View source for Two Birds and a Witch (Takashi Agera)

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2024/10/31
|Location=Obsidian Tower
|Synopsis=Takashi is watching the storm brewing outside, but there's also trouble much closer.
|Cast of Characters=40
}}

Takashi looked outside of his window in his office within Obsidian Tower. Like many of the offices within the stacked space the window showed an upside down Tokyo; an effect of cramming more rooms in the building than should have been possible.

Various systems in his office seemed to be crunching vast quantities of data, green text on black backgrounds scrolling by. 

Outside, in the distance, a massive storm was visible - the rain falling upwards in great gobs. 

<<The data is inconclusive but most similar to Witches.>> Axion states as the gem on his wrist pinged. <<Sheer magnitude of energy is likely contributing to the distortion of collected data. Only comparable scale detected in Titan research and during Paris and Sunset Incidents.>>

Takashi clasped his hands behind his back. "Well, what the hell could it be then."

<<All data indicates the source is not Obsidian Member or Director. Energy signature inconsistent with Dark Energy users or entities. System hypothesis: Former Puella Magi and current Witch of extreme power.>>

"Yeah. Yeah." He says. And then wishes Obsidian had a Puella Magi still, or an expert on such. Or that he'd spent more time experimenting and less time eating baked goods. 

"Another month, another magical apocalypse. But I can actually help with this one I suppose." He says. "Let's go get some field data."

<<Affirmative.>> 

"Axion, EXE-" and then the building's power flickered and went out.
Takashi's green eyes blinked. The computers behind him were still running, still crunching data. He didn't rely on the building's power for that gear. But the building went into lockdown for a moment. "Well that's to be expected. Storm like this." 

Still, something made him feel uneasy. And then the sound of his door being flung open caused him to turn around rapidly. 

"The hell?" He asked, looking at the intruders. One was a raven like humanoid looking youma, the other was owl-like. 

"Where's Director Testarossa?" The owl youma asked, voice panicked.

"Dunno, haven't seen her today - Fate or Arf either. That's not really that unusual though..." Takashi replied.

"Nononono!" Shouted the raven youma. And he dashed away and started pounding on the large doors that last to Precia Testarossa's private office and lab. 

"What the hell? You better hope she's not here or you're gonna end up a cooked bird, banging like that." Takashi said as he walked out of his office. "Stop it."

"She can't be out right now! We need her. She's the only one who understands this part of it!" Squaked the owl youma. 

"Understands wha... Oh." Well, the two youma in question, Takashi had seen before in less panicked times. They were responsible for overseeing and guarding the Reactor that lay at the core of Obsidian Tower. The one Precia helped create. The one that churned the dark energy stolen by Obsidian agents constantly. The one they all fed. Responsible for who knows how many plots and tools and such. A storehouse for so much stolen energy.

"It's going to go critical! Then we're all cooked!" The raven youma squaked and kept banging on the door. "DIRECTOR TESTAROSSA!!!"

Takashi grimaced visibly. Okay that was... probably bad. 

"... Take me to it. Give me access and I can help."

"What?! Stupid human, the technology is not of your world. It's beyond you!" The owl youma snapped back.

"Okay one: no it isn't beyond me. Rude. Two: in this case specifically because if the Director built it, it's probably Midchildan and nobody understands that tech '''and''' ''energy'' like I do."

"Impossible! You don't have the knowledge and you don't have the access! You're just middle management! Her assistant!" The owl youma squaked. 

"I ''built'' my own device from that tech! I reverse engineered the technology out of ''scrap metal''! And besides, if it's already failing... My bet is the big spooky pumpkin spice halloween magic death storm out there is disrupting something. But come on, we don't have time for you to debate if it's worth it, not if that things is going critical enough for you to be doing that." Takashi said, gesturing to the raven continuing to bang on the door, even kicking it now. The owl youma looked pensive, nervous. "Just let me in. You can leave your friend over there to keep attacking the door, but nobody is here. You can go keep trying to get Tomoe or something after you let me in."

The bird man continued to fret, but finally squaked in angry frustration. "It would be on both our heads!!!" 

"We're not gonna have heads or any other body parts if that thing goes up. It's just gonna be Father Obsidian, a crater... And maybe one ''really'' obnoxious court jester, left here." 

"...Fine. Emergency only!" The youma squawked as he started to run out of the room. "Run! Hurry! No delays! Need to keep looking for better help after I take you there!" 

"Yeah, just keep questioning my competence, that'll really make me want to save us." Takashi snapped back as he followed.