TTK: Chapter 2.1

Don't Take It Easy

"We need to get out of here," emphasised Sora, pocketing her phone, "Where's the 501st stationed?" she asked Lynette.

"We were recently transferred to the Canary Islands."

"How much trust do you have in your crew?"

"I'd trust them with my life. But the 501st isn't the only unit stationed on the Islands. And I'd rather not involve them in this."

"Point made. And it would take you too close to London."

Lynette blinked, "Me? What are you going to do?"

"This gives me a good chance to do something I've had no opportunity to before," Sora turned to the native woman, "What's the patching system for?"

"I don't know. We constantly update code to the town of Maldon, east of here."

"Alright, I'll head there. Miku's clearly up to something here, hopefully something that can get me out of the Kingdom so I can find those I have missed for such a long time."

Lynette stepped forward with a determined expression on her face, "I'll come with you."

Sora took a moment to think, "... It'll actually be safer for you to come with me. Here," she passed the Strike Units to Lynette, "Put these on." As Lynette did so, Sora turned to the woman again, "So what was your name?"

"Melanie Williams. I'm truly sorry about what I've done to you."

Sora completely ignored the apology. "Mel. Rin was actually correct." Melanie blinked. "If I threw you out the window, I can guarantee you'll survive. However, I can also guarantee you'd be spending the next two months in intensive care. This is the Kingdom's way of dealing with opposition. It's simple but extremely effective given how well publicised it is."

"It is a really weird form of punishment," Lynette meekly complained, "Which is probably why news of it spreads quickly. I didn't think it was the first resort though."

"Likewise," growled Sora.

Melanie frowned, "While I've heard plenty about Rin's Stray Posse throwing people from heights, I've never heard of The Black Squad doing so..."

"The rest of The Black Squad do not have authorisation to throw people out of windows."

"Authorisation? And you do? I thought-"

It was Sora's turn to frown, "I do. You were confident earlier because you thought I didn't..."

"...Why are you special?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Shall we get going?" asked Lynette, hovering with her Striker Units active, "Get on my back."

Sora did so, wrapping her arms round Lynette's neck, "Mel, do your best. For your safety. For our piece of mind." Lynette took off, smashing through one of the large glass windows, heading toward the east. "Oh, Lynette? Thanks for the support."

"No problem."


Meanwhile, outside Crypton Studios in London, Black slowly lowered the phone from her ear, glaring at the mobile before pocketing it.

"She didn't last long, did she?" asked a female voice to her left.

Black turned to face Rin who was leaning on the roadside fence. She was wearing her Stray Posse uniform which consisted of a bikini top, shorts, boots and winged goggles. "Look, Rin," strongly advised Black, "Don't get involved in my business."

Rin smirked, "Should you really be saying that to your superior? And the Enforcer of Law no less?"

Black glowered as she turned towards the Crypton Studio double door entrance, she swung one door open before pausing. "Put some clothes on. You're cramping my style." Black closed the door behind her.

Rin grinned, "Whatever," she stated as she followed Black in.


"I need the four of you to prepare for anything that happens after this," ordered Miku, who was sitting on her throne that was glowing a light green. The room had speakers and amps placed round the walls and the floor was covered in wires and cables. "Rin, Len, reinforce Teto in Canada. Gumi, cover Asia. Black, I'd like you to cover Africa once you've taken care of your little... problem." Rin couldn't help smirking.

"Of course," bowed Black, ignoring Rin completely.

"So, what do you all think of this situation?" asked Miku, not dropping her serious tone.

"It must be Haruhi's work," suggested Len, "Gensokyo wouldn't risk opening the Hakurei Barrier just to control the moon's path." Len was part of the Stray Posse under Rin but was still considered a high power figure.

"Haruhi's the only one with any control in space," added Gumi, who was sitting on one of the nearby speakers, "She'd be the only one to know that London's our capital." Gumi was the Yamaha Kingdom's Head Marshall, being the commander over the Kingdom's entire military force.

Miku crossed her legs, "Assuming Haruhi is behind this, what would Reimu be thinking?"

"There's no way Gensokyo would get involved with this," commented Black, "Dropping the Barrier, even just part of it, is too risky. Also, Gensokyo wouldn't just drop the moon. Reimu's top priority was finding her shrine and wouldn't risk it getting destroyed. If this is indeed Haruhi's work we could take advantage of Gensokyo's neutrality."

"From what we can see through the Barrier, Gensokyo has not changed any behaviour," suggested Rin, "It is possible they have not even noticed given how disorganised and uncooperative they are."

Black folded her arms, "But we can't forget that Gensokyo own the United States, a technological superpower. It'd be safe to assume they've already leeched institutions like Black Mesa and Area 51."

Miku nodded with a smile, "Right, this makes your mission a lot more important, Rin. Understand?"

"Fully," saluted Rin.

Clearly aware she was out of the loop, Black spoke up, "So how are we going to deal with a falling moon? Given how big the moon is, it won't be completely shredded by the Sonic Barrier and still be huge when it hits London."

Miku grinned, "How about you head out to deal with your primary objective? You'll see our plan as soon as exit the building."

"... So be it..." Black slowly made her way out, not impressed by being in the dark.

The rest of the group waited until she was out of earshot. Rin was unhappy, "Doesn't Black seem a bit slow to you?"

"Cut her some slack, Rin," Miku proposed, "She's human. They need time to think."

"But they're so inefficient."

"She contributed more to the conversation than you did. And besides," Miku gave Rin a stern look, "Who made you?"

Rin was caught off guard by the question and turned to look at Len, who blinked back blankly. She faced back to Miku, "I'll keep my mouth shut but please don't bring that up again."


Black pushed the east-facing front door open. A very distant object to the south caught her eye. It was a behemoth of a mythical Titan, his gigantic height stretching into the sky, the being approaching the capital.

"Atlas," she murmured.