[RP] Arcane Machina: A Broken World

The sudden appearance of another winged being landing inside the truck with enough force to dent the floor was more than enough to startle the prisoner. Her feathers stood on end and her wings tried to spread to make herself appear larger while she attempted to move as far back from the figure as possible. Damn these instincts, causing her even more pain to such sensitive limbs! Gritting her teeth, she managed to force her wings to tuck back together again, lest they tear themselves on the bindings even more.

But to her relief, the one before her was here to help the ailing woman, not harm her. With a small nod, she leaned forward enough to let him work at her bonds. She seethed as the barbs were removed from her flesh, but oh what a relief it was to not have sharp metal digging into her feathers! Her breathing was still labored from pain however. As soon as her arms were out of their locked position behind her, they dropped dully to her sides. With her veins no longer pinched, blood painfully began rushing through her forearms and traveling to her cold hands and fingers. Getting her arms to cooperate again with her cramped shoulders and dead hands was a slow process.

When offered a quicker recovery, the woman nodded once more. "...y-yeah, please. Thank you." Mere words weren't enough to show her appreciation for finally being released from such a horrid contraption, but she can repay him later. For now, those golden wings unfolded a little to help him access the wounds. Really, she felt dwarfed compared to his massive wingspan, but that couldn't be helped now.

Still, there was that hole in the ceiling. Obviously, there was still a battle going on overhead. A battle she could not see nor participate in given her current state. She squinted up through the gap.

"How many more are up there?" she asked warily. Surely, escape wouldn't be as simple as this.
 
Last edited:

~~~~~
Child
~~~~~


​
As expected, the two suits that were burning their way in took the brunt of the attack. Child had sufficiently thrown their progress off their track to leave them and go for the bigger target. "Cut off the head, and the body dies" was something that was ingrained in her mind at the VSC HQ. They taught her to use her advantages, to go in quick, hit critical targets hard and get out before making for another run. Boom and zoom, and that was what she will do right here and right now like always. However, the last suit she shot at was slightly different. It reacted faster than the other two, dodging two of her shots before activating a shield of sort to take the remaining slugs and even shooting down one of the slug, leaving it completely unscathed. It was a small blip in Child's plan, but she cannot stop. The moment she stops, she would lose her forward momentum and the surprise advantage. She had to keep on the move and on the offensive. Unfortunately, just like the shotgun blasts, this suit proved to be a bit more troublesome than expected. It deflected her slash with a diagonal cut of its own and even shot two laser beams from its left hand. At close range, this was a very close parry, one that she just barely made with a hastily executed slash, letting the beams deflect off to her left. It wasn't perfect as skimmed off her left arm, burning a pair of lines through her muscle suit and deflecting and etching parallel marks on her biceps. Had it been any other cyborg, their arm would have been skewered and fried.

Child, you biometrics is becoming abnormal. Are you okay?

This... may be a bit more difficult than i had anticipated...

Sieghilde's metaphorical stomach dropped. She had never heard any words remotely close to what she just heard, utter from Child's mouth. Even the time she had lost most of her organic body, Child never mentioned difficulty in engaging a single target. Pulling into overdrive, Sieghilde pushed all the optics she had to their max. She needed to get a proper view on the battle. On the ground, right after the two laser beams from what Child as now designated as T1 (target one), T2 (target 2) decided to also join the fray and fire four beams from its finger in her direction. Thankfully, Child was in a more defensive posture and with a beautiful flourish of her katana, bounced the beams from their path and in one smooth motion, dropped the empty shotgun in its sling and drew her M12 with her left hand. "When unable to eliminate the head, deal with the injured foes, as they are still a threat". Child ran forward at full speed, firing the large AP rounds at joints and critical areas, taking out its two knees before ramping off a small wreckage and using gravity, split T2 from head to feet in half.

Do not stop. Do not stop. Do not stop. DO NOT STOP!

Her internal muttering kept her mind focused as Child spun around and kept unloading her pistol towards T1 before making a direct line dash and slash again.

Keep him occupied. Buy time to get close. Control the flow.

This time, Child went for a sliding jump low left to right up, diagonal, shin slash, followed by a diagonal right up to low left torso slash on its right side. All of these were done in order to maintain momentum and to keep circling the larger opponent.



 
It's been a long and grueling week for Adgnilan. A good portion of her clothes were tattered, her left sleeve was missing the right one halfway torn at the top and her midriff section in the back was exposed with the fabric hanging at her sides. It was all a blur still, she remembered laying on a steel operating table naked with people probing at her trying to get sampled of her blood. These men worked for another one called Dr.Hobbs, and apparently he wanted to study Adgnilan because she was unique. Not only could she control two elements, but her control over electrons which she used in the form of electricity was interesting. Then there was the fact that she had a price to pay for using her powers, it was that she needed to consume alcohol. It was these two unique aspects that Dr.Hobbs was trying to find some way to weaponize her or turn her blood into a virus and force a type of "payment" for their abilities on other gifted. Most of the time she was kept heavily sedated and near a sleep like state, but luck would have for her that the dose was wearing off and the doctors didn't notice.

When two of them had their backs turned she quickly summoned some of her fire and set their backs ablaze, not only did this give her time to get up but she quickly rushed to the side room where her clothes were stored and thankfully her flasks as well.

"Good those pigs didn't drink any of it"

Now starting to get a little excited she walked back to the two doctors crawling in pain on the floor trying to get some help. She stuck a finger on the bottom of her lips and spoke

"Hey now don't you two no it's rude to run away from a lady like that, especially after all that attention you were giving me. I just want to return some of it."

With that said she raised her other hand in the air to conjure forth a small cloud of lightning and striking the two and smiling as they cried for pain. She cracked open her smallest flask which was a hard vodka and took a swing.

"I'm gonna have to try and find more as I escape this city in case I find myself fighting again."

Now here she was in a forest trying to outrun some hunters from Korma with a good portion of her flasks emptied. She had roughly a small wine glass and two shots of whiskey left. Enough for maybe one last small fight depending how it went. And with the size of the hunters from Korma after her that wasn't enough. She finally came beneath a freeway when she risked the chance of stopping to catch her breath, as she looked up she began to wonder if that would be a good way to lose them. She could rip the rest of her midriff off making it look like it ripped while she climbed up and continue into the forest, or leave her last sleeve on some of the bushes making it look like she went further in and go up to the freeway. She decided to go with the later idea more out of desperation for now.

She soon regretted this idea as she came across a scene of destruction and in other words a huge mess she could not begin to describe. Looking back down into the forest she thought of going back there, but the yells in the distance told her, her pursuers were now to close for that so she had to stick it out with this mess. Now what was even more startling was the fact that she was almost ran over by some mechanical being and it was attacking something. Her only reprieve was that she was close enough to the edge of the freeway that it didn't get her, but that didn't matter now. All the stress and trauma from Dr.Hobbs experimental room caught up with her. Anger began to well up inside of her and she conjured a set of five small fire balls circling around her right hand, focusing on two of them she fired it at the mechanical being and yelled at it.

"How dare you attack a woman in such obvious distress, have you no common decency to offer help where it's needed!?"

OOC: Since she doesn't know names or got the proper chance to look at ya all, the attack is aimed at Child.
 
Elise's intervention was timed correctly and allowed Ralph to fire a shot at the hostile Cyborg but missed due to his panicked state and the aftershock of the phobia still eroding his psyche. He swore under his breath as he tried to focus on this battle, it was very unusual of Ralph to suffer this much when engaged into hard battle and his focused nearly at a major loss.

Ralph re calibrated the tips of the 251 but it proved to his downfall as his adversary had charged towards Elise's controlled model 243 Ragnum. Her speed and elegant grace dodged every shot Elise fired and before Ralph could counter attack the enemy, it rapidly fired the legs of the 243, forcing it to its knees.

"Curses, sorry!" Elise said through Ralph's HUD as the Cyborg leapt through debris and sliced the 243 from head to toe in half.

"Stop apologizing and bring the Shotgun Ragnum and the Arcane Pacifier! Go!" Ralph yelled as he fired up his shields to take her pistol shots as it fired like crazy against the energy shields of the 251. At this rate, he will lose power before he would be able to land another attack. Elise recalled the 249 and 250 from battling the blocked Agents from behind the truck Zephyr was caught on, leaving 4 others to attend to their opponents and with the 221 and 243 destroyed, they were down to at least 10 suits left for Ralph to use.

He charged his right and left fingers to 20% power distribution after the barrage had ended. He was pushing the 251's Ragnum core to its outmost limits, a gamble he did not want to take so soon. Sacrificing the 251 was not an option, as its schematics weren't saved at any server within his company at any point around the globe.

"Distributing power couplings and diverting 60% to restoring the Ragnum core will yield maximized efficient recovery times. Damn this is a tough cyborg…I gotta rely on switching suits around the fly instantaneously, this means I gotta kill it to preserve my identity or force it to wipe it's memory bank of my face in this round or we're in deep shit," Ralph told Elise as he was about to counterattack.

The Cyborg's impressive maneuvering was close to ending his life; its blade tore through the 251's shin and went for the critical lower left torso. Sparks and internal wirings were cut as he knelt down in frustration as the 251 gave out a little due its weight.

"Eject," Ralph commanded as the 251 ejected him out of the suit, sending him flying into the air as he landed instantly and was lock suited into the Model 249, a silver –blue combination and sleeker version of the Ragnum in line with the 251 with blue optics and larger forearms with the same signature metal trenchcoat alloy as all his family's line of Ragnums. He floated up as the 251, controlled by Elise, darted off into the distance to dodge any more cirtical strikes from the Cyborg.

Flanked by Ralph was a Maroon-silver Ragnum suit, the previous model before the 251: 250, the Arcane Pacifier, it was mostly used in his war campaigns against hostile Arcane Gifted and was even sturdier and tougher than the 251 and 249 combined. Regaining his senses after the near destruction of the experimental suit, Ralph dove down and fired a single charged 20% powered laser blast from the 249's index finger. Anticipating a counter attack, Ralph auto ejected from the 249 and re-entered the 250, firing its singular diamond Faiz cutters in a straight line before directing the left gauntlet to fire horizontally to cover the cyborg's escape route. Landing immediately, Ralph kicked a destroyed car's door against the cyborg before ejecting back into the 249 and rushing towards the Cyborg with a propelled punch heading straight for her face. This attack was sure to at least disorient her, as he knew his robotic theorem that the brain would take time to recover from such a punch even with its helmet on.




Elise seized the moment and powered up the 231 after seeing the fight turning to Ralph's favour in course towards the truck holding Shenorai and Zephyr, she landed atop the imprisoned truck's roof where Zephyr had landed in prior. Lifting the suit, it landed gently within the confines of the truck, greeting Shenorai and Zephyr. Elise's loud thud would have alerted them to her presence.

"Good morning, my dears! I apologize for the rude arrival! We've come to free you both before President Tyler or Korma reclaims you! Let's get going! Tally ho pip pip," she said in a fast paced introduction and an urgent voice, as she was multi tasking with Ralph's suit switching techniques. Before she realized it, she forgot to introduce herself.

"Oh! My apologies!" Elise said, remembering Shenorai's fear of machinery or anything human related, no doubt a side effect of being in Korma for so long. Recalling Mitula's message, she relayed it out in a most graceful imitation of the madame.

"The Watcher summons you to her haven, Milady…" she said with a graceful voice through the suit, pantomiming Mitula's grace as well with the armour. Once done, The 231 opened its armour from the top to the torso, revealing to Shendra the equipment that Dr. Hobbs had forced them to take with her as "Evidence". Red clothes, her trusty customized shotgun, and the mysterious necklace emitting magic from it were neatly organized within the suit, ready to be reclaimed by their owner.

"All your things are accounted for, my dear. Should you wish to utilize the suit's laser technology, you are more than welcome until you are able to wield your trusty weaponry or are capable of flight. I can instruct you further on utilizing the technology if you so wish," Elise said tenderly, to make both of them as comfortable around Ralph's suit as possible. Who knows how far they have been overseen by the legendary Doctor of Korma.




Ralph was about to begin laying another beating with his suit switching capabilities until he caught sight of a female at the road, emerging from the forest. His scanners from the 249 picked her as an Arcane Gifted from her signature and the pyrokinetic ability she appears to be wielding from her right hand.

"How dare you attack a woman in such obvious distress, have you no common decency to offer help where it's needed!?"

"Oh fucking great. Another one…" Ralph said, now even more distressed as he saw the fireballs aiming straight for the Cyborg while preparing the 249's enhanced punch capabilities once more. He reassured himself he was safe within the 249's powerful armour, and had to verify if this female was a threat before attacking her first. His Rhapdophobia was catching onto him, as he once again lost focus on his adversary and remained stiff while his gauntlets were charging for a destructive strike.
 
Silvana the White was known as such due to his abilities and temperament. Warm, light-hearted and easy-going; he was not prone to anger or negative emotions. Or rather, he was especially good at managing such feelings. This instance was no different, easily managed under his completely calm façade. He gripped the tea cup and hastily brought it to his lips. Neglecting the fact the tea was recently re-heated, it scalded him, though he bit back the pain to carefully placed it back on the table. "Tsk, ill luck," he quips, scowling at the smartphone.


"Are you still not going to tell me-eh?"

Rosetta was past caring at this point. Weaving through the crowds in the city, she was of a mind to leave Eh behind but that would be too bad of her. He had good intentions, but he was just prone to being annoying. It cannot be helped; at least, that was what she was reciting in her head to convince herself to forgive Eh for his repeated questions. As the two approached their destination, Rosetta picked up her pace, knowing well the person she intended to meet will be her salvation.

Eh followed after her, and into the building only to be knocked hard on his back.

"Well, well, well, EH?"

A dark expression formed on Eh's face as he slowly looked up, meeting the fierce glare of his arch-enemy, the troll, Highmind.

Highmind was not the average troll. While most troll lacked intelligence and compensated for the loss with strength, Highmind lacked strength and compensated for that in intellect. Due to that, he was alienated not just amongst his fellow trolls, but also in Saevitian society, which valued physical strength. Without any physical strength, he could not survive, since he could not participate in any Shuffle without running the unnaturally high risk of death. Fortunately, Silvana created the Joker tier, which allowed him to earn a post as inventor. Since then, he had contributed to the development of several technological innovations - including the Air Galley.

Rosetta took a seat, watching the two as they bickered. "Well, how fares our resident failure of a troll-eh," Eh retorted, his words purposefully harsh in tone. Highmind brushed off the insult, retaliating," And our little hobgoblin is still little and disrespectfully hunched over. Right, don't you think so, Rosetta?"

More than that, Highmind was Rosetta's benefactor. The period of time after being released from the orphanage was a rough one. Despite having practised her abilities in secret, she had not perfected it sufficiently to exert sufficient control. The result was disastrous, culminating in that one incident. If not for Highmind who discovered her and nursed her back to health, there was no telling where she would be. For a period of time, she stayed with Highmind, who offered advice that helped strengthen her control over her abilities. Eventually, she went on to defeat the Ace of Spades, and the rest is history.

Eh scowled, stomping his feet in anger as he glared at Rosetta. Still, benefactor or no, that's not going to be good enough reason for her to intervene.

Rosetta quickly raised her hand to stop Highmind. "Hey, I'm not going to get involved in this."

Highmind scoffed, turning back to Eh to take a blow square in his belly. Rosetta could only chuckle as the two's bickering turned into a scuffle and then an all-out battle that threatened to lead into the workshop. Still, she knew they were mature enough to not let it get that far, so she merely waited. Eventually, the two were too worn out to continue quarrelling. Eh stepped out, offering to keep watch while Rosetta went about her intended business.

"Tsk, never gets old, doesn't it, watching us bicker like that. Free entertainment, ain't it?"

Highmind hobbled into the workshop, beckoning Rosetta in. She followed after the troll, stepping into the messy workshop. There were several screens switched on, and mounted on the wall. Tables were connected together such that the remaining walking space felt more like a maze. It took Rosetta numerous visits before she finally memorized the ins and outs of this maze of tables.

On the screen, it seemed there was some major battle occurring in real time. Or perhaps a past surveillance, Rosetta could not tell. Noticing the girl staring at the screen, Highmind confirmed," It's happening as we speak." Rosetta raised a brow curiously, looking at the screen more closely. She had no idea what was going on, but it seemed there was some kind of clash between Ragnum suits and... a cyborg. And it was quickly becoming more complicated, with an Arc joining in to side with the suit... And then meanwhile, another screen showing a winged creature, probably a Spawn of the Awakening...

All in all, a very confusing situation. Without any context, and without any motivation, Rosetta saw no reason to put the pieces together to understand this situation. Highmind seemed to have read her mind. "I don't know what's going on either, just poking around our surveillance drones and hacking here and there... Not expecting at all to see this," he said. "It's pretty entertaining though."

Rosetta had to agree. The characters in that scene seemed like wonderful potential opponents, each and everyone, maybe except the Ragnum-suited individual. He wouldn't be in a suit if he was a potential opponent, Rosetta thought. "So, what's the reason for the visit?"

Highmind eyed the girl warily. Rosetta only shrugged. "Nothing, I'm just visiting. See how you're doing and all that," she said. Highmind regarded her with a suspicious expression before he fixated his gaze on the screens. Rosetta followed with interest, watching to see who would emerge victor.
 
Zephyr slipped behind Shendra, placing a hand gently on each side of the girl's wings over the scabrous tissue. The misformed dried blood began to flake off, being pushed by fresh blood from below which oozed out over the wounds. It dried quickly, a seamless strand of tissue that looked far better than previously before. It wasn't much but it would prove effective against infection and cut the healing time in at least half.

"That's really all I can do. Try not to move your wings much until it heals completely. There are two nearby. One is on our side though he seems... fearful of me. The other is a machine. Mostly. Smallish, a child almost. Definitely not on our side."

He stood back up, looking at his work. There hadn't been any permanent damage done but he didn't know how fast this girl would heal. An indefinite answer was the best he could give.

Without warning a machine similar to the one that the man had been in dropped into the truck. On instinct, Zephyr had an orb of blood in his hand, ready to hurl the missile. When it spoke though, he recognized the tones as being the same as that from before, when the man seemed to be talking to nobody; it must have been the machine. It was strange though. She seemed clearly intelligent and yet... there wasn't any life sign from her.

"What... are you?" he asked of Elise.
 
While the red-winged one worked with her wounds, the prisoner watched her own hands. The pins-and-needles sensation may have shot all the way down to her fingertips, but she could feel something strange. For once, she could actually feel her own blood pushing through her veins, though most of it focused around the ragged flesh upon her wings. Surprisingly, whatever he was doing had increased the flow of blood in her arms and even lessened the time it took for the tingling pain to cease.

Sitting there, she had enough time to piece a few things together. Despite being racked with pain earlier, she was finally able to recognize where she had seen this man. He was loaded into the first truck, suspended in a tank of strange liquids. She wasn't sure why he had to be detained in such a way, but if they were taking such measures to keep him locked up, who knows how else she would have been locked away? Yet here he stood, released from that tank and smelling faintly of chemicals, yet mostly of blood.

Yet as the woman turned her head and opened her mouth to thank him again, an automation had burst its way into the truck. Her attention snapped straight to it, wings spreading instinctively once again with no bonds to stop it and her feathers flaring up once again in her fear. The convict's heart was pounding in her ears as wild thoughts cascaded through her mind. How cruel do these bastards have to be to tease her with the possibility of escape only to descend upon her once more like vultures?! She had no weapon to defend herself and certainly not enough energy for retaliati-

Hold up, this robot was... friendly? Encouraging their escape? The prisoner couldn't decide if she was dreaming or if this was all just one sick hallucination induced by some injection or IV she was unaware of. Hell, providing a female AI on a male suit was clearly designed for confusion, and it was working very well. Even then, machines like this were of human make and really, only humans would use these sort of overly-complicated contraptions. What human would want to see the two of them freed? Thoughts of human supporters who would want to see a human-killer back on the loose were very unlikely.

The woman's eyes grew wide at the message. "The Watcher? She's still alive?" She was more surprised that The Watcher hadn't been captured yet, but if this robot was aware of her...

At last, the convict's hands and arms were working enough to release the last belts securing her to the seat and standing up at last. The automation opening itself to reveal her belongings was... an odd sight, but a sight for sore eyes nonetheless.

"Now I know I'm dreaming," she chuckled meekly to herself.

Reaching into the robot's chest, she first extracted the necklace, of all things. The weight of it was physically reassuring, but the energy locked inside of the stone was what she was after. The amulet was held in her left hand while she pressed two fingers of her right onto the smooth rock. A lavender strip of light was extracted from it. No, not light; pure energy. She let it engulf her hand before stretching out a wing and pressing her hand against it. The energy flowed through her fingers and into the flesh, sealing the wounds fully and completing the healing process. Her hands may have felt a little weak after she had finished, but it was better than relying on her own energy. After doing the same to her other wing, the woman returned the necklace to its rightful place; around her neck and tucked beneath her prison jumper.

"There's no time to change, so just hold onto the clothes until we're safe," she instructed as she extracted her shotgun and belt. Conveniently, the pouches sewn into her belt still held the extra drums of ammunition. She could feel it. The belt was strapped on and the ammo drum on her gun was swapped out for a new one.

It dawned upon her that she was fully armed, but the one who helped her merely had his pistols and whatever he was doing with that mass of blood. Strange magic, but it wouldn't be enough to deal with that cyborg child who was previously guarding her. Or any sort of backup that might be sent to keep them detained.

"Thanks again for your help," the woman said, turning once more to her fellow escapee. She nodded toward those crimson wings. "I hope you can fly a long time. If this isn't just some hallucination, I know where we're headed." Her gaze warily turned upward to the hole in the ceiling. The thumps on the top of the truck were not reassuring whatsoever. "But we need to move while that guard is still distracted."
 
Elise could have smiled when Shendra said she was dreaming. If was a pleasure in seeing a living being feel free and liberated after being confined for so long. Ralph inspired her admiration enough to take initiatives of helping him further, due to her ability to be all of the suits, she was ecstatic and quite busy with Ralph's suit switching outside concurrently going on as she piloted the 231 inside with Shendra and Zephyr.

"Affirmative. We must get you two out of here before President Tyler sends the Mecha Fleet," Elise said concurred with Shendra's words as she sealed the 231 and reformatted it into the statuesque warrior and arming its laser technology. After Shendra reclaimed her necklace and shotgun, she advised her one more thing. With a clap of the suit's two hands, she gathered the both of them together and began to brief them of the situation outside and how it may escalate once Marko summons the Mecha Fleet.

"As much as I wish to bring you two darlings back to Madame Watcher, we still have to get the creator of this suit and the other suits that are currently battling. He's currently outside engaging the guard of this vehicle and he has seen another Arcane Gifted, my sensors are indicating that his brainwaves are elevating to fearful levels. Bear with him, for he has Rhabdophobia since he was a young boy," She said. She was more than impressed with how Ralph, against his nature to be exposed to Arcanes for so long and seeing their magic, was actually trying to keep up his fight with the cyborg despite the exposures most probably sending him to an anxiety attack or worse. To her, he was the bravest phobia victim she had come to seen and analyze in a while. Contrary to how he should hate Arcs, he has been fighting it for so long to see the dream he once promised himself.

She finally turned the suit to face the winged boy. "Well...It is difficult to describe myself really. The Watcher says I am an Arcane Gifted myself, a soul of a human individual that is trapped in Cyberspace. The creator of this suit, to help overcome his hypothetical fear of me, just thinks I'm a highly advanced Artificial Intelligence, or an Algorithm of sorts. I myself do not know if I really am Machine or Arcane," she said somberly. "We can discuss the formalities later, dears. He is in quite of a distressful situation," Elise concluded before piloting the 231 to move out and help confront the cyborg still engaging Ralph.

"If you are under armed, dear. You can still utilize the creator's technology, if you so wish," she said as she held out the 231's arm as it reconfigured to allow Shendra to slip a hand to arm the gauntlet, Elise also set out a free left hand for Zephyr to hold unto as well should he be interested in using the tech to slice through the remaining Agents out there. "It could be fun," Elise snarked at the winged woman, showing a naughtier side of herself.

Ralph gritted his teeth. The longer the Arcane stood there with her strange, illogical magic, the higher his heart rate was becoming and his focus losing dramatically. He had to get her out of his sight fast without insulting her, she can't know of his fear of magic and the Arcane, for the cyborg could easily identify him if he did show signs of fear. He feigned a defiant stand to deter the Cyborg from retaliating without suffering the wrath of his suit switching skills and raised a hand to the woman.

"Hey Arc!" Ralph called out to the female. He tried to hide his shaky voice, but it proved to be a daunting task. He swore under his breath for his accursed Rhabdophobia was still clinging to him like a disease.

"I'll take care of this one! One of my suits shall guide you to safety! It's not safe here! Scram!" He commanded at the Arcane to back down and leave with a suit piloted with Elise to join the others, hoping she would back down as he faced the Cyborg. She was unarmed, tattered and somewhat intoxicated from his scanner's indication. She could be another poor escapee from the accursed city of Korma, home to the monster Doctor Alfred Hobbs. For the moment, he must get rid of the Cyborg and see to this Arc's safety as well. God knows how she would survive another hour in the free way with an inevitable arrival of Marko's Mecha Fleet.

"As for you," he addressed the Cyborg, this time pointing a dangerously charged laser at her with intent to destroy her apendages should she resist. He was not going to destroy the Dogma government's higher issued models, that would attract even further unwanted attention. "Stand down or I shall be forced to disable you. This is your final warning. My next attacks will bring you down with extreme prejudice," he said with a shaken voice. The situation was worsening: An indomitable Cyborg, two prisoners still far from released, and now a rogue Arcane firing magic to boost his phobia and throw his psyche out of sync with his combat skill. The equation was simple; deduct the problematic variable, combine the variable with the other unsolved equations to be added with the escape equation and watch the arithmetic solution fall upon itself.
 
Last edited:

~~~~~
Child
~~~~~



​
The pilot was either extremely experienced or had extraordinary senses. Before she completely diced the suit open, he ejected out and landed perfectly into another suit that just landed near by. It was impressive, given that not a lot of people can even land properly after being flung into the air, let alone into a suit and be ready for immediate combat. It was a nice shiny, silver blue one, rather similar to the suit she had just fought against. However, that one in which she damaged flew off, most likely via some AI or remote assistance. To his side, another suit appeared, this time, maroon and silver. Since this one was flying by itself, that must mean that it should also be capable of individual combat and therefore, another target to keep track of.

There was no time to contemplate any further as the target attacked first, shooting a powerful laser from its finger again. It was an easy attack to dodge, which made Child confused. His previous attacks were much more harder to dodge or parry and there were more than one. Right after the quick side step, Child dashed forward once again for another chest slash. To her shock, the pilot ejected from the suit and equipped the other one, shooting two laser beams at her. It in essence, forced Child to be unable to move but to the left and in the time she took to dodge, the new suit kicked a car door straight towards her. Child barely had time to brace her arms before it slammed into her and sent her tumbling backwards 5 meters. It didn't end there. Her helmet took quite a beating from the door and a sharp crack spread across the screen. The pilot didn't stop and reequipped back into the first suit and launched a straight punch towards her face. If that landed squarely on her helmet, it could potentially pop her head.

Tch... a hand will have to do...

Her right hand shot up, palm forward in a stop motion and took the brunt of the shot. With an entire arm's length of cybernetics acting as a crumple zone, her arm shattered at the elbow and biceps, but the punch was stopped. Her vitals, or what she could see, went crazy as it detected the destruction of a complete limb.

Child! I can't see anything down there! Your vitals just went crazy and your right arm's information and data just ceased. Whats happening down there?

Barely... dodged a bullet... Give me a second... to deal with the pain receptors... and i'll re engage.

No! You'll kill yourse....

Like before, Child at this point has blocked out Sieghilde once again. If she doesn't succeed here, then she would have let down her family. She must at least apprehend or even delay this target long enough so that reinforcements can come.

Hey Arc! I'll take care of this one! One of my suits shall guide you to safety! It's not safe here! Scram!

Child's ear pricked as she caught a slight tremor in his voice. A sign of weakness of sort. She only had once chance at a counterattack. She would have to be fast and bet everything on it, going for the neck with a straight left thrust with her hand. With all the power mustered from a springing leap and her mechanical parts, the force should be enough to at the very least puncture through, to some degree, the armour.

"As for you, stand down or I shall be forced to disable you. This is your final warning. My next attacks will bring you down with extreme prejudice,

Before the pilot could even finish the word "with",Child launched her potentially last attack, leaping past the outstretched hand, moving right into his chest and thrust her arm straight towards the throat piece of the suit in a all or nothing suicidal attack.
 
Adgnilan was more fearful then angry, even when she attacked the one mechanical being that rushed passed her after she got up onto the freeway. Her attack was more of a response from all the overwhelming stress she has been under. However that fear was soon replaced by anger when another metal clad being shouted at her and calling her "Arc". She wanted to yell a retort and respond back to him, after all she had a name and even if he didn't know it there were better titles to call her by. But given the case and as she realized what she climbed up into, she decided against pursuing the matter for the current time. Then there was the fact he was offering to help her, and that was something she was in dire need of. Adgnilan needed to get out of this place as soon as she could and this person was offering her a way out.

Agdnilan took a sip of her wine flask as another though entered her mind. "Since he did call me an "Arc" he could easily be another hunter, not one of the group chasing me though but still one none the less. Well if that turns out to be the case I may be able to deal with him quickly since he doesn't know everything I can do." She thought to herself as she tapped the whiskey flasks at her side. Using them in her current condition wasn't something she wanted to do, she was still in an unknown area and to top it off if she didn't find a place to restock her supplied she would need to be even more careful of the fights she got in. So right now she did the only thing her slightly sober mind could think of now and that was to listen to this persons advice. She ran up to the truck where she saw another suit moving and felt stupid saying what she just did since from what he made it sound like it was just a suit and not a person. "Excuse me, but that metal man in a suit over there" she shouted over all the noise that was being cause at this other suit, "He said one of his suits would help me to safety, are you able to do that? If so that help would be much appreciated." She said the last a bit more nervous then intended since the fear of this one being a hunter creeped into her mind again. Not only would she possibly be in the air but he would have these suits to help him now as well, it just made her more scared and left her wondering if she was making the right decision.
 
Zephyr shifted slightly, his feathers ruffling.

"I... wouldn't know. I wasn't really allowed to fly much. But if the weight tests were any indication... maybe a day?"

The chimera shrugged, accepting the glove from Elise as the orb of blood slipped back into his uniform. The glove fit well, seeming to form perfectly to his slender fingers. He flexed them and found the machine responded quickly. With a flick of his hand, a stream of blood flowed out ringing the gauntlet. It didn't seem to affect his power at all and he was well aware of the lasers within the gauntlet. He flipped them up to forty percent - he wasn't going to stun when it came to it.

Going under the hole int he roof of the transport, he leaped up, grabbing the edge and pulling himself atop easily. Surveying the changes, he found that someone else had wandered in and that the man who had freed him was still fighting the child. He flapping his wings, gaining altitude quickly. Hopefully the other girl would out soon.
 
(OOC: Tipsy this is how I depicted your intended outcome xD please tell me if you need me to edit some content ok?)

This Cyborg. It doesn't give up, he thought. The determination and ferocity it displayed was magnificent. It just kept coming and coming with no hope or exhaustion despite her being outclassed by his suit switching combat style and how his armours can overpower her. Even with his threat, it simply was not deterred as it made a dash to break his speech. With its arm thrust intended to choke the softened steel of his suit, Ralph hastily countered with the 249's strong backthrusted side swipe. The contact broke what strength the sealed helmet had left, silver hair flew across, revealing a young teenager underneath the suit.

His eyes widened in shock. All this time, with this godly skill of being able to match him in the 251, was a young teenager. No older than one out of highschool. He gritted his teeth as the shock flung her 2 meters away to the side wall of the free way where she hit the freeway's sidewall hard and her legs seemingly destroyed beyond her ability to stand.

For the first time, he auto released the 249's helmet, revealing his hardened green eyes and scowl. Those eyes, empty looking eyes, heavily reminded him of the Geno Angel event that cost his lover's life. How could this teenager agree to have such modifications done to her?

"I don't know why you agreed to have the VSC turn you into a weapon or why you gave up your body for such a thing. But believe me, Dogma is a farce and a cruel hell hole. 'Lord President' Marko himself is a joke and can easily manipulate humanity and your Cyborg lot. Humanity is not as kind as you make it out to be. Right now look at what you've been transporting. These Arcanes are hurting, kid. If you have any soul left in you, you'd stop trying to kill yourself this day. The VSC can easily replace you if you die here and they won't ever bat an eye to your existence. There's no glory or love that they can spare you, Cyborg. There's only the mission, and if you fail, Your superiors will forget you like they forget the bullets they waste to hurt Arcane Gifted..." Ralph said. He still never understood why he said this, nor will he for the rest of his life. This child-looking Cyborg had the potential to suffer as his lover Marigold, who became a Cyborg called Geno Angels, weapons of mass destruction used to nuke or kill large scale groups of Arcane. There was no doubt that Ralph saw pain and longing to belong in this Cyborg's eyes.

"If you can still think for yourself, know that you cannot beat me, not in that shambled state. Survive. Survive, and live to see tomorrow where you can actually make a choice and not follow orders then be forgotten like the rest of your brothers and sisters," Ralph said firmly, turning his back at the broken Cyborg and sealing his face within the Ragnum once more.

"Elise, we're getting out of here. I've been spotted," Ralph said warily, knowing the Cyborg without a doubt recognized his face and unaltered voice outside of the Ragnum.

"Dear me, why waste such time in lecturing an enemy?" Elise said.

"I just beat the living hell out of a 16 year old girl, Elise. I ain't seeking any glory for that any time soon. She's probably a misguided kid or a suicidal one. Regardless, this isn't the path for her," Ralph concluded as he was about to approach the truck where Shendra was detained.

"She's free?" Ralph asked about her status.

"Free and albiet confused as hell, Ralph. She still can't believe that she is able to stretch those beautiful wings," Elise said amusingly.

"Wings? I thought Shenorai can perform soul manipulation, not fly and all that weird shit," Ralph said in a doubtful tone.

"I thought so too! But she doesn't seem to match our records of black hair and green eyes. She now has red hair and purple eyes, but her physical composition and personality attributes matches that of Madame's niece," Elise said.

"I'll see for myself then," Ralph said as he approached the truck and with his cutters, tore the hull apart and saw Shen with the newcomer whom he told to leave the fight to him prior. Shen did indeed look far different than what he was known to see her for. Auto releasing his helmet to reveal his confused face with his serious green eyes, he looked at her intently.

"Are you sure she's Aunt's niece?" Ralph looked at her with a doubtful ire. He didn't want to waste this mission for nothing, almost 2 billion Dogma credits have been blown with the wind with the destruction of the 221 and 243 suits. Not to mention critical damage was done to the 251 even before it could be blue printed, which means it has to be returned back to the chateau for repairs.

"Positive, Ralph," Elise spoke through his speakers while addressing Shen. He raised a brow and studied her newly updated attributes and scanned her from top to bottom, still unsure if she was his designated target. "Red hair...Purple eyes...Further modifications at Korma eh?" Ralph addressed her in a humorous tone. Dark as Korma's reputation may be, he had to try and get a giggle out of her before they are to find themselves safe. He turned his attention towards the newcomer. He leaned at the entrance of the truck as he scanned for all of those intended to be rescued, but his eyes rested upon the newcomer and her strange appearance from what appeared to be out in the gigantic woods before reaching the freeway.

"Hey, lady," He addressed her while scanning her torn clothing and nearly knackered appearance. "...Just exactly how did you end up in the free way before shit hit the fan? I've seen your magic, and let me guess...Bounty hunters?" he smirked at her, knowing full well about the culture of hunting Arcs for higher price since the past 30 years. Arcane Gifted fetched high prices when Korma is involved and the monster that lurked on it. Without awaiting an answer, he commanded Elise to control the 250 with a snap of his finger and open it up to allow the newcomer to board unto it. "Regardless, I'm not leaving you alone out here in that state. I'll see you safe, now hop on aboard the suit," he said in a hurried and demanding tone towards the lady before turning back to Shen. "Can you fly? Has Blood God... done anything to you?" he said nervously in reference to Zephyr's blood thirsty rampage prior.
 
The prisoner aimed her shotgun up at the roof when she saw more metal being torn away. It sounded like the fight up there had ceased for now and she was wary that the guard had emerged as the victor. She tucked her wings against her back to minimize the possibility of being struck at a weak point as she waited with baited breath...

Strangely, it was another suit similar to the one that had retrieved her belongings. At least it wasn't the guard, but she kept her own guard up in case this entire escape was all some sick joke. The face of the helmet gave way and revealed not another remote-controlled suit, but a man. Likely a human.

Yet upon hearing him question her relation to an aunt, she looked confused, lowering her gun. To her knowledge, she only had one surviving aunt left. If he really was related to The Watcher, killing him was out of the question. Invoking upon her wrath would never end well. But of course, she was unaware if any of her other cousins were still alive in this wretched hellhole of a world. For all she knew, he could be a distant relation.

The winged woman scowled at the 'modifications' remark, her feathers fanning out in annoyance. No one at Korma was responsible for her 'anomalous' attributes. No, such attributes were the very reason she was shipped off to that damn city in the first place. But since the matter wasn't pressed any further, the woman brushed it off for now. She can address such a comment at a later time. From what she can gather so far, he was the one responsible for getting her out of here. Worked for her.

She was more than happy to respond to his query regarding the crimson-winged fellow. "Yeah, he unbound me," was her reply.

With her first rescuer already out of the truck, the woman began climbing out as well, keeping her wings tight to her back to keep herself from brushing them against the metal. She had completely ignored the suit's offer for that gauntlet. There was no reason to reveal her armament if this entire rescue turns out to be false. Armor-piercing incendiary rounds would be more than adequate. Keeping a hand empty for the occasional spell or two would prove to be useful as well.

Even with the lack of light before dawn, she could easily see and smell the carnage out here in the street. The guard was a crumpled mess, but if she knew anything about cyborgs, one shouldn't stay put near them. Not one that is potentially hostile even in such a state.

"If The Watcher is responsible for all this, we shouldn't keep her waiting." Her voice raised up to the winged man above them. "Stay low over the forest! We don't want to be shot down by any anti-air attacks!"

Regardless of the metal warrior's reaction, those golden wings spread out to feel the wind at long last. The woman hopped off of the truck and beat her wings furiously, gaining just enough altitude to clear the bridge and swoop over the forests. There was one freeway between Korma and Dogma. Thus, only one way to get to Dusk Shallows. Get to the shore and fly over the sea.
 
Akin on the left to this busy, rumbling highway was a light woodland. It was the complete opposite: tranquil, peaceful... And empty. It was easier to be a ghost when you haunt unvisited areas. He didn't have to wander in here. The arcane fault didn't leave any physical aliments on his body. It wasn't like wings had sprouted, or tumors had grown.



But... Nexus knew he was different. He couldn't walk around his former kind, all the while knowing that-if they got a sniff of his infection- they'd turn on him. Nexus didn't fear their insults, xenophobia or even their weapons. No, he feared the isolation it would introduce him too, the uncontrollable hatred for him. At least out here, he was in control. Nexus COULD return, if he choose so.


Still... That didn't stop his thoughts. They still returned to Crysta, back home. To his parents-even if they weren't that close.. His two siblings, Owen and Mileenia, were a different story. Nexus was quite protective of them. They were his responsibility- and, though he might not admit it, his reason for leaving. The idea of him 'infecting' them was too much to bare.



“C'mon, you know it was better that you left.. Dad could'a lost his job- the family could've had it worse... Plus, you're better than all them anyway. You're better off alone!”



His lips flapped in speech, he couldn't even be honest with himself. Nexus had to enforce it on himself- the walls. That cocky little shit-head persona he calls a shield. It was easier to deal with that, than the the shy little boy inside.



Then, he heard it. Some sort of ruckus to the left: On the highway. It sounded like some sort of incident. Much bigger than any old accident or bit of road rage... At first, Nexus tried to ignore it. He was all about self preservation... But, it was just too hard to ignore.


Nexus rushed over to the barrier, mounted and climbed a tree then hopped from tree to sidebarrier. What he saw on the other end nearly made his jaw drop in comic fashion.



Who was this man in the armoured suits? Who were all these people, all but waiting to escape. Were these some sort of prisoners? Nexus took this great timing to leave and- as he turned to sprint off- he slipped. His footing was scuttled from under him, he fell back onto the blocked highway- right in the crosshairs of any government solider around. His nerves slowly creeped up on him; his arcane infection responded by crackling up. It caused a dim white hue to envelope his hands, the crackling of static filling the air around him. Nexus knew: if he stayed here, he'd be murdered-hell, even worse. He'd be poked, prodded in a science facility, like some sort of lab rat.



Was it strange that he instantly thought to ask the armoured man for a lift? It was probably just panic, but Nexus jumped for it. Without hesistation, Nexus sprinted to the gaggle of people, shouting and raving at them:


“Hey, hey! WHATthehellisgoingon?! Is this a breakout?! Bank robbery?! Ahh shit!!! ”



Nexus was shouting at this point, even though he'd covered half the distance towards the group.


“...Take me with you! Man, you probably have half the cop force after you! I'll be deadmeat here...”



The final sentence was something of a mutter, but the rest was directed straight at the armoured... man? Was he a soldier? Nexus really couldn't be sure. Either way, this gang would probably be his only chance...
 
Last edited:
Marko emerged from the office, with his confident trickster smile resonating from his face. Without a doubt now the group he had sent prior to assist in the convoy from Korma would be there to bring her further and allow him to pry open his presents. He felt the sweet tinge of delight and began to cackle slightly that opening their bodies up like a toy doll or prying into their minds like reading a book and ultimately lead them to the greatest joke of this world and they would be under his mercy, along with Vicronica...

Even Saevitia, where "his" real people resided, would finally get a taste of the fun and games that he's ready to pull up against humanity. He would force them to descend upon his little game that would even make the monster of Korma tremble at his robotic knees for incarcerating and dicing up Arcs.

"Why hello there, Wild Card! Did ya miss me?!" Marko wheezed through the phone in his true form. It had been too long since his last visit in Saevitia before he kept the sane visage needed to infiltrate the political hierarchy of humanity's purest cities in the world. How they danced and laughed at his ambition to actually truly turn Vicronica into a world that they would truly belong to and not just towards Saevitia.

"Well, it's so daft and boring here you all would die of the blandness of human politics! I could do with a change of scenery. Speaking of change of scenery! I believe you all owe me a congratulations or a party perhaps for doing the impossible! Come on I won't be shy or humble!" Marko spat in a passive-aggressive tone.

"To the matter at hand. I'm kinda worrying that my plan may...have some hitches. It's a gut feeling. And you know my spontaneous streak! And here I am, Lord President of Humans and with the power to end your foolish choice of a nation. If you don't answer my request of course," Marko danced childishly between trying to rile up the Wild Card of his beloved hometown, and to get what he damn wanted. Humans and Arcs were like puppets on a string, toys for him to chew and play on until they are bled dry that would drive him towards a purpose and to prove a certain someone that their ideal world where these two clusterfucks can hold hands and sing all day in the sun was just a frankly retarded idea.

"Oh you will!? In that case, You're going to have to fold that silly notion that humans are weaker than you in order for this big plan of mine to make a Happy Place for all our people. The city of Saevitia must surrender an emissary unto my borders of Dogma. City or Country it doesn't matter really, just as this emissary or ambassador isn't in a body bag due to the purity feeling of Arcs. I'm looking for someone who can boost the plan and stir even greater shit within Humanity's official city!" Marko cheerily said as he childishly fooled around with the Wild Card. They knew better than to cross the Lord President presiding over most of humanity, and also able to control the flow of their little century old skirmish.

"Then its settled! I'll conduct a ceremony for her/him/it's arrival in that order! You'll have to make them all the more presentable! I ain't tolerating all those weird customs you all seem to be fond of! We're trying to lull them into a false sense of superiority, before we even deliver the ultimate punchline you understand!? My plan will be brilliant if all goes according to it! And if it doesn't there's always plan B to Z now before we pull off the greatest joke of the century," Marko seethed through the phone to whoever the Wild Card was. He could prattle and grin at his co-person, play with their feelings and toy with them on varying threats unless they do as he told them to. Another Arc under his protection and far from Korma would even be a safe bet in transferring Shendra and the experiment back to Saevitia discreetly.

"I've been meaning to tell you about a very anti-Arc person back in this swaggin' city called Korma. He's a comical character if you ask me but he's somewhat of a robot. Did you know that... Oh what the hell I won't spoil the surprise yet! Bring your little emissary over and I'll pass over the note! It'll be like the 5th grade all over again, only in political format!" Marko concluded laughing diabolically at the caller. Saevitia, once his home and often told that he even as an Ace of Spades was all he could exceed to was now proven wrong as he finally ascended to their level or even greater. They will comply or he would stir even greater problems for the city...

"I'll leave it to ya to decide then! Remember there ain't gonna be a Happy Place for you all if this plan ain't gonna pull through kay?! Kay," Marko said as he closed the phone, satisfied with his "discussion".

Marko continued to tiptoe back to the war room with hopeful news that his packages are hastily arriving at his sanctioned laboratories soon, clowning about as he poked the nose of an agent and returned back to the war room, only to be met with urgency and a very wild atmosphere erupting from the room.

"Lord President! We have an emergency!" A female secretary called out, with an even restless voice.

"Pardon? Emerrrgency? For crying out loud, I leave to make a quick call and you guys can't even control a simple convoy? What is troubling Dogma's finest now? Terrorists? Freedom fighters? Human sympathizers? " Marko said, frowning and glaring at everyone at the room.

" I believe it is far more complicated than that, Sir," an analyst called out as he continued assessing the situation.

"Then make it less complicated! What the fuck is exactly going on?!" Marko snapped as he seethed with anger and took his seat to watch the spectacle go before him.

" Almost 20 minutes ago, we have received reports from the VSC's Cyborg Agent dispatched to monitor Prisoner 012988, The Experiment and from our ground units that a legion of Ragnum suits 4 clicks from the Northeast hemisphere descended on the convoy. It was led by an unknown schematic model Ragnum, and the other prominent models designated from - " the analyst adjusted his throat. " - Faiz Industries, Sir," he said as the room went silent. Marko could only keep his mouth still from quivering. So Ralph has decided to make his move, and even between Korma and Dogma, the cruelest human cities in an Arc's eye. Massaging his temple, he took a glass of water and began talking causally towards his fellow analysts and agents more with Faiz Industries' suits suddenly going all out against the authority of mankind.

"So what has caused their move? Who did? Ralph Faiz? An Arc hacker? An old lady failing to pay for her taxes in Yultide Day? Tell me something already before I launch a fleet to do a clean up!" Marko said before randomly pressing the emergency call from the Master Control Console at his desk in the war room that would initiate the Dogma Mecha Fleet, designed to wipe out any Arcane force or hostile due to their seemingly unstoppable size. He didn't know if these rogue suits can tango with the Mechs, but it would be fun to see what would "Dearest Ralph" do in such a situation. Regardless, he will not stump Marko this day. Shendra and The Experiment are his, and his only to own.

"Sir! What are you doing?!" an analyst called out in a panicked voice.

"I'd like to ask the same thing from YOU! THIS IS A FUCKING WAR, NOOB! Can't you see that we're under attack?! Someone or Something is using their suits to kidnap our precious packages! I'm putting a stop to them this instant!" Marko lashed out at the war room. Everyone fell silent as the single analyst could only gulp in terror at the immature but seemingly horrifying gaze of the Lord President. Immediately switching to a smile, he assumed a very classy way of a villain's posing seat while fake twirling an imaginative mustache.

"Relax! We'll get what we want in time, Ladies and Gentlemen. In the mean time, I think you all should send the VSC to investigate Faiz Industries and its malfunctioning suits, kay?" Marko said in a very cheery voice. The proof was there, but would their country's supplier of Ragnum technology even admit to the incident currently going on? He would like to see how the Metal Man of Tirnova answer to the Lord President's demands. Even if they were...related, so long ago.

"Y..Yes, sir. By the way, Minister Hobbs of the Ministry of Magicology wishes to speak with you about the two individuals," the analyst said.

"Leave him be for now! I don't get why a robot would tinker with us when he's got the other morons of Area 23 or his own labs to play with! Can't bureaucratic morons tell we're in the middle of a game here?" Marko said in an irritated voice to the nosy Analyst. Fetching a small control and emulating a joystick of a video game console, Marko awaited enthusiastically as he mock role played a kid getting ready to play his first ever video game. By order of the Lord President, 4 dozens of the country's finest model of Mechas manufactured from Tirnova began to deploy from Dogma's capital ready to challenge the suits that had halted the convoy in the freeway that would have already delivered the packages to Dogma for further experimentation and to further progress Marko's dark ambitions. Plans are churning in his mind, and it would not be so long now before he would be able to see a new dawn for Arcane Gifted all over the world. He could feel the praise his dear brother and parents would be giving him as his face curled into a very unsettling grin while looking at the fleet deployed to crush whoever dared to cross him.
 
Silvana nursed his scalded tongue, taking in the cold air in his room as he waited. His mind wandered to the conversation earlier.

"Why hello there, Wild Card! Did ya miss me?!"

Silvana had hardly forgotten the sound of his voice. In his true form, a wheezing sort of voice. Raspy and uncouth, but especially powerful, even for a mere Ace of Spades. He had no doubt if there were anyone in existence that could at least provide a slight challenge, it would be him. Still, he never gotten the chance to experience even a challenging battle ever since the last Grand Shuffle.

"Aw. Of course I'll miss my dearest Ace of Spades whose head is so high up in the sky."

"Well, it's so daft and boring here you all would die of the blandness of human politics! I could do with a change of scenery. Speaking of change of scenery! I believe you all owe me a congratulations or a party perhaps for doing the impossible! Come on I won't be shy or humble!"

The Wild Card had to cough to hold back his laughter, finding humour in Marko's tone.

"Oh you little bitch!"

He allowed himself a small chuckle, amused that the Ace of Spades had hardly changed despite being essentially the most powerful person in the world at the moment. Being at the head of humanity placed him at odds with Saevitia, but inevitably placed him on equal standing as Silvana - or as some argue, even higher. Ever since the uneasy ceasefire agreement brokered by Rowena the Vixen during the Great Cataclysm, Saevitia had been forced by circumstances to restrain their hatred of humans. With little opportunity to launch hunts with as much fervour as before, its people became more brooding and resentful.

"To the matter at hand. I'm kinda worrying that my plan may...have some hitches. It's a gut feeling. And you know my spontaneous streak! And here I am, Lord President of Humans and with the power to end your foolish choice of a nation. If you don't answer my request of course."

Silvana kept silent. Ordinarily, he would not stand for such insults, but he knew Marko well enough to know he was serious. Whether or not he indeed have the ability to end Saevitia was another matter altogether, but there was little need to provoke him at this point in time.

"Oh you will!? In that case, You're going to have to fold that silly notion that humans are weaker than you in order for this big plan of mine to make a Happy Place for all our people. The city of Saevitia must surrender an emissary unto my borders of Dogma. City or Country it doesn't matter really, just as this emissary or ambassador isn't in a body bag due to the purity feeling of Arcs. I'm looking for someone who can boost the plan and stir even greater shit within Humanity's official city!"

The last line caught Silvana's attention, but he remained quiet, well aware that Marko will understand the silence.

"Then its settled! I'll conduct a ceremony for her/him/it's arrival in that order! You'll have to make them all the more presentable! I ain't tolerating all those weird customs you all seem to be fond of! We're trying to lull them into a false sense of superiority, before we even deliver the ultimate punchline you understand!? My plan will be brilliant if all goes according to it! And if it doesn't there's always plan B to Z now before we pull off the greatest joke of the century,"

"Pfft, I can't wait for plan A to Z to fail just to pull off that joke!"

"I've been meaning to tell you about a very anti-Arc person back in this swaggin' city called Korma. He's a comical character if you ask me but he's somewhat of a robot. Did you know that... Oh what the hell I won't spoil the surprise yet! Bring your little emissary over and I'll pass over the note! It'll be like the 5th grade all over again, only in political format!"

And as soon as he says that, he forces Silvana to sit through the most awkward laugh in history. Silvana could only wonder what he thought of it, if he even did at all... Which he clearly didn't. A palm to Silvana's own face was all he could manage to tolerate this weird habit of Marko's.

"I'll leave it to ya to decide then! Remember there ain't gonna be a Happy Place for you all if this plan ain't gonna pull through kay?! Kay,"


An intriguing conversation, no doubt, one that set him thinking about possible candidates. And when it came down to it, there was only one real candidate. The Ace of Spades. But of course, his latest Ace of Spades just had to go along and be embarrassingly defeated by an Unranked. An unpolished gem at that!

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in," he said, already knowing who it would be. Rosetta stepped in, scowling. "Huh. What's with that expression?"

"Did you have to call me right after I just seen you? Dude, I was watching an entertaining drama!"

Silvana laughed. "Of course, I just love to see your beautiful face."

Rosetta rolled her eyes, pouting with her arms folded. She looked away for a brief moment before sighing and placing her gaze back on Silvana. "Okay... So what did you have in mind," she asked.

"Well, I said earlier you gotta be prepared? I didn't expect it to be happening this soon, but you're going to prepare to leave.. Now."

To Silvana's surprise, there was little surprise on Rosetta's face. "What, you already knew?" He asked stupendously.

Rosetta shrugged," Instincts, you know."

Silvana narrowed his eyes, immediately doubting her words. She didn't bother to keep up the lie, immediately giving in.

"Okay, I'm surprised. Moving on?"

"You're going to the borders of Dogma. The previous Ace of Spades, actually, is the Lord President of humanity, he'll receive you."

Silvana smirked, relishing the look of surprise on Rosetta's face.

"Yeah yeah, you're wondering how can a Saevitian become a human Lord President, the most powerful position. Don't ask me, but he certainly didn't reveal anything about his true identity, and you shouldn't appear to know either. Just pretend he's any other human... Minus the disrespect. You're going as an 'Emissary', representing Saevitia. Let it be known all your actions will affect our dealings with humanity. I'm sure Saevitians would love a war with humanity, but do not be brash."

Silvana took a sip from his tea, suddenly remembering he hadn't offered Rosetta any. He had kept the other cup he used for her earlier, so he offered his own to her. Rosetta's disgusted head shake was a good enough reply for him.

"And that's that. The Lord President, Marko, has something planned, and I don't know what. Assist him with discretion, and don't buy anything he says. Watch yourself yeah?"

Rosetta nodded.

"That is all. Do also be aware that along the way, it'll serve as a field test for your Brutalis Mk. V armour. Also use the trip to further test your abilities in a real world setting."

Rosetta's nodding is starting to appear forced. Silvana knew better than to continue. The girl had a poor attention span to his words, which he had no doubt was because it sounded like nagging. Waving her goodbye, he watched as she left the room wordlessly.
 
~~~~~
Child
~~~~~

​

Child was completely battered. Even if her mind was willing to keep going, the physical parts of her were not behaving. Both her legs, while still intact (somewhat), the internals were completely wrecked. Her right arm is shattered and missing from mid bicep down and her helmet visor has been shattered completely and her head was bleeding down her white hair and face. Her opponent stared in her direction before he slid open the face mask of his suit, something she did not understand. By doing so, he exposes himself for sniper fire if there were any. In fact, it was another opportunity for her to strike. Child's mind willed her left arm to spear thrust towards the face, but of course, all that resulted was her body rocking forward and sending Child sprawling face first forward into the ground. It was expected. Her legs were gone and there were multiple structural compromise within her body. Retreating was out of the question, let alone attacking. Her opponent decided to go into some speech, however. It was something new, really. No one had really talked to her outside of the VSC and Sieghilde. What he said didn't make sense, however.

I don't know why you agreed to have the VSC turn you into a weapon or why you gave up your body for such a thing. But believe me, Dogma is a farce and a cruel hell hole. 'Lord President' Marko himself is a joke and can easily manipulate humanity and your Cyborg lot. Humanity is not as kind as you make it out to be. Right now look at what you've been transporting. These Arcanes are hurting, kid. If you have any soul left in you, you'd stop trying to kill yourself this day. The VSC can easily replace you if you die here and they won't ever bat an eye to your existence. There's no glory or love that they can spare you, Cyborg. There's only the mission, and if you fail, Your superiors will forget you like they forget the bullets they waste to hurt Arcane Gifted...If you can still think for yourself, know that you cannot beat me, not in that shambled state. Survive. Survive, and live to see tomorrow where you can actually make a choice and not follow orders then be forgotten like the rest of your brothers and sisters.

Child stared back blankly, watching her target fly off. There is only the directive and the order. Nothing else. If she doesn't, then she will be all alone again, just like at the orphanage. She must be a good girl for her family. Uselessly, Child crawled with her left arm in an attempt to get closer, but it was too late. He had gone off from her limited field of vision. It still didn't stop her from crawling. Only the flying dust of a landing unit stopped her in her track. Looking up from the ground, Sieghilde had dropped from the surveillance aircraft in her combat armour.

Oh Gods...Child!

Quickly slotting the chain gun onto the back of her armour, Sieghilde ran forward and carefully lifted Child upright and into her arms.

Extensive damage to the limbs as well as moderate internal damage to the torso and light damage to the head. Curses Child. Why didn't you pull back!? We need to get you out. We picked up word that President Marko has sent a fleet to clean this mess up. We can't get caught up in the crossfire. You are too damaged to get hurt anymore..

Ah...Sieghilde... i messed up...i failed my mission...

It's ok. Let's get you back onto the airship and home first.

Sieghilde sent her jets to max and blasted off from the highway. The attackers should be preoccupied with recovering the prisoner and shouldn't bother them. The Pelican dropship did a low flying run, exposing itself to potential return fire if the attackers DID decide to deal with them, but it was fine. The back ramp opened and Sieghilde landed smoothly into the bay before the pilot kicked the engines into overdrive to get back to surveillance altitude.
 
Ralph saw Shendra reach and flapped her golden wings. Such an oddity, in contrast to his suit and the environment where his technology is widely more accepted. He still nodded and smiled before shifting the helmet back on, right in time to catch another figure attending to the Cyborg. His scanners show that the aide was assisting its battered state and picking up his other suit's HUDs, most agents or cyborg operatives who are still capable of running were now retreating out of the free way via an air drop. They were tempting him to attack, but knowing when to fold is an even greater way of victory. The fight was his, and he hoped that the cyborg would at least feel better. He hoped to challenge her on even stronger grounds someday if they're lucky enough to fix her up rather than throw her to the streets.

"Elise, pull up satellite visual around the 40 kilometer mark," Ralph commanded as his HUD began displaying its holographic visual via the Faiz Industries serving satellite tracker. Nothing, save for a really destroyed freeway, and traffic picking up from Korma and Dogma. His trackers had then scurried over towards the Dogma border and his heart sank; Over 34 models of Mechs from Tirnova had been deployed to conduct a thorough clean up and without a doubt recover the two escapees.

"Fuck... Still doesn't know when to quit eh, Marko?" Ralph spat.

"Listen up," He addressed the 3 Arcanes. " My satellites have picked up a large group of large mechas that my suit isn't able to stop at once. I can only stall them by blowing my suits up right at their faces. We make it to the beach shores and fly out from there. The cores in my suits will be enough to down half the fleet, and will keep them distracted enough," Ralph instructed them.

"Initiating all remaining suits," Elise said as she began deploying the remaining 8 suits still on active duty to intercept the fleet and prime the Ragnum cores for a massive explosion on each suit. That was going to hurt his wallet a little, but no doubt give a good enough excuse to Marko should he and the VSC come knocking at his door in Tirnova.

"Get going! Move!" Ralph commanded them to head towards the opposite to where the new Arc arrived from, to make haste for the forest so they would be able to reach the beaches and lay low before lifting off for Dusk Shallows.

"All accounted for?" Ralph asked.

"Yes, Ralph. The young lady who can't fly has been outfitted with the 250," Elise said. "Her intoxication levels though will make my autopiloting all the more difficult."

"I am sure you can manage. We'll have her detoxed at the chateau. And the 251?" Ralph asked.

"Damaged, but flight capable. Should I set it for the fleet?" Elise asked.

Ralph took a spare moment to rethink the situation. Should the suit be destroyed, he would have a hard time rebuilding and caliberating it before it even reached the peak of perfection just as the Shotgun and Arcane Pacifier models. He hasn't even branded a name for it yet. His problems would be solved when he heard a desperate voice calling out for him and the group.

“Hey, hey! WHATthehellisgoingon?! Is this a breakout?! Bank robbery?! Ahh shit!!! ”

Ralph did not find it in himself to answer the boy. He could be a spy, sent by the fleet to ghost them. However, he had the presence of mind to scan his brainwave pattern as well as his...Hold up, the boy is an Arcane Gifted. His heart rate was in a state of panic. A further scan from his Arcane magicite detector software revealed that the boy had only been recently affected by an Arcane crack/fault.

“...Take me with you! Man, you probably have half the cop force after you! I'll be deadmeat here...”

Was his pleas. The desperation in that voice and the fact that if he were to leave him here, Korma would claim him and slam him up with the poor Arcs still trapped in Area 23 or a fate worse by meeting the rumoured "Monster of Korma", a Minister said to reside in the city that takes pride in cutting up Arcs converted accidentally or not. Judging from the boy's appearance, he was a meek teen that was as stressed as the woman. He shifted his helmet open to look at the boy before responding.

"'Cops' is a severe understatement...But its damn surprising to see two more Arcanes appearing from that side of the woods. Fucking Korma and their purist shit beliefs," Ralph swore against the city far from his sight and covered by the thick forests. He quickly analyzed the situation. Judging from the boy's emerging path from where the female with fire magic came from, he would think that this boy was either hunted down or in the process of being captured. He looked at the 251 still floating under control by Elise and looked at the boy. It clicked like a bad idea that he thought was going to work.

"Take him, bag him and let's get the hell out of here," He commanded Elise as he airlifted his 249th suit towards the forest where he ordered the group to travel without looking at the boy as his mind was more occupied on his gamble with his suits vs. a fleet quite formidable.

"Roger~! Bagging and Packing protocol commence~!" Elise sung as she controlled the damaged 251 to wrap around the boy, adjusting the armour's height and size to accomodate him. She was rather happy once again that Ralph would never back down when he feels someone was in danger, Arc or Human. She was glad that this could be the step to help him cope with his internal struggles as she and the Madame would no longer wish it for him to suffer for his family's death and his lover's untimely passing after the Geno Angel incident.

"Welcome to Faiz Industries' newest model, Ragnum 251, little boy! I apologize for the mess, your sponsor does have a bad habit of not cleaning up after himself! Hey you look kind of cute! Can we keep him, Ralph?" She joked at the young boy through the 251's HUD , who was no doubt from the look of his state and clothes, kicked out by his family for developing such powers.

"Save your wisecracks for another time, Elise and get to work!" Ralph said from the 251's HUD. He had a very impatient and rushed tone in his words.

"Affirmative!" Elise laughed. Lifting the suit, it followed Ralph hastily while she controlled the remaining suits and primed their cores to 100% and set its instability to an unpredictable level with an explosion that could rupture 3 blocks if not carefully handled. She sent the bombed suits on a crash course with the fleet, ETA 13 minutes. It gives Ralph's group, if the fleet would stop to count the wounded or dead, a breather moment of an hour before they must leave Dogma altogether to make for Tirnova's isles to rendezvous with Madame Mitula Sawyer.

"Launching all remaining suits unoccupied. Ragnum Core stability set to 100% and disabling limiters. All bombs are now primed," Elise told Ralph as the remaining suits continued their suicidal course with an odd pinkish glow emitting from all models. Now the hard part is over, and they can finally be at a moment's pause in the beach before finally lifting off towards Tirnova.
 
Before she knew what was happening one of the suits that was flying around landed in front of Agdnilan and to her surprise it was hollow inside. Soon enough the suit began to encase around her when she stepped closer to inspect it out of curiosity many things happened at that time. First as she was flailing her arms about she ended up knocking one of her whiskey flasks loose and it dropped to the ground near her feet, second as the armor started to enclose around her arm the fireballs she had swinging around her wrist looked like they were beginning to vanish, so this is when she did the third and perhaps most irrational thing given the current situation. Agdnilan turned around to look at the one responsible for saving her and spoke in a small irritated tone and tosses her remaining yet diminishing fire balls at him. She aimed to have two of them brush the sides of his head and the third one to sail on over top.

"Even though your manners improved some now, maybe you won't be so de*hic*manding next time you ask someone to do something!"

She spoke the last part a bit more louder then intended and it was only then that some of his other comments did she piece together he might actually be trying to help her. As she bent down with her knees to grab the dropped flask she started to answer his question directed at her when she managed to stand back up.

"...Just exactly how did you end up in the free way before shit hit the fan? I've seen your magic, and let me guess...Bounty hunters?"

Again the tone still unraveled her some but not as much as before as small amounts of her stress were ebbing away, so after a few good rounds of some hiccups interrupting her before she spoke Agdnilan finally was able to get out her responses, and though they included a small amount of attitude it was not in her intent to give it off as such.

"If you really must know then I shall let you know. I was running away from the city of Korma and because of my actions there, yes I am indeed being chased by bounty hunters. So if you do truly indeed mean to take us to safety any way to avoid the forest I think would be most advised."

Agdnilan's eyes began to show some fear and sadness as she said this as she began to remember more of the atrocities that happened to her while at the labs. Tears began to fall down her face as the last of the suit closed up around her, and this relieved her to a degree. She didn't want to have a complete breakdown in front of these strangers. Now mustering what little anger she could and even though it might be ill placed for right now she didn't care. She raised her right hand and pointed a finger at Ralph while trying to summon some of her electrical powers and spoke in a small spiteful tone.

"If any of that is found to be a problem and you decide to show us ill will, meaning this is some nasty ploy on your end to take us back to that dreadful place. Rest assured, I am letting you know that you have not seen full well what I can do."

With that being said she began to bring the flask up to her mouth to come only to two conclusions. One the flask was still closed and two the helmet was now covering her face and she wouldn't be able to drink anyways. Agdnilans only answer was a metal clang being rung, as if now mocking her for her statement and trying to make her look foolish. A "Damnit" was her only response.
 
Last edited:
Ralph barely dodged the fireballs after he picked the new boy with Elise's help. It was a shocking surprise that caught him offguard and the assault by the woman Arc triggered his phobia midflight, sending him into a wild panic. His panicking state made him trigger the 249's boosters as he hastily sped past Shendra and Zephyr while screaming in horror. He barely had time to register the Arc's threat or how she ended up with them as the fear of their magic grew to increase his anxiety and panic attacks, it was the first time he came up close to magic casters or to the sight of so many Arcanes that were not terrorists threatening both races. It was easier for him to defeat and kill those who threatened, but to save Arcanes was a challenging task he often left his suits or recovery unit of Faiz Industries' PMC Branch, Faiz Corps to assist.

Fear overtook him. "STOP IT! FUCK'S SAKE! STOP IT!" he yelled while he dodged the conjured flames. He launched himself to fly off ahead of them.

"OH GOD! OH GOD! WHAT THE FUCK!!" He yelled in horror as he hastily brought himself away from Agi as possible. His horrifying screams resonated back at the group as he took himself further away to the beaches.

"You didn't have to do that! Goodness sake!" Elise yelled at Agi within the 250th suit's HUD. The 249 was nowhere to be seen as its engines soared further away, Elise sighed as she monitored Ralph's heart beat as it increased to nearly stressful levels.

Elise, irritated by this young woman, stopped the 250, landed 2 feet at the ground and popped the distressed Arcane out suddenly at the foot of the forest away from the Freeway and resealed the suit again, this time the pink optics that had come with the suit whenever she was in control had turned red and pointed the suit's various weaponry threateningly at Agi at the same time folding her arms in a very bemused stance like a maid trying to calm down an unruly yet drunk teenager. If she was a loose cannon then she had to either discipline her enough not to strike fear into an already stressful Ralph or would resort to alternative measures to keep her in line.

"Listen, woman. I understand humans have done ill wronging to you. But take into consideration that Faiz Industries would never harm you unless you commit terrorist acts, use our technology or your magic to harm other Arcs and Humans within our protective borders. We are part of the Futurist Party and are heavily against Korma and Dogma's cruelty. I empathize with your plight, Dear...But it doesn't mean you're the only one in emotional pain! He has been hurting and fearful of magic since he was a child because an Arcane Gifted killed his parents," she said. She noted the woman's intoxicated levels and tried to be as civil to her without her temper shooting up as well for being a spanner in their works to save Shendra and Zephyr. "Don't you understand? We all have our demons, and that boy's demon is his irrational fear of you all but he will risk life and limb to save you regardless of his mental state! I will let this unruly behavior slide because you can't understand him yet,"

"However, If you make attempt to trigger Ralph Faiz's Rhabdophobia on purpose again, I will not hesitate to open this suit midflight in the Oceans and drop you in it or throw all this suit's weaponry against you. I do not care how strong or potent your magic is," Her optics glow into a very hostile red while scanning Agi "Do not scare my boy, because he is trying his best to cope with his issued and help you in spite of his condition. I have my moments of temper so don't make me regret ever taking you along with us after what he had done to save you. Do I make myself clear?" Elise said with a very sharp tone. With Ralph's grieving of his lover still fresh on his mind, as well as the toll of his phobia overtaking him, she had to set some rules towards Agi. She had hoped the others heard about Ralph's vulnerability, for it would be best to try and avoid frightening him by throwing or exposing him to alot of magic without sending him into a breakdown.

The suit floated and glared Agi on a face-off, displeased with this unexpected behaviour of a distressed individual against her savior. She stored the weapons now as a sign that she is establishing trust with the Arc, and it was time that she showed her and Ralph the same.

"Promise me you won't scare him like that and we are good," Elise said to Agi with her controlled suit's arms folded. She turned to address the group as well, this time in a much more patient tone.

"Please leave us and proceed to the beach quickly. I wish to talk this young lady down from compromising Ralph before we depart," Elise addressed the other Arcanes. As a mysterious being of either Arc or once a human now made of coding that runs the Faiz family's life, it was her duty to see the Metal Man of Tirnova safe as well as secure the other Arcs. Only he would know her plight and he was the key to unlocking the secret of how she came to this state.

"Madame, please look after Ralph while I talk with this unruly child. We are far from any tracking devices and it is safe to speak," Elise advised Madame Mitula through the HUD of the 250.

"One more thing...Why in the gods are you drunk? I understand it is stressing to be out there with fools hunting you down but woman, please! CONTROL YOUR DRINK! Your magic show is going to cost us this mission to fail!" Elise pointed out in an irate voice.


Ralph crashed the 249 against the shores of the beach that left the Korma Preservation forest. The suit sustained no damage as metal clashed with sand after an abrupt flight. He was breathing heavily, and he was close to breaking down mentally from that simple assault. Oh how he hated this pathetic form he constantly had to shrink to whenever exposed to such illogical wonders. He hasn't found it in his heart yet to overcome this personal demon of his.

"Eject. Eject. Eject. Eject." Ralph said in a hurried tone, Elise released the bolts and seals of the 249 as he poured out and wearily approached the shores and dropped his electronic eyeglasses while slumping towards the water. The beaches' waves caressed his feet as he knelt down, extremely teary and frightened by what had just occurred. How long is he to endure this pain and torture? It has been almost 21 years, He saw the fault transform the killer of his family right before his eyes and how she frighteningly became a Lamia Category Arcane Gifted.

What...what is this?! What happened to my body!? The screams and hissing sound as she was changed still brought terror to him, it reminded him how magic can be so deadly when not studied thoroughly. It reminded him of the fear that he and she had experienced.

He could remember her fear, amplified by his own fear of how she killed his own parents. How her hissing and terrifying tail came for him before the suits his father last made came to his protection and killed the Arc. That as well sent terror down his spine, the illogical fault manifesting out of nowhere, a human now turned into an illogical being of legends in the ever changing world. It made no sense, it never did.

"Ugh... Fuck this. Why can't I overcome this?!" He swore at himself.

It made no sense why these magnificent beings and humans can ever find peace in each other. His dreams shattered that day, a hope to see Arc and Human work together rather than kill each other was snapped away from him, everytime he finds a way to recovery fate somehow laughs at him. His lover, who was a supporter for the Futurist Party and loved Arcs, was turned into a fearsome weapon by Korma to kill the beings she swore to protect.

"That little shit was right, I don't have what it takes. I let Mari die. I let my parents die. Arcanes are still dying despite me trying to keep the peace... Shit..." Ralph said in deep grief as he soaked his face in sea water to keep himself cool. Everything is broken down, yet his persistence in seeking justice for Arcanes and Humans still remained. It's this phobia that was grounding him, preventing him from seeking his full potential.

"Aunt..." Ralph wearily said as he called her out to the helmet lying with the suit next to him wherein she was no doubt monitoring him. He wanted to hear her, at least her ways of calming him down was more effective than he could imagine, despite her being one Arcane herself, he still loved her as his only family left. He didn't want to let her down only because one of his rescued individuals shot a little magic at him, yet here he was crumbling yet again as the waves gently pressed on the crashed suit and his knees.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top