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Post by Tiefy on Jun 6, 2017 12:40:38 GMT -8
<...Do not think that I will not be observing closely.>
And with that, the PET speaker falls silent. Minerva breathes a sigh of relief, glad that this situation was defused quickly. Normally, Thrash isn't so easily appeased after a brush with mischief...
"Whew. Sorry about all that... erm. If it's a tour you want, well... you're looking at about all there is to see. This is a pretty small town, and to be honest, I'm technically not a local - I actually live about an hour's walk out into the country from here."
This would probably explain why she sticks out like a sore thumb in contrast to the decor of the place. Come to think of it, Shane hadn't exactly been searching for long - this was literally the first place he stopped to look.
<... ... ...>
Though the conversation outside of the network has ended as far as the occupants of the cyberworld are concerned, Thrash continues to sit in place, glowering at the sky as if shooting an unamused glare at the gods above and their childish antics...
<...Prodigies are prone to being snuffed out for burning too brightly, unless they learn to rein themselves in. Your master would do well to remember that, as would you. You are not given fear simply so that you can ignore it, after all...>
And with that, the creature suddenly stretches out, arching its spine-less back like a cat, digging a new set of jagged crystaline claws into the ground. This is probably the closest to a relaxed state that Nightshade has seen out of his new acquaintance, and yet he can still feel the tension in the air...
<Your lack of skill was plain to see on that day - I came to the NetSquare that day looking to pick a fight to sate my thirst, and yet there you were, practically stumbling over your own feet as if they weren't even yours. You are heavily customized, for such a greenhorn battler... perhaps you were quite literally not accustomed to your own body, after a recent rebuild or upgrade? I know the feeling all too well, to look in a mirror and see a face that I do not recognize.>
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Post by Nightshade on Jun 6, 2017 13:29:46 GMT -8
Nightshade sat down beside the Daemon. He looked down at his feet as she mentioned them. He shuffled his claws around before pulling his legs under him in a crossed position. "I...rarely ever fought before." He admitted. "I mostly deleted a few viruses, but I never actually partook in any serious battling"
He turned his head up looking at the mask the thing was wearing. The armor it had on her body looked ancient, almost too brittle to be used in combat. He wondered if he could repay her unacknowledged gift by sending her a new Armor.cstm. The one she was using was waaaay outdated. "You look like you fought alot. Your armor is so scruffed, battered and broken... you could use a new one..."
He curled his own tail at the side before continuing. "Shane is a nice person. He...he cares deeply for me. The look you see...well you are right. It was my first day with this new look. He allowed me to decide who and how I wanted to be."
He was quiet for a moment, wondering if Thrash was actually listening to any of his words. She didn't seem to show much interest in him, that wasn't a new feeling. The black and green navi placed a claw onto his chest armor. "He...he worked alot to purchase the best customization tools for me. I am really really grateful. He spent so much money just to make me happy. This look you see...costed over 100k Zenny to archieve. Mostly because the tail and feet designs were incredibly difficult to integrate in my GeneKit.bat without creating bugs. He said that he wanted me to feel special because I really was special in his eyes. The generic NSD navi look with just slightly different colors felt...well...I didn't like it. I didn't like it at all. I want to be as special as Shane is. I want to shine too."
Nightshade then turned his eyes down on the ground. "That day...I was alone. I went to the net to try and get some mystery data for Shane. I wanted to repay him for the incredible sacrifices he made for me. I couldn't know that you would pick me over many others navis to fight against. You...you're a Darkloid, aren't you? I can feel the same power DarkChips have seeping away from you. I...I was scared. Hell, I still am scared. You tried to delete me. If I didn't shut off your DarkSoul by sheer luck I..."
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Post by Tiefy on Jun 6, 2017 19:52:24 GMT -8
<You fought with every tool at your disposal. Not a single option was left to go to waste, you showcased everything that you were capable of to survive my onslaught. And in doing so, you learned your limits, your strengths, your faults...>
A lot can be discerned about a person from their mannerisms and choice of words. And right now, this monster seems to be speaking from personal experience. One has to wonder what sort of heavy customization work goes into a shapeshifter Navi, or how long it took this creature to learn its own limits when it took its first steps into the world. Perhaps, such an experience is what drove it to delve into the powers of darkness in the first place...
<Would you have learned nearly as much, had I simply unleashed my full power that day? What could you have possibly learned, without being given that precious chance to fight back and show yourself what you were capable of if backed into a corner?>
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Post by Nightshade on Jun 7, 2017 1:42:49 GMT -8
Nightshade thought for a moment. "...nothing. You would have simply deleted me. But...how do you know all this stuff...and why would you ever teach me something, if you were there just to fight? And then there's this..."
He picked up the holo image of his new megachip again. "Hydra Promience. It's a powerful move..."
The smaller navi twisted the thing in his hands before looking up. "Thrash...um...can you...can you teach me how to fight?" He asked out of nowhere. "You know...you kinda did before...so I wondered if you could...help me get stronger like you." _______________________________________________
Shane walked beside the younger girl, reading some rather interesting facts on his ADLink. He was slightly surprised to see Thrash in the archives, she was clearly a Darkloid. What he didn't think of finding was everything else. Apparently, Thrash was no navi. It was a weapon created centuries ago. Not only that, but it was a pretty big NetMafia case too. That would explain its fighting prowess. Still, weapons do not have emotion programs installed in them. They are just ruthless machines bent on aggression. He needed to know more about this Daemon project, maybe the little girl's sister knew what he needed to find out.
"Lady Minerva, I do know your elder sister may have a tight schedule, but I would like to reserve a one hour appointment with her. I would like to introduce myself to Lady Nina and discuss of some...business stuff. My father has a case file open which would clearly benefit from her imput as an expert of her profession." He mumbled, still concentrated on taking in all the info Nebula System Dynamics fed his device. He casually checked his PeT and found his partner sitting beside Thrash trying to get some kind of conversation going.
"You know...Nightshade isn't usually an outgoing guy." He stated, looking at the two digital beings sitting side to side. "It's really strange how he wanted to find Thrash at all costs, he who never actually tried to make friends. He improved alot since their very first fight. He is beginning to show more confidence in his abilities. I was even able to NetBattle some of the employees of my Agency. Usually, he was always shy and didn't like fighting at all. He always said he was too weak and that he would easily get deleted, so he wouldn't want me to lose all the money I spent on customization. Yet, here we are, from Echo Ridge to Netsylvania...a new mega chip in our folder and Nighty actually beginning to show some confidence in himself."
He turned over to the girl. "I don't really know what he sees in her, but he has a sixth sense for finding things I could never see even if they would be literally dangling in front of my nose."
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Post by Tiefy on Jun 7, 2017 6:55:11 GMT -8
<...Your naivete is staggering, boy.>
For a brief moment, the creature's body proceeds to lose all shape and structure as its liquid mass folds back into itself, creating a serpentine blob that now rises up and towers above Nightshade. And then, just as quickly, it stands upon thick-muscled legs once more, its therapoidal form restored as quickly as it was cast aside. Apparently, this is easier to Thrash than just simply standing upright... or perhaps it is trying to make a subtle point?
<We have been speaking for mere minutes, your only experience with me being what may have very well been a half-hearted attempt upon your life, for all that you know. I have deflected your questions with naught but half-answers and meandering, and that is enough for you to cease questioning my motivations altogether. If you are serious about being some sort of pupil to me, you should start by exercising a little more caution and a lot more spine. And while you're at it, you can tell your Operator...
<...to stop prattling on like this as if I cannot hear every word that he says!> "-!!!"
This sudden screech from Minerva's PET soundly interrupts the state of deep thought that the girl has sunken into since Shane started talking. In all honesty, this whole situation is starting to unsettle her just a bit - pulling this random stranger in as a second player was a fun diversion while it lasted, the sheer amount of 'investigating' that this guy has apparently done on Minerva and her family is starting to get creepy. In retrospect, she should've had second thoughts about the interaction when she'd noticed that he had pulled his gun out. She'd spaced out somewhere around the point where Shane started rambling about his Navi's introversion, half-plotting an escape from this mess, even considering flagging somebody down for help.
Her PET, however, has other plans.
<If you wish to 'reserve' an appointment with the CEO of Argent Ivy, there are official channels in place to set up a proper meeting - ambushing her sister is neither an effective nor legal way to do so. And for that matter, I would like to see your official Warrant before this investigation of yours continues any further.>
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Post by Nightshade on Jun 7, 2017 8:33:46 GMT -8
Nightshade scrambled, jumping away the moment Thrash began shifting. "SORRYSORRYSORRYSORRY!" He blabbed. He looked down at the ground, somewhat grim "Forget I said a thing." Before immediately seeking out shelter in his own PeT.
"I must say, Thrash that I am highly offended." Shane replied to the Daemon, maintaining his cool. "You are accusing me of something as low as kidnapping. You are accusing an Inspector of the Echo Ridge Police Department of breaking the law. Yet, if I recall correctly...someone has been impersonating other navis. And that certain someone has also attacked a defensless Navi in the middle of Net Plaza. Frankly, between you and me...I have enough solid evidence to convict you for unprovoked assault, use of weapons in a protected area as well as attempted deletion of innocent navi's data. About ten minutes of registered footage from thirty different angles, exclidong the fragments of data we recovered from Nightshade's body itself." His tone became so sharp and cold the man could really rival Thrash herself. You could tell he was mad that the navi had tried to delete his beloved Nightshade. He was acting like an overprotective brother, but his motivations were serious.
"If I wanted, I could have stormed the arcade with...6 or 7 Netopia agents and arrested Lady Minerva here the moment I saw you. Yet, I did not. And I do not mean any kind of harm towards her or her family. But since you want more proof, I shall give you proof."
He pulled out his badge and a search warrant approved by Echo Ridge's hall of justice regarding Nightshade's attack. The warrant had even got international validity as it tied to a few other cases of Darkloid attacks.
"Now, Thrash. I am no bad cop. But I am no good cop either. I do my job how it needs to be done. Meaning that if I say that I want to meet Miss Nina, I will do it at the appropriate times with the appropriate means. The only reason as of why I am here today is because Nightshade wanted to talk with you. I also have the tendency of stating loud and clear what I think. Still, we can leave this in the past or you can try and challenge me. I am willing to let it slide, and you can thank Nighty for that. You should stop trying to fight anyone and everything that doesn't see things like you do, because one day, it could come and bite you in the ass."
He came to a stop not long after, having reached Minerva's place. "If you two are done I shall take my leave. I do have work to attend to. Thanks for the patience and time, Lady Minerva. Please excuse the sudden invasion of your personal space. It has been a pleasant experience talking with you. Have a great day."
He turned around and left without another word. ___________________________________________
To Thrash.
I am deeply sorry to have bothered you. It was my fault Shane came to Minerva. He is a good man, his work made him a little rough. He has seen death many times, it is not easy for him to keep smiling sometimes. He's also obsessed with his work, so please...if you cannot forgive him, please at least accept this as an apology gift from me. I won't be bothering you any longer. Thank you for your time.
All the best in the future, Nightshade
-Attachments: NSD_Armor_v3.2.7.cust
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Post by Tiefy on Jun 7, 2017 9:30:14 GMT -8
Shane's exit stage-left is interrupted by... a number of factors. Starting with his very surroundings - this little chat was clearly quite engrossing, as he managed to not notice that he has walked into some sort of stone-walled compound. A sprawling marble garden sits before the gate that he had hoped to leave Minerva at, the entrance to the somewhat-famed Argent Ivy Prime Vineyard - the root and heart of a modest liquor empire, where the founder of the company grew, fermented, and bottled his first divine mind-numbing concoctions that started it all. The Vineyard earned its fame from the automated irrigation system built into the ornamental gardens on the property: Deep canals cut on either side of the marble-tiled pathways, surrounding and flowing through countless plots of fruit-bearing vines. Silvery shapes can be seen darting through the water, just below the surface - mechanical Koi, controlled from a central network to individually collect their harvest by shooting it off the vines using jets of water, and then delivering them through the canals to a processing area underground. Despite resembling some sort of opulent palatial garden, the sheer effectiveness of this design is what allowed Argent Ivy to become what it is today...
That is what Shane's dossier on the subject of Nina and Minerva Garadi says about the place, anyway, but all he can think about right now is how the hell he walked this far without tripping and falling into one of the canals, given the winding paths leading through the property. As for more pressing factors preventing him from simply departing...
"...You could just knock on the door an-" "Aaaaand just where are YOU going? If you have something to say to me, I'd say this qualifies as the appropriate time." "...Yeah, that."
THAT came from up above, atop the wall that the gates of the Argent Ivy Vineyard are built into. Peering down from above is a pale, bespectacled face crowned with fiery red hair... and a single outstretched arm holding what appears to be a half-full wine glass, though it's hard to tell from this distance. Not only does Shane know exactly who this is from his research, but his ADLink is picking up a score of 185 - something involving recent vandalism and reckless endangerment charges accrued through... graveyard drag-racing? No, he is definitely reading that correctly - and apparently, the charges were settled through payment of all associated fines and damages, rather than any sort of due process.
<Oh, this'll be good.>
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Post by Nightshade on Jun 7, 2017 10:28:57 GMT -8
The cop did not pay any mind to the shouting woman as he rushed to the exit of the facility. "Excuse me, but I have an emergency call! I will be in contact soon."
He was so caught up in Thrash's words he didn't look where he was going. He opened up a map to make sure he was heading the right way this time. The woman appeared drunk and in no condition to talk to. As he already stated to Thrash, he would get an appointment the legit way. Talking to her now would basically be admitting that the Daemon was right.
And he had a point to make. ____________________________________
Four days later, the young man was back in that place, this time in the office of the CEO. He walked around the studio, waiting for Nina Garadi to make her appereance. He took his PeT and glanced at Nightshade. "Hm...that outfit looks good on you."
The navi spun around so that his partner could get a good look. "I mean, I like my normal look better, but if you say that I have to wear this while I am helping you on duty, alright then. I can bear the white undersuit and the Blue/Gold armor cape thing for a few hours." He replied with a slight blush. "Although I feel slightly awkward in it..."
Shane chuckled. "Relax. You only need to connect into their system and ask a program to hand you the usual two things. Security footage and access logs. No one but me or Nina will ever see you, so you can stop feeling shy."
"What if Thrash is here? Maybe she is still mad at me for peeking in her-"
"Nighty, listen to me." Shane cut him short. "You did everything there was to do. You forgave her attack at you, tried to thank her for her gift and tried to help me with my job. You also gave her a new Armor customizable program to apologise about you asking inappropriate stuff. You have a golden heart, you are a nice navi. If she didn't want to have anything else to do with you it's her problem. She will be losing an amazing chance to get an amazing friend. She will probably be with Lady Minerva at teh arcade again. I am sure we won't run up into her today as well. So stop thinking about that and move on."
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Post by Tiefy on Jun 7, 2017 15:40:20 GMT -8
The duo, in fact, find themselves waiting for several minutes following their arrival. This gives Shane time to admire the decor of the humble office situated in the Garadi Sisters' private estate on the Vineyard grounds. Neat, organized, and well-tidied at a glance, almost suggesting that the room doesn't see much use... until one takes a good look at the walls, and the furnishings. The rose-red paint job doesn't quite hide numerous dents seemingly caused by something large and heavy striking them with immense force, and the small bookshelf set into the back wall seems to be missing a chunk of the back paneling. The computer monitor set upon the prominent heavy desk in the office appears to have a fist print embossed into it...
"...7-GSCi needs to be checked for a possible electrical short before... ah! So sorry to keep you waiting, Detective. "
Still muttering to herself as she walks, the majority shareholder herself now enters the scene at last, far less impaired than during their last meeting. Nina Garadi stands a good head taller than her sister, a towering beanpole of a woman whose fashion sense gives the feel of someone trying very hard to relax... her demeanor, however, is anything but. Black powder wrapped in beige-and-white silk, crowned by a wreath of fiery crimson and ready to explode at the slightest touch. Even as she steps into the room, the CEO of Argent Ivy scarcely glances at Shane, completely fixated on her PET and whatever is being displayed on the screen. The detective may note that Nina's Advance IV Terminal is of the exact same make as Minerva's, save for a silver finish on the outer casing... and the same rose-like insignia embossed on the outside.
"Reroute the flow to the service canals, and shut down the pumps in the affected area. Keep me updated on the harvest... my apologies, we've been having a few system malfunctions keeping us on our toes today. The Master Unit can only do so much to keep things together without proper instruction... so, what can I do for you today, Detective...?"
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Post by Nightshade on Jun 7, 2017 16:12:56 GMT -8
"Kahnnigan." He replied, showing off his badge. "And this his my partner, Nightshade."
The navi shuffled shyly in to view, embarassed by the look of his attire. He bowed down to the lady. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. May I have permission to jack in into your Mainframe network and request basic information such as access logs? I would also be honored to help in case of a virus attack is causing your systems to malfunction." He tried to maintain a confident voice and a polite demeanour. Shane walked over and pinned his badge on his grey belt, having it show on the right side of his trousers. He pulled out the necessary paperwork as well as his ADLink, which he wore. "Now, first of all, I would like to know how can someone drag race in a graveyard... relation to the reason of my visit, none. Curious about how you did it, alot."
Nightshade pulsed into the main core. He straightened his cape/jacket thing and began making his way towards the centre. The unifor he was wearing was enough for the various Firewalls and Security to let him through. He tried to look powerful and secure, walking upright and showing himself around a little. Still, no one could tell he was actually relatively scared and embarassed. Another thing he wasn't fond of that thing he was wearing was that it made him stand out from everything else much more than his grey and black normal stuff with all its white and gold and blues of the ERPD. He finally arrived to the control center, and requested permission to access it. Nightshade's ERPD outfit.
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Post by Tiefy on Jun 8, 2017 8:04:30 GMT -8
Adjusting her gold-rimmed glasses slightly, the firebrand CEO suddenly seems... disappointed at this query? Underwhelmed?
"Tch. If I didn't see that badge of yours already, I'd assume that you were another tabloid reporter... look, everybody has lapses in judgement from time to time. I'm not proud of the methods I chose to let off the night's stress with, nobody was hurt, and all related damages have been settled appropriately. The matter is done and dealt with."
This might be a slightly touchy subject...
As Nightshade makes his way through the Vineyard Mainframe, he begins to notice some... peculiar design choices in the system. The layout is utterly labyrinthine, mimicking the network of waterways that snakes through the facility, making it difficult to find anything. At least, if it weren't for the local Programs, who have been quite helpful. Unusually helpful, in fact - some of them answering his queries before he has even asked them, as if they were expecting him. Faint traces of intense energy are present all throughout the system, often at their strongest around these Programs... at one point, Nightshade swears he saw one of them sink right into the floor just as he was rounding a corner.
Eventually, he reaches his destination - the Mainframe Control Center, represented by a sphere of violet-tinted glass suspended in the air by an unknown force. Seven reddish globes seem to drift and bounce around inside the crystal ball, arcs of electricity passing between them as they draw near to each other. A scrawl of blocky text code runs along the surface of the orb, flowing down to the bottom like a steady stream, giving the whole system the appearance of some sort of ornamental fountain. And yet... the aura of sheer power radiating from it is undeniable, and unmistakeable...
<...Access granted.>
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Post by Nightshade on Jun 8, 2017 9:18:15 GMT -8
Shane took a mental not to only press the CEO about relevant stuff. He sat down and allowed his ADLink to have a quick Threat Level Scan on the lady. He then turned on his serious face. "Alright, Miss Garadi, I would like you to elaborate on Thrash and how it came to be..."
___________________________________________________
Nightshade looked around, lost. That mainframe was unlike anything he had ever seen or been to. He quietly tip toed towards what seemed the center of it all before letting out a shy "Hello? Anyone there?". Without the programs telling him what to do he had no idea how to access the system's logs.The whole thing seemed familiar, though. Rather...felt familiar. Nightshade couldn't put two and two together yet, but it was definetly something he had experienced before.
A shiver ran down his back. He was beginning to think that he should have asked for backup. He wasn't liking the atmosphere.
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Post by Tiefy on Jun 8, 2017 10:01:31 GMT -8
"...Oh, is that it? Here I was, thinking Minerva had gotten into some kind of trouble that she hadn't told me about. She's been causing quite a ruckus taking the Master Unit for 'playtime'... your Navi must've been one of her 'playmates', given that you know her proper name."
Stifling a yawn, Nina sets her PET on the top of her desk carefully... and proceeds to dig out an empty wine glass from a drawer on her side. This is quickly followed by a brown-tinted bottle with a faux-aged label, bearing an intricate and detailed drawing of what appears to be some manner of Northern berserker god, complete with flowing beard and rippling muscles, hurling an entire flaming school bus from the sky, down towards a kneeling man who has set his head upon an anvil. Shane does not recognize the language of the writing upon the label...
"Well, I can tell you what I know, anyway. Thrash is the Master Unit that controls all of the systems in the Vineyard, using a specially-tailored GenKit system to network and manage all of its machinery simultaneously. The harvester drones, the environmental regulation systems, the canal pumps and processing equipment, Thrash can control it all from the Central Mainframe. She's been doing it for over a century and a half, since my great great grandfather first established this Vineyard in 200X. In a way, all of the sattelite breweries and distributors in the company owe Thrash for their existence - none of this would be possible without her."
<...Sigh. You were doing such a good job of keeping up appearances, too. Allow me.>
The red cores floating in the glass sphere blink and flash in unison, and a series of floating screens now appear in the air in front of Nightshade. One appears to be a live feed of all seventy-six security cameras on the premises, including the one now watching the meeting between Shane and Nina. Another window is an endless scrawl of green text upon a black background, some sort of live system log detailing every process and function currently active in the Vineyard systems.
<Mettle is the key that unlocks barred doors, Detective. A little bit of confidence goes a long way."
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Post by Nightshade on Jun 8, 2017 10:32:55 GMT -8
"Hold it!" Shane interrupted when Nina spoke about her elders. "May I inquire the name of the man you are speaking about, please?"
He leaned in, making sure his ADLink would be able to register the name and access any files they may have. Something told me that nave was the key that unlocked the first step of his investigation. He was certain that if the thing was as he had predicted, the Daemon project's case would be opened once again.
_________________________________________
Nightshade jumped. He immediately moved into a defensive stance, frantically looking around. No one was in sight. He slowly rose back upright and stared at the screens, straightening his blue and gold cape. "I...would like to be granted security clearance level two to be able to copy the system's Access.log and RemoteAccess.log." He tried to sound confident, but he was visibly on edge. The area around him looked like some sort of evil lair.
"I...would also like for the program speaking to show itself rather than staying hidden." He added. An audible sign of his uneasyness. If someone looked close enough, they could see that his fingers were balled up in fists to not show their light trembling.
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Post by Tiefy on Jun 8, 2017 12:05:39 GMT -8
With a sly smile, Nina simply raises a hand and snaps her fingers, pointing at a large framed portrait occupying much of the wall behind her. The painting appears to depict a weathered, tired-faced old man, with ragged black hair with streaks of pale green running through it. Large, bushy eyebrows frame and accentuate his strained, sagging eyes, and his dark hair stands out against his almost unnaturally pale complexion. Of note, Shane's ADLink Visualizer is displaying a rating of exactly 400 just by looking at the painting...
"My ancestor, Sir L. Bearach Cambion, and the founder of the Argent Ivy Vineyard and the company that took root and grew around it. He's a bit more well known for the... unsavory side businesses he had a hand in. But it's all ancient history... and frankly, a dark past behind our brand lends it an air of excitement and mystery. Kind of like the old Prohibition Smugglers, now that I think about it..."
Suddenly, the woman's eyes light up behind her glasses...
"I'd think the International Police would have more information about him than I've ever bothered to research, though. Unless there's something that they DON'T know... and so that's what this interview is about, isn't it?"
<As you wish.>
And with that, the tinted sphere suddenly begins to shake and warp, ripples running across its surface as the whole mass seems to writhe and tighten together, its red-glowing cores now bunching together like a constellation... the mass compresses itself smaller and smaller, eventually taking on an all-too familiar shape. The metal pedestal that the globe was hovering over begins to split apart and reshape itself as well, rising to form around the liquid mass in the familiar configuration of a heavy metal shoulderpiece and breastplate. The last piece rises to crown the top of the thing: a snake-like metal mask that Nightshade was hoping he wouldn't see again today...
<Security Clearance Lv2 granted. It's the least I can do after you've come all this way. First stalking me halfway across the world, and now coming to visit me at work... I wonder, are you really just following me around on official business~?>
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