They Call me Vox

Interlude 2.4

"Jack, get back here!" I shout, chasing the little Assassin through the halls of Chaldea.

Jack laughs, looking over her shoulder at me as she rounds the corner, "Can't catch us, Mo-oof!"

Jack stumbles and almost falls backward, but two hands quickly reach down and steady the child Servant. I make my way over and smile when Artoria steps into view.

"Thanks, Arty," I sigh, before looking down at Jack, "Alright, Kit, c'mon."

"Aww," Jack whines, "But we don't wanna go to bed."

I smile and pick up the white-haired girl, "Neither do I, but I still go to bed. How about this, I'll let you stay with me tonight."

"You will?" Jack asks, eyes lighting up as she looks over to Artoria, "Can Mother stay as well?"

Artoria makes a sound between a gasp and a cough, causing me to chuckle, "I don't see why not. Right, Artoria?"

"Y-yes," Artoria says, recomposing herself.

"Yay!" Jack cheers, throwing her hands up in the air excitedly.

Timeskip(brought to you by Jack and Gil chasing Fou around one of the lounge areas)

I smile at Jack, who's now fast asleep and nestled between Artoria and I. Looking up, I see the King of Knights staring at nothing with a contemplating expression.

"What's wrong?" I ask, concerned.

Artoria glances down at Jack with a small smile before looking at me, "I just... I wonder what would've happened if I had accepted her."

"Accepted who-oh," I cut myself off, realizing who Artoria is talking about, "Do you regret... you know?"

"I do not regret denying Mordred the throne. At the time, she was unfit to be king. Brash, impulsive, brutal," Artoria says, as she looks back down at Jack, "But I wonder. What if I had taken her in, taught her how to be a good king? Would things have been different?"

"I don't know, and it's pointless to ask questions that we'll never be able to answer," I say, "But, in the likely event of it happening, what would you do if Mordred was summoned here, at Chaldea?"

"I'm... not sure," Artoria answers, "I'd like to apologize, tell her I regret turning her away. I want to try explaining my actions. I worry, though, that she will not listen."

"You'll never know until you try," I say, before changing the topic, "Anyway, have you heard the rumors?"

"That we are close to locating the next singularity? Yes," Artoria answers.

"I hope they find it soon," I say, shifting so that I'm laying down, "I'm getting antsy just sitting here for the past three weeks."

Artoria rolls her eyes and leans over Jack to give me a quick kiss, "Calm yourself, Vox. You know these things take time. Do not worry, soon you will be back to beating up skeletons."

I groan, "Not more skeletons."

Artoria chuckles and slips further under the covers so that she too is laying down. With a few more words and a last kiss, we both go to sleep.

Timeskip(brought to you by Artoria nonchalantly carrying Jack on her back around Chaldea, while Vox follows behind with a camera)

"Mommy! Mother! Wake up, wake up!" I wake up to hearing Jack shouting.

"'m up! 'm up!" I groan, opening my eyes to see Jack sitting on my chest. My unofficially adopted daughter is still dressed in her black pajamas.

"What time is it?" I hear Artoria ask from beside me.

I look to my left at the alarm clock, which reads 6:21. I groan and look to my right at Artoria, "Far too early to get up."

I close my eyes, trying to go back to sleep, when Jack starts bouncing on my chest, "No no no! Mommy can't fall asleep! I want her to play with me-ah!"

I sit up, knocking Jack off my chest and onto the bed. My right arm quickly wraps around the Assassin while my left hand reaches to tickle her side.

"M-Mother! H-help!" Jack shouts between laughs, squirming.

Artoria chuckles before taking my face in her hands, making me face her, and kissing me.

"Eww," Jack whines as Artoria pulls away, "Yucky kisses."

"Alright, Kit, let's go," I sigh, getting out of bed and making my way to the dresser that contains most of my clothes.

Timeskip(brought to you by Vox trying to understand Artoria's appetite)

We had only just finished breakfast when Roman runs over to us.

"Vox!" Roman shouts between gasps, leaning down and resting his hands on his knees as he breathes heavily, "We... found it... the Third... Singularity!"

I give Roman a blank look, holding up my left wrist and the watch on it, "You could've just called me, Roman."

Roman stands up straight and stares at the watch, "Oh."

Shaking my head, I begin walking out of the cafeteria and toward the command room. It only takes us a few minutes to get there and summon the rest of my Servants. Roman begins the briefing once everyone has arrived.

"Alright, this time you're headed to first century Europe. Specifically, Ancient Rome," Roman says.

To my left, Artoria shifts uncomfortably. I glance at her before remembering that, in her legend, Artoria had gone off to fight the Roman invaders. When she'd returned, Mordred had begun her rebellion. Subtly, I brush my hand against Artoria's and send her a pulse of comfort down the Master-Servant bond.

"Your teleport point is the Imperial Capital Rome," Roman continues, unaware, "We, like last time, don't know much beyond the time and place. Sorry."

"It's fine, Roman," I wave off the apology, "We know the objective already. The same as the First, right?"

"Correct, Vox," Roman confirms, "Now, let's get started."

After a few more minutes of going over some specific details, my Servants and I quickly make our way to the Rayshift chamber.

As I step towards my Coffin, I feel a smaller hand grab my own. I turn around to see Jack looking up at me.

"Jack, sweetheart, what's wrong?" I ask, kneeling in front of the child Servant.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Artoria stop and turn to observe the situation.

"You're not going away, are you, Mommy?" Jack asks, nervously.

"Of course not," I answer immediately, "It'll only be for a few seconds and then we'll be back together, okay?"

"Okay..." Jack mumbles.

I pull Jack into a tight hug, "Why don't you stay with your Mother in the meantime? She might not show it, but she gets nervous all the time. I think she needs a big girl to help her."

Jack perks up, "I'm on it!"

I smile as Jack slips out of my arms and runs over to Artoria, who bends down when Jack motions her to. Jack then whispers something into Artoria's ear that makes the Saber blush and shoot me a glare. I flash her a fanged smile and enter my Coffin.

I take a deep breath as the Coffin lid closes.

"Unsummon Program start. Spiritron Conversion start. Rayshift starting in three... two..."

I send out one last pulse of comfort to Artoria and Jack.

"...one. All procedures cleared. Grand Order commencing operation."

I feel the Rayshift pulling at my very being and everything goes dark.