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Post by Gaia on Oct 31, 2017 19:52:57 GMT -8
PlagueMan.ERR
The unnamed Navi suddenly taking his leave did not cause PlagueMan to stir. He stayed, as the little sphere he was, waiting for fate to take its role. His thoughts and mind were painfully silent, his own thoughts and ideas not nearly enough to make up for the trillions upon trillions of individuals that made up his identity. It was almost painful to think about thinking without all of them to discuss every detail with.
At first, PlagueMan hadn't heard the sound Navi's request. His mind was elsewhere, and he was still adjusting to not having senses sprouting from every point of his body across multiple networks. His own sound receptors seemed inadequate for translating all the sound necessary in the world . . . all of the silence.
It was as the scarf was pulled away, and the massive, unhealing wound was revealed, that PlagueMan turned his attention. To any basic navi, the wound was likely just a red, glowing gash that grew in intensity. To PlagueMan, it sung with bugged power, the glitched pathways and all-consuming, corroding data within it unmistakable. Something far more powerful than he had wounded this kind Navi. This Navi who would be kind enough to offer him a home, after all of the agony he caused.
It was a kind gesture. Ideally, he could most definitely survive within Resonance; just he, PlagueMan, needed but another's data to coincide within. The collective was that conduit, for the longest time, where he could reside within the collective; a sort of host within a host. A partnership with Resonance would keep him alive, and, perhaps, feeding off of whatever bugged power had caused that wound in his neck would alleviate some of Resonance's agony. Perhaps, some day, with his restorative properties and his command of bugged data, Resonance could walk without the scarf?
"I am humbled by your offer. You would be more than adequate to sustain my life functions, and I would be honored if you would allow me to take you as my host. Understand, though, the intimacy that this will entail - I will be intricately intertwined within your data. I will never become one with your code, but, I will connect with you enough to ensure your survival while I am within you . . . as a protective method for myself, and an act of kindness in return for your gesture. You'll just have to grow used to the bloating."
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Post by Raven8 on Nov 4, 2017 12:53:28 GMT -8
At PlagueMan's words, Resonance actually closes his eyes and releases a sigh of relief. The OEL Navi had grown accustomed to a solitary lifestyle over the years, and the idea of being forced to have another being permanently living inside of his data, especially one with an obviously glitch-based nature like PlagueMan was something that he wasn't sure that he could face. This fact was made even more poignant given his memories of being the Gospel Juuka not too long ago.
Still, given this new data and the fact that a Navi like Genesis, who Resonance knew wasn't the single most trusting soul on the net, would put his faith in PlagueMan was more than enough. With a deep breath, he closes his eyes and turns his head to make the wound easier to access fo PlagueMan.
Resonance: Alright, then I'll sustain you as best I can, PlagueMan. At the very least until you're able to connect with the rest of your hive.
Any being willing to make such a sacrifice is worth making sacrifice for. Resonance had always understood this concept, and at this point he found it nearly impossible to just let PlagueMan suffer and die to the sake of Navis that he may never know or meet... not when he could be saved even now.
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Post by Gaia on Nov 4, 2017 15:39:11 GMT -8
PlagueMan.ERR
As Resonance shifted his neck to better present the wound, PlagueMan's core disintegrated into a cloud of red dots, individual 1s and 0s visible within the cloud as it dispersed in the air, quickly disappearing inside of Resonance's scar.
PlagueMan solidified within Resonance's code, the little red sphere causing a little bit of bloating just inside of the Navi's chest, as he scanned the parameters and source code for the processors that kept Resonance going. Those same parameters would be the ones he'd attach himself to, as his hive used to do for him in the number of hosts he had across the Net.
He naturally branched out, feeling and analyzing the intricacies of Resonance's code right from the source, and felt the hum of the scar against Resonance's neck. The pain and agony he felt, even as he was accepting PlagueMan into his form . . . the red shining brightly from within Resonance's form, he would suddenly feel nothing from the scar at all, as branches of PlagueMan's will grabbed hold of the pain sensors coming off of the scar and all but ripped them to shreds within a cloud of static.
All the while, the bugged mass that Resonance accepted within his body seemed to bring no harm with it. While he could feel something constantly shifting and warping within his body, and the very air around him was noticeably suffused with static, now, he felt no adversity or change within himself, the horrifically glitched parameters that made up PlagueMan thankfully limited to the bugged Navi. Instead, Resonance's code, as intricately connected to PlagueMan's as PlagueMan's was to his, felt like it was rapidly and almost uncontrollably replicating, the other minor wounds suffered across his body nearly instantly closing themselves. The deep red glow of the alpha within his body hummed for a moment longer, before the bright glow died down, and the only visible sign of the bugged entity within him that remained was the slight static in the air around him.
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Post by Raven8 on Nov 5, 2017 16:53:17 GMT -8
The experience could be summed up as... unpleasant. First, the entrance of PlagueMan's data causes a rush of intense pain that takes Resonance to his knees from the pure shock, as well as the rehashed memories of just how he'd gotten that wound. Next was the stretching and bloating of his body due to the introduction of the new life-form within himself, which was... unpleasant to say the least, especially for such a solitary Navi. On the bright side, the pain from the wound that PlagueMan had just entered suddenly and spontaneously stops, but at the same time he finds himself tingling all over as PlagueMan taps into his nervous system; an experience very much of kin to an endless torrent of pins and needles. Then comes the experience that can be described as his body being used as a glove for another being as PlagueMan fully integrates himself fully.
....in the end, Resonance just lays where he'd fallen, staring at the ceiling. The way that he feels can be best summed up as nauseated, dizzy, and exhausted. It was of kin to going all-out into a deep case of the flu spontaneously and in an instant. Now disoriented from the entire experience, Resonance reaches over and grabs his removed scarf and returns it to his neck, then raises his hand and makes a "one moment" gesture, obviously intending it for Genesis.
Resonance: ...hope that you... are okay, Plague. Don't mind me, I'm.... going... to pass out.
...which the OEL Navi promptly does.
A few moments after this, another flash occurs at the entrance and a familiar set of purple armor enters the light...
...or perhaps "long forgotten" set of purple armor is the best way to describe it?
Walking in and looking over Resonance and Genesis in the room as if a father walking in on his teenager's less than reputable party, NapalmMan's eyes shift between the Navis several times, paying special attention to the now apparently undulating form of Resonance on the ground. He then looks to Genesis with a somewhat aggressive, somewhat morbidly curious expression.
NapalmMan: ...what are you two doing in my private study?
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Post by Genesis on Nov 11, 2017 17:03:50 GMT -8
"...Better him than me, I suppose."
*It was the best way to summarize his thoughts on the matter. Resonance certainly was a kind navi indeed. He couldn't quite call himself that kind due to his own issues when it came to trust. Then the flash occurred and he assumed that it was the Armored Destroyer returning... until he got a better look at a visage that he hadn't seen in quite a many years now. One that Embera had looked up to and gone out of her way to act in the name of, like a ghost from the past. Now he was curious on whose home this actually was and the full story behind this. But he knew better than to expect answers about that from not just the Armored Destroyer, but NapalmMan as well.*
"I would say that it's a long story, but seeing as this place has gone from safe haven to anglerfish mating to private study already, I think there's so missing information that might need to be discussed from all parties here."
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Post by Raven8 on Nov 11, 2017 19:11:27 GMT -8
NapalmMan looks at Resonance. Then he looks at Genesis. Then back to Resonance. Then back to Genesis.
NapalmMan: You know what, I don't really even want to know.
NapalmMan raises a cannon and points it towards the ceiling as he walks around Resonance somewhat awkwardly and approaches the archive on the side of the room.
NapalmMan: All that I need are these anyway.
Knowing that Genesis and Resonance would most likely be incapable of accessing the archaic archive, NapalmMan doesn't really think much of their presence or the odds that they would be able to decode the information within... until he notices that 2 files from the archive that he's accessing are missing. Two fairly prominent yet odd files too, ones that would have no real use for most Navis or humans... unless...
NapalmMan: ...you little...!
NapalmMan looks over at the obviously miserable Resonance laying on the ground before walking up to the OEL Navi, aiming a cannon towards him, and giving him a swift kick in the side.
NapalmMan: Wake up, boyscout.
Resonance, now a bit less bloated and a bit more normal, reels and rolls over, slowly getting his baring as he looks up to see...
Resonance: ...NapalmMan? Where did you..
NapalmMan interrupts mid-sentance, interjecting his own question.
NapalmMan: Did you take any files from this archive?
Resonance blinks a few times and sits up, obviously dumbfounded by the entire situation.
Resonance: What? No, I..
NapalmMan interjects again, this time forcing his cannon onto Resonance's Navi mark as he does so.
NapalmMan: Good, then I know who did.
Now visibly annoyed and ignoring Genesis entirely, NapalmMan accesses Resonance's Navi link, forcing a window to open up for all to see.
In the window is a young human man in a suit, obviously in his late 20s and obviously busy and annoyed at first... until he sees NapalmMan standing in front of Resonance with a cannon pointed at his chest.
Victor: ...NapalmMan?! Where a-
NapalmMan kicks Resonance out of the way entirely, causing him to simply reel away in nauseated pain as the Storming Bomber takes full control of the call.
NapalmMan: Cut the crap, Regal. Two files that I know you and your little cousin had an interest in are missing from my archives. Where are they?
Victor's eyes narrow at his former Navi and his sudden accusation, obviously stopping whatever he'd already been doing to deal with this.
Victor: Those files belong to my family and you know it. You had no right to keep them locked away from us.
NapalmMan, now obviously more annoyed and angry than before, takes another step towards the window and begins speaking louder than before.
NapalmMan: You know how dangerous those two are. Are you telling me that you were stupid enough to actually make them?
Victor just glares at NapalmMan, using that as his reply.
...not what he'd wanted to hear. This day keeps getting worse and worse, and dealing with this guy was just the cherry on top, especially given what he'd likely have to deal with later.
NapalmMan: You idiot.
NapalmMan then forces the window with Victor to close. yet another factor that he'd have to deal with eventually... but for now, he'd have to make plans. Going back to the archive, NapalmMan picks up two files and downloads them into his own data, looking them over as he does so. This is when he remembered that Genesis was still in the room and turns his attention back to the overlord while still scanning over his data.
NapalmMan: So, apparently it's been a year or two. How've you been?
There was an obvious tone of respect, but also a slight condescending tone along with it. Part of the tone could easily be shrugged off as a mix of his own nature and his obviously exasperated state.
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Post by Genesis on Nov 11, 2017 21:16:47 GMT -8
*He was hoping he didn't have to explain the anglerfish part as well, but had been prepared to do so if he had to. Though it was a bit unsurprising that a navi as old as the Storming Bomber would know how to work the systems here. Except apparently a few things had gone wrong and that was why Resonance was disturbed from his slumber in a particularly violent fashion. Then as the scene played out he could see that there was certainly other problems that NapalmMan missed out on, among many things, over his absence. Something that Victor and his cousin knew about as well. How dangerous those two are? He never was fond of not knowing enough information, but sometimes that's just how these things panned out for him.*
"It has been at least a year or two, yeah. I have been better, given the present circumstances. Finally wrapped up that license nonsense just for another mess to start up. Followed by a navi I know nothing about just showing up and, put bluntly, toyed around with me and my equal. It might not be me at my lowest, but it's pretty vexing to say the least. "
*He had shrugged off that part of the tone on the grounds that he did have his own fair share of respect for NapalmMan. They were of a somewhat similar make and purpose for starters, though ultimately different. The Storming Bomber was both the hero and the villain in countless confrontations now, but also the unsung one. And in its own way, that was a part that he appreciated. He did what he had to do without seeking praise or reward, something the 'heroes' that someone a while back said they should fight for. Fame and glory was a double-edged sword in their world anyway. He figured the Storming Bomber had a plan for why he only needed two files, but he could offer it all the same. His enemy was a sort of mutual one in the grand scheme of things, after all.*
"How about yourself? I wasn't all that well informed, but I at least know that things didn't go so well for you last I heard. Seeing as you're out and about now I don't imagine you need the help, but I can offer you what I'm able to."
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Post by Raven8 on Nov 11, 2017 21:31:29 GMT -8
NapalmMan continues to scan the archives as Genesis speaks, double-tasking as he weighs the situation and his contemporary's words.
NapalmMan: Huh, guess Gate finally got sick of pulling those strings. Shame, I was about to expose that little game when his lap-dog sucker-punched me in the-
NapalmMan stops himself, the metal on his body now warping the air around him from the heat that his anger is bringing about.
NapalmMan: ...anyway; there's one way that you can help; I met a hulking metal war mech and a little girl with a sword. Both were above Navi-level obviously, and from the sound of it related to your little problem-Navi. I've gathered that they're both parts of some sort of force currently taking over and playing the "good guys". Any info on them?
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Post by Genesis on Nov 11, 2017 21:47:59 GMT -8
*The Onyx Overlord wouldn't lie, it all pieced itself together when one considered Gate's actions throughout the entire thing. And it helped that he already planned to deal with him at one point or another either way. He could add it to the bucket list of complaints that Gate had around him considering the mess that created for them all and also explained a lot of the incidents that took place. No wonder they had to get rid of NapalmMan, or why the ONB had done a sudden crackdown on NapalmMan's faction as well. It was less them and more Gate the entire time.*
*He managed to quell his own quiet rage at the upset that caused, the black data that had started to leak from his left gauntlet seeping back in as he sighed. It was more or less dealt with unlike their new problem, which was why he would give it his priority. And it was a bit of a blow to know that there were at least three of Rosso's level around now. He hadn't personally encountered either of them, but he imagined that they had somewhat similar quirks at least with his limited intel on them.*
"I don't have any info on those two, as I've yet to engage them. The one I encountered is named Rosso. Arrogant and prideful, hard to miss him. Part of the ruling force of Netopia, the NIA. Which if there's at least three of them the numbers add up to match the current "good guy" factions out there that are screwing up. I can assume that you couldn't get any reads on them and your attacks didn't get through here and there due to some unnoticeable force? If you encounter Rosso he isn't anything you're unused to engaging in battle outside of those traits, but be on guard all the same."
*Those were some of Rosso's most striking traits. They couldn't figure out anything about him and that strange barrier he possessed was keeping out their attacks here and there. The returned fire had worked, but then after a bit it hadn't. It was related to his actions taken, but not quite an absolute answer to how to get past it. How he had acted against the Destroyer's move was the part that he was thinking on, how that had changed things. After NapalmMan handled Epoch for them, he knew that he could handle himself in singular combat even if Rosso possessed the level of firepower that he did. Epoch's Judgment had been noticing to scoff at as well. He only gave the precaution because their lack of knowledge could be their undoing.*
"Anything you can tell me about those two? Better to start learning now rather than later."
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Post by Raven8 on Nov 11, 2017 22:10:28 GMT -8
NapalmMan stops for a moment to consider the situation, making note on Rosso and the powers mentioned. So much to take into account.
NapalmMan: Didn't try to scan them. They made it clear that they wanted to take me down from moment one. The big guy seemed to tank all of my hits and rush me down. Honestly, couldn't handle him one-on-one as it sits. The girl has a bit of a complex when it comes to being a swords-woman, but I will say that she's fast and skilled. She didn't seem to take damage from anything that I threw at her.
NapalmMan returns to his files, now speaking to himself as much as Genesis.
NapalmMan: ...but the power that I saw wasn't their own. It was closer to Epoch or Negative than someone like you or I; they're augmented in some way, I'd bet the farm on that
NapalmMan then closes out his current file and moves on to the next, now more fiddling than actually looking.
NapalmMan: Right now, I just want to know what they're doing. They seemed a bit too intent on raiding Gate's Netopian lab, so they're up to something. Not that I'd mind Gate getting his rear handed to him, mind you.
...and that reminded him. Going back to the first file, NapalmMan looks around and finds 2 more. He pulls them out and downloads them as well.
NapalmMan: Don't forget one thing about this guy moving forward though; arrogance is always there to hide something. Somewhere, he's hiding some kind of weakness and is using the bluster to cover it.
At this point it seemed that everyone had given NapalmMan credit as either a strategist or a war-mech. No one had recognized the fact that he's both.... yet. Truthfully it was an advantage in some cases, but at the same time it was a trump-card that he could only make use of once.... and he'd already played it with Magnolia and Glint.
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Post by Genesis on Nov 11, 2017 22:34:50 GMT -8
*He would have to agree with him on that augmentation. It wasn't that there couldn't be navis out there to rival himself, the Armored Destroyer, or the Storming Bomber. But for how Rosso had fought and behaved was certainly a blend of power he was used to and powers he obtained. For example, that blade he pulled out during their fight. Whoever granted them that augmentation had been especially talented at it, not just with that sword but the barrier and presence concealment as well. For one to be able to tank what NapalmMan could throw at him would reason that even his own destructive force would be stressed to do some meaningful damage there. The girl definitely had the same defensive measure as Rosso, but that complex might lie her weakness. Rosso's arrogance could lead to his blunders, which is what gave them some hint at what to do, though incredibly vague as it was without a second test of it. And the next time, the Pyroclasm wouldn't be biding his time to lull them into what happened to Rammount. He would likely be there for them specifically.*
"I'll keep that in mind. As for what they're doing, Rosso isn't likely to want to discuss that, so your best bet is with one of the other two. Which means Electopia or Creamland if I were to take a guess on it. So far I can say that they are extremists, willing to go after Gate and even using the Cybeasts to make their ends meet given the risks that entails."
*A risk he was noting even at the time of their departure and why he didn't want to leave them unchecked. But they had been left with no choice, thanks to Rosso. Whether their goal was world domination or some fairy-tale utopia, they were willing to invoke extreme measures to reach that goal. And they were confident in their ability to do it. Whether that confident lied in their augmentation, or the fact that they had planned things out to the degree that they calculated for the Onyx Overlord and Armored Destroyer to work together was difficult to grasp right now. But he could say with certainty that the storm hadn't even begun yet. All three of them had weaknesses... but they hadn't unveiled all of their strengths yet either. As is, his grudge with Rosso withstanding, he was curious about the other two now as well. It had been ages since he had been this driven into a corner.*
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Post by Gaia on Nov 12, 2017 10:11:33 GMT -8
PlagueMan.ERR
He was still trying to root himself in and get comfortable when NapalmMan began kicking Resonance around. He felt the strange, forced Navi Link being established, but, was far too busy with other tasks to assist Resonance with whomever was out there treating him like a dog.
By the second kick, PlagueMan had already rooted himself in rather nicely, and began to release pulses of data to quell both Resonance's pain and nausea. Still, perhaps it would be best to keep signs of life from Resonance to a minimum, if this thing was truly hostile towards him . . . without Resonance's eyes open, he could barely make out the Navi assaulting him. He stymied the flow of bugged data out of Resonance to a low drone, the wall of static surrounding him dissipating into little more than a second skin.
Then, well, he listened. The new arrival and the Onyx Overlord went back and forth, discussing the recent events, and, throughout it all, a single name rung familiar. Where had he heard it, before? It was almost like a distant memory, now, perhaps a part of his old collective had been privy to it. If he could but remember . . .
". . . Magnolia?" He could still project his voice from all around, rather than from just within Resonance, bugging out where it could be heard from. It was filled with static and warped at random syllables, sometimes blanking out into pure white noise as he spoke. "I know that name . . . from the border."
PlagueMan couldn't take the mass of bugged data and transform them into sentients anymore . . . so maybe he could make use of them in a different way, and use his power over them to make dataforms for his use within Resonance? From within Resonance's body, he began releasing masses of bugged material, the red data spilling from within into the air. Shaping his will over them, PlagueMan warps the amassed glitched information into a make-shift form, generating a figure that looked roughly akin to Magnolia; the proportions were spot-on, but, minute details were missing from the projected image. It was connected to Resonance by thin filaments of red code, from where PlagueMan was controlling the image.
"The one with the purple flames and keen eyes . . . he fought her, at the border, and I could see it from my collective. His called weapons shattered before they could reach her . . ." the image shifted, a drill forming just near her that shattered before it got too close, "But his flames . . . she raised a physical barrier to avert them."
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Post by Raven8 on Nov 12, 2017 10:56:13 GMT -8
The voice speaks and seems to come from everywhere, causing NapalmMan's eyes to shift around as he tries to discern the source, finally resting his eyes on the red data spilling out from PlagueMan.
NapalmMan: Yeah, that's the little scrub alright. All that I saw was her weird little sword and some stuff with black holes, and I'll speak for that barrier too. She took a blast at near point-blank range and didn't even get soot on her cloths.
Of course this show from the barely-conscious Resonance was a bit... disconcerting... to say the least, but NapalmMan thought it best to not ask about it, chalking the spectacle up to the "anglerfish mating" that Genesis had spoken of earlier. Uugh.
NapalmMan: For now though, I'd better get away from here. I know too much about Gate's machinations, so it's only a matter of time before he sends something to kill and/or capture me, plus I want to learn a bit more about these guys.
Finishing up and re-closing the archives, NapalmMan almost dismissively walks away, his mind still ringing with memories and thoughts as he tries to plan out his next move. Before long he makes it to the front of the network and disappears in a flash of fire and smoke.
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Post by Genesis on Nov 12, 2017 21:34:43 GMT -8
*He hadn't gotten an actual name on the two individuals, so the educated guess and confirmation was appreciated to go with the mental image. Well, setting that aside he had some issues about the flames part. Saying that they worked wasn't something that they could bank on through the entire battle, as proven by their battle with Rosso. It worked once and then had ceased. Not only that, but it was something NapalmMan specialized in too. If she didn't use their innate barrier and instead blocked it, it would speak for it. But if she used the same barrier, it would mean that fire wasn't the answer still. Ultimately, the scene of that battle or the differences between Magnolia or Rosso would have to be compared to get an idea of if that was an answer or not. But the answer to that must have lied in what he had done in that moment when the two of them were about to engage him in earnest. The change that happened then with his sword... he would have to test the theory after all. Even if that theory ran high risks given he'd have to do it mostly on his own right now. Resonance wasn't built for this level of combat, nor would he want Resonance to try to go for it given the Generational's latent potential as well.*
"This helps us out all the same. And while it would be nice to know about Gate, we'll set that aside. Engaging Rosso again right now while he's heated is in poor form, plus recovery time for the Destroyer's full capacity will take a bit longer. If it's a universal trait, I could gather information by testing the waters against one of the others once we can get out of Netopia."
*Something he was steadily beginning to notice was changing at that. Was the lock removed? That wouldn't make sense if the NIA was trying to quarantine things here. That was why it had been locked in the first place after the outbreak began. Which meant that it had been removed by someone wanting to release those kept inside. Someone likely just had to ignore the conditions and leave without thinking about it in order for this to become more than Netopia's problem. On the one hand, this might bring the people together. On another, absolutely no one was going to be happy with the news they would be finding out in due time.*
"So we can either do the usual Bayside/Element City run or do it at Creamland instead. The ONB's condition is likely a bit rocky at the time to say the least, so if we give it a bit of time a move there wouldn't be that difficult. Which is to say it's likely an expected next step..."
*But sometimes you had to spring a trap to get your desired results. Dancing around those traps wouldn't lead to any further encounters. Which meant he would have to walk into one eventually. And hope that they wouldn't deem two of them necessary to jump him like they had done with the Storming Bomber when one was already giving him a hard time. No kill like overkill still applied, did it?*
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Post by Raven8 on Nov 14, 2017 10:24:18 GMT -8
Finally starting to regain is equilibrium, Resonance finally sits up, putting his hand on his head and rubbing his temples as he does so. He hadn't felt this disoriented since Eclipse used him to help revive Eon. He holds this position as he listens to Genesis, thinking about the situation as he does so.
Resonance: ...Genesis, with due respect I really feel like intel gathering might be our smartest way to go.
Resonance stands up, wobbling for a moment as he braces himself against the wall of the archives.
Resonance: Please don't take this the wrong way, but I've gathered that you and... him.... were only able to do so much against this Rosso character. I can't speak for our ever-so-nice friend, but I know that even more advanced monsters tred lightly around you. If you couldn't even do damage, then we need to figure out why...
Resonance's brow curls as he thinks deeper, trying to view the situation from a higher perspective.
Resonance: ...and even more than that, we need to figure out why these Navis are a threat. They're a wall, yes. But walls don't just stand in our way, they can also hide things behind them...
Resonance places a closed hand on his chin and mulls it over, trying to work it out...
Resonance: Why do they want us all divided, and why do they want the cyber-beasts? And why aren't they making their plans known yet? There has to be something that they don't have yet. There's something that they still need to find or do before moving. We need to see if we can get to their goal first.
This is when a beeping resounds from Resonance's right arm and a small window opens up with an alert.
Resonance: ....New Life is apparently being invaded by an army of... reaverbots?
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