Forgotten Plans- Prolog

[kehaul]

admin said:

"So Akiko," Blaze said with a smile, "I don't suppose you could give us a hand could you? We need to remove these control circuits from this golem here...removed UNDAMAGED from this golem here I should add. It would take us the better part of the morning to rip this thing open and remove them, but if you were to fly inside you'd be able to slip them out undamaged in about ten minutes. What do ya say will ya do it?"

Nipping off a blackened corner, she sent the petite piece to meet its popper, the last stop on its fiery circle of life. Yet it was all for the best, the piece had already experienced the baptism of flame; it would never again pop in this life.

"Uh..." vividly recalling, rather surprisingly, the last time she had been inside a golem. The resulting explosion, the uncomfortable stares she got for weeks after. Really, who could have known an oversized generator exploded that much. But maaaan, the odor of her own charred flesh, the sights and sounds of an entire building being sucked into the maw of a fiery inferno; if it wasn't all worth it.

"Anything for you, snooky buns! ♪" she declared with a wink, blowing him a kiss before disappeared behind the behemoth head of the creature. Moments later, the head popped back with a pneumatic noise clearly resembling a "swoosh" noise. Wriggling down the cracks, she then descended into the proverbial bowels of the mighty automaton.

A deep booming voice echoed from within the machine, "Bow down before me, maker of man ... and spoons!", though the giggle that followed ruined the otherwise masterful charade as she went to work.

[trueblaze]

As the resistance crew continued about their duties a call came over both the base's intercoms and their personal com units:

Attention all field operatives, please report to meeting room B in forty-five minutes for briefing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fallout glanced around as the female sounding mechanical voice resonated throughout the simulation. Glancing at the two reploids he gave a slight snort before his image vanished.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blaze removed his helmet and ran his hand through his hair in an attempt get it out of it's usual helmet shape.

Glancing at his wrist he said to himself, "Forty-five minutes eh, should have just enough time to take a shower and clean up."

(ooc: The meeting will take place in this thread, so just post your character going to/arriving at the meeting room here)

[Mordred]

darknessrevamped said:

"Hey, Cinny. Make sure the guys in R & D have my armor done. I'm going to get a nap here."

Strike leans against the wall of the training room, then closes his eyes, going into shutdown mode.

Oh, "the guys in R&D." How ubiquitous, how vital, how invisible to the average onlooker. Like the mysterious "city engineers" of SimCity, who plant the mayor's trees and establish his Neighbor Connections, demolish his abandoned buildings and pave his streets, "the guys in R&D" have always been, arguably, the most vital component of any army, any government, any corporation, any organization you might care to name.

The particular "guys in R&D" that worked in diligent obscurity for the benefit of the Yoron Resistance, whose techno-monasticist lifestyle might as well have included tonsuring and vows of silence so far as the rest of the Resistance was concerned, were far removed from the celebrity and cultic veneration for the big name heroes practiced by the self-styled adventurers of the upper floors of the base. In their tiny, yet unbounded world deep below the surface of the Earth, quiet contemplative natures found themselves at home - though bound to the world of Neo Arcadia and the Maverick Hunters, the sunlit world of injustice and death and terror, they were somehow set apart; an aloof order of observers sworn to inaction. In their sub-sub-basement laboratories and workshops, their civilization flourished - the brass realized the need for an effective source of technological innovation if they were to keep their tenuous grip on survival, and so funding to "the guys in R&D" was always first priority; no other strategy would make sense for a group that had traditionally lived or died on the capabilities of its individual warriors.

And so, deep in the bosom of the warm earth, the dwarves of a new generation tended to their forge, sweating as they wove strands of their strange magic into every beam saber, every plate of armor, every scanning suite that would be sent out into the wide world above, only to someday return as a battered and beaten wreck. The master smiths of the subterranean dominion would waste nothing; every prodigal tool eventually repented and returned to its source, exhausted. It would be cannibalized, reborn, revitalized, and sent to the surface once more - but never in the same form twice. For even as the "guys in R&D" crafted the same weapons once wielded by their forebears, they learned more of the subtle and secret techniques governed by the art of craftsmanship.

Of the many minds that have come to rest among the sediment of the R&D labs, one in particular may attract the interest of the compassionate observer. This mind, one that many consider to have snapped long ago, lives on in defiance of the regrets that scream into its memory at every turn, in defiance of the powerful incentives to end itself; its torment is enhanced by its self-awareness, by its compulsion to create even when all its synapses cry out for self-destruction. This mind belongs to a body which bears the title "Doctor," which once walked through the burning corridors of a crumbling headquarters with the empty shell of a much beloved student in its arms, which saw a nation brought to nothing with a single blow, which pulled a sheet over the disfigured remains of a living legend who had lost half of his epithet for a doomed people. This mind bears a Sisyphean weight of guilt, and it bears the name "Alter."

[grandmasterdewei]

admin said:

Attention all field operatives, please report to meeting room B in forty-five minutes for debriefing.

The grandmaster and Zackary heard the announcement. Of course they have been training in the grandmaster's simulation program for a whole day. But the grandmaster devised a way for Zackary to learn all of the essentials, all the basics, at a semi-proficent level. The simulator the grandmaster had help with some of his friends in China. It teaches 1 year of training in a single day. Zackary got out of the simulation.

"Grandmaster Dewei, how am I going to explain myself to them? They are going to think I am a spy, I mean I don't even have a home, and I want to help, and......"

"AH dat dat dat, ah dat dat dat." The grandmaster interupted (sounded like something Mr.Miyagi would do.)

"Zackary, we come too far for them to turn down help. You get new voice, make new friends, and you have a home now. Important thing is not to take this mission like the simulation."

"WAIT WHAT?! What do you mean by that Grandmaster Dewei?"

The grandmaster looked towards the window, almost ignoring Zackary, and he said to him:

"Sometimes things better off not said, but this isn't a game." The grandmaster said, and Zackary almost took it as a pun, hence playing in the simulation program.

"People die in war. Your parents die, same reason many soldiers die in this war."

"What's that reason sir?"

"Because it nobody's fault. Life not perfect, things bound to go wrong, wheter it's once or a thousand times. People take order from country, soldiers carry out, they die protecting that honor. Even if belief incorrect, like in story you told me, not their fault. You ever think that Neo Arcadia might have held something against your killer's family?"

Zackary sounded shocked and responded hesitantly "No......no sir. I never thought of it like that........" and he paused looked disappointed. Like he lost a goal.

"Zackary, revenge can reveal the true intentions of any person that seeks a goal for that purpose. You seek revenge for your parents, that's why you came to me in first place right? Be honest, I no yell at you. Need honest answer."

Zackary still paused fearing the grandmaster might yell at him. Then he nodded.

"......I can't get over it. It seems like revenge, against the killer, who attacked my parents, is the least I can do for their sake. But I found another reason to train."

Curious with this response, as rare as it was with the grandmaster's students he asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Go on. What this other reason of yours?"

"Balance. But to help others who need it, at any time of crisis, no matter who they are. But the lesson you taught me, I think I figured it out. There is more than one side to a story, we have to look at it from other people's prospectives, we have to give mercy if needed, someone who looks bad could be doing something bad, because of an influence. Wheter people know right from wrong, you still can't be sure."

The grandmaster gave a light hearted smile.

"Exactly Zackary, but remember this. We have all been fools before in our life, it ok to make mistake, we learn from them. But some people not like that. The biggest fools of them all, are ones who believe in only one side of any story, and do not want to believe the other side of the story. But only exception to that saying, enemies we face, only believe in one side of story, and do not want to believe the other side, because they were never told the other side by their government. You wonder why people running countries be so mean, and stupid to their people."

"Yeah I know it's awful. You know what? I'm not going after the killer, if that killer really wanted me dead, then that person would have came back already. If I just let em go, they won't bother me."

"You thinking much better now. Think before you act. There are people everyone who do opposite. Even people on base act before thinking. You will see many of them today Zackary. Come, we go to room B now."

Zackary walks with the grandmaster and says to him as they head towards the room.

"How did you become so wise grandmaster?"

"Ate alot of Wise(tm) potato chips." (Don't sue me.)

Both of them laugh lightly, then they enter the conference room, and the grandmaster recognizes alot of the people there already, but Zackary is looking around like he lost his wallet.

[Raeone]

BING! Holy crap, an announcement. Rain stood at attention, listening in, before immediately logging out, not bothering to say bye to the others as they'd probably wind up following her there. Hopping out of her chamber, she proceeded to put back on her jeans and jacket, figuring Tempest would pop up at some point...

[Specter]

'Hmm, 45 minutes till the mission briefing,' he thought to himself...,'Guess I could head there and see who shows up early.'

He walked briskly down the hall, his silver hair flowing from the pace. The black armored reploid disappeared as he went down the hall.....

'Could be fun soon...'

[Sokuren]

Sokuren sighed, no matter how many times he told the brass that he wasn't suited for combat, the inevitably put him on the mission list.
"well, have fun with that"
he told the Simulator tech as he got up and started walking to the ready room
"guh, i'm not a combat 'loid, why won't they recognize that, i'd probably do better in R&D, but frankly the people there just freak me out
sighing again, he took off his maverick hunter badge and looked at it, it looked like any other badge, except in the spot where it showed his team, all it had was a small wrench, showing that he belonged to the engineering unit.
"huh, perhaps all they need me for is field repairs" he mutterd to himself as he walked into the ready room

[rumor]

"....Well. Such a shame. Pehaps another time then."

Logging out Tempest looked over at the three who were watching him.

"I clocked the simulation to last for days. How long...."

"Let's just say a while and leave it at that."

"How d'ya do it?"

"Either a certain degree of calm, or boredom, I can never remember which."

As the others begin laughing, Temp turns to Rain.

"I suppose we should be going. I'll meet you there."

And snapping his fingers, the ninja'loid was gone in a small burst of wind surrounding his body, like a mini cyclone.

"I wonder if Specter beat me there again. And people say I move silently..."

[Specter]

Specter was as usual the first to the room, he had been itching to get back to missions since they'd stopped handing them out. The base had gotten a bit to soft and the down time here as of late had really began to bother him.

He scanned the room looking for any clues to the mission...
'Nothing, huh should have expected that...' He scanned the halls, no one else was approaching yet.

He leaned up against a wall near the front, so he'd be able to see the projector clearly, as well as being able to see who got here next. He found it interesting to see who would get here, and how ready they appeared when they did.

'So what kind of hair brained mission this would be. Hope it involves the sorta thing they'd keep from their mother. Hmm Guess, I have to wait now....'

He had a feeling he wouldn't be waiting long... it had been too long since they'd been given a mission. Surely they'd be quick to get here, after all on time is ten minutes late.

[grandmasterdewei]

Zackary and the grandmaster entered the room. A figure was near the wall, looking at the projector, and also looking to see who was going in. The grandmaster didn't pay too much attention to the figure standing near the wall. He was more focused on asking questions about the mission. Zackary looked around the room, then he walked up to Specter and said.

"What kind of stuff do people deal with on these missions. It's my first time, and I don't know if I should expect the worst or.........." Zackary paused because he wasn't sure how this man would respond.

[Idei]

"It's been awhile since I've been here. I wonder how the others are..."

Ied was accompanied by two people, one with white hair, and one with dark.

"We should meet a couple of my friends soon, so I expect you two to be on your best behavior. I know I shouldn't worry, but you guys have'nt had much interaction with people. That and I expect you two to keep your hands to yourself."

Ied stares at Alan and gives him a warning look.

Attention all field operatives, please report to meeting room B in forty-five minutes for briefing.

"Hmmm, Since I'm technicqally a field operative, let's head toward the meeting room."

With just that, he headed toward meeting room B.

[Specter]

[[Bit OOC but Specter never uncloaked, so likely you don't see anything, except an empty boring looking briefing room... But he'd have done so shortly after you entered the room.... So assuming that you directed it at Dewei and Specter interuppted, unless he could actually detect Specter while he was in stealth mode.... ]]

Specter observed the two enter... The two were the Grandmaster and his apprentice. Still he wasn't aware that the younger of the first two was talking yet, but he did have a fresh tracheotomy scare clearly visible, perhaps an implant was put in place.

"Usually, we go out and make sure that something belonging to Neo Arcadia, ceases to function..." Specter explained coming out of stealth mode, his 8 forward eyes focusing on the small one, his intention to frighten. "Be it their facilities, soilders or otherwise. Then again sometimes we set out with the intent to bring back supplies, aid allies, or gather intel, but hey don't let your hopes be dashed, kid, there will likely be alot of combat regardless. We don't have the luxury of getting Neo Arcadia off our backs anytime soon."

[grandmasterdewei]

Before Specter went out of stealth mode, the grandmaster said to Zackary

"There person in this room, but he not where you are. He over there."

Zackary looking embarassed walked over to Specter. The grandmaster knew Specter was on the other side of the room, even with the stealth on, but he couldn't really see him, he knew physically where he was in the room though, and he could feel it. But Zackary didn't even know. He just assumed because he thought he saw something.

Zackary being frightened by the 8 eyes, he sounded like he almost regret asking the question in the first place, and almost felt like he needed to run back to the grandmaster to be safe. But Zackary stood where he was and said:

"Neo Arcadia? They, they............killed my.........." Zackary went in shock when he heard the name and continued; "and we are fighting...........them?!!" Zackary got all worried for nothing. The grandmaster walked over to Zackary and calmed him down

"No worry. You will be fine. They can be foes of great power, but they don't have a certain quality, and you are familar with it Zackary. Figure it out on your own. You'll find the answer you are looking for."

The grandmaster apologized to Specter:

"Forgive him, he's very nervous, he has been through alot already. I know he shouldn't go, but he wants to."

The grandmaster saw a familar face off in the distance. Another martial artist, but one he knew as Ied. He was familar somewhat with his martial arts style. However, he saw that he had two students. The grandmaster excused himself from the conversation with Specter, and brought Zackary over. He said with a smile to Yuuichi

"So, you returned. Glad to see you again friend. Even though we have our differences, it's nice to see someone like you helping out once again. How have you been though in the past couple of years? The war has took a toll on my body, and I am passing on the teachings to this young one here."

"Nice to meet you sir, my name is Zackary."

Zackary looked at the other two students, he looked impressed of Alan but smiling at the same time and responded:

"WOW! You look really strong. You must be used to this kind of stuff."

Then he saw a very attractive lady named Trina, he was shocked. He started thinking to himself while staring in her eyes in shock

'How can someone so nice like that.......do something like fighting?............. she's really pretty.'

Then he snapped out of it, blushed and said:

"Uh.......hi, are you..........uh......with them?"

[Specter]

Specter redirected his gaze to Dewei..

"Yes it's only natural that he'd want to, these are exciting times in which we live, we have the chance to do legitimate good for our kind, and I'm sure that the boy has that in mind to. It is only natural that he'd want to strike out against those who would harm our kind..." Specter had seen the horrible executions by Neo Arcadia's hands, reploids whose only crime had been their own creation, and an unwillingness to bow down to the False X and his so-called Guardians. "Neo Arcadia's certainly deserving of his wrath as well, for all they have done. There is no need for forgiveness."

Specter noticed the new arrivals, next to the Grandmaster and his pupil, whom Specter knew needed no further preparation, these three, looked as ready as a crab to crawl into a sushi bar.

'Come to think of it, I've not seen these three around before, perhaps I'm just in the lower levels to often as of late,' He thought dismissing the fact that he was unfamiliar with the newcomers. 'Well the boy certainly isn't too shy.' Noting his immediate approach to the new arrivals.

[trueblaze]

"Ahhhhh, nothing quite like being squeaky clean," Blaze said as he rubbed the slightly damp towel he had draped over his shoulder against his hair once more.

It was unusual for Blaze to be out and about while not wearing his armor. However, after taking his bath he had decided to take the opportunity to have his armor throughly cleaned. Thus, instead of his usual red armored appearance, he wore a simple pair of cacky jeans and and a black teeshirt with an old photo of X and his comrades from the Giga City incident long ago on the front. This outfit was so in contrast to what he usually wore, most people didn't recognize him when he walked by until they saw the red tips at the end of his black hair.

Blaze approached the meeting room, walked in, stopped, and turned around.

"Ied?" Blaze said questioningly, rubbing the damp towel against his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things, "IT IS YOU. Hay hay, what have you been up too," Blaze grinned and began walking toward his old friend. "Why I haven't seen you since, hello!"

Suddenly the short reploid's attention moved away from his old comrade and to the female companion standing behind.

"Hi, nice to meet you," Blaze stated pushing past Ied so he could 'properly' greet the woman. "Name's Blaze. I'm the, ah, head engineer of this establishment. If there's anything ya need fixed, don't hesitate to ask."

(ooc: with a 20 in Appearance, you're going to have this happening to you a lot I'm afraid ;D )