Texas Beyond III

Welcome! This is Maanna's cockpit!

You two are the first people I've ever let on board besides Jane, so you'd better appreciate it☆

And that appreciation can take the form of a bonus once we finish this job☆

So this is your ship, huh? I can tell it's a pretty old model...

It does have cannons, but it looks like it's also running a time particle accumulation sensor and 4D manipulator...

Hmm, I see. So you modified an excavator designed for exploring ruins rather than a fighter.

And the cockpit's got two command seats and two crew seats, huh. That works out perfectly!

Ooh, this is gonna be fun☆

It's only been me and Ishtarin up till now, so a packed cockpit ought to be a nice change of pace♡

If we ever need to discuss strategy again, this is where we'll do it.

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Yeah... We just can't seem to find their boss's hideout anywhere.

And I'd really rather not leave any unfinished business behind before we head to the next planet.

Hmm... Can I go look for him then?

Not right now, Jane. It always takes you at least a month to get back from your little recon trips.

Aww, too bad. It would've been a good chance to check out those ancient ruins.

That sounds more like exploring than recon to me.

Hey, Fujimaru, I have a question for you.

Masters can form contracts with Servants, right?

Does that mean you can summon them too? Like, say, could you summon the mohawks' boss here?

I'll say. I can't imagine much lazier than summoning your target to your hideout because you can't be bothered to look for them yourself.

I like to take it easy sometimes, sure, but even I would never go that far.

I-I just wanted to know if it was possible! If it's not, then just say so!

Gotcha... Too bad. That would've made this way easier.

Oh well, I don't think we could beat him in a straight-up fight anyway. Our best bet's to sneak into his hideout and take him by surprise.

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Anyway, you're even more useless than I thought, huh? You can't fight, you can't summon...

You can't do anything at all. How are you gonna get by when this is all over?

...Oh well, guess that's really not my problem.

Hehehe.

What? What's with the "Oh, you sweet summer child" laugh?

Who, me? I didn't say anything. Besides, it's fine if you think that right now.

Hey, I'm not being brutally honest here for kicks. It's to help keep you safe, Fujimaru.

The Servantverse has been even more dangerous than usual lately...

And there aren't many other bodyguards around like us who... Well, we may not exactly help you out of the goodness of our hearts, but we'll at least faithfully obey the terms of a contract.

The way things've been this season, most people would sell you out the moment they meet someone stronger or richer.

So since you're weak and powerless, you need to figure out a way to avoid being killed. That's all I'm saying.

Ooh! I just remembered something that could really help us out!

Ishtarin, do you remember that Mute tracer we saw in the artifacts the professor found!?

You mean my father? Also, what's a Mute tracer?

You know, that thing you use when you want to find out how much someone else put you on mute!

It's basically a sensor for detecting how much hate and from where you're getting it at any given moment!

So if we put that on Fujimaru...

...we might be able to find where the mohawks who're after him are coming from!

Damn, I can only imagine how stressed out whoever invented it must've been! Anyway, are we really going to go all the way to Planet Zenjou just for that!?

We don't have to! I'm pretty sure we've already got it right here on the Maanna!

I mean, you've always kept valuables and the professor's stuff right where you can see it!

Well, yeah, but

Let's see, I think it was somewhere around here...

Hey, don't just turn the whole place upside down! Who's gonna clean all this up!?

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Found it! Here, Fujimaru, put this on!

This should tell us where whoever's trying to get you is coming from!

...Well? Is it working?

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H-hey, are you okay!? Are your eyes supposed to be spinning around like that!?

Don't worry, Ishtarin! It's only temporary☆

Now, do you think you can use that device to pick up his brain waves?

Ohh, yeah! Once we convert his brain waves into data, then we ought to be able to trace them.

Just gimme a sec. There, I'm in! There's one big marker and one little marker on the interstellar map...

The little one's here on this planet, so that must be where the mohawks' boss is hiding out!

Yay! Then that's our destination! Come on, let's go take down this boss right now!

Lady Ashtart, you have an incoming transmission from Texas Beyond.

Put it through.

That you, boss? Heya! This here's Billy the Flashing Sword!

Didja like the surprise I sent ya for your birthday?

Y'know, the box with the chrysalises from all 'cross the universe I had delivered a week later...

...so that ya'd open it up ta see a whole buncha beautiful butterflies fly out?

Ah yes, I remember. It would have been a lovely present... if they had actually been butterflies and not moths.

Aw crap.

Khh hooh... Khh hooh... (Stifling laughter)

I've sent you two thousand Dislikes.

I suggest you practice stopping swords with your bare hands before we meet again.

Yikes... Guess I ain't gonna be visitin' Dark Maanna again anytime soon.

Ah well, that's all right. Life out here on the interplanetary prairie suits me better anyhow!

Anyways, y'know that new wanted man y'all sent out that poster about? Well, it looks like my mohawks found him.

Unfortunately, it looks like he also hired some bodyguards that've been sendin' my boys packin' whenever they try an' catch him.

So now that my mohawks are close ta bein' wiped out, I figured it might be time for me ta take a crack at him myself.

I see. So he landed on Texas Beyond. This is very good luck, Lady Ashtart.

Stop that, Munenori. I'm trying to run a respectable evil organization here. You're supposed to say "bad luck."

Yeah, so, aaanyways, I just gotta catch this here Master fellow, is that right?

Y'all mind if I just go ahead and kill his bodyguards then?

Bodyguards...

Of course, you can dispose of them how you like. You don't need to run decisions like that past me.

All I care about is the Master. Just take him alive and send him to Maanna ASAP.

That so. All right, I'll handle the details on my end then. Oh, and I'll go ahead and send Lord Munenori the data while I'm at it.

Much obliged. We're trusting you to handle this matter in a timely fashion.

Roger that! All right then, I'mma kill those bodyguards 'fore they even know what shot 'em!

Glory to Space Shinkageryu and the goddess of evil!

There we go. Silent, quick, and deadly... That should take care of the lookouts, Master.

We didn't give them any time to call for backup, so I doubt the others have any idea we're here.

I never would've guessed they were using a limestone cave down in a valley as a hideout. How's the inside looking, Jane?

Hmm, there sure are a lot of them. I definitely wouldn't want to fight them all directly.

Ooh, that could work!

These mohawk guys aren't exactly brave, so once we take out their boss, I bet they'll all scatter like cockroaches!

Leave it to me! I'll sneak up and pick off the boss before they know what hit 'em, like any Saber would!

Well, normally I would be done with them and back here already...

But for some reason, my heart just isn't in it this time. Are you sure this boss is really a Saber?

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All right then, let's split up.

You three stay here and get everyone's attention while I sneak in and take out their boss.

All by yourself? Are you sure? Sneaking into places like this is what my Saber Ninja Arts were made for, you know?

Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'm good at sneaking into places myself, and I've gotten out of plenty of spots tighter than this.

All right then, see you guys later! Don't worry, Fujimaru, I'll be back with good news soon!

So much for talking things out. What do we do now, Fujimaru?

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'Course not! She might not look like it, but trust me, Ishtarin always goes all out with whatever she does!

Knowing you're there to keep her from getting in over her head would be a real weight off my shoulders!

Hooboy! You ain't half bad, bounty hunter! Ain't many who can defend 'gainst my sword flashes like that!

Where'd ya even learn to swing a sword like that? It's naggin' at me so dang much I can hardly concentrate!

Sword flashes!? You're just firing a revolver, jackass! Are you sure you're really one of the Six Blades!?

Sure am. The big boss gave me a gold Saber Badge herself!

'Course, I only swore loyalty an' took it after she beat me, and it was either that or die.

Y'know, I can still hardly believe that a li'l old Archer like me can be a Saber just by puttin' on this here badge.

Honestly, it ticks me off that our boss is forcing us to keep this ridiculous game of pretend going.

That's why I'm reeeal curious who ya learned your swordfightin' from...

...seein' how it's exactly like the boss's.

Was it Lord Munenori? Though I don't see where he could've found the time to teach someone else...

Nobody taught me!

I came up with this style all on my own just so I could take you damn Space Shinkageryu down myself!

Whew, that was close!

Gotcha. So y'ain't never had a teacher, huh. Then I guess that style o' yours must just be improvised.

All right, in that case, I'm through playin' 'round. I'd better finish ya off 'fore ya wake up for real.

For the record, I am one of the Six Blades, the Flashing Sword. But y'all can call me Billy the Flash.

Though to be honest, my speed's really all I got goin' for me.

!?

Ghh...!

Was that your Noble Phantasm!? How the hell did you shoot that fast without moving or loading your gun!? That kind of speed shouldn't even be possible!

Well dang, you're still alive after I hit ya?

I knew sacrificin' power for speed is my biggest weakness an' all, but that don't explain it.

You really ain't a normal Servant, are ya? Guess I've gotta blast your head as well as your heart.

(I don't believe it. He's going to use another Noble Phantasm so quickly!? There's no way I can keep up with that kind of speed!)

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Fujimaru!? What're you doing here!? I thought I told you to wait for me!

Well now, so you're the Master all this ruckus is about? Ahaha, well ain't that a kick in the teeth. Turns out you ain't nothin' to be scared of.

Mighty kind of ya to turn yourself in like this. Sorry I gotta return the favor by blastin' your legs off, but I can't have ya runnin' away. Nothin' personal.

I ain't usually in the habit of shootin' visitors from other universes, but the boss was reeeal clear about bringin' you in alive, and I ain't 'bout ta get on her bad side.

Whatever Lady Ashtart wants ta sacrifice ya for, it's obviously real important ta her.

If ya don't like it, y'all can take it up with the boss after ya wake up.

Oh no you don't!

Dayum. I'm impressed you can still move with a gut fulla lead. Not that it's gonna do ya much good now.

There still ain't no way you can beat me, let alone save the little cowpoke there.

And of course, there ain't no way he's gettin' outta here, and no way he can help you out neither.

But if y'all don't wanna accept you've been checkmated just yet, ain't much I can do about it.

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!

No way... Did you just instantly heal me!? Was that one of the legendary "Command Spells"!?

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Okay, okay, no need to be so smug! Besides, I can see your knees knocking from here!

Still...you're right. I can definitely win now! All right, Fujimaru, I'm counting on you for support!

Those Command Spells of yours can replenish magical energy too, right!? Then let's fight speed with speed!

Now help me finish this before he can use his Noble Phantasm again!

Tch...! This ain't lookin' too good for us, Thunderer! Don't fail me now!

We've gotta settle this with a Noble Phantasm twofer!

Gaaah! Was that a whole other universe!?

The hell just happened!?

I can't believe it... We just beat one of the Six Blades in a straight fight...

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...Yeah. Yeah! We won, we won, WE WOOON!!!

This is amazing! WE'RE amazing! I couldn't have done it without your support, Master!

Hey guys! We sent the mohawks packing, so now we Well, well, what do we have here?

Are you really holding Fujimaru's hands and hopping up and down like a madwoman, Ishtar?

Something must have you awfully happy.

Sure looks like it! But why stop at hopping? If you're that happy, just go ahead and hug him! Go on, girl!

...!

...Ahem. That was, um... How do I put this...?

No, hang on. First, I need to apologize for what I said earlier.

I'm sorry I called you useless before, Fujimaru. I couldn't have been more wrong.

You're very brave, and it's got nothing to do with you being a Master.

I could never have beaten Billy without you. Thanks for bailing me out.

Wh-what!? Just how awful is the Ishtar you know!?

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(Anyway, all that aside...)

(I had no idea Masters could make Servants this strong...)

(I might have to reconsider just letting him walk away when all this is over...)

Hey! I know that face, Ishtarin! You're thinking up ways to get rich quick, aren't you?

Wh-who, me? Of course not!

Anyway, let's hurry up and grab their stuff before anyone can stop us!

This is the mohawks' hideout, right? Then they must have plenty of Altrium tucked away.

But most importantly, we can get Billy here to tell us all about their organization. Isn't that right, Billy?

Shit! I didn't think y'all'd notice me leavin'!

Well, we did! So you're Billy, huh? Come over here and let's have a nice little chat, old pal!

What the...!? Old pal!? Aren't ya bein' a little too buddy-buddy alluva sudden?

Jane's always been weird when it comes to both literal and figurative distance. It's what lets her make friends with just about anyone.

Me, on the other hand... Let's just say I'm not the forgiving type. Now, is what you said earlier true?

Which part?

The part where you said someone named Ashtart wants to sacrifice Fujimaru.

I'm guessing that's the name of Space Shinkageryu's boss?

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Ohhh, that. I musta been so caught up in the battle I didn't even realize I was runnin' my mouth.

You got it. Space Shinkageryu wants to use that there Master for some kinda ritual.

Least, that's what the boss's right-hand man says. I don't know what Lady Ashtart might really be up to.

Hmm, a ritual that sacrifices a Master, huh... There's so many possibilities it's hard to narrow them down.

But since Masters haven't lived in this universe since ancient times, I'd guess the ritual itself must be something only an archaeologist would know.

So where is Ashtart...this leader of yours?

Beats me. It looked like she was headin' somewhere in her space fortress, but that's all I know.

I'd expect the little cowpoke over there oughta have a better idea than I do.

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I see. Thanks for the hot tip.

Of course, that doesn't really help us much, seeing how there's dozens upon dozens of forbidden zones in the Servantverse, but I guess it's better than nothing. Barely.

Well, at least we know now that this Ashtart lady's the one who brought Fujimaru to our universe...

...and that she's the boss of Space Shinkageryu.

It would only make sense for her to know how to get you back home, since she brought you here in the first place. Obviously she's got a way.

Well of course♡ I haven't been a bounty hunter since I was fourteen for nothing, after all☆

M-me, a hero...?

Uh, y-yeah, that's me. Ishtar the bounty hunter, friend to justice and money everywhere.

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We all done talkin' now? 'Cause if so, I'd like to make y'all a deal.

Ishtar, you're lookin' for all the Six Blades, ain'tcha? Now, now, don't be shocked. You got more bloodlust than a starvin' coyote.

If ya let me go, I'd be willin' ta give ya the boardin' codes for the Dark Maanna Space Fortress.

It'd let you walk right into Space Shinkageryu's headquarters without so much as a "How d'ya do?" Whatcha say to that?

You'd just sell your boss out like that?

I ain't sellin' shit. I'm just as sure as the sunrise that she can beat you and take that there Master back no problem.

Either way, it ain't got nothin' ta do with me no more. I'm gettin' outta Space Shinkageryu for good.

I don't got no reason to hang onto this Saber Badge, and there ain't no way Lord Munenori'd let me stick around now that I've lost anyway.

So, whadda ya say? Seems like a pretty good deal to me, given what you're ultimately workin' towards.

...It's not up to me. Fujimaru's the one you tried to capture, so he should be the one to decide.

What do you think, Fujimaru? Do we let him go, or tie him up and leave him to rot in the desert?

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That's that then. Here you go, one boardin' pass for Dark Maanna.

Now then, the Space Shinkageryu don't take too kindly to deserters, so I'd better make myself scarce.

Y'all do know what you're gettin' into, right? 'Cause they ain't gonna be goin' easy on y'all now that you beat me.

Ah well, ain't my problem. Good luck!

Space Shinkageryu, huh. That's one heck of an evil organization.

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Oh yeah. They've got their hands in all sorts of evil pies, no matter how big or how small.

They're also really secretive. So much so that these mohawk guys probably didn't even know they were working for them.

That probably goes for all the Servants fighting over those Saber Badges, really.

They have no idea that getting one of those badges means they've effectively joined Space Shinkageryu.

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...

Hey, Fujimaru. I know I said we'd keep you safe for as long as you're on this planet...

...but would you mind if I...um, amended my statement?

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Like, say, protecting you until you can return safely to your own universe.

I mean, the Space Shinkageryu themselves are after you, right?

With all the wanted criminals that are bound to come after you, it'll be bounty heaven.

You can pay me a fair rate for my services, and the bounties ought to pay for any expenses incurred.

Basically, you scratch my back, I scratch yours.

What do you say? Of course, if you're not thrilled with the idea of being bait, I'll understand.

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...(Sigh) I had a feeling you wouldn't even have to think about it.

You're either way more experienced with life-threatening danger than you look, or you're too trusting for your own good...

Oh well. We both have our reasons for being here, so let's keep helping each other out!

You good with this, Jane?

You bet! Besides, it would go against my pioneer spirit to leave a hapless traveler to fend for himself!

I'll come too, of course.

Technically, I'm still Fujimaru's mentor, after all.

Fine by me! Then let's blast off from this planet as soon as we're stocked up on Altrium!

Oh, but remember, we're still only your bodyguards, so you'll be the one calling the shots, Master!