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Post by Zane on Jan 15, 2023 3:34:42 GMT -8
The plan was a sound one when it came to diverting the attack if it worked. But there was a difference this time in what happened as Byte's tackle would hit it head-on without causing it to change direction just yet, likely why the following measures were going to be taken. The gravity mine had no effect this time however, and the attack would have gone unhinged if not for Byte's following tackle, which had a vastly diminished effect visibly as well as the shot was primed to go off, being dislodged at last by the thrown shield as the fireballs would also manage to inflict damage despite the current focus that was in play. There were several layers going on here that weren't yet known, and before the next attack would go off was when the combination of a variety of devastating strikes would strike at the exposed neck area of the piscine threat, at last causing it to go inert as it would cease its functions as it started to float about in the water now from the devastating and precise strike.
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Post by Raven8 on Jan 15, 2023 13:50:59 GMT -8
Bit lands from his previous leap as the fish ends is assault, planting his feet and re-summoning his shield to himself. as he returns his shield to his back, he calls out his saber and takes a ready pose, unsure of what may come next.
Byte, meanwhile, rises from his body slam attack and slams a fist into the ground, watching the piscine threat as he rights himself. Like Bit, he holds his guard as his hands return to the gyana mudra position and his glaring eyes shift towards Xion.
Byte: A bit late with your surgical strike.
Given Byte's gruff nature, this was obviously a very, very mild barb aimed at Xion, but a barb nonetheless.
Byte: What's our next objective?
Byte holds his hands in a guarded position, still awaiting the final throws of life from the great swimming menace.
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Post by Genesis on Jan 15, 2023 15:24:27 GMT -8
*He was pretty sure that his eyes let off that he would probably be displaying a small smirk on his face if it could be shown. But he had a good reason for that delay, seeing as he discerned a few key factors into this ongoing investigation. They had a few more tricks up their sleeve besides just the better mono-focus. Epoch continued to be outdone it appeared.*
"I was distracted. This fish works in a swarm, so I had to adjust my strike to possess an isolating and paralyzing effect. How long it sticks is difficult to say for obvious enough reasons."
*Ordinarily it would stick for a while yet, but it was better to presume that wouldn't be the case here. To present his case, he held out his right hand as a ball of light would form to start to reveal what was lurking in the shadows. The swarm wasn't actively engaging, but he did collect some other information in regard to that as well.*
"I sent a double off and it seemed that managed to get some of their attention, but I presume them to be linked to the main body and for ease of terminology, is what we'll go off of for now in regard to the shark and the flock. Just in case, the next objective has a few steps, first and foremost of them is making sure none of them interact with the main body. I'll secure it now, so get some distance."
*It should still have been of the right size to be captured, though he was beginning to suspect that wouldn't be the case for the more advanced ones. That and he didn't want to catch any of them in the net as well. First would be compressing the target, which led to another part of his delay. From his sides hands upon hands started to form up, spectral and purple in hue before they began to reach out, gripping different parts of the swimming menace and starting to dismantle it carefully but swiftly. His left hand would cast out a black sphere, the effects isolated on just the shark rather than its standard radius. And to top that off would be going over to activate the ExaMem to install it to decompress it later, as carting it out otherwise would be an issue given its size. He honestly had a feeling that they did that already to get it down here to begin with. ...Unless...*
"Now we'll need to focus on getting out. While this place could stand to be investigated later, I've begun to suspect that there's another entrance that we're unaware of. Which stands to reason there's another way that we can be ambushed if we linger too long."
*Ordinarily he would just beam out, but he noticed that didn't seem to be an option. It was at a certain distance, so it simply meant they had to get there. Next was determining which route was best to take on the way out. Heading back the way they came would be standard procedure given they knew the path, but also stood to reason that the ambush would be most likely kept there. Getting out through the other exit would likely surprise the enemy once and once only, simply because finding it that quickly would be the main shock factor. But even if it was an ambush, it would need to be a considerable one to stop them if their focus was on leaving. Considering these factors and the relative silence of the more problematic individuals so far...*
"...Right now, I think we should search for that backup exit instead of returning the way we came. What do you think?"
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Post by Zane on Jan 15, 2023 18:11:57 GMT -8
Xion was right to presume the effects weren't as long lasting as they should be, as it started to attempt movement even while it had been impaled with extreme prejudice. The light had also revealed the strange black machines, distracted for a time but clearly with a prime directive in mind as they would only be distracted for so long before they started to make their way back toward what was now referred to as 'the main body'. With the no nonsense team on the case however, he was able to dismantle it before it could mount another resistance and before they made it to it, capturing it successfully. At first the swarm seemed to be perturbed by this, floating about the space before they instead began to scatter. Rather than becoming thoughtless husks or hounding them for the main body, they had started dispersing about the underwater ruins instead while they were allowed to deliberate on their next move.
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Post by Raven8 on Mar 8, 2023 14:26:10 GMT -8
Bit never takes his eyes off of the apparent corpse of the swimming menace, still ready to respond should it begin moving. However, after a few moments he calls on a small program that materializes in his palm and activates moments later, releasing a data-pulse that appears to do nothing to the network at all. Bit then offers a response to Xion, his attention obviously elsewhere.
Bit: In that case we have three choices. We could go back the way we came, which you've already ruled out for your own reasons. We could search for an alternate exit as you expect to find it...
Now Byte, standing in a rigid position with his eyes closed, interjects Bit's statement, already fully aware of what was coming next.
Byte: ...or we make our own exit. Despite the pressure at this depth, Bit and I can definitely survive, and we could also eliminate this entire network at the same time, if it still poses a threat. This option would obviously make it hard to return at a later point, but it definitely has its potential advantages.
Bit, who finally takes his eyes off of the great fish for a moment, walks up to a nearby wall and places his hand on it with knowing eyes gazing from under the overhang of his his shining, yellow helmet.
Bit: To top it all off, we could potentially give our friends a taste of their own medicine; we have the resources to easily hack the monitoring for this network, so we can easily make it look like Rosso or Nero did the deed. If we did enough collateral damage to Sharo as a whole, we could awaken one of the strongest military forces on the net and potentially begin mounting large-scale opposition. Even if they're embedded into this country enough to put down the public outcry, it could alert other countries to their supposed motives.
Byte gives a gruff grunt, changing the position of his arms as to flip his hands palm-up.
Byte: Of course, adding a flood to a cutting stream of water may not be the strongest option. You have your fingers on the pulse of this war, so we defer to your knowledge of the situation
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Post by Genesis on Mar 8, 2023 18:34:12 GMT -8
*The third option held promise of its own in this regard. While this library no doubt still held information that needed to be taken out to be applied, he could get to work on that while they made their escape. But before that he weighed the full weight behind that decision as well with the knowledge that he did have of the situation. For starters he knew nothing about the thing he caught a glimpse of on the way here, but he imagined that seeing as only part of it was that large that destroying the network wouldn't do much in the way of harming it. It would potentially not even notice as well, and that was only a resort they would take if they stayed in danger after creating their third exit.*
*The pressure wasn't a problem for them, as he knew he was fine, and Bit and Byte confirmed they would be as well. The world was unaware of Rosso and Nero, as all showings of them simply eluded being monitored even when they walked around publicly or attacked places like New Life. Raising awareness to the situation would be helpful to start some opposition, but there was something that concerned him next.*
"Why hasn't Sharo begun acting already?"
*The reason they had taken refuge in the Undernet before the battle with Sirius was because of the severity of the attack that bombarded the entire world. None of the countries should have been oblivious to this fact, and yet they all behaved as if they were. Sharo was in even worse shape, as it almost looked like their country had been torn apart even before that blast had taken place. Something had caused a great upheaval, and several of their networks had been destroyed already from the account he had with Warrior. The only logical conclusion was that the country of Sharo, despite activity right now, was already removed from the picture. Grim as that reality was, there was plenty of gathered evidence to say that was the case. And it was easy to see how it happened if they were caught unaware by something he thought he had dealt with in the past that had resurfaced wholly unexpectedly. While that had been rectified, that damage was already done.*
"In that case..."
*In that case despite how it appeared, that meant many of the countries were compromised already. It explained each of their rampant destructions at this point with no responses whatsoever. While the Cyber World had roots in place, the servers, the Human World that is, had not as secure roots if they were antagonized by beings that easily outclassed humans in battle. If the entities could fight them, it wasn't much to bring up how catastrophic they would be to lesser adversaries and how easily it could be covered up due to the vast gap that was created. But there was another bigger reason than to bring about a call to arms.*
"Instead of making it appear as though Rosso or Nero did it, let's just make it appear as though I did it. There's a message I want to send out to everyone. If all goes well, it should help to open their eyes. My only hope is that what they see isn't grimmer than I want it to be."
*There was a series of logical deductions to be made from his various ventures thus far. Doing this he would be able to best work it to his advantage. It didn't matter if it foiled his reputation once again, it wasn't like it exactly made a full recovery from the Autumnal Assault anyway. He didn't much care for how he was viewed in that regard, this was a matter of what needed to be done, casting his gaze over to both of the Nightmare Police.*
"The message is more akin to a declaration. That declaration combined with what the world knows of me will cause them to take a good, hard look at everything. And that will wake them up from the ennui that they're trapped in. Some will find their neighbors missing, others may find that they aren't what they've been looking at this whole time. But they need to. If not to mount an offense of their own, then to start seeking refuge from what's bringing about their end."
*The world should have been up in arms after the global assault already. And yet they were docile even as so many died from that alone. That was the final nail in the coffin with what he gathered to get the idea of what really was happening here. He already understood the ramifications of working around that too, seeing as he abused them last time. His gaze hardened as he resigned himself that one way or another it would reach this point, and accepting the fact that he would just have to pull that trigger himself.*
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Post by Raven8 on Mar 10, 2023 16:48:57 GMT -8
With Xion's response, Bit opens a window and begins working on something, remaining silent as Byte glances his way and then back to the Neo Underking.
Byte: Then the next question is just how far-reaching you want the destruction to be. As it sits, we can take down anything from this network to the whole of Sharo in one blow. I'm sure you know that this will get Sharo ticked at you, but it's worth saying that Gate'll also take notice, for better or for worse.
Bit finishes whatever he had been working on, closes the window, and turns to Xion.
Bit: Technically we work for Dr.Doppler, who himself works for Gate, so we don't know what he's planning exactly. But utilizing powers that he's built without his permission... I'd hope that you're on good terms before giving the last word.
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Post by Genesis on Mar 10, 2023 18:38:42 GMT -8
*Sharo would have to just be ticked at him and then thank him later for making the executive decision to give them a fighting chance for whoever may have been left of their forces. There was another matter that was relevant in relation to their government that was brought to his attention, but if their government was already sabotaged then that concern was likewise worthless.*
"We're on good enough terms to make executive decisions when the moment calls for it."
*If anything, he had let him know that he was on the offensive, sort of. It was more apt to say they were on working terms rather than good terms, as 'taking action' usually meant not exactly going to anything extreme like this. That left the other elephant in the room: how extreme did they want this to be? Sharo was ravaged to say the least but was still standing to a degree. More likely to say was that something else was the reason for that rather than the structural integrity. It wasn't the easiest thing to spot on the way here, but it was clear that something was residing here. Something tough enough to still be relatively covered after the earlier attack. Either it was that durable or they softened the blast in the direction of Sharo. Many would veer to the latter judgment, while he would actually veer toward the former instead. It was better to presume that it was more dangerous than it appeared to be than anything else. They could very well gain the answer to that by attacking the whole of Sharo, but even he would reason that to be a bit rash at the moment. If only because of the original mission. If they had set out from the onset to discern all of that, then there would have been nothing to discuss. This at the end of the day was still a retrieval mission, and that would be accomplished one way or another.*
"As for how far-reaching, we'll settle for this network."
*Between the mission itself and the fact that they still had others on their end that responded to destruction, the scale was important. All the major players were at play one way or another now, and while stepping on toes would be inevitable with some of them, staying out of each other's way during this particular crisis was more important than exerting dominance over one another. They could get back to that if they all made it out of this storm safely. Until then he would prefer to avoid in-fighting if able, though wouldn't shy away from it if push came to shove either. It only served to benefit what was effectively a mutual enemy, but it was what it was at the end of the day. They would deal with them as they came, same as always.*
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Post by Raven8 on Apr 12, 2023 19:44:44 GMT -8
Byte nods his head to Xion, then turns to Bit. The two look at one another with glaring eyes, as if communicating something wordlessly, until at last the smaller of the two Navis lets out a sigh.
Not obviously more disgruntled than before, Bit's eyes trail upward as he speaks with a stern, strong voice.
Bit: Did you hear your orders, gamma?
Bit, obviously angered at the fact that he has to speak up to the disembodied presence, looks out with a glare as he waits a few seconds for his response.
It's at this point that a presence rises in Xion's heart; the feeling of a timid presence making itself known, as a voice to match this sensation breaks the silence.
Gamma: ...yes, sir; I understand what I need to do.
Bit doesn't give a response to Gamma, instead seeming to sneer with his eyes before glancing over to Xion.
Bit: Now that gamma's here, it will be able to connect our teleportation abilities remotely, so it's time for us to make our leave before the fireworks start.
With that, Bit beams out, which is followed by a grunt from Byte who follows suit afterwards. In this moment, Xion would know that his ability to teleport out was fully activated and available despite where he stands now.
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Post by Genesis on Apr 12, 2023 21:09:55 GMT -8
*It looked like Bit didn't have a comfortable relationship with Gamma here. There probably was some sort of harmless reason behind it that simply had Bit bitter about things. This sensation was something familiar as they beamed out, noticing his own ability to do so returning too. He was under the impression that the fireworks were going to be done more directly by the Nightmare Police, but he supposed he had some time before he had to leave right away to see things go sky-high.*
"So, you're the one that's been looming over the areas like back at the Black Hole Server? You're a quieter one than I would have thought. Then again, you sound different than I thought too."
*He was expecting a peer, but then he wouldn't look down on someone just because they sounded like they were a child. Or even if they were just a child actually. It was fine for someone to be a child and still be a peer, which was likely the situation here in spite of how disgruntled the others may have been with Gamma. This was something that he wanted to get to, largely because the feeling was relatable to another feeling that he knew several times now due to his past and presence, and also because he just thought it was strange that they hadn't had a conversation before now.*
"I don't really think I come off as intimidating as Bit does, so before this goes down, we can talk in private for a bit. Unless you don't want to, which is perfectly fine as well."
*He was aware that they were on the clock after all. There were several time sensitive events occurring and how well they turned out was probably in relation to the two of them right now. They were both probably already performing multiple of those at the same time, but even in the face of all of the present adversity he was nothing if not the sociable type.*
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Post by Raven8 on Apr 13, 2023 20:35:42 GMT -8
Just as he'd experienced a feeling of timidness, Xion now feels surprise as Gamma's voice goes quiet. Xion would feel mild apprehension as the silence falls across the network, but this would soon change as a quiet voice finally rings out, echoing through the baren network.
Gamma: I'm very sorry that I haven't introduced myself, I didn't want to bother you since I knew that you were busy, Mr. Xion. I know that Bit already said, but my name is Gamma; it's very nice to properly meet you.
Then comes another silence with a rising feeling of apprehension, as though Gamma is intimidated by Xion's presence despite what he'd just finished saying. Not intimidated as a threat, but rather as an individual of renown that he didn't expect to be able to be willing to have an unexpected conversation.
Gamma: Of course, I'm glad to talk with you! Is there anything in particular that you wanted to talk about?
Xion could tell that Gamma still gave off a feeling as though he was standing at attention despite not having any visible form, almost as if trying his best to not make a fool of himself around a Navi of such reputation.
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Post by Genesis on Apr 13, 2023 21:59:07 GMT -8
*Ah, that made a bit more sense to him. If it was a timid individual, then speaking with someone who had made quite a name for themselves would be difficult. He supposed that was better than the intimidation factor. He didn't want to come off as that unless he was trying to, plus it wasn't as though the words that had been exchanged back when he was first aware of Gamma had fallen on deaf ears. He wasn't at the stage yet where he should be the most intimidating person around even with his reputation. Luckily, he felt that he had gotten years of experience to at least be better at easing folks into speaking with him. Largely in part that he had a number of people who revered him and a number of others who tip-toed around him in the past due to his record.*
"It's nice to properly meet you too, Gamma. I'm not so busy as to not have a friendly chat. Well, I suppose in a way I should be that busy, but I feel like foregoing interactions like this in the interest of haste just serves to muddy the bigger picture. Even if we're faced with dangerous times, we have to live life. That's how I feel anyway."
*It reminded him of a talk he had over half a year ago now, right here in Sharo at that at the Elbrus Range. There were a few particular topics he would want to discuss, but just going around asking for personal information on the first meeting felt too informal to him. It wasn't like he was trying to just give orders here or just figuring out how the business partner performed their business. Instead, the topic he wanted to discuss did in a way wind back to what had resonated with him back then as well. What two people who walked opposite paths in life had found common ground on. And it should be an easier topic to ease into as well.*
"So, what do you see yourself doing after all of this? It doesn't have to be something over some great span of time like ten years or something like that. Even just the vision of what you'll be up to tomorrow is fine."
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Post by Raven8 on Apr 14, 2023 9:03:33 GMT -8
Xion would sense an agreeable feeling rise up within Gamma, one that makes him seem slightly more at-ease while talking with the Navi of renown.
Gamma: Yes, it does look like time isn't really on our side right now, but getting to know one-another can be really important, especially if we want everyone to be safe when all of this is over.
A bit happier than before, Gamma's voice seems to become more optimistic as he speaks, but then takes a more thoughtful tone as Xion asks his question, the mood changing to one a bit more fearful once again.
Gamma: The future? Well, in the end I just want to help everyone live peaceful lives together, but right now I really don't know the best way to get to that point is. I haven't really been active for a long time yet, so there's a lot that I don't know, so I guess for now it's just learning as much as I can so that I don't mess it up for everyone...
Apprehension rises in Gamma's words as he thinks back, remembering a recent incident and its potential implications. Still unsure if he'd done the right thing there, he now displays actual doubt in himself and his next course of action, all of which he can't help but convey to Xion as if wearing his emotions on his sleeve.
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Post by Genesis on Apr 14, 2023 10:14:14 GMT -8
*He nodded in agreement. Ensuring everyone's safety was important and largely impossible if they didn't have an understanding of where they all were coming from. Gamma sounded fearful about how he could accomplish his own goals right now. How to have everyone live peaceful lives together... well, he hadn't really thought about that himself actually. Living in peace wasn't exactly his forte after all. Amicable as he may be, he wouldn't have made it to where he was if underneath it all was a soul that desired peace. He reveled in battle, and it was his specialty even if there were many other things he could do besides that.*
"It's a difficult thing to do. Peace is obtained when everyone is happy, and happiness is relative from person to person. Some are easy to satisfy, like giving them a comfortable environment or basic needs. This can be applied to the general masses. So long as they can get by the day-to-day process, they're largely fine with whatever they have so long as they can do so comfortably. The Registration and even the state we were in with the NeONB, NIA, and CK are all testaments to this."
*While by and large battles took place, to say that they were large scale battles wasn't because of the number of people involved, but the power of the people involved. The general masses didn't really care one way or another how it ended and while they could voice discontent, wouldn't actively lash out without a figurehead to tell them what to do. Another thing he learned after coming into power once or twice, and something that years of activity watching showed one way or another. But that was the majority, which left the minority. Which, to say that they were very vocal would be an understatement. The minority were the ones with the most sway over matters.*
"Then there are others who are ambitious and as a result seek things like power and control. Some of them are unreasonable, but that's usually if their way of life is denied. Some of us are ruled solely by those destructive impulses and nothing else. Despite how chaotic that should all be, we've still enjoyed a rather peaceful existence."
*Whether it could be blamed on faulty programming or being raised in the wrong environment, or even that they simply wanted it and had dreams of grandeur from the onset and pursued those goals. The ones who did were the ones who were dictating how the era turned out. And despite this, they had managed to maintain relative peace in this rocky situation despite how it should have been otherwise with so many differing opinions. That was how chaos worked in its truest form.*
"My own take is that you shouldn't need to provide a forceful hand for everyone to have peaceful lives. Even if there will be the occasional disagreement, those disagreements are a necessity in my opinion. Discord may be disruptive, but that very disruption solves stagnation all on its own. Our hands should only be forced on a grander scale. Let's use this as an example."
*He motioned to the network around them, this Sunken Library of sorts. It was connected to the greater scope of things, the grander scale that was Sharo. On his way here he already had seen the shape that Sharo was in. All of its mountains were gone due to whatever had taken those out, not to mention whatever battle took place that largely decimated the rest of Sharo. It looked like something had carved apart the country mercilessly, but he wasn't exactly here to experience whatever battle had done that.*
"We're about to wipe out a network in Sharo and disrupt the lives of thousands. But we're doing so in order for them to have a peaceful life. Right now they're suffering in silence and are unable to even vocalize their suffering. That's why it's no skin off my back to take the flak for it."
*It would serve to fuel the renown that he had, both positive and negative, but with what he had found out in his ventures prior to this was the only path forward that had guaranteed results. Every other option had a risk or unknown detail that would ultimately leave room for failure. If they were doing this, then taking that chance wasn't an option.*
"There's nothing wrong with having doubt in yourself. If we had no doubts at all, we'd never know when we were making a mistake thanks to our belief in ourselves. So, never be afraid to doubt and question whether you're doing the right thing, Gamma. Otherwise, you won't be able to notice your mistakes and make amends."
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Post by Raven8 on Apr 14, 2023 11:31:29 GMT -8
Apprehension and confusion rise from within the presence, mulling over Xion's words and obviously more troubled than he was before.
Gamma: ...what we're doing here is for the greater good, though. Even if we didn't move against Sharo right now, it's pretty obvious that the network would eventually die anyway, so we're just making sure that the ultimate sacrifice isn't in vain?
Gamma grows silent again, now getting a bit frustrated at Xion's words.
Gamma: so... discord can actually be a good thing, is what you're saying? Then peace isn't always good to have? How could peace be bad if it lets us do what we want to do without worrying about what will become of us? And where does discourse become a problem enough to be stifled? Where's the line where it becomes a bad thing?
Gamma mulls this all over, getting more and more apprehensive as he starts unwrapping all that Xion had just said.
Gamma: I know that not everything is black-and-white; Gate taught me that, and also taught me that he's the "bad guy" in all of this until I finish my job, but that's okay because no one has to be hurt along the way, and we can fix anyone who is. But I thought that maybe I could change things so that we're the goodguys even while we work. Does this mean that I'm actually a badguy? That me trying to do good things is actually bad?
Gamma pauses again, seeming to grow a bit more distant from Xion as he tries to crack through questions asked from the beginning of time that he only now became really aware of.
Gamma: I... don't understand. How can I be wrong for doing the right thing...?
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