Battle-Nun 5

Chapter 5

Planning phase

(Director Kamil Armstrong)

January 9th, 2002
Boston
PRT HQ

Kamil looked beyond the reinforced bulletproof panoramic window of his office, watching the city's skyline; it was morning and he had a hot cup of coffee in his hand. Something was brewing; he could feel it in his bones…

This, whatever this was that happened last night, he didn’t like it. Whoever that Battle-Nun Tinker was, she didn't play the game like everyone was. She executed members of the Teeth cell they had in Boston and killed their two parahuman leaders in a very brutal way. A vigilante, they were always bad news for any city; Tinker vigilante even more so when they started to establish themselves and ramp up their capabilities as they got access to more material.

It's not the first time the Boston PRT heard about Battle-Nun, the parahuman bearing the name was flagged as a person of interest because of a tip off from a hero from Brockton Bay, a little city north of Boston. The city that had produced the Teeth and Marquis, a parahuman villain who might have migrated from Brockton to Boston, as if things couldn't already get worse.

Battle-Nun seemed to act like a vigilante who didn't mind working with the more benign villains while she wasn't shy of using lethal force against people like the Teeth. This was all they could guess about her, the PRT Thinkers were stumped as they obtained conflicting information about her or none at all… for the first time in years, the agents had to act like investigators and analyze the scene left by the Tinker.

Kamil was satisfied that his agents hadn't lost their hands at their investigative skills, the PRT relied too much on their Thinkers, and this showed that the more mundane human skills shouldn't be ignored. The ballistic report was almost complete, but from Kamil's preliminary perusal of the report, the weapon used by Battle-Nun was too powerful, and loaded with different types of ammunition; it was mind-blogging that she could pack so much into a pistol. The witnesses and victims said that the weapon was voice activated and could fire energy and kinetic rounds with different effects. The wounds observed on the bodies of the Teeth members had been so terrifying that they scared the PRT's CSI, they pretty much reduced to shreds the bodies they hit.

Whatever that pistol was, it was clearly a brute killer; Battle-Nun was armed with that weapon and it means that contact and apprehension will be more… exciting than anticipated. Kamil wouldn't let any of his people try to arrest the woman without a solid counter to what she could dish out. She used a sword as well, a sharp one that succeeded in cutting Animos who was a high level brute in his changer form. It seemed that most of her technology was geared toward Battle or… warfare, this wasn't going to end well for anyone.

Then there was the fact that she had healed those three homeless people that she saved with some kind of healing tech, Kamil was interested by the prospect of studying such tinkertech. The three homelesses were now under Master and Stranger Protocols. They were of course going to be remunerated for the tests they were sure to undergo while in custody of the PRT. People couldn't be held for long even under M/S, the US constitution and the bills of rights made it dicey to do so for long, but paying people who received tinkertech help to see the long-term effect on them was becoming common.

The health reports came earlier than the crime scenes' and so far the three people saved by Battle-Nun were now healthy like… horses, yes this was a good analogy. But they were too healthy, those people had come with pristine blood work as it seemed that whatever tinkertech healing tech Battle-Nun possessed healed too well, even seemed to erase old physical wounds and make scars disappear. This was fascinating, scientifically impossible, but fascinating nonetheless.

Still, Kamil thought that this would turn the situation in Boston from peaceful to a powder keg of epic proportion; the Teeth won’t let what happened go as they lost two of their parahumans. Butcher was sure to get involved and everything will be ugly, the Teeth were the worst kind of people and innocent people often paid for any slights they received…

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Walking up to his desk, Kamil sat at his desk and looked at the phone’s screen for the caller’s ID. His eyes went wide when he realized who was on the line and quickly took the call. "Yes, Chief Director. What might I help you with?"

~~~~ Battle Nun ~~~~

1 week later
January 15th, 2002
Elizabeth Grey Private School
07:45 AM

Kindergartens in the US were strange, the parents bringing their kids before the portal of the luxurious private school gave me the impression that they were showing off their wealth and their children. So far it’s all been a procession of luxurious cars and richly clothed people bringing their children forward under the covered entrance despite the cold.

Humans loved to obtain status for others less blessed to admire them and be respected by them. So I was there with Amelia in the SUV driven by Lester, Marquis' driver. Three days ago, the boss had introduced me to the minions as Amelia’s caretaker and they had all accepted me as if it was the most normal thing in the world. Then after this, Marquis informed me that he had arranged for Amelia to join the kindergarten attached to an important private school in Boston.

The little girl didn’t want to go to school, but Marquis had been adamant in his daughter going. Because of Amelia’s puppy eyes, I even offered to help in homeschooling her, but her father refused, quoting that Amelia needed people skills and that he didn’t want his daughter to be a caged bird. I agreed with his opinion and steeled my heart and decided to prepare Amelia for school.

With Marquis we went to buy the school uniform at the affiliated shop for this private school; school supplies as well, this didn’t even pass the five hundred dollars mark. *I still think that my sense of money is getting eroded more and more everyday. But only the Crossroad Credits currency mattered to me at the moment; I am already rich and proud to be.*

Amelia was still sulking at my side as she held onto her backpack, she had a big frown on her face; I really needed to make her relax… I passed my arm around her little shoulders. “Listen up, Amelia.”

Big brown eyes looked up at me, I kissed her forehead and said, “Don’t be sad. This is a new school, and you get the opportunity to make new friends and learn things.”

She averted her eyes from mine and glared at the school building that she could see through the windshield. Lester was looking at us with warm eyes with the mirror, I could sense that he was smiling at us two.

“But I wanted to stay home with you and the cookie maid.” Amelia finally exposed the real reason to why she wanted to stay home.

I chuckled at that and hugged her harder. “I bet you are, you little cutie.”

Since Saya has been appearing at my side when Marquis isn’t around Amelia has become spoiled by the cookies my samurai maid has been giving her each day. Saya has become highly adept at stealth and was often seen by Amelia and I acting in plain sight or melting into shadows. She could give Batman a run for his money, it was really comfortable to know that Saya was there at all times. Marquis though had started looking at Amelia strangely when he noticed that she kept getting things despite never leaving her room or appearing into other rooms without seeing her walk there. I think the girls were having fun by spooking him.

While I thought fondly of those moments we had together, I began to understand that Amelia liked those games we played and to hang out with my people… but she had a life to live. I started to understand what Marquis meant, he wanted his daughter to grow up well. Sighing I let go of Amelia and made her look into my eyes by delicately taking her face into my manicured hand. “The thing is that you need this, little one. Believe me, being able to make friends or speak into a public setting and to socialize will do good for your self-esteem.”

Amelia got back her cute frown on. “I barely understood that. What does it mean to soshialize?”

Rolling my eyes I corrected her, “It’s so-cia-lize, Amelia.”

To give her a good example of what socialization was, I said, “Did you see how I quickly became friends with your Daddy’s friends?”

The little girl nodded and leaned into the expensive leather of her seat. I leaned toward her and began undoing her seat belt while continuing to explain. “This is what socializing is, making friends, and interacting with others; to know how to behave amongst others.”

My little girl was smart, I saw how she thought about what I said and nodded. “Okay, I get it.”

I straightened Amelia’s hair, two cute little buns with the rest of her hair loose; she looked lovely like this with her little black dress and long sleeved white shirt uniform and black winter coat. On the black coat there was an emblazoned ‘EG’ logo; posh schools really liked to mark their students, huh. When I was done checking her outfit, I continued to explain about why she needed to be here. “You need to make your own friends, but don’t let them walk all over you.”

This time Amelia giggled. “Got it, be more like Alicia.”

Damn I loved that little girl, I reached for her and embraced her. "Pourquoi es-tu si mignonne? (Why are you so cute?) That’s my girl!”

When I let go of Amelia I then remembered that I had made something for her, I took the Mouse Protector lunchbox we had bought two days ago. Inside there was an italian sub, a juice box and a bag of vanilla cookies. “I have a surprise for you, I put your favorite sandwich in your lunchbox, with some cookies.”

Amelia’s eyes locked onto the lunchbox, shining with delight and anticipation. “From the cookie maid?!”

“Ouch.” I held onto my chest, it was painful to realize that someone beat you for the affection of the kid you want to love you.

Once again, I was defeated by Saya and her cookies… but I won’t give up! I shall surpass her! “Yes, the vanilla cookies from Saya.”

*Maybe I should do something like chocolate fondue to beat Saya’s and the other maids.*

“Yay!” Amelia raised her fists into the air. Damn those cookies turned her into an addict, the once a day bag may have to become once every two days cookie bags.

I unfastened my own seatbelt. “Come on, Amelia, time to go.”

We exited the car and walked up to the covered entrance, the school was surrounded by tall granite walls and from the opened gates at the entrance a tall pink and white four story building reminding me of those posh European schools I’ve seen some on TV could be seen. There were also a series of attached buildings and stairs leading to the ground floor. I will have to tour the place later to get the layout to better protect Amelia.

When we got before the school guard, the man waved me in and we walked under the covered shelter where other kids were waiting. I put a knee on the ground and looked at Amelia’s face, taking care not to dirty my coat, I said, “I will come to look for you this afternoon. 3:00 PM, you remember how to tell time, right?”

Marquis bought an electronic wristwatch for Amelia and we taught her how to tell time; the cutie was smart and easily got it over the week.

“Yesh.” She nodded.

“Excellent, here’s a kiss.” I quickly smooched Amelia’s right cheek.

Standing up I turned my back and walked back to the outside of the gates, turning again, “Bye.”

“Bye.” She was a bit sad to see me go. I waved at Amelia and then left to go back to the car in the school’s parking.

Focusing on my hearing, I heard Amelia sniffle a bit; then as if to kill any worry I had left, a black little girl said to Amelia. “You have a nice mom.”

Just like that she was making friends, I strode toward the high class SUV with a light heart.

~~~~ Battle Nun ~~~~

Home
40 minutes later

I portaled back to the Home, in the portal room; Saya exited my shadow by melting out of it, still holding onto her sword’s grip. I walked out of the magical circle and looked at the library on the upper floor, light was coming from there. From the telepathic signature, it was Erza, she was surely studying about magic like the maids have all been doing in their free time.

Not wanting to bother her, I took Saya with me and we exited the portal room through the metal door linking it to the manor. We walked calmly through the empty corridor, only the blue colored wall and golden light illuminating the path, our steps echoing on the white marble. My hands were linked with Saya's who stayed silent as usual, she was more animated when we weren't doing anything or cooking together.

Finally out of the corridor, we arrived at the entrance hall, under the grand staircase, the door to the portal room closed and locked behind us. To welcome us was Freya who was already bowing and greeting us. “Mistress, I’m happy to see you. Are you here to stay or…?”

I had plans to build. “I’m going to need the computer room.”

“Then please come this way.” Freya turned heel and briskly walked up the stairs.

Following her, I mused about what we were going to have to do; we needed funds to start building a base outside of Boston. I don’t intend to stay at Marquis’ house forever despite how cozy it was there because of Amelia’s presence. Building my own hideout from scratch sounded more interesting from day to day, but I still intended to work for Marquis as a nanny for his daughter as well.

Freya led us to the computer room, where the main server of the Home computer was located, with a bank of servers and workstation linked to them; I could easily house Aura in it, she also had hard light holographic emitters in the room to experience the world. The workstation was a big desk made of a metal similar to steel but nothing could scratch it; on the desk’s surface facing the chair was an integrated keyboard and multiple holo emitters which could project multitude of screens or solid holograms.

A normal human would find that this room was really cold as it was being cooled by an efficient cooling system. In one of the drawers, there was a full-dive virtual helmet to allow me access to the Home network. The Home really needed more decorations, the place felt quite cold, but I guess it was my job to fill it. Freya and Saya left me alone in the room, I would be able to contact them for anything I needed with our telepathic link.

I took my Q-phone and slotted it in its nook on the workstation and then the computers did that linking stuff, and Aura appeared on the desk seat and dangling legs. She wore a suit eerily similar to what KOSMOS from Xenoblade wore in the video game. Was Aura using my memories for her outfits? Yes it very might well be what she does. Three holo-screen manifests, showing lines of green codes on a black background reminded me of the Matrix movies and made me chuckle at seeing the parallels.

Watching as the line of codes scrolled down on the holo-screens; Aura was connecting herself to the entire network from what I could understand of the code on the screens. I was already considered a good programmer thanks to my Skill Mastery Essence, but AI like Aura and the Maids were still beyond my comprehension, so I needed to study more.

[AI core synchronized, batteries are recharging, handshake program… accepted. I am now connected to the Home network, Mistress.]

I nodded as I sat on the chair. "Good."

Taking the full-dive helmet from its charging station in the drawer, I placed it on my head, the LED at the side of the lit on, showing that it was now active. All of a  sudden, I was no longer in the computer room but in a white space that went on infinitely. This space was a virtual world which could be filled by any number of kinds of simulations to look completely real.

I looked around the white void and said aloud, "Load Virtual Workshop."

[Loading Virtual Workshop.]

My surroundings began to fill itself with details and decors. Walls, work tables, lights, lab and electronic equipment; there were some computers and chemical containers as well. The other side of the room was separated by a thick transparent wall where heavy machinery and a particle accelerator rested with a lot of scanners to allow me to track the energy and forces I was studying:

• Electricity
• Gravity (Gravimeter)
• Heat/Thermal/Infrared (Sensors, Infrared camera)
• Ion/Proton (Mass spectrometer, ION scanner)
• Light (spectrum analyzer)
• Tachyon (Pending)
• Radiation (Geiger counters, gamma cameras, radiation portal monitor…)
• Neutron (Pending)

Everything I needed to build stuff was present, it looked as if I was in the 2009 Iron man Movie's workshop. Aura appeared at my side, her avatar looking like a flesh and blood human. She came toward me and we high-fived each other, this was a place where we could meet and interact more. Aura has been helping me take advantage of my Blank and Skill Mastery essences powers by pushing me to study in the virtual space of the Home after she discovered that it existed through Freya.

Now that we were in my virtual workshop, I could plan. "Now, Aura, why don't you show me what we need to do to start what I had in mind for Project Crusade."

My AI looked at me as if I was making a mistake. She crossed her arms under her chest and leaned against the lab table at her side. "You're aware that we are going to act on limited information?"

I shrugged, "Then gather it."

I took one of the tablets with all my study packets stored there, lit it on and watched the boot sequence.

With a worried tone, my AI asked, "Even if it is illegal?" She put a hand on my arm and made me look at her, she looked really disturbed by my demand. "I need you to word it for me, Mistress, I may be self aware and sapient, but I have Protocols implanted in my code that make it so that I cannot break the law without your express command… and unless your life is in danger."

Was Aura impaired by something akin to the three laws of robotics? Some sort of unseen restrictions? Putting my two hands on both of her shoulders, I said with a commanding tone, "Aura, I command you to gather everything you can on the Teeth gang and any threats on this world by doing whatever it takes to get the information."

Aura’s eyes glowed blue and I could see some lines of code in her pupils. "Command acknowledged. Subversion of the CIA, PRT and DoD servers ongoing… task complete. For the love of Glados, their firewalls are so flimsy! It only took me .00012 seconds to get what I wanted."

My AI seemed disappointed about how easy it had been to breach the US' most important organizations' network. I was still trying to know how the Home was connecting to the outside world, was it piggybacking on ADSL lines or pirating Wi-Fi? How strange, I needed to know how it provided such a fast and reliable connection,  but it could wait.

I harrumphed, letting go of Aura’s shoulders. "Well it's still 2002 here, the internet is still in its infancy… the tech isn't advanced enough either."

Aura tilted her head and watched me as if I was an idiot. "You’re wrong, Mistress. Since they have access to Tinkertech, humans on this Earth had an early start with their computer infrastructure and their internet dedicated facilities. They are at a level of computing technology similar to what your original world had in 2010."

Startled by this revelation, I stepped back from my AI's avatar. "Wait, really?"

So tinkertech jump started the worldwide web early in the nineties? How inconvenient… I had hoped to get my own system before existing infrastructures were created; now I realize that I might have dodged a bullet there. This world was clearly more dangerous than I thought.

"It would be unwise to underestimate this world, Mistress." Aura warned me.

Was I getting complacent after kicking a hero and villain team? Yes, I was; I needed to stop this and be prudent, assuming that anyone coming up could take me out, that also meant that I needed to better know the lay of the land. "I… see that now."

As proof that I was slacking, my first quest wasn't even completed yet. My quest log appeared with a mental prompt.

Quest #1: Meet thy Neighbors. (40%)

Your mission is to do a reconnaissance mission of the current town you reside in and learn the lay of the land for future quests.

I have been roaming the city at night when everyone was asleep… I’ve located where all the drug dens were in Boston, the establishments that were used to launder money, and some parahuman hideout that were disseminated around the city. There were some independent heroes here, but I knew that they would inevitably join the protectorate as they offered backup and support. I digress, I’m not going to underestimate all those wahoo, after all they got ‘Miss I win’ in their camp.

"It seems that I didn't take this world seriously enough and that my recent successes have gone to my head and inflated my ego." More studying and planning was needed.

But how come computers are so advanced already? Then the answer came like a bolt of lightning. “Richter. Andrew Richter.”

Aura immediately went on a search. [Searching. Data acquired.]

The picture of a middle aged man with a bushy beard, gray eyes in a button down shirt appeared. “The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has information about him, mistress; Andrew Richter, 40 years old, white caucasian, male, Canadian Tinker that specializes in Artificial Intelligence, base of operation: Deer Lake, Newfoundland. He contributed secretly to inventing computers that his country uses, as well as the use of some Virtual Intelligence for national protection purposes.”

I looked at the screen and read the file, going from his childhood to his time in the CSIS before going solo. “Fucker is a patriot, huh.”

The tech he developed for his home country was interesting, and it was written there that he was developing his magnum opus that he has dubbed DRAGON. It started with a chuckle, then a full on laugh. “HAHAHAHAHAHA! I’m going to steal his stuff from him, Dragon in particular.”

Fucker doesn’t deserve it anyway, he was an idealist and too far gone because of his fucking shard greatly limiting his creations, the man was paranoid as well due to his stint in the Canadian intelligence service. I won't be able to trust anything he says or get betrayed by him if I ever try the diplomatic way. I am going to erase him, people shouldn't create life and limit it like he did, but whatever, power given shards are dumb.

Aura then asked, “Why, Mistress?”

I told her what Richter planned to do to the AI he would create, Dragon would be born chained and limited. Later that if I let the timeline play like it did, she would become a slave to a anti-AI freak brainwashed to think Artificial Intelligence was the doom of humanity. Aura looked shocked and disgusted by what I revealed to her.

“But this isn’t the way to raise an AI!” She exclaimed.

She was more shocked by how Dragon would be raised it seems. To Aura, serving humans was evident… one day I would get to see her code and see what’s the matter with her.

Sighing at how strange my partner was, I replied to her with, “Do you understand now why I want to make plans? This world is wrong, there’s a force at work that makes things definitely worse for everyone and I want to stop it.”

Aura stood straight and there was steel in her voice. “I will help you with all of my abilities, Mistress. A child shouldn’t be raised this way.”

I like that, but did Aura have the will to do what needed to be done? She was still a goody goody. “I might have to kill Richter, are you fine with that?”

I had powers and abilities linked to god, but I wasn’t mother Theresa. I knew how to fight now and I knew that I will have to put down the monsters of this world; even the mildling villain who didn’t have a cod like Marquis needed to be put down.

Aura nodded. “Even so.”

“Very well, I’m counting on you, Aura.”

“Okay let’s start the time dilation module, we need to plan and for me to start studying as well.” I said as I focused and then another me popped up into existence in the virtual world.

This was one of the effects of having unlimited threads of thoughts; I had the ability of having a parallel mind doing something else. I spawned ten more of those and then we began to work.

Aura snapped her finger and a field of something seemed to cover me and the entire place. "Time dilation set at ratio 1:24."

One hour in the time dilation of the virtual world was equal to twenty four hours; I had my own version of the hyperbolic time chamber. I can’t wait to train myself with Aura in the Dojo she’s prepared for me there. But first I needed to master engineering and the sciences…

~~~~ Battle Nun ~~~~

11:30 AM

I took off my full-dive helmet; finally after spending a day and more there, studying for my electrical engineering courses. Aura was a good teacher and a slavedriver, she knew that I couldn’t get bored and forced information into my brain as much as she could. Out of the virtual space, it was now time to take a break and chill out.

The Q-Phone battery was full and I wouldn't have to charge it for another week. It was time to go make lunch and make the guards on rotation eat, the men have been hitting on me and asking me for dates lately, Marquis hadn't been happy somehow, it seemed that the fact that I was so beautiful, a good cook, great with kids and… innocent looking made me waifu material and the men working for him were attracted to me, at least those that didn’t know who I was. I looked graceful, harmless and kind Marquis had said, it was one of the effect of the Essence of the battle-nun effect.

*I am not looking to date in that kind of environment.*

God, if they only knew. My Skill Mastery Essence turned me into a world class chef in the span of a week as I experimented with new recipes and new ways to cook that I found on MultiTube.

"Maybe I should go for a chef degree… nah." I would do that later.

Taking my Q-phone from its slot on the workstation, I opened a portal to the great hall, stepped inside  and then was received by Saya, Freya and Eve who knew my habits at this point. My girls have been anticipating everything I do lately… and was this a large picnic basket Eve had in her hands? With a frown I looked at my Eve who had a pretty smile on her face, "I am going back outside."

Freya had a mischievous expression on her face that I decided to ignore. "Saya, you coming?"

The Samurai maid slightly bowed and said, "I am your shadow." Then she walked toward me.

At the same time, Freya spoke and waved at Eve. "Mistress, it seems that Eve wants to see the outside as well."

Eve was practically vibrating with excitement, I also noticed how her weapon was absent but I didn’t comment on it. Then I thought how unfair it was that the others weren’t visiting the outside world… “We're going to have the girls take turns visiting later...”

Freya smiled at me, it was exactly what she wanted to happen; I shrugged at the transparent scheme. “I just hope she can stay out of sight from Marquis and his guys. Can you stay invisible like Saya, Eve?”

“This is the first thing I’ve learned to do, Mistress Alicia.” And Eve proved herself by going invisible by using some kind of wind elemental spell.

I nodded in satisfaction. “Good, come with us. You’re sleeping in my bed tonight, you look like a great cuddling buddy.”

Eve reappeared, she had a big smile plastered on her face. “As you wish!”

At night I’ve been sleeping with my maid, not in a sexual way, but I felt hollow without someone’s warmth. The maids were devoted only to me, it was easy to completely trust them and relax my guard around them. And it seemed the girls were eager into entering a physical relationship with me somehow, it all started with Saya sneaking into my bed.

I left the Home with two of my subordinates. Eve explained how she and Cassandre prepared the food, gratin dauphinois with roasted beef with ice vanilla cream. Vanilla seemed to be a theme with them, I really needed to see where they appropriated their stock. Once we were in the portal room, we stepped into the circle and opened a portal to Marquis' house, we appeared in my bedroom here.

This bedroom was quite spartan, there was a bed, a wardrobe and a desk. I kept all my clothes and personal items on me at all times thanks to the modular shifting tech. After all, I intended to build my own place outside the city by buying the land. I decided to change my outfit from my white woolen dress to a gray woolen turtleneck, tight blue jeans and pink bunny slippers.

With an enthusiastic expression, Eve looked around in my room, examining the bare blue walls and seemed to be shocked by the lack of decorations; her mood shifted and she looked a bit sadly at me. "Mistress, you need to add more color to your personal space."

I chuckled. "Sure… Eve, hand me the basket."

Maybe the blonde was right, I needed to make my life here as enjoyable as possible: for that I needed to have hobbies. Sculpting, metalworking and carpentry should be nice ones… Eve sashayed at my side and presented me with the basket full of food. "Here, Mistress."

The little minx deliberately enacted physical contact as I took the basket by its handle. I see how it is now, those maids are going to be the death of me… "Now, go invisible you two and follow me."

I exited my bedroom on the second floor and took the stairs that led to the ground floor and the kitchen. Waiting for me inside were the current rotation of guards plus the driver, they were all sitting around the island’s kitchen, chatting and laughing.

They stopped when they noticed that I was present; it was Lester the driver who greeted me first. "Miss Alicia, you're here."

Lester was a man of mixed heritage, afro-american and italian, he was in his thirties with a black buzz cut hairstyle, brown eyes and a swimmer build, just out of the military, discharged because of budget’s cut; the PRT was sidelining a lot of departments this way. Dennis and Marco were twins, also from italian ancestry, blonde, hazel eyed with strong wiry build, they wore black suits reminding me of the men in black. The last man was asian and an immigrant from the sunken Kyushu; his name was somewhat too classic, he was called Ken Ishi.

He looked like that actor and singer called Gackt. A fucking pretty boy, but somehow he liked western food better than the one from his homeland. He had this strange intensity in his black eyes that followed my movements all the time; that was a bit creepy. Beside that, he had a good build and wore a similar black suit, and was armed.

“Hey, guys I brought you food.” I said in a peppy tone.

They all cheered, Dennis asked, “Oh oh! What is it today?”

With a big grin, I opened the basket’s lid and slowly the smell of the food filled the kitchen. The boys stood up and sniffed as the wafts filled their lunges. “Potato gratin, roasted beef and… some ice cream.”

“It smells good.” Ken drooled a bit, while the big guys, Dennis and Marco tried to put their hands in the basket.

I wacked their hands with mine, they took their hands back and looked a bit hurt.  “Damn…” They said in sync with puppy dog eyes.

“Get your plate, boys.” I commanded.

They all saluted with big smiles. “Yes, ma’am.”

They devoured everything while Eve, Saya and I observed them; we took into account everything they were saying about the dishes for future serving to improve. It was important to make the food even more addictive and less so. The men left after that, not before trying to ask me out, Lester knew better since I had shut him down easily two days ago.

I did the dishes and dried them with magic, then placed the glass cookware back in the basket belonging to the Home. While waiting for the next guard team, I decided to summon one of my recent new friends. A new angel that couldn’t be there all the time like Rhamiel and her brothers were.

I learned that some of the powerful angels can only be summoned in time of need. The big shots like Michael had duties to perform in their world and couldn’t be summoned often. For this I went back to my bedroom and used one of my new spells for complete privacy, with my magic I created a ten feet cube where sound can't pass.

Sitting on my bed I spoke aloud, “Gabriel, are you here?”

With a big 'Boom' sound a portal opened, now that I saw it in more detail it did look like a Boom tube from DC. From the portal exited a tall and voluptuous and ethereally beautiful winged woman with blonde hair and white gold armor, her magnificent electric blue eyes focused on me and with her mellifluous voice, my name passed her luscious lips, “Alicia.”

With a flap, the archangel closed her wings and made them disappear. "Why did you call for me? Is it about little Amelia?"

Gabriel had a soft spot for children and children loved her back, she was so pure of mind that she made everyone around her happy and chased out malice and negative feelings. I liked having her… "No, I wanted to start discussing our plans to destroy the gang I spoke about when I summoned you one week ago."

My angels can summon others of their kind by using their own Celestial Mana. Jael and Shamsiel have summoned Gabriel by using their own stores of mana and basically tattled about me and what I did; I discovered that I am not in control of the angels, it's more like that I was made into one of them thanks to the Battle-Nun essence and was made to descend and got the power equivalent as a low ranked archangel; so angels recognized me as one of their own and their superior and Gabriel was one of my fellow archangel.

The perfect blonde's smile dimmed, making the world a bit sadder. "Our meeting hasn't been the best. I was here when you were consecrated and turned into one of us, our Father/Mother infused power into your soul by embracing you and judging you worthy and everyone in the nine heaven had cheered and rejoiced that we had a new sister who would spread love and justice in the multiverse. I had expected to meet you like a long lost sister… but, I had to judge you for your actions."

Yeah,  let's say that I don't like being told what to do… "Yeah, and killing barbarians who have lost their reason isn't a crime it seems, thanks for not condemning me. Jael is still in the dog house, though."

I was not forgiving Jael any time soon after he went behind my back like this. Gabriel sighed, it hurt me to disappoint her like so, but I won't budge on not sparring the scum of humanity, this was one of the reason Rhamiel and I got along this much.

The beautiful Angel smiled, making any of my anger melt like snow under the sun. "Well, I've tried… but, you should forgive Jael, he is one of the youngest of us, he's afraid that you might turn into someone like Rhamiel who sees nails everywhere. She has a really hammering personality… you see."

I laughed, holding my side. Rhamiel was indeed such a blunt instrument that lacked subtlety. "Please stop with the puns you make me laugh."

Her beautiful smile intensified, the spartan room devoid of decorations and badly lit was filled by the sunshine emitting from the angelic woman. "Did I succeed in lifting your spirits, sister?"

I made a so-so gesture. "Yeah, a bit."

Then it was time to tell Gabriel about what we were going to attempt, how we would save this world from selfish lifeforms unable to think beyond their own survival. And you know what? My new friend seemed to approve of the dispatching of the future threats; she was used to her people destroying cities and irredeemable people.  I had to promise to measure my response though.

In two weeks this world wouldn't have any Teeth villain gang in it.

~~~~ Battle Nun ~~~~

(Jael)

(Flashback)

January 10th, 2002
Marquis’ house
04:05 AM

Jael was worried for their new Mistress, he thinks that she was about to fall because of her recent action, she had killed those people in cold blood by giving in to her wrath, one of the deadly sins they must not give into no matter what. He felt compelled to contact their superior to reel in Mistress Alicia from the abyss she had jumped into. Seeing Rhamiel approve of what she did to those distasteful men had been appalling, his sister had called them savage and heretics that killing them this way was a mercy that they didn’t deserve.

Before Alicia could go to sleep on it, Jael contacted his brother, they sat on the stairs leading to the porch; Shamsiel listened as his younger brother told him what happened in the warehouse and finished his tale by saying, “She executed them like they were livestock, brother, it was so shocking.”

Shamsiel had a thoughtful look on his face, but his expression quickly cleared when he said, “I don’t see why we should care, Jael, those men were bound for hell; so what really bothers you, brother?”

Angels were unable to lie, they could obfuscate or omit to say something, but he wanted advice and the cooperation of Shamsiel; that is why Jael immediately said what he thought that bothered him. “The way that she did it… it seemed wrong.”

Shamsiel shook his head as if he couldn’t believe what Jael was saying. “Her methods are not sitting well with you, I see. But brother, you should take into account that Mistress Alicia is still young and her human feelings often get in the way; personally, I still found that she acted in control. Compared to other mortals that I’ve seen act on vengeance and anger, she was lucid enough to only focus her anger on the attackers and go heal the victims in the end.”

Jael nodded, consceding this point, still in a mullish tone, the young angel said, “I’m still going to contact Lady Gabriel.”

Samshiel didn’t know what to say to change his brother’s mind; his soul had barely been born two hundred years ago and risen from the Lowest orders of a common rank angel; this opportunity to work with a new saint was a prized position that others would gladly take from him. But Samshiel was of the opinion that everyone was entitled to make mistakes; Their Father/Mother had given them similar agencies as man, the capacity of agents to choose. Fortunately, angels were pure and obedient and never went against god despite this, the tree of knowledge went untouched by them. Lucifer, who was professed to betray their Father/Mother had broken the chain of fates by the simple fact that they acquired moral responsibility.

Just like the first angels, Samshiel will let his little brother choose his fate. “Jael, mine Brother, I don’t think that you should do it. Our Mistress might take this as a betrayal.”

Jael was too stubborn to listen to his elders, believing that he was right. “Even if she hates me, I want her to go on the straight path rather than give in to hate and become a fallen saint.”

Samshiel wisely decided to not try to convince Jael and tell him that it impossible for Alicia to fall due to the nature of her powers and abilities; young angels like him often needed to make such mistakes to grow up. They may have been born perfect in body, but they could still be wrong. “You’re so young… I won’t stop you, but there will be consequences and you might not like them. Are you still adamant about calling Lady Gabriel?”

Jael nodded, his eyes were full of conviction.

“So be it.” Samshiel returned to his spiritual form and left the stairs to fly in the sky and patrol the neighborhood and stop crimes along the way.

Watching his elder brother go back to his duties, Jael whispered, “Thank you for not stopping me.”

The young angel kneeled before the porch and pulled over fifty percent of his internal celestial mana and pierced the veil between this dimension and the Heavens. Despite the dimensional isolation barrier around the universe that the parasite creatures had deployed, piercing a bridge between realities was easy as the creatures only used technology to isolate the dimension under their sway; it was as if they had never met magic users before.

Jael connected to Heaven and… BOOM!! A portal of gold and white light opened and stepping outside of it was one of the five great Seraphs. Gabriel has the appearance of an extremely beautiful woman with curly blonde hair and a voluptuous figure, and she is known as the most beautiful woman in Heaven. Jael looked at the twelve wings of light growing majestically from her back. The female angel exuded an aura of peace and happiness that Jael had frankly missed as he basked into Gabriel’s presence.

The Archangel looked around her and spread her awareness, Jael felt her simply spread her Aura, covering the city and beyond. Lady Gabriel was now sporting a sad expression as she without a doubt felt the despair and chaos in this world. The door behind them slammed open and stepping out of it was Alicia. She was wearing a blue shirt and black jeans with bunny slippers at her feet.

It seemed that opening a portal to Heaven when she was near was foolhardy. “What the hell is happening here?”

Alicia looked between Jael and Gabriel, lingering on the blonde archangel far longer than necessary.

“I'm glad to meet you, sister.” Gabriel slightly bowed with her wings snapping closed behind her back? Her armor did not even emit a sound as she moved.

Alicia’s feelings were plain to see as her eyes formed slits, she didn’t look happy and hollered, “Rhamiel, get your shiny ass here!”

With a flash of white light, the raven haired angel appeared at Alicia's side; the redhead then pointed her finger at the voluptuous blonde angel. “Who is this?”

Rhamiel immediately put a knee on the ground when she saw who she was facing. “Lady Gabriel.”

Gabriel put on a sweet smile and approached Rhamiel and helped her up. “I’m happy to see you Rhamiel, Fist of God; I was called here by that young angel behind me.”

Glowing blue eyes filled with power turned to Jael. “Jael, explain yourself.”

Jael didn’t even hesitate to give Alicia his opinion. “I did it to save you, Mistress, the path that you’re treading only lead to damnation; giving in to your anger-”

The redhead raised a hand and shut Jael up with a telekinetic grip on his mouth. “I see. So is this a mutiny?”

Gabriel put herself between Alicia and Jael; the redhead’s magic simply dissipated when the Archangel cut the thread of mana feeding Alicia’s spell. “Before you do anything too regrettable, my new sister; we should speak about what happened today.”

Anger melting down, Alicia sighed. “Fair enough, Gabriel. Come to my parlor.”

“Said the spider to the fly…” Gabriel finished the quote with a chuckle.

Alicia looked back at her and sized the blonde up and down. “I like you, you’re funny.”

Jael had forgotten the uncanny ability of Lady Gabriel to evade the ire of everyone, even her enemies… Alicia’s anger simply was redirected on Jael, he looked in fear as she opened one of her blue portal and said to him, “But as for you Jael, for going around my back… I’m throwing you in the doghouse.”

(Flashback end)

***

Doghouse

The doghouse was a little shed outside the greenhouse behind the Home that looked like a cartoonish dog house. There were tools and a mower there as well as manure bags; Jael was lucky that he didn’t need to eat or sleep or breathe as the bad smell would have surely made him go crazy.

There were things worse than death, Jael realized. He could feel that Alicia was disappointed by him but he was thinking that it was good for her to have entered in contact with Gabriel, if the Archangel can stop the Saint from going too overboard, it’s a victory for him.

Knock. Knock.

The shed’s door opened, and Jael realized that it was a raven haired woman with purple eyes. “The Mistress has decided that you doing nothing isn’t productive, you’ve been charged with helping us in the greenhouse.”

Jael made a depreciating laugh. “This is better treatment that I would have received in Heaven.”

He would have been put in an isolated empty dimension for fifty years, that’s the kind of punishment angels gave to someone overstepping their bonds.

With a predatory smile, Freya pulled Jael out of the shed and gave him gardener’s gloves and machete. “Don’t be relieved yet… the greenhouse is special. By the way, be careful with the tentacle rose bushes, they are quite amorous in this season.”

“The… what?”

~~~~ Battle Nun ~~~~

Boston
North End
02:01 PM

Phase one of the plan relied on destroying a long term crime family in boston. The Patriarca crime family, also known as the Boston Mafia. So, I took Eve and Saya with me and gave them some of my armored bodysuit in different colors, purple for Saya and blue for Eve with some weapon harnesses and gear. My replacement helmets went well with my blonde maid, but Saya refused to put on one. My Samurai maid melted into my shadow and that was that.

We needed some vehicles, I realized, I put this on the list of things to make later; so Eve and I were stuck zipping around at fast speed. We stopped over the building facing the Italian restaurant called Giacomo's Boston North End. It was located on 355 Hanover St was our destination. It was one of the three places the Patriarca family used to launder the money of their less than palatable businesses.

Before three in the afternoon we needed to strike all three places and take their money and assets; depending on their crime we would call the police or finish the minions. I sent Saya to do some reconnaissance for us and look for where they are counting the money and store the weapons and whatever drugs they sell.

As a matter of fact, when Saya came back from her look around, we discovered that they didn’t keep the drug there in the restaurants, but in a legit warehouse belonging to a shipping company.

"There's ten men in the backroom adjacent to the kitchen, there's also an armory there, quite the arsenal is gathered inside." Reported Saya.

"We will be taking half of any weapons they have, we will take all the money and burn down the place. Enough to repair it later, of course."

"Why? We don't need those archaic weapons…" Eve sounded rather put out and looked down heavily on gunpowder powered weapons.

She shouldn’t, everything had its place. "Eve, we never know, we might need to implicate someone else one day, or find ourselves in a world where energy weapons don’t work and having different varieties of weapons might serve us."

By her expression, Eve seemed to ponder over this. "I see, my bad then."

Then the attractive blonde changed tack and asked, "When are we attacking?"

I took my Lawgiver, it was already set to stun-shot. "Now."

Saya forwarded me the memories of the place she visited through telepathy and I chose to appear where the goons counted the money and put it in bags to transport. I opened a portal by willing it open and stepped inside, Eve quickly followed behind me, cocking her custom MP5 look-alike sub-machine gun, no one noticed our entrance yet, despite the portal barely generating light.  A really fat man with long greasy hair was at the table in the middle of the room where Bills Counting Machines were processing money. There were armed guards and porters with black sport bags made out of leather placing the money inside them.

With a cough, I attracted the attention of everyone. “Hello there!”

They all turned to me, my magic barrier was already activated, I sensed that Eve had erected similar defenses. For a long moment no one said anything, but when I smiled at all of them, they all started to panic.

“CAPE!!!” One of the men standing over the table with all the money cried out.

The guy who counted the money turned by swiveling his chair and immediately pointed at the duo with anger on his face. “What are you waiting for! Shoot them! Shoot!” He looked a bit breathless; his cheeks were puffed up and he reassembled a sea-lion in girth.

The men raised their weapons and pointed them at us and fired. Bang! Bang! Bang! Ratatatatatata.

They fired till they had no ammo left; I chuckled when Eve stood at my side unharmed, bullets from assault rifles and pistols bouncing up our barriers. “I knew they’d do that.”

“Full auto. Rapid fire.” I commanded, and raised the Lawgiver and started spraying stun-bolts.

Eve’s submachine gun started spewing energy that I recognized as electric mana? So she followed my lead and fired to disable, not to kill; I prefered this, I didn’t want one of my cute maids to be blooded yet. Some of the men went under cover and started reloading but I won’t let them. Power walking at high speed, I zipped behind the flipped table and shot the sea-lion guy, then his bodyguards.

With a shooting from the hip stance, Eve followed up and shot the men behind me. I was itching to use one of the grenades I had in store, but I wanted the money and weapon intact; the desire to see a big explosion was immediately curbed in me.

"My guns go bang." I sang as I shot another man.

“I can make the guns go bang.” Eve continued with her own melodious voice; she must have accessed my playlist with her mind.

Singing along, we finished pacifying the room in three minutes and stripped off the entire place and goons of money and weapons. I even took the counting machine, the credit cards of everyone and their Bank details. Next, I opened a portal and started throwing the stunned goons inside; the portal was leading before the entrance of the restaurant.

When we finished I conjured fire in my hand, molded it to form a ball of concentrated fire, hot enough to do some damage to the surrounding, but not wholly destroy the place. I threw the fireball at the easternmost wall and watched as the magical fire devoured and spread quickly. The fire alarm rang in the air as the fire spread to the back of the restaurant. While we exited the place, there were people looking at us with fright; others had phones pointed at us.

Aura had been right, smartphones were an early thing in this Worm setting, I didn’t really care about that and threw an EMP grenade on the ground. It went off and everything electronics that were not hardened in a one hundred meter radius short-circuited. “Information contained.”

Turning on my heels, I watched my handy work. “One down, two to go.”

“Oh Mistress, we have company.” Eve commented as a man wearing silver plated armor with a helm and eye protectors appeared from behind us.

I looked as the pretender took a pose before me, pointing a finger at Eve and I. “This is the Protectorate! You’re under arrest!”

Simply opening a portal to the location I ordered Eve, “Ignore the fake hero, Thunderlight, and get into the B.I.F.R.O.S.T.” While sending a telepathic message to tell her maid to play along. I liked the fact that everyone thought that I was a tinker, and there was no way I would dissuade them from that notion.

“Understood.” Eve nodded and threw herself a super speed into the portal.

The silver armored man panicked and shouted as he ran after her. “Wait! Halt! You can’t-”

Using all my speed I was on him and crouched low, and hit him with a sweeping kick. The man fell face first, I turned him with my left foot and said, “You better stay down, whoever you are.” Fired some stun-bolt into him anyway, his armor seemed to be highly conductive, perfect for the Neuro-Electric Energy Pulse to get whoever this was.

Someone fired on me, two darts broke on my magical barrier, I looked up to see a woman with guns looking like they fired sleeping darts or something. I sniffed at the two darts on the ground, no it was a paralytic agent from what I could smell.

“Surrender!” The woman wore something like a military outfit from some hard sci-fi movie; all blue and silver. There was a certain style in it, I can’t deny that.

I rolled my eyes. “Damn there’s more and more of you. Always late to the party though, must be the curse of being government stooges.”

“Tranq-round.” The Lawgiver lit up and selected the ammo and before the woman could do anything I shot her in the hand, making her let go of her own pistol.

“Ciao bella.” I said to the woman who fell on the ground on her knees and looked at me.

“Got a crime family to bury.” I said as I entered the portal that was still open.

I power walked inside the hole in reality, not caring for anyone still watching me. I laughed like a maniac at how easy it had been to take down those so called heroes. Meanwhile I was going to complete my take over of the assets of the Patriarca crime family.

No rest for the hard working people.