You stand awkwardly on the perimeter of the deserted training grounds. Across from you Magical Girl Solid Core is kissing someone you don't recognize from the back of their head. She pulls away, a bit of saliva glittering on her chin, and smirks at you with featureless eyes like a doll's.
Solid Core points at you. With a hollow voice she declares that her friend is now more powerful than you. You see her friend as he turns to look, it's Kei, the boy you met yesterday.
You fly into the center of the training grounds. Kei strides in as well, armor appearing around him to match the set Gabriel had when she fought you.
All around you people are watching with interest. Solid Core floats above the bleacher in a ray of light while holding a purple flag. You shout out your spell and sent Kei flying.
He recovers nearly instantly and surges with violet power. You try to pummel him into the ground, but he shoots into the air on the jets of his armor, then you are struck by a wide ray of violent violet light that sends you reeling.
The next exchange is no better, with Solid Core's power within him Kei is undaunted by your blows and every spell from him hits with unnatural force.
You choke out that you've been beaten. Solid Core shouts from the stage that she can empower even the weakest soldiers into a match for a Magical Girl, the crowd cheers, a featureless women pats your shoulder and reassures you that you tried your best.
A sudden surge of emotion overcomes you, you run away from the reminder of your weakness -- until you trip. Your stomach lurches as you fall into darkness, and fall, fall….
A strained gasp of air is the first sound you hear when you wake up.
----
Trying to get your mind off the odd dream sounds like a good idea to you, among other reasons is that you have a bathtub of your own for the first time in years.
The bathroom is cramped and built to the standard of a hotel bathroom, but it is a bathtub and it does fill with hot water. You push the Panoply to the ceiling and relax in the sensation of buoyancy.
After many minutes your fingers start to shrivel and the water is approaching tepid. You pull the plug, pull yourself out, and start to towel off before just refreshing your transformation to dry yourself. Looking in the mirror you consider whether you should try to do something fancy with your hair before deciding against it, you brush it a few times and call it good.
Thus prepared you open your door and make your way to the lower level.
It's almost lively downstairs, a half-dozen Magical Girls and a number of elves and officers are eating breakfast.
/*
Prisma Drake (On)
Flawless Paladin (On)
Steel Monsoon (On)
Arc Mastermind (On)
Atlantis Flame
Atlantis Guardian
*/
You're noticed almost immediately. Most just glance over at you before returning their attention to their food, but a girl (Justice, Courage, Myth) with blonde hair and an outfit decorated with armor waves for you to come over.
"Hey! New Girl!" she calls.
You don't reply, just walk to where she's seated at the table. Another girl (Ruin, Metal, Myth) wearing a rather brief outfit stands up from a couch she had been lounging on to join the blonde girl.
"Hello, I'm Magical Girl Flawless Paladin. The glorious leader of Team DIFFICULTY SPIKE-" she gestures at her, "is the incredible Magical Girl Steel Monsoon, long may she shoot demons into paste. Care to introduce yourself?"
You clear your throat softly, "I am Magical Girl Summit."
"Pleased to meet you. DIFFICULTY SPIKE is labeled as a blademaster group, but we're more of an all-purpose group. I know I spend more time shooting than chopping. My magic can also sooth the wounds of battle while I'm fighting." Steel Monsoon expositions.
"I'm a pure swordswoman myself. My ability is that I resist ranged attacks and can withstand any attack when I prepare for it." Flawless Paladin says.
You nod and start move a few steps away to look into the kitchen.
Paladin clears her throat, "Well, are you going to finish introducing yourself? Or at least explain the eyepatches?"
"What's the stuff floating behind you?" Steel Monsoon adds.
"Oh, I can fly, shoot, and smash with the Panoply -- my weapon." you shift the Panoply to demonstrate, "There are a few things I've learned how to do, I can see through my weapon, I can teleport, and I can repair myself or other items."
Steel Monsoon gives you a thumbs-up, "Mode shifting? I can see why you're on my team, that's just like Galatine here." she pulls an enormous gun from behind the couch and pulls on some pieces to change it into an enormous blade, "Like so."
"That's cool and all, but you mentioned repairing things. There's an ice cream machine that-" Flawless Paladin is interrupted partway through her question.
"It's out of coolant. She can't fix it because almost everything works, it just had a leak that let the refrigerant out. I must have explained this a thousand times." another magical girl with white hair (Technology, Mind, Legend) interjects.
Paladin throws up her arms and dramatically lies over the table she's seated at, "Ruin all our dreams why don't you."
"I doubt she's here to undo the abuse perpetrated upon the mechanism of-"
"Good point! Summit, why did they send you here of all places? You got here just as things got quiet." Flawless Paladin asks over the diminishing speech of the white-haired girl.
"I repaired a truck and they asked me to fix the tanks that have been piling up at the secondary base." you answer.
"Heh, good luck with that. There must be a hundred of them stuck at the bottom of a hill. How far did you get?"
"Why is that important to you?" Steel Monsoon asks pointedly at Flawless Paladin.
"I've fixed a tank that had been put together improperly already." with that you decide that you've stood around enough waiting to get breakfast. A few other people snipe at Flawless Paladin, apparently she's seen as nosy.
The room with the food is split down the middle between being a serving area and a kitchen. A trio of elves in fancy outfits are preparing food to set out, once again you're reminded of the times you spent in a hotel after awakening as a Magical Girl. You start a waffle cooking and grab a few other things to eat.
While you wait for the waffle maker another person walks in (Dragon, Water?, Myth). She has hair with a gradient from blonde to light blue and an armored outfit that is reminiscent of scales. She covers a yawn as she looks across the room.
"G'mooring." she mutters while making a beeline for the pre-filled cereal bowls.
The draconic Magical Girl pulls a milk carton, tears off the top with her teeth, and drinks it in one go, "Ah, it's still too early. Are you new? Another Atlantis MG? I'm Prisma Drake, but you can call me Cass if that's a mouthful."
"I am Magical Girl Summit."
"Cool, for a bit I thought you might be Atlantis Hammer or something."
"Are there a lot of Atlantis Magical Girls?"
"Yes, and some new ones popped up recently. They're pretty boss and all, just a little funny since the team showed up a few at a time."
With that the light illuminates on the waffle maker and you grab the last part of your breakfast. Prisma Drake starts loading up her own plate. Once you leave the kitchen a different pair of girls moves to follow you.
"Hi! No need to introduce yourself, we were eavesdropping."
"I'm Atlantis Flame, not active right now but still." the shorter of the two says.
"Atlantis Guardian."
They both hold out their hand to shake. Since you are using both hand to hold your plate of food you extend the Panoply in the shape of your right hand to be polite. Both of them shake the offered appendage, but Atlantis Flame gets a grin and starts shaking harder, putting both of her hands into it. Then Atlantis Guardian joins in in shaking the Panoply just to watch it shake.
"Do you mind?"
"Sorry." "Neat."
You withdraw the protrusions out of their hands and head to an open seat.
"Anyways, some people are wondering why we haven't seen you the last couple of days." Atlantis Guardian says.
"I was hoping you could tell us, or at least give me ideas for crazier gossip." Atlantis Flame adds.
"I was at Moral High Ground for most of the day yesterday, before that I was apparently asleep at the medic building." You offer.
"So no whirlwind romance with Floral Glory?" Atlantis Flame asks with a note of disappointment.
"What." how would anyone get that idea? You were both girls! Although come to think of it, you can remember how several of the Magical Girls you had heard about before your imprisonment had been dating other Magical Girls. Was it expected now?
"It's Floral Glory. Her having a crush on Summit is conclusive proof that Summit is straight." Atlantis Guardian says from where she's leaning on the wall.
"Aww, that's just another sad thing. Maybe you found a cute boy at MHG? That would be interesting."
Cute? The image of ruffling Kei's hair to be more thoroughly messy comes to mind. Was he cute? He certainly didn't match up to Captain Roberts, but maybe… maybe you should figure out what he did to your head.
"You're blushing! Gimme details!" Atlantis Flame interrupts your train of thought
"Who are you thinking of?" Atlantis Guardian asks in a nonchalant tone.
"It's, I mean it's not really something I can be sure of. There's a boy my age, but he may have cast some kind of charm spell on me." you mutter.
"You should punch the little twerp." Atlantis Flame pumps her fist and scowls.
"You should ask him on a date." Prisma Drake interjects while exiting the kitchen.
"What! But he twisted her feelings." Atlantis Flame exclaims.
"So? Lots of things twist your feelings. If it really is a spell it should wear off when Summit de-transforms, if not the feeling are as real as any emotion and should be considered.." Prisma Drake says.
"What if the spell is insidious and turns her into a thrall?" Flawless Paladin shouts over to the group around you.
"Someone would notice and reverse it. That might be worth checking for using on dark MGs." Atlantis Guardian adds.
"I think killing them would be nicer than making them part of some creep's battle harem." Atlantis Flame shudders.
"Me too, I know it's kinder than they deserve-" Atlantis Guardian is interrupted by Prisma Drake Laughing.
That, you decide, is quite enough social interaction before finishing breakfast. You move the Panoply to cover yourself and your food and eat in the silence provided. You see the conversation continue without you.
----
After finishing breakfast without further incidents you Gate over to where you had left off at Moral High Ground. With the practice from yesterday you expect to work more than twice as fast.
A careful hour of study finds a tank in poor condition except for the parts missing from otherwise-good tanks. With your newly-gained knowledge of how they're put together and using the rolling workshop to take pressure off the Panoply you gather the necessary parts and refurbish some of the larger components.
There's a pile waiting to be used when you get a chirp on the pager Signals gave you.
Simple enough to handle, if you remember right Signals wants you to fly to the valley where you fought earlier and use Wave Force on something.
It goes as quick as you expect. A few minutes to fly there, a few seconds to zap a rock in the deserted valley, and a few more minutes to fly back. It looks like lots of the holes had been dug up by tracked vehicles, but nothing otherwise stood out.
While flying back a thought occurs to you. You make a call to Command to ask for some high-grade computer components. Pointing out that you haven't yet been paid and that new items gave you your current repair talent is enough to have someone agree to have something sent to your room.
(Miss, Miss, HIT! Teleport Homer destroyed!)
----
Before spending the rest of the day on fixing tanks you decide to take some time to meet people. A little flying finds the other members of your group facing a larger group of oddly identical soldiers, all using wooden sticks for some reason. You drop down a short distance away and approach the gathering.
/* Sumire Saber
Sakura Saber
Scarlet Empress */
One of the girls (Speed, Space, Legend) waves at you before suddenly being in front of you, "Hello! I'm Magical Girl Sakura Saber. Good to see a new face."
You Halt the area surround you as you nod back, "I'm Magical Girl Summit."
"That's what Steel Monsoon said. Let me introduce the rest -- minus DIFFICULTY SPIKE of course." she tries to snap her feet into motion and falls flat on her face, "Ufgh, I think I got my feet mixed up."
Well, that answers that, it was some sort of teleportation. You release your deathgrip on local reality. Sakura Saber pushes herself up and blinks next to the girl with long purple hair (Skill, Space, Legend).
"This is Sumire Saber. She's the best swordsmaster ever! She's also the best big sister and I won't forgive you if you mistreat her. Sis, this is Summit, the new member of Steel Monsoon's team."
Sumire smiles and gives a slight bow, keeping her hand resting on her sword. Sakura zips over to the girl wearing a crown and exceptionally fancy outfit (Rule, Fire, Myth).
"The one and only Scarlet Empress! All the dragon critters are conjured by her, and she's a demanding leader, so don't count her out."
"Enough. I am Magical Girl Scarlet Empress. My affinities are Rule and FIre. I have been entrusted to see that Team LOTUS and Team DIFFICULTY SPIKE practice avoiding multiple foes at once." she makes a few gestures. One of the armored soldiers bows, then walks to you and presents its stick, "To that end I have established a training system. You will face ever increasing numbers of my Legionnaires with these sticks, once you are able to touch all of them with your stick without being touched in turn I will send another against you. Thus will your skill be tested to its utmost extent." she points towards where Flawless Paladin and Steel Monsoon are sitting on benches, "Take your place and begin your training."
Doesn't sound too hard. You head next to them and two legionnaires charge you with their sticks outstretched, you take off and dive to strike them from behind when they try to avoid hitting each other.
"New Rule! No more flying!" commands Scarlet Empress.
The defeated pair slink off and are replaced with five coming at you from two directions. You warp space to slip behind them at the last moment and strike them all in turn. Scarlet Empress frowns but says nothing.
Every legionnaire with a stick takes position around you, all 40 of them. At an unspoken order some charge and others stride behind them. You think it's a bit unfair that you only have the one stick against all of them.
You think that there's an unstated rule about the ones you hit being 'out' and unable to hit you. Banking on this you counter-charge and tap a dense group to use as cover against the rest. It appears you were correct as the ones you touch cease putting effort into reaching you, several close calls later sees you emerge unscathed from the mass.
Sakura Saber cheers, "Awesome! That was super cool, I don't think I could have done that."
Scarlet Empress crosses her arms and frowns.
Sumire Saber smiles at you, "That was quite a feat. You must have practiced a lot to manage that, may I ask your Affinities?"
"Kickass." mutters Steel Monsoon.
"My Affinities are Discovery, Protection, Implacable, and Legend-Maker." you answer.
"That can't be right. This is no place for a mere Maker level Magical Girl."
"You just saw her dance like a hummingbird."
"Four of them!?"
"What the fuck!"
"Thank you, I was wondering if you also possessed the Skill Affinity."
Everyone talks at once. You nod, not sure how else to react.
"Flawless Paladin! I will not abide such foul language!" admonishes Scarlet Empress.
"I'll spar with her for a bit if nobody minds?" Sumire Saber picks up a stick and motions for you to come closer, "I'd like to see some of your skills myself."
You Shift past the intervening distance, "Why do we train with sticks instead of weapons?"
"Using our weapons means that people would get hurt worse, and if there was an attack in the next five minutes it would be terrible if a team was down a Magical Girl or two because they had a painful learning experience. We're sure to get lots of live-fire experience when the Dark stops licking their wounds from the fortress monsters."
You mimic her stance, but pass your stick into the grasp of the Panoply. You just went through forty creatures trying to hit you, one should be easy.
[cut]
For the fifth time in as many minutes Sumire makes a blindingly fast motion that deflects your strike and hits you. Even with the weapons being light sticks you still think you're developing a bruise from her first win.
"Good one! I've seen something like that before, but it's a good move." Sumire Saber says encouragingly.
Sumire Saber alternates between supremely graceful counter-attacks and supportive comments on your moves. It's clear she's used to being a lot better than her sparring partners, but she somehow keeps being a step ahead of you fun instead of frustrating. You take a stance facing her and begin another bout.
After another dozen attempts you still haven't gotten the better of her. Sumire gently suggests that she should start teaching your teammates and excuses herself. Said teammates seem unenthused about this.
You take a detour to see if you've gotten the computer parts. They've been left in a neat pile outside your door. You get an odd sense of clicking when you absorb them, but it passes.
----
After spending longer than you intended on training you return your attention to getting tanks rolling again. You've gotten one finished and are most of the way through your second when you see a humvee approaching.
As you half suspected Yuki is driving it, she stops next to your rolling workshop and exits the humvee.
"I tightened all the bolts on your fix and it works great." Yuki says while walking towards you, "On the stupid side I couldn't get anything to stick to Kei. He doesn't think he did anything and I wasn't a witness." she tightens her lip, "I don't suppose you feel like punching him?"
You shake your head, "I finished fixing the tank three places that way." you point, "You can't take a look and let me know how I did."
"I'll do that." She walks towards the indicated tank.
----
The following hours pass in a blur of lifting, pulling, unbolting, and fastening. Yuki showed up at sunset with a small crew to look over the other tanks you repaired. All the ones you fixed passed their inspection. You get several offers of a drink 'once you're old enough' from the animated crew.
The pager chimes again and you excuse yourself to do another flyby of the nearby valley. There are a half-dozen sentry guns set up there, but you stay out of view when you unleash Wave Force once more.
(Miss, Miss)
----
You're ready to turn in for the night but something catches your attention.
Choose one:
[X] Magical Girl Night Sky finds you and pulls you by the arm for a 'quick practice session'.
[X] Commander Black is present at the hotel-like building, he wants to congratulate you when he sees you.
[X] You've been picked to assist a reconnaissance team on their mission. (No fighting in this one)
[X] There are odd balls of elemental magic flying into the sky from the main base's fortresses.
[X] False alarm, nothing is so important as to be worth missing sleep over.
(-1 Gutted Tank, -4 Stage One Tanks)
Merit Shop:
2 Merit: Supply Shipment (+1d4 Supplies, Merit cost because it's expected to let the factories fix it instead of sending specific parts.) (Repeatable)
3 Merit: Rune Blade (+20 EXP, Spell Boost for 105xp)
3 Merit: Potion Set (Either three one-use boosts of +100, or +30 EXP)
3 Merit: Flak Turret (+20 EXP, Anti-Air)
5 Merit: Experimental Weapon (+35 EXP, Nothing???)
5 Merit: Laboratory Supplies
5 Merit: Gnat Micro Missile Set (+30 EXP, Homing)
7 Merit: Hover-Tank Prototype (+90 EXP, +1 Supplies, Opens upgrade option for tanks with Practioner (Brandcraft) and Practitioner)
8 Merit: WAR BOOK: The Heavens (Light and Spirit Affinity Spells, +25 EXP)
10 Merit: Exotic Items (Hydra bones or somesuch, +180 EXP) (Repeatable)
11 Merit: Portal-assisted day trip to boneyards and failed wunderwaffen. (+50 EXP, sub-vote for Abilities)
30 Merit: 3 day pass and vacation to False Heaven
Merit:
Started at 5
+4 Repairing at a good clip.
-1 Special Delivery
Current Merit: 8
[X] [MERIT] Request that something be delivered to you (costs Merit, cannot spend below 0)
+6 EXP Made Supplies
+40 EXP Delivered four tanks in working condition.
+5 EXP Met Flawless Paladin
+5 EXP Met Steel Monsoon
+5 EXP Met Arc Mastermind
+5 EXP Met Prisma Drake
+5 EXP Met Atlantis Guardian
+5 EXP Met Atlantis Flame
+25 EXP Destroyed 1 Teleport Homer
+10 EXP Met Scarlet Empress
+5 EXP Met Sakura Saber
+5 EXP Met Surime Saber
+25 EXP "I happen to be an expert on this subject"
+10 EXP Training bouts with Surime Saber
+20 EXP Fused High-Grade Computer Parts
591 + 176 = 767 Total EXP
For bonus funsies here's a list of team names and roles:
-High Threat Response, Team ACES HIGH (Night)
-High Threat Response, Team ATLANTIA (Morning)
-High Threat Response, Team WILDERNESS (Evening)
-Auxiliary High Threat Response. [No official Team name {Auxiliaries of Light}]
-Special Response Elements, [No Team name, all singletons]
-Quick Response Element, Team GNOSIS
-Artillery Element One: Magical Girl Arc Mastermind
-Reconnaissance Element, Team TALL TALE
-Reconnaissance Element, Team GLITCH
-Reconnaissance Element, Team ICETHORN
-Blademaster Element, Team LOTUS
-Blademaster Element, Team DIFFICULTY SPIKE
-Support Elements, [No Team name, all singletons]
