So, are you in or out?

Hercules (aka "Berserker" of the Fate/Stay Night route

"Not like being a Berserker there let you thing exactly straight there and all that!" I say in what I hope is an understanding smile to my smaller counterpart from the Fourth Grail War. "So, how about now that you’re thinking straight you get on the same page and help us save everyone here, including Camelot from destruction eh?"

"Uh….what?" Lancelot blinks owlishly at me.

Oh Gods, give me strength! I’m starting to think that the evident distain Rei was having with Lancelot of the Round Table here might not be as misplaced as I thought! I had been thinking that maybe it had something to do with him having been under the spell of being a Berserker here. You know, being insane to the point any thing resembling rational thought being impossible.

But either the grief he’d carried into death is still clouding his judgement to the point he’s not seeing the obvious here and depression can do that: I’ve seen worse in my times or . . . . the man’s a complete moron.

Sigh, well it was true that he wasn’t able to "keep it in his pants" when he slept with Saber’s wife, a marriage obviously coming about to to "politics" (vile business).

I got that much from my Grail provided knowledge of his Legend. A smarter man would have said "no" considering what the risks had been if caught (and they dId get caught).

. . .

That or at least they should have taken MORE (MUCH MORE) precautions to hide it, anyway….

"At the risk of repeating," Rei deadpans, looking at Sir Lancelot and rolling her eyes. "Because of how certain now defunct space aliens that the Time Lords just LOVE to loath because of how they used and abused ‘lesser’ intelligent species with time tricks and demented games that made the lot around Rassilon’s time with the Death Zone look warm and cuddly! The Dome Builders had a LOT to answer for before being Erased after trying to do a Time War with Galifrey in what could only be called an ultimate act of stupidity and arrogance."

…

Okay, I don’t know who the Time Lords are but that’s . . .not for now to ask about it.

After seeing what I saw with my Master earlier whilst at the castle in one of the isolated wings--by Gods, that business down in the main exit with that rain of weapons and the other version of ME and the other Ilya--I had managed to see Rei's group as . . .being at least not an enemy and should be at least given some trust (for now). I'd managed to be the voice of reason for my brothers and swayed them to my views to at least NOT continue antagonizing them needlessly

They can be allies. They MIGHT be the only means of rescue for . . .not only my Master and her family (wasn't THAT a suprise, some of them coming back from the grave like that and all), but MY family as well?

Gods, this is really unexpected to say the LEAST.

Ah, but bottom line? We of the Berserker class will for now at least throw our support in behind Rei and her group. That and ironically be the voice of reason

Yes, the Berserkers being the "voice of reason". Eh, and the living say that life is full of irony...

"Look, you took the role of Berserker because you want to be punished for what you did with Saber’s . . . .wife there," I continue, noting I seem to be spot on in how both Lancelot and ALL the Sabers wince at my summation.

"Brother!" one of my . . .analogs from the other routes protests.

"King Arthur was female in this anime world the young blondes came from?" I hear the ‘Brigadier’ mutter to himself in surprise. "Bloody, I had pegged her as being Joan of Arc myself, being with that

"Have some care there!" the other adds, seeing how I had rather poked old, hurtful memories for the Lancelot and all the Saber sisters present.

Oh, how I wish I could have put that more delicately, damnit, but might as well bull onward and finish what I start and hope complete!

"What I and I am sure this particular Herkules here . . .," I wince slightly at how this blue haired woman continues to use the Greek version of my name. Granted, that IS my given birth name and she does a VERY good job of pronouncing it correctly (not that the more common version of my name that has made it’s way into modern language is too bad). But. . . my and my brother’s Legends have been referred to the newer name so long it . . . disconcerting to us nowadays.

Rei has continued on, unaware of the mental woolgathering over the distress a simple name :" . . .I’m just saying that it would be rather nice has been causing is trying to say is that since Camelot is a going concern again, and is in a really bizarre stasis due . . . reasons that is NOT my place to discuss outright without Saber’s leave."

Wise, leaving that bombshell alone and for Saber (in theory) to drop it on Lancelot there about that foolishness with almost becoming a Counter Guardian (or whatever one could call such a thing under the thumb of Gaia).

Though a necessity, all of the various Saber sister had been rather . . .put off by that business of their being revealed to everyone else beforehand, even IF it was a foregone conclusion given one HOW Cast . . .I mean Princess Medea freed them from their Contracts.

Lancelot glances at Saber "Zero" and then at the other Saber sisters, clearly having questions there but turning back instead to listen to I should add because of the a bargain she struck with Gaia enough to be salvageable and put to right of we play our cards right. . . ."

She pauses and shakes her head slightly.

"We are here trying to save the final remnants of humanity of this world from extinction, and that just happens to include Camelot," Rei starts again, staring at Lancelot with a slightly tilted head to the left. "And before you go and try to lapse back into a pit of loathing and remorse for NOT being able to have THOUGHT about making a wish like saving Camelot or at least HELPING her be able to make your king make a wish to save Camelot, you obviously missed that part we mentioned earlier in the mental briefing that the Grail was corrupted and would only grant wishes through VERY destructive and twisted means."

"Any wish it would have granted would have been basically . . .ruined," one of Rei’s younger sisters (can’t tell which one without LOOKING behind me) says softly. "The cure to Camelot’s ills would have been worse than the disease by far."

"Yeah I can see it now," the young squire of Fred Takahashi adds glibly, something that usually is NOT what a proper squire should do amongst those of higher Rank and such, but then again Outsiders are . . . Outsiders. That or Rei’s bunch does things DIFFERENTLY than what we’re used to here who grew up in the aristocracy of ancient and medieval times. "All hale the new ruling Queen of Camelot: Morgan le Fey! And that’s the best of the list of Bad things I can imagine could happen there!"

Oh yeah, like something like Camelot becoming a land of living dead or some such? Hungering eternal for blood and the flesh of the living (and hating every moment of their accursed lives)? I can see Gaia laughing at THAT result the Grail would cause from Saber’s wish!

She’s a bit of a bitch like that. Too bad that most Modern folks seem to fail to realize how the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus were bastards, including my father Jupiter!

After all, just about everyone who came after my Legend can say they have the blood of the God of Lighting in their viens. Not like it’s an honor considering father was like Gengis Khan with women in a way, just with LESS concent!

Bastard. That is why I NEVER took any woman against their will, no matter what some might say. Especially the Amazonian Queen that one time.

I do NOT understand why the Amazons continued to revere that bitch wife of my father after that, considering it was HER that had lead eventually to their kingdom’s fall because in large part of Juno’s turning . . .

Meh, never mind.

. . .

BUT, that said last part that John just said seems to have REALLY gotten the Saber sisters and Lancelot’s attention by the way they are blanched and now are staring at him, all looking pale as ghosts.

Heh, something that is rather ironic considering what us Heroic Spirits are and all that: spirits.

"Good point John," Rei coughs, getting Lancelot’s attention back to her.

"We’d like to save Camelot in the process of things, hopefully!" Rei finishes. "You in? It . . . could be a VERY good way in putting right what you feel you still seem to owe Saber by the look of things."

"You . . .you’d let me?" Lancelot whispers, looking at each and every Saber in turn and not Rei when he asks, only to frown slightly as he hears Rei start to shuffle those blasted Tarrot cards again.

What is WITH that, exactly?! What, she’d going to go and try to tell our Fortunes here on what’s going to happen next? That’s REALLY strange considering that she’s said more than a few times in passing that she’s not a big fan on Predestination and Fate . . . That IS in large part what Tarrot cards play off of.

1. Well, at least in THIS world it does. I am NOT at all sure how it works with this Outsider/Champion business here.

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