A call for aid (Tackle, GEAR)

Nov 12, 2018
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#41
“Uuuuhhhhhmmmmmmmmm” Vulyn just stared at the angel like figure standing above the Bulldog, and Eris before that. There were the other Mobile Weapons around, probably sizing them up while she was gawking. So clearly, the only thing she could do was open every channel she could think to the stranger, even turning on her speakers.

“Hiiiiiii, I’m Vulyn, nice to meet you, that’s Eris in front of you, she’s my friend, please don’t kill her~”

“I’m gonna take a wild guess and say that the purple stuff is the Distortion you’re after?”
 
Aug 4, 2018
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Somewhere in the UK
#42
"The nen is merely a symptom. What must be purged... is the source." The giant closed its right hand into a fist and pointed it at the Medius, a blade extending from the ring as it fixed its eyes upon the 'heart' Eris was holding with her machine.

While the core of the Bulldog's reactor was evidently mechanical, it's repeated... beating as more negative energy dripped out made it appear as if it was still alive.

Both the Masklion and Axio had stopped moving for now, keeping their weapons primed as they observed the bizarre scene before them. Presumably they were busy reporting to their superiors, trying to understand just what had occurred and how to explain it without sounding like a lunatic.
 

GEAR

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Jun 15, 2018
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#43
Eris stood before the gleaming figure, the sharp and comparatively diminutive Medius Locus serving as an almost perfect contrast to its blinding, smooth-hulled radiance. Somewhere above, Vulyn was chattering away, and it caused the mercenary to glance up briefly, cursing under her breath - but as the figure spoke, her gaze was instead drawn to the object in her grasp.

"...You want this?" She breathed, feeling the cold sweat trickling down her neck.

Whatever this thing was, she thought... Picking a fight with it was above and beyond her contract. Her first thought was that it could perhaps be a DAMON of some kind - but she'd tangled with the lizards before, and this was nothing like their ilk. No, it was... regal. Refined. As if had been created to lead, the halo glowing above its head a mark of higher being.

"Be my guest."

With that qip, the Medius tossed the sparking sphere of darkness towards the newcomer, the black Personal Trooper's arm casting it in a high, yet, lazy arc, giving it more than enough time to catch it...
 
Nov 12, 2018
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#44
There was a solid several seconds of Vulyn convinced that, after that earlier display, Eris was going to eviscerate this... Angel, or whatever the hell they were. It was terrifying, and majestic, and Vulyn kind of wanted it, although that could be true of half the stuff she saw out there.

She held her breath as Eris tossed the core to the scary one, opening up coms once again. "See? We cool! We totally cool!"
 
Aug 4, 2018
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Somewhere in the UK
#45
What was formerly the core of the bulldog was only allowed to fly through the air for several seconds before the giant moved. A flick of the wrist, a flash of light - before anyone could blink, it had the device impaled on a blade now jutting out from its left wrist.

"Such a device cannot be allowed to exist in this world. Nor can the knowledge of such an abomination be allowed to exist. It... it...."

She trailed off, looking skyward. Not just looking. Feeling the concentrations around the planet, and the beings that fed off them.

Lamalice. Ruina. Worse. With so much surrounding it, how did this world still live? Any one of those should have doomed this world, and yet it was enduring several at once. These people were hardy... and possibly useful. The device fell to her feet as the blade retracted from her arm, and it was swiftly destroyed with a single stomp.

"It is not the only threat - But unlike the others, it is made by the hands of man. Who created this monstrosity?"

Hers was not to reason why - just to do and die. Harnessing negative energy in such a fashion was unforgivable even moreso than the creation of such nen in the first place.
 

GEAR

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#46
A hundred scenarios ran through Eris' mind as she watched the sphere be swiftly dispatched. AI1 was watching the newcomer with rapt attention, soaking every single detail its sensors could gather into its unknowable, biomechanical consciousness. It was some small comfort knowing that, even if Vulyn were to be gunned down, she would still at least have one reliable partner.

As it asked the question, she visibly tensed, muscles standing out on her throat as she swallowed.

Xander would be in danger, she thought, if she pointed the finger where it rightly belonged - but that answer was far from acceptable. Who knew what that thing was capable of? London could be wiped clean off the map.

"Can't say I know. Sorry." She replied, levelly.

It was technically true, in a sense - she wasn't aware of who had conceived of such an idea, only that Xander was the kind of morally flexible old codger who'd be willing to try and take advantage of it. And, if he really had come up with it? Well, she thought...

Hopefully his check would still clear in time.
 
Nov 12, 2018
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#47
Don’t say Xander Don’t day Xander don’t say Xander don’t-

“I’ve got no clue. That thing’s nothing I’ve ever seen before.”
Vulyn was lucky Eris had gone first, because she was ready to sell out Xander like nobody’s business. Plus the more she thought about it, the more she found it easy to simply deny it.

“What was that though..?” She had to ask at this point, because she was almost certain she could be killed any moment now. Might as well try and have a conversation with an alien.
 
Aug 4, 2018
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Somewhere in the UK
#48
"Then I shall settle for those who fought alongside it."

The Giant was moving before she'd even finished her sentence, blades extending from both wrists as she rushed the Axio seemingly out of nowhere. The pilot didn't even have time to react before his cockpit was pulverized, with not just the blade but the entire arm going through the Axio as if it was made of paper.

She didn't even bother removing it, unfurling her wings and flying towards the Masklion.

"Unknown entity is hostile! Need ba- Aaaargh!"

His lion was bisected mid-sentence, with XN-L rolling almost lazily out of the way of the single railgun shot he managed to get out. After the Terra Sentienel forces were dispatched she simply... stopped. Floating in midair, her golden wings keeping her aloft as she turned to look back at her two... friends.

"My knowledge of this world is imperfect - flawed. If you are willing to assist me, you will be rewarded. If not..."

She landed, tossing the Axio away with a flick of her wrist and retracting both blades.

"You may leave. Do not involve yourself with those who peddle such filth, unless you wish to meet death at my blades."
 
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GEAR

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#49
Eris could only look on in horror as the golden, gleaming figure dispatched the former comrades of the Bulldog with contemptuous ease. Every instinct screamed for her to bolt - but experience smothered it, reminding her quietly that nothing could outrun those shining wings. The gap between them was too much. As it turned to speak to her, she was jolted upright in her seat, standing even more to attention now that it had confirmed her suspicions regarding its combat prowess.

As it spoke to the two, however, her ears practically pricked up.

"...What kind of reward?" She asked, suddenly.

The Medius extended a hand towards the Bulldog, pointing to it as she continued. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought she may be bargaining with some fashion of extra-dimensional entity, but...

The thought of what had just happened, of the sensation of the dark energy gripping her body, her soul... Was proving difficult to shake. She wanted... No, needed to know more about it, and if this thing could point her in the right direction, then...

"This world isn't the most... accepting of outsiders." She explained;

"By 'assist'... You mean, you want us to help you dispatch things like that, right?"
 
Nov 12, 2018
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#50
Vulyn could only watch the figure dispatch their foes with ease, trying to not think of a way to rub it into Eris’ face that she got her desired results. Although if she did, it was probably best to wait until they weren’t stabbed to death.
She decided to simply land the Raubitier a bit off to the side, figuring she might as well lay low and let Eris do the talking for now...
 
Aug 4, 2018
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Somewhere in the UK
#51
"Salvage. Protection. When the most pressing threats have been disposed of, I will make time to address... personal matters in reward for your services."

It picked up the Axio's weapon, turning it over and examining it.

"I have little need for human technology or luxuries, and not all of your technology necessitates destruction. You bear the look of scavengers, and my foes hide in castles of steel and circuitry."

She didn't seem to be trying to insult them. It was more phrased as a statement of fact, devoid of judgment or criticism. The launcher was crushed soon after, and tossed onto the Axio's corpse.

"This world is threatened - by both those who consume negative energy, and those who create it. Once they are destroyed, it will be safe. They do not need to accept me. But if they choose to hinder me..."

XN-L trailed off, the implication clear enough that she didn't bother to finish.
 

GEAR

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Jun 15, 2018
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#52
...This entity. It pursues its focus with such zeal. What did it mean by "personal matters"?

Eris blinked slowly as XN-L explained its purpose... And, of course, what was in it for them. Casting a glance sideways at Vulyn, the Medius gave an approving nod. Despite her giving an internal grimace at being described as a scavenger... She had to admit, it was far from the most inaccurate summation of her person, scuffed and seared as the Medius' surface was. Still, this was hardly the time for further questioning - the longer they waited, the more likely that reinforcements would turn up - and she was hardly in the mood.

"Sounds like a deal to me. Got a name?"

There was no chance, she thought, that the Directory would allow such a thing to walk free for long... But, in the meantime, she might as well make a profit out of it. Answers... If there were any, she thought, would hopefully follow. The Medius' recording software was still operational, and no doubt Xander's assistant would have been observing the situation - that check, presumably, was already in the mail. Her attention turned back to the Raubtier, and its pilot, calling out:

"Vulyn, you in?"
 
Nov 12, 2018
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#53
Vulyn nodded along in her cockpit, thinking over the proposal. Sure, the idea of just being a scavenger helping them out was interesting enough, but there was something about that negative energy that just... made her want to know more about it. And if it’s as bad as they were letting on? It would be good to be proactive against it.

“The deal sounds good to me.”
 
Aug 4, 2018
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Somewhere in the UK
#54
"Zan-El. Or XN-L. I care not which."

XN-L turned away from them both with a nod, sweeping the enviroment as if looking for something. No - sensing something. She looked up once she was done, somehow gazing in the exact direction of the Lamalice swarms currently menacing L4.

"Human bodies are... rather fragile, and their machines match that. Can you survive leaving the atmosphere?"

Her question was answered with a glance back at Vulyn's machine. While they could both seemingly operate in space, the immense heat and energy endured travelling was not something many could survive. A weird sound could be heard... it resembled a human sigh, but was significantly more alien.

"Perhaps not. No matter. There are many Vaura present on earth as well."

A skirmish against the Lord of Destruction's servants would allow her to judge the potential of those who chose to serve. An acceptable beginning to her crusade.
 
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GEAR

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#55
"I'll... pass, thanks." Said Eris evenly, gesturing frantically to Vulyn out of the corner of her vision to follow her lead. Hopefully the salvage-woman would take the hint, but with her, you never knew for sure.

The Medius, at last, replaced the Divided Rifle on its rear skirt armor.

"Vaura, huh?" She murmured in response to the golden figure's own musings. The name itself didn't ring a bell, yet somehow... There was an underlying connotation of menace that she couldn't quite shake. Something, something about this whole situation seemed... eerie, and the sense that something was closing about her ankle as she trod water, eager to drag her down into icy depths... Was difficult to shake indeed.

Nevertheless, she pressed on. The only way to fight your fear, she thought... Was to face it head on.

She only prayed she wasn't making a terrible mistake in doing so.

"Well... Let's go find some, then. Right, Vulyn?"
 
Nov 12, 2018
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#56
Curiously, Vulyn tried to test the manipulators on her damaged arm, sparking sadly at her attempts. “Not yet, I suppose.”
She began to check through her own settings, shooting Eris a nod as she tried to plan repairs.
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
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Somewhere in the UK
#57
"Then we will begin on earth. Follow. One target is already within range, and lacks a human presence. Once we are done I will have... questions about your world."

For one has to know their enemies.

XN-L took off in a random direction, deliberately moving at a somewhat slower pace to ensure that the other machines could keep up.




Encrypted Message sent to: Eris Pseuda, Vulyn Moses

We have reason to believe you will not be returning the cradle after your successful mission. Funds are in the process of being transferred, and the bonus will be sent as soon as combat data is provided. Please keep communications on this line unblocked, as Mr.Digby may have questions once he returns from his business trip.

Ms.Moses, a permanent position will be reserved should you ever wish to work on a permanent basis with Alkahest. We understand if your current contract with [NULL POINTER ERROR:EMPLOYER NOT FOUND] takes priority, though.

Thank you for working with Alkahest!
-This is a semi-pregenerated message. All replies to this inbox are reviewed by staff and may be used as training materials in the future.