They Call me Vox

Interlude 1.3

I glance around at my Servants as we sit at a table in one of Chaldea's conference rooms.  It's been a day since Gil was summoned, and Artoria was sure to inform Mash and Ushiwakamaru of our discussion on my revealing of origins. Sionnach is also here, sitting in Gil's lap as the child Servant happily showers my familiar with attention.

"Before we begin, I have my limits. There will be no in-depth explanations, and I will withhold any information I deem too personal. We clear?" I ask.

My Servants nod. I sigh.

'I can't believe I'm going through with this.'

Sionnach, sensing my distress, jumps out of Gil's lap and onto the table before trotting over to me. I smile and take my familiar into my arms, hugging her and burying my face in her soft fur.

"Thanks, girl," I whisper to Sionnach, before looking back up at my Servants, "Okay, who's first?"

"I... would like to know how you knew Caster," Mash says.

I sigh, "When I was 5, and this was the Summer after the Fifth Holy Grail War, I was spending the Summer in my family's summer home in America with my mother and father. One night, a group of people attacked our house. Dad died trying to buy us time, while mom was killed right after she finished a summoning circle."

"Your parents died!? I'm so sorry!" Mash exclaims, "I shouldn't have-"

"It's fine, Mash, I've gotten over their deaths," I interrupt the Shielder while running a hand through Sionnach's soft fur. 

'That was a lie. I am most certainly not over it and I'm just trying not to cry right now.'

I spot the smallest of frowns on Artoria's lips.

'Annnd Arty knows. Great.'

"She was trying to summon a Servant? Without a Holy Grail to help power it?" Gil asks, trying to get us back on topic.

"My mother was a Kitsune. She might not have had my reserves, but she still had a lot of mana to spare," I explain, "Anyway, I ended up accidentally completing the ritual and summoned a Servant."

"Caster?" Ushiwakamaru guesses.

"Yes and no. You see, I did summon Caster, but as a Lancer," I correct Ushiwakamaru, which just confuses her, "Anyway, Lancer fought off the attackers. After that, he offered to teach me his magecraft along with combat training. I accepted, and after twelve years under him and another year on my own, I came to Chaldea."

"Who is Lancer?" Artoria asks.

I glance down at Sionnach, who gives the fox equivalent of a shrug.

"His name is Cu Chulainn," I answer after some hesitation.

Artoria's eyes widen in surprise, "He was the Lancer in my War."

I raise an eyebrow, "We really need to stop having these weird connections, Arty. Any more questions?"

"Why did the Throne of Heroes say that the Kitsune race is extinct?" Gil asks.

"Well, my father was a human. So, maybe the Throne was referring to pure Kitsunes and not a hybrid?" I reason.

Gil nods, "That makes sense."

My instincts suddenly flare and I tense, my fingers flexing around a spear that's not there. Glancing around, I see similar reactions from my Servants.

Moments later, we're all on our feet as the door bursts open.

Romani Archaman freezes, mouth open to speak, as a holy sword, Japanese sword, giant shield, glowing white spear, and a swirling golden portal that can only be Gil's Gate of Babylon are aimed at the good doctor.

"Whoa! I come in peace!" Roman yelps, stumbling backward and falling onto his butt.

I sigh and dismiss the Gebo spear, "Roman, you should know better than to barge into a room like that. Knock next time!"

"Sorry!" Roman apologizes.

"Why are you here, Roman?" I ask.

"Oh, uh, we found the first singularity!" Roman exclaims.

"What!?" I shout.

"Doctor, why did you not say that before?" Mash asks.

"I was going to!" Roman defends himself.

"Let's go!" I interrupt the two's bickering.

Timeskip(brought to you by Vox playing video games with Gil, who summoned the gaming system using his Gate of Babylon)

"Alright, Roman, hit me," I say as my Servants, Roman, and I enter the command room, "And don't go into any long explanations that'll just go over my head."

"First of all, our primary objective is the investigation and correction of the singularities. The second objective is to investigate the Holy Grail," Roman says, "It's just my speculation, but the singularities must be related to the Holy Grail. You must either secure it or destroy it, less all our efforts are for naught. You getting this so far?"

"Yep. Investigate and correct history, retrieve or destroy the Holy Grail, and save humanity," I list off.

"Good. Oh, and remember to find a Ley Line and set up a summoning circle as soon as possible, so that we can send you supplies," Roman says, "You can also use the summoning circles to summon more Servants..."

Roman trails off, looking as if he's trying to remember something, "Oh right! Vox, you can only bring up to six Servants with you. We don't want you straining yourself in the middle of a Singularity."

"Then I guess it's a good thing I only have four Servants right now," I joke, before spotting Da Vinci standing a few feet behind Roman, "Hey, Da Vinci!"

"Hello, Vox. At least someone remembers me, Romani," Da Vinci says, giving Roman a glare.

"What did I do!?" Roman exclaims.

I laugh, listening to the two bicker.

"Excuse me, Doctor, Da Vinci, but should we not be preparing for the Rayshift?" Mash asks in a scolding tone.

"Right, of course!" Roman says, "Vox, if you have any last-minute preparations, now is the time."

"Nah, I'm good," I reply.

"Alright then, head down into the Rayshift chamber and we'll start," Roman says.

"Got it," I respond, already walking to the door with my Servants behind me.

Timeskip(brought to you by Vox discussing a murder mystery with Mash)

"Hit it, Roman!" I shout while climbing into my Coffin, the last one to do so since my Servants are already in theirs.

Whoever created these things is not as good at naming them, even if the name is appropriate. A Coffin is a rectangular box large enough to fit a person. There's also very little space inside, so I don't recommend it if you're claustrophobic.

"Right," Roman's voice comes from the loudspeaker.

"Unsummon program, start. Spiritron conversion start. Rayshifting in three..."

"Well, here we go," I mutter, as the lid of the Coffin closes over me.

"Two..."

"Once more unto the breach," I continue, "Someone famous said that... I think."

"One... Commencing Raysift."

I close my eyes as I feel the familiar tugging in my mind, and everything goes dark.