Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Time and Time again,
A Saga of Tanya the Evil/The Irregular at Magic High School crossover.

I do not in any way, shape, or form lay claim to either of these works.
This is just a work of admiration from one fan, to those others that share the same interest.
The only characters or places I lay claim to are those solely of my own creation.

Chapter 1: Tempus Fugit

The class slowly settled into their seats, the instructor looking over them slowly, making sure that all of her students were where they belonged before nodding once to herself and starting the class. “Today we will be covering the rise and fall of the Reich, and how it affected the growth and circumstances of our own country.” She says, then looks over the class, nodding as she picks out one student. “Tanya, will you start reading from the first paragraph, if you will?”

The diminutive young mage nods, glancing at the page once then starting to read the paragraph, ignoring the looks from those around her. She might be the youngest in the class, and have some odd quirks about her, but they have quickly come to respect her, even if it is a respect born more from fear than anything else. Still, she herself finds it acceptable. The less they ask, the less she has to not tell them, after all. She glances at the clock, mentally willing it to go faster, but stopping herself just short of making her intent come to fruition. It would be unseemly, after all. And not without a cost.

She finishes reading the paragraph, sitting in the rather concealing uniform that is the norm of the schools of this time and place, a far cry from what she knew in her first life, and drastically different in many ways than the world she knew what seemed like a short time ago, but that would be rather relative to one’s perception of things, after all. Still, it wasn’t bad. No bloody trench warfare, no dodging incoming anti-aircraft fire, no wallowing in the blood and gore that the charges would be reduced to. And no final stands against the Rus empire as it rolled through the heart of the Fatherland.

Still, even if this world seemed so much closer to her own, she could not fail to notice the differences, either. Or the similarities, for that matter. Two worlds where magic was not only accepted, but formulated and turned into a science. Two worlds where devices were created to further advance and formulate the use of magic. And, sadly, another world that was cursed by that maniacal sycophant, Being X. Yes, his visits had been few in this world, but that actually only made her more paranoid.

She glances at the clock, and sighs once more again. Unfortunately, another thing that these two worlds had in common was a Schugel. And that was where she was heading after this, then, she could go check on her adjutant. Not that she was worried about Visha, after all. It was simply good practice to check in on the well being of such a loyal and useful asset. Yes, that is all it was.

As class ends, she collects her bag, nodding to the teacher and brushing past the others to head towards the nearby hospital, placed conveniently next to the campus. It was almost like they expected their young mages to get hurt. She snorts, shaking her head. It’s almost cute, how the students don’t see the beautiful malevolence of the grand design of things. No matter the world or the year, some things remain the same. She looks to her phone as it beeps, displaying the time, date, and her reminder for her appointment. June 6th, 2094, 4:00 pm, A. Schugel, room 306 New Berlin Hospital. A far cry from the battlefield that Berun had become in 1926, one-hundred and sixty-eight years and a world apart. At least, for the rest of the world. For myself and Visha, it would be six months, three days, and one-hundred and sixty-eight seconds. The amount of time that we spent suspended, relatively. Add onto that the ‘temporal damage’ caused by our little jaunt through time, and it brings us to where we are now. Physically, at their best guess, I’m now seventeen, or close to it. Visha, amusingly enough, has physically regressed to about eighteen. One of the oddities of time, it would seem. Prices must be paid, after all. And to escape the hell we were living in, three years seems like a small price to pay.

Her ruminations are cut short as she finds herself standing before the sprawling expanse of the hospital. She adjusts her uniform once more, an unconscious habit from earlier times, and strides as quickly as her diminutive frame would allow her to. All too quickly, she finds herself at the receptionist for the deeper part of the facility, having passed through a series of discreet checkpoints to make it into the veritable heart of the beast, where the majority of the magically facilitated research and medical treatments are conducted.

She eyes the receptionist for a moment, then sighs “Tanya Degurechaff, to see Dr. Schugel, please.” She says, wishing that she was just a bit taller. Being mistaken for a child or teenager for the rest of her life was just another of the many things that Being X would surely have to pay for, some day. At least at five foot tall, she didn’t have to stand on her toes to see over the desk. That would have been the ultimate insult.

The receptionist, A Mrs. Adel, smiled and nodded. “The Doctor is waiting for you, dear. And don’t look so down, I am sure it won’t be that bad today.” She said in the same tone she always used, the one that said that yes, it would be that bad, but since you have no choice, it’s best not to complain. For her part, Tanya just smiles her fake smile and nods, squaring her shoulders before marching in to face the Schugel of this world.

“Greetings, Degurechaff, punctual as always.” She is greeted by the young woman sitting behind her desk, the 26 year old looking her over critically, a look that always sends a sense of foreboding down the spine of the Devil of the Rhine. So like the looks that the good doctor would give her, before she found ‘God’. And sometimes, afterwards, but those were far worse. At least this one had not yet found religion.

“Of course, Doctor. You know my background, I don’t think I could be late if I wanted to.” Tanya says with her usual bit of wit. “So, what is on the docket for today? More tests with the type 95? Or did you have more questions for me about where we are from?” She says as she stands at parade rest, hands clasped behind the small of her back.

The chuckle that slips from the older woman sends a cold shiver down Tanya’s spine. “No, no. We won’t be needing you for testing on that interesting, if primitive, CAD you have til this weekend. No, today I need to check you over, my good Degurecheff. It’s time for your yearly physical, and I asked that I be the one to do it. Being the most familiar with you, after all.” The gleam in her eye almost makes the combat veteran bolt, but she holds her ground, knowing that the sooner this starts, the sooner it is over. And the sooner she can check in on Visha, because it is, after all, what a good supervisor should be doing.

The exam itself is nothing too far from what she was used to from her original world, but with a few differences that always left her feeling a bit uncomfortable and blushing. Why they had to measure her body like that, much less the probing…. It was something that she would never get used to, in both of her lives. No mention was made of her scars, but the good doctor looked at her critically and asked “So, how are you sleeping? Are the nightmares any better?” She says in an indifferent tone of voice, having learned early on that this was the best way to handle things with the temporal refugee.

Tanya clears her throat and looks away for a moment before shrugging back into her uniform. “About the same as usual. The last few days on the front, and seeing Visha, that is First Lieutenant Serebryakov, being hit. Then, the usual sequence plays out, the one where I don’t freeze time, and I get to see another one of my soldiers die in my arms.” She trails off, subconsciously rubbing her hands up and down the opposite arm.

The doctor nods, making a quick note. “Well, that is all I have for you. I am scheduled to check in on my other patient, if you would like to join me, that is?” She asks, looking at Tanya out of the side of her eye, smirking a bit at the little reactions that she gives away and nodding to herself. “I think that your presence helps her relax, and makes my exams go much better.” She says, giving the young woman a convenient way to give in, without admitting what she wanted.

Tanya nods, smoothing out her uniform. “Of course, doctor. I would be happy to see, I mean, to help Serebrykov if I can.” As she falls in with the doctor she asks one of the questions that has been on the forefront of her mind. “Doctor, how are her implants working? Will she be able to leave the hospital soon, or does she need more testing and adjustments?” After all, it is only proper for a superior to check in on the recovery of those that they are tasked with the care of. And, she could use a pot of Visha’s coffee, after all.

Doctor Schugel nods as she holds open the door to the ward. “Yes, actually, she is coming along quite nicely. The heart is working fine, and there have been no other serious complications. She should be cleared to leave next week, probably Monday or Tuesday. She should even be allowed to attend classes before long.”

Tanya nods, smiling a bit at that. “I am glad to hear that, and have all the arrangements been made for her housing and such? Her class schedule was arranged and approved? And what of the testing for placement? Has that been seen to as of yet?” The diminutive mage asks as she marches alongside the doctor.

The doctor looks aside at her shorter companion. “Oh? I always just figured she would stay with you, you do have a second bed in your room, after all. And I figured it would be comforting for her to have a familiar face nearby. And, her class schedule matches yours, it just seemed like the logical thing to do. We have done the preliminary tests, and besides not being as proficient as we would like in our forms of magical theory, she does have a good and quick mind and is grasping the basic functions of the CAD well.”

Tanya freezes for a moment, her stride breaking for one impossibly long second before she takes a few quick steps to catch up. “Yes, that would probably be the best solution, all things considered. I will, of course, want all the files on what I should be watching for, if something goes wrong.” She pointedly looks forward, acting like nothing had happened.

The doctor nods, an amused little smirk on her lips as she adjusts her glasses. “Of course, Degurecheff. I had already anticipated your request, and all relevant files will be transferred before the weekend.” She says as she holds open the door to the room, walking in once the former Lieutenant Colonel had entered.

They are greeted with a happy smile from the sole occupant of the room from where she is sitting in bed. “Lieutenant Colonel! It is a pleasure to see you again so soon. And it is nice to see you as well, Doctor Schugel. More tests and exams, I take it?”

The doctor nods as she prepares the things she will need, Tanya walking over and sighing. “And how many times have I had to remind you that we are no longer in the military, Visha? Unless you want me to call you First Lieutenant Serebrykov?” She asks as she looks at her former adjunct with those intense eyes of hers.

Visha blushes just a bit and shakes her head. “Of course not, L...Tanya. I am just still getting used to being on a first name basis with you. I mean, I never would have thought that we would be out of the military and not facing a firing squad, after all.” She laughs nervously, her hand resting subconsciously on her chest.

“It’s not bothering you again, is it?” Tanya asks, as any good superior would, as the doctor walks over, shaking her head as she begins her exam of Visha, the procedure carried out in an efficient manner before she looks at the two young women. “I should double check these numbers against the projections. I trust that you will show yourself out when it’s appropriate, correct Degurecheff?” She barely waits for the brisk nod before gathering the few things she brought with her and excusing herself, to give the two veterans time to talk.

Tanya settles into her chair, fussing for a moment with her attire before looking at her former subordinate. “I have heard that you will be discharged soon, so congratulations are in order. I am glad to see that you are still as durable as ever, Visha. I always knew you were made of sterner stuff, after all, you were the only one that relished those K-brats and the other miserable rations that we had. Myself, I am glad to be able to eat something that is not dead longer than I have been alive, or fighting back on the way down.” She quips, suddenly finding her hands oddly fascinating. “I’ve also heard that you will be my roommate. It would seem our status as women has once again paired us together, has it not?” She asks, looking at Visha directly once again.

Visha blushes a bit and coughs. “I never thought that they were that bad, Lieutenant Col...I mean, Tanya….” she hastily corrects at the pointed look she gets from her former commander. “And, yes, they told me earlier today that I could expect to be discharged shortly...And that I would be staying with you, Tanya. It’s comforting, having one point of familiarity among all of….This.” She waves her hand around the modern hospital room, then smiles happily at Tanya “But, I am glad to be alive. And it’s kind of nice, not having to fight all the time right now.” Her youthful appearance and bubbling personality slip for just a moment, letting Tanya glimpse the war-weary veteran that she seldom sees hiding in Visha’s usual gaze. In a moment, the blissfully ignorant smile is one again on her face, as she reaches out to clasp one of Tanya’s hands between her own. “I am looking forward to attending school, and trying out all the new foods.” She ponders that for a moment, then gives Tanya a serious look “They DO have good food, correct? And I imagine I will have to see about finding a good source of coffee, won’t I?” She asks with a happy little smile, one that Tanya hadn’t realized she did miss, just a little bit.

Tanya coughs and nods, looking away for a moment before looking back at Visha. “I am sure that you will manage, as you always have. This world is different than the one we knew, but I am sure that we will manage. We survived the Rhine, after all.” Both of them drift into silence for a moment, then Tanya looks at Visha intensely again “I don’t know how far we can truly trust all of them. We had best remain on our guard, until we know more of what to expect here. I find it hard to believe that they don’t want something specific from the two of us, what with all that they have done for both of us. In the meantime, the best things we can do is rest and recover, and discover as much as we can. The CAD’s they use seem similar, in principle, to our own computation jewels, just much more advanced. And I am curious why they chose to use a CAD based replacement for your damaged heart, and not something a bit more…..Conventional.” She trails off, talking to herself more than Visha, a habit that they have both become used to over the later years of the war.

“I am sure that it will be fine, Tanya…. After all, I have you here” She blushes, waving her hand at the sudden look from Tanya. “I mean, there has never been a front that we couldn’t handle, at least till the end of things….” Visha trails off, looking tired and worn.

Tanya shakes her head, standing up. “I think that I should let you rest, and head home myself. My homework for tomorrow won’t write itself. At least, I don’t think it will. Maybe they have a gadget for that, that we just haven’t seen yet?” She smirks at a suddenly laughing Visha, who nods and smiles. “Good night, Tanya…...Sleep well.”

Tanya starts to walk towards the door, stopping to look back at Visha. “You as well. A soldier's first duty is to rest and recover. Whatever battlefield we face, it is best to be prepared for it. Good night, Visha.”

With that said, the diminutive Ace of Aces starts to head for home, her mind a swirl of thoughts.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: Nocturne

Once back in the sanctum of her dorm, Tanya loses herself in the ritual of routine for a time, thinking over the events of the day as she does a bit of tidying up, then heats up dinner. As nice as it is to once again have access to the convenience of modern, instant meals, she can’t help but think of the home cooking she had eaten over the years, even if field rations kept coming to mind. With a chuckle over her former adjutant’s iron stomach, she settles in to finish her homework and continue her practices with the CAD, still getting more familiar with the device.

It was a fairly basic CAD, nothing special or unique about it, to be honest, from what she had seen. A device that looked much like a cellphone from her time, able to store and execute magical formula with the input of her own magical power. In many ways similar to the computation jewel of the Empire, but also different. And those differences were the sticking point. No flying, and that was something to get used to. Hovering, yes. Jumping, yes. But not to fly? It was taking some getting used to.

Afterwards, a hot shower and clean pajamas then, to the next battlefield. Bed. Who would have thought that the Ace of Aces, the Devil of the Rhine herself would find such a warm and comfortable thing so daunting? Sleep was supposed to be a respite, but ever since the war, and the last few months of it in particular, there was little rest to be found in sleep.

Instead, the failings and horrors of the war awaited her almost every night. A flood of memories that only strong medications could stop, and those left her feeling too vulnerable, too exposed, too dependent to make them comfortable. No, it was better to just soldier on through, and use that wonderful black brew to bolster herself.

With a sigh, the Rusted Silver settles into her bed, and slowly, fitfully drifts off to sleep….

December 23rd, 1926. Five miles from the outskirts of Berun, third defensive line, bunker 208.

Two soldiers sit huddled over a fire, warming themselves as best as they can. Their once immaculate uniforms and gear battle-worn and stained with blood, grime, and mud. Their weapons close at hand bear witness to hard-fought battles, the wood damaged even if the mechanical workings look as carefully cared for as one could expect. The older of the two women, her brown hair slightly matted as it spills over her shoulders looks up as a shell explodes not far from them, her pale blonde companion never looking up from the map she is studying intently, hoping to find some way out of this, some last glimmer of hope to cling to.

The brunette smiled softly, clearing her throat. “I know it’s not Christmas yet, Lieutenant Colonel, and it’s not much, but I got you something, for Christmas.” She clears her throat, looking a bit sad for a moment. “I didn’t know if I would be able to give it to you when it would be appropriate, with everything that is happening, and I know it’s not much… But I was able to, umm, acquire something for you.”

The diminutive blonde looked up from her map, blue meeting green for one intense moment before Tanya looked away. “You didn’t have to do that, Visha. As much as we all appreciate your talents, I would prefer if you use them for the sake of the unit as a whole, not just me.” Perhaps a smile flitted across her worn lips for a moment, but that could have been a trick of the light, surely that is what it was.

Visha smiled softly and stands “I think that this is in the interest of the unit, Lieutenant Colonel. After all, if you're in good spirits we all have a better chance.” She said as she pulled a battered tin and small sack from her rucksack. “It’s not much, but a tin of your favorite bean, and one of the sweets you liked, from that last visit we had to the Capital before all of...This.” Tanya’s ever faithful adjutant sets the items gently on the makeshift table. “Merry Christmas, Ma’am.”

Whatever Tanya would have said is lost to time and the tides of battle as a siren is heard, whistles blowing to announce another rush by the Rus in their attempts to overwhelm the defensive line. The two veterans share one look, then grab their gear and head out into the chaos of war, the gift left on the table.

Tanya addresses the few of her men that remain here, the rest having been scattered in other small pockets to try to bolster the lines for a few days, a few hours, in the hopes that if the Empire fell, it would not be to the Rus. “The Rus are attacking again, and we must do our duties, no matter how much blood has to be spilled. Get out there, and fight like your life depends on it. Because it does. Know that if you fall, I won’t let you be taken captive. I’ll kill you myself, if I have to. And I know that any of you would do the same for me. First round is on me, back in Berun.” That said, the battered remnants of her once proud battalion speed towards the battle, unable to soar high and free because of the heavy amount of A.A. that the Rus have brought with them, and the weariness of her troops.

The battle is chaotic, every inch being bought with the bodies of scores of Rus troops, and the blood of Germania’s heroes. The Devil herself, along with the White Silver’s Wing, reap a heavy toll themselves, the two women moving as one, years of combat experience evident in all that they do, until that fateful moment. A moment’s distraction, a sniper’s shot, and a mage’s shield shattering as the bullet that was meant for Tanya instead finds itself a new home. The shot rips through the battered shield that is all that the exhausted Visha can maintain as she pours her full power into speed, into intercepting the shot, protecting her commander with her own body. The heavy round passes clean through her, shattering her jewel as it penetrates her chest. The battered and bleeding form starts to fall, caught almost instantly in the powerful grip of the smaller woman.

“Neuman! Take command! Visha has been hit!” Is all she can spare as she grasps Visha tight to her, leaving the battlefield in a flash, the only thought rolling through her mind being that she needed to save her, needed to stop the bleeding. That maybe it wasn’t as bad as it looked. That her ever faithful adjutant would smile and shake it off, scold her for worrying about such a little thing. There was just so much blood. She had to go faster. Think quicker. She had to get to the bunker. She didn’t notice how the world itself seemed to slow, how everything hung with a poignant silence for one long moment as she blasted into the bunker, grabbing the medical kit and tearing it open, precious supplies falling into the dirt and grime as she attempted to save a life that might be important to her. One that might even be precious.

Her eyes closed tight as she presses down, trying to ignore how the wound feels, how there is no breath rattling from the chest of the woman she is huddled over. How the world seems to pause. “Please...God, please don’t die, Visha. You can’t die, who is going to make my coffee? Who is going to make sure I don’t fail again? Dammit you, Being X! God, please...Don’t die….” She lets out a whimper, willing herself to think faster, to move faster, wishing that time itself would slow, that it would stop.

A chuckle might be heard, a laugh that shivers creation to its roots, a presence satisfied for the moment. A crack in the armor of disbelief and logic. A potential weakness exposed. A wish granted.

Tanya huddled over the dying body of one of the few people that truly matters to her, that might have import for more than just what she can do for her, that extends beyond a good cup of coffee and efficient paperwork. Some might even go as far as to say she could possibly consider her a friend. Green eyes meet troubled blue, a hand slowly raised, touching a cheek softly before falling away.

And then there is light and noise, figures rushing, voices speaking quickly in German as Tanya is gently pulled aside as people in doctors scrubs and masks circle her adjutant, but she has no energy left, not to cast a spell, or even to move. As blackness falls over her, she reflects that at least the last thing she hears isn't soldiers speaking in Russian.

June 7th, 6:00 am, 2094. Present

Tanya wakes the next morning feeling worn, the dream weighing heavily on her, always with that feeling that she missed something, that some detail was left unnoticed. She drags herself out of bed, making her way to the automated coffee machine that was already preparing that black brew that served as her very lifeblood. She takes a deep inhalation of the aroma, feeling nostalgic over the cups that Visha brewed, her mood lifting a bit as she realizes that she will once again be able to partake in her favorite cup of coffee soon, before she looks critically at the other half of the room, squaring her shoulders as she makes both beds to military regulations, nodding once that is done. A quick email is sent to the appropriate departments to make sure that clean clothes and two uniforms are prepared and sent, not trusting the doctor to have made sure the arrangements were carried out properly.

That taken care of, she sets about making final preparations for the day. It was the first day of the weekend, so that meant more of the good doctor’s tender mercies, this time with the cursed Type 95, one of the few relics from their previous day and age that had made its way to this one. One of their rifles, their flight gear, and a certain package, sitting carefully on the counter in the little kitchenette her dorm room sported were all that remained of their past, the uniforms being taken into the good doctor’s care for study and analysis.

With one last look around the spartan room, she gathers the last of her supplies, dons her shoes and sets out to face her fate once more.

Chapter Text

New Berlin College of Higher Sciences, October 18th, 2086.
The Studies of unusual phenomena, and how they relate to our perceptions of time and entropy.
Adeline Veronica Schugel.

“....And in conclusion, it is the results of my studies that our perception of time, and how we interact with it is a definition of entropic decay and our own minds methodology for chronicling how we perceive the world. It is my belief that time travel is not possible, but the controlled retrogration or acceleration of entropic effects could be perceived as such, if one does not look at all things pragmatically. So far, we have not found a magical methodology that can slow or accelerate molecular and atomic motion to the extent that we can either enter a state of noticeably accelerated or degraded entropic progression, but I think we will one day see this put into a practical, repeatable, provable process. This concludes my presentation, I thank you for your time and consideration.” The eighteen-year old graduate student finishes, nodding politely to those who sit in consideration on the verbal part of the thesis competition,she walked briskly off the stage and towards the gentleman in the neat dark suit standing in the wings, obviously waiting for her.

As she steps off the stage, the gentleman approaches her, looking her over once. “Adeline Veronica Schugel?” At her brief nod of assent, he continued on. “I’m special agent Grey, and I would like it if you would come with me, please. We have a subject that might prove of some interest to you, but of course we would need to speak of it in someplace more private.”

She paused for a moment, adjusting her glasses as she looked him over. “Very well, Agent Grey. If I may just collect my case? My thesis papers and research notes are in it.” She started to look where she had left it, only to be handed it by another eerily similar man in the same dark suit. “I see. You were anticipating my response, then.” She says primly, taking her case and followed the two gentlemen to the waiting car.

Once inside, she gave them another careful look over, then focused on Agent Grey. “Are you at liberty to fill me in now on why you needed to collect me from my thesis presentation, or will it have to wait til I am at whatever facility you are surely taking me to?”

The two agents shared a look, then Grey once again looked at her, addressing her directly. “I think we can begin now, and see what you think of our proposition.” He hands her a thin folder. “We have found an anomaly while excavating a destroyed bunker from the era of the first world war. The site was first uncovered in the spring of 2062, after detecting an anomalous magical source buried under the ground.” He points to the pictures of the excations, the initial findings of the collapsed bunker, the few recognizable items recovered from within. “Then we found the anomaly. A perfect sphere of some impenetrable black substance, 300 centimeters in diameter.” He pounds to the photo of the sphere which seems to rest in a depression in the floor, the surrounding material looking to have been blasted away from it. “The center point of the sphere rests 48 centimeters above what was the floor of the surrounding site.” He points to another photo. “We attempted to take a sample of the sphere, but nothing we have tried has made any sort of mark or impression on it.” He glanced towards his companion, another silent conversation seeming to take place. “Then, a researcher suggested getting time-lapse photographs of the site, to see if there were any variations or emissions. That is when we found this.” He pulls a folder from within his suit, and hands it to her. The photo depicts two women in a variation of the uniform typical of the German army of the First World War, with some slight if noticeable differences to the trained eye. Both appear to be battle worn and wounded, the brunette laying in a pool of blood, her hand lifted towards the face of the diminutive blond that has her hands pressed to the chest of the bleeding soldier.

Adeline Schugel looked at them, then back to the picture. “And when was this taken? Do you have others? More angles, different exposures from other dates and times?” She fixed them both with a stern look. “I will need everything you have, as soon as possible. I take it you wanted me, in particular, because of my studies in entropic control? To understand what you have found here.”

Agent Grey nods. “We thought that you, with your rather particular focus, might prove to be of some use to us in understanding the anomaly that we have found. Of course, this and everything you have seen and will see are under the strictest of confidentiality, Doctor Schugel.”

She looked at them, then back to the photo. “It’s not doctor yet.” she said, flipping through the papers and photos that they had handed to her.

“We shall see about that, Doctor.” Is all the taciturn Grey has to say.

Facility 1, formerly bunker 208. December 16th, 2087.

“Our research has shown a few things that are of import to understanding and analyzing the phenomena that we have here. First, and foremost, what we are seeing is not a perfect example of stasis. There is movement within the event horizon of the effect. It’s minute, and it takes months or even years to make it noticeable, but there is movement. There is every indication that the two subjects are alive. Second, the sphere is shrinking. Once again, it’s minute but recordable. Third, the rate of emissions from the sphere have been increasing, once again, the amount is negligible unless one were to track it carefully. Fourth, we are working on a hypothesis that the sphere may fail on its own, but we do not yet have enough data to do more than postulate on that.”

The newly minted director of the project said as she addressed the board of trustees overseeing the project. Doctor Schugel adjusted her glasses, and continued on. “Taking that into consideration, we have begun to work on a protocol for when and if the sphere loses integrity. We have already started the process of reinforcing and isolating the bunker to a greater extent, extending and reinforcing the airlock and control protocols to handle any potential NBC threats that might be released with the sphere’s collapse.”

She pointed to the diagrams that were carefully prepared then continued on to the next point. “Secondly, we will have an extended combat and security unit prepared, in case those inside are hostile or in other ways a threat. The fact that at least one of them seems to be a mage is troublesome for obvious reasons.” She directed their attention to the procedure and preparedness manuals that had been presented to each of them as well.

“The third point is preparing a medical and trauma team to take care of them, in the likely case that one or both of them needs immediate medical attention. With that in mind, we have constructed a model of the probable damage done to the injured woman, henceforth referred to as ‘Subject B’. We will not know the full extent until we can actually study her directly, but our trauma experts are relatively sure on the probable damage done. We have already begun on preparations for the needed devices to repair or replace the most vital of organs and systems that were likely damaged in the attack.”

She adjusted her glasses once again, facing them directly. “Now, if you have any questions, I would be happy to answer what I may?”

April 3rd, 2093

The research had been progressing at a respectable pace, discoveries were coming at a good rate, and projections were able to be made at last.

“Ok, what we are looking at, according to the latest models, is the sphere will lose integrity on or around the new year. Best estimate is between the 1st and 6th of January. We will be running 24 hour double watches the entire time, with the medical and security teams on standby rotations. The trauma and containment units will be operable well within the timeline specified, and we have secured the last of the medical implants that we speculate we will need. On top of that, the medical CAD’s will be ready as well. This could be an important research point for us on this, because it is rare that we see people needing replacements, much less with the potential to make use of devices such as this. It has passed basic trials, so Subject B might very well be our first full field test. Doctors Werner and Heines, I will see you in my office after this for reports from your departments. Dismissed!”

With that, the good doctor heads to her office, the two older gentlemen in tow for what she is sure will be an informative, if dull, report from the heads of Medical Research and Entropic Theory.

January 3rd, 2094. 2:03 AM, Facility 1 Primary Containment.

“Doctor! We have a fluctuation in the psion field! Evidence of outgassing from the event horizon, and an increase of isotopes. The sphere has begun to shrink rapidly!” The technician monitoring the primary feeds announces, the secondary station double checking the results and reaching for the alert button, one glance at the tense doctor, and a button is pressed and alarms signal exactly three times, letting the base know that the operation was commencing.

Ready Team One and Medical Team One were prepped and ready by the time the doctor hit the airlock, all weapons locked and loaded and all the emergency first aid supplies placed on their crash carts. “Ok people, we get one chance at this. Move quickly, concisely, and make sure you only use German. We have no idea of their mental states, but we can assume a heightened sense of alertness and trauma. Be careful, and lets get our job done.”

The airlock opens to a thin haze of smoke from a war that is long gone, if not forgotten and the sight of the two subjects sitting in the middle of the rubble that has surrounded them for over a century and a half, of real time.

The teams rush in, as Subject A collapses. The soldiers make it to the pair first, removing the pistol and the odd pendant that is clutched tightly in Subject A’s hand. The medical teams are shotly behind them, dropping into place and starting their checks over each of them.

“Subject A is non-responsive! Breathing is shallow but steady, no obvious signs of active trauma, applying sedatives and beginning treatment for shock!” The team lead of Team A declares even as they are loading her onto a gurney and heading for the trauma and medical wing.

“Subject B is non-responsive. We do not have a pulse! Applying Emergency Trauma magic, STAT. No response, the subject is resisting the effect. Moving to mechanical and chemical means!” Team B announces, as the experts go about their duty with the precision they had spent the last couple of months drilling into themselves. A field bypass is set, a field dressing is applied to both the entry and exit wounds while a report on blood type is prepared rapidly. “Ok, get the infuser and bypass running, type AB-, full spectrum protocol. Have the trauma team begin to prepare for the implants, we have a magically active individual.” As the team rushes past, Doctor Schugel kneels down to examine the objects that are left laying in the wake, carefully placing the pendant into a sealed and protected box, her eyebrows furrowed. “Let's see what you are, shall we?” She eyes the discarded flight gear, looking at her support staff. “Everything documented, where it was, what it appears to be. Then into containment containers and make sure the cameras are recording for the next seventy-two hours.”

With that, the doctor heads out to check on the status of her subjects.

Chapter Text

June 7th, 8:00 am, 2094. Present
Isolation and containment room, Facility 1, formerly Bunker 208

Tanya sighs as she eyes the Type 95, wishing for her Type 97, but it seems to have been lost somewhere in the transition, or perhaps whisked away by that nefarious Being X during the chaos. She looks up to the control room, receiving a nod from the good doctor as she adjusts her flight gear and settles the cursed computation jewel into it’s accustomed place on her chest.

“Tanya Degurecheff, test 1, beginning.” She says as she feeds magical power into the gem, lifting gently into the air as all manner of scanners, computers and sensors record every detail of what is happening, and what she is doing. “Magic output stable, holding at one meter.” She says as she watches the world through the lens of her magically enhanced senses. For all the advancements that her new world and time held, this was perhaps the one thing that they were still missing. Magically attained personal flight. One of the few real joys of her previous life, if you could ignore the constant fighting, shelling, and airburst shells. One could even think it an enjoyable thing. She floated there for the required five minutes, letting their computers do the tasks allotted them, then settles back to the floor. She looks to the doctor, and at another nod removes the Type 95, placing it carefully into its container before taking her own CAD in hand.

“Tanya Degurecheff, test 2, beginning.” She says as she accesses the function of the CAD, trying the latest variation of the spell they had devised. She executed it, letting her magical power flow through the device. It was one of the oddities of her second life, she was a mage, but nowhere near the most powerful of them. Average at best, at least in her potential magical power. It was the efficiency of her operations that made things work. That, and the cursed jewel that she was saddled with. Perhaps in this time and place, they would be able to free her of it, once and for all. “Attempting lift off. Applying fifty percent power.” She stated as she dropped into the rote and ritual of flight. As before, nothing happened. The CAD and her flight gear were still refusing to operate together. “Seventy five percent.” She said, as she carried on with the test. Still, nothing happened but feeling the drain, and the CAD starting to heat up. “Doctor, I’m feeling resistance in the CAD, do you want me to continue?” She stated as calmly as possible, hoping that this Schugel would not blow her up, again.

“No, Degurecheff, I think that will be all for now. We have gotten some good results, the numbers look...Interesting, to say the least. Let's move on to the next test, then? Stow your CAD and flight gear, and take up your Type 95. Try for that 1/60th ration, shall we? One second of distortion for one minute of real time.” She glances at the techs, getting a nod from each station. “We are ready when you are, just try not to be gone for more than an hour this time, shall we?”

Tanya hides her grumble as she carries out her instructions, carefully removing and stowing her flight gear and the CAD, then taking up the Type 95 and the special stopwatch that they had issued her. “Setting dilation to 1/60th, time set for one second comparative. Ready to execute when you are, Doctor Schugel.”

The doctor does one last check with each of her technicians and specialists and nods to Tanya. “Proceed when ready. And good luck.” She says as she watches the readouts.

Tanya takes one last breath, triggering the sequence of spells and enhancements that made her little trick of entropic distortion possible. One second of her time, for sixty seconds of outside time. She watches carefully as the outside world becomes a glowing white ball, to her perception as she slows the entropic process in a bubble no more than two meters across all around her. Something feels off, though.

“Oh, my little lost lamb. You think that you have escaped your fate, by fleeing from the garden that I had prepared for you?” The voice seems to emanate from everywhere, everything, as the world freezes in a way that has become oddly routine for her over the years.

“A garden? Obviously if you think that was a garden, you need to find better source material, Being X. And yes, we escaped your little war. How many lives did you waste, just to try and make a point?” She shakes her head. “You only confirm my beliefs that you are a malevolent being when you pull stunts like that.”

“Oh, ye of little faith. And after what I have done for you? The gifts I have laid at your feet, the prayers I have answered? Perhaps you need to be tested once more, my little lamb. How quickly you have forgotten the prayers of the lost and lonely. I know in time you shall see My glory for what it is. Carry on your little game, lamb. I shall watch over thee always.”

The presence fades, and the second ticks by. The spell collapses, and a weary and furious Tanya drops back into sequential time, looking quickly at the clock to assess just how much time she lost while dealing with the self proclaimed God. Ten minutes. Not the best, but by far not the worst results they had seen. She places the Type 95 back into its container without waiting for the doctor’s orders, taking slow, deep breaths as she waits for the medical team to approach and check her over. “Was...That enough with the Type 95, doctor?” She lets out as she is swarmed, her pulse and other vital stats checked by hand, instead of just relying on the sensor array that she wears even now under the flight suit.

Doctor Schugel looks at her readouts and reports, nodding once. “Take five minutes. Eat something, get a drink and relax, then we will try again with the CAD.” She pauses for a moment, then activates the microphone again. “Well done, Tanya. 1/600 is not a bad result, all things considered.”

A quick double look at the booth is all the response that is given as Tanya lets the staff lead her over to the chair and the waiting refreshments. She eyes the Type 95 like a viper lurking in the grass as they carefully seal it back into its case and place it back into storage. A different CAD is laid out on the table, the newest refinement of their continuing attempts to duplicate her feat of entropic control.

Five minutes seems to drag on forever as she tries to calm herself, hoping that Being X will not choose to interfere once again. His visits, as rare as they have been here, always are disconcerting in their own way. But, it's worth it, to not have to face the war again. To not have to risk the death of her battalion, of the soldiers that she is responsible. Unbidden, the image of Visha lying broken and bleeding comes to mind with all the dread that seems to be attached to the image. With a shake of her head, she stands and puts that image out of her mind. Soon, she will have a daily reminder of Visha’s well being and continued life. That should help put to rest that spectre.

With a renewed resolve, she steps into the test circle, taking the CAD from the technician and looking to the booth once again. “Ready when you are, Doctor Schugel.”

“Once more from the top, 1/60th compression, one second perceived time. Lets see how close you can land to one minute, Degurecheff. When you are ready.” The doctor states, eyes fixed once more on her readouts and sensors.

“Tanya Degurecheff, test 2 starting.” Tanya says before the world fades to white.

June 7th, 1:00pm, 2094

It is an exhausted Tanya that slowly makes her way back home, dragging herself down the hall with slow, labored steps. The tests had run late, with the last test with the CAD achieving the 1/60th rate that they were aiming for. Next weekend they would begin ‘Stuctural analyses and assessment’ on the new stasis shield, or, as the good doctor would say “Entropic reduction and abatement event horizon.” A truly horrendous mouthful, but at least she wasn’t being strapped into a V1 and shot at any unfriendlies. But, perhaps it was best not to make any sort of jokes with the good doctor.

She stops at the door, long years of combat telling her something was off. Silently, she slipped a knife from where it was hidden in her boot, channeleing the variation of fortification magic that she referred to as her ‘mage blade’ into it, turning the edge into a molecular knife. With a quick intake of breath, she is through the door, ready to dispatch anyone that was inside.

Needless to say, she stopped dead in her tracks as a scent that she hadn’t smelled for what seemed like forever wafts into her nose. The knife drops to the ground as she looks in wonder at the cup sitting on the table, waiting for her and the eyes that peek around the corner of the kitchenette in concern. “No artillery spells, I hope, Ma’am?” A timid Visha asks with a bit of a smile visible.

Tanya takes a moment to center herself and regain her composure, habitually starting to reach for a cap that is no longer there, and instead running her hand through her hair. “Not this time, Visha. I think I will save that for when I have some recruits needing to dig foxholes.” They stare at each other for a moment, before Visha breaks into giggles and a soft laugh is extracted from the Argent. “I didn’t think you would be here til Monday.” Is all she says as she walks to the table, leaning down to better imbibe the strong smell that envelopes her like sunshine on a cloudy day.

“Doctor Schugel and I thought it would be a nice surprise for you….Tanya.” She says, looking a bit shy at uttering her former superiors name so casually. A quick little smile is the reward she gets and Visha lets out a breath she didn’t know she was holding in. “She expedited your requests, and saw that I was delivered with them. She said she would make sure that I would be here before you, but I will have to have a discussion with her about not running you ragged next time. There are times that she almost makes me wish I still had my entrenching tool, Ma’am.” The sigh of an upset and perhaps even pouting Visha does almost as much to lift Tanya’s spirits as the coffee does.

With a laugh, Tanya settles down, gently lifting the cup and savoring it before taking a sip with a sigh of contentment. “It’s very good, Visha. No one makes coffee quite like yours.” She eyes her over the rim. “What will you do when you run out of the blend that you brought for me, though?” She asks with a bit of mirth.

Visha grins “Doctor Schugel had the analysts examine a sample of my coffee, and found a match. I will be receiving regular shipments starting next week.” She says proudly, ever the efficient ajutant to her commander.

Tanya stares at her for a moment, then laughs and shakes her head. “Just remember, only gamble in the interest of the unit, not for just me, Visha.” She says with a bit of a turned up lip, a feral little grin on her face.

The perfectly blank and innocent look she gets in return might have worked years ago, but the Argent knew her better by now. After a moment, they both started to laugh at the moment, before settling back into one of the rituals that used to set their minds at ease. Coffee is served, drank, the cup refilled without asking as Tanya looks over her emails and reports. Tanya looks up at Visha, tenderly holding the cup. “It’s good to have you back, Visha.”

“It’s good to be home….Tanya.” is the reply that is given.

Chapter Text

Heart of steel

New Berlin R&D center, 11:00 AM August 8th, 2092.

Doctor Schugel rubbed at her eyes, turning and twisting just a bit as she stretched her back. “I am sorry, Doctor Wylan, I was up late last night preparing my next report for the Comittee. You have results for me on that project, yes? I am not sure how much more time we have, but I am sure that we are nearling the end of it.” She says as she looks to the older man sitting across the desk from her.

Dr. Davis Wylan nods, his hands clasped before him. “Indeed, Doctor. I never imagined that we would have such an interesting subject to work with. The scans you have submitted are proving very valuable, we project massive cardiac damage, and the possibility of damage to the right lung. The damage to the lung and chest cavity I think we can repair. We will know for sure once we have the patient at hand. The heart though, I think that it wil be a lost cause. A transplant would be impossible, seeing as we have no tissue samples to work from.” He gestures briefly with one hand, then settles them back where they were resting. “And if your hypothesis on the residual effects of the chronostasis are true, then I think that you are correct, ordinary attempts to use magic to repair the tissue could be...Problematic.” He takes a slow sip of his tea, reaching over to his briefcase and handing her the files within. “Our latest, the model 3. A Caster Assistant Device built into a mechanical heart. The device uses the patients bio-electric and magical systems to power and maintain the unit. Of course, it will only be effective if she does, in fact, prove to be a mage. Otherwise, we do have a more conventional model on hand, of course, but I think that you are hoping for the model 3 to be used, am I correct?”

Doctor Schugel looks through his report briefly, nodding as she reads. “Yes, it is rare that we have a chance to conduct live tests like this with this kind of technology. An implanted CAD would prove very useful to us with deep cover operatives in the field.” She looks at a diagram. “This is the control unit, then? It looks very much like a conventional CAD, does it not?”

Doctor Wylan nods, leaning forward just a bit. “That was the intention, we even have a protocol for the generation of the activation sigils. Now, for any truly powerful casting, we will not be able to disguise it. The power requirements and formula are too large. I plan on being the one to handle the implants myself, of course.” He takes another sip of his tea. “We are fabricating the first series of implants and grafts now, and we will continue to work with the mock up so that we can be prepared when the time is right.” He concludes, sitting back.

Doctor Schugel stretches and nods, offering a hand that is politely ignored. “We had already figured as much. We will keep you informed as we develop a better model on when the event horizon of the effect is likely to collapse.”

He nods as he also rises. “I look forward to our continuing work, Doctor Schugel. Until we next talk, then.” With that, he walks from the room, leaving the director to look through the drawing and diagrams of what will one day be the mechanical heart of Subject B.

“A brave new world. The first steps taken. I do hope that you both prove to be worth the investment, my young ladies.” She says as she looks at the latest series of scans and photos.

January 3rd, 2094. 2:05 AM, Facility 1 Primary Containment, Emergency Trauma Ward.

Dr. Davis Dylan Wylan finishes his prep, hands and arms scrubbed and gowned. All he needed now was the patient. As calm as he appeared, deep inside he was almost giddy. The chance to operate on such a mysterious mage, from a time that was impossible. Perhaps from somewhere else, then? Such thoughts were better left to the director. His only real interest was in proving his own theories, or failing and going back to square one.

He strides into the operating theatre a bare two minutes after his patient has been wheeled in and the preliminary steps taken. He eyes the recharge of her chest, surveying first hand the damage done by the heavy round. “Left lung has been nicked, but the damage appears minor. Heavier damage to the right, but I think it too is salvageable.” He carefully opens her chest cavity the rest of the way, eyeing the damaged tissues and organs, glancing to make sure that the bypass is keeping his patient alive. “Massive trauma to the left and right lobes of the heart, preparing to extract.” He says as he starts to go about his bloody business.

“More suction. Yes, there. Retract that. Good. Container.” He places the ruptured organ into the appropriate container, sending it off to be examined. “I am ready for the Model 3.” He calmly implants the artificial heart into its new home, attaching it to the salvageable parts of her vascular system, and making the appropriate connections to the nerves. Next, the conductor arrays are implanted, and connected to the Model 3. He looks at the clock, nodding as they appear to be right on the timeline that they had practiced for so long.

“Active the Model 3, bring the conductor arrays up first, make sure that we are drawing power.” He says, as he checks each component as they come online. “Looks good so far. Engage the interface with the main unit. Make sure that you watch for any power fluctuations.” He states as the system is brought up, watching critically as it begins to cycle, pulsing much like a real heart would do, keeping it’s preprogrammed rhythm.

“All systems nominal, we are receiving a lower input than we were hoping for, but it falls within the expectations, considering the subject's condition, Doctor.” The technician monitoring the heart reports.

The doctor nods, preparing for the next step. “I am getting ready to remove the bypass. Be prepared in case the system fails, we will have to move quickly to keep the subject alive.” He says, then carries out the procedure, just like they had rehearsed so often over the last few months.

There is a tense moment as the system takes over, a long moment that seems to last forever then the technician nods. “We have systolic pressure. Heartbeat is steady, blood pressure holding within acceptable margins.” He looks at the doctor. “Well done, sir.”

Doctor Wylan nods, looking at his assistant. “Place the grafts and close up. I will let Doctor Schugel know of the success of the first stage, and check in on Subject A.”

May 6th, 2094. 10:00 AM, New Berlin Hospital, Medical Research ward.

Visha talks quietly to the nurse on duty as Doctors Schugel and Wylan observe her through the security feeds. “She seems to be adjusting well to the implants, Doctor.” Adeline Schugel comments, watching the woman in the bed.

“Of course, as if there ever was any doubts. I see from the reports that she is beginning to grasp the functions of the Model 3? Any problems with the interface so far?” Doctor Wylan says, his eyes never leaving Visha.

Doctor Schugel shakes her head slightly, sipping at her cup of coffee. “No, but her and Degurechaff are surprisingly quick learners, all things considered. Especially considering that they both seem to have been taught a theory of magic that lies outside the scope of our own. Degurechaff is proving to be particularly adept. On sheer output and potential, Serebryakov here outshines her. But, it’s amazing to see what our other guest is capable of. Especially when she is harnessing the Type 95 of hers. As crude as it appears, it’s workings are almost...divine. Truly inspired.” She says as the other Doctor glances at her.

“Surely you do not give into that superstitious drivel, Doctor?” He says, an eyebrow barely raised.

“Of course not, but it is fascinating to study.” She says. “Shall we observe her exercises, then? I think they are just about to begin.”

The only consent she gets is a nod, but she doesn’t really expect anything more from the obsessive doctor standing next to her. She reaches over, queuing the intercom. “Begin the battery for today.” She orders, then stands back up, watching critically.

The exercises are things that any young, developing mage could be expected to do. Moving objects, activating a series of detection and manipulation spells. Increasing and decreasing the temperature in a carefully prepared medium. The areas where she has advances are noted, the ones where she is lagging behind their projections are documented.

At one point, Visha laughs and makes an odd statement. “I do hope that the Argent does not think that I need remedial training. I don’t think I could handle being shelled in a foxhole quite yet.” The comment is noted, recorded, and forwarded to be referenced when they next work with Degurechaff.

As the two doctors head back to Schugel’s office, Wylan gives his companion a look. “I would like access to Degurechaff’s training, as well. The recordings and readouts would be sufficient. I need to see better how they are both adjusting to the magical systems that we are using, and I think that Degurechaff would prove to be a good baseline.”

Doctor Schugel looks over, and nods to him as they enter her office. “That can be arranged.”

June 7th, 5:00pm, 2094

Visha hums happily as she works in the kitchen, casting quick little glances over to her former superior who is sitting in the living room watching the news. As strange and baffling as this new time and place are, as out of her element as she feels, the Argent is the one unwavering point of reference. Younger than her, but so much more experienced and mature. She has always looked up to Tanya. In many ways, it was Tanya that raised her, that shaped her. That saved her. A gentle pressure fills her chest as she looks at the one constant in her life.

Wiping her eyes, she goes back to cooking, losing herself in this one art that doesn’t seem to have changed much, even if the tools they use are very odd to her. The ingredients are unlike anything she had ever had the chance to work with before, so it was a good thing that she had been practicing as much as possible the last month or so. The quality was unmistakeable, that is for sure.

With a happy sigh, a traditional Germanian dinner was placed on the table, or at least as close as she could get in this strange place. She looks over to the chair that Tanya was sitting in. “Tanya, supper is ready when you are.” She says as she stands behind her seat, waiting for her roommate.

Tanya turns off the television and walks in, smiling up at the taller woman. “Visha, you do not have to be so formal. You can sit before I get to the table, I won’t have you shot, after all.” She quips as she settles into her own chair, smiling as she takes a sniff. “You have outdone yourself, Visha. Who ever thought that I would feel nostalgic over a meal…” She trails off, giving a brief smile before she begins to serve herself. “I’d offer to return the favor, but let's face it, I am hopeless in the kitchen. What I am a master of, though, is take out. Tomorrow, we will have Japanese. I will make you forget all about your dear K-brat.” She states as she starts to eat.

Visha beams at her former commander before sitting and starting to serve herself as well. “One question, Tanya? What exactly is Japanese?”

Tanya blinks at her for a moment, then starts to gesture with a forkful of sausage. “Let me instruct you, my young student…”

The dinner passes in a companionable manner, the two refugees from a war that seemed so distant finding a spot of solace.

Chapter Text

On the cohabitation experiences of temporal refugees.

Sunday June 8th, 6:00am, 2094

The first night spent by the two refugees in the same apartment in some time passes quietly, each finding a familiar sense of comfort in the presence of the other. For the first time in months, Tanya actually manages to sleep through the night without being haunted by her nightmares.

The morning comes early for the pair, each rising precisely at 6:00am, Tanya turning off her alarm with practiced ease born of long familiarity, even if it was in another life. Visha pokes it a few times until Tanya calls out. “Ok, please turn off the 6:00am alarm, please.”

Needless to say, Visha is shocked by the soft voice that says. “Of course, the alarm has been turned off. It will sound again tomorrow at 6:00 am.”

Visha looks at Tanya wide-eyed, pointing at the alarm. “Did..it just answer you, Tanya?” She says, before casting a wary look at the alarm once more.

“Indeed it did, Visha. Most of the devices of this time seem to have at least some level of voice control. Just address the device and tell it what you want it to do. You can even name your assistant, so that it is clear when you are addressing it. Watch.” Tanya glances towards her alarm. “Ok, Baka, do I have any messages today?” She casts a knowing little smirk at Visha.

“You have received two messages. The first is from Doctor Adeline Schugel. The second is from the Sports and Extracurricular Activities council, the Seven Schools Competition Subcommittee. Would you like me to read either one to you?” Her alarm clock states in that same soft, unobtrusive manner.

“No, send them both to my handheld and close down until I need you again.” Tanya says as she grabs her handheld off her nightstand once she is dressed for the day.

“Tanya? How...did you figure all that out?” Visha asks as she finishes dressing as well, each finding it easier to change facing away from the other.

Tanya chuckles softly. “I’m a fast study, that is all. You will get the hang of it, now that you are no longer in the hospital. Anyone that I trained will learn and adapt quickly, after all.” She says, knowing that at least part of it is, once again, stuff she had learned in her other life.

Visha seems to perk up at that, snapping to attention without thinking about it. “Of course Tanya! Thank you for believing in me!” She says with a chipper note to her voice as she falls in behind Tanya.

“Well, the first message is the good doctor letting me know that you will be moving in. Conveniently, she didn’t send it til AFTER you had moved in.” She casts a suspicious gaze at the all too innocent looking young woman that is following her. “I don’t imagine that you have any idea how such an odd turn of events happened, would you?”

Visha smiles that blank, innocent smile of hers. “What events would that be, Tanya?” She quips.

Tanya sighs and shakes her head, looking at the other one. “This….Is odd.” She stops and reads it over once again, moving it so that Visha can read it as well over her shoulder.

“They want you to compete in something called the Seven Schools competition? What is that?” Visha asks, leaning well into Tanya’s personal bubble to read it easier over her shoulder.

“It would seem that they are interested in having me compete in the upcoming competition in August. Why me, exactly, is beyond me.” She trails off, tapping the reply button and acknowledging that she would visit with them on Monday. “Nothing to lose by finding out what they want, after all.” She says, looking over at Visha.

“No, nothing at all, Tanya.” She says as she steps politely back as Tanya steps forward, once again following her at a two-step distance.

The two of them stop in the kitchen, for Tanya it’s just long enough to wait for her morning cup of coffee before Visha sets about making breakfast for the pair of them. Tanya settles into the living room and starts to check out the news, basking in the peace that she has finally found, it only took a lifetime and a half, a world war, and breaking reality. Not too bad, all in all.

Soon enough they are sitting at the table, enjoying the companionable silence that the two grew accustomed to, even if the more excitable of them soon breaks the quiet. “So, I was wondering, what do they do at this Seven School competition, Tanya?” She asks as she nibbles on the last of her toast, already having laid waste to the six sausages that were at one line lined up neatly on her plate.

A soft hrm slips past Tanya’s lips as she taps a few times on her handheld, then motions towards the television, a montage of the highlights from last years competition playing on the screen. “Lets see… So, battle board, which seems to be combat surfing, of all things. Crowd ball that...appears to be some sort of game like racket ball or tennis. Hrm, Pillar Break. Why, exactly are the girls wearing those outfits, I wonder? Mirage Bat. No. Just, no. I don’t think I could wear outfits like that.” She motions to the girls wearing what, to her, appears to be very VERY much like the sailor fuku’s of the magical girls of her first life were always depicted wearing in the manga and anime. Monolith code, hrm? Seems interesting. A shame it’s for the boys only…” She trails off, studying the information some more. “And finally speed shooting. That one seems to be rather straightforward, at least.” She examines each intently. “This makes me even more curious what they could want from me. I’m a new person in the class, relatively, and I do not have the highest scores in the areas that would be most relevant, I would think.” She turns to regard a beaming Visha, who is staring with wide eyes and her hands clasped together in that way that always spells trouble for her.

“Visha, what exactly are you thinking right now?” Tanya asks warily.

“Oh Tanya! Look at those outfits! They are adorable! So colorful! And I thought you had said they could not fly?” She is, obviously, pointing at the Mirage Bat footage.

Tanya sighs, already getting some inkling of just where this was probably heading. “They can’t, Visha. They are jumping using enhancement and control spells. It sometimes seems like they are close, but yet so far from true flight.”

“I want to do that, Tanya. And if I can’t…” she turns sparkling eyes on her former commander.

“Visha?” Tanya says as she sighs and sips at her coffee.

“Yes, Tanya?” She says, hands clasped in obvious and oblivious joy.

“Do..You remember the incident with the Dress.” She says through clenched teeth.

“Oh, you mean the one for the film shoot?” She asks, getting even more excited.

“Exactly. And do you remember the training I gifted you with after that?” She says through gritted teeth.

Visha ponders that for a moment, then starts to pale a bit. “I...Think so, Tanya…”

“Drop it or I will make it, and the foxholes, seem like a pleasant day on the beach.” Tanya says in that falsely sweet tone of voice that fills most people with dread.

“Can I get you another cup of coffee? Freshly brewed? And I think I might have some scones or something about….” Her former adjutant says as she hurries into the kitchen.

Tanya sighs and settles into her chair. Peace was a wonderful thing, as long as the people remembered what war was like. Or, at least hell.

After they had finished their breakfast, cleaned up and Tanya had savored another cup or three of Visha’s heavenly black brew, the two young ladies went for a relaxing jog. A five mile jog, just a bit of light training to start to knock the rust off of Visha after her months of recuperation.

As Tanya looks back to watch her companion, she pulls them both up and hands a bottle of water to her winded companion. “It’s only been three miles, Visha. We really do need to get you back into shape.” She says, watching Visha critically.

“I’m...Sorry..ma’am. I..I will do better. I can carry on.” She says, leaning over to catch her breath.

Tanya sighs and nods. “Then I will give you your orders. Are you ready?” She says, once again every inch the Argent.

Visha snaps to attention, all traces of fatigue seemingly forgotten. “Ma’am!” She stops herself short of snapping a salute, but both know it’s a close thing.

“You are to use magic to reinforce yourself for the rest of the exercise.” Tanya says to the obvious disbelief of her former subordinate.

“But...You always say to NOT use magic during training, unless you NEED to use magic for the training, Ma’am?” She says, obviously perplexed.

“Well, yes. But that was a magic system that we knew to the point of it being instinctual. This is a whole new field for us, and we both really need to learn just what we can and can’t accomplish with it. And, to give you some incentive, if I win, I will cook. If you win, I will order Japanese or Chinese take out, and treat you.” How Tanya says it, there is no real choice in the matter. And Visha knows well that the Devil of the Rhine is the Disaster of the Kitchen, as well.

“Ma’am yes ma’am!” Visha says, pulling out the handheld CAD unit, and queuing up the spells that she can see might be useful.

“Good. Now, lets see what we can do, shall we?” Tanya says with a devilish grin, taking off quickly as she jogs, soon accelerating her steps.

“Ma’am!” Visha barks, using her own magic to speed along the ground in pursuit of her companion.

At the end of the route, both girls are winded and worn, but Visha has barely won out, beaming in triumph at an amused looking Tanya. “That..Was surprisingly fun. As odd as they seem at first, they don’t seem to require quite the level of mental mathematics that our computation jewels did.” She says as she leans against a wall, gathering her stamina once more.

Tanya nods, stretching as she used a bit of magic to refresh herself. “Indeed. And since you won, we will have takeout.” She says, walking back into their apartment building.

“Ma’am?” Visha calls as she follows behind. “You wouldn’t have LET me win, would you?”

Tanya chooses to ignore the question, instead looking through the menu. “Curry or teriyaki? Oh, the choices….”

Chapter Text

A (not so) simple request.

Monday June 9th, 6:00am, 2094

The next morning finds the two veterans of a very foreign war sitting at the table eating breakfast, Tanya sipping at her cup of bitter black brew while Visha seems to be doing her best to make sausage a rare commodity. “I could get used to this, Visha.” Tanya comments, flipping to the next page of the newspaper on her device.

“Ma’am?” Visha questions from around another link. “The food, you mean?” She finishes her plate, gathering Tanya’s and taking them to the sink.

Tanya chuckles, giving Visha a fond little grin. “Not all of us think solely of our stomachs, Visha. I meant not being shot at, not wondering when the next wave or artillery barrage is coming. Not wondering when the next fanatic will show up.” She says as she rises, gathering her bag and Visha’s into her hands and starts to walk to the door, passing Visha’s to her once they had exited and the door was locked behind them.

“I see. Yes, I could get used to this. Especially the food.” She says as she grins over at Tanya. “I liked the ‘stir fry’ you recommended to me, and thank you for letting me have some of your curry, ma’am. I might have to order it next time.” She says, rubbing her belly fondly.

Tanya laughs, shaking her head as she leads the way, Visha her usual step behind and to the right of her. “Of course, Visha. So, are you ready for classes? It won’t be anything like you had experiences in OCS or the battle college. Remember, stick to the cover story, and stay near me. I will help whenever I can to smooth things over. I might not have had much longer than you in the school, but every bit of experience is vital when you're entering a new battleground.”

“Ma’am, yes ma’am” Visha immediately choruses, stopping just short of the salute that is instinctual for her.

Tanya chuckles as she squares her shoulders, entering the school grounds proper. “Let's do our best.”

Classes pass much as they had before, the fact that this society was much more polite than you would expect in a western society didn’t hurt. Yes, Visha was mobbed by the other students, but at least she didn’t have to fend off the perverted advances of the boys here. Yes, there might be a few of them that might need to be shown how to understand the proper level of terror still, but that would come in time. Tanya smiled that smile of hers, not able to stop imagining training the lot of the young mages, almost feeling a sense of nostalgia.

Visha, for her part, does an admirable job. She sticks to her cover story, and defers to Tanya whenever she needs to. Even though her formal training seems to be oddly behind, her raw talent and potential goes a long ways towards evening the field. Six months of rehabilitation proves worthwhile as she joins the other girls on the field for physical education, accounting herself admirably, at least in the eyes of Tanya. The other girls are a bit taken back at another young amazon like the mysterious diminutive blonde that had already shaken up their ranks.

Classes end for the day, and the two girls find themselves outside the doors to the student council chambers, Tanya reporting for the summons and Visha choosing to come along instead of facing the student body without the support of her former superior.

Two sharp raps to the door, and Tanya stands at something just short of parade rest while she waits to be acknowledged. The door is opened by a younger girl who is a bit shorter than Tanya herself who has a warm, welcoming smile for the pair. “You must be Tanya Degurechaff. And this must be your companion that we have heard so much about in such a short time.” She glances over her shoulder, her head tilted for a moment, then nods and turns back to the pair. “Do please come in. I’m the secretary, Lisa Neuman. Can I get you two some tea?” She asks as she leads the pair to the table, indicating where they can sit at the foot while the others regard them.

Tanya smiles and nods “Yes, thank you. That would be appreciated.” She says as she takes her seat, Visha sitting just a moment after she does in the seat besides her. “I hope that you didn’t mind my friend accompanying me? She is also new to the school, having just recently arrived and she can be a bit shy at times.” She casts a glance over to Visha, who is sitting quietly but smiling softly next to her.

The tall, willowy blonde sitting at the head of the table smiles and nods. “That is not a problem, we might want to talk to her as well, if she has the same potential that we have seen from you, Tanya.” She says in a warm tone of voice. “I’m Erika Braum, the student council president this year. “ She gestures to her right. “This is Stefan Linder, the vice president.” The stocky young man nods at the introduction as Erika continues, gesturing to the redhead sitting next to Stefan. “This young lady is Jane Donner, our treasurer. She is a bit of a stick in the mud, but no one is better with numbers than her.” She says, winking at Jane who just rolls her eyes and nods to the pair.

Erika turns to her other side, gesturing to the stocky, muscular young man sitting at her left hand. “May I present to you Anton Brecker, the head of the Disciplinary Comittee, without their hard work we would have anarchy.” She nods to him once more, then turns to address the final person present, sitting besides Anton. “And joining us today is Lutz Lergen, the head of the sports and extracurricular committee.” The tallish redhead nods his head, smiling warmly at the two of them. “It’s actually at Lutz’s suggestion that we called you in. If you would like to take over, Lutz?” She says, sitting back down.

The redhead nods, standing in turn. “Thank you both for coming here today, I am sorry to interrupt your day, but I’ll be honest here. We need your help.” He runs a hand through his hair. “We haven’t done well in the last couple of years Seven School competitions. We are hoping bringing in a couple promising first years might help us swing things about, get us back into the competition, if not this year, then next. That is where you come in, Degurechaff. You, and possibly your friend as well. Can I call you Tanya? I’d like to call you Tanya. Less formal, you know?”

Erika at this point clears her throat, giving him a pointed look.

He coughs as well, ending his rambling bit and gives Tanya an expectant look.

Tanya nods, collecting her thoughts as she glances to the side, getting the subtle nod that she had expected, but worried a bit by that particular gleam in Visha’s eyes. “So, you're hoping that by bringing in people that the competition hasn’t thoroughly scouted, that have shown some measure of ability and talent, that you can swing things a bit in your favor. Especially since your previous outings have hardly been a favorable showing for your school, and thus you haven’t gotten the best of what the school has to offer, as well. Is that about the gist of it, then? And yes….Let's use first names here, it would put us on better footing, I believe.” What goes unsaid is that the name Neuman might still be a bit of a subject that neither of the girls wants to broach, not yet at least.

Lutz pales a bit, then sighs and nods. “You have it about right, yeah. Some of the first and second years we were hoping to get this year seem a bit...Hesitant. So, are you willing to give us a chance, Tanya? And what about your charming friend here?” The look he gives Visha would be considered suave and charming, if he hadn’t just been a rambling idiot in front of them.

Tanya can feel that vein in her temple twitching for some reason, perhaps the idiot’s ramblings had bothered her more than she had thought. “I can’t speak for Viktoriya, but I would be willing to participate.” She glances aside at Visha, ignoring Lutz for the moment. The hand clasping and gleam in her excitable companion’s eyes does worry her, but at least Visha collects herself long enough to nod in assent. Tanya turns back to Lutz and sighs. “I guess there is nothing else for it but for the two of us to see what we can do to help you out.” She holds out her hand, meeting Lutz’s gaze squarely.

He hesitates for a moment, then clasps her hand in his and gives her a firm if awkward shake. “I’m glad that you are able to help us out with this, there are a couple of events we really need some coverage in…” He trails off, glancing at the president. “But, I guess we can save that for tomorrow. Can you be down to the gym after classes are over? We will be holding a team meeting in one of the multipurpose rooms, and it’s a good chance for you to meet the rest of the first years.” He steps back, unable to meet her gaze. “Thanks, again.”

Tanya sweeps her gaze over them, putting on her best fake smile. “Of course, thank you. We look forward to working with you, Lutz.” She nods and leads Visha out, chewing on her thumbnail once they are out of the building. “I can only imagine what kind of wet behind the ear slackers that mess was able to rummage up. Oh well, I guess there is nothing to do but to see what scraps he found, and whip them into something resembling shape.” She straightens her shoulders, taking on that particular look that Visha knows so well.

Visha nods, swallowing a bit. She knows that look, she has seen it many times over the years. Why, exactly it seems to make her feel oddly warm is something that the former adjutant isn’t quite ready to examine in depth.

The two make their way off of campus, soon talking about what they should do for supper that night, not having yet laid in proper provisions for sustained cooking. Tanya has her opinions, of course. “I think that tonight we order from that pizza place we passed on the back stretch of our little jog yesterday. I liked the layout of the store, and the smell was rather pleasant.” She casts a glance at Visha. “...And tomorrow after the meeting, we will go shopping, to find stuff to stock the cabinets, ok?” She adds, shaking her head at the look of glee that crosses her companions face. “For as much time as we spent hunkered over a small campfire eating whatever we could scrape up, you are surprisingly motivated to cook, Visha.”

Visha smiles and nods. “It’s always been one of the things I enjoy, Tanya. I like cooking for you..I mean us. It feels good to know that something I do off the battlefield is appreciated.” She says, walking perhaps a bit closer than normal to the Argent.

Tanya nods, smiling a bit awkwardly. The pair share a companionable silence until they arrive back home, where Tanya delegates the ordering of pizza to herself, while Visha brews some more coffee for her former superior.

Supper is spent eating pizza on the couch, a movie that neither one had ever seen playing on the screen. Then, homework, baths and bed were in order.

Sadly, that night would not prove to be a quiet one for Tanya, as the specters of war raised their heads once more to invade her sleep.

Chapter Text

Tuesday June 10th,1:31 am, 2094

Tanya tossed in her sleep, soft, almost unheard whimpers and half spoken words slipping from the restless figure as she faced the horrors of what she had done in the one place she could not evade them, the confines of her sleeping mind. The events of the last few days of their involvement in the war continue to play themselves out once again, without the escape to this new world and time. She cries out softly in her sleep “Visha..N..No..D..don’t go...Don’t leave me alone….again…”

It’s this that causes Visha to finally stir, having lain and watched her restless companion for some time before she slips silently from her bed, padding over cautiously towards her roommate. She has to be careful, she knows all too well that the Argent doesn’t react well when being woken suddenly. She hesitates, unsure of what to do for a moment then remembers what her mother used to do for her, when she was little and struck by nightmares.

Visha settles gently on the edge of the bed, running a gentle hand through the messy hair of her former commander, leaning down to whisper softly in her ear. “It’s ok, Tanya. I am here. I am not going anywhere. You saved me. You saved us. You're a good person, my little Argent. My friend.” She continues to whisper soft, soothing words as she gently strokes the hair of the one person who means the most to her, in this or any other world.

Tanya starts to settle, moving closer in her sleep towards the beacon of warmth, light and comfort that seems to call to her from out of the darkness of her dreams. She settles in close, her breathing starting to slow, to ease back into a more restful pattern.

Visha smiles softly, an ache in her chest that is unrelated to the mechanical heart that no longer can skip a beat. In the stillness of the night, in the quiet of their shared room, she finds herself confronted with things that she doesn’t understand, that she can’t quite grasp and as always, she pushes them away. With what was to be one final fond gesture she brushes Tanya’s hair before trying to get up. Trying, that is, because with a little whimper of protest she finds herself suddenly being pulled into her former commander’s bed by surprisingly strong arms and embraced tightly. She freezes for a moment, and that is all it takes for her to be firmly stuck in the iron grasp of the Argent.

Wide eyed, Visha stares into the beauteous face of her former commander, feeling the iron grip tighten whenever she attempts to move. ‘Well,’ she thinks to herself ‘there are worse places to be stuck, as long as she can extract herself before Tanya wakes in the morning.’ No need to cause a commotion, after all. That is what she thinks to herself before giving in and settling back in close, letting Tanya have her way in this.

The pair of them sleep well for the rest of the night.

Tuesday June 10th, 6:00am, 2094

It is a very relieved Visha that watches her friend, dare she say friend? Yes, friend finish her breakfast before they make their way to school. She was lucky that she had woken up first, as usual, and managed to extract herself from the Argent’s bed. How she ended up the big spoon to Tanya’s little spoon, she wasn’t sure and she certainly was not going to examine those thoughts at this moment. Maybe not ever.

The pair of them make their way to the school, using this chance to once again work on their mage craft, both moving along at a good clip. Not as fast or convenient as flying, but they would do what they could with what they had on hand.

Visha stands at the front of the class and introduces herself, no need for fake names just a made up background, after all. “Hello, all. I’m Viktroriya Serebryakov, but please, just call me Visha. I am looking forward to learning with you all. I apologize that I missed the beginning of the year, but I was just recently released from the hospital.” She smiles warmly with just the slightest tilt of her head.

Tanya smiles happily as she watches her friend. Friend, right? She frowns just a bit, chewing on her bottom lip as she mulls this over. She guessed that since they were no longer comrades in arms, or members of the military, or even superior and adjutant that she might have to reevaluate just what their relationship was to each other. Not that they HAD a relationship with each other, or anything, it just was more convenient if there was an accurate label to define them. Already, she had seen many benefits to their new, closer understanding. The quality of her coffee and breakfast had improved, and last night was probably the best night's sleep she had had in years, if ever. She nods to herself, catching Visha’s eye for a moment before looking away. Yes, friends.

Visha for her part blushes slightly as she locks eyes with the Argent, then nods once more to her teacher before striding quickly and purposefully to her seat, conveniently next to Tanya’s, and settling in for the rest of homeroom.

After class, the new girl was, of course, mobbed by her new classmates. They seemed intent to ask a million questions to the overly polite former officer. Inwardly, Tanya was by stages amused, anxious and then finally at the end agitated. Perhaps it was the presence of the overly loud boys that seemed to be now congregating at the edge of the mob, looking at Visha in a way that she found hardly polite in decent society.

With a quick step forward, she presses her way to Visha’s side, looping her arm through the other girls in an almost possessive manner, if one were to squint just a bit. “Come along, Visha, we had best not be late for your next class.”

Visha nods, all her attention instantly on the Argent, before turning back to the gaggle of girls. “I’m sorry, we really should be moving on to the next class. It wouldn’t do for me to start being late on my first day, after all!” She says in that manner that is so innocent, bright and cheerful. Not that Tanya would think that, of course.

They move quickly to their next class, only breaking their impromptu formation when the next classrooms door proves to be an obstacle. Neither girl looks at the other for a moment as they make their way to their seats, and prepare for history. A very convenient class for the two temporal refugees.

Classes proceed in a manner that works to soothe the nerves of Tanya, even if the amount of attention that Visha constantly gathers proves oddly vexing to her. Lunch is a bit of a reprieve, neither of them having established themselves in social circles so they are left to their own devices while Tanya eats a reasonable amount of food, watching with a sense of amusement as Visha sets to her plate like a battlefield, laying copious waste to the arrays of foods on her tray.

“You know that you can eat like that every day. But if you do, Visha, we might need to find you a new regulation uniform to handle your increased mass.” Tanya says as she watches her over the rim of her cup.

Visha pauses long enough to take a drink, swallow, and reply. “But I’m practically skin and bones. I’m a growing young woman, after all. And it’s good, maybe even better than the K-brats we had outside of Berun.” She says in that intense manner she tends to get when food is the matter of discussion.

Tanya chuckles and shakes her head, taking another drink of her bitter black brew. “Only you would compare some of the better food we have had outside of that little inn we visited outside of Parisee to K-brats.” She gives an amused little shake of her head and continues to eat, quick furtive glances cast towards Visha throughout their shared meal.

The classes on magical theory and application are some of the more difficult for the two of them, since they not only have to master a new style of mage craft, they have to undo years and years of conditioning. It’s proving to be a task that will take some time to master, even if some interesting results already show some possibilities, at least to the devious little mind of one former Devil of the Rhine.

After classes, they gather their things and move towards the sports and club areas of the school to meet the other first years that will be part of the upcoming competition. Tanya’s initial impression is less than favorable as she takes in the varying levels of pompous and incompetent that she sees arrayed before her. She catches herself reaching for a cap that hasn’t been there for six months and instead brushes the hair out of her eyes. Out of the corner of her eye she catches Visha’s amused little grin, knowing full well where that habit usually led.

The older students that are to take this gaggle of teens under their wing’s finally make an appearance, only managing to continue to ruffle the feathers of one diminutive former aerial mage. The fact that it’s Lutz might be part of the agitation, yes.

“Hey there! Glad you could all make it! I’m Lutz Lergen, and this is Hans Sieber.” He motions to the handsome golden blond next to him. “We will be managing you this year and getting you ready for the Seven Schools Competition. Now, before we announce who we want to be doing what sports, I was hoping that we could see who wants to participate in what? It’s always best to have an idea where you think you are before we find out if your a good fit or not, of course.” He rambles as Tanya watches him, and especially this Hans who seems, at least to her, to be sizing up the students. The fact that he seems to spend a bit more time on each of the girls than the boys doesn’t go unnoticed, either.

Tanya clears her throat. “As enlightening as all that is, Mr. Lergen, wouldn’t it be best to know what you think we are suited for before we cast our votes. Seeing as you are more familiar with the format that we will be using, after all.” She says, locking eyes with him in a subtle challenge.

Lutz chuckles and rubs the back of his head, then smiles. “Well, maybe, but I only know what your records have to say. I haven’t seen most of you in action, after all. I mean, there are some that already are well suited for one event of another. Now, there are some that are mysteries, of course.” He fixes her with a pointed look, then is the first one to look away.

Hans, for his part, has started to circulate and talk to the other students. Once again, the fact that most of them are female does not go unnoticed by Tanya. She clears her throat again, barely keeping herself from dropping into parade rest. “I was hoping that I might partake in either speed shooting or crowd ball. Perhaps Icicle break, as well. The chance to test out theories in that format could be most educational.”

Lutz nods, watching Tanya intently. “Well, for your two events, we had one in mind, but if you think you can handle either crowd ball or speed shooting better than the others that will want to attempt them, we can see what can be arranged.”

“And what is the other competition you had me tagged for, if I may ask?” Tanya says, already getting an oddly bad feeling about this.

“Well, why don’t we find out what your lovely friend would like to do first?” Hans says as he intrudes on the conversation. He seems to be impervious to the dark glare that Tanya casts his way, the murderous look only faltering at the gentle touch of Visha’s hand on her arm.

“As much as I would like to participate, my recent hospital visit has left me unable to use anything but a highly specialized CAD for now.” Visha says in an easy manner, sticking to the story that Doctor Schugel had laid out for her.

Hans frowns a bit. “I see, well, that is a shame. I thought that you would be perfect for Mirage Bat, if we can’t get our first choice to sign up.”

Visha beams a bit, clasping her hands together in that earnest way of hers. “Oh! That is a real shame, I enjoy watching it! I’ve been re-watching the previous competitions, and the combination of aerial grace and tactical sense is impressive. The costumes are cute, as well, so perhaps that does help.” She gets that thoughtful look on her face, as Tanya feels the inevitable gears of fate starting to close on her for some reason.

“And who, pray tell, is your first choice?” She asks, afraid that she already knows the answer.

Needless to say, the double grins she gets from the two boys does not set her heart at ease.

She warily casts her gaze towards Visha, and feels her shoulders fall as she sees that beaming, hopeful look in her friend’s eyes.

“Fine, I will try it.” Tanya says, sensing defeat. Those eyes are going to be the death of her one of these days.

Chapter Text

The Beast stirs…

Tuesday June 10th, 6:10 pm, 2094

Tanya sighs, giving a long-suffering look to her companion. “This is a stupid outfit, I can’t believe you talked me into wearing it.” She grouses.

“But, it looks amazing on you!” Visha gushes, hands clasped together and just under her chin, beaming brightly at the former Devil of the Rhine, currently dressed in, as far as she was concerned, far too many pastels.

“Visha, do I need to remind you of The Dress again?” Tanya says in that calm, cold, dreadful way of hers. Somehow, the almost beatific smile makes it even more sinister.

“No Ma’am!” Visha says, standing up straight. “No reminder is necessary.” She hesitates, then relaxes a bit. “But...I like how it looks on you. No, the colors are...Not you, but perhaps there is something that can be done to make it less….Ummm…”

“Tooth rotting?” Tanya interjects, slowly turning and taking it in. “They could at least have had the decency to provide trousers instead of leggings.”

“I think that it’s supposed to be..Fanciful, Ma’am.” Visha says, looking apologetic.

With a heavy sigh Tanya relents, letting her former adjutant off the hook. “Fine, fine, in the sake of cultural exchange and blending in, I will allow it this time.”

“Thank you, Ma’am! You’re very generous, Ma’am!” Visha choruses as she falls in behind Tanya as they make their way towards the field where the training stage is set up for Mirage Bat.

Tanya gives a critical look over the other first year athletes, mentally critiquing their actions and performance, something that had become second nature to her when dealing with the constant floor of fresh recruits, especially as the war drew closer to an end and the amount of training became more and more trunctuated. “That woman’s stance is horrible. She is not squaring herself properly before she executes her shot.” She nods towards one of the hopefuls for speed shooting. “And what, exactly, does that boy think he is doing? That is not how you move from cover to cover.” She nods towards one of the young men doing drills for Monolith Code.

“I think that they are...doing their best, Ma’am.” Visha offers in a hopeful, polite tone of voice as she mentally takes notes on what her former superior is pointing out.

“Be that as it may, it’s still inexcusable. If they were sent to the Rhine like that, I would have had to do some...Remedial training.” Tanya says with that classic smile that her recruits learned to fear so correctly.

“I am not disagreeing with you, Ma’am, but they are civilians, what can we really expect of them.” Visha says, stopping as Tanya stops and looks over her shoulder, their eyes locking.

“It is still something that should not be allowed. Such inefficiency speaks volumes of the quality of the education.” She turns back forward, striding purposefully forward. “Yes, it would be in the best interest of everyone if someone took this bunch of chicks under their wing, and made something useful out of them, besides chicken soup.” Tanya says, more to herself than anyone else.

Visha swallows a bit, choosing to ignore the little flip of her heart, the tightness of her chest. It didn’t mean anything, it couldn’t mean anything. Tanya was always, regardless of what anyone’s paperwork might say, her superior. Add to that, that she was a woman, and surely her feelings were impossible. But why was it, when she saw Tanya like this, so focused on others, so caring in her own way, that it made her feel warm inside? She shakes her head, never stopping in her careful strides to remain precisely where she was meant to be, a step to the side and behind of the Argent. It was where she belonged. She could never imagine being beside her, walking next to her, holding her hand… She flushes as she quickly tries to change her thoughts to things less distracting.

“Well, here we are.” Tanya says as she eyes the pillars jutting into the sky, surrounded by water. The practice area looked exactly like what she had studied, down to the placement of the pillars and their height. She gripped the stick, her practice CAD in her other hand as she activated the sequence of spells that she would be using today, at least until she could figure out something better. WIth an easy hop, she carried herself gracefully to the first of the pillars and activated the projections. As the colorful balls of light appeared above her, she narrowed her eyes and started to plot her course, working through the best sequence of launches and landings to make the most of her time and energy.

With a nod, she executes the series that she sees in her head, launching gracefully from one pillar to another, landing fast, precise swats of each of the balls as she works through her sequence. With a gentle grace befitting the ‘fairy of the battlefield’ she landed on the top pillar once more, watching for the next sequence even as she noticed how quiet the surrounding students had become.

“Is something the matter? Did you finish your practice already?” She asks of them in that haughty manner of hers, one eyebrow arched in an inquisitive manner that would have had any of the former soldiers of the 203rd scrambling to find themselves as much busy work as possible lest the Commander does it for them.

Visha smiles up at Tanya, that open, honest expression soothing the ire of the Argent. “I think that they are just in awe of your prowess, Ma’am. And, I imagine, are finding motivation to renew their efforts.” Visha sweeps the other first years with that knowing, honest look of hers as they quickly disperse, not understanding the sudden sense of dread that overcame them.

Tanya weighs Visha’s statement for a minute, eyes critical before she nods. “Very well, then. I will run another three sequences, then we can go over them to see if there are any suggestions to be made, then.” She says, then puts action to word.

After finishing her sets, under the unwavering attention of Visha and a few of the other students, Tanya and Visha settle down to break down her performance in the event and to observe how the other first years seem to be coming along, along with a discussion of how those in charge seem to be handling it.

“I think that if I make changes to this and this part of the sequence, it should handle the randomness of the placement better, more like a roving patrol zone coverage.” Tanya explains as the two sit huddled over one of their tablets, beverages at close hand. Tanya takes a moment to savor the aroma of the can of coffee, glad to have such conveniences, even if they are nowhere near the quality of what she is already growing used to once more.

“I can’t disagree with you, Tanya, but maybe if you stop here and here, it will increase the performance value while only moderately decreasing the overall tactical flexibility. It is, after all, supposed to be entertaining, and I think saving the more efficient model for next year will give us a greater advantage in the next competition, since they are sure to analyse it.” Visha counters, still delighted over getting to see her Tanya perform in such a way. She also decided to come back and reexamine that oddly possessive thought at a much, much later time.

Tanya nods, and lets her gaze sweep over the others, frowning a bit as she sees the people who are supposed to be overseeing their training once again talking amongst themselves. “I can understand being a bit more slack, since they are civilians still, but the level of engagement in training shows a definite lack of talent among the trainers, and a lack of commitment. I don’t know if I can let this stand.” She chews on her thumbnail in thought for a moment. “If you were the officer in charge of training, how would you show these new recruits how best to improve their talents, Visha?” She poses to her companion.

Visha hrms for a moment, tapping her drink with one finger while her face takes on that thoughtful look that Tanya had to secretly admit she found enjoyable. “I think that I would encourage them by showing them what they are capable of, ma’am.” She eyes Tanya for a moment, grinning slightly. “But I have the feeling you are thinking something more like the beginning of the first day training the 203rd.”

“There is a reason I took you with me all through my career, Visha.” Tanya says, habitually starting to reach up to adjust the cap that has not been there for six months. She casts a baleful glance in the direction of her oh-so-not smirking associate before she rises. “I think it’s well past time that someone takes an active role in starting to get these students looking something like the professional mages they will someday be.”

Visha nods as she falls into step with Tanya. “And I imagine you already know where you intend to start, Ma’am?” She says, admiring the forceful stride of her diminutive companion.

“You would be correct as usual. We need to make the proper impression on them, then the rest are more likely to fall in line with us, and we can cut out some of the more banal parts of the training.” Tanya says with a nod.

“Oh, you mean like thirty-six hours of shelling, Ma’am?” Visha responds in that sweet, innocent way of hers.

Tanya coughs once, glancing over her shoulder with a devilish little smirk. “I still stand by that approach. And yes, I think we can save a great deal of time with a little saturation bombardment. Do you have the suite of repurposed tactical spells loaded into your CAD?” Tanya asks, already knowing the answer, but one can never be too prepared after all.

“Of course, Ma’am. You did oversee them yourself.” Visha says with a blush, remembering well the Argents touch on her chest as she oversaw the installation of the spells, feeling her mana emanating from her hand as it rested over the implanted CAD that had replaced her heart. Her hand fleetingly rests for a moment over that same spot, a faint blush starting to creep over her features before she is snapped out of her reverie by them arriving at the point that Tanya had chosen to make her impression at.

Tanya smiled that devilish smile of hers, surveying the battleground she had chosen. “So, which one of you wants to teach me what you think you know about Monolith Code?”

Chapter Text

Of combat training and cultural revelations

Tuesday June 10th, 7:20 pm, 2094

The three boys that were talking amongst themselves stop as they hear the diminutive blond chime in, all three turning to look at her. The tall, gangly boy on the right looks at Tanya for a moment, then finds the ground very interesting as he fidgets. The short, stocky blond gives her an impish grin and shrugs, then looks to the broad shouldered, dark of hair and eye boy standing in the middle. “Want to handle this, Friedrich?” He asks of the boy who had fixed Tanya with a condescending gaze.

“Of course, Heinrich.” The boy addressed as Friedrich says with a sigh. “Shouldn’t you be off playing your little games with your fancy dresses? We have real work to do over here if we are going to win this year's competition.” He says in a dismissive manner.

Tanya fixes him with her usual cold stare, a sardonic little smirk gracing her elfin features. “Oh? And here I thought you three were playing dress up? Since you're wearing those outfits, but you don’t seem to have any idea of what to do with them. I’m sorry, I thought I was speaking to the monolith code team, not the boys that warm up their gear for them.”

Visha has the good graces to blush a bit and shake her head, well used to her former superiors' way of ‘introducing’ herself to others. ‘She really needs to learn how to play well with others.’ she thought to herself as she bit down the reaction of apologizing for her companion.

Friedrich bristles at that, narrowing his eyes at Tanya. “And you think you could do better? Go away, Monolith Code is only for men to participate in.” He starts to turn away, making a dismissive motion with his hand.

Tanya seems unfazed, if anything the smirk is growing into a grin. “Really? There are men here? I must have missed them. I’m sorry if I disturbed your playtime, my companion and I will go see if we can find the actual team.” She turns on her heel and starts to stride away, Visha bobbing her head in an apologetic manner before hurrying to catch up.

“Wait, what did you say, little girl?” Friedrich turns back, clenching his hand as he stares with those dark eyes at the back of Tanya’s head.

She turns and regards him with a sweet look. “Oh? Did you not hear me? I said that we will go find the actual team. We are sorry to disturb your playtime.”

Friedrich glares at Tanya, then glances at his two companions. “Fine, how about we show you what this game is about. Just a friendly little demonstration, little girl. So, where is your third? It takes three to play.”

Tanya sighs, looking about. “Well, since there seems to be just the two of us, what can we do? I guess we will just have to make do with what we have.” She gives him a sweet grin. “So, want to explain the rules to us poor, sweet little girls, or do you need to go ask someone who knows firsts?”

Visha pipes in at this point, the usual look of abashed horror at her companion’s antics finally breaking free of her restraint. “Tanya! It’s not nice to pick on those that are weaker than you, you know that.” She admonishes her amused companion, then turns and dips her head in an apologetic manner. “I apologize for what she said, she never knows when to hold back when she goes to speak her mind about things, especially if it’s the blunt truth of the matter. You would think she would have learned some tact by now….” She trails off as she notices that Friedrich looks even more upset, and his short team mate is struggling to keep from laughing out loud. “Did...I say something to upset you?” She says nervously.

Tanya waves her hand. “He is just having problems accepting the reality of the situation, that is all.”

Friedrich takes a breath, the anger clear in his eyes as he mechanically starts to recite off the few rules and guidelines to Monolith Code, his gaze boring into Tanya like he wished he could kill her with a look.

Tanya nods along, inwardly pleased at how off center he was already, formulating her plan for dealing with the three. Tactics and strategy were things that she would have to instruct them in, and since they didn’t seem to be the kind to listen to wise words, she would just have to beat her ideas into them.

Visha watched Tanya’s expression, knowing full well just what that look entailed and sighing inside, knowing that this would not be good. She just hoped that she wouldn’t break them too badly. She was, after all, a bit rough on her toys.

Shortly, the two teams are at their starting points, the two girls stuffed into the closest fitting outfits they could find. Visha looked at Tanya expectantly, waiting for her to disclose what her plans were for the upcoming engagement.

“So, no lethal attacks, no attacks besides magic, and the objective is to retrieve the code from their monolith and input it. Doesn’t seem all that difficult, really.” Tanya says as she stretches a bit. “I think that the easiest way will be to distract, disperse, and detain them. Classic engagement for dealing with less well trained soldiers. It would be easier with our orbs, but I imagine we will manage. So, this is what I propose….” Tanya leans in, speaking in quick, concise statements as she lays out her battle plan to her loyal follower, knowing it’s best to be precise lest the battle maniac get over zealous.

The three players of the boys team go about their usual plan of attack, with the quiet one, Hans, staying back to play defence while Friedrich and Heinrich push forward, making sure that they can support each other as they advance. As they pass through a section of dense forest, they lose sight of each other temporarily, something that they had planned on but still inconvenient.

Heinrich pauses as he thinks he hears something from the direction that Friedrich was walking, stopping and casting about to make sure that things were ok. He relaxes as he sees Friedrich motioning to him from where he was huddled behind a tree just a bit off the path that he was expected to take. Heinrich nods and hurries over, well aware of how short tempered his team leader could be. Needless to say, he was more than a bit shocked when his team leader vanished before his eyes and he suddenly found himself dropping into a pit that he could have sworn was not there before. He winced as he looked up, seeing a pair of taunting blue eyes staring down at him. With some shock, he recognized the short blond girl from before with the cute brunette standing next to her holding what appeared to be a shovel, of all things?

“Now, be a good boy and just sit down there and we will make sure you are out after the game. We wouldn’t want to have to get...Rough with you, after all.” Tanya says in that flat, mocking manner of hers, one that speaks clearly of what will likely happen if her suggestion is disregarded.

Heinrich nods nervously, trying to stand then sitting heavily with a grunt. “Ok, ok I got it.” He laughs softly, shaking his head and looking at the brunette. “I guess I really fell for you, hrm?” He starts to laugh until he meets the very, very unimpressed and...angry? Eyes of the blond. Shutting his mouth before he gets in more trouble sounds like a really good idea, suddenly.

Friedrich looks about as he breaks out of the trees, sighing in relief as he sees Heinrich hurrying off to his right, a bit off the route they had planned, but nothing too bad. He motions and then hurries off to the left, not noticing his companion fizzing out after he enters another clump of trees, leaving a hurrying brunette to circle back around to make sure the next surprise that Tanya had planned worked out as intended.

Tanya, for her part, was making her way towards where the other teams monolith should be, using a combination of concealment magics and natural cover to make her advance as stealthy as possible. It wasn’t long before she found her target shifting about nervously, standing next to the monolith and looking like he wanted to be somewhere else. Tanya nods as she steps out of her cover, smiling at the awkward boy. “I do hope that you will be more entertaining than your friends were.” She says as she walks towards him, her variation of a defensive shell up, and deflecting his first air bullet.

Hans’s frustration only grew from there as his blond tormentor seemed to just split into more and more copies as she kept advancing on him, some vanishing as his spells passed through them, others taking their place. He backed away as they kept coming at him, a seemingly endless wave of opponents all with that maniacal grin on their faces. It was with a great deal of shock that he saw the monolith open, and knew that they had more than likely lost unless Friedrich had managed to get the girls’ code.

It was almost a relief when the buzzer sounded, signalling the end of the match.

The three boys sat a bit cowed at the feet of the girls, listening as Tanya broke down exactly what they had done wrong in excruciating detail. They watched as she paced back and forth in front of them, a surprisingly military manner to how she carried herself. An offensive, blunt but oddly charismatic air about her as she extolled their failings and the few things that she had found merit in, in detail that was merciless. But this wasn’t gloating, it was a meticulous breakdown of what happened, and what could have been done differently. It was enlightening in a way. As she finished her lecture, she turned to look at them with that devious, maniacal look in her eyes. “Are there any questions? Anything I might have missed?”

To the surprise of the other two, Friedrich was the one to respond first, snapping to his feet before her. “No! I think you were quite clear. Thank you for taking the time to educate us. So, do you think that you could show us how to do...That?” He motions towards where the battle had been fought.

“Of course, what good is such an example if you don’t educate people on how to best take advantage of such an experience?” Tanya counters, Visha noticing the telltale aborted movement that would have resulted in Tanya adjusting her cap as she usually did when she was in instructor mode.

Needless to say, the rest of the night’s session was informative for those involved, and those that stopped to watch in horrified wonder.

It was a bit later when the two veterans of an unknown world war make their way home, Tanya stretching as she walked inside, stopping to check her beeping phone and shaking her head as she turns to look at Visha. “It looks like you might be on your own tomorrow night, I have been called to help clear up something with the good doctor. Will you be ok on your own?” She says in a way that is oddly soft for the hardened soldier, a tone of voice that always does something odd to the pit of Visha’s stomach.

“Of course, Ma’am! I will do my best to live up to your expectations!” Visha snaps out of long ingrained training, only shifting and smiling softly at Tanya’s amused little eye roll. “I mean, I will be ok, Tanya. I might go shopping for a few things, actually. After classes, while you are engaged, that is.” She clarifies. “Why don’t you go take your shower, and I will make you something to snack on before bed?” Visha offers, heading towards the kitchenette.

“That sounds like an excellent idea, Visha. If you are sure you don’t mind if I go first?” Tanya asks politely, even as she grabs her bed clothes, stopping at the door to the bathroom to make sure.

Visha smiles softly and makes shooing motions. “Go ahead, I don’t mind as long as you don’t use all the hot water.”

Tanya laughs and looks back at her as she slips into the bathroom. “No promises, I have gotten rather used to running hot water.”

Visha finds herself looking at the bathroom door often as she can hear the shower running, oddly distracted by her thoughts of Tanya even as she whips up a quick snack for the two of them.

It could be another long night.

Wednesday, June 11th, 5:31 PM

Visha finds herself walking through the shopping district at the side of the student council treasurer, Jane Donner. She can’t help but glance aside at the energetic redhead from time to time, still a bit baffled how exactly they ended up here together. A comment made in passing to the secretary of the Student Council, Lisa Neuman, had resulted in the two of them being sent off to the market with a promise that she would give the recipe for the pastries that Visha had shared with her fellow first year earlier that day over lunch to Ms. Donner.

It all seemed like a strange set of occurrences, but when one spends enough time with the Devil of the Rhine, odd occurrences become somewhat commonplace.

She had to admit, Jane was a pleasant enough person to talk to, energetic, outgoing and with a slightly unusual accent to her Germanian, or she would suppose German as the country was known in this world. A lot different than Tanya, but she supposed she could get used to her. Even if she did miss spending time with the Argent.

She was brought out of her thoughts as they stepped into the next store, adjusting her bags as she nods to the employee they brush past, turning back to answer Jane’s latest question. “Yes, fresh fillings are the best. Strudels and pies are best if you take the time to work it from the ground up. As Tanya always says, you must execute each part of a plan precisely, knowing how every part fits together, to make something exceptional.”

Jane laughs that light hearted laugh of hers, her green eyes flashing. “You really do speak highly of your friend, you know? I don’t think you can go any length of time without bringing her up somehow.” She grins and nudges her gently. “You must think highly of your little firecracker.”

Visha blushes at that. “Of course I think highly of her, I would be lost without her.” She smiles fondly at the thought of her companion, once again being broken out of her reverie at the laughter of her shopping buddy. She glances over at her with an apologetic look, then gets a puzzled look on her face as she stares past Jane at a pair of girls holding hands and walking close together.

Jane blinks, then looks over at where she is looking and grinning. “They are a cute couple, but it’s impolite to stare, you know Viktoriya.” She chided her gently.

Visha blinks a bit owlishly, trying to process what she said even as she answers automatically “Please, just call me Visha. I prefer my friends call me that.” She stops suddenly, as things register. “Wait, you said they were a couple? But...they are two girls?”

Jane stops, looking back a bit oddly at Visha. “Ok, I can do that. And, haven’t you seen lesbians before? I would think that you, of all people, would not be shocked by seeing a couple like them?” She narrows her eyes at Visha. “You’re not one of those close minded, backwards thinking people, are you?”

Visha raises her hands, shaking her head. “N..No, it’s just...Not something I have seen before, you know, in the rather small town I came from…” she finishes lamely, biting her lip as she watches the girls lean close together, laughing over some shared comment.

Jane stares at her for a minute, then shakes her head. “I’m sorry, just how you talk about your friend, I figured that you two were probably a couple.” She starts to walk, then stops when she realizes that Visha isn’t following her.

“You...Thought we were a couple?” Visha says in a shocked tone of voice, unsure of what to think at the moment.

“If I’m wrong, I apologize, Visha. So...What about the canned fillings? Can’t I just use those?” Jane says, trying to get off what she can tell is an awkward topic.

“Well, yes, you could but I can’t guarantee they will turn out like mine.” Visha is only too happy to be distracted away from her train of thoughts, even as she glances back at the two girls who were obviously happy together, her thoughts derailing for a moment again before she snaps back to the conversation and continues to extol the virtues of cooking from scratch.

‘A couple? A pair of girls...in a romantic relationship…’ Visha thinks to herself, feeling that tightness in her chest again before she shakes her head and continues her shopping trip with her new friend.

Later that night there is a plate of strawberry strudel waiting for a certain former military commander when she gets back home.

Chapter Text

Chapter 11: Of the impenetrable nature of time, and the endless marching of time.

Saturday June 14th, 10:00 AM, 2094. New Berlin Hospital, Medical Research ward.

Tanya takes a slow, deep breath to center herself, looking towards the waiting doctor for confirmation before she proceeded. At the curt nod, she takes one more breath and says “Tanya Degurechaff beginning stasis test 3.” With that, she vanishes into a bubble of black.

Once the field stabilizes, Doctor Schugel gives a nod to one of the technicians who quickly enters a command on their console, and then all present watch as a large hydraulic ram slowly descends to the top of the bubble and stops even as the readings quickly begin to climb.

“One-hundred kilograms. One-fifty, two hundred kilos. Two-fifty, three hundred. Three-fifty, four hundred. Holding at four hundred. Do you wish to proceed, doctor?” She technician asks as they stare at the readouts.

“Proceed, call out at every one-hundred kilo’s tile we reach the test goal for today of one-thousand kilos.” Doctor Schugel says as she watches the readings on her screen intently, the nervous form of Visha at her side.

“That...Is a lot of pressure, doctor. Will Tanya be ok in there?” Visha asks nervously, her hands slowly wringing over each other.

“Do not worry your pretty little head, Visha. The range of play on that ram will end well above your friends head. Plus, the last time we did this test we took it to seven-hundred and fifty with no degradation in the field's stability. As far as she is aware, she is just standing still for ten seconds at a 60 to 1 ratio. Now that we have the ratio as a mostly fixed point, we shouldn’t have any issues but waiting for her to time out.” Doctor Schugel says as she rests a hand on Visha’s shoulder, glad for the classes on bedside manner the doctor had taken.

The technician continued the experiment, calling out each one hundred kilo’s until they reached the goal for the day. “Doctor, we are stable and holding at one thousand kilos. No signs of degradation in the field.”

Doctor Schugel gives a satisfied little smirk to the slowly relaxing Visha. “There was a reason that the two of you were safe in that bubble of static time your companion had created. If my theory is correct, I don’t think there is any amount of physical force that could penetrate that shell of hers. Every molecule and atom, down to the quantum level is almost completely static in the event horizon of her magic. That said, there does appear to be limits on its ability to stop penetration. Energy, especially light, will eventually penetrate it’s way to the center of the effect.” She takes a sip of her drink and looks sideways at Visha. “So, I would recommend that the two of you try to avoid lasers.”

Visha blinks and nods, still not exactly sure what exactly a laser is, but figuring it must be some sort of optical effect, from the frame of reference. She shakes her head and looks at the doctor. “So, what do we do now?”

“We wait.” The doctor says as she sips at her cup of coffee and watches the time.

Once they reach a minute until the target time for the experiment, she nods to the technician who begins to retract the hydraulic ram while they wait for the field to collapse.

A few minutes later, Tanya joins them in the observation room while they start to reset the test room below them. “Tanya Degurechaff reporting, Ma’am.” She says with a snap born out of long habit.

Doctor Schugel gives an amused little snort. “At ease, Degurechaff. Honestly, you military types.” She rolls her eyes and sits in her chair, bringing up the results of the experiment. “It’s as the models predicted, the event horizon of your effect creates a bubble of stasis that effectively locks the molecules of the air around you into what is almost a mono-molecular construct. We should be ready for the next test in just a few minutes, as long as you are good for the next test?”

Tanya nods, taking the cup of coffee that Visha is offering her. “Of course, doctor. Do you really think that the next test will reach the conclusion you laid out? I mean, it does seem a bit fantastic.”

Doctor Schugel snorts. “You are a living relic from not only another time, but another alternate universe, and you think that what I am proposing is overly fantastic? I dare say, perhaps you need to re-evaluate your expectations.”

Visha gives a nervous little chuckle, gently rubbing her hand where their fingers had briefly touched, debating whether the warmth she is feeling is from the cup of coffee, or the brief brush of Tanya’s hand on hers. Perhaps it was something she could maybe bring up with Jane? She did seem to be a bit more of an expert in that area than she was, and wasn’t the Argent always reminding her to seek out the advice of experts when in an unfamiliar situation. It would just be following her advice, as she always did.

Her reverie is brought to an end as the doctor and the Argent start to move to the other room, Visha hurrying to catch up as they take the upper stairs to a platform set over a mat. She looks down the twenty feet to the floor below, and then at the platform at the end of a catwalk rigged with a quick release door. Dubious is one way to describe the feeling that she gets from this arrangement.

Tanya doesn’t seem to bat an eye, though as she walks out onto the platform and looks to the doctor for any final instructions. She checks her stopwatch one more time while the doctor looks over her notes.

“Ok, set your target at ten to 1, 2 seconds duration. Set the radius to, let's see.” She checks her notes once more. “82 centimeters. Make sure you are standing on the pad, as well.” She double checks her figures then nods, making sure that Tanya is in the correct place before looking to the technicians for confirmation before leading VIsha back into the observation room.

Tanya stands patiently on the little rubber mat until she gets the green light, in this case literally as the light above the camera array changes from yellow to green. She clicks the stopwatch, and for her, the world goes white.

Inside the observation room, the synced systems engage as she presses the button on the stopwatch, dropping the platform as she is replaced by a 164 cm diameter bubble of blackness that falls to land on the mat twenty feet below. Twenty seconds after the bubble came into existence, it flickers out with Tanya dropping the fraction of a centimeter to stand on the mat and give them a salute as she is rushed by the medical staff.

Doctor Schugel turns to the technicians and gives them an expectant look as they quickly review the data. Each one responds in order, a well oiled machine.

“Heart Rate and EKG, blood saturation and brain waves are normal.”

“Accelerometer fluctuated for a moment when the field dispersed, but the recording shows no vector from the time the field engaged to when it disengaged. No evidence of gravitational or kinetic affect within the field.”

“Air, thermal, and sound nominal. Some displacement as the sphere fell, but as far as we can tell no actual interaction.”

“Psion levels are nominal, no spike or surge.”

The doctor nods with each report her smirk growing more pronounced. “Well done, everyone. That will be all for now, Tanya. Well done. You two ladies are free.”

As the two teens leave after Tanya finishes her shower, doctor Schugel is still reviewing the results as a slightly more and more manic gleam settles into her eyes, a look that Tanya would have perhaps been a bit too familiar with.

“Lets see, one kilometre drop would be 14.29 seconds. Two cubic meters of air comes to about 2.6 kilos, she weighs 50 kilos, with gear and the air, that is about 80 kilos.” She checks her figures and grins. “So, that would be an impact of about 784,000 joules.” She starts to giggle, then laugh as she looks over a proposition that she had come up with last night, a strange little note scrawled at the bottom, just two words in Latin.

Deus Vult.

Monday June 16th, 6:00 AM, 2094

Breakfast for the two teens is the usual quiet affair, each enjoying the presence of the other in their own way, completely ignorant of the thoughts of the other in relation to their current living arrangements. Being Visha’s choice today, they had a traditional Germanian breakfast, consisting of plenty of sausage, bacon, and toast with fried potatoes along with a fresh pot of coffee for the Argent, and milk for Visha.

“I will never understand your preference for milk, Visha.” Tanya comments as the two of them skim along rapidly on their way to school.

“I’m a growing girl, Tanya. It’s important that I drink my milk and eat right.” She shifts a bit as they round a corner, the extra motion doing interesting things with her anatomy.

WIth a cough and a slight blush Tanya tries to focus her attention forward once more, and not ogle her former adjutant any more, not being seemly or probably wanted. “I think you are growing just fine, Visha.” She says as they make their way through the gates, dropping the magic enhancement to walk normally through the gates.

With a blush and a covert little look at the trim figure of her former superior Visha drops her chin slightly in embarrassment. “You’re too kind, Tanya.” Then she says in a much quieter voice. “And I think you are growing up very well, as well.”

Her reverie is interrupted by that most dire of things, school.

On a slightly less dire note, it does bring the presence of Jane and Lisa as well, who are waiting just inside the gate for the two former soldiers.

With a friendly wave, the waiting members of the student council join the other two, and the foursome makes their way into the school, three of them falling into light conversation while Tanya, as usual, observes their interactions and takes secret delight in just how Visha’s face lights up when she is talking to people she can relax around.

Obviously, what she is feeling right now can’t be jealousy. Such things would be below her.

5:30 PM, same day, practice fields.

So far, Tanya had to admit that she was starting to feel good about the situation she had found herself in. The other students were starting to fall in line with her and Visha’s recommendations and suggestions. The fact that she hadn’t yet had to resort to her more vigorous training methods was a relief, but she had a few ideas already in mind and ready to execute when it was finally necessary. The fact that Visha was not able to participate in the event herself, and instead would just have to function as a manager was a let down, but understandable considering that her heart was far from an acceptable CAD, and it was best not to test the limits by having her use a standard CAD. The chance of it passively interfering with her heart was a risk that Tanya was not willing to take in the slightest.

As she observed the girls running the route and routine that she had devised for Mirage Bat, she noticed a small, mousy looking girl looking over at her in a manner that she would guess was supposed to be covert, before quickly sketching on the pad she had cradled close to her body. A few more of those little exchanges take place before Tanya makes her move, having already figured out the pattern that the other girl had fallen into.

Thus, when the would-be watcher looked up again, the subject of her surveillance was no longer in view until a hand reached past her to tilt the pad where they could see it better. “You don’t mind, do you?” Tanya says from well within the other girls personal bubble.

The girl jumps, dropping her pens and pad then quickly trying to gather them as Tanya reaches down and lifts the pad, looking at it with a raised eyebrow before passing it back to the nervously blushing girl.

“That is a rather good sketch, you have some talent. Though, I would have gone without the mustache myself.” Tanya says, standing behind the nervous wreck. “I’m Tanya Degurechaff, first year. And you are?”

“W...Willa Von Eldstadt, ma’am. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you or anything, I just saw you and I thought it would be fun to sketch you, I should probably be going, I need to get to the theater club, I have to finish fitting them for the play…” She hurriedly rambles as Tanya eyes her, then looks back at the drawing.

“Ms. Eldstat, or can I call you Willa?” Tanya starts, derailing the ramblings of the nervous girl who looks at her and blushes, then swallows and nods. “You are a seamstress, then? And a designer, I see.” She says as she looks at the drawing once more.

“I..I just do it for fun, usually, but they wanted me to help with the play, so...I have been making the outfits for them.” She says as she once again clutches the pad close to her chest, reaching up to adjust her glasses nervously.

“I see...And that drawing, do you think you could do the outfit you drew there, without the mustache, of course.” Tanya continues, leading the blushing girl towards where she had left Visha.

“I..I think so? I mean, but why?” Willa glances aside at the taller girl.

“You have seen what they expect me to wear for mirage bat, haven’t you?” Tanya says in a deadpan.

WIlla nods and smiles. “Oh, I have! It’s such a cute outfit.”

Tanya sighs and shakes her head. “And completely not what I am used to, or find fitting. That, on the other hand, has potential.”

Willa looks at her, then back at the drawing. “You….Really think so?”

“Oh, definitely. I’ve been told before that I should have been born around the time of the second world war, that I have a very old soul.” Tanya says as she motions Visha over to see the drawing.

Nervously, Willa turns the pad for both of them to see better. It depicts Tanya, with a very particular mustache, directing her ‘troops’ with a riding crop tucked under one arm, wearing slightly poofy uniform pants along a style that was close to the formal uniform she had worn during her time at the war college, the jacket is a tailed military suit jacket and atop her head is a very familiar looking cap. The fancy looking slippers seem to be an odd addition, but overall seem to fit the general theme.

The two temporal refugees look at each other, then back at Willa before Tanya starts to talk again. “Willa, why don’t you show that, without the mustache, to Lutz over there, and see if he thinks it would be an acceptable replacement for the outfit I was wearing for Mirage bat? And, if not, I will go along with the least amount of alterations to the design, that is, if you think you can make it?”

Willa blinks owlishly at Tanya, then back at her drawing before nodding. “I...I think so. I..If you are sure that you would want something like this?”

Tanya gives her that trademark smirk of hers. “I think it would be a much better fit for me.”

With that, Willa hurries off towards Lutz while the two girls watch her go.

“That was very nice of you, Ma’am.” Visha says, leaning just a bit closer for reasons that she doesn’t really feel comfortable examining right now. She couldn’t have been upset with how close Tanya was to Willa, could she?

“I do have a reputation to uphold, after all.” Tanya says as she leads Visha towards the group that they were going to help next.

Neither had paid much attention to the title scrawled at the bottom of the page.

The Beast of Berlin.

Chapter Text

Chapter 12: The more things change….

Friday June 20th, 4:00PM, 2094

The two temporal refugees find themselves outside the entrance to the theatre club, having received a message from Willa that she needed to see Tanya for the final fittings for her outfit. Visha, of course, could not miss the chance to see her companion in her new outfit. The fact that she didn’t exactly trust the mousy little girl with the Argent could not have anything to do with it, of course. That would just be silly.

The fact that Willa was a stammering, nervous mess around Tanya surely didn’t make her more sure of her thoughts.

“I..I hope that you like it? I..tried to express the intent of the picture in cloth the best I could. I mean, of course I tried to make it just like you wanted, after all. I mean, how could I not? You were...Very kind in letting me do this….” Willa says as she looks anywhere but at the person she was currently talking to, or at least at.

“No, I’m the one that should be grateful. I would have died of embarrassment if I had been forced to wear that frilly thing in front of my peers, much less the many people that tune in to watch it.” She walks forward, resting her hand gently on the neatly folded outfit, fingering the brim of the cap in an almost fond manner. “Should I go change into this, then, and we can see about the final fittings?” She asked the blushing mess that was fidgeting with her notebook once more.

“Y..Yes, please. If you want, there are some changing rooms right over there.” Willa points as she fidgets some more. “I..I can get all of us something to drink...If you’d like?”

Tanya smiles and nods, her gaze flitting to Visha for a moment who straightens her back and smiles back at her. “Why don’t you show me where everything is, and I will make tea for us, and coffee for Tanya? I do know exactly how she likes it, after all.” Visha offers as she looks into the green eyes of her former superior, leaving Willa feeling very much like the third wheel.

Willa blushes and nods, tugging gently on Visha’s sleeve to lead her towards the little kitchenette. “T..Thank you...It’s right over here, Miss Serebryakov.” Willa says as she leads the way.

Visha watches her, then sighs as she makes a decision regarding the mousy little mage. “Visha. Please, just call me Visha. It’s what all my friends call me.” She says as she smiles down at the short mage. She feels a weight lift off her shoulders at how Willa smiles back at her.

“T..Thank you Visha…” She swallows and starts to help get the stuff out to prepare the drinks. “Your girlfriend is something else.” She says quietly, not looking directly at Visha.

Visha laughs softly, a pleasant sound like always. “She isn’t my girlfriend, and yes, she is. She is demanding, pushy, can be oddly clingy at times, coldly logical one moment and wildly passionate the next but I would be lost without her.” Visha says in a soft, almost wistful manner much to the bewildered look that Willa is giving her.

“She...isn’t? But...You two are so close, I just assumed…” She blushes and casts a sidelong look, squeaking a bit as she catches Visha regarding her with those intense blue eyes of hers. “N..Not that I would be interested in her! I honestly don’t like anyone...Like that. I’m too shy…”

Willa jumps as she feels a hand laid softly on her shoulder, looking up to peer into the eyes of the taller girl standing next to her as the water boils for their drinks. “You’re fine, Willa. And, honestly, you’re not the first one to say that…” She trailed off, looking out towards the room where Tanya is changing. Then, Visha takes a deep breath and the kind of lost look on her face fades, replaced with her usual smile. “I guess we are friends, right? And thank you, for doing this for her. It really does mean a lot to her.” Visha says as she reaches past the shorter girl to start preparing the drinks while she hums softly.

Willa nods, chewing on her lip as she steps back and flips open her ever present sketch book, quickly sketching as Visha goes about her task unaware of the attention she is getting. “Yes….And I hope we can be very good friends..Visha.”

Visha finishes her preparations and turns back, smiling at the shy girl as she hefts the tray. “Shall we see how she looks, hrm?” She practically skips with glee as she leads the way, a shyly bemused Willa following behind her, her notebook closed and tucked in tight to her chest.

The two come to a halt in the doorway, with Willa peeking shyly around the stunned Visha who is just standing there wide eyed as she takes in Tanya in her outfit for the first time. After a long moment, Visha quickly shuffles into the room and places her tray on the table as they both take in the slowly turning and stretching blonde mage before them.

The outfit is made of a soft, matte dark green material, for the most part. A snugly fitting top made of a white material is covered by a ‘jacket’ that is more a vest with a long, elaborate back that is more like a trench coat than a skirt. Her petite legs are clad in a dark pair of slightly poofy pants, while her feet are adorned with long, lace up footwear that is clearly feminine, but still reminiscent of a military boot. Tanya turns to face them, donning her cap and settling it on her head. “Well, do I pass muster?” She asks, looking towards the starry-eyed Visha.

Visha wriggles for a bit, her hands clasped before her before she lets out a muffled little squeal, then coughs softly into her hands and blushes brightly, a look that Willa doesn’t fail to notice, but Tanya seems to be oddly oblivious to the obvious glee of her former adjutant. WIth another cough Visha smiles and straightens up to address Tanya. “It looks amazing on you, Tanya. I never would have imagined something that was so obviously military looking could look so...so...Feminine and adorable.” She says as she continues to wriggle a bit.

Tanya blushes a bit as she walks over and takes the cup of coffee, cradling it lovingly between her hands and taking a slow, careful sip before she sighs happily. “I still don’t know how you can take almost any bean and make it into such an amazing beverage, Visha.” She says as she locks eyes with Visha for a moment, then blushes as she looks down to regard Willa. “I am quite impressed, Willa. While not exactly what you drew, you did seem to find a good mesh between what is expected of me, and something that I can at least preserve my dignity in. Thank you.”

Willa blushes and nods, looking back and forth between them and feeling that familiar itch to start to draw the cute not-couple before her. Honestly, her parent’s are less lovey-dovey with each other than these two manage doing casual things. She gets the odd feeling that she is in the presence of two people who are firmly in the closet on how they feel towards each other.

Well, perhaps she could get the other girls to help her with a bit of an intervention.

Everyone always told her she needed to be more social….

June 21st, 8:00 am, 2094. Present
Isolation and containment room, Facility 1, formerly Bunker 208

Tanya eyes the contraption before her with some degree of trepidation. “What exactly am I looking at, Doctor Schugel?”

Dr. Adeline Schugel smiles proudly as she stands next to the platform. “It’s the next iteration of the Synchronised Independent Drop Experiment! The idea came to me after our last series of trials, and I thought we could improve on the design immensely. As you can see, the floor consists of a series of independent panels that are triggered off of a common release actuator, and the adjustable braces will ensure that the event horizon of the field remains exactly where we want it to be. We should be able to achieve nearly pinpoint accuracy on a drop with this! Much more consistent than that blaise little trapdoor. And it's portable by design, so we can have you activate the field on the ground, here, and then drop you from any height we need, without having to worry about any external effects that might be present at a higher altitude when the field activates.”

Tanya feels a sudden odd sense of deja-vu. “And you thought that this was necessary?” She says as she slowly circles the device, noticing it has slots for a forklift or something of the like.

“Oh yes! You see, we are staging a demonstration for some of the military sponsors of our project, so we thought it would be best to show a practical result of our experiments and research.” Doctor Schugel says with a nod as she rests her hand fondly on the contraption.

“And we need these sponsors to continue our research, am I correct, Doctor?” Tanya asks with a resigned sigh.

“Yes, actually. We are coming up on our yearly funding reviews, and showing them some….Tangible results...would be highly beneficial.” The good Doctor confirms.

“Well, I guess then, it would be in the best interest of all involved if we made this a good demonstration, then. What will you need of me?” Tanya asks, glad once again that THIS Schugel is not a divinely inspired religious nutjob.

Dr. Schugel grins and pulls out her clipboard. “We will have you dress out in full kit and do a little drop and simulated landing. We will probably have you maintain the field for a bit longer than normal, like 30 minutes to one hour effective. Probably at a 60/1 ratio again, but we might have you go higher if we think that the duration of dilation would start to be a strain.”
Tanya nods, then smiles softly at Visha. “Will Visha be able to observe the simulation?”

Doctor Schugel smiles and nods. “Of course she will, we would all be honored to have her present.”

“Then, I guess whenever you need me, Doctor, I am all yours.” Tanya concedes, feeling much more relaxed now for some reason.

Doctor Schugel claps her hands “Good! Good! Then I will let the rest know we are good to go!”

Tanya gives her a slow look. “Doctor, you make it almost sound like you had this planned for today, regardless of what I was going to say.”

Doctor Schugel gives a little laugh as she turns to her support staff, ignoring Tanya’s statement for the moment as Visha comes over and rests a hand gently on her friend’s shoulder. “I’m sure it’s going to be fine, Tanya. I guess we can find out from the staff when we need to get you ready, right?”

Tanya nods and smiles, following along behind Visha as she feels oddly content even with how odd the good doctor is behaving. She feels a bit less content when she finds out the timetable for the demonstration.

“What do you mean, it’s at ten A.M.?” Tanya asks for the second time.

“Well, yes. You will land at precisely ten on the dot, so we really should be getting you ready. If you and the little lady will step in here, we have your kit for the demonstration all ready for you.” the engineer in charge of her preparations states.

“Will I be using the CAD or the….” Tanya looks towards where the Type 95 is stored.

“Oh, the CAD will handle this just fine. Plus, the timing is much more precise, and precision is one of the things we are demonstrating, after all.” The engineer ensures her.

Tanya sighs and nods as she lets Visha lead her into the ready room, and promptly starts to change. She notices a blushing Visha look away and finds herself oddly heating up as well. She takes a deep breath, calming herself as she calls to Visha. “Can you hand me that jacket, Visha?” She quickly pulls the pants up as she tucks in her shirt before letting Visha help her into her jacket and zipping it up. All in all, it’s not a bad uniform even if it seems a bit odd to her. It’s warm, at least. She shrugs as she slides into the combat backpack and rig with a stowed combat rifle at the ready clipped to the side of the pack. “So, how do I look?” She asks her faithful companion.

Visha eyes her over critically, slowly walking around her and causing Tanya to blush for some reason. After a long, awkward moment Visha claps her hands together. “It looks good on you, Tanya. I kind of wish we had an outfit like this back when we flew into Moskovy.”

Tanya laughs as she straps on her CAD and calibrates it, knowing all of it will be checked and double checked by the engineers, but nothing beats a habit built from survival. “Very true. At least it won’t be cold this time.”

Half an hour later, the two girls are standing at the SIDE unit, Visha giving Tanya one last look over before stepping back to let the Doctor stand there. “Now, when the field drops, just salute with the rifle at combat ready. I think that should have the proper effect. We will be timing the drop pretty exactly, so we will give you a moving mark on how long the dilation will be once we have everything in place and ready.” She leans over and looks at a figure one of the technicians has for her and nods.

“Ok, from the figures we think a 90/1 ratio over one minute of subjective time will be well within your current limits. Go ahead and stand on the red dot and then we will give you a go mark, ok?” Doctor Schugel motions for Tanya to take her place. Once she is in place, the good Doctor starts to consult a few numbers. “Ok, 90/1 compression, 50 seconds subjective. Set and mark. Implement on the count of three. Three. Two. One. Mark!”

Tanya vanishes into the familiar black sphere as the technicians and engineers start to hurry, leaving a perplexed Visha wondering why a forklift is pulling out, and why they are opening the large side doors.

Her eyes slowly get wider as she sees the plane sitting at the ready outside. Things don’t start to click into place until they slide the forks of the lift under the SIDE unit and start to load it into the large plane.

She turns to look at the beaming doctor who just takes her by the shoulder. “Don’t worry, my dear. The amount of impact when she lands won’t be a problem for the field, and as long as she collapses the field after her landing, she will never even know that we dropped her out of a plane.”

A very confused and worried Visha is guided by the doctor out of the building and towards another, where she is seated behind a transparent blast screen, still trying to puzzle out just what is going on.

Perhaps they shouldn’t have agreed so readily, after all.

Chapter Text

Chapter 13: The more they remain the same.

June 21st, 9:55 am, 2094. Present
Controlled Blast and Detonation Room, Facility 1, formerly Bunker 208

An increasingly nervous Visha listens to the doctor’s lecture and explanation to the waiting brass, and can’t help but wonder what Tanya will make of all of this when she comes out of the field. Finding herself standing in a different building is one thing, finding herself standing in what sounds to be the wreckage of the roof in a different building while the dust clears from a landing very much like the Door Knocker? That is probably going to be something a bit far to expect the usual calm and collected mage to accept.

She brings her attention back to the Doctor’s presentation, even as she continues to cast worried looks at the monitors that are showing the SIDE platform in it’s ready position to drop her friend from 15,000 feet.

“In the last year, we have made significant inroads into understanding an entirely new and previously unexplored field of interference magic, one that affects matter on a quantum level. It’s most evident in how it slows molecular motion and entropic effects. We have verified this with examinations of atomic particles, both test pieces being from the same parent sample, and have been able to demonstrate that they are experiencing atomic decay at different intervals. On a practical side, the phenomenon creates an event horizon in which matter effectively becomes one solid unit, frozen in it’s exact configuration. Energy as well is absorbed, but unlike kinetic energy, it retains its effective velocity and energy once the effect ends.” The doctor says, as she points to the relevant diagrams and notes.

The brass nods and murmurs among themselves, basically sitting there and letting the good doctor drone on as they approach the time of the drop. The doctor goes into some of the technical notes on the drop itself, how they are taking advantage of the fact that the effect doesn’t allow for any aerodynamic effects, creating the only true instance of uninterrupted free-fall found outside of a vacuum, and how it means that as long as the parameters of the drop or other delivery are precise, the landing will be on an easily predictable parabolic.

Visha, of course, has become familiar with airborne insertions from her previous time spent in the Great War, and her experiences with the V1 rocket. She can’t help but feel an odd sense of nostalgia over the whole thing. Her attention is fully drawn back to the monitors as the doctor announces the time for the drop has arrived, watching as the bay door under the SIDE unit is opened, and finally the moment of release happens.

Like the others, she holds her breath unconsciously as the sphere drops, blacker than night itself. She places the protective earmuffs over her ears and waits as the monitors track the thirty second fall right up to the moment when the 60 to 70 kilo sphere hits at, according to the charts, a speed of about 300 meters/second.

The actual moment of impact is something to see, that is for sure. The pitch black sphere punches through the roof of the building and releases a concussive blast that is softened by the blast-proof layers of protection built into the room. When the dust starts to clear, Tanya is standing there with her rifle at combat rest and snapping a textbook perfect salute. Her eyes quickly sweep the area, then look up. When her eyes lock back onto Doctor Schugel there is a brief flash of something that Visha was pretty sure that she was the only one to catch. Fear.

“And that concludes our demonstration for the day! As you can see, she is unhurt by her rather forceful entry. We think that, in time, we should be able to use this process to insert small units into the very heart of the enemy, impervious to conventional weaponry and with the ability to disable defenses and stun and overwhelm the defenders.” The good doctor concludes her demonstration even as the technicians and medics rush to check on the subject.

Visha follows them, wanting to be one of the first to be there for her former superior. She can see the heightened breath, the slight paling of her features and how her hand tightens around her empty gun. She knows that a long night being the younger girl's body pillow is more than likely ahead of her, but she is okay with that. In any way that she can be of use to her, she will be. For as long as she is needed or wanted, even if some of what she does goes unknown to her companion.

Visha wordlessly takes one of the blankets from one of the medtechs as she passes them, wrapping it around Tanya herself as she feels the slight tremor pass otherwise unnoticed through the smaller girl. A gentle squeeze on her shoulder seems to steady Tanya, as their eyes lock for a moment that seems to stretch on for a short eternity. Whatever moment they might be having is interrupted by the rest of the orderly horde of technicians and engineers that begin a ruthlessly efficient check of the young woman even as they lead her to a private room.

It is hours later that the two young women are dropped off outside of their apartment. Tanya seems to have recovered from the initial shock, her usual blase demeanor restored once more after the initial shock has passed. Still, Visha knows her better than any other, in either world. The days of blatant and oblivious hero worship are long behind her, instead it is a sense of devotion and a feeling of rightness that dictates her actions in regard to the other woman.

Visha smiles softly to Tanya as she starts to prepare coffee, knowing that the heady, rich scent will do more to ground her companion than anything she could say. Out of the corner of her eye she sees Tanya start to eat some of the strawberry pastries that she always has on hand after seeing how much they were enjoyed the last time she baked them. She is quiet as she sits down after placing the cup on its saucer before her friend, and takes her own cup as she watches the Argent over the rim.

Tanya takes a long, slow sniff of the heady scent of her favorite beverage, her dainty hands wrapped around it as she soaks in the heat and comfort. She finally breaks the silence that has hung heavy over them both until this moment. “It would appear that the good doctor is more like our own mad genius than we knew. It is probably a good thing that Herr Schugel did not have access to this newest magical process, otherwise I think he would have fired us out of a cannon.” Her wry little smirk is back and sets Visha’s heart a flutter.

It would seem that the Argent was starting to bounce back once more. Not that Visha had any doubts that she would, but it is a relief to her. Visha reaches out, resting her fingers briefly on the fingers of Tanya’s right hand. “Next time, I will be there by your side, all the way down.” Visha states in a manner that leaves no room for doubt. She sees as Tanya slightly relaxes, her own warm smile lighting the room as she regards her Devil of the Rhine.

“Just like when we were deployed by the V1’s.” Tanya states as her shoulders relax more.

“Exactly like it. I will always be your Wing, in whatever world you whisk us off to.” Visha confirms.

Tanya regards her with that trademark smirk once more. “I have no plans on relocating us to yet another new world, I think that dragging you to an alternate reality should probably be a one time thing.”

“But if you did, I would still be by your side. It’s where I belong, always. Until the world itself crumbles.” Visha says, then throws out a bit of wit of her own. “After all, who else would brew you coffee? You should know by now that I won’t allow anyone else to take that most serious of duties under wing.”

“I rest easier knowing that my daily libation will always be from you, Herr Serebryakov.” Tanya says, then the two girls break down into an easy bout of laughter. It is so much easier to laugh when VIsha is involved, Tanya muses. Her laugh is truly infectious. It was a shame that she didn’t get to hear it more often before. It almost made two lives and three worlds worth it.

No, she thought as she felt the tension drain from her body, it was worth it to have lived two lives and in three worlds to get to hear it.

The hour is late and Tanya is restless when she becomes aware of the gentle presence that is at her side, wondering once more if it’s a dream. It has to be, because Visha is never there in the morning even as she feels that soft warmth climb in next to her, a comforting arm wrapped around her and pulling her into blissful rest. Tanya sighs, hoping that the dream will never end as the two wounded souls drift off to a restful sleep together.

Sunday, June 22nd 12:30 PM

Downtown Berlin, the Market.

Tanya walks with her military gait as she follows Visha for once, finding the change in dynamics to be somewhat refreshing. Usually, the thought of following someone to someplace she was not familiar with would fill her with a sense of anxiety, but that is just a vestige of the never ending war she was wrapped in. No, she could trust in Visha’s judgement, especially when it came to food. No one could doubt her former adjutant when it came to good food. Just, never ask her opinion on military cuisine. It was generally best for everyone’s sense of sanity to not broach that particular landmine.

“It’s right ahead, Tanya!” Visha calls back, reaching back to grab Tanya’s hand and drag her along in her wake as they rush to meet the ladies that had invited them out suddenly to lunch. Just a girls day, was the instructions that they had received when they had checked their messages the previous day. They were instructed to wear something relaxed to walk and socialize in.

Tanya had to admit that Visha in a dress was something that she could get used to. The simple garment flowed about her former adjutant in a way that was most appealing, on an aesthetic level, of course. Not that she would ever harbor such thoughts towards her curvaceous companion. No, of course not.

Visha looks back, catching Tanya studying her and blushes as she brushes a lock of loose hair behind her ear. Tanya dressed in the simple slacks and blouse she wore was something that she would never tire of. The fact that her boots had just a bit of a heel to them to give her shorter companion a bit of height was something that Visha would freely admit made it even more adorable to her. She was starting to accept that she had certain feelings, towards her former superior. But she wasn’t willing to risk things to act on them. No, better to suffer through unrequited affections than to risk and lose everything in a gamble. She had learned that much at the White Silver’s side.

Even if it did suck at times.

They both look forward as they are called from the gaggle of girls that are waiting for them ahead. Willa, Jane and Lisa are waving at them, and proceed with a round of hugs to greet the two other girls as they arrive. Quiet looks are passed among the trio as they take in the closeness of the two others, and how the looks seem to linger just a bit longer than would normally be polite in society.

The League of Latent Lesbian Liberators was ready for their opening maneuvers of this war.

Chapter Text

The war on obliviousness, opening maneuvers.

Sunday, June 22nd 12:15 PM

Downtown Berlin, the Market.

Jane smiles as she greets the other two of her co-conspirators, laughing as hugs are passed all around. “So, you are sure that they will be here? You don’t think they will call it off at the last moment or anything, right?”

Lisa shakes her head, smiling at her rambunctious friend. “No, Tanya is nothing if not punctual and by the book. She said that they will be here, so you can rest assured barring some sort of emergency, she will be here. Are you sure that this is a good idea, I mean, do we really know how they feel about each other?”

Willa chooses to pipe in at this, adjusting her glasses nervously. “I have gotten to watch the two of them together a fair amount, and it’s obvious to everyone but them how they feel about each other. I mean, it seems pretty obvious? They look at each other like my parents do, and they are...Overly affectionate. I mean, not that there is anything wrong with that, it’s just...They are my parents, so it does tend to make me a bit nauseous when they are being all...clingy and stuff. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but...Ok, I’m going to shut up now…” Willa practically hides behind her ever present sketchbook, blushing brightly.

“Ok, now that we have the nervous Nelly moment out from WIlla, I think that as friends it is our duty, nay, our right, to make sure that these clueless closet lesbians realize and act on how they feel towards each other. Let’s face it, Tanya is...Abrasive. And it’s not like she will find anyone else that dotes on her like Visha does. And, well, Visha is lost without Tanya. I can’t imagine how either of them functioned until Visha came here…” Jane says with an amused smile.

Lisa clears her throat and looks at the other two. “So, we are all on board with this, then? It won’t be easy, you know. They are both so oblivious…” The diminutive girl laughs and smiles at her friends. “But, they are adorable together, as well. It makes me wonder about how they grew up, though. From what you said Visha seemed a bit shocked when she saw that couple… It makes me wonder just how isolated an upbringing she had.”

Willa blushes and fidgets with her glasses. “From what I have learned about them, Visha is from some tiny little village tucked away in the mountains, a very conservative little village. I mean, it would have to be for her to be just so...Innocent about everything.”

The other two nod as they ponder the mystery that is their two other friends. Jane breaks the silence with a grin “All the better reason for us to open their eyes to the joys of a relationship!”

Lisa laughs and peers at Jane. “And how many relationships have you been in, I have to wonder?”

Jane blanches and rubs the back of her head, fidgeting with her hair. “Hey, I have been busy since I came here, and I just haven’t met the right guy yet…” She looks at Lisa and points at her. “So! Tell me about your last relationship, then!”

Lisa looks down bashfully then sighs. “Ok, so I haven’t ever really dated anyone. I don’t think you can count playground ‘dating’ when I was in elementary school.” She adds the air quotes with a wry little grin.

Willa looks between the two and says meekly. “Is no one going to ask me?” At the pointed look the chronically shy girl gets from both she sighs and bows her head. “Point taken….”

Jane gets a philosophical look to her. “You know, after we have set up these two idiots, then perhaps we should use our expertise to get ourselves a relationship? I mean, after these two, we will practically be experts!” She says as she pumps her fist into the sky before looking at Lisa. “It should be easy to find you a nice guy, after all! As for myself, I’m not that picky, not really, so I should be able to find a guy or gal that catches my eye, and my heart!”

Willa once again meekly interjects. “W..What about me? You forgot to mention me…”

Jane sighs and rests a hand on the mousey girl's shoulder. “Willa, dear Willa. Have you ever been able to string together four words to someone you have a crush on without it turning into a rambling mess?””

Willa gives her a hurt look then bows her head in defeat. “So….If that is the case, why am I even here?”

Lisa steps up and gives her tiny friend a hug. “Because, as Tanya herself would put it, we are engaging in a military campaign against forces that have overwhelming blindness to what is right in front of them. Vastly superior levels of cluelessness than what we have ever encountered before. So, we need to tip the advantage in our favor. Thus, we need superior numbers to overwhelm their defenses, and you are our secret weapon. Your meek nature makes it hard to turn down to your friends when you actually ask for something. Plus, I honestly hope that doing this will help you come out of your shell so that we can include you in more activities. And I have not completely given up hope on finding you someone special that can draw out the wonderful person that all of us that actually know you can see. Well, everyone that isn’t this loud mouthed brute of a foreigner.” She thumbs towards Jane who has been nodding along with her.

“Hey! I resemble that remark!” Jane interjects as the trio breaks into a fit of giggles.

Lisa checks her watch and nods. “They will be here soon. Just act normal, have fun and take every chance you can to make sure that the two of them are having fun together. We just need to give them a not so subtle nudge, and see what happens from there.”

Willa gives her an uncertain look “And if that doesn’t work, what..do we do then?”

Lisa smiles at her and shrugs “Then, I guess we just keep trying. Honestly, the two of them are hopeless apart, so it’s only natural that we try and get them together. It’s what friends do.”

“And then we don’t have to watch them and the whole pining away and mooning over the other thing that they are always doing when they don’t think anyone is watching them. As cute as it is, it does get a bit tiring being around two such hopeless lesbians.” Jane says as she adds her own two cents to the conversation.

Willa nods, then smiles shyly “They are here. I guess….Do your best?”

The other two nod as the trio moves towards their objective for this engagement.

Let the war begin.

Two hours later, the daunting nature of the task was starting to set in on the trio. Visha deferred naturally to Tanya, and Tanya seemed to take Visha’s opinion on just about anything at complete face value. With anyone else, both of those would probably be a good thing for any relationship since Tanya most definitely was the more aggressive of the two, and Visha seemed to be the one who was more in touch with her feelings and paid more attention to the more ephemeral aspects of the world around them.

With these two, though, it only seems to make the matter worse. Perhaps they were too set in their ways for them to realize that the pattern of behaviour they used was something you would expect from a couple that had been together, instead of two people who were busy bumbling around their feelings for the other? It was a frequent topic of discussion for various members of the League even as they did their best to keep arranging situations that, with anyone else, would be considered romantic.

Perhaps they needed to regroup and rethink their pattern of attack was quickly becoming the consensus. Cloth shopping was a bust. Yes, Visha would try on anything that Tanya showed the slightest interest in, and that would be a good sign if it wasn’t so obvious that no matter how much she stared covertly, she was hesitant to actual compliment Visha in a way that would really encourage the more outgoing of the two. The less said about Tanya’s choices in clothing the better, to be honest. If they didn’t know better they would think that they were dealing with a very masculine woman instead of the elfen teenager that was standing before them looking at yet another slack and blouse combination.

Lingerie shopping had shown some promise, but it was so obvious that they were both so flustered by the prospect that neither really truly became engaged with the activity. Perhaps something to return to at a later date.

Now, they were heading for a movie in the hopes that a romantic chick flick would do the deed. Honestly, at this point they were not sure.

“OOk, I already ordered our tickets, Jane and Willa will help with the snacks. Go ahead the concession stand, I’ve got this. Oh, we are going to see “Hearts on Ice 3” I hope that is ok with everyone?” Lisa comments.

“Oh! I love that series! I didn’t think it would be possible to get tickets!” Jane exclaims, nudging a nervous Willa.

“Oh yes! And this is the final climatic movie! I can’t wait to see just who she ends up with?” Willa recites her part of the setup, blushing at the attention.

“Not my first choice, but since you have the tickets already, I guess I can come along.” Tanya comments, then looks aside at her star-struck companion and sighs. “I guess there is nothing to be done but watch the end of a series that I have not seen any other movies in.”

That earns her a curious look from the other three as Visha nods happily. “I got to watch them while I was in the hospital! Such a moving story, I was hoping I would get to see the end of it!” She turns the full force of her adoring, happy gaze on the tense Tanya who melts under its impact. “Isn’t it wonderful, Tanya? We get to see this movie with our friends!”

Tanya sighs and lets her shoulders drop, blushing a bit as she looks away “I am glad that it meets your expectations, Visha. Perhaps if it’s good, I will have to catch up on the other two.”

Willa takes the initiative and interjects at this point. “If...If you want, since..You haven’t seen the others? I can lend you my copy of the first two movies….Maybe you can watch them with Visha or the rest of us?”

The other two members of the League give Willa a startled but appreciative look as the mousey girl tries to shrink out of existence, a fact that is missed by Tanya as she ruminates and watches Visha. “That would be a helpful suggestion. Thank you, Willa.”

The movie itself proves to be a typical end to a chick flick series, with lots of tense, dramatic moments and romantic gestures. It has the surprise ending of the main character ending up with her female best friend, instead of the male lead that had been hinted at for at least the previous movie in the series. A fact that the crying Willa and Jane had taken with much shock and joy, while Lisa seemed already prepared for this plot twist. As the other two wiped their eyes and stared at her Lisa shrugged. “I already knew, it leaked a few weeks ago.”

“Then...Then you KNEW that they were going to play with our hearts like this?” Jane accuses her with a pointed finger.”

“Yes, I did.” Lisa confirms with a smirk, turning to observe the other two and sighing at the polite distance they maintained. Yes, Visha was talking animatedly with many hand gestures, but Tanya seems to be a bit withdrawn and reserved, so about par for the course. The only glimmer of hope was when Tanya laughed at one of her companions' comments and briefly let her hand rest on Visha’s. The tension that filled the air at that gentle, thoughtless act was palatable and left the two latent lesbian lovers blushing and looking anywhere but at each other.

A passable opening sortie, after all.

Chapter Text

The war on obliviousness, the first campaign.

Sunday, June 22nd 6:30 PM

As Tanya and Visha made their way home, Tanya kept stealing covert glances over at her happy companion, thinking over the events of the afternoon. The shopping was not exactly her cup of tea, since in her first life blending in was the goal, and in her second she rarely wore anything other than a uniform that the military had provided. Incidents like The Dress were few, far between, and left her emotionally and mentally scarred. Visha, on the other hand, seemed to find a certain amount of joy and satisfaction in clothes shopping, a fact that Tanya still just couldn’t comprehend on an intellectual level. Yes, it was advantageous for a woman to dress well, especially if they were seeking to attract the attention of a member of the opposite sex. Yes, she could admit that she might have pondered, briefly, if Visha had found someone she was interested in but in the end she had to discard that idea. After all, Visha spent almost all her waking time with herself. She knew she would certainly have noticed if Visha was spending any significant amount of time with one of the boys in their class.

So, obviously it was not that. That left the fact that women did seem to like to dress up for themselves, finding a certain level of joy and confidence in wearing things that made them feel attractive. Perhaps it was more of that then the other, then? True, Visha would have had very few chances to indulge that feminine peroregrative during her time in the army. The more Tanya thought about it, the more likely that was the correct answer. Was it not customary to make a comment or compliment of some sort, then, being a supportive companion? Perhaps when they got back to the apartment she would have to make a comment about one of the outfits that Visha had picked out, then?

Another matter was the movies she was currently holding in her hand, the one not carrying the bags from the day. They had walked Willa home, and she had insisted that they borrow them, so that she would be able to catch up on the series properly. As loath as she was to indulge in frivolous spending, she could not deny Visha when she had that look in her eyes, and one of the outfits she was coerced into trying had resulted in a particularly starry-eyed look from her exuberant former subordinate, thus entailing its purchase.

Visha, for her part, was also lost in thought. Her gaze flicks to the side from time to time, studying the petitie and diminutive profile of her companion, feeling how her heart lurches once in a while when their gazes meet or almost meet. These feelings she had were so confusing, and perhaps a bit shameful. It was wrong for her to feel like this towards her superior, wasn’t it? It had to be, since they were so unorthodox. They were so far from what she had always been told to expect, to think she deserved. It just left her more and more confused.

Both of the girls sigh softly as they walk, lost in their respective thoughts as they continue to cast furtive looks at the other when they were sure they would not be caught. Each of them was held back by their own doubts and preconceived notions. Each of them yearned for something new, something untried. Two wounded souls looking for comfort and solace that can only be found in another.

Sadly, these two were used to denying what they wanted. They were used to existing in the status quo. They thought that what they had was as good as they could get. What use was there in looking towards a future that could risk all that they thought they had won for themselves?

Those thoughts weighed the two of them down until they got home, and decided to settle in. They look at each other, feeling a bit down from the negative thoughts, and they can tell the other is upset for some reason. Not knowing that each of them is the cause of the others plight, they resolve to do something nice for their partner. Perhaps the outfits that still are in the bags would be a good first step?

“So, Visha. I was thinking, perhaps I might try on that outfit you liked. If you would like to give me a second opinion?” Tanya hedges into that statement. “And, I just wanted to say that outfit you picked up….It looks good on you.” Tanya suddenly finds it hard to look at her former adjutant as the wall clock seems to be very interesting indeed.

“T...Thank you, Tanya. And...I was thinking that it is a shame not to wear it around the house, at least once? When we go out, it’s almost always in one uniform or another. It seems kind of silly to buy these things, and not wear them at least once…. Right?” Visha stammers out, glancing towards Tanya then looking away.

“Indeed. It would be a waste of perfectly good resources to not wear them, wouldn’t it?” The ever efficient former Devil of the Rhine latches onto that bit of logic even as her grip tightens on the bag.

“I agree completely, Tanya. I...I am going to go change then, it will be just a moment?” Visha then hurries towards the bathroom to change, leaving the bedroom they share for the equally blushing Tanya.

Tanya clears her throat, and then walks quickly towards the room to change, taking a moment to gather her thoughts and catch her breath. With quick efficiency born from years on the front lines, she changes into the skirt and blouse with a matching vest that Visha had picked out for her. She turns slowly in front of the mirror, lips pursed a bit. ‘I don’t know what she likes about this. It’s not like I will ever have a figure to make this sort of outfit look like anything other than someone draping womens clothes over a stick figure.’ she grouses in the depths of her own head before walking briskly out to the couch, and sitting on the right hand side.

Visha, for her part, is also changing. Where Tanya had just outerwear, Visha had opted for something from each place they had stopped at, noticing the things that seemed to catch her former commanders eye. First, the lingerie that she picked out for this outfit, a pair of what she herself thought were rather daring black lace panties and bra. Next, the garters and garter belt that matches them. She pauses for a moment, slowly turning to regard how they looked, then nods as she slips into the lavender dress that she had seen Tanya eye. She takes a moment to smooth out the fabric, eyeing herself a bit before letting her hair flow over her shoulders. After taking another look in the mirror and deep breath, she walks out into the main room with a slight flush to her cheeks.

Tanya has been sitting on the couch and fidgeting, wondering why it was taking Visha so long to change. When she hears the door, she turns and then promptly any words that were about to slip from her suddenly dry lips are lost as she finds herself staring rather openly at the blushing vision that is standing there in what is really a conservative dress. The pale lavender sets off Visha’s eyes perfectly, and her full figure fills out the outfit very well. Tanya blushes when she realizes that she has been staring, hurriedly getting up to get them something to drink and snack on from the stockpile that Visha always has on hand.

Visha watches the stunned look on Tanya’s face with no little sense of happiness, liking how her former commander's eyes seem to be fixed on her, an intense look that she had only seen on the battlefield before, an all devouring intensity that makes her feel warm and light. It’s a feeling she could grow used to, if things were different. She stands there for a moment, then watches as Tanya hurries into the kitchen, admiring how the outfit fits the former Devil of the Rhine. It definitely suited her more than that frilly dress they had forced her to wear that one time, or even the dress that Visha herself had given her.

Visha sits on the other side of the couch, being careful to arrange her dress correctly. She is very aware of the garters she is wearing as she stretches, feeling the fabric hugging her legs as she tucks her legs under herself, turning half to the side to watch Tanya fussing about in the kitchen. “Do you want me to help, Tanya?” She asks as she drapes herself over the back of the couch to watch her better.

Tanya turns to answer her, then quickly looks away as her pale skin flushes. “N..No, I can manage this, thank you though. We should probably start with the first movie, right?” She attempts to change the subject, casting another furtive glance towards Visha as she walks back into the living room carrying a tray with the drinks and some pastries.

Visha nods as she settles herself a bit more properly on the couch, letting her eyes roam a bit while Tanya has her back to her as she places the movie into the player. Her eyes snap away from the tantalizing view before she is caught staring as Tanya walks back and sits on the far side from her. Visha pouts for a moment, then sighs and starts to watch the movie.

As the movie plays, they both sample the treats and enjoy their drinks. Who moves closer to the other first is a debate that neither would wish to have, but slowly the distance shrinks. By the end of the movie, Visha is resting against Tanya’s side, with one of Tanya’s arms placed over the back of the couch, her fingers just barely brushing Visha’s left shoulder. It’s an unconscious act of intimacy and familiarity that neither comments on as the movie ends and the two young women look at each other from far closer than they had realized. They move apart, a blush showing on their cheeks as they pointedly don’t look at each other.

“That...Was a much better movie than I anticipated it would be.” Tanya says as she looks at the opposite wall.

“I..am glad that you enjoyed it, Tanya…” Visha says while casting furtive looks at her partner.

“We...Should probably call it a night, we have to get up early tomorrow, after all.” Tanya says while rising to start to gather their dishes.

“Yes, we should….” Visha half-heartedly agrees as she rises as well, both reaching for the plate at the same time and brushing their fingers against each other. Visha pulls her hand back quickly, blushing red as Tanya chuckles and takes the plate.

“You should let me clean up, just this once.” Tanya says as she stands, looking into the eyes of her companion. “Why...don’t you go ahead and get ready for bed, I will be in shortly. To sleep. In my bed.” She finishes awkwardly, turning away and walking quickly into the kitchenette as a giggling Visha turns off the player and television, then heads in to change into her pajamas.

It’s a short time later that Tanya slips in, turning her back on VIsha as she changes as well, somehow feeling like she is being watched, but knowing that can’t be true. The only person here was Visha, after all.

From under the concealment of her covers, Visha watches how the light plays over the scarred form of her friend and companion, feeling her breath catch briefly in her throat before she breathes out a soft sigh when Tanya lays down. She watches her for a while, noticing how restless her friend becomes in her sleep before once more quietly slipping out of her bed and padding on silent feet over before slipping under the covers and holding the person she cared for close to her. Gentle sleep comes for both before long.

Elsewhere…

Facility 1 Tactical Response Room.

Dr. Adeline Schugel looks over the report one more time, casting a gaze at Dr. Davis Wylan sitting across from her. “Are you sure that this is correct? These numbers...They don’t seem right. Who is this Taurus Silver, and where is he getting his inspiration?”

Dr. Wylan shrugs and points at the line again. “Regardless, all our information points to the same things. The advances this one engineer are making are starting to cause a ripple effect. Add in the movements that we are hearing about in the underworld, and the predictions of ORACLE, and it is evident that things are happening in Japan. We might have to commit our asset, if things play out how ORACLE is predicting.”

Chapter Text

The war on obliviousness, Reconnaissance in force

Sunday, June 22nd 6:30 PM

The apartment of Jane Donner, unofficial headquarters of the LLLL, or the Lx4. The acronym was still a work in progress.

Jane sighs as she looks at her co-conspirators, shaking her head. “Why, exactly, is it my apartment that is being used for our base of operations again?”

Lisa laughs and smirks. “Unless you want my whole family involved, I can’t host us.”
Willa clears her throat and looks down. “I’m sorry...I’d offer my dorm room but my roommate is...Loud, and I kind...of filled my half of the room with sketches and material….”

Jane sighs again and goes to check on the tea, laying out some of the cookies she kept for special occasions. “I guess my room works, then. So, what did we learn from our first sortie? It’s obvious that Visha is head over heels for our dear Beast of Berlin, but how does Tanya feel? I think that we might have forgotten to really make sure that she is into her.”

Lisa ponders that, then turns to Willa. “Well, you have observed them more when they are not keeping a public face up, since people tend to act normally around you, it’s almost like they forget you are there or something…” She says with a smirk.

Willa pouts and sighs. “Just because it’s the truth, doesn’t mean you always have to point it out. Tanya tends to look at Viktoriya whenever she doesn’t think people are watching her. It’s pretty obvious that she is very aware of her at all times, and when she is unguarded, it’s very easy to see. The thing is, I don’t know if she KNOWS how she feels about her, even if it’s obvious to others. I...Don’t think she has the best grasp on her own emotions.”

Jane laughs and hugs Willa tightly. “You are just too cute when you are like that. Seriously, though, I think that they are both interested in the other, but it's possible that Tanya had a similar secluded upbringing, so she might not really think that her feelings towards her friend are acceptable. She might not even really know what she is feeling, since I doubt she has had any relationships. Yes, she is adorable, but that attitude and those eyes will drive off all but the most dedicated suitors. Much less if they see her in action. She is a terror.”

The other two girls nod, then look at each other before slowly turning to look at Jane.

“What? Why are you two looking at me like that…” Jane says as she starts to sweat.

“Well, it seems like we need someone that can talk to her without being scared off….” Lisa starts. “I’d do it, but I don’t think I’m the right person.” She turns to look at Willa, who starts to stammer and shake her head. Lisa sighs. “And let's face it, Willa would die of a heart attack. No, this is a job that is perfect for our loud mouthed foreigner.”

“And what exactly do you expect me to do?” Jane asks as she rests her hands on her hips.

“Talk to her, feel her out. Maybe suggest that if she doesn’t act, someone else might?” Lisa suggests as Willa nods along.

“Why do I get the feeling you WANT me to put my head in the lion's mouth and poke at it?” Jane says as she glares at Lisa.

“Because that might be what is necessary if we want those two idiots to realize that the other one is perfect for her?” Lisa states matter of factly.

Willa nods, fidgeting with her ever present sketchbook before looking at Jane. “Because everyone deserves to be happy, and...I don’t think those two have had a lot of chances to BE happy.”

Jane sighs and shakes her head “Okay, okay, you win! Jeeze, take advantage of the nice girl, why don’t you!” Jane glares at them for about three seconds, then breaks out into giggles.

It takes only a moment or two for the giggle fit to spread among all of them.

Jane sighs again and reaches for her phone. “I guess I better invite Tanya out for a walk or something so I can talk to her, and ask her if I can ask her something kind of private, so I need to just talk to her, not the pair of them.” She casts one more glare their way then hits send.

“I will let you know when I get a response. So, why don’t you two pests shoo, while I get things ready for tomorrow.” Jane says with a sigh and a shake of her head.

Monday, June 23rd 6:00 AM, the apartment of Tanya and Visha.

Tanya wakes slowly, casting a bleary look around and seeing that the bed across from the room is empty. The reason is evident as that delicious aroma of Visha’s coffee reaches her nose and jumpstarts her tired brain. She stumbles out of bed, noticing that the light is flashing on her phone, and then remembering that she had set it to silent for the movie last night. At a thought of the movie, a shy little smile crosses her lips as she reaches for her phone and takes it off silent as she checks the message.

She reads it twice as she walks slowly towards the kitchen, head cocked to the side before she slowly taps out a response. It was always a good idea to work on networking with your peers, one never knows when they might come in handy, especially in a land that is still foreign to you. “I can do that, when and where did you want to meet? After classes, I would assume so that we have time for this talk?” she sends, then smiles as she sits down to her plate of sausage, toast, potato pancakes and blessed coffee.

“Did you sleep well, Tanya?” Visha asks as she sits down to her own meal, a look of bliss on her face as she inhales deeply, drawing a little snort of a laugh from Tanya.

“I did, thank you. I see you are anticipating your sausage as always. I swear, your ability to enjoy food is amazing. How far you have come from suffering through the rations on the front line, to enjoying them.” Tanya says with a smirk as her phone buzzes.

“Is someone messaging you? I still haven’t quite gotten the hang of them, such a horribly convenient device. So much better than the radios we used to use on the front.” Visha says as she continues to eat.

“Yes, Jane says that she wants to speak to me, some advice of a personal nature she needs. Oddly, she wants to speak to me about it, one would think that you would be the obvious choice to reach out to.” Tanya says as she takes another drink of the blessed elixir. “After all, your ability to listen and give good advice is just one of your many valuable skills.”

Visha blushes bright at the compliment, her heart flopping almost painfully in her chest at the rare compliment from her reserved former commander. “It just means that she sees what I have seen all along, Tanya. Just how level headed, competent, and brilliant you are.” Visha beams at her slightly blushing former commander.

“Well, that aside I told her that I would see her. Ah, here is her response.” She checks the screen, nodding once before quickly tapping out a response. “She wants to talk to me after classes, but before we meet for practice. I hope you don’t mind that I accepted? It might give you a good chance to take those training regimens we worked on to Lutz and Hans, so that we can see about getting them implemented. Plus, having them realize just how valuable of an asset you are is never a bad thing for either of us.”

Visha tamps down the brief surge of disappointment and was that jealousy? She smiles and nods, taking a bit more of an aggressive bite out of her sausage. “I would be happy to help with that, Tanya. I do hope you have a good talk with Jane.” She says as she turns her attention to her meal.

Tanya arches one eyebrow and then nods. “Thank you, Visha. What would I ever do without you?”

Needless to say, Visha’s mood seems to improve for some reason.

That same day, 4:00PM near the Commons.

Tanya walks towards the waiting redhead, a guarded smile on her face. Being called out here like this for advice still seems odd to her. Yes, in her previous world she was accustomed to being asked for her advice over all manner of logistical and tactical problems. It was part of the job, after all. And the more efficiently any task is performed, the better it is. That even applied to war, as long as one could force it into a logical and efficient structure.

Jane waves to her, walking towards Tanya as she settles her back over her shoulder. “Thanks for coming out here, I just wanted to talk to you about a few things, and I figured that you would be the best one to talk to about this.”

“Of course, I’m always happy to help where I can, Jane.” Tanya replied, stopping a short distance from Jane. “How can I help you?”

Jane laughs awkwardly, causing Tanya to arch an eyebrow. “I was hoping to discuss Visha, actually.” Jane starts, looking a bit nervous. “You know her better than anyone, so I figured there is no one better to ask, right?”

“Well, I have been with her longer than anyone else here, and we have traveled far together. What can I help you with?” Tanya asks, trying to place this odd feeling.

“Well, I was hoping to hear what you think of her, as a person. As a partner, even.” Jane hedges.

“As a person? She is one of the most valuable people I have ever met. She is honest, forthright, and efficient. She learns quickly, and carries out duties without fault or fail. As a partner? There is no one better to have at your side. She handles tasks without complaint, and is reliable. I trust her completely.” Tanya says, eyeing Jane speculatively.

Jane sighs and shakes her head. She really was going to have to spell it out to her, wasn’t she?” “I mean as a romantic partner. As someone you are dating. If...Someone were to want to date Visha, what do you think they could expect? Would they be happy, do you think? Even if it was another girl?”

Tanya’s back straightens as her ability to infallibly jump to conclusions kicks in. “I see. And would you be that person that would be wanting to date Visha?” Tanya says in a suddenly neutral and cold tone.

Jane, realizing that she just stuck her head IN the lion's mouth after rubbing herself in goats blood and catnip starts to wave her hands. “No! Oh, no no no. Down girl. I am not asking for myself. Let's say I know someone that I think would be perfect with her, but they are not sure how they feel about her. I just want to hedge my bets a bit, not that I am even certain that they feel that way for her, or think that a relationship with another woman could work. Even if it’s perfectly acceptable in this nation.”

Tanya relaxes margianaly, an almost sad look flitting across her eyes. “Visha is probably the most caring, loving person I have ever known. She gives without thought of reward, she doesn’t hold anything back from those that she had dedicated herself to. She takes risks without hesitation. She would die for those that she is close to. She almost has, in fact. I...Had figured that this place might have a more accepting attitude towards such things, but I think that some of the issue would be with Visha herself. She grew up in a much more conservative environment, and I don’t know if she would even think of such a relationship. That said, I think that to her, who the person is would matter more than what they happened to be born as.”

“Isn’t that the same environment that you grew up in, as well Tanya?” Jane asks cautiously.

“It would be, but I am a bit more of a free thinker than she is. A bit more pragmatic, as you will.” Tanya says, slightly more relaxed.

“Have you ever thought about dating another woman, if she were agreeable?” Jane asks as she sits on one of the benches, patting the space next to her.

Tanya hesitates, then sits as well. “The thought...Might have crossed my mind.”

“And what is stopping you, then?” Jane asks as she turns slightly to better face Tanya, tucking one long leg up under herself.

Tanya leans her head back and sighs. “Is the risk worth the reward? Is it worth risking a working, profitable relationship for so many unknowns?”

“Sometimes, it’s worth the risk. How is so much potential left untested a good thing?” Jane asks softly.

“Better the hell you know, than the heaven that lies unexplored, Jane.” Tanya says.

“Is it, though? I don’t know about you, but if it’s the right person, I would risk everything.” Jane says, then looks directly at Tanya. “And if people don’t risk the comfortable hell, then someone else might take away the potential heaven.”

“Are you implying that there might be a time frame involved in things?” Tanya asks, her shoulders tightening.

“I might be stating that, if someone doesn’t act soon, the opportunity is bound to pass. Visha is an amazing person, who gives completely of herself. It’s only a matter of time until someone makes a move on her, and what then happens to those that pine for her in the dark?” Jane says as she stands up, stretching. “I think that I would rather take the risk and possibly face a resolution one way or the other, over knowing what I missed because I was afraid to act.” She steps away, then turns back to look at Tanya, a sad smile on her face. “I don’t want to think about living with that much regret, do you?”

Tanya slowly stands, looking at her with those piercing eyes of hers. “I think I get your meaning, Jane. And perhaps some risk is worth a reward.”

Tanya watches Jane as she walks off, her mind a whirl of thoughts.

Chapter Text

The War on Obliviousness, supply lines.

Monday, June 23rd, 8:00 PM. The residence of Tanya and Visha.

Visha hums to herself as she putters around the house, making sure that things are in proper order. It wasn’t like Tanya to miss practice, but she figured that it must have been something important. She glances at the clock again, frowning a bit at the time. She would have figured that her former commander would have been back by now. The thought of something happening to the Argent flashes through her mind,then she shakes her head and dismisses such an idea. Even without her old computation orb, the White Silver was more than capable of handling anything that wouldn’t cause an undue amount of mayhem and havoc to the city with her CAD, after all. No, something must have come up that needed her personal attention, perhaps the matter that Jane had to discuss with her?

When she hears the sound of a key in the lock, she turns with an expectant look in her eyes, glancing to the side to make sure that everything is still in order, the stew still simmering nicely on the stove and bread just waiting for the application of butter freshly out of the oven, or at least in the last two hours. Everything is ready for brewing a cup of her dear commandant’s favorite coffee, as well. Yes, everything is perfect. She looks forward just as the door opens, a happy smile on her face. “Welcome home, Tanya. I take it your talk lasted longer than expected?”

She falters for a moment at the almost haggard look on her former superiors face, at the distracted look in her eyes. Shaking her head, and knowing that if it’s something that she can help with the Argent will surely ask for it, she smiles again. “I have supper ready, why don’t you sit? I will have a fresh pot of your coffee ready for you in just a bit.” With that, she turns and hurries into the kitchen, knowing that right now Tanya needs her black brew to help settle her mind and work through whatever has her looking so thoughtful.

She can feel the eyes of her companion on her back, an intensity to her gaze that is evident when she casts a covert look back as she bustles about with her preparations. Surely, whatever it was must be of vital importance to have her former commander looking so intense. Visha would be lying if she didn’t admit to herself that being the recipient of one of her former superiors intense gaze wasn’t thrilling in some way, like flying into a firefight before you realize just how deadly it is, when you are still caught up in the joy and freedom of flight, and feeling invincible. It was a heady feeling, but one that could turn deadly at any moment.

Honestly, Visha could admit she almost missed it at times.

But to be here, enjoying the peace and quiet with her companion. To be walking with her in a world that isn’t out to kill them both at every turn? To experience this domestic bliss? She much preferred this.

It was like when they were forming the battalion, working with the Argent, helping her commander out in such a way was something that she craved. The little gestures that showed she was appreciated, that she was valued. That is what she lived for now. So, she would keep down her feelings and focus on what they had. It was much less confusing for the refugee from another time and place.

Even if the almost nightly covert cuddle...Errr, emotional comfort sessions, were very nice. Visha shakes her head again, trying to derail that particular train of thought before it got her mind going in places she wasn’t ready for it to go. Right now, the odd frame of mind her companion seemed to be in was of much higher importance.

She quickly puts the finishing touches on both of their meals, her tea poured and ready and Tanya’s coffee ready to go. The stew is ladled into bowls, bread is cut and ready to be consumed and the pie is ready to be cut. Perfection. With a happy smile on her face and a lighter heart, Visha makes her way to the table and lays out their meal for the two of them.

Supper is a quiet affair, which is normal. The little covert looks Visha is getting from the taciturn Argent? Those are something new. Something that Visha finds precious, even if it is a bit unnerving since she doesn’t know what grand thoughts are passing through the magnificent mind of her former commander.

When they finish eating, Tanya takes a long look at Visha, then looks away suddenly before speaking. “Thank you for supper, Visha. It was perfect, as is to be expected of you. I honestly don’t know how I would have made it where I am now without you. It’s something...I probably should have told you more often, before. I might have taken you for granted at times.”

Visha blushes brightly, and shakes her head as she waves her hands in quite the flustered state. “Oh no ma’am! I’ve always been happy to take care of you, it’s my greatest duty, the one that I enjoy the most.”

Tanya smiles sadly. “Duty, hrm? Yes, I could see that.” With that, Tanya rises and picks up her newspaper. “I will read for a bit, then after a shower I think I will head for bed. Thank you again, Visha.”

Visha watches her walk off, a heavy weight settling in her heart before she snaps herself out of it, pouring another cup of coffee and sitting it at the Argent’s ready on her table for when she reaches for it without seeming to think about it. The joy that Visha feels as she watches her companion savor the cup fills her with a lightness and a heady energy. Taking a moment to reflect, she sets about the nightly tasks of making sure that they both have fresh uniforms for tomorrow laid out, the bath ready for Tanya’s shower, and all the other little details that fill the structure of her night.

Later, after they both are ready for bed Visha lays there until she is sure that Tanya is asleep before padding over to slip quietly under the covers and holds her companion close as they sleep, unaware of the sleepy blue eyes that open for a moment then close in contentment as a little wriggle finds a more comfortable place in the arms of her companion.

That same night, 10:00 PM at the Facility One tactical command room.

Dr. Schugel storms into the room, tying off her robe. “Report!” She snaps as she strides quickly over to the situation operations console, fixing the technician with an icy glare.

“Ma’am! ORACLE is reporting an imminent intrusion into our sphere of influence. Delphi and Mallus are at 95% certainty, Corinth is abstaining. As the time frame becomes more certain, we will update the sitrep, Ma’am!” The technician says, glancing covertly at the temperamental facility lead.

“Get an answer from Corinth as soon as possible, and make sure that the response teams are ready.” She says then turns to another technician. “Any unusual movement with Subjects One and Two?”

“No, Ma’am. They have turned in for the night, all telemetry from the implanted CAD seems normal, as well. The entropic interference from Subject Two is remaining manageable, as well. No problems to report.” The technician snaps out.

She looks back at the first technician. “Check on the dates of the live fire exercises, make sure that we don’t have too high of an interference rate, I need to know that those exercises are going to be able to be carried out.” She sweeps the room one more time then runs a hand through her messy hair. “I will be in my room if you find out anything. Carry on.”

Once she is gone, the technicians look at each other, swallow and go back to their work.

In her quarters, Dr. Adeline Schugel sighs as she leans against the door, a pensive look on her face. “Surely, no one has gotten good enough intel on our subjects to act yet? We have been careful, and ORACLE sweeps each person here on a regular basis, so the chances of a mole or informant are low. We are so close to a major breakthrough, I know it.” She walks over and examines one of the odder samples they had collected.

A glass cube fitted with telltales and sensors sits on her desk, all readings the same. What was inside was what was truly fascinating, though. A piece of Viktoriya Serebryakov’s heart was in the container, in the exact same shape as when it was extracted all those months ago. Timeless, unchanging and seeming to be indestructible. Frozen in time, a perfect form of stasis. A truly amazing puzzle. One that the good doctor would decipher, no matter what it took.

Tuesday, June 24th, the residence of Tanya and Visha. 6:00 AM.

Tanya wakes slowly, stretching. Her bed is empty besides herself, a surety that what she had experienced had to be just a pleasant dream brought on by the conversation that she had shared with Jane the previous day and her own unresolved and hidden feelings and desires. Honestly, the hormones of this body had to be playing havoc with her reason.

She follows her nose towards the wonderful smell of the black brew that beckons her from the warmth of her bed, smiling and nodding at her companion as she enters the kitchenette. “Good morning, Visha. I trust that you slept well?”

Visha turns, smiling warmly at her companion. “Oh, I slept wonderfully, thank you for asking. Breakfast is just about ready, and everything is ready for school. I hope that you don’t have any other pressing secret meetings today?” She asks as she goes back to her cooking, smirking at the little cough from the Argent. Honestly, Tanya was adorable the few times when she was awkward.

“As far as I know, I have no plans besides school and practice today. Tomorrow we have to go see the good doctor again. She wants to make our weekly checkup a bit earlier than normal, something about an exercise this weekend. She said that she will give us all the details then. I wonder if they have finally cleared you for duty as well, then?” Tanya muses as she accepts her cup of black brew. “Thank you, Visha.”

“You are quite welcome, Tanya.” Visha says as she lays out the plates of sausage, eggs, toast and butter. “I have to admit, I really could get used to the food in this world.” She says before digging into her meal.

Tanya laughs softly and shakes her head. “And I will never get used to how you can place food above all the other wonders this world has to offer.” She says as she savors her own meal, watching her companion eat with gusto and feeling a contentment settle over her. No matter what could be, was it worth risking what they did have? These ponderings are quickly becoming all too common to Tanya, and she knew that Jane was right. Decisions would have to be made eventually, or the choice of deciding would be taken from her.

She shakes her head, putting it off for now, once again. Soon enough, she kept telling herself. A decision and a plan of action were needed, but they could wait for just a bit longer. Not that she was afraid of being rejected, it was just...Tactical planning. Yes, that was it. Tactical planning.

Tanya smirked to herself, feeling a bit more in sorts once again.

Visha, for her part, enjoyed watching the flicker of thoughts and emotions that passed over her former superiors face. It was amazing to watch genius in action, to know that you were there when world changing plots and plans were laid out. Honestly, it made dealing with these strange and awkward emotions worth it.

Most of the time.

Chapter Text

The war on obliviousness, preliminary bombardment.

Wednesday June 25th 6:00 AM

It was looking to be a good day, was the thought running through Tanya’s mind as they sped their way towards the school. No major dilemmas besides dealing with her feelings for her former adjutant, no world shaking crisis to plan against. Even the first years were almost starting to resemble passable future participants under her tender guidance. The fact that she hadn’t had to resort to a prolonged artillery barrage or burying them in an avalanche clearly showed that her skills as an instructor had only grown with time.

Tanya casts a furtive, covert glance to the side to admire her companion in profile. Visha was a treasure, indeed. A competent subordinate who learned quickly, whose loyalty was unquestioning and her ability to follow orders was without comparison. Sometimes, Tanya wondered if those were the traits that she was looking for in a romantic partner, as well? It was not something that until recently she had ever really thought about, in either life. When she was the Salaryman, romance and families were things that were unnecessary, and would be tackled when his rise up the corporate ladder dictated that they were needed to show the proper traits to further advance himself. And, obviously, until recently her childish body was not exactly producing the hormones that would drive such thoughts, and there was little chance that she would ever have the time to explore those thoughts, anyhow.

In some ways, she almost missed the simplicity of war, no matter how wasteful it was. At least her mind was not plagued with thoughts of what her companion might feel like in her arms, or what her lips might taste like. Nothing better to divert your mind from such thoughts than having to avoid an artillery bombardment, or take out a little nuisance like a bomber wing.

Those were the days.

Visha watches her former commander get lost in thought with a sense of contentment. It had become such a source of comfort, in an odd sort of way. There were times she wished she, herself, had the capacity for such deep, meaningful thoughts. Instead, she was constantly bombarded with pointless, distracting thoughts. Things like, how nice Tanya’s hair looked today, or how cute that little smirk was. Okay, that might be a bit of a stretch, she could admit. Most people found it terrifying, but for her it had started to cause a liquid heat to pool in her gut. It was not unpleasant. It could even be said to be nice, at least in moderation.

All in all, she was rather happy with these days.

Soon, they are on their way towards the school, meeting up with Jane, Willa and Lisa along the way. It was a suggestion made from Jane, that since they all lived along what was roughly the same route, it only made sense for them to walk together. Or, as the other girls had found out the hard way, traveled at a good pace as Visha and Tanya pushed the other girls to keep their pace.

Not quite as satisfying as a forced march through snow covered mountains, but beggars can’t be choosers, even Tanya had to concede.

Once they read the school, the girls scatter to their various classes, leaving Tanya and Visha to walk together to the class, chatting quietly among themselves about the little details of the previous day, and their upcoming plans for seeing to the training of the other first years.

It really was a shame that there wasn’t any artillery to borrow for just a day or so.

Mind numbing terror is such a well proven teaching tool, after all.

The girls focus on their classes after that, meeting up with the others for their lunch again. Tanya keeps casting thoughtful glances in Jane’s way while they stand in the line to get their food, even moving to make sure that she is between Jane and Visha. Needless to say, there are some raised eyebrows and knowing looks passed around between the other girls in the League while Jane just lets out a long-suffering sigh as she does her best not to earn the ire of the short blond ticking bomb.

Visha, of course, is too distracted by the sight of Tanya standing in front of her with her back straight, feet together and chest out. What it was doing to the posterior of her former commander was almost...Hypnotizing. To the point that Lisa has to actually repeat her question to get the distracted young woman to answer.

Visha blinks at Lisa who had just poked her with a knowing smirk on her face. “I said, what are your plans for the weekend, Visha?” Lisa asks, again.

Visha blushes a bit and casts one more look in Tanya’s direction before turning to address Lisa properly. “I...Think that we might have plans this weekend. We are supposed to go see my doctor after school, and she said that she might need to see me over the weekend.”

Willa and Lisa look at each other, then back at Visha before Lisa continues “Ahh, I see. And Tanya is going to be going with you?” At Visha’s happy little nod Lisa laughs softly. “I’m glad that she is taking such good care of you, she must really care for you.”

The two girls watch with amusement as Visha’s face flushes and she waves her hands “Oh, no no, it’s just that she always takes care of those who work under her. I mean, yes, she cares, but not in any odd sort of way. You know, I’m going to be quiet now…” Visha goes quiet as she blushes.

Once again a knowing look is passed between the two, while all three of them basically ignore the antics that are going on in the line in front of them as Tanya does a disturbingly good job in intimidating the taller girl who she is totally not glaring at. After all, glaring is not a productive way to indicate your displeasure with someone. Pillboxes work so much better, after all.

Such thoughts are dispelled rather quickly when Tanya feels a familiar warm hand resting on her forearm. “Tanya? Are you going to get your lunch?” Visha asks.

Tanya blushes and nods as she takes her tray. “Of course. I was just...Lost in my thoughts for a moment. Something I was pondering.”

Visha beams happily as Jane just watches the smile on Tanya’s face before her own face goes a bit pale. Jane turns and grabs her plate, shuffling a little bit further ahead with a drawn look on her face.

The meal is tense, at least for Jane with Tanya pointedly ignoring her, except for the occasional quiet, contemplative look. Needless to say, it is with a mild sense of relief when the girls go their separate ways, with Tanya and Visha leaving from one entrance while the others leave from the opposite one.

“I never, ever want to be on her bad side again.” Jane grouses as Lisa grins at her and Willa nods sadly.

“At least it’s you and not me?” Willa says, drawing a betrayed look from Jane.

“She has a point, Jane. Neither of us could stand up to her if she was that...Miffed...with us.” Lisa adds.

“I hate you both so much right now.” Jane says as she sighs.

Lisa hugs her taller friend “It’s ok, we still love you. We even promise to make sure you have a good funeral.”

“I really hate you both right now…” Jane says with a defeated sigh.

“At least Tanya and Visha seem to be getting closer?” WIlla adds.

Jane sighs and walks off, as the other two look at each other, grin then hurry to catch up.

The rest of the classes pass in a timely manner for Tanya and Visha, as they both do their best to keep making up lost time to improve their grades. The flexible thinking and quick learning skills that both had honed in their years spent at war served them well in this, allowing them to at least close some of the gap.

Far from ideal, but at least it was a workable situation. And it was both of their longstanding tradition to make the best of what they had, and to punish fate for what it forced on them. That is after all what the White Silver and her Wing did best. It is what had kept them both alive through the hell that was the war, and brought them together to this time and place so very far from where they started.

As they walk towards the hospital and the meeting with the good doctor, Visha steels her resolve and looks at her former commander. “I...have been wondering something, it’s been bothering me for some time now…”

“Oh? And what would that be, Visha?” Tanya asks as the two pause, meeting eye to eye.

“What...Do you think happened to the rest? All the men that we left behind when you sent us here?” Visha asks, suddenly finding her steepled fingers very interesting.

Tanya smirks and cocks her head to the side like the answer is obvious. “They survived, of course. Do you think that any of them would dare die, after all the time and effort I put into their training? I don’t think so. No mages that I trained will lose to a paltry little thing like an entire world wanting their heads. No, those stubborn bastards will be fine. I have no doubt at all.” She turns and starts to walk, looking back once at Visha. “We had best hurry or the good doctor will have even more time to figure out some crazy thing to inflict on us.”

Visha smiles as she hurries up to walk alongside her companion, glancing once at the hand that she wants to hold, but finds herself unable to muster the courage to do it. “Of course! I never should have doubted them.”

Tanya shakes her head, glancing at Visha then away quickly as her hand flexes just a bit before she clenches it. “No, you should never doubt us. The 203rd will prevail, no matter where we are, no matter what challenges that so-called God throws at us. Fate! Hah! We make our own, with our own two hands!”

“Right!” Visha courses as she finds new strength in her strides.

And all seemed just a bit better in the world.

The pair of them make their way into the hospital, heading for the offices of the good doctor while they enjoy the comfortable silence that settled over them. They were let in almost immediately, finding Doctor Schugel standing at the window, gazing out at the skyline.

“It’s good that you two could make the time to come here today. We are going to be moving the testing to Facility One today.” Doctor Schugel says as she turns to address the two young women.

“I see. And you want to brief us on what you have planned for the weekend, correct?” Tanya asks as she studies the good doctor.

“As astute as ever, I see. Yes, I have a little...Event..planned for the weekend, and I want to get Viktoriya cleared for duty, since I think that it will be an excellent chance to test what you two can do in concert, and how well your entropic manipulation works alongside others.” Doctor Schugel answers as she adjusts her glasses, a gleam in her eye.

“Well then, I think that we are ready when you are. Lead the way, Doctor.” Tanya says as she stands up just a bit straighter.
Visha, for her part, has partly zoned out as she studies the silhouette of her former commanding officer, her mind adrift for a moment until that intense gaze sweeps over her. Pulled back from the depths of dreams and fantasies, she shakes her head and nods “After you, Ma’am!”

With an amused little smirk Doctor Schugel leads her little troop of ducks to the garage and the private car waiting for them, to take them to Facility One. The drive is quiet, hardly surprising with the group that sits in the back of the vehicle.

As they make their way through the facility to the testing rooms, the lights suddenly go out, the red emergencies clicking on as an alarm sounds throughout the halls of the base. Doctor Schugel pulls out her suddenly ringing phone, snapping it open as she barks “Report!”

All three of them can hear the panicked voice of the duty technician. “Ma’am! The perimeter has been breached! We have hostiles inside of the facility!”

“Understood, stall them as long as you can. We are heading to Containment One.” Doctor Schugel snaps, then looks at the other two. “It looks like you are going to get your clearance to engage, Viktoriya.”

The grin that settles onto the normally angelic face of the former Devil of the Rhine is one that many have seen, often for the last time.

“So, it’s time to hunt, is it?” Tanya says as they hurry towards war.

Chapter Text

The war on obliviousness: Lo, and I shall become as an angel of death...

Wednesday June 25th 4:30PM. Facility One

So, it’s time to hunt, is it?” Tanya says and Visha feels a thrill of anticipation that she has not felt in this intense of a manner for a while. Yes, Tanya may be amazing during times of peace, and seeing her mind at work on a problem is stunning indeed. But seeing her at war? In life and death situations, that is where her Argent, her dear Devil shines.

Like a Valkyrie out of the legends, a harbinger of war and death. The chosen of the slain, leading the select few to glory. That is where her Tanya shines the brightest. That is where she is truly hers and hers alone.

As much as she hated battle, she couldn't help but love fighting alongside her Argent.

The trio rushed towards Containment One, the facility that held the armaments that had been developed for the pair, along with the Type 95.

The sounds of gunfire echo through the halls, along with the screams of the dying and wounded. They make it into the facility, the blast doors sealing behind them as the technician's rush about, breaking out the crates and packs for.the pair.

Their combat uniforms are ready, combat fatigues not unlike the flight suits they fought in before, with a heavy armored long coat to go over it. Visha is handed an interface gauntlet and a pair of HUD glasses, along with a modified combat rifle.

Tanya finishes changing into her combat uniform, settling the heavy weight of the Type 95 around her neck, checking it as she picks up her own combat rifle with the few mage bullets they were able to.produce so far. Another week or two and she would not have to worry about ammunition. Bad timing, or the urging of a maniacal being, who knows?

As she is handed her heavy combat knife, she sees them handing Visha what looks to be a modern combat entrenching tool. The sight, oddly enough, puts Tanya a bit more at ease. At least they were both prepared for close combat now. At a silent glance and a nod, the veterans of the greatest war their world knew move out. Tanya spins up an illusion at first, letting the phantasmal pair move silently in front of the stalking hunters.

This would be the first time they had engaged in actual combat in this world, but not the first time the pair of them had tested their limits here. Yes, Visha’s involvement until now was rather limited, but the integrated CAD she had now instead of her type 97 did offer some advantages, even if flight was not one of them. Those advantages might very well prove to be the edge that wins this engagement, if they can just leverage them properly. Of course, using limited resources to their most advantageous was, after all, what Tanya did best.

Their first contact with the enemy comes as the illusions move stealthily around a corner and into a corridor, the hail of silenced rounds disrupting the copies. Visha is quick to react, firing off the flash spell that she had loaded into one of the many quick-cast slots of the gauntlet interface. The resulting blinding flash of light is all that Tanya and her need as the Argent blazes around the corner and engages the three enemies in brutal and quick close combat. The still small size and lethal efficiency of their opponent proves more than the modern mage force is prepared for as Tanya’s entropic mage blade cleaves through like a knife through butter. The ruin left in the wake of her strokes in something out of a horror movie, cuts turning to gangrous masses in a moment as the tides of entropy roll out of control.

Tanya takes down the first two, turning to find the third laying on the floor with a grinning Visha holding a bloody entrenching tool over him. “It seems that you haven’t lost your touch, Ma’am.” She says as she kneels down to check her opponent for anything of interest.

“And it seems that the most dangerous thing they can give you is still a shovel, Visha.” Tanya answers drolly as she does the same, her magical senses scanning the area around them as an illusion of a wall flickers into place, blocking access to the corridor that they are currently in.

“Ma’am, no identifying papers, but he appears to be a chinese national.” Visha reports as she pockets her opponent’s combat knife and his CAD.

“Agreed, good work.” Tanya acknowledged as she touched her throat com. “This is SalamanderActual, three guests have been put to bed, did someone order Chinese?”

“Salamander base to Salamander Actual, thank you for your hospitality, and no one ordered Chinese. Feel free to refuse delivery.” Doctor Schugel answered.

“Confirmed, Base. We will see the delivery people out the door.” Tanya replied as the pair moved down to another corridor, letting the illusion fade once they were clear. They walked confidently this time, cloaked in the appearance of two of the mages they had dispatched already.

Their next guests were at one of the blast doors, busily setting up explosives to breach the reinforced portal. As the two specialists work, their officer turns and regards the pair oddly before speaking in Chinese rapidly. When the pair down answer, he pulls his gun and aims. His shot never comes, as a grinning Devil is suddenly in his face, a blade sliding across his throat as the other two scramble to deal with the sudden threat that is facing them.

One drops from a pair of air bullets fired by Visha before the last soldier attempts to flee. He doesn’t make it far as Tanya’s blade punches through his throat from behind as she pulls him back by the hair, dropping his body in a heap on the ground. The pair exchanged looks as they go about the task of booby trapping the bodies using the plastique and grenades that the sappers had on them.

“Three more guests sent to bed.” Tanya reported as they moved on, once again sending their phantasmal copies ahead of them. They move with quiet efficiency, heading towards the most strategic locations, the power room and the backup control rooms. So far, the main control room was not in danger of being breached, but if the enemy could compromise either of the other two, they could quickly gain access.

They come around a corner that had been cleared moments ago by their decoys and immediately come under fire, Tanya’s mage shell deflecting the bullets as Visha ducks behind her, casting her own barrier spell as fast as she could. There are six of them, partially hidden behind an overturned bench as cover and firing from around the corners of the corridor ahead. Tanya could see a few spells being fired up, unsure of what they might be as she reaches for the Type 95, resorting to the power of the cursed relic. “Sinners, you have walked into His House, and are unwelcome. You have transgressed, and now you shall know His displeasure.” She intones, hating the surge she feels when she does, practically hearing Being X gloating in the background as her enhanced explosion spell rips down the barrel, one of twelve rounds she carries.

Time seems to pause as the round hangs in the midst of them before detonating, the blast flattening their scorched bodies and throwing those that had attempted to shield themselves to splatter against the walls. Tanya strides forward, unaware of the various scanners and cameras that had recorded the use of the Type 95 in combat.

“Doctor, did you see that? The flare of her aura when she cast that spell?” One of the duty technicians said excitedly as the Doctor heads over, leaning down to rewatch the enhanced footage. “That...Almost looked like wings, didn’t it, or was I imagining it?”

Doctor Schugel watches it, then smirks. “It would appear that our little one is an angel of death, hrm?”

The technician gave her a bit of a worried look at the almost rapturous gleam in the good Doctor’s eyes.

In the corridors, the pair continue to make their way towards the main power room, having decided that it is the most likely target, since without main power the blast doors should be easier to deal with.

Stealth had been discarded, the echoing results of the blast having filled the area with its cacophony. Speed and definitive action have always been traits of the Aerial Mage Corpe, and who is to say that the 203rd, even reduced as it is now, would ever forget their basic training? The pair come upon the next group from behind, the enemy turning and engaging as soon as the pair are in the open. Bobbing and weaving, the two specialists close in on the three mages, engaging them in a brutal yet brief close combat exercise. The fast work of the two is a thing of horror and beauty, at least for the short period of time that the first two are able to enjoy it. The third proves to be a more capable opponent, moving to engage Tanya in a fast-paced dance of death. The enhancement spells and reinforcements that the type 95 allow her to layer over herself quickly prove to be the only reason she is able to go toe to toe with someone who has decidedly more and much more thorough training in close combat than the Rusted Silver has attained.

What he doesn’t have is one of the most overpowered mage devices on the face of this, or any other earth.

Tanya drops her guard, letting her reinforced coat take the blow as she reaches out and touches his chest, uttering “Oh Lord, from dust we came, and to dust this one returns now.” With a golden flash to her eyes, her entropic magic consumes him, centuries passing in the span of moments as she accelerates entropy. Tanya staggered back, the world swimming until the strong arms of her companion bracered her from behind.

“You shouldn’t push yourself like that, Tanya.” Visha gently scolded her former commander, holding on just a bit longer than was probably necessary for the Argent to recover from using what is still a rather new form of magic for her.

“Well, I can’t let them think I am not carrying my own weight, now can I?” Tanya quipped as she stood back up straight, checking herself for injuries. She touches her throat com, addressing the control room. “Salamander Actual to all Salamander units, any other reports of hostiles?”

“That is a negative, Salamander Actual, all guests have been neutralized. You can return to the roost.” Came the calm and clear voice of Doctor Schugel over the com.

“Roger, Salamander Base. Actual and Zero-One are enroute for debrief. Actual out.” Tanya says as Visha looks her over once more, then the pair start to make their way back towards Containment One for debrief and to return the Type 95 to its containment. Visha can’t help but cast the occasional worried look at her former commander, noticing the little tremor in Tanya’s hand. Perhaps tonight would be a good night for her to act as a buffer for her companion’s restlessness. Not that Visha, herself, sometimes needed that close contact to settle her own nerves.

They check on each group as they head back, finding the remains of the booby trapped bodies, and realizing that at least one person had fallen for their little act of sabotage. Lessons learned in warfare, lessons that it would seem that they had forgotten in this day and age, or had at least not expected from the pair of teenagers.

Once they return and they are divested of their implements of war by the eager technicians, they are walked through the after action report by Doctor Schugel and one of the on-base military assets, then finally the pair are allowed to leave. While they are being driven back to their apartment, security is reinforced at the facility, and Doctor Schugel spends long hours going over the recordings, stopping often on each time the enhanced surveillance was able to catch the feats of magecraft that Tanya performed. The flare of her aura really did resemble wings of light, is the thought that the good Doctor thinks as a grin slowly spreads across her face.

How very fascinating.

Chapter Text

The war on obliviousness: Setting the stage for an assault.

Monday July 5th 6:00 A.M.

It had been just a bit under two weeks since the attempted breach, and besides Tanya needing a bit more ‘comforting’ than normal, things had seemed to go back to a relatively normal state, at least as far as Visha was concerned. They were rapidly moving towards the start of the inter-school competitions, and she had settled into her role as the manager. Honestly, it was an oddly familiar sort of role for her, taking care of the various athletes and making sure that they had everything at hand when they needed it. One could even say it was a bit nostalgic for her, especially taking care of Tanya’s needs and wants. Not that she ever MINDED doing that, but… Well, it was kind of nice to have an EXCUSE to keep doing it.

Not that she had ever needed such an excuse.

Visha smiled happily as she watched her companion reading the newspaper on her tablet while eating her breakfast. Something about watching the diminutive blonde eating her sausage and eggs made Visha enjoy hers just a bit more. Plus, she did enjoy laying out Tanya’s wardrobe for the day, and making sure that her costume for Mirage Bat was properly laid out and in good shape. The fact that they were doing practices in full costume was a definite bonus, as far as Visha was concerned. Not that she was STARING or anything, but she had to admit that the rather pert posterior of her petite partner did fill out the pants rather nicely.

Feeling her face overheating just a bit, she takes a very quick drink of her juice, and eats some more food to distract her from such unwarranted and inappropriate thoughts.

Still, the night time emotional comfort and support sessions were nice. There was something comforting and nice about holding the Argent, HER Argent, close like that. She just wished she could do it without having to sneak into her companion's bed. Not that she was doing anything illicit or wrong, mind you. It was her job, nay, her DUTY to see to the well being of the athletes she was supporting.

With a firm nod she totally doesn't go back to sneaking covert glances at her companion. And eating, of.course.

Tanya, for her part was working through a problem while she picked at her food and was, otherwise, mostly unaware of what was going on around her. The subject of those deep thoughts was sitting across from her engrossed in her meal. Honestly, the pure joy and bliss Visha seemed to get from her breakfast was a sight to see. Sure, she might wish that Visha would look at her like the sausage and bacon that she was eating in a way that might be slightly distracting, but that didn't detract from her thoughts. Mainly, how to broach the subject of her feelings towards her former adjutant. She had started on a cost-benefit analysis, but realized it was more for her sake than her more grounded companion.

Honestly, she almost wished that she had had more of an urge to.pursue a relationship when she was the salary man, it would have given her at.least some experience. How that might relate to pursuing a lesbian relationship with your former subordinate as teenagers in a world of magical.science, she wasn't honestly sure. Bit it would at least give her a frame of reference to.work from.

Maybe she should look to literature? Surely there were just as many yuri stories in this world as her first one? That might work for a starting point.

Something to research later, after classes and practice tonight, then.

But first, it was time to discuss something, and there really wasn't any point in trying to be discreet about it.

"So, I think it's time we start to look at what our benefactors want from us." Tanya says, putting down her cup of coffee.

"What they want from us? Is it really safe to discuss this...here?". Visha asked.

"There is no point in trying to be covert, since you have a device implanted in your chest. We have to assume it can record, just like a computation jewel could." Tanya explained.

"I suppose.. so, what is it you think they want from us?". Visha asked as she set down her fork.

"Well, let's look at our education first. One, we are receiving private instruction, a rare thing with how rare magical technician's are. Second, look at our classes themselves. We are studying modern history and politics, that makes sense. Refreshing our French and modern German makes sense as well, as does spanish. The odd one out is the classes on Japanese language and society. Why not Chinese, since they tend to be more aggressive, or refreshing our Russian? Instead, it's Japanese. I think they are planning on deploying us there at some point. The question is why."

“Well, why would they send us there? It’s not like either of us has ever been there, in either of the worlds we have lived in.” Visha asked, poking at her breakfast.

“I think that might be part of the reason. We are a couple of assets that no one outside of a limited group has any information on, I’m not the Ace of Aces here, and you are not the Devil’s Handmaid, either. We are just two magic technicians of unknown background and no notable accomplishments. We fly under the radar perfectly.” Tanya mused as she stared into her cup.

“But, you are the only one that can manipulate entropy like you can.” Visha pointed out.

“Right, an ability that is usable, so far, by one person is of limited use indeed. And look at the test they did, if that was not demonstrating how I can be used for covert and aggressive insertions, I don’t know what is. No, I think it’s a forgone conclusion that we will be deployed to the Japan of this world and age at some point. When is the question now.” Tanya said with a bit more force in her tone.

Visha laughed softly. “Hopefully not until after the competition, it would be a shame to put that uniform to waste.”

“Well, we do know I hate wasteful endeavors, and I do want to see how our training has panned out for them.” Tanya conceded with a smirk.

Visha definitely did not think too long on what that particular smirk did to her insides.

Tanya, for her part, had moved on to other lines of thought. She had already looked into where the teams would be staying, and the particular hotel that was putting up their team had a magnificent view out of the balcony. It would be, logistically, the perfect place for her to confess her feelings. And if she was rejected, she could always cast herself from the balcony and the fall should do the job. Not that she was worried about that, after all.

But one should always be prepared.

Meanwhile, at Facility One.

Dr. Adeline Schugel looked from the monitor, to the technician and sighed as she sat down.

“Does this mean we have to scrap the plans, Doctor?” The technician asks nervously.

Doctor Schugel shakes her head, rubbing at the bridge of her nose. “No, she was pretty much spot on. Not that it comes as a surprise, having seen what we have of her abilities. No, we carry on as planned.”

“Does this mean we include them in the planning, then?” He asked as he stored the recording in the database.

“No, no need to confirm to them that we see and hear everything that happens around our dear Visha. No, no need at all. We can all continue as we have been, all assured that we know more than the other. It honestly doesn’t make a difference at this point. It does mean we can be a bit more aggressive in their training. Tanya is showing a surprising ability with the language and culture already, so bringing Visha up to her level of competence should not be impossible. No, we continue as we have been. We need eyes that we can trust, that we know the capabilities of and no one else does.” the doctor said in a matter of fact tone.

“And do you still want that rather odd professor to start to work with them?” He said hesitantly once more.

The grin that splits the doctors face would make the Devil proud. “Oh yes, I think it’s about time we try to understand the underlying principles of what they do.”

“May God help them…” He said while shaking his head.

“Come now, there is no god, just science.” She said as she smiled once more. “Mind you, they might start wishing there was one soon enough.”

Monday July 5th 6:00 P.M.

Practice was coming along well, Tanya had to admit to herself as she surveyed the athletes while wearing her own uniform for Mirage Bat. With it’s styling, there was something almost familiar and comforting about the costume, she had to admit. Her practice session with Mirage Bat was over, now she was heading to her practice session for Speed Shooting, it being a natural for a combat mage such as herself. She was looking forward to trying something, a spell that she had been working on converting from one system to another. Multiple target homing magic.

This could be fun, as long as it worked, that is. So far, converting from their math-based system to the formula driven system of this world's CAD’s was proving challenging. Not that Tanya had ever let a little think like things being challenging, or even provably impossible stop her from completing a task, after all.

So, she settled in with the gun-like CAD against her shoulder, running the formula through her head one last time before she nodded to Visha to start the session. The targets started to fly, one or two at a time at first, letting her get a feel for the spell and how it acted. One or two targets was not a problem, she could manually aim fast enough to handle them easily. Three was a challenge, and at anything four or more the spell just didn’t handle the variables correctly.

WIth a sigh, Tanya calls off the practice session. She walked over and sat next to Visha, leaning together as they both started to go over the formula’s, putting their considerable talent to work together. Still, the fact that we are still learning this world’s magic system, and the depth of math needed for the conversion is proving a challenge that they might not be able to surmount.

“Maybe We can’t do this.,.” Visha cautiously proposed, watching her diminutive partner.

“Since when have we let something being impossible stop us, Visha?” Tanya counters, a frustrated look on her face.

Visha laughed that laugh that Tanya loves to hear so much. “That is true. Never let it be said that anything can stop the Argent when she gets her mind set on something.”

Tanya huffed a little at that, then rolled her eyes. “You always set such high expectations for me, Visha.”

“That would be because you always exceed them.” Visha said with that warm smile of hers, causing Tanya to blush brightly.

Tanya coughed into her hand. “Anyhow, I think that we have hit the wall for tonight, let's see about the rest of the practice then head for home. I don’t know about you, but I feel like ordering Japanese tonight. It would make sense, since they are preparing us and all.”

Visha laughed and leaned against her companion for a moment. “I think that you just are looking for an excuse for more sukiyaki.”

“You are not wrong…” Tanya conceded with a smirk.

As the pair went to enter the place they called home, they noticed that the door was unlocked. With a quick look to the other, they prepared themselves before bursting through the door. What they find on the other side is not exactly what they expected.

Instead of a hit squad of vicious killers, there is an older woman dressed in a floral kimono setting out what looks like a japanese meal, sukiyaki from what their noses and eyes tell them.

She eyed the two with a warm, open smile that doesn’t quite make it to her eyes as she bowed to the pair of teens. “Hello, I hope that you don’t mind that I made myself at home? It was decided that it would be best that I introduced myself sooner rather than later. I am Dr. Yoshiko Nishina, and I will be your personal instructor on math and the magical sciences from now on. Now, shall we eat, my dears? We do have so much work to do…” She said in a tone that while pleasant, held some level of threat somehow.

Tanya smiled back as Visha let out an audible little gulp. “Oh yes, let’s eat and then we can start. I have so many ideas I need to work through…”

Visha, for her part, didn't know which look she found more worrisome, the look in her Devil’s eyes, or the one in their rather odd instructors. Maybe she didn’t want to know, after all, as she just focused on the rather good meal.

Chapter Text

The war on obliviousness chapter 21: What Monsters Are We.

Wednesday July 14th 7:00 P.M

Visha shook her head, equal parts confused and amused as she watched Tanya and their new teacher, or sensei as she insisted on being called, arguing about math and magic. What really made it both confusing and amusing was the fact their language of choice for this debate was Japanese.

Currently, the topic was relating the differences and similarities between the two systems of magic, with the hope that it can be duplicated by a local mage, along with translating the spells they use to the format of this world's mages. So far, the results were less than ideal.

Tanya kept pointing to the illusion spell she had converted over for use by the Monolith team, much to the consternation of their sensei, who insisted the spell should not work as it did. The results were able.to be repeated, but only if the spell was executed exactly as Tanya demonstrated it. The same was true for the combat spells she had translated for Visha's CAD, which the sensei insisted should not work. Too many variables, not the correct number of symbols, too many symbols that don’t correlate. It was proving to be a challenge for the two talented mages, while Visha just watched on. She had lost the thread of the conversation long before they had switched to Japanese, now she was just watching two of her favorite people debate, while using it as a chance to improve her mastery of the language.

After a particularly heated debate, Visha got up, stretched and walked into the kitchen. Few things could get the two to stop their bickering, and luckily Visha’s coffee happened to be one of them. As much as their sensei insisted she didn’t like coffee, she matched Tanya almost cup for cup.

“I still can’t see how you are getting those results. The formula you are using is complex, yes, but it doesn’t have near the complexity that one would expect in an effect like that. There has to be a way to translate your system of math-based magic into a form that our character-based can use.” Dr. Nishina commented, in German this time for the sake of Visha.

“Clearly, it’s your system that is not flexible enough, if it can’t handle a relatively simple series of spells like a mage's passive and active shells, along with the physical reinforcement magic that are necessary for flight, much less combat.” Tanya countered.

“While we have managed to get a CAD to function as a rudimentary computation jewel, the level of power that you are achieving with the type 95 is simply unacceptable.” Dr. Nishina groused, then turned and bowed to Visha. “I would almost have to wonder if you weren’t Japanese in your former life, Visha dear. Your master of hospitality is amazing.”

Tanya almost does a spit-take at that comment, quickly covering it with a cough. “As that may be, it is still simply a lacking in your system that is making it so much more difficult to explain the concepts that we are using here.” Tanya tries to be polite in her rebuke.

“I hardly think that it is our system of magic that is lacking. No, your system is so unorthodox and abstract that it is causing the problems.” Dr. Nishina fired back.

“Tanya, would you like one of these pastries? They just came out of the oven…” Visha offered, playing the mediator between the two as was quickly becoming normal.

Tanya blinked and smiled as she relaxed. She turned to face Visha, and smiled a warm smile that was reserved for Visha and Visha alone. "That would be lovely, thank you Visha."

"Why can't you be more Japanese like our dear Visha?" Dr. Nishina bemoaned.

"There is nothing wrong with how I act, you are the one that defies logic in your baseless clinging to the perceived superiority of your own system, ignoring the flexibility of a more math-based approach.". Tanya argued, missing the subtle little wink that was sent Visha's way by the prickly doctor.

Visha gives the two a fond if annoyed little smile as she walked over to serve each of them. "Honestly, you two are like mother and daughter, or perhaps an old married couple."

At Tanya's bewildered look, Dr. Nishina started to laugh. "Would that make you our proper daughter who is cursed to put up with our constant bickering?". She asked in an amused tone of voice.

The flat look she gets before the blank yet warm smile she gets from Visha is perhaps all the answer she needed.

"Visha, my dear, I will make a proper Japanese woman out of you yet. I might even have a yukata that will fit you." Dr. Nishina speculated while Tanya's poor mind overloaded over the mental image.

"Is... something wrong with her?". Visha asked as she watched her companion with worry.

Dr. Nishina shook her head, hiding her laughter behind her hand. "No, I just imagine she is thinking of deep, bounteous things."

Visha immediately perked up. "Oh! I see!"

Dr. Nishina grinned. "No, no you don't. But this old woman will be most entertained when you do."

A short time later, the two are alone once more, their guest having left for the night. As they work on their assignments for the next day, covert glances are passed back and forth.

"She is an annoyingly persistent woman." Tanya commented as she put down her own and stretched.

"I like her. She is very nice, and so helpful!". Visha said with a smile.

Tanya sighed and eyed her companion. "You are much too nice and generous, Visha. But, I guess that is one of your better qualities."

The heartfelt smile Tanya got for that went a long way towards setting her mind back at ease.

“I was thinking that we could order from that japanese place you like tonight.” Visha said as she checked over her work again.

There was a reason that Tanya lo….really liked this woman, Tanya thought to herself as she nodded. “That sounds good, thank you Visha.”

Perhaps it would be a good night after all.

Hours later, the pair have taken their showers and gone to their respective beds for the night. Practices were going to start to really step up, preparing them for the actual event that was coming up far quicker than some would wish it to. Tanya had been pushing herself particularly hard lately, between class work, practices and now there work on converting magic. Visha peered out from under her covers, entranced by the sleeping face of her companion.

After a bit, she slowly slid out of her bed, and walked with quiet, sure steps over before she slid into the bed behind her companion. Carefully, she slid an arm around her, and smiled as Tanya settled herself against the taller girl, a soft sigh slipped from each of their lips as they settled in to sleep as they had so often since coming to this world.

Thursday, July 15th, 6:00 A.M.

The pair have quickly finished their breakfast and are making their way towards the school at a brisk pace, having gotten permission to access the magical archives before classes start. They are on a particular mission today, looking for some of the books on the earliest of the ancient magics, and some of the spellcasting techniques used before the widespread adoption of the CAD’s. Dr. Nishina had suggested that they look into them, hoping that perhaps in the older systems they might find more commonality with their own style of mathematical magic.

They pass some of their usual friends, the trio of Lisa, Willa and the outlandish Jane. Quick greetings and well wishes are exchanged as the pair hurry along, only having a limited amount of time to pick up the texts that had been reserved before leaving the apartment that morning.

“Honestly, why couldn’t that woman have told us about them last night, instead of sending a message in the middle of the night? It’s highly inefficient to have to do all of this in a rush. Poor planning. I would guess that is the norm with her.” Tanya groused.

“Now, I’m sure that she just forgot because she was having so much fun discussing theory with you last night, Tanya.” Visha commented, which drew a look from her diminutive companion.

“More like she enjoyed annoying me, and intentionally waited, knowing it would bother me.” Tanya said sullenly.

Visha laughed and smiled. “It does seem to have worked, though.”

“Why did I save you from the Rhine front again?” Tanya said in a half-joking manner.

“Because you can’t live without my coffee.” Visha answered after a moment of thought.

“Okay, I have to cede the point. Well done, Visha.” Tanya said with a hint of a smile.

“I learned from the best, after all.” she replied.

Soon, they are heading to their first class with a couple of books, and several digital documents to review on their terminals. The low conversation between them ebbs to an end as they enter the class, Visha being immediately swamped by the gaggle of hangers on that had attached themselves to the sometimes awkward ray of sunshine, leaving Tanya to move to the desk she has next to Visha’s, and to make sure that their assignments are all ready to be turned in for the day.

Besides the mild annoyance that she seemed to feel towards the group that clammored for Visha’s attention, it was looking to be a good day.

That impression held up until the practice, where she noticed immediately that there were far more older students about than would be normal for the first year's practice session. Tanya took a moment to square her shoulders and adjust her cap that she was wearing for Mirage Bat practice before marching smartly over to Lutz, and giving him a look until the awkward upperclassmen gave her his undivided attention.

“Is there something I can do for you, Tanya?” He asked nervously. For some reason, she had noticed that he was increasingly on edge around her.

“I was just wondering why there were so many upperclassmen at the practice today.” She answered, her gaze sweeping over the half-dozen new faces.

“Umm, oh them? They are from the full events, and wanted to see what exactly we were up to, you know? Just wanting to make sure that we were up to snuff, and all.” He said without looking directly at her.

“I see. Well, then shall we get to it, then, and show them that the first years won’t drop the ball in the coming competition?” Tanya said, as she turned on her heel and gave a sharp clap to gather the attention of the other students.

“Okay, pay attention! Our seniors are here to see if we can pass muster! I know that you are still a bunch of baby birds, bumbling about and unable to fly, but let's show them that we are well on our way to being capable mages, worthy of their consideration and able to step into the large footprints they are leaving for us to follow in!” Tanya called, as she received a few cheers from the other students she had been training, and skeptical looks from most of the older students.

Those looks slowly faded as they watched the younger students running through their practice. There might even have been a few fervently taking notes, worried and amazed looks on their faces.

One of the older girls who was responsible for Battle Board walked up to Lutz, a look on her face. “So, this is what they have been talking about. So, did you pull this off, Lutz? I didn’t think you were this...Well..Motivated.”

He shakes his head, a defeated look in his eyes. “It wasn’t me. It was her.” He pointed to where Tanya was directing some of the other students like a general winning a battle.

“So, the rumors were true? That...Really is her?” She said in an amazed tone of voice.

He nodded, sighing again. “Yes, Tanya Von Degurechaff. The Beast of Berlin, who has hijacked my training sessions from me.”

“She seems so...small and cute…” The girl says as she shook her head in disbelief.

“Don’t let her fool you. She is a monster.” Lutz said as he paled a bit more when Tanya looked in his direction.

“An absolute monster.”

Chapter Text

The war on obliviousness chapter 22: In preparation for war, let us pray...

Wednesday July 28th, 6:00 AM

Tanya had to admit, the past two weeks had been productive. The new mad scientist in their lives seemed to be making some level of progress on figuring out how to translate magic between their runic formulas and the more reasonable, if less powerful overall, mathematical calculations that they were more familiar with. The training sessions were going good, and she hadn't seen the hand of Being X at play yet, so that gave her hope.

Throw in the fact that the issues she had been having sleeping at night seemed to be almost gone, and it was starting to look like a good last week before the competition. Mind you, that did mean she had to prepare herself to confess to Visha how she actually felt, and face the potential backlash. But you do, after all, only die twice.

She had made all the preparations she could. Their room had been reserved, all the little details were set in place. It was funny, she was more concerned with her personal trial than the school competition. Perhaps it was a bit narcissistic of her, but it was how she felt. One must prioritize, after all.

Visha, for her part, was watching her Devil with a blissful look on her face. Tanya was obviously deep in important thoughts, from how she had just sipped from an empty cup, twice. She, being the ever helpful former adjutant she was, had filled Tanya’s cup each time afterwards, but still it was a sight. Throw in the fact that she had been sleeping better ever since she started to provide ‘emotional support’ to the Argent at night, and it was looking to be a good couple of weeks. The competition was coming up soon, and then the world would get to see just how amazing her Argent was. Plus, she had found out that the two of them had their own room, with a beautiful view over a balcony, and she couldn’t be more content.

On top of that, Dr. Nishina was a wonderful woman. She was always so kind and thoughtful, even if she did sometimes say the oddest things. It must be a Japanese thing, she had thought. Honestly, with how they were treated by Dr. Nishina, it almost felt like they were her daughters. It made her just a bit homesick, but it must be extra special for Tanya, since she grew up in an orphanage and never got to know her parents.

It made being separated from her own parents by time and space, much less another world, a bit more bearable, if she was going to be honest with herself. The friends they had made here definitely helped her deal with the loss, and the certainty that they would never see her family, her old friends, or the members of the 203rd again. She quickly wiped a stray tear from her eye, glad that the Argent was so preoccupied with whatever deep thoughts she had on her mind. It wouldn’t do to cry and worry Tanya like that, what kind of subordinate would she be then?

Tonight they would do a pre-check on all the equipment and uniforms for the competition, including a final fit and adjustment of Tanya’s costume for Mirage Bat. If Visha was being honest with herself, it sent a thrill through her body and she always felt warm in the pit of her stomach when she saw Tanya dressed like that. It brought back memories of better times, of her time at the war college, and the founding of the 203rd.

She thanked God that she had the fortune to have Tanya in her life. That it was Tanya that was her commanding officer all those years ago on the Rhine. Without her, she would surely be dead.

Maybe God was a merciful being, after all.

Wednesday, July 28th, 6:00 PM

All in all, Tanya had to admit it had been a good day. They had lunch with their friends, Willa got awkward and blushed a lot when they talked about the outfit Tanya would be wearing, and how much they liked it. Jane and Lisa, of course, had tormented the shy girl endlessly, so about normal.

The equipment check had gone over well, with only a few last minute alterations needed for the costumes the athletes (Mostly the girls) would be wearing next week at the competition. Tanya had been forced to pose for pictures, an event that reminded her uncomfortably of that first photo shoot, but at least this time it wasn’t some cutesy doll dress. She could handle it, being photographed in something that at least resembled a proper uniform.

Now, they were being called to Facility One for a quick check of their personal CAD’s and a calibration of Visha’s internalized CAD. Something about a software upgrade done with the assistance of Dr. Nishina. Hopefully, the eccentric Japanese doctor hadn’t found God or anything, Tanya hoped. She’d had more than enough with the last Schugel.

They grabbed some food on the way to the pickup, smoked sausages in buns with all the traditional fixings. Not exactly Tanya’s cup of tea, but it made Visha happy, and in the end that is what really mattered, at least as far as Tanya was concerned.

Visha knew that this might not be Tanya's favorite meal, but she appreciated the fact that she did her best to enjoy what was definitely more of a 'Visha' meal. Pastries were in order. With a happy nod to herself, a beaming Visha finished her meal as they waited for.the car to arrive.

"You're in a rather good mood." Tanya noted in her usual dry tone of voice.

"Well of course! We are almost ready for the competition, and we will get to see everyone's hard work pay off. I'm being allowed to come with all of you, and help on site. It's a marvelous opportunity, how could I be anything but excited?" Visha said excitedly.

The little shake of the head and genuine smile that graced the Argent's face fill Visha with warmth as their car arrives, and the two settle in for the drive out to the facility

It's a pleasant trip, filled with light conversation, as they compared notes on the performance of the other first years.

They arrived at the facility, noting the increased security that had been present since they were breached. Once past the checkpoints, they are greeted by Dr. Schugel, who was holding a folder that she promptly handed over to Tanya.

"Those are the details for tonight's experiment. We want you to create a projected entropic acceleration field around a sample of radioactive material so we can determine just how powerful of an effect you can generate, going all out. You will be using the Type 95 tonight." She informed them.

Tanya hesitated for a moment, a parade of emotions flitted across her face before she nodded. "Very well, doctor."

Visha didn’t know why, but the fact she would be using the Type 95 tonight seemed to dim the bright smile that she had seen lurking underneath her usual reserved exterior, and without thinking about it, she found her hand resting lightly on the smaller girl's shoulder, giving her a comforting squeeze.

Tanya looked over, as a momentary shock flitted across her face, the mask slipped for a moment before she recovered and turned to look at the doctor. “Okay, I understand what you want from me, shall we then?” Tanya said in a confident, relaxed tone.

The doctor nodded and led them in to where the preparations had already been made. After a moment, they had strapped a sensor vest to her, as they explained they were hoping to study her biochemical and neurological state as she used the full power of the Type 95.

Tanya eyed the jewel for a moment, then took a breath as she fixed what she wanted to happen in her mind, accessing the spell and drawing upon the power of the cursed relic.

“Oh Lord, grant us this miracle. Breath upon my work, and turn the hands of the clock.” She intoned, as her eyes turned golden and the instruments peaked across the board, every detail of the event being recorded as a sphere of blackness engulfs the test sample. Tanya holds the effect for several minutes, as her body begins to shake and strain.

“Doctor, I am detecting gravimetric disturbances. It’s centered on the sphere, and appears to be increasing exponentially. Do I have you permission to abort?” The technician monitoring the gravimeter reports, the sensors going slowly haywire as the strain on the universe grows and grows.

“Permission granted, end the test. Tanya, cut the spell, drop it to half power and prepare for possible emergency cancelation.” Doctor Schugel announces as calmly as she can.

The test powers down, a slight tremble rippling through the base before the bubble pops, and the sample is exposed once more.

“Running the battery now. Estimated time passed…. 5 years subjective.. Test duration was… 5 minutes. We have an estimated ratio of 52000/1.” The technician says in wonder.

The medical team rushed out to collect Tanya, sitting her down and pressing a solution high in glucose into her system to make up for the massive amount of energy her body had just expended. “Subject is stable, doctor.” The head medical officer reported.

“Good, good, let her rest for a few minutes then we will take Viktoriya to get the latest software upgrades installed that Doctor Nashina had approved.” She turned to look at Visha, a smile on her face. “Our esteemed colleague thinks she might have managed to convert your ‘mage shell’ into a runic form that we can use.”

Visha smiled happily as she nodded, her eyes though never leaving her Devil of the Rhine. “Is she going to be okay, Doctor Schugel?” She asked in a worried manner.

“She should be fine, once she has a chance to recover. But think, she had achieved a ratio in the tens of millions when she brought you two here, to us. It’s amazing how she withstood the strain.” The doctor commented as she eyed Visha speculatively.

Visha nodded and waited as patiently as she could until the doctor signalled that she could go, leaving the code updates and preliminary checks to the technician team dedicated to the Model 3 implanted in her chest as she turned back to study the feed one more time, activating the multi-spectrum overlay.

She watched in a mild sense of wonder and awe as the aural ‘wings’ sprouted from her subject, radiating power in a way she had only seen since she started to deal with the temporal refugees.

“My god, it’s beautiful” She said softly under her voice, as a look of wonder and awe crept across her face.

“Truly, it’s a miracle.” she muttered.

Elsewhere, the two refugee’s from another time and place are waiting as patiently as one could expect as the technicians upload the new code into the onboard storage of the Model 3, checking each step as they go to make sure there is no interference with the basic functions of the hybrid CAD.

“Okay, it’s looking good Viktoriya. Que up the runic formula, and execute when you are ready.” The technician said as he turned to regard his equipment.

With one more look at Tanya for moral support, Visha activated the modified sequence, watching as the runic symbols flash around her external control wand before the familiar appearance of her shell webbed her in its protective energies. A triumphant look crossed her face as she grinned at Tanya.

“I did it, Tanya! It worked!” Visha exclaimed happily, even as Tanya circled her, poking at the shell.

“Yes, but it’s output is low. I think that the new recruits to the 203rd were generating stronger fields. Still, I imagine it will have to do. I might have to retrain you until you can generate a proper shell…” Tanya said with a speculative look, that grinning smirk evident as she bites at her nail in thought.

Visha, for her part, thought she might pass out right there as a warmth surges through her, the feeling only growing more intense and unnerving when Tanya looked at her, their eyes met for a moment, before both looked away with flushed faces.

Tanya cleared her throat. “You...Are doing good, Visha. We will continue to practice and work on it.”

“Yes ma’am!” Visha chirped, avoiding the thoughts that were dredged up at that look. The look that her Devil gave her.

Tonight would be an ‘emotional support’ night for sure.

Chapter Text

Chapter 23, The Seven Schools Competition: Opening Gambits.

Sunday, August 1st 2094 6:00 AM

It was an agitated Tanya that made her way out to the table that morning, her cup of coffee and a Japanese breakfast waiting for the former Devil of the Rhine. She sat, looking at the traditional spread laid out before her, then at Visha who was once again wearing the yukata that their resident demon, Dr. Nishina, had gotten for her.

"I thought today was a Western breakfast?" Tanya questioned even as she started to serve herself.

"I thought I would change things up a bit, if...that is okay?" Visha asked nervously, fidgeting with her Yukata.

Once Tanya's brain decided that words were probably needed, she blushed and nodded. "Of course, you are the cook after all, so I would have no right to complain. Plus your execution is flawless. Honestly, I don't think I would eat a more authentic meal in Tokyo.". Tanya said with a more relaxed look on her face.

Visha smiled happily, the praise along with their almost nightly 'emotional support' was doing wonders for her own mood.

"I am glad to hear that, Tanya. I will let Dr. Nishina know that you approve." Visha said with a happy smile on her face.

Tanya sighed and shook her head. "I might have the more classical Japanese form, but you wear it better than I do.". Tanya said in an amused tone of voice, the smile only growing at the blush that spread over Visha's face.

"I can't believe it's almost time for the competition. It starts tomorrow! Are you ready? Do you have everything? I know we leave in a few hours, but are we ready for this?" Visha said as she shook out her hands.

Tanya laughed at Visha's antics. "You do know you aren't competing, right? I don't remember you being this excited when we went into combat."

Visha looked at Tanya "Probably because I was never sure if I would be able to continue to serve at your side when we fought."

The two young women became quiet for a while, until Tanya broke the silence and cleared her throat. "Well, hopefully there will be more reasons to be excited in the future. Without a world war, I don't think we will find everyone wanting to kill us anymore."

"If we do, I know you will get us through it again." Visha said with absolute certainty.

"You put far too much faith in me, you know." Tanya commented.

"It's not faith, it's certainty. You got us both through the Rhine, and Aren't, and all the other impossible tasks we had placed before us. It's nothing as uncertain as faith.". Visha said.

"I don't know quite what to say, Visha." Tanya said then laughed. "I can't help but feel like that places even more pressure on me to continue to live up to your expectations."

Visha thinks for a moment, then grins as she pounds her fist into her open hand. "Then, how about this? We will both do our best to live up to each other's expectations?"

Tanya chuckled then nodded. "I think I can live with that. Though, I think you have even higher hopes for me than the General Staff ever did."

Visha's smile filled Tanya's stomach with a fluttering feeling as she said "That's because I know you better than they do."

Tanya self-consciously coughed into her hand as a slight blush colored her cheeks. "Be that as it may, I think we should do well in the competition."

Visha smiled as she nodded, finding Tanya's humility endearing. "They might even pass muster as new recruits." She said with a joking little laugh.

"I don't know, I wasn't able to shell them for a day and a half." Tanya replied with a straight face and a thoughtful look.

Visha laughed and shook her head. "I think it's getting easier to figure out when you are joking, Tanya."

"Was I?" Tanya commented as she sipped from her coffee.

Visha smiled and stood as she gathered the empty dishes. She started to clean them as Tanya took the moment to observe her former adjutant, a surprisingly gentle smile graced her angelic features.

As the morning progressed and each began to finish their preparations to leave, their thoughts turned to the other.

Visha couldn't wait to watch her Argent in action again, and for the rest of the country to find out what she knew herself. To see their faces when they realized how talented and dedicated the former Devil of the Rhine was. To see that smirk once again, to hear her motivational speeches, to revel in the glory that was her Tanya in action. What more could a faithful adjutant want?

Tanya felt her thoughts wander as she did her final check, to the time that they had taken for themselves, the opportunities that this new time and place had offered them. The chance for so much more that they had taken with their own hands. A possibility of a future stretched out before them, something they would never have had before. She wasn't worried about the competition, she knew that the first years would make a good showing, that they were as prepared as the two of them could make them.

What weighed on Tanya's heart was something much more personal, the risk of rejection hung heavy over her head, the weight of it all a burden on her narrow shoulders. She couldn't help but think of backing out of her confession, of letting things remain as they were. Then her thoughts had turned to that smile, that happy confidence, that unending hope, and she realized anew that she wanted to continue to bathe in it, to be engulfed in it. To take the risks and reap the rewards that in her previous life she never did.

It was worth the risk, it was worth the potential rejection. And worse came to worse, there was always the balcony. But that was not the right mindset. She needed to be positive, needed to be hopeful. Planning for and executing worst-case scenarios could come later. She needed to have confidence right now. She needed to trust, if not in herself then in Visha. It was going to work out. It had to. Because it was Visha.

A few hours later finds the two, along with the other students who would be competing and their support staff, at the school loaded onto the busses. The air is one of excitement, anxiety, anticipation and relief. It was 583 kilometers to the city, and the facilities themselves were a few kilometers outside of the city itself, so they had about a 6 hour drive ahead of them. Not the longest idle time the two had experienced waiting for a deployment, but it was long enough for them both to have decided to use that soldiery resource to pass the time. Sleep.

Tanya sat and chatted idly with Visha until the bus started to roll out, the class representative having made sure that all the students were accounted for. Once they had started the trip, Visha was soon asleep as Tanya quickly followed after. The last thing Tanya looked at was Visha’s peaceful face, before she allowed herself to drift fully away.

Tanya dreamed of a different life. She saw herself in a suit, carrying a briefcase and getting off the subway as she headed home. These dreams were not terribly uncommon for her, but the fact she was herself, and not the vaguely remembered outline of the Salaryman was a bit different. She walked in the door, calling out “I’m home.” and surprisingly, it was answered.

“Welcome home, dear. Did things go good at the office?” Visha said as she walked in, wearing a maids outfit, of all things.

“Yes, I only had to fire one useless person today. Hopefully, he learned his lesson and doesn’t try to shove anyone onto the train tracks.” Tanya said as she carefully placed her briefcase by the door, and hung her coat on the hook.

“Hopefully not! That seems like a horrible way to overreact.” dream-Visha said as she knelt down to help Tanya slip out of her shoes and into a pair of house slippers.

Tanya chuckled as she caressed Visha’s hair. “Well, all that matters is that I am home now.” She said as she pulled Visha up and into her arms.

“Oh, Argent! Whatever are you planning on doing?” Dream-Visha said, batting her eyes coquettishly at Tanya.

‘It’s one of THOSE dreams…’ Sleeping Tanya thought to herself, as the dream versions of herself and Visha embrace each other.

“Oh, Visha…” Dream-Tanya says breathily, just before the scene freezes in a very particular way.

Visha turns her head and scowls at the observing Tanya. “Oh, my lost lamb, why is it that it is this vixen’s name that spills from your lips, and not mine? Have I not blessed you? Have I not shown you My grace and favor? Did I not help send you hence, where you could have the time to properly learn to adore and bow your proud head to your creator?”

“Being X:” Tanya hissed as the dream slowly came apart, leaving Tanya and Being X in the guise of Visha staring at each other.

“You should show me your faith, lest I once again am forced to chastise you. Learn to bow your head and give yourself to a higher power, or did you not learn your lesson from the last time? Oh, ye of little faith and too much self importance!” ‘Visha’ said as she shook her head.

“If I have an overinflated sense of self importance, wouldn’t that be your fault if you truly claim to be God? Like I have said before, you are a pompous, self centered parasite that seeks to latch onto me for whatever reason. I won’t play your little games, no matter how many worlds you send me through. I would go find some more believing sheep, or get better advertising.” Tanya quipped, finding herself more irate than normal with the so-called supreme being.

“Do you not understand the gift that you have been given? Many would happily give all they had, all that they could achieve, for just a moment of my attention. And yet you squander it, you spurn my offer of my undying and eternal love.” ‘Visha’ said sadly.

“I have never once asked for your attention, nor have I ever wanted it. You seem to think that forcing people to act in some way validates your own perception of yourself. You need to take some self-help classes if that is what you think. I saw a great one on the television just the other night.” Tanya said as she glared at Being X.

“Indeed, you would rather seek comfort in the arms of this temptress, over the loving embrace of your divine creator. What does this meek little mortal have that I do not?” ‘Visha’ said, as she thrust her chest out in a very not-Visha way.

“Modesty and decency are the first things that come to my mind.” Tanya replied drolly.

The grin that slowly crosses the visage of ‘Visha’ is one that many had seen, right before the Devil of the Rhine executed some particularly unpleasant plan on them. “I see. Yes, I think I know the perfect way to properly motivate you. I shall have to thank your Viktoriya at some point, she has provided me with the perfect tool, it would seem.”

Tanya narrowed her eyes as she glared at Being X. “You leave her out of this, you pompous windbag. This is, and always has been, between you and me.” Tanya said in a threatening manner, wishing for a moment that she had her rifle handy.

“If you insist. I will leave her out, then.” Being X grinned as the dream fully unraveled. Tanya found herself being gently shaken awake by Visha, a worried look on her face.

“Tanya? Are you okay? You seemed to be having a bad dream….” Visha said as she fretted over Tanya.

“Yes, I’m fine thank you. I was just having an annoying dream. Go back to sleep, Visha.” Tanya said gently, as her ire vanished in the presence of the real Visha.

Visha gave Tanya one more searching look, then nodded as she settled back in and went back to sleep. Before long, Visha is soundly asleep, as a smile graced her delicate lips.

Tanya found sleep elusive, her attention drawn time and time again to her companion, as her mind wandered.

‘Damn you, Being X.’ Tanya cursed in the quiet of her mind, worried about what the maniacal entity might try next.

Chapter Text

Chapter 24, The Seven Schools Competition: Respite
Sunday, August 1st 2094 8:00 AM

As Tanya sat next to Visha, her mind wandered throughout their time together, in this world and the one before. For once, she felt the niggling presence of something rather foreign to her. Regret. Yes, she had regretted missed chances before in business or school, but never over personal reasons. Even the brief flashes of something resembling regret before were quickly wiped away, because what logic lay in second guessing your previous choices?

It wasn't like she was some mythical being or supposed God that could traverse back and forth through time. Yes, she had technically traveled through time, but it was like the Time Machines journey, it was one way only.

She once again pondered her sleeping companion. Visha was trustworthy, loyal, intelligent and infinitely flexible. She pondered, not for the first time, what her first life might have been like with Visha at her side, in her bed.

She blushed slightly and shook her head as she chased those thoughts out of her mind. This was not some time to go off on another hormonally fueled day dream that could be hijacked. Again.

Tanya sighed as she settled back, content to watch Visha sleep for now, and find what comfort and peace she could in that.

It was surprisingly comforting, is the conclusion she had reached an hour later, barely two hours into the six hour trip. It somehow felt familiar, to have Visha asleep so close to her. She wondered why, but decided right now was probably not the best time to ponder things like that. Instead, she kept replaying her encounter with Being X in her head, over and over. She did her best to figure out what new hell he was planning on inflicting on her, and some part of her worried how he might drag Visha into his little obsessive game.

The fact that he seemed to be fixated on Visha in some way now was worrisome. It almost made her reconsider her plans, but she had honestly come too far. She had done too much to set all of this up, and the thought of another life spent alone, with what she wanted just out of reach? Well, perhaps a final death would be better. She had come to a realization, that a life without Visha, well it wouldn’t really be living. She had been a big part of the reason that the hell that was the war was tolerable, she had been the constant support in the background, the check on some of her worst urges and tendencies. She had been the grounding factor that had kept her from truly becoming a monster. Without Visha, would she have had the 203rd? Would it have been what it became? Would Tanya have given in to the machination of Being X, buried in a hopeless war, alone and without anyone else to temper her, to show her some measure of peace and hope?

From her coffee, to her love of food and companions. Her naïve honesty and eager energy. Her can-do attitude tempered with knowing what failure felt like, could Tanya have done this all without her? Visha was the reason that they were HERE, after all. If not for her desire to save her, would she have ever been able to tap into this power, and drag them both here.

There was a thought at the edge of her mind, some sort of revelation about...Something… But it slipped away as Visha stirred a bit, and their eyes met as Tanya’s sleepy companion cracked open her eyes. A tender smile set Tanya’s heart a flutter and brought back the ghost of the dream she had had. Brought back those thoughts of what it would be like to wake up beside her every day, to go to sleep with her next to her, perhaps cuddled up with the taller girl in a pleasant tangle. No! Stop those thoughts, Tanya, lest you get distracted again, she chastised herself as she returned the smile at Visha.

“I hope I didn’t wake you, Visha?” Tanya asked before Visha shook her head and smiled warmly.

“No, You are fine. Did you just wake up too?” Visha asked with her brows furrowed a bit.

Tanya laughed awkwardly and shook her head. “I have been having problems sleeping, to be honest.”

Visha looked at her long and hard “You? Having problems sleeping before a deployment. That is odd for you. Is there anything I can do to help?” Visha asked as he brushed a strand of her hair back behind an ear and shifted on the bench seat they shared.

Tanya laughed and shook her head. “Not unless you snuck a good pillow onto the bus that I didn’t see you pack, Visha. I’m sure I will be okay.”

Visha got a thoughtful look on her face as she looked over the bench, and at the sleeping or distracted students around them before she scooted over into the corner, drawing a puzzled look from Tanya before a blushing Visha patted her lap. “I just so happen to have one right here. I.. Saw it in one of the movies…” She said with a shy smile on her face.

For a long moment Tanya just stared at Visha as Tanya.EXE suffered a fatal error. She wasn’t sure she had heard her correct. Obviously, she had somehow misunderstood what her companion had suggested. There was no way that Visha had just offered her shapely, softly muscled thighs as a lap pillow, right?

At Tanya’s look, Visha looked away embarrassed. “S..Sorry, I shouldn’t have suggested something so out of line…” Visha said with a nervous little chuckle.

Tanya shook her head, realizing that at this moment, she had a choice. Let things edge back, and possibly make her companion feel even more self conscious about their proximity and growing closeness. Alternatively, she could take her up on her offer, and set Visha’s mind at ease. Obviously, as a good superior she should do what she could to make sure that Visha felt good about taking initiative. Yes, she was doing it for Visha’s sake.

“No, it is a generous offer. I.. If you are okay with it, I..will take you up on your generous offer. Maybe it’s just what I need so I can rest. After all, I need to be at my best for tomorrow, right?” Tanya reasoned as she watched Visha closely.

Visha blushed and relaxed, and bit her lip before she patted her lap once again.

Tanya swallowed the sudden lump in her throat as she eased into position, and let her head rest lightly in Visha’s lap. The soft smell of her companion settled into her nose, as the soft warmth of her lap seemed to cradle her and relax her. As nice as that initial moment was, when Visha slowly reached down and rested her hand on her head, smoothing the hair and gently, unconsciously slid her fingers through Tanya’s hair? This was bliss.

They laid there, Tanya’s eyes closed as she relaxed and basked in this new sensation, while Visha watched her usually prickly companion with a fond gaze. At some point, the two of them did slip back into sleep, Tanya curled up with her head resting in Visha’s lap, and Visha with her head resting against the window, her fingers nestled lightly in Tanya’s hair.

It was a sweet and touching view, made all the more unreal by the fact that the one sleeping in her companion’s lap was the infamous Beast of Berlin, as she was already being called in the back rooms and hallways, well away from the ears of the selfsame magical terror.

They were awoken as the bus came to a stop at the hotel that they would be staying at for the duration of the competition. It was just after 1 PM as the students were herded by their advisors to their rooms and then down to the cafeteria for a late lunch.

Tanya and Visha sat with the other two girls on the Mirage Bat team as they ate and discussed strategy for the event. Visha had to admit.to herself that she was content, seeing her Argent engaged and working diligently to achieve her goals. It felt like the early days of the war, when things were still filled with hope and potential.

It was a surprisingly poignant feeling for the well grounded former soldier. The fondness she had started to feel towards her former superior was new, she had thought at first. But now, she wasn't quite so sure anymore. When did her feelings get this complicated? When, exactly, did the lines start to get this blurred? Was it alright to harbor these kinds of feelings towards her Argent? And when, exactly, did she start to feel so… possessive. Was it right? Was it okay for her to feel this way?

Her thoughts are derailed as she meets the inquisitive gaze of the subject of her ruminations, all coherent thought thrown out the window.

Maybe it was okay to feel like this, in her secret heart of hearts, at least until Tanya found a man worthy of her.

Yes, just until then, it was okay to feel like this.

Visha sighed as she poked at her food.

Love sucked.

Tanya, for her part, had found the conversation with the others engaging, but it hardly served to distract her from the real problem that weighed on her mind. How to confess her feelings towards Visha, and ways to counter that sanctimonious Being X if it decided to intervene again.

Surely there had to be something, it felt like the answer was just out of reach, almost right there…. Then she met the gaze of Visha and her hormonally addled brain short circuited for a moment again, and she lost it.

She tried to fix her attention on what the other girls were talking about. After all, it was the duty of a superior officer to appear interested and informed about the concerns of those under you. That held true regardless of it you were talking about the military, a corporation, or even a country.

The appearance of good interpersonal skills was far more important than actually possessing them. That had been demonstrated time and time again by individuals that would be described as psychopaths or sociopaths, in some cases if you were being generous. It was amazing what you could get away with as long as people believed you had the best of intentions, or even more if they believed you actually cared about what happened to them in a way that didn’t appear to be completely self serving, even if it was.

Tanya, of course, didn’t consider herself to fit into either of those two categories. She just had a very practical and detached world view, and had in both of her lives. THere was no point in giving into emotion, or letting people try to prey on your better intentions. Such things were illogical and only really worked on people that let their emotions control them.

In the end, perhaps those people really did deserve what happened to them.

Tanya is drawn from that train of thought as Visha poked at her food in a disinterested sort of way, and her hard eyes softened, a worried look creeping onto her face. Well, maybe not all of them, is the thought that passed through her mind as she looked at Visha and cleared her throat. At the surprised, questioning look her former adjutant, and current best friend gave her Tanya rose and offered her hand. “Shall we check out the venue for tomorrow, Visha? It would probably be best to see if the pillar arrangement differs from the ones we have seen, hrm?”

Visha immediately brightened as she blushed slightly when she took Tanya’s hand. “Ma’am!” She chirped, much to the amusement of the other girls at the table.

Tanya herself relaxed on seeing the smile on Visha’s face. It was one of the few things that truly gave her comfort and joy.

That only made her more certain in her decision to thwart whatever Being X might have planned regarding Visha.

With a nod from Tanya, and a wave from Visha, the pair were off, each lost in their own thoughts, but at least they were lost together.

Chapter Text

Chapter 25, The Seven Schools Competition: Let the games begin...
Sunday, August 1st 2094 3:00 PM

Tanya found herself in a better mood, as she watched Visha spectating at all the venues as they were put through their final checks and preparations. It eased her mind to see how quickly her companion bounced back from whatever it was that had been bothering her earlier. It must have been dire, to have Visha poking at her food in a disinterested way like that. Something that perhaps Tanya would have to gently pry into at a later time. Best not to ruin the mood now, if she could avoid it.

The layout for the events was the same as the practice field that they had at the school, so at least that would not be an issue. The pattern and rotations would work as they had been plotted, with only the necessary adjustments to take into consideration the unpredictable elements, namely the other competitors.

The current issue Tanya was dealing with was, with that out of the way, she was left with the taxing problem of figuring out how best to express her feelings towards her companion. Their relationship had always been a bit complicated, if she was going to be honest with herself. In many ways, they had raised each other.

Tanya had taught Visha the ways of war, how to think and fight effectively, and helped her become the soldier she was today. That surprisingly effective vicious streak that the otherwise gentle soul possessed was more than likely the result of Tanya’s own influence. Not that it showed itself often. The times it had, were mostly when Tanya or another member of the battalion had been in danger. At times like that, Visha was like a mother cat protecting her litter.

Honestly, it was a bit unnerving when she got that look in her eyes and reached for her handy entrenching tool. The choice of implements that Visha went for first was usually a fairly good indication of her mood and attitude towards a problem. Guns and knives? Sure, Visha was doing her duty and job. That damned shovel? Then you could bet it was in some way personal.

By that same token, Visha had raised her in some ways as well. Most of what she knew of how women lived and worked came from observing and being instructed by her former adjutant. The little details had never mattered to her, so it had always fallen on Visha to make sure that they were taken care of, when it might have influenced her standing or military career. Tanya knew that many considered her a bit aloof, or even prickly. She knew that she had been called a monster before, and it didn’t really bother her that much. Those who had were mostly small minded and short sighted.

That said, the reason she had the social skills she had now were probably mostly thanks to the intervention and endless patience of Visha. Honestly, the woman should be considered a saint, a far better being to worship and hold aloft as a banner of morality and diligence than that sanctimonious prick Being X.

If she was going to be completely honest with herself, she didn’t really want to think of what she would be like without Visha’s influence on her.

And now that self-same person walked alongside Tanya, as she cast sidelong glances whenever the Argent was distracted. The fine features of her companion were often on Visha’s mind as of late. Perhaps they had always been, she had to admit to herself. From when they first met on the Rhine, there were few times that she had not been at Tanya’s side, fighting and flying in the same sky as her.

She had recently started to wonder just what her feelings for her diminutive companion might be, what they might mean for her and Tanya.

Then, she would sigh and try to banish the thoughts and warm feelings, knowing that there is no way that they will be returned, or are in any way proper. Surely, Tanya will find some man to make her happy, or at least for her to henpeck and make miserable for the rest of his life.

Was it bad that the thought of dying to henpecking from Tanya von Degurechaff, the Argent and one time Darling of the Reich, made her almost feel wistful?

Why was it that one always wanted what they could never have?

They both sighed in unison, the two young women looked at each other before a nervous laugh broke out between them, and just like that the heavy mood was lifted, the reminder of the presence of the other acting as the only balm either really needed in the end.

Tanya gave Visha a nervous little smile. “A mark for your thoughts?”

Visha giggled and gave Tanya a fond, exasperated look. “I know that the value of the mark went down, but do you really think that my thoughts are worth a single mark?”

Tanya stopped and thought about that for a bit before she shook her head. “I think that honestly, the entire war chest wouldn’t be enough for what goes on in your head, but I will start with a mark and go from there.”

Visha blushed as she grinned at her companion. “I hardly think that my thoughts could be worth that much.”

“Then you clearly don’t understand the value that you have, my dear adjutant.” Tanya replied before both girls looked away. Tanya cleared her throat and continued. “We will have to meet up with the others soon, so that we can get ready for the opening ceremonies.”

Visha blushed and nodded as she looked around. “We should probably start to head back, then. It would be unseemly for us to be late, after all. We have kind of taken the first years under our wings, as it were.” She said with a wry smile.

Tanya laughed and nodded, a smirk crossing her fine features. “I still say that a bit of shelling would have done them good. Look what it did for you, after all.”

“I know you think that it would have made them better, but I dare say it might have cost us our monolith code team!” Visha interjected as she gave Tanya a reproachful look.

Tanya sighed and shook her head as they entered the lobby of the hotel once more “You are probably correct there. But it builds character!” She said to defend her choice in training methods.

“Not everyone does well under live fire, Tanya.” Visha felt like she had to remind her former commanding officer.

Tanya sighed and smiled at Visha. “I just can’t win this argument with you, can I?”

“No ma’am, because this time I’m right!” Visha said with a happy little bounce in her step.

Tanya laughed, a genuine laugh that immediately brightened Visha’s mood even further.

It was a very smug Visha with an amused Tanya in the lead that made their way into the reception hall where their school was gathered for a final head count before they would make their way to their respective rooms and get changed for the opening ceremonies.

They would be in their school uniforms for the opening ceremonies, but after that most of them would be spending the majority of their time either participating or spectating the various events that were the highlight of the competition.

Tanya, of course, understood why these events were so important. It was a chance to show off the future might of the country even more than it was a testament to the prowess of the individual schools. When viewed as a demonstration of military might, it made far more sense, at least to her.

For her part, the events she had been chosen to participate in made perfect sense, when viewed in the context of how she perceived the competition. Mirage Bat, for all of it’s fanciful trappings, was a practical example of not only magical endurance, but also of tactical flexibility and operational efficiency when dealing with an ever changing, chaotic environment. Speed shooting, her other event, was a chance for her to demonstrate one of the spells that she had converted over and modified. In this case, the seeking and tracking spells that were her forte during her time on the front. There were differences, of course. The lack of a pre-arranged projectile had forced her and the good doctor to get a bit creative, in this case using a bit of ice created using a simple interference-type magic to create a magical ‘bullet’ of ice for her to propel and guide using the more complex seeking spell. Others had similar spells, but hers she regarded as far more efficient, with its basis in math and computational power.

After all, if you had asked Tanya what the most important aspect of any operation that required the expenditure of a limited resource, she would point towards the most efficient process that wasted the least. It was simple economics, after all.

She had toyed with just using her own expertise in ranged combat, but had decided that a bit more of a flashy experience was probably in the best interest of the project, and the standing of her school.

After all, you always wanted to impress your superiors with your own initiative when given the chance, and when they had not specifically ordered you not to. It was, of course, the fastest way to get promoted whether you were on the battlefield or in a boardroom. Not that two fields of war were all that different, in retrospect. At least you were more likely to know what was about to happen to you during war.

She was drawn back to the here and now when she realized she must have been staring at Visha in her distracted state, more to the point at the half naked form of her changing friend. They both turn around quickly, a blush evident on both sets of cheeks as they pointedly ignore the presence of the other as they change into a fresh school uniform for the opening ceremonies and the semi-formal dinner that would be taking place afterwards.

They had each packed two nice, formal outfits for the two formal dinners, the first the next night and the second one the night the competition ended. Tanya knew that Visha had selected two modestly cut dresses for herself, ones that suited the more well defined young woman admirably. Tanya, for her part, had opted for a nice woman’s suit for the one, but had caved to the wishes of Visha and their friends for the final dinner and had her own dress for that event, even if she did not overly care for them.

One had to make concessions, after all, especially if one hoped to woo one of those that had been giving her a pleading look.

The sacrifices one made for love.

The pair made their way to the final meeting place before the lot of them moved to the staging area as each school was carefully placed in the correct order, and all details were checked over once more. Tanya couldn’t help but notice how the other schools were checking each other out. An understandable activity, after all. Not only were they assessing potential competitors, but people that they would one day be working alongside in any expected possibility.

So, the two veterans each began their own covert assessment of the various schools, passing messages silently between each other using the hand signs that the 203rd had developed for covert operations, since the events of Operation Shock and Awe were hardly the last of the behind enemy lines operations that they had been expected to execute. If anything, Tanya would almost blame their success in that particular operation for some of the more ludicrous things that they had been tasked with. Such as their attack on Muscovy, in the heart of the Rus federation.

Tanya smiled a secret smile as she cast a covert look at her companion, knowing full well that some of the more outlandish acts she had perpetuated were part of her early admission to her budding feelings towards her companion. Visha’s hatred of the communists who had usurped her country and driven herself and her family from their home was well known, after all.

How better to impress the girl you liked than by sticking it to people who had been a thorn in her side.

Of course, that had led to her first confrontation with the enemy mage who had become the latest puppet of Being X. Mary Sioux, formerly of the Republic and most recently of the Unified States. As incredibly dangerous the young mage had proven to be, at least she didn’t have the tactical sense her father had had before he had been driven completely to become a zealot by the madness that Being X seemed to leave in its wake.

At least she had not encountered another mage of Mary Sioux’s likeness in her time in this world, but knowing how things worked she had probably just doomed herself to another run in with her doppelganger in this world.

She cast a wary look around before being distracted by a group of boys from another school who had moved towards her former adjutant’s position.

It looked like it was time to ward off the sharks.

She sighed as she inserted herself into their circle, projecting her most ominous and potentially vicious smirk.

The lengths one had to go to for the sake of the ones you loved.

Chapter Text

Chapter 26, The Seven Schools Competition: A midsummer’s night dream.
Sunday, August 1st 2094 10:00 PM

To say that the event that night had proven to be exhausting was probably an understatement. The popularity of Visha was hardly surprising, but no less draining for the former Devil of the Rhine. She laid her jacket on the back of the chair before she slumped in it and accepted the cup of coffee from the ever thoughtful Visha.

“Thank you, you always know exactly what I need.” Tanya commented as she watched her companion fussing about with the carafe and laying out an appropriate selection of snacks. From the taste and smell, she could tell that Visha had snuck some of her secret stash of beans with her on the trip.

There was a reason that Tanya loved this woman, after all.

Visha, for her part, was feeling a bit flushed. The night had been fun, the food had been good, but the highpoint was spending time with her Argent while she was wearing the woman’s dress suit that she had brought with her. There was something about the Argent in a well-fitted uniform or suit that always made her feel just a bit flushed. She cast another covert little gaze in the Argents direction, and nodded. Definitely an emotional support night. After all, she had to make sure that Tanya was ready for the competition tomorrow, right? That was, after all, one of her primary and most important duties.

“Would you like for me to draw you a bath, Tanya? Or would you prefer a shower tonight?” Visha asked as she set out the tray of snacks for her partner.

Tanya smiled and stretched "I think a shower, or I might just fall asleep. Don't want you to have to perform a marine rescue or anything." Tanya joked.

"I wouldn't mind saving you for once." Visha said with a smile that crinkled her nose in a way that Tanya had to admit was adorable.

Tanya blushed and looked away "Isn't it my job to save you, though…" she said quietly before eating a pastry.

"Did you say something?" Visha asked as she tried to get the zipper started on her dress.

"No, nothing. Here, let me help you with that." Tanya said as she stood up, and Visha turned away, brushing her hair out of the way for Tanya.

Tanya swallowed as she started to undo the dress, her pulse racing a bit more with each inch of Visha's supple back that was exposed, until the scar from the injury that almost took her from the Devil of the Rhine came into view. Tanya somberly touches it, tracing the edges lightly as Visha shivers at the touch.

"It's okay, Tanya. I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere." Visha said as she looked over her shoulder at her shorter companion.

Tanya cleared her throat and nodded, the sudden rush of emotions making it a bit hard to speak at the moment.

Visha smiled and nodded her thanks as she stepped past Tanya to go change, resting a hand briefly on her companion's shoulder in passing.

Tanya watched her go, then took one last drink of her coffee to settle her frayed nerves.

It could be a long night, she mused.

Visha leaned out, and smiled at her friend “I was wondering, since the shower is rather large, maybe we could wash each other’s backs? It’s been a while, and I want to help you relax.”

Tanya froze as her mind locked up, and unintelligible sounds slipped from her lips until she coughed in her hand and waved at Visha with a smile once more on her face. “You go ahead, I will take mine in just a bit.” As much as the prospect of seeing Visha standing under a cascade of water, wearing only what her amazing genetics gave her was appealing, Tanya feared for her sanity. Not that they hadn’t done it before, of course. But, things had changed between them, at least on her end. And, she no longer felt like it would be quite fair and right, since she was the only one who she was sure was interested. It would be much too close to peeping for her sake, after all.

While Tanya was lost in her thoughts and doing her best not to stare at her longtime companion, she missed the little sad look that crossed Visha’s face. “Okay, just make sure you get to bed soon, you don’t want to be tired for tomorrow.”

Tanya tried her best to keep her mind from wandering, and wondering about what could have been, as she heard the shower start in the bathroom. It is an agonizing fifteen minutes later that Visha came out in her nightclothes while toweling her hair off.

“Goodnight, Tanya. Sleep well, okay?” Visha said as she leaned in and gave Tanya a warm, gentle hug.

Tanya returned the hug, glad that Visha couldn’t see her face. Visha smelled good on any day, fresh out of the shower was probably the best smelling Visha though. Her shampoo was intoxicating at times. Hugs and other acts of familiar affection are still new territory for the reincarnated salaryman, and she liked to think that she had mastered them fairly well. At least she no longer froze up when Visha showed such casual acts of affection towards her.

Tanya waited until Visha had laid down, then went to take her own shower. She had to admit, the feel of the water cascading down her body felt much better in this body than she ever remembered it feeling as the salaryman. It could have been that he had always been so focused, so driven that he had never once stopped to enjoy the little things? That was something she thought about from time to time. Would the day come when she would forget her old life? That it would just drift into dreams and old memories?

Was that necessarily such a bad thing, if it did happen?

She stayed in the shower just a bit longer than normal, letting her mind wander as she went about the rote routine of taking care of herself, amusingly enough, just like Visha had taught her.

They had shaped each other in so many ways, you could even say in some ways they had raised the other. Tanya had taught Visha to be the soldier and officer she had been. To fight and survive, to think and adapt.

Visha had taught her how to live, to be a part of society. What it meant to be a girl and a woman, how to navigate this new self, this new life. WIthout her, she would have ended up just like in her previous life, she was sure of it. At one time, that thought would not have bothered her, now though… She was glad that Visha had been there to help shape her into who she had become.

She finished her shower, dressed in her much planer bed clothes, and headed back into the room. She stood in the doorway for a bit, watching her companion sleeping in her bed before she made her way to her own. Maybe tonight would be a nice, restful night without the nightmares that had been so prevalent for a while now. Oddly enough, they had been happening less and less often recently. Perhaps something to think about another time?

She settled into her bed, and closed her eyes. It doesn’t take long for her to start to drift into the realm of dreams, and nightmares.

Tanya soon found herself in all too familiar territory. The Rhine front, during her early days of the war when she was leading her first squad. Back when Visha had just been the least annoying of the soldiers under her, not yet the constant anchor in the horrors of war that kept her sane, or at least something resembling it. Well before Visha had become one of the cornerstones of her life, of the battalion that Tanya had led.

The faces of the soldiers were all too familiar to her as she flew over the trenches. The many people she had seen die over the years, some of them strangers, some all too familiar. It was a familiar hell for her, a litany of the failures that she had blamed herself for, on some level. She knew, on one level, that people died. That most of them were bad luck, or lack of skill on their part. But there was some part of her, maybe a remnant of the young girl she could have been, that took each loss personally.

The dreamscape rippled and shifted as she found herself on another battlefield, invading the fjord once again. But the faces of the enemy mages are different, much more familiar. Gantz, Newman, the rest of the 203rd. And Anton Sioux is gone, replaced by Visha, with the glowing eyes of one who has been embraced by Being X.

She watched herself kill them, one by one. Relived the fight over again. Watched as Visha plummeted into the icy waters of the fjord. Felt the same feeling of indifference once again.

That part of her that was the waking her, the part that was not immersed in the dream shivered at that casual indifference. That didn't care about what happened, as long as she survived.

But, was it really living?

The dream shifted, changing in that way that dreams do. She had always hated how she seemed detached, like someone watching a movie or play, not really immersed in her own dreams. Perhaps this was another artifice of Being X, or her own warped and broken mind at work.

The next scene was one that was all too familiar. The battle at the bunker line. The fateful day that almost cost her Visha. That dragged them from that hell into this world. She knew already what she would see, what she would be forced to see.

That she would once again fail to protect Visha, that she would be found lacking at the most crucial moment.

It played out in a blur, the events half remembered yet seared into her mind. The moment she knew she had failed, the moment that Visha died in her arms.

The hell that her mind kept throwing her back into.

She woke screaming, jerking and flaily before she realized she couldn’t move, that something was holding her.

Not something, someone. The scent of coffee and lavender filled her nostril, a scent unique to only one person.

Why Visha was there, holding her was something she might have to examine later. What mattered now, at this moment, was that she was there. She was alive. She was close.

Tanya could freak out later. For now, she just closed her eyes and let Visha hold her.

It was a feeling that she could get used to.

“You okay?” Visha whispered softly as she held Tanya protectively.

“Yes. Sorry...You had to see me like that.” Tanya said as she might have moved a bit closer to Visha.

“It’s okay. I am always here for you.” Visha said, not sure if she should move or not.

“Visha… I know this must be awkward for you…. But… Can you stay, just a bit longer?” Tanya said quietly, as she hid her face from her companion.

“Of course. As long as you need.” Visha said as she rested her forehead against the crown of her smaller companion.

Tanya blushed and settled back in, some small part of her wondering just how long Visha had been here. The blankets seemed warmer than expected.

Another part of her mind told that part to kindly fuck off, and just go with it.

For once, she decided to listen.

The two wounded souls slowly slipped back into a comfortable sleep, nestled in the safety of the others' presence. The lone shelter in a world that was not their own.

Questions could wait for morning, the awkwardness was surely to return once they thought about the situation more closely.

For now, though, all that mattered was that a warm, welcoming body was close by.

All else could wait.

Chapter Text

Chapter 27, The Seven Schools Competition:The heart of competition is striving for excellence.
Monday, August 2nd 2094 6:00 AM

Tanya slowly blinked her eyes open, then froze as she realized she was staring at the face of someone. Someone who, by all accounts, should not be this close to her. It was not something she minded, per se, but it was more than a bit unexpected. Then, the events of the previous night started to filter in. The nightmare, and waking up to the one person she could truly count on. The one person she truly trusted. Visha was there when she broke free from the nightmare. Visha helped her calm down.

Visha more than likely had slept in her bed, next to her from the time she had woken up until now. Tanya might have possibly hyperventilated just a bit. She was afraid to breathe, much less move lest she wake up her companion.

So, Tanya decided to do the rational, logical thing. She remained very still and studied her companion in minute detail. The softness of Visha's skin, the roundness of her cheeks. The cute way she mumbled in her sleep. At least she hadn't cast any spells in her sleep in years.

Some part of Tanya had to wonder if this was the first time that this had happened? Or if it was a more common occurrence than she was quite ready to admit.

Tanya debated with herself what she would do, what she would say. She even debated the merits of pretending to be asleep. That was definitely one possibility and would avoid any awkward conversations. A slight movement drew her attention to the young woman next to her, and she found herself staring into the eyes of a blushing Visha. As Visha attempted to get up, not able to look Tanya in the eyes anymore Tanya had a moment of epiphany and cleared her throat.

“I.. I am sorry if I disturbed your sleep last night. It was never my intention to disrupt your sleep, but… Thank you. It was nice to know that someone was there for me.” Tanya said awkwardly, not really very good with this whole emotions thing.

Visha looked her in the eye and smiled shyly. “I’m always happy to help you, Tanya. After all, it’s why I’m here, right?” She said with a bit of a lift of one lip, a hint of that smile that stunned Tanya from time to time.

Tanya smirked back, as she pressed just a bit “Oh, is that so? And here I thought it was because you make the best coffee in the entire fatherland?”

“Well, I am always happy to take care of your needs, Tanya. Whether that is coffee, battlefield bombardment, or I guess a convenient emotional support device.” Visha’s smile grew as she bantered back with the Argent, falling back into familiar territory, instead of panicking about being caught in the Argent’s bed.

Tanya narrowed her eyes as she looked at her former adjutant from close range. "And why do I suspect that this is not the first time that you have done the latter?"

Visha gave her former commander a nervous smile before she quickly exited the warmth of the bed. "Well, I need to get moving if I am going to get your coffee made, the final check on our clothes for breakfast with the team, and making sure our uniforms are ready for the opening ceremonies before competition begins!"

Tanya laughed as she got up as well and shook her head. "Very well, I will retreat from the field for now to make myself presentable."

Visha flashed her companion an awkward, relieved smile as she bustled off. Tanya shook her head as she made her way into the shower, her thoughts in a whir. Had that been the first time? Had it happened often? Is it why the nightmares were less frequent? What did it mean for them?

As Tanya let the water, and her thoughts, wash over her, Visha had her own existential crisis moment going on.

'She knows' Visha panicked as she thought to herself. 'She knows' I've been sneaking into her bed at night.'. Visha flushed as the implications rushed through her head. 'Is she going to be mad? Is she going to kick me out? Will I get a scolding? And why does THAT idea intrigue me! Gah! I'm a mess right now, and all the stuff they keep telling me is not helping right now!' she thought as she quietly cursed her friends.

Visha glanced nervously at the door even as her body went about the necessary steps by rote. Coffee ground and brewed under her expert skill even as her mind slowly melted. The pastries that Tanya liked from the breakfast tray were laid out neatly, along with the latest edition of the morning paper she liked, downloaded and opened on her tablet. Tanya's clothes for the morning were laid out in the bathroom for her to wear when she finished her shower. Visha's outfit was also waiting for her, as always. Everything according to plan.

All in all, if not for getting caught, things looked good this morning.

Visha glanced at the door to the bathroom, more than a little worried as she heard the shower stop, exactly five minutes after it had started. The Argent was punctual if nothing else. She had her routine perfected, but that was hardly a surprise. Even Visha had become part of that routine, and she knew it. Her own shower would be six minutes, since she took just a tad longer than Tanya did. It was a fact that usually amused her. But today was different. She knew she could delay the reckoning if she hurried into the shower, but that would only delay it six minutes plus the time to get dressed.

Visha gave Tanya a tight smile as she hurried past her, heading for her own shower.

The relaxed smile that she had received from Tanya in passing had helped somewhat to settle her nerves.

Visha started her shower, as she let her body take care of things by rote routine as her mind ran through all the possible outcomes. Exactly seven minutes later, Visha exited the bathroom and sat down, her back ramrod straight as she.looked.over at her companion. Her companion who had already consumed her.pastries and was engrossed in her morning newspaper.

Visha breathed a sigh of relief at the stay of execution. But, she had to admit to herself, she also felt a bit confused by the seeming nonchalant attitude of the Argent towards what could be interpreted as a hostile, or at least unwelcome, infringement on her sovereign territory.

And considering the Argent's usual response to infringement on sovereign territory, she did not want to garner that sort of reaction.

As Visha breathed a sigh of relief, Tanya did her best to keep up the image of indifference even as her mind worked at a feverish pace, as she internally panicked. Tanya was uncertain how to handle this situation. Nothing in either life had truly prepared her for this.

In her previous life, interpersonal interactions had been almost clinical, even those of an intimate nature. None of which had prepared her to deal.with the situation she found herself in now.

Perhaps it was time to use a feint so that she could distract Visha, and avoid the situation for a time longer. She nodded, then cleared her throat. It was an action that drew the attention of her companion immediately, as certain as the dawn and as warming as the first rays of sunshine. “So, I have heard that there will be many people from every country here, to scout and ascertain the potential of those that they will be facing someday. I think it best if we try to remain on guard at all times while we are out. Observe, but do try to not give away too much of our own hand, as it were. We do have a reputation to uphold, even if it is vastly different in this world. And, I want to commend you, Visha.”

Visha looked at Tanya, not expecting this particular track. “Commend me, for what exactly? I.. I haven’t done anything more than what is required of me, as your former adjutant after all.” She said in a nervous tone of voice.

“I would not agree. You have outdone all expectations so far. Thank you, Visha.” Tanya said as she smiled at her now flustered and thoroughly scatterbrained companion.

“T..Thank you, Tanya… That really means a lot to me…” Visha said breathlessly as she hurriedly took a drink to hide her embarrassed face.

Tanya smiled and nodded, glad that the complement and change of topic seemed to have worked. Now, she just needed to avoid any discussion of what had transpired this morning, at least until she had the perfect opportunity to talk to Visha about the merits of them pursuing a possible relationship that did not directly involve the battlefield.

Perhaps more coffee was needed before she entertained those thoughts.

The remainder of their morning passed in companionable silence, as each was lost in their own thoughts and worries, mostly caused by the presence of the other. When the time came, they made their way to the meeting room for their team as they were placed into their assigned spots for the opening ceremonies and the parade of participants. At this point is where Visha had to take her leave, after fussing with Tanya’s uniform for the third time this morning.

“Honestly, Visha. You can stop mothering me. I am a big girl, and I can get dressed on my own. You made sure of that, after all.” Tanya said in a tone that was only moderately teasing, as the other first years looked on in amused silence, long having gotten used to the antics of the pair of not-dating certainly not lesbians in their midst.

Tanya looked at her fellow contestants as she arched one eyebrow after seeing off her companion or, as she was often referred to out of the earshot of the pair, mother hen. “Is there something I can help you with? Maybe a bit of last minute training before we begin?” She asked in that placid tone that sent a shiver down the backs of all those that had experienced Tanya’s concept of ‘last minute training’ in the past.

“No! I mean, no. We were just admiring how well you two get along, is all.” Hans Frieber hastily said, as the rest of the Monolith Code first years nodded emphatically behind him.

“Very well, then let's present ourselves in a manner that befits our standing as the elite, as student-representatives of our school. Let’s show them the strength and tenacity of our school!” Tanya said, as the enthusiastic voices of those she had trained and survived shouted in acknowledgment.

All in all, Tanya was rather pleased with the results

They might even have lasted one day on the Rhine.

The opening ceremonies and the parade went by without incident as the assembled students followed the directions they had been given beforehand, and at least in one case, the rather pointed reminder of their diminutive drill instructor.

Afterwards, they broke up into their respective groups and social cliches, as Tanya and Visha rejoined and made their way towards the speed shooting range. Visha had a pair of sausages wrapped in buns, along with two drinks and some small snacks for them as they waited in line.

Tanya shook her head as she peered at her companion “You have an barely understandable fondness for sausage, Visha.”

Visha smiled and nodded. “What can I say? I developed a liking for them when we were back at the war college. These are almost as good as Herr Schroders bratwurst.”

Tanya shook her head as she gave her friend a fond smile “I sometimes think you are more attached to your food than you are to me, Visha.”

Visha swallowed her bite forcefully, as she blushed. “I...Would not go that far, Tanya….”

Tanya raised an eyebrow in a skeptical manner at her longtime companion.

“I wouldn’t! If I had to choose between them….” Visha blushed a bit brighter and then continued in a quieter tone of voice. “I would always choose you.”

“That is a relief, here I thought I was less significant than meat stuffed in a lining.” Tanya teased gently.

Visha shook her head, but whatever she was about to say was lost as they entered the stadium itself, and the pair made their way to the seating that was reserved for their school.

Tanya looked at her companion and smiled ‘Now, remember. We are observing the training, spells, and tactics that the official representatives from each school are using. It should provide valuable insight into the likely skills and tactics that the first years are to use. Plus, it gives us a good chance to observe our own upperclassmen, and determine how we can best influence our peers going forward to improve their own efficiency.”

“Yes ma’am!” Visha chirped happily as the last bit of her food vanished into her mouth and she watched with that intensity that meant she was truly focused on the task that Tanya had given her.

Tanya, for her part, took the opportunity to quietly observe a far more interesting sight than the other girls warming up and preparing themselves to compete. Her attention, at least for the moment, was on her companion. The awkwardness of the situation this morning, and what it possibly entailed, could wait. For now, she had to steel her nerves and gathered her courage to face the battle ahead. This was one engagement, when she committed to it, that she could not afford to lose. Otherwise, there was always the balcony.

And such thoughts were what kept her company while they observed the beginning of the competition’s first event.

Chapter Text

Chapter 28, The Seven Schools Competition: Life is a game, and the world is nothing but a chess board. We are but pawns, moving at an unseen hand.
Monday, August 2nd 2094 1:00 PM

Tanya had to admit, the committee in charge of the competition was organized and on time. A fact that mildly surprised her, considering the usual mess most parts of the civilian government made of things, even in a technologically advanced society.

Though, considering that many of them were going to be put to military or other high-profile jobs, then perhaps it was better to consider this a technology display, or even a weapon test. It was true that the young mages could be considered, in many ways, a product. The number of natural mages, such as Visha and herself, were minute. Almost all of their fellow students were the product of a lab more than nature, of that she was certain. It was perhaps a good thing that the world they had fled from did not have that technology, or who knows what kind of hell it would have truly been? Well, something to think about another time when she hadn’t tasked herself with carrying out surveillance on the opposing teams and schools.

As the first competitor stepped onto the field and entered their shooting box, Visha looked over with obvious glee. “I can’t wait to see how they compare to your performance, Tanya.”

“I highly doubt that most of them will be going the route I chose. After all, most of them are running some sort of field or area affecting magical sequence, I doubt many are going to rely on reflex enhancement and seeking magics to achieve a higher degree of operational efficiency.” Tanya replied in her usual dry manner, then glanced aside at Visha. “That said, I am looking forward to seeing how they choose to handle these trials, and see if I can’t incorporate them into my further training for the other first years.”

Visha laughed and gave Tanya a fond look. “That is one of the things I always respect about your dedication to duty, you always are looking for a way to improve the conditions of those under you in the field.”

“Well, what kind of officer would I have been if I didn’t try to ensure that my baby ducks didn’t die on their first outing?” Tanya replied, then that devilish smile gew on her face as she nodded. “And one must never overlook an opportunity for further training, after all.”

Elsewhere, the other first years gave out a collective shudder as a sudden chill seeped over them.

Each competitor is carefully critiqued, catalogued and analyzed. Their strengths and weaknesses laid out in brutal clarity. It's an almost surgical dissection of who and what they are, and the results stored for later use in the fine analytical minds of the two young women who watch like crows over a battlefield.

All in all, it served as a rather refreshing experience for the two veterans. A pastime from training far too many new soldiers over the years of the war. A habit from having seen far too many old faces lost, and new faces set to replace them.

A sobering moment shared by the two veterans.

Tanya jerked a little as she felt a warm, surprisingly soft despite the calluses from far too many engagements, hand gingerly slide over and give hers a gentle squeeze. The two ladies lock eyes for a moment, before they both look away. Their hands remain locked together though, a fact that neither one seems all too quick to point out to the other.

As the first of their upper class girls step up, they both fix their attention on her and begin their analyses annew. Tanya, for her part, is also paying particular attention to those in the stands who are watching, that she knows are not from their school.

“I have five.” She says softly to her companion.

“Three for me.” Visha responded, as always on the same track as her former commander.

“We will compare notes later, then.” Tanya added, to which Visha nodded briefly before they turned their full attention back to the competition at hand.

The display of speed, accuracy and magical talents was a splendid cross section of solutions for the particular problem that they were presented with. Tanya, of course, couldn’t help but create a pro and con list for each competitor, one that she was sure she would be sharing with the young woman that she was still holding hands with. A fact that had some part of Tanya panicking, just a bit. She didn’t remember being THIS hormonally unbalanced as a teen, but then she was hardly your typical teenage boy in her first life, either.

Best to not dwell on it, since it didn’t seem to be bothering Visha as much as it seemed to be bothering herself. With that thought in mind, Tanya continued her dissection of the competition, and her watching of the watchers.

Meanwhile, Visha kept stealing glances at their joined hands, and tried to keep calm and not betray the wild swirl of thoughts that had occupied her mind. It was one of the more daring moves she had made, as far as she was concerned. Sneaking… No, carrying out a covert operation to infiltrate the base of operations of a wary ally was one thing. Especially when you hoped to carry out what could be perceived as a humanitarian operation. Overtly engaging in what could be seen as an unwanted intrusion, or at worse as a land or asset grab into the territory of the same wary ally could be considered the height of folly. That said, she was glad that it looked like she would be able to keep the offending appendage. Well, if she ever wanted to retrieve it from where it was now, that was.

That was not something that Visha found herself in any great hurry to do, though.

All in all, the event went well enough. Their school made a good showing for itself, not stellar but definitely about the middle of the pack. Not that it boded well for them to take the overall title, but it was a start. More importantly for the two veterans, they had several ideas and tactics to discuss with the other first years. That, and a few notes to compare about the six, they concluded, watchers that the two of them had found.

Two seemed to be local, more than likely journalists. They carried themselves with a level of familiarity and moved with confidence, and seemed to know a few of the others that were likely locals. Another three were almost certainly government, the clothing tended to give them away. Too new while looking worn was a sure sign that it was issued to them. Of them, two looked to be European, and one was almost certainly American. The sixth one was the one that had them both on guard. A Chinese woman who wore very casual clothing and carried herself with just the right amount of indifference to not really stand out.

Almost certainly an operative of some sort, and with the visitors they had had at the Facility, it was too much of a coincidence for the two war-scarred veterans.

It seemed that they might have to do a little snooping on their own.

Well, once they got the first years sorted out, that was. It was tiring, being the only responsible ones at times.

As the pair headed back towards where they had already instructed the first years to meet them, they went over the suggestions they were going to pass along to the newcomer participants in speed shooting. Their tactics were already set, but there was nothing wrong with reinforcing what worked.

An instructors job was never done, after all.

That night they had a good, if quiet meal after they had grilled the other first years, and accessed what they had observed for themselves. Sadly, most of them didn’t go into the event with wanting to observe, critique and learn. They wanted to watch, have fun, and cheer on their senpai’s. All fine and dandy, as Tanya was concerned, if they didn’t care about winning and improving their overall operational efficiency. If they didn’t care about perfecting the skills that would one day almost certainly keep them alive.

Remedial courses would be needed.

Their own observations were what led the two temporal refugees to be moving quietly along the rooftops under the cover of optical camouflage spells, and taking advantage of the fact that most people never thought to look up or down. An understandable habit, if you had not been trained in three dimensional combat theory from being an aerial mage.

A covert recon was the task for the night, establishing if and where other teams were likely to be inserted, and if there were, in fact, teams already on site. Fairly standard fare for the two of them, down to the fact it was the two of them doing it.

The spells they were using would hopefully not be recognizable for what they were. Tanya and the good doctor had converted some of their old spells into the new format, and it was serving as a good field test for the formula. The CADs, with some work, could function as multi-core computation jewels, at least for a period of time. The biggest challenge was not overloading Visha’s. Tanya did not want to risk Visha suffering any lasting damage from their covert operations, no matter how she insisted she was fine.

Not that Tanya would admit to it being any more than a good former commanding officer worrying about her subordinates. At least, not anywhere that wasn’t that loud, obnoxious corner of her own mind.

They stopped on a high corner of one of the complexes and checked the surrounding lower roofs carefully, using passive means as much as possible so as to not give away their locations. So far, they had found a few good observation nests, but little sign of them being occupied as of yet. Perhaps they were just being overly cautious? But such caution was a big part of why they were still alive after the hell that was the last half year of the war.

They nodded to each other as they moved to the next position, Visha providing cover as Tanya knelt down and examined the corner they had spotted earlier. Tanya looked carefully for a moment, then nodded as she spoke to Visha without looking up.

“Looks like we found one. There are a few marks on the roof here, and I see what looks like a bipod was set up here. There is a clear line from the drainage here at the base of the wall to the window in the cafeteria. Looks like we found one of their sniper positions. Now, I can’t tell if it was a gun or maybe a camera, but definitely worth keeping track of.” Tanya said as she moved slowly, being careful not to leave her own traces.

"Why all the effort, though? It's just a bunch of students. I don't see why they would go to such lengths, and what's their goal?" Visha asked as she tried to sort it out.

"Any number of reasons, I would imagine. They could be trying to find potential miles, or watching over ones they have already turned. They could be looking for potential threats, hoping to eliminate them before they are established. Nothing like defusing a potential weapon before it has a chance to be deployed. I can think of any number of reasons.". Tanya calmly answered as she brushed herself off.

Visha shook her head as they moved on to check the next spot. "I will never understand how you think, Tanya." Visha confided ruefully.

Tanya glanced over at her and frowned for a moment. "You say that like it's a bad thing. Honestly, sometimes it's good to have someone who takes things closer to face value. There are times when your ability to look at a situation without as much artifice can be valuable. Sometimes the simpler answer is the better one."

Visha smiled, as she accepted the statement as a compliment. "I'm just glad I can be of use to you."

Tanya smiled as they finished their patrol, thankful for Visha’s presence. There was no way that she would have made it through the war without the members of her battalion, and there was no way she would have been able to make it through the hell of the war with some shreds of her humanity intact without the grounding presence of Visha to keep her from sliding deeper into that abyss.

“So, what is our next step?” Visha asked as they made their way back to the hotel.

“Now, we wait and see what their next move is. We have an understanding of where they can move their pieces, and some ideas of what their objectives might be. We see what route they go, and we make sure that we are the ones that control the outcome.” Tanya smiled that evil little smiled that evil little smile of hers. “The game is about to begin, Visha. Time to show them how it is played.”

Chapter Text

The next morning Tanya awoke feeling warm and refreshed. She had her suspicions, as she gazed at the back of her for her adjutant who was already up.and brewing that blessed black gold that have her life and the perseverance to fight on.

"How do you always manage to bring enough coffee, and the tools to make it, while never going over the allotted weight and space?" Tanya inquired as she slipped out of bed and stretched.

Visha smiled over her shoulder, then quickly faced forward. "Ummm, many years of practice? I learned just how much I had to carry, how much space I really needed, and how to fit everything in. You are much more, well, you with coffee in you."

Visha glanced over her shoulder again, breathed a silent sigh of relief seeing Tanya seated at the table and walked over to place both of their morning drinks on the table. "And as I figure it, our chances of survival increase when you have the proper amount of good coffee in you, ma'am."

Tanya chuckled and nodded. "Indeed, I always seem to be much sharper on the days I get to enjoy your coffee, Visha. I would even say you should have received a medal for your diligence in making sure I was at my best for the Empire.". Tanya grinned at the blushing Visha and laughed. "Maybe the Silver Cup of the Order of the Ground Bean."

Visha shook her head fondly. "Your a brilliant tactician, Ma'am. But, perhaps, it would be best if you left the jokes to someone less… ummm… terrifying?"

"Terrifying? I'm hardly terrifying, am I? I know very well what I look like, and terrifying is far f I'm how i would describe myself." Tanya said with a scowl.

"Tanya, anyone who has faced you, even in mock combat, finds you terrifying. Your the most capable aerial mage the Empire, or the world, had ever known.". Visha said cautiously.

Tanya contemplated that for a moment, the eyed her companion closely. "Does that include you, Visha?"

"Intimidated, yes. Afraid? Never, or at least not in a long time. You were a bit terrifying at first, Tanya. Now, though? I have never felt safer." Visha said earnestly.

Tanya coughed and blushed. "We had best hurry, or we will miss breakfast. I think that Jane even said she would save us a pair of seats."

Visha nodded happily as she rose and held the door for them both, then fell in behind Tanya as they headed for the dining hall.

Jane sighed as she sat in her room, reading over her decrypted and protected orders. The agent had delivered them to her at an opportune time at the beginning of the competition, and she still couldn't believe the orders she held in her hands.

Visha, a strategic class mage? It seemed beyond the scope of possibility. Even a tactical class mage seemed a stretch. She just wasn't what she would expect, to be honest.

Now, more than ever before, she hated the position she had been put in. They were friends, real friends. Even the downright terrifying young mage, Tanya. If anyone had the potential and presence to be a real threat, she had to imagine it would be Tanya.

She said as sure the mastermind behind the incredible and rapid improvement in the first years had to have been Tanya, not Visha. Visha seemed.to be happy.to okay a supporting role, making Tanya's plans transition almost seamlessly into reality. That was the sign of a good subordinate, not a military mastermind.

That also brought up the fact that both of them, more Tanya than Visha, had a distinctly military bearing to them. Where had they received that kind of upbringing or training while staying off the radar for so long?

The more she had to think about it, the less sense it all made. Jane shook her head as she finished getting ready for breakfast. It was going to be interesting, she feared. She hoped that all of this would just blow over. She didn't want to lose two friends to the machinations of the global powers.

And she didn't want to incur the wrath of Tanya. And she knew without a doubt that anything that affected Visha would quickly draw the attention of the Beast of Berlin.

Jane shuddered as she finished getting ready and made her way down to the dining hall. She had to reserve a table for Tanya, Visha, herself and two of the boys. Hans Frieber was already waiting for her outside of the dining hall, talking to Hans Sieber.

The two Hans discussed the plans for the upcoming matches in an animated manner, the two strong personalities clashing as they often did.

"I honestly don't care what you advise, Sieber. We are sticking to the plans of the Beast. They have worked well in training, and we think that they will give us an edge." Frieber said heatedly.

"You should listen to me, Frieber. I was on the Monolith Code team before, and I know what I am doing much better than some first year girl who can't even compete." Sieber said in an almost condescending manner.

"Regardless, we will be doing our best to execute her plans. I suggest you focus on the official team, and hope they can do fairly well." Frieber said before he pointedly ignore the other boy to nod to Jane. "Jane, good to see you. Sieber and I were just having a friendly discussion."

Sieber nodded stiffly, then held the door open for the tall redhead, as he smiled his most winning smile. "So good to see a reasonable face, Jane. You are looking quite fetching today." He said winningly.

Jane laughed as she walked past him and patted him on the shoulder. "Save it for the younger girls. I know you too well, Sieber." She said as she scanned the room and picked out a table for them. Jane nodded and led the two boys, who had resumed glaring at each other, over to the chosen table. She knew that the pair would be there presently, and had arranged the others to meet her a few minutes ahead.

Always best to try to make a favorable impression on Tanya and, of course, the new subject of her espionage, Visha.

She still thought that was ridiculous. But, who was she to question orders. Even if she in no way agreed with them.

She sighed as she thought about how disappointed the other members of the League would be in her if they knew.

Jane is pulled from her ruminations by the arrival of the pair, both dressed for the day already. Jane shook her head as she looked down at her exercise wear as she contemplated how the pair would get ready in time for the 'light and refreshing' run that they had been told to make sure the other first years were ready for.

Jane had volunteered to join them, something she was already sure she would come to regret.

"I am glad you made it on time. I was worried that it would be too early for you." Tanya said as she sat and placed her tray before herself. Visha followed suit, and Jane could almost swear she heard the table groan from the amount of food on Visha's tray.

Frieber didn’t even blink, much as Jane knew that she and Sieber had both stared at the small mountain of food, before they both looked at the pleased, rather slender young woman who set about destroying the food like it was an enemy formation.

Tanya continued, as if it was completely normal. “I called you here so we can do a quick post-mortem of the first day’s events before we move into the official crowd ball later today. Visha and I have prepared a few files for you, they will already be on your handhelds. Oh, and here are the more thorough ones, that actually have our conclusions and the actions that we should take to improve our own performance.” Tanya said as she slid a hand-written sheaf of papers to each of the representatives that she had gathered together.

“Why the paper copies? Couldn’t you have just sent it all to our handhelds?” Jane asked curiously.

“Why, my dear Donner, because you never know who else is looking at your handhelds. Physical media is actually safe in this day and age, and I have always found that it seems to be easier to retain if you have a physical copy to reference.” Tanya answered as she sipped from her coffee.

Jane blinked at her, then nodded slowly as Sieber just looked on with a confused look on his face. “So, you sent us briefs that could be decoys, on our handhelds, while you and Visha hand-delivered the actual papers?” Jane asked as she started to flip through the neatly written, easily read documents. “How did you even learn to do this?” She asked half to herself.

“Oh, I did the writing and correlating. It is how we usually do these sorts of things.” VIsha said between mouthfuls of pancakes and sausage. “This time it was easier than normal, though.”

Jane looked at her with narrowed eyes. “And why is that? I would think that trying to write out this, by hand it looks, in the course of one night would be challenging. Doing it multiple times would be even more so. And, let me guess, you didn’t make copies of any of this, did you?”

Visha looked at her blankly for a moment, before she turned her eyes on Tanya who laughed softly. “No, we didn’t use a machine to replicate them. You never know who has access to the buffers, after all.” Tanya explained as she took another drink of her coffee. “It would completely ruin our preparations, after all.”

Sieber looked at her, as he tried to wrap his head around it all. “And, what preparations would that be?” He asked as Tanya reached over and tapped on the packet. “Page 3, paragraph 2. We are going to provide those who are clearly watching and observing us false intel, so that we can properly gauge the level of infiltration.”

Jane swallowed a bit as she looked at Tanya. “Infiltration? Watching and observing? Why… Would anyone do that?”

Tanya leaned a bit towards Jane, and the taller girl had to fight not to flinch away. “Because, my dear. They are. They are watching us, and possibly plotting to use that intel in some way. I always prefer to be the one who is doing the watching, rather than being watched. It just works better that way. They usually manage to find some way to bungle it, and ruin all the work they put into the operation. Much more efficient to be the one who is leading everything.”

Jane nodded nervously as those cold eyes swept past her and pinned Sieber and Frieber to their chairs. “Now, what I would like to do with you two, is make sure that we are running different strategies between the two divisions. Wouldn’t do for them to figure things out for one group by watching the other.” Tanya took another sip of her coffee, and looked at Frieber. “We will start doing some remedial training every morning, as well. If possible, I would prefer to do it before breakfast. Just something light, a brief ten klick jog and calisthentics to get them into fighting trim. Now, if they seem to be slacking, well, then we might have to get a bit more serious, after all.” Tanya said with a grin that sent a shiver down the backs of everyone present, except for Visha who was too busy eating to really notice.

The next thirty minutes were spent on a very thorough breakdown of the previous days events, with the promise of another meeting like this evey morning until the competition ended. Tanya then looked at Jane and nodded to Frieber. “He will take you to where the other students are. We will be joining you all presently.”

As Jane and Hans Frieber made their way towards where the first years were gathered, Jane looked over at him and asked. “How long will we be waiting for them to go change?”

He laughed and shook his head. “More than likely, they will beat us there. And no, they don’t have their workout clothes under their others. They will make it to their room, get changed, drop doing to the ground, and be here all too quickly. I have watched them do similar things before.” He said as he shook his head.

Jane nodded slowly as they entered the clearing, and Tanya and Visha were already arranging the other students to their liking.

“Ahh, just in time. Shall we, then? Nothing like a little exercise to start the day off right.” Tanya said, before leading the other students on what she had termed ‘A light jog.’

By the end, Jane was winded and sweaty, as she looked at the other students who didn’t seem to be phased in any way by the ten click run. “Aren’t you tired after that?” She asked one of the other girls, who just shook her head.

“No, should I be? If the Beast tells you to run, you had best figure out how to do it. You never want to be the recipient of her remedial training. I was terrified of her at first, now though…..” The girl left the rest hanging as she turned to face Tanya with a happy, almost hungry look in her eyes.

“Okay, I think that my dead grandmother could almost beat you, so I guess you have improved a bit. Go get cleaned up, remember your assignments, and we will see you at oh-five-hundred tomorrow. Now, dismissed!” Tanya ordered as Visha and her started to walk off, before they both stopped and looked back at Jane. “Are you coming?”

Jane nodded as she fell in with the other two. “Of course, I wouldn’t miss a moment with you two if I can help it.”

Jane sighed as she walked along, once again sure that her superiors were idiots. How did they miss Tanya, and the potential she had?

Not that she WANTED anything to happen to them. They were her friends, after all.

Jane sighed as she felt even worse about the situation.

It was going to be a long week.

Chapter Text

Chapter 30, The Seven Schools Competition: No battle is more bloody and fraught with peril than the wars waged over the heart.

Thursday, August 5th, 2094 5:00 A.M. Newcomer Speed Shooting.

Tanya laid as still as she could as Visha walked into the kitchen to begin her morning ritual, one she had done whenever their deployment had allowed it.

The fact that Visha had exited her bed to start this morning routine was a fact that Tanya had not quite come to grasps with yet. It was a revelation that she hoped would make the confession tonight a bit more of a confident bet. She didn't want to have to resort to Exit Plan Alpha.

Not.so much out of the fear of death, she had long since gotten over that. It was more the fact that she was positive that her personal pain in the ass, that sanctimonious Being X, would find perverse pleasure in it.

And that was something she could not in good conscience condone. She had spent the majority of a second life proving that she was no self-styled divine beings plaything, and it went against all her rationale and sensibilities to prove him right now.

One did have standards to maintain, after all.

The thought of those standards served to help draw her mind away from the quiet contemplation of her longtime companion and roommate. A series of facts that still baffled her, and made her rather rational and logical mind derail a bit. She mentally shook herself as she got back to the task at hand, and not admiring the backside of her former subordinate.

She mentally shook herself again, and forced her distracted mind back to where it needed to be. So far, the various operatives had not done anything overly overt, it would seem. There had been some odd break ins during the last day or two, but so far nothing more than probing maneuvers, tests of the opponents readiness. Honestly, nothing less than what was to be expected when you were effectively showing off the nation's next generation of weapons. It was also entirely possible it was students pulling pranks on each other, without regard to the larger picture.

It was good to have a reliable asset like Jane here, as well. She was not part of the unit that Tanya was leading at the moment, so she could very well fall out of the operational considerations of any of the operatives that were keeping a close eye on the first years. Tanya had her suspicions, but so far that was all they were. Soon enough she was sure that she would have the facts to better understand what her opponents operational goals were. From that point, it was a simple matter of deduction to trace their best course of operations from that knowledge and to be one step ahead of them at their own game. It was a skill that had served both her and Visha well during the war, and there was no reason it would not continue to do so in this world. In fact, here it would likely be of even greater value, since those involved were more likely to be acting out of rationale and logic, clear objectives and goals over ephemeral things like ‘Honor’ ‘Duty’ or ‘ Belief’. It was the last one that always proved the most difficult to predict, as her run-ins with the Sioux’s had proven time and time again.

At least she had not met their analogs in this world, but perhaps it was best not to tempt Being X too much at this point, after all. Neither of them needed a religious fanatic that could level a section of a small town after them once again. Especially one that took those three ephemeral reasons to such a ludicrous extreme. Killing oneself to take out one enemy hardly seemed like a good use of such valuable resources. It was one of the many reasons that she had felt such disdain in her first life at the knowledge of her own homeland’s use of suicide attacks such as the kamakazi. Completely unacceptable, such wasteful tactics in an activity that was already fraught with undue waste and inefficiency. But, she supposed, that was the nature of war.

Speaking of inefficiency, the performance of the regular students in the competition so far was not filling her with confidence towards their futures as the next generation of mages that would help shape the fate of this country. Tanya was certain that almost any of her recruits, that was her fellow first year students, would be able to compete on a fair or even unfair field against any of the older competitors.

Truly, the understanding of how to properly motivate students to excel was a lost art in most ages, it seemed. Nothing that soul-shattering fear, exhaustion, and mild trauma could not fix, after all. She did miss the use of an artillery battalion to help properly motivate her pupils.

But one must make do with what one had on hand.

Tanya watched her companion for a bit longer, as she soaked in her presence as much as she did the residual warmth from the cooling section of her bedding. How and when this had started, she was not sure but she admitted that the nightmares had seemed to be much milder and less frequent lately, except for the one that involved Visha herself. That one seemed to have found new fangs as of late. Perhaps it had been her subconscious mind's way of letting her know about the change in her sleeping arrangements? Either way, it was almost time to ‘wake up’ and stop pretending to be asleep still. One must keep to a schedule, after all.

And if she was to be fair to herself, she had any number of valid reasons to be a bit on edge today. Not only was it her first competition in the games, it was the first of possible chances she thought would be appropriate to confess her feelings to Visha, and see where exactly her companion wanted to see them. If she was happy with the relationship they had shared for years as superior and adjunct, or if perhaps she wanted to see if there could be something a bit more, personal. Not that Tanya had any real experience to go from in either life. Her first life she had been far too focused on achieving her goals at work to ever waste the time to pursue a relationship with anyone. There were any number of ways to handle the physical urges, such as she had had.

It was amusing that her best chance of romance was as a teenage girl with one of her teenage companions. It could even be thought to be ironic. Her first relationship might happen in her second life in the third world she had lived in. Hopefully she didn’t manage to somehow add something to fill the number four slot. But, knowing how things usually went she had just somehow jinxed herself.

Tanya knew she was stalking, a tactic that she found unforgivable in others and would not tolerate in herself so she rolled out of bed and landed lightly on her toes as she stretched.

"Good morning, Visha. Breakfast smells good, thank you." Tanya said politely as she walked towards the small table in their room.

Visha laughed as she pulled the lid off the serving tray. "Thank you, Tanya, but all I did was brew the coffee. Other than that, it's the order we had agreed on." Visha said as she blushed slightly and brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Tanya coughed and nodded. “Indeed. So, I think that we are doing fairly well, at least the first years are so far. I have not been impressed with the performance of our seniors, though.”

Visha paused and shrugged. “I don’t think they are doing that badly, Tanya. They are better than the Dacians were?”

Tanya laughed and took a drink of her coffee. “Visha, you are one of the nicest people I have ever met. That is a rather low bar to set, you know. Still, I am hoping that at least our first years make a good showing of themselves. I would hate to think that all of the country would think that everyone at our school is inept. It would possibly hurt our prospects going forward.”

Visha pondered that for a moment as she munched away at her breakfast. “Well, I am sure that you will do excellent, at least. Most of the others I think will do okay, but I’m still a bit concerned about the Monolith Code team.”

Tanya chuckled as she took another sip. “No concerns about me doing less than excellent, hrm? I am not sure if I should feel flattered or worry that you are possibly setting your sights a bit high, Visha.”

Visha shook her head as she finished her meal. “Of course not! I know quite well what you are capable of when you set your mind on it.” She rested her hand lightly on her chest. “I’m living proof of that, Tanya. You saved me when no one else could have, and not just that time. Every time before, as well.” She cleaned up their plates and placed them back on the tray and thus missed Tanya’s blush at the statement from her former adjunct.

Tanya cleared her throat. “I will do my best to live up to the high ideals set for me, then.” She said as she finished her coffee and added it to the tray as well. “So, shall we then?”

“Ma’am!” Visha answered as she moved to get dressed, already having laid out Tanya’s outfit for the morning, in this case her outfit for the Speed Shooting competition that was slated to begin in a few hours.

“At least they chose to start this off in the morning, I would hate to see what it would be like if they had waited for the afternoon.” Tanya said as she collected the gear she would need, barring the gun and CAD, which were being kept in the team's support room.

Once they had left their room, they gathered the other first years, along with a few extras like Jane, to participate in a light jog to get everyone ready for the day ahead of them. Tanya had to admit, Jane was shaping up well. She was not even winded after their morning run, and that was a good improvement already. Honestly, if she was going to rebuild her command and control structure, certain minimums would be expected. Yes, there were a few individuals that would be exempt from the physical requirements but for the rest, a certain level of competency would be required.

Once again, Tanya bemoaned the lack of an artillery battalion to make use of.

Tanya and Visha, along with Jane and a couple of others that didn’t have any pressing matters made their way to the support room and retrieved the rest of the gear that would be needed today for those participating in the day’s events. They nodded to the other first years that were gathering their own equipment for their practice runs for the upcoming events as Tanya’s party made its way to the venue, arriving a solid fifteen minutes before registration was set to begin.

Tanya moved to stand in the line, her gun and CAD ready to be presented to the officials for inspection. She had made sure that the spells loaded into the CAD were fairly standard. Simple enhancement and tracking spells. She had perfected her own style of shooting in the crucible of war, and highly doubted that this competition would require all that much more than the basics for her. It was always best to rely to the bare minimum on gear, and to use skill and expertise instead. Much more reliable, in the end.

Anyone who doubted that philosophy had never witnessed Visha at work with an entrenching tool.

Tanya stepped forward and presented her gear to the inspector, and watched him as he checked it over. No reason to be lax, after all. After she had retrieved her gear, she walked with Visha to the staging area, while the others went to find seats in the stands. “I will never understand the need to watch another person performing a simple drill like this, unless they think it will help them improve their own performance.”

Visha laughed and shook her head, her eyes dancing. “Because they want to wish you well, and see you succeed. Just like I do.”

Tanya coughed and nodded. “Well, then I will make sure that I succeed.”

“Good luck, Ma’am!” Visha said, as she barely stopped herself from saluting before she moved to join the others.

Tanya smiled that predatory smile of hers as she observed the other competitors. This was going to be fun. It was always best to test oneself against your peers, after all. Just a friendly little competition, after all.

In the stands, Visha shivered as she felt an ominous dread spread over the venue. “Oh no…” Visha said quietly to herself, and looked at Jane who was giving her a questioning look.

“What is it, Visha? Did you remember something that Tanya forgot?” Jane asked.

“No… No, it’s just… I get the feeling that Tanya might be taking this seriously…” Visha said in a worried tone of voice.

“And, you are saying she hasn’t been serious before?” Jane asked as she shared that same odd sense of dread.

“No, she has actually been pretty relaxed about things, in my experience.” Visha said.

“Oh my…” A noticeably pale Jane said softly.

Chapter Text

Chapter 31, The Seven Schools Competition: The Beast rears her head, and her roar deafens the masses.

Thursday, August 5th, 2094 8:00 A.M. Newcomer Speed Shooting.

Tanya grinned as she stretched, as she made sure she was as relaxed and supple as possible. A fast and fluid body was always a necessity when you were shooting. It was a shame that she did not often find the time and place for a good stretch before battle, but one had to do with what was available, after all. And it gave her a chance to observe the other contestants without being obvious about it. She had to admit, the yoga classes that Dr. Nishina had recommended were paying off. It made putting up with that Oni both easier and even worse. If she knew how beneficial Tanya found them, she would truly be insufferable. The fact that Visha got along so well with the old witch only proved what a saint her former adjutant really was.

Tanya let her thoughts drift for just a moment before she shook her head and focused them back on the task at hand, namely matching the dossiers she had to the students at hand. A little reconnaissance never hurt, after all. One must always be prepared. Of those present, she only really was worried about a few of them.

There was Emilia Weint, a tall blue-eyed blonde with a commanding air about her. She had excellent marks, and Tanya had to admit that from what she had seen in practice, passable skills. Her research suggested that she was using vibration-based magic to create resonance fields to tear the targets apart. Effective, and subtle. Right up Tanya’s own path, if the option was available.

The next was the dark of hair and eye Leisel Gerhardt. She was stocky and rounded, but moved with a fluid grace. She hadn’t been able to get details on the magic she was going to be using, but she came from a family with a long history of military service, so Tanya expected that her marksmanship was probably at least adequate.

The final one was Rayna Von Richten, the young scion of a family with roots that went back to the old aristocracy. Pale blonde hair, and light blue eyes, she seemed more like a creature out of some Germanic fairy tale told in the winter than a person. Her demeanor was as cold as her appearance, and she was rumored to be a strong user of interference type magic.

Even though these three were the most capable, Tanya felt fairly confident in her chances. Still, better to err on the side of caution, and put some real effort in. She didn't want to disappoint Visha, after all. Plus, she did have the other students to think about.

Yes, it would seem it was time to put forth some real effort. The grin that turned her elfin, some would even say angelic, features into something far more sinister made a passing official hurry along. Tanya didn't notice, as she chewed on her thumb as she decided how to best ensure her success.

All of the magic she was going to use had to be submitted beforehand, so she couldn't dip into her newest bag of tricks. The combination of enhancement magic that she had decided on was close to what she would have used in combat. Perhaps loading in the seeking spells they had worked out, as well? Just a bit of an ace in the hole, as it were. And it was, after all, an outgrowth of spells that existed, just a bit of a different path from what most of those formulas seemed to use.

She would use the variation that Visha had written, it pushed the limits a bit less, and it would showcase the talents of her former adjutant. A good superior always sought to advance the career possibilities of those beneath them. Yes, that was the best way to advance this.

Tanya put thought into action as she loaded the sequence, and walked over to present the adjusted CAD to an official to have it examined and out on record. Of course, she made sure that she cited Visha as the creator of the spell she had added. It was the right thing to do, to help her better find her own place, and earn the accolades she deserved.

That taken care of, Tanya returned to her warm up exercises, feeling rather good about herself. She failed to notice the slight turmoil she had caused, or the looks that she continued to receive from one official in particular. An official who, once they were out of sight, quickly updated his superiors in the United States on this latest development regarding Viktoria Serebryakov's latest move.

It was brazen, submitting what was a new variation on a spell, and one that seemed so odd, as well. The composition was unusual, the glyph sequences seemed almost haphazard in some ways, but also eloquent. In the end, it didn’t matter what he thought of it. All that mattered was what his superiors and handler thought of this information, and how much it was worth in the end.

He had to admit, he felt a bit bad for the young girl who was clearly being used as a pawn by Serebryakov in whatever scheme she had hatched. Even if miss Degurecheff did give him an odd feeling, it didn’t matter. She was clearly just a tool being manipulated, or so said his handler. It was in the young girls best interest to expose the mastermind, after all. He just prayed that God would see fit to protect the lost little lamb.

Unaware of the gears she had put into motion with her impulsive action, Tanya grinned to herself, still feeling rather good about the whole situation. Even if someone did try to make use of the sequence, without the training that both Visha and her had, it would be mostly useless. Tanya nodded to herself as she finished her stretches and gathered her gear to wait for her chance to compete.

She just hoped that Visha appreciated what was about to start. For the good of the team, after all. Not that she would ever want to impress a girl that she had a crush on, that would be horribly illogical, after al. And Tanya would never do something for such an irrational reason, after all. Perhaps some recognition would settle her resident battle maniac, without actual combat to keep her content. Yes, it was most certainly all being done for the sake of Visha.

Tanya nodded and finished her preparations in time to watch the first contestant of the day, one of the girls she had already dismissed as a potential challenger, and smiled grimly as her expectations and assessment were proved correct.

Two more of the other girls competed before the first of the girls she considered competent stepped up. Emelia Weint stood in a relaxed, almost regal pose as she waited for them to begin. She placed her ear plugs in, then assumed her firing stance. Once they started, each target was met with a quick, precise burst of ultra-high frequency sound waves.

Showy, and with practical combat usefulness, but in competition there were definitely much more effective and simplistic measures that could have been employed, but Tanya had to cede the fact that it made an impact. Even if the execution left certain factors in doubt, like it’s viability when they moved to matched shooting.

After another couple of girls that Tanya had already dismissed from consideration, it was time for Lesiel Gerhardt. She seemed almost impatient as she stood at the ready, the CAD held at parade rest as she waited for the first target. She seemed a little slow getting it into position when the target flew, leaving her little time to actually engage her target. Her reactions were adequate, but her impatient nature seemed to get the better of her, leaving her out of position at times and only her speed really enabled her to engage the targets efficiently. Yes, her marksmanship was good, and the speed of activation on her spells was excellent, but her bad habits were sure to get her in trouble down the line. Honestly, setting her straight now would be doing her and the country a service.

Tanya nodded to herself as she looked at the list of competitors and noted that she was up after another of the girls she had dismissed after watching her in practice. Decent spell activation, but a bit hesitant in her execution. Potential, but without someone to properly take her under their wing and educate her on exactly what she was doing wrong, she would continue to lag behind. Once again, Tanya found herself feeling nostalgic over the days of training that first batch of recruits for the 203rd. Those were the days, the abject terror and fear of the recruits, seeing them grow into competent mages, people she would eventually be able to trust her life to.

Maybe she was a bit overly nostalgic, maybe even a bit homesick. She never thought she would feel that way about the hell that was her last world, but it did have its good points.. The fact that she had dragged one of the best points of that second life with her was a definite bonus.

She pulled herself out of her ruminations and back to the present as she watched the previous contestant leave the field, and then she marched herself out onto the field. Tanya quickly checked over everything that she had already checked before, but good habits are meant to be kept, after all. She took a slow, steady breath before she nodded to the official overseeing the event and mentally prepared the sequences she would be using.

The first was a simple reaction enhancer, hardly needed but best to pad the results in her favor, after all. The second was another fairly simple spell, the air bullet. Simple, precise, and accurate. She would not need the third sequence for this, and quite possibly not during the matched shooting, but best to be prepared.

As the event started, she executed the first array, and saw the world noticeably slow around her. A rudimentary effect, compared to what she was capable of now, but best to not let anyone know about the non-systemic entropic control she had up her sleeve. Still, the CAD did make the execution so much easier than it had been with the computation gem.

Tanya quickly centered herself, her aim sitting in a midpoint as she let her training and peripheral perception handle target acquisition. As the first targets started to fly, she engaged with the barest minimum of movement, destroying each of them as they entered her kill zone.

Tanya is unaware of the silence that fell over the stadium, those that understand what they are seeing by their silent appreciation quieting the others. One after another the targets are destroyed in a near perfect display of speed shooting.

The crowd is silent for a moment as Tanya finished and stood there before she removed her shooting glasses. When her schoolmates roared out 'The Beast!' Tanya just smirked and shook her head before saluting them and marching off the field.

The final girl of the preliminary round was Rayna Van Richten, and her demeanor was as cold as her appearance. Tanya had to admit that she appreciated the cool demeanor of the other girl. She was focused and professional, the kind of person that Tanya would have appreciated having as a coworker in her first life. The spell sequence she chose to execute was a work of art, as far as Tanya was concerned. A two-layer wrapped sphere of variable interference types, one creating a field of intense heat, and the core being a zone of freezing cold. The use of thermal shock to destroy any of the targets that passed through the layered sphere was well done, expertly executed, and elegant.

Tanya was unsure of why the crowd did not react more exuberantly, perhaps they were in shock of the simple elegance of the young lady's choice? It made sense, and cemented the idea that this young lady was certainly the one to watch out for.

Tanya nodded to herself as she waited for the matched shooting rounds to start. She watched each of the matches with a critical eye, as she dismantled the positive and negative elements of each girl's performance. Her own early matches go by with little problem for her, without need for her to pull out her trump card. The speed and efficiency of her engagement leaves the lesser competitors in the dust, and eases her up the rankings.

Of those that she was watching, Emilia and Rayna faced off in the match after Tanya’s last win. The two Germanic beauties sized each other up, then calmly engaged each other in a nearly textbook match. Each had their little moments, but in the end it was Rayna who managed to prevail in a close match against her opponent. As Rayna walked off, she smirked at Tanya and nodded pleasantly. “I will see you in the finals, if you can beat Lesiel. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter to me, I know I will be the one standing on the podium at the end of the day, after all. An upstart like you can’t beat out old blood and good breeding, after all.”

With that said, she walked off to the applause of the crowd. Tanya, for her part, didn’t rise to the bait. Such petty teenage drama was below her, after all. It was always better to prove yourself with actions over words. The grin that crossed her delicate lips would have sent any recruit of the 203rd scrambling for cover, because they surely knew what was coming.

Tanya nodded to herself as she entered the field, and gave a slight nod of acknowledgement to Lesiel as she impatiently took her own place. “Good luck.” Tanya said in way of acknowledgement as her opponent looked down at the slightly shorter girl.

“You too. Now, don’t get upset when I win, hrm?” Lesiel said as she promptly ignored Tanya, and shifted about impatiently.

Tanya settled into her ready posture, relaxed and stone cold. She had already decided that she was not going to need her little trump card against this opponent, and would just win like she had the previous rounds, through speed, marksmanship and a better tactical understanding of the field.

Once both girls were ready, the competition started. As each target flew, Tanya engaged and destroyed them with minimal effort, and maximum efficiency. Lesiel, on the other hand, wasted a lot of energy and movement with her quick, almost jerky movements. As the counters went up, it was clear that Lesiel had become more and more impatient and anxious, as targets started to slip by out of the scoring zone.

By the end of the match, Tanya had scored a perfect run while her opponent lagged considerably behind her. Tanya smiled that cold, polite smile at Lesiel. “I hope that next year we can have another good match like this one.” She said before she walked off, leaving her upset competitor to just stare at the tallies before leaving the field as well.

Tanya’s and Visha’s eyes met as she walked off the field, and for a long moment it seemed like the world stopped before each looked away a bit redder than they were a moment ago. Tanya took a moment to shake her head, as she looked at her opponent for the last round. Perhaps it was time to pull out her trump card, and show the world just how talented Visha was, hrm?

Tanya smirked as she bit her thumb in anticipation, unaware of the shiver that runs through those that see her angelic features as they twisted into something much darker.

Tanya nodded to herself as she mentally prepared herself for the match ahead, she was sure that this would be quite educational for all involved.

Elsewhere, in an office in the headquarters of a certain nation’s intelligence agency, a mid-level official was in a mild state of panic. It was late at night for them, and he had just received notification from an asset of Viktoriya Ivanovna Serebryakov’s latest move. It was brazen, bold, and demanded almost immediate action. It was time to sanction her, before she became any more of a problem. He nodded as he quickly sent the orders to the team in the area. It was a stroke of almost divine providence that he had caught onto her in the first place, one of those sudden epiphanies that changed a person’s life and career in an instant.

He just prayed to God that they had acted in time to stop her from becoming a true threat.

It was, after all, God’s will that they succeeded.

Chapter Text

Chapter 32, The Seven Schools Competition: One should not poke at the beast that lurks under the bed, lest it bite off the offending hand.

Thursday, August 5th, 2094 3:00 P.M. Newcomer Speed Shooting.

Tanya bounced on her toes as she got ready to go out for finals. She had to admit, she was more than a bit excited. It seemed like the perfect time to use the spell that Visha had crafted. Nothing like promoting a talented subordinate, after all. As long as no one thought they could head hunt them for their own organization, that is. If they attempted that, well, perhaps she would let them find out why she was always talked about in quiet tones around the water cooler in her first life.

As she marched out to her circle, she eyed Rayna as her opponent did the same. The dismissive look she had gotten before was still there, along with a slight curl of the lip. Honestly, Rayna needed to learn better how to hide what she was thinking and feeling, it made her far too easy to read. A potentially fatal trait in a combat mage. Tanya knew that her own impassive, almost bored gaze gave away nothing, and had the tendency to infuriate those that were more likely to let their passions override logic. Perhaps her first impression of Rayna as someone cold and calculating had been a mistake. She, it would seem, was just a simple bitch. Tanya nodded to herself as a devilish little smirk crossed her lips. Putting her in her place was in the best interest of the country, after all. A lesson learned now could save lives and effort later. She could even be said to be doing the whole country a service.

Rayna eyed Tanya over and smiled coldly. "Congratulations on your success, it's a shame that you came so far to just fall short here. I do hope you can at least make this look good. Oh, and good luck." She said dismissively.

Tanya nodded to her, but didn't rise to the bait. She wouldn't give her that satisfaction. She hadn't ever been the kind of person that would give in to such impulses, or act on unreasonable desires. Perhaps if more people had been like her, she would never have lived this second life. She would never have been exposed to the horrors of war. She would not be the personal pet project of that self described god.

She would never have met Visha.

She would never have met Willa, or Jane. She would never have known either doctor Schugel. Or had the chance to sit and talk to someone like Dr. Nishina. There was no way that two people such as who she once was and any variant of the doctor would have been in the same circles.

Would she thank that tyrannical, maniacal Being X for this? No, she would not. But she could make the best of it, and right now that seemed to entail putting Rayna firmly in her place, and exhibiting the talents of her former adjutant. Yes, quite a reasonable reason to beat her thoroughly.

Tanya nodded to herself before she cast that cold, dismissive look of hers at Rayna, then smiled. "Oh yes, let's have an excellent match. I look forward to seeing you standing below me on the podium."

Rayna bristled at that, then pointedly turned her head away as she finished her own preparations. Tanya grinned as she settled in, that self satisfied grin splitting her lips.

When the targets started to fly, at first it seemed that both of the young ladies had decided to stick with what had worked so well in previous rounds. Rayna's activation sequences were smooth, accurate and efficient while Tanya's use of tactical prowess and situational awareness made her simple, efficient spells a work of art.

Everything changed, though, when the pace picked up. Tanya seemed to fall off pace for a moment, and Rayna grinned, sure she had won.

That was the moment that traces of light started flying through multiple targets at once. Each shot that Tanya took was quickly striking up to three targets at once.

Rayna looked over for a moment, shocked enough that she fell out of her groove, as her pace faltered. She grit her teeth and struggled to catch up. Meanwhile, the dancing of fairy lights continued it's inevitable march towards victory. Tanya never wavered, each spell activated and traced the optimal path between targets one after another. Once more, the stadium fell into stunned silence.

Yes, seeking and guided spells were not unheard of, but usually they were not this flexible or efficient. The sequences that were needed were usually well beyond what you could expect from a student, and none of those present recognized this particular application of the technique. That could only mean one thing.

A new spell was being deployed right before their very eyes.

Not just a new application of a spell, or a novel approach to using a particular sequence. What was being used with an almost casual ease was an entirely new spell sequence. And it would not be long before the author of this sequence was revealed. Viktoriya Ivanovna Serebryakov was listed as the creator of this sequence, a fact that is quickly relayed by a certain official to their handler in the United States. A handler that just happened to be at their terminal when the message came in.

He read the message, then carefully put down his cup of coffee and read it again before he swallowed and opened a secure channel with the team on the ground.

"This is E. I need immediate cleanup on the Russian Doll. Dustpan is authorized. What is the timeline for cleanup?". He sent to the wet works team in the field.

The reply came shortly, as he expected it to. "Immediate cleanup not possible, earliest possible cleanup would be 2000 or 2200 tonight. Clean up will be loud and messy. Highly likely to disturb homeowners. Proceed with scheduled cleanup?"

He paused for only a moment, then nodded to himself. If he waited, who knew when he would get an opportunity next? And he shuddered to think of the threat she was likely to become if left alone for too long. Better to clean up this mess before it becomes a bigger one. He knew he was right in doing this. He would trust his gut and his god-given insight.

That taken care of, he pulled the bible he had started to carry with him, and opened it to a page at random, and smiled as he read what was contained within.

"Exodus, 34:14. No truer words were even written. He is a jealous God, and covets your worship and praise. No one should be placed in your heart before him."

Elsewhere, Tanya had met up with the rest of her group including a conflicted Visha.

"Congratulations on your win, Tanya… But did you think it was wise to use that spell sequence? Doctor Nishina hadn't given us permission to make it public yet…" Visha hedged nervously.

Tanya waved her hand dismissively. "She will understand, it was only a matter of time until some of what we have been working on would make its way into the public eye. As I see it, this was a good live fire test in real world conditions."

"Why did you use my sequence? We both know yours is far more efficient." Visha continued while the other members of their little troupe tried to be inconspicuous.

"You have made so much progress, I thought it only right that you should get the credit, and because as of right now mine is the more efficient sequence, I thought we should keep that one under wraps." Tanya countered as the two refugees walked side by side, while the others trailed slightly behind.

Jane looked to the other representatives of Tanya's war council and asked quietly “Is it okay for us to even be hearing about this?”

Frieber shrugged and replied just a bit louder “Well, they know we are here, and I assume they know that we can hear them.”

Tanya looked back at the three, “There is no way we could keep our little research project a secret forever. After all, the only way to keep a secret between two people is to kill one of them.” she said in a cavalier manner.

For some reason Jane felt a shiver go up her spine.

Visha sighed as she looked at Tanya. "You do know that most people don't think you are joking when you say things like that, Tanya." Visha gently reminded her companion.

"Oh, of course. Just joking, of course." Tanya said.

Frieber and Sieber exchanged looks that said that neither one thought for a moment that Tanya had been joking.

Sieber cleared his throat and tossed his blonde hair as he looked at Tanya and Visha with his best smile. "You know, I was wondering if you ladies would like to join me for dinner tonight."

Jane sighed and looked at the resident playboy. "You do know that not only has that ship sailed, it would never head for.your.dock in the first place, right?"

Frieber laughed and shook his head. "He has a lady he is chasing, but she is hesitant to eat alone with him, so he seems to think that bringing even more girls along will make it easier."

Tanya blushed and looked away. "Sadly, I think we will have to decline. I was planning on the two of us eating in our room tonight. I heard that the room service has some of the best wurst in the area… And there is something I want to discuss with you, Visha… if that is okay?"

Jane stopped dead in her tracks as she looked from one to the other and grinned, as she silently celebrated what could be a milestone for the League's goal of seeing the two useless lesbians happy.

Visha smiled and nudged her partner. "I'd be glad to, Tanya."

The rest of the walk back to the hotel was rather pleasant for the small group, as the two refugees seemed lost in their own little world, and didn't really notice as the others took their leave.

"So, what was it you wanted to talk about, Tanya?" Visha asked once they were back in their room, as Tanya carefully laid the medal from the award ceremony for her first event on the dresser.

"Actually, how about we talk after we eat?" Tanya suggested.

Visha smiled and nodded. "So, the wurst is good?"

Tanya smiled and relaxed. "It's very good. It should be here before too long. Why don't we get our showers out of the way? One less thing to worry about later, after all."

Visha smiled and nodded, as she looked at Tanya. "Why don't you go first? I have to get things ready for tomorrow, anyhow."

Tanya nodded as she headed for the bathroom. "I won't be long." She said as she glanced at the clock. Fifteen till seven, and the food would be there at seven. Perfect timing for her usual five minute shower. Visha would be finishing hers when the food arrived, and that should be perfect.

Tanya nodded to Visha as she exited the bathroom five minutes later. "It's all yours.". She said as she watched Visha enter and checked her messages.

Outside, the hit squad had started their preparations for the strike. A sniper team and a breach team. Not ideal, and definitely not as covert as they liked, but you did what you had to when the Boss called.

As the team lead figured, it was a pair of first year students. It wasn't likely that they would be any sort of problem, regardless of what the Boss seemed to think.

He checked with the camera they had placed earlier that day, and watched as the target and her roommate sat down for supper. He checked the time, and settled in to observe. Just an hour until the two teams should be in position, and the floor monitor for the students called it a night. Best not to involve anyone else in this stupidity if they could help it. Maybe they would even just be able to take care of it with the sniper. That would be ideal, honestly.

In the meantime, he just sat back and watched.

Tanya smiled at the employee who had brought up their meal as she passed him a small tip as well. After he exited, she turned just in time to see Visha make her exit as she brushed out her hair.

“That smells wonderful!” Visha commented as Tanya shook her head and placed the trays on the table.

“I hope they stand up to your high standards.” Tanya said as she took her seat.

Visha nodded and sat as well. Soon, the two were eating and had settled into a comfortable silence born of years spent in the presence of the other. Still Tanya could easily tell that something was on her companions mind, and she had a good idea she knew what, exactly, it was.

“I can tell its on your mind, what I wanted to talk to you about. I will broach the topic once we are done eating, on the balcony. I figured it was the appropriate place to discuss the matter at hand.” Tanya said with a shy smile.

Visha nodded as she tucked in with gusto, a happy look on her face.

“I see it meets your approval?” Tanya commented as she ate.

Visha just nodded, her mouth full of her meal.

Soon enough, the meal was done, the plates and trays were sitting outside of the room, and the two young women were standing on the balcony. Tanya took a deep, cleansing breath as she settled her nerves. She was not this nervous when they deployed for operation Door Knocker.

Of course, all she could have lost during the operation was her life.

She glanced at Visha and sighed. Okay, she had to admit, there was something she could have lost that meant more than her life.

“”So… I wanted to talk to you about something. Something of, moderate import, really. Nothing too serious.” Tanya said as she edged around actually talking about the topic at hand.

“And what would that be? You know you can talk to me about anything, Tanya. I’m always here for you.” Visha said as she felt her own nerves building. Whatever her diminutive former commander had to say, it was obviously of grave import, regardless of how she tried to play it down.

On a rooftop a short distance away, the sniper team slowly got ready. “This is Two, we have eyes on. Will take the target on your go, One.” The spotter said as she sniper settled in.

“Take the shot.” One ordered as he prepared his breach team.

“Shot.” Is the only answer.

At that same time, Tanya had turned to survey the scenery, and out of the corner of her eye she caught faint movement on a particular rooftop. She reacted, as any good combat mage should. A sphere of black popped into the view of the sniper as the round screamed towards the target.

Inside Tanya’s entropic sphere Visha blinked as she regarded the white wall of the sphere. “Tanya? Why did you bubble us? Is the topic something that you can’t risk having heard? Is it a secret?” Visha asked as she looked around.

Tanya settled her nerves as she unconsciously reached for a hat that wasn't there. She looked about, and picked up a pen that was lying on the outdoors table, where she had taken her coffee earlier. A good, serviceable fountain pen was always a good thing. Sturdy, steel barrel with a fine tip. Should be useful. That done, she turned to look at Visha. “Something moved on the rooftop, and I saw a flash.” She sighed as she carefully moved Visha a foot to the side, and stood a foot from where she was. “Best to figure out why someone is trying to shoot us, hrm?” She said, then paused as she looked at Visha. “We will have to move quickly once I drop the sphere. It's at the highest gradient I can achieve without a dedicated CAD. Ready for some action?” Tanya said as she reversed her grip on the pen.

“Yes ma’am! Will I have a chance to get something out of the room?” Visha asked as she bounced lightly on her toes.

“You're going for that damn shovel.” Tanya said with a shake of her head.

Visha looked almost offended. “An entrenching tool is a good weapon.” She defended, a bit miffed. She was sure that whatever Tanya wanted to talk about was important, and someone had the audacity to ruin the moment. They deserved the shovel.

Chapter Text

Chapter 33, The Seven Schools Competition: The best laid plans never survive contact with the enemy.

As Tanya dropped the sphere, she cast the pen towards where the movement on the roof had been. She had wrapped it in a combination of spells at the moment of release. One, a cocoon of entropic magic to hold it at a much lower state of molecular motion. In this state, it should be a fairly effective armor piercing round. The second part was her own particular seeking spell, more effective and better able to handle the speeds that the pen would be traveling once it exited the entropic field.

The pen entered normal entropic space at 16 m/s subjective. The sonic boom as it entered conventional physics once again was a little startling. The effect it had down range as it punched through the scope of the sniper rifle, and didn’t noticeably slow as it exited the back of the snipers head was far more startling.

Tanya's attention wasn't on her impromptu projectile, but instead on where the shooter's round went. To say she was surprised that they seemed to have targeted Visha instead of her was an understatement. Conversely, the rage she felt was quite understandable.

The pair of veterans were moving into the room as the door burst open with the lead man of the breaching team. He swiveled in, and started to sweep the room. The last thing he saw was the business end of an entrenching tool, and the cold angry eyes of their target.

He didn't really have the time to process the blur that shot past him and into the hall.

During the moments that followed their return to conventional physics, the two girls had been productive. As Visha activated her usual combat suite of spells, Tanya did the same with one important difference. Instead of the usual reaction and perception enhancements, she slipped into a minor entropically enhanced state. No more than twice normal, or there about.

Tanya didn't usually like to dip into this bag of tricks without a proper, dedicated CAD, moving and functioning at this pace was like running a marathon. She could maintain twice normal for a bit, but if she pushed it any more than that she would exhaust herself in moments.

Of course, that was ideally moments more than any opponents in the area had.

As she rushed in front of Visha, she could hear the team outside the door moving already. How they had not just a sniper team, but a breach and entry team on hand and ready was a question for later. Tanya slid her hand between the mattresses on Visha’s bed and pulled the entrenching tool free from its holder. She dropped it into the air behind her, knowing that Visha would catch it before it hit the floor. Tanya grabbed a pair of combat knives from where she had stashed them as she moved past her luggage.

As the door opened in slow motion for her, she pushed just a bit. She could feel the drain as the world seemed to slow to a crawl. Tanya grinned a death's head grin as she slid past the breach man with the utter certainty that Visha would take care of him. That left the ones outside to her.

As the team outside prepared to enter after the breach man, they found themselves being assaulted by a small, blurred form that moved impossibly fast. The first of his soldiers dropped in a pile of limbs and gore in moments as a meaty thunk was heard from inside the room. The second barely had time to raise his gun before that blurred form was in the air in front of him, and his head came free from his shoulders. The leader of the breach team pointed his assault rifle, prepared to lay down a spray of fire when the end of his gun hit the floor, cleaved neatly just in front of the receiver. The last thing he saw was what looked to be a teenage girl with the coldest, clearest blue eyes he had ever seen and a grim smile that fit some of the veterans he had trained under.

Tanya dropped into a crouch as the last body hit the floor, panting slightly from the exertion of what she had just done. Her bloody knives were still held in her hands as she searched the corridor to make sure that there were no other attackers at the moment. She glanced over her shoulder as Visha stepped out, her bloody entrenching tool held in one hand, and the pistol from the assailant in the other.

“We are clear this way.” Tanya said as she took a ragged breath.

“Clear this way, ma’am.” Visha reported as she swept the other side of the hall.

“We should go after the spotter.” Tanya said as she pushed herself back to her feet.

“I’ll take care of him, ma’am. You catch your breath.” Visha said as she turned to head back into the room.

“You are not going alone, Visha. You were the target, not me.” Tanya said as she stood and took a deep breath. They would have to clean up the mess out here, and see about the spotter. She wasn’t too concerned with the shooter, since they had mapped out the optimal firing lines from multiple locations. There was almost no way a good sniper would not have taken that spot that they had prepared in advance.

Visha hesitated, a conflicted look on her face. “Are you sure? I mean, why would they target me?” Visha asked as Tanya bubbled them once more, covering as much of the impromptu battlefield as she could.

Tanya shook her head, uncertain of an answer as they quickly dragged the bodies back into the room, then Tanya let the bubble of accelerated entropy drop before they moved out through one of the windows to see if they could track down what they both hoped was the last man on the team. Cleaning up and seeing if they could identify the nationality of the attackers would come a bit later, if they had the time. If they didn’t run into a team that got the drop on them, that was.

Tanya chuckled a bit as they dropped neatly from the window, and landed lightly on the ground several stories below.

“What are you laughing at, Tanya?” Visha asked as they started to move at a good clip towards the building the sniper had fired from.

“Just thinking it almost felt like things were getting back to normal. You know, having people wanting to kill us.” Tanya said as the two veterans shared a look.

“I would prefer they didn’t, Tanya. I was starting to get used to peace.” Visha commented as the pair began their ascent.

“You know what they say, Visha. Peace is the break between wars.” Tanya said with grim certainty.

“I thought that we had left all of this behind us. Isn’t this supposed to be a quieter, more civilized world than what we left?” Visha asked as the pair made their way up the side of the building rapidly.

“This is how civilized people handle things. Snipers and breaching teams instead of artillery and tanks. I would prefer that people were not trying to kill us, especially when there are things that I want to talk to you about.” Tanya groused as the pair dove over the edge, weapons at the ready.

A quick sweep revealed that the spotter had made good his escape. The bloody mess that was the sniper and the ruined remnants of his gun lay where Tanya had killed him. Tanya retrieved the pen from where it had embedded itself in the wall before her spells had worn off. One last sweep of the roof, and the pair went about cleaning up, with Tanya breaking down the bodies through use of her entropic magic, while Visha provided cover.

As expected, there were no traces of ID left on any of the bodies, but their remains gave some hints. 3 caucasians, one person of african descent, and one of oriental descent. Very few countries sported that much diversity and the two veterans shared a look as Tanya sighed. “I thought that we were past the United States, this world's version of the Unifed States, wanting to kill us. That’s almost disappointing, I honestly expected better from them”

“Tanya, would you rather that they had been more competent in trying to kill us?” Visha asked incredulously.

“Well, no… I just can’t stand sloppy work.” Tanya admitted.

Visha laughed as she wiped down their weapons and stowed them back where they belonged. “Only you would complain that the enemy was incompetant, ma’am.”

Tanya grimaced as she finished with the last of the bodies, watching as they turned to dust. “Well, you know that I have always found war to be a wasteful thing, a very inefficient use of materials and personnel. The faster it ends, the better off we all are.”

Visha laughed and shook her head as she looked at the door and sighed. “How do we explain this?”

Tanya shook her head. “Considering that we still haven’t seen anyone asking about what is going on, I have the feeling that someone was paid not to inquire. We will just tell them that a drunk guest or three accidently broke down our door in trying to get into their room.” Tanya waved her hand as they settled in against the wall with the door in front of them. “I’d say we could spend the night with Jane, but it’s best to not drag her into this, in case there are more guests.”

Visha nodded, then looked at her companion. “What was it you wanted to talk about earlier, before people interrupted by trying to kill us?”

Tanya blushed and looked away. “I’m not really sure right now is the best time to talk about it, Visha.”

Visha sighed and nodded. “Just don’t wait too long to tell me what is on your mind, Tanya. Someday, someone might actually manage to kill us, and then what about everything that hasn’t been said?”

Tanya nodded mutely, as she bit her lip. “I promise, when the time is right I will let you in on what is on my mind.”

Visha smiled at Tanya and nodded. “Thank you, I will hold you to that. Now, you rest and I will keep watch. You don’t think that the spotter will try and do anything on their own, do you?”

Tanya shook her head. “I would bet that they will scrap any attempts, at least until they are better prepared after this mess. The Dacians did a better job in invading.” Tanya said disparagingly before she closed her eyes and relaxed.

Visha looked away from the door for a moment to brush the hair out of Tanya’s face as she smiled, and then went back to her watch. It was going to be a long night.

Elsewhere, in a secure site in the United States.

Jules Edison, known as E among his co-workers and those that he handled, stared at the report that he had just received. The breach team was gone, the sniper dead. The only person who had made extract was the spotter. He was reporting that it had to have been a team from another organization. A counter sniper and CQC team. Possibly Russians or Germans. It was a massive mistake. And he had already received notice that his supervisor wanted to have a talk with him. How in God’s great name had it come to this? Yes, he had ordered a clean up team to be on standby, without getting direct approval. They had been there since before the competition began. He had arranged as much of the lodging and timetable as he could for not just the team, but the target as well. Everything should have been going just as planned.

Now, he was more than likely going to have to answer some very uncomfortable questions about why he took so much personal initiative with Company assets. Why he didn’t seek out approval and direction from his section leader. Why he had ordered a full hit on a first year student without sanction from his superiors. It was all her fault. It had to be.

He heard the knock at the door to his office, and turned to greet his supervisor as they entered. He expected to see him angry, and the guards were not a surprise either. What he was not expecting was the barrel of the pistol that was aimed at him. In retrospect, he should have figured it was a possibility that they would decide that he was not worth questioning, that they might just liquidate him for so many mistakes.

At least he could sit at God’s side now, he thought before the flash of the pistol sent him off.

“This is D. The problem has been dealt with. Arrange extraction to home for our lost bird. And I want all assets and operatives that E was responsible for transferred to my personal control. Let's find out what is going on here and get this mess cleaned up.” the operative that went by the handle D said as he swept out of the room, leaving clean up to the others.

“I want to know what pushed someone as reliable and cautious as E to do this.” He told his aide.

“I will see about it, sir.” She replied.

“See that you do.” Was his terse reply before he went to speak to his boss about this mess.

Chapter Text

Chapter 34, The Seven Schools Competition: No plan survives contact with the enemy (Or, for that matter, your friends).

While no one from the hotel or school had stopped by to check in on the pair, they did not pass the night without a visitor. A short time after they had finished cleaning up and Tanya had let herself rest, a cautious knock was heard from out of sight on the door jamb of their room.

Visha continued to aim the pistol she had acquired as she waited to see what happened next. She relaxed marginally when she heard her particular challenge phrase being called out. “The bratwurst was horrible today.”

Visha answered calmly while the pistol never moved. “I liked the sauerkraut .”

“I would have preferred schnitzel.” came the response.

Visha nodded as she lowered her pistol as two security agents and a medic came into the room. The agents wore the dark suits that she had gotten used to for the guards that were not in uniform. The medic was one that Visha had dealt with often before, and certainly looked like he was out of his comfort zone as he eyed the mess in the room.

“Any injuries?” The medic asked as he knelt next to Visha.

“None, but you had best let me wake her up, or that will change rapidly. She doesn’t handle strangers waking her up well.” Visha explained as she leaned in close and gently shook Tanya’s shoulder while she whispered softly in her ear. What she said went unheard by the others, but Tanya woke up without reaching for the weapon at her side.

“About time you got here. I thought that we might be allowed some time without adult supervision.” Tanya said in her usual snarky manner as she stood up and stretched.

The medic nodded as he checked Visha over, before doing the same for Tanya. “We were situated off campus, unfortunately. We couldn’t risk being too high profile, what with how many foreign guests there are here.” He explained as he pulled out his portable reader and checked on Visha’s integrated CAD.

“Well, there are a few less now. Are you going to expect us to handle any other problems?” Tanya said as she sat down a bit closer to Visha than before.

“We will have a detail watching the area. Honestly, who is going to notice one more when there are so many already.” The medic said as he finished his check. “We are ready to move you two to another room.” He said as the security guards moved to grab their luggage.

Tanya sighed as she eyed the balcony and nodded as the pair quickly packed up the last of their loose possessions and made their way to their new room.

“You think that we will have any more door knockers anytime soon?” Tanya asked, as Visha swept the room out of habit.

“You should be okay for tonight, at least. A bit of targeted violence usually makes all the rest of the roaches hide for a while.” one of the guards said as they saw the two teens settled in. “We will be in the room next doors, if you two need anything.”

That said, the trio of agents from the project made their way out as Tanya and Visha looked at each other and laughed. “You get some rest, Visha. I will keep the rest of the watch tonight.” Tanya said as she settled in, the pistol resting in her lap.

Visha gave Tanya a long look then nodded as she slipped into her bed. “If you get tired, feel free to go to bed.” Visha yawned as she rolled over, and Tanya wasn’t sure if she heard the rest correctly or not, but it sounded like Visha said. “Mine or yours. Doesn’t matter what one.”

Tanya just sat there and let that percolate through her brain as Visha’s usual soft snores and restless sleep talk soothed her nerves.

Tanya sighed as she let her head roll back and relaxed. They had done this same thing on so many nights in one front or another that this felt far more real than the peaceful days did. Tanya knew that Visha was just as haunted as she was by what they had seen, what they had done. But Visha seemed to handle it better, for the most part. Tanya had often wondered about that, but recently she thought she might have come to a conclusion.

Visha was no better at dealing with it all than Tanya herself was. She just buried it better under a jovial, carefree attitude and taking care of others. She found the answer to why she was still alive in that, or at least that was the conclusion that Tanya had reached.

Tanya figured that it wasn't healthy, but at least she seemed to be able to sleep without assistance. Something that Tanya herself seemed to have not achieved on her own.

Tanya looked at her longtime partner and watched her sleep then nodded to herself. She was going to become a real support for Visha. She was going to help her friend endure this, and come out a better person on the other side.

Just like Visha had done for her.

Tanya smiled as she moved to sit in the chair next to Visha, and rested her free hand on the hand Visha had above the blankets. It was a nice feeling, one that was worth two lives and three worlds.

With a determined look in her blue eyes, Tanya settled in for her silent vigil.

The next morning came, and with it a curious Jane was the first person to knock at their door. “Hello? Tanya? Visha? I went to your room, and there were servicemen repairing your door. They said that you had been moved to this room? Everything okay?” she asked.

Visha opened the door as the sound of the shower seeped from the bathroom. "Good morning, Jane. Yes, we just had some drunk.guests try a bit hard to get in, and they broke our door. Tanya's in the shower right now, but she will be out in two minutes."

"Two minutes?" Jane asked as the shower stopped and Visha just gave Jane an almost smug look. Exactly two minutes later Tanya walked out of the bathroom wearing her school uniform and pulling her hair back.

"Good morning, Jane. I see you had no problems finding us." Tanya said as she picked up her morning cup of coffee.

"I asked at the desk when I saw your old room. I wanted to see if you two wanted to join me for breakfast?" Jane asked as she smiled and tried to hide her nerves.

A quick glance passed between the two veterans, then Visha smiled and nodded. “We would love to, Jane.”

Jane smiled and relaxed minutely. “Thank you, I always enjoy my time with you both.”

Visha nodded as Tanya grabbed her hand held, and the pair preceded Jane as they began to talk about the upcoming events of the day. Unseen by Jane was the quite, subtle hand gestures as the two compared impressions.

Tanya gestured out the message “She knows something.”

Visha returned as she smiled and nodded in response to what Tanya had said about the Crowd Ball match later that morning. Her hands, though, conveyed their own message. “I agree.”

Tanya cast a quick glance at Jane, taking in her stance, how she carried herself and how she interacted with them and looked forward to making sure that the grim look on her face went unseen by the subject of her speculation. It seemed unlikely that Jane would be involved with an attempt on either one of their lives, but moles and information brokers for all sides were not unheard of in any age or place. It was best to keep a closer eye on their friend. A quick glance at Visha showed the concern on her gentler friends face and Tanya sighed. Perhaps it was also time to see about getting the Project involved, to see if anyone had leverage on Jane, perhaps.

It was so much simpler when she knew who was trying to shoot her and why.

The trio made their way to the eatery, where they found Frieber and Sierber already waiting for them. The five of them said their good mornings and settled in for their meal while they planned out the next two days worth of events, before Visha gave a happy little wriggle like a puppy that just got a new bone. “I can’t hardly wait, Tanya! In three days I get to see you in that costume while you participate in Mirage Bat!”

Tanya sighed and bowed her head. “I do wish that you would forget about that. I am more looking forward to it being over than anything else.” Tanya said, while she contemplated the chance to have that talk with Visha once again. After the event seemed like the perfect time, as long as they didn’t have any other uninvited guests trying to shoot either of them.

But perhaps that was too much to ask.

Tanya felt her hand held buzz with an incoming message as she looked to see who it was from. “Willa just messaged me. Said that she had something to relay to me, a picture. She says it’s where she got the inspiration for my costume for Mirage Bat.” Tanya noted the file being downloaded, and decided that she would share it with the starry eyed Visha later. She wasn’t that interested herself, but Visha certainly was.

The conversation eventually died down, and the group broke up to go their separate ways with Jane casting one last long look at the pair of temporal refugees before she sighed and returned to her room to report to the new person that held her leash.

Earlier that morning…

Jane woke up to the phone giving a very particular buzz, one reserved for her handler. She sighed and bit her lip as she rolled over and answered it. “Morning, E. You know what time it is here? What did you need…. Sir.” she said as she tried to wipe the sleep from her eyes. In a moment, she found herself completely awake.

“E is no longer your handler, Miss Donner. You may refer to me as D. I will be handling you from now on. As you will no doubt find out, being the diligent asset that you are, is that there was an attempt made of Miss Degurecheff and her companion, Miss Serebryakov. The attempt failed, but it’s shoddy execution and lack of sanction have left us in an uncomfortable position. Now, what I need from you is all relevant information that you can deliver to me now, quickly, that might have led your former handler to make this rash decision to remove Miss Serebryakov.”

Jane bit her lip as her pulse raced. “Were… Were they hurt?”

There was a moment's pause then a sigh. “No, neither one of the targets was injured in the debacle. We speculate that a third party provided support, either directly with approval from the two young ladies sponsors, or what is more likely that they saw an opportunity to deplete our on-ground assets in the area. Now, what led him to believe that Miss Serebryakov was enough of a threat to warrant such a messy attempt.” D said as he referenced the files that E had made. Honestly, they became more and more disjointed as they progressed. It was clear that he had suffered some sort of mental breakdown.

“I.. Honestly, I don't know. The bigger threat would be Tanya, honestly. You aren’t going to try and hurt them again, are you? If you are, I won’t help you anymore. Not even though you have my grandmother. She would never approve of it.” Jane said as she braced herself for the worst.

“No, we have no intentions of doing anything more than observing. That was the mandate we had tasked E with. And your grandmother will remain safe. I personally dislike the practice of using leverage on an asset. That said, we will if needed. Do keep that in mind, Miss Donner. I will do whatever the task at hand demands, regardless of personal reservations.” D said as he accessed the files on the two subjects again.

Jane relaxed a little and nodded. “Okay, then what do you need me to do?”

“Just what you have been. Observe and report. I don’t foresee any other action needing to be done at this time. It’s better to track and understand another country's assets over removing them in most cases. It's best to know where they are spending their resources, and prepare for the threat you know than the one they kept hidden.” D said as he closed the files and steepled his fingers. “I look forward to working with you, Miss Donner.”

Jane doesn’t answer as she hangs up the phone and looks at the clock. No way she could get back to sleep now, so she sets about getting ready for the day and heads out to check on the pair as soon as she can.

On finding that they had been moved to another room, she sighed and took a breath of relief she didn’t know she had been holding.

They were safe, at least for now. Now, she just had to make sure they stayed that way, if she could. Without Tanya killing her, preferably.

Later, the two veterans were alone in their room once again as Tanya pulled out her handheld and opened the file to show Visha. The photo was obviously old, and showed signs of decay around the edges. Both of the veterans paused and drew in a breath as they saw the two men that stood in the middle of the picture. They were, without a doubt, First Lieutenant Rhiner Neuman and Second lieutenant Vooran Grantz.

The pair exchanged looks and shrugged. “It’s not impossible that they had versions in this world, right?” Visha said as she gazed fondly at the old photo.

“It’s not, but look at the insignia, Visha.” Tanya said tersely.

Visha looked closer as she gasped. “Isn’t that…” Visha said quietly as she looked at Tanya.

Tanya nodded grimly. “That is the insignia of the Salamander Kampfgruppe. With the designation that they are of the 203rd. These are not dopplegangers. These are our officers.”

Attached to the photo was a small file. “I found this a while ago, and remembered it when I saw you. You just seemed like you fit the uniform that my great grandfather and his friend were wearing in the photo. It’s funny, Lisa Neumann’s and my family have always been close. When my mother married, she was given a copy of this photo and the uniform my great grandfather wore during the war with instructions to make sure that it was passed along to her child, so that the family’s long history could be preserved. I am so glad that you like the costume, and appreciate it!

There I go rambling again.

Your friend,

Willa Victoria Von Eldstadt-Grantz.

(I don’t usually use the second half of my family name, since it’s already a mouthful.)”

The silence that hung between the two was as loud as the rumble of distant artillery.

Chapter Text

Chapter 35, The Seven Schools Competition: An interlude during battle.

The two sat quietly for a bit before Visha asked the question that was on both of their minds. "Tanya.. how could they have been here? I.. all this time, I was sure it was just us."

"It's possible they had followed us, and just happened to be on the edge of the effect, I suppose." Tanya states in her usual calm manner. "We need to find out when that picture is from, when they arrived here, and how they managed to not only get by, but fit in as well."

"Do you… Is it possible more of them came through, as well? Maybe some of them ended up closer to when we ended up?" Visha said hopefully.

Tanya sighed and shook her head. "They had been observing the bubble since, what, at least the forties or fifties? It's not likely they missed anyone. We won't know any more unless they left a journal or something behind."

"Well, what do we do about what is happening?" Visha asked as she looked at the picture again.

"The foreign plot to assassinate you, the fact someone we consider a friend might be involved, at least one or two people we associate with are likely descended from soldiers we fought side by side with. That?" Tanya said with a sigh.

Visha chuckled a little and leaned against her companion for a moment. "Yes?"

Tanya chuckled at that, unable to keep up a proper funk in the face of Visha's joyful optimism. "Well, we will have to talk to Willa, see if there was more than just the picture passed along. One or both of their Type 97's might have survived. And it's possible they kept a journal of some sorts, and that could prove invaluable." Tanya paused as she drank her coffee.

"We use the Project to find out if they have leverage on Jane, and we see what she does, and what they do with what they are getting from her. She seemed genuinely concerned about us, and happy we were okay. So no, I won't liquidate her. Not yet, at least."

Visha smiled hopefully and Tanya sighed. "We keep doing as we have been, but keep a better eye on things. And remove any other problems like they were a Dacian army." Tanya said as she smiled ruefully at Visha. "You are going to be the death of me yet."

Visha smiled warmly at Tanya. "I certainly hope not! It'd be horrible for you to have survived the Great War to have something like this be the end of you."

Tanya chuckled ruefully. "At least I'm not expected to single handedly handle armies any more."

Visha pouted at Tanya. "You were rarely asked to handle armies by yourself."

Tanya nodded and relaxed slightly. "That's right, when it was anything larger than a company I had you and the rest at my back."

"I can't believe that Willa is related to Rhiner…" Visha said softly.

"I can't believe he found a woman that wanted him." Tanya said with a chuckle.

"I don't know, he always seemed nice enough, " Visha said as she placed a fresh cup of coffee before Tanya.

Tanya tensed and glanced at Visha out of the corner of her eye. "So, Rhiner was the kind of guy you would be interested in?"

Visha laughed and shook her head. "He was nice, but not the kind of person I would settle down with "

Tanya nodded as she chewed on her lip for a moment. "So, what kind of person would you think about settling down with?" Tanya asked as nonchalantly as she could.

Visha paused as she sat down with her cup of tea. "I honestly don't know? It's not something I ever really gave a great deal of thought to. There were always much more pressing things to think about, and honestly? As nice as some of the boys were, they never sparked my interest? I always just saw myself serving at your side. I guess I never thought past the end of the war." Visha said with a smile and a shrug.

Tanya relaxed and nodded as she took another drink of her coffee. She almost choked when Visha looked at her and asked a question that, honestly, Tanya should have expected since she broached the topic.

"What about you? We're there any of them that interested you? What kind of man sparks the interest of the Argent?" Visha asked without any artifice, even as she found her heart in her throat for some reason.

Tanya tugged at her collar and hedged for a moment before she squared her narrow shoulders. "I could never partner up with someone who didn't meet my high standards. Who could not stand as my equal, my partner. Someone I could trust with my life. Someone I have trusted before."

Visha nodded, a thoughtful look on her face. "First Lieutenant Weiss?"

Tanya choked on her coffee and looked at
Visha with an incredulous look on her face. "In what world could you ever see me with someone so inflexible and set in his ways? Honestly, there is no man for me."

Visha nodded as she wondered at the lighter feeling in her heart, then pressed on. "I'm sorry to hear that, Tanya. I really think you would make a good wife someday."

Tanya laughed at that. "Sadly, I think I'm already married to my work."

Visha pondered that, then nodded sadly. "To be honest, I don't know what I would do with myself if I didn't have you to take care of, Tanya .. I've gotten a bit used to being at your side."

Tanya blushed and smiled, then cleared her throat. “So, we need to figure out what we are going to do about the various problems that have landed in our laps. As I see it, we need to determine what Jane’s role in what is going on is, and how we can best handle that. One option is to feed her false information, if we assume she is hostile to us. Another is to see if we can subvert her, if she is neutral. The final, and riskiest option, is to bring her back over to our side and make sure of her connections, whatever those might be. The last two are making a lot of assumptions.”

Tanya waited for Visha to nod, then continued on. “It might be a good time to bring the Project in, but we can’t guarantee that they will not just liquidate her as a hostile asset. So, we will need leverage that we can use ourselves to sway them. We will have to find value in making use of her, if we are going to protect her from both sides. Honestly, Visha, I really do miss the days when we only had to worry about the enemy and our superiors trying to kill us.” Tanya said wryly

“I’m not sure I quite agree with your idea of what is better, Tanya…’ Visha hedged as she watched her companion.

Tanya chuckled as she looked at Visha fondly. “I know that you have always preferred knowing exactly who is an enemy and who is a friend. I will admit, it does make things much easier when the lines are clear.”

Visha nodded and sighed. “I hope we can help her.”

Tanya nodded and looked at the picture again. “We will also have to talk to Willa, and see if she knows anymore about her ancestor.”

"Lisa Neumann as well, right?" Visha said as her brows furrowed.

Tanya nodded with a thoughtful look on her face. "We will need to talk to them. Both of them, and see what we can learn about how those two ended up here, and what they did after they arrived. It might help us understand what happened better."

Visha nodded as she gave Tanya a soft, sad smile. “At least we know that they made it out of the war.”

Tanya paused then nodded. “Made it out of the war, and started families. I guess that is not a bad legacy for a soldier.”

Visha sighed and nodded as she looked out the window. “How do you think they are going to handle this little bit of news? I mean, we can’t really keep it from them… Right?”

Tanya sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “As much as I would like to, no. They could find out, and if they find out we knew and didn’t tell them, they are much less likely to trust us. And if we are going to do anything about the situation with Jane, we need them to trust us.” Tanya chuckled dryly. “I almost miss getting shot through the sky strapped to one of our Doctor Schugel’s metal death machines. It was much easier to handle.”

“Once again, I think that your idea of easy and hard might be a bit… Different, Tanya.” Visha said with fond exasperation.

“Well, nothing we can do about these right now. I will send a coded message to the project, and we can go watch the newcomer crowd ball tournament while we wait. It will be interesting to see who’s watchers are still about. Should prove quite informational.” Tanya said as the pair left their room and made their way towards the contest venue. They nodded to the technician and the guards as they passed them.

“Why didn’t you just pass the information along to one of them, Tanya?” Visha asked as she glanced back.

“Because this information is far above what their need to know is, Visha. I don’t think the project wants it known yet that we might have dragged others into this world by accident, and dropped them willy-nilly throughout history.” Tanya said as she tried to wrap her mind around that concept herself.

“I see… That could be… A bit disrupting.” Visha said as she paled a bit.

“Exactly. Ahh, here we are. After you.” Tanya said as she held open the door for Visha. Visha, for her part, found the oddly gallant gesture endearing and slightly embarrassing.

“Tanya.. You really didn’t have to hold the door open for me.” Visha said as she walked in, red faced.

“Let me satisfy my occasional wim.” Is all Tanya said in counterpoint.

Visha smiled bashfully and took her seat near the others. She can’t help but notice the worried look that Jane gave her. Visha felt herself relax and she smiled back as she gave a very pointed look to Tanya, who just sighed and gave a minute nod. Hopefully they would get a good response from the Project, and the mysterious Oracle system that they seem to have so much faith in.

The group settled in to watch their classmates compete, knowing that they had best pay attention. Tanya would expect a thorough postmortem on the day's events, after all. And if they had learned anything, it was to not disappoint the Beast of Berlin.

Shortly before the event ended, Tanya glanced at her handheld and gave Visha a look as her hand made subtle movements. “Results. Brief later.” Tanya signed.

Visha bit her lip as she looked at Tanya, then nodded and tried her best to relax and smile. She had learned that her smile could help a fair amount in defusing most situations from dealing with the boys of the 203rd for as long as she had. The fact it even seemed to work on the Argent at times was a bonus, as far as she was concerned.

Two birds with one stone. Tanya would be proud of her.

After the event, Tanya grilled them on what they had observed, what they thought had worked, and what could be improved. She even agreed with some of their assessments. Progress being made, as far as Visha was concerned. She had noticed that the balance of observers had shifted, two of the ones that they had spotted previously were gone, possibly recalled or reassigned. It was quite possible that the Americans were trying to establish new protocols to handle the shifting situation that they, themselves, had managed to create.

There did seem to be a few more Chinese in the stands today. Something to discuss with Tanya later, Visha supposed, after she had been updated on what the Project had determined.

Once they were back in their room, Tanya sat and motioned Visha over as she displayed her handheld. The response from the Project was short, but spoke volumes.

“The Oracle has given favorable odds for the success of your plan. We will investigate Jane Donner and determine the leverage being used. Dr. Schugel is en-route to discuss further plans. No projected house guests for the next 24 hours.”

Tanya looked at Visha and nodded. “I guess they found the idea of flipping their agent agreeable. It is nice having competent superiors who are willing to listen to suggestions.”

“Does this mean they are going to help Jane?” Visha asked hopefully.

“It means that we get the chance to convince the good doctor of the merit of the idea. That, as usual, is up to us.” Tanya explained as she shook her head ruefully. “I’m just glad that this Schugel is a reasonable person who doesn’t like strapping us to rocket propelled missiles.”

“No… She just likes dropping you from airplanes without a parachute.” Visha noted.

“That is the least helpful comment you could have made, you know that?” Tanya groused with a slight smile on her face.

“I was trained by a master of understatement, after all.” Visha countered.

Tanya shook her head and sighed. “I trained you too well.” She said dryly.

Visha just smiled in response.

Chapter Text

Chapter 36, The Seven Schools Competition: Fly high, Oh Devil on the wings of an angel that flew too far.

Sunday, August 8th 2094. 5:00 PM
Newcomer Mirage Bat.

Tanya smiled as she looked through the news for the day and relaxed. The past few days had been full of revelations. Attempted assassinations, potential betrayals, and the subtly shifting nature of her relationship with Visha. She had to admit, now that Visha was no longer sneaking around behind her back, she hadn’t slept this well in either life. Certainly not since the war had started in earnest, and definitely not since the events of Arene.

Tanya cast a covert look at the back of the woman who was finishing up Tanya's coffee and making sure that both plates met her high standards. Tanya could not imagine her world, who she would have been without Visha in her life. She knew that she had grown from that cold, calculating salaryman she had been. People saw her as a monster at times, but she would have been one in truth without Visha to make her confront her own humanity.

That said, she had to confront tonight, and what the costume that was carefully laid out represented. Tanya smiled ruefully as she started to get ready for the night. She would take her shower and dress in that costume after supper, and then she would get to demonstrate the tactics that they had worked out.

After that… She would face one of the greatest challenges she had faced in either life, as long as no other countries decided to give them some combat experience. She would confess her feelings to the one person who's opinions mattered to her. And it had better work, since this balcony was not as optimal for her exit strategy.

The pair sat and ate in relative silence, the companionable quiet built over the years they had spent together through the years, both good and bad. They had been forged in the fires of the greatest war that their old world had ever seen, and hopefully would ever see again. Perhaps she was being a bit prideful, but she believed without her presence to egg on Being X, perhaps it would not be quite as insane

For the sake of all those that the four temporal refugee's from the 203rd had left behind, that was her sincere hope.

Tanya was lost in her thoughts, unaware of the gentle scrutiny of her companion who sat across from her and watched her with subtle intensity. Visha still couldn't believe that she had taken the rather bold and audacious actions that she had recently. Sneaking into the bed of the Argent was one thing, but actually inviting her to join her? She would never have believed she was capable of it. As Tanya would have put it, the risk-reward benefits of the co-sleeping arrangement seemed to have turned out favorably. Visha smirked as she had reflected on the events that had happened during the time they had been here, and the changes that had happened to both of them

If Tanya hadn't literally broken time and space to drag them both here, she would never have gotten this chance. Her story would have ended with her bleeding out in the arms of the person she wanted to stand beside until the very end.

She just hoped that the end was many, many years down the road for them both.

As Visha cleared the table, Tanya made her way into the bathroom to take her shower and get ready for the night. It was going to be a big day for both of them, and for the first years, as well. After this, the only contribution the first years would be able to make was in Monolith Code. Tanya just hoped that they were capable of following her guidance and executing the plan as directed.

Something to worry about tomorrow. For now, Tanya had best keep herself focused. It was time to commit herself to her plan of action, and make sure that both missions were executed flawlessly.

She exited the bathroom and spied the eager face of her companion as she looked up from where she had carefully laid out the costume just like it was her old dress uniform. Tanya had to chuckle a bit as she shook her head ruefully.

“I think that you are more eager for this event than I am, Visha.” Tanya said with an amused tone in her voice.

Visha blushed and looked down for a moment before she smiled at Tanya. “Well, it is a chance for you to prove your theories and procedures to the school, much less the world in general. I can’t wait to see peoples reactions to the practical application of the aerial mages training that you refined in the fires of war. How could I not be excited?”

“And you get to see me in that ridiculous outfit.” Tanya added with a small smile on her face.

“...And I get to see you in this wonderful costume that one of our dear friends created especially for you. Instead of the usual style of costume, which I think you would look amazing in, by the way. You were known as the fairy of the battlefield, after all.” Visha added in a sweet tone of voice.

“...You know, I think I have gained a new found appreciation for its ascetics.” Tanya deadpanned.

Visha just smiled happily as she offered the outfit, one piece at a time, to her longtime companion.

Tanya donned each piece, well aware of how much more starry eyed her companion became as she was ‘properly outfitted for her engagement’ as Visha would put it. Honestly, the woman seemed to love to treat her as her own personal doll that she got to play dress up with. At least it was not ‘The Dress.’ Tanya gave a resigned sigh as she pinned the cap into place and regarded herself in the mirror. She would never admit it to anyone, especially Visha, but she had to admit that she looked good in it. Not as good as a proper uniform, but she would have to remember to thank Willa once more when she saw her next. Probably at the same time they grilled her on any details she might have on her ancestor. Talking to her family about him would probably not be a bad idea as well. They could always make up some story about their own ancestors serving in the same unit.

It was not like it was a lie, after all. Just that they were much closer related than could be reasonably expected in someone who was alive in this current time and place. Now, with any luck and no more assasination attempts, hopefully that fact would remain true. Tanya regarded her companion who just had to use the camera feature of her handheld terminal to snap yet another picture of herself. Honestly, she would probably have to ‘thank’ Jane at some point for teaching Visha about that functionality.

That was, of course, if she could get the Project onboard, and didn’t have to liquidate Jane herself. She hoped not, since it would break Visha’s giant, open heart. And in the grand scheme of things, Tanya had to be honest with herself. That was something she would not allow to happen if she had any say in the matter.

Hopefully the operational plan and tactical assessment paper that she had sent to the good doctor would convince that worthy of the value of cultivating a double agent who was already fairly compromised in their favor. Honestly, you would think in this day and age that they would know better than trust a teenage girl to maintain her loyalties in the face of something as personally important as developed friendships. Despite her own… Unique… viewpoint on the matter, she would have to admit that she would never understand the mind of the teenage girl.

Even if she did happen to currently be living the life of one.

Speaking of the good doctor, she had messaged them earlier that day that she would be joining them tomorrow, so that she had a chance to better absorb the full impact and implications of the operational plan of action that Tanya had sent her.

Personally, Tanya suspected that the good doctor was going to arrive early, and watch the competition covertly before talking to them both tomorrow. It fit the personality of the woman, and was well within the expectations that Tanya had for her. Honestly, the woman was impossible at times. Swinging from the mad scientist that she shared a name with, who was more than willing to throw Tanya into one crazy situation after another, to someone who had an almost parental level of care and worry about the health and well being of the two she had taken under her wing as her charges. Of course, Tanya suspected the latter was so that they would both be ready to be treated as lab rats.

The meetings earlier that day had gone well enough, and besides the competition that started shortly followed by her confession afterwards, she felt rather good about the day. Now, as long as Visha seemed receptive to her intent Tanya would be able to declare the entire event a success on an operational level.

Now, as a sporting event, there were still things to be desired. As well as the first years had done after Visha and herself had taken them under their guidance, the same could not be said about the older students. Perhaps next year they would do the reasonable thing and let Tanya and Visha handle all the training.

Tanya would even be willing to promise not to completely break all of them.

As the pair made their way to the venue for that evening’s competition Tanya could not help but notice how Visha looked in her school uniform. It was nice to see her companion in a more peaceful setting. It was honestly something that Tanya could grow quite used to. She just hoped she hadn’t just jinxed them both with her wishful thinking.

They were greeted by the other first years, and the members of their own little inner circle. Jane was flanked by Frieber and Sieber, as seemed to be the norm anymore. It really did seem like her presence served to keep the other two boys in check. It was always important to recognize a good HR person when one found them. As long as the good doctor was on board with their plan, it would be good to cultivate Jane’s potential.

Jane smiled warmly as she took in Tanya’s appearance. “Ohhh, I wish Willa could have been here to see this in person! It really does fit you, you know? Almost like you were born to wear a uniform. Am I right, Visha?” Jane asked excitedly as she grinned at the suddenly blushing girl.

“It… Really does suit her. Almost like she had spent years wearing something similar.” Visha said with a secret little grin for Tanya.

Tanya rolled her eyes and smoothed out her outfit one more time. “I am going to stand out like a weed amid all the colorful young women out there.”

Visha pursed her lips as she faced Tanya directly. “No, you will stand out like a wolf in a flock of sheep, Tanya. There is no mistaking you for anything else.” She said with firm conviction.

Tanya laughed and shook her head. “I will yield the field to my worthy opponent at this time.”

“Darn right you will.” Visha said, then blushed as she looked down. “Sorry, Tanya… I guess I got a little carried away.”

Tanya laughed fondly as Jane smiled at Visha. “It just means you are passionate about the subject, and care about how she sees herself. Nothing wrong with that.” Jane said as she winked at Visha, which just caused her to blush even more.

As the group broke into companionable laughter, Tanya bowed to them as she took her leave to head to the competitors staging area. She checked in with the judges and retrieved the wand she would be using along with the CAD that was loaded with the movement magics that she would be allowed to use for the event. As much as she would love to test the theory behind entropic stasis being combined with barrier creation to create mid-air platforms to work from, she didn’t think that this was the correct time or place for that.

Perhaps another time.

Tanya looked over the other girls in her group, as she quietly assessed them. None of them struck her as being any particular threats. She just had to score in the top three of her group to advance to the finals where the top nine girls would compete to see who came out on top. Two long matches lay before her, but at the end was another first place finish and the inertia she needed to be able to properly confess her feelings.

It was definitely time to take this on seriously. She had to make a good impression on the other first years, after all. If Visha and her were to lead them going forward, then this was the chance to properly prove her capabilities. It was impossible, of course, that she merely wanted to show off for Visha, after all. That would be preposterous.

With her mind settled, Tanya prepared herself and waited for the event to begin.

In the stands, the students sat together, with Visha claiming the seat next to Jane. The two smiled at each other as they waited, while Visha observed their friend out of the corner of her eye. What she saw helped ease her mind over the course that the two of them had plotted out. She could see the worry in Jane’s eyes, as well as the genuine relief that they were both there and unhurt. Like Tanya had taught her, overt reactions could be faked, but the little nuances that were part of the unthinking brain were much harder to hide and create over any period of time. And what she saw just made her more sure of the path that the two of them had decided on going forward.

Visha nodded as she looked forward, then said quietly to Jane. “We will take care of you, Jane, if you let us help you. Don’t make any overy movements, since we know that they are watching you all the time. Unless they have a microphone on you, we were sure that in here, as the event started, they wouldn’t be able to hear what you are saying or hearing accurately. It’s a calculated risk that we thought was worth it, since you are our friend.”

Jane blinked and started to look around in a panic until she felt Visha’s hand land on hers and give her a reassuring squeeze. Jane swallowed hard and smiled and nodded, as she tried to make it seem like she was answering whatever Visha had asked her about.

Visha smiled and nodded as she pointed to where Tanya was standing, acting very much like the excited schoolgirl she was. “This is Tanya’s idea, by the way. She believed in you enough to take this risk.” Visha said as she smiled at her friend.

Jane swallowed and smiled back. “Thank you. I.. I don’t have a microphone on me.”

Visha nodded and grinned. “We know. Tanya checked before she went into the competitor’s area. Not that I ever thought you would have one, but… Well, it’s Tanya.” Visha said with a little shrug as she pulled Jane to her feet to wave excitedly at Tanya.

Tanya saw them and waved back, as she seemed to wriggle her fingers in greeting.

Visha grinned and sat down, as she dragged Jane back down as well. “There are two watching you actively, but the other agents are watching me, not you. I think it’s going to be okay.”

Jane relaxed a little as she looked at her friend out of the corner of her eye and chewed on her lip. She couldn't help but wonder what they had planned, and how they had figured her out. She glanced at Tanya, who met her gaze directly for a moment before the Beast of Berlin looked away with a smirk. Jane shuddered a little then relaxed as Visha gave her hand another squeeze. It was going to be okay, because she had the sweetest and scariest people that she knew on her side.

At least she hoped it would be okay.

Tanya looked away from Jane, as she gazed at Visha with a warmth in her usually cold heart. It seemed that everything was going according to plan. Some of the elements were Visha’s ideas, to help comfort and ease Jane so that she didn’t give things away until they had a chance to talk to her and the good doctor. It was just good business to headhunt out assets from a rival company and thus strengthen your team while weakening theirs. That was all it was. It had nothing to do with friendships or making sure a certain brunette was happy and not crying.

Not at all.

Tanya sighed as she took her place, having already determined where the other girls were likely to start their initial leaps from and thus the paths that were most likely to be taken. Several of them were bound to launch as soon as the event began, it was simple human nature to want to be in action, to feel that by acting first you were in control. Some would have hesitated, unsure of where they should go, what their first priorities should be. In the face of randomly occurring targets, that was also a natural reaction.

Now, her plan was built on something in the middle. The first spheres would set the patterns for the next, and thus those that followed after. It would be a simple execution of a standard recon in force sweep and destroy pattern to predict where she should go to maximize her own results. Her practice sessions, which all used a previous years algorithm, had proven her theories. Now, it was simply a matter of executing them while making sure that she didn’t run afoul of the other fledgling birds as they leaped blindly into the air.

This should prove most enlightening.

Then the game started, and it was time to hunt.

Chapter Text

Visha held her breath as the timer ticked down as her eyes remained fixed on the slight figure of her longtime friend and companion. She reached over and took Jane's hand without thinking about it, and pulled the other girl from her stunned silence. At the questioning look that Jane gave Visha, Visha smiled as she looked back to the field and said one thing.

"It's starting." Visha said with a breathless sigh as Jane shook her head and relaxed.

No matter what was happening, and what had happened, Visha was still Visha. That fact alone settled her nerves.

Jane smiled as she relaxed and gave Visha's hand a gentle squeeze as she watched the show that the Beast of Berlin was about to deliver.

On the field, Tanya took a deep breath and let it out as the timer ticked to zero. As she expected, several of the girls leaped blindly, carried away by the rush of the moment. As the first two spheres appeared, Tanya launched herself gracefully into the air, and right towards an empty piece of sky.

While the others rushed to be the first to hit one of the first couple of spheres, Tanya was looking ahead. As expected, two spheres appeared along the route she had taken. Tanya scored them with precise, efficient movements before she landed lightly for a moment before her next pass began with barely a glance at the girls who were on their own trajectories, and the spheres as they winked in and out of existence.

Tanya once again started her leap, hitting another pair of spheres on the peak of her arc, and another on the way down. A slight twist and spin cleared one of the other girls who was on her way up.

Jane blinked as she looked at Visha. "How is she doing that? Is she using magic to foretell where they will appear? And how did she avoid that collision?"

Visha grinned as she wriggled a little in her seat. "She is using a modification of a standard aerial search and destroy protocol, and Tanya is a surprisingly athletic young woman who is adept at gymnastics and martial arts." Visha said proudly.

"Why are you telling me this? You… You know that I can't be trusted…" Jane said softly.

"Actually, it's the exact opposite. You are one of the few who we know their allegiance and motivations. And once we have you working with us, then it's just going to make things work better." Visha said confidently, then smiled as she turned both of their attention back to the field.

Jane smiled as she looked at Visha, then followed her gaze and found her eyes locked for a moment with Tanya's. At that moment, she understood the truth. This offer wasn't about getting an advantage, or turning her against her handlers. It wasn't even about her friendship with Tanya. It was about making Visha happy, and that settled Jane's nerves in an odd sort of way. It was a motivation she could understand completely.

It also spoke of the lengths that Tanya would go just for Visha's happiness. The same person that the country she had been forced to work for had tried to kill. It made Jane wonder just what kind of payback that would earn.

It was a thought she didn't really want an answer to. Why this teenage girl filled her with such dread was something she didn’t understand. Why the thought of her being upset filled her gut with icy knives was something she didn’t understand at all. There was just some strange presence to Tanya, almost like some ancient goddess of war had come to walk the modern battlefields once more.

Maybe it was just her, it didn’t seem to bother anyone else. If anything, it seemed to attract Visha more when Tanya was giving off that vibe. Jane sighed as she focused her attention on the game.

She would never understand those two.

Tanya grinned as she slipped past two more of the other girls. As predicted, her optimized search and sweep protocols had proved successful. As an added bonus, the predictive nature of her movements had thrown the others into disarray, with some of the girls even attempting completely random leaps, in an effort to try to get ahead of Tanya's methodical methodology.

Their actions, and the others reactions, had only managed to make it more of a confused mess. Chaos, fear, uncertainty. These were the bread and butter of the former Devil of the Rhine. Tanya had to admit to herself that as much as she hated chaos and disorder in her own little world, giving it as a gift was satisfying in its own way.

The look of wonder and joy on Visha's face only made it more rewarding, if you asked her.

She was sure that others were watching this, trying to analyze what she was doing and figure out if there was some sort of magical formula involved.

As far as Tanya was concerned, they were more than welcome to work through it just like she had. It would make the game more interesting in her opinion if everyone was on the same level playing field as her.

Much more efficient.

With a quick twist of the hips and a roll of the shoulders she sipped through a narrow gap between two of the ungainly birds that shared her sky with her. It brought back fond memories of her flight training, when they had first started to work on flying in formation and using the tactics that had been taught in the classes.

Good memories from the early days of her training, before they had given her troops of her own to train. She missed those days, if she was going to be honest with herself. It had been a time of certainty for her, as a young aerial mage. But, she had to admit as well when the training of the 203rd had started, had been good as well. Still, of all the training she did during the war she found the times that Visha had been at her side the most memorable and rewarding. Perhaps she was a tad biased. These are the thoughts that passed through her mind as she quickly captured three more orbs while flipping herself over a pair of girls using a quick twist to launch herself to the side.

Tanya sighed as she landed and almost immediately launched once more on a seemingly random vector as she wished for the umpteenth time that they had access to powered flight without using the Type 95. Of course, without her propulsion unit it was nowhere near as efficient or maneuverable. But, one did the best with what they had on hand.

Tanya mentally counted the time down as she scored over and over. She could have taken it easier, but she wanted to make sure Visha enjoyed herself. It was why she was out here, after all. Or that is what she kept telling herself even as she grinned as she slipped between two of the girls to score the sphere before they could.

Tanya touched down gracefully as the timer hit zero and bowed to Visha without thinking, almost like she had said 'This was for you.'. The audience was silent for a minute, before they erupted in mad cheers.

Visha looked over to Jane with a happy, proud look on her face before she stood and started to cheer and applaud with the rest of them. Jane stood as well, and locked eyes with the Beast of Berlin before she gave Visha a gentle push.

“Go see your not a girlfriend, so you can give her a totally platonic hug, you goof.” Jane said, well aware that her words would be lost in the roar of the crowd, even if the intent wasn’t.

Visha gave Jane a smile and started to work her way down to go give Tanya her congratulations in person, and Jane and Tanya exchanged a silent nod before Jane settled back down to watch the next match, sure that it would be far less interesting than the one that she had witnessed, or the one that would come later that night when Tanya won the competition. Jane was certain that was what the outcome would be. Tanya had perfectly gamed the competition, and already come up with an iron clad solution. Next year they would have solved how she did it, she was sure, but that just meant that whatever strategy she came up with next year would already take that into account, while others would be trying to replicate what Tanya had done, and thus be even farther behind. It was frightening, just how much thought Tanya put into a simple competition for the sake of the amusement of her not a girlfriend.

It made her wonder just how far ahead Tanya had plotted and planned in regards to her. The fact that not only her life but the lives of her friends and family almost certainly depended on keeping Visha happy did little to assuage her concerns, but at the same time she was sure that if it was for the sake of Visha’s happiness, Tanya would do anything.

Her former handler was a world-class idiot for not seeing that Tanya was the greater asset, and now she had to make sure that her current handler didn’t realize it, as well.

Jane sighed as she settled in with a thoughtful look on her face.

No sooner had Tanya stepped from the field than she was assaulted by a certain hyperactive blue eyed brunette. Tanya had just enough time to brace herself before she was the recipient of a very tight hug from Visha, who clung to her for just a moment before she stepped back and smiled with an embarrassed look on her face.

“Congratulations, Tanya! That was amazing. I never doubted your theory, but to see it in practice… It was spectacular!” Visha said with a bright smile.

Tanya blushed and adjusted her collar for a moment before she reached up and adjusted her cap. “Thank you, Visha. I take it you enjoyed the match?”

“Oh! I quite enjoyed it! It made me hungry for schnitzel.” Visha said with a nod.

“Schnitzel, hrm? No borsch?” Tanya replied as they walked towards the back.

“I like borsch, but definitely schnitzel today.” Visha said with a nod.

Tanya smiled and nodded as they played out the coded conversation. Visha had delivered her message to Jane, and Jane had seemed to accept it, and the reasoning behind it. Now, they just had to convince the good doctor, who Tanya suspected was already here somewhere. She was certain of that fact, since there was no way the doctor would not have acted on the information she had shared.

The fact that the doctor might have wanted to watch her performance was something she kept firmly locked away at the back of her own mind.

The pair walked into the ready room and Visha almost immediately fell on the snack table like a starving wolf. A fact that Tanya found amusing, as she usually did. When Visha walked over to where Tanya had sat down with two plates that were heaped with food, Tanya chuckled and laughed.

“Two plates, Visha? I knew you were hungry, but you are going to eat everything that they have laid out.” Tanya noted with a fond, amused tone of voice.

“Oh, no, Tanya. This one's for you.” Visha said proudly as she placed one of the plates on the table next to Tanya and settled in with her own.

Tanya chuckled and shook her head. “You know I can’t eat all of this.”

Visha grinned and shrugged as she continued to eat.

Tanya laughed and started to pick at her plate, even as she watched the next event playing on the screens provided for them. She had a bit of time until the finals, but she would spend it doing something productive, like studying her next set of opponents.

It was only a matter of time until Tanya was once more on the field. She swept the stands, and easily picked out Visha and Jane, along with the others from her little war council sitting together in the stands. She nodded as she noted that the two girls were flanked by Sierber and Freiber. The two boys seemed to be doing a good job of keeping the boys that the two girls tended to attract at bay, and giving Jane and Visha a chance to talk more in relative private.

That taken care of, Tanya smiled as she observed her opponents and prepared herself to impress Visha even more. After all, it was always best to impress the girl that you were going to ask out, wasn’t it? And that would happen tonight. She had already confirmed that their personal security detail would be doing an active sweep, so were less likely to be directly observing them, and the sweep should keep any other countries from trying to rudely shoot them while she was telling the single most important person in three worlds and two lifetimes how she felt about her.

If anyone did think about interrupting them this time, she would personally take the Type 95 and melt their capital to slag.

With a nod and a grim smile on her face, the Beast of Berlin set about destroying another competition.

Jane was left to deal with an even more exuberant Visha as Tanya dominated the finals in a way that was even more overwhelming and demoralizing than what she had done in the previous round. Between thinking about the proposal of two of her best friends, dealing with the rather clingy girl who was going insane next to her and watching the match in a stunned state, Jane had quite a lot to process and deal with. When her phone buzzed, she managed to disengage from Visha long enough to check it. It hadn’t been the sequence her handler used, so she was sure it wasn’t about that situation, at least. The message on the phone didn’t serve to quiet her nerves, though.

‘Meet me after the event. Room 31-C. Come alone. We have much to discuss before tomorrow. Dr. S.’ was all the message said, but Jane had a feeling she knew who it might be. The question was, why tonight and not tomorrow? Best to do as they had said, and hope that she was still alive tomorrow.

When Tanya took her victory bow, Visha tried to drag Jane with her and looked a bit confused when Jane didn't come along.

"Go on, I have something I have to take care of. I'm sure Tanya is waiting for you. Now, go!" Jane said with a laugh as she gave Visha a little shove.

"Okay, have fun and be careful!" Visha called out before she pushed her way through the people that were making their way down the stairs.

Jane went her own way, and soon found herself at the specified room. She hesitated for a moment, then opened the door and stepped in. She saw an older woman wearing glasses sitting behind the desk that sat in the middle of the room. She smiled at the older woman, then froze as they lifted an object up and pointed it at Jane. There was a click, and a flash of light.

Tanya smiled as Visha practically burst into the students' ready room, and was hardly surprised by the fierce hug that she found herself on the receiving end of. Visha had certainly become more comfortable in her little displays, and Tanya had to admit, she was more acceptive of them, as well.

"I'm glad that you enjoyed the event, Visha." Tanya said after a little bit. "But can you let go? It's getting a little hard to breathe."

Visha let go and stepped back with a laugh before she started to straighten out Tanya's outfit almost compulsively.

"Visha?" Tanya said with an amused tone of voice.

Visha looked up from what she was doing with a nervous smile on her face. "Yes, Tanya?"

"Let's head back to the room, I want to change, and there is something I need to talk to you about, Visha. " Tanya said in a serious tone of voice.

"Yes ma'am!" Visha responded automatically, which drew an amused chuckle from Tanya, who was glad that at least Visha didn't salute.

The walk back to the room was quiet, as Visha observed her companion and former superior officer and Tanya did her best to not panic or over think things. The introspective brooding of Tanya made Visha wonder about the gravity of what she wanted to talk about. Jane, perhaps? Or the investigation into the boys? Or perhaps a retaliatory strike on a hostile country? They hadn't done one of those for a while.

Tanya was too preoccupied with her own thoughts to fully appreciate the speculative look on Visha's face, and so simply brooded more.

Once they were at the room, Tanya almost compulsively checked the room over as Visha laid out her clothes for the night. A fact that drew an amused chuckle from Tanya.

"You are always taking such good care of me." Tanya commented as she stopped at Visha's side.

"Of course. I've been doing it for years, and honestly? I find it comforting now." Visha said, then turned on her heel to regard Tanya. "Can I ask what you wanted to talk about?"

Tanya took a breath and nodded as she reached for Visha's hand and led her out onto the balcony. It wasn't quite as ideal as their last room, and the view wasn't as good, but at least there were less good lines for a sniper.

Tanya turned to look out over the area, and smiled as Visha stepped up to stand beside her. In the past, Visha would have always stood back and never been this close. So much had changed, and it would continue to change. Right now, here, Tanya could do something to shape those changes, to make a path to a different future, and one with Visha standing beside her the whole way.

Tanya steeled her resolve as she turned to face Visha, who had a mildly confused look on her face as Tanya reached out and took her hands in her own.

"Tanya?" Visha asked as Tanya shook her head and smiled.

"Visha, I could never hope to express to you just how much you have done for me over the years. Even if I had survived the war, I am pretty sure that I would have truly become the monster that many thought me to be. You taught me so much about being a woman, and being a person. I learned what little I know about decency from you. I would be lost without you. I want you to stay by my side." Tanya said as she smiled hesitantly.

Visha blinked and nodded. "Of course, Tanya. I will always be by your side, as long as you have need of me. Just like I always have."

Tanya sighed and smiled as she thought over what she had said, and how Visha had obviously taken it. She took a breath, and tried again.

"Your nightly comfort sessions… they have helped a lot, you know. Both of us, I'm sure, but especially me. Now, that said there are things that we… Both of us… Can do to make it better and more acceptable." Tanya said as she continued to hedge.

Visha laughed nervously. "I should have asked before I started to do that. I'm sorry, it was rather presumptuous of me."

Tanya sighed as she looked at Visha and swallowed hard. "No. I'm the one who should have asked you something very important, but instead I waited and delayed, because I was worried about things changing."

"What could you have asked me but didn't?" Visha asked as she felt just a bit lost.

"Visha… I like you." Tanya started once more.

Visha smiled happily. "I like you too, Tanya."

Tanya chuckled and smiled. "I'm glad for that. Bit, what I mean is I really like you. I'm… Rather fond of you, in fact."

"I'm Rather fond of you, as well. We have been serving together for years, after all. And you did save my life." Visha said as she smiled, more than a little lost.

Anya sighed and shook her head, as she got a bit more flustered. "I mean, I really like you. I'm very fond of you, Visha."

"And, so am I? I mean, the same, but towards you?" Visha said as her forehead creased in confusion.

Tanya grit her teeth and finally snapped just a bit. "No! What I mean is… What I mean… Is I.. I…". Tanya could see Visha about to say something and clenched her fists. "I love you, Viktoriya Ivanovna Serebryakov, and I want you to be my girlfriend. Please!" Tanya said as she bowed deeply in a very Japanese manner. The silence hung over the pair of them as Tanya started to wonder if the balcony was, in fact, high enough for an exit strategy when she started to hear sniffles.

She looked up at Visha, and saw the tears that streamed down her longtime partner's face and felt her heart drop. Tanya stood up, as she started to open her mouth when she suddenly found herself with her arms full of a clinging, laughing and crying Visha.

"Of course, Tanya. Of course. If you will have me, I'd happily be yours.". Visha said as she leaned back and wiped her eyes and smiled down at the shorter girl.

"I love you, Tanya Von Degurecheff." Visha said before she moved in closer, and there was nothing else to be said as they shared their first tentative, awkward kiss

Chapter Text

Chapter 38, The Seven Schools Competition: Deception is not a trick, it is an art.
Monday, August 9th 2094. 7:00 AM
Newcomer Monolith Code..

The next morning Tanya woke and tried to stretch, but found herself unable to. The reason was a pleasant one, one she hoped she would get to experience every day, but she was fairly certain that would not be the case. The reason for that was that Visha usually was up before her. Still, waking up spooned by her new girlfriend was something she would enjoy as often as she could.

In her previous life, she had never had time for relationships. When her physical urges needed to be taken care of, she had handled it in a business like manner. Pay a professional to handle the job correctly. The only times she had attempted a relationship in her first life was college, and it had been a short lived and awkward event. One that she had been certain she would never repeat.

She would now freely admit that she had been a pompous fool in her first life. She had missed out on things that only now, after dying and being reborn, she could appreciate. Like the feeling of strong arms wrapped around herself. The gentle tickle of a warm breath on the sensitive nape of her neck. A gentle nuzzle as her girlfriend who had trapped her in her tight embrace stirred.

"Good morning, Tanya." Visha said sleepily as Tanya could feel the smile on her girlfriend's lips against the back of her neck.

Tanya swallowed and tried a tentative wriggle, but quickly resigned herself to continuing to be Visha's cuddle pillow as the iron-like embrace tightened slightly. "Good morning, Visha. I take it you slept well?" Tanya ventured as she became acutely aware of Visha's front pressed firmly into her back, the resulting blush seemed to amuse her captor

“I think I could rather get used to this.” Visha said with a happy little smile and another nuzzle.

“Isn’t this basically what you had been doing for… However long it was before I figured out that you had been sneaking into my bed for mutual emotional support?’ Tanya replied as she coughed to try to control her body’s reaction.

Visha hummed for a moment and shook her head as she once again nuzzled the back of Tanya’s neck. “Not really. This is different.”

Tanya cleared her throat again. “Because we are dating now?” She ventured.

“Hrmm, well, that too. Now, I don’t have to get out of bed before you wake up so that you don’t know I am cuddling my favorite pillow. And I can enjoy how nice and warm you are without any reservations. In fact, you seem to be getting warmer by the moment.” Visha teased gently.

“Umm… Yes. I see.” Tanya said as she took a breath to try and center herself again. “You do know that we need to get up, so that we can go watch the first year's Monolith Code matches, right? And after that, we need to talk to Doctor Schugel about Jane and our plans.”

Visha huffs and pouts for a moment, something that Tanya is loath to admit to herself she finds cute, then releases her girlfriend from her arms and slides out of bed. Tanya took the moment to admire the pleasing image of Visha in her usual pajamas, arched and stretching. Visha looked over her shoulder with a knowing little smirk that caused Tanya to look away hurriedly and cough into her fist once more.

"Go ahead and use the shower first, Tanya. I will have our breakfast and clothes for the day ready when you get out." Visha said as she started to walk towards the door to retrieve the tray that should be waiting there for them.

"You know… You don't have to do that, right?" Tanya said hesitantly as she lingered in the doorway to the bathroom.

Visha laughed and turned with the tray in her hands to regard Tanya. "I do it because I want to, and also the fact that you are hopeless without me. You are more than capable of handling complex tasks, but cooking? That's something you have never been good at. You can handle planning, or even dismantling a major invasion, but you don't do well with dealing with people in a genuine way. You are good at manipulation, but awful at empathy. But, that's just how it has always been, between us. It makes me feel needed, you know? Makes me able to walk away from the horrors we have seen and done." Visha's smile turned bittersweet for a moment. "It proves to me that I am more than the finger in the trigger."

Tanya smiled softly as she ducked into the bathroom, and said one last thing before she shut the door. "You have always been more, Visha. You are the one that kept me human."

The two take care of their tasks, with Visha laying out their outfits for the day and arranging their breakfast while Tanya showered and got ready. After that, they ate their meal and Visha took her own shower while Tanya made sure that everything on her side was prepared. If the glances lingered a little longer, or the occasional brush of fingers was more frequent, who could blame them?

As they made their way towards the first venue, they slowly gathered those that were closest to them, with one notable exception.

"Has anyone seen Jane today?" Visha asked in a worried tone of voice.

As the others looked amongst themselves, Visha shared a worried look with Tanya.

"I'm sure she is fine. Maybe she overslept, or her duties are keeping her. I'm sure we will see her later." Tanya said, then started to walk again, to draw the others with her. Tanya's own thoughts went into much more worried and darker territory, as she wondered if Jane might have run around of her handlers, or if the good doctor had decided to remove her as a potential threat.

Tanya put aside those thoughts and worries for the moment as she led her little group to their seats to oversee the first match that their classmates would be competing in. The action would be related through the large screens that were spaced along The front of the stands. Tanya and Visha shared a look before they fixed their attention on the screens as the event started. Tanya looked down as she felt a warm hand sliding over hers, and a Quick glance to her side showed a blushing Visha in profile. As casually as she could, Tanya turned her hand over and laced her fingers between Visha's.

Any hopes she had that this simple act of public affection would go unseen were dashed as she heard the soft whispers on both sides. With a deep sigh, Tanya looked to each side and decided to put an end to the stupidity that was taking place

"Yes, I asked Visha out. And yes, she accepted. So, yes. We are a couple now. Does anyone have an issue with that?" Tanya said as calmly as possible. The last bit was delivered in a near monotone.

Hans Sieber cleared his throat and spoke up. "On behalf of everyone, I'd like to congratulate you both. It's about time, as well. I'm personally sad to have lost out on not just one beautiful woman, but two. Still, I speak for everyone when I say congratulations."

Tanya and Visha each blushed as the other applauded quietly. Tanya cleared her throat as she looked at the others. "Now, how about we watch Frieber and his team show these young men how you fight and win an engagement?"

The other students started to cheer loudly until one of the adults turned and gave them a look that quieted the exuberant teens down, at least for the moment. Tanya chuckled and glanced at Visha with a smile on her face. “It would seem that they are excited about this example of advanced tactical guerilla warfare.” Tanya commented.

Visha laughed and gave Tanya’s hand a squeeze. “They are excited to see their friends and classmates compete and win, Tanya.”

“I thought that was what I said?” Tanya deadpanned, and grinned when Visha rolled her eyes at her.

“Let’s watch them win their ‘advanced tactical guerilla warfare’ and then, we can congratulate Frieber, since he is our friend.” Visha said with a gin.

Tanya nodded and settled back. She felt quite content, even if she did find herself blushing everytime she looked down at their joined hands. Perhaps the physical aspects of a relationship would not be that bad, along with the emotional ones. It couldn’t possibly be worse than in her first life. For one, she now had Visha in her life. And in the end, that was the only reason she found she needed to be certain of it.

The match progressed quite well for Frieber and his team. There were more than a few moments that had the others give Tanya a critical look or two.

"That flash… You had them use that to blind the other team. How did they target it so exactly? And…. I could have sworn I saw one of the other team's members in two places at the same time. One with the others, and one off on his own?" One of the girls asked Tanya

Tanya grinned back. "Let me answer your questions as best as I can. Yes, that was an optical spell to create light. The reason it was accurately delivered, when it's a spell with almost effective range, is that it was cast in the same room as the targets."

"And that leads us to the person in two places at once." The same girl said.

"Exactly. A simple optical camouflage spell. Frieber was the best match, size wise, so they separated that member of the opponents team, and Frieber took his place. He cast the optical spell from in front of them.” Tanya explained matter-of-factly.

“Isn’t that… Ummm… A bit sneaky? Underhanded, even?” The same girl ventured.

“And your point is? We are doing this not to have fun, after all. We are doing it to develop and show usable talents and skills. Now, doing that in a way that also wins the competition, that is an almost ideal outcome.” Tanya said with a devilish grin as she chewed on the thumbnail of her free hand, until Visha gave her other hand a gentle, but firm, squeeze. Tanya coughed and smiled at the girl. “But, you are right. It was more than a bit underhanded.” Tanya said as she cast a quick glance Visha’s way, and received a gentle smile in return. A moment later Tanya sat back in her seat with a pleased look on her face.

“Was it a good idea to use that trick so early in the competition? Won’t their opponents be expecting it, and prepare a counter for it?” One of the boys asked.

“Oh, I am counting on that…” Tanya said with a devious gleam in her eye, as Visha just sighed and smiled.

You could take the Devil out of the Rhine, after all. But you could never take it from within the Argent. That devious little streak of Tanya’s… If Visha was going to be honest with herself, it terrified her at first. Now? Years later, and with the free reign to express her feelings better? She had to admit… She liked it. A lot. In ways that were, perhaps, not entirely appropriate for a subordinate. But perfectly acceptable for a girlfriend. Those were the thoughts that passed through Visha’s head as she gazed at her partner and significant other.

The group congratulated the team, and then waited for their next match. Tanya and Visha went with them, probably to plan their next devious little trick, and let the others wander on their own for a bit. The discussion quickly turned to Tanya and Visha’s new and budding romance, and relief amongst many, as they hoped that Tanya having someone to focus on would take some of that focus off of them.

Sieber stayed out of those conversations, but he had a knowing look in his eyes as he gazed at them, and wished them luck. He was quite certain that they would need it.

The couple returned in time for the next match, and the look in Tanya’s eyes made those that had endured her special training shudder. They were certain that this match would prove to be quite interesting.

Tanya sat in the middle of her little group and smiled that smile of hers as their Monolith Code team once again dominated their opponents. By the end of the match, the other team was squabbling amongst themselves, each certain that the other had to be an impostor.

At the look of askance Tanya just grinned proudly. “An auditory distortion effect. They thought that if they talked to each other, it would make it impossible to infiltrate their team. I anticipated that, and had them deploy counters to handle it.”

The others just gave Tanya a wary look as they all parted ways for the break until the finals. As the couple walked away from the others, Tanya showed Visha her hand held terminal. There was one message, from Doctor Schugel. It had a room number and a time, and that was it.

Visha nodded as the pair made their way towards the meeting, and chewed on her lip a bit. Tanya glanced over, and once again captured Visha’s hand in her own.

“You are worried about Jane?” Tanya ventured.

“I am. No one has seen her all day, and she hasn’t answered any of the messages I sent her.” Visha said worriedly.

“I am sure that the good doctor will explain what is going on, and Jane will respond soon.” Tanya said as they walked to the room and she gave Visha a smile before she opened the door and walked in first. Doctor Schugel sat behind the desk in the small room as she looked through various photos and files. Her love of the physical medium never ceased to surprise Tanya, who had been the victim of her fondness for antique cameras more than once.

“Thank you both for being so prompt. We have much to discuss, so please, sit. We need to talk about Miss Jane Donner, and how we have decided to handle the situation.” Doctor Schugel said calmly.

“Do you know where she is right now?” Visha asked.

“I do, in fact, know where she is.” Doctor Schugel confirmed.

“Will… Will she be joining us, then?” Visha asked as Tanya observed the doctor critically.

Doctor Schugel sighed and shook her head. “Sadly, she is a bit… Indisposed, at the moment. I’m afraid that she will not be able to join us for this discussion.”

Visha sat back with a worried look on her face as Tanya spoke up, her voice calm and cold. “Is she okay?”

“Well, that is something that we will have to discuss, the three of us.” Doctor Schugel said as she steepled her hands and matched her gaze with Tanya’s.

Visha swallowed hard and hoped that their friend was alright. And, that if she wasn’t, that Tanya didn’t kill the doctor.

She was rather sure that she would prefer to do it herself.

Chapter Text

Chapter 39, The Seven Schools Competition: Time marches on like the beating of a heart.
Monday, August 9th 2094. 1:30 PM
Newcomer Monolith Code..

Tanya and Doctor Schugel stared at each other over the desk while Visha looked back and forth with a worried look on her face. Visha cleared her throat and then shrunk back a bit as the other two looked at her.

“Can.. Can you tell us where she is?” Visha asked as she looked everywhere but at the doctor.

The doctor shook her head. "I can't, not right now."

Visha gave Tanya a worried look, and noticed Tanya's eyes had swept the desk and the floor before she relaxed slightly and reached over to take Visha's hand in hers as she looked at the doctor.

"You can't tell us because you are not sure where, exactly, she is right now. Just like we can't reach her because she doesn't have her handheld terminal with her at the moment, correct?" Tanya said then shook her head as the doctor gave her a curious look and nodded.

Isha looked at her girlfriend with a puzzled look on her face. Tanya grinned and took a picture from the desk and handed it to Visha. It depicted a rather surprised Jane jumping a bit backwards.

"You took her picture with that ridiculous antique of yours." Tanya said with a smug grin.

Dr. Schugel huffed at that. "It is not ridiculous. It's a genuine Polaroid!"

"A ridiculously old Polaroid. One with a bright external flash. How do you even get film for it?" Tanya asked as she continued to hold Visha's hand.

"Being the director of a secret government project with a full lab has its perks." Dr. Schugel said as she watched Tanya.

"And no one has been able to get a hold of Jane because she broke her terminal, correct?" Tanya continued.

Dr. Schugel narrowed her eyes as she looked at Tanya. "And what makes you think that? Maybe I had her liquidated."

As Visha tensed Tanya shook her head. "No, because our cleaners are better than this." She said as she leaned down and picked up a piece of red and white plastic.

"And that is?" Dr. Schugel asked.

"A piece of Jane's terminal's case. She broke it when you surprised her with that archaic camera, and you missed this piece. Now, I'm almost willing to bet she is being checked out right now, either here or somewhere else." Tanya said with a grin

"Well, since you have everything figured out, I only have two more questions for you, Tanya. One, why is Ms. Serebryakov turning such an interesting shade of red? Two, what is in your other hand?" Dr. Schugel asked.

Tanya blinked, then turned her head to the side and looked at Visha, who had blushed herself a very bright shade of red, then she looked slowly down at her hand and blushed herself as she realized that she had been holding Visha's hand the entire time. Tanya coughed once into her free hand, then laced her fingers into Visha's and gave the doctor a challenging look.

"As the two oldest teenagers alive, we decided it would be beneficial to pursue a relationship with the only actual peers that we have." A rather red Tanya said in a defiant tone.

Doctor Schugel chuckled and smiled at the pair of them. "So, you two decided to finally admit how you felt for each other. It's about time, honestly."

Tanya stammered a bit and looked flustered while Visha tried to just melt into her chair.

"What do you mean? How… Why…. How did you know?" Tanya finally said

The doctor chuckled and shook her head. "It was obvious to me, and I'm rather clueless when it comes to such things. Still, let me say congratulations to you two. Now, shall we discuss what we are actually here to talk about?"

Tanya looked to Visha, then back as she nodded and straightened in her chair. "Yes, please. What are the plans regarding Ms. Donner?"

The doctor nodded as she reached for a folder and laid it out. "For the moment, we will just observe her. We have to make sure that she isn't planning on playing the double agent with us, and supplying her handlers with information. That is why we are observing her potential actions with the Oracle system."

"I see. And if she is clear? Then what?" Tanya asked as Visha watched the interplay between her and the doctor.

"Well, at that point we start using her to funnel the information we want them to know through her. It's probably about the best use for a known asset." The doctor said.

Tanya nodded and eyed the doctor. "And if she decided to fully switch sides and claim asylum?"

The doctor steepled her fingers again. "Well, then we would have to consider sheltering her. Of course, as long as they have leverage over the young lady, that seems unlikely to happen."

Tanya nodded, then looked at Visha who hesitated then nodded as well. "We will keep that in mind, in case we ever have the chance to take possession of the leverage."

The doctor sighed and looked at Tanya. "We can't sanction a covert operation to infiltrate the United States and extract a person at this time, Tanya."

"Understood, Doctor Schugel." Tanya replied.

Visha sighed and relaxed. "So, then Jane is going to be okay?"

Doctor Schugel smiled and nodded. "She will be back on site in about an hour. We really can't keep those that are trying to observe her distracted for any longer than that."

Tanya nodded as she stood. "We had best get back so that we are not missed. We will go over the finer details later, then?"

The doctor chuckled and nodded as she eyed Tanya. "I sometimes wonder who is really in control around here."

Tanya just smiled and gave Visha's hand a gentle tug. "Why, you are, of course. Take care, Doctor Schugel."

"You two young ladies have fun." The doctor replied, and waited for them to leave before she rubbed the bridge of her nose for a minute before she replaced her glasses. "That young woman will be the death of me."

Doctor Schugel looked up as there was a discreet knock at the door before her assistant opened the door and informed her. "The young lady has been dropped off, and the access point into her terminal is working."

"Any chance they will detect it?" Doctor Schugel asked.

"Not likely, shall we proceed?" Her assistant asked.

"Proceed. Allow ORACLE access." Doctor Schugel ordered.

Her assistant nodded and offered another folder to the doctor.

"The results of ORACLE's predictions?" The doctor asked as she started to flip through it.

"Yes, ma'am. It appears that the odds of convergence increase as she interacts with Alpha and Beta more." The assistant supplied.

"And the odds of convergence increase with Alpha and Beta being sent to Japan?" The doctor asked.

"Yes ma'am. Next year seems to be the ideal target." Her assistant confirmed.

"So, just as the journals said." Doctor Schugel mused.

Yes ma'am. Shall I pass along the confirmation order?" Her assistant asked.

"Go ahead. I will be observing the finals. For scientific reasons, of course." Doctor Schugel said as she stood up and grabbed her camera.

"Yes ma'am." He said as he held the door for his boss, then shook his head as he headed out.

As Tanya and Visha walked, Visha reached out and took Tanya's hand in her own. Tanya looked at her with a sheepish grin on her face.

"I should have been more aware of what I was doing, and where." Tanya said apologetically.

"It's fine, you just… Surprised me a bit." Visha said with a shy smile.

"I really should have at least asked you before I outed us both to her." Tanya said.

Visha smiled and laced her fingers through Tanya's. "It probably would have happened sooner or later anyhow. How would you put it? Best to pull off the bandaid now, so that we have more operational flexibility later?"

Tanya chuckled and nodded. "I taught you well."

"Only the best of things." Visha said with a happy smile.

A gentle cough interrupted them, and the pair looked forward to where Jane stood with the others. "We aren't interrupting anything, are we?" Jane asked impishly.

Tanya shook her head and held onto Visha's hand as she felt her girlfriend start to let go. "Of course not. Glad to see you could be bothered to attend."

Jane shrugged. "I had to replace my terminal, it got broken and I have to keep it on me or the parents get freaked out."

"Well, we are glad you could be back in time, right Tanya?" Visha said as she gave Tanya a look.

Tanya smiled and nodded. "Of course. Let's get to our seats, the match will begin soon "

As the group walked together towards their section, Visha cast a concerned look towards Jane, who just smiled reassuringly at her while Tanya carefully observed her in silence.

"I'm fine, really. Shouldn't you two be too preoccupied with each other to worry about me?" Jane said jokingly.

Tanya and Visha shared a look, then Visha grinned and bumped her shoulder into Jane's. "We have watched out for and concentrated on each other for years. We can include you in our concerns." Visha said while Tanya just nodded.

Jane blushed and smiled. "Thank you, both of you… For everything."

Tanya smiled and nodded. "We could say the same, of course."

Visha sighed as she looked at Tanya. "You are being too serious again." She grinned at Jane and tilted her head to the side a little. "Welcome back, we are so very glad to see you again."

Jane laughed as the teens took their seats, and almost everyone turned to look at Tanya. She just gave them a blank look in return.

"What? Why is everyone looking at me?" Tanya asked innocently while Jane sighed and looked at Visha.

"Do you want to explain it to her, or do I have to?" Jane asked while Visha grinned and shrugged impishly.

"You have spent too much time with her, Visha." Jane groused before she addressed Tanya. "They are all wondering what dirty tricks or questionable tactics they are going to be using this time."

Tanya blinked and looked at Jane with a curious expression. "They haven't done anything of the sort yet. Everything has been exactly by the rules."

Jane sighed and shook her head. "Only you could answer like that, and mean it."

"Why? It's the honest truth of the matter. It's not our fault if they didn't foresee all the possibilities." Tanya answered while Visha just stifled her laughter.

"You are both horrible people, but we are all glad you are on our side." Jane conceded.

"That's how most people end up feeling about Tanya." Visha said proudly.

Jane laughed and went back to watching the match.

As the doctor watched the match, she could see the glimmer of Tanya's genius in the mayhem that had unfolded before her. She calmly reached up and keyed her earpiece as it beeped at her. "Yes?" She asked as she tried to focus on what exactly had happened.

"It seems that there are still elements in okay, doctor. ORACLE predicts movement within the next twenty-four hours. There is a high probability they will attempt to neutralize one of our assets.

"Do we have a location yet?" Doctor Schugel asked in a calm tone of voice.

"We should in the next six hours, ma'am." Was the answer. "Should we prepare a strike package?"

"Yes. Prepare a delivery. We will send A and B to deal with our party crashers before they can knock on the door again." The doctor confirmed.

"As you wish." The voice on the other end of the line confirmed before it cut out.

It seemed that things were going just as predicted, mused Doctor Schugel.

How accurately events were predicted over a hundred and fifty years ago was a bit disturbing, at times, but the timelines of events that were written correlate to a degree that was well out of statistical probability. Not happenstance, or conjecture, but provable fact. The existence of the project, the discovery of the entropic event… All of it, laid out in clear writing. The events become more and more sporadic after the noted time and date of the entropic phenomena’s collapse, but they still correlated at a degree that was disturbing.

Even the existence of the ORACLE could be laid at the feet of that worn, neatly written journal. The samples that were used to create the components of the ORACLE system were obtained from the founders, after all. And how, exactly, they got them in the first place? Sometimes it was best not to speculate.

Yes, all of it was going according to plan.

Why did that fact sometimes fill her with a thrilling sense of dread, though?

The doctor pondered all of this briefly, before the action on the field once again pulled her attention away from her ruminations. Time enough for speculation after the match, and after the operation.

For now, though, she would observe… For scientific reasons, of course.

Chapter Text

Chapter 40, Time flies: Breaking and Entering.
Monday, August 9th 2094. 9:00 PM
The hotel room of Tanya and Visha

Tanya had to admit, it had been a fairly good day. They had managed to deal with the sometimes eccentric doctor, recovered Jane, and watched the newcomer Monolith Code team destroy the opposition. Afterwards, they had dinner with the group, and now they were back in their room sitting on the couch and just… Being close to each other. Tanya was not yet ready to even contemplate anything else, and considering the odds that the room was bugged in a myriad of ways, it was best to keep things as PG as possible.

Visha, for her part, was rather ecstatic. The day had been wonderful, they had a good conversation with Doctor Schugel, then had been able to see Jane right afterwards. After that, they had been able to witness the fruits of Tanya’s hard work and dedication. Next had been a wonderful dinner with their friends. And one must not forget the sausages had been divine. Now, she was giddy with excitement as she got to hold Tanya’s hand and just bask in her warmth.

Life was good. Now, if the rest of the world would just leave them be, it would be even better.

Visha let out a sigh as Tanya’s terminal signaled an incoming message. Tanya gave Visha an apologetic look, and answered the call with one hand. After a brief conversation that mostly consisted of ‘Yes’ ‘No’ and ‘Roger that. Of course.’ Tanya sighed again as she reluctantly let go of Visha’s hand and stood up. When Visha gave her a questioning look, Tanya let out yet another sigh.

“It must be bad if you sighed three times, Tanya.” Visha said as she stood up as well. “Was that the doctor?”

Tanya nodded as she looked at her screen. "We really need to work on not doing our job so well, Visha dear. They expect a lot from us."

Visha blinked and blushed as she steepled her fingers. "If...if you say so, Tanya…"

Tanya nodded as she gripped Visha's hand a little tighter in hers. "They have tracked down the Chinese contingent that paid us a visit. We have been tasked with informing them that they are no longer welcome here."

Visha nodded and sighed. "I see what you meant by that. Well, at least they see us as dependable?"

Tanya laughed and leaned over to kiss her girlfriend. "Your unstoppable optimism never ceases to amaze me, Visha."

Visha blushed and grinned at Tanya. "I'm just glad I can still surprise and amaze you, Tanya."

"That still leaves us with having to assault a force of unknown size, with unknown capabilities, on their own territory. And here I thought that we were done with the brass wanting to kill us." Tanya said with a grim chuckle.

"That just shows how much confidence they have in you, Tanya." Visha said with a smile.

"You do know that they are sending us both, right?" Tanya informed her partner with a raised eyebrow.

“Of course they are! I have fought at your side for years now, I won’t let anyone stop me from doing that.” Visha said vehemently.

“You also realize that means that they have the same level of confidence in you, right?” Tanya said with an amused gleam in her eye.

Visha blinked at that and smiled warmly. “I guess that does.”

Tanya basked in that smile for a moment, then coughed as she looked away. “We are going to be hitting them in the early morning, before they have a chance to make a move and organize. Another surprise assault deep into enemy territory. How lucky are we.” She said sarcastically.

“Well, just like every time before, I will be at your side and watching your back.” Visha said proudly.

Tanya relaxed a little, as she found a sense of relief in that simple statement.

Tanya stretched and looked at Visha. “Let's get our personal kit ready. They will be here shortly to pick us up. I wish that they would give us a bit more time to plan, but since when is this unusual for us? They always seemed to be whisking us off to somewhere to do something ridiculous. I don’t see why things would be different here.” Tanya put action to words, as she retrieved her fighting knives and side arm, then sighed as Visha collected her entrenching tool. “You are bringing that with you. Of course you are.”

“It’s not the same as the one I used to have, but I think it’s growing on me.” She said proudly as she stowed it away in the sheath she had constructed for the folding shovel.

“Only you, Visha dear. Only you.” Tanya commented as they finished their preparations. They would be collected by the field team any minute now, and briefed as they were driven to the operation control site. As they heard a knock on the door, Visha went to open it while Tanya covered her with her sidearm. After the correct series of signs and countersigns had been exchanged, Tanya holstered her weapon and grabbed her ready bag after she had handed Visha hers. “Okay, let’s go.” Tanya stated as they were escorted down by the four agents from the Project.

They made it to the car without incident, or being spotted by any of their schoolmates. One of the senior technical advisers was waiting in the car to give them the briefing for the operation. They would be hitting a warehouse on the edge of the docks that had been turned into a forward operations base by the Chinese intelligence unit that had attempted to gain access to the Project's data.

How, exactly, the Project had gathered this much data was a mystery to Tanya. Even if they had been watching them since the attack, would they really have had a chance to gather so much data without being discovered? And the pieces missing were odd, as well. Something didn't make sense, but for now it would have to wait until after the operation was completed.

When they reached their own FOB(Forward Operations Base), they found the doctor looking over the operation. She looked up and nodded as the pair of teens entered the room. “Punctual as always, I see. I wish that we had more time to plan and prepare, but our intel suggests that they plan to make a move sometime in the next twelve to eighteen hours. I would have preferred to send in a full team to handle this, but there just isn’t the time to prepare them. Plus, there is the fact that you two have far more combat experience than our strike team does, and your capabilities exceed theirs.” The doctor shook her head. “It’s a bit of a hard egg for them to swallow, but that last joint training operation demonstrated the fact all too clearly. Stealth and speed are the best way to handle this, and that is something you two have demonstrated time and time again.” The doctor looked at the plan again and shook her head. “Your gear is waiting for you in the ready room. I take it you have already familiarized yourselves with the operation?” At their nods, she turned back to the planning table. “Good luck.”

The pair saluted sharply, then turned and marched swiftly to the ready room. As they entered, they found their nighttime operations fatigues waiting for them in the changing room. After they had slipped into them, each with their backs to the other even though they had changed in each other’s view many times before. Tanya chuckled as she pointedly looked at the locker in front of her. “I guess this is something we will have to work our way through, hrm?”

A very pink Visha nodded before she cleared her throat. “It just… Feels more intimate now. It’s kind of silly, isn’t it? We have seen each other in pretty much every state of undress known to man… Yet, here we are. I know that I feel oddly self conscious, and my heart is racing. And yes… I think it’s something we will have to get past… When we are ready for it.” Visha said as she finished getting changed.

Tanya finished as well, as she audibly pulled the last zipper closed. “Okay, let's get geared up and take care of the doctor’s little errand. If we hurry, we can be back in time to eat and clean up before we watch the official Mirage Bat. I would like to see how our seniors handle the situational problems in person.”

Visha laughed as she fell in alongside Tanya, still not completely used to not walking a step behind and to the right, but Tanya had insisted. And if she was going to be honest with herself, she much preferred this new arrangement. It made her feel like they were more of equals and partners, and less superior officer and subordinate. “Only you would think of a night time assault into a defended position facing uncertain odds as a little errand, Tanya.”

“Compared to Operation Door Knocker? Or the raid on the Russy capital? It really is a little errand.” Tanya said with a chuckle as she led the way in. Once inside, they found their combat kit waiting for them. An assault rifle for Visha, and a submachine gun for Tanya. More knives, stun and flash grenades along with two fragmentations for each of them. The only part of the kit that each didn’t even consider was the helmets. And the last thing that waited for Tanya was the Type 95, the cursed computation jewel that Being X had saddled with.

They reluctantly allowed the technicians to hand them the body armor, even though they each knew that their revised mage shells would be more than adequate protection. Still, as Tanya watched the technicians check over the vest that covered Visha’s chest, she had to admit to herself there was a certain sense of relief. Tanya gritted her teeth as she renewed her determination to never again allow any harm to befall her girlfriend. The rest of the world could burn, as long as Visha remained safe.

It wasn't logical. It made no pragmatic sense. It wasn't for anything but personal reasons. She could argue that Visha represented untold hours of combat experience and was a talented fighter in her own right. But that would be a cover for the real reason. Visha had become the reason she kept fighting. When things had changed, she wasn't entirely sure herself. But they had changed.

And she was okay with that.

Tanya and Visha each checked the other's gear one last time before they each gave the thumbs up. After they received confirmation from the head technician, they headed for the transport. Once they had boarded, they rolled out to head to Point One where they would disembark and head for the target destination at Point Two.

Things looked like they would get interesting soon enough.

The pair were dropped off at the appointed time and location, and seen off by the driver before they made their way towards the target. They traveled under Tanya's visual camouflage, something made simple with the Type 95.

As the pair slipped quietly over the wall and into the compound, Tanya tapped her mic once.

They were in. The operation could begin.

Chapter Text

Chapter 41, Time flies: Assault and Battery
Tuesday, August 10th 2094. 2:00 AM
Point Two.

A slight ripple moved slowly and steadily across the backdrop of the wall that surrounded the compound. Under the cover of her optical illusion, the two most senior members of the 203rd Mage Battalion once again found themselves making their way into the heart of enemy territory with an assault on an entrenched, numerically superior force. In other words, a fairly normal Tuesday, at least back in the world that they had been cast adrift from.

The two operated in near total silence, years of close cooperation have made audio cues redundant. Each knows what the other intends in most situations, and quick hand motions convey the rest

As they moved, guards and cameras were identified and circumvented or removed if there were no other options. Most of them, Tanya handles on her own with a quick yank back with a hand over their mouths, and a knife in through the gap between the ribs or collarbone.

One guard had the misfortune of turning the corner at the exact wrong moment, and got to look into the intense eyes of Visha as she drove her always handy entrenching tool through his chest.

Tanya chose not to comment, she simply nodded as they each drug their respective victims out of sight and stashed them, as they moved out once again after they scanned them and uploaded the results to the encrypted network. Why, exactly, they had been informed to do this was a mystery to both of them. What was even stranger was how their tactical displays would update shortly after each time.

Tanya had to wonder about the timing, and what resources the good doctor might have in the shadows. A matter for another time. When they were not penetrating the heart of enemy territory.

Tanya exchanged a look with Visha as they came up on an intersection. Their displays showed a small group to the right, but nothing to the left.

With A quick exchange of gestures, the pair moved silently down the left passage. As they progressed down the passage, a group of four guards flanking an older gentleman with milky white eyes turned into the corridor before them. The pair exchanged a look and pressed against the wall to allow the group to pass.

The first pair of guards passed by the pair without incident, and the elderly gentleman stepped past Tanya without hesitation but as he started to move past Visha, he lashed out to the side and delivered a palm strike to her chest, right over where her heart was. As Visha slammed into the wall behind her, Tanya felt the surge of energy from a spell activation.

Tanya rolled deftly to the side as she avoided a strike aimed at her. She dropped the concealment spell as she glanced aside at the limp form of Visha as she lay crumpled at the base of the wall. She felt her blood run cold as the thought of Visha being hurt or dead settled into her chest like a cold, dead weight.

The guards attacked as soon as her cloaking spell dropped, and it quickly became clear that they had stepped into a trap. One that had injured Visha.

Unacceptable. Completely unacceptable. Without Visha, what purpose did living have? What good was fighting to survive? What did it matter what happened to this world?

A world without Visha no longer needed to exist.

The four guards had pressed Tanya back while the older gentleman stepped back to observe. Tanya wove her way between their attacks as she felt herself growing colder and more furious by the moment. She parted her lips as words began to spill forth.

"Oh Lord, I consign these now to your mercy and judgement. Lay low the mighty, the arrogant, and the unjust. Return them to dust.`` She said as she reached out and touched one of the four. His horrified scream was cut short as his body crumbled, consumed by time. Tanya looked up, and her golden eyes locked onto her next victim as she seemed to blur and vanish.

She appeared again before him as she gripped his head between her hands, and a moment later his headless corpse dropped to the ground. The other two guards attempted to fall back, but the Argent, the Devil of the Rhine would not spare them tonight.

In moments, Tanya had locked her golden gaze onto the older gentleman as the bloody and rotted remains of the four guards lay scattered on the floor. A quick motion, and an impenetrable sphere of all consuming blackness snapped into existence around them, the edges of it sinking into the walls and floor. As Tanya advanced on him, he took one, then two steps back until his back collided with the boundary of Tanya's field. He pressed against it for a moment, then steeled his resolve as he engaged her directly.

He moved with smooth, fluid grace. Each strike was precise, and Tanya could feel the tingle of magic in the air as he attacked her. More than likely, he was one of the ancient mages that she had heard about, practitioners that had been trained to use magical systems from before the codifying of modern magic.

As they separated again, he gave Tanya a grim look. “You do well to avoid my strikes, child. Otherwise, you will end up like your companion there. The Dim Mak kills with just a touch.” He said as he moved back into his stance as Tanya went dead still.

“You killed her.” Tanya said in a flat monotone voice. She looked up, and he flinched back at the pure, murderous intent that radiated from her like a cold torrent. He barely had time to block as she moved rapidly to engage him. She had changed her fighting style, and was no longer just simply dodging out of the way of his strikes. She had started to actively parry him and block his strikes with a magical shield that flashed in and out of existence at the last possible moment.

The only reason he knew where the barrier was that she had enacted was the fact that his senses just ended. No sense of a wall, or anything else. Just a sense of nothingness. Like knowing that the void of space was just on the other side of a thin bubble. He shivered as he parried another attack with absolutely no concern for her own safety behind it. She had become a cold, unfeeling berserker. What was the most disconcerting was the words that seemed to be spilling from her lips with no conscious thought, words of praise and devotion to God. Words that unsettled him, even if he could barely make them out.

He parried a particularly vicious attack, and a cold flame seemed to engulf his arm. He backed off and watched in a sort of horrified wonder as his arm seemed to just rot away. In moments, his right arm had been reduced to dust, and his lifeblood had started to pour out from the withered remnants of his shoulder.

He steadied himself as he decided that, no matter the cost, he had to destroy the monster that faced him now. It had become clear that he had obviously killed the wrong one with his surprise attack.

It was a mistake that he was determined to correct. And Zao Dao never failed his master's.

At that same time in the Projects FOB, a series of sensors and alarms begin to blare. The doctor's head snaps up from where she had been reading the latest report from ORACLE.

"Report!" She snapped out as she stood up.

"Ma'am! We are seeing a spike across all the bands. Tanya has created another entropic sphere. But ma'am… I've never seen readings like these…" The sensor technician spike nervously.

The doctor hurried over to examine the readings herself. She inhaled sharply as she saw the surge and spike in neutrinos and other exotic particles that were bleeding from the event horizon.

"Damn that Type 95… It doesn't have the limiters her combat CAD does. I don't know why, but Tanya's entropic acceleration inside the sphere is reaching dangerous levels. If this continues… we might see fission occur…" Doctor Schugel spoke as she examined the readings again. "We had best prepare for a blast wave… I don't know if we are far enough away…"

Doctor Schugel spoke softly to herself. "Degurecheff, what are you doing? Serebryakov is supposed to act as a check on her…" The doctor looked towards Point Two and hoped that the worst didn't happen.

Inside the sphere, Zao Dao tried to push himself away from the horrifying demon that stalked him. His legs were rotted ruins, and his sole remaining arm was in little better shape. He knew that his death stood before him, and that there was little he could do to stop it from happening. The raw power that poured out of the girl before him was terrifying, there was no way that there should be a mage of this caliber that was not on their lists, that they did not have a record of. In his senses, she stood like a swirling figure of light and darkness, like an angel of the end of days coming to deliver judgment on Mankind.

He supposed that he might not be that far off.

“You took her from me. You took the one thing I cared about in this world. You took the only reason I have to truly care about what happens to this world and the people in it away from me.” Tanya said in a low, monotone voice as her golden eyes slowly started to fill with swirling red. “I will deliver justice. I will have vengeance. Oh Lord… Hear now my prayers as I condemn these souls to your fires. I offer them to lay at your feet as a sacrifice.” Tanya said as she continued to stalk towards him, the very personification of Wrath incarnate.

She jerked to a halt as a pair of slim, strong arms wrapped around her from behind. Tanya barely stopped herself from reacting as a familiar floral scent washed over her, one that she had grown accustomed to in the time since they had each stopped pretending that they were sleeping next to each other every night. A scent that she would know anywhere, no matter what kind of state her mind was in.

“I’m here. I’m safe. Tanya… Please, come back to me. I’m here. I’m safe. Tanya, stop, please….” Visha said as she pulled the shorter girl back against her.

Tanya took a slow, deep breath as her opponent gaped at the sight before him. Tanya relaxed, as her eyes lost their reddish, golden glow and she seemed to shrink slightly, once more just a mere mortal, no longer a vessel of Divine wrath.

“How… How are you still alive!” Zao Dao asked as he pressed his back against the curved wall of the sphere. “That attack should have destroyed your heart! It should have caused the muscles to tear themselves to shreds!”

Visha glared over Tanya’s shoulder at Zao Dao. “If you want to destroy my heart, you are too late. Someone beat you to it. And anyhow, it belongs to her now… No one else can have it.” Visha said as she blushed a bit.

Tanya calmly reached down and pulled out her pistol as she took aim and put two rounds through his chest and one through his forehead. “And no one else ever will….” Tanya said before she took a breath and brought the raging sphere of entropic energy back into control again. She turned in Visha’s arms and looked up at her slightly taller girlfriend. “You scared me, Visha…. I thought I had lost you again.”

Visha smiled and shook her head as she winced a little. “I’m never leaving your side again, Tanya. I might just be a little sore for a few days, is all.” Visha said as she smiled at Tanya, who just shook her head and looked down.

“I..I almost lost it…” Tanya said softly, then jerked a little as Visha lifted her chin.

“But you didn’t. Now, let's finish what we came here for, okay?” Visha said as she gathered her gun and checked the round in the chamber.

Tanya nodded as she let the bubble collapse, and the pair moved out once Tanya had cloaked them once more. Time was no longer on their side, they could hear people coming, heading towards the sounds of gunfire and conflict that had echoed through the halls.

The race was on.

Elsewhere, the technician looked back at the Doctor. “It’s... Gone, ma’am. It wasn’t up for very long, and it seemed to stabilize just before it collapsed.”

Doctor Schugel nodded as she looked at a screen that showed the telemetry from Visha’s artificial heart. Hopefully they didn’t have any other unpleasant little surprises. Visha’s vitals had spiked and then dropped to a low level suddenly. They had to trigger the overrides built into her artificial heart to get her back up and into the fight. Luckily, they had sent the signal before Tanya had erected her entropic field.

They would keep a closer eye on the pair going forward.

Chapter Text

Chapter 42, Time flies: Run and Gun.
Tuesday, August 10th 2094. 2:00 AM
Point Two.

Visha and Tanya shared a look as they heard the sounds of boots headed in their direction, and the data on their HUDs supported that fact. They had less than a minute until they would make contact. It was clear that the element of surprise had been lost.

Time to be a bit more proactive.

As they exchanged a look, the two veterans reached for a pair of cylindrical grenades and at a silent signal, armed them and rolled them down the corridor, with Tanya's two seconds before Visha's.

A shout of "Grenade!" rings out, then the first flash bang goes off. A moment later, the second one goes off, and there are more cries of distress as the pair roll around a second after the second grenade went off.

Tanya was the first around the corner, her submachine gun already raised and aimed towards the first target. Good intel was always a bonus in any combat situation, and having truly accurate positional data on your opponents could mean the difference between life and death. And Tanya had always taken the steps necessary to ensure that she was on the winning side of that equation, except for those times that she hadn’t been able to see to that. A distressing number that she did not really have any desire to think about, if she wanted to be honest with herself.

As the laser sight slid across the chest of the first target, a neat grouping of holes appeared as her suppressed gun fired in short, controlled bursts. As she swung onto the next target, the first of the targets on Visha’s side of the corridor jerked and fell as she engaged her targets.

The pair engaged the stunned and disoriented soldiers with ruthless, cold efficiency. When the last of them fell as he tried to dive for cover, Tanya looked over the fallen with a cold, disinterested look as she commented. "Like fish in a barrel. Just like our tourist's from Dacia."

Visha looked at Tanya and didn't comment as she smoothly exchanged clips, and placed the mostly spent clip into a pouch while she checked the other end of the corridor.

The pair exchanged a silent look before they started to move in the direction that the last group of soldiers had come from. They hadn't had a chance to scan the last set of soldiers, and their HUDs didn't update with new details. A fact that Tanya noted in one quiet corner of her mind.

Distraction, deceit and targeted destruction. The 3 D’s of maneuver warfare. They were now on a clock, and the more that they could keep the enemy off their balance, keep them being reactive the better odds the pair of them had. Luckily, it was something that the 203rd and the Kamperfuge that came after it excelled at.

And the two best agents of organized mayhem and chaos were once again fighting a numerically superior force on their own territory.

It was almost enough to make Tanya feel nostalgic, at least if she hadn’t still been more than a bit on edge over what had happened to Visha.

So, if when they rolled around the corner and came upon three more soldiers who were more than a little shocked to see the pair of them, it was excusable that Tanya flashed into the midst of them and engaged them in the close-quarters combat that she had made her specialty during her many bloody engagements with enemy mages. It was entirely understandable that she might be a bit more vicious and efficient than she would normally be.

Tanya looked up from the third target as she pulled her combat knife from his sternum, and met Visha’s gaze for a moment before they both looked away. Tanya was fairly certain that they would be spending the night in each other's arms, so that they could sleep after this. It had become a fairly regular incident for them, yet neither of them had really pushed the physical side of their relationship any past the kissing and holding each other that had become more regular.

All in all, it had been a change that Tanya and Visha had found to be more than slightly acceptable.

As the pair checked on where they were, they noticed that they had almost finished passing through the offices that sat between the two large bays of the actual storage section of the warehouse. The right hand bay showed a large number of individuals. More than likely, it served as a barracks of some sort for the guards and the support staff. The left hand one showed far less occupancy in the large expanse.

The pair exchanged a look, and started to head towards the left hand hall.

Xian Lao looked over at her stoic partner Shan and sighed. They were both Wu, and the same age. But that was pretty much where the similarities ended. She channeled the spirits of wind and sky, where he was the very embodiment of a mountain. She dressed in light, flowing clothing where he wore a full suit of ceramic armor and ballistic cloth. She was the image of speed and agility, where her partner had once taken an anti-tank round head on. They were a study in opposites, and that was why they had been assigned to work under that old creep Dao Zao.

Xian Lao stopped in place as Shan held up his hand, his head cocked to one side. After a moment he held up two fingers and motioned at the corner. Xian Lao had learned to listen to her silent partner's warnings, the very earth spoke to him, and warned him of those that were nearby. It was entirely possible that the uninvited guests that a guard had mentioned were nearby. That was, after all, why they were heading to the corridor that led to Bay One. The combat suits and weapons that were stored there and had been snuck into Germany would prove quite embarrassing for the agencies back home if they were discovered, or worse yet, lost.

The pair exchanged a quick look as she summoned up her spirits and wrapped herself in their mantle. She glanced to the side as Shan summoned up his power as well, and the sense of heavy, ponderous might filled the air.

The pair were as ready as they could be.

When the pair of grenades bounced around the corner, Shan reacted. His foot struck the ground as a dome of concrete from the floor engulfed them, and a pair of muffled bangs resonated in the air. A moment later, Xian and Shan were able to see their opponents in person as the pair of young women dressed in black tactical gear came around the corner. The two pairs took a moment to size the others up, then Xian Lao was gone in a flash as she headed towards the one that seemed to be taking a moment longer to react, and who's choice of a rifle made her the better opponent.

Shan would be able to easily handle someone who seemed to be equipped for close quarters combat, as well. Or that was what Xian Lao had thought before the shorter of the two seemed to appear in front of her and blocked her strikes with the knife in one hand, and the receiver of her submachine gun in the other.

Xian Lao snarled at the shorter intruder as she jumped back, the paired knife in her own hands gripped tightly as she tried to look for a way past.

Tanya shook her head as she gave Liao that sardonic smirk of hers. "I'm sorry, but the only one allowed to hit on her, is me."

Visha blushed red as she never took her eyes off of Shan, and Tanya coughed.

Xian Lao narrowed her eyes as she shifted her stance slightly. "You seem to think you are fast enough to handle me? Do you then think your companion can best Shan?"

Tanya smiled as she regarded Xian Lao and chose to answer part of her question, and ignore the rest. "I have every confidence that she will win any and all fair fights."

Xian Lao regarded her opponent carefully for a moment, then started to circle Tanya as Visha watched Shan's ponderous and implacable advance, and smiled with the confidence that she felt after Tanya's words.

There was no way that Visha couldn't handle this on her own now. She took careful aim, and snapped off a couple of shots to test her opponent's defenses. The rounds struck with no discernible effect as Shan just continued his methodical advance. He didn’t flinch or sway in the least. Visha narrowed her eyes as she watched him, and noted the extent of his armor. He was a walking tank. She grinned slightly as she swapped clips. She had dealt with tanks in the great war before.

Tanya continued to circle her opponent, as each looked to find an opening in the other's defenses. She feinted low and snapped off a short burst at her opponent, and noted as the rounds failed to impact, deflected and shredded just before impact. Her blue eyes narrowed as she observed Xian Lao’s reaction and shifted her stance slightly. “Impressive defenses there. No bullet can reach you. hrm? And you seem fairly fast.”

Xian Lao smiled as she shifted the grip on her knives and lowered her center of gravity lower as she prepared to engage Tanya once more. “Does that mean you are ready to surrender?”

Tanya shook her head and smirked. “Actually, I would say that you should be the one considering surrender. Your defenses are impressive, but they have their downsides. You are immune to guns, but at the same time your shield stops projectiles in both directions, not just the ones coming towards you. A perfect barrier doesn’t have any openings, after all. And you are fast, yes. But are you fast enough?”

Xian Lao looked at Tanya with a grim expression before she seemed to blur, and streak towards Tanya in a rush. The look of incredulity on her face when Tanya once again parried both of her strikes was almost humorous before she once again opened up space between them. Xian Lao narrowed her eyes, and reinforced the spells that sheathed her in power. She would be even faster.

Visha continued to try and keep distance between her and the walking mountain as she looked him over. He wasn’t moving quickly, but none of the rounds she had hit him with seemed to have any effect on him. She had even used some of her mage shot bullets, but unlike a barrier, his armor seemed to just shrug off even the enchanted rounds. No armor was perfect, though. Even if he was reinforcing the armor, there had to be a limit. Maybe not on the entire piece… But what about one small section of it? Visha narrowed her eyes as she focused, and fired three rounds, one into each lower leg just below the knee, where she could see ballistic cloth flexing. As expected, there didn’t seem to be any noticeable effect, until her third round struck the same spot on his trailing left leg. She saw him pause for just a moment, and a smile formed on her face.

She would prove that Tanya’s confidence in her was not misplaced. She swapped clips once again. She only had one clip of these rounds, so she would make sure that she made the most of them. They were a gift from Tanya, after all. Most people would give their girlfriends roses or jewelry, maybe candy or clothes. Tanya was by far the more practical person, though. She knew enough to give Visha something she could truly use, even if they had to be redone fairly often.

Nothing like armor piercing rounds that had their penetrators wrapped in an entropic field to bring them as close to a state of perfect suspension as Tanya could manage on the long-term without having to resort to the Type 95. She had ten rounds, and she intended to make the most of them.

Tanya smirked that evil little smirk of hers as she barely blocked Xian Lao’s strikes. “Oh, I guess someone decided to get serious. Good, I was afraid I would have to send out for takeout if you stayed that slow.” She cleared some distance as she spoke words that sounded more like a curse than a prayer. “Oh Lord, grant me, this humble being, a single second of your time. Grace me with your celerity, so that I may show the unenlightened your majesty.”

Xian Lao barely had time to react as Tanya seemed to vanish, and appeared in front of her with a manic grin on her face, and eyes of blazing gold.

Chapter Text

Chapter 43, Time flies: A moment in time.
Tuesday, August 10th 2094. 2:03 AM
Point Two.

Tanya had the odd urge to laugh, an unfortunate side effect of using the Type 95’s power. It always seemed to bring on strange moods in her, when she used the full power of the cursed device. She assumed it was more of Being X’s meddling in her affairs and mind, but in this case it was unavoidable. She needed far more power than the CAD she carried as a backup could manage. She couldn’t even activate the small, modern device if she wanted to make use of the Type 95’s power.

The Chinese agent she fought against was good, a very talented fighter who was able to keep up with her. It had been ages since she felt so challenged, since she had faced such a foe.

It was almost a shame she had to kill her.

Tanya closed in once again, the sound of their clash like a truckload of cymbals hitting the ground as their weapons rang out against each other at speeds that should never have been possible. The two clashed and disengaged rapidly, neither having an obvious advantage.

Xian Lao took the momentary reprieve to gulp a few more lungful's of air before her opponent was on her again. The fanatical gleam in her eyes, the rictus grin that changed the other girl's pretty face into some horrible monstrous mask. It was becoming more and more evident that this girl had to die for the sake of her homeland.

Someone with power like hers was too much of a threat.

Xian Lao narrowed her eyes as the two circled each other. There was no way that either of them could keep this up for very much longer, especially since each of them just pushed themselves faster over and over again. She knew that she was near the limit of what she could do, and she had to hope that her opponent was as well.

Tanya eyed her opponent and slung her gun. It wouldn't be useful in the fight ahead, and she needed to concentrate on the melee that was about to come. Her skills in hand to hand combat had gotten her far over the years, it would be a good thing to test them against someone who focused on hand to hand combat.

Tanya grinned that maniacal.grin as her golden eyes narrowed for a moment before she lunged in once more. She came in low, as she made the most of the height difference to lessen the size of target she presented to her opponent.

Xian Lao shifted her stance slightly, then turned to the side as she struck down at the back of her opponent. She didn't expect to land the blow, but sometimes it paid off to go along with your opponent to an extent to figure out not just what they had planned, but what they were capable of.

Tanya rolled to the side and attempted to sweep her opponent's legs out from under her. Without surprise, Xian Lao avoided the sweep and delivered a kick to the small mage. Tanya rolled with the impact and ended up kneeling on one knee with her knife ready if Xian Lao attempted to close.

Xian Lao Had originally thought of closing with her smaller opponent, until she saw the controlled roll and decided to back off once more. Her years of training, and the last two years with the Old Master had taught her much, and she trusted those ingrained instincts here.

Tanya stood up, her guard never dropped as she started to circle Xian Lao. The Chinese agent was every bit as talented as she had expected her to be. She dipped her hand towards her gun and fired a burst at her opposite, and noted how she didn't even flinch as the bullets deflected away. In fact she started to close. She clearly intended to use the moment when Tanya transitioned from her gun to her advantage. It was clearly a tactic she had used before.

Xian Lao had moved to close the distance even as Tanya had started to dip her hand. She had done this often, and had trained until she didn't even flinch anymore when bullets struck the barrier she surrounded herself with. It was proof against bullets and other small projectiles, but it had to let blades through, or her own weapons of choice would have been useless.

As the fight once again became a close range melee, Xian Lao delivered a series of quick slashes with her paired blades. Tanya parried one, then slid out of the way of another with fluid grace before she lashed out with a kick aimed at her opponent's midsection, and used the block to reverse her momentum and deliver a backhanded blow of her own. Xian Lao barely blocked the strike and pushed the smaller mage off of her and watched as Tanya landed lightly on her shoulder and rolled back to a ready position as she flipped her knife back. Xian Lao shivered at the look of murderous glee on Tanya's face, the look of eager anticipation.

Tanya grinned as she bounced on her toes, the thrill of a good fight lighting a fire in her chest. She launched herself back into the fray as she led with a lunge. She came in fast and exchanged blows with Xian Lao quickly, as she kept up the pace and rhythm. She had started to get a feel for her talented dance partner, and had decided to see if she could end their little party with one of her little tricks.

Tanya's face became serious once more as she exchanged blows, their blades flickering in the light. Tanya steps it up, as she lashes out with a series of kicks and slashes, the cold and focused look on her face even more disturbing in many ways to Xian Lao than the maniac look of moments before.

As they crossed blades once more, Tanya dropped her blade and caught it in her other hand in preparation for an off-handed blow. In the moment that Xian Lao's attention shifted, she darted her hand forward as entropic energy surged on her fingertips. A single touch to end the fight.

Xian Lao had followed the weapon as it shifted for just a moment. She wasn't sure what prompted her to dive backwards, but she followed her instincts like the Master had taught her. She saw Tanya pulling her extended hand back, and wondered for a moment if her opponent might possess magic like the Masters. Often, the most dangerous effects either required time, concentration or, as was the case with her Master, proximity.

If that was the case, then this fight became much more dangerous, since she did not know the nature of the effect. If she had achieved these speeds through neural control, then perhaps she could disrupt a person's nervous system? Or perhaps it was the metabolic processes themselves she had altered? Xian Lao shook her head as she disengaged once again. Now was not the time to speculate. She had to avoid contact if possible, and defeat her target as quickly as she could. At least the spell seemed to require contact with the fingers, as did the Master's. That was something to work with.

Tanya quirked an eyebrow as they separated once more and locked gazes. She hadn't expected her opponent to throw herself backwards like that. She had obviously had experience with a magician who used touch-based magic. Perhaps that old mage that she had killed earlier.

She knew that the amount of time she could spend in combat at this acceleration was drawing closer and closer to the limit. She had to end this soon, or she might pass the soft limit she had set for herself. She had a few ideas on how her opponent's barrier worked, and if she was correct, then she might have an opening she could exploit.

And Tanya was never one to let an opportunity pass her by.

Xian Lao flexed her fingers around the hilts of her blades as she watched Tanya warily. The spirits that she commanded were what let her move this fast, but she paid a price for it. The human body just was not designed to sustain this kind of speed for long, and even if the spell enabled her to react at this speed, it was becoming a closer and closer margin by the minute.

She had to end this, and end it soon before her spell was no longer sustainable.

She was sure that the Master would lecture her again.

Tanya knew that the next engagement would likely determine this fight. Neither of them could keep this up for much longer, not without draining themselves totally, of that she was fairly sure. She was hesitant to rely too heavily on the Type 95 if she could avoid it, she never knew when that maniacal Being X would decide that she needed more… Motivation… in her descent into fanatical adulation of that pompous wannabe deity.

She’d had an idea, a thought. A conjecture, if she was going to be honest with herself. It was risky, and would likely only work once but hopefully she would only need to resort to such tricks once. She dipped her hand once more and fired off a quick burst that emptied her gun. When she reached for the replacement magazine, her finger lingered on the exposed round for just a moment longer than normal before she slammed it home and charged it.

Xian Lao had kept a watchful eye on Tanya the entire time, certain that it had to be some sort of trick. Surely the blond mage was aware that no matter how many times she tried, her bullets would never make it through the barrier that protected her. It had to be some sort of trick, but she wouldn’t fall for it, not this time. She would conserve her energy and make the other mage take the first move.

Tanya squared her narrow shoulders, glad that her opponent seemed to be taking a more cautious approach. It would actually make what she had planned easier, if her hypothesis was correct. It was time to test it, to end this fight so that she could help Visha if she needed it.

Not that she thought that Visha would.

Tanya charged at Xian Lao, and her hand dipped down to raise her submarine gun. As she expected, Xian Lao braced herself, ready to let the rounds deflect and deal with Tanya in close combat. But something was going to be different this time.

Tanya fired off a burst aimed at her opponent's face, and the rounds slapped into the barrier that surrounded Xian Lao, but instead of being deflected, this time they turned to dust. The rounds, decayed by Tanya's entropic field and no longer held together by her stasis turned into a fine metallic powder on impact with the wall of wind. The sudden, shocked inhalation had been what Tanya had counted on as Xian Lao started to choke and cough, and during that vulnerable moment Tanya struck.

Tanya swung her blade, reinforced with an entropic sheathing, into and through the blade in her opponent’s left hand, and carried the strike through to nearly sever her right hand. As the blood sprayed through the air in an arc, Tanya prepared to deliver the finishing blow. That was when she felt it, the surge of magical power that welled up from the broken remnants of Xian Lao’s blade. At that moment, she realized that they were not simple weapons as she had thought, but talismans used in Ancient Magic. A talisman that she had just destroyed without a thought. She felt the spells that had sheathed her opponent start to fray and unravel as the air spirits that had been confined broke free of their constraints.

That was when she was slammed into the wall behind her as the other mage's spell unraveled.

The stunned and groggy Devil of the Rhine shook her head as she thought to herself “That was unexpected.”

Chapter Text

Time and Time Again.
Chapter 44, Time flies: Time moves onward, always onward.

Tuesday, August 10th 2094. 2:03 AM

Point Two.

Visha tried to tune out the high-speed battle that was happening all around her as she focused her attention on her opponent. He moved slowly, but she had become certain that it was more a matter of being methodical than slow. It could very well even have something to do with the magic he had employed, or it might be a bluff to put his opponents off guard. Two opponents that were resistant or immune to ranged combat, but handled it in completely different ways. An interesting way of dealing with the modern battlefield. How effective their tactics were against magic would be tested in this engagement, of that Visha was sure.

From her time on the front, Visha knew how deceptive the slow, lumbering movements of tanks could be. They could cover a surprising amount of ground in a rush, all while turning aside any attack that wasn't designed to defeat their armor. She had quickly realized she needed to treat her opponent like a tank, and that also meant looking out for whatever ranged options he was sure to employ.

Shan narrowed his eyes behind the bulletproof visor of his helmet as he watched his opponent. She moved well, and had remained calm. She had even almost managed to penetrate his armor at one of the joints, the few places he could not completely fortify. Still, as long as he remained aware of her movements and where she had aimed, he was confident he could handle her. It should not be long before Xian Lao had taken care of the mage that had confronted her, and then they would crush this other one between the hammer and anvil.

He spared a glance at where his partner was engaged with the other mage, and paused for a moment. He had trouble following either of them, and that was not a good sign. Xian Lao had been forced to push herself faster than normal, and somehow the mage she was engaged with had kept pace with her. It should not be possible, but it made him even more cautious of the mage he had engaged with. They were clearly no ordinary mages, and he had to take that into consideration.

He issued a new command, and went on the offensive. He had to take out this interloper he faced so that he could try to help Xian Lao. It was what they had always done since they had truly started to train under the Master. They each had a wildly different outlook and fighting style, but that had allowed them to cover for the other, to only make them stronger as a team.

Visha barely had time to dodge out of the way as the ground underneath her erupted into spikes of stone. She started to leap backwards, but some voice in the back of her head drove her to dive to the side and roll clear before she came back to one knee and had already started to aim down the sights of her rifle. She was shaken out of her focus when the wall behind her previous position exploded into shrapnel.

If she had followed her first reaction, she would have been skewered by the fragments of concrete that had shotgunned out.

Visha steeled her resolve and resisted the urge to glance in that direction. It wouldn't help her, especially against an opponent that seemed to be able to turn the walls and floors against her. She fired off one of the precious rounds from the special magazine, and watched to see how his armor handled the entropically hardened round.

Shan had hoped that the compound attack would have done the job. He had been prepared for most possibilities when he launched the attack. The initial attack moved like a wave along the ground, a short ripple of stone spikes to drive his target backwards towards the real attack. The fact that she dove clear to the side, and risked being caught by the stone spikes on the floor spoke either of finely trained instincts, or an almost preternatural level of awareness.

Either that or an almost psychotic level of training.

He figured it must be one of the former, and not the latter. Western societies tended to be more humane in how they treated their mages. Softer. Weaker. It had been what they had been taught.

And it didn't pay to doubt the lessons they had been taught.

Shan braced himself as the western mage prepared to fire. It had been odd to realize that they were mages, yet they had cast no offensive spells so far. So far, all the combat from the intruders had been conventional arms, yet he had a feeling that there was something going on. A feeling that proved all too true as the round penetrated partially through his armor. And this time, it had not been a joint. It had been one of the primary plates on his upper leg.

The fight had just gotten a bit too interesting.

Visha nodded to herself as she chambered another round and surveilled the damage. She could see a little bit of blood seeping out of the spot that the round had struck. It hadn’t been a solid hit, the round had not landed as true as she would have liked. Still, the effectiveness of the penetrator rounds that her girlfriend had given her was undeniable. Once again, Visha proved to herself and the world at large just how thoughtful her significant other really was. A moment later, she was pulled out of her thoughts as the slowly moving mountain rushed at her like a landslide.

It seemed her earlier judgement had been proven all too true.

The mismatched opponents found themselves engaged in heated close combat as Shan rushed to engage his opponent, since he had decided that someone as skilled at ranged warfare and equipped with a weapon that could penetrate his protective magics was not likely to be as skilled or dangerous in close combat.

Needless to say, he found himself more than a little perplexed when the smaller woman pulled out an entrenching tool, of all things. And proceeded to block his attacks with it in a way that suggested more than a passing familiarity with the odd weapon.

Visha had reached for her trusty shovel as soon as she saw Shan begin his headlong rush towards her. She cleared it and snapped it open just in time to block the first heavy palm strike that had been launched at her. The strike seemed very familiar in how it had been delivered. It reminded her of the old man who had almost killed her. Her eyes narrowed as his follow up strike set up an attack on her rifle, that she just barely managed to avoid landing.

It was obvious that he thought it must be some property of the rifle itself, most likely a CAD device, that enabled it to penetrate his enhanced armor. While it was true that the rounds were special, otherwise the rifle was exactly like what it looked like.

Now, her actual CAD was hardly anything that would be recognized for a mage device, by the very nature of what it was. Sadly, she had never really mastered the art of truly magical combat, that not being an area that the combat mages of her old world really focused on, as long as you excluded the likes of the Devil of the Rhine, or those lunatics that had tried to hunt down Tanya.

But for now, she had to focus on the capable opponent that she faced. She was uncertain if her trusty entrenching tool could defeat his armor, but she was more than willing to put it to the test, if it came to that. He had obviously figured that since she was adept at ranged combat, that she would be inept or at least lacking in close quarters engagements. That might have been true at one time, but one did not earn the nickname the Devil’s Handmaid without being able to function where her beloved former commander had spent most of the war, in the midst of the enemy where her formidable close quarters talents could turn the tide in an engagement.

VIsha decided to take a risk to get a better assessment of her opponent. She feinted swinging her rifle up, and when he moved to block the rifle being raised, she stepped in and short-hafted her entrenching tool as she stabbed, then stepped back and to the side as she let her grip slide towards the end and delivered a heavy turning slash. She was not surprised when the blade was deflected, and her shell was forced to absorb his heavy counterstrike.

As the two separated again, they locked gazes as they circled each other once again. Visha's only real chance against him was the special rounds in her rifle, while he assumed it had been the gun, or a spell she herself had cast through it, that allowed it to surpass his armor.

Every time she let her hand dip towards the rifle, she saw him tense and prepared to close the distance. She had to find some way to distract him or make sure that he could not close the distance before she could aim and fire off a round at something that would actually slow or stop the juggernaut that she faced. As much as she would have liked to just shoot him in the head and be down with it, the chances of landing the shot as things stood was not good enough to make it a good strategy.

She spared a glance to where the other two fighters were buzzing about each other, and she could tell that the pace of the conflict had picked up. She knew how long Tanya could maintain a truly enhanced speed like what she had shown here, and that timer had to be rapidly ticking down to zero. She had to do something soon to break this stalemate so that she could be of some use to Tanya before she had to cross that threshold. The fact that this Chinese operative had been able to push Tanya this far for this long spoke volumes about the pair they had encountered. And Visha, having fought alongside the Rusted Silver, the Bloody Devil of the Rhine for as long as she had, knew for a fact that part of the reason that Tanya had to push herself this far was her own presence. That and the necessity to leave the facilities and the surrounding buildings in something resembling an intact shape.

Whatever plan she might have settled on quickly became moot as there was the high pitched sound of Tanya snapping off a burst at almost point blank range, then a moment later it seemed like a bomb went off. Visha didn’t let herself dwell on the small shape that went flying through the air, instead she let herself be pushed back by the blast wave as Shan did the opposite, and braced himself.

As the ground and Visha neared each other, she sighted her rifle and fired three shots in rapid succession, one just before she landed on her shoulder, and the other two as she rolled to a kneeling position. The first round hit Shan in the lower leg, just above the swell of armor that protected his ankle. The other ones hit the outside of his left leg, just below the heavy armor that covered his hip joint, and then one into his left shoulder as he rotated and fell.

Visha spared him a glance as she hurried over to check on her stunned partner. When she looked back, Shan had ended up near where his partner lay. He slammed his hand into the ground, and a wall of concrete and stone shot up to shield them. A moment later, the floor shook and rolled for a moment as the sound of rumbles and cracks reverberated behind the sudden barrier. When it ended, Visha could see the partially filled depression where the two Chinese operatives had been moments before.

Visha sighed and looked down at the groggy form of Tanya as she lay against the wall. The two shared a look before Tanya sighed. “You didn’t finish him off, did you?” Tanya asked.

Visha shared a long, aggravated look with her girlfriend that pulled a sigh and a faint smile from the former Devil of the Rhine.

“Thank you for making sure I wasn’t broken or anything. I appreciate the thought.” Tanya said, then winced as Visha helped her back up. “We should finish up here. I have the distinct feeling we will probably see those two again. Call it a hunch, from dealing with too many competent enemies that just never could figure out when to call it a day.”

Visha smiled and nodded as she walked alongside Tanya until she had once more regained her balance on her own.

Chapter Text

Time and Time Again, Chapter 45, Time flies: The secrets we keep….
Tuesday, August 10th 2094. 2:08 AM
Point Two.

The pair of temporal refugees moved with a heightened sense of purpose and how little time they might have to finish the operation. The activities of the night had grown far louder than either of them were comfortable with, and the likelihood of additional dance partners didn't make either of them happy. Especially Visha, who had become all too aware of the price her Tanya paid for cheating time of it's due.

She was going to have to stuff her girlfriend full of calories later. Purely for Tanya's health, of course. And then a long session of… Contact psychological stress reduction.

She desperately needed a good cuddle after tonight.

Tanya's thoughts were no less serious, but she also couldn't help the feeling of pride that welled up in her. Visha had handled an opponent particularly suited to fight her with all the grace and savvy that she had come to know so well over the years. The awkward, nervous and shy young soldier that she had known in her first command was not gone, but had matured into one of, if not the, finest mages, soldiers… And person that she had known in two lives and three worlds.

In many ways it was almost a shame that they couldn't just end up back in her original world. The parents who had raised the previous incarnation would certainly love the current one's girlfriend.

Tanya shook her head and wondered if her brain had been rattled more than she had thought, for going off on tangents like that. They were both happy in the here and now, and they had found a place of relative safety and acceptance.

Even if people still seemed intent on killing them.

Tanya signalled silently to Visha that she was okay, and the pair started to move faster. They used magic to skate along the ground, low and fast. Surprise had been lost, so it was time for the second most important facet to successfully penetrate enemy territory. Mobility was the second pillar of the holy trinity of war. Anyone who thought it was armor was counting on being able to wage a defensive war, and at that point you gave up initiative, you were stuck in a reactive campaign and were at a severe disadvantage against any competent enemy.

Soon it would come to the third of the holy trinity. Firepower, overwhelming focused force. Three aspects that the aerial mages of their old world possesed in spades, and that the mages of this age could bring to bear, as well.

The pair moved through the corridors quickly, and used the HUD with its almost uncanny amount of information to be prepared for what could lay around the next corner, the next crossing of halls.

As they came up on one such choke point, blips began to appear and the pair quickly exchanged hand signals as they both pulled one of the diminishing supply of grenades from their harness, and primed them before they bounced them into the chokepoint, and a moment after the explosions they rolled around and finished off the stragglers with quick, controlled burst of fire.

The pair scanned the faces of those that were handy, and nodded to each other as the data continued to update and they moved off in the direction indicated for one of the larger warehouses, the one that the pair of operatives seemed to be trying to stop them from reaching.

The pair neared the last section before they would penetrate the warehouse itself, and something warned them to stop. There were no blips on the HUD, but both of them were veterans of the most vicious war that either world had known, and had learned to trust that gut feeling. In Tanya’s case, it was years of logical examination of engagements and the psychology of war, and her brilliant tactical and strategic mind. For Visha, it was instinct and insight. Regardless of the methodology, the end results were the same.

Neither one of them trusted things to be this easy. The pair exchanged a look, then Tanya sent a quick message through the data link to the C&C.

“Expect heavy resistance at the next point. Clearing the point.” Tanya tapped into the datalink, then looked at Visha as they each changed out their magazines for one of the ones that Tanya had prepared. Mage rounds were never easy to make, and seemed to be even more difficult here, but you did what you needed to when the situation demanded it. And the ability to fire full seeking, piercing or, as they were about to do, explosive rounds, added a level of tactical flexibility that most mages in this world would have difficulty replicating without a truly dedicated CAD.

Tanya cloaked them with one of her optical camouflage spells. If they were using anything but visible light, especially infra-red, they would be spotted immediately. But against the unaided eye, there would only be a faint ripple as the spell compensated. Tanya peeked around the bend, and confirmed what they had both thought. There were six soldiers at the next chokepoint, all armed with four of them behind a low, reinforced set of barriers.

Against a pair of Imperial mages with defensive shells and mage rounds, it was far less intimidating. Tanya's hand rested for a moment on the Type 95, and she was tempted to activate it again, to rely on the effortless power and superiority it brought. But that feeling of unnatural elation, almost ecstatic joy stifled that urge. Instead she entered the combination to unlock the virtual computation jewel that they had developed. It made using the revised spells with a CAD far easier, even if it did impose a heavier drain on the devices. Tanya cast a brief glance at Visha and bit her lip.

Visha smiled and shook her head as she pointedly tapped her chest where her mechanical heart resided and then smiled before she gave a thumbs up.

Tanya blew out an exasperated breath and nodded before she executed the series of spells, and checked each one as they resolved while she also watched as Visha went through the same process. A moment later, Tanya launched herself around the corner, and began to close the distance. As the guards opened fire, Tanya evaded the majority of their fire as Visha stepped out and opened fire herself.

The two guards out front were shredded as Visha's fire tore into them, the penetrating rounds passed clean through their body armor. Afterwards, Visha started to provide suppressive fire as her girlfriend closed the distance and dived between the barricades.

The guards barely had time to react as the little angel of death appeared between them, a submachine gun in one hand, and her combat knife in the other. A round from behind skipped off of her shield as she felt the minute fluctuation in her mana. Tanya dived under the rifle of the soldier in front of her as she opened him from the sternum down, and rolled behind his falling body before she shot the guard's partner with a controlled burst of tightly grouped rounds

The guards opposite of her reacted quickly, one of them swiveled and fired into the falling body of the guard Tanya had eviscerated, the other made the mistake of starting to stand to get a better line on the little mage. His head exploded into a cloud of blood and gore as Visha sniped him. The other one ducked down and looked up just in time to see the serious face of Tanya as she slid to a stop in front of him, and the flash of a blade ended his threat.

The pair of mages exchanged a look as Visha walked up and swapped out the magazine for a fresh one as Tanya wiped her blade clean before she slid it back into its sheath with a practiced, smooth motion.

They moved towards the door and remained low as Tanya checked the door, then nodded to Visha as they both made sure that they were ready to breach the door into the warehouse proper. There was no telling what lay on the other side, so it was best to go in hot. A steady advance, keep low and keep the protective shells up.

Tanya slid her blade from its sheath and encased it in entropic power before she slid the kni9fe slowly through the back hinges, then sliced through the lock itself. The two ex-soldiers looked at each other before they laid the door down and moved to opposite sides of the door, each covering a different quadrant as they quickly surveyed the expanse of the bay they were in.

The warehouse had been turned into an armory, with neatly lined up and stacked crates for ammunition and weaponry of all sizes. The real eyebrow aiser though was the collection of powered suits along the back wall, each nestled into its own armored alcove.

The pair forwarded the video they had started to record back to the C&C as they slowly moved around the bay. The armory was arrayed in a neat, professional manner and each of the suits was a previous generation Chinese model. They didn’t have any unit markings, but both of them were sure that these were not mercenaries for hire. Too organized, and the mages that they had run into so far screamed government.

The pair looked at each other and nodded as they continued to scout. A blinking light on a support pillar drew Tanya’s attention, and what she saw sent her running for Visha at her full enhanced speed. As time seemed to slow more and more, she reached for the Type 95, and activated it without disengaging the CAD. A sudden surge of heat washed over her as her CAD overloaded, and she felt the jubilant elation as the power flowed through her.

When Tanya collided with a surprised Visha, she spoke the forced prayer to ask for power. "Lord, shelter us in Your protective hands. Deliver us from the foul machinations of those that have turned from Your light.". The last thing they heard as the black bubble of stolen time wrapped them in it's protective embrace was the initial boom of the charges detonation.

A short time later, in a sealed and secured room in the C&C, Dr. Adeline Schugel opened the metal box that she had pulled out of a secured and locked case. It folded open at the two hidden hinges at the top and bottom of one side, and revealed what it truly was. A book, it's spine attached to the metal box opened before her. The pages within were pristine, even though the book itself was well over a hundred years old. That, along with the two other books that actually showed their age were the only items in the case. They were some of the legacies of the founders who had entrusted later generations with carrying out the task that they, themselves, would never see done.

The same task that had fallen on Dr. Schugel as the last director of the project, according to the Book. The book that should never have existed when and where it did. Yet, here it was. The guide that had led them to this place, this time.

To the events that had to happen. She took a breath, released it, and turned to the page that was marked.

'Tuesday, August 10th 2094.

On this day, the Bloody Angel and her loyal Handmaid shall breach the den of the invaders, and shall face three challenges. Death shall be the first, and shall test the strength of their bond.

Next shall be the Earth and the Sky, and they shall test the faith one has in another.

The final test is the one of Self. Does the Angel of Battle retain who she is, in the face of great need?

These events lead ever onwards, to the Trial, when the fortitude of the Pair shall be tested, and a choice shall be made.'

Dr. Schugel read the page once more, then closed and locked the Book once more before she rested her hand on one, then the other of the ancient books that sat on her camp desk. The pair of diaries were the other legacies of the Founder's, and detailed the events that had brought them here, as they had brought Tanya and Visha to them.

And they mentioned the supposed author of the Book. The one that had set them on this path.

Titania.

Dr. Schugel looked up and placed the books once more into the case and locked it at the knock on the door of the room she sat in. She walked over and palmed the door open and looked at the soldier who stood outside.

“Report.” Dr. Schugel commanded as she shifted slightly.’’

“We have recovered them, Ma’am. They are still encased in the entropic field, but we were able to extract the sphere from the building it had embedded itself in. They are on their way back to Facility One as we speak.” The soldier reported with a sharp salute.

“Good, good. Break down the C&C, and we will meet them back at the facility.” Dr. Schugel said as she stepped out of the room in the back of one of the trucks and palmed the lock to seal it once more.

“What about the facility, Ma’am?” The soldier asked.

“The rats have surely scurried out of what remains after they blew the section that had the incriminating evidence. We will send in a team after we know the site is clear and see what we can gather.” Dr. Schugel said as she made her way towards the cab of the truck, and left the actual work to the rest of the team.

She had important work to do, herself. She had to set the events in motion that had to happen, after all.

They were running out of time.

Chapter Text

Chapter 46, Time flies: The days of our lives…
Sunday, August 29th 2094. 11:30 AM
The Cafe de Francois

Tanya walked towards the cafe that the group had decided on as she glanced down at the hand of her girlfriend that was gripped in her own, their fingers interlaced. It had been two weeks and a few days since their little excursion against the PRC, and Visha’s bruises on her chest had finally healed up to the point that Tanya was not concerned every time she saw the mark on her former adjutant’s sternum.

She was still of the opinion that the agent that had done it had died far too easily.

Tanya glanced aside once more at the happy smile on Visha’s angelic face and relaxed somewhat, the latent rage settling to the back of her mind once more. Visha was safe, and that was all that mattered. They had not heard anything about the Chinese agents making a return, and that helped settle Tanya’s mind.

What weighed on her mind now was something that she had overheard the good doctor and one of the senior technicians discussing. Something called Oracle3, that seemed to be behind the intelligence that they had received while in the mission.

From what she had gathered, it seemed to be some sort of predictive machine or device, and in this world you could count on it somehow being magical in nature. Back in her first world, the idea of a predictive model was well established, even if the results were not always accurate, even when dealing with the weather.

Tanya mused a bit more, until her mind was pulled back to the present by a gentle squeeze from Visha’s hand. It was a topic Tanya could return to later, when she didn’t have a lunch with their circle to attend.

The pair looked over as they heard their names called out, and saw Jane, Willa and Lisa sitting at a table back in the corner. Tanya and Visha smiled over at their friends as they made their way over. After an exchange of hugs all around, the five of them settled back down to eat and catch up.

It had been a few weeks since the last time they had been together at the Seven Schools Competition, and the girls had been enjoying the rest of their summer break. Now, they had finished the first week of school and things had settled back into the usual routine.

Jane was excited about her work for the Student Council, and Lisa watched her antics with a smile as she sipped at her latte. Jane had seemed to make her peace with the good Doctor’s demands so far, and they had been looking into the possibility of extracting her grandmother from the US.

Lisa had been busy with her own student council work as she prepared the budgets and requests for the upcoming semester. She hung her head as she talked about the demands of the various clubs, and bemoaned how insistent some of them were about why they needed more funding, or even why rival or conflicting clubs deserved less.

"The worst part is that Erika and Stefan have been so busy with each other, that they keep leaving all of this to me! It's just not fair!" Lisa said with a pout.

Visha laughed and gave Tanya's hand a squeeze. "So, he finally worked up the nerve to ask her out?"

Tanya looked back and forth with a puzzled look on her face. "Visha? You knew about this? And why does it matter to all of you who is seeing whom?"

Visha sighed while the others laughed. "Tanya dear, for someone as insightful as you, you can be adorably clueless at times. It's been obvious from the start that the two of them liked each other, but neither one could risk their working relationship by trying to… Advance on their front."

Jane giggled. "Sort of like a certain pair that we all know ." She said while the two being referenced chose to ignore the boisterous American's insight into their situation.

Tanya's eyebrows creased as she thought about that. "Yes… Risking a rejection of a romantic pursuit can leave a good working relationship in shambles." She glanced aside at the smiling face of Visha and coughed. "That said, sometimes you do need to seize the initiative."

Lisa, Jane and Willa shared a look before Lisa said quietly under her breath. "Or smacked with a mallet."

Willa blushed and smiled shyly as she worked up the courage to speak for herself. "We… We are starting to work on our first production of the semester… And I'm in charge of costuming…" Willa said as she found her pasty intensely interesting.

Willa looked up nervously to see the smiles on her friend's faces as they each offered their congratulations. Then, Tanya asked the question that was on most of their minds, but that Tanya was the only one blunt enough to ask.

"How did you get this opportunity? Isn't it a bit uncommon for an underclassmen to be offered a chance like this?" Tanya asked while Visha shook her head.

"Ummm...Yes… But I impressed one of the heads of the department, and the material engineering department." Willa said shyly.

"That is quite the feat. How did you manage that?" Tanya asked while Visha smiled as she watched her girlfriend being particularly sensitive, for the Devil of the Rhine.

"They… Really liked the work I did… For your costume…" Willa said nervously.

"It was very well done, but was that really all that they considered?" Tanya asked with a questioning look.

Jane decided to step in and bail out their shy friend. "Willa is studying to be a material engineer, and also design and fashion. She has a real talent for using magic to manipulate materials."

Willa blushed as the extrovert of the group sang her praises. "They had no idea what our little Willa could do, not until they were able to see her own designs in action." Jane said proudly.

Willa blushed even more as she tried to shrink in her chair. After a moment, Visha gave a look around the table that left the others rather quiet before she reached out and took Willa's hands in her own.

"We are very proud of you, Willa. This is an incredible chance for you to show the rest of the school what we were lucky enough to find out for ourselves." Visha said with a smile.

"What is that?" Willa asked as she looked down at their joined hands, then up at Visha's smiling face.

"How talented and capable you are. How much you pay attention to all the little details, and that you put the desires and needs of the people who are lucky enough to wear what you make first." Visha said with a happy smile.

Willa blushed even more as she picked at her desert and fidgeted. Her friends were fairly certain what would come next as the notoriously shy girl overloaded.

"It really wasn't that major.. Well, maybe a bit since Tanya trusted me to make her outfit that she would be wearing in front of everyone and she looked amazing in it, not that I ever thought she wouldn't look good in it, since it's her." Willa said as she took a breath in full ramble mode.

Lisa giggled and took Willa's hand. "It's okay, just take a breath and calm down a bit."

Willa tried to shrink into her chair a bit more. "I did it again.."

Tanya took another drink of her coffee and looked over at Willa. "You are just passionate about clothing, that's all. You get carried along by your excitement, and your mouth can't keep up with your mind."

"You… Really think that?" Willa asked as she looked bashfully at Tanya.

"Yes, or I would never have said it. You are passionate and able to step out of your comfort zone when it involves the things that you are passionate about. It might even help you become more outgoing in your day to day life." Tanya said, while she thought about one particular otaku that she had known in college during her past life. He had been quiet and reserved until he had a chance to talk about his passions. Once that happened, he often became an excited, rambling mess.

Tanya could feel the approving look that Visha gave her, but couldn't help but wonder if her girlfriend actually knew why she had done it. Willa was an important member of their group. She provided skills and understandings that Visha and herself lacked.

It was simply a measure to ensure that a useful resource would not lose effectiveness. It had nothing to do with the fact that they seemed to have established a mutually beneficial relationship. Or that Visha had grown extremely attached to Willa. Or even that the young introvert had helped them both out, even though it had clearly been well outside of her comfort zone.

Tanya’s attention was pulled back to the conversation as Lisa sat there with a smug look on her face. After a moment, Visha decided to take the bait and ask the diminutive student council secretary what had her with such a smug look on her face.

“And what other news do you have for us, Lisa? Since it’s pretty obvious you are waiting for someone to ask you?” Visha said with a smile and a little shake of her head at the antics of their friend.

“Well, I MIGHT have been asked out, and MIGHT have started dating someone…” Lisa said with a grin on her face.

“Oh? And who MIGHT this someone be?” Visha asked as she leaned forward with a curious look on her face.

“He MIGHT just be Hans.” Lisa said with a grin, then paused as they all could hear Tanya’s teeth grind.

“And which Hans is it? So I know if I need to dig a grave or not.” Tanya said in that cold, clear tone of voice.

Lisa paled as Visha gave Tanya’s hand a tight squeeze. After a moment, and a deep breath, Tanya looked at Lisa expectantly.

“Ummm… I’m not sure I want to tell you now?” Lisa said in a nervous tone of voice.

“I can always just go ask myself.” Tanya said with that devilish grin of hers. “If it’s Sieber, then I apologize for your loss.” And with that, Tanya started to stand up until Lisa grabbed her hand and looked at Visha for support.

“Tanya, why don’t you let Lisa explain. We are all dying to hear.” Visha said in a slightly less cold tone of voice, one that Tanya had grown used to hearing when her girlfriend had to decide if the entrenching tool was needed or not.

Lisa hurriedly sat down and gave a worried look to her two lesbian friends. She swallowed hard and decided she had to tell them, or they would go find out for themselves which of the Hans it was. WIth or without a funeral if they didn’t like the answer. After a moment to collect herself, and get her heart to stop trying to escape her chest she answered them. “Hans Frieber. Like I would ever be stupid enough to even be in the same room alone with Sieber? I mean, he hits on anyone and everyone that might even possibly be female. He is NOTHING like MY Frieber. Sure, he might be awkward, and extremely tall, especially when compared to me… But he has the cutest smile, and he blushes at everything which is adorable… And I just like being around him. He is fun and polite, and always listens to me when I give my opinion on anything. I DO wish he would be a little more… Assertive about things, though…” She said and bit her lip, then looked up as the other girls broke into giggles and laughter.

“Oh, Lisa dear….” Jane said as she shook her head and wiped at her eye.

“What? What’s so funny?” Lisa asked in a perplexed tone of voice.

“You’ve got it bad.” Visha said fondly.

“Really bad…” Is the quiet comment from Willa before she hid behind her own cup.

“Is… That how I looked?” Tanya asked as she looked at Jane and Willa, then sighed as the two gave her a shy smile from Willa, and a knowing little smirk and nod from Jane.

“I found it adorable.” Visha said as she leaned over and kissed Tanya on the cheek.

Tanya sighed, then looked puzzled for a moment before she pulled her handheld terminal out and looked at the message on the screen. She sighed and put it back before she looked over at Visha. “We have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow. More tests and a checkup, again.” Tanya grumbled a bit under her breath about Schugels all being slave drivers with no consideration for their guinea pigs.

Visha chuckled and smiled at the others. ``We have known a couple of doctors named Schugel. It seems to be a popular name for people in… Medical fields.”

Jane shared a look with Tanya and Visha, then nodded. “Well, I wish you good luck with your appointment. Now, how about we all go catch a movie, then we can grill Lisa for all the awkward and embarrassing details?”

At the general chorus of assent, with only minimal amounts of whining from Lisa, the group heads off to spend the rest of their day together.

For some reason, Tanya could not help but feel an odd sense of foreboding, as if this test was going to be somehow different than the others.

In her office, Doctor Adeline Veronica Schugel nodded as she received the confirmation message from Tanya. The day had nearly arrived. The last page in the Book. The end of the guide that had helped lead them to this day. After this, everything was unknown. They just had the predictions of probable outcomes from the massive multi-used CAD ORACLE to help them from here on.

So far, nothing concrete had been determined by Delphi, Mallus, or Corinth. They might truly be on their own from here on, and wouldn’t that be grand? To once again finally have her fate in her own hands, if that was God’s will.

Deus Vult.

Chapter Text

Time and Time Again Chapter 47, Time flies: Echoes of the Past

Sunday, August 29th 2094. 7:30 PM

When Tanya and Visha finally made it back home, Visha still hadn’t quit laughing as Tanya didn’t sulk, because the Devil of the Rhine did not sulk, of course. She just waited and plotted her eventual reprisal for the indignities that had been performed on her as Tanya had found herself the butt of more than a few jokes once the pack of hyenas had their fill with Lisa and her newfound romance.

It wasn’t like Tanya had a plethora of experience with romance to draw from, not in either life. When she had lived in her Japan, the salaryman she had been had never been interested in love or romance. Even sex had been a mostly mechanical thing, something done occasionally with a professional to help relieve stress. That is all it had ever been for him in that life, and as Tanya had started her life in an orphanage raised by nuns, she hadn’t exactly been exposed to parental affection towards each other.. Once she had left the orphanage behind, she had been in the military mostly surrounded by officers, none of which would have ever looked at her as a sexual being. Not that they should have ever harbored those thoughts, of course. For one, there were only a very few individuals that had not lived in mortal terror of her, or called her a monster when they had been sure that she could not hear them.

Contrary to their belief, she had never minded that they thought of her in that way. It meant that they listened to her, and gave her respect that they would not normally have afforded a short, underage girl no matter how talented or powerful she had been. It had made her interactions with officers that only knew her by reputation far easier to carry out, since they regarded her with the gravitas that her position and experience deserved.

Even of those that were close to her, she had always managed to keep a healthy distance from them. Or at least, she had thought so until Visha and herself had ended up in this world, and she had realized that there was one person that truly mattered to her.

One person that she would gladly tear the universe and all of reality asunder if that was the only way to save her. After all, she had done it once already.

She had even asked that sanctimonious Being X for help.

If that hadn't proven just how much Visha mattered to her, then nothing ever would.

Tanya was pulled from her thoughts by a pair of warm, strong arms that wrapped around her from behind and a nuzzle and kiss on the nape of her neck. Tanya squirmed a little as Visha laughed and hugged the most feared mage in their World War like she was a cuddly teddy bear.

"You do know that I'm one of the deadliest mages from our time, don't you?" Tanya said with a fond and exasperated tone in her voice.

Visha laughed and hugged her girlfriend tighter. "You are also cute, cuddly and feel just right in my arms."

Tanya chuckled and decided she would surrender, this time. "So… hopefully Schugel doesn't have anything too new and patently insane for us tomorrow."

Visha thought about that as she pulled the unresisting Tanya more firmly into her embrace and sat down on the edge of their bed with Tanya settled into her lap. "Well, regardless of what the good doctor has planned, I will always be right there at your side."

"Even if she decides to throw me out of another plane?" Tanya asked as she made herself a bit more comfortable in Visha's embrace.

"Especially if you get thrown out of a plane. I do miss being thrown out of a perfectly good plane with you." Visha said earnestly, and Tanya was uncertain if she had been joking or not.

"I will keep that in mind." Tanya said then closed her eyes for a moment, then said in a quiet voice. "Do you ever wish that we hadn't come here, Visha? That we were still back in our own world?"

Visha thought about that for a moment before she hugged Tanya tightly again. "I miss the unit, yes. And… I miss my family, very much in fact." Visha kissed the top of Tanya's head to forestall the self-blame and regret that had started to well up in her girlfriends surprisingly vulnerable heart.

Tanya pulled into herself just a bit. "I wish I could send you back, both of us back, but I don't know how we even ended up here."

"Tanya, I miss all of that, but if you hadn't brought us here I would have died. We never would have been able to just be honest with each other, and ourselves. We would never have gotten a chance to sit here like this, together." Visha blushed and shifted a little bit. "And we would never have gotten a chance to sleep next to each other, to kiss each other, and all of the other wonderfully impossible things we have done and seen since we ended up here." Visha lifted and turned Tanya's chin so that their eyes met for a moment before their lips did. "And I would never have gotten to tell you how much I love you, Tanya Von Degurecheff."

Anything that Tanya would have wanted to say would have to wait till later, as one gentle kiss led to another, and another after that.

The pair slept well that night, wrapped in each other's arms and basking in the warmth of the other.

Monday, August 30th 2094. 5:30 PM. Facility One.

Tanya and Visha followed the technician into the main testing room as Dr. Schugel checked over the array of sensors and cameras again. As the two former aerial mages reflexively snapped to attention, Dr. Schugel nodded to one of the technicians and turned to face the pair. She removed and wiped her glasses before she addressed them, her attitude relaxed like some great weight had been removed from her shoulders.

“Today should be a rather boring set of tests for you, Tanya. We need some more data from the Type 95, so we will have you run through a set of processes. We should be able to replicate more of the power and functionality of the device once we have a better understanding of just how it processes your spells.” Dr. Schugel said as she directed the technicians to begin getting the young magical prodigy ready for the first rotation of processes.

Tanya and Visha exchanged shy smiles and wistful looks before Dr. Schugel coughed and shook her head. “You two are going to be in the same room, so can you please stop looking like you will never see each other again?” Dr. Schugel turned back to her console as she took a drink of her coffee and muttered under her breath. “And this is why I never wasted my time on romance. It turns even the most capable and grounded of people into sentimental idiots.”

After Tanya coughed self-consciously and Visha stepped back to stand next to Dr. Schugel, the technician who had been assigned the task of keeping things on schedule nodded to Tanya and read off the first task on the list.

“Okay, Tanya. We are going to run you through a full rotation today. We will start with a low power field, and work our way up from there.’ He looked at the clipboard in his hands, and checked to make sure that both his and Tanya’s copies matched. “So, the first process will be at ten to one rate of entropic collapse, for a duration of one minute actual, and six seconds subjective. Once you are ready, we will see you in six seconds.” The technician said, then grinned. “That is, if your girlfriend can stand being away from you for a minute.”

Tanya and Visha both had the good graces to blush at that as the laughing technician stepped back to his console. “Okay, synchronize your timepiece, please. The test begins in three… Two…. And one. Initiate!” the technician said as Tanya vanished from sight as the event horizon of her spell created its usual sphere of utter blackness.

“Clock is running. Field looks stable.” The technician said, then an alarm started to blare.

“Report!” Dr. Schugle said as she moved to the console to see for herself.

“The field is not holding at a ten to one ratio! It’s growing exponentially!” The technician said then looked up at Dr. Schugels pale face. “Ma’am! We can’t shut it down from out here! The dilation is increasing!”

“What is happening inside the field!” Dr. Schugel yelled as Visha clutched at her chest and stared helplessly as she felt things slip farther and farther out of control.

Inside the field, Tanya watched her watch as one second, then two passed before she felt something shift in a fundamental way as the magical energies that flowed through the Type 95 started to spike and surge. After another two seconds with no sign of the field coming back under control Tanya initiated a purge. Another second, then two passed as the Type 95 continued to run out of control.

At six seconds Tanya moved swiftly to perform a manual purge as the field continued to grow stronger by the moment. As her thumb rested on the button, she felt a presence that she had started to get all too familiar with. “This is your doing, isn’t it? What is your game, Being X?”

"Game? Why, my Doubting Thomas you wound me. Why do you always doubt my Grace? My benevolent love towards you and all those others that I have enveloped under My sheltering wings?" Being X said in his usual grandiose manner.

Tanya turned to look at her nemesis, and confirmed what she had known. Being X wore the form of Technician Greene, the senior technician responsible for overseeing Tanya and Visha while they were within the facility

"I don't understand why you continue this little game, Being X. I will never worship you, or believe in you. I will never follow some entity that claims to be a god." Tanya said as she moved her hand from the Type 95. With Being X's interference, there was not much she could do to break free until that malicious entity released her.

"You still doubt me, after all I have done for you. Did I not bring you and that woman here? Did I not help you in your time of need?" Being X said with a malicious grin that distorted the rather plain features of the technician's face.

"For your own purposes, I'm sure. I won't fall for your poisoned words, no matter how much you coat them in honey." Tanya said vehemently.

"Why won't you let me into your heart, my little lost lamb? That heart that is barred so tightly? Or is it because you think that you love that woman? Is that why you have denied me?" Being X said with a rare touch of anger

Tanya gritted her teeth as she snarked at the self-proclaimed Creator. "You leave her out of this."

"What do you know of love? You, who has so much blood and suffering on their hands? And I don't speak of just this life. How many people did you destroy before? How many lives did you leave in ruins? How can you not accept me, who has given you a new chance to cleanse your hands of your sins?" Being X said as it moved to stand closer.to Tanya, and the shapeless expanse that surrounded them began to flicker with images from both of Tanya's lives.

As Tanya watched the scenes unfold before her, she felt a twinge of regret, maybe even sympathy. Perhaps even the barest tinge of guilt for what she had done. It would seem that in opening up to Visha, she had also opened herself up to these feelings, as well.

"Could anyone else accept someone who has so much blood and misery on their hands? That could do such things with not a hint of regret or hesitation? That could even blame the events that led to the downfall and ruination of so many on the very people that you destroyed?" Being X said as he held his hands out wide. "Accept me! Let me into your heart and I shall grant you peace."

"I have no interest in your idea of peace." Tanya said vehemently.

"You hesitate because of that woman, that foul temptress. If she was not in your life, then you would accept my generosity, the love and acceptance I have to offer. The freedom that only I can give you." Being X said as he gave Tanya a look that could only be described as hungry.

“Leave Visha out of this!” Tanya yelled as she started to take a step forward.

“You know, that is an excellent idea.” Being X said right before Tanya felt a surge in the entropic field as the indicator for the ratio of dilation started to rise rapidly.

“What are you doing!” Tanya screamed as she developed a horrible feeling for where this was going.

“I’m leaving her behind. Now, if you accept me, perhaps I will let you see her again. In 80 years or so.” Being X said maliciously as time rushed by.

Chapter Text

Time and Time Again Chapter 48, Time flies: Whispers of Tomorrow

Monday, August 30th 2094. 5:30 PM. Facility One.

Visha gasped as the staff scrambled to find an answer as worry swept over her. She opened her mouth to ask what had happened as a burning, cold pain ripped through her chest and dropped her to her knees. It felt like her chest was being torn open again, as ice cold sparks of pain stabbed into her. She looked up at Dr. Schugel as her hand grasped for something to latch onto.

Dr. Schugel took Visha's hand and winced at the crushing grip. "Call the medics!" She shouted at the staff, then looked down at Visha as she attempted to help anyway she could. Her attention is pulled from the shaking girl by a report from her staff.

"Ma'am! There are resonant echoes from the field! One is coming from your office… The other is here!" One technician called out before Greene called out his own findings.

"Confirmed! And the resonance here… The point of origin… confirmed, it's coming from Serebryakov!" Greene reported.

Dr. Schugel looked down at the pale girl that clung to her with a deathgrip, one hand on her chest as the medics rushed to her. Once they had the girl taken care of and a mild sedative administered, Dr. Schugel started to bark out orders. “Send the override signal! Yes, I know it won’t penetrate the field anytime soon, but start it!” She turned to look at the sensor technician and spat out another order. “I need a status on containment unit 001S immediately!”

The staff moved to comply with the orders, the communications and system monitoring check signaled that the override sequence had been activated while the sensor technician looked over the readout from the containment unit. He turned to the doctor to report.

“Ma’am! I’m reading some very strange energy signatures coming from the unit. Some sort of repeating bioelectric signal, and a fluctuating entropic wave form.” The technician responded even as he sent the data feed to the doctors console.

Dr. Schugel nodded as she saw a chance to test a hypothesis of hers. She looked to one of the staff members that were still manning their console and barked out an order. “You! Fields! Go retrieve the containment canister on my desk. You will know what one I mean. Now, go!” She didn’t look to see if they went, and instead turned her attention to the medics. “Can you keep her conscious if you give her a shot of adrenaline to allow her to overcome the shock? I don't care what you have to do, I need her to be functional. She might be the only chance we have to recover Degurecheff."

The medics moved to carry out their orders even as the staffer came running back into the room and handed the containment unit to the doctor. Dr. Schugle looked at the object contained within and checked the readouts to confirm what she had suspected. She nodded as she placed it gently on the desk, as the ruptured and fragmented heart pulsed faintly.

Fields wiped her glasses nervously as she looked at the organ. “Doctor? How… Exactly… is that possible?”

Dr. Schugel nodded as she checked the readouts once again. “When Degurecheff encased the remnants of Serebryakov’s heart in an entropic field, the pieces became quantumly entangled. As far as what remains of her heart is concerned, it’s as whole as it can be. That includes the fragments that are still lodged in her chest. They are reacting to the field, just as I theorized they might.”

“Why… Haven’t we seen this happen before?” Greene asked as he checked over the readouts again.

“Because this time it’s strong enough to resonate with the fields that linger in the tissues of this young woman. It’s truly fascinating.” Dr. Schugel said as she examined the heart in the glass container.

“Okay… But how does that help in us getting Degerucheff back?” Greene asked as he turned from his console.

“Do I really need to explain everything to you?” Dr. Schugel said, then sighed as she walked over and looked at his console. “Normally, when you are dealing with waveform physics, to negate one wave, you need a wave of equal but opposite frequency and oscillation. Now, with the fact that the generation of the field is literally somewhere we can’t go or interact with we can’t really counter the wave. What we can do, though, is introduce a sympathetic waveform, and it should be able to pass through the boundary layer. Either that, or tear the subject apart on a quantum level.”

Greene paled and looked at where Visah had sat back up, with a bit clearer look in her eyes. “You can’t mean…. No, doctor, it’s too risky. Can’t we just use the heart to penetrate the field?”

“To what end? Her whole body has traces of the energy, and the resonance that the fragments give off give her the best chance. It’s quite likely if you tried to use the heart, it is the only thing that would make it into the sphere intact. No, she is the best chance we have of retrieving our wayward test subject this time.” Dr. Schugel said even as she walked over to have the chief medic update her on Visha’s condition.

Greene and Fields exchanged looks then looked where the doctor had pulled the chief medic aside. “Are you okay with this, Fields?” Greene asked the female researcher.

“Of course I’m not, I’m not insane like Schugel is. That said, what other choice do we have if there is no sign of the field weakening?” Fields said as she watched the numbers continue to increase. “I just wish we knew what had happened in there.”

Greene nodded as he turned back to his console. “So do I. The only one likely to find out before the field collapses is Visha, though. If Schugel is correct, that is "

Fields nodded grimly before she moved back to her console. "I hope she is, for both of their sakes."

Visha looked around with a confused look on her face. The pain was still there, but it felt distant somehow. She could hear the medical staff talking to her, but she felt like something was missing. Something important to her. She pushed away the medical staff and looked around before her eyes fixed on the sphere of blackness that felt wrong somehow. As she took one, then another slow step towards it, she felt a slim but surprisingly strong hand grab hers.

Visha looked from the hand up to the calm face of Dr. Schugel and stopped the movement of her other hand. The hand that had instinctively drawn the combat knife at her side.

Dr. Schugel gave Visha a smile with a pale and drawn face. “You won’t need that, Visha. Put it away, and we will explain what is going on.”

Visha looked down at the knife again, then slipped it back into its sheath in a quick, fluid motion pretty much devoid of conscious thought.

Dr. Schugel smiled and relaxed as she let go of Visha's hand and led her towards one of the ready rooms. After Visha had settled restlessly into a chair, Dr. Schugel sat on the edge of the desk and took a breath before she started to talk.

"As you have probably already surmised, something has gone wrong in the latest series of tests. For reasons we do not know, the entropic field that Degr… That Tanya has created has started to increase exponentially." Dr. Schugel said as calmly as she could.

"How? How… Did this happen? You can stop it, right? That's why you have that override, isn't it?" Visha said as she gripped the arms of the chair tightly.

"It is, but at the rate of field growth, we have no idea if the signal can breach the field, or how long it will take." Dr. Schugel said.

"Then what do we do?" Visha said as she looked up with tears streaming down her face.

"There is a possibility, but it's risky. There is no guarantee it will work. And even if it does work, it's possible you won't survive it." Dr. Schugel said frankly.

"What do you need me to do?" Visha said without hesitation.

Dr. Schugel nodded and pulled out her handheld console. "I'd explain the technical aspects, but it's not necessary right now. In wave form physics, two waves that are opposite to each other cancel the other out. Now, ideally that is how we would handle this, but there are a number of problems with that idea. For one, the only one that currently can use that form of magic is Tanya. The other issue is that we don't know what would happen to anything inside the field when it broke down. Now, when you have two waves of identical form and frequency they merge."

"And… How does that help?" Visha said in an unsure voice as the support staff brought in Visha's gear.

"The tissue fragments that remain in your body that we couldn't extract are still imbued with the spell that Tanya cast to try to save your life. Because of that, your body is emitting a sympathetic wave that matches the field that Tanya created." Dr. Schugel explained as they started to help Visha into her gear

Visha helped them as she prepared herself. "Why my combat kit?" She asked as she settled the last of her gear into place.

"We have no idea when it will be when you exit the field. There is also the chance that Tanya might rip a hole in space-time again." Dr. Schugel said as they checked over the interface for Visha's implanted CAD.

"What do I do when I make it inside?" Visha asked as she stretched and pulled her hair out from under her coat.

Dr. Schugel handed Visha a small box. "This is the override. Once you reach Tanya, assess the situation and then use the override if needed to extract her.

Visha nodded as she placed the control box into one of the pouches. Visha looked at Dr. Schugel before she walked out towards the entropic sphere. When she arrived, she hesitated and looked back.at Dr. Schugel.

Dr. Schugel nodded once as the staff bent over their consoles to watch the readouts as carefully as possible while Visha took a breath and walked forward to put her hand on the sphere. People had made contact with Tanya’s entropic shells before, with nothing more than a strange tingling to the solidness of the sphere. It was where the field faded out, so the air was less solid, and the field flickered minutely. Not harmful, just a bit strange.

Visha, though, would be the first person to penetrate one of Tanya’s entropic shells. That was, if the doctor’s theory was correct. If not, she would either encounter the solid sphere that others had, or she might be torn apart as she passed through it.

It wasn’t like she had ever let a bit of danger keep her from Tanya’s side before, and she would certainly not let it now. Her resolve set, she squared her shoulders and pushed against the sphere with one hand. The sensors flared as her hand started to slowly sink through the event horizon of the field. Visha stopped and looked over at Dr. Schugel before she took another step and continued to push into the field.

It felt like walking through thick snow, or wading through molasses. They had been worried that she might not be able to see while within the boundary, but she found herself surrounded by light. Just like looking at the sphere from inside. It was an interesting experience, but she grit her teeth and continued to push forward. It was hard to believe that the shell itself, the boundary layer that she was moving though, was only an inch thick, at most. But the density of the field was many orders of magnitude higher in the boundary than it was even inside of the sphere.

Just one of the many ways that what Tanya did bent the conventional laws of reality into new and interesting shapes.

Still she wouldn’t have her girlfriend any other way.

Tanya exchanged looks with Being X as she grit her teeth. “You had best let me return to Visha.” She said in a voice as cold and hard as a cold-forged blade.

“If you welcome me into your heart, then I will consider it. I am a generous and compassionate god, after all. Just look at how I have blessed you, my wayward little lamb.” Being X said with an unnatural smile splitting Greene’s face and turning it into something horrible.

“Let me go, or I will find a way to destroy you. You are no compassionate being.” Tanya said as she clenched her hands.

“Oh? Do you not find me generous, my lost lamb? Have I not blessed you with not just one chance, but two? Perhaps it is this form, maybe I should show you one that is more fitting, then.” Being X said.

“Don’t you dare try and take on Visha’s form…” Tanya growled out.

Being X stepped forward, and his form rippled and flickered like someone had changed a channel on a television. What faced her now with a familiar grin was… Herself. But the self that others saw. A smartly dressed military mage, but her hands were stained red. Each of the medals pinned to her chest seemed to bear the faces of those that she had lost over the years. The pure malice that radiated from the being in front of her made Tanya start to take a step back as the version of her smiled a death's head grin.

“Who is the monster here, truly? Who is it that has sinned, that’s hands are stained red with the blood of countless people? Who cost the lives of so many of her own men? And who was responsible, ultimately, for your… Visha… Being put in harm's way?” The mirror Tanya said in her own voice, but colder and more menacing than usual. The mirror reached out with her blood stained hands for the face of the original one with a look on her face that could only be described as hungry. "Give yourself to me, my little lost lamb. Let me show you my infinite mercy and compassion. I will wash away your sins, your doubts, and the guilt that you hide inside. All you have to do is stop fighting and let me in…" Being X said softly, enticingly.

Tanya felt her resolve waver, the bastion of disbelief and stubborn, relentless resolve cracked a bit as the smile on Being X's face grew ever more hungry. Tanya felt like she teetered on a precipice, a vast void that felt oddly welcoming arrayed before her. The abyss beckoned her, and she started to take a step forward.

Then the image before her shattered for just a moment, and gave Tanya a glimpse of… Something… as a very familiar shovel slammed into Tanya's duplicates face.

"Leave her alone!" Visha shouted as she stepped between Tanya and Being X, the last of the time and frost falling from her as she glared at the thing that had threatened her girlfriend.

Tanya shook her head as she stepped up beside Visha as her pistol raised smoothly before she emptied the clip into the twisted image before her.

The image stumbled back before it cast a hate filled glare at Visha. "I will take her from you!" Being X screamed before it was silenced by Tanya as she emptied the magazine of her submachine gun into it. Tanya cast a wary look around them as Being X fled back to wherever it hid when it was not confronting the defiant reincarnated salaryman.

Visha looked around as she clutched her faithful entrenching tool tightly. "Is..it gone? What WAS that thing?" Visha asked, then shook her head as she reached for the override control. "That can wait for later, we need to get out of here before we end up years later!"

Tanya stopped her hand as she wrestled control of the hijacked spell back, and reversed the flow of it. They had time now, as the outside world slowed to a crawl compared to them. As she looked over Visha, she made a fateful decision and took a deep breath as she steeled her nerve to make a move that would probably change everything.

But she had to do it, for Visha's sake since Being X had now included her in it's little plot.

"Visha… That was an entity that I call Being X. A self-proclaimed Creator. A being that claims to be God.". She hesitated for a moment, then nodded to herself. Visha deserved to know.

"There… Are a number of things I need to tell you… I just hope you will believe me, and… Still want to walk besides me afterwards." Tanya said hesitantly.

Visha looked over her girlfriend and longtime companion before she put the override away and took Tanya's hand in hers. "You can tell me anything, Tanya. Always."

“It’s a bit of a long story…” Tanya hedged.

“That’s fine. We have all the time we need, right?” Visha said with a smile as she pulled Tanya into her warm embrace.

Tanya nodded, and took a breath before she began.

Chapter Text

Time and Time Again Chapter 49, Time flies: Truth is a bitter pill.

Tanya regarded Visha with a worried look as she hesitated for a moment, then resigned herself to what she had to say. She worried that she would be pushed away, or be met with disbelief and lose the trust and companionship of someone that had become her friend, confidant and lover. The first time in two lifetimes that she had ever felt like this towards another person, and she had chosen to risk it all because she had decided that it was time to stop with the lies. To reveal the truth to Visha, especially since it seemed that her girlfriend had earned the wrath and ire of a being that claimed to be a god.

“I imagine that it would be best to start with the beginning, but that is not as easy a proposition as one would think it to be. I guess the first thing I should do is explain the nature of what we just encountered, what you seem to have helped drive off.” Tanya said as she found her usual confidence lacking, unable to look Visha in the eye. She stiffened for a moment when she felt Visha gently move away, and then found her chin lifted to meet the gentle eyes of the woman that she had fallen in love with. The knot of tension melted away as she gazed into those familiar eyes, and Tanya relaxed for the first time since this latest ordeal began.

“I call it Being X. It… Claims to be a god, or some other sort of divine being. It and I have… A bit of history, you might say.” Tanya said as she found herself unable to look away from Visha.

Visha bit her lip and nodded as she waited for Tanya to explain. She hadn't ever seen her girlfriend like this before. She always had seemed so in control and confident, like everything that happened in the world did so because she allowed it to. It made her wonder just what they had gotten themselves into, though if this Being X could throw Tanya this much off her usual balance.

“You aren’t calling me crazy yet, so I guess that is a good sign.” Tanya said as she hedged a bit more.

“”If you say that’s what that thing was, then I believe you. I have always trusted you, Tanya. You are the one solid point in my life.” Visha said, and wondered why Tanya seemed to wilt a bit in the face of Visha’s acceptance.

“What… If I have not earned that trust? If… I have lied to you for quite a long time.” Tanya said as she chewed on her lip.

Visha looked at Tanya and made sure that she met Tanya’s gaze as best as she could.” Why don’t you explain, and I will see what I think.’ Visha said in a soft voice.

Tanya nodded as she gathered her thoughts. "I'm not who you think I am. I'm not what you think I am."

Visha hummed for a moment. "So, are you not Tanya Degurecheff? The Devil of the Rhine? The White Silver? The person I am lucky enough to call my girlfriend?"

Tanya fidgeted for a moment. "... I am, but that's not all of who and what I am."

"Tanya dear, if you have taught me anything, it is that we are never just one thing or another. That said, why don't you tell me what you meant, then?" Visha said in a soft voice before she settled down cross legged and pulled an unresisting Tanya into her lap and wrapped her smaller girlfriend in her arms.

Tanya sighed and glanced aside at her girlfriend. "It's hard to.have a serious conversation like this, you know." She had to admit, being surrounded by as much Visha as possible did help to alleviate the knot of anxiety that had formed in her gut like lead shot. "It's hard to know just where to begin." Tanya admitted with a little laugh.

"Well, like you always have said, choose a point and start from there. We will unpack it all, and work it through one point at a time. Just like we always have." Visha said with a smile that Tanya knew would be there, even if she couldn't see it.

"Alright. Then, let's start with where things begin. For you, this is the second world you have lived in. It's my third, technically." Tanya said.

"Your third? Did you happen to break reality once before?" Visha asked with knitted brows.

"Not exactly, no. I didn't exactly survive the first time I ended up in another world, not my own." Tanya said as she sighed and settled back.

"You… Didn't survive? What happened, and how did you get to… Well, I guess my world?" Visha said with a perplexed tone to her voice.

"You know… I considered it my home, as well. That said… I was pushed in front of a subway by a shortsighted person who acted rashly. That was when I first had an encounter with the entity I came to call Being X." Tanya said with her eyes closed as she relaxed into the warmth of Visha.

"The self-proclaimed Creator that we just encountered, right?" Visha said as she nuzzled into Tanya's hair, a single point of stability as she listened to what her former commander had to say.

"Yes. It stopped time right before I had a final encounter with a subway train to air its grievances with the modern world I came from, and my lack of faith." Tanya said.

"The modern world you came from? What was your world like?" Visha asked as she adjusted her arms around Tanya's waist.

"It was far more advanced than the one we lived in, but not as advanced as this one. There was one very big difference, though." Tanya said with a wry smile.

"What was the difference? And… I find it difficult to believe that someone pushed a little girl in front of a train…" Visha said and tightened her grip on Tanya.

"The world I lived my first life in didn't have magic. It was a society of science and technology, without the codification and development of the science of magic." Tanya paused, as she prepared herself to say the next part. "And I was not a young girl when I first encountered Being X. Before I was reborn as Tanya Degurecheff in the world we called home, I was a heartless, cold man in my first world."

Tanya felt Visha stiffen for a moment, then breathed out slowly before she hugged Tanya tightly. “Is… That why you wanted to be with me? Because you… were a man? Do… Do you still remember being a man? Do.. You still see yourself as a man?”

Tanya had expected some reaction to that revelation, but she was happy that Visha didn’t reject her completely after hearing that. “Do I think that my preferences are because of my previous life? It’s possible, but I never was really interested in anyone in any manner in my previous life. I was… Even more distant and cold than I am now. I never had friends, or people I could turn to and trust in. I had… Acquaintances, at best. But is that why I wanted to be with you? I can honestly say I never expected this, to be honest. And I don’t think of myself as a man, not anymore. I have lived as a woman, and lived a woman’s life for years. I am… Well, I am me. Not the person I used to be, but the person I am now.” Tanya sighed and settled hesitantly back into Visha. “I wish I had a better answer, honestly. But I don’t”

Visha nodded as she thought about what she had learned, and regarded the young woman who rested against her. All these years, Tanya had been the same person. No matter who she might have been, what she did or did not remember, it didn’t change who she was. It didn’t make Tanya any less the person she had known for years, had fought alongside during some of the messiest, most dangerous battles in the war. Who had literally torn reality asunder for a chance to save her.

The answer was simple, as far as Visha was concerned.

“You are still my Tanya, no matter what happened before. The person you are now is the same person I have known for years, and the same person that I fell in love with. So… Were you a famous soldier then, in your old world? Is that how you knew what would happen, and could predict what was coming so we'll?" Visha asked as she studied the young woman that she had nestled against her, and nodded to herself.

Tanya laughed and shook her head. "I worked for a company in their HR department. Human Resources. I fired and disciplined people for a living. I knew that a world war was possible, but the rest… I just paid attention and worked things out on my own."

Visha took a minute to process that as she buried her nose in Tanya’s hair. “So, it wasn’t that you had any knowledge of exactly how things would go, or anything like that. You really were not cheating, you just… Are really a tactical genius.” There was a note of pride in her voice as she hugged her girlfriend tighter again.

“So, has your opinion of me changed, then? Do you… See me differently now?” Tanya asked with just a hint of nerves in her voice.

Visha thought about that for a moment, then shook her head. “No… Do you think it should? You are still the same incredible person that I have always known, Tanya. Who you were before you became Tanya… I don”t think it matters, you know? I mean, from what Dr. Nishina has told us, reincarnation is an accepted part of several cultures, so… You just kept what you knew from before, I guess? The more I think about it, the less it bothers me, honestly. I am glad that you told me, though. Do you think that sometime… You could tell me about where you came from? Was it like our Germania, or this worlds Germany?”

Tanya chuckled and shook her head. “No, and wrong country. My last life was spent in Japan. I will admit, it is why I know so much about the Japanese language and their culture. I did live in a place like it, at one time.”

“I guess that makes sense…” Visha said, then she laughed and hugged Tanya tighter again. “THAT is why you like to eat Chinese and Japanese dishes so much!” Visha said triumphantly. Her tone of voice and obvious excitement drew a wry chuckle from Tanya.

“You seem to be taking all of this rather well, Visha.” Tanya said as she rested her hands on Visha’s.

Visha shifted a little in a manner that Tanya had grown very used to over the years as her girlfriend laughed a little awkwardly. “Oh, I fully plan on freaking out a bit later, and demanding emotional support and comfort from my girlfriend who should probably have told me all of this before something decided to… Do whatever it did.” Visha said as she buried her nose once more into the back of Tanya’s hair.

“You… Still want to be with me, with all that has happened? Everything I kept from you.. And the fact I have a self-proclaimed divine being after my head?” Tanya said in what came out as a surprisingly small voice.

“Of course, Tanya. Like I said before, you are still the you I have known all this time. The person that I fell in love with, and who broke reality for me. So what if you have a bit more odd baggage than most… The article I read in that magazine said that it is important to be able to understand and accept the baggage that your partner brings with them. So, we will deal with…This. Somehow, like we always do.” Visha said with a more confident tone in her voice.

“Well, I guess that does bring us to the other matter at hand… Being X. He tends to just… Pop in and mess with me.” Tanya said with a sigh.

“So… About that… Why do you have this Being X after you, anyhow?” Visha asked as she shifted a little to get more comfortable. When Tanya tried to get up, she stopped once she felt Visha’s grip tighten around her.

Tanya wriggled a little to get more comfortable as she felt Visha's arms settle around her more tightly and laid her head back on her girlfriend's shoulder. "Well, it happened like this…" Tanya said before she recounted her first encounter with Being X to Visha. When she finished, the silence and stillness of her girlfriend worried her, so she turned her head to look at the glassy eyed woman who held her. "Visha?" Tanya said worriedly.

"In a world without magic… You were pushed in front of a train by the person you had just fired… And something that claimed to be your creator froze time, and had a discussion with you about faith and faithlessness. It spoke to you through any number of people and at least one bird, and… you doubted it. You directly confronted it, and it sent you to me." Visha removed one arm from around Tanya long enough to rub the bridge of her nose and wiped at her eyes before her arms were wrapped tightly around Tanya once again.

"Well, of course. How could I believe what it said? It was utterly preposterous. There was no way a reasonable person such as myself would believe it." Tanya said without hesitation.

"Of course you didn't. After all, why would you? I guess you have always been you…." Visha sighed and shook her head. "So… All of this? Everything odd that has happened… It's some sort of attempt to get you to recognize this Being X? To… Offer praise to it? What do you think would happen if you just… Did what it wanted?" Visha asked quietly.

Visha stilled as Tanya seemed to shrink in on herself a bit, and in that moment she saw a different Tanya. One that could be vulnerable, and unsure. Awkward, and uncertain.

She saw to the core of the woman she had fallen in love with,and not the vestiges of the brazen, callous man who had argued the logic of God's existence while confronted with a blatant act of unspeakable power.

In other words, she could clearly see the woman that Tanya had become laid over the man she had been. The changes that had occurred after being reborn and living a new life.

The moment of utter clarity and revelation passed as Tanya sighed. "I think I would lose something of myself. Part of what has kept me alive through all of this. I… think I would stop being someone I could recognize as myself."

Visha nodded and hugged Tanya tight. "So, we keep telling it to leave us alone. What do we do if it tries this again?"

"When it tries it again, it would seem we have a counter." Tanya said and definitely did not snuggle back into the comforting warmth of her girlfriend. Definitely not in the least.

"And that would be?" Visha said as she smiled as her adorable girlfriend settled in against her.

"You, my dear. You were able to penetrate the sphere of entropic energy, and drive Being off. It's the residual energy from when I tried to save you, correct?" Tanya said as she placed her hands over Visha's.

"That's what Doctor Schugel said, but how did you know?" Visha asked as she gave the back of Tanya's head an inquisitive look.

"It was fairly obvious, honestly. They could not remove all of the fragments of tissue, and I could feel a sort of… Echo… when I cast spells around you. I figured that it would be obvious." Tanya said in a perfectly reasonable tone of voice.

"Maybe to you, Tanya. But not to everyone." Visha hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "As much as I love this… Shouldn't we be returning to the base? I mean, back at normal speed? And… How long have we been away?"

Tanya thought about that for a moment, then shrugged as she decided to answer the last question first. "It's hard to say, honestly. It could be anywhere from six months to two years, maybe more. The very nature of the entropic field can make tracking it from the inside more than a bit challenging, plus Being X seems able to break the laws that we work under at will."

“How often does Being X visit you?” Visha asked, then prodded Tanya a little. “And, what about leaving the field? We can, right?”

“We can. And I won’t be able to maintain the field much longer, anyhow. And, he visits me from time to time. During the war, he would freeze time and gloat sometimes. At least once, I think he visited me in my dreams. He always took on the form of someone, or something, that was nearby.” Tanya said thoughtfully. “Recently, he only seems to decide to come torment me when I am using the Type 95 to manipulate entropy, so I don’t know what to make of that. I… Have to ask… What did you see when you entered the field?” Tanya asked with a bit of trepidation in her voice.

“I.. Honestly don’t know? It was like, a sort of human looking shape made out of weird bands and arcs of light? It didn’t really look like someone, more like… What the observation waves looked like on the scopes? It’s really hard to describe.” Visha offered with a little shrug.

Tanya creased her brows and tucked that away before she settled in against Visha a bit more. “If it’s okay…. I want to stay like this until the field drops. About… Ten minutes or so, of our time?”

Visha nodded and held onto her girlfriend as she offered as much support and comfort as she could, for both of their sakes. She would have to really think about everything that Tanya had confided in her, and try to see if it did change how she saw Tanya, and the world in general. Only time would tell, but she didn’t think that her opinion of her former commander and current girlfriend would really change in the least.

Tanya was still Tanya, after all.

Sunday, September 11th 2095. 9:15 AM. Facility One.

In the observation room, two people sat and watched the unchanging sensors and camera feeds, just as members of the staff had since the event had happened in the previous August. For three-hundred and sixty-six days they had waited and watched, and hoped that the two youngest members of their team would return that day, or at least during their lifetimes. No one, not even Dr. Schugel had any idea of why the incident had happened, or if Visha had managed to penetrate the sphere intact. They didn’t know if the pair of them were on another Rip Van Winkle excursion into the far future, or even if the out of control entropic spell would rip another hole in the fabric of space and time.

This morning the two on standby were Technician Greene, and the Japanese magician Dr. Nishina. While the good doctor looked over papers and plans that might never be needed, Greene monitored the readouts while he read over the latest series of reports. Without the two subjects, the Project seemed to be on the verge of hitting the cutting block, something that those who had been involved during the long years that it had been maintained found preposterous. It was mostly the work of the three main researchers that had kept the Project afloat for the last year, between the new spell formulas from Tanya and Nishina’s work, the advancements in the field of bionics for the use of magicians from Wylan. Dr. Schugel had focused more on Project Oracle, but the existence of that project helped keep this one afloat.

They were both jerked from their individual thoughts and work by a series of alarms that had not sounded once in the last year. A flux in the entropic field, a massive reversal in the field's properties. They both checked and double checked the results in the minute they had before the field abruptly collapsed. As Nishina ran to grab her bag, Greene hit the general alarm and paged the stand-by team in the medical ward.

Neither figure on the platform had moved since the field collapsed.

Chapter Text

Time and Time Again Chapter 50, Time flies: Epilog, Endings and New Beginnings.

Sunday, September 11th 2095. 9:15 AM. Facility One.

Greene and Nishina shared a look before they rushed towards the platform together. Dr. Nishina knelt down next to Tanya as she started to check the young woman's vitals, then looked up as Greene placed one of the emergency trauma kits beside each of the temporal refugees. Dr. Nishina nodded as she examined each of them while they waited for the medical team to arrive.

"Please cover each of them with an emergency blanket." Dr. Nishina said tersely as she noted Tanya's vitals, before she pivoted to do the same while opening a command line on her terminal to bring up the status of the artificial heart that dwelt within Visha's chest. Of particular interest was the chronograph display, since it showed just how much time the pair had experienced while they were in Tanya's little bubble of distorted entropy.

Dr. Nishina raised an eyebrow at what she found there, and nodded as she adjusted the thermal blankets on each of the young women before she administered a shot to each of them right before the medical team arrived.

The elderly Japanese woman stepped back and let the team take over after she informed the on duty doctor what she had observed, and what she had done for the pair. When she moved back over to stand next to Greene, they watched as the medical staff tended to the young women and waited for the stimulants that Dr. Nishina had administered to kick in.

“I know that you checked both of their chronographs, how much time were they in there?” Greene asked.

“For Tanya, the last one year and fifteen days has taken just over an hour and a half, subjective.” Dr, Nishina said as she looked at her notes.

“Well, that is not nearly as bad as it could have been, all things considered.”” Greene said.

“According to the details I have gathered, a good part of that seems to have been spent after she reversed the field.” Dr. Nishina said as she chewed on her lip in a very unusual display for th3 reserved scientist.

“And Visha? How much of a difference is it for her?” Greene asked without looking at the figues himself.

“Twelve hours and thirty-six minutes.” Dr. Nishina said in an overly calm tone of voice.

“Twelve hours? But… How is that possible? Shouldn’t their subjective times be… A lot closer than that?” I mean, the event horizon is measured in nanometers, really.” Greene said before he did look at the numbers that the Doctor had carefully recorded.

“The field is thin, but the compression rates in it are… Extreme, to say the least. Honestly, it’s amazing that she was even able to penetrate the field at all. And to think… She spent what must have felt like hours pushing her way through the boundary zone.”

“Both of those young ladies have stubbornness to spare.” Greene said with a shake of his head.

“Do they? Or is it more that they really have nothing else but each other?” Dr. Nishina said as the medical team loaded the two young women onto stretchers.

Technician Greene looked at Dr. Nishina after Tanya and Visha had been taken to the recovery room that had waited for them all this time.

"Where is Dr. Schugel? You would think she would be here any moment." Greene asked as he checked over the recordings and sensor logs.

Dr. Nishina nodded. "I'm sure that if she could have been, she would have. But today our good Doctor Frankenstein is getting the next batch of… components.. for her mechanical monster decanted and ready to replace the last batch."

Greene nodded grimly, more than a little unsettled by that.

At Facility Zero, Dr. Adeline Veronica Schugel watched as the last of the artificial magicians were woken up. There was that moment when their minds snapped together, and in unison nine sets of eyes looked at her and spoke in a voice that blended together perfectly. Nine mouths and throats that spoke as one. "I am awake, Mother."

Dr. Schugel smiled as she greeted the group that was one. "Hello, daughter. And what shall I call you?"

They all smiled together as they spoke their name. "I am Tatania."

They were answered by stunned silence.

Monday, September 12th 2095. 8:30 AM.

Facility One medical annex.

When Tanya opened her eyes, she immediately looked around the room that she had found herself in. She relaxed slightly when her gaze fell on the figure that slept peacefully in the bed next to hers, after a look over the display revealed that Visha slept peacefully. Tanya laid back down with a sigh, and only then turned her head to regard the silent figure that sat in the chair across from them. The two exchanged looks for a minute, then Tanya sighed and scooted back in the bed so she could sit up with her back against the headboard.

"I figured that Dr. Schugel would be the one waiting for us to wake up, Dr. Nishina." Tanya said as she took one more glance at Visha before she fixed her gaze on the elderly Japanese woman. "So, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?"

Doctor Nishina smiled wryly at the young woman. "I hope that you are not too disappointed that I am the one waiting for you, Tanya?"

"Not exactly, no, but it makes me wonder what you are plotting. I imagine that our absence had to have thrown off your plans." Tanya said before she poured herself a glass of water from the pitcher on the table at her bedside.

“And what makes you think that I have some sort of agenda?” Dr. Nishina asked in that neutral tone of voice of hers.

Tanya sighed. “Because we all have our own agendas, doctor. You obviously have been introducing us to the Japanese language and culture for a reason. Just like why I was given a stimulant to wake me up, while Visha has been given a sedative to let her rest while we talk.” Tanya said as she fixed Dr. Nishina with that calculating look of hers. “So, why don’t you just come clean with me, and then we can see what we need to do from there.”

Dr. Nishina chuckled and stood up to walk over and hand Tanya her terminal. Tanya arced an eyebrow, then watched the video that was queued up. After a moment, she looked at Dr. Nishina with a serious look on her face.

“We have confirmed this, then?” Tanya said tersley.

“We have, including with agents that were on site during the incident.” Dr. Nishina said as she sat back down and took a drink from her tea.

"Do we have the sequence as well?" Tanya asked tersely as she watched the video again.

"We do. It's not the same as what we developed, but…" Dr. Nishina said as she turned her cup in her hands.

"But it's quite possible that it was developed from a similar source." Tanya finished for the doctor.

"It is. We can't jump to any conclusions, but we also have to check out the possibilities, as well." Doctor Nishina said as she placed her cup down and settled into her chair wearily.

"And how are we doing this? A breach and grab? Industrial espionage?" Tanya asked thoughtfully.

Doctor Nishina laughed and smiled. "Actually, we have something else in mind for both of you."

Tanya was not certain that she liked the expression on the elderly Japanese woman's face.

Monday, September 12th 2095. 1:00 PM.

Visha slowly opened her eyes and looked around, then smiled and relaxed when her eyes fell on the young woman who sat up in the bed next to hers with the attached table over her lap and with an array of folders laid out. Visha sat up and stretched while she waited for Tanya to look at her. When the couple's eyes met, Visha felt the last bit of anxiety leave her.

"So, what are you studying?" Visha asked as she sat up and smiled as Tanya poured her a glass of water and handed it to her.

"Our next assignment." Tanya said with a pensive look on her face.

Visha nodded and looked at Tanya. "We are going to be leaving Germany, aren't we?"

Tasha sighed and nodded. "We are. We have two weeks, at most, before we leave."

Visha took a breath and held it for a moment before she breathed out slowly. "It's not like we didn't expect it, right?" Visha said with a sad little smile.

"We did, but I know how attached you have become to the others." Tanya said and looked away quickly.

Visha laughed softly. "And of course you are not attached to any of them, either." Visha closed her eyes for a moment, then smiled when she felt the small, callused hand of her girlfriend slip into hers. Visha interlaced her finger's between Tanya's and laughed softly. "I will be okay, as long as you are there with me."

Tanya chuckled and nodded. "And, we should be able to keep in contact, as well." Tanya hesitated for a moment, then looked over at the serenely smiling face of her longtime companion. "Visha… about what I told you…"

Visha opened her eyes and looked at Tanya as she gave Tanya's hand a little squeeze. "Tanya Von Degurecheff, you are the exact same person you have always been. What you told me has not changed my opinion, or feelings, towards you." Visha laughed. "Now, your…. Admirer? That is a bigger issue, but one that we can manage, just like we always have "

Tanya nodded, and eyed the intense look in her girlfriend's eyes. "Shooting him doesn't really do much, sadly."

Visha turned and looked at Tanya, and the sweet smile and intense eyes made her shiver and really wish they were home. "Isn't that what shovels were made for?" Visha asked sweetly.

Tanya swallowed and nodded before she took a drink of her water. She cleared her throat and adjusted the papers before her. "Jane has been informed that we have woken up from the accident that has seen us absent for almost a full year. I am sure that we will be getting visitors tomorrow, so we had better go over our cover story, and also why we will be moving to Japan. Especially since that is usually not allowed…"

Visha nodded and moved to Tanya's bed so that she could lean against the side of the smaller woman while they went over the details.

It would be okay, Visha thought to herself, just as long as Tanya remained at her side.

Tuesday, September 13th 2095. 4:35 PM.

New Berlin Hospital, Medical Research ward.

Visha sat as still in her bed as she could while they waited for their friends to visit, but she would freely admit that she found it difficult to sit and wait right now. For her and Tanya, it had only been a couple of days since the last time they had seen their classmates. For the others, though, it had been close to a year. Who knew what changes had happened, and what they had been up to during that time. Who knew how Lisa's relationship had progressed, or even if they were still dating? Had Willa ventured out of her shell?

How had Jane been, and how was her grandmother?

Visha had so many questions, but they had to be careful and stick to their story. Tanya and the rest of the command staff had worked out the finer points before they had been transferred last night from Facility One to the ward here. Tanya's abilities made a lot more sense now that Visha knew who she had been, and the experience that had come with it.

She also knew enough to know that the genius that was Tanya was her own, and not the product of having lived a peaceful life untouched by war. If anything, it made her girlfriend's talents even more remarkable.

Not that Visha was biased.

Another thing that Visha had realized was that no matter what Tanya had told her about her past life, it hadn’t changed how she saw her. If anything, it made Visha wonder just how many other people might have any number of past selves peering out of their eyes. How many of them remembered their previous existences, and if so, how many? One, two, perhaps dozens or even hundreds of past lives, old selves and memories of countless lifetimes.

Honestly, it made Visha’s head if she thought about it for too long. She was quite content to accept Tanya for who she was now, who she had made herself into in this life.

In the end, that is all that really mattered to her.

Visha found herself pulled from her ruminations on the nature of souls and self by a gentle yet firm knock on the door. She looked to Tanya, then nodded as she received a nod to her unasked question and called out. “You can come in, Jane. No need to lurk out there.”

There was silence on the other side of the door for a moment, before it opened and a sheepish Jane walked in, with Willa and Lisa in tow. Sieber and Frieber lurked in the doorway, but no one commented on that fact as the three girls walked up to Visha’s bed and gave the young woman in the bed a long, searching look filled with an unasked question. After a moment, Visha smiled and nodded as she held her arms open, and was quickly part of a group hug with three crying, happy girls.

Tanya watched them with a little smile on her face, then watched as Willa said something quietly to Visha, who just smiled even more and nodded before the shy young woman broke ranks and walked over to Tanya. Tanya eyed Willa for a moment, before she found herself hugged tightly by Willa before the shy girl murmured. "You scared all of us. Don't do that again." She said in a muffled voice before she hugged tighter, and a stunned and slightly confused Tanya hugged her back.

The next thing she knew, Tanya found herself on the receiving end of her own mass hug from the other laughing, crying girls of their circle of friends.

Afterwards, Visha had moved to sit next to Tanya in one bed, while the others found places to settle in of their own. Particularly telling was the fact that Lisa had leaned back against her Hand, who had promptly wrapped his arms around the beaming young woman.

"So, who wants to start catching us up on what has happened in the last year?" Tanya asked as she eyed Lisa pointedly.

Lisa blushed and smiled as she wriggled happily back into her boyfriend's embrace then impishly pulled a chain from where it rested under her shirt and showed it happily to the formerly useless lesbians. The small, simple ring with its single diamond made a statement of its own as Tanya smirked and Visha bounced a little with barely suppressed glee.

"Congratulations are in order, I see." Tanya said with a smile as she interlaced her finger's with Visha's.

Lisa blushed and nodded. "We are keeping it quiet for now. No one outside of this room and our parents know." Lisa said as her Hans blushed a bit. "It's actually because of you two that he asked, and I said yes, you know. Hearing about your accident, it… put a lot of things into perspective, you know " Lisa said as she bit her lip.

Visha smiled and leaned against Tanya. "Trust me, you never want to wait too long. It can feel like you have been waiting for centuries, or even lifetime's." Visha said as Tanya blushed and cleared her throat.

Jane grinned from where she had leaned her back into a corner of the room. "I've been busy taking care of annoying little side projects for my new boss. Turns out that she needed a new assistant, and I was stupid enough to apply. Oh, and I'm living with my grandmother now. Some mutual acquaintances helped her move here from the US. It seemed like the right time, and she is liking it here." Jane grinned and looked at Willa where the mousy little introvert had sat in a chair and tried to be invisible. "Willa has made quite the name for herself, it seems. She was asked to make quite a few of the costumes for the last Seven Schools competition, in fact. Nothing as audacious as what our little tyrant wore, but she has offers waiting for her once she has graduated.

Willa blushed and tried to shrink even more. "It's not that big of a deal, and they are just intern positions. I… honestly don't really deserve the chance… But .. But I'm going to do my best?" She said then promptly hid behind her ever present sketch book.

Hans Sieber grinned and laughed. "I, of course, have replaced my senior on the Student Council, and I am looking forward to graduation. I know that all of the ladies will miss my presence, but there is a whole world waiting for me out there!"

Hans Frieber blushed and freed one hand long enough to rub awkwardly at the back of his head. "I'm just still kind of stunned that Lisa said yes .." he said while all of those present laughed.

Jane nodded and looked at the pair on the bed with a serious look.. "Okay, now spill. What are you two doing from here? I know that you are not registered for the upcoming semester. Please tell us it's not true that you won't be coming back?"

Visha squeezed Tanya's hand, and the smaller woman took a breath before she gave their friends a sad, honest smile. "We won't be, not here. Our guardian Doctor Nishina has made arrangements for us to move to Japan with her for rehabilitation. She is confident that with a change of environment and the help of some of her old associates that we might be able to return to our studies." Tanya took a breath, and let it out as she felt the barest twinge of… something… not quite regret or loneliness, but still heavy and bitter. Perhaps something that she would have to bring up with Visha during their next emotional support session. "Before everyone starts crying again, we have every intention of remaining in contact, and we will try to come back to visit when we are able to."

Visha wiped at her eyes and nodded. "Lots of letters and calls. And we will be back whenever we are allowed to be."

From there, the conversation settled into a more comfortable pattern, with each of them filling in the pair of temporal refugees with the little details that they had missed while they had been ‘unconscious and out of touch’ as the story had been passed along following the ‘accident’.

When their friends finally left, with promises to be back tomorrow and every day that they could until Tanya and Visha had to leave, the pair sat side by side still and processed all of what had happened, and all that had changed for the others.

“We missed a lot, didn’t we?” Visha said softly as she held tight to Tanya’s hand.

“We did, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t work at making up for lost time, even from Japan.” Tanya said. “It will be interesting to see how much they continue to grow as time goes by.”

“It will be interesting to see how much we grow and change as well, Tanya.” Visha pointed out with a smile before she laid down and suddenly Tanya found herself being held in the warm, supportive embrace of her girlfriend and companion.

Tanya laughed and nodded, as she wriggled a little to get comfortable and sighed happily.

Tanya didn't mind change, as long as this never changed she thought to herself as she closed her eyes and basked in the presence of the woman she loved.

Friday, September 23rd 2095. 6:35 AM.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport, private terminal two.

Tanya and Visha separated themselves with some effort from their friends before they passed through the security corridor to join Doctor Nishina on the plane. Technician Greene along with members of the security and support units had transported them to the airport where they would be leaving Germany behind. They had been more than slightly surprised when Doctor Schugel had not joined them, but the scientist had seemed distant since they had returned.

A mystery for another time, it seemed.

Besides the luggage that they had brought with them, they each carried a few necessities on their person. For Tanya, that included the Type 95. Tanya was certain that under Visha's jacket was stashed her companion's trusty entrenching tool.

The only person from the project that would be with them was Doctor Nishina, who had only returned from Japan the previous day where she had been overseeing all the last details for their transfer. The fact that it was even possible for them to move to Japan, much less enroll in the same school as their target, spoke volumes of what the people they had found themselves with were capable of.

Just how much was made possible by the unknown intelligence asset that was simply known as ORACLE?

Another mystery to solve in the future.

Once they arrived in Japan, then their new life could start. A new home, a new school, and a new mission.

And possibly a chance to find out if others had made their way into this world as well.