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Post by "Bill" on Sept 14, 2018 19:35:26 GMT -8
*Embera nodded and sighed in a futile acceptance of the facts as Finale seemed determined to push forward with his "mission" It seemed one more facet of her life turned against her. Determined in her own right not to end anymore friends' lives, she began to turn away and depart, yet something gnawed at her. She opposed Gate, and she was so ready to level this fleet until she saw Finale. Yet again, a friend turned against her; yet again, the connection she fought so hard for in her lonely life is weaponized against her; YET AGAIN she finds herself hamstringed again because of her one desire to never harm her family. Her blood boiled at her inner turmoil, ready to explode on the spot in frustration. Charging her fist, she shot a large blast into the ship under her feet before shaking her head and screaming in anguish.*
Embera: AAHHHHH! I can't keep dealing with this! I'm tired of losing even when no one is fighting! AAAAAHHHH!!!
*In the fierce tantrum, Embera erupted in both solar fury and emotional pain. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried her best to collect herself, she turned back to Finale shakily, hoping she can salvage some kind of a win here.*
Embera: Please tell me there is someone else I can fight against. Tell me that there is someone else in this mess I can oppose. Please say that you are not the only person in this fleet....please.
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Post by church on Sept 14, 2018 21:22:09 GMT -8
Leviathan began to draw aquatic energy towards her as she tried to form a water spout around herself. If successful, her position would begin to glow, growing brighter as time passed, and the power of the water spout would hopefully increase with time as well.
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Post by Trinitrotoluene Monomania on Sept 14, 2018 21:57:13 GMT -8
Piano.EXE Hey, wasn't it getting dangerous in there? A third Navi was charging his weapon aimed at the very ship that the virus and the miniature sun stood on, while the miniature sun itself looked like it was about to explode, in quite the literal sense. Yet, the virus only stood there... Did she not think she was in danger?
Piano cut off his attempt at communication by closing his eyes. For then, the priority seemed to be getting her out of harm's way. At the moment, it made sense to him, unknowing of said virus leading the very fleet threatening to destroy Bayside. A Handy cut through the air and dashed towards Finale, preparing to toss her to another ship to safety. A purplish Grim Reaper virus awaited at said ship, ready to catch her in case something went wrong. As for Piano himself, he continued to hover there in the dark sky with the Elebee and Mosquritos attached to him, overseeing everything below, presumably away from danger.
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Post by Shast on Sept 15, 2018 4:52:46 GMT -8
Jax
Old things just have a way of never dying, it seems. Hollow has a plausible theory, but one somewhat counter productive if true. As such a bombardment would attract the attention of not just strong defenders but authorities as well.
Jax continues sifting through the currents of the area. Admiring the framework, and cataloguing each byte in his own systems. Finally, after minutes of simply standing. Jax takes a step forward. While his own abilities meant that he could learn all there was to know about the structural coding of any given network there was often more than his methods could glean. Such as that on a terminal, or held far aloft of the ground. He begins to walk through the ruins.
The fortress of Eon? There's much to learn here then. Even out of direct sight the vigilant bender keeps tabs on not just Magicman, but Hollow as well. His mistrust of them keeping him on alert.
Righty shook in continued defiance, empty as he was, the handy virus' rampage would continue. The Shroomy virus before him shimmying in its own 'come at be bro' way. A challenge the fist of fury would be happy to oblige. Even with BoB's added weight the virus was still capable of battle. It lifts up its fingers and conjures yet another strange bomb. Then flicks it towards the mushroom virus. It follows the bomb closely, using it as a cover for its own attack. As the bomb approaches Righty pounces out from behind into an overhead chop!
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Post by notegg on Sept 15, 2018 18:52:10 GMT -8
Embera just had to say please. Finale took a single step forward, but no more. He didn't know what to say. Moments passed, his mind was on fire, like the days before, when the corruption was nearing its final months. He was faced with the cruelest form of choice, to betray and hurt Embera, one of the few people Finale cared about and was still around, or to betray his mission, and more importantly his Master. It tore at the doll-like virus.
Master had given him a new life. In more ways than one, Finale had a purpose at World 3. He also had his own, private purpose for his cooperation. The entire fibre of his being hated it, hated himself for what he had to do. The cursed winds... he hated them too. It seemed only he could hear them howling, unending. This world had become a waking nightmare, and he would stop it. No matter the cost.
Master's Mission.
Embera however... He knew her better than she knew him. It was hard not to, the firey navi had trouble staying out of international news. She was a criminal, a terrorist, a freedom fighter, a revolutionary, a murderer, a saviour, and a friend. There was a promise between the two of them, something even Finale had now forgotten. The words of the pact had no meaning now, the blood of the covenant sealed the two together.
Embera's Plea.
He made a choice. Hoping that he might have made the right one. He hoped he could be forgiven.
"There is another, but... Embera, I can call off the ships right now--"
Finale was interrupted, having paid too much attention to his friend had distracted him. He saw the incoming explosion and intended to nullify it completely - the orange-yellow space within the aura had begun to spark with energy as the process in which entire attacks could be nullified. This was Finale's world, and he had full control within the barrier. Or at least, thought he had full control. A moment too many focused on Embera had had him miss the sudden, erratic warp of a handy, grabbing him and throwing him too another boat. The explosion rocked the boat, tearing its hull in two, reverberations of blasts rocking the network.
While perhaps in his past life, Finale would have flapped his arms and reacted in peril, the only reaction that flashed across his countenance now was one of dismay and annoyance. Not only had he been interrupted talking to Embera, but now he was slicing through the air. Though horizontal and seemingly not in control of the situation, he cut through the wind. Always in control. Precise measurements and small adjustments, he landed on his feet a meter away from the Grim Reaper virus. En guarde and defensive. Was this the work of that virus summoner? The whistle he heard before, and for a half-second, the viral link that he could feel?
Now, he was seperated from her. Could she trust him? Could she remain calm long enough to listen? Finale himself looked towards the horizon, still seemingly bored, distant. The rains still splattered against the metal of the ship, and the rush of water towards a central light couldn't be a good sign. The sniper was still taking shots at his ship. A distinctive ping, then the blast of an explosion. Finale took dismay in this sight. Though it may not seem like it, the ships were of a finite number, and each one's destruction cost him a precious resource - time. And finally, the virus summoner that seemed to have caught him in his eye. What did they want with them? Finale knew what he wanted. The only thing he wanted anymore.
Another sweet embrace.
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Post by "Bill" on Sept 15, 2018 19:27:26 GMT -8
*Embera calmed her maelstrom of emotions to listen to Finale. He mentioned that there was someone else. He didn't elaborate more, and yet he also talked about calling off the assault. So what if Bayside erupted? That was of little consequence if it meant cutting off one more grimy tentacle of Gate's cadre. She was about to ask him where the other person was, but it was too late. Before she got her answer, the Handy tossed the child-like being away from her. She was unable to even react to the Handy when the ship exploded. It was a magnificent fireball, the pressure so immense a mushroom cloud had formed. The fire was so intense, thermal waves could be seen flittering over the water, as if the ocean itself ignited. As the smoke cleared, Embera's aura dissipated, leaving her unharmed but disoriented from the shockwave. She couldn't see Finale though the low-lying smoke, and could only see the viruses. Charging a small sun, she shot it into the Handy, obliterating it. Looking around she could only notice Piano still hovering, controlling even more viruses. It was not long before Embera blasted up to him and grabbed him by the throat, irradiating the elebee and mosquito viruses until they too puddled into goop and sloughed off him into the water below, deleted. She growled out a pained shout at the virus-charmer.*
Embera: What did you do with him?! I ought to kill you right now for interrupting us!
*It wasn't until the smoke began clearing beneath her that she could see Finale again on a smaller ship, with the Nightmare virus beside him. Charging her solar energy, she dropped Piano to whatever fate awaited beneath him as she plummeted to the boat like a comet, grabbing the nightmare virus and scarring it with her charged hand before throwing it away. She stood next to Finale with her empowered fist aimed at the reaper. Without making eye contact, she spoke quietly, though not in a whisper to Finale.*
Embera: I don't particularly care if you level this city, and I'm sure you know that. Tell me where the other World3 agent is so I can cut off one of Gate's fingers. This doesn't have to concern you. You can have your mission and we can handle what this situation means for us later. I promise you we will work something out, but I've got a lot of anger in me right now and I refuse to believe that my friends are all fighting against me.
*Her voice wavering slightly at the end of her statement, Embera was again haunted by Rosso, her anguish was bubbling out all the time, it seemed. One after another, she found herself at odds with the only people she cared about. Was Genesis really all she has? She couldn't think too long on it as the rage began welling up again, as she felt so deprived of an outlet to dispose of these toxic feelings chewing away at her psyche.*
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Post by B.o.B. on Sept 15, 2018 21:17:32 GMT -8
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Post by Trinitrotoluene Monomania on Sept 15, 2018 21:33:34 GMT -8
Piano.EXE Every virus slain by Embera cut through his mind like chunks of his brain were being torn off his head. It was infinitely more painful than his own neck being crushed and singed by her grasp, at which point he was very much unconscious, unaware of Embera's cries, unaware of him then falling to the depths of sea, sinking straight down with no sign of swimming back up...
Gradually, the waves of the sea started to get larger and larger. Back and forth, they rocked the frontmost section of the fleet. From the very front of the fleet, a tall, wide and armoured Bladia rose from the sea and slammed its brimming sword down the ship right in front of it, attempting to split it apart or at least cause a fairly massive shockwave that would send a lot of things in disarray. Marinas and Piranhas shot at the keels, trying to tear holes into them that would hopefully sink the ships. Other water-based viruses such as Octor and Shrimpy blasted the ships with ink and water from various directions, mostly aiming at the gun barrels to jam them, while Jellies and Larks maintained the discord by crashing waves onto the ships' sides.
The assault began at 20 strong, but their numbers were to gradually increase as more viruses gained the courage to defend their home. It was particularly odd how organized their assault was...
After visibly having been deleted, the Grim Reaper virus fusion and the Handy rose yet again, fully intact and apparently unharmed... The virus fusion shot a cold stare at Embera, but didn't seem to seek any sort of revenge otherwise, as all three viruses headed back to assist the attacks to the ships behind them.
Piano was still nowhere in sight.
From a boxing-ring-looking boat at the middle of sea sailed a particular Champy. The eyepatch it wore hadn't hindered its eyesight one bit as it gazed at the Bladia hammering the ships with such control and power. Fired up by this display of aggression, it soared from its small boat and began its own attack, shearing hulls around and cutting gun barrels with the flaming hook that stood in place of its left arm. It seemed way too eager to show off its power that it hadn't had an opportunity to use for so long.
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Post by notegg on Sept 16, 2018 13:10:16 GMT -8
Finale, slightly dizzy, dismayed as the low haze concealed his vision. Eyesight already weak, he teared up and rubbed at his eye. Even under the effects of Master's barrier, his body was still frail and new. He looked around confusedly for a moment, hoping in the back of his mind that Embera had been okay. The blast was one that rippled heat through the network, to the point that there was visible steam coming from the lakeside.
Rubbing his eyes, Finale watched as a ball of light burst through the haze to the coast, and back again, dropping off some hapless navi into the depths below. He raised an eyebrow. For all the destruction he had caused, the network was long evacuated. Embera seemed to have a penchant for violence, even as she criticized World 3. There was a part of Finale that agreed with her, if not her methods.
Through a cold stare, looking up at her, though he could see her avoiding his own gaze, teary eyed. He answered her. "You cut off a finger of World 3, and what happens? World 3 still breathes. You could cut down Master, Gate, and you've only killed a head. World 3 is a hydra. No matter how much you strike at it, it will be revived..." As he trailed off, there was a hint of deep sorrow in his voice. An apologetic tone. This life was not his to be living. He lowered his guard, ashamed and guilty.
The small, childlike navi clutched at his chest. Feeling his own beating heart. He spoke in a foreboding tone, all the more eerie given his angelic voice. "If you truly wish to hurt World 3, you must cut out its heart!"
Finale took the arm across his heart and slashed forward, his smallsword forming out of wind. The gusts rocked the boat and the waters. He stepped to the edge of the boat and slashed out again, down at the sea, forming a divide of wind, looking for the passed out navi that Embera had nearly tried to kill. Within the black depths, Finale's eye searched. The dread creeping in as he considered having to swim.
Still looking away from Embera, he murmured. "As for myself, I am but an eye for World 3. It's a nightmare. I investigate why. That's all. I want it to end too."
He dove into the depths below, searching for a corpse.
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Post by "Bill" on Sept 16, 2018 17:30:58 GMT -8
*Embera cursed under her breath as Finale left her with cryptic and unhelpful words. She had hoped he was prevented from divulging information, and not being cryptic for the sake of looking cool, because that eyepatch must be going to his ego. She shook he head as she turned away from Finale playing hero and rocketed off in search of something, anything that could give her a positive result. As she blasted off, the ship Finale dove from caught fire, becoming a hazard to return to. Embera was done with Bayside City, and done with this conflict. Being here hurt too much anymore, and she needed some rest. The Cross scraped at her chest, a grim reminder of the nightmares she was infected with so long ago...
[Embera exit]
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Post by Trinitrotoluene Monomania on Sept 16, 2018 19:12:02 GMT -8
Piano.EXE And through the deep water, he sank. His unusually high body density didn't help him one bit, as he darn near plummeted straight through the water and down the rocky sea floor, breaking a coral with his back. Bubbles were forming from his skin; his body visibly disagreeing with the water... yet he was far from death, as his body replaced his decaying skin much faster. Even the singes on his body were no more than scars and char marks. He was, however, still unconscious...
Gradually, more and more Ammonicules of various versions arrived at his vicinity, observing his unconscious state. Some have tried to pull him up with a bubble, but each one popped either due to rocks accidentally hitting it, or Piano's own leaking data gnawing at it.
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Post by Blazewind on Sept 16, 2018 19:26:54 GMT -8
Legacy watched the explosion, exhaling and allowing his mechanical joints to relax slightly. While perhaps somewhat inappropriate, seeing the Reactor Cannon have its intended effect on the flagship was satisfying to the navi. Legacy didn't want to admit it, but he had some hate to work out of his system, and nuking what might have been the cause of this whole debacle was indeed an excellent way to do so. It had been awhile since he managed to launch something at full power without nearly killing himself in the process. How refreshing.
"Hmmn?" Legacy narrowed his eyes, zooming in at the aftermath of his handiwork. Evidently, the navis on the flagship were alive, although he DID give them a verbal warning before firing. It was at least good that he didn't commit friendly fire. Still, he zoomed in further perplexed at what he saw. "...What manner of drama is this?" He asked aloud to nobody in particular. It seemed that he was far from the only one who had issues to work out.
"...I shall refrain." In this case however, he would wash his hands of the matter. There was more important things to deal with anyways. Legacy turned... Only to be met with the largely on fire remains of the armada. In hindsight, he wasn't actually expecting this level of success. Still, he wasn't the sort of person to leave things done half way. Besides, perhaps he could gain something from the ships. The one most likely to be carrying anything of value would likely be...
"...Oh. Curses." Legacy groaned as the sound of metal striking metal rang out from his forehead and hand. The flagship was now little more than a sinking mass of slag. The area that had been struck directly by the blast was largely absent save for some nearly molten metal. From a distance, one could see that a nearly perfectly spherical chunk of the ship had been vaporized, destroyed from a molecular level from charged Sefirot Plasma particles. It was quite likely anything of value shared the same fate. Perhaps Legacy should have held back a bit.
"...KAAAAAAAH!" He yelled in frustration as he drew his beam cannon once more, firing on the ships from above, intent on sinking the remaining ones.
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Post by Shast on Sept 18, 2018 3:08:14 GMT -8
The bugfix, while a stalwart and well thought effort gave no relief to the guttural growls of this viruses stomach. Righty the mighty thrashed and fro'd, his chop successfully smashing into the mushroom virus he grabs the small thing and yanks it out of the ice! Righty begins squeezing the poor thing. Attempting to crush it like an apple, or kind of boogin. Could anything calm this beasts rage!?
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Post by B.o.B. on Sept 18, 2018 5:33:38 GMT -8
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Post by notegg on Sept 18, 2018 8:56:35 GMT -8
Finale found himself in a world of crashing white. The noise was nearly unbearable, the sound of wind cutting into water, waterfall rapids beneath the sea. It was hard to tell up from down, as he fell in this divide between water.
There wasn't much time before the artificial waterfall closed in. His wind slash, while powerful within the effects of the orange-yellow barrier, was still only temporary. He fell, further and further into the void, white turning to inky black darkness as he fell. Scouring, looking for any sign of the poor navi that Embera had tossed to death.
Finale, invisibly beneath his face mask, scowled. Taking orders had gotten him into this mess- unable to fire more volleys, unable to tell Embera the whereabouts of MagicMan, unable to let civilians be deleted.
Although, there was a part of him that took solace in these orders. The destruction of Bayside was a tragedy, regardless of objective. The city is- was- one of pristine beauty, and one of Finale's preferred spots to roam. Not causing any more destruction wasn't the worst thing, even if it did delay the mission.
As for Embera... Finale was torn. He didn't really want her to cause yet another fight, another conflict he would have to take part in. He especially didn't want to have to act as her enemy in defense of his ally. MagicMan, though begrudgingly, was now Finale's ally, and one of the few few resources he had to lifting the curse from this world. Embera couldn't possibly understand that - she listened only to raw emotions, not to reason. Finale tried to reason with her, and he should have known better.
As for the poor navi deep in the ocean, there was a morbid curiosity that piqued Finale's interest. For what purpose did he keep interfering? What was his power over viruses? Was he one like MagicMan, who could raise even the dead?
Finale shook off these questions as he dove further, his already poor eyesight blinded by the darkness. He had found Piano, deep within the waters...
The wind slash began to fade, as the winds grew calm. Perhaps this wasn't only Piano's grave, but Finale's too. Finale did his best to grab the eerily calm corpse, and braced himself as the waters closed in, trapping the both of them in deep black.
Above, something monstrous circled. As massive as a ship, yet even more dangerous. Finale let go of his breath, the few bubbles rising to the surface...
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