Just As Planned (Babylonia 24)

A/N: I apologize for the delay on this - I hadn't built up a real buffer yet, and then this week came along and absolutely kicked my ass all the way through. Every day I expected to have time to write, something came along to wreck it - doctor's appointments, overtime at work, the works. Hopefully this next week should go a bit smoother, and I'll be able to get a bigger buffer going. For now, enjoy the chapter.

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Fujimaru Ritsuka

She sank into the chair with a happy sigh, already reaching out for a slice of some fruit or another. The food on the table was arranged in a rough oval, leaving just about enough space for Mash's shield to be laid in the center and uplink with the Chaldea command room. Hmm. He wasn't kidding when he said he'd prepare for us, was he?

Mash eyed the food for a moment before effortlessly laying her shield in its designated place and focusing. Ritsuka felt her Magic Circuits buzz slightly as the crest on the shield's face lit up, forming a connection to Chaldea – then the drain was gone, as the main facility's reactors took over the upkeep of the connection. Fortunately. I don't think I have the endurance to last through Da Vinci's whole interrogation!

The diffuse glow flickered before resolving itself into an image of Romani and Da Vinci together, right as Michael stepped into the main room carrying a small steaming pot and several cups. "It's a bit late for coffee, I think," he said as he set it down on the table and poured tea for both of them.

Roman frowned, glancing down at his mug, and Ritsuka had to stifle a laugh. The betrayed look he sent her way didn't help her to contain it, either. Oh, he noticed. Oops.

"So." He sunk into a chair across from them, folding his hands in front of him and smiling at them. "What answers can I give you, Chaldeans?"

Da Vinci wasted no time, leaning forward with sparkling eyes. "That magic you used; the one that bent space. How did you do that? Over such a distance..."

"Heh. Well, I suppose I'm not surprised." He leaned back in his chair, humming. "I should open by saying this clearly: it isn't something that can be learned by humans."

Da Vinci only seemed more interested. "The way you say that... it isn't simply a question of ability, is it?"

"Correct. The human mind isn't capable of utilizing that ability. That being said, I'll explain it if your curiosity is that strong."

Roman sighed. "It is. You shouldn't even ask."

Ritsuka simply nodded as Da Vinci tapped her chin with a slender finger. "Yet we observed Morgan le Fey making use of it. I understand she isn't an ordinary human, but..."

Michael shook his head. "No, I suppose I should clarify. Neither Morgan nor I are capable of wielding that particular power; we rely on another to carve our doorways."

"Oh?" Ritsuka smiled a bit. It's kind of fun watching Da Vinci get like this over someone else. Michael gestured and another doorway appeared, so large it nearly filled the room. Through it, several wings first passed, followed by a woman that towered over both her and Mash; not even Hercules came close to matching her stature.

The most striking thing about her was how little color she had. Her skin was incredibly pale, like it was carved from marble or ivory, her hair was the color of snow, and even her eyes were blank and pale. But, for just a moment, they flicked across Ritsuka's face, and she took a breath at the weight of that moment of attention.

"What...? These readings don't... who is that?" Roman was scowling and leaning forward, almost certainly poring over whatever his console was putting out.

"I'll answer that. First, though, I'd like to hear what you're seeing."

Hmm. That voice reminds me of something... Ritsuka peered into his face, the amusement in his eyes and the vaguely smug smirk on his lips... Hmm....

"...It's like there's multiple bodies in the same space. Spatial readings around her are all kinds of messed up, too. Like she's occupying more and less space than she should be. Ugh, this is going to give me a headache..."

Da Vinci leaned over Roman's shoulder, smiling widely. "Now I have to know what's going on."

"Heh. Well, that's actually pretty impressive. Your sensors aren't something to be taken lightly, Chaldeans." Michael leaned his head back slightly, as the large angel leaned forward and her wings draped themselves across his shoulders in a hug-like motion. "This is Saena. It's possible you've heard the villagers refer to her as Ninshubar, but that's a case of mistaken identity."

"Hmm. How exactly do those two things cross over?" Now Roman was focused back on the man across the table from them.

"Her first few appearances to the citizens were in their defense, and there are only so many mythological female warriors in Babylon – and when she eventually was seen alongside the goddess Ishtar, mistaking her for Ishtar's bodyguard was a natural conclusion."

"Despite her appearances, I'm not picking up any divinity from her," Roman said.

"Correct. Saena is... probably best described as an Outsider. It's that nature of hers that allows her to warp space the way you've seen."

Ritsuka finished her sip of tea before frowning. "Is she not going to introduce herself? Or speak for herself?"

Michael glanced up, smiling at the pale face staring down at him. "She very rarely speaks, I'm afraid. Don't take it personally. I'm not introducing you because... she already knows everything I do. When you were introduced to me, you were to her as well."

"Ah!" Da Vinci's gasp was one Ritsuka recognized well – it was the same noise she made every time she arrived at the conclusion to a puzzle. "That's what I'm seeing here... she's your familiar, isn't she?"

"Something of that nature, yes."

"I see, I see... so how does that play into your emulation of the Kaleidoscope?"

"Hmm." One of her wings flicked, and a tiny golden portal appeared. Through it, a small stack of paper – not parchment, Ritsuka noted – slid through to rest upon the table.

"Imagine for a moment that you sit on the outside of the World. You peer into the branches of the Universal Tree, observing the movements of Adjacent Worlds where events progress in their individual ways."

As he spoke, he lifted a hand and a several sheets of paper rose into the air, circling around his hand as they rapidly crinkled and folded. They spread out in the air, rising and falling like mountain ranges, and her eyes widened in understanding. "You mean like Merlin. Watching from Avalon..."

He hummed, nodding. "Similar, yes. Now... what if you could make those worlds brush against each other?" Two of the pages tilted on their sides, hovering closer together until the very tips of the folded mountains touched. "For just a moment, if you knew how, you could step between those worlds."

"And if you were capable of doing that, then why couldn't you make a world brush against itself...?" Da Vinci nodded, dropping a fist into an open palm. "I see, I see! How fascinating... what manner of being is she, that she can freely observe and manipulate the paths of the Worlds so?"

Michael simply smiled. "That would be telling, I'm afraid."

Da Vinci's image pouted for a second, before her eyes shimmered. "A mystery then! Hmhm, I'll have to start making theories... Now, what if..." The Servant trailed off, quietly muttering to herself as her eyes flicked across the angel and its master.

When Roman didn't immediately jump in, Ritsuka leaned forward in her chair, humming around her teacup. As she set it down, she spoke up. "So why are you here?"

"The King decreed that I should manage this inn."

She shook her head. "No, I didn't mean - well, okay, sure. But... Roman and Da Vinci have been cagey about exactly what the sensors pick up about you, and I admit some of the theoretical discussion is lost on me. I'm not exactly the best Magus, after all."

"Senpai -" Mash started, but paused when she raised a hand with a smile.

"But if you have that kind of power, why did Gilgamesh give you an inn instead of sending you to fight with the Servants? That's the only thing I'm not understanding."

"I'm not quite one of his subjects, Fujimaru."

She gave him an unimpressed look. "And he can decree for you to run an inn?"

Michael chuckled warmly. "Fair enough. Then, to answer that question – the King and I have differing goals."

There was a moment of tension, then. She could see Mash tensing slightly at the idea that they were sitting across from an enemy. But... I don't get the same feeling I did with Flauros. As she watched with narrowed eyes, she was surprised when he threw his head back and laughed.

"That's good! Very good. Both of you. That instinct to protect your Master is the very essence of a Servant, Mash, and Fujimaru... you see things pretty clearly, don't you?"

"You don't feel like an enemy," she answered, and he nodded.

"I'm not. So long as I can prevent it, I won't allow humanity to die out – but King Gilgamesh and I have different outcomes that we'd like to see. I told him what I wanted, and I think he judged it worth the attempt. So, I'm here while I work at my own goals. I'll lend my aid to Uruk when appropriate, but I'm an ally rather than a servant."

"I notice you aren't saying what your goal actually is," Roman noted.

"Correct. I will explain, eventually, and I don't think you'll disagree when I do... but for now, I'm afraid that will have to stay a secret."

"Hmm..." She leaned forward, peering at his face for a long few seconds. He simply sat there, patiently watching with a smile on his face. Finally, she nodded, satisfied. "All right. I think you're trustworthy, Michael. You remind me of Merlin, a little."

His eyebrows raised. "Oh? I'm not sure if I should be complimented, or..."

She giggled. "It's a compliment. This time. I just get the feeling that... you've planned ahead, like Merlin or King Gilgamesh. You're looking at something so far away I can't see it, and that's all right. I'll keep moving forward, and I get the feeling that if we need you you'll be there."

He watched her for a long time, a surprised expression on his face. Then, slowly, a small smile spread across his face. "Hmm. You might be giving me too much credit, Fujimaru.

"But... if you do need my help... I'll see what I can do."

She smiled.