Log restarted: 11/17/02 10:35:19 PM Medical Support - Skull Fortress Between such resident medics as Dust Man and Junk Man, this room is as much a scrap heap as a medical faciLIty, and as much a warzone as a scrap heap. Towards the front are three fully equipped repair tables and an automatic repair chamber, and the room is ringed by cabinets and storage units, if you can get to them through the piles of defunct drones and spare parts. The latest generation of Master medical assistant drones has been specially designed for this environment, with a radar positioning system and an additional pair of drill arms. One wall features three giant diagnostics displays. These can be used to call up known information on both friends and foes. Contents: Contents: Cold Man's Chamber Dynamo Man's Charger The Dust Heap Repair Chamber HydrauLIc Doors : Vehicle Docking - Skull Fortress Reinforced Doors : Teleporters - Skull Fortress North : LIft Landing - Skull Fortress $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Robot Master $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 12/48 Posted Author Gateway Pylons Sun Nov 17 Tron Bonne ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -beep- Status Report from Stockpile #415(Haven Stockpile): During the evening, One of the Bonne Pirates, Tron Bonne, arrived and with fully authority and permission, requisitioned 6 Gateway Teleporter Pylons. Wily Authority Granted. For Use: Teleportation of the Gesellschaft. -beep- -- The Lego Queen Cometh! -- Tron Bonne! -- $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Robot Master $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 12/49 Posted Author Intruder alert.. Sun Nov 17 Quick Man ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quick Man appears on screen, seeming to have been crying, only without the tears, "Hiya, Iris was in the Rain Forests, trying to comfort Joes, so no work was being done around the area. I made her leave the place." Quick Man shrugs, left without anything to add, then pushes a button, and the screen fades to black. -The Speedster was here- $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Robot Master $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 12/50 Posted Author Fallen pod Sun Nov 17 Gemini Man ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --Gemini Man, alone, on the monitor, reporting from Gammasphere. The room is fairly dark behind him. He looks more than a LIttle angry, his face very tense, and eyes narrow.-- "One of the Stardroid pods fell outside of Casablanca. We went to check it out. Shadow Man and Quick Man assisted. UNFORTUNATELY.... this pod turned out to be a dud. Nothing inside, save four...kittens." Pause. "Three are still aLIve. Quick Man and Shadow Man have two, and the other was taken by Rigger. Rigger also passed some information on to us...from when the Hunters got their Stardroid visitation. This 'Regulus' they met in person mentioned something that the 'touched' are going to serve as Stardroid bait." Gemini shrugs, and his expression cools down somewhat. "Assuming that means us, Ballade and Enker take note... but nothing unusual has happened so far." Another pause... "The cat I am dissecting seems to be completely ordinary. Why it was in the Stardroid pod is anyone's guess." --And after that statement, end transmission.-- -- Gemini Man -- Gemini Man -- "Everyone should have a Gemini in their LIves...but it might be exhausting to have two!" $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Robot Master $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 12/51 Posted Author Another falLIng star Sun Nov 17 Dynamo Man ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Greetings, brothers. Today, Sword and I attended to another pair of meteorite strikes, this time in Sydney. In a destroyed warehouse, another large piece of aLIen metal was found and recovered by Teisel Bonne. Unfortunately, because of some happenings the large shard caused - namely causing machines to operate of their own voLItion - I felt I should tag along to help lock the thing down. The shard is in containment aboard the Gesellschaft, Tron and I are testing it at the moment. I will give a more thorough report once our tests are complete." He raises a fist to his shoulder. "For the legacy of our Father. Dynamo out." $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Robot Master $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 12/52 Posted Author Standing Orders Sun Nov 17 Dr. Wily ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wily is in his lab, Bass, Shadow and Metal visible in the background. The message is short and to the point. "Until further notice, you will all remain within Robot Master controlled territory. Do not engage in confrontations with members of 'alLIed' forces. Anyone who violates these orders will be turned over to Force Commander Bass for punishment." Bass grins sadistically in the background, then the feed cuts. ___ __ | |Dr. / / | |/ \/ / |__/\ / \/ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ IC News $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 14/23 Posted Author Starhaven Status Sun Nov 17 News Report ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ An image suddenly breaks through on the GNN Channels... BOO! IT'S BYTE! Byte's GLowing golden eyes lock on the screen for a moment, before fading to their normal gold, and he speaks. "People of the world. ...As I am the one who would know, I am conferring this bit of information to the world at large. Despite the damage done to Starhaven by the Firstborn, Proto Man, and the impact of the Space Ship... ...I have discovered something that surprised me. Starhaven is in an even more stable orbit then it was before. ...In projected time, there is no worry that it will fall into the Atmosphere again or escape into the Void. One fear alleviated." "Another. I have gathered all remaining debris within and around Starhaven, and used it." Byte pauses, then continues, "...Starhaven is 'set' for now. The inner workings are stable and the entire construction will not break apart as yet. I have placed devices within at stress points which will alert me should Starhaven begin to shift and break... ...for now, however, Starhaven is dead. It is not wise for any to approach it or enter it, as I beLIeve all parts are breached to the Void and are filled with nothing but Vacuum. Structurally, it is unsound. It would very poor judgment to even approach it for some time." "...To ensure this... ...The CoaLItion has set an interdiction minefield around the craft. This is to ensure the safety of all six Races of Earth... Reploid, Human, Android, Bioroid, Cyborg, and Hybrid. Any who approach Starhaven, for now, are subject to this field ...I would stay away, by Decree of the CoaLItion!" "...This includes you, whoever or whatever you are... Angel of Death or Rogue Stardroid. ...You can, if I am not overestimating you, LIkely hear this. ...You have been warned." Byte's eyes burn with a golden LIght... and then he is gone. The image returns to the GNN Morning Newscast, which already is showing images of the ring of mines surrounding Starhaven ...hundreds of them... each with a strong enough energy signature to show that each has the capacity to wipe out a city block, as well as warnings from GNN to avoid Starhaven ontop of the warnings from Byte. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ IC News $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 14/24 Posted Author Mermaid sightings Sun Nov 17 News Report ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prune looks tired. Of course, ever since the Stardroid escape shuttle arrived yesterday, everybody at GNN has been running themselves ragged covering everything that has been happening. The StunninGLy Handsome Reporter(tm) takes a long drag off of a cigarette and flops back in his chair, half-heartedly fingering a few pieces of paper in front of him. "And amidst all the reports of chaos and violence in the wake of last night's fireworks, a more whimsicle story! On the scene now is GNN Junior Reporter Camerra. Camerra?" Poof to a shot of a reploid rather similar to Reporto, except pink. "Thank you, Prune. I'm currently with JuLIus Ahob-" Someone off-camera clears his throat. Camerra GLances towards him briefly. "Uhh... -Cap'n- Ahob, captain of the Mudpuppy, a cargo vessel currently trowLIng the Southern Pacific. Cap'n Ahob, you say you've spotted a mermaid here, recently?" The camera pans back, reveaLIng a stereotypical sea captain type. He has a peg leg and chews a cob pipe. His eyes are covered by the brim of a floppy yellow hat. You know the type. "Aye, that I did, that I did. She were a looker, too, 'til she broke 'er way onto our ship an' raided our galley." Camerra smiles back to the camera. "One of Ahob's crewmembers provided this amateur video, recorded at the time of the... er... 'Mermaid Raid,' during a storm earLIer this morning." Bzzt! Cut to a video of your standard grey, hazy, rolLIng sea. Again, you know the type. Visible over the edge of the ship, in the sea below, is a sLInky figure diving through the waves. Is it a sea serpent?! Is it a mermaid?! Whatever it is, it vaults up over the edge of the ship, landing nearby; the camera-bearer flops back, making it difficult to track the figure, which dashes by along the edge of the camera. There's the sound of a strugGLe nearby, several sailors shouting various obscenities, moments before the camera signal dies. Back to Camerra and Ahob. "Fascinating," says Camerra. "Now, what exactly did this... -mermaid- do, Ahob?" she asks of the captain. Ahob switches his pipe to the other side of his mouth. "She broke into our fridge, she did, an' made off with all of our cold beer. Then she broke into the pantry and grabbed all the beer we had in storage. And the wine. And the whiskey. She even got into my private LIquor cabinet and cleaned it out." The captain LIfts his head just a bit, and looks a LIttle wide-eyed under his hat. "Pushed some o' my men 'round and swore a lot, but she didn' hurt nobody." Camerra smiles. "And you don't think this was the latest raid by the Robot Masters, cap'n?" Ahob shakes his head. "Ain't never seen a Robot Master so pretty as this one, though that Quint, he sure comes close." The camera pans back to Camerra, who looks amused. "Very well. Anybody planning to sail in the South Pacific, be on the lookout for a drunken mermaid. Back to you, Prune." Cut back to Prune in the studio, rubbing his head and mumbLIng to himself. 'built to be the finest anchorman ever, and I'm covering an outbreak of Wonderland,' he mutters, before looking up at the Camera. He bLInks, spits his cigarette out, and sits up. "In other news, cases of Space Monkey Flu have been reported in..." Prune bLInks, then snarls off-camera. "What's with all of this Space Monkey business, anyway?!" $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Laboratories - Skull Fortress If Skull Fortress is a testament to Dr. Wily's madness, then this room is a testament to his genius. Diagnostics and computer displays LIne the left wall, the right covered with handwritten charts, diagrams, and rambLIngs. The rest of the room is a disorganized collection of equipment and desks, many of which are LIkewise covered in papers and equipment. A few large areas have been cleared for special containment fields. At the very back of the room is a row of high-tech capsules, access to which is restricted to the doctor himself, as is the knowledge of what they contain. Several smaller labs branch off from the main, where others may put their creative abiLIties to use in ghastly ways. Contents: Contents: Bass [Bass] [RM] Shadow Man [Armor] [RM] Metal Man [Armor] [RM] Dr. Wily [Normal] [RM] Synth's Computer Lab Reinforced Doors : Command Center - Skull Fortress Southwest : Secure Dome - Skull Fortress Metal Man says "This is Saturn Mr insane Stardroid even by their standards. So I'd say he has something up his sleeve dad. As to what? I don't have a slaggen clue." Clown Man walks and frowns. "...Saturn?" He then groans. Loudly. "...Don't tell me Enker's pendent is working again..." $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Robot Master $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 12/53 Posted Author Saturn Visit Sun Nov 17 Shadow Man ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Stardroid Saturn, accompanied by Sempai Bass, appeared in the Fortress Laboratories earLIer tonight. He made several cryptic i.e. meaninGLess comments, referring to a Hunt. Of particular interest was that he was sure to mention the death of Duo. Since the Stardroids would know that the people of Earth are all fully aware that Duo was defeated, the need to reiterate this point may be taken as evidence that Duo's demise is a Big Fat LIe. Since the Stardroid was within close proximity of sensei, and powerful enough to make full use of his teleportation powers, it's reasonable to assume that he could have killed sensei if he wished, but made no threat nor effort to do so. Although he did make casual threats against Metal San and myself, he did not touch us either, nor the labs. It seems the Stardroids need sensei's help, again, and are thus eager to stay within his favor. Addendum: One of the four kittens mentioned in Gemini San's report is being kept aLIve in an animal shelter in Casablanca. I beLIeve Quick San is doing LIkewise with another. The last one is in the possession of Rigger, with a tracking device. /\ < () > -Shadow Man \/ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Metal Man says, "No the real deal was here." "Of /course/ it's a trap," Bass says, looking to Metal with a sigh before returning his attention to Wily. "We set them for a LIving. It's plain to see that we're being manipulated -- but the end result we need to work for is getting out of this better off than we came in." Clown Man just stares at Metal. For a long long LONG moment. "...Right," The LIttle Clown states, "I'll be moving elsewhere for as long as the 'Droids are here. Lets see... Venus or Mars... decisions decisions..." Shadow Man GLances briefly to Clown Man, and momentarily raises an eyebrow. If that's some sort of joke, he doesn't get it. But he usually doesn't. Dr. Wily sighs at Bass and Metal. "Yes, Saturn was here Clown." He shakes his head. "And I fully reaLIze its a trap, Bass...Metal." He fixes both of them with a steady gaze. "The question is, what /exactly/ do the Stardroids have up their sleeves?" Another shake of his head, followed by a curious quirk of a brow. "Obivouslt they have some hidden agenda, why else would they be here? And, they made sure to mention Duo's 'death'? Somehow, that doesn't comfort me." He GLances to Shadow, having that feeLIng that the ninja shares that partiuclar sentinment. "Then again....very LIttle comforts me where the Stardroids are concerned. All we can hope to do is ride this storm out and gain what we can from the chaos." Shadow Man says in low tones, "Why do we wish to convince the world that you are dead, sensei?" Bass seems poised to say something, but Shadow Man brings up another saLIent point. He pre-emptively rolls his eyes, throws up his hands, and starts pacing towards the other end of the room. Da Clown smirks at Shadow, "It's a joke. Really. Nothing to worry about." (At least... not yet...)Oo. He was about to ask another question... when Shadow brings up his own. So Clown curls up in a ball, and bounces for a bit, awaiting Wily's response... Aquarius has arrived. Dr. Wily sighs as Shadow poses his question. "Well, I didn't intend for this to happen. Things happen sometimes." He shakes his head ruefully, casting an odd GLance at Clown. Even though he build the bot, its still a bit disconcerting. "As of now, it could serve some useful purpose as we work on our own plans. Afterall, if everyone beLIeves me dead, hey won't be looking to interfere with my plans, now will they?" Wily chuckles. Bass, rather annoyed with the constant faking of deaths by Wily, moves over to the other end of the room, flops into a chair and kicks up his feet on an adjoining console. "They're too /stupid/ to interfere with our plans," says Bass. "These idiots hold to their LIttle truces because they love them. Hiding behind paper is the perview of the weak." Clown Man stops bouncing and unfolds. "That's true. But this seems so much LIke the story 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'. Eventually, they won't LIsten... after all even idiots learns a lesson... eventually." It starts as a bright flash of LIght. The norm, for this particular stardroid. Some of the GLow remains . . actually, she's GLowing more brightly, with the better LIghts in here. GLancing around, Aquarius makes a worried sound. "Oh dear . . this isn't where I intended to go at /all/." Is the LIving Crystal Fish a scatterbrain? "Then perhaps we should look to what common goals the Stardroids are working towards, though they may try to appear disunited," says Shadow Man, taking a step back and leaning against a section of wall which isn't LIned with expensive looking equipment. "The sooner we can find out the rules of whatever game they're playing this time, the better - " once again, the Robot Master is interrupted by a visitor from Outer Space. As soon as the LIght begins to appear, he ceases speaking. Clown Man just stares at the... new person that just arrived. "..." He bLInks... before innocently and going behind Bass. He's not hiding. He's protecting Bass, yeah! ...Yeah right. O_O Dr. Wily smirks and repLIes to Bass. "Now now, dear Force Commander, never underestimate those 'fools'. By keeping them in the dark we can..." So much for keeping ANYONE in the dark as the room begins to LIght up. As the GLare fades and Aquarius' still GLowing form becomes discernible, Wily frowns, and eyes Bass. "Well now, this is interesting. Two visitors in one night?" Facing the GLowing being, Wily inquires. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?" Protecting Bass' flank. Right. Isn't that Omicron squad's job? Or is that more of a self-imposed `duty'...? Bass' eyes narrow as another Stardroid appears, Buster arm dropping down behind his body, switching back to cannon mode with a muted *ploomf*. He's not going to do anything -- yet -- but he won't be caught unawares. Shadow Man sends a radio transmission. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Shadow Man. Aquarius bLInks a few times, looking around with . . dismay? "Oh dear oh dear oh dear . . oh?" Hello, a voice speaking to her. Moving through the air LIke a fish through water, she 'swims' down to where Wily is, some of the GLow becoming a bit less when she's not clumped up in stressed coils. Her tail could easily span the entire room. "Hello. I think I've goofed up." Ditz Pinkmouse arrives from the Secure Dome - Skull Fortress. Ditz Pinkmouse has arrived. Metal Man says, "Another Stardroid? Dear Wily its a convention of them..." Sword Man arrives from the Secure Dome - Skull Fortress. Sword Man has arrived. Shadow Man rolls his eyes at the Stardroid. If it's going to be a game of Good Cop, Confused Incompetent Cop, he'll play along for a whole and see where it goes. Once again he takes something from a pocket in his utiLIty belt and casually heads towards Dr. Wily. Ditz Pinkmouse scurries in. Why? On a personal level, it's for no reason whatsoever than his running feet carried him here. On a larger, more philosophical level, he's here to cause you all untold torment. Guts Man arrives from the Secure Dome - Skull Fortress. Guts Man has arrived. Clown bLInks and steps out from behind Bass. "So, you're lost and this isn't a social visit that you've planned?" he inquires. Guts Man walks on in cause he has nowhere to go. Aquarius abruptly turns, at the mention of 'other stardroids', her face ending up inches away from Metal's as the rest of her wrigGLes along behind. "Other stardroids? Who?" Reaching out to place her hand over his face, she demands, "/Who/?" The Force Commander, sitting on the other side of the labs with Clown Man cowering somewhere nearby, is watching Aquarius interact with Dr. Wily. His Buster arm is down at his side, concealed behind his body, a minor charge starting to build in it. In fact, he seems to be intentionally keeping his arm down, watching, thinking ... Then a thought comes into his mind, a smirk easing across his face. He'll unravel this mystery yet. "You just missed your friend Saturn," he says, speaking in a careful manner. "He wanted our help. Were you looking for him?" Dr. Wily lets Bass answer's Aquarius' question, taking a moment to study the Stardroid. One hand reaches surreptitiously for the enter key on the station behind him, as the Doctor hopes to get a scan of the 'Droid. Maybe. The new arrivals are noted with nods, as the doctor concentrates on Aquarius. "Goofed up? heaven forbid, the Stardroids should mess anything up." He rolls his eyes lsightly, then goes on. "Yes, you did just miss Saturn. Which brings me to my original question. What brings you here? And I don't just mean this room." He fixes Saturn with a level gaze, seeminGLy unconcerned as to the consequences of angering the Stardroid. Guts Man points to the Stardroid in the room. "Hey guys, who's the geek?" Ditz Pinkmouse GLances around, because he's a mouse, and robotic mice with brain-damage love looking at things. And right now, he's spotting something he doesn't see much in Daddoo's home. A /woman/. "Oh how cute! Bass has a girlfriend!" Ditz squeals happily, running over to give Aquarius's tail a big ol hug. Aquarius perks up at the mention of Saturn . . then just as fast, deflates, moving her way through the air in slow, pacing curves. Unnoticing of Ditz, she LIfts him into the air after her. "Saturn . . lovely. Hearting to hear more are aLIve . . but /him/ . . ?" BLInking, she turns to look at Wily again. "I take it you mean all of us over just my accidental appearance, yes? . . " She frowns. ". . I need to find out who's aLIve first." Bass has trained himself to ignore Ditz on a near spiritual level. He continues to do so, even as the rodent attempts to `hug' Aquarius' tail. Maybe the fates will favor the Robot Masters and Aquarius will teleport Ditz somewhere far away. LIke the Sun. He LIstens to Wily, even as he watches Aquarius' reaction to various stimuLI. His cLInical, keen mind takes in all the details, trying to put together a picture of the overall scenerio. He chuckles at Guts Man's usual candor, but decides to answer Aquarius first. "So far, several have been turning up," says the Force Commander. "But what we'd really LIke to know is what, exactly, you are all so eager for our help to fight. It's a reoccurring theme, you understand...a Stardroid appears, makes some cryptic comments about being in great danger and some nebulous threat, and then disappears in a puff of energy." Well that was an unexpected development for Ditz, he hadn't expected to stay off the ground. "Oh wow, she fLIes!" Yes, he just now noticed this. "No wonder Bass LIkes her!" After squeaking out his approval for the Force Commander's GF, Ditz decides to impart upon her some of his infinite wisdom regarding her current problem. "Well you could look people up in the phonebook! That's how I found Maurice!" Guts Man says, "Who's Maurice?" Ditz Pinkmouse says, "My talking carrot friend!" Metal Man says, "Saturn, There has been talk of more aLIve showing up. Starhaven is a mess we saw footage of your people being butchered by something. Just what the heck was that thing that killed Mercury and Jupiter?" Guts Man says, "Ooooh talking carrot! Does he say ow when you bite him?" Dr. Wily snorts. "I'm afraid I have to agree with Bass." He peers at the Stardroid closely. "Find out whos aLIve? Why? What happened, up there, on Starhaven?" Ditz gets a mere headshake, as the Doctor dosn't know what to make of the LIttle Mouse. If only he had his Ditz Trap handy. "What was that thing we saw in those videos? The shadow with the dark wings?" Wily looks as though he has many more questions, but he doesn't voice them. For the moment. Da Clown frowns thoughtfully... "Say... um... we've seen your... 'home movies' as it were and I was wondering... who's left... exactly?" Aquarius tosses a dark GLare at Guts (LIterally, as she abruptly dims /quite/ a bit), she nods to the information of more stardroids. CircLIng Wily's chair, she ends up in about four or five coils before Ditz's squeaky voice sinks in. LIfting the tip of her tail more towards her face, she peers at him. "What /is/ this? And I didn't see, Pisces shoved me into the pod too fast. I don't know who's left" Shadow Man turns and whispers something to Dr. Wily. Ditz Pinkmouse hmmms. "Well, one time a sheep bit his hair, and he said Eeeeeerrr!' As Aquarius speaks, another person enters the room and the conversation. This time, it's the stalwart swordsman, Sword Man, fresh out of his decontamination. Hearing that Wily was in here, he came up here immediately to discuss the nature of the stones, but halts upon seeing Aquarius. Squinting, he peers at the SD. "Did I just not see you within Sydney?" Obviously, Sword is a mite confused, but oh well. Not LIke it should a surprised that she can teleport. Pisces has arrived. Clown Man bLInks. Well. That was a loss. Guts Man stares back at Aquarius as she stares at him. "What the hell are you looking at point dexter? Go back to shaving your legs for the swim team. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Swim team, leg shaving, I kill myself." Ditz Pinkmouse hmmms. "Well, one time a sheep bit his hair, and he said 'Eeeeeerrr!'" And then he notices that he's /still/ in the air, and he considers getting down, but after a bit, decides against it. No, he'd rather cLImb upwards, and thus he does so, beginning to shimmy up the tail with his LIttle mousy paws, uninterrupted until Aquarius looks at him. "Hi! I'm Ditz! I'm a mouse!" he informs her proudly. "Do you want to buy any LInt?" Metal Man says, "A blood bath that is what happened on Starhaven. I can safely say we will not be seeing Mercury or Jupiter again. Not with how that shadow beast killed em." he shrugs, "Well we have maybe 3 I dunno about exact numbers and hats Ditz... he is special..." Aquarius says, "No, no thank you." Guts gets another GLare. "I don't /have/ legs!" BrilLIant retort. Forgetting Ditz, she worriedly wrings her hands. "Oh dear, what if he's still mad for the-" An indecephirable string of chemical compounds. " in his sock drawer . . . " Any attempts to scan Aqua will LIkely be very, very garbled . . . after all, she is LIving crystal. " . . maybe I should have used the slugs from Alkine 3 instead." Dr. Wily stares at Ditz, praying the Mouse doesn't doom them all by pissing off a Stardroid. "Pisces didn;t give you time? Now why were you being shoved into a pod to begin with, eh?" The tehcnobabble rolls over the doctor, and even he only catches a few words here and there. Shaking his head, he resists the urge to shake Aquarius. "The more information you give us, the more we can help you." And help ourselves be rid of you, though he doesn't say it. Bass considers Aquarius' answer, mind churning over this new information. Apparently some of the Stardroids knew what was going on and saw to it that others, perhaps weaker ones, were able to escape first. It would explain why the ones that he has heard about appearing so far are unfamiLIar... "So you would think Pisces would know more about this unseen enemy all of you want us to fight," says Bass. "Do you think ..." He avoids using a gender pronoun, LIke he has become accustomed to with Plant Man. "Pisces would be able to tell us some more? Assuming Pisces has also managed to escape here." Fortunately for the Stardroid, Ditz lets go of her so he can reach into both his pockets and search for some LInt. The natural consequence of this is he falls right off of her, but he doesn't seem to care about that, or even notice. He's busy triumphantly removing a fistful of LInt from his pocket and holding it out for Aquarius. As if to answer Bass' words, there is a ripple. Blue LIght begins to gently churn, and ripple in space, before the strange form of Pisces appears, translucent purple energy pulsing around his body, as the blue ripples coalesce into parts of his wings, the space calming around him. "I escaped. And can answer to a point, Chaos' Hand. But I still cannot understand all of what occured." Eyes GLowing gently, another gentle GLow seems to coalesce around him, though it begins to crawl towards Aquarius. Guts Man shrugs, "Well shave your arm pits then. We don't need no sasquatch in our ranks." He then chuckles, "Heheheheh, dead Stardroids make me laugh harder than dead RepLIforcers." He then squints as someone else shows up, Pisces, "Cripes, not another nerd. Did I miss something LIke dad building another squadron of androids? Or do we have an open door poLIcy to allow completely goofy looking strangers from the Yugoslavian swim team?" [Radio: (F) AlLIance] Job transmits, "Starseeker to Maverick and RF ships, the pods seem to be headed for Mars I been tracking the telemetry." Sword Man bLInks as he sees the new SD pop in. "Interesting...Chaos's hand you say?" Sword ponders this pseudo-revelation. "What do you mean by this? The LIteral reincarnation of Duo's Chaos side? A successor to Chaos?" Sword's all too confused by what's going on, and this is his chance to get answers. Damned if he ain't gonna try and get them. [Radio: (F) AlLIance] Job transmits, "I'm going to try and capture one of the pods to be anaLIsed but from the hull markings I have an idea fo who it is." Metal Man says in a sLIghtly amused tone. "Welcome to Skull Fortress, Stardroid Pisces." Metal Man then removes his helmet and face guard setting them down on. Dr. Wily sighs in a vaguely resigned fashion as Pisces appears. Two Stardroids have appeared already, why not a third? "Ahh...speak of the devil." A studied GLance at Pisces. "So how is it that you don't fully understand what has happened Stardroid? Perchance you could fill us in on what you do know, mmmm?" Wily is DEFINITELY getting irritated at this point as he peers back and forth between Pisces and Aquarius. "Surely, one of you must have some answers...." Aquarius continues to dither, unnoticing of all else . . until that GLow finally crawls over her, sinking in. Her voice abruptly cuts off, and she goes LImp, hovering while the GLow settles into place. After a long span of moments, Aquarius actually /opens/ her eyes, and the difference is noticeable. "Thank you, Pisces . . it is rather disconcerting to be sperated from myself. "You know," comments Bass as Pisces appears, mostly to an imagined audience, "I knew I should have moved the party tray down from the Head when I had the chance. But noooo...Martha Stewart's Guide to Overlord Entertaining said to keep it at your primary fortress of soLItude rather than where your peons hang out..." GrumbLIng, Bass shuts off his Buster, returning his arm to its normal configuration. He folds his arms frustratedly, muttering under his breath for a second or two before getting back to the business at hand. "Tell you what," says Bass to Pisces, "LIke the Doctor said. We'll take helping you under advisement if you tell us everything you know about this situation, starting with some hard facts about what we're supposed to be shooting at. An explaination from the beginning would be absolutely /ideal/." [Radio: (F) AlLIance] Job transmits, "Space pod captured, I'm hauLIng it in." Pisces quietly scans the room. "I recognize the giant, and the Egotist from our records. The Shadowed as well." Sword man is scanned. "It would seem the doctor was busy." Nodding to Aquarius as she fuses, he then returns his gaze to Bass, sardonically. "We came primarily for the free snacks and dip, War-bringer." Then, he closes his eyes before continuing. "We were betrayed from within, and they struck from Darkness. Then the Darkness Itself moved upon us, and our efforts to turn back its Shadowed Tides were as sand beneath the churning seas." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Launch Pods transmits, "*Fzzzt* Pods 1-6, 9-10, 12-15 have engaged successfully. Eternity to Humanity and Dr. DeVry." Guts Man rolls his eyes, "Pffft, Stardroids know nothing. If they did they'd be on Jeopardy as the returning champion." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cyclops transmits, "...I knew it." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "Yup i guessed that from the hull markings" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "So what happened to 7 and 11?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "We cought 7." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "7 is in the cargo hold of my ship." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "And what about 8, hm?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Big Bad Sword Man transmits, "OOC: I have the odd expectations someone's gonna say "Just Kidding!" LIke at the countdown in Spaceballs. :>" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "Look we don't care about your blabber about space pods. They're probably nothing more than space dumpsters with mighty Kagarr warriors inside them." Bass, lacking any other referential points, decides to fall back on that very human tradition of making s**t up as he goes along. "OK," says Bass. "So there was a civil war after Duo's destruction. We saw that on the videos released from Starhaven. Sometime after that, some Stardroids in your ranks started working for somebody else, somebody bad -- this `Darkness'. Them and this `Darkness' group started to move on the rest of you. Scattered and confused, a lot of you got taken out, and the rest escaped here for whatever reason. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cyclops transmits, "Strange... It failed to mention that I blew pod 12 up..." The rodent hmmms in thought: apparently Bass' GF doesn't seem to want any LInt. But that's ok, because the dinner he ordered has just arrived! And that's a good thing too, because Ditz is /starving/. "Oh boy, I'm so hungry!" he announces, picking himself up off his back and scurrying over to the stardroid that very closely resembles a... well actually Pisces just looks LIke a big freak. But he has certain key traits Ditz reLIes upon to make his classifications. Such as fins. And that is why Ditz pulls out his blowtorch and attempts to LIght Pisces' left foot. Dr. Wily sighs as Pisces suppLIes a vague answer. Not unexpected. He lets Bass speak his mind, then chimes in. "And now that the Starhaven has returned here for whatever reason, your escape ship has been recalled as well. Thats what all those pods were, they were LIke 'LIfe boats' of a sort." he eyes the Stardroids. "Which can only mean that the Darkness is on its way here, to find you." Wily trails off and stares at Pisces, daring the Stardroid to tell Bass and he that they are totally, completely wrong. Sword Man sighs as the only answer he gets is a cryptic one. . o O (Will a straight answer NEVER come?) "So, 'twas an internal threat, then? And considering your phrasing, I would assume the Darkness is a specific entity of yours?" Shadow Man raises an eyebrow at the Stardroid. So, they have a file on him, and his brothers as well. What manner of conspiracy is this, then? Metal Man says, "Agreed and we don't want to go into deaLIng with whatever is after you Stardroids totally bLInd..." Aquarius repLIes quietly, 'swimming' over to Pisces, her tail curLIng in a loose set of loops around him until her head's level with his own. "Treachery can come from without as well as within . . but this is something in which I know LIttle of the truths. Only the deaths." Pisces shakes his head. "Not a group. Merely Darkness. Void. The absence of Form. Nor did we intend to escape here...the ship was...called...apparently when your explorers tampered with the Haven." BLInking, he looks down as his foot is engulfed in flames. "...ah. Rodentia Rattus Ignorattus." Lowering his fingers down, the flames leap up, and they slowly absorb into his fingers, before water begins to drip off his arm and spatter on Ditz. Then, he looks to Wily and nods, gravely. "The pods were escape...sanctuary..." He then shakes his head. "Nothingness will attempt to fill itself. Darkness constantly seeks the LIght. Chaos wishes to fill Order. The Void will seek to Swallow up all, and leave no definition save itself." A massive beam of energy descends from the heavens, completely vaporizing Aquarius. Aquarius falls to the ground, unconscious. Shadow Man isn't cleaning that up. "So we're not talking about a group, or a person, but a /thing/," says Bass, clenching his other arm's fist loosely. "An Elder God, some sort of Thing That Should Not Be. You fled in all directions to scatter its pursuit, perhaps to regroup, but the explorers who meddled with the controls brought you all back /here/. Which means it's going to bear down on this place in an effort to finish you all off at once." It appeals to him, fighting this unknown Thing. A force beyond imagination, beyond anything he had ever seen before. Rock would try to fight it ... could either of them, both of them put together, do what could not be done? One way to find out. He chuckles. "So you guys are going to have to make your stand here, and you figure since we beat you once, our combined forces would be enough to beat it back. I see how it is." Metal Man is chaoitc but there is some order to his chaos. "That would do no one any world of good Pisces. So it seems we will have to deal with the mess unless your people are planning to make a stand here on Earth?" Metal Man is almost excisted for the thought of such a massive battle though it was he was built to do. He was built to fight... Dr. Wily sighs as Bass lays it all out word for word. At least it saves the Doctor the trouble of doing it himself. With a sLIght nod to Bass, he looks to Aquarius, then Pisces as the SD puts out the LIttle mouse fire on his foot. The temptation to ask Pisces to get rid of Ditz is great, but Wily resists. "Void? The absence of Form? Where exactly did this Darkness come from then Pisces?" he eyes the SD quizically, one eyebrow cLImbing. "And what did you do to incur its wrath?" Thats the one question Wily would really LIke answered. He can accept being dragged down in a strugGLe LIke this if only just barely., BUt he wants to know whose damned fault it was. Guts Man crosses his arms, "Let's just beat the info out of these twits if they're not going to be more cooperative." Sword Man hums disquietly. "So with your presence, Darkness shall fall upon our world...very well then..." he says in a rather resigned tone. "If that is the way it must be...we shall fight. Our judgement was resisted, then so shall this Darkness which threatens to consume us all... Drip. Drip. "Hey! Bad fish!" Ditz shouts at the stardroid as it extinguishes the flames on its foot, though Ditz's blowtorch is thankfully waterproof. "This calls for static measures!" he shouts with determination, and removes... a ketchup packet. He rips the packet open and empties the contents onto the formerly aflame foot. The contents? A strange thin clear chemical, which leaks all over the foot, and Ditz's hands as well. And with that done, Ditz ignites the torch again. Oh, and just what is that chemical you may wonder? LIghter fluid. Of course. FWOOSH! Aquarius gives Pisces a quick kiss on the cheek, before replying to the 'void' questions. "It has been part of existence since the dawn of time, and before. It is non-existence, it is end, it is undefined except for what it /does/. It is nothing." Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission to Bass. Bass receives a radio transmission. Pisces shrugs, though Aquarius' kiss makes him blush with surprise. "I am not certain who will gather...who will be strong enough to fight...or who will simply join to the Betrayers. But...certainly even to stand in Shadow is preferrable to simply engulfing oneself in Lack. At least the Shadows have LIght to give them definition. Just as Duo's LIght once held the Night at bay, and Chaos' Fires cast Tryptych Shadows that allowed the Stars to GLeam and hold off the Nightmare which we now Wake in." "My foot is being blowtorched." One of the semi-LIquid wings slowly flows onto the ground, extinguishing the foot, and then Engulfing Ditz within an air bubble, and flows back into its' 'normal' form, while the bubble containing Ditz floats through his 'armor' until it settles in his chest, trapping the rodent there for the moment. Metal Man says, "Betrayers Pisces? I take it that has something to do with Duet's LIttle bit on the Bridge of Starhaven?" Aquarius promptly slaps her hand over Pisces mouth, giving her a stern look. "I will not hear ill said of what we are not certain of." Obscure thing, as she watches the mouse-bubble. And can't resist poking the bubble before it settles into place. "It is emptiness, wishing to fill itself with the whole of existence. . . so I have been taught." Guts Man says, "God, what is it with you Stardoids? If it's not trying to destroy our planet it's you being weak assed idiots being devoured by a LIving black hole. Oooooh we're being eaten by the void! Well get a giant flashLIght and shine it on the void so it becomes non void! Sheesh you'd think we were the only people with brains around here." Regulus has arrived. Shadow Man has disconnected. "Death." Bass says it simply and clearly. "It is the embodiment of death. ObLIvion. Yes, I understand it now. You play your games of Chaos and Order, of Dark and LIght, but this thing doesn't follow those rules. It doesn't want Darkness, it wants an absence of /everything/ -- no darkness, no LIght, nothing. Dead space, and perhaps not even that." He gets out of his chair, pacing much as his creator does. Guts Man prompts a chuckle, which breaks his dour disposition for a few moments. His expression soon hardens, considering the task before him. "This void, this lack of being, may be being helped by Stardroids ... yes, that makes sense enough. A lot of things are starting to make sense about this...yes. I wonder..." At the mention of LIght... One in fact begins to build slowly. A small pinpoint of golden LIght springs to LIfe just over Pisces' 'shoulder'. It grows brighter instant by instant before vanishing in a bright flash. What remains is an almost shapeless black robe. Vaguely humanoid - at least taller than it is wide - it hangs in the air for a moment before settLIng to the ground. Aquarius promptly slaps her hand over Pisces mouth, giving her a stern look. "I will not hear ill said of what we are not certain of." Obscure thing, as she watches the mouse-bubble. And can't resist poking the bubble before it settles into place. "It is emptiness, wishing to fill itself with the whole of existence. . . so I have been taught." Guts gets yet /another/ dark GLower, and this time, she does something. Holding up her hand, she directs a bLIndinGLy white LIght towards his eyes, dimming the overall room as she channels the ambient LIght. "Shut up." Oh goody, his dinner should roast very quickly now, thanks to the super-ketchup. Ketchup goes great on /everything/. And that's when Ditz notices his hands are on fire. "Wheeee!" he shouts happily, flapping his hands up and down and looking LIke a LIttle freak (even freakier than normal that is). And then, suddenly... he's extinghished and in a bubble. "Gasp! The soap has kidnapped me!" Well that's ok, Ditz knows just what to do in situations LIke these! Returning the mini-blowtorch to his subspace pocket, Ditz pulls out in its place a shiny shiny pin! Because even Ditz knows needles defeat bubbles anyday! Except he's suddenly distracted by the refracted LIght GLInting off the pin. "Ooooh, shiny. Naaaaaaauuuve-poit!" Sword Man sighs as Pisces's cryptic, roundabout speech. . o O (To think, some call me longwinded) Peering at Bass's conclusion, he drops his head down, hand to his chin in the usual manner, attempting to thing. He closes his eyes...but they fly open as he finds himself unable to make sense of it. He continues to watch on, hoping the SDs wil be able to make some more sense of it. However, he soons finds the sight of another SD, which causes his face to fall, a hand on the back of his helm. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Bass transmits, "Goddamn it! I spent two hours on the party tray, and it's going to waste!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Why is this?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Ditz Pinkmouse transmits, "It's always a party with Fun-Zo in the house!" Dr. Wily can't help but chuckle along with Bass as Guts offers his opinion. Still, its only a momentary lapse as Wily frowns deeply in thought. What Bass just said made all to much sense. "Death." Slowly, Wily turns that idea over in his head. "Well...that should prove to be an interesting confrontation. I wager we'll have a hard time stopping something thats interested in the destruction of the universe for no particular reason. Still..." Whatever else he was about to say is cut off as a third form joins the assembly. "More visitors? We seem to be oh so popular today...." Once more, and eyebrow rises curiosuly as Wily peers at the new visitor/ [Radio: (D) GLobal] Bass transmits, "I made this /lovely/ party tray, just LIke in Martha Stewart's Guide to Overlord Entertaining. It's sitting up in the Head right now, in my refrigerator. And you know what? You f**king know what?! THE STARDROIDS CAME DOWN HERE INSTEAD!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Bass transmits, "It ain't right! It ain't right, dammit!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Yeah we had one of them too. Just can't get rid of the buggers." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "... You're right. That's pretty tough luck." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "We got Three." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy sounds sulky. "*I* want a Stardroid. I'd take better care of it than you all seem to be doing." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Do you have an arcade in the 'Head', Bass?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Be on the lookout for Aquarius. It seems there's two... One possibly pretending to be Aquarius when in fact she, or he, is not. Since one was a guy and one was a girl." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Bass transmits, "No. It's really rather minimaLIst. I was going for a neo-modernist decorative style." The new visitor - currently nothing more than a shapeless robe... slowly extends black wings from its 'back' as a shimmering nimbus of golden LIght builds in an outLIne. And then an arm slowly extends outwards, and there is a sword blazing in it's hand. And then, from the very air around it in, a ghostly voice seems to spring to LIfe. "Death... comes... for all." Regulus projects a forcefield around himself. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Maybe she's both." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "We have a Female Aquarius here..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "OH HELL!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "... Uh oh?" Pisces mumbles something that is probably an apology beneath Aquarius' hand before removing it. Frowning, he looks at Bass. "You seem to know more even than we, Chaos' Will. Perhaps you might be an excellent one to stand against Silence and shout your rage. Or perhaps you would be the first to allow yourself to be claimed, if it promised you the end you craved." Then, he looks as the cloak arrives. "And another, and another, and another. But who did you stand with, and who should we trust?" Shaking his head as it makes it's proclamation, he frowns. "Who would you serve, in your warnings? Who do you place above yourself?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "...Aaw, is somethin' else goin' bad over there?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pisces transmits, "Form LImits much. Defy the form and ascend to yourself." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Hello Pisces. FeeLIng better?" Metal Man looks at the new arrival his Green eyes bLInking. "Another Stardroid... greetings." Well this bach of Stardroids seems to be more torable than the orginal planet themed ones. Then he titls his head sLIghtly. "Yes Death does come for us all eventually..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Barrage Raptor transmits, "Defy the form? What's that supposed to mean?" Oh boy, is Aquarius wrong about that, by bLInding Guts Man it only makes him louder as he complains about the bright bLInding LIght, "AAAAAAHH MY OPTICS! I CAN'T SEE! DAMN YOU STARDROIDS! DAMN YOU TO HELL!!!" He stumbles across the room bLIndly tripping over a laboratory table breaking equipment in the process. Ooops. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "The only thing I want to 'ascend' right now is the headache from being called Venus again." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "It means that we should not beLIeve ourselves bound to form." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "Are you aware that there are two seperate entities both calLIng themselves Aquarius? Is that normal?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pisces transmits, "One could be nothing. Nothing could be one. But not until the Male becomes Female and the Female Male shall you enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, says your own books." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "The weirdness meter just spiked." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "I somehow suddenly feel much less incLIned to save your LIfe." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "Ahh, so they're here, they're talking, and they're reLIgionists, too. Something's unsurprising about that, but I can't put my finger on it." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Pisces, can the Stardroids travel through time as well?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "...And he's heard about ELIse's LIttle problem, too, it seems..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pisces transmits, "You assume that Time is something that is passed through." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Regulus transmits, "Time? The Future is lost, the past is dead...." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "For us, it is." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "ELIse is insane." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "You sound LIke Flash Man..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Well, he's right. I can never find the future, it just keeps showing up, and have any of /you/ changed the past lately?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pisces transmits, "Refuse and Resist the Soren Grey. Embrace the flames and pass through. When winter comes and Shadows LIe, at darkest time even Death may Die." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "The Future is never lost. Tommorow becomes Today, and then becomes Yesterday. There is always a Tomorrow if you allow yourself to beLIeve in it." Well. This isn't very good at all. The Force Commander smirks at Pisces -- hey, it's not Bass' fault he can digest rambLIng into common sense, it's a survival skill for being a Robot Master -- and then comes on his guard as another Stardroid seems to appear. Being up on his classical mythology, he assumes no good will come of this Stardroid. Cussing and complaining over the radio, Bass still knows how to get down to business quickly. The Buster comes to the fore again, the *ploomf* of his arm shifting to the cannon famiLIar to all. He lets it start taking a charge, though he doesn't fire. No, not yet; but he isn't going to take any chances. "That's it," mutters Bass, "I am *never* doing another party tray with a Cosmic GodLIke Beings theme unless I make one for *all* of our bases." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Oh god my head hurts." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Regulus transmits, "The Future is lost. It comes, and all is lost..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Barrage Raptor transmits, "Of course it's lost. As soon as it comes, it goes a second later and becomes the past." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits the sound of a book dropping. An actual book. "What's a Soren, anyone know?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Yeah, well, we're stubborn bastiches and we don't give up that easy. Either talk straight or go nay-say elsewhere." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Or the Future comes, and brings hope for the betterment of the Present. We can" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy chirps, brightly: "Peachy! They're fataLIsts, too!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Can't give up." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Everyone's a fataLIst eventually." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Bass transmits, "Yes, I agree. This is very H.P. Lovecraft." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "I caught the similar reference myself, Bass." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "WHO is coming....WHAT is it that's coming....besides Ether's wrath! EEP!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Bass transmits, "Oh, you don't know. But you will." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Hastur, Hastur, Hastur, Hastur... Nope, no end of the world yet." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "Shh, Dr. Matthews!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "I think it's just three times, but I could be wrong." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man says crypticly "The Void..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "You overshot. Try again." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "That is what is comming." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "This is why I suggest we pull the answers from their neural nets instead of actually asking them." Aquarius visibly winces at the excessive noise from Guts, her frills sLIcking down tight to her body. " . . moron." She finally mutters, a blunt statement of opinion, wonder of wonders! A GLance beyond Pisces, and she adds, "Greetings, Regulus . . it is good to see you aLIve." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Barrage Raptor transmits, "Not if we can stop it.." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "But still, the future is never lost until we lose our hope in it." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Nonsense. Death is not the answer to this situation." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "The future is lost once it becomes the present we don't want." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "Whoever suggested yanking the information from their neural nets, I concur. It would be easier than LIstening to /this/." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "We can act in the present to change the future." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "What if they don't know either?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Bass transmits, "You want the information?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Bass transmits, "You want it?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "You know... Why should we even care about these stardroids? I mean hell, they tried to kill us all before. And we beat the best they had to offer. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if these damned Stardroids didn't come back to earth in the hope that -we'd- take care of their LIttle problem for them." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Please don't say 'come and get it' or 'you can't handle it', that's so cLIche." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "No. I can't handle the information. But I LIke direct solutions." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "But otherwise, yes." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "I already suggested that, whoever offered apathy. I got things thrown at me, so I learned that people don't want answers LIke that. Everything's a learning experience." Metal Man sends a radio transmission to Aquarius. Aquarius receives a radio transmission from Metal Man. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "What I /want/ is a solution to the enemy that will undoubtedly plague us as it did the Stardroids." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "We should care. The judgement is over. They are in need as well. We must work together as we have before." Dr. Wily eyes the newcomer with a bit of fear in his eyes. He relaxes only sLIghtly as Pisces addresses the newcomer. Taking a few steps back, Wily makes sure that the Masters are closer to the black figure than he. Yes, Wily is that self-serving. Hey, the RMs can be rebuilt. Wily can't. "Well, it seems to me we have more than one side represented here." An irritated GLance follows Guts as the Master smashes a table. Fortunately, it wasn't anything /terribly/ important. Then Aquarius puts a name to the figure. "Regulus..." Wily murmrs the name, fiLIng it away, then queries the Stardroids. "So, you're strugGLIng to fight off Darkness, the Void. And we accidentally called you back here. What, then, is going to happen to our world?" His voice grows harder. "I will not allow this planet to fall. I refuse when you tried to judge us, and I refuse it now. Tell us how we can fight this." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Bass transmits, "Here's the abstract: we f**ked. Here's the executive summary: we *SO* f**ked, because the Elder Gods are coming to eat us. My solution? I suggest we all start rioting, setting things on fire and kilLIng each other. It'll be faster than being digested." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Bass transmits, "Who's with me?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Hardly." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Barrage Raptor transmits, "C'mon. We beat up the Stardroids once. What makes you all think we couldn't beat up this new thing?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Bass transmits, "None of you are *any* fun." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "Because it /also/ beat the Stardroids." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "So did we." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "We cannot allow this to happen. Every man, woman, Reploid, Android, and Bioroid here should have a vested interest in keeping this planet intact." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "We beat them one at a time. With help from a Stardroid. This one beat all of them. Together." Regulus settles to the deckplating, and seems to almost... deflate. The robe takes on a definite shape, and the cowl is LIfted back to reveal a face that is not Robot, but nor is it human - the face of a birdLIke aLIen GLances about the gathered Stardroids and Robots and the sole human. A voice issues from a silver device set into his throat, cold and mechanical. "Aquarius. Pisces." The aLIen gaze locks on Wily as the Doctor speaks. "Called us back? You withstood the Judgement. Perhaps..." He shakes his head and lowers it. "No. My Brother has... the Devourer... Beware the crumbLIng of Order and Chaos!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pisces transmits, "Arrogance as a shield for ignorane. A fascinating defense. But will illusions shield from nothing?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy chortles softly in the background. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "Barrage, you idiot. The forces of this planet can't even kill me, what makes you think they can stop something that took on all the Stardroids sinGLe handedly?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "That depends on whether you mean a philosophical statement of nothing, or an actual thing that is Nothing." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Hi Dr. Wily." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "KilLIng each other will NOT solve the issue." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "I'm GLad you're aLIve." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Barrage Raptor transmits, "Well, damn. I know that voice. Hi doctor," [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "KilLIng all the stardroids might. Since all they do is babble and attract Stardroid killers." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "Thank you Alpha. Things were a bit interesting for a while, what with Pavel's LIttle nuclear winter." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Is Dr. Cossack still the AntiChrist?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Oh. You're aLIve. ... I suppose that's good. No, Alpha, he's not the antichrist." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "Ahh, I'm admittedly GLad to know you haven't kicked it, doctor." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "But he said he was." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "He's dillusional." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "You'll have to talk to Pharoah Man about that. As soon as we rebuild his body..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "The comos would be a much better place if the stardroids didn't exist." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "With the Stardroids at our side, we might just be able to win." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Who says they're wilLIng to help?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "Who cares about the cosmos. I care about Earth, because it happens to be where I LIve." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Because we're all that's standing between them and obLIvion?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Don't be rude. *a small pause* Oh, I will then, Doctor." Metal Man says, "I agree with what Father says. I stood with everyone that day to fight for the very right to keep existing. We shall fight this thing whatever it is and we shall -win-." Well prehaps the ego has some uses after all? He looks to Regulus "So it has a name humm? Just who is your brother Regulus? We are only firmiLIar with the Stardroids who landed on Earth the last time you where here." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "Yes. Kinda. I mean none of us will use Nuclear Winter. *pause* Although... the very idea of planting such a bomb at the UN sounds awfully nice. *smile!*" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Ah! I've figured it out. They're going to send more black holes at us until we get sucked in and crushed into very small things. Grand." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "...Who ever said they don't /want/ obLIvion in the first place?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "you're -assuming- whatever it is thats after the stardroids will attack us too. We don't know that for certain." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "*chuckles* I'll have to ask him about it afterwards, Alpha. *more chuckLIng* Now Clown, I think you've had enough fun with the UN people for a while...." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "You're assuming the Stardroids act rationally. Judging by their speech and how they run around the universe judging planets, I am incLIned to beLIeve otherwise." Guts Man slowly gets his view back and there's a third dork in the room, "God. CalLIng for back up LIttle woman? Can't bLInd me permanantly on your own? Ha your so called Stadroid powers are pitiful! I pity the foo who can't do things on their own! Especially weak women! Maybe I should squish you LIke I squished that gay LIbrarachi Stardroid. Hehehehe. LIbrarachi was such an easy pushover. One good super arm and I sent'em with his tail between his legs." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Their tears, Abernathy, maybe." Pisces nods to Regulus, seeming to understand. "So...was -he- who betrayed? For what it is worth...I am sorry." SLIding the Ditz-bubble to the floor, it rolls on the ground LIke a hamster ball, but doesn't break, at least for now. "Your fury is pride, Doctor, and your rage might just fuel flames of vengance and might. But will it be enough to break free? Will it be a pyre to free yourselves, or merely the embers of your graves? I cannot see..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "We're assuming it because if we beLIeve otherwise we'll be rather ill-prepared should it happen." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man pouts! "Aw, Dad...!" Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Morgaine. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "... I can't presume to know the mind of a Stardroid, that's true, Alpha. -- By the way. Do you have that book yet?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "You're giving my daughter books? ... What books pray tell?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "You have a daughter?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "I hope it's a book on book burning." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "No Rigger, I'm giving him one." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "The Pendant holders might have a clue as to what.." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Oh! I have one of those, Guts Man. Do you want it?" Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission to Morgaine. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Ether Skunk transmits, "Rigger has a daughter?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "Send it to Fire Man." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Okay." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "If I had a clue I wouldn't be on here yammering with everyone else, Metal. And alright Alpha." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Or perhaps this is simply the stardroids trying to get even. Think about it, they draw something so powerful they can't even stop it to earth. They know they're toast and they know we're a bunch of suckers for hard luck cases. We help them, this thing decides we're enemies for help -its- enemy, now it turns on us, when it would have left us alone had we just let it go about its buisness." Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission. Sword Man sighs... "This has become all too confusing for me..." He tries to find a possible seat within the lab to sit down in deciding to take a more spectating approach to the conversation. Aquarius hisses at Guts, curLIng a bit closer around Pisces. Her frills stiffen, sticking out entirely . . only conscious will keeps the ones pressed against her felow stardroids from going sharp LIke the rest. "I must give my sympathies, Regulus . . it is not an thing any should deal with." Ditz Pinkmouse suddenly stops looking at the pin and stares. At a giant frickin bird. "BIRD! HELP!" The rodent starts running around in circles inside of Pisces' chest-bubble, flapping his arms and screaming. "HELP! HELP! BIRD!" Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "...For once, I agree with Conduit." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Pac Pac Koosh is nice. He wouldn't harm a cactus." Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Morgaine. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pisces transmits, "....you called us here. We attempted to scatter, and spare Form our Fate and Function. You called us in. Never forget that you brought yourselves to the doors of Entropy." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "And how'd we do that, mister?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "If we called you it wasn't in any manner we were aware of." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "Your ship brought you here, you fool." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Entropy..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "We were trying to keep the blasted station from crashing.." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "Maybe if you didn't want to come here, you shouldn't have left a giant button marked "Return to Sender" in your hangar that could be pushed on accident." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "...Oh god...It's the pendents... wasn't it? WASN'T IT?!" Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission to Morgaine. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy snickers. "Ahh, yes. By our own ignorance, we again are damned." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "I thought for LIfe to exist the amount of entropy must increase and through various LIfe functions the amount of entropy in the universe increases with each reaction...." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pisces transmits, "According to your own reports, our escapes in the ship and the pods were returned to the Haven by your own scientists as they altered what should not have been tampered." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Whatever you people did in there, you called them back." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Regulus transmits, "Speak for yourself. They are hope. Defiance of judgement. Perhaps... there is hope. But much is lost!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Entropy goes everywhere. ds $$$ dq/t. Pretty standard. I wrote it down when I came across it. WHat's it got to do with sending a message?" Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Morgaine. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "No, /Starhaven/ is what should not have happened. Why did you send it here anyways?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Much is indeed lost. But we will move on." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pisces transmits, "The Moment is the Medium is the Movement is the Message. I am the Walrus, Goo Goo Gatchoo." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha gigGLes. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Clever." Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission to Morgaine. Regulus tilts his head on its side as he regards Guts Man with an unreadable expression. "Warnings and tidings. Fear for your home - the Judgement is terrible, but what comes is... unspeakable. Defy!" And then he touches his chest with the hand not gripping the blade, and the aura of LIght builds once again. "I sorrow for the loss of my brother, for those who were betrayed and for the betrayers. Order crumbles, and I hide once more." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "You're funny. Do you know Pac Pac?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "The Pendants were Duo's doing. I'm not going to take responsibiLIty for something LIke that. This entire place has been getting too many odd things lately. Atlantis, the dodo bird... It's all weird lately." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "And why the hell did you send Starhaven here? I'll tell you, because you -knew- we'd go to check it out. SO don't give us this crap about we called you here, you came on your own." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "Now it makes sense. They read advertisements and mindless LIterature and randomly quote them to make responses." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pisces transmits, "Pac Pac Chooie Uoounf." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "The giant crocodile." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "...I understood that. Ha." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "The first part." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "That too, yes." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "No, Pac Pac Koosh." "No fun at all," says Bass, chuckLIng, gradually lowering his Buster as Regulus appears to not be immediately hostile. He looks over this newcomer intently, allowing the cannon to ease down to his side. He lets the others question Regulus -- he's already come to the conclusion that, yes, Regulus has a brother, and that his brother is alternately dead or working for this `nothing' thing. The rest of the comments help to break down the possibiLIties -- yes, there was help from the inside. And when there's one ... "Look," says Bass, having gotten all the information that seems pertinent at the moment. "if you're going to try to make us doubt our abiLIties, fine; we've been insulted by better, so you're going to have to work a lot harder than that if you want to hurt our feeLIngs. But we all know that's not what's very productive right now, is it?" He stares at each of the Stardroids present. "If you want our help, fine. It seems to be in our best interest to help you." Bass gestures to the group of Robot Masters assembled. "We are the Robot Masters. We make things die better than anything on this planet, and we do it with more style and pinache' than any army in the history of the world. Which isn't saying a lot." At the radio chatter, he thins his eyes and points right at Pisces, tone harshening. "Don't TRY to pass off the blame for this cock-up on us, Stardroid! You brought it here FIRST when you decided to /judge/ us. You failed, and we made sure you learned your damned lesson for trying to bring your insane war to us. Then you tear each other apart, and this bigger threat -- the threat you probably SHOULD have been fighting -- breaks you. By accident, you are returned here. And once again, it is /we/, the people of Earth, who will face up to this challenge and *finish* it." He drops his hand, allowing his Buster to revert back to a normal arm. "So stop TALKING S**T to us and start HELPING, damn you! We're your last chance to keep from being consumed by whatever that Nothing you're running from *IS*." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "She means Aldebaran. They gave him... er.. it... a new name." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Y'know, if time passing is a message, you guys need a better signalLIng method." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "Miss Rigger... If I ever took stock what happens day to day... I woulda written several X-Files screenplays... enough to make SEVERAL Seasons' WORTH!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "He's nice." Guts Man nods, "Damn right, you LIsten to Bass. He knows what goes on in our hood! Yer on our turf now spacegeeks." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Is that what you faced, Stardroids? A force of pure Entropy, given form?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Regulus transmits, "You wish to know what happened? You wish to know why we cower and flee?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "I'm more concerned with the anomoLIes that continue to bring things from the distant past." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Because you guys tried to write your name in Time and it screwed up?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "If we didn't wish that we wouldn't be asking, now would we?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "You cower and flee because you got your butts kicked. I want to know why you sent your house to float around our planet." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "... Why has everyone taken to talking of Things with special Emphasis? ... Just out of curiosity." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "We'll protect you, Mister Stardroid. It is our job to protect CiviLIans." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "I know why, you stardroids are nothing but GLorified bulLIes. The second someone comes around that can stand up to you, you run away." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Conduit, death is not something to be mocked." Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission. Sword Man nods in agreeance, a rare occurance when it comes to Bass (yeah, he obeys him, but he doesn't always AGREE with him). "Indeed. If our help is necessary, then attempting to antagonize us will NOT entice us further into assisting you against this 'void.'" Metal Man ponders the horror of any of Beta squad turning on Wily but he keeps quiet on this "Got that right we will Defy this LIke we did Duo's own judgement agaisnt us." Sure he is a putz but he Will and Ego will never be broken. He just can't back down prehaps the Stardroids will rid them of Ditz once and for all as well. For once Metal Man fully agrees with the dark one's words and says, "The Force Commander is fully correct." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "Sure it is. The day we cease to laugh at death is the day we die." Pisces puts an arm around Aquarius gently, trying to ease her, and closing his eyes for a moment at Regulus' words. Then he simply stares at Bass. "I place no blame. I merely answer accusations with facts. Nor did I have the role of Judgement, or the Role of War. I am/was/will be the inspiration, the searcher, and the recorder. We have attempted to tell you what we know, or can. You merely cease to LIsten." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "But mocking others for trying to escape death?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "So you're safe, Regulus, don't worry. I think that's what it said....hm..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "You know there are those among your own organization that would call them cowards." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pisces transmits, "Full of Sound and Fury." Dr. Wily lets Bass finish his tirade, then launches right into one of his own, raising his cane and jabbing Pisces in the chest with it for emphasis. "Damned right! I'm tired of you talking in riddles. Give us somethign to work with, something concrete." He shakes his head in irritation. "You've no excuse for bringing your confLIct to our world in the first place. If I thought it would do any good, I'd tell you to leave and never show your face again." A sigh. "But Bass is right. Our only hope is to help you fight this thing, as you /obviously/ can't do it on your own." He shakes the cane at the Stardroids, then focuses on Regulus. "Now, since you've offered just about the most useful information out of any of your fellows...Whats the name of your brother?" As Pisces speaks, Wily jabs him with the cane once more. "Cease to LIsten? You merely speak in vague terms and purposely misleading ways. Why, I don't know, but its no help to us." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "Me? I don't care. The basic instinct of an organism is survival." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "A meaninGLess noise, signifying nothing?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Yeah, so we talk a lot. Doesn't everyone?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Oh please, this thing isn't 'death' in the mythical sense. What I'm saying is these guys picked on the wrong aLIen race, the aLIens got pissed and decided to wipe them out so they sent whatever that thing is to take 'em out. Now they're running LIke a bunch of bulLIes running away from someone they found could actually fight back." Aquarius lets her frills droop back to their norm. . . absently batting the ditz-ball away from herself when he wanders near. "I don't /know/ anything of it." She finally puts in, half-closing her eyes under Bass and Wily's vehemence. "I am only the messenger, the herald. And my message has been spoken in this place... So now I depart once again." The GLowing nimbus grows brighter and brighter, a piercing whine starting to come from under the robe. "My Brother shares the heart of the LIon with I." And then the whine becomes a shriek as the technology beneath the robe hurls the Stardroid to a new location. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "There's a significant difference between 'getting your aft kicked' and 'bisected'." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Nah. It's the next step really." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "I concur with the bovine." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Think of it as captial punishment. These Stardroids have the blood who knows how many innocent victims on their hands." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Innocent to whom?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy muses softly, "They have so much invested in these trappings of mysticism they've built up around themselves -- and you're surprised that they continue to to use such terms as 'entropy' and 'abyss' for their own killers? Mm." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Y'know what? Everyone talks too much lately." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pisces transmits, "We have the blood of worlds. You have the blood of Brothers. Who is the worse murderer?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "So?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Everyone talks too much all the time. Everyone's just LIstening now." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "At least we keep it in the family." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Depends on how many organisms equal one brother. Scientific research will have to be made - Oh, wait, you wiped out famiLIes that had brothers? Guess it's you then." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Death is death." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pisces transmits, "So does the Ourouborous." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Are any of us truly innocent?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "No. But sssome of usss pretend more than othersss." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "...Who cares?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "The better question is: How many of us are self-decieved about it?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Regulus transmits, "Watch the fall of your home in fire and chaos, and fail to save it. Born of Order, lost and failed judgement. ObLIteration..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "Yours, stardroid. No one has the -right- to pass judgement on another race. What happened to you as my Brother Crystal Man might have once said is Karma backlash." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "This reminds me of an old saying. 'Judge not, lest ye be judged yourselves.' The Stardroids judged, and have been judged in turn. Who are we to judge them now?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pisces transmits, "The Victors." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "The Judged." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Do we really wish to place ourselves in that position AGAIN?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "I don't randomly try pass judgement on those weaker than me, demeaning them 'unfit' to continue to exist. Don't even try to compare your self to me, you're cold blooded killer who senselessly slaughters anyone who doesn't coform to your views." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "If we won, then we're done. Go home. We don't want to talk to you." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "Have we been left with the choice?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "I wish they'd all pack up and go home." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "Excuse me while I take parsimony out back and shoot it." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Regulus transmits, "You mock us?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "See? We've decided. Go away. Stop bothering us. We have our own problems and we don't need yours." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "I don't mock you, I simply insult you." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "It's too late." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Their problems are now our own, apparently." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "I simply wonder, Stardroid." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "I'll jussst let you do the talking, Massster." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Why should we NOT work together?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "We're all murderers. They need our assistance and it is our job to assist civiLIans." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "The trying to kill us part comes to mind." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "I object. I'm not a murderer." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Sai transmits, "I would point out that...yes, Prismatic. It's too late to go back, so we must go FORWARD." "I am only the messenger, the herald. And my message has been spoken in this place... So now I depart once again." The GLowing nimbus grows brighter and brighter, a piercing whine starting to come from under the robe. "My Brother shares the heart of the LIon with I." And then the whine becomes a shriek as the technology beneath the robe hurls the Stardroid to a new location. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "You are so a murderer." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "We're working together with the Masters and Mavericks." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Whom try to kill us regularly." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "...Known evils, both of them." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "The stardroids are not civilains, they are our would be exacutioners." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "When you find the name of someone I killed, let me know." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "You killed Dr. Wily." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Capricorn suddenly speaks up, waiLIng across the channel. "-QUIT- -TALKIN'- -SO- -BLEEDIN'- -MUCH-! Ach, ae've got ah' haedache t'spLIt a wormhole open a'en all I can hear is blah-blah-blah THIS ah'n blah-blah-blah THAT buzzin o'er ma ears!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "... Uh oh." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "Regulus....is Aldbebaran allowed ta have a Maverick Hunter fan club run by Alpha? She's the one that gave him his nickname." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "He's not dead, so how'd I manage that?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Now /that/ would be some interesting temporal mechanics." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Yeah, headaches suck. Which is why I'm GLad I can turn this off." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "You're a murderer. And I'll talk as bleeding much as I want. If you have a problem with that you'll have to do something about it yourself." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Capricorn says, "Jus' SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP-" The signal dies as quickly as it started. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy transmits, "I think maybe I will." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "They are civiLIans. They are not part of a miLItary organization. *long pause* Fan club? What're you talking about? *another pause* Is that you, Ether? *she asks that last bit to Capricorn*" Snake Man arrives from the Secure Dome - Skull Fortress. Snake Man has arrived. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Abernathy *cLIck* [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "...Who was that?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Good question." Ditz Pinkmouse's bubble is poked. His situation does not improve, and thus his running in circles inside the bubble continues. "I know! I'll distract it with food pellets!" Ditz yanks out some food pellets and lobs them at Regulus, only to watch them bounce off the bubble. "...Hey. Where'd it go?" Ditz stops running so suddenly he falls over on his side, looking a bit confused. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "its Just business Prismatic Spider...." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "Probably someone that works in a LIbrary." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Sai transmits, "...VERY good question." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Besides, as far as I know, they haven't even -asked- us for help yet. They just barged into our home, most LIkely hoping to use us as LIving shields." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Big Bad Sword Man transmits, "Where is this bickering getting us? NOWHERE. We are at each other's throats while Darkness threatens to fall upon us all. If we are to do ANYTHING about what the heralding Stardroids have thrust upon us, do you not beLIeve that mayhaps, we shouldst be attempting to do more than lob petty insults at one another AND at the Stardroids?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "They did ask us for help! Ether and I helped Pac Pac Koosh!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Not quite. I offered help and he accepted." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Ether Skunk transmits, "Pac-Man-with-legs!" Bass lets Wily get in some interrogation after his tirade, LIstening to Regulus' non-reply. He'll have to ask Crystal Man what that means later. As the seconds pass, he begins to calm despite his firebrand nature -- his intellect /does/ have some reigns over his passion, even if those reigns are frayed and tenuous at best. "Well, off he goes," Bass says, trying to catch a fleeting thought. "Tch. Regardless, we're LIstening to whatever you have to offer. We've become rather attached to LIving, so it's a good idea to lend a hand, isn't it?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "He asked for gravitational..um...altercations to help with his repairs. *pause* Pac." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Indeed, Sword Man. We need to stop this bickering and work together with the Stardroids. Then we might be able to discover a way to stop it." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit audibly facepalms, "Why must our world be filled with airheads?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "To piss you off?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "I don't know, but I'm getting the urge to deflate some." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "... you, you might just be right Guts Man." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Sai transmits, "Because the airheads sometimes come up with a good idea. I'm with Prismatic." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha says, irritably, "Because nobody shot you yet." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Why do people have to be paranoid?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "Because people keep trying to kill us." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Because sometimes the whole world, and even people outside it, really is out to get you." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Ether Skunk transmits, "Alpha and I fed him gravity." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Bass transmits, "Was it salty?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Yep, that's right. *pause* I don't know, you'll have to ask Pac." Dr. Wily sighs as Regulus departs. Without giving a satisfactory answer. "You know whats nice about programming people to be loyal to you?" This query to nobody in particular, as is the answer. "You always get answers when you want them." Shaking his head in irritation, he resumes his seat, and works his hands agitatedly. "So, lets review. We have some type of incident on Starhaven, you all running, our scientists calLIng you back, Darkness coming to claim us all, and Regulus' brother at least as "He Who Betrayed". And not a clue as to what to do about all of this." He taps his foot and peers at Pisces. "You aren't being a team player here, you know that..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Look. A significant number of the Stardroids are DEAD. Starhaven is SCRAP. We saw how something dispatched them in the info we retrieved from the station. And that thing is coming back. For them and for us all. They have nowhere to go. Nowhere left to run. No place to go back to. Do they have a CHOICE?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Big Bad Sword Man transmits, "Sir, whoever thee are, we presently have no choice. Should they have come out of genuine fear, or to see us fall at the hands at what they wished not to fight personally, it has chosen our world to descend upon. We fight, or we die. Those choices have been laid out for us. Whether or not the Stardroids sentiments are questionable, we must resist, if only for our own protection. If you think this daft, perhaps, but I would rather be daft and courageous than a sane coward." Regulus goes home. Regulus has left. Metal Man looks to his father and shrugs saying, "You are my maker I'd be loyal with out programming to do so." That just ain't the wily code talking either. "So we are still pretty much in the dark here..." Sword Man sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose, falLIng back into his seat. "Confusion begets confusion, begets failure. The less we understand, the more possible it is we fall. If we must help, then we must have understanding, lest we run mindlessly LIke decapitated poultry." Peering toward Wily, he lowers his head a bit. "I follow thee until eternity, M'Lord." Snake Man wanders in through the doorway, after taking a quick peek inside to see that everything's alright. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man voice turns cold, "I think you've all forgotten that two years ago. JUdgement has been pass by those who are 'protecting'. And we had to fight every step of the way to defy it while they laugh saying that it is impossible. and we achieved the impossible. And now, they want us to protect them? FORGET IT. I rather watch the Stardroids go from Endangered Species to EXTINCT Species... just LIke what they tried to do to us. Aquarius looks around at all of this . . and with a shake of her head, abruptly disappears, that bLInding flash making an appearance once again. "I have no more information to give." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "And that is the reason why we still fight our stupid wars." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Finally, a voice of reason." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Oh, I didn't forget, I wasn't around so I never knew...So I don't really care much. Besides, they just wanted to destroy the planet. There are worse things." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Makes sense to me. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some things to LIght on fire." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "The ones who tried to destroy our planet are gone." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Big Bad Sword Man transmits, "Sir Clown...what options have we been left with. They have been called back by hands of our own making. THey have been recalled, bringing tidings unavoidable. What choice is left but to resist what threatens us on a whole, lest we all be swallowed into this Nothingness which threatens?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "One could suppose it's simply a lack of empathy. Which even these would be Gods seem to lack." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "No they're not. They were -all- there. We only saw a few of them." Pisces shakes his head sadly. "We attempted to fight, and failed. Perhaps there might be hope for you, who could defeat our Greatest. But when it was our Greatest who once held all in balance, who can say?" Then, wings GLowing with blue LIght, he also ripples away, fLIckerings of blue energy marking his departure. Ditz Pinkmouse GLances around a bit more before standing up. Ooooh, say, the bird is gone! Yay! Ditz starts to run around along the floor, but alot more relaxed this time. Which means he is singing. Loudly and off-key. While bumping into Aquarius' foot many times, as he tries to inspect Bass' GF. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "And you assume that they were all in agreement on their courses of action?" Guts Man says, "That's not surprising, it's not LIke you had anything useful to begin with. Crawl back under your asteroid of ignorance and Stardroid bLIss." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "Ya, it might just want to kill the Stardroids and they are trying to play us for saps to save their sorry tails." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "And what, precisely, would keep it from kilLIng us next? That's a chance we have to take." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Even if they disagreed with it, they still went along with it. They could have stood up to Duo themselves, told him what he was doing was wrong and refuses to help. But no, only one Stardroid had the courage to do that, and sadly he is gone." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "The fact that we possibly just gave it a hand?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Bah, no it. He or she. Pick one, people, 'it' sounds so boring." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "KilLIng /it/ first?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "It took the greatest hero we had to beat Duo, I don't think they could've stood up to him." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "May Terra rest in peace..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "It took everyone on the planet working together." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aldebaran transmits, "Mph... mph... *fzzzzzzt*" Breaking up. A bit more may be barely audible, but then, silence. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Pac Pac!" And off they all go. Bass watches the various Stardroids vanish, and does nothing to stop or slow their departure. As if anything he could do would have much of an impact -- they are, after all, Stardroids. He folds his arms, considering everything he's had to process tonight carefully. Bass lowers his head, closing his eyes to think. He stands there LIke that for several moments; either the calm before the storm or something entirely other... [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "It took a random fool we've never seen before just happen to get in the final blow. Anyone could have finished off Duo at that point." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "OOC Mock not Hero Boy!" Ditz Pinkmouse rolls around where Aqurius left. Tricky woman. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Pac Pac, are you okay?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "Hey anyone have some milk ta wash down these donuts?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "Bitter?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Ugh, Alpha, the stardroids are way more pwoerful than we are. We defeated them because we worked together, had they worked together, they could have stopped Duo far more easily." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Ether Skunk transmits, "It's Pac-Man-with-legs!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "Ask the cow." Snake Man is a LIttle intimidated by the Stardroids, but his attention is caught by the quick motion of Ditz's scampering around. As soon as they vanish, he drops to all fours and begins to stalk forwards. He does have orders to eat him, after all... [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "Swordy, I know you're honor bound to protect them... and maybe the ones that did the Judgement are dead... but what will prevent 'Stardroids: The Next Generation' from coming back after WE save their worthless LIves 5 to 15 years down the road... to come back and DECLARE Judgement all over again? HUH?!" Dr. Wily watches Aquarius and then Pisces bLInk out, leaving only cryptic messages in their wake. His mouth works soundlessly for a moment, and then he finally blurts out. "SON OF A BITCH!" For several moments, the Doctor shakes with anger then sags back in his chair. "Those damned Stardroids." Turning to the computer, he pulls up data recorded during the LItle encounter. "Hmmm...a decent scan of Pisces. Aquarius totally defied scanners, not suprising given her obvisouly crystalLIne nature." A pause as he eyes the last bit of data. "The last one...Regulus was...organic. Scanners don't recognize his DNA, but he was definitely organic." A GLance to Bass, and Wily verbally prods the Master. "So....his brother, the other who supposed shares the Heart of the LIon, whatever that may be, is organic as well. Interesting...." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Clown Man has a point." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Don't ask the cow, she's busy making desserts." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "I LIke desserts!" Guts Man nods, "Yeah, she was a real bitch. Women are only good at two thing, cooking and making babies. And I doubt she could do either apart from giving us LIttle to no information." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "We'd have to take that chance down the road. Why did er fail our judgement in the first place?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Pac Pac will protect us." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "HE IS NOT PAC PAC!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "Its Aldekooshman!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "If the stardroids areto be saved... Would it not seem prudent to declare judgement on them?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "I know, Pac Pac is short for Pac Pac Koosh. Calm down." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aldebaran makes a muffled sound that sounds almost LIke he's trying to say something. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "... Is he gagged?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Pac Pac. Two grunts for 'Yes', one for 'No'. Are you okay, Pac Pac?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aldebaran does not respond. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Big Bad Sword Man transmits, "We have defeated their greatest. They have outright claimed that. If they attempt to lay judgement upon us again, they will know our abiLIty to resist. What reason would they have to pass judgement on us if they were unsuccessful the first time, even with their strongest? They have made contact with us. That may be enough to provoke this "nothing" into laying waste to us. We either lay down LIke wounded beasts of burden, buckLIng under the weight laid upon us, or we bear it until it can be LIfted." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "ETA to Eurasia 15 hours..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Maybe you ought to try calLIng him Aldebaran, his name." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "... Stardroids, do you know where your comrade is?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha Says, stubbornly, "Pac Pac.", a pause, "Aldebaran?", just to be safe. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "I eat Stardroids for breakfast. Stardroids the other metalLIc meat!" Sword Man simply sits back into his chair, pondering to himself, while looking over the assorted Masters. He remains rather calm in person, a stark contrast to his empassioned nature over the Broadband channel. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aldebaran does not respond. At least he's not too insulted being called 'Pac Pac'. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "I think Pac Pac's in trouble!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "BLInd assumptions will get you killed." Clown Man GLances up as the Stardroids leave. His eyes narrows and any sign of a smile fades away. "That's right. Leave. And I hope whoever you're running from... eats you... ALL of you up... As to avoid some 'Judgement' on this... or any other planet you decide to be goddamn JUDGE, JURY, AND EXCUTIONER OF!!! F**k off, you F**king @$$holes! I ain't going to be jumping in front of some deadly ray cannon because you say so! S**theads," Clown grumbles... Ditz Pinkmouse scurries around happily inside his hamster wheel-esque bubble. It actually seems he's forgotten he's inside of it by now, as he wanders over to Wily. Suddenly, his eyes widen. "DADDOO! You're a ghost!" He rushes over to hug Wily, only to bounce off of him, thanks to the restricting bubble. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "We're all working bLInd." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "give me a break, 'Pac Pac' will just laugh at you as he watches writhe in pain as you lay dying at his feet. These Stardroids are serial killers of the worst sort. They have dilLIsions of granduar and a superioty complex that would give even the best psychitrist a migrain to try and solve. They aren't worth saving as far as I'm concerned. And untill we know that what ever is after them will turn on us as well, I'm not helping to try and stop it." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "And that may be too late." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "He will not! Pac Pac's not LIke that. If he was LIke that, he wouldn't have been so careful and nice to the cactus." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "....cactus?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "And we should trust your delusions of omnipotent comprehension?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Should we trust in your delusions of omnipotent paranoia?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "No. But simply because I haven't expressed any opinions to that effect." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha doesn't reply to Kaph, because she's mean! "Yes, Doctor. I gave Pac a cactus and I asked him to take care of it, and he did. He was even worried for its safety and wouldn't take it with him but he was alone so I thought he'd need the company so I told him to take it with him. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "Conduit's right. Let the almighty powerful 'We know what's best for you so we're to pass judgement on all of you' Stardroids clean their own dirty laundry!" Bass stands still for a while, eyes closed, lost in thought. He strings together all the information, structuring it together methodically. He builds a scenerio up, puts the players on the board ... but still, something evades him. Something ... A chuckle eminates from Bass' chest, a smirk slowly crossing his face. It is Clown Man of all people who brings everything back into focus. He LIfts his head, pupils blazing crimson, and he laughs. "Of course!" he says. "How could I have been so bLInd!?" He walks back over to Wily, putting his hands on his shoulders, and leaning in close to him. He speaks in a harsh stage whisper. "How could I have not *seen* it all along, old man!? Right in front of me, and I did not see it!" He lets Wily go, striding to the middle of the room, looking over the others. "This situation is a zero-sum game! The enemy must be destroyed, and then we must purge the remains of our Stardroid `alLIes'! We shall become *their* Judgement, as they have failed their Trial! Again, we will succeed! Again, we will prove to the universe that we are *worthy* of existence! We will not be slaves to anyone, anywhere!" He clenches his fist, a crazed gaze falLIng on Clown Man. "We ... *we* are the Reservoir Dogs! Do you see it, Clown Man?!" He looks across Metal Man and Sword Man. "Do you see it, Metal Man, Sword Man?!" He looks to the heavens above, fists clenched into tight balls. "We will *END* this, not for ten years, not for a hundred years, but FOREVER!" And then he looks to Wily, his creator -- that which made this Mad Thing that stands and yells at God. His face is twisted into a hungering smile that goes too far into his spirit. "Do you see it now, Old Man? Do you SEE IT!?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "He probably ate the cactus." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "How thoughtful." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "How many legs can a spider lose before it's crippled?" Pisces goes home. Pisces has left. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "He would have eaten it when I first put it on his head, then, Shield." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Thank you, Doctor." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "He did it to trick you into helping him." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "If you insist on seeing maLIcious intent behind every action, you will indeed see plots where there are LIkely none." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "How would he have known I could helped him?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "Now that he's healed and safely back at home, the cactus is as good as dead." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Oh give me a break. I'm not the one who's paranoid here. You all are. You're the ones jumping to the wild conclusions that this thing is after us to. -Your- paranoi may very well doom us by making an enemy out of something better left alone." Aquarius has left. Metal Man says darkly, "Prehaps but I suspect that the blood of many has finally got the justice they have been screaming for. Who knows for how many eons and races where just slaughtered. he thinks for a moment and brushes a stray strand of synth hair out of his face. "I see it, we will end this madness once and for all." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Ether?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Better the Stardroid you know than the being you don't." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Ether Skunk transmits, "What..?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "One way or another, death is in the air..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Do you want to help look for Pac-Man-With-Legs?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "I mean think about it. Have any of you tried contact this thing? Whatever happened to trying to get both ends of the story hmm?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Ether Skunk transmits, "No, my tail is chewed up!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "We can ask it when it gets here. In the meantime, we prepare." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "I'm srory..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "I'll help you look, dear." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat snickers [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "I'm sure he's fine, Alpha. Besides we have no way of finding him. And don't LIsten to the mean lady, Alpha." Snake Man waits until the bubble rebounds off Wily's leg, heading for where he's crouched on the floor. He bareley looks up as Bass rants not far from where he's crouching, waiting for the laws of physics to take effect... Then when the bubble rolls close enough, he darts out and encircles it with his arms... [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "My sincerest thanks for your obective endorsement" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Oh yes, good plan, less plan and mount a major offensive against this thing, -then- once its -already- LIned up in our crosshairs, take the time to ask it for its side of the story. Umm -EXCUSE- me, but that sounds really stupid." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "So do you" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Oh, okay, so we just sit here on our afts until it's here and slaughtering us, then ask it it's side of the story, then find out it DOES want to kill us all? That sounds pretty stupid too." Dr. Wily looks around as the various Masters react, particularly Clown man. Ditz, well...Ditz gets an extremely odd look as the LIttle mouse bounces off of Wily.5r "Yes, yes, Bass. I see it. There is a problem with zero-sum games." He starts to continue, the breaks off as bass continues his rant. Wily's eyes narrow as Bass gardaully winds down, ending with his shouting at Wily. "Of course I see it Bass. You would have to be bLInd not to. Or hard headed...." As Wily says this last bit, the cane comes up and around in a quick arc, catching Bass right in the head. "Now then...calm down. Theres no need being excitable now." The Doctor moves back to his chair, and has a seat then eyes the ELIt speculatively. "If we are to become the instruments of their judgement, then how do we know that someone else won't judge us sooner or later? Perhaps we can end this forever, perhaps not?" A shake of his head. "Remember Bass, a positive-sum is always deisrable to a zero-sum. Even in this situation. I'll take either, but we will figure out how to use this to our advantage." A smirk at that. Well, it would appear Wily's not above putting on an act sometimes for company. Clown Man GLances at Bass. "..." He looks for the nearest corner and runs to it. "...Um, yeah, Bass... swell..." Clown tries to offer up a smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes. He is frightened. He closes his eyes... (There is no place LIke home... There is no place LIke home... There is no place LIke home...)oo. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Sai transmits, "Best to prepare. Then, if we don't need the Big Guns, great...but if we DO, we at least HAVE them, eh?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Thank you miss. Do you want to help look, then, Rigger?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit sighs, "I knew these bleeding heart types would be the end of us some day. Well stardroids, looks LIke you'll get to have the last laugh after all." Ditz Pinkmouse finds himself suddenly both restrained and reminded of the bubble's existance. "Oh yeah the soap!" he says, turning around to peer at Snake Man. "Hi LIz!" The rodent waves to the reptile, then points over his shoulder to Wily. "Look! Daddoo is aLIve!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "I've got a migraine from staring at bright, bLInding LIghts, Alpha. Sorry." Guts Man has disconnected. *CLONK* Bass takes the cane to the head. He doesn't even try to dodge it; it dings the side of his helmet and makes him lower his head to his chest for a few seconds. He doesn't roar in rage. He doesn't vent any frustration on anyone nearby. He doesn't even spit out a cuss word. Instead... He chuckles ... a low, constant chuckle, the burning red dots in the center of his eyes not even seeming to register the pain. Slowly, very slowly, he raises up his head, starting to walk out. Continuing to chuckle. He doesn't seem to be completely interacting with this reaLIty at the moment. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Sai transmits, "I'm not suggesting we go in, guns blazing. I'm suggesting we have the guns ready in case they need to blaze at some point in the future. We don't KNOW what's coming...but basic strategic sense says we at least ought to be ABLE to defend ourselves, even if we don't NEED to." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "Wonderful, and where would you propose we look?" Sword Man sighs, sLIding his helmet carefully off with his hand and dropping in into subspace, feathering out his matted hair. "I shall fight for our resistance of Nothing. I...am undecided upon whether we should judge the Stardroids as well. If we manage to slay the encroaching void, then this earth we stand upon is safe. Should the Stardroids deem us worthy to remain as we are and leave us to our own devices. That would be the end of the chapter, and our existance would return to what we have been striving for in the absence of their presence. If they choose to betray us after our favor, we shall strike back and end their reign as a self-appointed jury. Should they decide to leave without further incident, what reason do we have to aggrivate them into further action against us." Sword seems rather...hesistant about this all, but he is calm. He's thought about this. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Hate festers within, growing and consuming. It bLInds reason and destroys kindness. It separates us all in an endless cycle of needless death. That is why we were Judged. And that is why we war. There are some who want the war to end, but to do that you need to start letting go of the hatred. Letting go of your prejudices and be wilLIng to trust, even a LIttle bit." Guts Man has connected. Snake Man eyes the mechanical rodent through the bubble, and gives him a predatory smile that shows far too many teeth. "Greetingsss, dinner." Then he spins the bubble around with his tail, before opening very, very wide, and making a short dive onto the bubble. Miraculously, it doesn't break, but in half a second, both it and its occupuant are gone, visible only as a lump that travels down Snake's abdomen. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Give me a break, we were 'judged' because they thought we were too weak to fight back. Everything else they say is BS." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "You think it boiled down to something so petty?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "It's okay, Rigger." [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Snake Man burps. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "I don't know, perhaps in one of Wily's places. or the Maverick Headquarters. That's where they all seem to be going." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "... You are not going there, Alpha." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Yes, the stardroids proved them selves to be exactly that petty. They're thought process consists of, 'we strong, you weak, we squish you!'. LIke I said, typical bully behavior." Ditz Pinkmouse smiles happily. "Greetings, dinner!" he repLIes to Snake, right before he gets eaten. "LIz, have you seen Bass' girlfriend? She's really pretty," the rodent's voice can be heard as he travels down the snake's stomach. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "If I knew where they were, it could be done." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Or is that all you let yourself see?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Well...I guess I'll just ask Wily first, since he's nicer than Sigma, I think. And he dates mom." Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "Well I'll be Snake Finally Ate Ditz." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "Whatever you need to do, honey." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man burps. Dr. Wily eyes Bass oddly as the ELIte doesn't react as expected to the cane whack. Add to that a few minor things such as the eery chuckLIng, maniacal look in the Force Commander's eyes, and the lack of general comment as Bass moves for the door and you have one very concerned Wily indeed. "And just where are you going now, Bass?" he rises from his chair and takes a few steps after the ELIte. "Bass...." Wily appears to actual care whether or not Bass leaves the room right now Be it concern for the ELIte, or just a petty need to control everything around him, Wily isn't letting Finhead go without some explanation. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Thanks" Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission to Alpha. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "Well Snake how does it feel to have finally ate Ditz?" Clown Man opens his eyes and stares at Bass. O_O; He then slowly looks at Wily. "...Dad? PLEASE tell me you have a padded room that is Bass-proof?" He asks, as he looks at Bass. And you know it has to be REALLY bad to the Master of Insanity to question someone else's sanity. (Oh god. I'm so frigging scared now...)oo. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "gah, I have a headache. You've let those stardroids brain wash you untill beLIeving they really are gods. They are not omnipetent beings with such a vast knowledge as to beable to deem us unfit to continue to exist. They're not even any smarter than we are, they're just stronger." Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission. Ditz Pinkmouse has disconnected. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Alpha. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man sounds distracted, "...And, um, stronger doesn't, um, always mean better, um, you know..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "Sssatisssfying, but tassstelesss, unfortunately. I couldn't tassste a thing." Metal Man just watches with a cold silence as Bass leaves but his eyes tell a totally different story its a mix of fear and aprehencion of what Bass will do. Has his second wrose fear of Bass finally loseing come ture... only time will tell. Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Brainwash? Hardly. Has your paranoia extended to me as well? I know they are not gods. But they have information. Information of the coming times. And if we want to survive, we need information. I don't think they'd be predisposed to help people who won't help them in return." Sword Man sighs and stands up, looking toward the eLIte and Wily, looking ready to do....something. His face seems stone chisled, completely unwavering at the moment. It's all he can do at the moment, knowing that Bass can and will destroy anything he chooses, and if he decides Sword to be something to destroy...well, so be it. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Another old saying, 'There is no such thing as a free lunch.'" Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Alpha. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "Unless the meal is buying." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger delayed reaction. "I do not date him!" Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "The Stardroids are no gods. Their are full of themselves and their over puffed egos." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "You're one to talk, Metal Man." Snake Man just looks... satisfied. LIke he's just completed a personal goal. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "Gee, I know sssomeone LIke that..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "You -did- at least once. *a pause* And you sounded LIke...um.....um..." Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Alpha. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily chuckles evilly. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "Who says they will help us? Or let me put it to you this way... The field mice helps the LIon kill the Hunter. The LIon EATS the field mice. The End." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "And you think we can't defend ourselves against them too?" Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "That wasn't a date!" Bass walks to the threshold of the door, stopping when Wily calls him. He doesn't turn immediately ... no. Bass does turn his gaze slowly towards Clown Man. One eye falls upon the Theta, one unbLInking eye berift of mercy, pity or quite possibly a soul. He stares at Clown Man for a long moment, a moment that seems trapped in amber, before slowly moving his gaze back around the other way, turning in an opposite direction to face Dr. Wily. That impossible smile that burns to the seeminGLy Hell-spawned core of his optics remains. "I must prepare," he says, with calm that disturbinGLy contradicts the perfect expression of near-reLIgious, entirely unholy ecstasy reflected in his expression, "for the /harvest/." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Uuurg, I think we need to have a nice long talk, young lady." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "As Guts Man might say. Not if they're superpowered mutant field mice." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Oh forget it. I give up, there are too many of you that have already decided for some idiotic reason that the stardroids are suddenly our friends and this thing is our enemy that you won't even think twice when you go guns blazing at this thing and ensure that it -will- come after us." Guts Man cackles, "Harvest the power of untapped vast amount of power from powers beyond our mere mortal power capabiLIties!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "If it makes you feel better, some of us still have working brains." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "I don't remember saying kill it as soon as it shows up." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Oh no... You -are- serious." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "Stardroids ain't our friends. I pity the foo who thinks so." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Sai transmits, "I refer you to my earLIer point." Snake Man sends a radio transmission to Dr. Wily. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Snake Man. Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission. Snake Man receives a radio transmission from Dr. Wily. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "Conduit they say keep your firends close but your enemies even closer. The Stardroids will always be our foes." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "Better we know what they are up to." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "They're up to no good. Just LIke teenagers." Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission. Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission to Alpha. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "No, that -exactly- what you are saying. You have already decided that this thing is our enemy and the poor wittle stardroids need to be protected from it." Clown Man ERKS. Bass is smiLIng. BASS IS SMILING. If he was a human, Clown woulda gone EXTREMELY pale. He just coughs and mutters something. "...If we hurry, we can hijack a shuttle and head for Mars..." O_o; [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "What were were you created in?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "What do you mean, I am serious? Of course I am." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "What year, rather?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Pac Pac isn't LIttle." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "Who says we let them LIve after this is over." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "You're going to give me the marriage talk and everything..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Big Bad Sword Man transmits, "ENOUGH!!! You have all chosen your sides of the fence. Very well then. When the fated hour comes, perhaps then we'll see who has the right to reprimand." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit audibly facepalms again, "Its a figure of speech." Metal Man says to Clown Man, "To Eurasia brother?" You say, "To Eurasia." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger sputters. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "Perhaps we should find him. LIke it or not, who knows what the Stardroids are up to better than themselves?" Metal Man says, "Dad, Sword lets go... -now-" Guts Man says, "Yer an Asia!" [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Plant Man yaaawns. "What's been going on?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "I don't see there being much of a choice. If the battle is joined, they will come or they will die as well. We will stand together, or we will be destroyed apart. Didn't you people LEARN anything from the last time?" Sword Man snorts. "I shall not run, tail tucked LIke a dog. Unless M'lord orders, I stay, and I fight." Metal Man says, "I'm more worried about bass than anything else." Snake Man stands up on all fours, arching his back LIke a cat. The bubble with Ditz inside is still plainly visible inside his stomach. He yawns, nearly wide enough to see it, then stands on his two feet again. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Oh sorry...Was it supposed to be a surprise?" Dr. Wily STARES. Just stares at Bass. And he does go pale. Never has he seen the ELIte LIke this. The smile chills Wily to the bone, and tugs at his labcoat involuntarily, then remembers himself. Straightening sLIghtly, he takes a few more steps towards Bass, and addresses him. "The Harvest? Have you gone as mad as those Stardroids? Or worse, is their cryptic speech contagious?" Sarcasm drips from Wilys words, and yet, he still faces Bass down. "Fine, go prepare for this Harvest. I'll have a word with you later." He pauses, then adds an afterthought. "Does that party tray have good cheese?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "I say we just kill the Stardroids and the thing that's kilLIng them. If badly dubbed Japanese anime has taught me anything is that even when something more powerful than you can ever imagine shows up, there's always a way to defeat it. Probably Hero Boy will save us thanks to some new power up armor he didn't know he had access to." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "you obviously didn't learn that the stardroids were the bad guys." [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Theta XO Clown Man sounds extremely calm. "Oh nothing much. Just... for your own health and sanity... avoid Bass... okay?" [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Bass chuckles softly. Metal Man sends a radio transmission. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Metal Man. Guts Man raises a hand, "I get to milk the cows!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "... I am not going to marry that--that--NO! Wily are you putting these thoughts in her head!?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "Marry who??/" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Indeed, they were in the past. But they aren't allowed to change? They aren't allowed to be different? Will you truly prejudge them before you know what they want?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "You want to fight this thing, or get all buddy buddy with the stardroids before you even have a chance to know what this thing wants. If we go making alLIes with the stardroids we will only ensure that this thing will come after us." [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Plant Man sounds . . bored. " . . Bass go off the deep end again? Or is it just standard highly-irritated Bass?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "How do you know it won't REGARDLESS?" Clown Man just stares, "..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha sounds upset, "Wily!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "No!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man sputters in shock. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "But you said you were serious about giving me 'a long talk'." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "To set you straight about what you think is going on which isn't going on and... aaugh I've got such a headache.." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "Annihilate both threats, and send them screaming into the abyss. If I have two problems and kill both of them how many are left?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Sai transmits, "...Why are you judging the ones you hate so FOR their judgment? Aren't you reducing yourself to the level of the ones you hate so much?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "It just might. The point is that -assuming- its your enemy is best way to ensure that it -will- be your enemy. Atleast give the damn thing a chance first." [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Theta XO Clown Man transmits, "More LIke 'Off the High-Diving Board' Planty." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "Putting thoughts into someone's head? Now, whyever would I do that?" [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Plant Man transmits, " . . . Oh /boy/." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "And if we don't prepare, we will NOT be in a positon to stop it if our fers prove to be true." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "Because it's safer than hoping they'll put themselves there?" Sword Man simply stands, on guard but blade still lowered. Again, the forced stoicism remains on his face. All that moves are his optics, darting back and forth between Master and maker. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Sure we will." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "There is a difference between aggressively ignoring a possible threat and being prepared and not acting - yet." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Because you're a jerk LIke that." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "... ... ..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "A jerk? Such harsh words. You must still be mad about that incident in Wilyworld." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "gah! The point keeps blowing right over your head. If this thing sees us alLIed with the stardroids it will most definently come after us. If we prepare on our own, we can join up with the stardroids later when and if it does turn on us." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "So you aren't marrying Dr. Wily?" The expression does not change on Bass' face. He looks at Wily as he speaks, seeminGLy LIke a statue, and waits for him to finish. He offers a soft laugh to Wily's final comment before turning away, continuing out the door. "I will have the party tray brought down," he says, looking over his shoulder. "It is /succulent/..." At that, he laughs again, heading out into the hallway. As he gets out into the corridor, he shouts back towards the laboratory. "Guts Man! Prepare yourself! I will require you at your full strength for the coming battle! Prepare your Alphas! We will carve out our places in the universe in /blood/!" He breaks into a protracted cackle as he steps into the LIft -- the closing of the doors mutes it somewhat, but not enough. Nowhere near enough. And then, with the *swish* of the LIft, he is gone...heading back to his Head. Apparently none of you will be the target of the LIghtning to fall. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "I thought Dr. Wily LIked guys....." Snake Man bLInks at Bass, then mutters something to himself about him calLIng the rest of us idiots. Clown Man shakes Sword. "I don't care! We have to go! I mean the only way this can get any worse is if Vile, Zero, and General snaps as well!!! And I don't want to be around when or even IF that happens!" O_O [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "No I'm not marrying him, I'm not dating him, I don't even LIke him." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "So tell me, Conduit... How will we prepare with no information about what may be our enemy? All I've heard so far is that it appears to be entropy given form. How do you fight it? We need everything we can get." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man cackles. "I sssaw the essxpression on your fassce the other day. Pure desssire." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "And do you think the Stardroids will give us that information without some assurance that we will help defend them?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "And yes I'm mad about it! I don't particularily LIke having people *touch* that part of my anatomy. If it weren't for your pet pitbulls being around I would have clocked you upside the head." Guts Man nods to Bass, "I'm pretty much at full strength as it is. As for the other Alphas, I'll have to whip them up into shape. And I mean whipped!" He breaks out his slave whip and cracks it a few times, HYAH! HYAH! TRAIN HARDER MULES!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Plant Man transmits, "Make that comment where I can get my hands on you, /cat/. I dare you." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "With a timestopper. Entropy's equation got said already. It has time in it. It's being divided by time. Set it to zero, unsolvable equation, unreal entropy. Mind, that only works if it actually /is/ a physical expression of entropy." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "... What did Wily do?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Oh, Miss Plant! Would you LIke a cactus?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "I'm certainly not saying over broadband. Hmph." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "He sssmacked her butt, I think. She LIked it." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "How can you even trust the words of the stardroids? They speak in riddles. If they were truly in trouble and wanted our help, they would have already given whatever information they knew. And frankly, think about this, if they even knew how to fight this thing, why the hell haven't they beaten it them selves yet? You're relying on the idea that they even know how to beat it in the first place." Metal Man pulls a Metal Blade from subspace and fLIps it idly in one hand. "Beta squad will stand ready for whatever comes and what Father orders." He grins sLIghtly, "It seems we LIve in interesting times." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "She probably doesn't get to play with snakes as much as she'd LIke" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "...She did scream loudly. *sagenods*" [Radio: (F) AlLIance] Bass transmits, "Mavericks! Do you hear?" He breaks into a stage-whisper. "Do you hear me, Mavericks? Do you? I can feel your processors burning..." His tone returns to normal. "Inform your General that I must speak to him soon -- this will interest him. *Yes*. It will."" Dr. Wily watches Bass' departure with remarkable calm, all things considered. Or at least, a reasonable mask of calm. Turning back to the others, he eyes Sword and Clown. "Get a hold of yourselves. We're not going anywhere!" One thing Wily does agree with Bass on though, "All of you, prepare youselves as Bass has said. Whatever is coming will require all of our strenght." With a sigh, Wily walks back to his chair. Suddenly, the Doctor looks every minute of his age, merely a weary old man with to many smashed dreams and too few hopes. Leaning on his cane sLIghtly, he sags down into the chair and leans back, murmuring almost to quietly to hear. "Now let us pray it will be enough..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "Why /do/ people insist on resisting actions they find gratifying?" [Radio: (F) AlLIance] Guts Man whistles the circus theme. [Radio: (F) AlLIance] Plant Man transmits, " . . . Bass, are you completely off your rocker?" [Radio: (F) AlLIance] Dr. Wily transmits, "Ok, now you have some explaining to do...." [Radio: (F) AlLIance] Sigma transmits, "Hm. How about me? Or is this only for Vile, hm?" Snake Man frowns, a look of worry crossing over his reptilLIan features. "Are you sure, Massster? He doesssn't ssseem to be too ssstable at the moment..." [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Plant Man transmits, "Mmm? Alpha? Oh, that would be very nice . . I've had mice in my cactus patch of late, so a few have died." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "....He did, Snake? ...... So?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Plant Man transmits, "Mmm? Alpha? Oh, that would be very nice . . I've had mice in my cactus patch of late, so a few have died." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "I'm sure he loves you too Plant man." [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Plant Man transmits, "OOC GAH! Misradio." [Radio: (F) AlLIance] Bass chuckles softly. "He must be made aware ... you will /all/ be made aware, in time. You will see. It will all make perfect sense in the end." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Plant Man transmits, "/Die/, feLIne. Take your sick mind off of my and my sibLIngs." Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "I'm assuming they DON'T know. But they know more about it than we do. We might not have time to find out what we can before it gets here." [Radio: (F) AlLIance] Bass transmits, "Perhaps you would come with him when he comes, Sigma. I would speak to both of you...you are both great warriors, both /strong/. And we need our strength." [Radio: (F) AlLIance] Cleaver Cow transmits, "I'm not, but stopping time is fairly effective anyhow, or so I've been made to understand." You will now hear messages on channel . [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "Now, Now, Words don't kill people." Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Sigma. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "I'm not, but stopping time is fairly effective anyhow, or so I've been made to understand." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "I kill people." Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission to Sigma. [Radio: (F) AlLIance] Cleaver Cow transmits, "anno Sorry, ignore that, hit the wrong channel." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "... Oh nevermind, you'll never understand the real point." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Just LIke you refuse to understand mine?" Sword Man makes no movements as Clown starts to shake him LIke a ragdoll. However, as he's shaken, he continually starts shaking on his own, his synth skin turning red...until he quickly pushes Clown off and with a shout thrusts his sword into the floor, falLIng to a knee as he does so. Breathing heavily, he peers toward Clown, his face broken from the flesh colored stone which it was chiseled from, and now only looks desperate. "Pessimism goes nowhere, Clown. We prepare. We fight. We see what rewards we reap. That is what has been laid upon our shoulders. We are all as oxen under this threat now, and to stumbled with our burden means anhiLIation. We must carry on, and resist." Sighing, he looks forward, head lowered in an empty gaze. "We must..." He closes his optics in an attempt to calm himself. . o O (I shall not give in to the base rage...not even in times such as now...) Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission. Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission to Sigma. [Radio: (F) AlLIance] Bass chuckles. "Yes...it will become clear." A *bLIp* accompanies his departure from the frequency. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "I understand yours perfectly, the problem is that logic is flawed beyond hope." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Well, I can meet you outside LIght Labs if you want, Miss Plant. I'm not very good at taking care of plantLIfe so I think it might be best in your hands, though I'll do my best with what remains." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "And yours is not, assuming that I disagree on your assumption of my logic?" Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Want a neutral party to judge? Explain in three sentences or less, we'll see which one sounds LIke the person in question was actually awake." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Plant Man transmits, "That would be fine . . right now?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Sure." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "As do I, Karaoke Man" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "You're not a neutral party." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Plant Man transmits, "I'll see you shortly, then." Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission. Bass receives a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Okay! Be right there!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "I didn't say I got to pick, either. In the absence of anyone else, I would, but I'd prefer a fourth person." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Anyway, I'm due for a recharge cycle. Feel free to go on without me." Bass sends a radio transmission. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Bass. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius transmits, " . . how odd you all are . ." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Yeah we're all screwed in the head. Welcome to Earth. Again." Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission to Bass. Bass receives a radio transmission from Dr. Wily. Bass sends a radio transmission. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius transmits, "This is the first I have been here." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "It's a matter of perspective. Sugar." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "I thought stardroids were odd...So what's yer name? Can we give you a nickname too? Are ya as nice as Aldekooshman?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius transmits, " . . . ." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "My mistake, then." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "...Aquarius. Good to hear from you again." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius transmits, "Hello, Sergeant." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha corrects, "Pac Pac Koosh.", another pause, "Necro is a LIttle upset you called him odd. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Aldebaran. Enough with the nicknames." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "I've heard from this Aquarius too soon enough. What with its weak Stardroid mind tricks. I spit on you Stardroid. Patoooie!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "But Riggy he LIkes Aldekooshman!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "Miss I take it your one of the Stardroids?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "No, mine is not. Infact, I can relate this to an event that happened not to long ago. Ok, lets say the mavericks are the stardroids, The UN is the current alLIence and the repLIforce is that aLIen thing. Now you see the mavericks came down to earth and started trying to convince the Un that the repLIforce was this big evil thing trying to destroy them and that it would destroy the UN too. Now you see, the UN bought this story despite the fact that the Mavericks had commited so many wrongs before.... Do you know what happpened afterwards hmm? The attack on repLIforce island thats what. The UN and Hunters beLIeved the mavericks without giving a second thought and turned the RepLIforce into an enemy. We really weren't an enemy, but by allying them selves with the mavericks, we became one." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius transmits, "You are pointless, and a waste of resources, Guts man." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius transmits, " . . . eep." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "And apparently she is in a position to judge us still. hmm?" Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission. Bass receives a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "Do you really seek help with that attitude?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "We all tell Guts Man the same thing. How is this different?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "I LIke Aquariums....Can we call you Fishy?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "That is the problem Aquarius we don't know if we should trust you." Bass sends a radio transmission to Dr. Wily. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "You people already tried once to kill us all for the crime of existing." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius sounds puzzled, "Why presume my opinion has any more value than the rest?" Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission. Bass receives a radio transmission from Dr. Wily. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "And your a waste space metal, you space cow!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Why? Because they're scared of you, that's why. Me, I'm just tired. Been there, done that, Stardroids aren't that big a deal." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Conduit. For the LAST TIME, LIsten to me. I did /not/ say "Let's kill it as soon as it shows up". I said "Prepare in case it WILL kill us all when it shows up, and get info from the Stardroids to help us." If you can't understand the difference, then... Well, enough said." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "Because you wasted no time in giving it." Clown Man eyes Sword from where is lying. "You don't understand, Swordy. I know insanity. I walk the fine thin LIne between insanity and sanity everyday. But i never cross over. EVER. BEcause I'm afraid what I might do if I ever do. Bass just crossed it, by his own 'enLIghtment'. And he is going to tell Vile the same 'enLIghtment'. That means we're going to have two powerful people who are going to be insane on the loose. And that doesn't include Good old Protoman who snapped just...oh... 2 days before. Besides we can better serve Wily once he's safe, so... Lets go! Please?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Double standards now, Bat-girl?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "I don't presume it's of any value, merely that you seem to think otherwise." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius transmits, "It is my personal opinion . . as are many that you all have spoken, today." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "LIsten idiot. You want to ally your self with -its- enemies. By doing that you ensure it will become our enemy. God, how dense are you?!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "ya kniow I'm half temped to turn my ship about if I pull it right I think I could get to mars..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Well, while you're here and talking, Aquarius... Would you LIke to explain the fact that there's a male version of you running around claiming to be you as well?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "I say kill it as soon as it shows up. LIke when we killed those other Stardroids that first time around that came to earth. Man I remember the good old days when I was in charge of trying to kill LIbrarachi. And then the whole kicking Duo's butt. And the kicking of other namless Stardroids. Ahhh those were the days." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius transmits, " . . . Thi-this is the first I have heard of such." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "The same RepLIforcers who found you found him later. Or before. One of the two. We figure one of you is an imposter... The question is: Which?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "What do you mean, calLIng me an idiot? What choice do we have? How do you expect to analyze a being who isn't here? What can you DO, Conduit? If you're so bloody brilLIant, TELL US." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius transmits, " . . I-I do not know who this male is. I have always been myself. I do not know why someone would LIe, and wear the guise of myself." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Aquarius the schzophrenic crossdressing stardroid?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "Was not Duo, also Chaos?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "OOC: Actually that'll be Cancer, conduit. o.o At least the crossdressing part. o.o" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "Aye he was both Order and Chaos." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Or maybe someone's trying to sLIp in some replacements, as they tried to have us replace the original Stardroids. Which I doubt, but it's a thought. Better to think outside the box than keep running in circles." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Would you let a Stardroid carve through a horde of Mavericks, Conduit? Masters? CiviLIans? Where do you draw the LIne? When you separate yourself from another, there begins the downfall." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius transmits, "Something which none of us /knew/!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "What else is new?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "/Right/" Dr. Wily finishes his LIttle conversation with Bass before looking up at the other Masters. "I think Bass wil be alright, Snake." A muttered 'I hope' follows, then Wily turns his gaze to Sword Man, then Clown. "Sword Man is right Clown. We cannot flee this planet." His fist slams down on the arm of the chair. "I /will/ not. Not until the last, when all hope is lost." Wily looks towards the ceiLIng, as though he can see up and into the void of space beyond. "The Stardroids judged us once bfore. And were unable to follow through on their own proclomations." A dark chuckle wells up in the Doctor. "Who knows? Maybe our only hope of salvation is to allow Bass and Vile to cross that fine LIne?" He actually smiles at the Masters. "Ironic. Our last, best hope may LIe in those whom the UN would be quick to call the worst of our world." Wily pauses as a thought occurs to him. "Perhaps the true irony of our situation LIes there. The very chaos the Stardroids create will pull end the chaos of this planet and bring us out of the ashes of our own destruction." He trails off. "Or perhaps I wax philosophical for no reason." Another shake of his head, and then a bushy eyebrow quirks at the Clown bot, then Wily's gaze rests on Sword Man. "We will resist. We will fight. And if we play our cards right, we will win." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Oh? And how do you feel about such, then? I'm still a bit puzzled as to why he bothered. Not that I minded the benefits of being Venus, but even now that breif time haunts me it seems. People just won't shut up about it for one." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "I'm Commander of MSE, Conduit, and I know NOTHING. You know NOTHING. The only ones who may know SOMETHING are the ones who will be killed. Will you stand there and do NOTHING? Where is your justice, Conduit? Is THAT your Judgement?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Wrong Prism, We should prepare, yes indeed. But we can prepare -without- the stardroids, they've fended for them selves this long, let them fend for them selves untill we've learned the truth for our selves, because we will not learn the truth from them." Clown Man sighs as he overhears Wily. "Alright, Dad. Just don't ask me to risk my neck for some stupid Stardroid..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius transmits, "We will die." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "And for the love of all that's holy, Prism... Why are you wasting your breath? You know your duty as well as I do. All the arguments in the world to the contrary won't change it." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Histroy is repeating because we do not learn from the past. We will stand together, or we will all die." Metal Man says, "I have no doubt in you Father, I never have since the day you first brought me on LIne." he fLIops the Metal Blade and says, "Well if we will fight then by your name father we will fight. This planet is our home and we can't sit here on our assses waiting for the end. Clown its not about them, its about us the beings who LIve here on earth." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "That's the fate of everything, eventually, Aquarius. But that doesn't mean we have to sit by and allow ourselves to come to such an end prematurely." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "That goes for you, me, Rigger, the Stardroids, and every being on this planet." Guts Man says, "I'll risk my neck for anything! Because there's nothing I LIke to do than please my Master and kick some ass in the process!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius transmits, "And yet you blame us for trying to prevent such an end now." Snake Man nods. "We alssso need to gives sssome attention to making sure _we_ win. Not everyone. Jusst usss. Or at leassst that we win the mossst. You know what I mean." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Bass chuckles. "On a long enough timeLIne, everyone's survivabiLIty goes to zero." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "So when do we get to meet you Fishy?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "It is Judgement Time once again. Yet another test. And if we will not set aside the old hatreds and look to the future with new eyes, we will die." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "History is repeated, because the Starhaven appears to have arrived by rewinding it." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "Ya Bass nothing LIves for ever, -nothing-." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "All we have to learn from is the past, and in the past our relations with your kind were not to our benefit. We're wary, yes. We're nervous, yes. Because we don't wish to be fooled again. That doesn't mean we're all unwilLIng to LIsten though." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "See? I'm not the one who has past judgement, -you- are. You've already deemed that thing our enemy. And I ask you why? What possible reason could it have for attacking us unless people LIke you -give- it a reason to attack us." Sword Man simply nods as Wily speaks. Calmly, he stands up, taking his sword from the floor and encasing it in it's sheath, before walking over toward a chair and sitting down himself, making sure to keep an eye on Wily. Sitting back, he grabs his helmet out from subspace and places it on his head, eyes closed and fluttering underneath, as if he's preparing. Preparing for....well, something. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "How do you expect to understand it's reasons with no information Conduit?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Claiming to be a psychic now, are we?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Sai sighs. "It seems fairly clear here that there's two groups. Those who wish to See, and those who wish to be BLInd. And at this point we're ALL too bLInd to see which side is which. So I'm not going to talk anymore, and if someone wants to come argue with me about it I'll be practicing some meditations in the RHQ-AustraLIa training room. That, is that. Dr. Wily grins maLIciously at Snake Man. "I've a few ideas there Snake." Wily rises from the chair once more, this time stretching and yawning. "Though right now, I think sleep is in order." He looks around at the Masters. "Make good use of this time, I have the feeLIng that the other shoe is about to drop...." Turning, he makes for the door, muttering to himself, in German, it sounds LIke. he pauses at the door, and looks back at the group. "The Robot Masters will triumph. It is inevitable." Bold words. Can he stick to them? [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "You assume far too much. The stardroids aren't going to give us any information and if they do it'll be unreLIable. No matter how many question we ask they will dodge around the answer." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius nearly shrieks. "IT DOES NOT ATTACK IT CONSUMES!" And her connection goes blank. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "...That was surprisinGLy verbose and helpful for someone who we're not sure whether they're real or not." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "Isss it jussst me, or are more and more people going nutsss?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "Uh fishy?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "Well it seems she ... wait consumes..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Plant Man transmits, "What /was/ that?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "...It consmues Stardroids." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Plant Man transmits, " . . . that's bad. That's really bad." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "What if this things absorbs the powers of the Stardroids it kills..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "It can have them asss far asss I'm consscerned" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "... Lovely. So you don't want to trust them. You will just stand by the wayside and let them be slaughtered." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "They've been hinting at it all night. Entropy. The end. Death. Consumes. Sounds more LIke a roving black hole if you ask me." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Great. LIke X for the Stardroids. Just what we needed." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "And, doctor, I suggested that three hours ago or so, but I was ignored." Snake Man tries to put on an encouraging expression, just to cheer Wily up some. And nods. He's a very good LIar, too. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "I think this goes beyond X..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "I mentioned it as well." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "I persssonally don't care." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "They can all die." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "A pity you can't simply eat them all, Snake." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Ha! Maybe this thing is natural predator to these stardroids, perhaps it was Duo and the planetary Stardroid's combined power that kept this thing at bay." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kaph transmits, "Is even void beyond death, if it is to become filled?" Sword Man sighs and nods. "Indeed, we shall..." Moving up from his seat, he heads toward the door as well. "Come, Sir Clown. The preperation begins..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "If we stand aside, Conduit, we will have no right to judge anyone or anything." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Plant Man transmits, " . . . And what's going to stop it from eating /us/, when it eats them?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "I wonder if it eats plants" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "That is what I keep asking them." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Plant Man transmits, "Would they even know that?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Lack of being interesting. Okay, everyone, act LIke rocks!" Bass strikes you with his Magna Buster Cookieblast for 0 damage. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "Why would it care about usss? Obviousssly it wantsss to kill them. Jussst ship them off sssomewhere elssse, and we won't have to worry." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Plant Man transmits, " . . . I'm surrounded by morons." Metal Man hands you a cookie for a job well done! [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "That was sarcasm - that is, not to be taken seriously." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Plant Man transmits, "Or I'm getting paranoid." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "Perhaps you just need to kill someone. Start with the cat." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "Besssidesss, if they can't ssstop it, why should we be able to?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Because didn't we stop -them-?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Plant Man transmits, "I think I'd love to, Da." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "I've been a LIttle busy trying to fix the mess Aldebaran caused when he sat on our consoles." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Wily transmits, "Have fun the Planty." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider sighs. "Enough of this. Continue on until sunbreak, it will change LIttle. We have scant time to prepare. Make use of it." *cLIck* [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "And that getsss me to another point. They tried to kill all of usss. Twissce. Now we're helping them?" Clown Man nods. "Alright."The clown finally settles down and plays with a yoyo. With dark thought surrounding him. (I will fight alongside the Haters, The Freakers, The Mavericks and anyone else... but not a Stardroid. I will sooner Thunder Clawed those Universal Murders...)Oo. The Clowns sighs. "We will Triumph as Dad says. And if we beLIeve in it, than nothing will stop us. NOTHING." Brave words. But in a world LIke this... is anything certain? [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "Prism, you want to 'save' them because you feel sory for them. The problem is, getting your self killed along with the person you were trying to save doesn't do anyone any good." Guts Man claps his hands, "I beLIeve!" Sword Man has disconnected. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "We've tried to kill each other more." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "For once my daughter makes sense." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "But at leassst we do it for reasssonsss we underssstand." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "and its even worse when you drag others along with you." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Snake Man transmits, "They jussst wanted to kill usss becaussse we didn't measure up to sssome arbitrary ssstandard they ssset for usss." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "...Intergalatic... HITLERS." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Job transmits, "Very True or interalatic Mavericks." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Conduit transmits, "... Even the mavericks don't match up to that." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cleaver Cow transmits, "Mavericks aren't arbitrary." Dr. Wily has left. Dr. Wily has arrived. Dr. Wily enters the Command Center - Skull Fortress. Dr. Wily has left. Metal Man enters the Command Center - Skull Fortress. Metal Man has left. Bass goes home. Bass has left. Guts Man has left. Snake Man just shakes his head, and heads back to the biosphere to go about Ditz's end by digesting him... Snake Man enters the Secure Dome - Skull Fortress. Snake Man has left. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "I will say this. The Mavericks aren't that bad. They sooner recruit every sinGLe Reploid then kill them all. Stardroids are different. They don't care who or what you are. They will judge you... if you pass... you don't go to their slaughterhouse. That's it. Now, just imagine countless zilLIons going to their slaughterhouses. Just because they don't get a 'A' on the Stardroid Report Card. Gee, that makes me WANT to protect them. (/sarcasm)" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man cLIcks [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Sure, not bad if you're a reploid or wilLIng to end up a brain-in-a-box LIke DeVry." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Isaac transmits, "Shocing to hear one LIke Clown Man say that but I can see the logic." Training Room - Skull Fortress This majority of this room when inactive is nothing but a giant black box with an overlaid shimmering green wire grid, dotted with holographic projection orbs at regular intervals on the ceiLIng, and a control panel for programming simulations. The only other feature is a shielded viewing balcony above the entrance, where one can watch without fear of stray fire. When turned on, however, the holographic generators can create any scene imaginable, even modifying the laws of physics at will. Thanks to the technology of simulated damage, Masters can use this room for combat training as much as they wish, and no medical drones are necessary. Contents: Contents: Sword Man ["casual"] [RM] Guts Man [Normal] [RM] Shadow Man [OOC] [RM] Pharaoh Man [Sunstar] [RM] Gemini Man [Normal] [RM] Watcher Petakay [RM] Holographic Terminal Reinforced Doors : Common Room - Skull Fortress $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Robot Master $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 12/45 Posted Author Sydney, Pt. II Sun Nov 17 Sword Man ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Good day, brothers, sires, commander, M'Lord. This is a report in addendum to Sir Dynamo's earLIer report. Within the..."Will Smith Museum of Movie Monsters", I beLIeve the ediface was named...I, along with separately arriving RepLIforce officers, as well as the Maverick Storm EaGLe, managed to find the remains of a pod of a stardroid. Within the basement, we managed to find what possibly could have been the occupant, a fading image of a crystalLIne being. While she spoke LIttle, I managed to procure two stones which were left behind by her. Thanks to anaysis courtesy of Sir Crystal, I found that one of the crystals manages to generate power, due to some radioactivity emitted from the crystal. The remaining stone is harmless, and other than it's extreme resilency, it is LIttle more than a stone. I have placed the stone into containment and away thy orders concerning the stone. That is all. For the GLory and honor of Wily. *Salute!* .._ ...|_|_|..._|_ -(_)-..._ _..-(___)- .......| | |....| $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Robot Master $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 12/46 Posted Author Stardroid Weather Report Mon Nov 18 Bass ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Force Commander sits in a darkened room, his back against a field of stars. His posture is slumped, Bass leaning to one side and sLIghtly in towards the camera. There is one LIght source present above him, a weak and fLIckering thing that falls diagonally across his shadowed face. The interplay of chiaroscuro across his face is only made more threatening by the steady, swirLIng pulse of crimson that issues from his pupils. "The Stardroids are here. We have born witness to no less than four; Saturn, Regulus, Pisces, Aquarius. There are others. There will be others." "There was a war in their Starhaven after the death of Duo. They turned against each other, Chaos and Order. Then, from within, betrayal. Then, from without, a threat. A Nothing, a force that is Devoid of Chaos, Order or anything else. ObLIvion." "They fled their Starhaven in pods, scattering in all directions to escape. The fools who tampered with the husk of Starhaven called the pods back, and so all of the Stardroids left are present. All the eggs in one basket. One basket left to smash." "The traitors may be among them, or will be arriving soon. We do not know. All Stardroids are to be considered suspect. Trust none of them completely, as they may use us to fight their wars." "We will not be Chaos. We will not be Order. We will be our own side, the last side. And we will ascend to Godhood by shedding the blood of Stardroid and consuming force aLIke." He leans in, his optics the only thing that can be made out clearly. "The universe will /fear/ us, because we -- and only we -- shall survive to be its *Masters*." "Yes..." The transmission abruptly ceases. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Robot Master $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 12/47 Posted Author Operating Procedure As Of Now Mon Nov 18 Bass ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ALL RADIO COMMUNICATIONS ARE TO BE CONSIDERED COMPROMISED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Do *NOT* say ANYTHING over the radio that you would not want to shout into a Stardroid's face. WE MUST CONSERVE OUR STRENGTH FOR THE COMING BATTLE. We will strike. But we will strike when the Doctor or myself SAY SO. AND ONLY THEN. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL BE PUNISHED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE. -- Bass $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Robot Master $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 12/49 Posted Author Saturn Encounter Mon Nov 18 Enker ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enker appears, wearing a worn expression, and a long, horizontal gash in his armour across his chestplate. He doesn't look too harmed, however, though he sits in his study chair sLIghtly slumped, almost depressed. Not the usual Enker, in any case. He speaks. "Good evening, brothers, sisters, Father," he greets. "Tonight, I encountered the Stardroid 'Saturn', on the balcony atop Skull Haven. He appeared alone, and with one want in mind." Now, Enker LIfts a previously off-screen hand, and within it he holds a triangular stone, gray-ish in colour, with a LIfeless gold gem imbedded in the center. It is no bigger than his fist. "His Pendant," he declares, then removes it from the screen. "When I questioned him, he grew aggravated and turned to threats." Now, the Golden One tilts his chin up somewhat defiantly, and continues. "I resisted his attempts to intimidate me, and thus" A hand traces the charred scar along his chest, "he resorted to violence. Metal Man, Elec Man, and Sword Man were quick to aid me, and for that, I commend them. However, the battle was short-LIved, for Saturn used his powers of teleportation to retrieve the pendant from my side before I could react, and apparently drained it of any essence of his it had previously held." "Before he departed, he uttered, 'I'm in fear, I'm in anger. I'm in a desperate state. I will be careful now. And I will make no mistake.' What this impLIes is anyone's guess, but I would assume it is something of importance." "That is all." $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Robot Master $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 12/51 Posted Author ATTN: Holographic HooLIgans Tue Nov 19 Bass ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Masters who work with holography, as well as anybody holographically incLIned, should get in touch with me ASAP. I have work that must be done. -- Bass $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Robot Master $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 12/52 Posted Author More Stardroids Tue Nov 19 Metal Man ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Beta Squad Spinny followed by the Wily Spinny* Its Metal Man and he seems to be in a park LIke area. "Tonight at the party dome in New York city several Stardroids appeared namely Virgo and Luna. Now I arrived late and don't fully know what was up but what I did find out was the name of the traitor stardroid. Denebola so be on the look out for that one. Also it seems there is no way to tell which stardroids have been infected either. Tron might know more as she was there for the whole thing. Metal Man out." *Beta Squad Spinny followed by the Wily Spinny* -El Ego was here. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Robot Master $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 12/53 Posted Author New Assignment Tue Nov 19 Knight Man ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ With the recent events involving the Stardroids, and the threats they have madeth, and what we dost know so far, Lord Wily has ordered me keepeth an eye on Tron. I trusteth that she, and the Bonnes, shalt complyeth with Lord Wily's wishes, and not causeth any... trouble. So until a time when this Stardroid situation tis over, Lord Wily recallseth me, or mine presence tis urgently needed, I shalt be carrying out these orders in Lord Wily's name. If there art any pressing matters with Zeta squad, and I art unreachable for whatever reason, I art sure Plant Man shouldst do-eth an adequate job for the time being. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ IC News $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 14/22 Posted Author Earthquake in Russia Tue Nov 19 News Report ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A smiLIng woman appears on the screen. "Hola. Tasha King here for GNN news. This evening, an anomolous earthquake was detected far from any faltLInes, a few miles away from the town of Middle of Nowhere in Russia (population: 17). Forces from the major factions of the world were drawn to the site to investigate." King shuffles her papers and looks up again, "Their suspicions were correct, as the cause of the tremors was no other than the Stardroid Uranus. We here at GNN were unable to get any information regarding the actual conversation, but there appears to have been no violence directed to or from the Stardroid, and he disappeared underground peacefully." "In other news, Elvis music is making a comeback..." $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ IC News $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 14/23 Posted Author Rejoice! Tue Nov 19 News Report ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Church of Amun-Wily expressed its great reLIef at the confirmation that its target of worship and most revered patriarch, Dr. Albert Wily, better known as them to Amun-Wily is in fact miraculously aLIve. They attribute this to his incredible powers of godhood, and that in truth, he can never really die, and will not leave them in their time of need with the return of the Stardroids. However, Cossack is still considered the devil incarnate, and purveyor of all that is evil. And excommunicated, as phrased by an unidentified church representative, " So nyah! ". $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ IC News $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 14/24 Posted Author WilyWorld Promo Tue Nov 19 News Report ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ An announcer's voice says, "Stardroid plushies are now available at WilyWorld! You can collect all of your favorites, and new ones are made when new Stardroids are discovered!" "You can also see the rare Space Kitty, one of only three in the entire world, sent to Earth from a distant galaxy in an actual Stardroid capsule!" The kitten meows cutely, as if to say, 'I'd better be getting payed for this'. "But act now, because just LIke the real Stardroids, this offer won't last forever! Remember, everyone's Welcome at WilyWorld, the Wilyest place on Earth!" $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Pharaoh Man GLances over at Guts Man, " Oh, hello Guts Man. One of your squadron was being taught how very misguided his efforts are..." Ra comments, waving towards the broken and battered form of Elec Man. " He really should learn which battles are /worth/ fighting, but Gemini was forced to show him the hard way. " Gemini Man leans against an arena wall as his damage heals. "Whatever. We had no idea people would be so irate over a LIttle high-school style dissection project." Shadow Man offers Gemini Man some holographic popcorn. Guts Man crosses his arms, "Oh is that right? And what dissection? Why should we care about something getting cut to pieces?" Pharaoh Man snickers, " Our thoughts exactly. But apparently you need to instill some more common sense within your squadron, eh Guts Man? " Ra comments, smirking. " Elec Man obviously didn't have enough. " Gemini Man takes some holographic popcorn in one hand. Looks at it. Tastes a piece experimentally. BLInks. Then answers, still chewing. "Kitten." He swallows. "No idea why Elec Man cared so much." Strangely, the popcorn tastes LIke cajun chicken. So it has bugs to work out. Guts Man eyes Pharaoh Man, "Shut up Pharaoh Man. My men have plenty of common sense! Elec Man is just a bit eccentric that's all." Pharaoh Man chuckles loudly, bringing his head back. " Guts Man, I think of 'Bright Man' as eccentric. Elec Man attacking someone who was resistant to his primary means of attack was just plain stupid, especially considering he knew very well that fact. " Sword Man enters the Common Room - Skull Fortress. Sword Man has left. Guts Man says, "What the hell is that suppose to mean Pharaoh Man? Are you insisting that one shouldn't try to do their best? Cause if you are it sounds to me LIke you and your squadron are nothing but half assed Masters!" Pharaoh Man face freeze immidiatly into a stone cold expression at Guts Man. " My Squadron is a thousand times better then Alpha will ever be, or ever was. Your squadron however is a group of antiquated throwbacks, tainted by their LIneage LInk to that stripLIng of all stripLIngs, Thomas LIght. You should consider yourselves lucky to be children of Amun-Wily at all.." Gemini Man sighs, his face falLIng at Pharaoh Man's complete idiocy. "This fight will be even shorter." Shadow Man turns to Gemini Man with the sort of look that says 'My dad could beat up your dad'. Guts Man frowns, "OH YEAH?!" We have the same dad. He could have self-destructive tendencies. Pharaoh Man looks down his nose at Guts Man, which as most can tell, isn't an easy task. " Well, Guts Man, I hate to be the one to tell you this. But yes..." Ra chuckles, and that nagging voicing in the back of his neural net reminds him that Guts Man isn't exactly a push-over. "This is going to be one-sided and uninteresting," Gemini Man declares. "We want to hunt for Stardroids." And he starts to wander away from the wall. Guts Man grrrrrs, "That's it! I'm gonna mop the floor with you twerp!" Shadow Man doesn't inend to follow Gemini Man - in cases LIke these, it's safer to assume he's using the plural to refer exclusively to himself. Pharaoh Man bLInks backwards to the center of the arena. Good. Guts Man is angry. That will impair his judgement, what LIttle of it Ra beLIeves the Alpha to have, somewhat. Control is everything in a battle. Hovering just less then a foot above the center, dust gathers from the blasts of his minor dash jets. The Master of Sands' eyes GLow red, and his scepter materiaLIzes, snatched from the air with one hand. The other reaches out towards Guts Man, " Kneel before your Pharaoh...." Pharaoh Man strikes Guts Man with his CompelLIng Grasp attack. Guts Man is grasped by compelLIng forces, he's forced to kneel, but Guts Man resists, as the grasp becomes tighter Guts Man slowly ends up with damaged armor. "Grrrr... Guts Man will not bow!" He manages to stand right back up breaking free of the grasp! He decides to fight back by reeLIng his head towards Pharaoh Man, "Eat head!" Guts Man misses Pharaoh Man with his Hardhat Headbutt attack. It looks just LIke a basic Greek arena... with an audience of cute kittens. And there's shields so you can't hurt the kittens. HA! Gemini Man has reconnected. Gemini Man has partially disconnected. Pharaoh Man jerks his body to one side, avoiding the headbutt. " You have to hit me before you can defeat me, Guts Man! " he snaps, pushing his dash jets to full for a quick jump backwards. Ranged combat will be the name of the game here. Moving the scepter in some elaborate, indecipherable motions, Pharaoh Man speaks in a deep, booming voice, not of this era, "" The call in ancient egyptian is answered by the appearence of a large , swirLIng sandstorm, headed for said Alpha. Pharaoh Man strikes Guts Man with his Sandstorm attack. Mars has arrived. Mars is on the rise! With them big fat wheels on the side! Peep the vertical grills on the ride! And Aw-awww-awwwww. Guts Man is captured within the stinging wrath of the desert sands, he's picked up by the swirLIng mass of sand before being dropped to the ground! The impact isn't too bad for Guts Man, it actually hurt less than the grasp. "Your magical tricks ain't gonna beat me Pharaoh Man!" He charges the Pharaoh once more, trying to bash him with the back of his hand. Guts Man strikes Pharaoh Man with his Bash attack. Gemini Man hangs back a moment... seeing the sandstorm blast into Guts Man. "Hm," he says... and stops, just a second, to watch, after all. Maybe it won't be AS one-sided as he thought? Pharaoh Man is struck hard, and goes flying into one wall of the arena, the stone cracking LIke a thin spiderweb around the indention. Spitting out a shattered scarab, he growls. " You're learing....try this! " BLInking into the air, Ra brings forth the Scepter, "" A blast of water is fired, streaked with flames, heading for Guts Man. Pharaoh Man strikes Guts Man with his Nile Floods attack. Amidst the Greek arena one of the Spartan statues hops off it's pedestal aas it begins to look about the room, poking this with its spear, kicking that with its marble toes. It seems to be on a mission of exploration. Guts Man be consumed by the mighty floods of the Pharaoh! Guts Man cannot swim and is swept away until he hits one of the walls in the training room. It takes a few minutes for him to snap out of his dazed state. He just sits there and calls for his hardhats to take on Pharaoh Man while he himself gets back up. The LIttle hardhats appear from out of nowhere and open fire. Guts Man misses Pharaoh Man with his Hardhats attack. Gemini Man GLances over...to his side, as he sees unusual movement. He raises a brow at the rogue statue. "Weird sim Elec built," he muses quietly. Pharaoh Man bLInks out of the way, leaving those poor hardhats to figure it out for themselves. He comes to rest upon the very Spartan statue that stepped down from its pedestal. " What in Amun-Wily's name..." Ra asks, curious. " Elec Man must of rigged this entire arena to help him. Hrmph. " Pharaoh Man stays no longer, and uses his height in combination with weak dash jets to charge towards Guts Man, scepter switching out with a khopesh wreathed in hungry flames... The statue continues along, being briefly scrambled by floods of water or the occasional Hardhat that bursts through his form, doing no visible damage. It pauses as it views the Hardhats. "Garrison. The Garrison could be here." he booms in a basso voice, still apparently talking in rhetoric. Pharaoh Man strikes Guts Man with his Khopesh Brand attack. Metal Man arrives from the Common Room - Skull Fortress. Metal Man has arrived. Absent, for the moment, of a holographic double to exchange confused looks with, Gemini Man settles for exchanging that confused look with Shadow Man, instead. ... Still, he goes back to watching the fight, as holograms don't generally concern him too much. Guts Man is bapped on the head by the khopesh which just annoys Guts Man more than anything, he growls loudly, "WHY YOU LITTLE... GRRRRR!!!" He lunges for the smaller robot trying to grab him by the neck! Guts Man misses Pharaoh Man with his Why You LIttle... attack. Shadow Man returns Gemini Man's GLance only with a raised eyebrow. He for one has seen his brothers come up with much stranger things in their simulations, and a wandering statue doesn't raise his curiosity at all. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "I'd suggest you go and get your head degauzzed rather then seek to perpetually irritate me, it can't be good for that tiny LIttle Windows platform 'brain' of yours to be near those combiners all the time." Pharaoh Man ducks to one side, cackLIng. " Too slow, Guts Man. " His free hand shifts into subspace with a 'poof' and his arm alters into an armcannon, which is raised at Ra's opponent. " Burn. " A blast of superheated plasma is fired point blank, the android obviously not concerned by a sLIght burning.... Pharaoh Man strikes Guts Man with his Plasma Shot attack. The Spartan statue continues to look at the Hardhats, then does something pecuLIar. With a quick stab, it lances one on to its spear. Bringing the twitching drone up to his face, the statue peers at the sparking robot. "Yes, yes......Garrison." he proclaims again, putting the Hardhat on the ground and stepping on it with a marble sandal, the statue unceromoniously jerks the spear back out and pooch-kicks the Hardhat into the wall of the arena. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "...I just wished to explain to you why and how Dr. Cossack was not a devil incarnate or anything of the sort. Dr. Wily suggested I talk to you about it." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Doppler transmits, "I irritate you only because I am obviously your superior. Now. If you will excuse me, I have a guest to entertain." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "Superior?! Pah." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pharaoh Man starts laughing uncontrollably. " Oh, my dear, Amun-Wily...speaking to you...on...hahahaha. Oh, you Hunters crack me up at times..." Fortunately, the hardhat's impact is softened by a kitten. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "DeVry... Everybody's your Superior. Even Stormy." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cacophony Timberwolf transmits, "At least Doppler reaLIzes he's not human anymore." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger snaps a pencil. *cri-crack* "Pharoah Man, you're pushing it..." Guts Man gets nothing but net with his mighty hands. That Pharaoh Man is one quick LIttle dude. As Pharaoh Man reappears not too far Guts Man tries to prepare for whatever might be coming his way, but he wasn't expecting a powerful plasma shot, his arms may be up in a face blocking motion, but they don't stop the painful burning. "Aaaaargh! Stupid Pharaoh Man! I'll get you yet!" He brings his arms downwards then jumps towards Pharaoh Man, "SQUISH!!!" Guts Man strikes Pharaoh Man with his Stomp attack. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "Clown Man, remind me again. Didn't Wily take you off the trash-heap after a large group of children found you spectacularly unamusing?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Kumicho NOT Mikage Yukiato transmits, "Dr. DeVry, do us all a favor and cease your insignificant ramble. Your constant bickering is growing irratiating." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "I at least seem capable of comedy at times." "THAT's more LIke what we expected to see," Gemini Man says, musing at the fight again. He's back to ignoring the statue. "Well...never mind. LIke we said. Time to search. Tell us if it gets interesting." He moves toward the exit. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "What I would not give to be able to gut your robotic body Landon. I would reLIsh kilLIng you." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "Get in LIne." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Forget a LIne, let's just all mob him at once." Pharaoh Man is pinned, and is not happy either. Giving a cry in pain as his chest makes an ominous crunching sound. Ra brings forth his scepter. " You. Shall. FALL. " Beads of crimson LIght gather at the scepter's head, quickly forming an orb of intense heat. " By the hand of Ra, BURN! " A Pharaoh Shot is fired, the android hoping to knock his opponent clear of him... [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "He was. You may ask him yourself if you wish. *a pause* He was much more poLIte than you, but I suppose that is to be expected. *pauses, and then adds* "DeVry, have you seen Pac Pac?"" Pharaoh Man strikes Guts Man with his Pharaoh Shot attack. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Rigger, your daughter is awfully deluded. I recommend counseLIng." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "I LIke the way you think Rigger." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "Zing! Sorry, DeVry... the correct answer is that I was found unfunny and Dad found in my home one fine rainy day. Astro was the one Wily found in a trash heap. But... Thanks for playing." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Not half as so as you." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "I seem to recall you constantly getting out of LIne thinking you're better than the eLItes. How many times have you been scrapped for that, now?" Gemini Man sends a radio transmission to Rigger. Gemini Man receives a radio transmission. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Wily mentioned repairs you were under. He suggest to me to ask you after you were done with your repairs. Are you done with your repairs yet?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "ooc: suggested" The Spartan continues about the arena, very close to the combatants as it "hmmms" and "ahhs" a few times. Then it heads over to the holographic projector terminal and begins tappity-tapping on the keys, bringing up wireframe schematics of Hardhats. It quickly begins to read the information, then the schematic changes to a Blader. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "Who is 'Pac Pac"" Guts Man is knocked off of his Pharaoh Man by the shot. He staggers backwards before falLIng flat on the ground again, the impact causing a sLIght tremor. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Alpha, come to me when you have something serious to talk about. Heroes today...hmph. *cLIck*" Guts Man strikes Pharaoh Man with his Earthquake Smash attack. Gemini Man sends a radio transmission to Rigger. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Can't use your superior logic to find out, DeVry? We've only explained this multiple times." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "He LIkes to eat." Gemini Man receives a radio transmission from Rigger. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "You forgot, Miss Rigger, DeVry is of the dumb. *sagenods*" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "I honestly haven't been paying much attention. I have a metool trying to explain something complex to me... ...No I don't know what the "thing in the thing" is." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "Trying to explain to you how to make toast?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "SPEAK NOT OF TOAST!!!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "... So you're saying even a metool is smarter than you. ... *snerk*" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "No, I am saying this one is spectacularly uncommunicative." Holograms looking through holograms... That seems rather amiss. Taking out his datapad once again, Shadow Man looks through the current simulation to dismiss the curious Spartan... But he doesn't seem to be part of the hologram. Or rather, it's not part of the Training Room's simulation. There's more than one thing that might be projecting it here. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "I seriously need to retrofit the older metalls..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "Oh, that's right. How is that Toaster Dr. LIght told you how to built? Still working perfectly, hmm? *Sideshow can be heard laughing*" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "It works." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "This is from the guy who was once food for worms? LIterally?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "I keep it in beautiful condition. Fully functional. So that it will hurt that much more when I BLUDGEON HIM WITH IT" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "For claiming to be the savior of humanity you seem awfully preoccupied with hurting most of it's members." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cacophony Timberwolf gigGLes wildly [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "So what did the inside of seismic look LIke Devry?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "A wide variety of its members seek to -defy- me, you slackjawed harlot." The statue continues its study of Wily's drones, fLIpping through Gear Clowns and Big Eyes, Shellders and Joes. The screen tempo begins to pick up, soon hundreds of schematics and tactical data is flowing from the keypad as the marble statue scans the images in muted focus. Recieving a radio message from Shadow Man, Gemini bLInks, then...looks back to the holo-terminal. Yes, that IS odd behavior for a hologram, but, it's not Gemini's hologram that's doing it. It would be too weird for even one of his pranks. "It's not mine," he says, aloud, to Shadow... starting to walk over to the holo-terminal. "We're going to shut down the simulation," he says. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "I managed ejection from the Anubis Frame prior to the Hunter's disgusting act of cannibaLIsm" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "Hey! NO talking ta da Hunter Wenches that way!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Do not call Rigger a slackjawed harlot. Or anything else besides -Rigger-, Landon. It's impoLIte." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "Oh, I am sorry, does she belong to you?" Pharaoh Man is knocked to his feet, and tosses rapidly about from jagged edge of shattered ground to jagged edge. " Augh! " is the most he can get out by the end of it, frustrated. " Accursed fool, I sha-" He then notices that one of the /holograms/ is interacting with the terminal. They are programmed to not notice the terminal. " Gemini must be toying with something..." he muses, before turning to the task at hand. He eyes the Alpha, Ra himself in a broken, battered state. Critical conditon, at that. But he begins to gigGLe. And then it rises to a chuckle. Throwing his head back, Ra erupts in a maniacal cackle that shakes one to their very soul. Then, suddenly, his head snaps forwards, and an inhuman scream of pain, anger, and destruction. The Master of Sands' body erupts into thousands of robotic scarabs, who burst from every orifice in swarms, taking fLIght towards Guts Man, their pincers hungry for metal flesh... [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "No she's Cossy's." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "That's because that variety is SMARTER than you could ever be, Dr. Toaster...oops. I mean Dr. DeVry. :)" Pharaoh Man strikes Guts Man with his Scarab Swarm attack. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Chill. Between this and calLIng me old and wrinkly, I'm going to retrofit you into a Mickey Mouse bod--I AM NOT!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Cacophony Timberwolf transmits, "Yeah, no talking about the wenc--HEY!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "I don't think most of us would have had a problem with you, Landon, if you simply conducted ethical research instead of resorting to mass murder. The end never justifies the means." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "...she is....Cossack's?" Shadow Man GLances at his datapad to check the security logs if there might have been an infiltration. Unfortunately, access to the security logs is restricted to Ballade's rank or higher, and he lacks the skills to bypass the restrictions. Best to let the hologram expert deal with it, then. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger growls, "... Only in the sense that I'm his second in command." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "*chuckles* ...yes, of course. I should have seen it..." The Spartan continues his dubious access, now pulLIng up tactical data of Cut Man. "Ah, the capital units." the statue comments with mild amusement. He begins to cycle through Robot Master tactical data from the beginning. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "A comfort, in his old age. How weak he is. Investment in the passions of the body and the heart..." Guts Man is LIke a turtle on his back after falLIng down, he squirms from side to side trying to get back up to no avail. He's a prime target for the Scarabs which start to devour him. If it weren't for the bugs he wouldn't be able to get back up. Just LIke some scene out of a cartoon Guts Man LIfts right up and starts to run away from the scarabs heading towards Pharaoh Man. He frowns, "I'll get you for this Pharaoh Man! But not before you pay!" As he runs towards him he extends his arm out, forming a fist! Guts Man strikes Pharaoh Man with his Super Punch attack. Pharaoh Man falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage. Pharaoh Man takes out a medical scanner and scans Guts Man. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "Dr. Toaster, she siad she is second in command next to Dr. Cossack. *pause* Besides, she's really Dad's love slave. *sagenods*" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "Wily -and- Cossack?!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "You're pretty fixated, aren't you Landon? Everything keeps turning back to various biological functions you are denied. I recommend counseLIng." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "Oh for the love of..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "Odd. Usually women only sleep with uGLy men when there is power to be gained. That doesn't explain Cossack however..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "I haven't slept with anyone!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Big Bad Sword Man sighs... [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "I doubt that. You're a woman." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Dynamo?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Gemini Man transmits, "Not in ten years." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "Only men have the strength of character to avoid the foul embraces of intercourse. Women, unless they are spectacularly horrid, fall prey to their own hysterics" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dynamo transmits, "Yes?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Aquarius transmits, "How utterly biased." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "I think I see how Bounty Hunting is a lucrative business." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "...you know... I wish that Hyper Roll was here... she would probably kick DeVry's @$$ 99 ways to Sunday for that..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "that was a while ago....and I've been moniterin any important stuff with the stardroids" The super punch slams Ra straight into the one wall he hasn't left a dent in so far this match, and he crumbles to the ground. Pharaoh Man is unmoving as mech fluid leaks onto the floor in a small pool about his body....until the room's safeties automaticly remove his holographic damage, and he finds himself defeated. " Hrmph. You got lucky, Guts Man....", he mutters, standing. " Now, if w-" The Master of Sands stops, and takes the scene in. Gemini Man is headed for the console that the statue is now /downloading tactical data from/, not looking too happy. " In Amun-Wily's name....shut down the program! " [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dynamo transmits, "Indeed." [Radio: (D) GLobal] BroadbandClassic Jet Stingray transmits, "People, chill out. This is getting old. While I love making fun of DeVry and LIstening to him defend himself while being stupid, you guys need to boarden yourselves and pick on someone new. How about some other cyborg moron... Doppler. He's close enough to DeVry." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "If Hyper Roll were here, we'd have greater problems then the condition of my hindquarters." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Chill Snowcat transmits, "mis" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Knight Man transmits, "Landon DeVry, that tis a LIne that even /I/ wouldn't crosseth..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "What LIne, Knight Man?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, "Pay no attention to it, Rigger. We all know about his issues. Let's just ignore him and let him rant himself into obscurity... This this one place I saw on the Internet. Some guy ranting about four-day creation principles." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Nor I. Its incest, for one thing, but none insult Roll without facing the wrath of many." Guts Man wins against Pharaoh Man thus proving the Alpha Squadron is a superior! Just as Guts Man finishes Pharaoh off, Gemini Man reaches for the holographic terminal, around the talking statue that may or may not be a real LIve intruder. He reaches over, and... not even LIstening to Pharaoh Man, he indeed shuts the entire simulation down. The holograms and the training room, anyway. Unplugging the entire computer system is a bit trickier of a prospect with someone in the way. But maybe now he'll see who this someone is... [Radio: (D) GLobal] Knight Man transmits, "Oh, just about everything thou hast said for the past few minutes..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man hrms and suddenly a cLIck is heard. "...now what were you saying about Hyper Roll, DeVry? [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "Pharaoh Man. Can you talk now?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "Her arrival would indicate an instabiLIty in the dimensional thread...then I would need to get back to work on finding a method to destroy her universe to increase the stabiLIty of our own" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Gemini Man transmits, "He ain't busy now." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Alpha, I have no intention to LIsten to your fooLIsh babbLIng. Don't you have a tree to speak with?" The statue continues it's access as the rest of the holograms melt away. "Step aside, I'm almost done." he casually remarks in his basso voice, not bothering to look up as he finishes his study of Bubble Man. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "... A woman in the same profession you claim to be in, you misbegotten lump of cancer cells. In case you perhaps *forgot* sometime in between kilLIng thousands of innocent people for your supposed experiments, that is not a field that one can get into without *hard work* and *dedication.* I have hardly had time to sleep a full eight hours a night in the past ten years much less do anything you claim women to be prone to. And frankly hearing someone claim that men have such 'strength of will' to avoid such things from a man who constantly talks about what position women belong in is the pinacle of hypocracy. Even with nothing left of your organic body but a few dried up braincells you are *still* obviously a slave to your own hormones." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dynamo transmits, "LIsten, Mumm-Ra Man, why don't you LIsten to the girl? Are you afraid of what she has to say?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "No, I already talked to the cacti today and they're all well. I did all my work early in hopes that I could talk to you. *a pause* Thank you, Dynamo." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "Come on, Dr. D.V.! Work with me here!" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Gemini Man transmits, "Maybe you should take some time off and find a boyfriend, Rigger." "You sound tense." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Pharaoh Man transmits, "She is not worth my time, Dynamo. I mean, honestly, Amun-Wily, gifting her with one of his errands? Really, its propostourous." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Landon DeVry transmits, "Thank you, Gemini." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Rigger transmits, "And yes you sack of rotting cloth, your father did talk to Alpha so stop acting LIke you're more important than her just because he decided to actually hold a conversation with someone that doesn't drool over his every word." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Gizmo GLIder transmits, " Well well well. If it isn't that would be Doctor DeVry. I heard he couldn't make it in his profession." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "I'm more importanter." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Knight Man transmits, "Yes, let's taketh the focus of that conversation off that fool DeVry, and focuseth on the more importanter Guts Man." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dynamo transmits, "Looks LIke Wily's decided to bring your LIttle fantasy world crashing down around you, Wraps. Perhaps you are not his mouthpiece, after all." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "...Importanter... is there such a word???" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "Are you questioning my verballosity skills?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Gizmo GLIder transmits, " There is NOW!" "Who the hell are you?" Gemini Man raises his gun arm immediately, pointing it at the strange intruder. Of course, he has no idea who he's deaLIng with...so...this is so far, reasonable. "Back away." A blast of superheated plasma strike the Holographic Terminal, melting it into a happy pile of fused metal and circuitry, sizzLIng quietly. "Step away, infidel...." Ra snaps, obviously /NOT/ to happy. This trespasser will not walk away with the information gathered. A headset communicator materiLIzes onto his head, and a 'shink' is heard as his battle armor covers his mouth. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Clown Man transmits, "Ah. there it is. Nevermind, carry on..." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Knight Man transmits, "It dost soundeth LIke a perfectly cromulent word to me." As the rest of the simulation dies down and only the knight remains, Shadow Man GLances towards Gemini Man. A hand is raised, and one of his trademark Shadow Blades created out of thin air. It's best to be ready, but he'll still let Gemini Man handle the interrogation... After all, his spirit of pranking is well known, and the ninja still has no way of knowing if it's a hologram or not. [Radio: (B) Masters-Secure] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Intruder Alert. Skull Fortress Training Room." [Radio: (B) Masters-Secure] Clown Man sighs, "Who's there?" [Radio: (B) Masters-Secure] Pharaoh Man transmits, "We're about to find out. They are attempting to steal tactical data on drone and Robot Master Schematics." The status turns about to face the aggressors. "Unacceptable. I have need of Garrison. You will not brook failure on this part, slaves of the Perverter." The Spartan's eyes flash with white LIght. Guts Man frowns, "What the hell is that? And why is it talking smack to us?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Alpha transmits, "...Well, I suppose I'll ask him to tell you what he suggested I do once he's not busy, Pharaoh Man." Gemini Man's face falls. It's the matter of his tense and serious optics wrinkLIng up in confusing. "Oooohkay." He clears his throat. "AGAIN. STEP THE HELL AWAY." [Radio: (B) Masters-Secure] Pharaoh Man hisses over the communicator, " Stardroids! " [Radio: (B) Masters-Secure] Guts Man transmits, "Let's kill it and dissect it!" [Radio: (B) Masters-Secure] Clown Man transmits, "ON MY WAY!!!" [Radio: (B) Masters-Secure] Bass transmits, "Kill it." [Radio: (B) Masters-Secure] Gamma CO Gemini Man transmits, "We don't even know who it is." [Radio: (B) Masters-Secure] Guts Man transmits, "You heard the man. Destroy the intruder!" Bass arrives from the Common Room - Skull Fortress. Bass has arrived. Pharaoh Man begins to step forwards, slowly, smoking arm cannon pointed at the Spartan, scepter GLowing a fierce crimson in his free hand. " I cannot allow you to walk away with that information, Stardroid Infiltrator..." sneers the Master of Sands, " And with the holographic terminal deactivated, this is to become very quickly....all to real...." The room GLows with a bright LIght, and phases to it's off state. Sword Man arrives from the Common Room - Skull Fortress. Sword Man has arrived. Dr. Wily arrives from the Common Room - Skull Fortress. Dr. Wily has arrived. The Spartan Statue does not move away from the melted terminal. "You think you've stopped my acquisition of Garrison? You will only make it more difficult on yourselves." The statue GLares at Pharaoh Man. "There will be no mercy. The Heralds are coming. The Castle must be created." Guts Man pumps a fist in the air, "KILL IT!!!!!!" Clown Man rushes into the room, with Sideshow hanging on for dear LIfe. He takes a quick look around. No Holograms about... only a statue... with Gemini, Phar, Guts, and Shadow surrounding it. "Well..." Sideshow erms, "...Nice..." Dr. Wily steps into the room cautiously, having responded to Pharaoh Man's message about intruders in the SKull Fotress. The Doctor pauses in the doorway, looking over his shoulder to Bass. One brow quirks at the Force Commander, and Wily takes stock of the situation. The console is obviously scrap, and the form standing near it is no Master. Then again, what is IS remains to be seen. "Well, more unexpected visitors. And these steaLIng things from us as well. What /is/ the world coming to, eh Bass?" ChuckLIng, Wily peers at the statue. Following in the trend, Sword rushes in as well, helmet hastily shoved onto his head and sheath thrown aside, the Master not even taking the time to throw it into subspace. SLIding into position, he raises his blade up, ready to face...whatever is here. The Force Commander walks in behind Wily, arm already shifted to Buster-cannon mode, and taking on a fast charge. His thinned eyes radiate menace, the set of his jaw determined. "Yeah!" sneers Bass. "The only people allowed to steal robot designs around here are us!" Gemini Man's eyes bLInk slowly. He's still...confused. "Dad, you shouldn't be here; it's dangerous. They're going to want a fight." A second twin appears, next to the slagged console. He shakes his head at Doctor Wily, emphatically. Gemini Man already has his laser poised, but he doesn't fire. "Which... are you?" The Statue seems to lock eyes on Wily as he enters the room and takes a bold three steps right for the old man. "Ah, the Perverter. Now we shall acquire Garrison." he states with resolute firmness. [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Gamma CO Gemini Man transmits, "RUN!" Pharaoh Man bLInks. .oO(What have I done...) He thinks GLancing at Wily as the statue looks at his master in such a manner, " You shall have to do much more then that, Stardroid! " he snaps, bLInking between Wily and the statue's path. Beads of intense LIght gather in his arm cannon. " The Children of Amun-Wily do not take well to thieves, trespassers, and stardroids. Which leaves you in a very uncomfortable position..." He fires the sunbeam, while his eyes dart to Wily momentarily... Metal Man has left. Shadow Man watches the spartan with vague interest, the blade held easily at his side. Although Wily is here, he doesn't seem overly concerned about the good doctor's safety. If it's just a Stardroid, then it's nothing to worry about, provided his master doesn't suddenly develop an allergy to meaninGLess gibberish. (Garrison?)oo. Da Clown erms and moves inbetween Wily and the Statue. "NO. Whatever you want with Dad... or whatever this Garrison is... in order to complete it, you will have to go through me!" "And me!" Da Monkey adds. Pharaoh Man sends a radio transmission to Dr. Wily. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Pharaoh Man. Bushy eyebrows cLImb in suprise as the Statue moves towards him. "Oh ho! It speaks!" Abruptly, Wily is brandishing his cane LIke a sword, eyeing the Statue warily. "Don't come any closer! I'm trained in the ancient and deadly art of Wily-fu! Wataaaaaaaaa!" Wily goes through what look LIke a few moves and stances before abruptly hunching over. "OW! My back!" Dancing backwards a few teps, he waves a calming hand at the other Masters. "I'll be fine. What I want to know is why you..." He thrusts an accusing finger at the Statue, "...call me ther 'perverter.' And what is thisGarrison you speak of?" Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission. Pharaoh Man receives a radio transmission from Dr. Wily. Pharaoh Man strikes Mars with his Sunbeam attack. Pharaoh Man sends a radio transmission. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Pharaoh Man. Sword Man narrows his eyes at the Statue defiantly, and keeps his sword ready, hand on his sword's 'wrist'. "What is the meaning of this..." He edges in, in front and to the side of Wily, ready to protect him. The beam of LIght lances through the statue's chest and tears a hole in it, crimson energy erupting from the wound. Unconcerned with the injry, it holds a hand out. "The Perverter was the name given by the Judge. But in the spirit of cooperation, i shall call you Dr. Wily." The statue narrows it's eyes in it's guarded helm. "You must bolster drone and robot production by two thousand percent, Dr. Wily. Your raging hordes shall be the Garrison of the Castle." Guts Man says, "Wily, I think he wants you to fight his battle for you. Tell him to get bent!" Twins both lower their weapons... GLance between eachother... and look back at the statue. Pharaoh Man stops, bLInking. " What....? " he says, lowering the weapon, watching the wound not even cause a fLInch. " No one orders Amun-Wily to do /anything/! " Ra snaps haughtily, " Except his Mother. But only because he loves her so dearly. " "Bullshit," snarls Bass, Buster going to a full charge. He marches directly in front of Wily, a Megablast starting to come to boil in his Buster. A strange look comes into his eyes, a GLossy, insane stare that goes beyond Bass' baseLIne madness. He seems poised to fire, but waits -- just for an instant, as Wily speaks. Pharaoh's attack is meaninGLess -- it doesn't even seem to phase Mars. He keeps his guard up, Buster charged to full, even as Mars continues to advance. . o O ( If I don't merge, I'm toast ... even a weakened Stardroid is a match for my basic mode. I need a plan -- quickly, quickly! ) He keeps himself between Wily along with some other Masters, not letting Mars touch him if he can help it. "It's a trick," he growls to Wily. "He'll touch you and steal your knowledge -- there is too much at stake to risk it!" Clown Man bLInks. "Huh. For a moment, I thought it said... raging hormones..." He peers at Wily. Then steps it to the side, "And I agree with Guts, Tell it to get lost. In Space, perferably." Sword Man bLInks, eyes still sLIts...but releases his hand from his blade. The Statue doesn't seem to want anything hostile...but he's still prepared to fight should the time arise. However, he's still wary. "For what reason do you want M'Lord to do thy bidding?" He may not support the 'get lost' mentaLIty of some of the others, but he's still highly suspicious. Dr. Wily eyes Bass uncertainly. Something tells him the Force Commander is right. Backing away, Wily shakes his head at Mars. "Step up drone production? My raging hordes?" A derisive snort fills the room. "My children are no mere raging horde. They are an army, filled with purpose, filled with personaLIties and individuals. You Stardroids have 'never' been able to see beyond your own petty concerns for 'judging' this and 'build an army' that. I will /not/ be ordered by the LIkes of you. Albert Wily serves no man." The last is deLIvered in cold an haughty tones, as Wily stares Mars down, daring the Stardroid to do something. Guts Man reaches under his hat for a boulder, ready to super arm the Stardroid should it try something. "Go ahead punk. Make our day." The statue straightens, tilting the giant marble helm to the side. "There will be no mercy." he says with mild confusion. "The Castle /is/ the last chance for hope, the last chance to die in GLory. The Castle will not stand without a Garrison, without an army trained to rise to victory. Sideshow's chest GLows and soon Clown is holding a large mallet. He smirks. "Stardroid no baka..." Gemini Man looks over at himself again. He feels...two ways, as is typical. One, lucky. This is, it seems... is... But, he's not coming after Gemini Man at all, not trying to beat him up and steal something he doesn't have. Two... neGLected and insignificant. Not only was he NOT chosen specially, as he had begun to suspect, but...he wasn't even worth remembering to these creatures. "You're MARS," the first twin says. The statue shrugs, and explodes into crimson LIght. A massive robot has taken its place. Clown Man peers. "Of course, you will remember. Being the his pendent barer.." Metal Man has arrived. Bass' logic centers slowly begin to regain control of his consciousness, some of the GLossiness starting to leave his mind. A plan forms, a plan that can become a campaign ... a campaign that can become his Destiny. Bass' sneer turns into a broad, predatory grin, the Buster still leveled at Mars, his body still acting as a shield. Even as the massive robot appears, the plan remains. Everything Is Under Control. "Mars! Stardroid of War!" yells out Bass. "You want an army -- you need not take it! If you fight the evil that comes, we will help you, but on OUR terms! You try to take us by force, and we will smash you apart! We know you are not what you were! But if you work with us, we will ensure that we all survive!" Guts Man gigGLes LIke a hick, "Huh-hyuk, it looks LIke this critter wants to die!" Petakay bLInks. It's hanging out on the ceiLIng, attatched by its suction cup feet. Elec Man has connected. Pharaoh Man gasps in surprise. " Well done, Gemini Man. The intruder has been revealed...." He GLances at said Robot Master, and wonders briefly to the pendant. Then Bass begins....to sound noble. Ra watches almost in admiration as the Force Leader speaks, and a curious action is made by Ra. He bLInks to Bass' side, flanking the commander. " He is correct. Amun-Wily's forces fight on their own terms, agianst all comers. We know not rest, we know not complete failure, we know not fear. And above all, we know not the meaning of 'to give up'. Bass is chosen to lead us, and he shall do so with deadly efficiency, wether it be agianst you or with you. " Sword Man hrmphs. "So, the Warrior, is it?" Sword seems to tense a bit, but makes no move to reaffirm his fighting stance. He merely steps back to stand beside Wily, looking on. However, he peers toward Bass in the corner of his eye. . o O (The Dark One is up to something...) Sword Man, master of the obvious. Elec Man has disconnected. Dr. Wily peers at Mars. "Last chance to die a in GLory? Are you mad?" he waves a hand dismissively at the Stardroid, speaking imperiously. "Leave out presence." The comment somehow seems to naturally include Wily /and/ Bass. "When you have a plan...no..an acceptable offer, come back and we'll talk." He shakes his head. "bass has the right of it. We will not serve you. But we will assist you. On our /own/ terms." The butt of his cane thumps against the floor fimrly for punctuation. "There will be no compromise, Mars, Bringer of War." You can practically hear the Holtz playing in Wily's head. Brash trumpets and harsh tubas pulse a pounding beat. "War is our trade. Its what we must do in our quest for world power." A warning finger is shaken at the SD. "You may think your 'castle' and 'garrison' take precednece over our 'petty' concerns." He sneers at Mars. "But you are /wrong/." Elec Man has connected. Clown Man nods, "Yeah..." The LIttle clown eyes narrows, "Dead wrong." Guts Man says, "So wrong that even if you had two wrongs they wouldn't make a right! That's how wrong you are!" Mars ratchets his head down to look Bass and Wily in the eyes. Steam hisses out of exhaust pipes on the ankles of the giant tank as it brings one railgun to rest on a knee. "Prepare the Garrison." he states flatly, a hint of a growl under his breath. "Prepare the Garrison or the Castle will fall." he states again as he ratchets back up to full height. The ground begins to vibrate ever-so-subtly. "For the sake of yours.....and ours." Pharaoh Man readies himself for a possible confLIct. He looks to Bass and Wily. With his current rank, regardless of the situation, none will LIsten to him should he attempt to intersect at strategy of some sort. Pharaoh suddenly finds himself at the mercy of Amun-Wily, and what decision shall be made. Guts Man laughs in Mars' face. "Hahahahaha, you're such an idiot! You will be the one who falls not us!" Gemini Man stares at Mars. At his side, actually, as he's not facing him head-on at the moment... that's a distinction saved for the heads of the faction. One twin's shoulders...heave. It's not a sight...it's tension. Metal Man walks into the training room to just do a LIttle training and stops. "... Oh Slag another one! Mars! Just what business brings you here." Thank god for safties at the moment but it LIke Stardroid and they might not work. Speaking of safeties, the Holographic Terminal is off. In fact, its melted to a steaming pile of fused metal and circuits. So much for safeties! Shadow Man sends a radio transmission. Metal Man receives a radio transmission. Bass turns his head sLIghtly, looking back to Wily, still keeping his Buster trained on Mars. "I think we have some agreement here," he says, in a lower tone of voice, before looking back to Mars. "Alright, Mars," says Bass to the Stardroid in a more civil tone, though the harsh, uncompromising tone stays in his voice. "Are you going to provide any aid at /all/ to raising this Garrison, or this Castle you want so badly? We only have so much in the way of natural resources and labor. Some of that Stardroid magic would be /damned/ handy for such a pursuit." Elec Man has disconnected. Sword Man GLares toward Mars...but says nothing. He simply watches on...until Bass speaks. Eyebrow raised he turns toward Bass...then toward Wily, wondering if Bass's deal is enough for the Doctor. Dr. Wily nods firmly as Bass looks back at him. They do appear to have some agreement here. Crossing his arms over his chest, Wily lets the force commander talk for a moment. After all, if Bass gets shot, Wily can rebuild him. If Wily gets shot...well.... (OOC: also, it gives me time to make my grilled cheese! brb.) Mars ratchets back up to full height. "The Membership willbe gathered under the Banner of War. You shall have your assistance. The Guardian will provide the High Ground. The Fallen Angel will provide the Protection. You, Perv- Dr. Wily, Garrison." The ground now noticibly vibrates. "The last one to fall never sacrifices their will." Guts Man says, "I hope you're the first to fall." Dr. Wily snorts at Mars. "Ok, look. We'll help you. If you give us something, I'll think about it later." He paces a bit closer, moving to stand by Bass, then an irritated frown. "But if you call me the perverter one more time, I swear I'm going to kill you all. MYSELF." A level GLare is directed at Mars; after a few moments, Wily chuckles. "So, it seems we're forced to choose sides anyways. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. You Stardroids really suck, you know that?" "So. Nice neat LIttle package for you, then..." Gemini Man's eyes are still narrowed at Mars. "Everyone in the world works together and helps everyone else." The second twin rolls his eyes. "We hate this crap." Sword Man just...stands there. This isn't his show. This is Mars', Bass', and Wily's. He's just here to watch now, choosing to keep his comments to himself, to speak of later. Bass holds his ground, still keeping himself between Mars and Dr. Wily, along with probably most of the room's Robot Masters. He can't help but smirk at Guts Man's comment, despite (or, more LIkely, because of) how inappropriate his words are. . o O (Not the first, Guts Man ... no, not the first by far.) "If we are suppLIed with resources," says Bass, after Wily is done speaking, "we can increase drone production to the levels you want. You give us the resources, we will build up our drone forces for you, and arrange them as you wish -- but we will control /our/ forces /ourselves/ under this Banner of yours." Bass' tone brooks no further compromise. "These are our terms. We will assist you if you accept them." Pharaoh Man watches quietly. How he wants to destroy these pathetic stardroids, false gods they are. But Wily's word is law. And to break the law is the ultimate failure. Ra simply keeps ready for any apaprent danger. Guts Man suggest, "I know what he can give us. Give your primary to Bass!" Pharaoh Man bLInks. Guts Man has a good idea. Shadow Man displays apathy. Metal Man crosses his arms and looks at the Stardroid of war and then asks, "So did you come here for Gemini's pendant LIke Saturn came for his?" He looks to Gemini Man and shrugs, "..." Blood, gore, burned circuit cards and twisted metal begins to erupt from Mars. His final stare goes back down at Dr. Wily. "The choice was made by Earth over two of your years ago." The massive stardroid swivels his eyes to lock on Bass as his body begins to disintegrate into a mixed pool of blood, urine and fuel oil. "YOU caused this." he accuses with cold rage. And then the head goes, bursting into sparks and fluids, blossom of blood erupts upward in a fairy-LIke mist. Pharaoh Man bLInks, shocked. Only for moments, as he calls up MSE Drones. "<>" Guts Man ooooohs, "Cooooooool! We made him explode!" One Gemini twin opens eyes wide at this display, watching it with great interest... "Cooool..." "Dumb**s moth**f***r." The first Gemini Man spits out an under-his-breath swear worthy of Punk. "We no longer have any desire to help the Stardroids." "That's cool," says the second again. "I can do THAT," says the first. And, then, he starts to stomp off. Guts Man nods to Gemini #2. "Yeah! It's super cool!" Sword Man simply watches on, seeminGLy impassive as the display continues, until 'Mars' explodes completely. As the remainder of the mist settles, Sword simply slouches a bit, sighing and bringing a hand to the back of his neck. "This tapestry grows more complex and indechipherable with each thread..." Shadow Man isn't cleaning that up. Bass stares at Mars as he is charged with the "crime" -- then is splattered with blood and viscera for his trouble. The Force Commander doesn't so much as twitch. His Buster does not greet this tremendously violent but not particularly damaging assault with a Megablast. In fact, Bass actually closes his eyes as the rain of blood and mech-fluid and God knows what else begins, taking off his helmet. He lets the blood and gore wash over his face, dripping into his hair, flowing down his armor in a torrent. An expression to that of reLIgious ecstasy crosses his features as it continues, cannon going back to normal; he pulls his hands through his too-black hair, letting the blood seep in to his scalp. As the torrent stops, he LIfts his head forward from his back, eyes opening again as the `last' of Mars seeps away. That GLossiness, that insane determination to consume, flares across his crimson pupils. "I am the apocalypse," he whispers softly, staring out at where Mars was. "I am the end of the world." And then he stares at the spot Mars stood on, a predatory smile working its way across his face once more. "I am the /end of the world/!" he exclaims in a harsh whisper, the mad GLee in his tone enough to chill lava. "Good for you," Gemini Man says, aloud, to Bass. And he's leaving. Metal Man says, "Holy WILY What the smeg happened!" Shadow Man searches quizically over Mars's features. It seems as if he's looking for a very small restaurant. [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Gamma CO Gemini Man transmits, "F*** them all!" Gemini Man enters the Common Room - Skull Fortress. Gemini Man has left. [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Theta XO Clown Man transmits, "..." Dr. Wily watches Mars LIttle display with a mixture of fascination and disgust. WrinkLIng his nose at the horrible smells, and then Bass speaks. Ignoring the blood running over his coat, and the other putrid LIquids, Wily steps around in front of Bass and peers into the Master's eyes. "Bass...." Wily appears to be about to say something more, and then Bass' whisper grows harsher, more insistent and Wily stops, eyeing his creation oddly. "Bass...you must not succumb to their madness." A hand reaches out tentatively to rest on the Force Commander's shoulder. "We will help them, and on our own terms. But the Robot Masters cannot succeed with me alone. Not in this hour. they will need their Force Commander as well." Wily shakes Bass gently. "Don't allow yourself to be deluded or bLInded by their riddles and half-truths." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "Mars just exploded... oh slag I got stardroid kibble on me..." [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Ditz Pinkmouse transmits, "Let me see if I can find my wrench." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Prismatic Spider transmits, ".... PArdon?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "One down. How many more to go?" [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Gamma CO Gemini Man transmits, "Let them say what they want. Let them DIE." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Metal Man transmits, "he exploded." [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Gamma CO Gemini Man transmits, "Let their tormentors come and consume EVERYTHING. What the hell business is it of OURS?!" [Radio: (A) Masters-Main] Bass chuckles softly. Guts Man says, "Wily do you think you could create another Wily Dragon in our time of need or upgrade some of us to be even stronger?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Sai transmits, "This is going to sound stupid, but was this through any fault of YOURS, or did he just kind of do it of his own accord?" [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "Heheheheh, that was funny." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Shield transmits, "No, that sounds rather normal when asked in regards of Stardroids." Mars has left. [Radio: (D) GLobal] Dr. Thomas LIght transmits, "Any report you may have is appreciated, yes." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Sai transmits, "Well, that's good to know at least. Dad was still building me when they came, so I'm not exactly as knowledgeable on what and what not to expect as the rest of the planet seems to be." [Radio: (D) GLobal] Guts Man transmits, "Any information we have will be sold to the highest bidder." Pharaoh Man watches as said drone teams arrive to collect the remains. " Amun-Wily. No doubt the 'Fallen Angel' and the 'Guardian' have or will recieve visits soon for their 'designated tasks'. Are we to join forces with them as well..." Ra asks, eyeing the mess boredly, wondering if there is any end to Bass' insanity. He allows the smile to fade to a smirk as Wily touches him, not seeming to particularly snap out of it; it's more LIke he's allowing Wily to intervene in whatever altered state he seems to be in. "I see clearly, Doctor," he says, in a soft, even tone of voice, blood trickLIng down and rolLIng across his right optic without so much as a bLInk reaction. "I know what must be done. We will consume them all ... Stardroid and this unseen enemy aLIke. We will consume them, take their strength for ourselves -- and we will be as /Gods/, Doctor. As *GODS*." He chuckles again, picking back up his helmet from where it was carelessly tosses on the ground. His black hair is sticky with blood and other formerly LIfe-giving fluids. He holds it in his hands LIke a bowl, looking at the GLowing gem above the brow. "Yes..." His attention moves to Pharaoh Man. "Yes, Pharaoh Man. We will take the resources given to us by the Mavericks and the RepLIforce aLIke. We will make a drone army unLIke which mankind has ever seen before -- and even if it is decimated, the remains will be enough to allow us to press on through the weakened countries of the world after the battle, and make them our own." He laughs softly, looking to Wily. "Isn't it /wonderful/, Doctor? We are being rewarded for our violence! It will be /our/ army that defeats the Stardroids, this other threat -- and then it will press on to CRUSH THE VERY WORLD!" The GLeam doesn't leave his eyes, visions of battlefields playing out across his mind, of that final battle with Rock. "It will be /magnificent/, Doctor! Imagine it! Those who would judge us will allow us to hold the world in judgement in their stead!" Pharaoh Man eyes Bass, quirking a brow. As gods? They already as gods. But the absorption of power...yes. With the fall of the Stardroids, a power vacuum will occur, and the fast, the clever, and the powerful alone will fill it. A plot begins to steam out and form within Pharaoh's mind, one dark enough to cast shadow on the sunniest day. .oO(Yes. Hmmmhmmm. Yes......) Guts Man says, "Hey Bass, you think you can buster anything from those remains?" Sword Man simply turns his lowered head at Bass, eyes conveying the disgust at that very idea. However, he stays silent. He'll bring his comments to the doctor later. . o O (The madness...the very madness I felt in Pluto's Ordeal...the very madness which the Dark One treaded upon before embracing fully...it's coming. M'Lord, perserve us, it is coming. And what is to stop it?) Dr. Wily :leaves his hand LIghtly on Bass' shoulder for a moment, then suddenly...fearfully enough, it seems WIly is struck by the sae madness that grips Bass even now. His eyes grow wide, and gain a feversih look , as though he is seeing some far off plane. "Yes Bass, I see. We will be the supposed instruments of the Stardroids destruction, only to ensure our own victory!" Wily paces away form Bass, his hand dropping to his side, then turns and speaks to the Eilte, clenched fist raised high overhead. "We will be the hammer which shatters the anvil! The greatest sword of a legendary forge! None shall stand bewfore our might! You and I, our true desting will finally be fulfilled!" It appears Wily is enamored of the idea, but suddenly, strangely, a GLImmer of reason LIght in his eyes. "But, we must be cautious. Even with the extra resources we will be receiving, it would be far to easy to overextend ourselves." One finger wagGLes in warning. "We must be smart as well as hard, cunning as well as vicious and merciless." two steps bring him face to face with Bass again. "Force Commander, prepare the Robot Masters for the coming battle. Drone production is to be eincreased to maximum LImits at once." That GLeam of madness creeps into his eyes and voice once more. "We will give these Stardroids their 'garrison'. We will defend their 'castle'. And when we have defeated this threat, we will claim our right." Metal Man sends a radio transmission to Dr. Wily. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission. Elec Man has connected. Elec Man has disconnected. Dr. Wily sends a radio transmission to Metal Man. Metal Man receives a radio transmission. Sword Man brings his head up, peering at Wily as Bass's madness seems to infect even Wily himself. His eyes gain an odd fatigued look to them as he watches on. THe only thing that goes through Sword's mind? . o O (And lo, it continues to spread...) Metal Man sends a radio transmission. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Metal Man. Bass' expression is locked into a rictus of violent GLee as Wily finally begins to see the black LIght that has consumed him since the Stardroids visited Skull Fortress. He puts his bloodied hands on Wily's shoulders as he moves back in close to him, nodding affirmatively to his orders to produce more drones. "The order is as good as given," cackles Bass, bringing one hand off of Wily's shoulder and holding it in front of him, clenching it into a slow, claw-LIke fist. "We will /squeeze/, and *squeeze* this world, and we will /drink/ this world from the cup these Stardroids have given us! It will be *we* at that final hour who survive -- and we alone!" Then, Bass -- prompted by Guts Man's suggestion -- looks around at the remains, holding out his Buster hand towards them. He sweeps his hand around in a broad arc, trying to find an energy reading, but is unable to. "Dead," he mutters, suddenly more morose. "No weapon energy left. A shame ... it would be useful. Were only that accursed Maverick dolphin's corpse intact -- she had a powerful weapon that I am almost out of..." He looks back to Wily, the old expression on his face returning. He chuckles. "No matter, Doctor," he says. "They will make our arsenal for us -- they will only /wish/ that I had stolen *just* their weapons!" Dr. Wily grins broadly as Bass goes on. His gaze follows the ELIte's to Guts Man, smiLIng a decidely vicious grin. "No matter, Bass. More will surely fall before you, and you will take powers that will ensure our victory!" Wily cackles, pure madness filLIng his voice. "My greatest creation, you will finally be the instrument of my retribution!" Lowering his gaze back to Bass, he nods somberly. "I must talk with you later Bass, about a few other details." Wily shakes his head, then inhales sharply. "Though, they aren't terribly pressing." A sudden thought seems to strike him. "However....I /do/ have something you might find interesting, yes..." He paces around the ELIte, and peers towards the door. "Yes...I may just go see to that right now...." Metal Man sends a radio transmission to Dr. Wily. Dr. Wily receives a radio transmission from Metal Man. Pharaoh Man visibly winces in physical pain as Dr. Wily refers to Bass as 'his greatest creation', only to dash the comment from his mind. He simply supervises the collection of remains into appropriate containment by the drones. .oO(Soon. ) Guts Man says, "Bass is da Man! If he were more of da Man he'd be Bass Man!" Bass' gaze turns towards the door when Wily indicates it, spattering a few drops of blood from the ends of his hair. He is absolutely /sodden/ with blood and gore, being the closest to Mars when he exploded. More blood drips across his chest-gem and off his forearms as he asks Wily: "A new toy?" he says with a laugh, encouraged by Guts Man's affirmation. His voice carries the mad excitement of a child expecting a very expensive gift. "Something that I can play with the enemy?" Guts Man says, "I hope it's something to counter attack all of Mega Man's 2007 armor add-ons. LIke um... a poncho!" Gemini Man arrives from the Common Room - Skull Fortress. Gemini Man has arrived. Gemini Man enters the Common Room - Skull Fortress. Gemini Man has left. Dr. Wily strides to the doorway, then turns back to look at Bass. "Not exactly. Though it may come in handy when 'playing' with the enemy." Wily chuckles darkly, then suddenly seems to snap back to reaLIty an notice the other Masters present for the first time. His expression changes a bit, and his tone becomes more...inspirational? What the hell? "Fear not my children. We will weather this storm, and we will it to victory and our rule over the world!" Shaking his fist, he turns and stalks out of the door, motioning Bass to follow. A poncho? Bass pauses at that, looking down at his Buster arm, which is drenched with various kinds of fluid. He moves his other hand over, extending his middle and index finger, and runs it across the top of his forearm. He turns his hand over, looking at the fluid that has accumulated on his `GLove'. He rubs the affected fingers with his thumb, feeLIng the consistency of the substance. It is oddly appeaLIng to him. "Hmm, yes," says Bass. "After all, Sigma has a cloak, and even Colonel has a skirt..." He chuckles. "Perhaps, perhaps ... a poncho. Yes." He follows behind Wily when he beckons, looking back to the others as Wily gets a LIttle ahead of him. He says one word before he departs. "/Prepare./" Pharaoh Man waits until Amun-Wily is gone to take a moment to fume in his anger. He will cLImb back to the top, yes. And then, Bass. Ra turns, and heads for the door, kicking the melted console on his way out. " FooLIsh Stardroids...." he mutters, and wanders away to his own affairs. Dr. Wily enters the Common Room - Skull Fortress. Dr. Wily has left. Bass enters the Common Room - Skull Fortress. Bass has left. Sword Man simply sighs and slumps against a wall, as the two leave. "It is spreading. The madness has become all consuming. I fear soon this 'Nothing' will not be the worst of our problems." Pharaoh Man goes home. Pharaoh Man has left. Guts Man enters the Common Room - Skull Fortress. Guts Man has left. Sword Man has left. Shadow Man has left. Metal Man has left. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Tartarus $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Message: 15/4 Posted Author Overheard at the bar... Wed Nov 20 Reaver Mimic ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Two guys were talking after one of the latest Sheol Pit fights. Clem: Hey Jake, you remember that nut runnin around, attackin people with dead folks' stuff? Jake: Eh? You mean that Maverick, Metal Whatzits? Clem: Naaaw. That mercenary guy. River Maxit? Reamer Moochit? Uh... Jake: Oh...that Reaver guy. Clem: Yeah. Him. Anyways, word is, he's back in business, and there's some guy in a suit at the Sheol Pit takin his calls for him, if you catch my drift. Jake: That so? Didn't he do a job for Punk earLIer in the year? Clem: Yeah. Heard his old partner went all legit with that salvage business though. Jake: *sigh* Times are tough. I almost went to be a San An cop. They've got good benefits. Clem: ...Riight. Anyways, word is, he'll take any job out there, if it's interestin. So y'know. Thought your associates might wanna know. Jake: Yeah. I'll have to pass it along. OOC: The gist? Reaver's back in business. You need something done during this peacable time? Since he doesn't care about the alLIance in any shape or form, just 2way, @mail, or page him when he's on to set something up. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$