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Post by Genesis on Mar 15, 2023 18:18:30 GMT -8
*That was one way to go about it. Resetting him to before the damage took place would bypass the fact that recovering wasn't a quick and easy process anymore. Though for that solution to apply it also meant that... well, those were thoughts he didn't need to delve into. They were things that others would worry and fret about. He already knew what he had to do in that regard, so for now he would make sure Vanguard didn't have to think on the spot next time they encountered the Reaver King.*
"You have some time before the final battle with Vamin to consider what you want to do with him when it's over since destroying them isn't an option. He can be a bracer for your other arm or an anklet, however you want to wear him."
*He didn't bother worrying about defeat. Not because it was impossible, but because worrying about it didn't change what needed to be done. Besides, he figured Vanguard would take to heart what Vamin said about making his own decisions on the matter. Simply because Vamin had every intention of destroying them next time, it still wouldn't mean that Vanguard could skip out on turning him into a necklace. Whatever happened to the defeated was in the hands of the victor. And as before, he wouldn't fight with Vanguard over how he handled these present circumstances. It was realistically easier for them to not bother fighting over it, or to pick a better time and place for it.*
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Post by Zane on Mar 15, 2023 23:10:39 GMT -8
It was far from the kindest of experiences to have to endure again, but it was a method that would allow them to move forward. Functional, as Vanguard stated himself. That was good at least, as she stood up and saw to help him out if he still needed it through his own stubborn streak.
"You're welcome, Vanguard."
Genesis' words weren't exactly laced with venom, at least not like they were originally when he heard what happened to Var. That wasn't exactly acceptance on the Overlord's part as much as it was him accepting that Vanguard's choice would veer in that direction one way or another, casting her gaze in his direction next.
"While that isn't an unfounded statement, you and I both know that isn't a fair one anymore."
To argue against it would be fruitless, as while the argument was that they would be set free when it was all over, Genesis looked at it from the other potential angles as well as his own hatred of the very idea. And if that came to pass, the only thing Vanguard would be able to do is live with the decision. A decision that he would have no one to comfort him with, as they would fault him for willingly choosing it to begin with. But with all of that said, what did she instead mean when she said that Genesis and she knew that it wasn't a fair assessment anymore? Something that was unspoken by the Overlord when he brought up the subject. Though with that said, the feeling in the air began to give a feeling that it was foreign, alien in nature and all around them. But it wouldn't be long before the root of it all became apparent, as at last from the desiccated ocean was there something rising up. It was distinctly some kind of rift, a vortex of some kind that was swirling in place. Nothing appeared to be happening from its presence here and even the alien feeling that once permeated the air had vanished, just as before with the arrival of the previous one that they encountered.
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Post by Gaia on Mar 17, 2023 16:23:14 GMT -8
#s://cdn~discordapp~com/attachments/182286591325110283/414432031947227148/Van~png
Vanguard.EXE
Mistair held out a hand to help him upright, and Vanguard took it without concern; pride was of no use to him, not after what he had experienced. Holding onto her and letting her help him up, he couldn't help but hear Genesis' words and feel a pang in his heart. Listening to Mistair defend him was appreciated, but even he knew that the intent behind Genesis' words were to make clear his own point. Did he presume Vanguard enjoyed the predicament? He kept himself silent in his own thought; even as Mistair understood that it was a choice that no one would comfort him in, he knew that he wished there were an alternative that wasn't naturally destructive.
Would Genesis have him delete them? To what end, to lose such wisdom, knowledge, power, and to spread carnage senselessly? That was the outcome that Vanguard despised the most. Was he to simply let them loose, to be returned to their enemies to do with as they would, to torture them, modify them, or worst? What would that accomplish, than to just spread more misfortune and raise their risk of defeat even higher? Worst, to leave the decision to delete them into the hands of their adversaries, whose methods and motives they still only barely understand? The only other recourse Vanguard would have would be to ask if there was a place to safely sequester them, but treating them like prisoners was not a fate that any of the Kings would resign to, and there was no way to ensure that they would be protected.
There weren't any good options, and of the options they did have, all of them were bad, but only one of them felt like the only acceptable option left. He hated it. He turned inward, asking Var, now a constant companion, for his wisdom: Do I see clearly? Or am I blinded by my connection and trust with each of you? What do you think?
As the air turned alien, suddenly, Vanguard instinctively attempted to read into how the air was changing, curious if he would once again watch the 1s and 0s making up the world shift at the order of their adversaries. Yet another vortex descended, and as Vanguard considered it, he shuddered, once again wondering just what they would find behind it.
"I do suppose we postpone our trip to the moon to explore, then."
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Post by Genesis on Mar 17, 2023 18:45:25 GMT -8
*Those words let him know that Mistair understood the same predicament that he did. In that case he would let the discussion die down there, so long as they were on the same page. He would give a nod, both to her and Vanguard's statement as that would be the plan. He would send a message to Faith here, mostly letting her know that they would be out of contact for a time unless she happened to bump into this vortex next. She had managed to elude the last one, so he imagined she would find it in herself to do the same and continue on her own for a while longer.*
"We'll try to make our priority that moon search when we return."
*He would head in first, aiming to discern what laid in waiting for them this time. Were his suspicions correct or not? If so, then it would still leave many things unanswered, but at least give an answer to one of the suspicions he had among several dozen.*
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Post by Zane on Mar 17, 2023 19:15:56 GMT -8
Your decision was made with our best interests in mind, as well as how best to utilize our knowledge as a resource instead of losing it all. With circumstances as they are, there are few clear options. This is one of them.
Vanguard had gone over them himself in his own thoughts no less. Rather than being blind, he was aware of what options were available to them. Choosing from among those options was what they had to do, and Vanguard had made his choice. How best he worked with that choice was the only question from there. Whether they liked it or not, any decision would have consequences down the chosen path. They were just starting to reach the consequences that this one presented them. That was something they were each aware of now. For now, going to the new destination would be on their minds as well. And whatever they found inside of there, it was something only those who physically entered would know. Foregoing stealth was fine as well, as long as any who entered understood well that their presence there would be well known. Whatever opposition they encountered next would be harrowing no doubt, as the Overlord led the charge while she followed after him to the place unknown.
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Post by Warrior on Mar 19, 2023 17:02:03 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/dk4CQm0~png Genesis' email would find its way to Faith's PET, though he wouldn't get any immediate response. After he stepped into the portal, it would cut off any responses until he came back -- it would have been a waste of time to reply, as the message itself was able to imply accurately enough that this was going to be a temporary loss of communications.
Somewhat surprisingly, though, another presence arrives in response to that message.
" Faith's gonna be pissed when she finds out about this. "
Strike's voice came from a projected screen next to the new arrival -- that person in particular learned a few habits from Faith that led them to this situation.
" Well then, don't rat me out. "
He seemed to have a limp about him, no doubt due to his real body's wound from just a few hours ago. It had an effect on his virtual body as well -- pain receptors in the brain transmit both ways during Pulse Transmission.
" Don't think I'll need to -- she's pretty hard to sneak past. "
Strike spoke from experience, regrettably. Warrior didn't look discouraged though.
" Even Faith has blindspots. "
And he'd learned from her how to exploit them.
Defeating the Gemini's would have proven fruitless -- they had already fulfilled their mission, and Faith would have undoubtedly grounded him immediately afterward while still continuing to withhold information from him. While he didn't intend for the stab to the chest to land exactly where it did, he did deliberately choose not to block it. His gambit paid off: it caused her focus to shake and now he'd capitalize.
When they parted last time, she was in so much of a hurry to get to Cherish that she didn't notice he'd stolen David's PET from her. Indeed, even when she was using her own PET to collect data from the NIA, she must have been too preoccupied to have noticed that the second PET she'd normally conceal was missing. All he needed to do from there was to get Strike to forward the emails from her PET to this one, and then just wait until any of her contacts reached out to her.
It wasn't hard to get Strike's cooperation, either: Faith would have never allowed him to cause mischief out on the net, not during all of this. And thanks to Armiger and Centurion, Warrior had a solid enough understanding of ongoing events to be able to take a more firm stance against it all.
" Just like old times, isn't it? "
" ? "
" Me, you, and Genesis. Going around, getting things done. The good days. "
" ... Not quite how I remember it. "
For one, they were missing a few prominent faces. Secondly, most of their endeavors were just competitive sparring matches with each other -- and even then, that was mostly during David's era. Jake had mingled with Genesis a few times during the Revolution's days and the Autumnal Assault, and once more in a stand-off with Scarface, but Strike wasn't present any of those times. That was all beside the point, though.
" It'll just be me from here on out. Faith'll kill me if you get hurt. "
" ... "
Strike wasn't too thrilled by that, but he was thrilled not to be caged up anymore, so he'd count his blessings and move on.
" Fair enough. Stay safe out there. "
" Likewise. "
Their communication channel cut off and Warrior was left to himself. Genesis, Mistair, and Vanguard had entered the portal not too long before he'd gotten here, but he'd still be a little ways behind them as he entered not long after.
It took him long enough to catch up to this side of things, but he was finally here.
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