The Mission to Restore Humanity -- Grand Order

Once everyone was rested up, Da Vinci called them to the Rayshifting room. This time, they were fully prepared. Everyone was in uniform, and their Coffins were ready.

Tesla waited in the control room while Da Vinci joined the group on the floor. He was there mostly for moral support--he still didn't quite understand how everything worked here. "To think how far we've come in a hundred years," he laughed nervously. "Then again, I didn't know about everything going on in the world of magic."

Dr. Roman had huge bags under his eyes as he warmed up the controls for Rayshifting. He'd taken over the jobs of many of the staff that had died in the explosion, and Lazarus was pretty sure he hadn't slept once since then. Even with Lazarus' help, the two of them could only barely make up for the staff they had lost. For his clumsiness and goofiness, Dr. Roman was still impressively diligent, using all of his energy to help prepare them for the mission. They were dubbed the Grand Orders--seven missions to restore humanity's timeline.

"Hai, haiii~" Da Vinci clapped her hands. "We're about ready to go. Your destination is France, 1431 AD. Have you guys studied up on the time period you'll be going to?"

"Yes! I've been thoroughly studying their kissing method," Aaron said, not in uniform, and snickering.

Avalon sighed in response, "How old are you? Sweet Jesus..."

Lazarus smiled and shook his head as he prepared the rayshift. He turned to Dr. Roman, "I'm afraid I'm going to require you to get some sleep after this. I can handle things for awhile, alright?"

Phillipus threw his shoulders back with confidence. "Naturally. It was recent history for you and I, after all." Mari rolled her eyes.

"I... think I got it. I guess I'll find out more when I get there." Astolfo whined on his feet, Fou trapped in his arms.

"I wish I got to go!! That's way past my time, and way before the last time I saw France!" Medea reached up and patted his head.

"We've plenty to work on in the meantime, dear. Besides, if the girls can't go, neither can we." Chiaki was manning the secondary Shift controls, making sure the readouts were even. Medea had a point, but... Damn if she didn't wish she could go with them!

Roman laughed tiredly. "Ah, if you're sure that's alright. I'll be in your care then."

Da Vinci laughed. "Well, if any of the active Servants need a break from a mission, you could trade places with them sometime! Oh yes, and that reminds me!" She produced a stack of talismans and handed each one to a Servant. "Press these to your forehead and they will record your memories up to this point. Should you fall on the battlefield, we can restore them to you upon resummoning."

Lazarus would have to give DaVinci some sort of amazing present for that. He urged everyone into their coffins so they would be ready for shifting.

"Now, remember!" Da Vinci warned them. "We can resummon Servants, but you Masters are irreplaceable. So be careful! Don't be afraid to run away if you need to."

As everyone loaded up into the Coffins, she gave them one last short speech. "You've each been given a personal communicator loaded with a map of France. Your destination is Domremy, France in the midst of the Hundred Years' War. France is the origin of democracy, so any major changes to history here would be trouble. However, as this is merely the lead-up to that pivotal point, this period's Human Order Foundation value has been rated C+."

"Your mission is to find and eliminate the cause of the Singularity. As we believe a Holy Grail to be responsible, this will likely involve capturing or destroying it. That's it! Bon voyage, everyone!"

With that, Lazarus and Roman began the Rayshift process.

"Unsummon program start. Beginning spirit particle converstion. Rayshift beginning 3... 2... 1... Operation complete. Commencing Grand Order."

Once again, the party felt a strange rushing sensation, though in their Coffins, it was much more comfortable this time around. They felt as though they were floating in a warm light, rushing down a tunnel. Then as though they were squeezed through a straw, until finally...

They dropped onto a grassy hillside. The air was warm and fragrant, and the sky was clear. They seemed to appear in the countryside near some farms.

Medea tutted quietly at "the origin of democracy." Demokratia had been overlooked in the common vernacular, apparently.
---
Phillipus took a deep breath as he fell out and waved his hand, period robes shimmering onto him complete with a hat. "Wonderful! I haven't worn such fashions in centuries!"

Aaron smiled at the scene, this one was way more pleasant! Avalon took a deep breath in. Even though there was a smell from the nearby farms, the air was so...fresh. Aaron noticed Phillipus' wardrobe change, "Oo! I want some!" Avalon laughed, "We should probably all have some if you can Phillipus. It'll make life a little easier."

"That it will, that it will!" He looked over each of the Masters, then tapped the sheathed tip of the Azoth on their heads like a wand. Their uniforms turned into outfits reflecting the time and a plausible culture for each.

Aaron's garb most resembled the French locals, whereas Mari was fitted into a traveler's kimono and Avalon's dress was a blend of European style and east African traders' fabrics. He nodded approvingly with his chin in his hand.

Mari reached up and lightly patted her face, feeling the pale makeup caked on with a sigh. "Okay, yeah, it's accurate, but it's annoying. Let's get this over with."

Aaron chuckled at Phillipus' actions, "Ohmygod I love you maybe..." he trailed off at the end, blushing slightly and following Avalon as she marched the group onward, pleased with her clothes, "I look so cool. Can I keep this?"

Artoria had shed her armor, but even for this time period, she worried her dress screamed "English." "I could use the same treatment."

Before Phillipus came over, though, something caught her eyes. She looked up, craning her head back.

"What... is that?"



Directly over their heads, a massive ring of light. They couldn't tell exactly how big it was, but seeing it was above the clouds, it had to be gigantic.

"You can, if it doesn't dematerialize in the shift back. Otherwise, I'll gladly make you a replica later."

He looked up, shading his eyes with a hand. "I think that's what we're looking for."

"Yup...how do we get to it though?" Avalon wondered.
"Let's figure some shit out about it. Maybe one of the farmers know something." he trundled on down towards the properties, looking for anyone who happened to be working in the fields.

In the control room, Dr. Roman saw a projected image of the ring of the sky. "A ring of light in the sky... That's definitely not normal." He ran some calculations. "It's roughly... the size of North America. Is it some kind of ritual? Maybe..." He turned to a device designed to measure magical power. The instant he directed it toward the ring, it shorted out. "Oh. Okay."

As they headed down toward the farm, they didn't see anyone working outside, but a group of French soldiers was making its way down the raod toward them.

Aaron jogged up to them, waving, "Hello!~" he called, trying to flag them down.

Mari turned to Avalon. "How big is North America?"

After booping Artoria into simpler clothing that wouldn't belie her British background, Phillipus waved a hand. "I say, vous! Soldats!"

Aaron stopped short and shut his mouth, turning to Phillipus, "Good idea! I'm dumb." he waited for him to catch up so someone competent could talk to the soldiers.

"Just under 3,000 miles across I'd say..."

As soon as the "hello" left Aaron's mouth, the soldiers were on guard. They looked back and forth suspiciously between Aaron and Phillipus. "Who are you?!" the soldier in front barked in Middle French. "Are you English?"

He waved his hands, leaning into his accent. "Non, non! We are but traders and tourists, here to envoy goods for the glory of Le Royaume Valois. I myself come from, ah, Schweiz? Le... le canton pres d'Allemagne! Dites, soldats, do you know what comes of the large ring in the heavens?"

The soldier didn't lower his weapon, but looked slightly more at ease. "You have not seen the ring of light yet? It appeared a few days ago." He looked uneasy. "They are saying it is a sign of the end times. Given the past week, I find myself inclined to believe it."

Avalon stepped forward, assuming her heritage would lend her to getting away with her basic grasp of french, "Oh? We have just arrived here. What has been happening?"

Roman listened to the exchange and snapped his fingers. "Translator! I can't believe I didn't think of it. We should have something around here somewhere." He rushed out of the room.

The soldier still looked suspicious. "You have not heard?" He sighed. "I suppose if you just arrived here... The King is dead. Murdered by the witch who has arisen from the grave. They say she is going to bring destruction to all of France."

Phillipus gave a grim frown. "The witch? C'est qui?" His eyes widened. "Surely... Do you mean the Maiden of Orleans?"

The soldier nodded gravely, finally lowering his spear. "The very same. Jeanne d'Arc. She was burned at the stake no more than ten days ago. She has returned with a vengeance, followed by a storm of black dragons. She killed the King and captured Orleans. Many of our forts have fallen, including our own at Vacoleurs. The only silver lining is that the English have retreated, but that is a small comfort."

"Then I pray for your safety, and those of your men. Tiens, we will not waste any more of your time, unless... To where do you march? Might we accompany you, for safety?"