Disclaimer: D. Gray-Man ain't mine [hallelujah]

Kanda had just sliced through the last level three akuma on the field when his little black golem started buzzing around his head in rapid-fire circles. Kanda swatted the golem away, and it began to play a transmission in response, barely audible over the sound of the akuma's soulless shell exploding: "Kanda, return to the Order immediately. You have a new mission; replacements are being sent and will be to your field by dusk."

What the hell? He was nearly done with this mission, and for fuck's sake the finder hadn't even managed to get herself killed yet. Things were going well.

There were still a few level ones floating around, and Kanda took the time to dispatch them before heading towards the little disgustingly hot oasis town. The finder—who had cleverly made herself scarce when the fight amped up—dutifully followed him and tracked down a phone, as her own communication equipment had been totaled in a near-miss from a level two.

"Komui, I'm nearly done with this damned mission, I've even got a lead to where the damned innocence is, why the hell are you recalling me right now?"

Komui's voice was brittle with stress and—surprisingly—impatient. "You're to return immediately. There's a train leaving from Siwa in about fifteen minutes, and it'll take you to the Mersa Matruh gate. Lenalee and Lavi are already on their way to take over. Leave your finder in Siwa with whatever information you want relayed to those two."

"Why the hell can't I finish my mission?"

"I'll explain when you get here. Don't miss your train, consider this an emergency."

"Just send the debriefing materials and I'll go straight to that fucking mission, why do I have to come back to the Order?"

"Your mission is here at the Order. Don't miss your train, and contact me immediately if there's any hold up. We don't know how long the gates will last." The line clicked into static.

Kanda slammed the phone down on its receiver hard enough that the kindly merchant lending it jumped and the finder tsk'd at him.

"I'm going," Kanda said, "train leaves in fifteen."

"Can't we just take one tomorrow? I'm hungry," the finder whose name Kanda hadn't bothered to learn—it's not like she'd last long—complained. Kanda began walking towards the train station and she followed.

"You're as bad as that fucking Moyashi. And you're not coming with me, so go do whatever you fucking want. Lenalee and Lavi are coming to replace me. Komui said it's an emergency, and that the damned Ark gates could give out before I get to one."

The finder stopped, miniature dust clouds settling around her boots. "Gates giving out? Allen's the one sustaining them. That would only happen if…"

Kanda's stomach clenched and the gears in his mind began to pick up speed. He didn't respond, and the finder finished her thought: "That'd only happen if something went wrong with Allen."

The Fourteenth? Did the take-over happen? If so… why the hell was he needed back at the Order? What could he do to save Allen?

Kanda spent the train ride trying to sleep, and when that didn't work, meditating. His stomach twisted too painfully though, and everything felt a bit hazy. His mind kept wandering back to the beansprout, and the aching question of what the fuck did Allen get himself into?

:::

Komui stood at the gate's entrance, tapping his boot against the stone floors, when Kanda arrived. Before Kanda could even open his mouth, the man had grabbed his shirt sleeve and was pulling—nearly dragging—Kanda towards the Science Sector.

"Wait, my mission involves the Science Department?" Kanda hissed. He pulled his arm away from Komui's grasp and matched Komui's hurried stride.

"Tragically," Komui replied. He didn't elaborate, and his lips were pursed into a thin line.

"Just what the fuck is going on?"

Komui stopped before a set of large wooden doors which Kanda avoided at all costs. The last time he'd been in the Science Sector—at the Black Order's old facility—he'd been turned into a child and then a zombie. Repeats weren't necessary. But Komui pushed the doors open and yanked Kanda inside.