Element City

[Raven8]

*Within every major city of the net, screens appear and reveal the image of Terra, speaking over the emergency broadcast system*

Terra: Greetings to all of you. My name is Terra.

*The screen splits, revealing an official document next to Terra*

Terra: By order of the international senate, I have been named the new commander of the ONB, taking over for Ms. Suki due to suspicion of being unfit for duty and in light of the dire times in which we find ourselves.

It's my deepest regret to inform you that there is a large risk to the security of the net in our midst. The members of the Revolution have taken a harsh stand against us and are seeking to assassinate all ONB members, and we have also discovered several moles within the command. The entire world is at great risk at this point, and it's with a heavy heart that I must make this announcement.

As of this moment, all active ONB members are being temporarily retired for security reasons. I ask that you please relinquish your ONB credentials at New Life immediately and remain on standby until we have things under control. In response for the need that this will create, I have also brought on a set of ONB elite troops normally reserved for military action to act as officers. These officers will be sent to key locations across the globe soon in order to enforce peace and order within their regions.

I ask that all civilians please cooperate with these officers that they may better serve you.

Thank you for your time, and please remain safe.

[Warrior]

((Miraculous survival... thank you Raven for your grace over my absence @_@. Also discovered a new way i wanna RP Ash... so he's no coward anymore for anyone who bothered paying attention. hoooraaayy... ahem, anyway...))

As he made his retreat, Remnant looked back once more to the beast before exiting the area. It had squashed Embera and destroyed the other navi with such ease... this monster had formidable power... No use in staying around. Without further ado, his data split apart and teleported out of the area. Where he was headed next was uncertain.

Ash followed closely behind Remnant. No real emotions going through his mind, except resentment toward himself for not fighting hard enough in the battle. Next time... things would certainly be different. It felt as if a chain had been broken off of Ash's mind, and new thoughts poured into his being. A new emotion he hadn't felt in a while finally returned.... His rage was almost tangible...


Warrior held back from the battle to let Embera do her work. Unfortunately it didn't amount of much though, and Finale's plan didn't seem to bear much fruit either. The beast must not have noticed Warrior as it sunk into the ground.

What luck.

He'd learned alot from this fight -- though the fact that everyone scattered like roaches exposed to the light was rather... discomforting.

Was that what they were, in the eyes of the enemy? Just mere insects?

Surely not... but still. They weren't able to take the Dark Moon down. Mission: Failed.

Warrior gave out a sigh at the thought. He'd not failed a mission in ages. His success streak was now broken. And if only there were something he could do to change that.

Slightly depressed, but mostly agitated, Warrior plopped a squat on the edge of the rooftop of a building, looking over the city. Or atleast, what was left of it. The tele-cast came shortly after, but Warrior's position was unchanged. He just needed time alone to think.

Which step should he take next?

Whatever it was, he knew he had to choose carefully. Because it would determine every other step he was to take in the future.

[Warrior]

" _{... Worthless...}"

"Huh?"

Warrior's head snapped in the direction he heard the voice... Nothing was there though.[/color]

"_{...Pathetic...}"

" What the--?"

There it was again. This time it came from behind him. He could feel a powerful presence, but no one was in sight.

" Who's there? Show yourself..."

His voice didn't carry much assertiveness... after the words left his mouth though, almost an entire minute went by of just silence, until the voice finally responded once more.[/color]

" _{... You're not worth it....}"

The nerve...

But that was all. The voice was gone, and Warrior could feel that the presence had left too. 'Worthless'? As if. What had Warrior done to deserve being called that?

Well... he hadn't been able to stop that devil. Somehow he survived it's last few moments here, but it took Embera and Encore with it -- and did Warrior just let it happen? He tried to convince himself otherwise, but... surely there was something he could've done to stop it.

Regardless, it was too late now. And this Terra guy didn't seem to great of a "leader", to have let the Dark Moon run rampant like that -- even if it was still under his authority. Warrior didn't trust him. At. All.

Worthless though... not a better word could describe how Warrior felt at the moment, actually.

"_{... Terra's too high in power for me to attack him directly. He's not hiding, so I can't hunt him. And he's at the top of the ONB, which is still against me and every other unlicensed navi out there.}"

There wasn't even a way for Warrior to get in to the ONB unnoticed. So he was stuck in the same stalemate that they were in before -- no plan, no manpower, no real power or respect. Just a simple goal. To destroy the system, and work from there to make a better world.

The Revolution's top fighters were not even a match for that beast -- likely being on the lower scale of power in comparison to the rest of Terra's minions. Genesis was badly injured, and Warrior wasn't even sure whether or not to go back to them. Genesis, Phenoix, Embera, Merrill, MegaGirl, Ion... all the familiar faces of his close friends flashed through Warrior's head. They were no where near to help him, and he wasn't near to help any of them either.

He knew what they each fought for, though.

So now what was there to do? Remain idle, and truly worthless?
...Perhaps doing nothing was actually productive, in a losing-fight.

No, there was something he could do... Warrior sat back a few more minutes though, before deciding where to head off next.
[Warrior hasn't left the area]


As he sat there, two brightly shinning, golden orbs spiralled around him out of the ground. They orbited him faster and faster, creating a whirlwind of strange golden energy within the radius of their spin, until they suddenly stopped -- one on each side of Warrior.

They appeared to be quickly spinning hovering diamond-shaped fragments of data made of pure gold. All of a sudden, they burst into golden sparks that bathed Warrior's body and slowly disappeared.

" _{What... the-- ?}"


[GMD Activated]
[GMD Activated]

[Wackoguy]

Bursting into the area like a burning comet,Glassman entered Element City.

While still running full-speed,he whipped a blue flame around himself and shot straight up,dashing up the side of the building at the same time. With another burst of speed,he shot into the air,flipping once and landing on the roof.

"Well,I suppose that still counted as a stroll..." he said to no-one in particular,walking forward and looking around from the roof.

[Warrior]

Warrior caught sight of Glassman as soon as he reached the top of the building. Obivously he hadn't noticed Warrior yet.
Was that the voice he heard earlier?

No, ofcourse not.

Warrior already had the encounter with a ghost before Glassman got here.

Warrior actually recognize this navi from years ago... before the license system ever came to be. He didn't know him very well back then, but he'd seen him from time to time. The guy seemed to be full of energy, or pretty dang enthusiastic to be enterring the area so quickly.

" Nice to have a visitor..."

Glassman missed the whole Dark Moon fight... And he was kind of invading Warrior's solitary, private time, but it didn't bother him.
Maybe talking to someone else was what he needed right now? Perhaps, but even if it wasn't, it couldn't hurt to invite the company.

" The name's Warrior... I don't think we ever officially met."

Warrior sensed a license-signal from this navi. Hopefully he wouldn't be too bothered with that fact that Warrior didn't have one. In the past though... Well, Warrior's encounters with a licensed navi were rarely ever calm, civilized ones.
_{'And they thought this would bring peace to the world?
It' done a better job of bringing the world to pieces than that.'}

He had hoped against fighting this navi, considering their obvious yet unannounced opposing view of the system. Warrior's sword was no where to be found. If the worst were to happen, though... Perhaps this was just one of those meaningful battles?

[Wackoguy]

"Hm?"

Glassman came to a halt and turned toward Warrior. He seemed familiar to say the least...

"I'm Glassman. Nice to meet you as well...I think we've met before...but my memory's a bit fuzzy on the details."

He chuckled a bit at his failure to recall exactly where they had met;but since Warrior didn't seem like one who was out to get him,he relaxed a little bit...somewhat.

"So,what brings you here,Warrior?" he asked,stretching a bit. Glassman then looked around the area,placing a foot on the edge of the roof and resting an arm on his knee.

"This seems like a nice place,if I should say so myself..."

[Warrior]

" Yeah... I thought I recognized you..."

Thank goodness. No violence necessary.

" Me? Eh... I'm just... thinking."

Warrior stood, toes just off the edge of the building's rooftop, and arms crossed while looking forward.
The area was beautiful... was-- until the Dark Moon obliterated most of it.

" I'm trying to put pieces together in my mind that... just don't fit. The recent events of the world, just... they just..."

Still frustated with his lack of information and ability to actually do something, Warrior takes a deep breathe through his nose and lets out a sigh. Pausing a second, Warrior finishes his sentence as best he accurately can.

" ... I dunno."

Biting his lip in deep thought, Warrior subconsciously stopped talking and went in his own world for a second. As soon as he had realized it, though, he snapped back into reality and shook his head a couple times -- pinching the bridge of his nose as if trying to shake away his lack of focus.

" ... So how 'bout you? Did ya just come out here to relax and enjoy the view? Ya got sumthin on your mind? What's up?"

[Wackoguy]

"Eh...I decided to just check out this area,since whatever's going on involves the previous ONB members being on some kinda 'temporary hiatus' or whatever..." he scrunched up his face a bit at the thought...were they simply...replaceable? Surely the rest of those who had been full-fledged members had opinions on the situation too...

"But yeah,just taking a stroll,nothing more,nothing less..." he said,as his eyes skimmed across the area...

"...heh,I don't even have access to the main ONB building anymore,I'm sure. It's a liiiittle bothersome."

But who could blame him? From Gigamerica's ONB to Electopia's ONB,the buildings were something he grew accustomed to...even when they were attacked in the past.

[Warrior]

Warrior never thought he'd be able to have a civilized conversation with an ONB member again. It was nice to know that amidst all the change, some things still stayed the same.

" An ONB Member, huh? Maybe that's where I recognized you from..."

Perhaps he was even in the fight against Eon and Forte. Or in other major battles before that, but it didn't really matter at the moment where Warrior had first seen this navi. He was a little more interested in hearing this navi' story and perhaps learning some useful information from him. And who knows, maybe Warrior could help him? Despite the fact that they fought on different sides, they were both still navi. And the day Warrior stopped helping a navi -- any navi -- on that day he could truly be called a 'criminal'.

" So this Terra guy... he booted all the old members? Must be annoying. What do you think about the guy?"

The nation-wide message repeated itself in Warrior's mind as he was talking to Glassman, trying to skim the message for any clues or information to finding out more about the guy.

" Do you trust him?"

[Wackoguy]

Glassman closed his eyes and shook his head in a 'tsk tsk' manner.

"Actually,Warrior...I don't think he trusts us to carry out whatever his ideals are. So 'do I trust him?' you ask? I'd say...he hasn't done anything yet that'd earn him my trust...not that I'm against him..."

Glassman paused for a moment,looking off to the side of the building...just in-case anyone else was eavesdropping.

"...but when someone makes such a lightning-quick move,you can't help but be a bit wary of them..."

[Warrior]

Warrior bit his lip. Glassman made a good point... but still...

" I see what you're saying. I don't see why he wouldn't trust us-- err, the ONB. In my opinion, it's no excuse to go and lay everyone off. Jobs, people, navis aren't that expendable. Or atleast they shouldn't be."

Since Glassman wasn't a part of the ONB anymore, it meant he had no power to arrest, right? Perhaps this encounter wasn't as "walking on the edge" as Warrior thought it was.

" I dunno though. Maybe I'm just biased against Terra. And the ONB itself."

So there -- Warrior revealed his side of the License-System argument. He quickly continued before letting Glassman sit quiet for too long.

" Don't get me wrong -- I have nothing against the ONB members, and not necessarily the ONB in it's entirety. But what it stands for, I don't support. More specifically, the 'License System'."

He'd prolly be here for sometime longer, so Warrior took a seat on the edge of the building as he continued.

" I've got an open mind on the topic, though. I've taken a side, but not prejudicely. So I have to ask -- since you work with the ONB, you must support the License System.... but... why? What is it in the system that you see as 'right'?"

Maybe hearing and understanding the opposing argument could cause Warrior to change his mind? Who knows... but there was no danger in trying to learn more -- atleast there didn't seem to be.

[Wackoguy]

"Eh...the license system,you say...?" he stated,somewhat distantly.

Tired of standing,Glassman decided to take a seat on the roof as well,though not on the edge,but moreso within its perimeter.

"I...feel that it's rather un-necessary. I mean,c'mon...I have friends out there whose lives could be in danger merely because of this system that's been put in place...and along with that thought..."

He looked to the right and to the left real quick,doing a quick scan for anyone once more.

"I don't fully approve of it,but....I registered for some bit of 'safety'...so I could venture about without difficulty."

Glassman awaited Warrior's reaction to his reasoning. His words were true,but he hoped they didn't sound selfish.

[Warrior]

Warrior listened intently as Glassman spoke -- looking around with him, to help reassure him that no one was around to hear.

" Safety... if it costs us our freedom... It's no longer 'safety', but 'slavery'."[/color]

Warrior was the one to fight against the natural flow of things -- to stand out and make a difference among what is ordinary, because he believed that a difference is what would set the world free. He believed that if he stood out high enough and long enough, he'd rise above the ordinary and become something extraordinary.

" We've got to make a stand -- we can't let them take that from us. If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."

Warrior glanced over to where he last saw the Dark Moon, before it had disappeared. Glassman wasn't here for that painful struggle, but Warrior would refer to it frequently.

" See this destruction? These ruined buildings, all the ashes floating in the air?
Terra did this."[/color]

The damage on the scene wasn't as severe as it was before, but it was noticeable nonetheless and would most certainly take alot of time and money to repair.

" This wasn't the Revolution's doing. And I don't believe the ONB would stand for this either -- Suki was a respectable leader and she would never have let this happen.
Terra.... Terra on the other hand, he's the real criminal, I believe."

" Newly appointed Leader of the ONB or not, for a "leader" to summon a beast that he would knowingly deal this much damage to such a populated area is reckless and stupid -- unless Justice is not his cause. Above that, he locked the area, so there was no chance for any innocents to escape."

Looking at the mayhem... the hurt navis, the destroyed buildings, the memories of the few navi he lost in that battle -- all of this made Warrior's blood boil. Almost reflexively and unknowingly, Warrior sprang to his feet and screamed off the top of the building, as if believing that his voice would reach Terra.

" IS THIS WHAT YOU CALL JUSTICE?!!"[/color]

Cooling himself, Warrior sat back down with his head tilted down and eyes closed, breathing just enough that Glassman could hear the breaths.

" No... no civil leader, hero, much less any civil citizen would ever think of going to such extreme measures as this, just to attempt to wipe out a few rebels. If we weren't there to stop him, who knows how far he'd go..."

Warrior resumed his posture that he held before the dramatic scream and recollection of his breath. He paused for a while before resuming with an almost calm tone.

" See? We're fighting to protect -- not because we're a stiff-necked resistance. The ONB just doesn't see that -- they just won't accept that what they're doing is wrong. Even with the correct motives, a wrong action. Is still. Wrong."


"Glassman... I know you fight for what's right -- I know you must have good intentions when choosing a side of this battle. But are you sure you're on the right side?"[/color]

Warrior just met the guy -- officially -- but he could sense the light he held inside of him. Any heart of light can detect another; out of the mouth the heart speaks, and Glassman's heart was most certainly one full of just and pure motives.

" Maybe the ONB was right for what they stood for before... Maybe they're right for what they stand for now. But even you admit that some of their actions are unnecessary. You said yourself you don't fully approve of somethings. And the new leader... 'Terra'... you know, deep down, that something is telling you--warning you not to trust him. Deep down, you know it."


" So... why don't you join us? We're outnumbered, outgunned, outrivaled and outwitted -- this path will be dangerous and may even lead to death. But never in history have I heard of a similar situation result in the failure of those who stood for what was right."[/color]

Warrior paused, repeating his quote from earlier, before continuing.

" If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.
We're standing for what's right Glassman, and we're in desperate need of you.
The world is in desperate need of you -- in desperate need of those who will refuse to allow such leadership to crumble the society we've strived to protect and prosper.
Desperately in need of those who will do the right thing, just because it's the right thing to do.
Even if doing what is right results in punishment.
Even if doing what is right results in death."

Nearing the end of his sermon, Warrior stood -- head gaze set toward the horizon, arms crossed and chin up as if looking to the sky. Warrior completed his compelling request with a simple question. He couldn't force Glassman to answer it, much less consider it, but Warrior knew that if he truly stood for justice and righteousness, he would not back down from the challenge.

" Glassman... will you fight alongside the Revolution?"[/color]

[Shinn the Failedge]

"Ultimately though, 'right' is an arbitrary aspect. What is right for one person is wrong for another; what is justice in one's eyes can be criminal in another."[/color] A voice rings out nearby, calm and easy-going. A Navi clad in azure steps out from nearby, his blue hair brushing lightly against his head, his dark navy eyes looking at Warrior and Glassman. He gives the two a small wave, before sitting down on a rock and looking upwards towards the sky.

"Being tied to a license isn't the same as being enslaved. It's more of allowing a section of your own freedom to go off. What makes you so certain that your path is the only one that can be taken?"[/color] At this, Astrapos looks towards Warrior, a wane smile on his face, but serious eyes looking at the Navi of the sword. "What is your justification for stripping away another's security? Ultimately, that is what the license system is providing; a measure of comfort for those too scared to go alone, a degree of ease that will allow others to go about their business, a tool of use in order to continue moving."[/color]

The lightning Navi breaks off his gaze with Warrior, surveying the area with solemn eyes. "For the price of safety, for the comfort of protection, terrible things can be undertaken, all in the name of what is seen as 'right'. Terra justifies this destruction with the fact that order is needed, and unleashing such a beast would set things correct. You all justify a... war of sorts, by saying that a license is wrong. Although Terra is callous enough to do such a thing, you're not much different, in a sense..."[/color] With a sigh, Astrapos turns his attention to Glassman, a quick brief glance, before locking eyes with Warrior once more.

"The Revolution and Terra with the ONB aren't too different. Just a varying measure of enforcement. In the end, neither of you can be 'right' to everyone, only to those who share your view. Justice is all based on perception afterall."[/color] The dagger wielder continues to talk, a softer, more solemn tone entering his voice. Not just that. Justice was based on who was stronger. Whoever won would write down what was needed, and what caused a breaking divide.

"It is not righteousness, but inevitably conviction of a vision which drives you all forward, is it not? That you want to allow a choice, when some might not want it. Maybe none of this is my business, but you caught my interest. I'm not a supporter of all this. I just wanted to be able to wander as I wished. But.... Tell me."[/color] At this, the azure fighter tilts his head, a strange smile on his face.

"Why are you 'right'?"[/color]

[Yeah, sorry for breaking in XD. Just wanted one of my Navis getting involved again.]

[Wackoguy]

Glassman stood up and looked around the area as Warrior spoke,his eyes going wide and his mouth agape as it was revealed to him that Terra - the current Commander of the ONB - had been behind this.

Warrior's words about justice possibly not being Terra's cause stayed with him a bit...it was infact very possible that Terra had something else in mind...

Being asked whether he felt he was on the 'right side'...something about that question made him chuckle. After-all,there was always a chance for corruption when it came to change...and especially when there was power involved.

"Hrmm...well,despite all that you've said,Warrior..." Glassman began,then looked toward the source of the new voice....listening silently to what he had to say and then gathering his own thoughts before speaking again...

"You mention several good points,stranger. It's true...some justify destruction and placing lives in danger by speaking of 'justice' and 'order'...but surely that can't be 'right'...no matter how hard one argues about it."

Rubbing his chin for a moment,Glassman paused,looking dead ahead toward the remains of the city.

" As of late,it's hard to tell who's right...invoking a war would be chaos,but going along with plans that result in this..." Glassman said,with his eyes narrowing as he looked on...

"...that wouldn't be right either,I suppose. So,I suppose it's difficult to say definitely who's right...but I know one thing...the way the ONB used to be...prior to the license system...was kind of close to a sense of right."

Indeed it would seem. Back then the ONB wasn't too extreme...compared to decisions like today,they were perhaps a little lax,if you will...but they never harmed the Net,nor did they drag any innocents into anything that'd get them injured...but all that was in the past for now...

"Magnetman and other previous leaders would never go for something like this...it really bothers me." he stated,a fiery aura appearing around him.

Glassman then turned to Warrior regarding his last question...

"I'm sorry,I'm not against you guys...but I can't immediately say I'll join you either..."