27 Singularity F - Underway!

"We're in the burning Fuyuki, designated Singularity F, and the servant prepared for the mission has chosen to give me access to his power." Mash Kyrielight reported dutifully, giving Director Olga a stern salute as her lavender eyes wandered to the stare down going between the mysterious Caster who'd helped them find their way here and her senpai, "But er... well, I don't know how to deploy his noble phantasm."

Olga tapped her foot against the ground, arms crossed, "That's well and all but is this really all that we have to work with?" The older woman spoke indignantly before letting out a sigh and continuing, "And I doubt you have any meaningful information to add?"

"Umm... wait yes!" Mash nodded to herself, recalling their earlier altercation, "Senpai and I were attacked by a hostile Rider class servant on our way here. Thankfully, we were able to neutralise her without suffering casualties with the aid of Caster." She gestured to the hooded blue haired man still staring down Nicholas.

"And who ev-"

Nicholas and 'Caster' moved before Olga could finish her words, and seemingly swung at each other.

"What the hell?"

Only to lock arms and butt heads with enough power to kick up a wind that knocked over a nearby pew, and then cross their arms and nod at each other, eyes glowing.

"Nicholas Martel, Chaldea grunt."

"Cu Chulainn, Hound of Ulster."

Both MEN firmly shook hands and nodded again.

"Great, great, I swear to God-..." Olga groaned loudly, holding her head with both hands, "Of course there's another one! Why not?! As if two weren't enough!"

"Don't get your panties in a twist."

"What crawled up your ass today?"

"Such vulgar barbarism is unbefitting of one who claims to be a leader."

Mash didn't even need to look their way to know who said what, this was why Nicholas was admirable.

How many people could just already have so much synergy with a person they'd met seconds ago? A hero of legend no less? She definitely couldn't.

It was enviable.

"You two, shut up. Mash, give me the details."

"Y-Yes!" Mash nodded quickly, shaking her head from her thoughts, "The main distur-..."

She was cut off by Cu Chulainn, "It's Saber. I tried but that damn woman is too strong even without that Grail backin' her up. Not to mention that damn Archer keeping an eye over the whole city." The hero of legend gestured out the window behind him, "Asshole's probably watchin' right now."

He clenched the hand he had around his wooden staff and grunted, "It mighta been different if I had my spear but I don't so it is what it is."

"What's to keep you from being a spy?" Olga asked indignantly, narrowing her eyes, "Nicholas could probably take all the servants here at this point?"

"Trust me Olga, he's not a spy." Nicholas commented, sitting back down.

Mash could only watch on in silence and wonder just how he could know that... She'd talk to him later.

"The confidence's appreciated, lad..." Cu chortled before his voice changed into a more serious tone, "I don't like how this is all happenin', if that ain't reason enough I'm afraid I got nothin' to convince yous." He gestured to the sitting Nicholas with his free hand, "And while yer boy socked Archer and Lanc-"

"Lancer was in there?"

"...Are you serious?" Cu deadpanned, staring at Nicholas in disbelief before laughing, "Damn, you got that Lancer prick and you didn't even know! ...That's some mean disrespect. Anyway, Berserker's a whole nother monster and that commotion probably drew that bastard in. He might be comin' in right now."

Doctor Romani picked that moment to chime in, appearing as a hologram over the shield Mash had placed on the floor, "Cu Chulainn, the son of the Sun God Lugh... and the Hound of Ulster from the Ulster Cycle, I think you can trust his words. We're stretched for manpower as is... Thre- Four combatants is nowhere near the number we intended for any of the singularities."

Mash saw Nicholas perk up at those words, a mischievous smile forming across his usually inexpressive face, "Yo doc, you said the Fate system can be used with Mash's shield yeah?"

"...Yes but I don't se-..." Understanding flashed in the doctor's eyes, "Are you sure you can handle the strain?"

"He can, easily." Martha answered for him, smiling bitterly and anyone could see why.

The Saint was close to Nicholas solely for how he preferred less of the Saint and more of the blunt and brash village girl Martha actually was. If he were to summon another servant, like he clearly planned to, the bond he shared only with her would be divided between another.

Nicholas instead glanced at Olga who was sitting with her legs crossed, eyes narrowed in thought, "Whatcha think, Olga?"

"Ummm, I don't like how you people are just leaving me out of the conversation like I'm not even here." Ritsu- Gudako spoke out, nervously raising her hand, "I can help with the servant if you want. Mash told me I had the capacity."

"Ain't no way I'm letting you gamble." Nicholas shot her down instantly, with not an ounce of remorse.

"What even is that?! I've never gambled in my life! And aren't we in life-threatening danger?! Why are you so casual?"

Mash didn't know why Nicholas seemed so intent on branding the teenager a gambling addict.

Olga slightly giggled before quickly covering her mouth, "I agree with you. We should be taking the situation a lot more seriously..." Unfortunately, there was no point in arguing with Chaldea's strongest combatant, "You can try convincing him if you want."

"Wipe that damn grin off your mug!"

"So humanity's last hope is a bunch of kids that think this is a vacation..." Cu spoke with a small smile, running his crimson eyes over the group before pumping his free fist and grinning, "I like it! You got my full aid! You even got a sexy Saint watching over you!"

Martha's head shot in his direction, eyes wide open and the Irishman shivered, recalling a certain woman that had given him that very same look before breaking every single bone in his body, "I-I'm sorry miss."

"Do that again, and you won't be able to regret it."

"...So it's fine when the lad does it but anyone else and you're on your perio-"

Cu found himself watching the beautiful scenery outside before he could finish his words while the rest of his body enjoyed the warmth offered by a house of God.

In plain words, Martha shoved his head through the motherfucking wall.

Moments passed in an awkward silence, moments in which Ritsuka 'Gudako' Fujimaru realised that she was stuck with a bunch of nutjobs, that damn saint lady was smiling so gracefully you'd think she didn't just shove a man's head through a goddamn wall over words... WORDS!

...

Clearing her throat, Olga placed a hand over her hips and waved the other, "Very well, I'll authorise the summoning of another servant. Nicholas and Mash, summon another one. Martha and Caster will accompany them to deal with any problems that may arise. You..." She pointed at Gudako as the others nodded, "You and Romani will help me map out the city, marking enemy locations in the meantime and afterwards, we'll neutralise all hostile servants one by one... ideally. Starting with Berserker before we attack Saber and finish this. We can rest all we want after the mission!"

"Look at that, she didn't even need practice this time."

"She practises speeches? Damn, that's gotta be embarrassing."

Olga flushed instantly, "Away with you four!"

She watched them scurry away like a bunch of kids, except for Mash who was unironically the most mature one in the group... That was something when two members of a group of four were hailed and revered as heroes of legend.

"And Nicholas, don't you dare think I don't notice you just want another person to mess with!"

"Director... don't you think you downplay Nicholas' mind too much?" Romani commented hesitantly, "He memorised all the basics of magecraft in a day... even if he claims he doesn't know anything about it."

"Please! As if he has a single strategic bone in his whole body. Are you an imbecile? All Nicholas cares about is enjoying himself."

Both of them knew that wasn't the truth.

"Who could've known?" Gudako spoke listlessly, having more than once bore the brunt of his attention.

Outside, a single Master accompanied by three servants prepared to summon another figure of legend to bolster their already considerable power.

"Senpai, if you don't mind me asking... Do you have a catalyst this time?"

Nicholas pursed his lips and pulled out a skull from his as- god knew where... He pulled it out from his shirt.

-

Hope you're enjoying this so far.