Fate/Catbox Fiction

Chapter 1: Consumer Society

FATE/CATBOX FICTION

Chapter 1: Consumer Society

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This and any future stories involving Connla will assume that you have read all previous stories, so some details already covered there will not be explained here. If you haven't read those, I recommend you do so before this one so you aren't too confused.

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July 20, 1976 was a momentous day in history. The American orbiter Viking I became the second ever spacecraft to successfully land on the surface of Mars, and the first to perform its mission. The previous craft, the Soviet Union's Mars 3 orbiter, beat the landing record by five years, yet failed to function only seconds after landing. Thus, Viking I was considered the true pioneer of exploration on Mars, and the news channels were abundant with reports of the Americans' success.

Deep in the subterranean railway known as the Atlas Undersea Transit Line, a box television had likewise been tuned to American channels broadcasting the event. The white-haired young woman watching the reports wasn't terribly interested in what was going on. It was just that the underground train ride became so monotonous that she needed something to help her pass the time.

Unlike the other guests boarding the train, she was given top privileges to ride a car specifically designed for her so she wouldn't have to intermingle with anyone she deemed undesirable. There were oak bookshelves lined with books and documents, a small dining area, bed, wine rack, and kitchen where she could make her own meals. The smartly-dressed woman poured some wine into a pan that she was braising some lamb shanks in. The succulent small wafted through the room as the meat cooked, and she inhaled deeply to take in the delightful scent. All the while, the television droned on with its latest reports:

"Mission control has Viking I touch down on Mars, and so did the very first picture from Mars 240 million miles away. Viking I, after its 11 months in space, still worked perfectly, showing us the rocky field where it landed directly above the camera. Moving left, we see many more small rocks up to six inches in size. Incredibly, Viking I had performed a three-point landing, narrowly missing large boulders which could have destroyed or toppled the fragile spacecraft. Skill, declared one scientist. Pure luck, said another. Now we see the landing pad..."

The door to the car clicked open. The woman looked over to see who was intruding in her personal space. In stepped a man around his early thirties, who kept his short blonde hair slicked back so that his sagging, arrogant expression could be seen for all to behold. He wore a long blue coat that made him appear rather stiff and pompous, which easily set him apart from his peers. Behind him was a second, far more handsome and approachable male in his mid-twenties, who had messy black hair accompanied by a single lock of hair dangling over his forehead. Unlike the first fellow's modern attire, the second man donned a pine green bodysuit that obviously was tailored in an era of knights and wizards.

This blatant mismatch between both men's styles told the woman one simple thing; they were Master and Servant.

"Please excuse the intrusion, madame," the blue-coated gentleman greeted her. "I take it that you are Enforcer 2-F?"

"That's not my name on the ticket," the lady replied stoically.

"My name is Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, ninth generation head of the house of El-Melloi. It is a most pleasant honor to make your acquaintance."

"If you're one of the Clock Tower's Mages, then you should already know that this car is expressly off-limits."

"Let's just say I have my ways. I wanted to bring a matter of utmost importance to your attention. Would you be willing to spare some time to hear what I have to say?"