Chapter 5 - Breaking Down Barriers

Zero Hour
"HMS Thunder Child?" repeated Sora with curiosity as she walked up to Solace and Lynette.

"It was an ironclad torpedo ram of the Royal Navy in the H.G. Wells' novel, The War of the Worlds," explained Solace.

"But it sank, didn't it?" pointed out Lynette, "In the mouth of the River Blackwater... Wait, this is the mouth of the River Blackwater isn't it?" Realisation set on her face.

"Yeah," nodded Solace, folding her arms, "Didn't you two know Yamaha was working on this?"

"Lynette's part of a military warfare group rather than military research," noted Sora, taking a good look of the vessel, "I've only been part an intelligence group for a few hours. So you're suggesting Miku had the husk surfaced to rebuild the ship? What makes the ship worthy of restoring?" She noticed a removable bridge further down the dock that joined the dock to the conveniently open hatch on the side of the ship.

"In the novel," began Lynette, "The Thunder Child destroyed two huge tripods of invading Martians, the first by ramming into it, the second by exploding next to it."

"Exploding? It self-destructed?"

"Well, not quite," clarified Solace, "The tripods destroyed the Thunder Child but as it exploded, shrapnel hit and destroyed the second tripod. So it was sort of an accident."

"I see..." Sora turned her head to look at Solace, "I understand Lynette knowing about a British novel. How come you know about it?"

"I studied it as part of my English Literature in university back in my own world." Solace could help wincing on the thought of her original universe. "And besides my creator is British."

"British?" queried Lynette, "Are you sure you want to leave the United Kingdom right now?" Lynette was interacting more with Solace as their similarities were being uncovered.

"As I said, I'd rather not get him involved. My friends are my priority. Anyway, shouldn't we board? Did you say you were being chased?" Solace asked, raising an eyebrow. She thumbed over at the bridge.

"Hmm..." frowned Sora, "I guess you're right since we've got Black and Rin after us but it seems awfully convenient."

Solace gave a unamused look, "Oh yeah, because you're more likely to survive a meeting with both Law and Order than an expected trap," she stated with emphasized sarcasm.

"... Look, I get your point."

After crossing the bridge, Sora entered the Thunder Child first. After a pause as Solace helped Lynette out her Striker Units, Sora spoke, "It seems the ship is empty. I'll go ahead to the bridge to check if it's really a trap. When you come in, get rid of this walkway."

When Solace entered the vessel, she collapsed onto all fours, gasping for breath. Lynette was holding both her Striker Units so was in no position to help, "Solace, what's wrong?" she asked, genuinely concerned.

"Just got hit by a heatwave..." mumbled Solace, sweat dripping down her face. She slowly rose back to her feet. "I noticed when I first dropped into Yamaha," began Solace, as she pushed the walkway out the door, making a big splash in the water below, "Then I noticed again when entering this warehouse... It's really hot in Yamaha, isn't it?" She closed the door and sealed it tightly by turning the wheel on the inside.

"Ever since Doomsday, Yamaha has seen around a seven degree rise in temperature," commented Lynette, "Celsius," she added. The two of them made their way towards the front of the ship down metal corridors, passing closed heavy metal doors to other rooms.

Solace was surprised, "Seven? That's nothing to laugh at. Global warming doesn't come close."

"You could say Yamaha is undergoing an Industrial Revolution. We're making best use of the territory and resources we have for enhanced research and production which generates a lot of heat. This heat cannot go through the Sonic Barrier so it just dissipates throughout the Kingdom. So yes, it is very hot and humid. I'm used to it now though."

"But what about the Arctic? It's not melted," pointed out Solace, using knowledge given from Haruhi.

"Oh, the Arctic melted long ago. It's artificial now."

Solace's eyes widened, "Wha- What about sea levels? Those haven't changed either."

"Water is our most valuable resource. For research, power, production, we isolate the water from the oceans. Examples include water used for cold fusion, hydroelectric systems detached from the water cycle as well as surplus storage of drinking water for all communities. Basically, we've taken the water out the seas."

"How is hydroelectric power possible without the water cycle? Doesn't it need rain to work?"

"I'm not sure on the details. All I know is that such systems exist. How is it in North High?"

Solace looked up with thought, "Well, climate-wise, it's completely unchanged. However, there's no heavy industry, heavy commercial sector or economy. We still have light industry and commercial like agriculture, shops and cafés but they're more for socialising and morale rather than for work. There's always a surplus of everything and everything's free."

Lynette turned to look at Solace with a longing expression, "... Did you like it?"

Wiping the sweat over her forehead with her arm, Solace took the time to think, "... Yes. Being the perfect citizen I am, I could do anything I wanted. One bad thing is that my friends weren't there with me."

"So you would have preferred it if Haruhi owned the entire universe?"

"Hmm... I'd rather have another god also in power. That way, if Haruhi ever stepped out of line, the other god can interfere and vice versa."

The two of them finally entered the bridge. Windows lined the far wall, showing the closed warehouse shutter out to the North Sea. By the windows were the usual controls and wheel that ships had during the early twentieth century. Solace was immediately reminded of the Titanic, before remembering the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage. However, in the middle of the room was a single out of place fixed seat that was out of arm's reach of all the controls. Solace and Lynette approached Sora who was sat down in the seat.

"Sora?" began Lynette, "Are you-" Without warning, the Thunder Child rushed forward, smashing through the warehouse shutter. Solace and Lynette were thrown back, hitting the metal back wall with loud clangs. Once the Thunder Child entered open sea, it took a sharp turn and the two humans rolled into the corner of the room, Lynette holding onto her Striker Units as tightly as she could.

Black watched the Thunder Child make a sharp right turn in front of her as she sat casually on the edge of the dock outside the warehouse, the waves splashing against the dock below her. She waited for the dim silhouette of the ship fade into the distance to the south before continuing her phone conversation. "Was giving Yamaha's first project to three criminals a good idea?"

"Better them than us," replied Miku, "It's untested tech. We needed a few guinea pigs."

"Hmm... You never told me the Thunder Child's purpose."

"You'll see for yourself. I need you to head for the Canary Islands and assemble the Strike Witches to follow it up. I've called Wing Commander Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke to expect you."

"So, I better get going then," sighed Black, getting up.

"Ah," interjected Miku, "There's no hurry. If the Thunder Child fails, there'd be plenty of time to pick up the pieces. If the Thunder Child succeeds, it'll get dangerous so we have to wait a while to... well, pick up the pieces."

Once the echoes of clangs died down, Solace called out, "Sora! What's happening?" The Thunder Child was speeding up and Solace was having difficulty raising an arm from the force, let alone getting away from the corner.

"I think the Thunder Child is being remotely controlled," conjectured Sora, turning her head to look at the others, "I can't shut down the wireless connection nor can I gain control of navigation."

"So it was a trap?" struggled Lynette.

"Hmm... Well, all the exits are sealed from the inside, so we could essentially leave whenever we want. Also, I have control of the weapon systems."

"Can't you press buttons or something to stop it?" suggested Solace. The Thunder Child was losing acceleration so Solace managed to get back onto her feet.

"The buttons aren't connected to anything. The Thunder Child was designed to be digitally controlled by a single machine."

Lynette, with Solace's help, stood back up, "Isn't this far too fast for a normal ship to sail?"

"The blueprints of the ship says it's constructed with parts from three vessels, the HMS Thunder Child, the Ebon Hawk and the Borealis. The engine comes from the Ebon Hawk."

Solace walked up to the wheel, "The Ebon Hawk was a Star Wars spaceship. Maybe the Thunder Child has a toned down hyperdrive?" She gave the wheel a strong spin. There was no visible effect as Sora had suggested.

"And the Borealis?"

"The Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights? I don't know a ship with that name though." Solace looked outside and gasped. As the Thunder Child raced on the waves of the English Channel, they were quickly approaching the towering Atlas from his left side, the water reaching his waist. He turned his gigantic head to look at the oncoming vessel, his hollow red eyes sending a chill down Solace's spine, but faced away again possibly to concentrate on his own task of transporting the moon. Solace hesitantly turned to Sora, "Is it safe to get so close to Atlas?" She noticed the seat had a seatbelt that Sora had buckled.

"No, it isn't," agreed Sora, "But I can't control it, as I said. If you want to bail just tell us."

With the way Sora said that, Solace couldn't help glowering. She faced the window again, watching Atlas move out of view as the Thunder Child overtook him. "So... You just want to get out of Yamaha to run away from the authorities? Gensokyo and North High will never let a Vocaloid walk around freely."

Sora narrowed her eyes, continuing to glare out the window ahead, "... Well, I'm sort of in the same boat as you. I'm looking for someone."

"Oh, really?," Solace turned to Sora again, "Another Vocaloid?"

"No, a human."

There was a long silence. "And... what was their name?" asked Solace, somewhat impatiently.

Sora's eyes met with Solace's, her head completely still. "Her name is Rulia."

"Ohh, Rulia," said Solace with a curious expression, eyes looking away in thought.

There was another long silence. It was Sora's turn to be impatient, "You sound like you've heard the name before," she frowned.

Solace looked back at Sora, "Well, I have. Back in my universe, a girl called Rulia came to Arcania City for an anime fair. She stayed over our summer house for a night. She was very nice. Hmm, I've got her mobile number." Solace dug her hand in her pocket and pulled out a flip phone. After pressing a few buttons, she showed the screen to Sora.

"That's not her number, at least not in my world," noted Sora, with disappointment, "My Rulia did like anime though."

"Ah, well," Solace pushed more buttons on her phone, "My Rulia looks like this. Short with brown hair, usually tied with metallic pieces, red eyes. Usually wears a school uniform, white shirt, red tie, blue dress but wears it as a skirt." She showed Sora the screen again, showing a single photo.

"Ah!" cried Sora with shock, "That's exact what she looks like!" She looked up at Solace, "Is she in North High?"

Solace pocketed the phone, "No, I've searched. I'm guessing she's not in Yahama either. Which leaves Gensokyo. But I'm surprised. I'm pretty sure we don't come from the same world. As far as I'm aware, sentient AIs are non-existent in my world, let alone Vocaloids. Rulia never told me about you."

"And I've never heard of an Arcania City. And Rulia's never told me about you either."

There was another long silence before Solace spoke up, "Look, I won't lie. I don't trust you. You're a Vocaloid in Vocaloid territory. I hope you understand."

"And I hope you understand that even if I trusted you, I can't put my confidence in someone with a North High bomb strapped to their back," retorted Sora.

Solace smirked, adjusting the strap of her backpack, "Well, I guess all our concerns will be laid to rest when we get into Gensokyo," putting strong emphasis on the word 'when'. She extended a hand to Sora.

"Let's hope that's all that gets laid to rest," grinned Sora, taking hold of Solace's hand and shook. Suddenly, Sora's expression changed to one of urgency. She quickly undid her seatbelt and stood up, "We're approaching the Hakurei Barrier at high speed."

Solace looked out the window to the left, "Wow, did we really pass Africa that quickly?"

"I'm not sure that's the issue here," pointed out Sora. She turned to Lynette, "Lynette, sit- Are you smiling?"

Black stepped back from the rubble, taking her arm out out of her arm cannon, her blue eye flame burning brightly. She walked to her nearby car, dragging her cannon, and picked up the phone on the bonnet, "Please continue."

"You erased all the evidence?" asked Miku.

"I might have overdone it," commented Black, looking back at the charred remains of the warehouse, the majority moulded into a molten and disfigured mess.

"Overdoing it is fine. It will have to do. We don't have any high clearance clean-up crew on hand at the moment. We did have it cleared out not long ago but you know... just in case."

"I completely understand," responded Black. Her blue flame immediately went out, her cannon also dissolving into the air, leaving her car's dimmed headlights as the only light source. The searchlights of London had long been turned off. "So what have the others been reporting?"

"Gumi and Rin report no activity. Teto is reporting success with her operation. Lily has noted a big name Gensokyo task force in the Ivory Coast."

"Isn't that dangerous?" Black slipped into the car's driver seat.

"Atlas can take care of it himself."

Black paused, her hand holding onto the car key inserted into the ignition. "... I'm not sure what's going on."

"I'm sorry Black, but as for now, the operation's details are strictly for Vocaloids and UTAUs only. I hope you understand." Keeping her mobile close to her ear, Black did not reply. After a moment's thought, she frowned. She turned the ignition key with force, the Black Beauty's engine roaring to life.

Lynette, who was still stood in the corner holding her Striker Units, laughed, "I was worried that you two wouldn't get along but I suppose it was all for naught."

"You've been fairly quiet," invited Solace, "You ought to join in our conversations."

Lynette looked down with a sorry expression, "... Well, I... My friends all made it to Yamaha before the Barriers went up so I don't have much to add. I've been pretty lucky."

"I wouldn't call being chased by Black or Rin lucky, let alone both," Solace teased.

"That's not what I meant. Though I was going to point out though that the Sonic Barrier stops the Aurora Borealis from forming."

"Okay, this is a nice talk and all but we don't have much time," interrupted Sora, "Things are going to get rough. Lynette, sit down and hold onto your Striker Units tightly." Lynette did as she was told and Sora did the seatbelt for her. "First things first, as far as I can tell, our destination is on the other side of the Hakurei Barrier, which means first getting through the Sonic Barrier. We need to destroy five Sonic Amps. Of course, much easier from this side of the Barrier." Solace had seen Sonic Amps before, massive structures resembling speakers, emitting a section of the Sonic Barrier.

"Why five?" asked Solace.

"It wouldn't be much of a Barrier if you only needed to destroy one to get through. Any given Amp or Station, the sky equivalent, has its generating area backed up by four others. There are also backup systems for when any are destroyed. If a Sonic Station gets destroyed, the others move to cover its space and a new one is deployed immediately by the construction facility, also in the sky. So it's almost impossible to destroy the Sonic Barrier in space. However, the Amps on the ground are a different story. They don't move so must wait for a drop pod from space to replace it. Usually, it's a very fast process. Fast enough that the Barrier doesn't get broken." The rainbow colours of the Hakurei Barrier could be seen over the horizon. The Thunder Child fired five shells consecutively, each followed by the creation a smoke plume in the distance.

"Doesn't get broken? Didn't you say destroying five Amps was enough?"

"Not quite. Imagine shouting in a tunnel. Even if you stop shouting, you still have to wait for the echo to fade. That's how the Barrier works. Even if you destroy five Amps at the same time, the Barrier won't have faded away by the time the five replacements drop in and activate."

Solace sighed, "So you're saying we have no hope of even reaching the Hakurei Barrier."

"... Essentially."

"Wouldn't it be smarter to bank now then?" Suddenly, bright white light shone through the windows, forcing both Solace and Lynette to shut their eyes tightly. "What's happening?"

"Ah, well, that answers our Sonic Barrier question," sighed Sora, who wrapped an arm round Solace, "This is White Noise, our underground Sonic Barrier. We can't exactly have the Sonic Barrier ripping up the ground below us."

"And how does this help? And what the heck are you doing?"

"White Noise is a thin stasis field, it freezes everything in place so nothing can get through. However, a strong hit will bring the field down, which is why we don't use it for the entire Sonic Barrier. Also, as you can tell, it also doesn't even let light through." Sora had Solace place her hands on the seat as they stood behind it. "Unlike other stasis fields, White Noise is generated purely by sound and as the ordinary Sonic Barrier doesn't actually cause impact, White Noise is the obvious choice for getting through the Sonic Barrier. Though that also means it's too late to bank. And just hold on tight."

"And the Hakurei Barrier?" brought up Lynette.

"... That's up to the Thunder Child." Sora could see Solace grit her teeth and couldn't help grinning, "Law and Order seem a little tame in comparison, isn't that right, Solace?"

Solace blushed red with embarrassment, "Wha- I wasn't thinking that at all."

"I didn't ask if you were," smirked Sora. Without warning, they felt themselves thrown forward though with Lynette strapped in and Sora holding tightly onto the chair and Solace, no one went anywhere. The White Noise faded away to reveal the view outside.

"What happened?" asked Lynette, struggling to open an eye, her vision incredibly blurred. Sora let go of Solace to approach the window.

"Are we in Gensokyo?" added Solace, rubbing her eyes.

"Yeah," answered Sora, biting her lip, "And in trouble."

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