View source for 2609/Arthafall: Heartlocker

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025/06/11
|Location=Abandoned Theme Park
|Synopsis=A piece of the Arthra's medical bay falls out of subspace, bringing with it a new TSAB Mage, Inspector Camero. At first he's under the influence of a dangerous Lost Logia, but with help from Nanoha, Amy, Chrono, Rashmi, Uranus and Yuki he manages to recover. Now Souta has to deal with the realty of being stranded on Earth, likely for the rest of his life.
|Cast of Characters=299,47,166,224,49,41,107
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:299|Souta Camero (299)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It all started as a small thing, only a few hours ago. There small disruptions in space time, faint signs of TSAB specific technology, and other warnings. Those who were looking would be able to see them.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;30 minutes ago, the signs got harder to ignore. Another part of the Arthra was about to enter normal space, and it would clearly happen somewhere in the Four Wards. Ten minutes ago the disruptions and disturbances escalated to such a degree that it became ''very'' clear that a subspace portal was about to open above the abandoned theme park named Fantasy Land.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Right about now, actually.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chrono might remember a certain Inspector Souta, who was a guest on the Arthra. He might also remember that Souta suddenly came down with an ailment that was clearly magical in nature. There may even have been a mention of a dangerous Lost Logia from Souta's past that had gone missing before the Inspector had joined the TSAB. All this happened before Souta was put into a pod, and that pod should have been safely ejected without ever getting pulled into Earth's Subspace Problem. Souta was never even supposed to be here.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Clearly, something went wrong.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The air itself seems to rumble and shake as the space above the amusement park expands like a bubble, and when that bubble pops a chunk of wreckage from the magitech ship about the size of an apartment appears. It descends in flames, surrounded by smaller bits of debris.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Inspector Souta's Device, Paradise Spectrum, telepathically pings any approaching Device users.<br><br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Warning! Catastrophic Subspace Event Detected.</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Warning! Active Lost Logia.</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Assistance Requested. Emergency Barrier Deployment. Apologies in Advance.</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To her credit, Paradise Spectrum manages to raise the barrier before the pieces of Arthra wreckage hit the ground, minimizing property damage. Not that it would matter much in such an empty part of the city. The main chunk lands in the middle of the jousting arena of Fantasy Land with a resounding crash, as other pieces of broken magitech and rent metal rain around it, pocking the dirt ground and the audience stand. Through an ugly molten gash in the bulkhead, one can see the sleeping pod that Inspector Souta currently rests in, surrounded by an eerie black glow.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Whatever is happening in there, it's very much not Dark Energy in the way that people on Earth know it, but it's... clearly not ''healthy'' either.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:47|Nanoha Takamachi (47)}} has posed:'''<br>Nanoha Takamachi was gonna call it an early night. No. Suzuka. No. More...Volleyball... zzzzzz... She'd just gone to sleep all snuggled in bed, Yuuno curled on the nightstand under a low dim night light...<br><br>Then her device picks up the strange transmission!? Followed by Chorno requesting aid. She groggily raises an arm with a yawn. "Raising HEaaaaart. Set up!"...<br><br>Now Nanoha is flying through the sky, which has woken her up, as she hurries towards the abandoned theme park. She can see a little raising smoke from the craft before a barrier forms and the piece of the Artha hits paydirt.<br><br>&lt; "Oh. Oh no. Someone is on there!?" &gt; she asks she asks into a local tacnet.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:166|Chrono Harlaown (166)}} has posed:'''<br>Chrono Harlaown had managed to, fortunately, pick up on some of the signs this time and alert a few of his close allies that something was coming... This time, he managed to procure a Nanoha AND a Uranus in the local area. Even a Rashmi! Many others had likely been called in as well, as pinning down the exact time and area had been... difficult, but they'd at least been able to pin down the whereabouts/whenabouts. And when it started? The call went out to where it was, to those in that designated area...<br><br>So, when the Arthra started to come through and the scans started to come through? Chrono wasn't too perturbed. The local area was already worked on being cleared, barrier about to go up, and--<br><br>And then Paradise went up. And then Rashmi would see a look on Chrono's face she likely had not seen in ages. If ever.<br><br>One that he rarely, if ever wore. As the ship came through. And he saw that a part of the ship came through... a chunk...<br><br>And that the pod was still in it.<br><br>A pod that was NOT SUPPOSED TO STILL BE THERE.<br><br>And the look on his face? Was one of *horror*.<br><br>Chrono took off, almost instantly dashing towards the crash. Mentally cursing. This wasn't possible. They'd checked. That pod was GONE.<br><br>&lt;&lt; Nanoha, I need a tunnel, now. &gt;&gt; he said. He barely made space for her to blast through as he went, though, dashing forward as fast as he could, heading towards the pod... He had to get to it.<br><br>Now. He had to release it.<br><br>Oh Souta. You can't be here. You SHOULDN'T BE HERE.<br><br>Internally, he was screaming. Was he even alive?<br><br>&lt;&lt; Paradise Spectrum, status update. This is Time Space Administrative Enforcer Chrono Harlaown, ID-CH01. I need all updates on vitals, immediately. Rashmi, prepare to assist in immediate triage. &gt;&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:224|Yuki Hoshino (224)}} has posed:'''<br>Ping! <br><br>Yuki looked down at her phone. "Dimensional disturbance?" She scratches her head, then shrugs. Argent Dawn's sensors seem to pick up something it calls 'dimensional disturbance' every few days. She turns her attention back to the essay she'd been writing, when... <br><br>Ping! &lt;<span style="color:xterm66">Warning! Major dimensional disruption detected!</span>&gt; <br><br>"Okay, okay, I get it," she mutters, then adds, "Plot the location, activate Barrier Jacket, and prep Fairy Flight." Maybe a little fresh air will help her mood. <br><br>She's in the air and on her way when the Device picks up Chrono's transmission. "On my way," she sends her reply, then pours on more speed, hopefully getting there in time to help.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:49|Sailor Uranus (49)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Haruka, of course, was on her way to support her sometimes-housemate always-friend. She'd sent Michiru a message, but the woman was currently teaching an art class for young children, and Haruka let her know that she was sure she and Chrono would be able to handle anything... which meant there was a fifty percent chance the Ocean Senshi would show up at some point.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But for now, a henshin while driving later, an open-top sports car parked near the disturbance and the short-haired blonde member of the Sailor Senshi leaping out of it and towards the disturbance.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sailor Uranus had been around a lot of Dark Energy, both of the official kind of nasty and the unofficial but still troublesome kind. Whatever this was, she knew the wind didn't like it. Shortly Chrono would likely be finding the rapid-running Soldier of Wind alongside him, moving through the path if made. "How can I help?" She asks, voice measured as though the running is taking her no effort, no more than the wind blowing a leaf.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>The first signal that Something Was Hinky had Rashmi immediately on edge -- which did not bode well for her scores in the geometry test she had today -- but when the signal was identified as matching with other bits of the Arthra as they came into parity with local time-space, much of Rashmi's tension quickly abated. This was not a Big Serious Fight coming on, at least, so the stakes probably aren't *super* high...<br> <br>Her first surprise was not when the Arthra chunk broke through the atmosphere, nor was it when its vector showed it'd land on the poor Fantasy Land... It was when she was still on her way to the prospective crash site, and *something within the chunk set up a Barrier before it made contact.*<br> <br>Usually that's her job!<br> <br>The *second* surprise was the look on Chrono's face... one that created a deeply chilling, worried feeling in the pit of her stomach.<br> <br>&lt;&lt; On it, &gt;&gt; she says as she's asked to ready for triage, banking to one side and swooping down upon the chunk of starship at Chrono's heels. &lt;&lt; Hey, &gt;&gt; she says into the comms net, &lt;&lt; Can someone to a look-around and let me know if Rivenjerk's planning on sweeping the place for parts? If we're gonna get into a fight we wanna know *now.* &gt;&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:299|Souta Camero (299)}} has posed:'''<br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Height anomaly detected. Congratulations, Enforcer Chrono.</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Attempting to access medical diagnostics... Failed. Medical system offline.</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Running Forensic Analysis. Minor bruising detected. Elevated heart rate detected. Condition otherwise stable. However...</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nanoha, of course, can tear through the bulkhead like nothing. There's nothing special or reinforced about these walls that would stop ''her'', at the very least. When Chrono reaches the pod he'll find Souta resting in a metal pod under a transparent canopy. Cracks spread across the glass-like material, getting longer and reaching further like vines crawling up a wall, making an unsettling noise the whole time. Something resting in the pod with him, hovering over him, seems to be pulsing with... whatever that Bad Energy is.<br><br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">... Mental control compromised. Apologies.</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That's the second time that Paradise Spectrum has apologized. There's a good reason for that. Souta's eyes open, and his Barrier Jacket forms around him within the pod, and with an explosion of that horrific energy the glass shatters, releasing the Inspector.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He's... not himself right now. At the very least, Chrono likely would not remember him as the kind of guy who'd break TSAB equipment on a whim and start arming himself with his twin energy tonfas, while glaring at a fellow officer with that weird glare in his eyes. A strange floating magitech mask, presumably the Lost Logia, hovers behind him.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The others can approach without any resistance. For now. Once the pieces of debris stop falling, there aren't that many environmental hazards.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Souta starts attacking the walls of the bulkhead with his twin energy tonfas. He'll make his own way out, at least until someone else makes their way in.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:47|Nanoha Takamachi (47)}} has posed:'''<br>Nanoha Takamachi tunnels. What this means is, there's a scream.<br>$R"DIVINNNNEEEEE BUSTER!" she screams as she blows a hole straight through the bulkhead after a little green-light ping from Raising Heart that she's on target. Mission Completed.<br><br>She beams a smile as she spirals down, Yuuno on her shoulder as she lands among the wreckage and blinks a little as she follows after Chrono now.<br><br>"Hey Chrono is that.. one of your friends?" she asks, as she looks at the strange going on, avoiding being attacked for the moment.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy (presumably messaged for help by Rashmi or Chrono) has already transformed to rush to the park, superjumping her way over the attractions. &lt;&lt; I don't see Riventon ''yet'', at least. What's a tunnel? Like a magical-- oh you mean a literal one. &gt;&gt; She decides to leap down that way and follow, although she doesn't rush to the front of the group. There's actual ALIEN SPACESHIP all around her! She can't not look around in awe!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But up ahead there's the guy, and a strange Device's messages on the telepathicnet, and<br><br>Congratulations, Enforcer Chrono.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy doubles over in a cackle of "HA!" and then quickly stands up and composes herself as the telepathic words get more ominous. "Oh no. Not ''again''. How many Lost Logia mind control people?!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She considers, briefly, how human the aliens are, and that something must be imagined before it's invented, and that 'alien' artificers' imaginations are probably no different from humans.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amanda sighs, briefly leaning over with her hands on her kneepads. "Why doesn't anybody ever make, like, a Lost Logia for ''good''? Like, it detects hungry people nearby and conjures food for them, or it lets people fly, or something?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She stands and walks after the group, wary, but not sure what to attack with until she sees... "Ugh... hard to get a clear shot at the mask behind him... ...Just kidding, only shooting straight is for chumps." And as soon as she has room and vision of Souta and the mask, she suddenly has an anti-tank rocket launcher on her shoulder and fires a rocket that's magically guided around allies ''and'' Souta to home in on the mask.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Why wait? She can only hope it will be easier to destroy now, before it merges with his face and can drain his body to repair itself or ''whatever''.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>&lt;&lt; Nanoha-chan, hi! &gt;&gt; Almost all tension left Rashmi's entire body upon seeing that terrifyingly oversized magenta beam just drill through the ship. After all, if Nanoha's on their side, how bad can a fight truly be?<br> <br>Following Chrono and Amy in, she *cannot restrain* a snort of laughter as this new Device congratulates her boyfriend on the centimeters he's gained. However, that's not the important thing.<br> <br>...The important thing is *breaking out of his pod* in what on any other person would look like a Dark Energy-fueled bout of berserker rage. Which would be concerning enough, but since Souta *just* got here, it simply *can't* be that. ... ..... ...Right?<br> <br>Slipping off to one side, she takes a look about what bits of this piece of the Arthra hulk remain, and quietly has Nicomachea do a scan of the medical equipment that *must* be surrounding them.<br> <br>After all, more parts are good to have on hand, and the possibility of upgrading Nicomachea's scanner suite? Even better.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:166|Chrono Harlaown (166)}} has posed:'''<br>Chrono Harlaown would fly in through the hole helpfully provided and land in front of the pod. He stared in at Souta. When last they'd met? He'd been younger than Souta. Now? He was... well... it had been a long, long time.And the device was definitely TSAB. First thing it did? Threw shade at its height. His mother could have wielded it herself.<br><br>But Souta was alive. Chrono looked relieved, at least. But only for a second. What in the world was that--<br><br>And then Souta let himself out. As shards of glass flew, Chrono lifted his arms up, shielding himself as best he could, covering his face and pulling back, staring at the deranged, slightly... out of control soldier. What?<br><br>"SOUTA CAMERO!" Chrono yelled. "I am Time Space Administrative Bureau Enforcer Chrono Harlaown! You are on a foreign planet, in a non-combat zone! Please, there is no need hostilities! Lower your weapons so we can discuss this amicably! There is a lot we need to discuss!" he called out. "You have been trapped in a dimensional anomaly for well over a year, the exact time will need to be calculated, but that cannot be done until after a proper medical examination is finished! You NEED proper medical treatment, NOT heavy athletic force!"<br><br>&lt;&lt; Be careful. I'm trying to bring up information on Souta's situation, but not all of the files survived the-- AMY NO! &gt;&gt;<br><br>But it was too late! Uh oh. Hopefully... that was the correct choice.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:224|Yuki Hoshino (224)}} has posed:'''<br>The Knight of Dawn emerges into the space above the park, and <br><br>"<span style="color:xterm66">LANCER SHIELD</span>." <br><br>A flower blossoms above the young Knight, deflecting a rain of debris that fell out of the crashing chunk of ship. "Watch where you're dropping sh - stuff!" she yells, then finally pauses to look around and take in what's going on. <br><br>At least the crazy guy seemed to be focusing on Chrono for the moment. <br><br>"Argent Dawn, give me some danmaku, non-lethal please." <br><br>An octagonal magic circle rotates beneath her feet, and more of them appear around her and start to spout buster darts. <br><br>"Hold fire," she says, waiting for a few more darts to be produced before launching them at the guy in the mask.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:49|Sailor Uranus (49)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Haruka doesn't ''laugh'' at the congratulations, but she does let the corner of one side of her face creep up in a terribly slow smile about it.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of course that smile goes away when everything turns to chaos rather quickly. She turns on Amy, but it's not with cruelty, just confusion.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Girl we are in an alien spaceship with alien devices and the one guy who knows what's fully going on hasn't finished talking yet and you're already firing? I know ''I'' like to rush into things but we should give peace a chance."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She turns to look at the on going scene as her hand clenches. "That way when we pummel it, nobody can say we didn't try."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:299|Souta Camero (299)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nanoha's tunnel creates a clear path to Souta, and the corrupted Inspector's green glare turns towards the hole created by the world's smallest artillery piece. Paradise Spectrum, for the moment, doesn't really have time to respond to Amy. After all, she's currently in the form of a pair of tonfas, being used to threaten her user's allies. Maybe that's why it was so apologetic?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy attacks the mask, and the impact sends the Lost Logia flying into the wall, but it does not break. It, and Souta, both glare at the Puella.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What Paradise Spectrum ''can'' do is give the mahoujin a rundown on What This Is and Why It's Bad.<br><br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Understood, Enforcer Chrono. Uploading files.</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Visual upload failed. Transmitting audio only. Lost Logia Designation: Heart Locker. Original Purpose: Unknown. Recorded History: Responsible for the disappearances of several mages. The Heart Locker is known to target a singular mage and, over time, attempt to mind control them by increasing aggressive tendencies over time. In late stages, the target goes completely berserk, and then disappears via unknown means. At this time, missing mages are presumed dead.</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Theory: Sufficient damage to Heart Locker may abort the process.</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As for Rashmi's scans, sure, there is some medical equipment here. Especially diagnostic tools. Some of it is non-functional because of damage to the ship. Other parts are unusable because the energy from the Heart Locker itself is interfering with their function, though this seems unintentional. The pod, itself, seems the most damaged. Parts of it could possibly be repaired or salvaged, if Rashmi was able to walk away with it. Fortunately for her, and maybe a bit less fortunate for everyone else, Souta is completely disinterested in destroying the Arthra's equipment further.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No, no that he has a way out, he's going for the exit that Nanoha just made. <span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Slider Fin</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span> Puffs of magical dust start forming around Souta's feet as he dashes forward, his feet seeming to slide over the ground as if he were hovering. He moves past Rashmi and Chrono, heading straight for Amy. In the enclosed area of the broken medbay, there isn't a whole lot of room to move around. His tonfas turn around, long parts forward, as he thrusts both of them towards Amy. It's a really good thing that the Heart Locker has no idea what a Soul Gem is. Her instincts when it comes to finding the Lost Logia's weakness may have been correct, but her reward is immediate aggro.<br><br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Spark Barret</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A bright star of mana forms in the air behind Souta, and it starts firing tiny energy barrets at Rashmi and Chrono. Another one forms, and starts firing at Nanoha and Haruka. Yuki is left alone for now, as Souta dashes out of the wreckage and onto the dusty ground of the jousting arena.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As for the ominous Heart Locker mask, it's following closely behind Souta. It's starting to take an interest in Nanoha specifically, with the way it stares at her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sadly, Chrono's attempts to snap Souta out of it go unheeded, and Souta doesn't really seem interested in giving peace any chance at all.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:47|Nanoha Takamachi (47)}} has posed:'''<br>Nanoha Takamachi smiles &lt;"Hi Rashmi-chan!"&gt; she says into the local tacnet as she desends into the tunnel she made. She then blinks as things go chaotic, "WAIT! DON'T--" and it's too late. Peace was never an option was it? She thinks sadly.<br><br>Then she's avoiding being hit with sparkling shot barrets, and she is mildly unsuccessful with this. As she's hit back and to the ground with a squeak as she's crawling up quickly, panting as she frowns. Foot combat. Not her strong tier.<br><br>She frowns and returns combat, firing off quick shot barrets, not needing to call them out on autocast, as Raising Heart forms them, and fires them off on rapid succession.<br><br>She notices that strange mask...is..is it looking at her? Why..!?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>AMY NO!<br>I know ''I'' like to rush into things but we should give peace a chance.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"D-didn't the device say something about him losing mental control?" Paradise Spectrum's report, at least, aligns with her understanding of the situation.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Souta's looking her way. "Come and--OOUGH!"<br><br>Amy's knocked back a few feet and lands on her back, looking shocked with the wind knocked out of her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She glances to the side and there's a bunch of red on the side of her vision, and for a split second she wonders if she hit the floor hard enough to bleed that much-- and then her eyes focus on it and oh right that's her hair, stupid. <span class="fg_x bg_n ++ x">''<span style="color:#ffd7ff">Ahaha, long haaaair.</span>''</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She smiles and then reorients. Souta... seems to have assumed she's down, which, to be fair, would absolutely be the case for a normal ''human'' relying on such weapons to shoot him. And the Device did say he's like, berserk.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Can't breathe. Fuckit, ''move!''<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She sits up and quick-stands by crossing and uncrossing her legs and then turns, motion a little less smooth. The plan already forming in her head started with leading him outside, so... good that they're on the same page. She walks, and then runs, back out of the tunnel. &lt;&lt; He's mind-controlled! Or at least, berserk. It's the mask! Destroy the mask, guys! &gt;&gt;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For her part, she starts running off to the side of the jousting arena, wanting a little more space between them before she draws aggro again. Also for the shock of that hit to wear off so she can move normally again, but even the ''seconds'' it takes to recover feel so painfully long in a fight.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:166|Chrono Harlaown (166)}} has posed:'''<br>Chrono Harlaown lifted his device into the air, forming a small shield for the barrets to strike before giving a sigh... very well...<br><br>&lt;&lt; Very well. Please, attempt to limit damage to the device following Souta. I'll engage Souta directly, he's a melee focused fighter. Uranus, please assist me as your sword would be very useful here. Nanoha, Amy, Argent, Rashmi, please focus on disabling and binding the lost logia while we try to pen him down. &gt;&gt;<br><br>He then drove the bottom of his staff to the ground. Small circles would appear around Souta, magical circles. Very visible binds, which would form magical ribbons to reach out and try to grip him when he went over them. Not even subtle, just delaying tactics...<br><br>As Chrono dashed in directly, going in personally. No, he wasn't a primary melee combatent... but he was a mixed bag. And what he was good at was directing and support towards people who were. And as he came at Souta...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#096FC9">&lt;&lt;Impact Cannon!&gt;&gt;</span><br><br>Unleashing a quick, cannon-ball like blast of magical energy, intending to try and catch Souta and knock him away, rather than hurt him... to send him at Uranus.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>Oh that looks useful, and that, and that, and-- ooh, something to look more closely at once this weird energy is--<br> <br>*SOUTA AWAY!*<br> <br>"--heck," Rashmi blurts out giving the -- Inspector, Chrono called him? -- her full attention. Right in time to watch Souta disappear down the newly-melted corridor. Tagging the most interesting bits of equipment for later, she hurries after Chrono, throwing up a shield to catch the mini-Barrets with a frown. The little energy sparks remind her of the active-defense spell Molly had developed, which would very likely make ranged combat a problem anyway.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#ffff5f">&lt;&lt; *BONG!* &gt;&gt;</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#ffff5f">TERA BARRET -- BOOST UP</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&gt;&gt;</span><br> <br>A trio of golded wisps of energy materialize and streak out to Yuki, Nanoha, and Amy, and she launches a quick flurry of Barrets of her own at the mask. &lt;&lt; Target mask and disable, roger! &gt;&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:224|Yuki Hoshino (224)}} has posed:'''<br>"Is there some sort of rule that says that everything has to be as complicated as possible?" asks the Knight of Dawn, watching Souta and his Mask fall from the sky. "Where do all these things keep coming from?" <br><br>She sighs softly. At least there's nothing more to fall on her head. <br><br>She lifts her hand to look at the phone strapped to her forearm, examining some readouts on its screen. She taps it, and the various buster darts orbiting her shift alignment slightly. (Analysis would show they were targeting the mask, if anyone or anything cared to make such an examination.) <br><br>A rainbow gleam ripples over each dart in turn, as they are boosted by Rashmi's spell, and something must have shown on the phone readout because she's definitely grinning now. <br><br>"Hey!" she yells at the man and the mask. "Chill out!" <br><br>It would be ironic as heck if the darts she launched were ice-themed, but unfortunately they aren't.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:49|Sailor Uranus (49)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well, I don't know where else I'd be." Sailor Uranus replies to Chrono. Well, she could stand back and toss a World Shaking... before running in anyways... but she's already here.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Running alongisde Chrono. She probably shouldn't stab this inspector guy, which is in some ways a welcome change from Youma and Black Moon, but does mean that she needs to go for the face. At least, after she ducks, weaves, dodges, and does draw her sword to parry a blast of the Spark Barret as well before dismissing it in one smooth motion.<br><br>ranus' teamwork with Chrono is not the first time they've done so, and she's partially ready for Impact Cannon, assuming a stance with one leg far back so she can put her whole spindly body into the incoming kick. But if she can, she'll try to push Souta out of the way first; she'll be trying to put her entire tall boot into the mask if she can. But if there's no choice but to drop Souta to get there then well... Hotaru's a healer. Bones heal.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:299|Souta Camero (299)}} has posed:'''<br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Return Shield</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A magic circle appears between Souta and Nanoha, and her barrets seem to ''stick'' to the shield for a moment. Souta holds the shield up for a moment or two before the shield collapses into an orb of mana, converting all the captured barrets into energy which then gets launched at the small Nanoha. It seems, for the moment, he's intent on protecting the Lost Logia which surely intends ill towards him.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The tiny bindings near the ground actually do manage to grapple onto Souta quite a bit, since he's sticking to the ground and not really using his full tactical awareness right now. Unfortunately he's also a bit of a mindless raging madman right now, so he slides right over them, gets bound, and then emits a magical burst of energy from his feet to try and resist those binds.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of course, one thing that such delaying tactics do is make it harder for him to dodge the Impact Cannon that Chrono launches at him, which in turn launches Souta towards Haruka. As he soars through the air, his twin tonfas glow green for a moment before turning into an energy halberd, which is to say that they turn into a single long metal pole with a glowing green energy halberd head on top.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Souta wields the polearm in both hands as the distance between him and Uranus closes, and he swings his magical polearm at the Outer Senshi as he lands, which puts him in prime position to get a kick into the side, knocking him onto the ground where he slides before his left hand pushes him off the ground. A quick flip through the air puts him back on his feet. His hand goes to his side for a moment. Ouch.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Souta's glare turns back towards the mask. Chrono's tactic may have launched the Inspector, but it didn't touch the Heart Locker. Meaning that, for the moment, there's distance between the two, and the look in Souta's eyes change almost imperceptibly. "Me too?" Uranus can likely hear him mutter.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;While the Heart Locker and Souta are separated, the Lost Logia is unprotected... or is it? After taking a few direct shots, the Heart Locker glows with a bright teal magic. A hologram of an unknown Device Mage appears in the air, though Souta's wide eyes seem to recognize him. The ghostly image throws up a shield to protect the Heart Locker from the rest of Rashmi's incoming fire. However, Yuki is attacking from a different direction, and her darts get through without contest.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All of these magical attacks on the Heart Locker are pinning it in place, stopping it from reuniting with Souta as quickly as it would like. It sparks with some kind of alien energy, and its hovering starts to get a bit erratic.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The inspector's attention goes back to Haruka, and while it's clear that every muscle in his body is shaking with rage, he doesn't seem to have the mindlessness he did a while ago. He's calculating, considering, but still not quite ''hearing'' what his fellow TSAB officer and his allies are saying. Has he slowed down for the moment?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His Device turns from a halberd into what looks like a hilt with no blade. It wouldn't really be wrong to compare it to an unignited lightsaber. Whatever he's planning next, he's clearly not ''done''.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy, for her part, gets mostly left alone. She's not attacking either Souta or the Heart Locker, and both enemies have their attentions elsewhere.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:166|Chrono Harlaown (166)}} has posed:'''<br>Chrono Harlaown let out a soft sigh when they managed to, with a bit of difficulty, separate Souta from the device. And, well...<br><br>As the blade is drawn, or the hilt... Chrono moves with him, attempting to move around one side, while Uranus moved the other. "Souta Camero. Stand. Down. I have no desire to hurt you, but we will, if we have to."<br><br>In a way, it felt wrong... on the other hand, at least the boy wasn't undergoing the fade... the first member of the TSAB who wasn't.... but oh... those poor kid was going to be in for.... quite the harsh awakening soon. A vicious, cruel and merciless awakening. One that would likely feel like the mother of all sucker punches.<br><br>"This is Sailor Uranus, she is a contractor for the TSAB and she is authorized to take you down if you refuse to lower your device."<br><br>He was hopeful.... but... He prepared a delayed bind between Souta and the lost logia, the silent, invisible trap appearing between the two, waiting to try and snag the boy if he made a move towards it and didn't realize it was there.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:47|Nanoha Takamachi (47)}} has posed:'''<br>As the boy collects energy, and throws it back, Nanoha Takamachi is more alert this time and throws up a round shield as it smacks it and forces her back a foot, as her feet slides on the ground they're on.<br><br>&lt;" Got it! "&gt; she says, as she turns to start firing off a barrage of shot barrets again at the Heart Locker- that floating mask. She then finally finishes off with. "HAMMER SHOT!" &lt;Hammer Shot&gt; repeats Raising Heart as she fires a shot gun like blast of magenta magic down range again and again. Chu-chunk! Each shot empowered by Rashmi's boost!<br><br>"H--hey!" she goes when the image appears. "Hey you get away from that thing hurry! Please!?" she begs, pleads.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy gives Chrono a thumbs-up as he gives orders. And then... Oh she can breathe again thank goodness for magical toughness and all that. She drops out of puppet mode, winces at the aches she can suddenly feel again, and feels fresh air in her lungs. ''Let's do this.''<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She holds out a hand to the approaching wisp of energy, smiles, twirls once as it flies over to and around her -- and then as she's about to shoot the mask, there's a ghost putting up shields. What.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;&lt; Hey uhh, other device, what IS that?! The ghost mage or whatever protecting the mask. &gt;&gt;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's got to get the most use out of Rashmi's boost. And not attract too much attention until she does. Rocket-jumping would attract attention.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She strides purposefully towards the hologram and mask. If they actually ignore her, great -- if they don't, she starts talking. "[Hey. Guess what. Did you know that... I'm a living weapon and I'm ''really'' sick of crappy possession stories?]"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If stalling by talking didn't work she'll weave as best as she can, either way once she's close enough she goes for it: holding out her hand in a 'fingergun' gesture and<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="fg_x bg_n ++ x">'''<span style="color:#ffaf00">B A N G</span>'''</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Just like she did to Socrates. A big shaped charge detonated as it's summoned just in front of her, this way she doesn't waste any energy on a delivery mechanism and can concentrate all the magic -- and Rashmi's too! -- into the attack itself! An orange line is visible for an instant, glowing-hot magically-enhanced copper propelled at the mask at hypersonic speeds and spalling if it punches through, and then there's just the growing cloud of smoke from the explosion in front of Amy.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Which does make it a little hard for her to see. "Oh, please tell me that got it..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>&lt;&lt; What the--? &gt;&gt; Rashmi slips into the tacnet, as a hologram *defends the Logia* from her attacks?! The redhead's face sets, and she takes a deep breath. &lt;&lt; Good shot, Argent-chan! Okay so it looks like it doesn't have *great* defenses on its own, so let's attack from as many angles as possible! &gt;&gt;<br> <br>For herself, she takes to the sky, swinging around to put her opposite Nanoha's own vector. &lt;&lt; The more we saturate its defenses, the more likely they'll get overwhelmed, so...<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#ffff5f">&lt;&lt; *BONG!* &gt;&gt;</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#ffff5f">SOLAR BARRAGE</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&gt;&gt;</span><br> <br>Barret after Barret launches through the air, streaking towards the mask. While not individually terribly powerful... A small-caliber machinegun is still a machinegun, and in the interest of effeciency these Barrets have been stripped of homing power or tunable characteristics to allow for maximum rate of fire, and relentless optimization means that Nicomachea's gotten this particular spell up to a good half-dozen Barrets per second, walked back and forth over the Logia's position.<br> <br>Rashmi is in full problem-solving mode, and taking this object down has Become The Problem.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:224|Yuki Hoshino (224)}} has posed:'''<br>"What the... is it allowed to do that?" Yuki demands as she watches the holo-mage shield the mask from Rashmi's attack. At least her own got through! <br><br>&lt;<span style="color:xterm66">Mechanism of defense unknown, master. Lost Logia not subject to direct sensor analysis.</span>&gt; <br><br>"That's cheating! Shoot it more!" <br><br>&lt;<span style="color:xterm66">Affirmative. Generating barret.</span>&gt; <br><br>She keeps moving, circling around the mask to strike from another new angle again, but she has to stop in place to fire off her danmaku blasts.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:49|Sailor Uranus (49)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After releasing her snap-kick Sailor Uranus takes the cutting-but-only-kinda blade of the Midchildan Device to her crossed arms - there's no real time to give a hit without taking one, so all she can do is brace for it, which she does. Non-lethal doesn't mean without injury and her gloves show the cut the weapon made, and her face shows the pain of the injury.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks at him as he gets up. Both of them are hurt. She didn't get the problem out of the way. He has a halberd. She wonders if maybe she should have spent some time training to dodge and fight against a polearm with Sailor Saturn, but that's for Future Haruka to forget to worry about.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But Sailor Uranus is actually quick of mind in combat, and the way he's changed when he was away from the mask? Now, she wants to keep him away from the mask. So she draws her blade once more, tip gleaming, focused white solar wind coalescing into a scimitar-like weapon for the moment.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She holds it in one hand while motioning to Souta to 'bring it' with the other. "I dunno what your deal is, but if you want to work it out through combat, we can do that." she says. "First shot was free, but any more you're gonna have to work for." she says with a wink. "IF you can."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;&lt;Trying to keep his attention. Smash the mask.&gt;&gt; Uranus says over the shared Device connections.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:299|Souta Camero (299)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Souta's eyes glance between Enforcer Chrono and Uranus. A contractor? Confusing. She doesn't look like any Device Mage he's ever met. She's challenging him, which means he has his focus... for now.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The way that his breathing shakes between his clenched teeth sounds like a threat. Is he even listening? It's hard to tell. He's not ''speaking''. He's just watching Nanoha's Rashmi-boosted Hammer Shot batter the Lost Logia, which means that Amy has ample opportunity to hit it with her magic fingergun. Both Rashmi and Yuki attacking from different angles mean they both get through pretty easily. The thing is on the ropes, and yet... how much punishment can one Lost Logia actually take? It's clearly losing, and clearly taking serious damage, but... never really hitting a point where it shuts down.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Paradise Spectrum takes a moment to answer Amy's question. <span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Image of one of the Heart Locker's previous targets. Designation: Ayaki Camero, brother to Inspector Camero. Purpose and function of such holograms is unknown.</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Souta is just... watching this happen. Confused. Another hologram appears, this time from Paradise Spectrum. It's ''clearly'' translucent, unlike the image the Heart Locker just made, but Souta's eyes are fixed on it. It's the image of a white glad TSAB officer in her late teens, older than either Souta or Chrono, with a long pink ponytail behind her. "Remember your duty, Camero!" she commands before vanishing. Whoever she was, this is Paradise Spectrum's earnest attempt to reach Sotua's mind.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Something seems to shift. Souta's feet shift further apart and his knees bend as he holds his bladeless hilt with both hands. "Do it now," he all but growls.<br><br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Paradise Chain</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And this time he's joining the attack on the Lost Logia, as green magical chains erupt from the ground beneath the floating mask and wrap around it, binding it into place. The shielding hologram flickers out of existence as the Lost Logia's energy starts to fade.<br><br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Mission Complete! Begin Seal--</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"NO!" he shouts. "After everything it's done... I'm going to BREAK IT!" Suddenly he's leaping over Chrono, Uranus, and Chrono's binding trap as his energy greatsword roars to life. <span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Spectrum Overdrive</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span> calls out his Device as the energy blade turns massive and chaotic. He brings down the blade on the Lost Logia, and it sparks, fumes and deactivates, but it's still not gone.<br><br><span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Complete destruction unlikely. Lost Logia has survived the end of at least one civilization. Recommend sealing until permanent solution found.</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Souta glares at the broken Lost Logia for a moment, takes in a deep breath, and then lets it out. Telepathically, he calls out, &lt;&lt; I apologize for my unprofessional behavior. I was... under the influence. I'll handle this. &gt;&gt; Holding up his energy greatsword, he points the tip at the Lost Logia and commands, "Seal."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's a flash of green light, and after a moment the Lost Logia is gone.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He turns around, to face the rest of them. He's... shaking, tired, and drained. This is more than combat exhaustion, though he certainly has that at this point. Falling to one knee, he struggles to catch his breath, yet that isn't even the biggest problem on his mind right now. &lt;&lt; I suspect... much has happened since I went under. &gt;&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:47|Nanoha Takamachi (47)}} has posed:'''<br>Nanoha Takamachi ehs!? His brother!? She lowers her weapon as she watches Souta try to break the Heart Locker and she winces. "W--" but he goes for the shot and... it deactivates and sparks and then he all but ends up sealing it in the end. She relaxes finally and breathes out, placing a hand to her chest.<br><br>"H..hello. I am. Nanoha Takamachi! Are you a friend of Chrono's?" she smiles. "Inspector he said your... rank was? Is that a rank? Chrono what's TSAB ranking like? I haven't gotten to that part of the handbook yet!" she says worriedly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy sucks in a breath through her teeth as Paradise Spectrum says the Lost Logia is using the image of his dead brother to mess with the Inspector.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When Souta says he wants to destroy it, Amy nods with a grin, "Let's do it!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'Complete destruction unlikely.' Amy cackles. "Yeah? At least one civilization out ''there''? Well... '[Welcome to Earf.]' We'll see just how indestructible it is... She glances around at those present. "But maybe not right this second."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She walks over to pat him on the shoulder. "Hey. Uhh, yeah. There's a lot to catch up on. But you're among friends. Agent Chrono will brief you, I'm sure. Yes, all the crazy shit he says is true. Scan me if you want proof. And..." her face becomes more serious, "I'm sorry to hear about your brother. My condolences I, too, would like to see such artifacts removed from existence, ''now that I know they're real.''"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She turns around and throws up her hands as she takes a few steps away. "Because why ''shouldn't'' they be!? The world is full of horrors, apparently, people just can't stop getting possessed!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then she stops, and pulls a strange object, a sort of spindly cage around a black gem with a spike on one end, out of her belt pouch and holds it against what seemed like a decorative red gem on the back of her wrist. The blackness that's filling about an eighth of the gem seeps out like smoke and soaks into Melone's grief seed.<br><br>H...hello. I am. Nanoha Takamachi!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy turns back towards Souta as her soul gem is purifying. She looks at him, "Oh, right, sorry, I'm Amanda Faust, Amy for short, nice to meet you." The purification finished as she started speaking, and now she slips the strange dark object back into her belt pouch before smiling and holding out a hand to shake.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:49|Sailor Uranus (49)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Apologizing for unprofessional behavior? Yeah, you're TSAB alright." she says after Souta gets control of himself, and assists in the attack on the Logia and then the sealing, crossing her arms and then sucking in air through her teeth when her injury is agrivated and relaxing them.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Don't worry, I'm sure I've committed so much more unprofessional behavior working alongside Chrono that it'll take you a long time to catch up." she says, casually, smirking at the Enforcer. "But I'll leave all of that to him to discuss."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Welcome to Earth, be prepared to be amazed by the way magic works here, by the civilians who you cannot make understand it, and make sure to keep dangerous magical items away from everyone but especially anyone who affilitates with 'Obsidian'. Chrono-kun can fill you in on the rest." And yes, she's calling him Chrono-kun in front of Souta because Souta is clearly TSAB and Haruka is a Wind Gremlin.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she turns around to everyone. She's seen Amy a few times, she knows Rashmi well, the Dawn Knight is on the way out, but Chrono seemed to know Nanoha well enough to work with her, so the tall blonde takes a few steps over to her. "Good work." she says with a wink and a thumbs up.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:224|Yuki Hoshino (224)}} has posed:'''<br>Yuki, meanwhile, has split off from the group and is rummaging through the piles of debris for bits that look useful, her Device highlighting occasional things that it recognizes as important to completing its repairs. Once she's filled her bookbag she casually waves and mutters a quiet, unheard "Welcome to Earth, never mind the lunatics," and heads back to her dorm to unload... <br><br>.... and then come back for another load. If Haruka's a Wind Gremlin, then tonight, Yuki is the Scrap Gremlin.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>Rashmi lets out a long breath, as the Lost Logia goes down... though that was a *lot* of strangeness to take in. If there's one mitigating factor, it's that the confusion absolutely goes both ways... *Especially* after Amy cleanses her Soul Gem, and Haruka gives the most compressed exposition Rashmi has ever been honored to witness. And *oh boy* does Rashmi roll her eyes in support of Amy's outburst, possession is turning into the Theme of 2025 and it *sucks.*<br> <br>"Yeah, uh," she chuckles. "According to Chrono things are, um... weird... here. I've seen some of the reports he plans to send. They do kinda undersell the absolute state of things. ...Oh! Rashmi Terios," she says, lifting her hand in a wave. "Provisional Meister, 10th year student, and Fullback Support. This is Nicomachea," she says, gesturing in the direction of the large, floating armored book behind her right shoulder.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#ffff5f">&lt;&lt; *BONG!* &gt;&gt;</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&lt;&lt;</span> <span style="color:#ffff5f">A PLEASURE TO MAKE YOUR ACQUAINTANCE, INSPECTOR CAMERO.</span> <span style="color:#ffffff">&gt;&gt;</span><br> <br>And as Yuki starts to rummage through the bits of Arthra's medical bay that came down with Souta, the bespectacled redhead squeaks, dashing back for the hole that Nanoha made, there's scanners to salvage!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:166|Chrono Harlaown (166)}} has posed:'''<br>Chrono Harlaown just took a long, slow, very, very slow breath... and then?<br><br>Then he'd prepared for this moment.<br><br>"Inspector is... a special rank, generally used for those inspecting things within the TSAB. I've worked with them before. They're not entirely a part of the crew, though they've worked with them often."<br><br>He was still processing... Watching Souta... move. Watching Souta do MAGIC. Knowing that.... Souta still had magic... Well... It was peaceful, calming.<br><br>And catch him up. Oh, he knew exactly what to do. As his device connected to Paradise Spectrum...<br><br>And began to send reports. So many reports. So many, many, many reports.<br><br>Reports that borderlined on madness. And as the device went through them.... They'd likely seem more and more madened. Because there was no way this, any of this, could POSSIBLY be true...<br><br>"Welcome to earth, Souta Camero. You're not just carrying a lost logia, now. You're living inside the multi-verses largest one, fighting alongside the greatest collection of them."<br><br>"Try not to go mad."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>"Don't forget to tell him he has to go back to school~!" comes Rashmi's voice, amid a series of clattering noises.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:299|Souta Camero (299)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Inspector Souta needs a moment to regain both his breath and his composure. He glances towards Nanoha with a slight frown. The more he thinks about the mask's behavior, the more he suspects it was seeing her as a potential target. What a chilling, evil thing...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eventually he stands up and gives Nanoha a friendly, polite smile. The sort of professional smile that makes him look maybe a bit older than he actually is. He runs his hand through his long, blonde ponytail and says, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Takamachi-san. I am Inspector Souta Camero. Its... more like a job title than a rank. You can think of me as something along the lines of Internal Affairs. I ensure that the TSAB lives up to its moral standards, or rather I did." He bows politely to her and says, "Thank you. You and your friends saved me."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy's words make him feel seen, at least. If only it were as easy as tossing it into the nearest star or something. If Souta could be sure that would work and not just make it more horrible somehow. "Thank you for your condolences, but... I lost him a long time ago." After the introduction, he responds with the same polite smile. "The pleasure is mine, Faust-san."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Paradise Spectrum does run a scan on the Puella Magi. Huh. Interesting... That's not where the Linker Core goes... right? Then Chrono's reports come in and start confirming that yes, that ''is'' where her Linker Core is and it's actually not ''called'' a Linker Core. Whoof.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is a lot of data there. Souta will be spending a ''very'' long time parsing through it all. He'll do it too, because he's exactly that kind of guy. "Thank you, Enforcer," he says, without a hint of irony, regarding the workload that has just been placed on his metaphorical desk. Clearing his throat, he says, "I may be failing a bit on the 'not going mad' part so far."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Paradise Spectrum pings Souta privately with the theory that Chrono has in fact gone crazy himself. However, it cannot deny the existence of the Sailor Senshi and Puella Magi right in front of them.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Listening to Sailor Uranus, he raises an eyebrow at her very casual behavior. Chrono-kun? Really? Her words also imply that things are, in fact, absolutely crazy here. "Oh dear me what have I gotten myself into? Well, thank you for the warning and the welcome." Of course, she's not TSAB, there's actually no reason for him to expect her to act otherwise. Yuki gets a, "Thank you," as well, though she clearly has her current salvage operation on the mind. So does Rashmi, apparently.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Provisional Meister?" asks the Inspector. Planting his free hand on his hip, he frowns and says, "Ah, I see. I suppose you lack the means to gain proper certification here. I understand. Well, you must have considerable talent to be able to call yourself a Meister under these conditions." He wants to ask her more, but... well, he'll have plenty of time for questions later. Considering that he'll be stranded here for the rest of his life.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oof. That's a lot to take in.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He pings back, &lt;&lt; A pleasure, Terios-san. &gt;&gt;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Back to school?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His green eyes go wide and immediately lock onto Chrono. "She's joking, right? That was a joke. Right?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:47|Nanoha Takamachi (47)}} has posed:'''<br>Nanoha Takamachi looks up to Sailor Uranus and her eyes sparkle wide... *_*<br><br>SO COOOOOLLLL..., she goes as she gets a wink and a thumbs up. "H--Hi. Thanks!" she says with a blush as she looks back over to the going on. "Oh she must be after the scanners... HEY RASHMI-CHAN LEMME ASK YUUNO FOR HELP!" she goes as she bounces finally after Rashmi, before stopping and smiling. "Welcome home, Camero-kun!" she says. "I'm sure Chrono can help if he can't, let um. Let Rashmi know! I can't have girls-boys sleepovers mom said no. Sorry!" she says as she takes off out the hole she made earlier.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:166|Chrono Harlaown (166)}} has posed:'''<br>Chrono Harlaown just smiled.<br><br>It was a smile that Souta knew well. IT was the 'I am an enforcer, don't worry, everything will be okay. IT may not be good, but it will be okay' smile. The smile of a soldier doing his duty.<br><br>"She is not, in fact, joking. Don't worry, Camero-san..." Oh, that would take some time getting used to. "You'll get used to it... And before long... you'll begin to see, with stunningly growing horror... that I'm not actually mad..."<br><br>"Sadly."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>The multiverse's largest Lost Logia, and they're the greatest collection of them.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hey!" Amy calls out, but she's grinning. "We do have to frikking live this, too!" And then she sees Rashmi running for... "Oh sweet, alien tech!" And she turns to run after.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And when Rashmi calls that out, Amy ''cackles'' and throws up her arms. "FINALLY! SOMEBODY ELSE GETS IT!" But then she stops and looks back. "Wait, so you guys had already finished school? Wait, are you all, like, super-gifted kids like those guys who get a college degree at like 12 or something?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For some reason, Nanoha's words get a short chuckle and then a squint. "Wait, ''already''?" Amy rubs the side of her head. "Well, I guess they wouldn't want boys ''our'' age over..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then she mutters something like, '[come to think of it, can you be entirely ''sure'' who will or won't turn out to be a boy at this age? Not like the parents are ''close'' to her friends...]' She taps her chin thoughtfully, '[But then I guess you need another rule, so what would be reasonable...]' AMY NO THERE'S ALIEN TECH RIGHT OVER THERE DON'T GET DISTRACTED<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:49|Sailor Uranus (49)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's not so bad to live this." Sailor Uranus says, turning back from the leaving Nanoha to regard the rest of the group. And then her eyes shift to Rashmi. "Worked out pretty well for Chrono-kun in the end." she notes.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But you'll have to find your own Provision Meister. All of the ones in the house are taken, cept one, and you've probably not been in that pod long enough for her, so." she says, and all of this is QUITE teasing.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Maybe Inspector-kun here should come back with us though? So that he doesn't get lost in Tokyo or try to comandeer a hotel room?" she suggests. "The Casa is a pretty decent place for them to have a relaxing nervous breakdown."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>Perhaps it's *more* exciting for Amy, that Rashmi is nabbing random bits and bobs and throwing them into her book; half of what she takes is basically handheld, so it *may as well* be a medical tricorder. Yes, including the articulated arm with the gizmo on the end. Yes, even the knobbly wotsis. *Particularly* the chunky, boxy thing the size of a backpack. Probably not the small featureless crystal cubes, but Rashmi was definitely running low on simple data-storage media and She Has Plans.<br> <br>But she comes out looking extremely satisfied with herself, just in time to wave after Nanoha, and hear the tail end of Haruka's semi-ribbing suggestion. "I mean, that's actually not a bad idea! The place has *loads* of guest rooms, and anyway the school nurse and chief document-forger lives there too, so he can get his identity established *before* he has to introduce himself to a room full of bored and magic-blind students!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:299|Souta Camero (299)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I hate how I think you're not joking," says Inspector Camero to Enforcer Chrono.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Probability of Humor: Unlikely</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With a heavy sigh, Souta shakes his head. "Right. You probably ''haven't'' developed a sense of humor, have you?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A girls-boys sleepover? Wait... oh, right. He'll need to sleep somewhere, wont he? Camero doesn't even have the mental energy to process the fact that local magicals are descending upon his medical pod and the surrounding area like vultures.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"My own Provisional Meister?" Souta looks at Rashmi, and then Chrono. What does Uranus mean by that?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:#CC1111">&lt;</span> <span style="color:#FFFFFF">Ship Detected.</span> <span style="color:#CC1111">&gt;</span><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Paradise seems to get the implication before he does, a sign that the detective is ''still'' a bit out of it. After a moment the clues finally click into place and, "Oh!" A pause. "''Oh!''" He glances between Chrono and Rashmi again, seeing them in a new light. His smile gets maybe a bit more friendly. Officer at a party friendly, instead of officer on duty friendly. "I see. Well, I've seen you've done rather well for yourself, Enforcer. Congratulations."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To Uranus, he says, "If you're offering me a place to stay, I humbly accept. I somewhat doubt I'd do well trying to sleep in that pod again." Especially with Chrono's GIRLFRIEND dismantling it for parts.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A pause. "Document forger?" he says, a bit scandalized. Paradise Spectrum, who is analyzed Chrono's reports a bit faster than he is, telepathically reassures him that this is a necessity and quite justified.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I... see. Well, I suppose I have a... ''number'' of things to get used to in this world."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Puella Magi looks up and turns towards Uranus. "I didn't say it was ''bad'' to live this...I mean, I'm happier, obviously..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks back to Souta. "I'd let you crash in my dorm room, but yeah, no boys... same rule as sleepovers... Guess maybe there's potentially Chrono's room, but yeah, she's right, their house has ''way'' more space, and Setsuna-chan can ''cook'', like, ''cook'' cook, you might get an awesome breakfast! And a relaxing environment for processing all this. ...Beginning to process all this."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It will, no doubt, take multiple days.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then she remembers, "Oh right, we better get as much as we can from your spaceship before the barrier collapses! There's ''no magitech here'', so if there's anything you want, get it!" And she finally turns and runs over to the ship to...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She has no idea what she's doing, and will probably be better helping someone who does know, but if not, she'll grab... stuff.<br> <br>
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