[] Do as Hinako says and hope she has a plan on getting out of here. You'll trust her for now.
-[] Telepathically tell Medb (and relay to Shirou) what's going on
You were caught between a rock and a hard place as you went still. Hinako was the Master of Caster? Such a thing was hard to believe from someone that just showed up without warning. You didn't have all the information to react properly here so you felt that the best thing you could do was lay low.
Even if they fought, you'll prioritize your own survival above all else. You'll trust Hinako for now since she had many chances to kill you and she didn't. If she truly wanted you dead, she would have judged you when the two of you were first alone. You could have been killed back then but she didn't, she stayed her hand.
Not only that but you want to know the truth of what she's planning. So you stayed still and trusted her judgement for now. Conrad had expressed time and again that he meant you no harm, that he simply wanted you to be captured.
For what exactly? You only knew that his boss wanted you and if Hinako was indeed his superior then would that mean that she accomplished what she wanted given Conrad failed? Did she really just want to talk to you?
You closed your eyes and sent your thoughts out,
"Rider, Hinako might be Caster's Master. She's taking me. You know where to start looking!"
No response.
Hinako made her move as she dropped you down the ground. She immediately closed the distance between her and Cedric as fast as possible and lashed out with a fiery sword. The Magus leaned back to avoid her strike before igniting one ball of light between the two of them and detonating it.
Hinako jumped away before she was chased by more wisps through the cloud of smoke. She twisted in the air before slicing through them and landing on her feet.
Cedric lunged through the smoke with a glowing fist. You saw runes glow from his gloves and suit as he moved at inhuman speeds.
Scathach. That's probably her doing.
Hinako parried his fist with the flat of her blade before stepping in to behead him. Cedric detonated another ball of light which only knocked Hinako to the side, cracking the wall before she stabbed him right in the gut.
Tearing the blade out, blood flew through the air before Cedric endured. He jumped and drove his knee into the girl's sternum and pummeled her through the wall.
The man caught his breath before flames danced through shadows and a pillar of red light ripped through the air. He was sent flying back as Hinako was surrounded by drifting red embers as she stepped into view. Her thick coat had burned away revealing a black dress over her body fitting inner clothes. She adjusted her glasses before turning her gaze towards you.
You felt your Command Seals
burn so hot as if your hand was on fire. You noticed in her eyes that she felt the same pain as she had dropped all measures to keep her true nature hidden from you.
"Good girl," Hinako praised you as you crawled back instinctively, "I apologize if I had to be rough with you."
"What do you truly want?" You asked her with a sharp tone, "What are you after?"
"To speak with the other inhuman participant in this war. To know what sort of creature you were," Hinako revealed as she lowered her blades, "And to be honest, you're indeed a strange one. A Doll going through the motions of being human... That was the most I expected. But you're different and even in your inhuman nature you've proven to be more human than most."
So what's it then? Were you just an exotic animal for her to marvel at? You narrowed your gaze at her before-
"So long as you don't come for me, I'll leave you for last. You're no threat after all," Hinako said as she walked towards you, "Consider it a mercy."
A mercy...
"I told you, didn't I? People need to want to be better if they could be helped. Otherwise you'll just gather their rejection and resentment," you breathed as you slowly got up, "A mercy, was it? I'll pass."
Hinako blinked in surprise before grimacing, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Let me ask you one thing. Did you approve of Caster's victims being treated that way?" You asked with narrowed look.
"No. But it was necessary. The same way you're ready to send the men of this station to the slaughter should Caster had truly decided to attack while we got away," Hinako said as she shook her head. She then raised her hand, "But enough of that. Would you be willing to ally yourself with me?"
You two stared each other down as the darkness of the hallway became oppressive. The embers left behind by the burns on the wall emitted a soft glow, lighting up your faces as the moon shined upon you two.
You considered it. It would help you live through the war. If you relied on Hinako's group then you can safely weather the war until its conclusion. But then again-
Medb's face flashed through your mind.
"I have nothing to gain from this farce of a war. I'm a Doll... A Mud Doll pretending to be human. But there's one thing I do know. My Queen won't be happy giving my loyalty to another when she's around," you smiled as you stepped back.
Hinako's eyes widened then as a shadow appeared above.
"WELL SAID!"
A Bull crashed through the ceiling and nearly crushed Hinako where she stood. Your vision was then filled with White as a familiar fur coat appeared before you. You were greeted by the sight of silky pink hair before Caladbolg spun once and release rainbow light which snuffed out the growing flames.
The Bull vanished as Rider giggled and winked, "Poaching someone else's property, you're a pretty bold one, huh?"
"Rider!" You gasped as she held out her hand with the thumbs up.
Rider said as she faced Hinako, "Emiya's coming. He's with Saber now!"
Hinako studied the situation as she held her blades, "... Brie. So this is what you choose?"
"Yes. I'm scum but even I have standards. The wholesale slaughter of innocents to be made into abominations is below mine," you replied as you glared at her.
"Maybe Caster was right... Perhaps this was a waste of time," Hinako breathed before her body vanished and she shot straight for the open ceiling.
You saw this before you turned to Medb, "Get her!"
"On it!" Rider replied before she jumped back out. You ran through the burning hole and found Cedric unconscious among the rubble.
Kneeling by his side, you tried shaking him awake, "Hey! Time to wake up!"
"Ugh... You're the Doll. Brie... The enemy, where is?" He tried speaking but you supported him.
"Outside. My Servant is here. I'll get you up," you said as you lugged him on his feet.
"Mr. Derrinsmith sends his regards. I never expected her to be that powerful," Cedric hissed as he limped with you.
"I don't trust you guys but you did reveal something. There's still a lot I don't know..." You said as you set him down in the hall.
"Don't think that. That woman needs to be put down. She's the one behind Caster's operations," Cedric grabbed your forearm and said, "If you wish to stop Caster from starting an Undead apocalypse then you must kill her Master."
"I... I'll stop her," you replied as you pulled away.
You stepped back before picking up your gun and running. You need to catch up to them.
.....
....
...
Rushing out of the station's backdoor, you were greeted by the sight of Medb flying back. Your Servant hit a van and crushed it like it was a can. Rider staggered out of it before you looked up ahead.
A monstrous beast stood before Hinako and whom you could only identify as Caster. The giant was over six meters tall with bulbous arms fitted with metallic claws. It was a creature sown together from the bodies of many.
"It would seem like your outing had borne fruit, Master. It seemed that you learned something new today," Caster said as she crossed her arms.
Hinako remained silent as she kept her head down.
Caster took this chance to raise her hand, "Let's make this quick. Igor! Disable that wretched Queen!"
The beast howled and picked up a car and threw it at Rider. Medb moved and slid beneath it just as the creature swung down its claws at her. She rolled away before catching her breath.
"Rider!" You yelled as you ran to the side, "Get some help! Use your Warriors!"
Rider did as you ordered and spilled her blood to which groups of armored men surfaced from. They charged the monster and were shredded before being crushed underfoot.
A few landed axe strikes on the Beast's chest before it was pushed back.
You stopped on your tracks and yelled, "Hinako!"
Caster smiled as she stepped forward, "I'll take care of this one. You're done with it, aren't you?"
Hinako kept silent at her Servant's question.
"Don't worry. I can always build you a better companion you could have tea with," Caster said as she summoned her metal sword crackling with energy.
"Brie!" Rider gasped as she landed by your side, "You all right?"
"Let's finish this," you breathed as you held up your command seals.
Caster laughed as she unleashed a stream of electricity while you and Rider dodged. You started chanting...
"Cliffs at the Shores of World's End. I stand against Eternity. I am the Rock unmoved by Time's waves!" You chanted before your circuits roared inside you. Light filled your left side as you intercepted a lightning bolt,
"Strike me and feel retribution. Strike me and be destroyed! Manifest oh shield of Wisdom! Shelter me from my enemies! AEGIS!"
The lightning bolt slammed into your shield before you smashed it to the side. Your circuits flared just as you knelt down while Rider used your shield as a platform to step on.
She shot forward light a bullet straight towards Caster and clashed.
Medb smiled as Caster returned it with a mad grin. Rainbow light flourished and clashed with electricity before they were pushed from on another.
You knelt down and smelled your own flesh burning before you stood up. You turned to your right and found Hinako looking back at you. You kept your hand on your shield as she tightened her grip on her sword.
Taking your baton out, you let it extend as you faced Hinako.
"You won't win," Hinako declared as she took off her glasses and tossed it aside. Her rust colored eyes met your amber ones as she narrowed her gaze.
You need to buy time... At least until Emiya gets here.
FATAL BATTLE
VS
CASTER
???
Moon Waltz
[] "I know. But I have to try. So go easy on me."
[] "A bit presumptuous aren't we?"
[] "You have no idea what bullshit I can do to stay alive."
[] Write in...
