Office Rush (AP TF)

Getting an anonymous tip about an illegal shipment of top-secret schematics for stolen prototype tech from Academy City's tech department to shady third parties by some unknown group, Misaka Mikoto takes on the task but hits a snag upon further inspection.

"Ugghh... As if dealing with petty thieves was easy, when is the last time something like this one was so hard to deal with?!" sighed Misaka as she rubbed her eyes while reading the document containing the intel again, looking for anything useful she might have missed as she alone sips on her cup of coffee she just ordered at the cafe, "The security system itself isn't the problem, but the fact that they're using a private-sanctioned corporation for their shady operations makes it a lot more complicated than it sounds."

As it turns out, according to the intel she has gathered about the group, the central point of their operation points her to a private-sanctioned tech firm where much of the city's prototype tech was being tested before being confirmed for mass production. However, being a tech company, it was heavily fortified with some of the most advanced security systems ever made, a few of which were implemented to deal with even the most powerful of espers like herself and the other Level 5s. Apparently, all of those large-scale fights around Academy City—some of which happen to involve a certain Level 0 with a strange right arm that can nullify anything it touches—seem to have agitated some companies for the amount of damage it caused and the expensive insurance cost it incurs, and for all that's worth, it somewhat helps them since some companies had no choice but to install better security systems, which in turn, made her job harder.

"This is gonna be tough," sighed Misaka again as she continued sipping on her coffee, "How did I let myself got suckered into this in the first place?! I could rely on Kuroko and the others for assistance, but even then, I can't just just go all out on a bunch of civilian-filled buildings, let alone with some of the city's latest and greatest tech..."

After another few minutes of trying to think of something, feeling a bit bummed down at the moment, a calm male voice called to her from a nearby table. "Hey, you seem troubled, mind if I could help?"

Misaka quickly turned around, a bit startled by the sudden appearance, "I... Oh, no thank you, I'm good."

"Oh come on, you've been sighing quite a bit, it's obviously troubling you a lot, is it a problem regarding school or family? Or maybe, about that insidious little group causing trouble?" replied the voice from behind.

"Wait... how do you know about it?"

"Nothing, really," said the man, "But perhaps I can help you with that dilemma of yours... at a price."

Quickly standing from her chair, Misaka seems to crackle with electricity all over her body, taken aback by the stranger's remark, "A price? So, you're the one who gave me that tip? Why should I trust you?"

"Girl, if you want to know the answer, you would have to come with me, for this is not the best place to talk about it."

"Why? What's wrong with this place?"

"You should know why," said the man as he pointed to her right hand, which was sparking with small bursts of electricity. "Look, we're from the morally grey side of Academy City, helping out anyone with their problems, no matter how big and weird it was, even making sure our clients were safe and back to normal once their terms were over. You could say we're a bunch of..."

"Let me guess... a bunch of troubleshooters?"

"Right on the dot. Now, if you want to hear about my offer, we better get going."

"Hold on," said Mikoto, stopping the scientist before he left the cafe, "I have a few questions. First, how can I trust you?"

"Like we've said, we are a morally grey part of Academy City, the kind of people you wouldn't want even a child to get hurt. We're that kind of dedicated, girl."

"Oh..." the brunette teenager said, now calmed down as the man pulled out a piece of pamphlet from his suitcase. "Wait, is that...?"

"Yes, this is a contract, or rather, an insurance, if you will. Of course, you can still state your conditions for this, so feel free to tell me right away, but keep in mind that this field of work we're doing is not entirely known and preferred to be doing our jobs in secret, so it'll have to be a little secret between us."

Grabbing the pamphlet, Misaka quickly reads through this very long neatly-written list of terms and conditions, three of which caught the Level 5 Esper's eyes. The first of which is that "the signer must withdraw from all known contacts and as such, every written and/or documented records of the signer will be indefinitely removed by our dedicated team of experts until the contract's terms are fulfilled." The second, being "No one must made aware of the contract, our group of scientist and/or the experimentations conducted, for we exist in the morally-grey side of this city's scientific side" and the third, being that "Once the conditions in the contract is fulfilled, all written and/or documented records of the signer will be returned, and thus, must sworn never to contact the owner of the contract unless needed".

Just like that, it immediately clicks.

"You're... you're specialized in genetic manipulation, intel gathering and espionage, aren't you?" To which the man replied, "Can't say we are like that, but close enough, dear."

"Let me get this really, really straight: Your little specializes in genetic manipulation, espionage, intel gathering and the like?"

"Correct."

"But you are not entirely a scientific institution like the rest of Academy City."

"Also correct."

"So, you're basically a bunch of troubleshooters working under the radar."

"Well, not exactly, but yes, we are a group that deals with many different kinds of problems, some are more... complex than the others. Now, do you have any questions about the contract?"

"Judging from the terms in the contract, you can... change me, right?"

"That's right, we can change the way you look, even down to your DNA."

"Even my memories?"

"Not exactly, we can alter your memory, but not entirely replace it, at least not yet, but we are trying."

"And what's this 'dealing with any and all problems' you're talking about?"

The man chuckled, "We figured that you're dealing with those illegal smugglers and wanted a little extra help, am I correct? Of course, we've already figured out that their base is located in that private-sanctioned corporation. If I recall, we've already found a way to get through the building's defenses.

"Wait, hold on," interrupted Misaka, "How do you help me take them down?" The man, grinning, answered, "It's simple, girl. We'll get you to infiltrate the company and find a way to sabotage their plans. In short, you're a spy."

"But what about the security systems? Some of the ones we have back home can stop me dead in my tracks, and I have no clue how strong those are."

"We've already prepared something for you. We're planning to genetically modify your body to better bypass those sensors and make you looking unassuming as well, just for safety's sake. And don't worry, it's not permanent. Once the contract's over, we'll be more than happy to return you back to normal.

"Oh...", Misaka replied, a little worried about this sudden decision she has made, but the man added, "It is worth the shot, given your rather... flattering profile, if you will. Heck, this might help curbing that inferiority of yours for just a while by...

"... giving me a nice sexy body, is that right? I see... But I have another question: What do you plan to do with my powers?"

"Oh, those? Don't worry about it. We have the technology to repress your Esper powers and reduce to that of a normal Level 0 human, meaning that your electric powers will be gone for a while. And no, there won't be any negative side-effects, or at least, not permanent."

"I see, then that means no one would suspect a thing. Still, the idea of me looking like an adult is a little unsettling..."

"If you're worried about how it'll look on you, we do looking at your profile and sees that your mother looks almost exactly like you, so we'll use the data gathered on your mother as the basis for your new body."

"Really? I... never noticed it before, but I think it would make sense..."

Misaka takes another look at the contract and ponders to herself, the man's own straight-forward statements and the terms written seems too good to be true, and yet, it is the best option she can get if those pesky criminal group has to be taken down.

"I'll... I'll do it. I'll take the risk."

"Then, it is settled, Miss Misaka," the scientist said, pulling out a pen and handing it to her, "All you need to do is just sign this paper and you're set."

Grabbing the pen, Mikoto then signs the contract.

"Great. Until the experiment can begin within five days' time, give yourself enough time to prepare and gather the things you would need. For the time being, everything we've discussed will be kept a secret between the both of us, and no one must know of this. If anything, be sure to make any kind of excuses you could muster up, a solo extended vacation should do the trick."

"Right..."

"With that out of the way, once the time is up, go to this place and ensure nobody else is around. We'll make sure you're ready. Is that clear?"

"Got it," the brunette nodded as she was handed a piece of paper with a small set of coordinates and the instructions, "See you in five days' time, then. Good luck."

The man then leaves the cafe.

A few minutes later, after she finished her cup of coffee, Misaka, now feeling a little better, goes back to the dorms and continues making some further investigations on the problem ahead, sighing as she plopped down on her bed.

"I know this task is necessary, but I hope Kuroko and the others wouldn't miss me when I'm away."

----

CONTINUE THE STORY THROUGH THE INCLUDED TEXT FILE BELOW!

----

Artworks generated with NovelAI

Characters belong to Kazuma Kamachi and ASCII Media Works