Of course, even amidst our madcap quest to gather more Grails, life still goes on within the walls of Chaldea.
Or, in some cases, ends.
---
I stare up at the body dangling from the ceiling, quietly reflecting on the fact that, as of today, I'm one of only twenty-three human beings left alive on the planet.
"I can't believe- I didn't see this coming." Roman's crying as he looks at the fleshy former residence of one Tom H. Morrison, Chaldean bridge tech and section head.
It doesn't make that much of a difference, in truth. All the human staff save for me and Roman could be safely replaced with Servants by this point. All the same... it's still disheartening.
It's almost a betrayal, of sorts. After all, we were all in this together, the last humans on the planet. And he abandoned us.
Part of me wants to rage at him, to cuss him out for not standing with us to the bitter end. But then, I catch myself. He's dead now, and the living.... the living come first.
I put a hand on Roman's shoulder. "I don't think any of us saw this coming. Trust me, if anyone should be kicking himself over not spotting this in time, it should be me. I'm the one in charge of security, after all." And I have a massive spy network that I use to constantly monitor Chaldea, but that's best left unspoken.
"Yeah. Maybe so. But I still feel like I failed him."
"Did he leave a note?"
"No. Probably figured that writing one would just give away his plans." Roman sighs, and slumps into a chair. "How do we break this to the rest of the team? It's going to be hell on our morale."
"That, I leave up to you. God knows that I'm not good with normal people, even if I can manage Servants." I sigh, and take the chair besides him. "Are we holding a funeral? I know that we didn't for Jack, but that was mostly because, well..."
"There wasn't enough of a body to bury?" Roman finishes. "We held a memorial service, but you were on deployment at the time."
"So, where and when are we burying him?"
"I was thinking we could put him in one of the spare Klein Coffins. Preserve his body so that his family can send him off according to his wishes."
"You know wasting power on refrigerating dead people decreases our odds of actually winning, right?" I raise my eyebrow sardonically. Much as I respect Roman, he's still a little too sentimental for everyone's good. "Kind of hard to hand the body over to his family if we're all dead, you know?"
Roman shoots me an unimpressed look. "Really? You're on about this
now?"
"Hey the issue's not going away, why should the debate?"
"Flynn, I don't
care how many times you ask me,
I'm not taking the A-Team off life support."
"All right, fine. Waste our electricity and mana on keeping Lev's #1 victims alive long enough that they can all die instantaneously the second you defrost them." I roll my eyes. "But don't say I didn't warn you when it all comes back to bite us."
"I won't ever regret keeping them with us, Flynn. You can count on that."
---
Tom's death casts a shadow over Chaldea for weeks. We all knew him, after all, so we all mourn him. I mourn considerably less, of course, but then, I've never really been one to feel all that bad about someone's passing, a fact I prefer to keep to myself, since it tends to make people look at me funny.
But we proceed onwards. Always onwards. Deploying to secure more Grails, and, of course, summoning more Servants.
---
"Servant Archer, True Name Gilgamesh!" the cheerful little blond boy announces, making me do a double take.
"Ah- Um- W-Welcome, Your Majesty!" I finally manage to get out, still slightly in shock at having summoned the chibi version of humanity's oldest hero. "I am honored beyond all measure to welcome one so magnificent as yourself to Chaldea."
"You don't have to suck up to me," the mini-Gilgamesh says, looking ever-so-slightly disappointed. "I'm not a total jerk like the older mes."
"Oh,
thank God," I say, sighing with relief. "Well, then, Prince Gilgamesh, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Chaldea. If it's not too much of a bother, we'd love it if you could help out around the observatory. We're always understaffed, and your help would be welcome."
"Glad to help!" he says cheerfully. "Dr. Roman's office, right?"
"Yes."
And so he leaves, leaving me profoundly grateful that we didn't get an older version. Overwhelming power or not, that would just be a
nightmare.
---
"Servant Saber, True Name Bedivere," the silver-armed knight says crisply. "It would seem that fate has chosen me to assist you."
"And I can hardly fault that choice," I say with a grin. I actually
liked Bedivere, after all. "We're glad to-"
"I wouldn't wish to waste your time," Bedivere says, all apologetic politeness. "If it's not too much of a bother, I would prefer to go to the Acting Director's office, so that I may be best integrated into Chaldea. Is that permissible to you?"
"Well, yes."
And with that said, he's off, leaving me utterly confused as to what I did to deserve the cold shoulder.
---
"Servant Ruler, True Name Sherlock Holmes," the dapper detective says, professional and dashing as can be. I think Mash is hyperventilating as she looks at him. "I suppose that I'll take your case."
"It's an honor to have you with us, Mr. Holmes," I say, and I really do mean it. Looking at his stats, it's readily evident that, even if he's only a detective and investigator, his incredible deductive skills effectively make him a budget version of Fionn. And I've never been more effective in destroying humanity's enemies than when Fionn Mac Cumhaill was on my side.
"I suppose so." He takes a puff on his pipe. "May I ask where I am to be quartered?"
"I can't step away from the summoning, I'm afraid, but I'm sure that my assistant here, Mash Kyrielight, would be happy to show you around Chaldea."
"Senpai!" she squawks, looking simultaneously enthused and mortified. "I can't-"
"She's just being self-deprecating. She's more than up to the task."
"Very well then," Holmes says with a nod of acknowledgement as he makes for the door. "Miss Kyrielight? Are you coming?"
"Um, yes!" she gives me a half-glare as she make her way after her personal hero.
And now nobody can say I never did anything nice for her. "Alright, Marjani, fire it up!"
The circles spin and the light flares, revealing-
"Ooh. Hydra blood dagger! Score!"
