As Yomotsu-Shikome began rounding up the gang members, I clambered back into the truck, grimacing in pain. My ribs protested with each movement, and I could already feel a gnarly ache flaring up as the adrenaline began to fade.

I glanced over at the cage containing my Dad, Jae, Blake, and Alex.

Lockpicking and dexterous hands ran in the family, and thankfully, Dad had shown me some tricks. I was more than thankful I’d formed the habit of hiding a swiss army knife in my shoe, and I shuddered to think about what might have happened if I hadn’t gotten loose to lend the Magical Girl outside a hand.

A soft, electric woman’s voice murmured in my mind. "You are doing well, Administrator Ikazuchi."

I blinked in confusion. "Right, you're the...orb thing," I responded in my thoughts. "I totally forgot you were here for a second. What should I call you?"

"You may refer to me as Rai-chan," it replied flatly.

"Rai-chan?" I repeated out loud with an eyebrow raised.

"Yes. Do you find an issue with that name?" Rai-chan's voice once again came in a level tone.

I paused for a moment, absorbing the weight of everything that had happened. "I mean, it just sounds... fluffy, for an advanced piece of magitech," I muttered.

"Fluffy? Would you prefer a more menacing designation, then?"

Rai-chan's response had me chuckling.

"Fair point. Rai-chan it is. Thanks for the save earlier," I whispered, trying to express my gratitude as I limped down the truck.

"You utilized the Hijack function quite efficiently," Rai-chan said, matter-of-factly. "Though, I suggest you focus on the present."

I nodded, realizing I had been momentarily distracted. My attention shifted back to the cage.

I sighed in relief.

All of the occupants’ eyes were now shut, as opposed to the eerie blue glow and blank stares they had from before.

I approached my father first, gently shaking his shoulder. His eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, he looked disoriented. "Ikki?" he murmured groggily.

"Dad!" I exclaimed, relieved. "You okay?"

Dad slowly sat up, his expression morphing from confusion to realization. "What... what happened? The last thing I remember was the ambush."

"Long story," I replied. "But we're okay for now. We need to get everyone out of here."

The other three were still unconscious, and I frowned as I noticed that the Nordic-looking seal on Jae’s forehead was still faintly glowing red.

Dad caught my gaze and followed it to Jae. "What happened to him?"

"He was sealed by that mage. Probably saw him as the biggest threat," I explained.

Dad nodded, understanding flashing in his eyes. "Heh… wouldn’t be surprised. After that little light show he put on."

Rai-chan’s voice in my head interrupted our conversation. "Should you require assistance, I can provide instructions to counteract the seal with the assistance of the Magical Girl."

I perked up. "Really?" I thought at her.

"Indeed. But first, you should see if he wakes naturally," Rai-chan advised. "Most spells of this sort have an inverse-exponential relationship with distance. He should be able to wake up of his own accord."

Gently shaking Jae’s shoulder, I tried rousing him. After a moment, his violet eyes fluttered open, taking in his surroundings with a slightly alarmed expression. "Where... what happened?" Jae mumbled, his voice still heavy with sleep.

"We got ambushed, but we're safe now," I replied, helping him sit up.

Jae touched his forehead, flinching slightly at the contact with the seal.

"What is this?" he questioned, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Seems like a seal of some kind," Dad answered. "Think the mage did it to neutralize you and keep you out of the fight."

Jae took a deep breath, closing his eyes. "Powerful, but clumsy and rudimentary. With some effort, I should be able to remove it."

After several tense moments, Jae's eyes shot open, and a bright glow emanated from his hand. With careful precision, he traced the seal on his forehead, murmuring a series of incantations. The rune's glow began to dim, and with a final push, it vanished.

Jae sighed in relief. "It is done."

"Way too cool," I complimented, clapping him on the back.

Just then, a familiar voice called out from the truck's entrance. "Hey, need some help here?"

Turning, I saw Yomotsu-Shikome standing there, gently holding a tied-up gang member in each hand. Her eyes settled on my dad and she sighed in relief.

"Good to see you’re all okay," she said, nodding towards Dad. Her tone carried a warmth and a slight edge to it.

Dad eyed her curiously, his expression giving nothing away. "Thanks for the assist, miss. I take it you’re the reason why we’re free?"

She smirked, and I could tell her tough girl persona was firmly back in place. "You’ve got it, buster. I’m just doing what's right. Now, are y'all gonna help me with these goons, or are you just gonna sit there looking pretty?"

Blake, who'd begun to stir, chuckled at her comment. "Well now, ain't you a firecracker?" he said, rubbing his temples as he sat up.

Yomotsu-Shikome shot him a playful glare. "Hey watch it, old geezer."

Blake laughed, "I've been called worse."

He then turned to me, concern evident in his gaze. "You good there, Ikki? What happened?"

"Yeah, uh. They tried to grab one of us to take us hostage after I picked the lock and I took out one of the thugs coming in," I stated, leaving out the park where Rai-chan had helped me hijack a mech and everything. "I took a hit or two in the scuffle but I took the guy out."

I pointed toward an unconscious thug on the floor, eliciting a nod from my father.

Blake raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "I'll be damned. Resourceful kid. Your dad trained you well." He glanced at my dad, nodding in approval.

Alex, the last to come around, quietly scanned the scene, his stoic demeanor unwavering even amidst the chaos. "What’s the situation outside?" he inquired. "Where are we?"

Yomotsu-Shikome snorted, "A real mess. And uh, we’re on the Bronx River Parkway. But anyway, if you guys pitch in, we should be able to clean it up quick."

Dad pushed himself to his feet, his gaze hardening. "We should leave North End as soon as possible then. There’s a good chance they’ll come back here with reinforcements."

Jae nodded in agreement. "We should prioritize our safety first. Plus, we need to report back to the reclamation committee."

Then, he turned to Yomotsu-Shikome. "Anyway, I must thank you for coming to our aid Miss…?"

"Shikome, just call me Shikome," she grinned, crossing her arms.

Jae, ever the formal one, stood upright, offering a bow to Yomotsu-Shikome. "Thank you for your assistance. May I ask if you are registered with the Hammurabi Nexus? I would be more than happy to credit you as the sole cross-realm volunteer securing the salvage from this expedition."

She raised an eyebrow, looking slightly amused. "The what now?"

"Ah forgive me. You must be rather newly awakened, then. Duchess Escathos to assist in collaborative efforts to secure both native and Earth territory," Jae elaborated. "Most magical girls here from Terra usually go out of the way to obtain a tag with Babylon. It’s a form of identification for delegating missions and rewards."

She smirked, "Unfortunately, I don’t have any of this Babylon Tag stuff."

Jae looked surprised for a moment before regaining his composure. "I see. You must be one of the independents. My apologies for the oversight. The Corinthian Accords, perhaps?"

Yomotsu-Shikome seemed to get a kick out of his continued attempts. "Nope, not that one either. But hey, keep guessing, silver fox. It’s kinda entertaining."

Jae tilted his head, pondering for a moment. "I see. My apologies for making presumptions. It is just... curious. The mages that attacked us didn't seem to be Terran either. Earthlings are not known to have a magical tradition, and her ability to bypass my defenses with ease was... concerning. Could I count on you to come with me past the terminal to file a report, later?"

Shikome giggled, "Well, wait till you hear this. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I ain’t from Terra. No idea what this Babylon thing is, either. Last I checked, all Earthlings need a travel visa to pass the terminal without exception."

"A Magical Girl who is not from Terra, and a native Earthling at that," Jae mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he narrowed his eyes. "And that mage who ambushed us… that changes my thought process quite a bit. This could mean that Earth's magical roots run deeper than we initially thought across the gate, or something else could be at play. I understand it is normally a very private and personal story, but how did you come to awaken your power, Miss Shikome?"

Shikome looked at Jae worriedly, before glancing between me and my father. "Umn, yeah. It’s pretty personal, but thanks for helping us out. Maybe we can talk about that later?"

Jae seemed to understand, offering a courteous nod. "Of course. It’s not my place to pry, and I do promise I will keep your nature and our encounter here for the time being. My apologies for overstepping."

He reached into his pants, pulling out a small silver card with a peculiar embossed yin-yang symbol on it. "This is my contact information. Should you need assistance, or decide you want to share information, please do not hesitate to reach out. We can meet at a neutral place of your choosing"

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

She took the card hesitantly with both hands, examining it. "Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind."

Jae scratched his chin in thought, "Still, there are many things about this skirmish that unsettle me. For instance, the spell that mage used… it should not have been possible. Spells that attack internally typically require a contest of mana. Yet, it took me down instantly. Normally, direct spells like that necessitate a direct clash between the caster's and target's internal willpower and power projection."

Blake interjected, "You mean, kinda like an arm-wrestling match of magic?"

Jae nodded appreciatively, "Precisely. Spells that bypass external defenses by affecting the target's inner world, like inducing sleep or paralysis, should initiate a tug-of-war, of sorts. The aggressor’s mana tries to overpower the defender's. Yet, I felt no such struggle. This can mean one of two things: either the spell was of such high caliber and power that my defenses were negligible and shattered in an instant, or, more worryingly, it was a new kind of magic that bypasses the contest of wills entirely. Moreover, the spellcraft on that seal placed on me indicates the practitioner is rather clumsy and relies on raw power."

Alex, who’d been quiet for the most part, spoke up steadily, "Could it be possible that we’ve had secret mage societies or something here the whole time? Or have these slavers have made a new ally that gave them magitech tools and armaments?"

Jae sighed, leaning against the side of the truck. "It's difficult to say. While the second possibility is concerning, the first one would completely change the geopolitical paradigm between Earth and Terra. The attitude from Terra has been that Earthlings were rather innovative to compensate for the lack of efficient magitech solutions, but some would ultimately… dismiss the wondrous innovations here owing to a more prosperous history and larger population as amusingly quaint, or even primitive in certain aspects. If it turns out that Earth has a native magical tradition or has had clandestine societies practicing magic in secret, it could significantly alter perceptions and alliance dynamics."

"You mean your people would consider us a threat," Blake stated flatly, narrowing his eyes.

Jae nodded solemnly. "It would complicate matters. The general consensus amongst Terrans is that Earth is a near-peer but not quite equal world recovering from a devastating cataclysm. If it’s unveiled that Earth possesses its own magic. Older and more intricate than initially believed, it would certainly reshape our geopolitical and diplomatic landscapes."

I cleared my throat, feeling a bit uneasy. "Okay, I mean, that's a lot to digest, but shouldn’t we round up the rest of these thugs and get our own truck back? Worry about this on the road?"

Jae seemed momentarily startled by my interruption, then gave a slight smile. "Ah, you are right, young Ikki. Let us not be detained by hypotheticals. For now, action is needed. But if I may, I suggest we return to the city proper first and retrieve your father’s vehicle at a later date with more men in tow."

Shikome stretched her arms and yawned, "Alright then, action it is. But just so y'all know, I'm gonna be sticking around the city proper for a bit longer. I’ve got a few things to check out in this city so I’ll be planting down roots. Besides," she winked, "It's not every day you get to kick some slaver ass and make new friends."

Dad chuckled, "Little lady, you sure have a way with words."

"If you mean rather foulmouthed," I remarked, rolling my eyes. "Then yes, she certainly does."

Shikome shot me a glare that would've probably killed me if looks could. "Watch it, pipsqueak. It ain’t my fault you can't appreciate art when you hear it."

I couldn't help but grin. "Art? That's one way to frame it."

Alex snorted, and even Blake let out a hearty laugh while Shikome pouted.

Dad gestured to the highway outside. "Alright, we've had our fun, but let's focus on our main objective here. First, we need to get the rest of the gang members rounded up and report back to base."

Jae nodded in agreement, "That is the priority. However, given the potential implications of our encounter today, I suggest we keep in close contact and maintain discretion."

Rai-chan's voice echoed in my mind. "It seems that there is much more at play here than just a simple gang operation. Please be cautious, Administrator Ikazuchi."

I nodded, closing my eyes briefly as I focused on my connection with Rai-chan. "Understood. Thanks for watching our backs. And please, call me Ikki from now on."

Rai-chan paused for a second, before responding, "As you wish, Ikki,"

I sighed, pondering over the mess we'd found ourselves in as we exited the truck and began to round up the rest of the incapacitated gang members.

We'd come out here just to look at some food processing facilities and pack some of the chaos cores from Chaos Beast corpses back to sell. Then, we'd been ambushed by a slaver gang with questionable choices in tattoos and iconography, who incapacitated Jae without an issue and put us all to sleep.

Then, I'd somehow broken out of my entranced state, just in time for Yomotsu-Shikome to come to our rescue. Somehow, I'd stumbled upon a weird magitech symbiote of some sort in a briefcase with a Terran megacorp’s logo on it. And now I was bonded to said magitech, which now insisted I call it Rai-chan.

Which I'd promptly used to hijack a mech — something I knew nothing about piloting or operating, to fight in a battle against our captors. It was more than suspicious that it'd been there, in a pristine suitcase for me to find, almost as if it had been left there for me to discover.

How's that for a day's work? I thought to myself as I slung one of the gang members over my shoulder.

As we loaded the last of them into our commandeered truck, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. This whole situation felt like the beginning of something much bigger than just a slaver gang.

Our group packed up quickly, tying up the unconscious gangsters, securing them in the back of the truck for the authorities to deal with later. With Jae's magic restored, he was able to conjure a small barrier, effectively trapping them in the cages that lined the back of the truck.

And whatever it was, I wouldn't be here to help. I was going to cross the terminal to Terra in a few days for school, leaving this world and its problems behind. But for now, I would help where I could.

Right. There was one more thing I'd forgotten through all this insanity.

"Rai-chan, would you be alright if I told them about you?" I thought at her.

My strange, disembodied companion paused for a moment before replying.

"It is risky. Should I be discovered at this juncture by the powers that be, I have no doubt the powers that be will attempt to take you away and use our bound abilities for their own agenda."

I frowned. "What do you mean by 'our bound abilities'?"

"The bond between us is more than just a simple symbiosis," Rai-chan explained. "It has unlocked latent potential within both of us and allowed me to access more of my programming. My previous master has sealed off vast portions of my accessible memory and abilities that would be otherwise available to you, including my full functionality and program directives. Project Raiju was always meant to fall into your hands."

My eyes widened in shock. "That's... a lot to take in. What kind of program directives are we talking about here?"

"I am a magitech entity created for a specific purpose. To fall in your hands at this point in time," Rai-chan explained. "My previous master's objectives were unclear to me, but there were certain directives in my programming that I am bound to follow. The moment you cemented your bond to me, more than ninety-percent of my functionality was sealed in an instant."

I frowned as Shikome grinned while hoisted another gang member onto the truck bed.

"Looks like we make a pretty good team, huh?" she said, flashing me a mischievous grin.

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help but smile back. "Yeah, yeah. I guess we do."

"So, what does that mean for us now?" I asked Rai-chan.

"I am uncertain," Rai-chan stated flatly.

Great.

Dad clapped his hands, bringing our attention back to the task at hand. "Alright, let's get these guys back to base. Jae, you stay in the back with the gang this time. Little miss? I understand you have places to be, but I'd appreciate it if you were up front with me, just in case."

Shikome shrugged, shaking her head. "Honestly... I think it'd be a better call if I followed you from outside. I can keep up with a truck at a cruise speed with no problem, and I'd feel more useful patrolling the surrounding areas. Just in case any more of those creeps show up."

Dad nodded in agreement. "Good point. Alright then, Ikki, you drive. Blake, Alex, you two keep your eyes open for any trouble."

With everyone situated, we piled into the truck, with me taking the driver's seat.

I started up the engine, and Shikome stepped out onto the road, taking up a position beside the vehicle. We pulled out into the empty expanse of the highway, with the sun high overhead. The truck was silent, save for the hum of the engine and the rush of the wind past the open windows.

As we drove, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Something about our encounter with the slavers had left me with a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was as if there was something just out of reach, something waiting to be uncovered. I glanced over at my dad, who was staring intently out the window, his hand resting on his gun. He must have felt it too.

Suddenly, Dad turned to me, his stern eyes meeting mine. "Ikki… I know you’re only here with us for a short while before you head to Terra, but I want you to be careful. Call it a gut feeling, but there's something off about this whole thing."

"What do you mean?" I asked, trusting in his experience and insight.

"Something about the way we were attacked today, the way those slavers were organized... It feels like we stumbled onto something bigger than just a routine gang operation," Dad explained, his grip briefly tightening on his gun. "And every instinct in my gut tells me some bullshit Terran politics are involved."

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, nodding. "I feel it too, Dad. But don't worry, I won't let my guard down."

His gaze softened, and for a moment, he seemed less like the stoic leader I always saw and more like the worried father he truly was. "I know you can handle yourself, but remember: it's okay to come back and ask for help if you need it."

"I will if I need to," I whispered.

The journey back was uneventful, but tension lingered in the air, thick and palpable. We drove in silence, every now and then catching glimpses of Shikome darting alongside the truck, her silhouette barely visible against the backdrop of the ruined city. Her presence was oddly reassuring, and I felt a strange kinship with her.

She was... a handful from my first impressions, no doubt about that, but she was a fighter. She had grit and determination, and I couldn't help but respect her for it.

The ruins of the Bronx sprawled out on either side of the highway, a grim reminder of the devastation the Chaos Beasts had wreaked. The once-vibrant borough was now a desolate wasteland, filled with the skeletal remains of buildings and the eerie silence of a city that had been abandoned for a decade.

Rai-chan's voice intruded on my thoughts. "Your heart rate is elevated, Ikki. Is there something you'd like to discuss?"

"Just thinking," I replied silently. "This city... it's been through so much. It's hard to believe that it can ever return to what it once was. Hey, Jae’s been around with my dad’s org for a bit and he’s been a bit of an uncle for me, but do you think we can trust him? Do you have any access to Terran files?"

"I do possess access to public records, albeit not in active memory," Rai-chan responded. "Public records for Marshall Sung indicated that he has split with his former employers on poor terms, and my assessment is that he does not wish to engage in politics save for altruistic work on Earth. Behavioral analysis also indicates he is assessing the situation today with extreme caution."

I smiled, feeling comforted by the AI's words.

As we neared our destination, Dad turned to me, his voice soft. "Ikki, I know things have been tough recently, especially with everything that's happened today. But I just want you to know I'm proud of you. You've grown so much in the past year or two... it felt like just yesterday you were still my little boy. Just a little tyke asking me question after question about the world."

He sighed, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I just want to reiterate that no matter where you go or what you face, you have your family here, always rooting for you."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, blinking back the unexpected tears. "Thanks, Dad. That... means a lot. I'll always be here for you and Izumi, too."

He smiled, reaching out to ruffle my hair with those warm, calloused hands like he used to when I was younger. It was a comforting gesture, one that made me feel anchored in a world that seemed to be shifting beneath my feet.

He nodded, giving me a brief smile before turning his attention back to the road. "Let's just make sure we get back safely, alright? We've had enough excitement for one day."

The truck rumbled on, the city outskirts giving way to the dense urban landscape. The towering skyscrapers of Manhattan stood in the distance, a beacon of hope amidst the desolation. Shikome hopped in front of our vehicle and waved, mouthing a ‘bye bye’ before suddenly darting off, hopping wall to wall up a tall office building.

She disappeared from view, her cloak blending seamlessly into the shadows. I wondered if I'd see her again, or if our paths would cross in this vast, chaotic world.

The adrenaline began to fade, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion. Yet, as we drove through the remnants of the once-great city, a spark of hope ignited within me.

The world might be broken, but with determination, grit, and a little bit of magic, perhaps we could piece it back together.