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 Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 11:18 pm
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:35 pm
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 5:51 pm
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 5:01 pm
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Okami Ameras I smiled. You are thinking of your physical self. Extend your reach beyond your physical self. What do your roots tell you about this place?As Eva attempted to do this, slowly, ever so slowly, she felt something. She felt something, some part of her, reach farther into the soil, not her fingers. But she was becoming aware of the roots down below. As she became aware of the roots, she also became aware of the plants. There was something about them, that seemed resonate with her.
Okami Ameras I see. Would you help me create the virus then? So it would do the least damage to the life files and just focus on the Caretakers? I don't want to harm the simulation, just get them some chaos to deal with.
Odessa looked to the admin files and started sorting through them. She then smiled. It was an evil smile, one that showed off some rather sharp teeth.
Admins... Raowan then, huh? Might give them some internal trouble if I manage to successfully hack one of the admin accounts...
Eva's expression tensed into confusion, though her eyes remained closed. "There's...something. Stuff beneath the soil, and all around." She tried to explain to Scarlet. Part of her wanted to quit; what if this was all for nothing? What if she was simply destined to die in the upcoming conflict? She knew not if she even believed in destiny, but the idea frightened her in a sense.
• • •
Genesis considered this in silence. He shuffled through his database, trying to find anything relevant to the simulation's structure... And found nothing. A large, empty void occupied a good portion of his memory. Deleted file space. The Caretaker grimaced, "It appears that they corrupted my knowledge drive when they revoked my access to the server. I know that I once had those files, but I cannot recall their content... I could try, though I'm not certain of my own ability anymore."
• • •
Nemesis watched as the admin walked from console to console, occasionally typing in values or changing screens. She held herself in a manner of impatience, with her arms crossed and eyes narrowed. Shane finally turned in the robot's direction, a vague hint of amusement danced in his cold, black eyes. His voice was eerily smooth and calm, "Nemesis... how would you like to occupy flesh for a while? I have a task that needs to be fulfilled, and no other Caretaker has quite the intellect to properly mimic human life."
She shifted her weight slightly and raised an artificial eyebrow, "Oh? And would I be able to ever return to this form? I'm rather fond of my weaponry, you know."
"Yes. This would be a temporary existence; I expect you'll only require it for a couple days at most. You'll also have a method of emergency transfer, in case the body were to perish sooner." He explained. The admin walked over to a nearby cabinet, withdrew a USB cable. He attached one end to the main computer, and the other remained in his hand. "So? Shall you accept?"
The machine hesitated a moment, but eventually wandered over to him. She knelt down, allowing him to search for a small port amongst all of her hair. With the cable hooked up, it was only a matter of minutes before the mechanical body fell limp, and Nemesis awoke in a biological counterpart.
She remained in the capsule, unmoving with the exception of a few blinks. This form was... odd. It seemed more flexible and free, but also more fragile. The AI now knew of her surroundings in a different way; instead of simply knowing, she was feeling. The climate was somewhat cold, and the oxygen felt rather stale in her lungs. A steady thrumming occupied her interior, and warmth pulsed beneath the surface. The pod's doorway opened, and Nemesis exited with a few unsure steps.
"Welcome to the world of the living. From now on, until your purpose is fulfilled, your identity is that of Layla Azerean." Shane declared, handing off a bundle of clothing to the new entity.
Nemesis pulled on the suit of red and gold armor, then approached the wall-mounted mirror. Her features were uncannily identical to the northern monarch's; shockingly white hair, fierce eyes, sharp facial structure. When she spoke, even the voice was the same, "So... I am to wear her skin and personality for this task. I assume it has something to do with entering Northern territory?"
Shane smiled, "Exactly."
((Nemesis's disguise:
 )) |
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 11:39 am
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 2:08 pm
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 2:11 pm
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 2:43 pm
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 11:30 pm
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 1:52 pm
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 7:13 pm
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Eva stood, trying her best not to quaver or fall in the process. She did just as Scarlet instructed.
• • •
"Flex your wrist. There are pressure-triggered points in your armor." Shane spoke over the microphone to Nemesis; he was now behind the glass barrier of a training zone. "The heels of your boots also possess them."
Nemesis formed a fist, then rotated her arm. A brief click! signaled the release of a blade, welded into her armguard's hidden slot, blunt end pressed firmly against her forearm and extended slightly past the elbow in a wicked curve. She stomped once on the heel of her boot, and sure enough, another small blade was produced along the back end. She smiled.
"Alright. Ready? Remember, Nemesis; this is not a test of skill, but of endurance. Learn your physical limitations well."
A long silence fell over the arena. The AI stood before the glass barrier, facing the nine closed doorways. She was alert.
A distinct buzzing filled the room from above, and Nemesis ducked into a roll to the right with just a second to spare. The giant, bat-like cyborg raced at her with hideous claws bared. She leapt to her feet, forearm held up in defense ahead of her. The beast's claws wrapped around her limb with ease, the screech of metal-on-metal filled her ears, and a series of shallow cuts formed upon her face from the claws' tips. Nemesis twisted herself, pulling up her leg in a high kick to the creature's side. It was tossed into the wall, whereupon it was quickly disposed of by a flurry of the woman's bladed strikes. She crouched down low, eyes cast to the ceiling, breathing and heartbeat accelerated. Her face stung from the cuts, a sensation she was unaccustomed to.
The whirring of four of the doorways alerted her to her new opponents. Out of the shadows ran several human-proportioned monstrosities of metal and flesh, barbaric with their thirst for blood. Nemesis charged the nearest cyborg head-on, then leapt onto it while grasping for its head. She snapped its fragile neck in one quick movement, and lifted the corpse over her shoulder to swing at the next three. A fifth monster snuck up to her from behind, only for her to bury her blade deep in its throat. She licked off the gore with pleasure as she waited for her next opponent.
Heavy mechanical footsteps rattled the arena's structure. Nemesis was already beginning to feel a slight weariness to her limbs, the strain of her brand-new heart trying to keep up with inhuman actions. From the central entrance came a black mech, very heavily armored and large in size. This was once a Northern guard machine, stolen from the battlefield and since improved upon. Both entities stood waiting, watching.
A missile launched from the mech's shoulder, causing Nemesis to quickly throw herself out of the way. She rolled in mid-air, landing on her feet in an immediate run toward the machine. As she drew close, it flailed its arms in a frenzy about itself. Nemesis was struck once in the abdomen by the mech's attack, and was tossed to the floor 15 feet away. She coughed violently as she tried to regain her breath, the back of her head throbbed from her impact with the floor. The machine turned itself around, arm raised with a gun attached. Nemesis dodged to her left, feeling as the excess heat of the flame-thrower followed after her. She had to end this... soon.
The mech started to turn its arm, making the trail of fire bend toward the woman. She glanced quickly around the room, trying to locate any possible advantage...
...And ran straight for the wall. Nemesis propelled herself forward, angled her step to accommodate the new surface. The blades in her heels acted as pushpins to the metallic surface, providing just enough traction for her to continue her upward-run for a considerable distance. She was near 30 feet above ground level before a violent pain and coldness overtook her chest. The world seemed to move in slow-motion as she launched herself backwards off the wall, body twisting toward the mech as she flew...
Her pulse had stopped. She realized this only as her arms tightened around the mech's gargantuan head. Her vision was starting to blur, all sensation being overtaken by the cold. A faint beat resumed deep inside.
"Don't forget to breathe, Nemesis!" Shane's voice boomed overhead.
She gasped for air. A sudden return of alertness filled her every cell; the rush of adrenaline. Nemesis pulled herself more firmly onto the machine's shoulder, trying to steady her stance enough against its struggle beneath her. She drew back a fist, punched into the tinted visor. Her fingers groped for the machine's black box. Nemesis yanked out the small device and smashed it against the mech's exterior. A spark of electricity danced down the severed cables, the whole structure started to topple over...
Nemesis jumped from her perch, landing with a tad less grace than normal. She dropped to her knees, panting.
The glass panel folded away. Shane's footsteps approached from behind.
"Not so easy as a human, is it? Flesh actually feels its damage. You're fragile now; mortal. Be careful about that. Your level of combat clearly outmatches any normal human soldier, but Northwestern warriors are far from average. They know their limits all too well, and take advantage of your lack of that same knowledge." He explained, helping the woman to stand.
"But why... must... I know... this?" Nemesis questioned between inhalation.
"Because you may very well face one on your mission. I cannot be certain, but I believe it's a fairly safe assumption that North will inevitably increase its involvement with them." He replied coldly, "Come. You will receive some injections to aid in your recovery, then will depart for North immediately."
((Annnd... that was a whole lot of nothing I just wrote. xd *Shrugs* I felt the need for an action scene, I guess. Oh well.))
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 3:36 am
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As I passed by infront of Eva, I lashed out suddenly, driving the tips of my flat palm and fingers right into the area over Eva's heart.
The strike would leave no bruise, but it would nearly knock her off her feet-- she would be forced to put all of her balance on her heels to stay standing as I instructed. I did not pull away, leaving my fingertips there, leaving an unnatural pressure there.
Keep your eyes closed and open yourself to the world around you. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you conceive?
All Eva would conceive is black. After a while she could hear a soft heartbeat, but she would take a moment to realize... it's not her own. She could also almost see black wind, flowing and weaving across her vision... she could almost feel it ruffling her hair and blowing across her cheek...
~~~
Mother, are you sure about this? Odessa questioned. She just recovered from being DEAD! And she has to train Eva!
You can take over training Eva. They want a leader; and Layla will not return to them- at least not now, not the Layla they need. We are now known as peaceful people, but also unnaturally good warriors when our hands are forced, and you and I both know both you and her were raised to be leaders.
Then send me!
.... No. You will stay here, Odessa.
They were walking through the forest, looking for Scarlet as a small escort of a truck with large tires for traction was being prepared.
Lukas's deep voice decided to join them, before the man himself melted out of the trees.
So, Scarlet is going to North, yes?
Indeed, my love.
She knows the energy pathways well. And her time in the VR will allow her to adjust quicker to their culture.
Odessa sighed, giving up. Neither of them looked happy about sending Scarlet away... but she had to admit, when she stepped back to look at it calmy and from a neuteral angle... yes, Scarlet was better for this venture.
Eventually they came to the poppy filled clearing and they saw Scarlet with Eva, showing Eva her path. They waited respectfully on the edge of the clearing-- they could feel that Eva had claimed this place now.
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:33 am
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Eva nearly toppled over from Scarlet's strike, a surprised exclamation escaped her lips. She just barely managed to stay upright and focused. It took her a long while to respond, and even then, her tone was confused and unsure, "It's dark. I think... I think it's...wind?"
• • •
"I'm not going to force any of you, but I highly recommend that you come along. It will be a dangerous journey, no doubt. But...is it really any safer within these crumbling walls, mere miles away from our greatest enemy?" Devon questioned, scanning the tired faces of his comrades for any reactions. Not a single stir. "As much as it pains me to say this... the factions are dying. One by one. Ours was the first only because of our weakness. And, judging by the appearance of this place, I believe East will soon follow our decline. Before you all know it, the only remaining forces will be the largest: North and Northwest. Why should we perish along with the rest, while the golden gates are still open to us? ... Anyone who wishes to join the migration, please step forward."
Chris was quick to stand and join the man; he was perhaps the only eager individual left. Another few minutes had passed, and only one third of the group had gathered to the front. The others remained, hopeless and somber. It sickened Devon to see them so broken, to know that the only thing which awaited them here was death.
"To those of you who shall remain... I bid you farewell, and wish you the best of luck. It has been my pleasure to consider you as my kin, and I continue to hope that one day we'll meet again."
With a few parting words, the two groups separated. Chris and Devon each grabbed their belongings and left the shelter. The faction outside was just as eerily silent as the hours prior. Chris was about to ask something, but his eyes fell upon a series of dark masses along the street, hidden slightly by the fog. He wandered over to the nearest. An awful stench suddenly caused him to gag, and only then did the boy realize what the masses were: Corpses. Their skins were blackened and horribly disfigured by growths, their limbs were swollen to nearly bursting. Chris stumbled away from the body, covering his face with the collar of his shirt, "Stay away from those lumps! They're dead bodies, and from the looks of it, they're diseased!"
Devon nodded, covered his own face, and started to quickly weave his way in between the bodies. The others followed, with varying levels of disgusted utterances. They reached the main gateway in a matter of minutes.
"What the hell do you think could've happened? Everyone was fine this morning!" Chris exclaimed, climbing into the passenger seat of the truck.
"It seems like they were exposed to an artificial pathogen... probably government-made, considering how fast it acted." Devon declared gravely, starting the engine as he waited for the last few Westerners to enter the back, "Let's just hope we aren't infected."
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:48 am
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:57 am
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