Elfen High 2: Gotterdammerung

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Lena was standing perfectly still inside the train. A man was grabbing her ass, but she didn't seem to notice. Then the fighting began. Not having much common sense, the cybernetic girl immediately transformed her arm into a giant cannon and pointed it forward, knocking several people down in the process. She then fired it at maximum power. With the cramped space, it almost instantaneously hit something and exploded with devastating force, likely killing everyone in the simulation.

Daisuke booted her out of the simulation before she did, causing her to wake up in real life.

He looked at her. "Err...that rather wasn't the point." he said.

[Condunum]

Takao suddenly became aware of an Indian man seemingly threatening a businessman because he thought he was a Muslim. Now, Takao didn't know if that was true but he would be damned if he would let the Indian man kill the guy before he found out. So he stepped up, snapping his sword from it's sheath and drawing it partially, not wanting to slice anyone in the way. "DO not shoot. I am warning you now."

Jacob, not at all surprised that this was happening, looked around for a piece of metal. he found one, and immediately transformed it into a metal fist. With this, he walked forward, moving towards the gunfire.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"Err...that's the not-fun part." he admitted. "We rather have to run experiments on you. We're going to mutate your DNA and give you very rabbitlike features. If that's alright with you."

Rabbit like features? Huh. Well, that sounded quite interesting. Also painful. But interesting.

"What do you plan to do with my DNA exactly? What kind of rabbit features?" Alison asked. "I might as well know what I'll be agreeing to after all," she added quickly.

"You may feel a bit hyperactive and will likely have a telepathic link to any rabbit in the school." the General said. "Also, rabbit ears and a love of carrots."

[Nude East Ireland]

"I stole this from a test lab in Austria. Apparently it's a car without a steering wheel," Tim replied. "Fucking Simus. Can't build a proper car."

The car suddenly Tokyo drifted, and blasted down a highway. "Where the fuck are we going?"

There was a beep. "YOU ARE HEADED FOR LONDON, CAPITAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM."

Tim sighed. "Who the fuck are you?"

"MY OFFICIAL NAME IS AI PROTOTYPE C-172AB337124-E. BUT I PREFER SOMETHING CLASSY. HENCEFORTH, MY NAME IS HARNITRON DEATH-BRINGER," The AI responded. Tim shook his head, lighting a cigarette.

"So, I guess we're going for London."

"YOUR GUESS IS 99.3% ACCURATE. YOU ARE ON ROUTE FOR LONDON, CAPITAL OF THE UNITED KIN-"

"We know, shut up."

"YOU PUT ME IN A FUCKING SIMUS CAR!{/i]" D roared, throwing his coffee against the windshield and shattering it into some very sharp pieces, "DO YOU KNOW WHO I FUCKING [i]AM?! THIS THING IS PROBABLY RIGGED TO EXPLODE IF I GET NEAR IT, YOU MAGICAL PIXIE RETARD!"

"Actually it's a Ferrari," Tim replied. "I was just making fun of Simus. Because he's like the Apple to your Microsoft. Or something. Just calm yourself. Smoke some of my pot. I've got lots."

He handed D a bong, which was shaped like Shiva.

[Olthar]

Lena looked at Daisuke, her eye flashing several colors. After several moments, she spoke up.

"The point of a combat simulation...is not combat?" she asked in a monotone, yet confused voice.

Her eye flashed several more colors as she tried to figure out what the man meant.

[Nationstatelandsville]

"YOU PUT ME IN A FUCKING SIMUS CAR!{/i]" D roared, throwing his coffee against the windshield and shattering it into some very sharp pieces, "DO YOU KNOW WHO I FUCKING [i]AM?! THIS THING IS PROBABLY RIGGED TO EXPLODE IF I GET NEAR IT, YOU MAGICAL PIXIE RETARD!"

"Actually it's a Ferrari," Tim replied. "I was just making fun of Simus. Because he's like the Apple to your Microsoft. Or something. Just calm yourself. Smoke some of my pot. I've got lots."

He handed D a bong, which was shaped like Shiva.

D immediately tossed the bong away.

Coffee. Coffee, not pot. Never anything but coffee. Must stay sharp.

Deep breath. No Simus. Safe. Simus enemy, not Ferrari. No Simus. Safe. Do not worry.

Coughing. Hacking, really. Handkerchief soaked in blood again. Don't let Timothy see. Safe.

"Right, sorry," he sighed, "Jojo just... well, you have to be careful with his stuff. Never know when it will break.

Is this all you brought me here? Tell me 'no' and get on with the fucking musical number or whatever. I have a schedule, by which I mean if I don't get back in a few hours, HAL will start breaking into Crowley's porn. And then he'll cry and I'll have to make him some soup. He doesn't even eat."

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Lena looked at Daisuke, her eye flashing several colors. After several moments, she spoke up.

"The point of a combat simulation...is not combat?" she asked in a monotone, yet confused voice.

Her eye flashed several more colors as she tried to figure out what the man meant.

Daisuke looked at the girl with some interest. "You're a cyborg, that much is obvious. Jojo built you." he noted. "Well, the deal is that yes, you do combat. But you also need to be aware of civilians and causalities. When you start seeing them as expendable, then a battle becomes a murder." he explained. "That's ethical."

He paused again. "Do you know what ethics are, first of all?"

[Nude East Ireland]

"Actually it's a Ferrari," Tim replied. "I was just making fun of Simus. Because he's like the Apple to your Microsoft. Or something. Just calm yourself. Smoke some of my pot. I've got lots."

He handed D a bong, which was shaped like Shiva.

D immediately tossed the bong away.

Coffee. Coffee, not pot. Never anything but coffee. Must stay sharp.

Deep breath. No Simus. Safe. Simus enemy, not Ferrari. No Simus. Safe. Do not worry.

Coughing. Hacking, really. Handkerchief soaked in blood again. Don't let Timothy see. Safe.

"Right, sorry," he sighed, "Jojo just... well, you have to be careful with his stuff. Never know when it will break.

Is this all you brought me here? Tell me 'no' and get on with the fucking musical number or whatever. I have a schedule, by which I mean if I don't get back in a few hours, HAL will start breaking into Crowley's porn. And then he'll cry and I'll have to make him some soup. He doesn't even eat."

"I have no idea. You just seemed... well, different is all. I'm a bit worried, not going to lie. Are you alright?"

Tim had, by then, found a kind of lever, and was apparently using it to steer. Not that it mattered, since the AI was mostly piloting the car.

[Individuality-ness]

Suddenly, from somewhere in Elfen High, one could hear screams. Divia had somehow come across the forum for a site called "NationStates", and she had stumbled on the most active part of said forum: General.

What she saw there, again, will be detailed in a future oneshot, but she was horrified. She ran out of her room in horror screaming her head off.

Where she ended up in I'll leave to either Night or Nat.

[Nude East Ireland]

In Argentina, Sergeant Fischer sighed. Some other soldiers came up to the group, their guns readied. "Alright," the Sergeant said, "Let's go to the APC. The Colonel will be pissed if we don't bring you there on time."

[Olthar]

Lena blinked.

"Ethics. Plural noun. Definition one: A system of moral principles: the ethics of a culture. Definition two: The rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc. Medical ethics; Christian ethics. Definition three: Moral principles, as of an individual: His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence. Definition four: That branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions."

The girl then fell silent, continuing to stare at Daisuke.

[Nationstatelandsville]

D immediately tossed the bong away.

Coffee. Coffee, not pot. Never anything but coffee. Must stay sharp.

Deep breath. No Simus. Safe. Simus enemy, not Ferrari. No Simus. Safe. Do not worry.

Coughing. Hacking, really. Handkerchief soaked in blood again. Don't let Timothy see. Safe.

"Right, sorry," he sighed, "Jojo just... well, you have to be careful with his stuff. Never know when it will break.

Is this all you brought me here? Tell me 'no' and get on with the fucking musical number or whatever. I have a schedule, by which I mean if I don't get back in a few hours, HAL will start breaking into Crowley's porn. And then he'll cry and I'll have to make him some soup. He doesn't even eat."

"I have no idea. You just seemed... well, different is all. I'm a bit worried, not going to lie. Are you alright?"

Tim had, by then, found a kind of lever, and was apparently using it to steer. Not that it mattered, since the AI was mostly piloting the car.

"I'm fine," D lied, "Well, I mean, relatively.

The fact of the matter is that - to sound terribly cliche - a storm is coming. You know how a dog can tell when there's going to be an earthquake? That's only because he feels it before you. Feels the little shakes that humans don't notice. I feel the little shakes.

James is here now, for one. Two, your dad. I doubt either one of them are connected to what's about to happen, but these things... they happen likes dominoes. One thing knocks down the other.

It's been ten years, Tim, and I'm still remember that night. It's been getting worse lately. It's the little shakes, Tim."

[Zarkenis Ultima]

So, terrorists and stuff.

Lyra was obviously unnerved by all of that. Sure it wasn't real, but it was still difficult to not feel fear. Part of her thought that was good. Getting used to thinking that you weren't going to die if you screwed up wasn't the point, right?

Either way, hearing the gunshots and shivering a little whenever one sounded, she did the best she could to remain calm, and backed a little from the front of the train, not wanting to get caught in the fire.

Then, she had an idea. She took out her notebook and pencil and began drawing a small bag of tea that had "Mumbai Tea" crudely written on a label. Then said object appeared in her hand.

Nothing happened.


Meanwhile, Voltaire had heard the gunshots, and was currently heading towards the front of the train along with anyone else who was doing the same thing.

[Nude East Ireland]

"I have no idea. You just seemed... well, different is all. I'm a bit worried, not going to lie. Are you alright?"

Tim had, by then, found a kind of lever, and was apparently using it to steer. Not that it mattered, since the AI was mostly piloting the car.

"I'm fine," D lied, "Well, I mean, relatively.

The fact of the matter is that - to sound terribly cliche - a storm is coming. You know how a dog can tell when there's going to be an earthquake? That's only because he feels it before you. Feels the little shakes that humans don't notice. I feel the little shakes.

James is here now, for one. Two, your dad. I doubt either one of them are connected to what's about to happen, but these things... they happen likes dominoes. One thing knocks down the other.

It's been ten years, Tim, and I'm still remember that night. It's been getting worse lately. It's the little shakes, Tim."

"The world is shit. No matter what Simus tries to accomplish with his inventions or what Sanchez tries to do behind-the-scenes with the ISSR. My dad used to tell me that advancement was dangerous because with every new computer or car that came out, ten new kinds of bombs or guns would be created. My dad is like Mr. Rogers in the sense that he is morally lawful good and that he cares for everybody - he thinks everybody is special in their own way. But he knows that sometimes that special way is dangerous."

Tim Tokyo drifted, sending some of the cars to turn and crash. He blasted the engines up, flying down the highway back to Elfen High.

"I don't remember much about that night, D. I was only 7 or 8 at the time. But I know my dad doesn't have fond memories. He's got some PTSD, I've seen it. Heard it. One night he was normal, until Mary kept telling him that she wanted to have some kind of toy or makeup set. Dad got pissed. Kept calling her Envy. Blew up the kitchen. I think that's when we left Elfen High and moved back to Virginia."

He turned off the highway, and slowed down a bit. Tim sighed. "Whatever happens," he continued, "I'm here for you. You and Rosie. I don't have the resources Crowley has or the pedophiliac atonement Bitch has, but I'll do my best." He stopped in the parking lot, and turned the car off.

"Take care, D."

[Astrolinium]

Suddenly, Caspian finally appeared within the simulation. He would likely have appeared sooner, except lazy. Also, some bullshit with his time jumping bullshit or whatever. But the point is, he appeared, and freaked the ever-loving fuck out. His eyes widened as he heard the gunshots, and his heart began to race. Perhaps incredibly stupidly, he reached into his coat and pulled out... the toy sonic screwdriver. He knew, intellectually, perfectly well that this would not work as a weapon. However, it was a source of great comfort for him in this frightening time.

[Nationstatelandsville]

"I'm fine," D lied, "Well, I mean, relatively.

The fact of the matter is that - to sound terribly cliche - a storm is coming. You know how a dog can tell when there's going to be an earthquake? That's only because he feels it before you. Feels the little shakes that humans don't notice. I feel the little shakes.

James is here now, for one. Two, your dad. I doubt either one of them are connected to what's about to happen, but these things... they happen likes dominoes. One thing knocks down the other.

It's been ten years, Tim, and I'm still remember that night. It's been getting worse lately. It's the little shakes, Tim."

"The world is shit. No matter what Simus tries to accomplish with his inventions or what Sanchez tries to do behind-the-scenes with the ISSR. My dad used to tell me that advancement was dangerous because with every new computer or car that came out, ten new kinds of bombs or guns would be created. My dad is like Mr. Rogers in the sense that he is morally lawful good and that he cares for everybody - he thinks everybody is special in their own way. But he knows that sometimes that special way is dangerous."

Tim Tokyo drifted, sending some of the cars to turn and crash. He blasted the engines up, flying down the highway back to Elfen High.

"I don't remember much about that night, D. I was only 7 or 8 at the time. But I know my dad doesn't have fond memories. He's got some PTSD, I've seen it. Heard it. One night he was normal, until Mary kept telling him that she wanted to have some kind of toy or makeup set. Dad got pissed. Kept calling her Envy. Blew up the kitchen. I think that's when we left Elfen High and moved back to Virginia."

He turned off the highway, and slowed down a bit. Tim sighed. "Whatever happens," he continued, "I'm here for you. You and Rosie. I don't have the resources Crowley has or the pedophiliac atonement Bitch has, but I'll do my best." He stopped in the parking lot, and turned the car off.

"Take care, D."

"You just stole a very expensive car to drive me around for ten minutes," D said, opening his door, "I'd bitch, but you're the one who's going to jail one day. Aleister can't protect you forever, Tim, and your dad will probably just give you a stern look."

D stepped out and closed the door, walking away without a goodbye or wave.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"Not particularly." The guard, a man known as Henrik, said mildly. "You know, insulting people isn't the best of things to do. And neither is insulting the people and their culture. You're a former mass murderer, self-confirmed. Also, you had planned to overthrow the school and Crowley's organisation. In addition to that, you have tended to be a liar and quite untrustworthy. To be perfectly frank, throwing you back into the school as a spy was a flawed plan from the start." he admitted. "Crowley would have rapidly figured it out if you hadn't told him. So we'll send you back there, but with some additional restrictions."

James literally spat in his face. "I'm no tool, Henrik. Not of you, and not of the ISSR. You want my help? Transparency and free reign. You tell both me and Aleister what the actual plan is. Vaguely telling me to create some sort of armed forces from a fucking school isn't helping anybody." James got to his feet. "And you know damn well that your plans won't work without me, otherwise you wouldn't have bothered releasing me from my sentence in the first place. You could have sent Sanchez or someone else, but you didn't."

He looked Henrik over. "Of course, that could be because you aren't calling the shots. This isn't an ISSR operation, and out of spite you guys are keeping your resources away from whoever is handling this, and whoever it is doesn't trust you guys." He chuckled. "Quite a petty little thing, isn't it? Fate the world and the survival of humanity is at stake, yet the ISSR refuses to cooperate." He chuckled a little more, then abruptly cut if off. "Sorry, ten years of imprisonment and being thrust back into Elfen High leaves one with a lot of snark, especially when all he sees is bureaucratic bullshit and colliding egos. Was I maybe a little too blunt with Az and should have explained that the bellhop was too dangerous to leave alive? Yes, probably. Does that make what I said to him or what I'm saying to you right now wrong? Not in the least."

Suddenly he rolled forwards, getting the handcuffs over his head and in front of him, and ending face-to-face with Henrik - Close enough that James could touch the soldier's face. "Do I need to tone down my attitude and start playing nice with those who have screwed me for years and don't give a rats ass if humanity were to die tomorrow, so long as it doesn't reach the walls of their precious school? Yes. Am I going to? That depends on how long it takes you to uncuff me."

Henrik actually looked annoyed. "Again. It was a bloody stupid idea from the beginning." the Norwegian noted, because Norway is underrepresented. "I'm going to have a talk with Sanchez." he replied, opening the cell door by a computer scanning his eye. He walked out, the steel door slamming shut.

This is also when Loki took the moment to sit down next to James. "First of all, this is an illusion." he said. "Second of all, I've slowed down time a bit, so that phone call will take a while. Third of all, my presence does not appear on the security cameras. Old dog had to learn new tricks to keep up. Fourth of all, Legacy of Callahan was a brilliant movie. I liked that you were played by Shatner. That was highly entertaining."

[Nude East Ireland]

"The world is shit. No matter what Simus tries to accomplish with his inventions or what Sanchez tries to do behind-the-scenes with the ISSR. My dad used to tell me that advancement was dangerous because with every new computer or car that came out, ten new kinds of bombs or guns would be created. My dad is like Mr. Rogers in the sense that he is morally lawful good and that he cares for everybody - he thinks everybody is special in their own way. But he knows that sometimes that special way is dangerous."

Tim Tokyo drifted, sending some of the cars to turn and crash. He blasted the engines up, flying down the highway back to Elfen High.

"I don't remember much about that night, D. I was only 7 or 8 at the time. But I know my dad doesn't have fond memories. He's got some PTSD, I've seen it. Heard it. One night he was normal, until Mary kept telling him that she wanted to have some kind of toy or makeup set. Dad got pissed. Kept calling her Envy. Blew up the kitchen. I think that's when we left Elfen High and moved back to Virginia."

He turned off the highway, and slowed down a bit. Tim sighed. "Whatever happens," he continued, "I'm here for you. You and Rosie. I don't have the resources Crowley has or the pedophiliac atonement Bitch has, but I'll do my best." He stopped in the parking lot, and turned the car off.

"Take care, D."

"You just stole a very expensive car to drive me around for ten minutes," D said, opening his door, "I'd bitch, but you're the one who's going to jail one day. Aleister can't protect you forever, Tim, and your dad will probably just give you a stern look."

D stepped out and closed the door, walking away without a goodbye or wave.

Tim laid his head back and sighed. "You have no idea."

---

He fell back into his chair. Tim sighed, unbuttoning his top button and loosening his tie. It was a long day. Suddenly, Mary walked through his room, and turned to him.

"Hey, big brother. What are you doing here?" she asked.

"It's my room," he replied. "You?"

"Drugs," she replied. Tim stood up, annoyed. "You shouldn't be doing drugs, Mary. Dad wouldn't approve."

Mary scoffed. "Yeah, OK. Since when are you a hypocrite?" She asked, as she picked up a bag of cocaine. Tim promptly smacked it away and walked closer to her.

"Since dad has been in a Nazi-run prison in South America. And all you can think about is drugs?"

Mary pushed Tim back. "Listen, dickweed, I'm just trying to live a life. Why don't you go fuck a prostitute or something? I won't watch."

"Shut the fuck up, Mary," Tim snapped. "You've got a lot of apologizing to do to dad, you know."

"Oh yeah? Why?"

"You're the reason we left Elfen High all those years ago. You made him have a war flashback. He's a fucking veteran. He killed thousands on his own."

Mary giggled. "Yeah, whatever. Dad is an idiot. Say, have you been talking to D? I was wondering if he-"

Tim grabbed her shoulder. "Listen, you don't talk about dad that way."

Mary punched Tim in the gut. He bent over, allowing her to grab him by the head and throw him through a wall. He crashed into the kitchen, smashing against the over and collapsing. "You're pathetic," Mary said. "Look, dad doesn't care about us. You haven't seen him for three years. He's always going on about how the ISSR needs some help, how Aleister needs some assistance, how Heavensgate needs rebuilding. All he cares about are world affairs and political shit. He was volunteering at some rebuilding project in Hell for two years, and when he finally comes back his cousin comes in with news about a magic secret society, and then the kidnap him. Good riddance. He'd rather pay attention to some Cold War-esque politics then talk with mom, or me, or Minh."

"Maybe he's trying to prevent something from killing us," Tim replied. He dove at Mary, tackling her to the ground. He punched her in the face. "He's trying to protect us from a war that's coming. He's trying to protect a lot of-"

Mary punched Tim, and threw him onto a coffee table. She wiped the blood from her lips. "Who cares?" she asked. "I can defend myself."

Tim rolled off, and stood. "You know D fought beside dad? They were in the war together. D's got the same problems dad has, about knowing that the future is going to be a shitty war between us and some other group - Heaven or fucking Russia or something. Who the fuck knows? Well D and dad know."

Mary sighed. "I'm leaving," she declared, marching for the door. She opened it, and slammed it shut. Tim sighed.

He fell back onto the couch and wiped his face. He sighed once more.

"What the fuck?"

[Hardened Pyrokinetics]

James literally spat in his face. "I'm no tool, Henrik. Not of you, and not of the ISSR. You want my help? Transparency and free reign. You tell both me and Aleister what the actual plan is. Vaguely telling me to create some sort of armed forces from a fucking school isn't helping anybody." James got to his feet. "And you know damn well that your plans won't work without me, otherwise you wouldn't have bothered releasing me from my sentence in the first place. You could have sent Sanchez or someone else, but you didn't."

He looked Henrik over. "Of course, that could be because you aren't calling the shots. This isn't an ISSR operation, and out of spite you guys are keeping your resources away from whoever is handling this, and whoever it is doesn't trust you guys." He chuckled. "Quite a petty little thing, isn't it? Fate the world and the survival of humanity is at stake, yet the ISSR refuses to cooperate." He chuckled a little more, then abruptly cut if off. "Sorry, ten years of imprisonment and being thrust back into Elfen High leaves one with a lot of snark, especially when all he sees is bureaucratic bullshit and colliding egos. Was I maybe a little too blunt with Az and should have explained that the bellhop was too dangerous to leave alive? Yes, probably. Does that make what I said to him or what I'm saying to you right now wrong? Not in the least."

Suddenly he rolled forwards, getting the handcuffs over his head and in front of him, and ending face-to-face with Henrik - Close enough that James could touch the soldier's face. "Do I need to tone down my attitude and start playing nice with those who have screwed me for years and don't give a rats ass if humanity were to die tomorrow, so long as it doesn't reach the walls of their precious school? Yes. Am I going to? That depends on how long it takes you to uncuff me."

Henrik actually looked annoyed. "Again. It was a bloody stupid idea from the beginning." the Norwegian noted, because Norway is underrepresented. "I'm going to have a talk with Sanchez." he replied, opening the cell door by a computer scanning his eye. He walked out, the steel door slamming shut.

This is also when Loki took the moment to sit down next to James. "First of all, this is an illusion." he said. "Second of all, I've slowed down time a bit, so that phone call will take a while. Third of all, my presence does not appear on the security cameras. Old dog had to learn new tricks to keep up. Fourth of all, Legacy of Callahan was a brilliant movie. I liked that you were played by Shatner. That was highly entertaining."

James suddenly became very jovial. "Ah, Loki, old friend. Been a long time, hasn't it?" He turned and faced the Asgardian. "As much as I don't appreciate appearing crazy to the fat fuck watching the cameras, it's nice to see you again. How are things back at Asgard?" He sat back down on his bed beside Loki. "And how have you been?"

Then he melted the handcuffs off.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Henrik actually looked annoyed. "Again. It was a bloody stupid idea from the beginning." the Norwegian noted, because Norway is underrepresented. "I'm going to have a talk with Sanchez." he replied, opening the cell door by a computer scanning his eye. He walked out, the steel door slamming shut.

This is also when Loki took the moment to sit down next to James. "First of all, this is an illusion." he said. "Second of all, I've slowed down time a bit, so that phone call will take a while. Third of all, my presence does not appear on the security cameras. Old dog had to learn new tricks to keep up. Fourth of all, Legacy of Callahan was a brilliant movie. I liked that you were played by Shatner. That was highly entertaining."

James suddenly became very jovial. "Ah, Loki, old friend. Been a long time, hasn't it?" He turned and faced the Asgardian. "As much as I don't appreciate appearing crazy to the fat fuck watching the cameras, it's nice to see you again. How are things back at Asgard?" He sat back down on his bed beside Loki. "And how have you been?"

Then he melted the handcuffs off.

The melting didn't work, because the ISSR aren't stupid. They aren't going to give a pyrokinetic meltable cuffs. That would make them so idiotic that Sanchez would deserve a gunshot in the penis.

Speaking of Sanchez

---

"THAT'S RIGHT! DRIVE IT HARDER!"

---

We should stop speaking of Sanchez.

Instead, James received a mild electrical shock. Loki sighed. "Yeah. Probably not the best of ideas there." he pointed out. "In any case, be a bit careful. Here are two things you can do- one, you can put yourself at the mercy of the ISSR. They'll likely give a slap on the wrist, in the end, or they could exile you away and keep you from interacting with the Elfen Highers for a while, especially since you admitted your hatred of them. Politics are an interesting thing. Second, I could break you out."

[Hardened Pyrokinetics]

James suddenly became very jovial. "Ah, Loki, old friend. Been a long time, hasn't it?" He turned and faced the Asgardian. "As much as I don't appreciate appearing crazy to the fat fuck watching the cameras, it's nice to see you again. How are things back at Asgard?" He sat back down on his bed beside Loki. "And how have you been?"

Then he melted the handcuffs off.

The melting didn't work, because the ISSR aren't stupid. They aren't going to give a pyrokinetic meltable cuffs. That would make them so idiotic that Sanchez would deserve a gunshot in the penis.

Speaking of Sanchez

---

"THAT'S RIGHT! DRIVE IT HARDER!"

---

We should stop speaking of Sanchez.

Instead, James received a mild electrical shock. Loki sighed. "Yeah. Probably not the best of ideas there." he pointed out. "In any case, be a bit careful. Here are two things you can do- one, you can put yourself at the mercy of the ISSR. They'll likely give a slap on the wrist, in the end, or they could exile you away and keep you from interacting with the Elfen Highers for a while, especially since you admitted your hatred of them. Politics are an interesting thing. Second, I could break you out."

Heat is a property of natural physics that affects everything ever created. No matter how strong the material is, no matter how high its heat tolerance is, the material will eventually melt.

So the handcuffs melted, and James stretched his arms, rubbing at his wrists. "You aren't breaking me out." James finally answered. "While that would seem the most straightforward and pragmatic route, what that would do is not only make me a wanted fugitive again and end my involvement with both the ISSR and whoever is actually running this operation, but also my involvement with Elfen High and... Outside interests." He clearly wasn't going to elaborate on the latter, and without the psychic link Loki wouldn't know what James meant. "And with resources aimed at recapturing me, not to mention shutting me out of current events, humanity would be even more unprepared when Heaven comes." James stood up and paced around the cell. "You're right, I do need to 'give myself up', as it were. However, my Pride is too much to allow me to do that, and when I know I'm right I always have to keep arguing until everyone agrees with me."

He paused. "This frequently explodes in my face, obviously, but it is a character flaw that won't suddenly disappear from one realization. Shit like that only happens in badly written stories. No, there needs to be a way for me to surrender myself to ISSR control without damaging my Pride." He looked back at Loki, locking eyes with him. He was thinking.

This is never a good thing.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Lena blinked.

"Ethics. Plural noun. Definition one: A system of moral principles: the ethics of a culture. Definition two: The rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc. Medical ethics; Christian ethics. Definition three: Moral principles, as of an individual: His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence. Definition four: That branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions."

The girl then fell silent, continuing to stare at Daisuke.

Daisuke nodded. "Not an AI, but not a human either." he looked at Lena with interest, crossing his arms. "No, you're rather something else." it wasn't a compliment or interest- just a plain statement of fact.

He placed a hand on Lena's head, wires jutting out of his fingers and connecting into her head. He bet that there would be a block against him- but he had to check and see what he could. He tried to surf around in the cybernetic girl's mind, but found some resistance.

[Olthar]

Lena simply stared blankly at Daisuke, confused by what he was doing.

As for the man, himself, he'd find absolutely nothing, at least nothing of interest. The only part of her mind that was robotic was a few implants to allow her to control her robotic body parts. The rest was still organic brain matter. Jojo tried to leave as much of her as possible, hoping it would prevent her from changing too much. Of course, it didn't particularly work, and it was likely that the lack of a proper cybernetic brain was a contributing factor to her...eccentricities.

[Norvenia]

Daniel touched Caspian's arm. "Easy, lad," he murmured. "Stay there." The priest stepped in front of the Indian businessman, between him and the mob. "Listen to me now," he said, voice earnest and seemingly quiet, although it filled the train car. "Listen. There's no way to know whether this man is a Muslim. All you have is the word of this man. He could be crazy. He could owe this guy money. He could just be plain wrong. There are twenty million people in this city, and its surrounding areas. How many do you think look just like this fellow? But I'll tell you one thing." Daniel stepped forward, hands still spread. "Whatever he is, I know what you are. You are good Hindus. You know what's right, and what's wrong. And if you kill this man, knowing that he might not be a Muslim, knowing that he might not be a terrorist even if he is a Muslim - then the stain upon your souls will not be washed away within this lifetime, and I dare not even think in what form you will return to this world." Daniel sighed, let his hands fall. "So please, for all our sakes - sit down. No one else needs to die today."

With that, Daniel leaned slightly over and murmured to Takao: "If they rush you, try not to kill them. No more force then you need to stay alive, and to keep our friend there alive." With that, Daniel clapped the samurai on the shoulder, and moved swiftly forward toward the front of the train.

When he caught up with the students, he stepped in front of them and raised his hands. "Listen!" Daniel snapped. "If we go right through the door of the compartment and into the car where they're massacring people, we're going to get killed. Okay? We'll be bunched up in the doorway, a clearly delineated target, with only one or two of us able to do anything at any given moment. They'll hose us down, and we'll die." Daniel took a deep breath. "Here's what we need to do. Head out the doors here now, and onto the roof of the train. There are plenty of people already riding up there, God knows. It'll be tricky to climb up while the train is moving, but not as tricky as dodging bullets. Move up along the roof until you reach the car where the shooting is happening. Then, on my go, swing down through the windows of that car. We'll take them by surprise, surround them in an instant, enable ourselves to attack simultaneously with all of our abilities, and leave the bad guys without a clear target on which to focus their fire. The car will be clear in seconds." Daniel raised his eyebrows. "We do this my way, we all go home - or at least out of the simulation - alive. Clear?"

[Condunum]

Takao nodded at the commands Daniel gave. He was used to working alone now, but the priest had quite the moving voice. He fully drew his sword, gripping it skillfully and standing by the suspected Muslim. As Takao concentrated, the blade began to glow slightly. Good, that meant he was able to sling fire. He turned to the suspected man and in a very calm voice, said, "If you wish to survive, you will stay in my sight at all times. Understood?" He looked to the other passengers, and said in a booming voice, "STAY CALM. My companions are dealing with the terrorists right now. Do not harm anyone, there is no need for more violence."

Around this time, Daniel was presenting his plans to the others, including Jacob. Jacob liked the idea, except that he was pretty sure a lot of the gunfire came from on top of the train. "But, Daniel," he said, "The roof is just as dangerous as the inside of the train, and it's open, too. Are you sure that's the right path to take?"