Jeanne didn't know what to think about her situation right now. She had been summoned into a war where there were two factions of seven servants. That was most unusual. It was almost impossible even, which is why she was here. That she could understand. Unusual situations, ones that could lead to the discovery of magic or large, terrible events warranted the summoning of a Ruler class servant. She was more than happy to do her duty. Yet she still couldn't understand the whole situation.

Why would a servant want to kill her? Did they want the Ruler servant against them? It made no tactical sense. Yet, when she saw the servant, something happened. There was another faction. Three factions before her. That was impossible. Completely and utterly impossible yet it was fact. Of course as she watched the lancer of White, she knew she was not summoned by the superior grail. It was another, minor one. No doubt the master had hooked her up to the Holy Grail to keep her around. Clever but it just made the situation more complicated.

Even with that all on her plate, she could deal with it. She had dealt with harrowing situations since she was young. This was no different. What was different was her company. Sitting before her at the table was none other than the embodiment of her beloved country. The very being she swore her life to protect. She did not recognize him from 'her' own life, but she could feel memories of a Jeanne that knew him. That was the complicated thing about servants. Sometimes they would get flashes of their master's life as the master had flashes of their lives in return. Yet this felt different from that. It was like she was living out another life. It was nothing special yet. Just flashes of a smile here or there. Yet it moved her.

Yes, Jeanne d'Arc of the Ruler class would protect her country once more. He may be a servant now and fight on his own, but she would do her best to stay by his side. She just couldn't help but wonder why he had to be so handsome. That and all the flirting. So much flirting. He had no sense of shame. Was this her country? She would have to live with it and never would admit to enjoying such a man's presence.

"Ah Jeanne," the servant known only as 'France', the Lancer of Red, smiled as he finished a glass of wine. "Isn't this the life? Being with each other again and enjoying the delights of a small town." He sighed wistfully, "This really brings me back."

"While I wouldn't say 'again' since I am not your Jeanne," Ruler spoke up, "But it is nice to stop and relax. This Holy Grail War is far too much to take in all at once. I needed some time to sit and think about it."

"Just put it to the side for now," France waved off her concern, "We are not in the war right now. That is why I am France and not Lancer at the moment. No, my petite mademoiselle. We are simply a relaxing couple at the moment. Let us enjoy the sights, no?"

She wanted to roll her eyes in response but she refrained from doing that. It would be rude. She wouldn't act like that in front of her country, no matter how he acted. She loved him. She loved France. Not romantically but as one would family. So she simply nodded and gave a small smile. As she did so, she couldn't help but notice something.

A cloaked individual was walking along the side of the street with bags of grocery in her hands. There wasn't anything too unusual about it. One could wear what they wanted to and she was obviously human. Yes she had obviously asian traits and whisker like marks on her cheeks but she was just an otherwise pretty human. Yet Ruler knew better.

"You're a long way from your fellow servants, Assassin of Black." Ruler spoke up as the woman passed her.

The woman stopped and turned her head, "Highly perceptive. I take it you're a servant?"

"You knew that already," Ruler quirked an eyebrow, "I wonder why you didn't run the moment you sensed us."

"Curiosity," the servant of the shadows smiled which was entrancing and waved flirtatiously at Lancer of Red. "And who is this charming fellow? I didn't think I'd meet a servant as handsome as you."

"Nor a servant as beautiful as you are, madam." He grinned as he stood up and bowed, "Lancer of Red, at your service."

"My, oh my." Assassin tittered behind a raised hand, "To think you would have manners to show an enemy servant. One would think it wiser to kill me on sight."

"Ah why ever would I wish to tarnish such a wondrous rose?" Lancer put a hand over his heart as though the idea repulsed him.

"Trust me," Assassin scoffed, "I get a lot of close calls when it comes to humans. I'm a danger to you and everyone and not just because I'm a servant now." She seemed to be upset by that as she looked away sadly.

"Then we will assuage your concerns," Lancer gestured to the table. Assassin stared at him for a moment before nodding. He pulled out a chair and let her sit in it, "Be comfortable. We are friends here."

"Well as long as I'm not brutally murdered today, I think this will be just fine." Assassin said, "So, what brings you to town? I didn't think Ruler would take a rogue servant with her."

"Who says he's rogue?" Ruler asked.

"There's no master around," Assassin shrugged, "No master would just let their servant roam around a city without supervision. Human supervision I mean."

"Perhaps they have trust in their servant to act properly."

Assassin snorted, "I don't buy that. I've met a lot of humans and a lot of mages. There are good people all around us but the moment you give them power, it goes to their heads. I speak from experience myself." She winced, "But that aside, no. I think he's not with any master at the moment and is relying on you."

"He is not relying on me," Ruler stated, "But he is my current ally. It would seem that either his master isn't confident to use command seals on him or has another motive. I don't know what but until he tries something, Lancer of Red will be my steadfast companion."

"And I wouldn't have it any other way," Lancer grinned with pride. "So since you brought it up, why are you all alone? One would think you're a hypocrite for saying I'm rogue for being without a master but you are without yours."

"She's at our safehouse," Assassin said, "I won't tell you where it is and you won't be able to follow me. She's safe there."

Lancer nodded, "Smart thinking. You're as wise as you are marvelously pretty."

Assassin fluttered her eyes, "Keep talking like that and I'll have to suck you dry."

"I've had women try that before," Lancer chuckled, "None have succeeded."

"Alright," Ruler coughed into her fist as she blushed slightly, "I think we can put the flirting aside. Why aren't you with the other masters of Black?"

"Oh we're not going to join them," Assassin said, "They'll use me up and throw me away, especially once they find out about the nature of my current master. Besides, I'm an Assassin class servant. I'm the disposable class so we're waiting to see how the Holy Grail War plays out and strike where we can."

Ruler rubbed her chin. Since she was a neutral party, she shouldn't get involved in this. On the other hand, she had servants wanting to take her head. Lancer had sided with her so her neutrality was in question at this point. Regardless, Assassin was in real danger if she kept to herself. The factions would discover her in one way or another. She would be an invaluable member of her party so they could discover why Ruler was summoned here in the first place.

She made up her mind. She nodded, "If that is the case, why don't you join me? I am the Ruler class servant, Jeanne d'Arc. I wish to be a neutral party but it seems that some factions are out to kill me and I still don't know why I was summoned. I could use an Assassin on my side to clear up this mess."

"What's in it for me?" Assassin didn't seem convinced.

"Protection," Ruler said, "I will make this town neutral territory and my base of operations. The factions will not dare to cross me or I will oust them with a command seal."

Assassin of Black mulled it over for a moment before sighing, "Well it beats being alone and facing thirteen servants on my own."

"Add another seven to that," Lancer spoke up, "There's a third faction at play here."

Assassin groaned, "Of course there is. Well I'll join you. I'll show you my place tonight and we can stay safe there."

"Then it is agreed," Ruler smiled. Well it seems they were going to get a bit of a breather tonight. That would certainly help put her at ease and better think about the current situation.

Of course, said peace of mind wouldn't last forever. Not far outside the town, a small woman was humming a vibrant tune as she skipped along. Now naturally one wouldn't think of her as a threat. She was, again, small. On top of that she wore a black lolita dress. Overall just a pretty woman. However, that peaceful visage ended with the large halberd she had in her grasp. Crows seemed to swarm around her. They seemed patient, waiting for their next meal as though she would give it to them.

Perhaps she would. Her targets were close. She could feel it. Servants were beings of war. Spirits of the dead. All of that made her quite the servant tracker. She loved this whole thing. It was right up her alley and when she won this war, she would have her wish. Oh she just couldn't wait. All she had to do now was kill Ruler and possibly Lancer too. She hoped for both. It satisfied her greatly and she doubted the other factions had an opponent that could get around her demigod status.

If they could, all the better. She would have a real battle then and kill a strong opponent. Her god would thank her for the strong soul sent their way. Truly this was a great day. Well she'd have to wait for nightfall. Stupid grail war rules but she wouldn't fight against them. Night battles were just as fun with their own little flares.

Berserker of Red was on the prowl and whatever god was around help those in her sights.

Saber of Black sat still as she was examined. She was used to this sort of thing. After every mission, she would get a physical of some sort to make sure she was functioning properly. It was standard protocol. She didn't have a human's sense of decency when it came to physical contact so it was fine with however he touched her. Of course, Caster of Black was much more hands off about it then her fellow robots.

"Your design is amazing," Caster muttered as he looked her over. He'd sometimes poke her with a finger or use a little device to scan over her form, "I really want to shake the hands of whoever created you. They really knew what they were doing."

"I do not know my creator," Saber answered, "They had died out long ago."

"Shame," Caster said with a shrug, "I would have loved to see what they'd do with a little more mad genius added in." He nodded and took a couple of steps back, "I think that's enough for now."

"Alright," Saber nodded. She was mildly curious as to why he needed to check her out. She was performing well and had not sustained any damage during the encounter with enemy servants. She held her tongue however. It was not her place to question others. She watched him go back and tinker with a human sized machine of some sort.

"Hello," a mechanical voice spoke up. She turned to see Norm, Casters robot. He was a strange machine. He was more advanced than most robots of her day but not as sophisticated as herself. That didn't bother her. He was a fellow machine and it brought her a bit of comfort because of that.

"Hello," she replied.

"I hope my dad wasn't giving you any trouble," Norm asked.

Saber shook her head, "He has not. I do have to ask as to why you call him father. I was not aware that humans would find robots to be family material."

"He doesn't like to call me his son," Norm seemed slightly irritated, "But he means it all the same. He cares even if he doesn't say it out loud. That and my sister likes to hang out with me and we don't have any problems."

"Hmmm," Saber mulled this over. This family thing was truly complicated.

"What about you?" Norm asked, "Do you have a family?"

"I do not have a father, if that is what you mean." Saber responded, "Where I am from, we don't think of each other like family but… there was one other I cared about. I don't know what to call it exactly but I did."

Norm was silent for a moment, "Well I'm happy to hear that but everyone needs a family. Well why don't I get dad to adopt you too."

Behind her bandage, her eyes widened. She couldn't imagine he'd be serious about something like that, "You would do something like that? It is not necessary."

"Well I always wanted another sister and a robot one too," Norm said. He turned to Caster, "Can we adopt her?"

"Sure, sure, whatever." Caster waved them off without looking back.

Saber of Black didn't know what to say. Her mouth opened up a few times but not sound came out so she ended up closing it. It was unheard of. A human raising a machine yet here it was before her. Was this how her new life as a servant would go down? That she would be impossible yet… could she have a family?

Before she could correct her line of thought, Caster laughed villainously.

"Yes," he took a step back and spread out his arms, "The RecreateAndroidsInator is complete!"

"What does it do?" Saber asked, eying the human sized machine closely. It had a door in the front as though someone could walk in and out of it.

"Why recreate you of course," Caster said with a smile, "Since you are an android and I am a mad genius, I decided to pair them together. With this machine, if you are ever destroyed in combat, it will remake you here as though you had never died. Well I mean, you will have died and you'll be getting a new body, but that's just technical talk."

Saber blinked a few times. This was familiar stuff to her but this level of creation? In this short bit of time? "You would do this… for me?"

"Well of course," Caster said, "I may be an evil scientist but I'm not a bad guy. I can't have our Saber up and die on us. It would look bad for our reputation."

She didn't have anything to say to that. So she just walked right up to him and hugged him. He chuckled and hugged her back.

"Well I'm not one to shy away from a hug from a pretty lady," Caster said, "Say, what are your plans this evening? I've got a free schedule."

"I am free, dad."

"That's…. Dad?" Caster blinked in confusion.

"You adopted her, sir." Norm spoke up happily.

"When did I do that?"

"When you were working on the machine," Norm seemed amused by this, "You really need to work on paying attention when people talk to you."

Caster grumbled but didn't say anything more. Norm would have a snappy comeback as he always would and he didn't want to be the bad guy here. He sighed and patted Saber's head. One daughter was tiresome. He loved his little girl like no other and wanted the best for her but she could make him feel such agitation the likes that not even Perry could elicit from him. Now he had another to deal with? On top of that, that meant he lost a shot at a rather pretty girl. He wasn't exactly the type to date family so…

"Just don't call me dad, okay?" Caster muttered.

"Daddy?" She asked.

"Definitely not that," Caster sharply declined.

"Papa?"

Caster hung his head down, "Fine."

"Thank you, papa." Saber hugged him tightly which caused him to groan.

"Yeah, thanks me." Caster sighed again. It seems that even in this life, the world would keep throwing him curveballs. Oh well, he'd take it in stride if that was the case.