Patches (Open RP)

"Uhhh, no." Jade's answer came in an anxious tone, and he had to take a few seconds and another deep breath to somewhat mellow himself out again. What had happened in the past was painful. He didn't like thinking on it, much less talk about it. He let out a sigh, "Maybe I'd better just start over at the beginning."

"I'm from Jorunn City." he started to explain, "That used to sit just across the plains from Rauk, one of the biggest Hetrar cities. And yeah, Hetrar are basically humans. Except for the expanded paranoia, there's not much difference. Basically, it all started before I was even born, when the Drokar, my people, wanted to leave the planet, Hetran. The humans didn't want that. There were legends about some great, big evil thing that had chased our ancestors through space until they finally found Hetran to hide on. As in who-knows-how-many thousands of years ago. No one really knew if it was true or not, but it didn't really matter. The humans believed it, and they said that if we left, it'd find us and come back to Hetran to go after them and the other species too. So they stopped us. I wasn't around yet at the time, so I don't really know how everything happened at first, but when I was growing up..."

He paused a moment, exhaling through his nostrils, then went on, "It got bad. Real bad. My people...Drokar don't like being tied down. We can't live like that. Not for long, anyway. There were...um, if it's okay with you guys, I don't really want to talk about this part. We did a lot of bad things. So did I. Anyhow, machines. No, they weren't distrustful of machines. They didn't trust us was what was the problem. So when they eventually found out there was a machine-Dragon around who could pretty much punch through anything they had...yeah, they got scared. Of what we...of what the Guardian...of what I might do. So they built their own, um, 'me' I guess. In software, at least. To defend them if I decided to do something. Well, problem was they did too good a job. Their Guardian was so smart it could protect them better than their own people. It took control of their weapons, their vehicles, their whole military."

"And that absolutely scared them witless." Jade said with another sigh, "So they tried to turn it off. To kill it, basically. That's what started the war. Or rather the slaughter. With all their stuff under its control, they didn't have much of a chance. Then it came after the other species. With us Drokar being the second-highest population, we were the first logical choice. I still remember the first time I was just sitting on a building and saw this giant army of, well, vehicles coming toward Jorunn City...and then they just started killing people. At time time, none of us even knew they were machines. We kind of all thought the humans had just finally snapped and gone completely insane. It was only when we saw there were no pilots that we started to get the picture. We beat them back, though."

"We beat them back hard." he smiled a little at this, "I heard some of the other species did too. In the end though, it didn't really matter. It turned to organic people versus machines. At first, it looked like we'd win. But then it started doing...doing something horrible. It started making machines out of people. Especially Drokar. It'd catch them, cut them up, rip out what made them..."

"Alive..." he forced out with a sob, trying in vain to keep tears from escaping his eyes by squeezing them shut, "...and then used them...used them to kill everybody, even those who used to be their friends. That's when they turned on me too. I mean, they didn't really like me before, being a machine and all, and they didn't let me in anywhere...but that's when they started shooting at me too. Eventually, I just...stopped. I couldn't take it anymore. My friends were dead, my family...everybody...so I just...I just holed up and didn't really come out anymore. And then one day, a Harvester came and, I guess exploded in a weird way or something, because the next thing I knew I fell down a hole and was in Paragon City's sewer pipes..."

"Now Jorunn City, Rauk, plains made Waste, Hetrar, and Harvesters are back," Bisys concluded Jade's correction of her and Kethara's misperception.

Well, that painted the picture much more bleak. Jade had known a life of horror, mistakes, and despair. It was astonishing that he had any compassion left in him. No wonder he could not understand joy or fundamental happiness.

What Jade needed was someone warm to embrace him in motherly acceptance, hushing the self-incrimination. A safe shelter where a lifetime of pain and seclusion, cut off in more ways than the shell he'd been forced into, could be released and washed away.

Bisys could not offer him that stable peace, that warmth. She was awkward metal. Somehow Bisys knew her surface was cooler than pleasant, even near the fire. Akat's lava would probably damage, but still not warm, this form. Summoned Voices would be worse. Embodied they were silent, chaotic, irreverent, and had an aura of restless death. Bisys felt as helpless to comfort Jade as she had her first Master.

Externally none of this longing on Jade's behalf showed beyond a slight slumping. Bisys asked quietly, "What do you want to do, Jade?"

'Oh hey. They're not shooting me. Score one for me.' The arthropod thought.

"I am a hunter." The arthropod chittered in response. "I was sent out to seek for help. Thousands of lives depend on me finding said help, and my sensors indicate the person I am looking for lies within your territory."

Jade didn't reply right away, only sitting there in silence, staring into the flickering flames of the elves' fire. He almost thought he could see people and places from the past within...and perhaps he could. He was a Dragon, after all. There was a little magic left in him yet.

"Yeah..." he finally spoke, eyes rising again, "What do I want to do? What I should've done in the first place. I want to end this thing. I want to kill it. It's made this place a dead zone for long enough."

He looked to Cerelassion, "You said there were humans from Hetran here. I'd like you to tell them something. I'd like you to tell them them Rauk isn't going to be dead for much longer..."

Sharkshead Isle: Unionverse:

Edward aka Doctor Mechano cracked his mechanical knuckles.

"Right, seems we have our provisions all prepared for this proper dimensional excursion!"

He smiled, "Now, you six," he gestured to his robot family, "are to stay behind and watch the house, the last time I left it alone for some time Tony decided to blow thing thing up...don't worry I've done dimensional travel before and this time prepared for dimensional scaling."

A teenage female voice, the sweetness vastly mismatching the fact it was coming from the big assault bot of the group, "it's dangerous to go alone, atleast take Steve with you!"

Edward nodded, "good idea, I shall need a talking companion and someone to chart my discoveries of this new world and who better than my faithful Shivan friend!"

If Shivans could sigh, Steve would have. Steve was a Shivan with a difference, not only was he non-hostile to pretty much everyone (he liked people), he had a few cybernetic enhancements and he also wore a tie, it was red with black stripes, he liked it.

"Right, equipment check, a months supply of field rations, a months supply of drinking water, a few vials of Bees, Betsy..."

Betsy was the name he'd given to his assault rifle, modified with a mini nanolathe to produce ammunition within the gun itself of varying types from basic assault rifle rounds to depleted uranium shells for big creatures or armoured vehicles and grenade or large shotgun rounds for the underslung grenade launcher.

"...a nanoserum injection tranquilizer to quell any native animals into service, three shots only, goggles and respirator, winter coat, summer coat, spring coat, warm trousers, shorts, several changes of clean underwear, three clipboards, coloured pens, four notebooks and Steve...yes all seems good and ready...and nifty pith helmet to impress the locals."

Edward gave the nod, "alright Dave, fire up that wormhole gun and lets see if that things works...remember I do this FOR SCIENCE!"

Where his last words as the portal gun fired and a flash of light consumed Edward, Steve and all their baggage.

On Patches:
Unfortunately the Portal gun had decided to drop everything the expedition was carrying over a very, very vast area thanks to it being the invention of a mad scientist. So those currently sheltering with the Elves could expected to be bombarded with things ranging from underwear to a vial of very angry bees...and a Pith helmet may land on someones head if they were lucky enough to be that stylish.

Those who could read energy would show that the 'portal storm' was of a universe of Paragonian/Rogue Isles nature, however it may not be their own but a slightly different version. It was also incredibly rudimentry by dimensional travelling standards.

Elsewhere Edward faceplanted in the forest with a grunt, just as he had done the time he ended up in the 'virtueverse'. Letting out a sigh as he was hauled to his feet by his Shivan companion.

"Remind me to tell Dave the gun needs tinkering...lots of tinkering...and next time we send monkeys through to test first..."

A rather audible hiss came from behind them, turning around they saw a spider, a very large, impossibly gigantic spider...


"Well it looks like this place ignores cube law," Edward tossed aside the book of physics he'd been holding onto, "useless here..."

"Steve, it appears we must parley with the beast for it may be intelligent!"

Steve, once again, wished he could sigh but despite that he moved towards the gigantic arachnid with Edward not far behind.

Edward decided to try the universal greeting, "hmm Bah-weep-Graaaaagnah wheep ni ni bong?"

The large spider lunged at the pair to which Steve merely uppercutted the beast, knocking it onto it's back, legs flailing for a moment.

"Hmm sadly not intelligent...oh well, it shall make a fine beast of burden, I shall call you MR FLUFFERS!"

Edward injected the nanoserum, the spider, now Mr Fluffers, calmed down, Edward gave it a few test commands to assure the nanobots had rewired the rudimentry brain of the beast so that it would act as a beast of burden, it left Edward down to two shots on his nanoserum but it was better than having spider for dinner, a thought he did not cherish.

"Hmm sit-rep Steve..."

The Shivan gave gurgles and gargles to which even Patches failed to translate as anything remotely understandable...some people did claim that Edward heard what he wanted to hear from the Shivan, others than Edward was simply mad enough for it all to somehow make sense.

"Hmm so we have three days water left, a single days rations of beef jerky, a pet spider, a pair of shorts...which I shall change into now...the nanoserum, Betsy, a selection of coloured pens, a clipboard and a book of A4 paper...not the greatest of provisions but a true scientist makes do with what they have...firstly to construct some kind of sadddle for if I am to be in shorts I do not wish to be riding a giant spider without a saddle.

Some time later
Now wandering through the forests on the back of Mr Fluffers, Steve and Edward had constructed a very basic wooden Howdah with which to carry themselves and their remaining supplies and strapped it to the beast using strong vines. Now Edward was in his shorts and enjoying the warm forest air.

"Mr Fluffers, halt!"

The spider stopped moving.

"Steve, I shall dictate our situation, Day one of our expedition, having subdued a local giant arachnid in the name of SCIENCE and easy transport, I am now riding through a forest, it appears to be the home of many fantastical creatures normally only found in the likes of the Dungeons and Dragons monster manual...the advanced monster manual kind, you know, back in the seventies...we have yet to come across any advanced technology, infact it appears to be all rather primitive here. I shall name this dimension...Dave...after the person who got us here."

Edward ended with a nod, "hmm sounds good Steve?"

Steve looked up from his writing and nodded.

"Very well, onward Mr Fluffers...let us see what we can find!"

With that the giant arachnid continues its trek through the forest.

((yes he's insane, yes you just got showered with underwear, angry bees and a pith helmet if you so choose to do so and yes he is heading your way on the back of a giant spider))

((use [img] [/img] with a URL inbetween the two brackets))

Edward called Mr Fluffers to a halt at the sight of the wounded spider, taking note when the creature begun to talk.

"Good sir, I am a man on a scientific expedition and I do not cherish the thought of eating intelligent people or creatures, infact I would be a bad scientist if I did and while your death would present a fine opportunity for an autopsy of large Arachnids I am not that sort of man...well I am but not today!"

Edward hoped down off of the howdah, "sadly we do lack medical supplies though if you can survive for a few more minutes I'm pretty sure I can reprogram these nanites for medical use..." he flipped down a panel on his cybernetic arm, unreeling what looked like a USB cord and plugged it into the back of the nanoserum, his eyes seemed to go blank for a few minutes as he stood stock still staring into the middle distance. He shook his head and smiled a few moments later.

"There...now hold still while I inject you with this and you'll be as good as new in a day or so..."

Edward cautiously approached the creature, his Shivan bodyguard not far behind and would inject the nanoserum if the beast would let him.

If allowed the nanites would immediately set to work patching up the bullets holes, however the rebuilding of the two missing legs would take a full twenty four hours, science can work miracles, it just takes time.

"Steve we are to set up camp here to keep an eye on our new companion, I declare tonight, BEEF JERKY NIGHT!"

Steve took the single days supply of beef jerky and by single day it was beef jerky for breakfast, lunch, dinner and evening tea style single day. Steve distibuted the beef jerky amongst the group, including some to their wounded new companion.

Steve pushed over a large tree, breaking it apart into smaller chunk and using the highly concentrated radiation of eye lasers to make a large fire.

"Allow me introduce myself good sir, my name is Doctor Edward Johnson, some call me Doctor Mechano...you may choose yourself which you wish to call me, my large travelling companion is Steve and the other giant Arachnid we have decided to call Mr Fluffers...so what would be your name?"

((Neat. Thanks for the tip. And welcome aboard.))

The Desert

It didn't have much of a job. Look for useful things. That was about it. Not that it cared. It couldn't, after all. That's just the way it had been designed: to serve its function. Its physical form stood no different. A large container formed the centerpiece of the almost beetle-like monstrosity, the many crimson lenses on both its 'head' and capture legs seeming to cast truly vicious glances all about them as the building-sized machine floated listlessly a few meters in the air above the Desert's dusty, cragged rocks, spotlights lazily probing the area to see if they could stir up any noticeable motion.

It did it day-in, it did it day-out. It was a Harvester. A mighty monolith of metal and machinery with a deceptively simple purpose: look for useful things. So that's what it did. Always. Because that was its job.

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UNIDENTIFIED THERMAL SIGNATURE

SEARCH MODE
[CHANGE COURSE]
ANALYZING ALTERNATIVES
[INCREASE SPEED]
[INCREASE SENSOR POWER]
[RELAY SIGNATURE COORDINATES]
[IGNORE]

ERROR
ATMOSPHERIC INTERFERENCE PREVENTING SIGNAL LOCK
INTERFERENCE IDENTIFIED: ION STORM TYPE 4
ANALYSIS VERDICT: RELAY SIGNATURE COORDINATES OPTION NOT VIABLE

SEARCH MODE
[CHANGE COURSE]_

Millions of computations in a fraction of a second, all just to yield that one result. A human designer might've called it wasted potential. The Harvester didn't call it anything at all. It merely changed course. It had found something. Now it was time to determine if it was useful.

And so it floated gradually toward a forest. Toward a fire. Toward a human, a Shivan, and a pair of very different spiders...
__________________

Cliffside Shelter

"Probably not." Jade answered Cerelassion tonelessly, "But if there's one thing I've learned in Paragon, it's that you can't let evil have its way, no matter the odds, and even if people don't appreciate you for it. I made that mistake once. I'm not going to do it again."

"Um..." Akat finally spoke up again after the Dragon had said this, the scaleless reptilian stretching like a cat along the ground, still enjoying the soft fabric of her new robe, "I don't mean to poke you out of it, but...it sounds like this thing's a program. So software. How are you planning to find something like that?"

At that Jade grew very quiet, looking at her with unhappily embarrassed eyes. She was right. He hadn't really thought of that one...

Diagnostics running...

10%...

17%...

To the rest of the group, it looked as though Toy had gotten into the shelter then simply slumped back against the wall next to the door, observing as everyone else talked and discussed. In actuality, he was running a more thorough diagnostic and repair program to identify just what he could fix with the limited resources at hand.

34%...

53%...

He watched passively as Jade told his story, silenting rooting for the robots, only half in jest, and wondering how he could have done any better. He shied away from contemplating having to continue to live past the deaths of his friends and loved ones, though technically most of them were functionally immortal as well. Cerelassion's suggestion and Jade's problem started to link as he thought more about the circumstances of Patches and Rauk...

70%...

Dimensional energies detected. Locus 174 Alpha by 34 Gamma.

His first movement in the last several minutes, a slight twitch of the head toward the direction the cascading portals drew across the sky. He was perhaps the only person to notice the pith helmet landing squarely on top of a small gnome, trapping the faerie with a loud squeak. It seemed like there would be more guests shortly, the only question was how friendly they'd be.

82%...

Force field generators online, 50% functionality unlocked.

Rare materials exhausted, internal repairs aborting.

100%...

"How else would one locate a global defense AI run amok?" Toy said, pushing off from the wall and taking a step into the conversation. "You track where all the wireless signals are going. Doesn't matter if they're encrypted or not, you just need to find the control node."

He nodded in Cerelassion's direction as he continued.

"And one will likely lead us to the other. If we can neutralize and repurpose this AI's network to our own ends it will provide us with enough computing power and presence to grant a much higher probability of sniffing out the Builders' own node. Just get me in physical contact with one of these Harvesters and I can introduce Hal to how we do things in the Isles."

Toy snickered at the last, a glimmer of white light issuing from underneath his bracers as he rotated his wrists as though stretching them.

At the cliff shelter

Cerelassion rubbed his chin thinking. "I don't understand the meaning of some of those words so I would use what I understand as a stand in. This AI Guardian is some kind of Super Golem meant to protect but it went out of control. This Program or is that Software? Is the Magic that makes it function. If I had to attack this Golem but know I can't physically deactivate it then I would try some kind of counter spell. Can such a software spell be made to disrupt this AI ability?"

Then he looked to Toy as Toy Dispensor spoke up "And one will likely lead us to the other. If we can neutralize and repurpose this AI's network to our own ends it will provide us with enough computing power and presence to grant a much higher probability of sniffing out the Builders' own node. Just get me in physical contact with one of these Harvesters and I can introduce Hal to how we do things in the Isles."

"So it is possible... Hmm We would need someone familiar with the Waste as it is now. Seems Jade we are going to need to go to the Human settlement and you see first hand what remains of the broken race of the Hetrar. From what you tell me they fell very far from the arrogant paranoid race you knew. However if anyone knows how to avoid being detected by the patrolling machines it would be someone who grew up there." He glances then at Toy and Bisys "However I still think they have enough of that Paranoia to be afraid of you two metaloids... Oh I like that name... Much more creative then Self aware robot."

At the greeting Cabin

The Guard second in command went with the Hunter to the cabin. "Believe me I understand. When we first arrived here we were attack nearly constantly by our Predatory neighbors the Gre'shil. There is only 14 thousand of us left in this patch of forest. I know other races that arrived here that had even less... a few are now extinct on Patches."

Once in the cabin she stood by the door nether threating but she wasn't relaxing enough to sit down. "I'm Jastra second in command of the guard. First thing you should know is that there are two political groups here one are more accepting to outsiders the other would prefer to have no contact what so ever. I had sent for our leader the High Lady Aineruda would be here shortly. Perhaps to aid in your quest you tell me what Help we maybe able to provide."

Doctor Mechano Camp

"I have ... no choice my lungs... are filling with my own blood. Thought it is slow... I will drown on my own life blood if nothing changes my fate. Perhaps... It is the will of the great spinner of life... that you came at this moment to offer that change."

Then Mar's mandibles extend and he brushes the jerky with his palps. "Ug... I can not feed off such thing. There is no moisture to drink and the strange taste... I do not mean to be rude... Just my biology is not the same as yours. Me and I regret having to say ... Mount feed by our fangs draining... the vital nutritions from our prey. Solid food as you digest is incompatible to our... way."

Edward smiled, "ah...give me a moment..." he pondered for a second on what to do to help his wounded Arachnid companion, noting that Mr Fluffers appeared to be having the same problem with regards the solid state of the food.

"Aha!"

Reaching for the jerky he flicked through his all in one rotating hand attachments, "hmm saw, no, knife, no, blender...yes!"

Well it wasn't so much a blender as a set of rotating blades. Taking a bottle of water, cutting it in half and placing the jerky inside. The whirr of blades as he blended the jerky into a fine watery paste, spraying everywhere and finally placing it infront of Mar, "hmm should be liquidy enough..."

Using another bottle of water to prepare the watery jerky paste for Mr Fluffers to consume.

"Bon appetite!"

Edward bit off a chunk of jerky enthusiastically, "So tell me my good sir, would you know of any place where machines and techology dwell?"

He chuckled, "I am something of a scrap merchant when it comes to old technology, I like to tinker and salvage."

((At cliff shelter))

Bisys likewise noted Toy's confidence in commandeering the AI network for his own purposes, though with much more trepidation than Cerelassion and Kethara.

Since coming to Patches there had been as much unpleasantness as had ever been experienced before, but it had always been from carelessness, ignorance, or similar methods. Kethara had been sisterly. Ildela and Paxtera a bit more aloof, though polite. The Gre'shil savage out of survival more than malice. Lazardarus, Cerelassion, Lady Aineruda, and all elvin folk had thus far been cautious yet kind. The local fey ranged from curious to mischievous. Akat was outgoing and willing. Jade, in the eyes of Bisys, was the kindest and most compassionate of them all. Being in the Cold Place, where Toy's generosity began, had spared Bisys from knowing of Tafari's rampage. The previous lifetime of betrayals and selfishness had begun to soften under their perpetual helpfulness.

Only now those memories crashed back in sharp clarity. Bisys could testify the powerful results of Toy's programming. The programming itself was beyond her keen. Who was to say Toy didn't plant a program to control her as he was proposing for the Harvesters? Maybe he even had a wireless connection implanted with all the other programming to read her thoughts! So as well as not feeling emotions she would have to not think about anything, including this niggling suspicion.

Trying not to think felt a lot like trying to hold her breath when she had lungs. It was a discipline far beyond her capabilities. Less than ten seconds latter her thoughts raced twice as fast. Bisys would have to hope that Toy had no such wireless ability to read her. She peeked glances to see if Toy was reacting to her thoughts, trying to disguise them as movement practices. It still was pretty obvious, though, because the only way Bisys could see Toy was by facing her head straight at him.

One thing Bisys did resolve, however, was that she refused to do anything which would harm Jade or put him in danger. Exactly how she would stop her metaloid form (as Cerelassion called it) under such circumstances, Bisys had no idea. But one way or another she would, even if it meant destroying herself.

----------

((Doctor Mechano's camp))

Two giant arachnoids, one be-tied Shivan, and a mad scientist sharing a benevolent meal. It was as close to peaceful civilization as could be found on Patches. And where there was peaceful civilization, there were Marbles.

A group of some half dozen boldly approached Edward, Steve, Mr Fluffers, and the injured Mar. Mismatching outfits looking from a scrapyard's castoff were only outdone by too-familiar underwear adorning the heads like caps, their low conical ears stretching the leg holes. Most stopped a few yards away, shyly nudging two carrying bundles of leaves onward.

The two edged forward, eager smiles and bright eyes their only greeting and the group behind tittered. The bundles were placed within arm's reach and unwrapped. One contained thick disks looking like crispy rice cakes, only in an assortment of pastel colors. The second nestled smaller leaf spheres, perked at one end like a fat flower about to bloom.

One bright blue cake and one leaf sphere were selected and the two slowly retreated backwards to their companions. There they made a show of everyone eating the cake and sipping from the sphere. One squeezed the sphere too tightly and got a small spray of milk-white liquid as a result. The group broke into giggles at the mishaps as the victim wiped what eluded their tongue on a sleeve.

The overall effect was one of a thanks-offering from a primitive tribe discovering a new deity. Depending on how voracious the appetites involved, the two bundles could last up to a week. If there was such detection available, a very faint magic could be identified. Nothing damaging, on par with modern food preservatives.

The Marbles awaited the reaction to the gift, obviously eager to have Edward and Co feast on the proffered food.

Jade looked into the flames again at Cerelassion's suggestion, letting out a light sigh before slowly replying, "I...I'd rather not. I know I didn't cause-cause it, but..."

He turned his head to look toward the elder elf, "Look, I'm just not real up to going around...going around broken people right now. I'd rather just go with, um...Toy Dispenser's plan. And yeah, let's wait for everyone to get back. Harvesters are pretty dangerous. If you're not something they want, they'll call a hunter-killer flight down on you."

"Hunter-killer flight?" Akat questioned at this, looking confused as she lay there, head and shoulders raised up and supported by her elbows, the tip of her tail ticking lazily to and fro in the fashion of a metronome, "What's that?"

"The um...bombers they were talking about earlier." the Dragon indicated Cerelassion, "They're pretty heavily armed, so...yeah, not something that's fun to run into. I don't think they'll stand up well to a bunch of superheroes...I mean people from Paragon and such. So long as we're careful at least, heh..."

"There is a being here called a Kheldian, a species of beings who excel at manipulating energy." The Hunter replied. "It is critical that I speak with it. You, your culture, and your lands are entirely irrelevant. You are wasting time, and time means lives."

***

Not far from Dr. Mechano's Camp

The gravity slug that had been fired off from the vacuum land decided to make a crash landing nearby. There was a sudden flash of light, a massive rush of air, and the sound of rock grinding and crumbling. The earth shook as though a meteor had just hit the ground nearby, and then all was silent once more.

The cabin

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paradigm_Shift "There is a being here called a Kheldian, a species of beings who excel at manipulating energy." The Hunter replied. "It is critical that I speak with it. You, your culture, and your lands are entirely irrelevant. You are wasting time, and time means lives."

"All life is relevant even if not your personal interest. Given you are seeking someone to risk their life for people they may not ever know perhaps you need to change your personal view. I am Lady Aineruda and I personally take you to those you seek." Aineruda said as she walked into the cabin. "Please follow me. Jastra return to your post." with that she turned and started walking away heading to the hotsprings.

Doctor Mechano's camp

Mar watched the marbles with those black marble like eyes. "Interesting beings...I will count myself blessed that the weaver of life has allowed me to see so many of her creations."

Still laying down he extended his forelimbs and grip the orb brushing it with his palps he then stuck his fangs into the orb and tasted the surgery fluid as he drank. The sweetness was a bit to much but he didn't wish to insult the strange creatures.

Then something caught his attention he set the orb down and lifted his forelimbs up. the array of millions of sensory hairs collecting information each hair felt vibrations and was used to collect scents as well.

In that odd pose with his legs up in the air Mar was using his legs as dividing rod. He could judge direction. What caught Mar's attention was the vibration and sound coming from the Harvester's engines. "Doctor I am hearing something approaching."

Then There was a sudden flash of light, a massive rush of air, and the sound of rock grinding and crumbling. The earth shook as though a meteor had just hit the ground nearby, and then all was silent once more. Mar shook his hyper senses assaulted by the effects of the impact. "Doctor there might be reason for me to move fast... soon. How long do you think that injection should take before I am able to run?"

Cliff shelter

Cerelassion nodded "Very well Jade you know the place better then I. If I may it seems that when Patches took the waste you were grabbed but somehow slipped out of the dimensional pull along the way landing you in Paragon city."

"Now I think I can help in this venture but first... Jade I need you to make a wish just a simple one. Wish for Bisys to know if she would be harmed by magical artifacts. you could also wish her to be protected but that might be more risky."

"A second wish for you to make would be to wish that only wishes you verbally say would be granted. This would safeguard her and you from further .. stray thoughts. When you wish for something be very direct with what you want the more vague a wish is the greater the chances of undesirable results."

He glances to Bisys "Are those acceptable wishes? I would need my equipment and I don't wish to bring you harm."

((At cliff shelter))

Akat's lazing tail was hypnotic. Bisys had to resist the strangest urge to pounce, and she couldn't imagine why. Instead she gave up attempting to scrutinize Toy and tried to imitate the Khelari. Her lion tail was a bit more jerky, but quickly settled into a similar pattern. It was her greatest movement success yet, and Bisys was delighted at the achievement. It became an internal challenge to match rhythms precisely.

"Hmm? Oh, Wishes? Do you want to make a Wish, Jade? Wait, that was Cerelassion... Jade may have any Wish he desires. It is not for me to deem what is acceptable and what is not. Nor do I have the ability to know the outcome of a Wish until it is made. Why do you ask? Oh, right, you said that. You have specialized tools, like the Token. Foresightful of you."

Clearly Bisys had her focus mostly elsewhere, peculiar with how central Wishes were to her being.

23th August 1891, New England, Rhode Island

A cool breeze was blowing through the streets. Already the sun had set and a lone woman could be seen walking out of a dark alley. Her dress didn’t fit a woman you would usually see in the back alleys of Rhode Island… It was an expensive dark red ensemble with a parasol in the same colour. Her name was Elizabeth Báthory.



For a moment she stopped and looked back. Some blood could be seen flowing over the street from the alley she had just left. She smiled and pulled a handkerchief out of her small purse. Softly she cleaned the corners of her lips with it… a well observant person would be able to see some hint of extraordinary developed canines. Elizabeth was a vampire and she had been living in the Rhode Islands for 2 years now. Hiding among the gullible high society. The gentleman in the alley was her latest escort.

She looked up at the moon while suddenly all went hazy in front of her eyes. Before she could even attempt one of her more powerful spells she felt herself being transferred… a dimensional portal of some sort! And indeed it was… The Builders thread had hit her spot on!

29th April 2010, a lone corner in Croatao, Patches

Elizabeth opened her eyes… She was lying on the floor looking towards what seemed to be some sort of country bar. Her blood red eyes flamed with anger. She never did like surprises… and this was a big one. The place was surely different.

“Excuse me miss… may I help you up?!”, a male voice said.”

She looked up and saw a young man standing next to her. Immediately she regained her posture and reached out her hand to him. “But of course sir… I must have stumbled. How silly of me!”

“No problem at all ma’am.”, he said while helping her up. “My name is Malcolm, please to meet ya!”

Elizabeth looked at him trying to judge what kind of person he was… “Elizabeth…”. She tried to remove some of the dirt of her dress. He was strangely dressed to her. But human at least. So she didn’t end up in some sort of mystical dimension. At least not on first sight.

“Are you going to a masked ball or somewha’…”, Malcom said trying to form a conversation. “That is some pretty old fashioned dress you have there sweetheart!”

On the word ‘sweetheart’ Elizabeth had to swallow for a second. Her head was now far from being treated like a toy. But she needed information. So the guy was luck… this time... hmm… time might be the right word. “Ah… yes… I should be there before twelve for the big blow out. I took a wrong turn somewhere.” Her eyes met his and pierced through his skull. “I need to get to the city!”

Malcolm his eyes drifted up from her chest to meet her blood red eyes. Captivated he was staring in them… Answering without any free thought. “You must mean Paragon City… it is over there. Let me take you to the metro station!”

“Metro station? You mean like a train? Yes! Take me there… I need to go to the City!”, Elizabeth grabbed his arm and let him direct her. “Malcolm… what is the day?”, a strange question. But the man was too captivated to think much of it.

“The 29th of April of course… Have you been drinking before the party began miss?”, he smiled to her.

Elizabeth smiled back while they entered the station. “Year?!”, she commanded while she watched the train stop.

Malcolm gave her a train ticket while hardly leaving his eyes of her. “2010 miss Elizabeth… Do you have to leave me already?”

Elizabeth eyes widen with surprise… 2010! She has not only crossed space… but time as well… Over a century of time even. First thing she would have to find a way to blend in. Then she had to direct her powers to wards finding a way back. “Yes I have Malcolm… Thank you for your help.” She stepped into the doors of the train… “Oh… and Malcolm… you never saw me!”

And while the train left the Croatao station for Steel Canyon a very confused young man was staring to the sky wondering what he was doing.

---
((And so a vampire comes to Patches... looking for a way back home.))

((sorry people...different timezones and all))

Edward eyed the food given by these strange tribal looking people suspisciously but seeing them drink and eat it he shrugged.

"Thank you kind people, I shall save that for later, for we have already eaten tonight, you are welcome to accompany me on my journey of exploration and scientific discovery!"

He felt the ground shake and rumble, "hmm could be a meteorite or a drop pod of some kind..."

He turned to Mar, "If you are fine walking on six legs for the next day or so you should be alright...but let us not beat a hasty retreat at a mere tremor, Steve, you go investigate the source of the tremor, I shall load the gracious gifts of our new friends onto Mr Fluffers."

The Shivan nodded and begun heading in the direction of the source of the tremors. Edward loaded the food and drink gifted to him into the Howdah ontop Mr Fluffers. It had come at an opportune moment, lacking food supplies after eating the beef jerky and down to only two days water meant he would take what he could get.

Dr. Mechano's Camp

Mar did indeed sense the Harvester's approach - but by then, it was already too late. The gargantuan machine had detected the collection of organics lifeforms, and its sensors focused in on the area, taking stock of what they 'saw'. Granted, the Harvester wasn't too smart in that regard, promptly tossing Mar and Mr. Fluffers into the 'disregard' bin and Steve into the '?' partition, but in the end that didn't really matter. There was at least one human in that group.

And that it recognized.

Even as the massive mechanical monstrosity hovered its way gradually over the local treetops, its databurst was received half a world away. In less than half a second, it was processed, and in a dark hangar of blank, gray metal, the machine roughly the size of a small attack helicopter came to life. Crimson-tinged lenses were the first to come online, and then the hangar machinery followed, lights snapping active to bathe the machine in an eerie white glow.

A few seconds later, the three powerful, compact jet engines - mounted on a pair of fuselage winglets and in a tail sconce - howled to mechanical life. Though they weren't what kept the machine aloft (an unseen field of energy did that job), they were free to pivot with several degrees of freedom, giving the aircraft the exceptional speed that only moments later launched the engine of death and destruction out into the cloudy, storm-torn skies of the Desert...
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Cliffside Shelter

"Maybe." the Dragon answered Cerelassion absent-mindedly as he undid the latches of his left boot, having finally reached the decision that walking around with just one was somewhat silly, "I don't really remember where I was anymore at the time. I guess that was one good thing about having a computer for a brain."

He spoke those last words with a hint of a smile, looking at and wiggling the clawed toes of his large, digitigrade feet after removing the boot, warming their velvet-brown microscale hide by the fire, "Might've been close to Rauk. And okay. Let's give it a try."

Turning toward Bisys, the way he looked to her made it clear that the last part of that response had been directed chiefly at her. He didn't like making her grant wishes. It felt...like he was ordering her around, subjugating her. It felt wrong. Still, at least in this case, he saw the point in it. She didn't know either, so it had to come down to trial and error. he accepted that. But he sure didn't like it.

"Bisys, I wish for you to know if you would be harmed by magical artifacts." he repeated Cerelassion's words as closely as he could, "And it's okay, please...um, I mean I wish that only...grant those wishes of me that I tell you from now on."

Akat meanwhile simply regarded the scene with silent curiosity. Things sure were weird around here. Maybe she should call a runner after all. Then she could go see her own master and drag him over here. The more she thought about it, the better the idea of hopping back and kidnapping an elder started to look...
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Paragon City

Elizabeth may well have been surprised once more just a few scant seconds later, a pair of heroes joining the tram on its way out of Salamanca. One in a techno-suit with rocket boots, the other surrounded by swirls of arcane flame that kept him aloft, the two very different individuals at present had the same job: make sure people got out of Croatoa in once piece.

True, the deadly machines the Freedom Phalanx had warned the city of hadn't made an appearance yet, but the mayor and his advisors had very much agreed with the hero community that if there was truth to this, Paragon's citizens would be safest behind the closed gates of its war walls. To that end, the outlying regions were gradually being evacuated. At the moment, most people were still packing their belongings and only coming in one by one, but within the next few days, that was quite likely to change.

Especially if the machines showed up.

This was the primary reason for the hero escort - and chances were these two weren't alone. All over the city, its defenders had positioned themselves to keep watch, standing vigilantly along the city's outskirts, alert for trouble, especially here. There was good reason for this too, for the train like that connected Salamanca Station to the rest of the Green Line ran right through a portion of the bleak, gray ruins of Rauk. Just why this was so no one could say, but when Jade had informed Positron of this earlier, he'd not left out the dangerous nature of the place.

Like the dust storms.

Dirt and debris suddenly prattled against the windows of the tram, shaking the car violently and causing the lights to flicker. The wind speed wasn't anywhere near what it had been in the earlier one though, and the neither the vehicle nor its escort were in any serious danger. Still, it may well have been rather unsettling...

Glancing around at the group and reading the various reactions to his plan made it child's play to notice Bisys was staring at him rather intently. He didn't have the faintest clue why, however, what with the satyr's face being immobile and her movements too jerky to display subtle body language. But that didn't matter much because as it turned out Bisys was completely correct in her suspicions. While he hadn't coded in an override, he had installed an off switch that would shut everything back down to when she was first stuck in her new body. He didn't intend to use it unless something unexpected happened, but it was there.

"The correct term for a sapient robot is 'android'," he said to Cerelassion, correcting the elf. "Metaloid would be a good term for a naturally occuring android, I suppose. I'm certainly artificial, but maybe Bisys would fit that term."

Shrugging some, as he really didn't care what Cerelassion called his kind, he turned to Kethara and Jade.

"Having a peacebringer of your mother's level along would be practically instrumental to our success, so we'll definately wait for her. If you could fill her and Idella in on what was discussed when they arrive that would be useful. And Jade... Once you've figured out this wish thing the elf brought up, I need as much information as you can remember on the Harvester and Hunter-Killer forms. I doubt you retain your former eidetic memory, but anything you can recall could help us defeat and isolate them."

But then Toy's head suddenly twitched upward, staring out of the roof of the shelter at something only he could see.

"...****, belay that. Something inside the forest's perimeter just radiated a damn powerful and encrypted signal. Something of the Hives' is already here."

Rolling his wrists again, Toy reached behind his back to detatch his pulse rifle from its magnetic clamps. Clutching it in both hands he hustled out of the door, pivoting on one foot to face in the direction of the databurst.

"No more time for planning, this is our best chance to get one of the *******! Whoever's coming with me, try to keep up! Everyone else, keep an eye out for reinforcements!"

And then he was off, sprinting through the trees towards Dr Mechano's camp and its robotic visitor.

The arthropod followed Aineruda silently, but was quietly thinking to itself.

'...It is so very difficult to take these creatures seriously, considering they maintain their balance using their REARS...And every time they open their mouths they expel waste in the form of...hmm...smells like carbon...They have dead filth accumulating on their heads...and they smell like something dead and rotten in a swamp...' And many other similar lines of thought.

***

Steve the Shivan found an impact crater typical of most other impact craters: It was a dome-shaped indentation in the ground exactly six feet in diameter and three feet in depth. If anything had been there before, it was gone now...

Dr. Mechano's Camp

Right smack in the middle of the group, there was a giant explosion of multi-colored confetti. An unseen party-blower made a "pthween!" noise, and out from absolutely nowhere, a giant two-layered vanilla cake with pink frosting appeared, bedecked with eight brightly burning swirly birthday candles that ringed the lower layer. An obnoxious birthday-jingle oft encountered in animatronic birthday cards started to play.

And as if that wasn't bad enough...

The cake looked and smelled DELICIOUS. A radiant glow of warmth suffused it, and the smell of sugar invaded everybody's nostrils.

((Well it seems that Dr. Mechano's Camp is in the same forest as the elves. That means a Hunter going to run into one heck of down draft. I been thinking of ways the Elves would defend themselves against the Machines. However as stated the main Force of the elves are the Feys and they are limited to the forest itself.))

Cerelassion shook his head "This can't be good. The only reason one of those things have entered the forest is it detected something or someone. Perhaps it would be best if it found..."

Seeing Toy take off he sighed "yes save one live to risk thousands... Well seems our cover is blown I doubt the AI Guardian going to ignore us once Toy attack one of it's flyers. I'm going to be using my artifacts on that thing. Let hope they don't have unwanted side effects." He jumped up and rushed outside to where he left his coat and put it on.

Then he was on the run following Toy dispenser. On the way he started whistling a bird call the one he used had a clear meaning to the elves. That meaning was Harvester spotted a human in the forest the elves started rushing repeating the alert as they ran. He added a second set of bird calls informing those in hearing range what direction they were running. At the human refugee camps a head count was started to figure out if anyone wasn't in the hidden grove.

How did Cerelassion know it was a human it spotted? Truth he didn't nor did he know it was a Harvester. However simple logic was that the elves live a low tech level uninteresting to the Machines so it had to be something on the attack list. As far as he knew only thing on the Machines kill list was Humans.

Why he believed it was a Harvester. That was simple there wasn't any explosions yet so it wasn't a Hunter/bomber.

((Cerelassion is a Dark/Dark/Dark Defender build. He's story wise one of the elves on the council so high level.))

On the pathway

Lady Aineruda heard the bird calls as well and gasped. She looked back at Hunter "Seems today is a very bad day for many more then just your people." With that she started to run moving faster then any human could.

It wasn't long before she came upon Ildela and Paxtera slowing down she spoke up again. "I regret to ask for your aid once again. But it seems our peaceful Forest about to be attacked by one of the machines if it follows it's normal behavior. This fellow Hunter is looking for aid from a being called a Kheldian. It seems I lack you outsiders names and species so I don't know who he seeking."

"now if you excuse me I need to prepare for a possible war with a foe we can't hope to win against." She looked up at the trees "The best I can hope is a stand off..." With that she started running again if they follow her or not was up to them.

Dr. Mechano's Camp

Mar rose up extending his fangs when the cake appeared. For him it wasn't DELICIOUS at all he was a carnivore in nature and for him a nice tasty Tusk (Giant Wart hog) that been in a web cocoon for a few days to dissolve was his favorite meal not some ultra sugary bakery.

But his nerves was more alert because of the flying Harvester. "Doctor I fear there maybe a very good reason to worry. We are being watched by something that is not alive.. a machine"

He moved the foreleg from the side with all 4 legs to point in the direction of the harvester. "Over there! My instincts are telling me to run and very rarely are a spiders instincts wrong."