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Post by Gaia on Oct 22, 2021 21:32:41 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/300844483715792896/739306056626339881/GenerationalJoker~png
Joker.DB
Joker and Merrill moved from the Noise Wave into the large expanse of flat earth just outside of the NIA Headquarters, likely still charred from the battle between Rosso and Genesis, even if neither of the two present were aware of that fight.
Joker recognized the spot where he, Hollow, and Feint had stood off and threatened one another without actually accomplishing anything. He got what he was searching for, of course, but none of his other plans on that front were going anywhere right then.
Before turning to Merrill, Joker reached out, testing a connection. All he got back was silence, which confirmed his second theory. He wasn't sure what he felt given the implications, but he knew what, or rather, who, were with his creator right this moment, and where they had jettisoned for their own safety. If the Noise Wave had collapsed . . .
"We may need the NIA's help for more than just my first assumption," Joker started off, his voice kind of trailing away as if he was unsure how to broach the topic. " . . . Some associates of mine may be in danger in the human world."
He opened up a message in front of him, tapping on a screen that manifested at his command. He decided to try and go about this through the proper channels, setting up a proper request of entry and meeting with the NIA, rather than just barging in. He was quite tired of his more direct approaches getting less than optimal results; if he took this slow and properly, he might get along better than he had before.
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Post by Zane on Oct 23, 2021 7:41:30 GMT -8
As was expected, the land was still charred and scorched beyond repair. The battle between those two which became three had caused more damage than even the rampaging beasts had caused. And furthermore even more damage had been brought about in Netopia from not one but two more encounters that Rosso had with a particular darkloid. Each had blown large patchworks through Netopia as a result, but many would presume that it was in better shape than it appeared from the surface damage alone. And that was before the attacks that struck from above ravaged what was down below and left Netopia looking even more of the flat expanse than before, stripped down almost entirely.
Still Joker would receive a reply as time passed that would in fact authorize the entry into the premises. Whatever caused the delay could have been attributed to the particular workload that had occurred recently for the NIA.
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Post by Xypher on Oct 23, 2021 12:55:36 GMT -8
Merrill popped out and landed on his feet on the empty expanse next to Joker. He recognized that this had been a battleground of some sort, but from what or when, he didn't recognize. He took a quick glance around, but returned his focus on Joker as he tried connecting back to where they were. As he spoke, Merrill detected a change in his companion's tone, something he brought up.
""And you are concerned for them, yes?"
He asked gently, placing his hands behind his back, stepping forward, up next to him. Merrill stared forward at first, thinking.
"Do you have any idea of where they are? Do you believe that they are in danger?"
He watched in silence as the request for access was requested, nodding his head.
"Good call. Even in these trying times, trying to show respect, regardless of the situation, and following requested guidelines of what other groups expect, has it's merits."
He continued to look on, both proud of what growth that Joker had displayed since they met.
Since they were seemingly alone at the moment, Merrill had the chance to thank his companion.
"By the way, thank you for earlier. It has been a pleasure to battle along side you as of late. I know we haven't really discussed much of ourselves, but still."
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Post by Gaia on Oct 23, 2021 13:10:16 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/300844483715792896/739306056626339881/GenerationalJoker~png
Joker.DB
Getting the approval for the request of entry in a timely manner was unexpected, but appreciated nonetheless. As Merrill approached him, the way that Merrill stood, and the way that he posed his question, gave Joker a certain expectation of what his answer should probably be.
It was unfortunate that his new lease on opportunities was to be honest with him. ". . . Truthfully, I don't know," he responded, dismissing the screen. "My natural instincts are not to care. I was programmed with an understanding of survival of the fittest. The strong survive by their nature of fighting against that which would defeat them, and the weak are destroyed by their nature of not being able to do the same.
"I was challenged, recently, to start looking past my programming, though. My honest answer is I don't believe I am concerned . . . but they are in danger of dying, which is something someone without my programming may care about . . . something that you may care about," he moved on, turning to look down at Merrill. It wasn't looking down in the sense of being condescending, just Joker was much taller and couldn't help to address him without doing so.
It was strange, trying to think beyond what his own programming dictated of him. It wasn't natural, especially when he was still so new to this life that he walked, and yet held so much power in the small time that he walked it, and had faced much strife in that time. Joker turned about, considering the expanse, and considered the turmoil represented in this space, alone. How much of the world had suffered from the further backlash of his own decisions?
"I'm trying new things, is all. The old way got results, but those results were followed with unforeseen consequences. Inefficient and insufficient, both. That's how my programming understands these actions, at least. I recognize your strength, as well; your battle prowess has grown exponentially since I met. It is also within my programming to continue to test my mettle and seek to better my own battle prowess. It would have been a loss of opportunity to see you destroyed, on both the regards of the chance to one day test my strength against yours, and the opportunity to continue to learn from your moral standing.
". . . Unity deserves that much, from me. To continue his purpose in his absence by my design." That last bit was a lament in comparison to everything else, but Joker was becoming increasingly more self-aware of his own thoughts and understanding. To his credit, he was learning, but applying it was difficult.
". . . But, you are welcome."
Joker began to walk forward, towards the base, clearing the distance in great strides, but giving Merrill the opportunity to talk further before they entered the NIA HQ.
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Post by Raven8 on Oct 23, 2021 15:15:42 GMT -8
...but, in the end, this was not meant to be.
Against his will, Joker's chest compartment swings open of its own accord, revealing the program that he'd long hidden within. The program ejects from his chest, flies upwards, and begins to light up.
It's already far too late.
An eruption of onyx black and platinum white energy explodes out from the program. The power-burst is instantaneous and all-encompassing, and soon it becomes obvious that it is on a level above and beyond what the vast majority of beings on the net could possibly unleash. Within the blink of an eye, NIA HQ is left as nothing but a benign crater, as the building and all those inside are literally erased from reality by the power of Eon's core.
In the end, Joker and Merrill stand amid the carnage; both fully unscathed and safe. The program returns to Joker's chest, and the absolute silence of what remains begins to slowly set in. NIA HQ is no more, and with it went a small portion of Netopia itself; erased from time and space themselves.
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Post by Zane on Oct 23, 2021 15:32:38 GMT -8
"As devastating as one would expect. But far from what you displayed before. Either you can't use it the same way or it has hazards to your well being."
It was a normal navi that walked up, unsuspecting in appearance and all. But they would recognize the demeanor behind that voice just the same. It moved to stand beside Merrill and Joker, looking at the decimation that took place. While Shine and Regis likely got clear, he was unaware on if Draze had become well enough to move about under their care. He was probably caught in that blast just as everyone else in the NIA HQ was.
"But I didn't preach about being a replaceable cog for nothing. Are you aware now what happens when you tamper with powers beyond your means and why people like whoever gave that to you are the real root source of all the problems that exist?"
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Post by Gaia on Oct 23, 2021 16:02:34 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/300844483715792896/739306056626339881/GenerationalJoker~png
Joker.DB
It all happened so fast there wasn't much to be said or done on the matter. A wrenching sensation, a flow of black and platinum energy, and eruption of power as the NIA headquarters was erased from existence.
Joker stood, awe struck for a moment, his eyes wide and his mouth agape. He stood as the epicenter of a crater, and he turned on his heel quickly, feeling his emotions rise up. Feeling that power bubbling, that rage increasing, Joker felt his plans for success, his plans for freedom, slip out from underneath him. Even as it was implied, that some things were simply not meant to be, as he came here with intentions to do something that felt like the right thing to do, his opportunity for saving them was just sent up into . . . not even smoke, it simply didn't exist anymore.
He turned on his heel, and found Merrill still standing behind him. Joker's power was bubbling and seething, though.
He had been tricked, again. He had been deceived by someone he decided to put his trust into, a feeble thing that he time and again was reminded was pointless. The humans that created him were so good at their job that they sought to destroy him; the forces that recruited him were so well informed that they manipulated him; the Crimson Dragon was such a necessity to him that he charged towards it, towards his own annihilation; Aeon had manipulated him into corrupting Illia; now, even Gate had used a lie of omission to make him look as a fool, and to brand him now a three times international criminal, when he was trying to make amends.
Why was it, every time that he tried to do something new, tried to make something right, that it blew up in his face? Enraged at his situation, Joker raised his fist, shrouded himself in destructive power, and cloaked himself in his signature red armor. With a single swing he struck into the ground, yelling in his rage as nuclear fury rushed out from all sides of him.
An explosion of legendary proportions rocked the Network, now with nothing left to damage any further. Here, it was safe for him to unleash; he had watched Merrill go unscathed through literal stars, so a nuclear eruption wouldn't be anything for him to worry about.
The air now full of crimson and nuclear radiation, Joker huffed, still just yelling into the empty space, trying to get all of his frustration out, here. If there was no one here to take out his rage on, then at least he could smash his fist into the Network without worry for as long as it took, rather than his alternative of finding someone to do it to.
Then, suddenly, a voice. Joker stopped his incessant smashing of the ground beneath him, only deepening the crater, and turned, his red armor powerful and energy rolling off of him in droves. The normal navi that approached, moving through the space unphased, captured Dread Joker's attention.
In an instant, the fury in his eyes told him what he wanted to do, but he paused just long enough to stare, consider, and breathe. A deep breath felt like a lot less than what he needed, but, ultimately, what he wanted to accomplish, with that demeanor still here, meant that he could still do what it was that he wanted to do.
All hope wasn't lost, then. Decomposing into a fine red mist, Joker's armor melted away, leaving him in his traditional garb. He straightened himself out, still huffing in rage, and took one more gigantic breath to calm himself, and then looked at the new visage of Grom with his eyes still alight, but his body calm.
". . . When I lost the Crimson Dragon, my ability to access enough crimson to create that previous assault was lost. With the power of the generational, instead, my force is more sustained," he responded to the first thing, using his analytics to calm himself further. It was a pointless explanation of why he could no longer produce the cataclysm that was the Red Gaia Eraser, but it at least gave his processors something to work on for a moment that distracted him from his fury.
"This wasn't what I intended . . . I just . . . wanted to make my own way," he managed, his voice low and grumbled, still talking through haze of red and anger. "All I've known . . . is how to fight to survive . . . this . . . this wasn't what I wanted.
"Gate." He said the name with all the vitriol he could muster, the crimson waves coming from him intensifying from the anger in that moment alone. "He assured me he did no tampering with the core . . . but I can feel his influence in the program he used to contain it. Half-truths and subtleties . . . gyah!" Rather than lash out again, he clenched his fist, the space just behind him crushing and collapsing in response, but it repaired itself quickly enough.
His analytics could pick up that force, of course. What was coming from him could not be mistaken. ". . . There is no way that wasn't noticed," he said simply, looking around. "We're about to get very unwanted attention, aren't we?"
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Post by Raven8 on Oct 23, 2021 16:21:49 GMT -8
...prophetic words, if any were ever spoken.
Pain. Pressure. Fear. These feelings overtake all in the area, overwhelmed by a presence as a hand bursts from Joker's chest. Behind him, with gaze firmly on Grom, is the fearful visage of Forte, who now holds the power of Eon through the chest of Joker.
Forte: Get Ability.
The program disappears, and in an instant it feels as if the ground crumbles away. The presence of Forte's power magnifies, and soon a silver burst of energy explodes out from his core, knocking Joker and everyone else away. With a look at his still open hand, Forte's scowl becomes a smile; the smile of a ruler who conquered his foe, and is now poised to overtake the land that they once held.
Forte: ...you have my thanks. You've turned an annoying day into a highlight, as you've reunited me with what is rightfully mine.
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Post by Zane on Oct 23, 2021 16:44:03 GMT -8
The eyes would widen just in time for the fearful visage to plow its hand clean through its target. He had presumed that he would at the very least be occupied right now given he hadn't surfaced around these parts again in some time. But he was at liberty to move enough that he arrived the moment the core was exposed and used, and now even that program that Joker tried to get a hold on was gone. And then he was blown back, landing on his back as he pushed himself up with his elbows to gaze upon the conqueror who had once more obtained exactly what he desired. This was what happened when people sought power beyond their means. And now the very thing that they already displayed the inability to keep in check was now in the hands of someone entirely unafraid to use it. And with one single motion was so much of their dashed so abruptly. Gate's name truly was a curse, wasn't it?
"...So what comes next?"
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Post by Gaia on Oct 23, 2021 16:56:16 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/300844483715792896/739306056626339881/GenerationalJoker~png
Joker.DB
In an instant, the space was filled with terror, pressure, and power. All things Joker had felt before, but never in this magnitude, exceeding the power of even the Crimson Dragon in its fury.
The pain that everyone else felt was perhaps null in comparison to his, his mouth agape again, his voice stuttering out of it, as Forte's hand was poised into his chest.
A surge of power flared from Forte and Joker's pain was increased by magnitudes, as the core that had become a part of him, and even integrated into his systems, was violently ripped out of him. An incredible influx of power to his nuclear generator, more was wrenched away, it felt, than it had provided. Joker stared down at the much smaller Navi, who needed to float a sizeable distance off the ground to jut his hand into Joker's chest, and, for his credit, met Forte's glare of malevolence with one of spite to match it.
He had enough of a history lesson during his fight with Aeon to know who this was. While mostly paralyzed with the hand reaching into his chest, Joker still emanated more raw strength than any navi in the area; his nuclear power generator just made him a well spring of strength second to none. He snarled down at the first navi, the air around him filling with crimson and reality breaking from the pressure of his fury.
While the first navi would have nothing to worry about, this was more of a display of his own merits than anything else. ". . . Eon. The Crimson Dragon. Now, Forte. The list of titans I will one day surpass grows," he says through gritted teeth, staring down something that could easily delete him, now, with a thought.
"I hope you use it well. Know that when it flares, I will do what I can to watch, so that when it is I that rips it out of your chest, I'll know how to use it better."
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Post by Raven8 on Oct 23, 2021 19:03:22 GMT -8
Forte's face; his terrible, grinning face, turns to Grom and looks him dead in the eyes with a fearful gaze.
Forte: Now... pray that you've the strength to weather my judgement.
And this was when Joker speaks up. He immediately catches Forte's attention, yet Forte's grin doesn't change. Under normal circumstances, such a disrespectful retort to the original Navi would at the very least garner a challenge, but the original Navi finds himself amused by Joker's audacity. Perhaps he'd be fine entertainment once power truly becomes the order of the day.
Forte: You who are strong; the fact that you held such power within yourself is impressive, but I am far beyond you... beyond any of you. Soon I'll crush those who oppose me beneath my heel, and then we will see if you have the strength to see your goals reached, or if you'll crumble in my wake again. Until that day; remember what I've done today, and know that you are no longer beneath my notice. I'll return to crush you, but at my leisure.
With a flick of his cloak, Forte beams away, leaving Grom, Merrill, and Joker to the crater that was once the NIA HQ.
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Post by Zane on Oct 23, 2021 19:24:11 GMT -8
That grinning face and gaze was more than enough to tell him what he needed to know. With this monster set loose and only a few left with the ability to contend with him outright, the time was soon approaching when that critical confrontation was near. And he was firm in his belief just as he was before, pushing himself back up to his feet as he kept his gaze on the crater that was once the NIA HQ. The results of the survivalists, as they always did when power was the way of order in their minds.
"Mine is to be a short life. Thankfully I never planned for a long tenure."
Seeing as if he had his way he wouldn't need to have this position for very long. Now that things had reached the critical mass, he too would have to resort to more desperate means as a result. If this was how it was going to be, then he would do what needed to be done as he always had. And he knew exactly which places to start in the meantime. He would work his way up from there.
"If that's the case, I have some eggshells I need to crush before that judgment arrives."
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Post by Xypher on Oct 23, 2021 21:47:30 GMT -8
Merrill listened very carefully to Joker's response. He nodded, as Joker spoke about his programing and overcoming it.
"That's just it. You aren't what your programming tells you. You are thinking beyond that, no... Thinking for yourself."
However, before he could continue, the chest compartment in Joker opened, the white light bursting forth. Merrill barely had time to cover his eyes as the light emitted so bright that he could no longer see for a moment. And as the dust settled, his mouth was agape at the sight of seeing the NIA base vanish.
However, before he could even ask, Grom's voice snapped him out of his shock. But before he could respond, Joker began to lash out with his frustration. Merrill Surrounded himself with a layer of light, and flew up into the sky, as to let Joker lash out. Despite different circumstance, he understood to a degree how it felt in a situation where one had no control, and he empathized with that.
Returning next to Joker, he placed a hand on his shoulder while Grom spoke. He sighed, but nodded as Joker took deep breaths to calm himself. Learning that his upbringing was about survival of the fittest and just fighting to survive, Merrill couldn't imagine life like that.
"You must have had a difficult existence before we met. I cannot fathom what you went through, but "survival of the fittest is just one mentality that beings chose to comprehend. Doesn't make it right. And not every battle has to be one of strength, either..."
Hearing about the generational power and of Gate, He managed to put some of the pieces together. But he didn't have much time to comprehend or react, as Forte appeared, his power causing an instant wave of pain and pressure among them. Before he could react, the silver energy emitted by Forte sent Merrill flying backwards. He skidded quite a distance in the air, before summoning a sward to smack into the ground, allowing himself to reorient and control his deceleration into something manageable.
"Forte? You've gotta be kidding me..."
However, before he could traverse the distance between him and the others, Forte spoke, making his intent known that he would be back to crush them. And like that, he was gone.
He quickly made his way back over to the others, a powerful light washing over them, restoring each of their energy to an undamaged sate, minus the fact that Forte used his Get ability to take away Joker's hidden power.
He sighed as Grom spoke about having a short life.
"Life has many things to offer, and even in Death, there's no proof of an end..."
"So that was the being known as Forte, eh? That's a helluva lot to measure up to... Would altering power, huh?"
"A Being like that could wipe out so many souls, and has... Poor souls..."
Asmuch as he hated to admit it, the power to defy that kind of strength felt impossible to grasp at the moment. But before even discussing that problem...
You okay, Joker?"
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Post by Gaia on Oct 24, 2021 9:50:38 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/858178610224562196/901882782098292836/Joker~png
Joker.DB
Once he was released, Joker fell to the ground, his strength leaving him alongside his peril. Managing to catch himself on his knee rather than falling flat, Joker knelt down for a moment, his head down, and caught his breath.
He heard Merrill's question, as well as the condescending reminders that Grom continued to hash out to him that Joker had no idea what he was doing. It felt at times as though it really were him against the very world. This was now the third time that a power he had acquired had been assimilated into his systems only to be ripped out just as he was acclimating to it.
Already, he felt the nuclear generator within searching for its power source. With each removal of energy from him, Joker's raw power had waned, and the generator within sought after a new source of energy to supplement what it was using as a power source before. This was perhaps the first time that Joker didn't have some means to replace it almost immediately. He had no idea what to do . . .
. . . How pathetic was that? He closed his eyes and shook his head, grimacing to himself at the thought. Even now, he was chasing after his programming. A generator that could take input and create a greater output, and he was convinced a power on the scale of a titan had to be the one fueling it. Joker was forged of crimson energy itself, and the generational power from Aeon and even the Core may have been ripped out of him, but he still had acclimated enough to it to be able to call on those reality-warping energies of platinum and black.
Joker had stood before Aeon. Joker had withstood the fury of the Dragon. Joker had held the power of Eon within his core. Joker had caught the attention, and even the respect, of Forte. The generator didn't need a power source . . . it needed him to make use of it.
". . . There's a hole in my chest that titans keep getting ripped out of," he answered, chuckling at his own answer to Merrill's question. He hefted himself up, already the energy flowing off of him feeling somewhat different. It had to, of course; the energy source he was using to fuel his primary function had once again radically changed. Using the powers of the previous titans he had controlled, he had adapted those powers through his generator and accomplished great feats, but none of those feats were his. He had been reliant on the only thing he had ever known, his purpose . . . to amplify and channel something else into greater focus and control. To take the power of the crimson satellite and weaponize it; to wield the power of Aeon and become a puppet; to be fooled into using the core for Gate's machinations.
"I'm recovering, however. My systems are nothing if not adaptable and resilient." He held up a hand and maneuvered his arm back and forth, and tapped into that energy within his core - the energy of just his nuclear generator, plain and simple, but so incredibly powerful that it had sustained the powers of both the crimson dragon and the generational within all on its own.
He looked to Grom, considering his words, still feeling anger and frustration at the leader's lamentation. Yes, this was all Joker's fault, but, no, he couldn't help that he knew no better. Powers that be and beyond one's understanding, indeed . . .
. . . his data analytics realized something, just then. Joker turned an eye down to Merrill, who stood between him and Grom. Faster than his size should permit, he vanished and reappeared in front of Merrill, and pushed him backwards, holding out a hand towards Grom. What he displayed against Sirius, and how he discussed going out of his way to upset the powers that be . . . how Grom viewed the 'powers beyond one's means' as he kept calling them, and referring to such things as the root of all evil, essentially.
Joker's core was staggeringly empty for the first time in a long time, but Merrill had a cybeast and a presumed deity on board. ". . . I came here seeking to peacefully work alongside you," he said carefully, slowly. "I recognize my actions before require reprimand, and I was working on an assumption that an agreement could be made that wasn't incarceration or violence.
". . . But I won't work without a guarantee that Merrill is safe, nor without the promise that you will assist me in seeing the humans I am connected to are safe."
His power may have only just been disrupted, but Joker was, at the end of the day, a master at looking at the situation at hand and coming to a conclusion based on the data presented. Power lost or not, if Grom's words were anything to go off of, Merrill was in danger.
Enemies on all sides, it seemed, was his reality.
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Post by Zane on Oct 24, 2021 11:48:56 GMT -8
He did scoff a moment at Merrill's words. Not because he wanted to laugh at them, but because he was always aware of those concepts. Life and death were never a part of his concerns, because they weren't what he had to worry about. Those were things he had to take care of for others. His role was merely paving that way when he was done with all the other circumstances that threatened that for those others.
"I don't need any consolation about an afterlife. This one is all that I need. It isn't our place to be concerned about the after. I'm not lamenting my circumstances, simply acknowledging the next necessity."
But he was glad to see at long last that those analytics had hit a proper calculation at long last. He supposed it took several holes in the chest to damage him enough for them to get back on the proper count of math. Still he was aware that the analysis was still missing some details from the assumption, and the only reason Merrill was still alive in this moment was because he had stayed immobile.
"I am glad to see that you have become aware of my intentions. But you can rest easy, Merrill is safe from me. He'll be destroyed for the same reason you remain blind to, so I don't need to do a thing about it. And I can't offer you my aid in particular because my actions will no doubt run counter to yours at a later date. Instead, Feint and some of the others that remain can work alongside you peacefully instead."
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