Paragon City:- Independence Port.
It was the ease that sacred her. How simple it had been to abandon her humanity and become one with the machine to give up emotions, to see the world only in objects and numbers.
But it had provided her with an answer as to where the machine would strike next.
Independence Studios, a small public access TV station little more than a broadcasting rig and a couple of sets shared by the various TV programs that aired on the station.
It was however guarded, so from shadow to shadow the girl crept, her vision constantly changing spectrums, infrared, ultraviolet even a form of sonar. With inhuman speed and agility she would rush on silent footsteps from cover to cover avoiding both the security systems and baton armed guards.
The machine suggested she incapacitate the guards and provided a list of various tactics and plans to do so. She reached into the pockets of her jeans and took out a handful of white pills, swallowing them the machines suggestions got quieter and eventually faded.
Having spent the journey to the studios studying the buildings plan she knew the perfect place to gain access. The air conditioning for the broadcast building was large, not large enough for a man to crawl through but she was much smaller than a man despite some of her augmentations. A few seconds with a screw driver removed the covering of the grating giving her access. The duct was filthy covered in dust and a few feet beyond the opening became pitch black. Her augmentation switched to blind sight mode, emitting a bat like sound beyond the hearing of most people in the city. The machine capable of tracking a grain of sand in a desert storm calculated the lay out of the ducts and compared them to the building plan, she crawled forward silent apart from a low barely audible whine of turning gears.
Off The Coast Independence Port
The girl stood silent and armoured as she tested her weapons function ability. Under the rolling waves above she rode in a submarine moving through the pitch black ocean. The crew were under the employ of a man who owed her many favours. You could tell who the newer members of the crew were by how they regarded the girl. Those who saw her with amusement, as a child playing dress up, were the ones who had recently joined. Those who had transported her before viewed her with respect and in some cases fear. They had seen the devastation she wrought.
The girl looked up her skull like helmet tracing the captain path before he was visible.
Excuse me err Miss we are docking if you would head to the breech door and make ready the captain announced.
The girl walked on her heavy armour striking the floor with a loud clang with each footstep.
Before entering the breech doors she paused and turned to the captain.
This Unit Requests Standard Retrieval Protocols her voice was distorted by the armour it came out cold, inhuman, mechanical.
Aye! Miss. The captain paused Good luck
The Strong Have No Need For Luck. She said as the door closed behind her.
Built into the armour was a stealth device, functioning much like her weaponry it created a field around her accelerating the light around her causing her to become almost invisible, not truly indivisible for she still cast a shadow on the floor. The breech door opened to the outside world and her sensors were flooded with information, the crew of the submarine were unloading various drugs and weaponry, the official reason for this trip was transportation of family goods from the Rogue Islands to the Paragon City branches.
Powerful fields built around her legs greatly increasing the amount of lift provide when she jumped. Augmentations planned out the leap and the following ones, GPS showed her the way to go.
Her master had ordered her to spread the word of the groups creed to the world. She had done half of that with a broadcast to the Rogue Islands, but the strong in Paragon city still needed to be informed.
Various plans had been formed and scrapped in periods measured in picoseconds before one had been decided on.
Independence Studios filled all the necessary criteria, it was close, unguarded and with some minor tweaks would be able to provide a global broadcast.
In a matter of minutes she arrived outside the studio, still cloaked she cut the phone lines and drove a heavy metal spike into the concrete floor cutting other connection to the building.
Security systems and guards fell alike a blast of flame hitting them burning and smashing at the same time.
Everything was running to plan as with a single backhanded blow she removed the door to the broadcasting equipment from its frame.
Sensors picked up the sound of a falling grill and she spun just in time to block the slash of a glowing blade, despite her armour a growing numbness emanated from where it had struck. A quick blast of return fire was blocked with a swirl of the blade the force though knocked her and the attacker away from each other.
Standing in front of her way a young girl clearly no older than ten or eleven her right arm and lower portion of legs had been replaced with mechanics. The replacements had continued on her face as well, her right eye was mechanical a mixture of bronze and a blue glowing sensor. Her jaw and neck bore signs of re-enforcement. Her face was masked and she was dressed in a mixture of homemade armour and spandex a burnt cape hung around her shoulders and her blond hair was dirty and uncared for.
Her sword glowed an aura of blue appeared to be its blade.
It was the nature and design of the attackers upgrades that identified her.
In a cold mechanical voice she greeted her attacked.
This Unit Greets You Dear Elder Sister
The Ducts
She was alerted to the arrival of the machine by the sounds echoing through the ducts. The sounds of explosions and screams had always been the announcement of their arrival.
Shed been waiting in the duct several hours now, but had decided that it would be better to lay in ambush rather than move around and risk discovery.
Being unregistered she wouldnt be able to talk her way out of being discovered. The door exploded inwards below her and a figure she knew well walked in. Even dulled by the drugs an animalistic rage began to build up it ignored the differences that the machine in her pointed out.
Here it was Battle Unit Omega the machine that had kidnapped her, experimented on her, enslaved her and forced her to butcher people to fulfil its twisted ideals.
Rage built in her until she could no longer take it with her still human hand she punched the grill out of place and dived from duct swinging her sword in an arcing blow with all the force she could muster. The grill hit the floor before she did altering Omega causing it to spin and block her blow.
A burst of flame and something more shot from the its skull like head but she managed to swing the blade and block, but the force sent them flying apart.
The machine spoke and surprised her.
This Unit Greets You Dear Elder Sister it said.
Though dulled by the drugs surprised forced her to fully consider the machine in front of her, it lacked Battle Unit Omegas height being only slightly taller than her while the machine was a monstrous eight foot, it lacked also the cloud of steam that the machine emitted.
Warily she shifted her stance to prepare to attack or defend.
Stop playing games Sigma Two Four Seven she said
This Unit Sees That You Operate In Ignorance Dear Sister Sarah the machine replied it hands down by its waste seemingly at ease.
The mention of her real name set her off and she rushed forward swinging the sword almost faster than the human eye could follow, seemingly wild but each swing was a polished move part of pre-programmed strikes and combat routines.
The machine for its part was on the defensive despite the bulk of its form it dodged with elegant grace, seeming to flow away from the sword. Suddenly it counter attacked reached out and grabbed Sarah by her hair and throwing her with apparent ease away.
Sarah caught herself rather as she fell spraining her human hand but allowing her to use it to flip over and gain her feet.
Why Such Violent Action Dear Sister Query? the machine spoke
Youre not my sister! Sarah snarled preparing to attack again.
With a whirr the skull like head of the machine opened and folded away.
A girls face probably no older than herself regarded her, the same surgical scars that covered her own face stood visible on the girls dark skin. Silver hair was bundled up, obviously to stop in trapping in the helmets mechanisms. A few strands dangled down her face slightly covering a similar mechanical eye to her own.
Dear Sister Did You Think Farther Would Abandon The Project After Your Failure Query? the girl asked, free of the helmet her voice was normal though the tone and words were clipped and precise still like a machine.
Father? That thing wasnt my farther! Sarahs voice was calm its tone neutral the drugs she had taken prior to the mission still in her system.
What Else Would You Call One Who Taught You Query? One Who Birthed Your New Form. Made You What You Are Today Query? the girl said as she moved the hair away from her eyes and fastened it back
It took me away, cut me to pieces and made me kill!. Thats not the actions of a father Sarah said flexing her left hand, assessing how much damage the fall had inflicted, preparing to attack.
Farther Made You Strong. The Fact You Still Live Despite Reports Of Your Destruction Is Evidence Of That the girl said
A memory took over her mind, she felt once again the blade slip into her back severing her spine and cutting her heart. She saw once again the face of her killer, once an ally of Omega now driven to oppose the machine as its mad plans threatened even the other TLF members.
She felt and saw once again the kinder face was the man who brought her back and his reassurances that everything would be okay from now on.
Though the memory seemed to take hours to play out it had happened in less than a second.
So does Sigma Two Four Seven still operate? she asked
Father Has Been Destroyed This Unit Now Inherits His Task the girl said
Then I will have to stop you Sarah said rushing to attack
The girls helmet re-engaged and she raised one hand something flew from it and ignited causing a ball of fire to head towards Sarah. A slash of the sword sent the ball of flame towards the wall where it shattered sending sparks everywhere.
More flames followed Sarah rushed forward blocking some avoiding others but the girl also moved keeping her distance, along the corridor and out into the courtyard of the studios in a dance of fire and destruction.
A blast hit her dead on tossing her into the air, Sarah quickly undid her cape the heat from the blast causing it to balloon and twirl in the air. The girl focused fire on the cape as behind it thrusters in Sarahs legs forced her rapidly to the floor, before the girl could retarget Sarah had reached her.
One hand grasped her throat the other drew back the blade for a final strike.
Its over. Sarah said
Negative Sister the girl said
What Sarah had though to be nothing more than a breathing apparatus either side of the skull like helmet span. A stream of bullets hit her hand causing her to drop the blade.
The air seemed to shift between them to crackle with energy, Sarahs augmentations informed her of the weapon the girl was using. A technology created by the Sul Darian early in the war, fields of accelerated energy when an object entered the field it would increase in its kinetic energy. The girl hadnt been throwing fire but pellets like a shot gun that ignited due to friction.
And now she was staring into the barrel of two such guns. Knowing she couldnt dodge at this range she acted in desperation and used her arm to block the flames.
Metal heated and melted, gears fused as the arm began to glow. Even with her augmentations blocking pain and the drugs doing the same she could feel the heat.
She lashed out with the arm hitting the girls helmet with it over the sensors, couplings gave way and the arm came off. Coolant fluid sprayed from the severed arm. Still acting on instinct she directed the liquid at her molten arm fusing it to the girls helmet.
Sensor Compromised. Mission Can Not Be Completed In This State the girls announced clawing at the hand trying to free it from her helmet.
Sarah detected the field again this time around the girls feet, she launched her self in a leap clearing the building as Sarah sank to her knees panting.
Looking around at bodies and devastation she swore next time she would stop this new threat.
She heard the wail of sirens and realised she had to be away from this place, picking up her discarded sword she headed to the sewers and towards home.
The Rogue Islands
The girl stood watching as her machines rebuilt her armours helmet. She had failed her mission and knew there would be consequences.
A brief smile touched her lips, but what was a little physical discomfort compared to discovering that her Fathers designs could survive even death?
Paragon City.
Sarah winced slightly as she removed the remains of her old arm, for a few seconds she could still feel with it.
Her new arm was a skeletal mix of various jerry rigged parts, a bit of Crey, a bit of Freakshow whatever she had managed to scrounge up.
It would do until she could gather enough resources to rebuild it properly.
She turned and flexed her new arm, watching the screen for a new mission.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
//
And thats that for now.
Just a little story I wrote to explain some changes in a couple of my RP characters.
Should be more later when they next have an encounter.
Critque and constructive comments welcomed.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
Paragon City
Sarah travelled from alleyway to alley way constantly looking out for surveillance cameras. In the city of heroes it seemed like some one was always watching you. Her augmentations informed her they were nearing their target.
As she neared her target she heard laughter coarse, harsh and drunken. The sound of a man pleading for something. She peered around the corner looking into the street, there a gang of punks dressed mainly in red
Even without the prompting of her tactical upgrades she recognised the gang Hellions.
The group were pushing around a middle aged man and looting what appeared to be a hot dog stand.
Reaching to her belt she pulled out a metal tube a twist of the wrist and thin antenna like pole extended from it, the length of the antenna soon be came covered with a crackling blue field of energy.
The voice of the machine silently informed her that interference was a bad idea, pointless a waste of resources. It listed various negatives to her choice of action. She was tired it stated, her right arm was makeshift, she was hungry and the mission she had accepted in exchange for certain technological supplies had a time limit.
She listened to the negatives, she didnt really have a choice in the matter.
Still she would intervene but out of necessity she wouldnt strike poses, give a heroic speech or just strike like lightning and be gone as quick.
The lead Hellion was mouthing off a the man waving a pistol in his face
Its all about give and take you see? You give us some money every Tuesday and we dont take offence. Cant say fairer tha he was cut off as at break neck speeds Sarah dashed past him and slashed the energy blade across his back.
He fell pole axed and quivering. In its blue field setting Sarahs blade was none lethal, its strikes disrupting nerve systems rather than cutting an opponent, anything except a direct strike to the heart would paralyse an opponent for hours but not kill them.
Before the lead Hellion had fallen shed already struck another gang member across the legs and arms. One swung an overhead blow with a baseball bat, and in a show reckless confidence she reached up and grabbed it with her machine arm.
Or at least she tried to, the new arm was not as responsive as her previous, she caught it slightly later than intended and the bat struck her a glancing blow to the head. For a second she lost focus and blood began to flow from her broken scalp.
Cursing her own pride she dropped the other Hellion gang members in a matter of seconds.
Her scanners warned her a police patrol was approaching so before the startled stall owner could thank her she ran into the alleyways and her mission location.
A sewer cover she lifted it with ease motors in her arm giving a slight whirr of protest as she dangled from its under side and sent a sonar scan down the tunnel. Listening out for the echoes meant her hearing was enhanced far more than normal she heard even underground the man talking to the police.
Yeah she just put them down in a flash and ran off, its a pity Id of given her a hotdog on the house too..
The rest of his words she didnt hear as she dropped from the underside of the manhole cover and landed with a splash.
John Eddwins had asked her to do this on the hush, he was taking some new design plans to the Science and Technology Expo centre when his briefcase and the plans inside were stolen. Though the briefcase was chipped with a tracking device, hed lose his job if it was reported to the police.
A deal had been made she got his briefcase back from the lost, hed supply her with some of his companies proto-type inertia dampeners.
Sarah trudged deeper into the sewers, her stomach growled.
Should of stayed for the hotdog she muttered.
Rogue Islands: Caup Au Diablo
The girl was uncomfortable, that is to say her body temperature was above standard levels. Despite the warmth of the studio she was wearing a hooded long thick winters coat. Several sizes too big it was a necessary part of the plan.
With the hood up and the sleeves down she looked like any other child in a coat they would grow into.
The tour guide was droning on, though the girl heard every word it wasnt information needed for the plan and so she discarded it.
The tour group moved on past the ware house where they filmed such shows as Capes And Kisses and other such soap operas.
The girl noted once again how light the security was in such a place. She marvelled at the foolishness of such lack of precautions.
She slowed her walk slightly pacing it so that she gradually fell to the back of the group of tourists. The tour guide started talking again this time about the popular show Web Of Love the tale of female Longbow officer and the Arachnos Wolfspider she had fallen for.
Engaging her cloaking device the girl slipped silently away. She headed towards the set for Street Talk a day time talk show. It was the star of this show she had come to see.
The lock on the dressing room door was digital and rather easy to break the coding of the girl opened the door and entered.
A woman middle aged but traces of plastic surgery made her look much younger, she was dark skinned with raven black hair.
The girl turned off her cloaking device and waited, she could take the perfect shot right now but a certain wicked taste for humour made her wait.
The woman turned humming to herself then gave a jump and a little squeal of fright when she saw the girl.
Oh Hell child. You scared the life outah me! she spoke with a thick Caribbean accent
A small smile played over the childs face at the reaction, she raised her hand and shot the woman with a tranquiliser dart. Picking up the collapsed woman she lifted her with ease and re-engaged her cloaking device.
Rogue Islands: Location Undisclosed
The woman groaned and slowly woke up her arms hurt, and her side hurt , groggily looking round she took stock of her knew place.
The first thing she realised was that her arms were pinned behind her held by something, straining her neck to look round she could see they were pinned in some sort of bronze device. Another device or perhaps the same one had her pinned from the waste down within it.
She screamed and struggled to break free.
Good Evening Target Mary Kelly. This Unit Sees You Have finally Awoken a voice spoke looking round Mary saw a figure though she couldnt make out all the details it appeared to be a little girl.
Child please let me go! she pleaded
This Unit Can Not Comply With Your Request. You Are Needed Here the girl replied walking over to a large steam emitting device.
Why!? Mary demanded struggling to escape.
This Unit Is Aware Of How You Get Reactions From Your Guests Target Mary Kelly the girl turned several valves on the device.
You Are A Mutant. A Minor Telepath, You Frame Your Words Based On The Feelings Of Your Guests To Lead Them To The Desired Reaction. That Power Is Needed The girls said not looking at Mary eyes focused on the task at hand.
Needed for what? Mary asked
The Device You Are Now Part Of Is Called The Hate Engine. Others Like You Will Soon Join You In It. The girl said walking to a different machine
And? Mary pressed
Then This Unit Will Torture You All To Death. Your Hate, Your Pain, Your Despair. The Engine Will Capture And Transmit This Globally. It Will Seep Into The Subconscious Of Mankind. Panic And Fear Will Lead To Chaos And Destruction. That Is Our Desired Goal Mary heard the girls words and began to wail
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
The evening was closing in. The woman still sat in the room tied to the chair, tired and exhausted. She hadn't gained much sleep during the night, but her body was soon forcing her to slumber in. She stared at the floor that became more and more and more blurred in her vision. Just as darkness began to engulf her vision she heard a loud slam coming from the door, she quickly looked up.
A shadowy figure met her look. About little more than average tall and a long coat stretching all the way down to it's feet.
"What do you want?" She said groggy
"I want a little chat. I will not take there should be any difficulties in that?" the figure replied
"I don't want a chat. I want to get out of here!!!" She yelled back at the man
Hector made a cringe behind the shadows and put a hand to his ear. He still felt the ringing from the loud wail mixed with his keen hearing about 30 seconds later before he replied:
"If you do that again, I WILL shut you up"
"Do you even know who I am?! Let me out! Now!!" She ignored his words and kept yelling
The shadow now moved with fast and determined steps in her direction, she looked at it with fear for what would happen and she felt the regret rising. It stopped about a 8ft away from her, then a blade shot out from his hand and landed just on her forehead.
"Tell me.." He began with a sarky voice
"How did you plan to host a talkshow with no tongue? As far as i calculated that would be quite impossible. So I now give you the last chance to stop wailing before I take that and maybe more..is that understood?!" Hector shouted back.
The hostress just simply nodded looking at him with fear. The man seemed to calm himself before getting a chair and sat himself opposite to her
"Let us have that chat, shall we?"
An hour later:
Hector left the room, holding his com to his head
"Your test rabbit were unable to provide information, so what now?"
"We Will Kidnap More Psinoics For The Plot" The machine voice of BUO sounded.
"Fine. I'll just let her rot then" Hector replied.
((OOC: For Those Interested in the Hates Engine RP just read the part about the evil girl who may at some point get an actual name))
The Sewers: Paragon City
The sewer stank, which was unsurprising when you considered what it existed for. Once again Sarah wondered why so many villains saw fit to make their lairs in the sewers immediately her augmentations provided answers, lack of surveillance by authorities, warmth, lack of traffic. The list continued.
She got a response on the sonar a figure some distance away, leaning against a wall panting, about five six and overweight.
She closed the distance before the figure had fully recovered his breath. A punch to the back of his knee brought him down to her height a hand over his mouth kept him silent.
He must have been a new recruit into the Lost, he was still weak unfit and human.
She touched the edge of the energy blade to his throat, it couldnt harm him, but he didnt know that and the way it hummed and vibrated the air around the blade made it seem more of a threat.
How many? How far ahead? she snarled into his ear letting the augmentations affect her voice robbing it of human qualities disguising the fact she was just a child.
Ten. Ma..maybe five minutes He wheezed when she released her grip
She span slashing the edge of the blade through his neck, unconscious he toppled face forward to the floor.
Sarah ran constantly scanning ahead of her.
Within minutes she had caught up with them, she leapt in her energy blade casting flickering shadows with its blue glow.
Seconds past nine were down, she turned looking for the tenth and felt pain.
It felt like something was clawing at her brain, tearing her mind to shreds. She dropped to one knee whimpering in pain, a figure stepped out of the shadows, a twisted mutation of what had once been a man. One hand was extended towards her, twisted and animalistic it was made up of two long fingers and thick thumb.
He appeared to be saying something but with the blood rushing her ears from pain she couldnt hear.
The figure pushed out his other hand, black spots were filling Sarahs vision as she fought to not black out. A countdown filled her head, at zero she gave a cry of animalistic inhuman rage and forced herself to stand, machine forced flesh to move to advance on the figure. She swung the blade down in an overhead arc striking the figure clean in the face, he dropped like a puppet with its strings cut. Coughing and gasping for air, Sarahs wiped blood from her nose and looked around for the briefcase.
Undisclosed Location. Rogue Islands.
Mary Kelly shivered shed been left on her own for hours in this cold room, still strapped to a chair.
Being left alone wasnt so bad, better than the company of that man.
Normally at this time, she thought, Id be at the post wrap party for the show sipping a cocktail and getting pats on the back. Not locked up by some creepy girl and her evil what? Uncle? Lover? Creator maybe?
A clang came from the heavy looking door, silently Mary prayed it wasnt the man again.
A figure walked in a machine or a child in armour from the size. It closed the door with a whirr and walked over to the bound woman.
So Target: Mary Kelly. You Still Live Perhaps You Are Smarter Than First Assessment Indicated the figure said its voice mechanical and distorted
Why? Me why not some other TV star? Mary asked
It Is Not Your Social Status: That Makes You: Ideal the figure said watching her
What then? Mary demanded
Your Mutation. Your Psionic Abilities the machine answered
Got to keep it talking, Mary thought, Keep it talking and get in its head if there is anyone there
How did you know? Mary asked pushing out with her mind
Your Own: Arrogance: Led To Your Downfall. Several Years Back: You Acted: As A Negotiator For The Family the figure paused to look at Mary
The Name Of Your TV Show: The Same As The Code Name Used Previously. The Methods Used In The Show: The Same
Success, Mary thought, Im in
The figures mind was wrong, things that should be there werent or were in the wrong place, she Mary realised with shock that the figure was the girl from before.
She pushed deeper finding nothing no emotions, nothing to work with, deeper still and visions filled her head.
Plans of fire and glass, thousands of armoured figures marching, a robed lizard like figure preaching to a mass of silent soldiers.
Her vision exploded and she found her self staring at the roof. The little ***** had backhanded her she realised.
Target: Mary Kelly. You Will Not Attempt That Action Again. The girl said in her monotone distorted voice
Punishment Shall Now: Commence. The girl picked Mary and the chair up by her hair and dragged them out of the door
Target: Mary Kelly You Will Added To The Engine: Now. Operations Will Start. This Unit Calculates That In the Weeks It Will Take You To Cease Functioning Enough Psionics Will Be Gathered For World Wide Effect.
As she was dragged along Mary began to sob.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
((Short post got in very late. This stuff happens shortly after last nights failed kidnap attempt))
Rogue Islands. Unknown Location.
The girl stood, unclothed in the heart of a machine the smell of burning flesh filled her nostrils, she ignored it. It wasnt important.
A system of lasers traced the contours of her body occasionally flashing into full power cauterising wounds.
Her armour was wrecked gashed in places by the blades of Ben Campbell.
The operation had been a failure of epic proportions.
A plan began to form flashing from brain to machine and back again.
Program Epsilon 5 began to form interfacing directly with her brain. It would hurt, a flash of electricity rewriting memories erasing the events of the last week and replacing them with fiction.
It would hurt more when Epsilon 6 wrote back the true events.
Of course pain and the time taken to recover were resources that the girl evaluated as better not to spend unless necessary.
But to keep the Hates Engine Project running she would do anything.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
In a cold, damp, dark room the Doctor sits, his bare upper body revealing his scarred body along with recent stitched wounds.
In his hands he holds a needle, he digs it into his shaking arm then clenches his fist, twitching his eye.
He gives a glance over the interview in the newspaper, donns his clothes and walks off, stepping and turning his foot on the photo of Ben Campbell
Paragon City.
Sarah sat bathing in the light of the view screen she was doing three things.
Firstly she was watching for new information on The Terra Liberation Front, this wasnt unusual she always did this when not out on patrol. Secondly she was reviewing the days events, comparing her actions to different tactical scenarios to see if she could of acted faster and safer, again this wasnt unusual she always did this when returning from patrol. Thirdly she was eating ice cream, this was unusual her groceries were always plain, she didnt have the finances or means to cook anything fancy in her base.
Ice cream was a luxury something she wouldnt buy her self, it had been a gift and it was delicious.
Savouring the feeling of the cold material melting in her mouth and the rich chocolate flavour she thought back remembering why she had been given it.
She was returning home from patrol when her sensors alerted her to the sound of voices raised in argument.
Homing in on the sources of the argument she came to a small seven eleven, thought the window she could see a gang of Skulls pressuring what appeared to be the elderly shop owner.
She walked in letting deliberately letting the door slam shut behind her, a bell hooked up to the door jingled as it closed.
For a moment she was the center of attention, and in that moment shed already begun reacting. Machine and muscle forced her forward at lightning speed her blade had dropped two of the Skulls before the bell had stopped its chimes.
She span and dropped the third gang member, in which nearly proved to be a fatal mistake, she had misjudged the speed at which the fourth could aim and fire at her.
The shotgun blast hit her full on the chest impacting on her home made armour, she gasped as it forced the air out of her, winced once as she felt a rid snap and again as it was forced back into its correct position.
She focused on the gun, time slowed as she rushed towards him almost leaping from the floor, he was cocking the gun ready to fire again, her blade slid along the gun sending blue sparks as it rode the length of his weapon and slashed his arm. The gun dragged his now useless arm down, before it had fully pointed at the floor shed knocked him out.
Shed advised the store owner to call for the police and left.
Hed come running out after her this little old man and given her a big tub of ice cream.
little girls like ice cream. Bet little robots do as well. Hed said.
A voice she knew well shocked her out of her remembrance something was on the view screen.
The Rogue Islands
Chip Summers was a TV star and king of the anchormen, or at least so he told himself. Others might call him that oily haired goon off of the Channel Eight news.
Good evening Rogue Islands. Here is the news at ten and Im Chip Summers he stated in his smarmy voice.
He was cut off however as the air behind him seemed to bulge for a second and then a small armoured figure appeared behind him. With an audible whirr it grabbed him by the hair and smashed his face several times into the desk, it paused looked at him seemingly critically and then smashed his head into the desk one more time.
Statement: Continue Transmission. Else: This Male Will Cease Functions the armoured figure said in a dull machine voice.
The figure pulled Chip back into a sitting position and then tipped him and his chair over, the figure stood behind the desk only shoulders and head visible
Target: Ben Campbel This Unit Requests: Cessation Of Investigation. Actions Against Your Target Relationship: Wife. Merely Business. It paused as if communicating with some one else
Target: Ben Campbel Suggestion: Seek The Ones Who Offered Payment In Return For Action Against You. Further Action Against: Organisation: Pointless: Will Lead To Reprisals. It paused again then the air seemed to vibrate around it and static filled that area of the screen. The figure was gone
The camera kept rolling for a minute or two as various staff members rushed to take care of Chip.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
((OOC next two sections are write ups of in game RP stuff))
Somewhere
Things came into focus before she had opened her eye, a cream coloured ceiling, light embedded into it safety mesh over the light itself, cool what felt to be concrete below her, room temperature low but not too low.
This, she thought, is quite obviously a cell
She raised her self up to look around felt a stiffness on her neck and reached up to feel, her fingers brushed over something gritty like a coating of fine sand paper
Blood or at least dried blood guess he got a good shot in, she thought looking around her cell.
It was meant to of been an easy case, locate workshop bust a weapons deal between the Council and Freakshow.
However shed gotten there early and stumbled on the Council setting up a double cross, the usual taunts from the council
No witnesss yadda yadda yadda
Shed fought them with the best of her skill but it was something unexpected that ended the fight.
Shed slashed the teams leader dropping him and turned to deal with the rest of the Council stragglers.
A warning had blared in her mind, shed started to turn, her vision flashed red and then the cement floor of the filled her rapidly unfocused sight then shed opened her eyes here.
The machine side of her mind filled her in, the team leader identified by council communications as Archon Broomheld is a Warwolf a soldier capable of turning into a powerful werewolf like creature as shed turned he had transformed grabbed her by the head and slammed her face first into the floor.
The machine had been keeping track, Archon Broomheld had been shocked that she hadnt been killed on impact, that fact and a desire to know more about her technology was why they hadnt just shot her.
The machine informed her of the amount of cranial damage she had suffered and resources used to repair it.
Shed live but until her nanites repopulated themselves shed be in trouble.
Looking round the room she let her vision shift through spectrums and began to plan.
Somewhere, The Rogue Islands
Epsilon seven was a devious program one that used the unique nature of the Unit to its advantage.
The girl had calculated, psychics would be needed for the engine, to know if some one was psychic she would have to have them read her mind, but if they read her mind theyd know of the plan.
Camouflage or a deception was needed and thus she had created the programs Epsilon seven and eight.
Epsilon seven stored the analogue form of her memories in a digital format in the parts of her brain that were now machine then it erased her organic memory and overwrote it with fake memories.
It would be these memories that a psychic would see and perhaps respond to. What theyd see was a young girl desperately in need of help, having escaped the research laboratory of the Crey corporation she and her sister were slowly loosing their minds to the shock trooper modifications they had received.
Epsilon eight was automatic and was currently searing information back into her brain Tied to locations Epsilon eight rewrote her memories and added the information gained about the new psychic target.
The target she was now waiting for.
Hed seemed human enough, pale skinned, silver haired and strangely ageless the girl didnt care about the slight differences between a normal human and the target.
As long as the target could feel pain it would be useable in the Engine if it didnt, then disposal of the target would occur.
Sensors warned her that something was coming, bullets slid into place and the turbines that powered her rail cannons began to spin, a quivering feeling of energy played over her skin.
Welcome: Target she announced
Her cape caught the wind as she turned to look for the arrival
Section by EternalKnights
6003. That had been the number she was thinking of. She had asked him almost out of the blue whilst he was relaxing in Pocket D. A child, perhaps no more than 10 or 11 years old. Her visage was corrupted by machinery. Cybernetic implants and attachments littered her frame and their scars tarnished her skin. The moment he laid eyes on her he had felt a twang of pity.
She had needed a psychic, or so she claimed. As he had plucked the number from her mind, he took a cursory glance at what else resided there. A few random memories of a playful childhood and nothing more. Yet, the Primogen was cautious. There was something not quite right about the memories he saw. Maybe it was the effortless serenity they exuded, or perhaps it was that the childs residual self image seemed distorted. He couldn't put his finger on it.
She requested a rendezvous at a clandestine location. Presumably to elaborate on her motives. At least it might prove a welcome distraction for the Primogen. Of course, the possibility of a trap had been present since the moment she had requested this meeting.
DJ Zero's club has been a refuge for the Primogen. Whilst there, in that tiny pocket of existence, he could hear only voices of its patrons, rather than the billions that assaulted him out in the world. He savoured these little moments of peace. Now however, he was in the Rogue Isles. The voices were very much present. There were so many of them. They blended together to become an unending scream in his mind. Still, despite the maelstrom, he heard the clicks and whirrs of machinery. The cyborg child was waiting.
The Primogen stepped from the shadows. He was tall and slender. His pale skin seemed almost luminous in the moonlight. His silver hair was tied behind his head, revealing his ears which appeared to taper at the top. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of round rimmed sunglasses. He wore a long, exquisitely tailored black coat which fluttered slightly in the night air.
His footsteps were silent as he seemingly glided toward the cyborg child. With a rich, flowing, almost otherworldly voice, he spoke:-
"Good evening."
Cactus Brawler
The girls mind was a twisted construct, remembrance of the fantastical cathedrals of the Sul Darian empire, the blasted plains of the millennia plains and the remains of her own childhood.
She turned at the sound of Primogen was the revulsion, the hate that rose in her mind her own or echoes of scripture from a dead religion? The anti-magic preaching of priests long gone to dust
She looked at Primogen her mechanical eyes focusing in, sections of the machine and her brain plotted possible roots he would escape to and fields began to form causing a slight stir of static in the air.
She smiled though no emotion was behind it simply the plan, appear to be grateful that he has arrived, manoeuvre to a more favourable position and then subdue the target.
Humans would smile when expressing gratitude and so she smiled as stepped forward.
Thank You. For Coming Target with each word she spoke she took a step forward.
She counted down with each step as a feeling of malicious anticipation building within, even if the target was unsuitable for the engine it would be chance to slay another degenerate child of magic.
Section by EternalKnights
The eyes of the ancient vampire remained fixed upon the cyborg child. He watched as her scarred features contorted themselves into a smile. But this smile was not one of pleasant gratitude. There was no such emotion behind it. On the contrary, the Primogen felt a surge of malice radiating from the cyborg child. A deep hatred, loud enough to eclipse most of the mental noise rampaging through his mind.
His suspicions were confirmed. He found the somewhat haphazard and woefully cliché attempt at treachery quite insulting. A deep resonating growl emanated from the Primogen, though his face remained still and calm. The beast had been stirred. He spoke once again. This time his voice carried far more power and was saturated with an unholy timbre.
"The expression 'taking life' is an odd term, don't you think? Most would consider 'taking life' to mean death, murder. But how would you define 'life'? Is it the continuing maintenance of biological functions? One can easily argue such. However I disagree. Ones 'life' resides in the memory. It is the culmination of all actions and experiences undergone by that individual. A result of choice and consequence. All that you are is everything you have ever done."
The Primogen focused upon the cyborg child. The tendrils of his mind shot forth and penetrated the vulnerable psyche of his target. They bored their way through both thought and memory, their poisonous touch dissolving synaptic connections and neural pathways.
"To truly take life is to take that away. To unravel the tapestry of memory, letting each thread fall away leaving nothing but a blank canvas, ready for a new life."
The ancient vampire grinned malevolently, watching his victims mind begin to unravel, before returning to the shadows like a spectre.
Cactus Brawler
It struck her mind like acid, dissolving at her thoughts scouring away all thought. The first to go were the thoughts closest to the surface, she lost her aim on Primogen the target recital flickered in her vision rapidly as more and more of her thoughts dissolved. With her mind no longer commanding them more and more of her systems shut down, the fields dissolved as her generators went off line. The acid ate deeper taking away longer memories the words of the tech priests and what little remained of her childhood were lost. Deeper still it continued until even the residual memories that kept a body functioning were lost.
Her breath caught, her heart stopped vision blurred she fell to the ground.
But though a human could fall so easily, the machine functioned still.
Time passed as her body cooled.
<Error: Artificial Intelligence: Destroyed. Frame Functions: In Jeopardy>
Within her body sparks leapt from component to component and gears began to turn.
<Re-establishing: Artificial Intelligence>
A stream of energy flowed through circuits created to ancient designs. Where the energy met flesh it stopped and built up. But the damn of energy didnt build for long. Tiny machines crept through the flesh laying new beds for the energy to flow through.
<Hardware: Ready: Writing: Arch-Bishop Alonsoses: Sigma Class Soldier Script>
Flesh and machine alike had new information written into it.
<In The Name Of Sul Dar: Awakening Hardware>
Her heart began to beat, lungs brought air in and blood began to flow. As her mechanical eye lit up with a cold red glow, her human one flickered opened and tried to focus on the world but it was the machine that looked out.
Request: Connection: Establish: Alpha Class Unit her voice came out thick her throat sore and tortured by lack of air.
As she spoke, the machine also spoke to the air, sending a transmission for miles around.
A signal answered back a connection was established.
[Greetings Battle Unit Omega] the voice was nothing more than code yet it carried with it a strange sense of femanity
<Enquiry: Alpha Unit: Designation Query?> the format in which the voice spoke was not how the machines scripture said it should. But the command protocols, the establishment of the connection all were correct.
[I am O.R.A.C.L.E. And you have been off line for a long time] the voice stated
<Requesting: Update: Situation>
[Very well prepare to update time line]
Lies followed through the air but to the machine they were truth.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
((OOC: A Successful kidnap attempt go team TLF!))
Extra Dimensional Bar: Pocket D
The machine stood still except for the occasional turn of the head. It scanned the room waiting for evidence of a useful target..
The machine sited a woman, she looked around twenty years old, with blue hair seeming to have a consciousness of it's own, floating she smiled at a nearby machine and then the liquid she was drinking rose into the air forming shapes.
The machine turned to look at Rip Fang who gave a slight almost unnoticeable nod. Between them they began to form a plan, if the woman was telepathic she would suit their plans perfectly, however if she was telepathic she could discover their plans as well. Rip was capable of controlling his surface thoughts but it required time and effort.
The plan they established was simple use a deception to get the target to accompany them and then at some advantageous location attack and subdue her.
The machine approached her. It explained that they were looking for some one capable of awakening a child from a coma. One that wouldnt pressure the child into joining Longbow or other pro-governmental force and one that wouldnt turn around and sell the child to Arachnos forces.
If the machine had been programmed with more conversational skills it might of detected a resonance between the target and the story.
The machine suggested that they go meet another member of the machines organisation, one who was hiding from the mind reading abilities of the Fortunas.
Of course now that the target knew of their plans the way they would have to travel though various tunnels to avoid Arachnos detection.
They travelled for nearly an hour through dank sewers and darks tunnels thought to be remnants of whatever had called the Rogue Islands home before settlers ships had arrived.
Finally they arrived the tunnel lead into a large cavernous room in the distance another tunnel lead out of the room and deeper into the island. Abase had been set up making it look like some one had been waiting here for several days. It only looked that way however as they had only set up this location for ambush a few hours earlier.
A man sat on a wooden chair in the center of the room, he was dressed in what most would call normal clothing apart of course from the surgical mask covering his face.
He nodded then to the machine and simply said
Shut off the exits, she must not escape
The way they had come and in the distance the way out of the room was filled with a wall of crackling energy.
The womans face changed with her emotions a look of shock was replaced with one of anger, her fists clenched and heartbeat quickened. The machine calculated that she would fight them.
Ok... one question... why? she asked the question breathlessly as if trying to keep her self under control.
Your Body: Needed the machine stated as parts moved around within the frame optimising it for combat.
Sorry Im using it the woman gestured with one hand and a large block of masonry rose from the floor and flew at the machine.
The man chuckled and seemed to fade into the background his voice echoed and seemed to come from all parts of the cavern at once
Not for long! he said
The block of stone shattered as the machine brought both fists arcing down on it, the woman hovered in the air creating a field of force around her concentric circles formed in the dust of the cavern floor, flowing outwards with each wave of force.
Metal spikes jutted from the soles of the machines feet digging into the floor providing fraction as it forced its way through the waves of force.
Do Not Resist: Target: Female: It Is For The Of Good: Mankind. The machine advised
Like hell it is she responded by causing more masonry to fly at the machine
The machine parried them and drew ever closer
You know.. your really starting to [censored] me off.. the woman was drawing breath heavily it didnt seem to be the effort she was putting into the field but something different something within she was fighting.
Rage: Loose Control: Become: Less Focused: Less Effective. The machine intoned one hand shattering a brick that had nearly struck its head
I don't DO less effective she said as she increased the pressure the waves of force were causing.
If you surrender now, I could spare you some rather grim cut marks on that innocent face again Rip fangs voice seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once
You Are: Humanoid: Biological: Even Time Makes: Less Efficient the machine intoned as the rock below it gave way causing it to be pushed back several feet
And your a piece of metal... what do you know of people.. nothing she was breathing heavier now but the force was undiminished
This: Unit Posses: Complete knowledge: Human Physiology the machine supplied
Around the battlefield objects began to crack and bend under an unknown force.
Physiology is NOT emotion or what people truly are you piece of metallic [censored] her words came rushed between breaths a dark blue glow coming from her eyes
Emotion: Chemical Nothing More the machine drew closer forcing its way through the increasing pressure
I've heard enough! Give up now or you will regret it later when we put you down with force Rip Fangs voice came from the air again this time full of irritation
The pressure increased and objects rose from the floor only to be crushed and swirl around the woman in a flurry of dust, stone and metal.
She gasped and clutched at her head fingers tangling in her hair
Don't loose control.. her voice was coming ragged now as if fighting some thing back with all her willpower
The pressure seemed to falter the machine staggered forward fighting a force that was no longer there
Eugh.. I.. Can't.. her voice was laden with pain
The woman tensed up and straightened the blue light in her eyes and the pressure came no longer wave after wave but as a storm. The machine fought to maintain its place but metal strained and buckled and broke as the teeth of gears were shorn away under the force.
As sudden as the storm started it had ended there was a light thump as the woman fell from the sky onto the dirt floor of the cavern.
She's down Rip Fangs voice was smug as he faded back into sight Get her to the base. Then return to the club
The machine picked the woman up and headed deeper into the caves where a temporary teleportation systems had been set up.
As it walked it calculated if the Hates Engine would be strong enough to absorb the power she could output.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
((OOC: Short one))
Council Base Somewhere
His voice was soft almost lulling Sarah though as she listened to the strangely dressed man in front of her. Not that she had any choice her arms and legs were restrained.
Was it the tone or the voice or the rhythm of his words she idly wondered through as her mind clouded that made her want to listen to more.
She should be struggling she thought break free, hit the vampyr with her chair and try and escape again.
But she felt a growing need to sit here longer and listen he was making sense talking about destiny, duty and how the Council was both of those things.
The man if he could still be called a man left her alone daydreaming about power, glory and a brave new world.
Outside she could barely hear a conversation.
Will she serve? a mans voice
Her mind is young malleable, she has almost no mental defences at all it was that same lulling voice
Arachnos Broadcasting Station. Rogue Islands
The machines employed ancient tactics in their fighting the larger would smash through obstacles, it size and the way it could lift a man off the ground and smash another person with him making it the more immediate threat but as the Arachnos troops focused their fire on the brutish machine the smaller one would take them out small super heated bullets punching their way through flesh and armour like tissue paper.
Their rampage stopped only as the last trooper his mind broken by the violence screamed and ran. With in five minutes the forty staff of the broadcast relay center had become corpses.
The larger of the machine placed a disc into the mainframe of the center. Alarms began to blare the machines ran with amazing pace through the ruined corridors of the building.
Across the Rogue Islands TV Broadcasts were interrupted as a shadowy figure replaced the normal tv programs.
Arachnos: Know This: Two Of Five Parts: Device Completed: Soon End Of Arachnos Reign: Will Occur the figure spoke in a mechanical voice every word clipped and precise.
Its statement said normal viewing was resumed.
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
Somewhere. Council Base
You will be our stalking horse little one. A hero under our control, bringing down the wrath of Paragon city on our enemies and yet never striking at us the Vampyrss voice was relaxed a tone that jarred with the look of his monstrous body
I
understand Sarahs voice was quiet her mind still subdued by the Vampyrs mind control.
Your new arm. It has a method for us to communicate with you and you will obey our orders understood? the Vampyr paced the room leaning in to whisper these words in the girls ears
Understood Sarah looked down at her new right arm, her self made replacement had in turn been replaced with one of Council design.
You will not speak of this event to anyone understood? the vampyr had moved whispering in her other ear
Understood
The Vampyr gestured to another man in the room who approached Sarah with a syringe, a sharp [censored] of pain and then darkness crept round the edge of her vision.
As she passed out she heard the Vampyrs final command.
Take her back to Paragon city
Mercy Isle. Arachnos Base.
Steel tore and concrete shattered under the fingers of the machine. Vast clouds of steam poured from its vents as it ripped its way through the outer wall of the base. Their mission was simple a retrieval of information. Problems arose however the information was stored deep within an Arachnos base.
With a final crumpling of cement the machine broke through, right into a group of Arachnos troops, the machine struck like lightning a dance of gears and flying blood. Armour was like paper and flesh moved like water as it tore the guards apart.
Bullets bounced of its armour like rain as it stormed through the corridors of the base its pace was like an avalanche sweeping up the Aracnos soldiers in its path, behind it lay only destruction and the groans of the dying.
The machine paused as scanners assessed its goal.
[Unexpected: Situation: Regarding: Mission Objective]
[Prepare: For : Collaboration: Assessment]
The girl looked through the machines sensors though several hundred miles currently separated them. The goal the machine had been sent to attain was in a different form than expected. Rather than a simple data server a large armour bound server was wired directly into the wall.
[Tactical: Assessment: Remove : Goal From This Area: Deconstruct: Safe Location]
The machine started moving, the hum of turning gears becoming a roar as more moved into position, it clutched at the sides of the armoured server and with the sound of tearing masonry ripped it from the wall.
Carrying its prize it moved through the bloodstained smoke filled base corridors it transmitted a statement.
[Arachnos: Psionic Mutation: Studies: Acquired]
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
Monday the 17th march. 16:34 o'clock Nerva Archipelago docks
The ferry's horn howled as it docked in. The bridge were lowered and various people began coming out. The man in his grey coat watched it from a distance, watched all the passengers exit, one by one.
It was then, in front of the ship he noticed a man of hi-spanic origin carrying a guitar saying goodbye to a few others. Grinning he took his guitar and left the group, this was the target.
The man looks up, his narrow eyes slightly showing underneath the hat
"I see you.." he whispered to himself
Hector carefully watched the man whistling to himself and making drumming rhymes on his legs as he walked up the street, watched him until he passed by. Then he took off after him..
((obviously going on after Rip's captured the other guy))
Saria stirred from her unconscious state, her head still throbbed slightly from the intense amount of psychic energy she unleashed a few days prior to her capture.
She tried to rub her forehead, then panicked realising her hands were held above her in some sort of brass device. She screamed more angry than afraid.
A large metal door opened in the left of the room.
Ah, finally, your awake Said the tall figure who had just entered the room
Yes Im bloody awake! Saria snapped in a fit of anger.
Now, what did I say about that attitude?
carry on and that pretty face will go back, not so pretty The man mused while surveying Saria in the machine.
So
what is it you want with me? Saria asked calmly
You have
abilities we need to use for our means. He said as he turned and twitched his now visible tail.
And what are your means? Saria asked starting to get angry again
Now
where would be the fun in telling you? The man smirked and headed for the door.
Saria glared at the door causing it to slam shut in his face
Answer me, properly, or your going through the roof Saria demanded calmly
And as I said
any more attitude
and Ill take your face off, now, go back to sleep Rip Fang grinned as Saria looked at her arm in terror realising that tranquillisers had been, being pumped into her since he entered the room.
She ripped the needle out telekinetically but too little too late, she felt herself falling unconscious again
No
cant
go
n
Sarias head dropped forward into an unconscious state.
Thats a good girl Rip fang opened the door and left the room.
((Post easter/level to 50/loads of uni work update.))
Paragon City: Sarahs secret base/home
Sarah sat in the small circle of light provided by the black and white TV screen, she didnt need light to see her machine eye was capable of night vision in addition to infra red and other spectrums.
She was worried, she sat not paying attention to the comedy playing on the small TV screen. As the prime time comedy about the zany antics of a Warrior gang member and a Freakshow tank who for some reason were forced to share an apartment she went over her memories again.
And again nothing their were several gaps in her memory points where she couldnt remember anything at all, even the machine side of her brain couldnt clue her in on what happened during those periods of black out.
A buzzing echoed over the through the disused water treatment plant and then a brief blast of operatic music.
I dont remember having a phone Sarah thought as her computer side targeted the location of the sound
Crossing the room she found hidden among a bunch of boxes a small matt black cell phone. Opening it she placed it to her ear.
Wagner Die Walküre a voice on the other end spoke.
Sarahs eye lost focus and she would of fallen over as her mind went to sleep if not for balance abilities provided by her enhancements.
Time to wake up dear child. There is work to be done. The voice said again
Life filled Sarahs eye and she stood up but something was different, normally her shoulders were slumped and she would look round constantly for threats, but now she was practically bouncing on the spot, she seemed tense like a coiled spring or a puppy excited about going on a walk.
Im here father what do you want me to do? even her voice had changed lost its dull edge
Equipment and your mission has been placed at location seven the voice spoke before hanging up.
Sarah smiled and ran, out of her base and through the streets pausing only long enough to pick up her long coat, while she looked just like a normal kid running around and having fun however through her mind data was flowing, city maps, location and view angles of cameras, normal patrol patterns and routes of law enforcement these she skirted the edge of moving through the city but never registering digitally.
She arrived eventually at a small news agents and made a pretence of looking at comics on the news racks, after a short time the other customer had left.
Walking up to the counter she looked up into the face of the store owner allowing him to see into the hood of her coat and her glowing cybernetic eye.
And what can I get you little girl? he asked raising an eyebrow.
An apple pop. You just cant beat the liquid center she said stressing the word center
He nodded pressed a button under the counter and gestured to the door behind him. Walking into the room she found it to an elevator.
The doors closed behind her and the room descended several floors. The doors opened and she entered a safe house belonging to the Council. A bed stood in the center of the room, another room led of from it a brief shot of sonar revealed it to be a bathroom. On the bed lay a metal case.
Sarah opened the case and took out a brown paper envelope. Below it in the case there was selection of matt black clothing and mid length blade. Sarah opened the envelope and read through the information rapidly her computer mind directly feeding off of the information as it entered her cybernetic eye.
Tom Wilkinson formally a member of the Councils tech team turned traitor and now states witness.
The plan was simple a visible would attack one a target nearby , Longbow would of course move him. But to avoid drawing attention that they had him it would be a small force. Her mission was to intercept him and his bodyguards.
She undressed and redressed in the matt black clothing, though flexible it was slightly stiff evidencing some form of armouring.
[Kevelar Weave] the machine part of her mind evaluated.
Tucking the blade into her sleeve she headed towards the place her tactical components had decided was the best for an ambush. Her machine mind opened and started filtering through broadcast transmissions, longbow, PPD and the ones used by criminal groups.
She relaxed her muscles and felt parts of her enhancements down shift to preserve power. Hours passed as she weighted on a rooftop in the shadow of a chimney. Her eye opened as she intercepted a transmission
Confirmed Council activities in sector twelve. They dont appear to be after Mr Wilkinson but wed better move him to the second location to be on the safe side
Machine prepared for action, enhancements consuming more power gears moving faster and faster.
Below her a door opened and two men in trench coats stepped out behind them a smaller man with greying hair followed them.
Sarah threw her self off the building top, using her right arm she grabbed the wall breaking her fall speed keeping it to an acceptable level.
One of the men looked up as he heard metal striking brick, he did so just in time to see hard metal fill his vision as Sarah planted her feet in his face. The impact sent him to the floor as he fell Sarah stepped off of his and lashed out with her blade it took the second Longbow agent in the throat. His emergency mediport fired and took him away. As she hit the floor Sarah activated a device in her clothing blocking teleport technology in the area.
What? Tom Wilkinson was pale shaking at the sight hed barely been able to catch
The Council will not allow traitors Sarah said as she turned and drove her blade into his heart. Blood splattered across her face as she pulled the blade away.
She returned to the safe house showered and changed.
Back home she picked up the phone and dialled a number.
As the phone rang she addressed the machine side of her mind.
Sigma erase logged files for to days actions
[Understood: Erasing Log Files]
Good work my daughter you have made father happy today the voice on the other side of the phone said.
Sarah smiled eye sparkling with happiness.
Sleep my precious daughter, when you wake up youll be some one else
The Rogue Islands
OOC: Mainly towards Raven_Deathstorm
Tiny, invisible to the naked eye the machines crawled over the wall billions of them each a tiny marvel of technology.
The room had been stripped bare, its occupant had shown powerful telekinetic powers both in the battle to subdue her and in several displays of bad temper towards her captors.
Silently the tiny machines formed a lattice and projected energy between them, flickering a image formed on the wall projected by a billion little emitters.
A figure formed on the screen a little girl probably no older than eleven, her face covered in faint white scars, silver hair un-brushed partially covering a lens like device that seemed to be a replacement for her right eye. Her left eye a pale blue, no soul or life seemed to shine in its depths, a dolls eyes made in flesh.
The child spoke each word clipped precise giving her words a feeling of maturity that didnt match the doll like exterior.
Target: Psionic Female: This Unit Would Discuss The: Nature Of Your Incarceration
Mankind: Suffering: A Cancer
This Cancer: Designated: Society
Society: Exists: To Protect The Weak. The Weak: Should Not Live: This Is Natural Order
However: Society : Protects The Weak By Enslaving The Strong.
Society: Chains The Strong: Teaches Them That Strength Not Used For Societies : Benefit : Wrong: Evil
Yet: Even This Is Not Enough: Society : Send Slaves To Tear Down: Those Who Have Seen The Truth
It Preaches : The Sanctity Of Free Will: Yet Removes This From The Strong
But You Target: Have The Chance To Help Us: Free Ourselves From Societies Chains: Your Situation Will Improve Should You Willingly Help Us
If You Do Not:
Many Things Constructed On : Blood: Innocents
The picture breaks up as the tiny machines crawl away.
Arachnos Base: Nerva Archipalago
OOC: Mainly towards the Dusk Spiders
Around a table sat several figures dressed in white armour across the table was spread tons of papers and printouts. The printouts were all of a large seemingly armoured figure.
So do we actually know what it is? Or What it wanted from that place? the figure at the head of the table said
Well we know that its called Battle Unit Omega and its a robot of unknown origin a different armoured figure spoke up and leafed through some of the papers
Unknown construction method. We encountered several of them last year where it appeared to be taking genetic samples it continued
And that base just so happened to be the place we store information on mutants
a third figure said rolling a coin through his fingers over and over
Regardless it got what it wanted at the cost of the lives of many of the personnel at the base the head figure said
So do we make it kill on sight? the paper shuffling figure said
It only got destined one status because we thought it was a man in a suit yeah? But if its just a robot it should be scrapped the coin playing figure said
Agreed. Battle Unit Omega has had its Destined One status revoked. For crimes against Arachnos it is now classified as destroy on sight. the head Arbitrator said
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.
Paragorn City
A child sat in a dark cold room in the illumination provided by an old halogen screen She might have been called pretty once, might still be called so by some one who ignored the scars the covered her body. She sat crossed legged on the cold concrete concentrating on the screen in front of her, in her left hand she held a bowl of sugar encrusted cereal, the only sounds in the room was a rapid click coming from the screen and the whirr that issued from her right arm as she raised a spoon to her mouth and ate.
The right arm was a miracle in bronze, it crude almost clumsy form was in stark contrast to the accuracy and wonder of how it operated.
The girl continued to swallow the cereal despite the makers claims she wasnt experiencing a taste sensation, this early in the morning and without the aid of medication she didnt experience the feel or taste of anything.
Images flick on the screen barely fully forming on the ageing hardware before being replaced by the next one, though the flash by with eye watering speed the girl simply watches. Her right eye appeared to be of the same manufacture as her arm
She uttered a cry a mixture of surprise and horror, the bowl and spoon falling discarded to the floor. The screen stopped flickering and focused, a figure short but heavily armoured stood in the ruins of a TV studio, slowly sound came from near the screen as speakers warmed up.
The figure spoke in a tone devoid of emotion yet filled with malice.
Greeting Brothers And Sisters Of The Rogue Island. This Unit Comes To You With An Offer, Join Us In The Removal Of The Cancer That Blights Mankind. The Cancer Of Society. The Strong Should Do As They Will, The Weak Must Submit. That Is The True Destiny Of Mankind!
Silently a figure rose behind the armoured speaker, a bloody battered but determined man in the armour of an Arachnos Wolfspider. With a low grunt he swung his mace at the speaker. With lightning speed the speaker pointed a finger over its shoulder and a ball of fire hit the Wolfspider sending him to the floor.
The figure continued to speak its attention had never left the camera, as it spoke the groans of pain from the Wolfspider added a weird sense of percussion to the figures world.
This Unit Stands Before You As A Messenger. Veritas Liberabit Vos
The figure turned and left the studio. Quickly the feed was cut and the symbol of Arachnos filled the screen as the voice of a Fortuna ordered people to forget what had just happened.
The girl stood rocking on the balls of her feet emotions beginning to boil in her brain.
It cant be. They told me it was destroyed. She muttered her voice devoid of emotion.
A voice in her head informed her of various possibilities how it could of survived.
She needed to know for sure.
Suppressing her humanity she became like a machine.
The Rogue Islands
Jeff Jefferson was not having a good day, though joining Arachnos had at the time seemed to be the only way out his dead end job in his dead end life, life hadnt been as good as the recruiters made out.
Hed left his job as security guard at a TV station only to rise through the ranks of Arachnos to Wolfspider, his current assignment? Standing guard over a TV station to make sure no dissidents could access it. Seriously it was enough to make him scream.
Movement brought him out of his thoughts, a small girl with dark skin and long silvery hair was walking towards him. As she drew closer he could make out dozens of tiny straight scars that covered her face. Her right eye had been replaced with a mechanical one and it glowed a dull red in the morning light. With her arms behind her back she skipped towards him barefoot and humming a melody.
Kid get out of here, this a restricted area he said
The girl smiled causing light to flicker along some device that ran along the bottom of her face.
Sir This Unit Requests That You Remove Yourself. You Are Currently An Obstruction And Obstruction Will Not Be Tolerated the girl said her words clipped and voice light and cheerful.
Jeff laughed
Kid did Bob put you up to this? Promise you some candy or something? he smiled beneath his helmet and reached out to pat her head
He heard before he felt the bone in his arm snap, with beyond human speed the girl had grabbed his arm with her right hand. A large mechanical gauntlet had grasped his arm.
No, he realized, with shock as his gaze ran up her arm, its not a glove its her arm!
With the sound of rapidly turning gears and the clicks of things fitting into place, armour flowed from the machine arm to cover the girl in bronze heavy pieces. Her head was hidden inside a large skull like helmet.
He recognized that, the armour and helmet belonged to a member of a terrorist faction, he was face to face with Battle Unit Omega.
He tried for a wry grin and insult something along the lines of
I thought youd be taller but was silenced as a fist hit him in the jaw.
As he fell unconsciousness claiming him he thought he heard lifeless mechanical voice say
Obstruction Removed. Proceeding To Communication Array
Brawling Cactus from a distant planet.