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Mission 075 - "String of Fate"
wyverncakes 9:17 am
(9:17:07 AM): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYn2Q-kVNAk
(9:18:04 AM): As mentioned previously in the mission's scheduling/signup post, over the Valentine's Day weekend, Ren has gone missing.
(9:18:58 AM): However, around the same time as that had happened, a familiar distress beacon started broadcasting in a remote region. Mark's beacon.
wyverncakes 9:19 am
(9:19:46 AM): If it's connected, then there's that. And if not, then there's still something that is the matter that needs addressing...
(9:20:01 AM): ... But right now you're all about to see how far down the rabbit hole goes, literally.
(9:21:35 AM): Nothing had been on the surface at the destination save for a large elevator platform, and currently you're all taking it down. Down into the ground.
Meraxa 9:23 am
(9:23:20 AM): Ataru: ...How many underground bases are there in the world anyway...?
wyverncakes 9:23 am
(9:23:30 AM): Noise from the platform's engine echoes loudly, cluing you in that wherever you're being taken, there's a lot of room. It's dark though, with what little light's coming in from the surface not showing much.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:24 am
(9:24:08 AM): Sarah: "Probably a lot. There've been more than a few alien invasions, after all..."
VJockey 9:24 am
(9:24:56 AM): [Every so often a scraping noise rings in the air..]
(9:25:01 AM): "Sorry!!!"
wyverncakes 9:25 am
(9:25:30 AM): The lift finally comes to a stop, and with that... on comes the lights.
VJockey 9:25 am
(9:25:37 AM): [Yeah, trying to fit a large plant dragon into an elevator shaft is kinda sorta an issue.]
Meraxa 9:26 am
(9:26:26 AM): Ataru: Can't you shrink him... her... it, back down to size a bit? It used to be smaller, right?
wyverncakes 9:26 am
(9:26:45 AM): And the answer of who made this place finally gets answered as lights begin illuminating rows upon rows of individuals inside of sealed vats.
(9:27:29 AM): Inside of each of them, at varying stages of development are being that look like Ren and their kin.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:27 am
(9:27:48 AM): "...Aw, hell."
Meraxa 9:28 am
(9:28:05 AM): Ataru: ...Nevermind, might be best if they stay big...
VJockey 9:28 am
(9:28:07 AM): "We tried tha-... thaaaa.."
(9:28:16 AM): [GULP.]
wyverncakes 9:28 am
(9:28:18 AM): More worrisome is that none of them are sporting horns though.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:28 am
(9:28:25 AM): "Of course it couldn't just be a freak mountain-climbing accident, could it..."
wyverncakes 9:29 am
(9:29:10 AM): In spite of your arrival and the sudden light though, not one of them stirs.
(9:29:34 AM): And Mark's distress beacon is still broadcasting further away.
wyverncakes 9:30 am
(9:30:06 AM): Fortunately there's a path through the rows in that direction.
VJockey 9:30 am
(9:30:42 AM): [Interitus lets out a soft whine, approaching one of the vats and looking inside of it. She promptly folds her wings up tightly to her back and carefully moves forward with everyone else.]
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:31 am
(9:31:04 AM): Tiankui starts heading in that direction, carefully and slowly.
Meraxa 9:31 am
(9:31:54 AM): Gold Four begins to walk along, slightly in Interitus' shadow. Ataru remains deadly silent, trying not to... awaken anyone preemptively.
frifreeman 9:35 am
(9:35:09 AM): Walt: "are you sure Ren want to be found? What if she's just... wanting some alone time with Mark?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:35 am
(9:35:36 AM): "Then why'd they call for help." Sarah's reply is flat and curt.
wyverncakes 9:35 am
(9:35:48 AM): Carefully down you go, and if any of them are made aware of your presence they don't show it. And before long, you're past the lot of them. Filled vats eventually give way to empty ones, and then not even that.
Meraxa 9:36 am
(9:36:01 AM): Ataru: Could always be something... broke. *Ataru can't help but resist trying to add levity, despite himself*
wyverncakes 9:36 am
(9:36:18 AM): But then, at a point where the floor opens up to reveal a lower level-
VJockey 9:36 am
(9:36:18 AM): "...I really don't like this..."
wyverncakes 9:36 am
(9:36:47 AM): -There!
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:36 am
(9:36:55 AM): "I had to close early for this. If it's something that stupid, I'm going to strangle them myself..."
wyverncakes 9:37 am
(9:37:15 AM): Bound and crucified to a pole!
(9:37:23 AM): It's Ren!
Meraxa 9:37 am
(9:37:42 AM): Ataru: ...That's not what I meant when I said that...
VJockey 9:37 am
(9:37:53 AM): "REN!!"
(9:38:11 AM): [Que Interitus attempting to rush over to help.]
cubey@aol.pl 9:38 am
(9:38:13 AM): Ren's gaze lifts up. This seems so familiar... but with a worrying twist.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:38 am
(9:38:23 AM): Sarah makes a tsking noise and starts scanning the room for enemies.
cubey@aol.pl 9:38 am
(9:38:24 AM): Ren: "You are here? No... wait!"
Meraxa 9:38 am
(9:38:46 AM): Ataru: Don't just rush in!
wyverncakes 9:39 am
(9:39:04 AM): Volya!
wyverncakes 9:39 am
(9:39:16 AM): Interitus starts towards Ren and that's all well and good... except actually not really!
(9:39:32 AM): A beam blast comes out of the shadows at the lower level, straight at you!
(9:39:36 AM): (React: Volya!)
(9:40:31 AM): ???: "Knights in shining armor come to save Ren, I take it?"
Meraxa 9:40 am
(9:40:56 AM): Ataru: Well, they call me Gold Four... and who's this?!
wyverncakes 9:41 am
(9:41:18 AM): In the lower level, figures step out of the shadows, revealing a familiar face at the head of a group!
VJockey 9:41 am
(9:41:20 AM): "Ah!"
wyverncakes 9:41 am
(9:41:24 AM): (Hen: http://safebooru.org//samples/1183/sample_719b126d9232cac6c43ae0fc5666b098ec62acc1.png?1232562)
VJockey 9:41 am
(9:41:46 AM): *Interitus quickly throws her claws towards the beam and attempts to drain it!+
cubey@aol.pl 9:42 am
(9:42:09 AM): Ren: "Stay back... for Hen to have captured me, I think it's a trap."
(9:42:24 AM): Ren: "Why else would you have taken me to the place of our birth?" Time to address the kin leader.
wyverncakes 9:43 am
(9:43:10 AM): [Volya] The beam shot strikes the claws and you manage to take the edge off of it! Still, it's you and the others staring down a whole number of the kin...
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:43 am
(9:43:27 AM): Sarah: "Who cares if it's a trap!"
frifreeman 9:43 am
(9:43:31 AM): Walt: "A trap? for us? You shouldn't have. You could just call, and we'd have come, you know?"
(9:43:40 AM): Walt:"That's like, our modus operandi."
wyverncakes 9:44 am
(9:44:19 AM): Hen: "You coming was... actually a surprise."
(9:45:13 AM): "However, no matter. It just gives me a larger audience that I can break the truth to."
wyverncakes 9:45 am
(9:45:36 AM): Grinning atop of their machine, Hen just gestures at Ren. "Tell me Ren... what was the last thing you remember?"
cubey@aol.pl 9:45 am
(9:45:40 AM): Ren: "What?"
wyverncakes 9:45 am
(9:45:45 AM): "How do you think you were brought here?"
VJockey 9:46 am
(9:46:14 AM): "!!!"
cubey@aol.pl 9:46 am
(9:46:17 AM): Ren: "I was with Mark when suddenly... I was knocked out. Is this when you ambushed me?"
(9:46:24 AM): These words come out not without hesitation.
VJockey 9:46 am
(9:46:29 AM): "What happenhed to Ren's friend?!"
cubey@aol.pl 9:46 am
(9:46:39 AM): Ren: "Where is he?"
wyverncakes 9:46 am
(9:46:49 AM): "I did nothing of the sort. As for Mark?"
(9:47:02 AM): Mark: "I'm right here."
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:47 am
(9:47:04 AM): Sarah's flicking at place where her sword enters its sheathe, but it remains sealed.
wyverncakes 9:47 am
(9:47:22 AM): And several of the Kin Punishers and Tormenters part, revealing another machine standing in their midst.
(9:47:28 AM): Still holding the gun that had fired on Interitus.
wyverncakes 9:47 am
(9:47:37 AM): (Canis: http://s386.photobucket.com/user/oogundam/media/Canis.png.html)
(9:48:01 AM): Hen: "Yes. Mark's riht here. At my side. On my side. Like he always was."
cubey@aol.pl 9:48 am
(9:48:01 AM): Ren: "!!"
wyverncakes 9:48 am
(9:48:04 AM): ^right
Meraxa 9:48 am
(9:48:23 AM): Ataru: ...Oh. Oh...
VJockey 9:48 am
(9:48:44 AM): "...But..."
(9:48:47 AM): "I don't.."
wyverncakes 9:49 am
(9:49:13 AM): Mark: "What did you expect?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:49 am
(9:49:28 AM): Sarah is more or less growling. "What the hell do you think you're doing!"
cubey@aol.pl 9:49 am
(9:49:35 AM): Ren is speechless now, staring at the Canis.
wyverncakes 9:49 am
(9:49:39 AM): "To tell you the truth, I'm an assassin for hire."
(9:50:34 AM): "-But!" Hen interposed. "When I called upon his services and asked for him to play this part to break Ren... tell them how much you asked in return!"
frifreeman 9:50 am
(9:50:40 AM): Walt: "Of course."
wyverncakes 9:51 am
(9:51:20 AM): Mark snorts. "I said I'd do it for free."
(9:51:25 AM): "Ren's a freak."
Meraxa 9:51 am
(9:51:29 AM): Ataru: You...
wyverncakes 9:51 am
(9:51:38 AM): "I didn't feel right asking anything for it."
Meraxa 9:51 am
(9:51:38 AM): Ataru: You bastard!
wyverncakes 9:51 am
(9:51:47 AM): Hen: "He did it for free!"
VJockey 9:51 am
(9:51:49 AM): "......"
(9:52:11 AM): "That isn't..."
(9:52:13 AM): "Its not..."
(9:52:21 AM): "Ren isn't a..."
cubey@aol.pl 9:52 am
(9:52:26 AM): Ren: "It's... it's true, isn't it..."
(9:52:31 AM): Ren's gaze falls low once again.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:53 am
(9:53:13 AM): Sarah: "Of all the two-bit scum..."
frifreeman 9:53 am
(9:53:24 AM): Walt: "And people tell me I'm paranoid when I say I don't want to have any friend."
Meraxa 9:53 am
(9:53:43 AM): Ataru: Playing with someone's heart... for this... at THIS time of year... Unforgivable!
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:54 am
(9:54:12 AM): She's flicking at the crossguard of her sword much more noticeably now. If it weren't for the seal remaining intact, it'd come out...
wyverncakes 9:54 am
(9:54:54 AM): Sarah's actions don't go unnoticed, and Hen issues a short gesture to the others!
cubey@aol.pl 9:55 am
(9:55:22 AM): Ren: "Please, just..."
(9:55:27 AM): Ren: "I think you should go..."
VJockey 9:55 am
(9:55:50 AM): "No..."
wyverncakes 9:55 am
(9:55:52 AM): "Oh they're not going to be going anywhere!"
VJockey 9:55 am
(9:55:52 AM): "NO!"
VJockey 9:56 am
(9:56:13 AM): "I'm not going to lose another friend!"
wyverncakes 9:56 am
(9:56:24 AM): "Everyone, this is what we've been waiting for! Mark, any objection to a little bit more wetwork?"
(9:56:31 AM): Mark: "None at all."
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:56 am
(9:56:41 AM): "...You don't have the right to refuse help. Not like this." Sarah keeps her eyes on the enemy's movements.
cubey@aol.pl 9:57 am
(9:57:00 AM): Ren: "My life is not in danger. It's not..."
VJockey 9:57 am
(9:57:19 AM): "I don't care!"
cubey@aol.pl 9:57 am
(9:57:30 AM): No one can notice unless they pay explicit attention to the horned individual (as opposed the enemies) - but tears fall to the floor from Ren's face.
(9:57:41 AM): Ren: "It's not what they are after. Is it not right, Hen?"
wyverncakes 9:57 am
(9:57:42 AM): And with that, the various Kin machines activate, the melee-oriented Tormentors moving in close while the more ranged machines get into position!
(9:58:09 AM): (Lineup: Sarah, Walt, Ataru, Volya)
Meraxa 9:59 am
(9:59:01 AM): Ataru: If you think we're gonna leave you, after what they've done...
frifreeman 9:59 am
(9:59:45 AM): Walt: "Like what I always say."
wyverncakes 10:00 am
(10:00:08 AM): (Enemies: Tormentor x 6, Punisher x 5, Ruthless Eagle (Hen), Obsessive Serpent (???), Canis (Mark)
(10:00:42 AM): Tormentor: Nimble, edgy machines that can fly, have twin daggers, and have flak cannons in their hand.
VJockey 10:00 am
(10:00:44 AM): "Ren... you always help people when they hurt..."
wyverncakes 10:01 am
(10:01:19 AM): Punisher: Long ranged, tanky machines with shoulder-mounted railguns and sharp claws.
VJockey 10:01 am
(10:01:32 AM): " 'Teritus me and 'Teritus...we're going to help you... that's why we aren't leaving!"
wyverncakes 10:02 am
(10:02:16 AM): Ruthless Eagle: Bird-themed machine with wings, sharp claws, a sword, and also has a beam rifle and bazooka strapped to its body.
frifreeman 10:02 am
(10:02:39 AM): Walt: "Ugh, this is depressing. More than usual. Destroying the world is one thing, but betraying someone like this? I don't actually believe in love, but I'd still like to give you a new asshole, for the sake of those who might still do, like this kid here."
wyverncakes 10:03 am
(10:03:00 AM): Obessive Serpent: Seemingly unarmed machine with serpentine head and tail.
(10:03:10 AM): (Sarah and Walt can go)
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:05 am
(10:05:06 AM): *"Tch, still refusing to be drawn...Alright, I get the message." Sarah takes a deep breath, gathering her energy-and Tiankui bursts towards the enemy lines, shoving anything in its way aside brutally as it rushes towards Canis.+
frifreeman 10:05 am
(10:05:06 AM): Walt: "Team, cover me. I'll make a break to Ren." Walt radio to the Genoace team.
cubey@aol.pl 10:05 am
(10:05:39 AM): Ren sighs deeply.
frifreeman 10:05 am
(10:05:55 AM): With that, Walt fire his genoace's thruster to skate to Ren's position, while the rest of the Genoace team open fire to his surrounding."
(10:05:58 AM): +
cubey@aol.pl 10:06 am
(10:06:03 AM): Ren: "Hen. It's true."
(10:06:18 AM): Ren: "The world... would be better off without you."
(10:06:27 AM): @ Walt and Sarah
wyverncakes 10:06 am
(10:06:31 AM): Hen: "What?"
(10:06:40 AM): (Approved)
cubey@aol.pl 10:07 am
(10:07:44 AM): *Ren elaborates no further. But an aura of bright light shines over their body briefly, and spreads to allies before dissipating.+
(10:07:52 AM): The fighting Kin will find themselves in a surprise.
wyverncakes 10:10 am
(10:10:34 AM): [Ren, Walt, and Sarah] Ren's blessing goes into effect not a moment too soon. The Kin's protective barriers are compromised and the 08th Genoace team's shots blast off the arm and wing of a Tormentor before the others are forced to scatter. The damaged one crashes to the ground, and Walt's able to reach Ren! And in the meantime, Tiankui is able to force its way through the confusion to attack the Canis... who springs back and continues opening fire on the machine with a flurry of beam and physical rounds!
(10:10:40 AM): (React: Sarah)
(10:12:29 AM): Hen: "Still ignoring the truth of the matter..."
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:12 am
(10:12:49 AM): *She rips the sword, still in its sealed form from Tiankui's hip, and starts parrying the beams and bullets flying her way...and continues her advance.+
wyverncakes 10:13 am
(10:13:35 AM): (Ataru, Volya)
VJockey 10:15 am
(10:15:27 AM): *Interitus lets out a low growl before parts of the ground and ceiling seem to distort. Then vines burst from them, growing wildly to quickly grab at both Kin machines and the Canis - any attempting to avoid said vines would also find a spray of sap heading their way as well!+
wyverncakes 10:15 am
(10:15:39 AM): [Sarah] There's certainly a lot of shots coming your way courtesy of the Jotun Carver, each one precise and well-aimed. Still, your defenses hold.
Meraxa 10:16 am
(10:16:09 AM): Ataru: The truth is that you people are horrid! *Ataru puts together his particle gun, and quite quickly takes aim at the Ruthless Eagle, aiming for its wings!+
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:16 am
(10:16:24 AM): "Predictable..."
wyverncakes 10:16 am
(10:16:31 AM): Hen: "People in general are horrid!"
cubey@aol.pl 10:16 am
(10:16:52 AM): Ren seems despirited and barely able to move even when Walt helps them get off the pole.
wyverncakes 10:17 am
(10:17:04 AM): "It's thanks to Mark, one of your own, that any of this happened, lest you forget!"
cubey@aol.pl 10:17 am
(10:17:32 AM): The kin's mission was not to kill Ren, but to break their spirit. And it looks like that mission was not entirely unsuccessful...
frifreeman 10:18 am
(10:18:16 AM):
wyverncakes 10:16 pm
Hen: "People in general are horrid!"
(10:18:21 AM): Walt: "I actually agree."
VJockey 10:19 am
(10:19:12 AM): "...People are terrible..."
wyverncakes 10:19 am
(10:19:26 AM): [Volya] Your MAP vines surge out, Kin machines trying to hack through them or dodge. But there's your sap to worry about too, and the damaged Tormentor on top of it. The vines snatch it and a sluggish Punisher up, and the Canis stumbles and gets a leg gooed up on the floor too! But several of the other Tormentors begin to cut through and free their companions, Punishers in turn aiming their guns on Interitus and firing!
(10:19:31 AM): (React: Volya)
Meraxa 10:19 am
(10:19:35 AM): Ataru: And it doesn't change my point at all! You aren't deflecting the blame at all!
VJockey 10:19 am
(10:19:52 AM): "But that doesn't give anyone the right to decide who suffers or not!"
(10:21:21 AM): *Well with all of then clustered together this gives Interitus a particularly good oppertunity. Despite any damage she would take from the attacks she unleashes both a storm of lasers to disable the enemy machines as well as a stun cloud blast!+
wyverncakes 10:22 am
(10:22:31 AM): [Ataru] Your shots force Hen to worry about dodging and not giving a rebuttal, the Ruthless Eagle taking to the air. But your shots still could have hit... if not for suddenly the Obsessive Serpent intervening, spinning around and striking your gun away before its lower body wraps around the gun to try to crush it!
(10:23:07 AM): ???: "I won't allow you to harm Hen!"
(10:23:19 AM): (React: Ataru)
(10:23:54 AM): Hen: "Ha... excellent timing, Chou."
(10:24:02 AM): (Sarah and Walt)
Meraxa 10:26 am
(10:26:12 AM): Ataru: And you... I won't you people hurt Ren anymore! *Ataru opens up the missile pods, and lets fly several shells straight towards the serpent's face!+
wyverncakes 10:28 am
(10:28:15 AM): [Volya] Interitus is struck by a number of the Punishers' shots, the black twisted metal stabbing into the plant-dragon-girl-thing. But the Kin machines pay dearly for their attack, two of them being blasted apart by the laser storm and the others suffering damage from the electric storm.
(10:29:07 AM): (Updated enemies: Tormentor x 6 (three damaged), Punisher x 3, Ruthless Eagle (Hen), Obsessive Serpent (???), Canis (Mark) (partially gooped up))
wyverncakes 10:30 am
(10:30:43 AM): [Ataru] The serpentine machine is struck by the first few shells, loosening its grip on your gun-arm before serious damage can be done to it, but Chou's machine jerks to and fro, like a snake to dodge the rest of your attacks. At least you forced it back a bit.
VJockey 10:31 am
(10:31:08 AM): [Interitus whines in pain. Yeah those things really hurt.]
wyverncakes 10:31 am
(10:31:24 AM): Hen: "Even if you stop us though, what's going to change?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:31 am
(10:31:32 AM): *"Running away is just like your sort, isn't it..." And Sarah charges towards the Canis again, swinging her sword. With it still sealed, it won't cut...but it still a giant, nigh-indestructible block of metal.+
wyverncakes 10:31 am
(10:31:34 AM): "The world will hurt Ren plenty, I promise you that!"
(10:32:15 AM): "For every saint, there's a hundred sinnes. And those 'saints' usually turn out to be the worst of them all!"
Meraxa 10:33 am
(10:33:07 AM): Ataru: And 99 won't know her name! 99 won't be trying to hurt her personally!
wyverncakes 10:33 am
(10:33:27 AM): ^sinners
(10:33:48 AM): [Sarah] The Canis might be stuck momentarily, but it doesn't last as Mark just opts to shoot out the gooped-up section of the mech's leg. Your sword smashes into the floor as the Canis spins around opening fire on you from behind!
(10:33:51 AM): (React: Sarah)
(10:34:13 AM): Mark: "Killing people is my thing."
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:34 am
(10:34:53 AM): *"That makes two of us!" Sarah whirls around, trying to go for a parry again.+
frifreeman 10:35 am
(10:35:25 AM): Walt: "I got you, Ren." Walt open up his cockpit and let Ren enter. "Time to skedaddle out of here. Team, open a path for me." The 8th genoace team do just that, firing around and moving toward Walt, while walt boost toward them, to join back the formation."+
(10:36:36 AM): Walt: "Are you alright?"
cubey@aol.pl 10:36 am
(10:36:55 AM): Ren enters Walt's cockpit. Despite their current emotional state, they're not actually being a detriment to others trying to help.
wyverncakes 10:36 am
(10:36:57 AM): [Sarah] You're a hair too slow, the Canis managing to shoot Tiankui in the back. But your machine's sturdy enough that just a few shots isn't enough to take you down, and at close-range your sword smashes into the Canis's gun. Whoops there goes the beam cannon component.
cubey@aol.pl 10:37 am
(10:37:21 AM): Ren: "I have... something important to tell you."
cubey@aol.pl 10:37 am
(10:37:44 AM): Ren: "This is the place where I was born. Where all the kin were born. The facility that was transported from the future."
(10:38:04 AM): Ren actually avoids Walt's gaze, opting to look down the whole time.
wyverncakes 10:38 am
(10:38:57 AM): [Walt] The Genoaces move to form up, but even as they do that... "Now which flying coffin is Ren in?" Up above, the Ruthless Eagle pulls out its bazooka, opening fire on the entire grouping!
(10:39:02 AM): (React: Walt and co.)
(10:39:16 AM): (Ataru and Volya)
cubey@aol.pl 10:39 am
(10:39:17 AM): Ren: "..."
(10:39:17 AM): #
wyverncakes 10:39 am
(10:39:27 AM): (Approved)
cubey@aol.pl 10:41 am
(10:41:07 AM): Ren: "It's true that life is suffering. I saw so many people endure horrible things... though perhaps in the end, I was too lucky or sheltered myself."
Meraxa 10:42 am
(10:42:11 AM): Ataru checks the status of his gun. Looks okay, but he may not want to stress it too much... with that in mind, he fires up the machine gun turret, trying to see if he can be hit the Serpent through rapid fire bullets!+
cubey@aol.pl 10:42 am
(10:42:50 AM): Ren: "But it's all the less reason to add to the suffering yourself, don't you think? Hen, I think we are the real monsters here."
wyverncakes 10:42 am
(10:42:52 AM): Chou: "Yes! Hen showed you the truth! They-"
VJockey 10:43 am
(10:43:31 AM): *Interitus launches herself at the Ruthless Eagle to tackle it!&
cubey@aol.pl 10:43 am
(10:43:56 AM): *The Genoace squad is bathed in another explosion of light as Ren braces themselves. This is going to be painful - and also very distracting for the enemy!+
frifreeman 10:44 am
(10:44:27 AM): Walt: " Spread out!" each member of the 8th Genoace team fire their thrusters and jump to different directions with shield covering their head..+
frifreeman 10:46 am
(10:46:05 AM): Walt: "So, what about the future, Ren? I'm just saying, we could all die here. So if you want someone to know your story, this might be the last chance."
wyverncakes 10:46 am
(10:46:06 AM): [Ataru] But Chou can't be more of a loyal underling because Ataru puts more pressure on the Serpent! Instead it tries to slip out of Gold Four's cone of fire... even though more bullets hit its side. But while you're doing this, two Tormentors take the opportunity to charge, having speed where the Serpent has dodginess, both slashing at the AHSMB's a chest!
(10:46:14 AM): (React: Ataru)
cubey@aol.pl 10:48 am
(10:48:46 AM): Ren: "I thought I shared my story already? I'll be happy to repeat myself, but please get out of this alive first."
wyverncakes 10:49 am
(10:49:12 AM): [Volya and Ren] The first missiles miss the Genoaces, but only barely. The lot of them are rocked, crashing together and with one of their cockpits getting smashed up a little bit too much. Ren, you get to feel all of this. The heat, the bruising and cuts, even the sudden pain of a piece of mobile suit going through a thigh. Not pleasant at all. But it kept everyone alive... and it gave Volya the time to tackle the Ruthless Eagle.
cubey@aol.pl 10:49 am
(10:49:30 AM): Ren: "Ghh...!"
VJockey 10:49 am
(10:49:39 AM): "Please! Stop this!"
cubey@aol.pl has left the room. 10:49 am
cubey@aol.pl has been invited. 10:52 am
Meraxa 10:54 am
(10:54:01 AM): Ataru: Come on... *Ataru tries to cut this as close as he can... diving back to try and let the Tormentors get in the way of each other, as he brings his particle gun to bear, and fires at their faces+
cubey@aol.pl has entered the room. 10:57 am
wyverncakes 11:00 am
(11:00:05 AM): [Volya cont.] Hen snarls, first in confusion and then in anger as the plant monster tackles them out of the air. The bazooka scatters to the ground, and Hen pulls free his beam rifle to try to open fire on Interitus from point-blank range instead! "Why bother?!"
(11:00:12 AM): (React/continue: Volya)
cubey@aol.pl 11:01 am
(11:01:25 AM): Ren: "Walt, are you and your wingmen alright?"
wyverncakes 11:01 am
(11:01:27 AM): [Ataru] The Tormentors strike nothing but empty air with their daggers. Sometimes it pays for a longer-reaching weapon, but they don't live long enough to apply that knowledge or strike again, because you particle gun blows both of the fragile mechs away in one go.
(11:01:43 AM): (Sarah and Walt)
cubey@aol.pl 11:01 am
(11:01:48 AM): Words spoken through pain, but for every wound Ren sustains - and bleeds on the inside of Walt's cockpit by the way, one more person may be saved.
VJockey 11:02 am
(11:02:05 AM): *Either way Interitus keeps her hold on the Kin Machine+
cubey@aol.pl 11:02 am
(11:02:14 AM): Ren: "Saints... and sinners. What do these words mean, really?"
frifreeman 11:02 am
(11:02:26 AM): Walt: "As alright as we could be, being soldiers in a wartorn world."
VJockey 11:02 am
(11:02:42 AM): "Ren's one of you... no matter how bad you are Interitus keeps thinking you can still be as kind as Ren!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:03 am
(11:03:09 AM): Ren: "The truth is, a person is a person. No matter what they do, it's because of a reason. You can't look at someone and judge what they did without thinking why."
wyverncakes 11:03 am
(11:03:21 AM): Hen: "What it means... is you're either a monster who's honest about it, or one that's a hypocrite...!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:03 am
(11:03:32 AM): Ren: "And you definitely can't judge a lot of humanity just for actions of few!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:04 am
(11:04:12 AM): Ren: "You are a monster Hen. Not for being a soulless artificial creation..."
wyverncakes 11:04 am
(11:04:30 AM): [Volya] Interitus gets shot again and again by Hen's beam weapon. By all rights the amount of firepower being emptied into it should've been enough to at least loosen its hold on the Ruthless Eagle if not cause more severe damage.
cubey@aol.pl 11:04 am
(11:04:34 AM): Ren: "But for being so judgemental of others and willing to waste their lives for your own sake!"
(11:04:52 AM): Ren's arm gestures to the side, towards the Genoace team, as if to make a point.
(11:05:07 AM): Well, not that anyone can see that, though the arm almost hit Walt's head so there is that.
wyverncakes 11:05 am
(11:05:18 AM): ... But Ren's protection reaches far enough that the quite-organic plant monster can benefit from it.
cubey@aol.pl 11:05 am
(11:05:21 AM): Ren: "Ah, sorry. Please, stay poetic, that helps a lot."
frifreeman 11:05 am
(11:05:39 AM): Walt: "Okay Ren, let's team up here. I'll leave the quip and philosophical discussion to you, you leave the shooting to me." Walt brace his genoace and raise his dods gun toward Hen, before shooting at him.+
wyverncakes 11:07 am
(11:07:11 AM): Hen: "There is nothing 'judgmental' about seeing... how many people act -dammit, die already!"
arachnion01@gmail.com 11:07 am
(11:07:57 AM): Sarah: "...Your boss is losing it, Mr. Pro Bono assassin."
cubey@aol.pl 11:09 am
(11:09:27 AM): Ren: "Hen, I think I told you already..."
(11:09:50 AM): Ren: "Do you think..." A pause for Ren to wipe the blood off their face. Well - also blood.
(11:10:40 AM): Ren: "Do you think I will lose faith in humanity over seeing a single individual's actions? You are not as good at reading people as you think you are. Rather, I would just call you..."
wyverncakes 11:10 am
(11:10:42 AM): [Walt (and techniclly also Volya)] The DODS shot spears through the air at the bound Eagle, but the machine angles its own rifle in the course of the shot! The weapon is struck and there's an explosion, knocking Interitus free as the damaged Eagle draws its sword once more. Its other hand is gone, and in fact that side of its body looks warped and burnt by the explosion, mirroring Hen's mismatching eyes.
cubey@aol.pl 11:10 am
(11:10:45 AM): Ren: "I would just call you outright naive!"
wyverncakes 11:11 am
(11:11:17 AM): Hen: "I..."
(11:11:23 AM): "I-...!"
wyverncakes 11:11 am
(11:11:30 AM): "Am the FURTHEST!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:11 am
(11:11:31 AM): Ren: "I have nothing else to say to you. Mark..."
wyverncakes 11:11 am
(11:11:38 AM): "You can get from 'naive'!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:11 am
(11:11:49 AM): Ren: "Mark... was it really all a lie? Everything we have been through?"
(11:11:52 AM): Ren smiles sadly.
(11:11:56 AM): "It really was, wasn't it?"
wyverncakes 11:13 am
(11:13:24 AM): Mark's silence is all the answer you get, or really need.
cubey@aol.pl 11:13 am
(11:13:56 AM): Ren: "That's too bad. Still..."
wyverncakes 11:14 am
(11:14:03 AM): (Sarah can still act. Volya and Ataru can also act as well)
cubey@aol.pl 11:14 am
(11:14:22 AM): "At least my other friends got here. Their act is all I need to know that their motives are genuine."
wyverncakes 11:15 am
(11:15:38 AM): Hen: "You say that... but you can't be sure! Right?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 11:15 am
(11:15:53 AM): *"Ah, well, talk or don't, either way is fine." Sarah approaches the Canis more slowly at first, testing the waters-then rushes in with a stabbing attack towards the unit's neck.+
wyverncakes 11:16 am
(11:16:04 AM): "And even if they're nice today, there's always tomorrow!"
(11:16:10 AM): "You can't be certain!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:16 am
(11:16:42 AM): Ren: "I'll deal with it."
(11:17:13 AM): Ren: "The precious memories will remain. No matter what happens in the future, what has already been done cannot be changed."
wyverncakes 11:17 am
(11:17:22 AM): [Sarah] The Canis pulls free its own beam saber and swings it to block your strike, and it brings up the Jotun Carver again to fire on Tiankui's chest in the meantime!
cubey@aol.pl 11:17 am
(11:17:25 AM): Ren: "The same is with Mark."
wyverncakes 11:17 am
(11:17:28 AM): (React: Sarah)
cubey@aol.pl 11:17 am
(11:17:36 AM): Ren: "Mark!"
wyverncakes 11:17 am
(11:17:39 AM): Hen: "But those memories are a lie!"
(11:17:45 AM): "Don't you get that?!?"
Meraxa 11:18 am
(11:18:56 AM): Ataru: And why should that then define the rest of her existence? Her entire life view?!
arachnion01@gmail.com 11:19 am
(11:19:23 AM): *Sarah says nothing, simply grimacing slightly. But when her strike is parried, she doesn't stand still-she throws her back leg up in a powerful glowing kick towards the Canis-and, more importantly, its gun.+
cubey@aol.pl 11:19 am
(11:19:51 AM): Ren: "Don't I?"
VJockey 11:20 am
(11:20:12 AM): *Interitus lets loose with a blast of constrictive sap at Hen!+
Meraxa 11:20 am
(11:20:14 AM): Ataru appears to aim to clip the Ruthless' wings once more... but he's trying to draw out the serpent, so he can can get a clear shot on it instead!+
wyverncakes 11:22 am
(11:22:46 AM): [Sarah] The swords knock each other away, but Mark's attempt at shooting you falls flat. The gun's knocked up and away, a few shots striking Tiankui's upper chest and shoulder but failing to deliver decisive damage.
(11:24:40 AM): [Ataru] Your fake-out does lure the Obsessive Serpent in again, but this time it doesn't opt to try to coil you up. Instead, as you turn your gun towards it it sprays out a mix of acid and shrapnel at your gun arm!
(11:24:43 AM): (React: Ataru)
wyverncakes 11:26 am
(11:26:25 AM): [Volya] The sap sprays out at the Ruthless Eagle, but the machine instead charges, letting the goop splatter all over its wings as they fold down like a cloak. They're stuck there now, but its hand is still free to strike at you with the sword, and there's Punishers too, opening fire to make good on finishing off Interitus!
(11:26:27 AM): (React: Volya)
Meraxa 11:26 am
(11:26:32 AM): Ataru: Ugh! THAT's freaky! *Ataru tries to dodge roll after making his shot anyway, but he may be cutting it too close this time...!+
wyverncakes 11:29 am
(11:29:09 AM): [Ataru] Freaky or not, Chou is giving his all for Hen, and the combined attack splatters and pierces into Gold Four's chest. You evaded the worst of it, but the armor's still wearing away and there are alarms going off inside... but you also blasted off part of the Serpent's head too!
(11:29:24 AM): Chou: "Ghhh... if only... if only you hadn't come....!"
(11:29:57 AM): "Then Ren would've had to accept things as they are!"
(11:30:10 AM): (Sara and Walt)
VJockey 11:30 am
(11:30:17 AM): "She wouldn't have..."
(11:30:28 AM): "The kind of person Ren is..."
VJockey 11:31 am
(11:31:57 AM): *About that Hen... Interitus is going to grab that sword while letting loose with another energy barrage at the incoming shots. She simply squeezes down on the blade to break it apart despite any damage she and Volya feel.+
arachnion01@gmail.com 11:32 am
(11:32:42 AM): *"Well...Sword versus sword, is it? I think this'll end here." Sarah circles around the Canis slowly, keeping her guard up-and then she sighs, and lowers her weapon so it's pointing at the ground-and leaving her open for attack.&
frifreeman 11:34 am
(11:34:54 AM): Walt's not going to waste the chance given by volya. "Everyone, focus fire on Hen now!" And with that, the 8th MS team fire their guns toward Hen from various points of the room where they're currently scattered.
(11:34:57 AM): +
wyverncakes 11:37 am
(11:37:24 AM): [Volya and and Walt] The sword bites into Interitus's hand, the Punishers' shots mostly being cancelled out by the not-Derpfestor's counterattack. And squeezing, squeezing gripping... the Eagle's blade does indeed crack and break apart... but Hen still has a broken half-sword at his disposal! They strike at Interitus once... but the sudden additional fire from the Genoaces forces Hen back! "Of all the... everyone! We're retreating!"
(11:38:46 AM): This, however... doesn't mean the remaining mooks are just going to turn and run though. Instead, the remaining Punishers turn their fire on the Genoaces, shoulder cannons firing relentlessly to cover the escape!
(11:38:50 AM): (React: Walt and co.)
VJockey 11:39 am
(11:39:53 AM): #Walt & Co
wyverncakes 11:40 am
(11:40:49 AM): [Sarah] Mark isn't dumb enough to just charge in and attack. At least not immediately. But once the Punishers begin attacking, there's more than a few shots fired at Tiankui's backside and the Canis makes its move then! A quick strike to Tiankui's sword-hand, angled to stab into the chest if all goes well but if not then there's still making a break for it!
(11:40:53 AM): (React: Sarah)
(11:40:58 AM): (Approved)
VJockey 11:42 am
(11:42:27 AM): *The kin seem to assume that Interitus was going to let this happen. She wasn't. She unleashes yet another barrage of energy that weaves towards the incoming projectiles, but not only that but to chase them right back to their source!+
arachnion01@gmail.com 11:43 am
(11:43:32 AM): *Sarah does her best to ignore those shots at her backside, and as the Canis charges she flicks her own blade upwards to knock Mark's attack off-course-then drops her sword, moves in a step further, and delivers a full-power punch straight at his unit's chest.+
wyverncakes 11:46 am
(11:46:35 AM): [Sarah] The sword is knocked aside again... and in an instant your fist smashes into the Canis's chest. But just as it appears that you'll perform your best Daimos impersonation, Tiankui's shot in the back, blown away and your attack is cut short!
(11:46:47 AM): Mark: "Goodbye."
(11:47:17 AM): Lacking the weapons to put you down, he just makes good on his escape as well.
arachnion01@gmail.com 11:47 am
(11:47:39 AM): Sarah: "Gah..."
frifreeman 11:48 am
(11:48:32 AM): The 8th genoace team just do their best defending themselves by burying their ace on their shield.+
cubey@aol.pl 11:49 am
(11:49:12 AM): Ren: "Mark..."
(11:49:17 AM): Ren: "Good-bye."
wyverncakes 11:49 am
(11:49:58 AM): [Volya and Walt] The energy crashes into the cannons' sharpnel... thinning out the number of projectiles heading towards the Genoaces. Two of the energy streams even have enough force left to punch through the Punishers to cut down on the crossfire. The end result is that most of the Genoaces only get mildly perforated by sharpnel, and the last of them only has its shield-arm and head torn up.
(11:50:47 AM): The Canis stops for a moment though...
wyverncakes 11:51 am
(11:51:16 AM): ... If only to scoop up Hen's discarded bazooka from before though as the remaining Kin mechs begin their retreat.
(11:51:56 AM): (Everyone can take a free action is they wish)
(11:52:15 AM): Mark: "... not just yet though..."
(11:52:54 AM): Hen: "This won't be the end of it, I assure you...!"
wyverncakes 11:53 am
(11:53:57 AM): "As many times as it takes, you'll see just how rotten people can be!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:57 am
(11:57:50 AM): Ren: "No..."
(11:57:58 AM): Ren: "I don't think you should get away from this, Hen."
griefgathering has left the room. 11:58 am
frifreeman 11:59 am
(11:59:13 AM): Walt raises his wrecked Genoace's arm and open fire at Hen.
Meraxa 12:00 pm
(12:00:49 PM): Ataru: You're not getting away! *Ataru's particle gun still works, funny enough, and so the fleeing foes are in range. Ataru aims for the back of the serpent... and fires!+
wyverncakes 12:02 pm
(12:02:18 PM): [Ataru and Walt] The shots cut through the air in an instant... the Ruthless Eagle too damaged to move fast enough and its wings still stuck to its body to prevent flight.
(12:02:21 PM): "Hen!"
wyverncakes 12:03 pm
(12:03:31 PM): The Obsessive Serpent moves to try to assist, and as a result only an arm gets blown off rather than its chest. But it's too late. It can't get there. None of the Kin machines can.
(12:03:43 PM): And there's a brief, shocked cry of fear from Hen themself...
(12:04:12 PM): The DODS Gun shot strikes metal, drilling through it with ease.
(12:04:28 PM): ... But it doesn't hit the Eagle.
(12:05:06 PM): In the blink of an eye, the Canis got in the path of Walt's shot, and, well...
cubey@aol.pl 12:05 pm
(12:05:52 PM): Ren: "..!"
wyverncakes 12:06 pm
(12:06:09 PM): Ren...
(12:06:27 PM): ... In a matter of milliseconds it will be too late.
cubey@aol.pl 12:06 pm
(12:06:33 PM): #
wyverncakes 12:06 pm
(12:06:34 PM): But dare you actually...?
(12:06:38 PM): (Approved)
cubey@aol.pl 12:07 pm
(12:07:18 PM): Ren: "... No! Mark!"
(12:07:38 PM): *This may be a very stupid thing to do, all things considered. Considering what has happened recently - but still.
cubey@aol.pl 12:08 pm
(12:08:12 PM): *Ren uses their psychic powers to establish a connection. Mark - you have nothing to be afraid of regarding this one attack.+
wyverncakes 12:09 pm
(12:09:37 PM): [Ren] The shot spears through the Canis, coming out at an angle and tearing most of the mech apart.
cubey@aol.pl 12:10 pm
(12:10:07 PM): Ren: "I'm sorry Mark.... hgggh!"
wyverncakes 12:10 pm
(12:10:15 PM): And in the meantime, the shocked cry from Hen gives way to a more relieved one.
(12:10:24 PM): The remaining Kin make good on their escape.
cubey@aol.pl 12:10 pm
(12:10:35 PM): Ren on the other hand gasps in pain as a huge wound sprouts on their chest.
(12:10:48 PM): Ren: "But... in the end..."
wyverncakes 12:10 pm
(12:10:56 PM): And you're left in the facility with the trashed Canis... a figure falling out of it onto the ground.
(12:10:59 PM): Mark.
cubey@aol.pl 12:11 pm
(12:11:02 PM): Ren: "Even if it was all false, my emotions don't change."
wyverncakes 12:11 pm
(12:11:05 PM): Alive...
cubey@aol.pl 12:11 pm
(12:11:06 PM): Ren: "I..."
(12:11:22 PM): Ren: "I love you Mark."
wyverncakes 12:11 pm
(12:11:30 PM): Mark: "You still saved..."
cubey@aol.pl 12:11 pm
(12:11:38 PM): And with that being said, Ren slumps down in Walt's cockpit.
(12:11:53 PM): The wounds were too much and the pain is overwhelming, so they can't stay conscious anymore.
frifreeman 12:12 pm
(12:12:15 PM): Walt: "Gah! Ren!"
VJockey 12:12 pm
(12:12:45 PM): "Ren!"
wyverncakes 12:12 pm
(12:12:53 PM): Looking up at the Genoace, Mark seems to pause for a moment.
(12:13:19 PM): Mark: "Ren. I loved you too."
arachnion01@gmail.com 12:13 pm
(12:13:46 PM): Sarah: "...Just...stop talking."
wyverncakes 12:13 pm
(12:13:54 PM): There's a movement down at his hands, a glint of something small and black.
wyverncakes 12:15 pm
(12:15:01 PM): ... And then he pulls the trigger.
(12:15:12 PM): The gun fires up into his own head.
(12:16:40 PM): The end result is not pretty, and what's left of Mark falls to the ground, lifeless, afterwards.
wyverncakes 12:18 pm
(12:18:13 PM): That's the end of dealing with all of the active kin in this facility. But not all the other kin...
VJockey 12:18 pm
(12:18:46 PM): "!!"
(12:18:53 PM): "..."
(12:19:03 PM): "Sarah... what..."
(12:19:09 PM): "What just happened..?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 12:19 pm
(12:19:39 PM): "...Mark shot himself. Why...I dunno."
(12:20:00 PM): "...I'm just...too tired, right now."
wyverncakes 12:23 pm
(12:23:28 PM): Beyond Mark and the downed Canis, the route leading out of the facility takes you back to the rows upon rows of kin still growing.
wyverncakes 12:26 pm
(12:26:25 PM): As Ren said, this was where the kin were made.
(12:27:07 PM): But the kin are supposed to be born with horns.
(12:27:52 PM): They're a sign of many things, most importantly a faith in humanity's inherent goodness.
wyverncakes 12:28 pm
(12:28:29 PM): Ones without... are just going to turn into more people like Hen.
(12:28:54 PM): Or if not like him, like Chou. Loyal followers.
(12:30:08 PM): The question is, what (if anything) will you do on account of this?
arachnion01@gmail.com 12:30 pm
(12:30:34 PM): Sarah: "Well, let's go home."
Meraxa 12:31 pm
(12:31:17 PM): Ataru: ...Guess I'll file the paperwork...
(12:31:48 PM): Ataru: I mean, the MJP programme are the closest people with expertise on this...
VJockey 12:32 pm
(12:32:14 PM): "..."
arachnion01@gmail.com 12:32 pm
(12:32:20 PM): "Maybe get someone to watch them while we're out..."
VJockey 12:32 pm
(12:32:27 PM): "Maybe..."
frifreeman 12:32 pm
(12:32:36 PM): Walt: "What a day..."
VJockey 12:32 pm
(12:32:39 PM): "But... do we know anyone who wouldn'r hurt them..?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 12:33 pm
(12:33:18 PM): Sarah: "I should hope we can trust unity group people with that."
wyverncakes 12:34 pm
(12:34:36 PM): MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
(9:17:07 AM): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYn2Q-kVNAk
(9:18:04 AM): As mentioned previously in the mission's scheduling/signup post, over the Valentine's Day weekend, Ren has gone missing.
(9:18:58 AM): However, around the same time as that had happened, a familiar distress beacon started broadcasting in a remote region. Mark's beacon.
wyverncakes 9:19 am
(9:19:46 AM): If it's connected, then there's that. And if not, then there's still something that is the matter that needs addressing...
(9:20:01 AM): ... But right now you're all about to see how far down the rabbit hole goes, literally.
(9:21:35 AM): Nothing had been on the surface at the destination save for a large elevator platform, and currently you're all taking it down. Down into the ground.
Meraxa 9:23 am
(9:23:20 AM): Ataru: ...How many underground bases are there in the world anyway...?
wyverncakes 9:23 am
(9:23:30 AM): Noise from the platform's engine echoes loudly, cluing you in that wherever you're being taken, there's a lot of room. It's dark though, with what little light's coming in from the surface not showing much.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:24 am
(9:24:08 AM): Sarah: "Probably a lot. There've been more than a few alien invasions, after all..."
VJockey 9:24 am
(9:24:56 AM): [Every so often a scraping noise rings in the air..]
(9:25:01 AM): "Sorry!!!"
wyverncakes 9:25 am
(9:25:30 AM): The lift finally comes to a stop, and with that... on comes the lights.
VJockey 9:25 am
(9:25:37 AM): [Yeah, trying to fit a large plant dragon into an elevator shaft is kinda sorta an issue.]
Meraxa 9:26 am
(9:26:26 AM): Ataru: Can't you shrink him... her... it, back down to size a bit? It used to be smaller, right?
wyverncakes 9:26 am
(9:26:45 AM): And the answer of who made this place finally gets answered as lights begin illuminating rows upon rows of individuals inside of sealed vats.
(9:27:29 AM): Inside of each of them, at varying stages of development are being that look like Ren and their kin.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:27 am
(9:27:48 AM): "...Aw, hell."
Meraxa 9:28 am
(9:28:05 AM): Ataru: ...Nevermind, might be best if they stay big...
VJockey 9:28 am
(9:28:07 AM): "We tried tha-... thaaaa.."
(9:28:16 AM): [GULP.]
wyverncakes 9:28 am
(9:28:18 AM): More worrisome is that none of them are sporting horns though.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:28 am
(9:28:25 AM): "Of course it couldn't just be a freak mountain-climbing accident, could it..."
wyverncakes 9:29 am
(9:29:10 AM): In spite of your arrival and the sudden light though, not one of them stirs.
(9:29:34 AM): And Mark's distress beacon is still broadcasting further away.
wyverncakes 9:30 am
(9:30:06 AM): Fortunately there's a path through the rows in that direction.
VJockey 9:30 am
(9:30:42 AM): [Interitus lets out a soft whine, approaching one of the vats and looking inside of it. She promptly folds her wings up tightly to her back and carefully moves forward with everyone else.]
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:31 am
(9:31:04 AM): Tiankui starts heading in that direction, carefully and slowly.
Meraxa 9:31 am
(9:31:54 AM): Gold Four begins to walk along, slightly in Interitus' shadow. Ataru remains deadly silent, trying not to... awaken anyone preemptively.
frifreeman 9:35 am
(9:35:09 AM): Walt: "are you sure Ren want to be found? What if she's just... wanting some alone time with Mark?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:35 am
(9:35:36 AM): "Then why'd they call for help." Sarah's reply is flat and curt.
wyverncakes 9:35 am
(9:35:48 AM): Carefully down you go, and if any of them are made aware of your presence they don't show it. And before long, you're past the lot of them. Filled vats eventually give way to empty ones, and then not even that.
Meraxa 9:36 am
(9:36:01 AM): Ataru: Could always be something... broke. *Ataru can't help but resist trying to add levity, despite himself*
wyverncakes 9:36 am
(9:36:18 AM): But then, at a point where the floor opens up to reveal a lower level-
VJockey 9:36 am
(9:36:18 AM): "...I really don't like this..."
wyverncakes 9:36 am
(9:36:47 AM): -There!
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:36 am
(9:36:55 AM): "I had to close early for this. If it's something that stupid, I'm going to strangle them myself..."
wyverncakes 9:37 am
(9:37:15 AM): Bound and crucified to a pole!
(9:37:23 AM): It's Ren!
Meraxa 9:37 am
(9:37:42 AM): Ataru: ...That's not what I meant when I said that...
VJockey 9:37 am
(9:37:53 AM): "REN!!"
(9:38:11 AM): [Que Interitus attempting to rush over to help.]
cubey@aol.pl 9:38 am
(9:38:13 AM): Ren's gaze lifts up. This seems so familiar... but with a worrying twist.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:38 am
(9:38:23 AM): Sarah makes a tsking noise and starts scanning the room for enemies.
cubey@aol.pl 9:38 am
(9:38:24 AM): Ren: "You are here? No... wait!"
Meraxa 9:38 am
(9:38:46 AM): Ataru: Don't just rush in!
wyverncakes 9:39 am
(9:39:04 AM): Volya!
wyverncakes 9:39 am
(9:39:16 AM): Interitus starts towards Ren and that's all well and good... except actually not really!
(9:39:32 AM): A beam blast comes out of the shadows at the lower level, straight at you!
(9:39:36 AM): (React: Volya!)
(9:40:31 AM): ???: "Knights in shining armor come to save Ren, I take it?"
Meraxa 9:40 am
(9:40:56 AM): Ataru: Well, they call me Gold Four... and who's this?!
wyverncakes 9:41 am
(9:41:18 AM): In the lower level, figures step out of the shadows, revealing a familiar face at the head of a group!
VJockey 9:41 am
(9:41:20 AM): "Ah!"
wyverncakes 9:41 am
(9:41:24 AM): (Hen: http://safebooru.org//samples/1183/sample_719b126d9232cac6c43ae0fc5666b098ec62acc1.png?1232562)
VJockey 9:41 am
(9:41:46 AM): *Interitus quickly throws her claws towards the beam and attempts to drain it!+
cubey@aol.pl 9:42 am
(9:42:09 AM): Ren: "Stay back... for Hen to have captured me, I think it's a trap."
(9:42:24 AM): Ren: "Why else would you have taken me to the place of our birth?" Time to address the kin leader.
wyverncakes 9:43 am
(9:43:10 AM): [Volya] The beam shot strikes the claws and you manage to take the edge off of it! Still, it's you and the others staring down a whole number of the kin...
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:43 am
(9:43:27 AM): Sarah: "Who cares if it's a trap!"
frifreeman 9:43 am
(9:43:31 AM): Walt: "A trap? for us? You shouldn't have. You could just call, and we'd have come, you know?"
(9:43:40 AM): Walt:"That's like, our modus operandi."
wyverncakes 9:44 am
(9:44:19 AM): Hen: "You coming was... actually a surprise."
(9:45:13 AM): "However, no matter. It just gives me a larger audience that I can break the truth to."
wyverncakes 9:45 am
(9:45:36 AM): Grinning atop of their machine, Hen just gestures at Ren. "Tell me Ren... what was the last thing you remember?"
cubey@aol.pl 9:45 am
(9:45:40 AM): Ren: "What?"
wyverncakes 9:45 am
(9:45:45 AM): "How do you think you were brought here?"
VJockey 9:46 am
(9:46:14 AM): "!!!"
cubey@aol.pl 9:46 am
(9:46:17 AM): Ren: "I was with Mark when suddenly... I was knocked out. Is this when you ambushed me?"
(9:46:24 AM): These words come out not without hesitation.
VJockey 9:46 am
(9:46:29 AM): "What happenhed to Ren's friend?!"
cubey@aol.pl 9:46 am
(9:46:39 AM): Ren: "Where is he?"
wyverncakes 9:46 am
(9:46:49 AM): "I did nothing of the sort. As for Mark?"
(9:47:02 AM): Mark: "I'm right here."
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:47 am
(9:47:04 AM): Sarah's flicking at place where her sword enters its sheathe, but it remains sealed.
wyverncakes 9:47 am
(9:47:22 AM): And several of the Kin Punishers and Tormenters part, revealing another machine standing in their midst.
(9:47:28 AM): Still holding the gun that had fired on Interitus.
wyverncakes 9:47 am
(9:47:37 AM): (Canis: http://s386.photobucket.com/user/oogundam/media/Canis.png.html)
(9:48:01 AM): Hen: "Yes. Mark's riht here. At my side. On my side. Like he always was."
cubey@aol.pl 9:48 am
(9:48:01 AM): Ren: "!!"
wyverncakes 9:48 am
(9:48:04 AM): ^right
Meraxa 9:48 am
(9:48:23 AM): Ataru: ...Oh. Oh...
VJockey 9:48 am
(9:48:44 AM): "...But..."
(9:48:47 AM): "I don't.."
wyverncakes 9:49 am
(9:49:13 AM): Mark: "What did you expect?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:49 am
(9:49:28 AM): Sarah is more or less growling. "What the hell do you think you're doing!"
cubey@aol.pl 9:49 am
(9:49:35 AM): Ren is speechless now, staring at the Canis.
wyverncakes 9:49 am
(9:49:39 AM): "To tell you the truth, I'm an assassin for hire."
(9:50:34 AM): "-But!" Hen interposed. "When I called upon his services and asked for him to play this part to break Ren... tell them how much you asked in return!"
frifreeman 9:50 am
(9:50:40 AM): Walt: "Of course."
wyverncakes 9:51 am
(9:51:20 AM): Mark snorts. "I said I'd do it for free."
(9:51:25 AM): "Ren's a freak."
Meraxa 9:51 am
(9:51:29 AM): Ataru: You...
wyverncakes 9:51 am
(9:51:38 AM): "I didn't feel right asking anything for it."
Meraxa 9:51 am
(9:51:38 AM): Ataru: You bastard!
wyverncakes 9:51 am
(9:51:47 AM): Hen: "He did it for free!"
VJockey 9:51 am
(9:51:49 AM): "......"
(9:52:11 AM): "That isn't..."
(9:52:13 AM): "Its not..."
(9:52:21 AM): "Ren isn't a..."
cubey@aol.pl 9:52 am
(9:52:26 AM): Ren: "It's... it's true, isn't it..."
(9:52:31 AM): Ren's gaze falls low once again.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:53 am
(9:53:13 AM): Sarah: "Of all the two-bit scum..."
frifreeman 9:53 am
(9:53:24 AM): Walt: "And people tell me I'm paranoid when I say I don't want to have any friend."
Meraxa 9:53 am
(9:53:43 AM): Ataru: Playing with someone's heart... for this... at THIS time of year... Unforgivable!
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:54 am
(9:54:12 AM): She's flicking at the crossguard of her sword much more noticeably now. If it weren't for the seal remaining intact, it'd come out...
wyverncakes 9:54 am
(9:54:54 AM): Sarah's actions don't go unnoticed, and Hen issues a short gesture to the others!
cubey@aol.pl 9:55 am
(9:55:22 AM): Ren: "Please, just..."
(9:55:27 AM): Ren: "I think you should go..."
VJockey 9:55 am
(9:55:50 AM): "No..."
wyverncakes 9:55 am
(9:55:52 AM): "Oh they're not going to be going anywhere!"
VJockey 9:55 am
(9:55:52 AM): "NO!"
VJockey 9:56 am
(9:56:13 AM): "I'm not going to lose another friend!"
wyverncakes 9:56 am
(9:56:24 AM): "Everyone, this is what we've been waiting for! Mark, any objection to a little bit more wetwork?"
(9:56:31 AM): Mark: "None at all."
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:56 am
(9:56:41 AM): "...You don't have the right to refuse help. Not like this." Sarah keeps her eyes on the enemy's movements.
cubey@aol.pl 9:57 am
(9:57:00 AM): Ren: "My life is not in danger. It's not..."
VJockey 9:57 am
(9:57:19 AM): "I don't care!"
cubey@aol.pl 9:57 am
(9:57:30 AM): No one can notice unless they pay explicit attention to the horned individual (as opposed the enemies) - but tears fall to the floor from Ren's face.
(9:57:41 AM): Ren: "It's not what they are after. Is it not right, Hen?"
wyverncakes 9:57 am
(9:57:42 AM): And with that, the various Kin machines activate, the melee-oriented Tormentors moving in close while the more ranged machines get into position!
(9:58:09 AM): (Lineup: Sarah, Walt, Ataru, Volya)
Meraxa 9:59 am
(9:59:01 AM): Ataru: If you think we're gonna leave you, after what they've done...
frifreeman 9:59 am
(9:59:45 AM): Walt: "Like what I always say."
wyverncakes 10:00 am
(10:00:08 AM): (Enemies: Tormentor x 6, Punisher x 5, Ruthless Eagle (Hen), Obsessive Serpent (???), Canis (Mark)
(10:00:42 AM): Tormentor: Nimble, edgy machines that can fly, have twin daggers, and have flak cannons in their hand.
VJockey 10:00 am
(10:00:44 AM): "Ren... you always help people when they hurt..."
wyverncakes 10:01 am
(10:01:19 AM): Punisher: Long ranged, tanky machines with shoulder-mounted railguns and sharp claws.
VJockey 10:01 am
(10:01:32 AM): " 'Teritus me and 'Teritus...we're going to help you... that's why we aren't leaving!"
wyverncakes 10:02 am
(10:02:16 AM): Ruthless Eagle: Bird-themed machine with wings, sharp claws, a sword, and also has a beam rifle and bazooka strapped to its body.
frifreeman 10:02 am
(10:02:39 AM): Walt: "Ugh, this is depressing. More than usual. Destroying the world is one thing, but betraying someone like this? I don't actually believe in love, but I'd still like to give you a new asshole, for the sake of those who might still do, like this kid here."
wyverncakes 10:03 am
(10:03:00 AM): Obessive Serpent: Seemingly unarmed machine with serpentine head and tail.
(10:03:10 AM): (Sarah and Walt can go)
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:05 am
(10:05:06 AM): *"Tch, still refusing to be drawn...Alright, I get the message." Sarah takes a deep breath, gathering her energy-and Tiankui bursts towards the enemy lines, shoving anything in its way aside brutally as it rushes towards Canis.+
frifreeman 10:05 am
(10:05:06 AM): Walt: "Team, cover me. I'll make a break to Ren." Walt radio to the Genoace team.
cubey@aol.pl 10:05 am
(10:05:39 AM): Ren sighs deeply.
frifreeman 10:05 am
(10:05:55 AM): With that, Walt fire his genoace's thruster to skate to Ren's position, while the rest of the Genoace team open fire to his surrounding."
(10:05:58 AM): +
cubey@aol.pl 10:06 am
(10:06:03 AM): Ren: "Hen. It's true."
(10:06:18 AM): Ren: "The world... would be better off without you."
(10:06:27 AM): @ Walt and Sarah
wyverncakes 10:06 am
(10:06:31 AM): Hen: "What?"
(10:06:40 AM): (Approved)
cubey@aol.pl 10:07 am
(10:07:44 AM): *Ren elaborates no further. But an aura of bright light shines over their body briefly, and spreads to allies before dissipating.+
(10:07:52 AM): The fighting Kin will find themselves in a surprise.
wyverncakes 10:10 am
(10:10:34 AM): [Ren, Walt, and Sarah] Ren's blessing goes into effect not a moment too soon. The Kin's protective barriers are compromised and the 08th Genoace team's shots blast off the arm and wing of a Tormentor before the others are forced to scatter. The damaged one crashes to the ground, and Walt's able to reach Ren! And in the meantime, Tiankui is able to force its way through the confusion to attack the Canis... who springs back and continues opening fire on the machine with a flurry of beam and physical rounds!
(10:10:40 AM): (React: Sarah)
(10:12:29 AM): Hen: "Still ignoring the truth of the matter..."
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:12 am
(10:12:49 AM): *She rips the sword, still in its sealed form from Tiankui's hip, and starts parrying the beams and bullets flying her way...and continues her advance.+
wyverncakes 10:13 am
(10:13:35 AM): (Ataru, Volya)
VJockey 10:15 am
(10:15:27 AM): *Interitus lets out a low growl before parts of the ground and ceiling seem to distort. Then vines burst from them, growing wildly to quickly grab at both Kin machines and the Canis - any attempting to avoid said vines would also find a spray of sap heading their way as well!+
wyverncakes 10:15 am
(10:15:39 AM): [Sarah] There's certainly a lot of shots coming your way courtesy of the Jotun Carver, each one precise and well-aimed. Still, your defenses hold.
Meraxa 10:16 am
(10:16:09 AM): Ataru: The truth is that you people are horrid! *Ataru puts together his particle gun, and quite quickly takes aim at the Ruthless Eagle, aiming for its wings!+
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:16 am
(10:16:24 AM): "Predictable..."
wyverncakes 10:16 am
(10:16:31 AM): Hen: "People in general are horrid!"
cubey@aol.pl 10:16 am
(10:16:52 AM): Ren seems despirited and barely able to move even when Walt helps them get off the pole.
wyverncakes 10:17 am
(10:17:04 AM): "It's thanks to Mark, one of your own, that any of this happened, lest you forget!"
cubey@aol.pl 10:17 am
(10:17:32 AM): The kin's mission was not to kill Ren, but to break their spirit. And it looks like that mission was not entirely unsuccessful...
frifreeman 10:18 am
(10:18:16 AM):
wyverncakes 10:16 pm
Hen: "People in general are horrid!"
(10:18:21 AM): Walt: "I actually agree."
VJockey 10:19 am
(10:19:12 AM): "...People are terrible..."
wyverncakes 10:19 am
(10:19:26 AM): [Volya] Your MAP vines surge out, Kin machines trying to hack through them or dodge. But there's your sap to worry about too, and the damaged Tormentor on top of it. The vines snatch it and a sluggish Punisher up, and the Canis stumbles and gets a leg gooed up on the floor too! But several of the other Tormentors begin to cut through and free their companions, Punishers in turn aiming their guns on Interitus and firing!
(10:19:31 AM): (React: Volya)
Meraxa 10:19 am
(10:19:35 AM): Ataru: And it doesn't change my point at all! You aren't deflecting the blame at all!
VJockey 10:19 am
(10:19:52 AM): "But that doesn't give anyone the right to decide who suffers or not!"
(10:21:21 AM): *Well with all of then clustered together this gives Interitus a particularly good oppertunity. Despite any damage she would take from the attacks she unleashes both a storm of lasers to disable the enemy machines as well as a stun cloud blast!+
wyverncakes 10:22 am
(10:22:31 AM): [Ataru] Your shots force Hen to worry about dodging and not giving a rebuttal, the Ruthless Eagle taking to the air. But your shots still could have hit... if not for suddenly the Obsessive Serpent intervening, spinning around and striking your gun away before its lower body wraps around the gun to try to crush it!
(10:23:07 AM): ???: "I won't allow you to harm Hen!"
(10:23:19 AM): (React: Ataru)
(10:23:54 AM): Hen: "Ha... excellent timing, Chou."
(10:24:02 AM): (Sarah and Walt)
Meraxa 10:26 am
(10:26:12 AM): Ataru: And you... I won't you people hurt Ren anymore! *Ataru opens up the missile pods, and lets fly several shells straight towards the serpent's face!+
wyverncakes 10:28 am
(10:28:15 AM): [Volya] Interitus is struck by a number of the Punishers' shots, the black twisted metal stabbing into the plant-dragon-girl-thing. But the Kin machines pay dearly for their attack, two of them being blasted apart by the laser storm and the others suffering damage from the electric storm.
(10:29:07 AM): (Updated enemies: Tormentor x 6 (three damaged), Punisher x 3, Ruthless Eagle (Hen), Obsessive Serpent (???), Canis (Mark) (partially gooped up))
wyverncakes 10:30 am
(10:30:43 AM): [Ataru] The serpentine machine is struck by the first few shells, loosening its grip on your gun-arm before serious damage can be done to it, but Chou's machine jerks to and fro, like a snake to dodge the rest of your attacks. At least you forced it back a bit.
VJockey 10:31 am
(10:31:08 AM): [Interitus whines in pain. Yeah those things really hurt.]
wyverncakes 10:31 am
(10:31:24 AM): Hen: "Even if you stop us though, what's going to change?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:31 am
(10:31:32 AM): *"Running away is just like your sort, isn't it..." And Sarah charges towards the Canis again, swinging her sword. With it still sealed, it won't cut...but it still a giant, nigh-indestructible block of metal.+
wyverncakes 10:31 am
(10:31:34 AM): "The world will hurt Ren plenty, I promise you that!"
(10:32:15 AM): "For every saint, there's a hundred sinnes. And those 'saints' usually turn out to be the worst of them all!"
Meraxa 10:33 am
(10:33:07 AM): Ataru: And 99 won't know her name! 99 won't be trying to hurt her personally!
wyverncakes 10:33 am
(10:33:27 AM): ^sinners
(10:33:48 AM): [Sarah] The Canis might be stuck momentarily, but it doesn't last as Mark just opts to shoot out the gooped-up section of the mech's leg. Your sword smashes into the floor as the Canis spins around opening fire on you from behind!
(10:33:51 AM): (React: Sarah)
(10:34:13 AM): Mark: "Killing people is my thing."
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:34 am
(10:34:53 AM): *"That makes two of us!" Sarah whirls around, trying to go for a parry again.+
frifreeman 10:35 am
(10:35:25 AM): Walt: "I got you, Ren." Walt open up his cockpit and let Ren enter. "Time to skedaddle out of here. Team, open a path for me." The 8th genoace team do just that, firing around and moving toward Walt, while walt boost toward them, to join back the formation."+
(10:36:36 AM): Walt: "Are you alright?"
cubey@aol.pl 10:36 am
(10:36:55 AM): Ren enters Walt's cockpit. Despite their current emotional state, they're not actually being a detriment to others trying to help.
wyverncakes 10:36 am
(10:36:57 AM): [Sarah] You're a hair too slow, the Canis managing to shoot Tiankui in the back. But your machine's sturdy enough that just a few shots isn't enough to take you down, and at close-range your sword smashes into the Canis's gun. Whoops there goes the beam cannon component.
cubey@aol.pl 10:37 am
(10:37:21 AM): Ren: "I have... something important to tell you."
cubey@aol.pl 10:37 am
(10:37:44 AM): Ren: "This is the place where I was born. Where all the kin were born. The facility that was transported from the future."
(10:38:04 AM): Ren actually avoids Walt's gaze, opting to look down the whole time.
wyverncakes 10:38 am
(10:38:57 AM): [Walt] The Genoaces move to form up, but even as they do that... "Now which flying coffin is Ren in?" Up above, the Ruthless Eagle pulls out its bazooka, opening fire on the entire grouping!
(10:39:02 AM): (React: Walt and co.)
(10:39:16 AM): (Ataru and Volya)
cubey@aol.pl 10:39 am
(10:39:17 AM): Ren: "..."
(10:39:17 AM): #
wyverncakes 10:39 am
(10:39:27 AM): (Approved)
cubey@aol.pl 10:41 am
(10:41:07 AM): Ren: "It's true that life is suffering. I saw so many people endure horrible things... though perhaps in the end, I was too lucky or sheltered myself."
Meraxa 10:42 am
(10:42:11 AM): Ataru checks the status of his gun. Looks okay, but he may not want to stress it too much... with that in mind, he fires up the machine gun turret, trying to see if he can be hit the Serpent through rapid fire bullets!+
cubey@aol.pl 10:42 am
(10:42:50 AM): Ren: "But it's all the less reason to add to the suffering yourself, don't you think? Hen, I think we are the real monsters here."
wyverncakes 10:42 am
(10:42:52 AM): Chou: "Yes! Hen showed you the truth! They-"
VJockey 10:43 am
(10:43:31 AM): *Interitus launches herself at the Ruthless Eagle to tackle it!&
cubey@aol.pl 10:43 am
(10:43:56 AM): *The Genoace squad is bathed in another explosion of light as Ren braces themselves. This is going to be painful - and also very distracting for the enemy!+
frifreeman 10:44 am
(10:44:27 AM): Walt: " Spread out!" each member of the 8th Genoace team fire their thrusters and jump to different directions with shield covering their head..+
frifreeman 10:46 am
(10:46:05 AM): Walt: "So, what about the future, Ren? I'm just saying, we could all die here. So if you want someone to know your story, this might be the last chance."
wyverncakes 10:46 am
(10:46:06 AM): [Ataru] But Chou can't be more of a loyal underling because Ataru puts more pressure on the Serpent! Instead it tries to slip out of Gold Four's cone of fire... even though more bullets hit its side. But while you're doing this, two Tormentors take the opportunity to charge, having speed where the Serpent has dodginess, both slashing at the AHSMB's a chest!
(10:46:14 AM): (React: Ataru)
cubey@aol.pl 10:48 am
(10:48:46 AM): Ren: "I thought I shared my story already? I'll be happy to repeat myself, but please get out of this alive first."
wyverncakes 10:49 am
(10:49:12 AM): [Volya and Ren] The first missiles miss the Genoaces, but only barely. The lot of them are rocked, crashing together and with one of their cockpits getting smashed up a little bit too much. Ren, you get to feel all of this. The heat, the bruising and cuts, even the sudden pain of a piece of mobile suit going through a thigh. Not pleasant at all. But it kept everyone alive... and it gave Volya the time to tackle the Ruthless Eagle.
cubey@aol.pl 10:49 am
(10:49:30 AM): Ren: "Ghh...!"
VJockey 10:49 am
(10:49:39 AM): "Please! Stop this!"
cubey@aol.pl has left the room. 10:49 am
cubey@aol.pl has been invited. 10:52 am
Meraxa 10:54 am
(10:54:01 AM): Ataru: Come on... *Ataru tries to cut this as close as he can... diving back to try and let the Tormentors get in the way of each other, as he brings his particle gun to bear, and fires at their faces+
cubey@aol.pl has entered the room. 10:57 am
wyverncakes 11:00 am
(11:00:05 AM): [Volya cont.] Hen snarls, first in confusion and then in anger as the plant monster tackles them out of the air. The bazooka scatters to the ground, and Hen pulls free his beam rifle to try to open fire on Interitus from point-blank range instead! "Why bother?!"
(11:00:12 AM): (React/continue: Volya)
cubey@aol.pl 11:01 am
(11:01:25 AM): Ren: "Walt, are you and your wingmen alright?"
wyverncakes 11:01 am
(11:01:27 AM): [Ataru] The Tormentors strike nothing but empty air with their daggers. Sometimes it pays for a longer-reaching weapon, but they don't live long enough to apply that knowledge or strike again, because you particle gun blows both of the fragile mechs away in one go.
(11:01:43 AM): (Sarah and Walt)
cubey@aol.pl 11:01 am
(11:01:48 AM): Words spoken through pain, but for every wound Ren sustains - and bleeds on the inside of Walt's cockpit by the way, one more person may be saved.
VJockey 11:02 am
(11:02:05 AM): *Either way Interitus keeps her hold on the Kin Machine+
cubey@aol.pl 11:02 am
(11:02:14 AM): Ren: "Saints... and sinners. What do these words mean, really?"
frifreeman 11:02 am
(11:02:26 AM): Walt: "As alright as we could be, being soldiers in a wartorn world."
VJockey 11:02 am
(11:02:42 AM): "Ren's one of you... no matter how bad you are Interitus keeps thinking you can still be as kind as Ren!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:03 am
(11:03:09 AM): Ren: "The truth is, a person is a person. No matter what they do, it's because of a reason. You can't look at someone and judge what they did without thinking why."
wyverncakes 11:03 am
(11:03:21 AM): Hen: "What it means... is you're either a monster who's honest about it, or one that's a hypocrite...!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:03 am
(11:03:32 AM): Ren: "And you definitely can't judge a lot of humanity just for actions of few!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:04 am
(11:04:12 AM): Ren: "You are a monster Hen. Not for being a soulless artificial creation..."
wyverncakes 11:04 am
(11:04:30 AM): [Volya] Interitus gets shot again and again by Hen's beam weapon. By all rights the amount of firepower being emptied into it should've been enough to at least loosen its hold on the Ruthless Eagle if not cause more severe damage.
cubey@aol.pl 11:04 am
(11:04:34 AM): Ren: "But for being so judgemental of others and willing to waste their lives for your own sake!"
(11:04:52 AM): Ren's arm gestures to the side, towards the Genoace team, as if to make a point.
(11:05:07 AM): Well, not that anyone can see that, though the arm almost hit Walt's head so there is that.
wyverncakes 11:05 am
(11:05:18 AM): ... But Ren's protection reaches far enough that the quite-organic plant monster can benefit from it.
cubey@aol.pl 11:05 am
(11:05:21 AM): Ren: "Ah, sorry. Please, stay poetic, that helps a lot."
frifreeman 11:05 am
(11:05:39 AM): Walt: "Okay Ren, let's team up here. I'll leave the quip and philosophical discussion to you, you leave the shooting to me." Walt brace his genoace and raise his dods gun toward Hen, before shooting at him.+
wyverncakes 11:07 am
(11:07:11 AM): Hen: "There is nothing 'judgmental' about seeing... how many people act -dammit, die already!"
arachnion01@gmail.com 11:07 am
(11:07:57 AM): Sarah: "...Your boss is losing it, Mr. Pro Bono assassin."
cubey@aol.pl 11:09 am
(11:09:27 AM): Ren: "Hen, I think I told you already..."
(11:09:50 AM): Ren: "Do you think..." A pause for Ren to wipe the blood off their face. Well - also blood.
(11:10:40 AM): Ren: "Do you think I will lose faith in humanity over seeing a single individual's actions? You are not as good at reading people as you think you are. Rather, I would just call you..."
wyverncakes 11:10 am
(11:10:42 AM): [Walt (and techniclly also Volya)] The DODS shot spears through the air at the bound Eagle, but the machine angles its own rifle in the course of the shot! The weapon is struck and there's an explosion, knocking Interitus free as the damaged Eagle draws its sword once more. Its other hand is gone, and in fact that side of its body looks warped and burnt by the explosion, mirroring Hen's mismatching eyes.
cubey@aol.pl 11:10 am
(11:10:45 AM): Ren: "I would just call you outright naive!"
wyverncakes 11:11 am
(11:11:17 AM): Hen: "I..."
(11:11:23 AM): "I-...!"
wyverncakes 11:11 am
(11:11:30 AM): "Am the FURTHEST!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:11 am
(11:11:31 AM): Ren: "I have nothing else to say to you. Mark..."
wyverncakes 11:11 am
(11:11:38 AM): "You can get from 'naive'!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:11 am
(11:11:49 AM): Ren: "Mark... was it really all a lie? Everything we have been through?"
(11:11:52 AM): Ren smiles sadly.
(11:11:56 AM): "It really was, wasn't it?"
wyverncakes 11:13 am
(11:13:24 AM): Mark's silence is all the answer you get, or really need.
cubey@aol.pl 11:13 am
(11:13:56 AM): Ren: "That's too bad. Still..."
wyverncakes 11:14 am
(11:14:03 AM): (Sarah can still act. Volya and Ataru can also act as well)
cubey@aol.pl 11:14 am
(11:14:22 AM): "At least my other friends got here. Their act is all I need to know that their motives are genuine."
wyverncakes 11:15 am
(11:15:38 AM): Hen: "You say that... but you can't be sure! Right?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 11:15 am
(11:15:53 AM): *"Ah, well, talk or don't, either way is fine." Sarah approaches the Canis more slowly at first, testing the waters-then rushes in with a stabbing attack towards the unit's neck.+
wyverncakes 11:16 am
(11:16:04 AM): "And even if they're nice today, there's always tomorrow!"
(11:16:10 AM): "You can't be certain!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:16 am
(11:16:42 AM): Ren: "I'll deal with it."
(11:17:13 AM): Ren: "The precious memories will remain. No matter what happens in the future, what has already been done cannot be changed."
wyverncakes 11:17 am
(11:17:22 AM): [Sarah] The Canis pulls free its own beam saber and swings it to block your strike, and it brings up the Jotun Carver again to fire on Tiankui's chest in the meantime!
cubey@aol.pl 11:17 am
(11:17:25 AM): Ren: "The same is with Mark."
wyverncakes 11:17 am
(11:17:28 AM): (React: Sarah)
cubey@aol.pl 11:17 am
(11:17:36 AM): Ren: "Mark!"
wyverncakes 11:17 am
(11:17:39 AM): Hen: "But those memories are a lie!"
(11:17:45 AM): "Don't you get that?!?"
Meraxa 11:18 am
(11:18:56 AM): Ataru: And why should that then define the rest of her existence? Her entire life view?!
arachnion01@gmail.com 11:19 am
(11:19:23 AM): *Sarah says nothing, simply grimacing slightly. But when her strike is parried, she doesn't stand still-she throws her back leg up in a powerful glowing kick towards the Canis-and, more importantly, its gun.+
cubey@aol.pl 11:19 am
(11:19:51 AM): Ren: "Don't I?"
VJockey 11:20 am
(11:20:12 AM): *Interitus lets loose with a blast of constrictive sap at Hen!+
Meraxa 11:20 am
(11:20:14 AM): Ataru appears to aim to clip the Ruthless' wings once more... but he's trying to draw out the serpent, so he can can get a clear shot on it instead!+
wyverncakes 11:22 am
(11:22:46 AM): [Sarah] The swords knock each other away, but Mark's attempt at shooting you falls flat. The gun's knocked up and away, a few shots striking Tiankui's upper chest and shoulder but failing to deliver decisive damage.
(11:24:40 AM): [Ataru] Your fake-out does lure the Obsessive Serpent in again, but this time it doesn't opt to try to coil you up. Instead, as you turn your gun towards it it sprays out a mix of acid and shrapnel at your gun arm!
(11:24:43 AM): (React: Ataru)
wyverncakes 11:26 am
(11:26:25 AM): [Volya] The sap sprays out at the Ruthless Eagle, but the machine instead charges, letting the goop splatter all over its wings as they fold down like a cloak. They're stuck there now, but its hand is still free to strike at you with the sword, and there's Punishers too, opening fire to make good on finishing off Interitus!
(11:26:27 AM): (React: Volya)
Meraxa 11:26 am
(11:26:32 AM): Ataru: Ugh! THAT's freaky! *Ataru tries to dodge roll after making his shot anyway, but he may be cutting it too close this time...!+
wyverncakes 11:29 am
(11:29:09 AM): [Ataru] Freaky or not, Chou is giving his all for Hen, and the combined attack splatters and pierces into Gold Four's chest. You evaded the worst of it, but the armor's still wearing away and there are alarms going off inside... but you also blasted off part of the Serpent's head too!
(11:29:24 AM): Chou: "Ghhh... if only... if only you hadn't come....!"
(11:29:57 AM): "Then Ren would've had to accept things as they are!"
(11:30:10 AM): (Sara and Walt)
VJockey 11:30 am
(11:30:17 AM): "She wouldn't have..."
(11:30:28 AM): "The kind of person Ren is..."
VJockey 11:31 am
(11:31:57 AM): *About that Hen... Interitus is going to grab that sword while letting loose with another energy barrage at the incoming shots. She simply squeezes down on the blade to break it apart despite any damage she and Volya feel.+
arachnion01@gmail.com 11:32 am
(11:32:42 AM): *"Well...Sword versus sword, is it? I think this'll end here." Sarah circles around the Canis slowly, keeping her guard up-and then she sighs, and lowers her weapon so it's pointing at the ground-and leaving her open for attack.&
frifreeman 11:34 am
(11:34:54 AM): Walt's not going to waste the chance given by volya. "Everyone, focus fire on Hen now!" And with that, the 8th MS team fire their guns toward Hen from various points of the room where they're currently scattered.
(11:34:57 AM): +
wyverncakes 11:37 am
(11:37:24 AM): [Volya and and Walt] The sword bites into Interitus's hand, the Punishers' shots mostly being cancelled out by the not-Derpfestor's counterattack. And squeezing, squeezing gripping... the Eagle's blade does indeed crack and break apart... but Hen still has a broken half-sword at his disposal! They strike at Interitus once... but the sudden additional fire from the Genoaces forces Hen back! "Of all the... everyone! We're retreating!"
(11:38:46 AM): This, however... doesn't mean the remaining mooks are just going to turn and run though. Instead, the remaining Punishers turn their fire on the Genoaces, shoulder cannons firing relentlessly to cover the escape!
(11:38:50 AM): (React: Walt and co.)
VJockey 11:39 am
(11:39:53 AM): #Walt & Co
wyverncakes 11:40 am
(11:40:49 AM): [Sarah] Mark isn't dumb enough to just charge in and attack. At least not immediately. But once the Punishers begin attacking, there's more than a few shots fired at Tiankui's backside and the Canis makes its move then! A quick strike to Tiankui's sword-hand, angled to stab into the chest if all goes well but if not then there's still making a break for it!
(11:40:53 AM): (React: Sarah)
(11:40:58 AM): (Approved)
VJockey 11:42 am
(11:42:27 AM): *The kin seem to assume that Interitus was going to let this happen. She wasn't. She unleashes yet another barrage of energy that weaves towards the incoming projectiles, but not only that but to chase them right back to their source!+
arachnion01@gmail.com 11:43 am
(11:43:32 AM): *Sarah does her best to ignore those shots at her backside, and as the Canis charges she flicks her own blade upwards to knock Mark's attack off-course-then drops her sword, moves in a step further, and delivers a full-power punch straight at his unit's chest.+
wyverncakes 11:46 am
(11:46:35 AM): [Sarah] The sword is knocked aside again... and in an instant your fist smashes into the Canis's chest. But just as it appears that you'll perform your best Daimos impersonation, Tiankui's shot in the back, blown away and your attack is cut short!
(11:46:47 AM): Mark: "Goodbye."
(11:47:17 AM): Lacking the weapons to put you down, he just makes good on his escape as well.
arachnion01@gmail.com 11:47 am
(11:47:39 AM): Sarah: "Gah..."
frifreeman 11:48 am
(11:48:32 AM): The 8th genoace team just do their best defending themselves by burying their ace on their shield.+
cubey@aol.pl 11:49 am
(11:49:12 AM): Ren: "Mark..."
(11:49:17 AM): Ren: "Good-bye."
wyverncakes 11:49 am
(11:49:58 AM): [Volya and Walt] The energy crashes into the cannons' sharpnel... thinning out the number of projectiles heading towards the Genoaces. Two of the energy streams even have enough force left to punch through the Punishers to cut down on the crossfire. The end result is that most of the Genoaces only get mildly perforated by sharpnel, and the last of them only has its shield-arm and head torn up.
(11:50:47 AM): The Canis stops for a moment though...
wyverncakes 11:51 am
(11:51:16 AM): ... If only to scoop up Hen's discarded bazooka from before though as the remaining Kin mechs begin their retreat.
(11:51:56 AM): (Everyone can take a free action is they wish)
(11:52:15 AM): Mark: "... not just yet though..."
(11:52:54 AM): Hen: "This won't be the end of it, I assure you...!"
wyverncakes 11:53 am
(11:53:57 AM): "As many times as it takes, you'll see just how rotten people can be!"
cubey@aol.pl 11:57 am
(11:57:50 AM): Ren: "No..."
(11:57:58 AM): Ren: "I don't think you should get away from this, Hen."
griefgathering has left the room. 11:58 am
frifreeman 11:59 am
(11:59:13 AM): Walt raises his wrecked Genoace's arm and open fire at Hen.
Meraxa 12:00 pm
(12:00:49 PM): Ataru: You're not getting away! *Ataru's particle gun still works, funny enough, and so the fleeing foes are in range. Ataru aims for the back of the serpent... and fires!+
wyverncakes 12:02 pm
(12:02:18 PM): [Ataru and Walt] The shots cut through the air in an instant... the Ruthless Eagle too damaged to move fast enough and its wings still stuck to its body to prevent flight.
(12:02:21 PM): "Hen!"
wyverncakes 12:03 pm
(12:03:31 PM): The Obsessive Serpent moves to try to assist, and as a result only an arm gets blown off rather than its chest. But it's too late. It can't get there. None of the Kin machines can.
(12:03:43 PM): And there's a brief, shocked cry of fear from Hen themself...
(12:04:12 PM): The DODS Gun shot strikes metal, drilling through it with ease.
(12:04:28 PM): ... But it doesn't hit the Eagle.
(12:05:06 PM): In the blink of an eye, the Canis got in the path of Walt's shot, and, well...
cubey@aol.pl 12:05 pm
(12:05:52 PM): Ren: "..!"
wyverncakes 12:06 pm
(12:06:09 PM): Ren...
(12:06:27 PM): ... In a matter of milliseconds it will be too late.
cubey@aol.pl 12:06 pm
(12:06:33 PM): #
wyverncakes 12:06 pm
(12:06:34 PM): But dare you actually...?
(12:06:38 PM): (Approved)
cubey@aol.pl 12:07 pm
(12:07:18 PM): Ren: "... No! Mark!"
(12:07:38 PM): *This may be a very stupid thing to do, all things considered. Considering what has happened recently - but still.
cubey@aol.pl 12:08 pm
(12:08:12 PM): *Ren uses their psychic powers to establish a connection. Mark - you have nothing to be afraid of regarding this one attack.+
wyverncakes 12:09 pm
(12:09:37 PM): [Ren] The shot spears through the Canis, coming out at an angle and tearing most of the mech apart.
cubey@aol.pl 12:10 pm
(12:10:07 PM): Ren: "I'm sorry Mark.... hgggh!"
wyverncakes 12:10 pm
(12:10:15 PM): And in the meantime, the shocked cry from Hen gives way to a more relieved one.
(12:10:24 PM): The remaining Kin make good on their escape.
cubey@aol.pl 12:10 pm
(12:10:35 PM): Ren on the other hand gasps in pain as a huge wound sprouts on their chest.
(12:10:48 PM): Ren: "But... in the end..."
wyverncakes 12:10 pm
(12:10:56 PM): And you're left in the facility with the trashed Canis... a figure falling out of it onto the ground.
(12:10:59 PM): Mark.
cubey@aol.pl 12:11 pm
(12:11:02 PM): Ren: "Even if it was all false, my emotions don't change."
wyverncakes 12:11 pm
(12:11:05 PM): Alive...
cubey@aol.pl 12:11 pm
(12:11:06 PM): Ren: "I..."
(12:11:22 PM): Ren: "I love you Mark."
wyverncakes 12:11 pm
(12:11:30 PM): Mark: "You still saved..."
cubey@aol.pl 12:11 pm
(12:11:38 PM): And with that being said, Ren slumps down in Walt's cockpit.
(12:11:53 PM): The wounds were too much and the pain is overwhelming, so they can't stay conscious anymore.
frifreeman 12:12 pm
(12:12:15 PM): Walt: "Gah! Ren!"
VJockey 12:12 pm
(12:12:45 PM): "Ren!"
wyverncakes 12:12 pm
(12:12:53 PM): Looking up at the Genoace, Mark seems to pause for a moment.
(12:13:19 PM): Mark: "Ren. I loved you too."
arachnion01@gmail.com 12:13 pm
(12:13:46 PM): Sarah: "...Just...stop talking."
wyverncakes 12:13 pm
(12:13:54 PM): There's a movement down at his hands, a glint of something small and black.
wyverncakes 12:15 pm
(12:15:01 PM): ... And then he pulls the trigger.
(12:15:12 PM): The gun fires up into his own head.
(12:16:40 PM): The end result is not pretty, and what's left of Mark falls to the ground, lifeless, afterwards.
wyverncakes 12:18 pm
(12:18:13 PM): That's the end of dealing with all of the active kin in this facility. But not all the other kin...
VJockey 12:18 pm
(12:18:46 PM): "!!"
(12:18:53 PM): "..."
(12:19:03 PM): "Sarah... what..."
(12:19:09 PM): "What just happened..?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 12:19 pm
(12:19:39 PM): "...Mark shot himself. Why...I dunno."
(12:20:00 PM): "...I'm just...too tired, right now."
wyverncakes 12:23 pm
(12:23:28 PM): Beyond Mark and the downed Canis, the route leading out of the facility takes you back to the rows upon rows of kin still growing.
wyverncakes 12:26 pm
(12:26:25 PM): As Ren said, this was where the kin were made.
(12:27:07 PM): But the kin are supposed to be born with horns.
(12:27:52 PM): They're a sign of many things, most importantly a faith in humanity's inherent goodness.
wyverncakes 12:28 pm
(12:28:29 PM): Ones without... are just going to turn into more people like Hen.
(12:28:54 PM): Or if not like him, like Chou. Loyal followers.
(12:30:08 PM): The question is, what (if anything) will you do on account of this?
arachnion01@gmail.com 12:30 pm
(12:30:34 PM): Sarah: "Well, let's go home."
Meraxa 12:31 pm
(12:31:17 PM): Ataru: ...Guess I'll file the paperwork...
(12:31:48 PM): Ataru: I mean, the MJP programme are the closest people with expertise on this...
VJockey 12:32 pm
(12:32:14 PM): "..."
arachnion01@gmail.com 12:32 pm
(12:32:20 PM): "Maybe get someone to watch them while we're out..."
VJockey 12:32 pm
(12:32:27 PM): "Maybe..."
frifreeman 12:32 pm
(12:32:36 PM): Walt: "What a day..."
VJockey 12:32 pm
(12:32:39 PM): "But... do we know anyone who wouldn'r hurt them..?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 12:33 pm
(12:33:18 PM): Sarah: "I should hope we can trust unity group people with that."
wyverncakes 12:34 pm
(12:34:36 PM): MISSION ACCOMPLISHED