor Rean, Towa?"

(Rean) "Huh? What is it?"

(Towa) "Yes?"

(Juna) "Just how bad were things when you guys interfered to be treated like this?"

(Rean) "..."

(Towa) "...Let's put it this way, none of us would be talking to each other right now."

Juna and the other Class VII members shrugged and continued walking. It'd probably be better to just focus on the mission right now.

A few hours later, they began to approach upon castle gates. They were stopped by Alliance soldiers, who shot a look at the ones obviously not from Fodlan.

(Sitri) "My name is Sitri Eisner of Garreg Mach. We have come here at the request of Lady Edmund."

(Alliance Soldier) "We appreciate the aid. Let them through."

Kairos was still in front while everyone else tagged along behind him. He slowed his walk to look around the estate.

The path to the main castle was well treaded, just as Kairos remembered. The dirt path was still a clean brown, and the grass and trees well maintained, with few servants attending them.

The path was not anything fancy, it was just a straight path to the estate, fitting Marianne's personality.

(Kairos) "It's been years since I've last been here."

(Helena) "Can't say my old team got anywhere close to here. Too much security."

(Astrid) "Your parents were merchants, right?"

(Kairos) "Yes. The noble families that didn't shun us for being commoners were few, and Lady Edmund was one of them, and we constantly made runs to sell our wares here."

(Kazuma) "Sounds like something Marianne wouldn't care about. She was probably one of the few people who wasn't a complete asshole."

(Aigis) "There were plenty of people who were not...rude. Do you think you are misremembering?

(Kaeya) "Or perhaps were you the one, mister Kazuma?"

(Kazuma) "Hey, I didn't start most of the shit here!"

Kazuma spun around to Kaeya.

(Kazuma) "AND YOU CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA START SHIT WITH ME!"

Everyone except Diluc and Jean was fighting back a snicker. Venti failed to.

(Venti) "...Ehe."

(Kazuma) "SCUSE YOU, THE HELL DO YOU MEAN, 'EHE'?!"

(Musse) "He is quite loud isn't he?"

(Rean) "You kinda get used to it."

(Ash) "Really now?"

(Towa) "Believe us, there was much worse people to hold a normal conversation with."

At the doors, a familiar face was waiting to greet them.

Rean Towa, Aigis, and Kazuma smiled as they walked up together with Sitri and the Garreg Mach students.

[Musica Universalis - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers OST]

(Kairos) "Lady Edmund."

Kairos, Elizabeth and Stefan bowed.

(Helena) "Huh. Much younger than I thought."

(Astrid) "Hey...Oh crap you're a lord, u-um good evening my...lady?"

(Marianne) "Hah, there is no need to be so formal everyone. Especially since old friends are here."

Kairos raised an eyebrow until he realized who she was speaking to.

Marianne smiled at the former members of House Isekai.

(Rean) "Marianne!"

(Towa) "Hello, its so good to see you again!"

(Kazuma) "Yo. Been a bit."

(Aigis) "It is always a pleasure seeing an old member of the Golden Deer."

(Marianne) "The same can be said to you all. You are quite the sight for sore eyes."

Marianne turned to Sitri and the Garreg Mach students.

(Marianne) "I take it these are your new students, Sitri?"

(Sitri) "They are. They're quite...interesting to say the least."

(Marianne) "When you're dealing with House Isekai at all, it's going to be."

Marianne chuckled softly and stepped to the side, an arm extended to her door while the guards stepped aside.

(Marianne) "Please, come in. We have much to discuss."

Everyone walked inside, following Marianne deeper into her estate.

The Knights opened the doors to the dining hall, where everyone took a seat.

(Kazuma) "Huh, didn't think you'd have a place like this."

(Marianne) "Neither did I, if I am to be honest. At the very least, this oversized dining hall is seeing proper use."

(Rean) "Yeah, it does seem quite excessive, doesn't it?"

The former members continued to have a leisurely discussion, annoying Kairos and Elizabeth.

(Elizabeth) "Don't they realize who they're talking to? Why in the world are they so...casual?!"

(Kairos) "They ought to show some form of respect for her title!"

(Stefan) "Well, they knew her back when they were in the academy right? Makes sense why they're so informal."

(Helena) "That and Edmund said for you guys to pull the sticks out your asses anyway.

(Astrid) "Eloquent as always, Helena..."

The conversation finally ended when some glasses of water was brought out for everyone by the servants, in which Marianne cleared her throat.

[End Song]

(Marianne) "Sitri, I believe Claude told you what was troubling us."

Sitri nodded.

(Sitri) "Yes. I believe he said it was something about an unidentified object in the woods?"

(Marianne) "Yes. We have never gotten close enough to properly identify this threat, it has always turned hostile the moment we attempt and approach."

(Rean) "Has anyone been injured from these investigations?"

(Marianne) "Plenty of injuries, though thankfully none of them were lethal. They appeared to be warning shots more than anything."

(Aigis) "That rules out Shadows at least, they do not hesitate when it comes to killing humans..."

(Towa) "We don't have enough information, I guess we have to see it ourselves."

(Marianne) "I'll give you a map before you leave then."

(Kazuma) "Has there been any other strange incidents?"

(Marianne) "Hm...Other than reports of Separatist movements, there hasn't been too much."

(Kairos) "Separatists have been spotted all the way out here?!"

The offworlders turned to Kairos, looking confused.

(Rean) "Separatists?"

(Kairos) "Yes, thanks to your actions, you've all but ensured a second civil war will occur!"

The original four members eyes widened, then turned to Marianne.

(Marianne) "I'm...afraid that is not entirely off basis, but that being said-"

She furrowed her brows as her fist gently hit the table.

(Marianne) "Kairos, on what grounds do you think you can speak that way to the very people who saved all of us?!"

(Kairos) !!! "I-...I apologize. That was out of line."

(Marianne) "...No matter. I will gather the necessary supplies for your investigation. Just a moment."

Marianne bowed and left the room, leaving just House Isekai in the room.

Sitri turned to Kairos and the other Garreg Mach students, clenching her fist.

(Sitri) "I am quite aware of your stance on House Isekai, but I will not tolerate another outburst again. Am I clear?"

(Kairos) "Y-Yes Ma'am..."

Helena, Astrid, and Stefan shrugged while Elizabeth felt a slight tang of guilt as well. While she had enough tact to not say that out loud, it was very close to how she felt about them as well.

The Knights of Favonius and Class VII shifted uncomfortably watching this exchange happen. It was obvious that their involvement here went beyond their comprehension...

...

[Suspicion - Persona 5 OST]

Shibuya, Central Street...

Ryuji scrolled through his phone over and over again. He looked up from it and his eyes searched for any familiar faces. So far, no one had shown up.

(Ryuji) "Come on, what's takin' them so long?"

He looked down at the phone again and reread the messages, losing count of how many times he's done so.

GROUP CHAT: Akira Kurusu, Ann Takamaki, Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, Futaba Sakura, Haru Okumura, Sumire Yoshizawa

Akira: Hey, did anyone else get that message?

You: What message?

Futaba: You mean the one from Sitri?

Ann: So that wasn't just me!

Haru: I could only hear a little bit of the message, I was in the middle of something.

Haru: What's strange is that I cannot get it to replay.

Makoto: Same here. Was anyone able to?

Yusuke: Fortunately I was. The message is as follows:

Yusuke: “This is Sitri Eisner of Garreg Mach Monastery. House Isekai, we are requesting immediate assistance from anyone that can hear this. If you are able, please arrive at Garreg Mach. This message will now repeat.”

You: Holy shit, did something happen?!

Sumire: I wasn't able to hear it either, I'm afraid. What was the tone of her voice?

Futaba: Pretty calm, actually. Still though if she's calling for aid, that's not good.

Akira: Pretty bad timing too. Morgana and I can't exactly leave to meet up in Tokyo.

Makoto: And college is currently taking my attention.

Makoto: Who knows how long we'd be gone for if we went in now?

Yusuke: Is there anyone who can respond, then?

You: I'll be the vanguard then! Leave it to me!

Ann: Thankfully I'm available as well, so I'll go with Ryuji.

Haru: That's relieving to hear. I have company business I must attend personally.

Haru: But, I am not comfortable with only two of our members being able to answer the call.

Akira: I think the Investigation Team and S.E.E.S left us their numbers before we left Fodlan. You guys should give them a call.

Ann: Good idea!

Ann: I wonder if anyone else in House Isekai's answered already...

Ryuji: They better have, it'd be pretty awkward if it was only us!

Sumire: Then we shall leave this in your hands for now. We'll try to show up as fast as we can!

Akira: We're counting on you guys. Stay safe.

You: You bet!

Ann: We won't let you down!

The messages finished two days ago, and apparently the distress signal was sent four days before that. Meaning 6 days had passed now.

He and Ann were able to contact Naoto of the Investigation Team and Mitsuru of S.E.E.S. They all planned to meet in Central Street at 12 today.

It was 11:50 PM, while no one was late, Ryuji still felt anxious. It had been two years since they all had left Fodlan, and he still wasn't used to the idea of jumping dimensions, ironically.

(Ann's Voice) "Ryuji!"

He put away his phone and waved a hand.

(Ryuji) "Yo, good to see ya!"

Ann nodded as she leaned on the wall next to Ryuji.

(Ann) "I'm so glad someone else was able to respond. To be honest, I'm kind of terrified right now."

(Ryuji) "Dude, holy shit same! Like what's so bad that they need ALL of us there?"

(Ann) "I'm not sure I wanna think about it, but we have to...ugh, why did Sitri have to call at such a bad time? The fact only a few of us can respond is pretty scary."

(Naoto's voice) "Hopefully, that is all we need."

The two turned as Naoto tipped her hat to them, adjusting her coat.

(Naoto) "I see we all arrived early, today."

(Ryuji) "Well, considering what the situation is, it's better that we get here faster than usual."

(Naoto) "Indeed. Unfortunately, I contacted my group and I am the only one from the Investigation Team responding."

(Ann) "Oh, there's Mitsuru! Hey, over here!"

Ann waved wildly to catch her attention, Mitsuru slowly wading her way through the afternoon crowd of Shibuya.

(Mitsuru) "Hello everyone...So, this is all that can make it right now?"

(Ryuji) "Yeah, it sucks pretty effin' bad that it's just the four of us, but I think we can handle it!...God I hope we can."

(Mitsuru) "Hm. Well, anyways I have at least some news to share regarding House Isekai's situation. Aigis was the first person to respond to Sitri's call."

(Ann) "...And?"

(Mitsuru) "Concerningly, that's all I heard from Aigis before she went in. It's been dead silent otherwise. Although it has only been 6 days, I'd still have preferred to hear something at least."

(Naoto) "Have we heard anything from our former classmates?"

(Ryuji) "We haven't heard nothin' anyone else..."

(Ann) "What about Slayer? He set up our whole communication system to begin with, right?"

(Mitsuru) "That seems to be our only lead that can have us safely arrive back to our world, so I think that may be our best course of action."

(Ryuji) "Right, so we should get going...Er, how exactly are we going to do that?"

(Naoto) "I believe-"

KABOOOOOOOOM!

[Tension - Persona 5 OST]

The buildings shook violently as an explosion rocked the entire city.

People's screams and confused muttering filled the streets as they looked towards the source.

The four Persona Users regained their footing and looked at what everyone else was staring at.

It was a massive cloud of smoke off in the distance near the Subway stations.

(Ann) "What the heck was that?!"

(Mitsuru) "We must put our plans on hold for now!"

(Naoto) "Agreed, let us investigate the cause!"

Mitsuru and Naoto rushed ahead without hesitation, leaving Ryuji and Ann alone for the moment.

(Ann) "S-So confident...!"

(Ryuji) "Man, I dunno if I'm glad or disappointed in myself that I'm not able to react THAT normally to explosions..."

Shrugging, the two sprinted to catch up with Mitsuru and Naoto.

A few minutes later, the four managed to get near the source of the explosion. It was in the middle of station square where a number of officers had gathered to block people from getting past them.

(Officer) "Stand back people, don't get too close!"

(Officer 2) "Hey, no pictures, everyone get back!"

Naoto shoved people aside while the other three tagged closely behind her.

(Officer 3) "You people deaf?! I said-Hey wait a second, you're that Detective Prince!"

(Naoto) "Naoto Shirogane, yes. What's going on here?"

(Officer 3) "Man, we have no idea. One second everything was normal then this big explosion happened outta nowhere!"

(Mitsuru) "Any injuries?"

(Officer 3) "A lot of people injured, but no ones dead, by some miracle."

(Naoto) "May we see the scene, for a moment at least?"

The officer looked at Naoto then sighed.

(Officer 3) "Make it fast, we have no idea if this was a terrorist attack or not."

Naoto nodded and the four moved past the guards and investigated the site.

In the middle of the street, there was a massive crater with a rock in the center of it.

(Naoto) "What in the world...?!"

(Ann) "Hey, doesn't that rock look kinda-?"

The rock upon closer examination appeared to be made of some sort of crystal.

And in the crystal appeared to be a mixture of some form of red minerals into it.

(Ryuji) "Wait a sec, don't that look like?!-"

(Mitsuru) "The Crystal Tower from Zanado? It looks like only a fragment has appeared, and thankfully not even close to its original size. How on earth did it-"

[Blood of Villain - Persona 5 OST]

A hatch opened up making everyone flinch, a puff of smoke slowly emerging from the door.

(Naoto) "Everyone, stand behind me!"

Naoto pulled out a revolver from her coat, officers quickly escorting the bystanders watching away from whatever was about to happen.

The hatch was violently flung off from the fragment, the door almost hitting several people in the process.

And from that hatch, a large foot was sticking out, slowly landing onto the ground.

The figure that landed in front of them was an absolutely massive creature, decked out in metal plating, broken leather and green skin.

It raised its head, cackling at first, but the laughter stopped when it got a good look at its environment.

(Green Creature) "Wot 'da zog iz dis?! Dis ain't da boss's ship! It's full uv 'umiez!"

(Ryuji) "WHAT THE 'EFF IS THAT?!"

Multiple similar looking creatures stepped out with the one in front, looking just as angry. Naoto lost count after the 15th one dropped out.

In total, from what she could guess, it looked like there was about thirty of them.

(Green Creature 2) "Dose lanky Boyz lied ta us! Dey said dey were gunna tellyport us right'n 'der!"

(Naoto) "STOP RIGHT THERE! DON'T MOVE ANY FURTHER!"

The green creatures stared at Naoto, and its disgusting smile grew back again, the cackling returning twofold.

(Green Creature) "Look at 'dat puny shoota 'dat 'umie's got!"

The creature pulled out its own gun and aimed it straight at her.

Naoto's eyes went wide, as the gun it pulled out was as big as her torso.

(Green Creature) "Now DIS?! DIS IZ A SHOOTA!"

(Ann) "HOLY CRAP!"

(Mitsuru) "What are these...Things?!"

(Green Creature 2) "Yer hear 'dat? Dey ain't neva heard uv us orkz before!"

(Ork Leader) "Dere faces are jus irritat'n me! KILL 'DA 'UMIEZ BOYZ! DEN WE GET DOSE LANKY BOYZ WHEN WE GET BACK!"

(Orks) "WAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Ann and Ryuji's clothes suddenly shifted, making them look down in confusion.

(Ann) "Huh?!"

(Naoto) "Those clothes...then that means...!"

Mitsuru pulled out an evoker and pointed it at her head while Naoto quickly reached for her glasses, Ann and Ryuji grabbing their masks.

"PERSONA!"

[Invitation to Freedom - Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth OST]

Ryuji shot first with his Persona, aiming it directly at the group of orks.

(Ryuji) "CAPTAIN KIDD!"

His person's arm cannon burst into a flame and disappeared as another explosion rung out and hit the fragment behind them, blowing up three orks.

The orks ignored their fallen kin and screamed, shooting wildly with their crude guns and the bullets not going anywhere even close to hitting them.

Mitsuru nimbly dodged an ork swinging its axe at her, slamming onto the concrete as her Persona froze the ork in place.

(Mitsuru) "Artemisia!"

Mitsuru's Persona froze another two approaching her, and shattered them into pieces.

(Ryuji) "COME ON YOU BIG SON OF A BITCH!"

Ryuji's grin grew as he slammed his mace into an Ork's head, but his smile turned into shock when his weapon broke.

The ork Ryuji hit laughed as it raised its arm.

(Ork) "BAHAHAHA!"

The Ork's arms slammed into Ryuji, sending him flying past the police tape which was at least 10 feet from the fight.

(Ann) "SKULL!"

Ann ducked as bullets whizzed over her head, using her whip and swinging it at the one that attacked Ryuji.

Once again, their melee attacks appeared to do nothing.

(Ork) "YA HIT LIKE WUN UV IM TAU BOYZ, HA!"

(Ann) "GO TO HELL! CARMEN!"

Ann's hands reached her mask and a swift pull summoned her Persona in front, and at a snap of her fingers, the ork was set ablaze screaming and flailing wildly.

Spinning around Ann set a squad of five on fire, a similar effect being achieved as their bodies turned to ash.

Three orks charged Naoto with their axes about to chop her head off.

A tarot card floated above her as he revolver aimed upwards.

(Naoto) "Sukuna Hikona!"

Her Persona appeared in front of the orks, confusing them.

(Ork) "Eh, wot iz 'dat? It's so tiny!"

Naoto's Persona swung rapidly at them, her sword arm finishing behind them.

The orks looked at themselves before looking back at Naoto.

(Ork 2) "DAT WAS NOTHING! YA KAN'T KRUMP AN ORK LIKE DAT!"

Naoto ignored them and ran past them to help out the others.

The three moved to pursue her, until one of their legs came off, then arms, then slowly their head.

(Ork) "...OH ZOG-"

Was the last words of the third ork as they slid into chunks, their corpses falling and their pieces mixed together.

The leader of the group watched in mild excitement and curiosity, never seeing this type of fighting before.

(Ork) "Im 'umiez are krumping our boyz pretty gud."

(Ork Leader) "Dat dey are, dat dey are..."

Mitsuru helped Ryuji up off the ground, her Persona shielding them.

(Mitsuru) "Are you alright?"

(Ryuji) "Hooooly shit, ugh think that guy broke one of my 'effin ribs!"

(Mitsuru) "So direct fighting is out of the question for us then. Can you still fight?"

Another group of three approached them as Ryuji took off his mask, more pissed off than ever.

Captain Kidd rammed straight into them, knocking them all into the ground, then shooting its cannon arm into the air and a bolt of lightning raining down and smiting them, their bodies falling limp.

(Ryuji) "That answer your question?"

Ryuji's face moved to smile but started coughing and falling on one knee.

(Ryuji) "HOHO-OH, THAT HURTS! J-JUST GO I...NEED A SEC!"

Captain Kidd moved to the defensive while the ork's guns started firing at him, the bullets being barely deflected.

Four more orks started to run towards Mitsuru, their guns aiming right at her.

Mitsuru's Persona created an icy floor beneath them, making them slip over and fall flat on their backs.

At a split second, spikes of ice shot up and tore them to pieces, Mitsuru quickly examining where the next threat was.

Ann and Naoto were engaged in close combat with two orks each, Ann's agility was the only thing keeping her from being cleaved in half by their frightening strength.

Carmen's flames were lighting them ablaze, but they were still somehow fighting.

Naoto's Persona created shields that deflected their attacks as she tried to figure out how to get out of the defensive.

Any longer meant that those axes were splitting her head in two.

Naoto raised her revolver and shot one of them in the eye, making them recoil and shove the other ork back by accident.

Quickly seizing the chance, her Persona moved for their hands, then decapitating them at the blink of an eye.

Ann's Persona kicked up the intensity of her fires, to the point where the concrete itself was set on fire, reducing them to literally nothing.

The Ork's leader turned to the last three next two him and they jumped down, eager to get in the fight.

That fight was short lived as those two orks were quickly frozen, then smashed to pieces by Captain Kidd.

(Ork Leader) "HAH, YA KAN FIGHT, I LIKE 'DAT 'UMIE!"

(Ann) "Which one of you is the commander or whatever?!"

(Ork) "I AM!"

(Ork Leader) "WOT?!"

Ann's Persona burned the Ork Leader to Ash, leaving the singular one alive.

The ork struggled to conceal a smile. Now HE would be the boss.

...Assuming he'd live from these humies who look ready to kill him anyway.

(Naoto) "Is that all of them?"

(Ryuji) "Y-Yeah, looks like it."

[Wicked Plan - Persona 5 OST]

The Ork jumped down laughing.

(Ork) "Not bad, not bad at all!"

(Naoto) "Now, you'll answer our questions! What are you?!"

(Ork) "Why do yer 'umiez always sound 'da zoggin' same? We'z orkz! 'Da greenest an' bestest!"

(Ann) "...Uh, what is he saying?"

(Ryuji) "'Eff if I know..."

(Naoto) "Now, where did you come from?! And is that the Crystal Tower?!"

(Ork) "Krystal Tower...? OH! 'Da giant shiny spiky place, yea we kame from 'der. Stupid name ya gave it, dough."

Naoto was taken aback by how casual it sounded. They had just killed 29 of their...friends? Why did it sound like it didn't care?

(Mitsuru) "They're from Fodlan...? We never encountered anything like these Orks during our time there."

(Ork) "Actually we kame from da boss's ship. It gets konfusing, furst 'der was da weirdboyz 'ploding, den dose weird gits wit' da 'xtra arms attack'n us, den-"

(Mitsuru) "GET TO THE POINT."

(Ork) "We smash da zog outta some lanky boyz an' we have im lead'n us ta bigga an' betta loot! but dey backstabbed us, when we were gonna backstab our boss!"

(Ryuji) "Alright asshole, take us to Fodlan then!"

(Ork) "Wit' pleasure! i've got a mind ta teach ‘da lanky boyz a lesson! ‘da name's Gravestompah!"

(Ann) "Just shut up and get us there!"

(Gravestompah) "Psh, yer 'umiez neva know how ta have fun..."

The four followed the Ork inside cautiously into the Crystal fragment, and as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared.

...

===

GROUP CHAT: Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki, Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, Futaba Sakura, Haru Okumura, Sumire Yoshizawa

Futaba: HOLY CRAP GUYS PUT ON THE NEWS!!!

Makoto: A giant rock crashed onto the street?

Haru: My goodness, is everyone alright?

Futaba: Yeah yeah people are fine, but watch this footage I'm sending!

VIDEO.mp4

Yusuke: So our group was on the scene...

Sumire: Where in the world did they go?

===

(Morgana) "Hey, didn't that look like the Crystal tower?"

(Akira) "Yeah...No way that's just a coincidence."

===

You: I think that was the Crystal Tower. The one from...what was it called?

Yusuke: Zanado, the Red Canyon. I agree, it looks to be a part of the Crystal Tower.

Futaba: Ann, Ryuji, you guys alive?!

...

Makoto: No response.

Haru: Leader, what's our course of action?

You: We meet ASAP. Boss's cafe. I'll message the others to meet up as well.

Futaba: Loud and clear!

Yusuke: Understood.

Makoto: See you there.

Haru: Stay safe, everyone!

Sumire: Got it, Senpai!

===

Akira put away his phone and looked to Morgana.

(Morgana) "So how are we gonna get to Shibuya? We don't have a means of transportation."

Akira reached into his pocket and pulled out a small crest of House Isekai's logo.

(Akira) "Think I got an idea..."

[TO BE CONTINUED]

#House Isekai #House Isekai ARR #rean schwarzer #satou kazuma #towa herschel #aigis #sitri eisner #kairos pasha #elizabeth mcgrath

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babedur · 4 years ago

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Well, between "ADA gets a human body for some reason," "Maisie's mom time travels to the future somehow," and "Alex Hawthorne just shows up one day on the Unreliable," the last one won the fight for my brain today.

We’ll see who wins tomorrow.

Alex only hit the button because it was his only option, and braced himself. The scientists outside were yelling- at him, at each other, at the guards. The guards were yelling at him, too, and the scientists, and probably at each other, too, just to cap it off, except it was getting harder to hear over the whir of the machine he’d trapped himself inside.

If he lived, this was the last scientist job he was taking. No more scientists and corporate espionage. Smuggling and scavenging exclusively. Though he was certain to break this promise to himself, because, first of all, espionage tended to pay, and second of all, it was actually getting kind of difficult to hear himself, and everything was starting to tingle, and the tingling turned into needling, then piercing, and-

and he was in the dark, someplace a little cold and smelling a little bit like socks and the leftovers of a meal that involved hot saltuna, with a fine undercurrent of recycled ship air.

Alex patted himself down. All his fingers seemed to be in order and he could only assume the same for his toes. It was an odd feeling, going from extreme pain to extreme… neutralness, in an instant. He had the feeling it would be coming back at any moment to hit him like a ton of bricks. Or maybe a ton of bullets. Where the hell was he?

The lights flicked on. He had a moment of relief- the Unreliable’s galley, what were the odds- before ADA’s voice rang through the entire ship: “ALERT! INTRUDER in the GALLEY. I repeat, INTRUDER in the-“

“ADA,” Alex hissed. “It’s me! Not sure how, if I’m being honest, but-“

One of the closed doors in the unused crews quarters slid open. A guy with sleep-tousled curly hair, one sock, and a blade slid out into the hallway.

“What the fuck,” Alex said, lifting his pistol. “ADA, who the hell did you let onto my ship?”

“Hey!” the guy- the kid, really- barked. “How did you get onto our ship!”

“‘Our?’” Alex repeated. “This is the Unreliable. My ship, thank you.”

“I don’t understand,” ADA said, sounding lost. “I don’t- I don’t understand.”

Another door slid open. A short-haired woman aimed a bolter pistol right at his chest. “ADA,” she said, sounding half-asleep for all that her pistol hand didn’t waver as he switched his aim to her. “You falling asleep at the wheel? How the hell did we get two days away from Scylla and no one noticed we had a stowaway?”

“I don’t think that’s what happened,” ADA said.

“Damn right,” Alex muttered, and a third and fourth door opened- just how many people were here? Last time the Unreliable had had more than one person, it had just been him and Lucky, and even that had been too many people. ADA had complained for weeks about the intrusion. As it was, he was now being held at gunpoint in his own galley by four different strangers in various stages of asleep and unclothed, and most of them looked like they meant business.

“Drop the gun,” the woman with pink hair who apparently slept with a fucking axe said. She tried to circle around behind him.

“Since you asked so nicely, I’ll consider it,” Alex said, backing up to keep her in his sights. It wouldn’t last forever.

The redhead cocked her bolter and lowered her aim to his legs. “Don’t worry,” she said cheerfully, “I’m pretty sure I can patch up most of what we’ll do to you if that gun doesn’t hit the gun right now.”

Alex compromised. He put the gun on the table. The woman with pink hair immediately circled the table completely and started frisking him, finding his backup pistol and belt knife, then his boot knife. “Buy me dinner, first.”

“Is the captain awake?” A young woman with a big hammer asked.

ADA hesitated for a full two seconds. That was a long damn time, for an astrogator with ADA’s processing power. “Maisie is coming. Please standby.”

Okay. Okay. Current theory: ADA had been hacked while he was gone.

“ADA,” Alex said quietly, even as the redhead raised her gun in warning. “Do you recognize me?”

“Of course I do,” ADA said, her voice completely flat. “You’re Alex Hawthorne. But I don’t- I don’t understand. You’re dead.”

“Obviously not,” the woman with pink hair said. “You sure it’s him, ADA? You haven’t been hacked, somehow?”

“That’s my line,” Alex snapped. “Why else would ADA let anyone else onto my ship?”

Two more people- that made six, now- approached. He knew, with a sinking feeling of dread and violation, that they’d come from the captain’s quarters. The man was older, built like a tossballer and idly carrying a deadly-looking shotgun somewhat at odds with his pyjamas and slippers. The woman was older, too, with an eyepatch covering what looked like some real damage on her left eye, and acid scarring on her right cheek. Her remaining eye looked him over.

“Alright,” she said. “I’ve got a lot of questions.”

“You?” Alex snapped, kicking away the woman who was currently relieving him of his gunbelt. She just unceremoniously shoved him into one of the couches while the rest of the intruders formed a semi-circle. “You have questions? I’ve got a fucking question, lady, who died and made you captain of my ship?”

“You did, I think,” she said mildly. “Quick question, what day do you think it is?”

“Thursday, probably.”

Her mouth pulled in what could have been either amusement or exasperation. “What month and year.”

“March 3rd,” Alex said.

“And the year? 2355?”

“Of course. What other year would it be?”

“The current day,” the woman said, “is February 8th, 2356. I’ve been captain of the Unreliable for almost a year, in May, since her previous captain, Alex Hawthorne, died in the Emerald Vale by standing too close to an escape pod’s landing beacon.”

Alex blinked. And snorted. “Nice one,” he said.

“No,” ADA said. “She isn’t lying to you. That… happened.”

“It’s not possible. I was just…” he frowned. “Hey, ADA, did I get paid for the Cedar Springs job?”

“No,” ADA said. “As I recall, shortly after landing you decided that it was too risky and that your contact was, I quote, ‘a flaky son of a rungleech who didn’t have enough bits to make me piss on a sleeping UDL recruit, let alone storm an entire compound of them.’” (The young fellow barked a laugh.)

“That sounds like me,” Alex admitted. “But that isn’t what happened. I took the job. Got trapped inside. There was some big…” he gestured, outlining the platform inside the huge science-y cage thing. He received blank stares in return. “…science thing, and I pushed the button, figuring it would distract them.”

“And then…?” the captain- ugh, no, the woman- prodded.

“And then I was here, being threatened and robbed on my own ship.”

“Not quite time travel,” the woman mused, leaning comfortably on the back of one of the chairs. “Alternate universes?”

“That’s fairly far-fetched,” the older man said. “But if any company would try to research and monetize it, it would be UDL. Or, some clever hacker has convinced ADA that he matches the description of her deceased captain, and given her a fake memory or two to match.”

“Fuck you,” Alex snapped. “I put so much work into this ship I may as well have built her from scratch. You see that panel?” he pointed. Only the young woman and the guy actually looked, but that was beside the point. “I spent four hours behind it, wiring the cameras so ADA could see the table.”

“I could tell you had some trouble,” the young woman piped up. “Everything back there was covered in shrink wrap, like you’d had to strip back so far on the wire you needed to add more. A lot more.” Under his stare, she flushed. “I mean, uh, you got the job done, obviously, it’s just…”

“Great,” Alex muttered. “You stole my ship, suborned my astrogator, and now you’re insulting my engineering.”

“Let’s say we believe you’re Alex Hawthorne,” their leader said. “What happens now?”

“You put down your guns and kindly escort yourselves to the airlock?” Alex said hopefully.

The other captain shook her head. Behind her, her crew bristled.

“Worth a shot. Well, you’re the ones with the guns, you got any ideas on what to do with me?”

“You mentioned the airlock,” the redhead said thoughtfully.

“Absolutely not,” ADA said, calm voice at odds with the sudden increase in volume from her speakers throughout the ship.

“Message received,” the redhead said. “No spacing the ex-captain.”

“Ex-captain,” Alex repeated with disgust. “Current captain, thanks.”

“Do you have your ID cart?” the older man asked, which was the important question.

“Not on me,” Alex lied, and the other captain looked to the table. There it was, sitting on top of the things the pink-haired woman had filched from him, the ID cart designating him as the captain of the Unreliable. “Oh, that’s a fake.”

“I’ll just be taking that anyway,” she said, and there went one of his options for regaining control of ADA, right into her jacket pocket. The others would take more finesse and time, both of which were fragile things where you were a prisoner. “We’re currently on a job, but once we’re done with that, it seems we’re going to Cedar Springs. Any objections?”

“Who’s going to pay us for that?” the pink-haired woman asked.

“I’m sure we can find something Gladys will be interested in,” their leader said. “Or Phineas.” And that was something, that she was on first-name basis with Dr. Welles. “We’ll be solidly in the black once we collect on this one, anyhow.”

“What, after all this you’re just going to do me a good turn?” Alex said, as the crew read something in their leader’s body language which made them start to relax a little.

“Well, that’s part of it,” she said. “I know what it’s like, to wake up in a place you don’t really belong. On top of that, I’ve never met a horrific science facility that didn’t end up profiting me somehow. And, most importantly-“ she patted the pocket with his ID cart in it. “-in some other world, there’s a ship that needs a captain. I aim to return him to her.”

#the outer worlds #the outer worlds fic #towfic #my fic #snippet

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getseriouser · 7 years ago

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20 THOUGHTS: Everybody was kung-fu fighting

TWO weeks to go, we’re almost there, and it’s probably a race in three.

Top of the ladder Adelaide, second-place by a game and half, the GWS, and the bolter from the zip-six start in Sydney – it will be a hard task for any of the others in the mix to overcome at least two of those three in the one September campaign.

Mind you, 11 months ago a team from seventh did topple both reigning Grand Finalists in eight days, so buckle up, there’s most likely more surprises on the way.

1. Firstly let’s acknowledge Stevie J from last week then Bob and Gibbo from yesterday. One will go down as one of the most mecurial, successful and likeable small forwards the modern game has seen. Another, a 300-game player, the heart and soul of the Bulldog breed, an All-Australian captain. The other won two best and fairests in premiership years, a three-time premiership backman who was essential to the Hawks dynasty. Three mega careers, and the Retirement Class of 2017 just continues to mesmerise.

2. Then let’s get the MRP out of the way, it’s become such a fixture of weekly discussion and controversy. Greene, hmm, is it a week? Jarrod Waite does that all the time. There isn’t technically a rule for it, perhaps there should be. Then again, when Anthony Rocca tackled Bob Murphy, aggressively but not unfairly in 2006, and Bob did his knee sadly, would that come under scrutiny in these days? You couldn’t be 100% sure it wouldn’t, and that’s a concern in itself.

3. Impact and outcome are too closely linked, bad record and early pleas are doing too much damage. Players would challenge some of these, and should feel like they could. The penalty for doing so and losing should not equate to exactly a week extra, maybe it comes into the deliberations of the tribunal if you challenge but lose. Half the MRP issues would be solved if players could feel safe challenging their rulings. The plea bargaining is muddying the waters.

4. Back to the footy, need to acknowledge the demolition Saturday afternoon up in Sydney. The Swans would be outright favourites for the flag if they could sneak into a double chance. They are the most in form side in the competition, winning 12 of their last 14. The Crows comparatively have won nine of their last 12, the Giants, only four of the last nine. It’s been a stellar coaching job to recover from 0-6, credit to Horse Longmire but also to Stewart Dew, who is clearly a senior coach in waiting.

5. And given how things are panning out, it looks ever more likely that the Giants and Swans would be projected to meet in the Preliminary Final. AFL House would love that. Whilst a Grand Final would be that extra bit special, it would be played down in Melbourne and that would take ever so slightly some of the gloss off. But a huge prime time Grand Final decider up in Sydney, right in the heart of Rugby League finals, a finals campaign which will feature prominent games in Queensland and Melbourne, would be almost as good a result the game could ask for.

6. If there’s a long range Norm Smith book open somewhere, you could do a lot worse than throwing some loose change on anyone named Crouch. These two sticking together will attract success for years to come. Brad, 23, averaging 27 touches a game, he is 12th in the league for tackles averaging seven a game, and 15th in the comp for stoppage clearances. His brother Matt, 22, is averaging 32 touches, is third in the competition for disposals and effective disposals, sixth for contested possessions and ninth for stoppage clearances.

7. Such is their dominance but crucially their contribution to the Crows’ season, both Brad and Matt at Adelaide are first and third at the club for disposals, third and fifth for tackles, third and first for contested possessions, third and second for effective disposals. These are the sorts of players that win Norm Smiths, leading their teams to Premierships. Two great careers still in the early days here.

8. Big occasion down Sleepy Hollow last Saturday and it was a bit of a fizzer. The Tigers got wind I gave them a rare pat on the back and played accordingly. They brought nothing to the table really and Geelong gets away with another good four points, but gee, a more spirited Richmond would have tested the hosts a hell of a lot more. Shame. So the Tigers still have their question marks, and the Cats are still not ‘that’ good, please don’t be sucked in.

9. The Dogs didn’t give too much last Friday night, especially in the second half and it’s a shame. Tom Liberatore’s performance was a bit reflective of the team’s, a bit listless for effort and want, and whilst you back the reigning premier to be much better side next year, for the son of Tony you wonder where he is at. Needs a big pre-season. Or a new club.

10. But on the Dogs, let’s not forget that at this time last year, they were nursing themselves into a finals spot, itching for the pre-finals week off, with iffy form and an injury list to work through. That bye can do wonders for someone this year. Without that bye last year the Dogs probably don’t salute, they don’t get that reset, the refresh they desperately needed.

11. Another quick one for those gambling types, we do hope you chucked something responsibly on Josh Kennedy a fortnight or so ago when he was over $5 for the Coleman. Now with the clubhouse lead, by one over Joe Daniher, with two rounds to go, he has eased into $1.70. Still, two tough-ish games for the Eagles to come, whereas the Bomber spearhead has two JLT quality fixtures to dine out on, so a good hedge on Daniher wouldn’t be the worst idea.

12. We loved the Melbourne-Angus Brayshaw story on Sunday. Firstly the recovery by the Demons when the Saints got within a kick, in front of a stellar home crowd, it was just mega positive for a side that has almost all the tools to have a sniff. Unfortunately, for mine, without a fit Jesse Hogan you put a line through them. But as for Brayshaw, 24 touches, three tackles, a massive influence in the win for his first hitout in the big time for some time, properly good to see.

13. The losers on the MCG Sunday afternoon, St Kilda, that’s it for them now. One of the Saints or Dees had September in their sights this year, in fact you felt both were up to it, but the former will fall short and rue lost opportunities. If anyone just needs to make Josh Kelly come home next year it’s the Saints, he could not be more what they need, in fact without him, or someone like him, you can’t see them challenging for that second flag with this group. With him, very much they could.

14. Back to the Dees quickly, Jack Watts, where is he at? Wasn’t missed on the weekend and in Hogan’s absence you’d think they will persist with Sam Wideman up forward. If Watts left Melbourne, who would want him? He is basically a shorter Josh Fraser. Not in the future Dees premiership team, doesn’t fit any other team really other maybe than the Suns going for broke

15. On the Gold Coast, Rocket Eade said on the weekend if he had known the rabble he would inherit he would not have taken the job in the first place. Oh my Mark Evans, have you got a challenge on your hands. Let’s call a spade a bloody shovel, if their next coach does not work out for the club on-field, then the club’s existence is on the chopping block, they can’t waste another three years. If the AFL had its way they’d make sure Evans got his short, premiership winning friend from down at Waverley to be the next coach, it’s that important.

16. As for the other coaching narrative from the week, the Ross Lyon-Collingwood-Brad Hardie yarn. So Hardie believes, with a whole bunch of third parties involved, that Lyon sounded out Collingwood to see if there’d be mutual interest for next year and on. Look, Hardie has copped it from both the Dockers and Magpies, but, where there is smoke there’s fire. To me, it sounds like the Pies have gone “well, we need a few different plans, one would be if we want to poach, who would be poachable, let’s find out from Clarkson’s manager and maybe Lyon’s manager too”. That’s good due diligence. Bucks might end up staying but the Pies if they do move on from him would want a big name for the clubs sake, the narrative, all that. What if via ‘third parties’ said Lyon was gettable, the Pies probably strongly consider it don’t they?

17. And as for weird off-field ideas, this column has mooted there may be, albiet perhaps not enough to manifest, interest from the Hogan camp to head back to Perth for a multitude of personal reasons. Would a three way deal work where the Dockers receive Hogan, send their first pick, around number five right now, and a player to Adelaide, who then send Jake Lever to Melbourne?

18. So some big games this weekend, but firstly, footy in Ballarat for the first time, interesting to see the Bulldogs head down this route. There’s some cash in it, much like the nest egg Launceston/Tasmania has been to the Hawthorn dynasty, but when Sunday saw over 50k for Melbourne-St Kilda, and that the Dogs got over 30k to a match featuring the Giants at Etihad, it would be nice to see these Melbourne sides really solidify their core base and ramp up from there, instead of the novelty cheque books elsewhere.

19. But the game itself will be a final for the nominal home team. They lose, especially if the Bombers get up in Queensland later in the day, will call curtains to their flag defence you’d reckon. 12 wins and a good percentage gets you in, and a loss to the Power means they won’t be able to reach that standard unless results go their way along with a thumping of the GWS the week after. But where there’s a will, there is a way.

20. Big, big Friday night. Sydney hasn’t made a habit of losing since Easter really, so a big test to take on the top of the ladder Crows at a venue they have only lost at once all year (Hawthorn in Round 14). Adelaide will be super tough to beat but if anyone can bring them down, it’s the hottest team in the land. Don’t. Be. Shocked.

(originally published August 16)

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