Chapter Text
Quick Author’s Note
This chapter is a wonderful wonderful intro to the absolute shitfest of Arknights politics. Be prepared Fate fans, you are all getting lots of Saber content in the future.
=== CH'EN ===
Ch’en looked at the night sky over them. After probably the most hectic day of her life, it was surprising how peaceful it could be out here. The sun had set over an hour ago. The fighting had finished halfway through the morning and it had been several hours since Rhodes Island had confirmed that Chernobog’s slow deceleration would halt just a few kilometers off Lungmen.
The disaster had been averted.
Ch’en moved her gaze from the peaceful night sky to the other guards. They were representatives from Rhodes Island and the Reunion to watch the prisoner. It was a matter of security and assurance mostly. Doctor Rin’s magical suppressants would contain her arts, but neither organization liked the idea of underestimating their prisoner. Ch’en didn’t need to be there. Her occupation was more akin to security for Doctor Rin and Sakura.
They were definitely not the kind of clients she expected. Nor were they what one would come to expect from doctors.
On her first day of being hired, Doctor Sakura disappeared. Followed by Doctor Rin showing some of the quickest hand-to-hand skill Ch’en had seen in her life. That was less surprising than her apparent ability to perform a whole range of arts. They were looking to reunite with their third member, who was apparently stuck in the middle of Chernobog, captured by the Reunion. It made some sense when they were known for their effective Oripathy treatment. Some of the infected refugees who made their way to Lungmen spread the news.
Ch’en was already expecting this Shirou doctor to blow her expectations out of this world. She had seen him for a moment a few hours ago when the other Rhodes Island team returned from the Chernobog control tower. Doctor Rin rushed over and dragged both him and Doctor Sakura to RI’s medical team left at the VTOL crash site. Ch’en had the choice to follow, but decided that staying guard was a more effective use of her time. There were plenty of RI operators with the medical team. They would be safe enough.
She totally did not decide to stick near Talulah out of personal choice or anything.
Her half-sister was cuffed and chained to prevent her from moving anywhere. Talulah looked resigned to her fate. Ch’en had been watching the Draco stare at the ground for most of the day. She hadn’t spoken since their battle earlier that day.
Ch’en looked at the other guards. Just like her, the two of them had been present during the battle. One of them even took the frontline. Skadi, the one with red eyes and white hair, stood guard without tiring. The girl had been standing the entire day even after a destructive battle with Talulah. The other one, FrostNova, was the Reunion general responsible for making the fight more bearable for everyone around. Her ice atmosphere were powerful enough to affect Talulah’s fire to a degree. It was her ice that protected Patriot for a brief moment, and she was also responsible for protecting RI’s leader Amiya during the fight.
Considering just who they were guarding, it made sense to have a strong melee and ranged combatant paired together. Talulah was weak to melee, and her fire arts were countered by ice now that she lost some of her power.
A small movement caught her eye. Ch'en looked sideways and watched the figure approach. She noted down his features. Red hair, some grey strands. Fair skin. Carrying some cans. It was the reactions of the other three that raised Ch'en’s interest. FrostNova suddenly looked alert, her ears perked up in his direction. Skadi’s reaction was more reserved. She turned slightly and looked his way, which was more than any reaction she had that entire day. Surprisingly, the biggest reaction of all was Talulah’s. Her face which had been down the entire day looked up.
“Well, well, well, if it isn't the doctor.” She spoke. Everyone snapped their gazes towards her. Ch'en frowned. Something was wrong.
“I was right to assume you could repeatedly possess Talulah. You are Kaschey, right?” The man stopped near them.
“Indeed. I have to thank you. It is not everyday I come across something new and strange. You have piqued my interest.” Ch'en couldn't believe what she was hearing. Kaschey was back? She thought they had removed his influence.
“I don't believe I come across as an interesting person. Rin often tells me how stupid I am.” The nonchalant expression on his face didn't betray his thoughts. “The three of you must be hungry. Here's some food. Sorry, the Reunion didn’t have spoons.” The red-haired stranger offered with the cans carried. Ch'en watched FrostNova quickly snatch up the offered snack. There wasn’t a spoon as he stated, so the only way to eat was straight from the mouth of the can.
“No thanks. I’m fine.” Ch’en declined. She was worried about hygiene. Drinking straight out of a can in the middle of the battlefield was not exactly healthy. Not to mention the quality of ingredients used to cook the food. If it was from the Reunion, then the supply must’ve been scrounged up from unverified sources.
“Is it clean?” She looked over to the RI operator who asked. Skadi was looking at the soup in question. Her expression may have been blank, but one could peek past the curtain and see her interest in the soup.
“It is. I washed the cans. The food’s not the best, but I worked with what I had.”
“Everyone loves Shirou’s food.” FrostNova couldn’t help but comment before going back to sipping her soup. So that was the man’s name. Ch’en saw him earlier rushing to Doctor Rin with her sister in his arms. Her boss checked over her sister before the two of them jogged ahead to the main medic group back at RI’s crash site. Ch’en had to move back with the rest of the RI team and the two Reunion leaders while escorting Talulah to a nearby neutral location between the closest Shieldguard battalion and Rhodes Island’s camp.
Ch’en was blinking owlishly. FrostNova’s attitude the entire day was akin to Skadi. Well, the four of them mostly had the same atmosphere. Withdrawn and silent. The three of them had been focused on guarding Talulah while the last stared at the floor for an entire day. Her attitude took a 180 degree turn with Shirou’s arrival. The girl suddenly was a bit less withdrawn and even joined in the conversation.
“You used to run a soup kitchen in Chernobog.” Skadi stated while looking at Shirou.
“Oh, you remember?” Shirou smiled lightly.
“The smell of your food distracted the team. Red even wanted to line up.” The Aegirean supersoldier shared.
“It’s nothing really. We were trying to get in everyone’s good graces so we wouldn’t get overrun. In retrospect, the food only added to our workload.” Shirou passed one of the soup cans to Skadi. She looked at its contents for a little before slowly bringing the can to her lips for a taste.
“You know each other?” Ch’en couldn’t help but ask.
“Rhodes Island approached us a few months ago when we were running the Fuyuki Clinic.” Shirou explained. “Skadi and their leader Kal’tsit personally joined the patient’s queue for a meeting. They invited us to join the organization.”
“I heard about your clinic from the refugees who made it to Lungmen.” Ch’en shot a look at Talulah. While she wasn’t sure if it was Kaschey or her sister who was responsible, the two still shared responsibility over the possible disaster. “Since Doctor Rin and Sakura has formally joined Rhodes Island, does this mean you have no intention to reestablish?”
“Rin and Sakura joined Rhodes Island?” Shirou blinked a few times while running through the latest revelation. “We were supposed to lay low…”
“If treating Oripathy was your idea of laying low, then it was a bad attempt.” Ch’en deadpanned. Seriously? Who in their right mind thought that treating Terra's most infamous disease was a good idea to avoid attention? She was surprised the news took this long to reach Lungmen. Fuyuki Clinic lit up a signal beacon with their decision. It was no wonder Rhodes Island and the nearby Reunion found out so quickly.
“You’re…joining Rhodes Island?” FrostNova whispered. The bunny had paused from eating. Ch’en looked at the complex expression on the girl’s face.
“If that’s what Rin and Sakura decided, then yes.”
Ch’en wasn’t sure if she was seeing things, but it seemed that the Cautus had gripped her soup can a little tighter.
“You cooked this soup? Can you cook at Rhodes Island too?” Ch’en blinked when she realized Skadi was tilting the soup can at an angle to make the contents drip into her mouth.
It was already empty.
“If I can access the kitchens…”
“Kal’tsit will give you permission.” It wasn’t even a request. She was straight up stating it. Skadi’s blank tone couldn’t hide the look she was shooting at him. Now, Ch’en was sure that she wasn’t seeing things. The nonchalant RI operator looked a little sharper now. It was more akin to seeing one of her LGD operators when they were focused on an important mission. Even during the fight with Talulah, Skadi hadn’t shown such an expression now that Ch’en looked back on it.
“...is the soup that good?” Ch’en eyed it weirdly. Skadi was an RI operator. The quality of food on Rhodes Island would be one of the best in the world. It was a leading medical organization in Terra. The food standards would not only be healthy, but would be comparable to the best around.
“Yes.” Skadi turned to Shirou. “Can I have another one?”
“Sorry, I brought only one for each of you. I’ll bring you some more after dinner.” Shirou took the empty soup can away from her.
“Please do.”
“...I think I’ll give it a try.” Ch’en ceded and accepted one offered can. The last can was passed to Talulah…or Kaschey now that it was clear he was back in control. She eyed the soup just like Skadi did a few moments earlier before trying a small slip.
Wow. She was right. Was this soup seriously made out in the middle of nowhere? Ch’en felt herself downing the soup at a good pace. The simple flavor was expected. There were little cuts of vegetable and meat in the soup that was clearly used to boil the flavor out, but she could somehow taste the individual flavors a little more vividly for something boiled in water. The soup itself mixed the flavors nicely which only helped push the flavor of the individual ingredients she could pick up.
“Will you let me talk to Talulah?” Ch’en paused from eating when Shirou spoke to the last person.
“You’re not angry I took over her again?” The man using Talulah’s body spoke with a hint of confusion.
“We can only temporarily cut you off from Talulah before you return to her body. It seems our best option is to keep things cordial.” Until we find a way to deal with you permanently. But Shirou didn’t need to say that.
“I’m afraid we are past cordial after recent events.”
“I don’t like you and you don’t like me. Do you really want to stay in control of Talulah’s body all the time as a prisoner?” Ch’en couldn’t argue with the logic on that one. Kaschey had nothing to do now. It sounded petty for him to take away control from Talulah with nothing to show for it.
“You’re right. I’ve got nothing to do here.” Kaschey smiled. The smile on her sister’s face pissed Ch’en off, but she couldn’t do anything about it. Kaschey still had strong control over Talulah’s body. The smile slowly receded from the face and was soon replaced by an uneasy expression.
“...what do you need?” The next words out of Talulah’s mouth were tense. They were nothing like Kaschey’s a moment earlier. It was obviously Talulah now.
“Some soup first. You need food.” Shirou’s tone changed. It wasn’t the calm atmosphere he arrived with. It changed to one of serious business. Ch’en watched Talulah hesitate for a moment before she reluctantly took the soup can. It was clear she didn’t have the option to decline. Ch’en watched surprise briefly flash on her sister’s face when she tried the soup. Just like the rest of them, she obviously found it nice.
“How much control do you have over your body?”
“Little…I can only be in control when Kaschey doesn't take it by force.” Talulah mumbled.. Ch’en and the others around the two watched them silently. They were still on guard even if Kaschey temporarily relinquished control. He could still come back at any time. Talulah was disconnected from her arts, but they wouldn’t risk it after that morning.
“Is there anything you can do to fight him? This is your body, not his.” Shirou crossed his arms.
Ch’en saw Talulah glance at her. “I can fight him a little…” Shirou didn’t miss the look Talulah sent her way. He glanced at Ch’en then back at Talulah a few times.
“...we haven't met before.” Ch'en felt him scrutinize her. “You're neither Rhodes Island nor Reunion. Where are you from?”
“Lungmen.” Ch'en didn't feel the need to state her connection to Lungmen’s Guard Department. She was now officially a…bodyguard? Assistant? To Doctor Rin and Sakura. This man was their friend, but Ch'en didn't know what to make of him yet.
“Sorry if I come off too intrusive, but what's your relation to Talulah?”
“I'm her half-sister.” It would've come out sooner or later anyway. Doctor Rin and Sakura would’ve told him.
“You came all this way for her.” Shirou didn't ask her a question. He looked more focused on connecting clues together. “Make sure to take care of Talulah.” Ch'en furrowed her eyebrows. What did he mean by that? “She needs your help right now.”
“You don't have to tell me that.” Ch'en didn't like this man headbutting into their situation. It was a difficult one. She didn't need someone to step in.
Ch'en watched him turn his attention back to Talulah. “Don't hesitate to ask for help. Kaschey isn't a problem you have to deal with alone.” Talulah didn't reply to him.
New footsteps drew their attention. Ch'en looked away from Shirou to see the latest stranger. Her eyes landed on black armor she wouldn’t forget any time soon. The last time Ch'en saw it was during the disastrous ritual Doctor Rin and Sakura performed aboard Rhodes Island earlier that day. How could she forget that dark foreboding sensation coming from her sword? It was noticeable even with the dark unholy aura that bled out of Sakura. A shiver crawled up her spine. Ch'en had to grip Chi Xiao defensively.
“Shirou.”
Ch'en slowly moved her eyes across everyone. Nobody else knew just what this girl wielded. She carried Chi Xiao, but this woman carried something completely different. FrostNova and Skadi stared at the new arrival with little hesitation. Of everyone, it was Talulah who reacted the most like her. Her sister’s expression was frozen as she took in the dark armoured figure.
“Saber?” Even Shirou’s expression was guarded. He had to know. Surely. Doctor Rin and Sakura summoned this woman for the purpose of retrieving him from the Reunion. They believed she was necessary. That she was the only one powerful to drag him back.
“Rin wants you back.” Ch'en realized that it was a female. Her voice wasn't that of a man’s. Upon closer inspection, her face looked too fair. Her serious expression masked some of the femininity and the stalwart atmosphere she carried only reinforced that belief. She felt herself freeze up when the woman’s eyes landed on her. Ch'en could feel her attention, before it moved on to the rest.
“Coming.” Shirou gave everyone one last look. “I’ll come back with some food again later. I just need to handle something.” He walked towards the girl, now known as Saber.
“Who is she?”
Shirou paused. “Who?”
“That girl.” Ch’en realized who the armored woman was talking about. “The one in the black dress.” Talulah’s alarmed grey met Saber’s pale yellow eyes.
Shirou frowned. A few seconds of silence filled the air before he answered. “She’s Talulah. A Reunion leader with another soul possessing her body.”
“...is that so?” The woman kept staring at her for a few seconds longer before turning around. “We shall dawdle no longer. Rin is waiting.” She walked a few steps before glancing behind her. Shirou took the hint and followed, matching her pace.
“Ch’en…did you feel it?” Talulah whispered once they were gone.
“You…you felt it? She’s dangerous.” Ch’en turned on her sister. Her mind replaying the short meeting over her head again.
“No, not that…something else.”
“What?”
“She feels…familiar.”
=== NEARL ===
Nearl slumped down near the fallen VTOL aircraft. Rhodes Island’s medical team were mostly centered here with the injured operators while the rest split into two groups for different objectives.
“I’m fine. You should focus on the others.” Nearl grumbled while Kal’tsit looked her over.
“You’ve been kept prisoner by the Reunion for weeks.” The Rhodes Island leader pointed out. “Everyone is far more worried about you. Amiya wasn’t the only person who forwarded requests to form a rescue team for you. A good number did.” She finished checking over Nearl. The Kuranta didn’t look like she received any injuries during her confinement. “Look around. Many are watching. Seeing you safe will ease them much more than a medic right now.”
Nearl looked around. True to her words, several were giving her looks. She was touched. “You really shouldn’t…” She looked down.
“You’ve been on a lot of missions with our operators. You’re known for throwing yourself in front of danger. When the recovery team for the Doctor came back without you, everyone assumed the worst. Many thought you dead. Can you blame them for being worried?” Kal’tsit gave her a frown. “I know the situation was out of your control…but remember not to risk yourself unless necessary. That’s an order.”
“...yes.” Nearl felt like she was being scolded. Kal’tsit had an atmosphere like that.
“Moving on, I need you to attend the meeting with the Reunion tomorrow.”
“Huh?” Why would Kal’tsit want her to come? Nearl didn’t have anything that could contribute to the meeting. The first thought that came to her mind was security, but there was likely more than that.
“Now that the disaster has been averted. Some civilians that the Reunion kept prisoner managed to find Rhodes Island. Me and Amiya spoke to them and they mentioned a blonde Kuranta freeing them during the chaos. Some recognized you as The Radiant Knight.” Kal’tsit gave her a look. The edge of her lips flashed the ghost of a smile that Nearl wasn’t sure if she was seeing things. “The Reunion would also take note of that. Now that Talulah isn’t their leader, Patriot takes her role. You would be the best civilian representative.”
“Best…civilian…representative…?” Nearl was lost. She was nowhere near a civilian. Yes, she rescued some of them, but she wasn’t the only one. Nearl came across some camps where Reunion members freed the prisoners themselves. Before the fighting erupted that morning, Nearl joined Shirou and met up with two Reunion generals. Patriot, the leader of some Reunion groups, sent word to his men to release the captives. Nearl talked with some of them during the infighting and coordinated to group together civilians with other camps that Patriot’s men took over. They couldn’t have the civilians running around the battlefield. It was too dangerous. Grouping them together with a small force to protect them was the right move.
“If you want someone to represent the civilians…Shirou would be better. He spent more time with them while we were held captive.” Nearl had seen just how reputable Shirou was with the prisoners and the Reunion. She watched him cook for every camp they came across, even teaching the cooks how to improve the food. Even more so considering she knew that he was treating Oripathy for the Reunion. A lot of sick patients had been healed over the few weeks they were kept captive.
“Do you believe he would make a better representative?” Kal’tsit gave her a look. “We need someone to act in their interests. The Reunion will have their hands full dealing with infighting for the next couple of months while power structures change with their previous leader ousted.”
“Infighting huh…” Nearl wasn’t aware of the situation outside of Chernobog. She just knew two generals stayed in Chernobog until Talulah’s return- namely Patriot and FrostNova. She met them just that very morning.
“Yes. I have reason to believe that not all Reunion generals are on the same side. If Patriot and FrostNova were against Talulah, then some others might also be against her. We have one Reunion general in our hands right now. We’ll be using her as leverage to make a deal with the Reunion.”
“We have a general with us?!” Nearl’s tone expressed her shock.
“Do you remember the girl Mon3tr was carrying when we reached you?”
“That Sarkaz? What about her?” It wasn’t easy to miss her. She kept screaming at Kal’tsit the entire time.
Kal’tsit huffed. “Her name is W. She’s the leader of the Sarkaz mercenaries with the Reunion. Without her, the Reunion would have rogue elements among their forces. They need someone who can control those mercenaries or risk betrayal from their stronger allies.”
Nearl knew the Sarkaz were one of the stronger races. The Reunion was mostly made up of infected and mixed races. The Sarkaz mercenaries would easily position themselves as elite fighters when compared to the average Reunion member. If they went rogue, it’d cause a lot of damage to the Reunion remnants.
“There is also the matter of the Reunion forces outside Lungmen. Chernobog’s core plate will stop near Lungmen and we’ll be in range of them. Since they were the main group to assault Lungmen, it is safe to say their generals are more likely to side with Talulah.”
“Do we have any idea who the generals near Lungmen are?”
“We actually do.” Kal’tsit closed her eyes as she remembered the necessary info. “Lungmen captured two of Reunion’s commanders during the assault on the city. Mephisto and Skullshatterer. Since Talulah, Patriot, and FrostNova are here, then that leaves Crownslayer and Faust as the remaining commanders in charge of the Reunion outside Lungmen.”
It was much messier than Nearl thought. She wasn’t any good at politics or anything close. Her leadership skills only extended to small teams, not entire organizations. It was already chaotic when leading and coordinating on the ground with allies. Trying to make deals with other parties? Not her specialty.
The Kazimierzian knight tried to math it out. Of the 8 Reunion commanders, 3 were in Chernobog with them. Talulah was ousted, and Patriot and FrostNova from what Nearl saw were leaders who would align themselves to a peaceful resolution. Much better for Rhodes Island and Lungmen. 1 of them, W, was captured by Rhodes Island. 2 held by Lungmen. As for the last 2, they were outside Lungmen handling the other half of the Reunion.
8 Reunion commanders. Talulah ousted. Mephisto and Skullshatterer behind Lungmen bars. W in Rhodes Island custody. That left only half of Reunion’s leadership. Patriot and FrostNova in Chernobog with them. Faust and Crownslayer outside Lungmen.
Huh…we might have a good chance here.
Of the 4 remaining active commanders, 2 looked reasonable. The last 2 were unknown as far as Nearl knew, but once they stop within a few hours, they’d be within distance of Lungmen and the assault contingent of the Reunion. Tomorrow’s meeting would have all 4 Reunion commanders meeting with Rhodes Island.
“Wait. You won’t wait for Lungmen to send a delegation?”
Kal’tsit shook her head. “It would only cause more chaos and drag problems out. I know Patriot. We served together in Ursus a long time ago. His first move would be to regroup everyone and move away from this place. He would not risk the Ursus 4th Army to chase them for crushing their plans to start a war. Lungmen would send news to Yan and the country would march an army here if they believe Ursus aggression was imminent. The Reunion would be stuck between 2 armies they can’t match, much less survive. No. The best decision is to meet with us and conclude this disaster. Rhodes Island is a neutral faction. Ursus and Yan cannot initiate a war when the situation has been dealt with. Of course, they could blame us. Our presence and known status as the Reunion’s enemy could be explained as the reason for their aggression.” Kal’tsit paused for a few moments.
“But if we have a certain political prisoner of value…then both nations would have to give up.”
“Political…prisoner of value?” Nearl blinked. “Who…?”
“Talulah Artorius.”
“The Reunion’s leader?”
“That’s her current position. No, we’re after her role.” Kal’tsit opened her eyes and looked up to the sky. “Talulah Artorius is responsible for this disaster. Holding her captive would make it end here. Ursus and Yan cannot chase us or else they risk making an enemy of Victoria.”
“Victoria…why are they involved?”
“Talulah Artorius is a noble of Victoria. Not just any noble…she’s a royal. The only successor of House Artorius, a lineage of old kings for Victoria.”
Nearl gaped. What. How? The leader of the Reunion- a rebel infected movement- is a royal who had direct connection to the throne of what was probably the strongest nation in Terra.
“If we house Talulah, we become an invaluable resource- or enemy- to Victoria’s Eight Grand Dukes. Some of them are Dracos and might be loyal to House Artorius.” Kal’tsit then sighed. “Or they could try sending assassins to kill Talulah to keep themselves in power without a king.”
“...right. Victoria hasn’t had a king for a few years now.”
“Correct. The Draco royal houses- Artorius and Dublinn- suddenly had been murdered one day. The current royal house on the throne- the Aslans- were also killed in the resulting chaos when the Victorian aristocrats loyal to the Dracos thought the Aslans were responsible for the deaths of their rival royal houses.”
So the Victorian royals just offed each other in mutually assured destruction. Nearl was getting a headache now. They were supposed to be dealing with the Reunion from creating a disastrous war between Ursus and Yan.
How in the world did this somehow involve a civil war going on the other side of the world?
Nearl sighed. “So…the goal is to take Talulah as a prisoner to keep Ursus and Yan at peace. Which brings us trouble with Victoria.”
“We already have trouble with Victoria. The Aslan loyalists are suspicious that we are housing the Aslan royal successor in secret.”
“...what?”
“Bringing Talulah in would bring the attention of Draco loyalists. Which would ensure their protection. Officially we are neutral, but the Draco loyalists of Victoria would mean extra protection for us. Especially against outside forces.”
“Outside…forces?”
“Aslan loyalists could send assassins to eliminate the last Artorius royal. Our neutral status can stop most attempts, but the Draco loyalists would stop even more. It also helps stop any suspicions of Rhodes Island housing the surviving Aslan successor. Nobody would assume us to house opposing political rivals.”
“You’re telling me we’re now going to be the center of the Victorian power struggle.”
“Victoria has been eyeing us for a while now.” Kal’tsit’s frown deepened while looking at Nearl. “Didn’t Siege tell you?”
“What about operator Siege?” Nearl raised an eyebrow.
“She’s the Aslan successor we’re housing. One of you operators leaked it. It was supposed to be a secret, not much of one now. Though it’s only an open secret in Rhodes Island. You’re all under legally binding contracts not to share any information of Rhodes Island outside. You didn’t know?”
Nearl really really wanted to curse.
Author’s Note
Huehue, so for you Arknights fans out there, you know that Talulah’s bloodline is the Red Dragon of Victoria, House Artorius. What is Victoria? It’s Arknight’s version of Britain. Who else is the Red Dragon Incarnation of Fate? That’s right. It’s SEIBAAA. Dun dun dun, we got some storylines for the second major arc in…crap ton more arcs later. We’re heading for the side events turned story arcs!!! HERE WE COME KAZIMIERZ!!!!
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