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Post by Sokuren on May 19, 2010 14:35:06 GMT -6
(Right, seeing as the while Outskirts of London area got blown to bits, i don't think that it would be good to stay there, hence the new thread)
The teleport would land Max, Maya, and the Black armored Sokuren in the midst of what was obviously a old robotics lab. However, it was immediately apparent that it had not been used for a very, very long time judging by the layer of dust and debris littering the floor, and the fact that all the machines were mostly rusted away or encased in vines. The most striking aspects are the skull motif throughout the remaining architecture, and part of the ceiling has caved in, letting in a few shafts sunlight.
"Closest designated safe zone reached. Security threat resolved."
Acknowledged, restoring primary personality routines. Deactivating Primary Defense personality routine "Nerukos"
Activating "Sokuren"
Setting the other two on their feet, Sokuren walks a few paces away from them. The black armor deactivates, leaving him dressed in casual civilian cloths consisting of a black T-shirt, cargo pants and a tool belt, mostly intact except where damage had gotten through his armor. As the armor deactivates, his eyes change from Red back the the Blue they were beforehand. Sokuren then starts, as if he had just been suddenly woken up, looking around with a confused look in his eyes. His voice back to normal, he says
"Ugh, what the hell happened? All I remember is that woman taking over, then... nothing. Where are we?" At this point Sokuren's legs give out, and he falls, landing on his rear end "And why are my energy reserves so low?" He looks up at the other two with a very confused, and slightly afraid, expression.
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Post by rumor on May 19, 2010 15:02:21 GMT -6
Max had been pacified when this guy had hit him, but not KO'ed. So when he asked the question, the human was capable of answering. However he did not look at Sokuren, instead staring off into the ether...
"...She didn't take over. Something else took you over, probably to protect your systems. Maybe some sort of secondary programming, I don't know..."
Finding a nearby chair, overturned, he sits it up, and then lifts Sokuren up, placing him in the chair.
"...Thanks by the way, though as for what i'll get to in a minute..."
Sighing the human raised a hand to his eyes, the face, and more importantly the WORDS the woman had said lingered in his ears and his mind. However he would speak, to no one in particular, as he rubbed his eyes, to remove both her and the accursed blurriness...
"You're wrong. My actions were not the cause of this. You were. I do have some responsibility however and I will wear it. One way that I can make penance however is clear..."
And eying his wrench for a few moments, it would also become clear to everyone else in the room. Shaking his head and returning to his normal clothed state by saying "Dequip", Max is once again bathed in deep blue light, before returning to normal. However while his clothing is unscathed, his body is another story, clearly showing that he had jumped into the fray and stayed there. The human then sheaths his weapon and kneels down in front of Maya and the fairy, Yuki she had been called.
"Are you two ok?" came the quiet question.
He would place a hand on the girl's shoulder, while returning a look towards Sokuren.
"Afterward I went into a rage like i've never been in except...."
Max would shake his head.
"Disregard that. Anyway I kept attacking and provoking that woman until she decided to blow up the whole of the area. You hit me in the gut to quiet me down, and hoisted us all on a teleport to...here. The fairy hitched a ride on your shoulder..."
Max would return his gaze to Maya, showing visible concern but smiling in an attempt to keep her from breaking down again, also rubbing her on the top of her head.
"...I'm not sure what happened to the others, though I doubt that lot would go down so quickly. How soon until you can teleport me back?"
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Post by Sokuren on May 19, 2010 16:24:49 GMT -6
"uh, to tell you the truth, I can't. As far as I know, I'm not equipped with a teleportation unit. I don't know how we got here myself."
Moving very sluggishly, Sokuren opens up a panel on his left arm, revealing a small storage container with an external subtank contained within. Taking it out, he pulls a wire out of one side of it, plugging it into a hidden port on the inside of his right elbow. Relaxing visibly as the Subtank starts restoring his reserves. Looking over at Max, he says with a shaky voice.
"I seriously can't remember anything, I'm telling the truth here."
Holding his head in his hands he slumps forward, staring at the floor, quietly saying to himself. "Why can't I remember?"
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Post by rumor on May 19, 2010 16:30:53 GMT -6
Great. Two people affected by that...no it was best to push her away for the time being. There was work to be done...
"Let's start from the beginning. What is your earliest memory?"
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Post by Sokuren on May 19, 2010 16:41:55 GMT -6
"I can clearly remember everything that has happened to me from my initial activation 20 years ago, up until today. And I can remember everything that happened today until that woman started taking me over, then I remember jumping off the stairs with you two, then.... nothing until I woke up here."
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Post by trueblaze on May 19, 2010 18:12:43 GMT -6
"Ahrm." The group heard as someone, or more specifically someones, approached.
Six figures in all seemingly appeared from out of no where just off to the groups left. The three in front could be identified as FX Knights, the two on the sides behind them appeared to be FX Medics, and the one in the back center appeared to be some sort of humanoid hawk-like reploid.
"Forgive me for startling you, but we were monitoring several explosions within the London area when we detected your emergency teleport signature." The reploid said, then paused smiling. "Forgive me, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Air Raid, Co-CEO of Brant Industries. Both my company and many of my company's close business associates have dealings within the London area. So I hope you can understand our concern about what may have happened there."
Glancing at the three FX units before him, Air Raid continued. "You'll have to forgive my bodyguards here. I'm not attempting to threaten or intimidate any of you. However, I had no way of knowing who I would run into when I transported here. I'm certain you can understand the necessity for being prepared. Speaking of which, if you could be so kind, I have two things to ask of you. First, I would like each of you to give a report of the events that transpired. And second, does anyone of you happen to go by the name Blaze? A business partner of ours had some business with him and asked us to intervene as a bipartisan participant."
Mean while, the two Medic units made silent scans of the injuries and damage to the trio. However, they did not yet act on these scans. For as far as they knew, these people were responsible for what happened. Until they knew for sure, they would only treat immediate life threatening injures, all others would have to wait for now.
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Post by rumor on May 19, 2010 18:39:28 GMT -6
Max eyes this new guy with a look as if he wants to say "Riiiight". Walking in front of both Maya and Sokuren, Max unsheathed his wrench, but flipped it over and began to lean on it, a non-violent gusture...
however if he had to swing it, he'd be ready.
"Blaze....must be the one in red...no he's not here. Apparently he was mistaken for Zero and attacked by..."
Max would close his eyes...did they say who they were?
"I'm not sure. They had some kind of angelic markings on them if that helps any. They sent a small unit after him but....that issue got dealt with."
Max nods his head in the direction of his wrench, closing that matter.
"Somehow or another, we all got involved and began to fight the two...I guess leaders of that squad. One was a huge dude dressed like a spartan of old, I studied them. The other...."
The human's teeth would clench as he spoke in a hiss.
"Was a disgusting, evil, excuse for a being. A woman with some bug helmet on her head. She had mind control powers..."
Max would flash to Maya crying and Sokuren on his knees clutching his head. This would cause his hand gripping his wrench to clasp it in a vice grip as he continued.
"...as well as a barrier that completely protected her from harm, and believe me...."friend"..." Max would stress telling the hawk-like anthro that he didn't quite trust him yet.
"I tried on that regard. The big guy, attacked with saw like weapons on his arms but he was slow and was easy enough. The woman tried to toy with the heads of these two..."
Max waves an arm towards Maya and Sokuren...
"And I got involved after that. I attacked her both physically, to no avial and verbally, which got through JUST fine. When it did, she went ape shit nuts and detonated the rest of the bombs they had planted..."
Max sighs now thinking of all the people...and once again palms his face in his hand.
"Like I said they thought "Blaze" was Zero. Set up that whole little party for him."
And looking up again, Max would eye Air Raid with a look of mild annoyance.
"So....please spare any talk of concerns you have for the people. I hear Brant's profits are at an all-time high, hence I think I know what you value more. Now then since I answered your riddles three, maybe you can do the same for me..."
And to this effect, Max would stretch out a hand, holding out his index, middle and ring fingers.
"One: What was Blaze doing that so interested those asshats? Two: Who were they with? Three: Where in the blue HELL were you guys when things were going to hell?"
Max would eye each of the units in turn. The front three looked like the only combat units, though the hawk should be assumed also. He also didn't like the looks of that one sword each seemed to possess, and...one sheath on each was also empty. Did that serve some greater purpose?
"They had an FX too, it looked like some kind of lizard with needles, drill hands and a desire to sneak up on people...I banged it around good but it left. I got no idea where it went or who if any of..."us" took it down though."
And thumbing toward Maya and Sokuren, Max would eyes Air Raid once again.
"Forget me for the time being, they need help. Please..."
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Post by trueblaze on May 19, 2010 19:09:17 GMT -6
Air Raid ran the data he had been given through his neural link as Max spoke. Reaching up, he tapped the Knight in front of him to which it promptly stepped aside allowing Air Raid to step forward. The reploid approached stopping just shy of Max's quick attack range, thus allowing himself time to react should the human go on a rampage.
"Very well then," Air Raid said nodding his head. "You gave me the information I asked for so I it would only be appropriate to do the same in return."
"Answering your second question first. From what you told me, they would were most likely from the terrorist group Arc Angels lead by a reploid of the same name. The massive Spartin unit is named Spara and the only female Arc Angel member we're aware of that matches your description would be Sierra. These two are believed to be generals of the Arc Angel's army. Frankly, the fact that your still alive after meeting them is quite an achievement. You should be thankful that you did not meet either Alpha or Omega, I'm certain your fortunes would not have been so lucky I'm afraid."
"Now for your first question, it's hard to say what their interest maybe if any in Blaze." Air Raid rubbed his chin in thought on this one. "The group can be quite unpredictable at times. Once they destroyed an entire city block. When it was investigated as to why, we discovered it was because their leader didn't like a flavor of ice cream a parlor on that block had had. As far as I know, our messenger, Blaze, was only carrying data on crop yields. Data, we, were going to use to help distribute the food surpluses to areas in need."
He paused, "We maybe nothing more than an evil corporation in your eyes. However, all the wealth and power in the world mean nothing if everyone is dead or dying. You should do your research. Our corporation has done more since the governments fell to aid and protect the civilians of this planet than any other. Yes our profits are up, but if you took the time to actually look at closer you'd see just how much of these profits are going to help those in need and not just being kept in our own pockets."
Again he paused letting the colder domineer he had spoken with in the previous sentences pass, "As for your third question. Do you even know how much time has passed since we first detected the first explosions? As of right now, it has been twelve minutes thirty-eight seconds. Do you know how long it takes to assemble a group to respond to a situation like that? Fire and rescue teams were only just leaving their stations when the secondary explosions occurred."
Again he paused, "My group and I, as well as my much larger brother, were preparing to transport in to find out what was happening just moments before the secondary explosions occurred (ooc: ya I really was planning on doing that btw XD). However once we detected your signal, and at least one other emergency transport signal I should add, we decided to investigate them instead in order to prevent any guilty parties from escaping and to find out what caused this mess in the first place."
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Post by rumor on May 19, 2010 19:17:53 GMT -6
Max scoffed.
"Fine. Doesn't matter much now anyway. So then let's discuss this..."
Max would eye his companions for a moment.
"...outside if you don't mind. What I wish to discuss doesn't require them at the moment. What do you say?"
And as a gesture of good faith, Max would lift his wrench and toss it towards the wall, embedding it a bit. The human, while tired and injured, was still stronger than he looked.
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Post by trueblaze on May 19, 2010 20:00:35 GMT -6
Air Raid watched quietly as the wrench landed. Despite what Max may have thought, Air Raid was anything but a combatant type reploid. Diplomacy and information gathering were his specialties.
"If you wish," Air Raid said nodding, then turning to the medical units. "See to those two while we're gone if you would."
The medical units nodded simultaneously. Walking forward one approached Suroken while the other Maya.
"Data corruption detected," the Medical unit said in a mechanical voice. "Correction initiated."
It's hand raised over Maya's head and a glow began to pore down onto her skull as the effects of Sierra's mind control began to fade.
Outside Air Raid turned to Max waiting for the human to speak. One of the Knights had followed the duo out but remained at a distance. This unit had followed of it's own accord following a program that refused to leave it's leader unguarded. Even if Air Raid or Max were to order it to leave it would not. Instead it stood to the side as silently and nonthreatening as it could.
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Post by rumor on May 19, 2010 20:10:18 GMT -6
"Let's cover the real info here. Give me a list of dead, wounded and damage to the city."
Max would not look to either Air Raid nor the Knight, instead looking straight ahead.
"And do tell, what of that lizard type FX? Who makes these things anyhow?"
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Post by kehaul on May 19, 2010 20:38:12 GMT -6
Maya had had plenty of time to calm down by now. Her memories from before she met the woman had been put back in some sort of proper order. She knew who Sokuren and Max were now at least, but not entirely who they weren't. Her memories after meeting the woman were still a complete mess though, and she silently doubted if she would ever manage to sort it all out. Yuki had managed to partially fill her in on Sokuren's behalf. That is, before the secondary party of weirdoes led by a weird bird had intervened. Alongside Max's explanation, her total understanding of the events that occurred after she had met the woman were still wanting.
She had chosen to accept Max at his word for now, despite knowing very little about him. Her most vivid memories of him involved him being very touchy feely with her, to a very unnatural degree for someone she had met less than an hour ago. She believed they called those kind of people pedo-something's, but until her memories sorted themselves out, she was willing not to hold it against him. Besides, she vaguely recalled shooting at him at one point, and the fact that he had not retaliated in return spoke of his immediate character.
On the other end, she had already chosen to trust Sokuren. Not only had he saved her it seemed, but he had put himself in danger to do so when he could have escaped on his own, and taken Yuki and her weapon with him. Her memories of him and his actions were crystal clear, and he was one of the few genuinely nice people she could count using only her fingers alone.
...
Yuki, and now Akiko each adorned one of her shoulders, remaining silent but wary for her safety. Akiko had had quite a bit more pep left in her than Yuki after canceling the bond. It may have seemed she was just naturally more energetic than Yuki, but the truth of the matter was that Maya's compatibility with the Cyber Fairies was a far cry above Sokuren's, or that of any other reploid's for that matter. The degree of this still remained unknown to the others, and it was a secret she had been entrusted to guard. Not at the cost of her own life, but at the potential cost of others' lives. This was compounded by the fact that tampering with her systems could lead to the immediate cessation of Zephyra and Acquanetta, and the eventually cessation of all her fairies. It was to these effects that the FX had managed to upset her quite substantially with its actions. While it had not knowingly attacked her in any way, she gave it a shove with a surprising amount of force, knocking it clean away from her.
"That's enough, back off!" She shouted towards it, assuming it could even understand such a command. She was unarmed at this point, having wisely put away her singular remaining weapon until she could sort things out. This could change quickly however.
"I'm fine. Just need some food, some sleep, maybe a bath, and to get back outside." She added, before heading straight after Max. Akiko and Yuki remained on diligent standby, tightly clutching the hem of her shirt in case their immediate attention was necessary.
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Post by Sokuren on May 19, 2010 21:31:30 GMT -6
Sokuren's injuries were relatively minor, mainly consisting of his back and right shoulder, and were patched up quickly, though his internal energy reserves took longer to replenish, and gave him time to look at his surroundings. They seemed familiar to him somehow, even though he knew that most if not all models of the surrounding machinery hadn't been used since long before Reploids existed. Still, even though he knew it was impossible, he still felt like he had been here before.
"What the hell is going on, first the memory blank, now this?"
Startled by Maya shoving the medical FX unit, he stands up and follows her outside, not wanting to be alone in this place. Jogging to catch up to her, he taps her on her shoulder when he does, handing back the gun she had lent him. "Here, I never really got a chance to use it."
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Post by rumor on May 20, 2010 16:15:10 GMT -6
Max would glance back, both the girl and the other guy were up. This would ilicit a grin.
"Good to see you both looking better. And me in such a state of disregard...."
The pain was beginning to return, stronger this time. Shaking his head a bit, he would turn to Air Raid and give him a concerned look.
"And you'd better send a unit to where we were. I dunno about Buckethead, but if that woman activated her barrier in enough time, then she's still there. And if you want her to pay for what she's done, you'd best get to her before I can...."
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Post by kehaul on May 20, 2010 22:56:57 GMT -6
"Thank you." Maya spoke softly, accepting her weapon back and then quickly dispersing it from sight again. She was happy that Sokuren had returned it, but even more so that he had never needed it to begin with. Her plan had not exactly played out as she had envisioned, but most everyone was alive and okay, and that was worth being thankful for. Yet it was still impressioned upon her mind that the others may not have been so lucky. Ashni's safety especially, demanded immediate attention on her part.
"Which direction?" Maya asked of whoever would answer first, putting aside all other conversational topics for the one that concerned her most greatly.
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