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Post by Gaia on Dec 11, 2019 10:27:03 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/182286591325110283/414432031947227148/Van~png
Vanguard.EXE
After all that had happened, running out of the NIA's front door without getting deleted seemed trivial. Mistair still slung over his back, Vanguard blazed ever onward, looking to put as much distance between them and their assailants. Looking behind him was not an option; he cared not for the destruction he laid in his wake. He cared only for where it was taking him, now.
He skirted past the edge of the NIA border control, into his personal territory, and pointedly came to a pause. Collapsing, he set Mistair down beside him, breathing heavily. He had appreciated the Original Navi's gift - a full restoration of his systems was something he didn't think he would get in a long, long time, and to feel without all of his scars was something of a miracle. What he didn't appreciate was the immediate fight that followed, nor the death-run away from all that was chasing them. He looked over at his partner through all of this, his eyes feeling heavy with the data they have been analyzing since this all began. First, he just huffed, and then he smiled at her, wincing into his own laugh from the pain in his chest.
As crazy as it may have seemed, they made it out alive. That was a good enough reason for celebration as any. He let the stupid glee take him a for a moment, taking a breath to calm himself down.
Unfortunately, their one little "victory" was phrenic. They had lost their home, work place, and any semblance of an alliance in a world that was rapidly getting more and more dangerous. The two of them proved to be a valiant team, even against the worst of odds, but, he couldn't imagine they would not find a way to overwhelm them. Their enemies were too many steps ahead, too calculating, and had far too many resources to not eventually corner them. They had to keep moving and keep collecting pieces of the puzzle before it was completed.
These thoughts quickly sobered his good mood, but it was these thoughts that kept him moving. He stood up, staggering back onto his legs, still feeling the newly earned bruises. He offered a hand to Mistair, proffering to help her onto her legs. "We're out of the line of fire for now, but, we cannot stay still. What we have is too important," he said pointedly, referring to the information that the two of them had. "If nothing else, we have to connect with others. Until now, we had conceded to remain in Netopia - but we are in as much danger here as we are anywhere else." He accessed Netopian news headers, wondering if his newest assumption was correct. Sure enough, he raised a screen above his hand that noted the newest list of Most Wanted - he and Mistair were depicted as national criminals.
"The worst of the storm in the other locations have passed. If we stay here, we are limiting ourselves, and playing further into their hands. We need connections, and we need to keep moving. With your approval, I'd like to contact an old . . . associate." His eyes switched back over to the list of wanted criminals, scrolling down the list to the picture of the Onyx Overlord.
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Post by Zane on Dec 11, 2019 14:31:24 GMT -8
She couldn't help but breathe her own sigh of relief finally when Vanguard set her down. Things had, for the most part, ended in their favor. If they only counted then getting out alive as their most favorable outcome. They lost a lot of other things thanks to everything that happened and very well learned some things, mostly to gut Nightshade next time for certain even if another Titan pulled a timely rescue for him. He had caused far too many problems even if they had larger ones looming still, like being among the Most Wanted as criminals now. She took the offered hand and sure enough, there they were.
"They always have been quick to respond. That is an awful trait to be against now. We'll have to move just as you said."
Otherwise they go right back to square one. And just the two of them weren't infallible even if they would like to be. She still couldn't help a slight grimace at seeing the image of her now fellow criminal, the Onyx Overlord. The rational yet rather extreme navi himself. She rubbed her fingers against the bridge of her nose recalling their last engagement that he had done out of necessity as he states it. And yet if they had to pick, for various reasons, she would be okay with it. So while she gave a sigh, she ultimately nodded in approval. This didn't mean she trusted him entirely, but he wasn't a beacon without reason.
"As far as people we can trust, we won't get many as grounded as he is. It should be the move to make now."
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Post by Gaia on Dec 11, 2019 14:42:21 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/182286591325110283/414432031947227148/Van~png
Vanguard.EXE
Nodding at her own approval, Vanguard tapped on the screen display, the Onyx Overlord's contact information appearing on his visor. Controlling the display with simple will power, Vanguard had his message prepared and sent in a matter of seconds.
He paused after that, looking over at Mistair for a moment, wondering when he would address the elephant in the room. He decided to take his mind off of it for a moment, glancing around the border at the towers with his company's dot-patterned symbol decorating them, the small turrets mounted atop them, even at the fine line that used to represent the border he personally destroyed.
Things were much different then, and that wasn't even a few days ago. The world changed so rapidly in such a small span of time. He looked back to Mistair.
He couldn't be caught off guard again.
"I believe it is now time to lose the NIA Isolators, yes? We do not want to be forcefully returned to their quarters for having them, correct?"
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Post by Genesis on Dec 11, 2019 17:11:18 GMT -8
Sender: Genesis.EXE Receiver: Vanguard.EXE
I recall the battle at the Netopian Border. Given the state of affairs and how communications are, I can agree that meeting would be the best way to exchange information. The Forest Network in Electopia should be a fine location to meet at. It's out of the way and not as overflowing with navis as it used to be so we should be able to share details there.
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Post by Zane on Dec 11, 2019 17:19:35 GMT -8
While she didn't mean to, she couldn't help a laugh remembering the Isolator. There was a great lesson to be learned from two people who didn't keep that in mind and one of which who was particularly great about it. So she pulled out her own Isolator, dropping it to the ground and crushing it under foot for good measure.
"We don't want to end up like Thorn and Nightshade for certain. Great minds that they were."
The sarcasm was clear there because they both knew how that worked out for everyone involved. They learned from their mistakes, even if she was the one to show them how it worked. She never imagined herself against the NIA before today, so life certainly threw a curveball at her. That didn't change what she knew she wanted at least even if the group wasn't where she would have to do it now.
And while she put together for herself the problem she knew needed an answer.
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Post by Gaia on Dec 11, 2019 18:50:46 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/182286591325110283/414432031947227148/Van~png
Vanguard.EXE
He smiled as he heard her laugh - perhaps the least serious he's seen the "really good secretary" in his entire time knowing her. Vanguard retrieved his own NIA Isolator, setting it down to crush it beneath his boot, just as Mistair did. Realizing that it was not too long ago that he had it thrust upon him to protect this place, in return for his crimes, he thought it fitting that he was back to where he began.
A plan to put some pieces together in order to make his life easier.
He turned, then, to Mistair. "We may not have time for this, but, there are some things I feel the need to discuss before we start moving.
"We both know Rosso. We both have plenty of assumptions surrounding the power that he wields, and the connection between the NIA's suspicious activity surrounding the cybeasts and their uprising. Rosso could have easily defeated the both of us in our previous encounter - sure, we put up a powerful fight, but, we were left standing after the initial encounter. At first, I had wondered if that was because he wanted the building still standing when he was done with us; if he could not afford to go full blaze for fear of losing his establishment. I had also considered if it was because of his leash," he explained, referencing the person Rosso was taking orders from.
"It no longer seems that we were let go because of his fear of destroying the facility. If it survived my onslaught, the battle with Vamin and a burst of energy from Forte's arrival, all during its already weakened state, then he could have gone full force without any worries. I'm also not foolish enough to presume that it was because we got the upper hand and surprised him - Vamin was present to slow us down quite a bit, and they accomplished something in the time that we were delayed, all while also conveniently making it out with the materials we needed.
"I hate to say it, but, it was too easy. Too straight forward. Something doesn't add up, and I'm unsure if our next actions are playing further into their hands."
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Post by Zane on Dec 12, 2019 1:17:50 GMT -8
She might not have known him for long, but among the NIA he was meticulous, zealous, and cutthroat. He took no half measures in what he did, yet alone the NIA prided themselves for a similar approach due to their intended enemies. By that she could assume the leash, namely Grom...
"Grom is smart but thinks himself smarter than he is. Unless he's hiding something I know what he's capable of and Rosso is a larger threat by far. It's better to assume Rosso has the leash on the NIA than the reverse."
That still left some things up to question, as there were several Rosso engaged now. Was it all according to plan? Between the leaked footage that framed the navis, the cybeast and all, he had an agenda that was larger than anything they had ever dealt with and the means to execute it with much greater haste than any that came before him.
"We don't know enough to determine what was done or their endgame. At the very least all we can do is bank on our judgment and hope that it wasn't just as they wanted it to be. If we can't trust ourselves then who can we trust at all?"
It was all they had left for now. And hopefully it was enough. This was far from over. And they were words that helped solidify her own determination as well.
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Post by Gaia on Dec 12, 2019 11:15:36 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/182286591325110283/414432031947227148/Van~png
Vanguard.EXE
Vanguard narrowed his eyes at Mistair's words, realizing that she had a smaller picture than he did. She had been secluded within the NIA's walls, unable to gather information or care about anything other than the acquisition of the cybeasts since their first encounter with Forte. He was trying to connect pieces together when he had forgotten that she didn't know as much as he did - and even what he knew was in relative pieces.
He sighed. "It just seems that we've been pushed into a wall where our options are run for the hills, or stand and fight, and the easiest option present is to run for the hills. Rosso has only allowed options thus far that have benefited him, and I am worried that what you said happens to be all too true. They're "banking" on us to follow our judgment . . . they've figured us out, and they've done their research well. I just don't want to act brazenly and further their agenda further." He sighed, turning away from her for a moment, looking out at the expanse of the Netopian Border.
"I can only hope you trust me. This next step is necessary to make sure we don't continue to act brazenly."
Gulping, Vanguard moved on to the last of the loose ends that he felt he needed to nip before moving onward. He turned back towards her, his white eyes flaring, as he activated his reticles. The purple fire burning behind his piercing gaze scanned over Mistair, for the first time delving deeper than the surface to gaze into her source code. He had to act quickly, for fear of how she would respond to this sudden, very much aggressive attitude, but did his best to keep his face calm despite the raging emotions he felt for potentially breaching his trust with his closest ally. This method was typically used to analyze the data for weak points, but, just as he had at one point used it to connect the data from Magnolia to its location in Sharo, he could also use it to analyze a target's code for any abnormalities, changes, or roots connected to other servers. He did not warn her before doing this, as he was certain if he did she would raise defenses subconsciously.
He was searching her code for any connections back to the NIA. If his fears were true, he would find something, anything, with the NIA's callsign embedded within her code, and he would find something that suggested Mistair may not be as autonomous as she appeared.
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Post by Zane on Dec 12, 2019 11:58:19 GMT -8
Running would be the easier option by far considering everything at stake. If they went down now there were no second chances, for them or for anyone else. And if even their own judgment couldn't be relied on then their options truly were all taken from them. But then even as it was... she was already beginning to finally question her own judgment after what happened back at the base they just escaped, closing her eyes as she thought to herself.
"You're the only one that I do trust now."
The others that she trusted were still with the NIA. That bridge was burned, which left the only one she had to trust besides herself as Vanguard himself. If she couldn't turn to someone who she knew firsthand that she could trust, then she may as well say that she was all on her own. When she opened her eyes again to look at Vanguard, he was well into his work. But she had a good idea what it was that he was looking for.
"...You're looking for the wrong things, Vanguard."
She didn't raise any defenses nor act alarmed that he was checking her for what he should properly be concerned about. He could see that she wasn't autonomous, but nothing else out of the ordinary aside from similar things to himself as all the changed data lately showed. But there was no NIA callsign for him to find, the meaning behind it clear with the very words she spoke next. Her voice managed to return to its calm here, to give him a succinct answer about something that would have no reason to not alarm him.
"I wasn't created by the NIA, after all."
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Post by Gaia on Dec 12, 2019 12:09:19 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/182286591325110283/414432031947227148/Van~png
Vanguard.EXE
Her words confirmed what he found, but that she was not autonomous did not alleviate his concerns. She was right - it concerned him. He knew that Rosso and Grom were not properly members of the NIA, but that they had infiltrated its ranks and now controlled it, in much the same way that he presumed others had for the other bases. If she was not made by the NIA, and she was not autonomous, who pulled her strings?
He had to let his bias towards this go, as she had no reason to share this information with him up until now. "If not, then by whom?" he asked, but was altogether too worried and too emotionally charged to wait for her answer. It was as she said - the only person she trusted now was him, and she was the only one he could look to as an ally. To think that he may not even know her, but whatever someone else was making her do, enraged and worried him, all at once. He searched her root for where it would take him, wanting answers.
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Post by Raven8 on Dec 12, 2019 12:27:49 GMT -8
Not by the OEL, that's for sure.
...by this point it was already too late. Standing behind Misair with his chin resting on his fist and a thoughtful expression is Edge, looking her over for a few moments while he nods.
Edge: If I were to hazard a guess, probably Loath. Sorta' has that "loathsome" look about her.
Edge then turns the topic on a dime as he raises the hand holding a leash and motions to it.
Edge: Hey, have either of you seen my daughter? Been looking for a good long time but haven't been able to find her anywhere.
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Post by Zane on Dec 12, 2019 13:01:38 GMT -8
As he looked deeper to find the source, looking into the roots, he found the thing that would likely further his concerns. There were no defenses that were around it to hide or encrypt the information, but it was information that his eyes couldn't analyze. In reality he could feel that... there was a bit of an "Edge" in the air. It took her moment to think about it, but didn't he just insult her right after meeting her?
"Buy a tighter leash next time?"
She avoided asking why the daughter would be on one or a load of other questions that could rise up from it. Those were domestic problems she didn't want to get into. That or it was just a pet of some kind that he considered his daughter, but that still wasn't her intention to find out. Though if she were to take a guess considering she had a rough idea who the pet was supposed to be then where she would take a guess on where she went would make sense.
"I think your daughter was around the Rammount network last I saw her. She couldn't have gotten far from it."
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Post by Gaia on Dec 12, 2019 13:15:04 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/182286591325110283/414432031947227148/Van~png
Vanguard.EXE
He got to the root, trying to trace it back to its tree, only to realize something daunting and all the more problematic.
He couldn't trace it. He couldn't even analyze it. It was strikingly similar to what he had dealt with before - it was as though it weren't even present. Like there was nothing to analyze - like the data core was empty.
Vanguard turned, roaring, picking a nearby tower to release his anger on. A single burst of energy, the searing inferno exploding from his hand as he swung his fist in rage, brought the tower toppling over, reduced to rubble. He took a deep breath, the sheen of purple fire rising over him slowly dying down as he collected himself.
Turning back to her, his emotions in check, he paused before speaking when she turned to talk to someone. Looking in the direction of her eyes, he frowned, uncertain as to when someone had snuck up on the two of them. He did not see anyone, though, even as she directed someone to Rammount and suggested getting a tighter leash. Without any context, it sounded very concerning, but, he was more confused by to whom she was even talking. "Who are you even talking to? . . . Forget about it," he said, noncommittally. He took his visor off for a moment and rubbed his eyes, sore from overuse, and settled his unfiltered vision upon her. Gawking for a moment, he put the visor back on, remembering that these were what let him filter any information at all.
"All I need to know is that I can trust you. That whoever is on the other end of that root will not turn you against me. Can you promise me that?"
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Post by Raven8 on Dec 12, 2019 17:50:50 GMT -8
Edge's attention is suddenly taken by Vanguard when he makes his comment. He looks the Navi over, shoots a glance over to Misair, and gives a wry smile. Holding his smile, he reaches behind himself, pulls out a random leash, and hands it to Misair as he walks past her.
Edge: Trick question sweetie; you don't know who my daughter is. Do me a favor and tighten this, k?
With an excited gait, Edge stops in front of Vanguard... and literally waves his hand in front of the analytic Navi's face.
Edge: Hello in there! This is Malcolm Crowe, can you hear me?
Edge then looks over his shoulder with an amused and excited expression, pointing at Vanguard with his thumb as he stifles a laugh.
Edge: Can your boyfriend really not see or hear me?
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Post by Zane on Dec 12, 2019 20:09:44 GMT -8
"She's probably going pink in the face about now."
She was going to add that a regular leash wouldn't work very well on the particular daughter, but then that would be telling too much. She looked at the leash she got and didn't bother tightening it because she didn't think he was actually looking for anyone now. Vanguard not being able to see Edge would undoubtedly become something Vanguard will have a great time with in the future. That or he was impressive at ignoring him but she doubted that was the one. What a funny predicament after everything else today.
"You might have become a ghost and can't touch him either."
She hadn't denied the term used to refer to Vanguard either. Wouldn't it be a bit more concerning if he was ghost data that she could perceive and others couldn't? That reality would be a little annoying, but it was more than likely Vanguard just got put together in a way that meant Edge would have to go out of his way to mess with him. It would give the guy with free time something else to do, if he actually had free time considering where he was right now. He didn't live under a rock so she just considered that he was up to something else instead. As for Vanguard...
"I can promise that. I don't know who's on the other end of the root aside from the fact that as is, they're our enemy. One that will have to fall one way or another."
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