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Post by Ion on Jun 22, 2015 8:04:19 GMT -8
Ion Listening intently to Grade’s explanation, Ion’s stance did not relax but neither did it coil for offensive further. With his peripheral vision Ion weighed the validity of Grade’s words, intense air pressure and winds seemed consistent with the whorled patterns scored into the floors and the break patterns of stone in the walls of the cavern. His voice rang with the tones of honesty, which meant that he must have somehow analyzed this ‘Troik’s’ data to sufficiently experience his last moments. The bunny eared navi and now a fan-mouthed navi had been added to the story which Ion took with a fist sized lump of salt as Grade materialized a Vulcan and began to wander from his story into a declaration of personal paradigm.
As the retort of machine gun fire fills the cavern, deafening in its sharpness and disorienting in its intensity, Ion shifts about a foot backwards so his body is completely in the attached tunnel, the likelihood of being hit by ricocheting bullets reduced to almost nothing.
As the Vulcan fire dies out and a buzz fills the silence of the underground cavern, a light skiff of dust filtered through the gloomy air as Ion’s eyes catch hold of a small blobby girl tapping her foot by the cavern wall. Eyeing her up and down, he caught sight of the decidedly creepy grin on her face as she licked her lips at Grade. At least his story was beginning to validate itself, this little girl appeared to have the same colouring as the gel he had avoided when first entering this network and she certainly wasn’t looking at him with anything besides the simple desire to consume. So now he stood here at a crossroads, with one navi who appeared to have just found their favourite dessert and another whose personality had degraded from a friendly, quiet though excitable navi to a ranting, Vulcan wielding lunatic who shot at corpses.
Sighing loudly, Ion knew that Grade’s attention would be on his reaction to his outburst, so for the moment he would see what would happen…see how this situation developed. He had no allegiance and stood as a neutral party observing what these two navis’ motivations were. While Grade had exclaimed that this…’Nu?’ possessed the same power as his own, he had yet to confirm such things and both navi’s standing before him were wildcards in regards to what they were capable of. Calling out to Grade’s body Ion offered him a simple question, ”So after I heal you, you bring me down here to sacrifice myself in a battle that I have no interest in, for a navi who does not care for me?” The navi obviously being Grade himself.
Walking a few steps back into the cavern, Ion’s steps were oddly quiet, a dull silence seemed to envelop him. Like the empty space between breaths, Ion possessed no aura of power, no trickle of energy or indication of the glitches he had extracted from Grade earlier: the aura Ion carried around him was simply one of lacking. Continuing in spoken tones, he did not need to raise his voice because he spoke matters of fact, ”So when she eats you…” Nodding his head towards the grinning child, ”I should just watch because people like Troik and I have no place in your society…right?”
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Post by Raven8 on Jun 22, 2015 17:02:52 GMT -8
With the last of the group on the other side, AirMan crosses his arms and walks forward slowly and casually. They're in the belly of the beast now, so why not just enjoy it?
[AirMan>???]
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Post by ~Divine|<3|Heart~ on Jun 22, 2015 17:09:58 GMT -8
~Alpha-Nu-Omega~
_________________________________________________
Match? What did this NetNavi mean a “match?”
Nu, rolling her eyes, had looked to the NetNavi as his personality changed like the flick of a light switch. It was not her concern, nor even that she cared! From their last bout, he got away before she could even sic’ her teeth into him. There was no use for cowering fleeing NetNavis only to be a small morsel relevant to breadcrumbs on a kitchen table. It sickened her that he thought he would be a “match” as so much as he would be something she swallow and go about her business.
"Hey! Nu! This is Ion and I, we just want to ask a few questions! I'll give you Troik's remains if you lend us a few minutes of your time!"
Nu’s head dropped slightly. How did he even know her code name? (No...seriously, how does he know?)
The pink blob girl’s right eye squinted seeing the NetNavi bargain. Her attention going to both him and Ion as her eyes went to and fro. The only offer they had were the remains of a fallen NetNavi which...would not yield much. She did not take scraps like some dog! It was insulting! She wanted to consume data by the load and let the partial pieces be nothing more than bones that she would spit out if they were irrelevant. She was a carnivorous hunter, not some kind of pet!
How could she say this?
The blob girl snickered one moment, and the next she pointed to the NetNavi, the remains, and Ion; then herself. She licked her lips following. It was a good question she posed all at once while the walls around them started to bulge and sink like the entrails of some ungodly monster that was quivering with the excitement of the hunt. Her message?
What would stop me from eating you all right now?
_____________________________________________________ “Now watch me have a share of my cake!”
Now Playing: ----- Chatty Ditz: -----
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Post by Raven8 on Jun 22, 2015 17:43:15 GMT -8
Silent footsteps, a quiet breeze, and the shifting of shadows; around the corner from this group, a Navi of average height and unusual design appears. At first glance, he appears to have the design of a prototypical ninja; black garb of form-fitting design covering all but his eyes. However, it's also adorned with unusually bright green details that fade from dark to light every few seconds. On top of this, he appears to also have at least some form of armor on top of his light, form-fitting garb. On his left arm is a single, slightly translucent black blade that rises from his wrist with a perfect half-crescent pointing back toward his arm. It appears as if it's made from some form of black, semi-opaque jewel, and it's not alone. Strapped to the Navi's back is a sword forged of the same material that bends in a similar crescent near the hilt, but then bends forward into a saber-like design, giving the entire blade a strange, off-set feel.
This Navi walks out boldly with his arms crossed, looks around the room for a moment, then raises his voice in an address to all those who can hear.
Asterisk: SFWF, FLJM , SPG MPXB OFFC TZVH FIU? ZMUOFDFS ARANCIONE EFNBO UPJEJ-FJCNPA B UFN TPESJFX VPZ GP ZOB FWBI, ZFI.
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Post by ~Divine|<3|Heart~ on Jun 22, 2015 20:53:29 GMT -8
~Alpha-Nu-Omega~
_________________________________________________
This thing...was confusing...
The moment Nu turned around and looked this Nu NetNavi up and down, she was at a loss of words by not only it’s strange language, but strange appearance. His body was adorned with these strange weapons that had a sparkle like the prettiest jewels. Nu had an idea of the perfect jewels at this point in her life; she recalled them from a vague memory passed from her host. However, no memory quite described this NetNavi and his strange language. What did he speak anyway?
Netopian? Sharoian? Choina had a bizarre tongue...but yet none like this.
There was nothing more furious then not “knowing” and so Nu hungered just looking at the NetNavi. It was certainly more interesting than the cowardly lion-face NetNavi and his bag of useless scraps! She drew closer, mouth running with saliva at this point. Her right hand lifting pointing at this ninja garb fitted NetNavi as if she was demanding something of him. Her finger gestured to her head and her fingers spread in wonder as if to express just how mind blown she was.
Something she rarely asked that she asked now? With her many gestures, it was apparent what she wanted to know.
”Who are you?”
_____________________________________________________ “Now watch me have a share of my cake!”
Now Playing: ----- Chatty Ditz: -----
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Post by Raven8 on Jun 23, 2015 5:54:50 GMT -8
Nu's interest is reciprocated by Asterisk... at least partly. The strange Navi looks the other strange Navi over briefly, largely ignoring her gestures before turning his eyes straight forward, looking beyond the group with a stone-cold stare.
Asterisk: OJ EFLMBX J FSPGFC SPPE FIU OP OHJT "SFEMP SP OFFUIHJF" FIU EFTTJN J SP UBIU SFIUJF. FGJM B UVPIUJX EMP SBFZ ZUSVPG B SP EOFJSGMSJH B UVPIUJX EMP SBFZ OFFUSJIU B SFIUJF ZC EFOHJTFE OFFC FWBI PU EBI VPZ.
Asterisk shoots Nu one last casual glance before returning his eyes to the wall again, his expression hardening.
Asterisk: SFIUJF OHJT UBIU FFT UPO EJE ZMUOFSBQQB FIT; USBQ UTSPX.
Asterisk's eyes close and he takes a deep breath. before he continues, stepping away from Nu as he does so.
Asterisk: FN PU FTV EFUTBMC ZOB GP SFWF FSB VPZ GP FOPO UVC, UOBX J UBIU FNJU ZOB TSFIUPN SVPZ GP OVG FLBN EOB MMJX UB TUPJEJ VPZ MMBD OBD J; TLSFQ TUJ FWBI TFPE UBIU, OBFN J. HOJZBT BN J UBIX XPOL SFWF TOXPMD VPZ GP FOPO? SFIUPC OFWF J PE ZIX!
Asterisk sighs and closes his eyes thoughtfully, his folded arms tightening as he does so.
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Post by Ion on Jun 23, 2015 6:42:40 GMT -8
Ion Events happened quickly in the mines. With Grade defused and returned to his sleepy-self Ion began to understand that it was more of a split personality than a devious desire. Though the other persona certainly did not appear to have much trouble with cutting through moral quandaries and laying it all out straight. Then the blob girl made her position rather clear to Grade as she mimed the curiousity of why she should settle for scraps when she could have the whole cake. Even going so far as to slough off the walls, causing them to pulse with a sickeningly alive rhythm. An obvious display of power over their surroundings which was rather suddenly interrupted by an even more curious arrival. The ninja highlighted in green with notably curious blades spoke in what could only be considered gibberish to Ion’s ears until they picked up the name Arancione. Eyes crinkling in intrigue as he smiled, Ion couldn’t help but recall the navi who had helped cage the great beast in the Bug City. He had no recollection of Asterisk at that time, but his memories seemed a little foggy, like handholds of sand that kept slipping and draining from the forefront of his mind. It was an almost nauseating feeling for one who dedicated so much time to ensuring their memory and mental discipline was as sharp as possible.
Oddly enough, the little girl seemed to have the greatest effect of them all on elucidating further speech from the navi which quickly began to gain a cadence and structure in Ion’s ear. It wasn’t gibberish and this navi clearly stole the show with his un-speech and impressive garb as far as the blob girl’s attentions were concerned. What’s more interesting though, was that he had first addressed the room, gathering their attention only to stare beyond them throughout his words. He didn’t appear to be violent like Grade had been or overtly aggressive like the young girl, so Ion took a moment to observe the wall that Asterisk had taken such a large interest in during his words. Inspecting it for any sort of nook or nuance that might betray something more. Meanwhile he spoke over his shoulder lough enough for Grade and the rest of the navi’s to hear, ”Arancione was the…king? Lord? I guess ‘Leader’ will do…of a glitched network, a beautiful escher-scape of bugs. I fought alongside him to help put down Gospel.”
Wincing as a headache began to build at the base of his skull he concluded there and let the memories slip back into the tranquil silence that they had risen from. Turning back to Asterisk he addressed him directly, “My name is Ion, and I’m very sorry but…I can’t understand your words. I’m not sure if you understand mine either but I would like to learn to understand you, since you came here with intent.”
Dropping his defensive posture from earlier, Ion felt the situation defusing ever so slightly as the enigma stood before them, addressing them for some reason they couldn’t yet comprehend. Reaching up absentmindedly he ran a thumb over the three scarred bug wells from a Gospel Claw he had taken years ago. Like bullet wounds they were deeper than they were wide and represented the purest bug element he had ever come across in all of his travels.
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Post by Raven8 on Jun 25, 2015 6:40:33 GMT -8
(OOC: Getting meta there D. Grade has no way of knowing of Asterisk's all but extinct cult, much less how old he is)
Asterisk remains solemn in the face of the curious reactions; he'd seen them time and time again. His only reaction comes when his eyes slide over to Ion at the name of Arancione, but no farther reaction is given
Asterisk: ZPU LBFVRT FDJO B FEBN VPZ UBIU FOJHBNJ EMVPX J OFIU, FSFIU FSFX VPZ GJ. FNPI TJI EOB ARANCIONE EFLDFSX GOSPEL; CPPO, XPOL VPZ IDVN XPI TXPIT.
Asterisk sighs; even more dead-ends. Unfolding his arms, the strange Navi turns back toward the entrance that he'd entered through initially and walks away, vanishing into the shadows as he rounds the corner.
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Post by Ion on Jun 25, 2015 7:19:00 GMT -8
Ion Ion’s curiosity was thoroughly piqued now, as the strange black navi once again spoke of Arancione, but this time followed up with Gospel as well. This was a field day and a half for interesting events it seemed. This navi appeared to understand his words, there was no questioning tone in his voice when he spoke of Gospel and Arancione, instead the rhythm felt like a statement.
As the navi sighed and began to move away, Ion glanced at Grade and the blob girl separating him from the enigma. Calling over to Nu, answering the question that she had posed to them earlier, he gave her a small, sad smile as he moved between her and Grade, following Asterisk into the entrance he had used, ”I would give you the worst upset stomach of your life, trust me.”
At the ragged entrance that Asterisk had passed through once again, Ion paused before turning around one last time and flipping a bottle cap sized white coin over to Grade, ”Use that to contact me if something happens, I can track the coordinates on it, if need be. Hold it between your thumb and forefinger and talk, that’s all. Good luck Grade… don’t get eaten.”
With that, Ion followed Asterisk into the shadowed corridor. Senses on edge for sudden movements or surprises, he knew that he was once again entering a potentially dangerous situation, but the odd navi had not appeared to harbour any ill intent towards them. Just a solemn disregard for anything that did not align with his words. But he posed a larger question, one that Ion was interested in having answered. He turned the corner in search…
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Post by ~Divine|<3|Heart~ on Jun 25, 2015 23:01:10 GMT -8
~Alpha-Nu-Omega~
_________________________________________________
There were certain questions that would get someone killed.
"Nu... Are you Alpha?"
That was one of them.
Nu had not really changed her expression; not even seeming to react the slightest as she stared towards Grade. Her tongue licked out from between her lips and stroked at the corners of her mouth once more as she seemed to state the intention to get a bite out of the NetNavi in due time. The bartering was obviously falling on deaf ears as at this point, the blob girl was simply amused by the feeble attempt to offer her table scraps just to have a conversation; therefore, she did not indulge the NetNavi as much as she turned away from Asterisk and made a step towards Ion and Grade.
”I would give you the worst upset stomach of your life, trust me.”
Great! She liked Mexican food going down!
However, Nu seemed to take note towards Ion, simply snickering as she thought to test that theory later. The NetNavi obviously had to have “something” special about him to say something to that accord…or was he quite the fighter? Either way, she loved the idea of finding out. However, there was the mouth of Grade that Nu was growing very tired of as she approached the NetNavi with another step.
"Nu, are you---Are you related to Alpha?"
*GARGLE~GARGLE~GARGLE!*
The blobbish body of the small female had jiggled about while she snickered in response. It seemed like she would give no definite answer, and why would she? With them alone, and Grade still asking senseless questions with his hand full of scraps, she saw no reason to indulge him any longer. The moment Ion passed the little trinket and abandoned the dead weight, it just made her more sinister as she approached with her hands open. In her current form, she looked like a child begging to be held. However, an unexpected sound emitted from her form.
“You’ll find out when you become a part of me!“
_____________________________________________________ “Now watch me have a share of my cake!”
Now Playing: ----- Chatty Ditz: -----
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Post by Raven8 on Jun 26, 2015 6:44:39 GMT -8
On the opposite side of Rammount from the exchange between Nu and Grade, Ion catches up with Asterisk, who had nearly reached the entrance. His arms lay guarded at his sides and he appears to be very obviously annoyed as he looks back at the bug Navi, a fact highlighted by the shine of the sun off of the crystal blade on his left wrist.
Asterisk: FN TXPMMPG UPJEJ FIU MMJUT EOB.
Asterisk stops and looks over his shoulder at Ion, doing his best to express annoyance in his shrouded expression as he does so.
Asterisk: ZPU LBFVRT, UOBX VPZ PE UBIX?
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Post by Ion on Jun 26, 2015 11:31:42 GMT -8
Ion As Ion followed the steps of the crystal bladed navi in the damp mine dusted floors, he had time to process the encounter with Asterisk. He had appeared in the midst of negotiations with a possible incarnation of Alpha? Though Ion still had his doubts that the little blob girl had any relation to Alpha further than her appearance. Standing with limited interest in the actual navi’s he had addressed them and almost immediately spoken the name Arancione. So either he was proclaiming the glories of Arancione for more followers or he was looking for the fellow. Given the complete lack of excitement for when Ion spoke of Arancione and the dismissive nature of identifying as having fought alongside him the past, it obviously wasn’t an interest in recruitment and the fact that Ion’s last encounter with him was so long ago Asterisk clearly didn’t care about what he had to say and left. Probably to search further for Arancione. It also confirmed Ion’s suspicions that, at the bare minimum, Asterisk understood him. He didn’t just parrot the word ‘Gospel’ back at Ion, but instead used it in a formulated statement. Which meant he either couldn’t speek 1337 liek the cool kidz, or he had a complex where he would only address people in his native tongue in spite of the inconvenience. The major inconvience.
Coming up short as he turned a corner and the mysterious navi stood near the entrance to the mines leering back at him. Shrouded expression and all, the posture of annoyance was clear to Ion as he slowly approached. Raising one hand out like a man trying to convince a velociraptor not to eat him, or in this case, dice him into tiny bits; Ion spoke the words that he figured would have the greatest chance of elucidating a further or more heated response from Asterisk. ” Why bother looking for Arancione?”
Pausing to take a silent breath before continuing, Ion opted to force the issue a little further, ”And why bother speaking in another language if you understand the common tongue? Are you unable to speak it or is it a fun superiority complex game for you? Who would even know what language that is?”
If he couldn’t coax a response out of Asterisk with those, he was hoping he would at least be more memorable than most other navi’s to him. Glancing at the crystal blade for a fraction of a second, Ion already had a number of other plans in mind should this encounter go South. Given his referential posture towards Asterisk and the lack of outright hostility from Asterisk, he figured talks wouldn’t go sour that quickly though…
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Post by ~Divine|<3|Heart~ on Jul 5, 2015 6:08:19 GMT -8
~Alpha-Nu-Omega~
_________________________________________________
What was this? A willing dinner?
Nu could not have asked for a better day if she tried. Usually she would consume viruses to appease her appetite, but there nothing comparable to this experience! It was like watching a deer walk into the sight of a gun point blank and demanding someone to fire! She would oblige her willing, suicidal lunch and reached for his hand.
The pink blob girl smiled as her hand reached past Grade's. In her child-like form, it was enough to let her stretchy hand go right past his form and reach to his chest, aiming to grasp at his NetNavi crest. It was the core of any NetNavi, and to eat something to small and trivial, it was as good as swallowing a full-course meal for her. Her mouth watered just touching one...or even reaching for it as a matter of fact. As she attempted to reach and snatch it away from Grade's body, she wondered if he would indeed be willing to let her do it without any fuss or foul.
There was nothing more troubling than someone who would resist the inevitable.
_____________________________________________________ “Now watch me have a share of my cake!”
Now Playing: ----- Chatty Ditz: -----
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Post by ~Divine|<3|Heart~ on Jul 6, 2015 22:30:29 GMT -8
~Alpha-Nu-Omega~
_________________________________________________
*CRASH!!!*
That was the sound of one large gelatinous hand curled into a fist slamming into the terrain. Whether the NetNavi was on the receiving end or not, she did not care. Nu was not even looking in the direction so much as the crest that was now in her clutches. She was hungry, and so like a large cracker, she slid the icon down her throat with her head tilting back, swallowing, and looking for the satisfying after taste.
She did not pay attention to the icon and what it looked like. After all, she was that confident in her diet. Nu turned her head to her enlarged fist, shrunk it back to its child-like form and pulled it back to her side. The blob girl narrowed her eyes, looking for the NetNavi. Between the Life Virus core and the bug program she swallowed, she was not the least bit satisfied. Nothing quenched her hunger like rare programs!
Therefore, she looked for scraps as she look to see what became of the NetNavi's lifeless shell that should had remained after-
...now that she thought about it, why did that NetNavi talk after she took away the core? She snorted, somehow feeling that she had been bamboozled, and no one robbed Nu of her free meal!
_____________________________________________________ “Now watch me have a share of my cake!”
Now Playing: ----- Chatty Ditz: -----
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Post by Raven8 on Jul 26, 2015 20:48:42 GMT -8
Asterisk rolls his eyes, turning back away from Ion. Yet another "smart" one able to pick up on the obvious. How original. This time, the veiled words of the unique Navi refrain from continuation.
A jet of black smoke rises from around Asterisk's feet and spirals upward to create a pillar of sorts, shrouding the shinobi from sight for a moment before fading away and revealing nothing in its wake
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