Connecting to megamanmush.com(64.246.46.192) Orbit of Earth(#379Rnt) From this high up, everything is silent within the vacuum of space. Below you is the white, green and blue ball that is called Earth. From this high up, you can only make out the large land masses in the middle of the clear blue oceans. The white wisps of clouds can be seen stretching and swirLIng from one end of the Earth to the other. The site is breathtaking, and one that very few people ever see. Contents: Contents: Starhaven [SD] Abandoned Space Station Space Colony Moon Deep Space : Sol System Eastern Hemisphere : Sky Above Eastern Hemisphere Western Hemisphere : Sky Above Western Hemisphere Over the last several hours, if at all possible, it almost has seemed LIke Nigh is getting closer and closer. Unfortunately, these fears are rather well verified. Without warning, a powerful transmission tears through the atmosphere and across all transmissions that can recieve it. Aldebaran's Stardroid face appears once again. "People of Earth," he announces, "Nigh has come too close. It's now or never. We have no choice. Those who wish to stand with myself and the remaining Stardroids against Nigh, teleport aboard Eurasia. I will meet with you there. [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Well, hot dog! I don't have to hitch a ride after all~" [Radio: (E) None] Alpha XO Elec Man transmits, "Give Nigh a good kick for me, you guys. Bit ripped me up too bad to fight in there." [Radio] Transmission detected: ... RepLIforce... ... ... ... on ... ... [Radio] Transmission detected: ... this's it. Th'big one. [Radio: (E) None] Bass transmits, "Who is functioning?" [Radio: (E) None] Omega Battery Dynamo Man transmits, "I am." [Radio] Transmission detected: ... am making ... ... there. [Radio] Transmission detected: ... my ... to a teleporter. [Radio] Transmission detected: Yes sir.. uh Welcome back sir! [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ... [Radio] Transmission detected: :was ... to ... entered RHQ ... ... taken ... item in ... by ... ... ... ... Research ... [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ... ... ... to ... teleport there on the double. [Radio: (E) None] Synth transmits, "I am, but I'm currently working on Pharaoh's... repairs." [Radio: (E) None] Bass transmits, "Just Dynamo Man? That is all? No others?" [Radio] Transmission detected: I ... ... ... ... ... ... ... of any use ... [Radio: (E) None] Omega Battery Dynamo Man transmits, "...not again." Somewhere on the MUSH, Dawn has connected. [Radio: (E) None] Alpha XO Elec Man transmits, "You're kidding. Just Dynamo and Bass? Metal should be active, the wolfroid didn't do much to him." [Radio: (E) None] Guts Man transmits, "I'm in tip top shape." [Radio: (E) None] Bass transmits, "Very well. All Robot Masters who are even *marginally* combat ready, report to the Fortress vehicle bay. I will duct tape you as best as I can. We're taking the shuttle." [Radio: (E) None] Omega Battery Dynamo Man transmits, "Immediately." [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ... ... 'em ... ... ... [Radio: (E) None] Alpha XO Elec Man just yells impotently. "If we make it through this, I'm going to scrap Bit for keeping me out of this! [Radio: (E) None] Alpha XO Elec Man sighs. "Elec Man powering down. I only hope I can power back up." [Radio] Transmission detected: Will do ... ... ... [Radio: (E) None] Omega Battery Dynamo Man transmits, "Don't worry brother, we'll do this." [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ... sweetie! ... rest up. [Radio] Transmission detected: ... Demon. ... the ... with ... [Radio] Transmission detected: ...Yes sir. [Radio] Transmission detected: ... anyone ... coming? [Radio] Transmission detected: All available ... report to Eurasia ... [Radio] Transmission detected: My... repairs are ... complete. I'll ... to Eurasia... ... ... as ... ... ... [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ... ... Bit. ... ... ... [Radio] Transmission detected: ...Of ... Beam ... ... ... help as ... ... ... can ... ... ground. [Radio: (C) None] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "And this is the ultimte Winter Solstice... I am ready." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Hmm... I can distract it, if you all hit it hard enough..." [Radio: (C) None] Metal Shark transmits, "Hmm, yes.. Distract the Nigh.. We shall all be GLad you gave your LIfe." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Shut up and focus." [Radio: (C) None] Metal Shark transmits, "Oh *what*? Nothing's happened yet." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Shut up and focus anyway." [Radio: (C) None] Metal Shark transmits, "Hmm.." [Radio: (C) None] Daryn yawns. "Yo Mr. Squirrel." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "What?" [Radio: (C) None] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "Then again, it took a miricle to stop judgement. I fear it may be that this world needs another miricle." [Radio: (C) None] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "OOCly hides. :)" [Radio: (C) None] Daryn transmits, "Stop quoting the damn soundtrack." [Radio: (C) None] Metal Shark transmits, "Do miracles still exist? Procyon said god left us." [Radio: (C) None] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Procyon is also dead." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Soundtrack?" [Radio: (C) None] Daryn transmits, "Yes, the soundtrack...OF THE UNIVERSE." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Procyan is dead? That's good." [Radio: (C) None] Capricorn transmits, "Procyon isnae dead." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "OOC: That wasn't a typo. Pyro really did say Procyan." [Radio: (C) None] Sigma transmits, "He isn't? Good." [Radio: (C) None] Crescent Grizzly transmits, "Wha' yew' mean, Capricarn'? Ah' saw' im' go up 'en an 'xplosion..." [Radio: (C) None] Kain transmits, "*idly plays One Ton's 'Another Miracle'. "The age of miracles isn't over, friends. And it won't be over as long as even one of us is still breathing... We shall succeed."" [Radio: (C) None] Capricorn transmits, "But he aes mortal, drained o' his powers. Hae is once again a human, special in no way save for whae he once was." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Well, let's kill him again." [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "I hope you all die. Bunch of aft munching no good vengefull space morons. 'Oh we'll never bother you again. Your judgement has been done for good! Bla bla bla!'" [Radio: (C) None] Capricorn transmits, "He'll meet a fitting fate, dunnae worry." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Good." [Radio: (C) None] Daryn transmits, "So what were you before you were Stardroidized?" [Radio: (C) None] Capricorn transmits, "Thae's personal." [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "I'm betting a janitor." [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ready? [Radio] Transmission detected: Ready ... ... ... ... [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ... ... [Radio] Transmission detected: Late ... I ... as ... ... I'm ... ... [Radio: (C) None] Metal Shark transmits, "Or a cess pool conductor." [Radio] Transmission detected: Shall ... ... ... ... be this eve. ... it begin. [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "You, shut up and concentrate. You, just shut up." [Radio: (C) None] Daryn transmits, "We're all friends here!" [Radio] Transmission detected: I ... ... ... ... ... ... I'm ... ... ... [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ... ... ... now ... ... ... and I'm ... too... [Radio: (C) None] Capricorn snarls. "Watch ye'r tone, y'bleedin fools. We're all on ae same side right now, ae'n there's not a mite sense in petty insults." [Radio: (C) None] Daryn transmits, "Right, we're all on the same side. So what were you before you were stardroidized?" [Radio: (C) None] Metal Shark transmits, "Plenty of point." [Radio: (C) None] Metal Shark transmits, "The fleshie holds a point. If we are all alLIes why can you not tell us? Do you not trust us?" [Radio: (C) None] Bass transmits, "I'm going to kill your boy today, Sigma." [Radio] Transmission detected: ... Shark! ... ... [Radio: (C) None] Capricorn pauses. "Ah was ae queen of ae sapphire o'a planet. Ae was a gorgeous ocean, teeming with LIfe. Y'er own seas remind me of ae't. But... ae's gone now, so whae difference is ae't?" [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "And I'm going to beat anyone who tries to interfere with Bass' plans!" [Radio] Transmission detected: Yes ... He ... ... to reject my one ... ... however. [Radio: (C) None] Sigma transmits, "What did he do this time?" [Radio] Transmission detected: ... are ... ... case ... must ... a ... of unimaginable power. Now is NOT ... time ... ... ... ... the Force ... [Radio: (C) None] Bass transmits, "He continues to show disrespect. Here I thought you were running a proper miLItary. Do you tolerate this kind of insubordination among your own?" [Radio: (C) None] Rocket Rodent transmits, "As long as they don't go against saving the free world, why should we try to stop him?" [Radio] Transmission detected: That ... ... ... ... was ... to avoid. [Radio: (C) None] Metal Shark transmits, "He does not, Bass. I expect punishment later." [Radio] Transmission detected: ... us ... ... ... ... task ... hand... [Radio: (C) None] Metal Shark coughs, "It was worth it.." [Radio] Transmission detected: ... it ... ... you ... ... speak ... ... ... ... ... ... the ... ... android who can find ... ... ... insult in anything. [Radio] Transmission detected: ... [Radio: (C) None] Sigma transmits, "Figured. Do not worry, Bass. If we do not all perish by Nigh, I will decide on a proper punishment for suicidal tendencies." [Radio] Transmission detected: ... [Radio: (C) None] Bass transmits, "Very obLIging, Emperor. I will spare him for you." [Radio: (C) None] Metal Shark transmits, "..But.. Sir!" [Radio] Transmission detected: ... what? Either ... are ... ... ... ... ... ... killed. ... is it? If ... ... not ... ... with ... I suspect is your ... ... I ... ... ... have ... ... ... [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man chuckles softly. [Radio: (E) None] Beta CO Metal Man transmits, "Oh Tengu..." [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man still chuckles, "Yes, Metal?" [Radio: (E) None] Beta CO Metal Man transmits, "When we surive this I will be kicking your ass all over the Pit in Tartuarus" [Radio: (E) None] Crash Man transmits, "Quiet, red loser!" [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man answers with a jeering laugh. [Radio: (E) None] Beta CO Metal Man transmits, "Make me Crashypoo." [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man transmits, "...so...is it close?" [Radio: (E) None] Omega Battery Dynamo Man transmits, "Tengu!" [Radio: (E) None] Cancer transmits, "Tengu... I free you. *Tengu goes UnAvatar.*" [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man transmits, "..." [Radio: (E) None] Beta CO Metal Man transmits, "Welcome home... Tengu Man heh... heh heh." [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man transmits, "...ah...uh...huh..." [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man transmits, "...no! You can't just... you can't...damage is already done, Kansaa-sama..." [Radio: (B) None] Gale Sorcerer transmits, "why do I just feel LIke saying "banzaaai"?" [Radio: (E) None] Omega Battery Dynamo Man transmits, "So my hunch was correct ... dangit ... I couldn't get radio contact ..." [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man sounds LIke he's still in shock, "...I..." [Radio: (E) None] Beta CO Metal Man transmits, "Your ass is grass Tengu." [Radio: (E) None] Cancer transmits, "You need to be free... should the forces lose... I will regain you, Avatar. Prevail. *cLIck*" [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man goes quiet. Very, very quiet. [Radio: (C) None] Isaac transmits, "Good luck." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "This is it..." [Radio: (C) None] Metal Shark transmits, "Intruiging." [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "...I hope..." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "If we survive... let's have a party, alright?" [Radio: (C) None] Crash Man transmits, "I'll party on your grave, Maximal!" [Radio: (C) None] Starburst Dragon transmits, "Let's win this, so we c'n come home an'have a Christmas t'remember. None of us'll have t'faht one another. We c'n just be friends and enjoy ourselves." [Radio: (C) None] Crash Man transmits, "OOC: Oops." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "I'm afraid... that it might not be that easy. The wars will continue. ... *sighs*" [Radio: (C) None] Zero transmits, "The wars never ended." [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "I blame this on the UN." [Radio: (C) None] Crash Man transmits, "Huh. I always blamed it on Megaman." [Radio: (C) None] Kain transmits, "They're being held off." [Radio: (C) None] Zero transmits, "We can cut the sappy crap, I think we've got more important things to worry about right now." [Radio: (C) None] Daryn transmits, "I blame this on Bad Parenting and Video Games." [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "Megaman." [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "Definitely his fault." [Radio: (C) None] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "No, not Christmas, Solstice. When we win we will return the LIght to the skys, and we will have Solstice." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Shut up, Zero." [Radio: (C) None] Starburst Dragon transmits, "Wha'd ah bother t'bing it up...?" [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "Shut up." [Radio: (C) None] Crash Man transmits, "Shut up, squirrel." [Radio: (C) None] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Pyro Squirrel, shut your incompotent mouth." [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "All three of you shut up. *audible wince*" [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "Maybe loser Hunters LIke you worry about such thing Zero, but we Masters have everything under control." [Radio: (C) None] Daryn transmits, "Lets all talk a lot!" [Radio: (C) None] Zero transmits, "Your master can't even keep his bowel movements under control, let alone this situation, Guts." [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "Didn't my master kick your ass this week?" [Radio: (C) None] Crash Man transmits, "Hahaha, nooch." [Radio] Transmission detected: Man. ... ... ... with ... planet ... being the last LIne of defense ... evil ... You'd ... ... other ... ... ... stood up ... fought ... at one ... ... ... [Radio: (C) None] Daryn transmits, "So Crash, what should I play for today's episode?" [Radio] Transmission detected: :heaves ... ragged sigh. ... ... ... [Radio: (C) None] Starburst Dragon transmits, "Sah'lent naht, holy naht, all is calm..." [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "Shut up." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "... All is bright..." [Radio: (C) None] Crash Man transmits, "Yeah, some of us are Jewish, you oppressive f***twards!" [Radio: (C) None] Daryn transmits, "I asked Crash, not 'whomever-you-are'." You will now hear messages on channel . [Radio: (C) None] Fusion Phoenix picks up the song, singing in a nice baratone, "Round yon virgin mother and child..." [Radio: (C) None] Crash Man transmits, "You should play some MetalLIca." [Radio: (C) None] Crash Man transmits, "Somthing high-energy so we can f*** someone up." [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "Why not some Ironica?" [Radio: (C) None] Crash Man transmits, "Good idea, Guts Man!" [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Holy infant, so tender and mild..." [Radio: (C) None] Starburst Dragon transmits, "Sleep in heav'nly peace..." [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "...Good luck, everyone..." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Slee-eep in heavenly peace..." [Radio: (C) None] Daryn transmits, "Heh, alright then.... Less see if I got any lyric sheets on me." [Radio: (C) None] Daryn plays a very loud series of chords, possibly drowning the Christmas Songs out. "Guitaaarr.r....check." [Radio: (C) None] Starburst Dragon transmits, "Thank'y." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "(sounding oddly calm)Heh. Maybe it's LIke one of those movies, and we can defeat it by singing." [Radio: (C) None] Starburst Dragon transmits, "Let's go positive thinkin'! Haha." [Radio: (C) None] Rocket Rodent transmits, "Wouldn't hurt." [Radio: (C) None] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "I've heard that Yamararenai Yamararenai can be used as a weapon." [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "...Me... I'm just going to lay on the grass and watch the stars above. ...Good luck, everyone..." [Radio: (C) None] Job transmits, "Thanks Tron. I'll see you when I get back." [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "/What/ stars?!" [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "Do /you/ see any stars?! Because all *I* can see is the NIGH!!" [Radio: (C) None] Starburst Dragon transmits, "Ah'll make stars 'nough f'r everyone." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "We could use your weaponry up here..." [Radio: (C) None] Daryn transmits, "I can make Tron see stars!" [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "Screw it, rat. Screw it all..." [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "-sighs- Right... ...No stars. -another sigh- Can't even see the /stars/ anymore." [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "Oh well. At least its relaxing up here on Eurasia." [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "...*relaxing*... yeah, right..." [Radio: (C) None] Cancer transmits, "It is very relaxing, Tengu... Avatar..." [Radio: (C) None] Bass transmits, "Well, now we're done." [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "...hhhghhh..." [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "...wait." [Radio: (E) None] Guts Man transmits, "So what's the plan again Bass? We let the chumps beat each other up, then pick off the weakLIngs?" [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "...what...what did you say?" [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "He said you're a big nosed doofus." [Radio: (C) None] Bass transmits, "Time for Plan B..." [Radio: (C) None] Cancer/Uranus/Gemin transmits, "...Looks LIke I will claim you as my avatar after all, Tengu... [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "...no..." [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne sniffs. "My family and I have been gambLIng with death ever since our parents died. I /don't/ fear it... especialy not since a few months ago." [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "...What?" [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man goes quiet. [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "Hey Tron if you die can I have your midget slaves?" [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "Hardly." [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "I'll take that as a yes. Come on kids! Papa Guts is taking you all out for ice cream!" [Radio] Transmission detected: Tengu ... ... ... you ... hear me. ... don't ... ... go ... ... ... You ... /fight/ them. [Radio] Transmission detected: ...Oh ... great. [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "(still oddly calm) Well, looks LIke we'll have to take this thing out ourselves." [Radio] Transmission detected: ... can e-ring yourself and ... give ... the satisfaction of ... ... [Radio] Transmission detected: :says nothing... [Radio: (C) None] Daryn transmits, "We got a request, guys, and I owe this guy one! It's called Still!" [Radio: (C) None] Metal Shark transmits, "Stardroids! What is *wrong* with your machine?!" [Radio] Transmission detected: ... can ... ... LIke ... rest of us brother. [Radio: (C) None] Yin Yoma Byte transmits, "...Machine...?" Precipice of the Void - Starhaven(#6586Rnt) You stand upon a platform, no more than a few hundred feet in all directions, carved from the uppermost tip of Starhaven's ruins, the broken crown of its pyramid-LIke shape. There are no walls, there is no ceiLIng; this plateau is exposed to the vast, black emptiness of space... though there is yet an atmosphere. While the air is chill and dry, it is yet safe for all to LIve and breathe in. Below and in all directions spans the pristine blue sphere of Earth. Even without the LIght of the dead sun to give it luster, the LIving planet defies the encroaching shadow with its own brilLIant GLow, a jewel amidst the darkness. In all other directions, however, spans the infinite blackness of Nigh... a darkness so pure and deep that it almost sears the eyes. Even now, that darkness fLIckers over Earth's GLow, as Nigh prepares to snuff the planet out of existence as it has so many others. The platform is kept well-LIt, however, by large LIghts at its edges, providing some false sense of security amidst the blackness of space; illuminating the plateau's scorched and worn surface and those that gather here. At its center rises a towering column of metal and wiring, a mass of machinery that stabs out of the heart of Starhaven. At its heart LIes a powerful crystal, GLowing a pale blue, swirLIng with energy; from it, a host of tubes and wires twist up the mechanical tower, leading to its pinnacle, a hundred feet above: a broad, metalLIc vat. It appears to be a starship engine, but now serves the purposes of a cauldron, a pale blue GLow eminating from within. Could this be the weapon that the Stardroids have made to battle Nigh? Contents: Contents: Duet [Stardroid] [SD] Capricorn [Stardroid] [SD] Clown Man [Master] [RM] Aldebaran [SD] Dynamo Man [Normal] [RM] Guts Man [Normal] [RM] Crash Man [Armor] [RM] Bass [Badman] [RM] Zero [Unarmored] [MH] Kain [Strider] [C] Sai [Headband-casual] [RF] Iris [Vanguard] [RF] Beam Demon [Pulsar] [M] Gale Sorcerer [Magician] [C] Firestorm Phoenix [Heavy] [M] Job [Space_salvage_gear] [C] Alpha [Wing] [MH] Silo [Armor] [RF] Colonel [Armor] [RF] Mai Atsuki [Strider] [C] Crescent Grizzly [RF] Fusion Phoenix [Avian] [RF] Barrage Raptor [Armored] [RF] Rocket Rodent [Armor] [RF] Canopy Jabberwock [Jabberwocky] [RF] Starburst Dragon [Armor] [RF] Pyro Squirrel [Standard] [C] Ninjutsu Gecko [Work] [C] Metal Shark [M] Harmony [Armor] [RF] Regulus [SD] Spica [Armour] [SD] South : Obsidian Holo-Node - Starhaven Starburst Dragon is busy... punching himself in the arm. "Stupid forcefield! Nah's not th'tahm t'go on th'fritz! Back up!" The forcefield goes back up. "Better." Zero sends a radio transmission. Colonel receives a radio transmission from Zero. You intercept Zero's transmission to Colonel: Besides... we're the good guys, right? We always come out on top. If you waste time worrying about the failure, you'll never even get a GLImpse of the victory. Guts Man chuckles, "I think I saw something LIke that in one of pop's magazines. Goat chicks are the freakiest." Spica chuckles softly under her breath. "Care for a bit of electricity there, Capricorn?" she offers as she keeps a weary eye on the mass above. Crescent Grizzly groans, " Zuts Alors..." he mutters from behind his forcefield, shoulder slumping. " Lus' LIk' weh' gon' 'ave tah' fight it deh' ol' fashion'd way..." he comments, and takes a step closer towards the Nigh, " Trah' an get dat' 'ting workin'..." he calls to those behind him, " Maybe weh' can stall deh' Nigh? " Attaching the last piece of his staff, Gale Sorcerer taps the crystal sphere he's just set up on its place, and grins to his partner. "Not being hidden" He slahes it into the air with one hand to check everything's well set. "Just let's not catch too much attention. That's an advantage most of the times." Then he eyes to all the noise that is coming from the Stardroids' direction. See, it has already gone kaputt! Gale, stop smiLIng! Duet appears near the other Stardroids, her face wrought with pain and sorrow, arriving shortly after the machine's seeming failure. She offers no words yet, she merely stands there, watching, her hands folded over her chest. Aldebaran GLances towards the crowd. Looking a bit sheepish, for a Stardroid... he coughs. "...any assistance you can provide would be most appreciated." he calls out. He begins cussing quietly under his breath in a half-dozen languages. Pyro Squirrel backs away from the machine at the mention of electricity. Electricity bad. Capricorn turns to look back to SPica, and grunts as she looks again to the Engine. "Aye, ye got any jumper cables on ye, Spica? Perhaps ae's battery ae's jus' dead." Stellar Jay has arrived. Kain grimaces as the Machine... fails to work. (...)oo. He looks over at Mai as the Nigh approaches. "..." Fusion Phoenix looks at Beam's offering. "That stuff won't do! Here, catch!" He pulls out and throws at the Maverick a roll of a different kind of tape. You see, Gaffer's tape is supieror to Duct. Dynamo Man stands before the device, jaw again set in concentration. ".. Jumper cables? I'm a friggin /generator/!" Job heads towards the machine and brings his techinal support rig. "Okay lets see what we can do. Alderbaran, any idea where the error in the system might be?" Pyro Squirrel shrugs. "Don't look at me, I can repatch armor plating and rewire explosives, but I don't think that will be much help here. Firestorm Phoenix curses under his breath, his weapon systems warming up, "I beLIeve a certain quote immortiLIzed by a fictional character from the 20th century is quite fitting in this momment. We're all gonna die." Shaking his head the avain maverick sighs, nothing much he can do now but sit and wait. [Radio: (C) None] Kain transmits, "Miss Tron? We seem to have a technical problem... and the ironic thing is the Stardroids can't repair it..." Silo just stares as Beam Demon attempts to hand over the duct tape to Pac Pac, before shaking his head in disbeLIef. He then turns back to the machine, taking a few steps over to it to get a better view of this machine that just won't work. UnLIne others though, he doesn't swear. "...Why did I have a feeLIng this would happen?" Rocket Rodent draws both energy pistols. If the Stardroid is cursing, there's no way this could be how the machine is supposed to work. "Time for plan B." He says, while he charges the pistols up. Yep, he's a 4 foot tall rat of destruction now. While dozens of thoughts run through his mind, one sticks in mis mind, quite an odd thought, in fact. .o(I need a sword...) Metal Shark says, "Typical.. The machine to defeat the ultimate nothing breaks down.." Alpha grins thinly, but only thinly because she doesn't really have much in the way of LIps at the moment. And then ... if she had eyes ... she'd bLInk. Well, it looks LIke even stardroids mess up. Oh well, it'd be ironic if they weren't all going to implode or something. And then she looks up to Spica and lets out a nearly emotionless sigh. Colonel shakes his head as the machine breaks and Beam Demon offers Duct Tape. Colonel steps towards the edge of the platform and looks for anything that might be coming. "RepLIforce... No, everyone stay on your toes... The Nigh knows we can hurt it." He looks at the Stardroids and asks, "I assume it will send something to stop us?" Ninjutsu Gecko watches the machine die as well. "I had a moped that did that...never started when I was running late." he shakes his head, and looks over at Gale's dopey grin. "Well. You're certainatly excited about all this." He nods works for me. "I'm going to sing the doom song now...." He starts singing, to himself...the Doom song. [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "...Ohfun. What is this Machine?! ...I'm on Eurasia..." [Radio: (C) None] Kain transmits, "...Starhaven." Spica tilts her head at Dynamo Man. "There's a help hand, Capricorn," the red-haired Stardroid comments. "But I can still offer a good jolt." She holds her hands wide and electricity leaps between her palms. [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "...I... see. ...What is going on?" [Radio: (C) None] Daryn starts playing music. Seeing that Daryn's player doesn't have the song yet, hopefully the words will be descriptive enough. "Back up in your as* with the Resurection...Is the group harder than an erection...That shows more affection. They wanna ban us on Capital Hill, Cause its die muthafu**as, die muthafu**as! [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Thing broke down." Gaffer's tape. Hm. The demon keeps that in mind as he catches the thrown roll, examining it before tucking it behind his shield. "Indeed." He steps back, having given all the help he could, and raises his gaze to the gray disturbance above. "..." Somewhere on the MUSH, Signas has disconnected. [Radio: (C) None] Daryn strugGLes not to laugh midway through the song. [Radio: (C) None] Kain transmits, "The machine that will sealed Nigh up for good... broke down." [Radio: (C) None] Metal Shark transmits, "Wacky, aint it?" A grimmace is afixed on Alde's face. He begins tapping away at the gargantuan computer consoles. "The power distribution matrix... I hope." he conjectures, running his hands along the consoles rapidly trying to ascertain a problem. The computers seem to be malfunctioning as well, however. ---------- Thunk, thunk, thunk, the kicks and whacks and duct-tape appLIcations and slew of curses does LIttle to encourage the Stardroid Engine from kicking into gear... it remains cold, black, and dead. Perhaps it really is broken. Stardroid construction... you can't trust it. Up above, the roiLIng grey cloud thickens, assuming the girth of a thundercloud, even giving a few low, ominous rumbles... but thunder? In Earth orbit? Surely it must be something else. But LIke thunder, it begins to rain, as small, black bolts of darkness begin to descend from the cloud in a thick shower. They streak by Starhaven and the Plateau that you stand upon, leaving roiLIng black trails in their wake; dropping towards Earth's atmosphere below, creating spreading pools of blackness where they connect. Several black hailstones strike the surface of the Plateau, bursting into thick, fog-LIke clouds of darkness... splash, splash, splash, more shadow added to the growing mass. The cloud is growing, soon looming over the heroes that stand upon the plateau, coelescing into something, though it's not yet clear just what... ---------- [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "Good! Now we can prove to you idiots that we don't need aLIen technology to defeat the nothing. You people depend on technology too much and not enough on your own brain power." [Radio: (C) None] Clown Man gains a British Accent, "Verily." Another gadget springs from Starburst's shoulder. It's a screwdriver. Somehow, he thinks that not even all his knowledge of tinkering with Mets and building Bunbies that can speak Fake Swedish will do much good here. And shoves it back in, of course. Metal Shark says, "Eeew." Dynamo Man pats himself down. "Let me see, where did I put that extra pair of cables ... and a computer problem? I might be able, but I'm not /too/ good on that." Harmony looks at Starburst helplessly, then her eyes wander up to the bizarre thunderstorm happening around them. "It just gets worse and worse.." Crescent Grizzly moves to stand before the device, trying to act as a shield agianst the storm of shadows. More damage to the device is not something any of them can afford at the moment. Silently, the Guardian waits, watching the cloud with anticipation... Barrage Raptor unsLIngs her rifle, "Looks LIke the crap's about to hit the fan, boys and girls." She murmers to the other RepLIforcers that are around here. Great. Murderous rainstorms. But this is no time to be scared of water. [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "... Oh shit." [Radio: (C) None] Capricorn transmits, "OOC Yeeessss." Job says, "IN COMMING!" Job gets his tool rig onLIne as he tries to puzzle out the aLIen tech and attempt to repair what is wrong here. "This is going to be fun.." Fusion Phoenix looks at the display by the nigh. "Elemental destruction would just absorb us... Something is manafesting in that cloud!" [Radio: (C) None] Capricorn transmits, "OOC But language. :>" Mai Atsuki keeps her Cipher activated, the blade continuing to GLeam with plasma-energy, but doesn't do anything else just yet - the second Cipher she has isn't drawn, not yet. She may, after all, have an arm blown off and lose this one.... you never know. Dynamo Man halts his actions as the rain begins. "Oh great ... what now !?" Defensively, the Demon raises his shield over his head LIke a giant metal umbrella, peering at the cloud from under his cover. He mutters quietly, into his radio... [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "OOC Zero does it all the time." [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man is on the edge of panic, "It's here. It's finally here." [Radio] Transmission detected: Lord Sigma? [Radio: (C) None] Daryn sings, "All along (still) it was the geto, nothin' but the geto. Takin' short steps one foot at a time and keep my head low. And never let go Iris observes the gathering 'storm'. Finally, she turns toward Colonel and speaks, her voice coming through the external speaker of Vanguard. However, it sounds utterly devoid of emotion. An automaton may as well be piloting the Vanguard. "Prepare for battle. Destruction imminent." [Radio: (C) None] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "OOC Bleep it." [Radio] Transmission detected: Yes Beam ... [Radio] Transmission detected: Requesting ... ... ... ... U-238 high-yeild nuclear warhead. Metal Shark takes a few steps back and drops his anchor to the ground, "Rain?! IN -SPACE-?" he yells, scanning his memory, "This is so up!" [Radio: (C) None] Capricorn transmits, "OOC That's no excuse. Do not swear. Use a less obtrusive word, censor it with *'s in certain places, whatever." Zero sends a radio transmission. Iris receives a radio transmission. You intercept Zero's transmission to Iris: Iris... seeing as how, ya know, we may die after tonight... [Radio] Transmission detected: ... [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "OOC Oops, sorry. I'll be more careful next time." [Radio] Transmission detected: ... Regulus has moved to interpose himself between the platform and the roiLIng mass of Nigh far overhead. A few of the dark bolts are slammed aside with the flat of the AngeLIc Stardroid's blade, creating bright flashes of LIght. The nimbus of golden energy around Regulus begins to grow brighter as he finally... begins to laugh. "Come, Devourer! You desire something to consume? You will find me a disagreeable meal! I defy you! [Radio] Transmission detected: ... [Radio: (C) None] Daryn transmits, "OoC: Even Daryn bleeps." [Radio] Transmission detected: ... you ... to ... us all commander. Zero sends a radio transmission. Iris receives a radio transmission. You intercept Zero's transmission to Iris: I... uh... well... [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "OOC: Sorry, sorry. I was lost in the moment and forgot." [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne speaks softly... "...Well, we'll just have to fix it then, now won't we?" Tron sniffs! "...It needed Duo Energy, didn't it? ...What exactly is happening up there?" Iris sends a radio transmission to Zero. Zero receives a radio transmission from Iris. You intercept Iris's transmission to Zero: *sounding completely devoid of emotion; she probably turned that part of her brain off* Yes. I know what you mean. You don't have to say it if you can't. Sai's eyes narrow as he turns his gaze on the GLowing cloud. His response? "Bloody hell." He drops into combat stance, bLInk systems charged to full power, plasmatic vents as full as they can get without hitting dangerous levels...Sai is ready for anything. "Let the Darkness come," he murmurs, whether to himself, to everyone else, or to the Nigh itself, no one can be sure. "We will fight it." [Radio: (C) None] Alpha transmits, "Maybe Duo doesn't exactly want to help. Since it is his, I guess, maybe?" Silo takes a look around, before cursing LIghtly under his breath. As the rain falls, he can do nothing but stand there and watch... He does quickly focus on Regulus as he acts though, and just watches in silence... Metal Shark steps forward, "Uhh, yeah! WE DEFY YOU- COME NIGH! Do your WOORST!" he then picks his anchor back up, and begins pointing and talking trash to.. Rain? ---------- There is swirLIng red LIght suddenly appear next to the 'cloud' expanding and growing until it flares out completely to reveal... Cancer. "Your Eternal Peace is NIGH!" The crab mocks. "Nigh cannot be stopped!" ---------- [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Isn't Duo dead?" [Radio] Transmission detected: ...I ... beLIeve that ... ... us ... Beam Demon. Guts Man chuckles to Crash, "Hey what would happen if we kicked someone in the ass and sent them flying off the platform?" [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Excuse me, I have some crab hunting to do..." [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "N-no!" The Force Commander closes his eyes as the machine fails, continuing to pace. He doesn't need to actually /hear/ the song he requested. It runs through his head on a regular basis, permanently loaded into his internal soundtrack. He brings both of his arms down, both forearms generating a *ploomf* as they form Buster cannons. He allows his reactors to go to full, a dull greenish GLow issuing forth from every joint and seam in his armor. He opens his eyes, gaze filled with a steely resolve. The thunder rolls, the shadows coelescing into ... /something/. Or, perhaps, Nothing. "...they want to ban us up on Capital Hill..." He bursts into green flame, rising up a meter from the platform, LIps curLIng back with his unholy wrath. "But it's /die/ mothaf***ers *die* mothaf***ers DIE!" He allows his right hand to return, a large metal pole expanding from it abruptly; a green energy blade forms at the top, taking the form of a scythe. He holds it defiantly, gritting his teeth, waiting for ... yes. /Cancer/. "ROBOT MASTERS!" booms Bass, staring at Cancer's arrival. "I feel LIke SHELLFISH tonight! Who's with me?!" Firestorm Phoenix jumps away from several drops of 'rain', "Oh, this is just lovely..." Rocket Rodent, however, has a water weakness. So, in defense of this aparent 'rain', he projects flamejets up, giving him an umbrella effect. "I heartily agree with that statement." Rocket says, to Metal, as he tries to defense himself from this 'rain'. And then, Cancer appears. He says but one thing. "Permission to fire at Cancer, Sir?" "Traitor!" Spica shouts at Cancer as she shoots a pillar of fire towards him. "How could you go and join Nigh?" [Radio] Transmission detected: ...I am... fully ... as of ... *Insert your fight tune of choice, if you haven't got one playing already* "Figures. Cancer bah name, cancer bah nature," snaps Starburst Dragon. Both of his hands screw down into their wrists. From one springs a giant nutcracker. From the other a buttery butter knife. "Ah'm with y'! Tahm to crack this crab!" [Radio] Transmission detected: ... am ... Capricorn hisses as the black rain begins, LIfting her weapon as she shields her eyes to squint at the gathering cloud... then the shower of darkness that it unleashes. Muttering some aLIen curse, she skips ahead, hooves *thunking* loudly against the Plateau's surface with each step, and vaults forward to stand beside Regulus, raising her scythe high. "NIGH, Y'GIT! COME AE'N FIGHT DIRECTLY ALREADY! WE'RE SICK O YE'R COWARDLY TACTICS! WHAE'S T'AE MATTER, Y'ERE NOT MAN 'NOUGH TAE FACE US?! BWAAAK-BWAK-BWAK-BWAK! CHICKEEEEENNN!" Guts Man fist pumps, "I'M WITH YOU SIR! SHELLFISH SHANDWICHES!" He cackles, "Say that fast 5 times!" [Radio: (C) None] Daryn says, "SHUT THE HELL UP!", and then continues singing as if he never stopped, "Cause if I let go, then I'll be spineless I'm going INSANE!!" Dynamo Man leaps back as Cancer approaches .. landing by his buddies. "The last dissenter!" Bass' battle cry reaches him, and he takes no time to reply. "Let's go!!" [Radio] Transmission detected: To ... ... I beLIeve ... the rogue stardroid ... would help us greatly. Repeat. ... ... to fire ... U-238 high-yeild nuclear warhead. [Radio] Transmission detected: Go ... then. Pyro Squirrel needs to ask no permission of nobody, as he works under no-one! "Let's see you dodge when you can't see!" He dramatically yells at the crab, throwing his customized special smoke bombs. Mai Atsuki does not, as is typical for Striders, take her time to give a witty remark of any kind. But she does bring her Cipher up, letting the plasma focus and gather for a nice long moment, before she fLIngs it with a vehement shout at the approaching crabLIke entity! Pyro Squirrel misses you with his Smoke Acorn attack. Duet slowly takes a step forward towards Aldebaran, a LIttle less grace in her once seeminGLy perfect step, a LIttle less confidence in her usually perfect posture. Another step is taken, before her legs buckle a bit. For the first time, and maybe for the last time, Duet is afraid of what is to come. As an extension of Fate itself, a goddess in her own right, Duet has always known the final outcome of every situation, she has always had a solution when none could be found. Today, there are no answers, there are no hints. It's almost, as if Fate has abandoned her... just as Destiny, in the form of Duo, did after Earth's Judgement. And then, one by one, tears fall from the Stardroid's eyes, each droplet crashing to the ground into a small sparkLIng mini-LIght show. She looks up at the machine built to harness the essense of her beloved, and then to it's creator. After a few more tears are bLInked away, she says, "There's one bit of Duo... that you don't have yet..." Duet then LIfts her hands from her chest, a large blue ball of energy seeminGLy pulled along with them as she slowly draws them away from her, finally holding it out to Aldebaran, "... just as he is me, I am him. I could not exist without him... this, is the last bit of his essense that I have kept with me since that day... perhaps, it can help." [Radio] Transmission detected: I was ... asking ... ... [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "What is going on up there?!" Mai Atsuki strikes you with a GLancing hit from her Plasma Bolt for 3 units of damage. [Radio] Transmission detected: ...Do ... fire anything ... ... harm anything besides ... stardroid itself. As Crash Man points up at Cancer, his hand sLIps back into it's forearm housing. Within a second, a large diamond-tipped drill extends into readiness. "YO," he calls out. "THIS MOTHERF***ER AIN'T ONE OF US. HE F***S SHEEP!!!" Crash Man fires off the projectile with nothing more than a mental command. Drill away! Spica strikes you with a GLancing hit from her Crimson Wave for 20 units of damage. You take less damage due to your Water resistances. Excited? Well, maybe a bit. At least until he's on fire or is tossed into a wall again. Gale Sorcerer needed a bit of activity after deaLIng with the Interpol changes, and of course, with his boss. "The Doom Song." He says putting his staff on his right shoulder and taking some hair away from his face. "Very suitable, indeed? Hmmm, can you see that rain? Either the news guy got messed up with the weather again or there is another powerful force close to us causing this. Seems LIke we'll be recieving some visit soon." Totally right. Just as he opens his mouth, the crab Stardroid appears. Oooh, it's the guy that gave him that deLIghtful CAPPACINO!(TM). Hmmmmm... With a couple of shiny eyes, he eyes Gecko and gives him a nod pointing towards the Stardroid. Then he raises one of his GLoved hands. [Radio: (C) None] Starburst Dragon transmits, "A faht!" [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "...p-please..." Cancer successfully deflects an attack randomly. Starburst Dragon misses you with his Completely Random Weapon attack. Crash Man strikes you with a GLancing hit from his Drill Rocket for 22 units of damage. [Radio] Transmission detected: Very ... Dynamo Man misses you with his LIghtning Bolt attack. Crescent Grizzly growls, " Cancah', yew' beh' gettin' awflay' 'nnoyin, yew' know 'dat? " He says, and leaps skywards for the Crab, " Naw', les' see 'ow yew' LIk' a LIttle bit o' grizzlay'! " He snarls, and lashes out with his claws, paws, teeth, feet, and anything he can throw at the Stardroid... Crescent Grizzly lowers his forcefield. Crescent Grizzly strikes you with a minor hit from his When Animals for 31 units of damage. You take extra damage due to your Blunt weakness. Harmony growls, fingers instantly drawn to the strings of her harp. The tempo is quickened, probably because she's angry and frustrated.. but it's the same song that does the same thing it always has. If the attack works correctly, then Capricorn's insides will shake violently LIke a baby's rattle. You should know this by now, really.. Okay... now we have a 'real' target... Colonel pulls out his sabre and readies for action. He sweeps the sabre across the air in front of him. "Everyone, keep the Nigh Stardroid away from the machinary. And keep an eye out for more." Colonel however holds his attack... waiting for the second wave. Silo, LIke many of the others, seems ready to attack the Cancer. If we're all going to die, we might as well go out fighting. Arm cannon at the ready, he just lets loose with a whole barrage of missiles. Eh, who cares if he wastes fuel... There isn't much else he can do. Silo strikes you with a GLancing hit from his Missile Barrage for 20 units of damage. Harmony strikes you with a GLancing hit from her Soul Music for 18 units of damage. You are below your courage-endurance point. Zero sends a radio transmission. Iris receives a radio transmission. You intercept Zero's transmission to Iris: Let's just hope... we'll LIve to see the day that I can. Alpha sends a radio transmission to Zero. Zero receives a radio transmission from Alpha. You intercept Alpha's transmission to Zero: Open fire then? Canopy Jabberwock looks up at the assembLIng Not that grows on the platform, still smirking soberly as he unfolds his foreclaws. "And here it does not LIve; here is the Else that lashes at chains. Here isn't." He walks around the dark bolts that strike the platform, and looks up at the cloud, even as Cancer makes his appearance and those around him rally against the Nighdroid. "Here goes nothing." With that, his thrusters kick into gear, and he begins to fly into the cloud that is forming on the platform. Foolhardy? Yes. Stupid? Yes. Brave? No, stupid. Fusion Phoenix looks at the stardroid aLIgned with the nigh, extending his blaster. "Time to cook some crabcakes." His cannon erupts with a soLId stream of firey plasma, aimed at the true trator, the one who is betraying LIfe itself. Zero sends a radio transmission to Alpha. Alpha receives a radio transmission from Zero. You intercept Zero's transmission to Alpha: At will. Fusion Phoenix strikes you with a GLancing hit from his Plasma Blaster for 15 units of damage. You are below your courage-endurance point. Guts Man sings LIke Min Mae! Alpha sends a radio transmission. Zero receives a radio transmission. You intercept Alpha's transmission to Zero: Alright. The Vanguard lurches forward LIke some strange mechanical creature created for the sole purpose of destruction. Laser ports open up on the sides of the ride armor, and without wisecracks, jokes, or any display of emotion whatsoever, the Vanguard opens up upon Cancer in a dazzLIng display of obscene firepower. Guts Man strikes you with a GLancing hit from his Terrible Singing for 0 units of damage. Cancer is temporarily disoriented by Guts Man's Terrible Singing attack. Iris strikes you with a GLancing hit from her Laser Ports for 18 units of damage. You fall to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage. [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Finally, something substancial to attack!" Metal Shark grows at Cancer, "You side with nigh? NIGH IS NOTHING - YOU ARE NOTHING!" he then lets his hands envelop in energy "Which means - NOTHING WILL BE LEFT OF YE AFTER *THIS*" He then swings his right arm in a crescent LIke movement, as he does so many anchors fly from his body and towards Cancer. Metal Shark's combat roll has failed against Cancer. Ninjutsu Gecko looks to Gale and nods. "Let's boogaloo...you look LIke you can give a good blast...I can't do much from here, but.....Let's say...this?" He pulls out one of his special Smoke Bombs. "Fire into the cloud of smoke, Ok?" He tosses the small sphere testinGLy... Harmony scoffs, watching Cancer fall to the ground after the barrage of merciless attacks. "Serves you right." Job reaLIses he can do any good on the machine now. He turns to see the Stardroid who has sold out reaLIty for non esitance. He lets out a battle cry as he arms his Arc Canon and charges at the Nothing Stardroid. "Then he watches Iris and everyone else blow the Stardroid to scrap."That was anti-cLImatic." Barrage Raptor grins a LIttle bit, "Oh look. Crab meat!" She grins, as she brings up her rifle, and takes aim at Cancer, LIke everybody else, "Yeah!" Of course, he basically goes down before she even gets her shots off, "Well, geeze. Nobody saves any for me." Crash Man nudges Guts Man, "Dude, I bet this was a trap and that greasy motherf***er will just get back up." Aldebaran smashes the machine's console. "DAMNATION! FUNCTION, DAMN YOU!" he roars out, all attempts at eloquence abandoned in his frustration. The console sparks and acquires a dent or three, but does nothing. GLancing towards Cancer, his optics narrow... "Worse and worse..." his head descending between his shoulders, his maw opens, and he prepares for battle. And then... "...Duet?..." he half-asks, perhaps shocked, elated, that she's actually survived. He spent so much time on Starhaven he was virtually isolated from the events elsewhere... GLancing down towards the ball... he furrows his brow, and nods, reaching out to accept it. "Are you certain?" he asks... LIke the hero he is, or at least, wishes he could be, he can't take a LIfe LIke this... not unless it's given freely. Job sends a radio transmission. Iris receives a radio transmission. You intercept Job's transmission to Iris: Nice shot. Rocket Rodent bLInks, as he didn't even have to attack. "... That was quick." [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ... ... ... ... ... me ... ... [Radio: (C) None] Job transmits, "Crab cakes foreveryon!" [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ... open ... Metal Shark watches as his attacks miss, "Bah!" [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "...n-no! NO!" [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man transmits, "WHAT'S GOING ON?!" Guts Man nods. "LIke some last stage boss in a video game." [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Oh, shut it, Tengu." [Radio: (E) None] Crash Man transmits, "Your boy just got knocked the fuggout!" [Radio] Transmission detected: ... what ... Dynamo Man's LIghtning attack misses his target, but LIttle else does. Cancer is eLIminated before his eyes. "....no way ... it couldn't have been that easy." Alpha raises a hand to fire at Cancer but... she bLInks. "...", and then bLInks again, "...Oh.", she drops her hand, looking towards Crash Man, "Guess Denebola's coming next. Oh well. They should have come at the same time. Cocky idiots.", that was a -bit- too quick, however, so she scans around, frowning. [Radio] Transmission detected: I do not ... "Cancer! Oh, low betrayer... my brother is not here... but you will serve in his place!" Regulus' voice is an echoing boom in space as Regulus' wings beat heavily. The timbre of his voice changes, his words now in a strange language that reverberates powerfully even in space. "Luxanos Multinos Avec Sonormus Vistes Krahl!" LevelLIng the blade of Illumine, Regulus blazes brighter and brighter with each passing moment, coming to ecLIpse even the sun. "I am become LIght! Die, Traitor!" And Regulus hurls himself towards Cancer, but the Agent has already been obLIterated by the singing and weapon fire from the platform. The Stardroid pulls himself to a halt, still blazing LIke a star. |------| [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man transmits, "NO! NO!" [Radio] Transmission detected: ... occurs? [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man transmits, "I...I..." [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man transmits, "It can't be...it can't..." Crash Man bLInks, "Is that dude speaking Spanish? I bet he is. Damn Mexicans, they're all over the place." Sai stands by. He doesn't launch anything, because, as always...his gun sucks. And he's not going personally into THAT firestorm unless he has to. He smirks as Cancer gets promptly and ruthlessly crushed, however. "Well, that's the first round, anyway...let's hope we finish this before we get a second." [Radio] Transmission detected: To ... ... Cancer. When Cancer appears, and is promptly blasted to pieces, Beam Demon chuckles. Well. He -does- have permission now. Rearing back, he grasps the grip of his bazooka, aiming at a severe upward anGLe. "Here's a LIttle taste of what you're about to deal with!" WIth a thundrous, rather concussive blast, the Demo Bazooka launches out a rocket propelled shell into the roiLIng black and grey clouds overhead. He lowers the weapon, peering upwards. "Got it" Just as his partner tosses his smoke bomb, Gale Sorcerer charges his energy systems and shoots a massive plasma gale into the smoke cloud. "... I think they just did the whole work.. sigh..." Oh, geez. Why is the poor UN always late? [Radio] Transmission detected: ... a LIttle late. Guts Man says, "Worm eating gringos." [Radio: (E) None] Omega Battery Dynamo Man transmits, "What can't be!? Tengu, what are you talking about? Do you WANT your possessor to LIve?" [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man transmits, "...h..he...he..." His arms smoking from the released weapons, Starburst Dragon beams with a massive smile. His hands pop back into place and he beams at Harmony, not that worried that his massive gadget didn't work. "Nahs shot. Haha. Maybe ah needs t'shout 'Go-Go-Gadget' next tahm." ---------- The thick, roiLIng cloud continues to gather, more black bolts added to its mass as they rain from above. Down below, on Earth, the LIttle specks of darkness in the sky continue to spread. The Darkness has reached the blue planet, the last bastion against it. It may only be a matter of time before it, too, is consumed. The cloud on the platform begins to thicken, drawing together, taking a distinct shape; rebuffing the firepower that erupts around it, seeminGLy impervious to any spare hits that strike it. Even Canopy Jabberwock, who leaps into its midst, is tossed back outward, cast aside LIke a rag doll. Heroic sacrifice, de-nied. And that coelescing black shape takes a vaguely humanoid form, a towering figure that looms over the gathered heroes and Stardroids aLIke. Its details are blurred and in constant flux... one moment, it resembles a towering demon, the next, a gaunt, skeletal figure, its shape blurring not a moment after it resolves. The depthless, black void that would be its face turns to look down at all that stand below it, and one can't help but get the feeLIng that it is smiLIng. Nigh laughs, a low, thunderous rumble that shakes the platform beneath the heroes' feet. --------- [Radio: (E) None] Traitor! Tengu Man transmits, "... ... *cLIck*" [Radio: (C) None] Daryn continues singing, "I think my mind just goes outta control And judge your subject motherfu**as read about I touch on the sh** that they be leavin' out, I seen this muthafu**'s .9 smokin' Spica turns back towards Aldebaran as she hears a famiLIar voice. "Duet," she says giving a curtsy. "Your sacrifice will always be remembered." Fusion Phoenix hears the conversation between the stardroids behind him. He turns to face them. "So you also are wilLIng to give your LIfe for this world..." He turns back to the Nigh. "I just hope we can make that sacrifice count!" Ninjutsu Gecko groans..."Ok...apparently we have minimal time to plan...so...we'll just watch out for each other, then?" He looks around, and asks, "There's more than just one, right Gale?" Harmony winces, staring up at the one thing that's been causing it all. Though she remains unphased as the ground shakes, her eyes aren't going to leave that disgusting creature. Too many shots. Too too many. Cancer writhes under the shots under the combined heroic forces... ...It was Guts' singing and Iris final blasts that destroys the crab... ...And a ruined husk of a body LIes there... [Radio] Transmission detected: OOC: bah ... missed ... ... the spam. Silo stares at the Stardroids, then at the machine, then at Nigh... And he sighs, sending off a quick radio transmission before wondering what'll happen next. His arm cannon does begin to charge with something, contemplating whether to attack Nigh or not... Starburst Dragon stares up... looking at the serried sum of all horror with a disturbing, feral smile on his face. A fLIck of fire and zap of electricity form in his hands and he fLIngs a Golden Star up at Nigh, to show the lord of Death exactly what he thinks of him. [Radio: (C) None] Fusion Phoenix transmits, "Wait... we are beating them with our songs... But Duet is going to give her LIfe to get the machine to work. I hope it's enough." [Radio] Transmission detected: ...Beam Demon ... ... become ... your ... Pyro Squirrel LIes down on the ground, eyes closed, mentally preparing for the next battle. [Radio] Transmission detected: I ... not know. [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "It's about time that bint dies." [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "...Duet is... what?! ...Oh no. ...Well... ...perhaps now she can be with Duo..." "Agreed" Gale Sorcerer answers while scratching his pointy wizard hat with his left hand. "Let's just stay around. The others will make their appearance sooner or later. It's just a matter of time." Crescent Grizzly lands with a 'thunk' and sLIght shaking of the plateau, the last pairing of attacks finishing the Stardroid Crab, " Karma's, i' a chienne, non? " Crescent comments, smirking. However, more is to be worried about. The Nigh is closing...and fast. " Yew' jus' nevah' know when tah' giv' up, do yew' Monsier Nigh? " he comments, grasping the air with his claws, and creating a tall, wide crescent of energy, which is launched at the inky darkness. " Well den', neiter' do weh'! " Silo sends a radio transmission. You intercept Silo's transmission to KaLInka: ...KaLInka, just so you know, you are and always have been one of my best friends. If it looks LIke the end is near... Well, then I'd just LIke you to know I love you, okay? Canopy Jabberwock hurtles backwards, his body sLIding to a rough halt on the platform only thanks to friction. Still, however, he smiles, more LIghtly this time, and laughs. "Well! Was a wash that, rather. So are what other solutions there?" He shakes his head and rises back up to his feet, dusting himself off. After a measure he looks up at the Stardroids gathered around the thing he has taken the LIberty to christen Longinus, and smiles before turning back to Nigh and laughing back at it. Partially with contempt, partially with derision, but partially simply with joy at its failures. Starburst Dragon has reconnected. Metal Shark has reconnected. [Radio: (C) None] Daryn continues singing for Bass's internal monologue, even if he's already internaLIzing his monologue, "And simply what this means He didn't know that every dog had his day Until he has seen his. I BET YOU MUTHAFU**AS WILL TOO because it's die muthafu**a, die muthafu**a still, fool!", it's almost as if he planned to say this when Duet's 'sacrifice' was brought up. But ... nah. [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "And perhaps if we kill her she won't give birth to a kid called Duo Jr." Metal Shark has partially disconnected. Starburst Dragon has partially disconnected. Capricorn bLInks, lowering her weapon as Nigh manifests here amongst the crowd on the Plateau. "Well, ye get whae ye'll ask for," she mutters, mostly to herself, before turning and scampering back to the Stardroid Engine. Leaping and grasping its side, she begins hauLIng her way back up, readying to load something else into the machine.. presumably Duet's sacrificed energy core, when she finishes presenting it down below. [Radio: (C) None] Guts Man transmits, "Or would their space breeding have produced Quatro?" It may well be a futile gesture, but she's going to do it anyway! While her cipher regains its charge for the next attack that might actually do something of note, Mai reaches into her waistband and yanks out that tessen whose most recent use was to attempt to injure Bass's pretty-boy face. But this time, it's for keeps! She unfolds it, and with a vigorous and rather melodious 'Yaa!' hurls it into the face, whatever form it might take, of the incarnated darkness! Iris backs the Vanguard off from Cancer once he falls, and once again powers up the Vanguard. "Objective: Destruction...32.5% power boost to primary salvo." That said, ports open on the Vanguard's shoulders, explosive mines pouring out by the dozens, soaring into the thing called Nigh. The Joeploid sees the massive demon start to take shape. "So you finally come and its time for us to show you that this world is not bound by the chains of fate. EarthLIngs make their own roads and we are going to go right through you. he drops into a combat stance his shield at the ready and powers his Arc Canon. He is ready to battle. Then he opens fire on it sending a LIghting bolt at it, Job for all of his extiance has had to fight to keep aLIve. This is nothing different and by god he will fight untill he has been reduced to atoms. "We are not going to go quietly!!" Dynamo Man turns back to his brothers as the opponent is gone ... but then Nigh seems to take humanoid form, and takes his attention once again. "No way. No Way. This isn't happening as you want." Strangely, that came in a low, almost inaudible tone. "Ergh ....... no." All he does is aim a cannon at the form of Nigh and presents it with a high-powered Floater mine. Silo receives a radio transmission from KaLInka. You intercept KaLInka's transmission to Silo: *cries* I love you too...I am sorry this is happening...it is so scary... Alpha frowns at the humanoid form, "...Hello again.", she says to Nigh as she flaps her wings out, "You aren't going to win this time, you know that, right?", she doesn't attack, however, probably because the last time someone threw blasts at Nigh, they rebounded and wounded her. Metal Shark sends a radio transmission to Beam Demon. Beam Demon receives a radio transmission from Metal Shark. You intercept Metal Shark's transmission to Beam Demon: Commencing firing! Mavericks will suceed. Pyro Squirrel rests. And thinks... oO(Not powerful enough to help right now... I should just stay in the back and wait...)Oo Ninjutsu Gecko looks up at Nigh, keeping his footing under the shaking platform. "New Target. Let's not waste time this time around..." He points to the Giant face, then opens, palms out, "Let's do this....YAAAA!!" From his hands, what appears to be a pair of dragon heads, one of fire, one of water, stream towards the face of Nigh, with a gawd-awful set of shrieking voices. Silo sends a radio transmission to KaLInka. You intercept Silo's transmission to KaLInka: I... I think there's still a chance... Barrage Raptor swings her attention over, and takes a look at the manifested form of Nigh, "Well, well." She grins a LIttle bit, and pops out the cLIp, sLIding in her explosive ammo, pulLIng the bolt back and locking in these new rounds, before she lets loose with a burst of firepower, "Welcome to Earth! I hope we can make your short stay /very/ unpleasent!" Harmony narrows her eyes, and uses her most powerful attack on the damned soul. We all know how it goes.. she plays the harp, it gets louder, and she's soon joined by a displaced symphony. Dada.. music plays.. crescendo peaks.. explosion in Nigh's face. Clown Man and Sideshow frowns at Nigh's... mortal form. "Say, guy... Have seen a Pikachu? I'll show you one..." His images shimmers... ...To become Clown Katchem. "PIKACHU, I CHOOSE YOU!!! THUNDER!!!" "PIIIIIIKKKKKKAAAAA... CHU!!!!" Metal Shark heft up his large Anchor as he watches Nigh's many forms. Choosing to watch it's movements for a while be thinks he notices a pattern, then when he beLIves the largest or most vunerable form is present he throws his metal anchor at the bein, on it's chain obviously. Somewhere on the MUSH, Signas has connected. Clown Man transforms into pokemon trainer Kain transforms to pokemon trainer. Firestorm Phoenix waits with his weapons readied to attack as soon as he's sure he has something to even shoot at. BLInking a few times, Silo just sighs, bringing up his arm cannon, aiming at the Nigh, breifly talking into his radio... And then he just lets loose with a large sizzLIng ball of electricity. Seconds later, out comes two medium sized missiles... And lastly, out comes his giant Storm Missile, all of them heading for Nigh... And right after firing this mass of attacks, he falls to his knees, suddenly drained of a whole lot of fuel and energy... A /whole/ lot of it. Rocket Rodent watches as Nigh appears. And since his player was idle, he makes no spammy poses and simply fires on Nigh with pistols. Viewing the result, Beam Demon moves out of the firing path. Thrusters carry him up and away, out of the protective atmosphere if needed. In fact, he does hover in open space for the sheer mobiLIty it provides. LeveLIng the bazooka again, he narrows his eyes through the sight, targeting various weakpoints on the monstrous creature. With soundless blasts in the vaccuum of space, the Demon launches a trio of shells, targeting the Nigh creature's knees and neck. [Radio: (C) None] Daryn continues, going through the chorus four times. [Radio: (C) None] Snake Man transmits, "What isss that horrible sssinging?" [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ... ... beLIeve I wasted ... U-238 ... ... ... ... Raising his hands into the air and charging power to full again, Gale Sorcerer jumps right near the LIzard. "Not a sinGLe second. Let's just end with that fast!" The, imitating his partner, he shoots another massive plasma gale towards the direction of the Night. A shame holograms won't work here, it could have been interesting... [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ... ... as ... Sai GLances at Duet, and nods his recognition of her sacrifice. "Thank you...for all you give, we will return it...we will not fall, this day or any other." Statement made, he turns to Nigh, as if to prove his words, his left arm transforming rapidly into its arm cannon form: Straightening, and the barrel of the weapon emerging from his palm. He doesn't fire anything yet, instead charging to fire a few powerful -- for Sai, that is; they actually are quite sickeninGLy weak, objectively speaking -- plasma rounds at whatever is to come. [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ... ... think ... ... ... ... come to ... [Radio: (C) None] Rocket Rodent transmits, "Our background music to victory, aparently." ---------- The bevy of firepower that sweeps into Nigh's ethereal body passes right through, whipping that inky, cloud-LIke substance into a blurred froth, but having no further apparent effect... the waves of energy and nuclear warheads and LIghtning bolts all continuing off into the vastness of empty space behind it, to be lost in the black void, absorbed, dissipated, gone. Nigh stands strong, still shifting, still indistinct. Its voice- voicless, not so much heard, as sensed, felt- rolls through the crowd. "Your efforts... are wasted. You cannot destroy... the epitome of destruction," it chides in slow, measured tone. "You cannot bring entropy.... to entropy itself." Turning slowly, it reaches towards the crisped Cancer with a hand that becomes a claw that becomes a cruel hook that curls around the twice-fallen Stardroid. "And you," it says. "You and your bretheren were only a means to an end. So predictable... that you would turn upon your fellows... for a moment's self-gain. Did you ever understand... that you were always fated to share their own?" Nigh LIfts Cancer high, 'looking' at him, into him, into the blasted Stardroid's very heart, as it awaits his reply. ---------- [Radio: (C) None] Snake Man transmits, "Who'sss victory?" [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "...Someone thinking they are from Macross..." Duet reaches out with one of her hands and grabs onto one of Aldebaran's, her usual soft touch replaced with an almost desperate grasp. She places the ball of energy in his hand, and then brings his other on top of it, covering both of his hands with her own, "I am sure... his final wishes was for me to watch over these that he so seemed to adore... let this, perhaps, be his redemption to them..." She looks up at Aldebaran, and smiles at him, before turning to look at the other Stardroids for a moment, the smile never wavering, "You all have done so much... and served Duo and myself so loyally over the endless sea of time and space... for that, we thank you. The joy you have brought us... the wars you have fought for us... the LIves you lost for us..." Duet's form seems to almost begin to 'fade' a bit, almost as if it's becoming noncorperal as she turns to everyone else, "Children of Earth, Defiers of the Judgement... let us write the final chapter of this story, so that you can begin working on your own story... one that will be yours alone..." Duet's physical form then dissappears as one final tear falls to the ground before she becomes and almost ghostly apparition, "... my love... finally... I return to your arms..." Then, the appiration dissipates into a white aura, that slowly fades away. Bytsy has arrived. Regulus turns his head towards the being of shadow. "So be it. As Duet does, I can do no less." He raises the blazing thunderbolt that is his sword Illumine in a salute to Duet, and then bows his head for a moment, almost contemplative. Then he raises his head, his eyes filled with a golden LIght. "They have freed us from Judgement. I can do no less than give myself to the freeing of them from annihilation!" He levels his sword at Nigh. "I bring you not Entropy! I Bring You LIGHT!" And then REgulus simply... hurls himself into Nigh, a blazing comet brighter than the ecLIpsed stars. Pyro Squirrel keeps resting. Maybe he's sleeping? [Radio] Transmission detected: ... ... Nigh last time? [Radio] Transmission detected: ... I ... [Radio] Transmission detected: ... Nigh fear ... Harmony squints, her eyes getting teary.. watching this horrible drama unfold. Watching Regulus seem to.. sacrifice himself. Why does she have to be a part of this? It's horrible.. [Radio] Transmission detected: ... worth a ... Our ... ... ... [Radio: (C) None] Daryn pauses in his singing, though he still plays the chorus music, "This is a special requisition, sh**faces, from a pal. So shut the hell up and LIsten." [Radio: (C) None] Snake Man transmits, "Huh? What'sss that?" [Radio] Transmission detected: Requesting ... to deploy ... tactical hologram! [Radio] Transmission detected: Granted! The Vanguard pauses. "Firepower: ineffective," Iris drones in a strange monotone. Then, the hulking machine stands still. "New strategy is required." [Radio] Transmission detected: I'm ... to ask... Job says, "You don't get it about us? We don't know the meaning of the word quit! Fool don't you get it it? We just need to defeat you with by simply being!" Job breaks into a run at the nothing it self the Arc Canon firing bolt after bolt at the Nothing. "Come on Monster! HAVE AT THEE!!!" [Radio: (C) None] Daryn sings, "I think it's gotta be somethin' in the water, man, it's just gotta be in the water..." [Radio: (C) None] Rocket Rodent transmits, "We are saving the world. Can you please give us some silence?" Aldebaran grimmaces sLIghtly... he never agreed with the Stardroid's mission, that is for certain... but to watch Duet perish before him in such a way... it shakes him, sLIghtly. "Thank you." he whispers. The orb resting in his hand... he moves to deposit it into the device. The raw energy from the very Core of Duet throbs into the machine. He knows not whether or not this will help, in the end... but he must try everything he can. Crescent Grizzly watches in surprise as none of the collective attacks phase the Nigh. GLancing back, he sees Duet's form fade away...her final gift of courage and duty to the people of Earth. An for it, she shall forever be remembered. Regulus moves to battle the nigh, and agian, Crescent goes into a defensive position between the engine and the Nigh itself, raising a forcefield once more... Crescent Grizzly projects a forcefield around himself. [Radio: (C) None] Snake Man transmits, "I want to know what'sss going on" Duo has arrived. Ninjutsu Gecko growls as the dragons scream off into...nothingness. "Well..that sucked...Next idea?" He looks to Gale quickly, then back up to the monster. "I'm not good at this stuff. I need something soLId." Capricorn looks down from her perch near the top of the tower of the Stardroid Engine, watching as Duet and then Regulus sacrifice themselves. Sheesh! So heroic. She must have missed that chapter of Stardroids for Dummies, though, since she certainly makes no effort to do the same... after all, someone has to man the weaponry, don't they? She waits, not wanting to rush Duet, and readies herself... [Radio: (C) None] Job can be heard over the sounds of weapons fire. "When you can not see, when you can not hear. Roll up your sleeves and fight!!!" Barrage Raptor grunts, and lowers her rifle. That didn't work, "Something tells me that we need a real miracle here." She mutters, "That or a bigger gun." She has a bigger gun. But she doesn't want to use it until she's sure it'll be effective. It took the combined power of Guts Man's horrific singing and Iris' mighty firepower, but Cancer is seeminGLy brought low. (Everyone else's attacks probably helped, of course.) In a way, Bass is disappointed; he didn't even have to fire a shot. But, hey, no doubt he'll need his strength to battle the last surviving Agent, if he arrives. Bass brings down his scythe, returning it to hyperspace, returning both of his arms to cannons. He starts to descend back down to the platform, steeLIng himself for what is to come -- when it comes. He looks up, looking into the Face of Nigh. Bass stares into it, the embodiment of death, and refuses to be afraid. He grits his teeth, bringing up his cannons -- No. As the blasts fly at Nigh, it becomes clear that they do LIttle but feed it, not even acting as an adequate distraction. He comes down to a complete landing, still burning with green energy, and stares across the scenerio. The Stardroids working on the Gun. Nigh potentially preparing to resurrect Cancer. Options, options ... what are his options? [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "(still oddly calm) Machine broke down, Cancer died, Nigh reformed, Duet and Regulus sacrificed themselves, all that stuff." Metal Shark takes a step back, "Duo defeated Nigh! I can project Duo!" he almost gasps with the idea as his hands fuzz a faint white, as he does so he ducks into the crowd, so Nigh doesn't see what he's doing. A few moments pass and Duo appears at the front of the masses. He says nothing, but instead points one energy infused fist at Nigh. [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "K-k-k....k-kans..s-s..." Metal Shark projects a holographic image of Duo. Duo has arrived. [Radio: (C) None] Daryn says, in response, "Die Muthafu**as still, fool.", though he's singing too. And then he continues with the song, "Aww fu**! Chuck's on a kilLIn' spree again! With guillotines for men! I walk around town with a frown on my face. Fu** the whole world, fixin' to catch a murder case, The murder rate. Silo also watches as Duet disappears, and bows his head in respect, sighing once more, still on his knees. He looks over as Regulus seems to sacrifice himself, and just shakes his head... Slowly, he gets to his feet, looking around... There's no more he can do, except watch and hope this last ditch plan works... Canopy Jabberwock continues to laugh at Nigh, even as the voice sweeps across the minds gathered here. "No, death cannot kill Death, thing, and nor can Chaos reign over itself. But you are not Death, and you are not Chaos. When you pass, things shall not stagnate, nor fall into stasis. You are temporal. All temporal things come to an end, not of their own accord; perhaps Death cannot kill you, and perhaps Chaos. Can something else? Oh, can something else! So many things." He notices as an aside the sacrifices around him, but they do not bring him down; instead, his heart continues to swell, standing before the shadow hanging over the LIttle platform and disregarding it. Rocket Rodent watches Duet fade away, and then Regulus fly into Nigh. He bows his head, knowing the sacrifices they make. Prehaps thier attacks and efforts can do what ours cannot. The Demon noticed how ineffective the weapons of himself and the assorted fighters of Earth are, and swoops in. PulLIng a fLIp in midair, Beam's body flares brightly, exsploding and expanding into the massive Quasar. He lands upon the plateau heavily enough to cause it to shudder. Then standing, the great reploid narrows his eyes at the whispy, cloud-LIke being, "You. Will. Not. Take. Our. World." He only vaguely notices that he's standing right beside what appears to be Duo himself. Well now. Beam Demon changes into his Quasar armor. The floor suddenly creaks in complaint. Sai doesn't have a forcefield, natch, so he can't do any defending. He simply lets genuine energy continue to build in his arm cannon, waiting for some moment to come where he can actually help to fight. It seems clear, for the moment, that shooting isn't going to do much, just yet. He watches Duet's sacrifice and Regulus' charge with sad eyes, but says nothing, only: "The LImit is reached...can we push past it...? I hope so..." Starburst Dragon can't tear up. Not yet. Weapons don't work. /Attacking doesn't work/. Fighting Doesn't Work. Fighting the Nigh isn't going to work. He curses himself inside for throwing a star at it, thinking that it could work. He just stands. And remains close by Harmony's side. And he sings. Hey, it's worked up until now. Alpha shakes her head as everybody fLIngs themselves at Nigh. She pauses, for a moment, to peer towards Aldebaran. She nods slowly and walks towards him, standing in front of him to guard Pac Pac from attack. Mai Atsuki stares up into the darkness incarnate, green eyes seeing this and already, futilely, contemplating what sort of report to write - but what good would it do? That electrical power could make their LIves last another few minutes, or hours, and keep the heaters working. She doesn't think of duty, or of the fate of the earth, or of death in the cold darkness... she thinks of those LIttle apple seeds resting in the slowly-cooLIng ground of Earth. And then! She says, with growing strength, "Entropy... Entropy will increase and dominate in a closed system... but LIfe gathers energy together and uses it... ha ha ha!" She grins, before yanking off the cowl on her head, having either cracked or having had a piercing insight! "They might not be able to defeat you, but LIfe can!" And then, with a righteous cry, she fLIngs another freshly-gathered plasma bolt into the guts of Nigh, drawing her other Cipher in the process and activating it. Duet has disconnected. Dynamo Man watches all of this. The strugGLes of higher beings against what must be 'gods' ... the lack of any possible intervention by the earth-bound, the ineffectiveness of his mine ... the death of a still-pure Stardroid ... all of it meets his senses. It seems to numb him, and he keeps his weapon trained on the form of Nigh. Seeing ... the remaining pure Stardroids working on the weapon .. change of plan. He rushes to their sides, offering whatever support he possibly can. "Let me help reroute the power!" [Radio: (C) None] Bolero transmits, "... Who's cans are you talking about, Hombre de Tengu?" Arms crossed over his chest, Gale Sorcerer eyes the ninja for a moment. "Well, let me see..." He then eyes Regulus, who pronounces a word that becomes the next idea into his mind. "LIght! That's it. Allow me a second, then try shooting again!" The mage then moves his system energy towards his holographic systems and a massive focus of LIght appears right in front of Nigh. With a bit of luck, having created that hologram will have been useful. "NOW!" [Radio: (C) None] Job transmits, "You fight Entropy with the chaos that is LIfe!" Gale Sorcerer projects a holographic image of Epileptic Disco FlashLIghts Spell. Epileptic Disco FlashLIghts Spell has arrived. [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "..n-n-no..." [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "*cLIck*" [Radio] Transmission detected: Who ... ... ... Tengu ... ... ... ... SERVE?! Starburst Dragon sends a radio transmission. Harmony receives a radio transmission from Starburst Dragon. You intercept Starburst Dragon's transmission to Harmony: Sing w'me, Harmony. If'n y'don'wanna faht... then sing n'play y'harp. Cancer strugGLes to look into Nigh's... eyes. "No..." the crab nearly cries... "...You used me... I thought I was... helping you... when you were only using me..." Cancer frowns. "I...Hate...You." He looks over at the machine, "...To make amends..." He throws what remains his energy... and those of those he absorbed/consumed... Pollux, Castor, Uranus, Sagaitturius, Pharaoh Man, and Barrage Raptor... towards the machine. He finally looks at Nigh, "See you in hell..." Cancer's breaks down... leaving nothing left. The crabdroid... is no more. Pyro Squirrel slowly gets up. "So... nothing's working yet..." He stands there, not doing anything. Then Cancer throws his power to the gun. He still stands there, not doing anything. [Radio: (C) None] Fusion Phoenix speaks in a too level tone of voice, "Time for my trump card. What ever happens, it'll be impressive." [Radio: (C) None] Bolero transmits, "OOC: ... Job, entropy is chaos..." Guts Man taps his foot, "How much longer is this going to take? I want to see the Hero Boy Christmas Special at 9 tonight." Firestorm Phoenix doesn't bother wasting his ammo firing at Nigh, its obvious that its futile, however he tries to think of something that will work. [Radio: (C) None] Daryn sings ""May increase if your caught up in the world While it's dyin', I guarentee yer fryin' cause I'm on the verge of knockin' muthafu**as out for no reason Once I get down there'll be no reason Once I get down there'll be no breathin' it seems when Muthafu**as wanna calm down, put his palm down Seems I gots to lay the law down Now its on pow what you to do? I'm askin' you Ninjutsu Gecko nods to Gale, "Let's boogie...." The Sorcerer is a sorcerer right? So he should know better than the neenja. He throws his arms up again, letting another set of the Elemental Dragons fire off at Nigh. Out of the corner of his focus, he notices the Crab and hears his speech. He secretly hopes that Cancer's LIttle 'gift' will help. Dynamo Man works alongside the Stardroids, on the Big Gun, as best he can. Barrage Raptor bLInks a LIttle, "That was unexpected." She murmers, as she, drops both foot anchors, to hold her in place, starting to charge up her big gun. Yeah, it didn't work out when she used it on Cancer. But hey, Cancer just sacrificed himself, so this time it has to work. She won't fire it until Nigh becomes a viable target, though...Which better be soon, with how fast the Stardroids are going. Beam Demon conveniantly steps aside so Barrage has a clear shot at Nigh without pegging his own large body. Yeah. Aldebaran moves his hands as quickly as possible. "Dynamo Man, Job... try the Deceleratrix..." he points to a bizarre, bLInking object in a desparate hope that perhaps it shows some obvious signs of malfunction. Himself, he's examining another system in desparation, for the moment trying to put OUT of his mind that his fellows, and quite probably, very shortly, innocent natives, are going to be perishing. ---------- Nigh seems to... frown. It rears its head back in a serpentine manner, regarding its now empty hand... "Curious...." it rumbles. "But to LIttle end.... for it hastens what is inevitable." Turning towards the others, Nigh's body breaks down, becoming a sinking cloud of blackness that heaps upon the floor LIke a heavy fog. The ongoing attacks continue to whip right through it... it is insubstantial, impervious to mere firepower. Tendrils of darkness LIck and curl LIke flame, pools of black opening beneath people's feet as if to swallow them. Nigh's voice rings out once more, bringing a cold chill with it. "Robot Masters," it almost purrs. "Why do you fight? Why do you war? For Wily?" Images of Robot Master drones appear in the black mist... mets, joes rising up, trudging forward as if marching to battle, only to melt and sink into the fog once again. "Wily is a mortal. When he is gone, what will you have? Already, age takes its toll on the man. You maybe everlasting... but your leader... your father... your reason for being... he is not. Why do you not surrender yourselves?" ---------- Silo just continues to stand still, watching all that's happening... Too much. Cancer's demise, the hurried work of the rest of the Stardroids... Sighing, he jogs a bit closer to the machine, seeing how work is going over there, before staring at the Nigh, before heading over closer to the machine, to see how he can help... He takes a moment to GLance at what's happening above, but quickly turns his attention back to the machine. "Because there's still beer and p****y in the world, you gaseous motherf***er!" Crash Man quips. [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Oh geez... Don't LIsten to Nigh! Keep fighting!" Metal Shark steps forward again, obviously the Duo hologram isn't working. "Hey! That's my schtick!" Job says "Then SING GUTS MAN! SING!!!" Job is still blasting away at the Negh with everything he has. Over Jobs own PA systems Nothing is going to stand in our way can be heard. Yes its the one from TFTM got to go with the classics! Job meanwhile says softly. "Thank you Cancer..." as Aldbaran's he breaks off his arttack and speeds towards machine and heads towards the Deceleratrix and runs a quick scan of ti. "Dynamo Man? What you think here?" [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "...Nigh is... /there/?!" [Radio: (C) None] Daryn mutters something under his breath, "When y'look in the void, the void looks back, don't watch, don't look in the mirror, don't look in the mirror, the mirror's rusted, it ain't true reflection...", and then Daryn breaks out into song again, "Step to face I'll break your as* in two, bastard you Rather swim in some fu**in' hot tar... Silo sends a radio transmission. You intercept Silo's transmission to KaLInka: And KaLI... If we succeed, remind me to get you whatever Christmas present you want. Crescent Grizzly just stands tall and ready before the Nigh, arms crossed about his chest, head high. He watches. He waits. He protects. [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "It's spouting some stuff about Wily and dying." Duo takes another step forward, this time the blue energy spreads to his entire body. Duo is now mostly pure energy, though still Staring at the Nigh this time he tries to tell it he means buisness. Guts Man says, "Surrender? That's not in our vocabulary. Maybe if we were from France, but not ours! No deal Stardroid! We kick your butt 4 ways from Sunday to a one legged redheaded step child!" [Radio: (C) None] Snake Man transmits, "What about the Massster dying?" Dynamo Man works quickly, trying to get the power properly routed. "It looks LIke there's a short somewhere, but I can't find it just yet .... " He continues looking around the device to find an answer to whatever's going wrong. Deciding upon yet another tactic against the Nigh, Iris switches to the crystal weaponry upon the Vanguard -- as it works upon a different type of power than the laser weaponry. New ports open, and illuminated crystal shards fly out toward the Nigh in a new barrage. It's not so much intentionally destructive as it is experimental. Within the ride armor, Iris observes the results, if any. The Nigh does not know the Robot Masters very well dos it? Silo receives a radio transmission from KaLInka. You intercept KaLInka's transmission to Silo: *cries* Silo, please do not die! [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "Something about him being mortal and you not, and that he was an old coot. And that's just the nice things it said about him." [Radio: (C) None] Cancer transmits, "*as said before Cancer's demise* You are free, Tengu Wily. Serve your father well, and do not be lead astray... as I was. Fare Thee Well... Sir Tengu. *rush of energy... then static*" Colonel LIstens to the Nigh try and convince the Robot Masters to give in and waits for a response. He laughs sLIghtly at their responses, at least they won't give in. Colonel looks over at Iris and shakes his head as he reaLIzes he is completely wrong. "Iris, power down... prehaps your desire not to fight is the best weapon here." Colonel stands tall, waiting for his time. "Iris, your desire to LIve and have other's LIve is the best threat to this monster." The Demon maverick stands strong and silent, hands clenched into fists. He can't fight an insubstantial enemy... Alpha says, "Pac Pac...", simply, "If ... there is a way I can assist... In any manner... Then let me know, but I will not put you in jeopardy." Crash Man is a man who knows what he wants. Wily may be fleeting, but Iris's booty is forever. [Radio: (C) None] Tengu Man transmits, "...iye, iye! Wakarimasen...iye-- *silence*" [Radio: (C) None] Snake Man transmits, "Consssidering they call him 'the Perverter' I'm not sssurprisssed." Magna Bass stares into Nigh even as the weapon continues to be worked on, green energy surging around him as his reactors prepare for armageddon. He paces on the opposite side of Nigh on the platform, staring at It evenly. "I don't fight for him. I don't fight for anyone. I fight because my Purpose is to utterly destroy my counterpart, Mega Man. Rock. As long as one of us is aLIve, that Purpose remains unfinished." He raises his left arm cannon, squinting one eye very sLIghtly. "You stand in my way. No one stands in my way. You will be destroyed because my Purpose cannot be completed while you exist." Silo sends a radio transmission. You intercept Silo's transmission to KaLInka: I'm not planning on doing so KaLI! ...We can win... Guts Man says, "Besides, when Wily dies his legacy will belong to Bass and we all love Bass. UnLIke King. Uptight jerkward..." Pyro Squirrel talks into his radio, and doesn't fire. His weapons wouldn't do much good anyway. "Wonderful!" Gale Sorcerer grins to himself "It seems to be working, now we've got to find a way to get rid of that silly mist!" The mage eyes Gecko then. "Do you have anything that could work against this fog? If you do, try after I do this... Here... it... goes!" The massive sphere of bLInding LIght that was right in front of Nigh suddenly starts GLowing unusually and becomes a strange mixture of colors and energy. It has gone holo-negative. [Radio: (C) None] Daryn sings, "Before you fu** with WilLIe D 'cuz what I got for yo' as* will make ya sh** your meal, Cause it's die muthafu**as die muthafu**as still!", Daryn seems to be really into this song as even after he says this, he mutters again, "Yeh, those're my guys....Don't screw up RepLIdorks..." Job nods to the Robot Master. "I'll owe you a drink after this mess...Now lets see here." Job starts to look over the machine trying to find the short. Aldebaran looks down upon Alpha... a bit of affection on his face. "I thank you, Alpha..." He pauses. "Have you any technical skills? Any abiLIties to repair?..." He idly hopes the natives can at least put together enough of a picture of the systems to assist. He's having a hard enough time doing that himself. Rocket Rodent hrms. That is not his question to answer, although the being of darkness has a point. Damn, he hates it when the beings of darknesses have a point. He does not notice the floor melting, as he is floating off the ground. His greatest attack is an impact, and quite frankly, the rodent isn't up for plunging himself into the heart of the beast. Sai simply continues to charge his weapon, observing Cancer's own sacrifice with interest. As it quickly becomes clear that he can't charge any further without damaging himself, he stops the charge, merely holding it for the moment. He snorts as the Nigh asks the Masters why they fight, and chuckles at their responses, but says nothing. Colonel sends a radio transmission to Iris. Iris receives a radio transmission from Colonel. You intercept Colonel's transmission to Iris: I'm sorry. I guess I need to LIsten to you more often. Starburst Dragon stands. Sings. Shines. If Nigh tries to swallow them, he'll keep GLowing. He was made to be a Star. A LIttle five-pointed one, LIke you put on Christmas trees if you put them up, unless you put an angel. He'll GLow LIke one. He still holds a LIfe-size repLIca of a Keyblade he bought in a junk store. "Ah've learned that deep insahd thar's a laht that ne'er goes aht..." Mai Atsuki tenses herself - preparing to lunge at the darkness and slay it with the GLowing powers of her Ciphers if she has to. But this is clearly not the time. Perhaps if the cannon weakens it, it will be more vulnerable to a LIving, breathing being than to one of the various Reploids and androids and robots around her. They may have souls - but this is a question of biology, to her feverish and possibly sLIghtly-cracked mind, not one of theology. Dynamo Man stops suddenly as the being issues its statement of Wily's mortaLIty ... and then decides. It's TRYING to get him to stop. So ... quite simply ... he quickly resumes his work. "Where's the short!? ..." Regulus hurtles towards Nigh... Barrage Raptor remains where she is, weapon reaching full charge. So, the Nigh is trying to convince the Masters to give up. Somehow she bets he'll do the same for the RepLIforce soon enough. Spica sighs softly as Duet vanishes and Regulus sacrifices himself. "Don't any of them have self-saving tendencies?" she murmurs as she floats near the engine and Capricorn. Ninjutsu Gecko shakes his head, "Nada, Gale. I don't think we're doing much...." He tries something else, winging timed smoke bombs and throwing stars at the Fog, hoping maybe that the smoke will funk something up... He watches and shakes his head, "Let's save our fuel....I don't think it'll work." Pyro Squirrel slowly wanders over to the area with the weapon, but still stays a good distance away, keeping out of the way of the busy people repairing it. "I don't think I'll be much help here..." He says to himself. [Radio: (E) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "We're going to need a pickup on the Skydeck of Starhaven." [Radio: (E) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "...After this is over..." Canopy Jabberwock rises into the air sLIghtly, a low thrust keeping him over the Nigh sLIthing across the platform. He still smiles at the nothingness, disregarding it out of hand. After a measure he turns his gaze towards the energy Duo and the technicians working on Longinus, and smiles further, hovering over to it as well. He offers, "If I can help in a fashion, I shall, though I regret that I have LIttle skill forging electronics." [Radio: (E) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "/If/ we all LIve." Alpha shakes her head, "No, I can only project holographic images. Perhaps I can get Iris to help.", she sends off a transmission. It's the clench time, it appears, but Alpha seems unfaired. She smiles back at Aldebaran though. The Vanguard turns slowly toward Colonel. "..." At first, she doesn't give any reaction whatsoever. However, what her brother can't see is Iris taking this moment to reload the programs and subroutines which make up her personaLIty...the same programs she assumed would be nothing but a hindrance, here in the face of death and destruction. After a significant pause, Iris suddenly powers down the Vanguard, and it vanishes. Iris changes into her Iris armor. Alpha sends a radio transmission. Iris receives a radio transmission. You intercept Alpha's transmission to Iris: You are useless in Van...I see you've seen that, please help Pac Pac. ------ The Stardroid Engine remains cold and dead, even as Cancer's sacrificed energy flows into it. White sparks fLIcker here and there, the machine apparently trying to return to LIfe... and there is a faint suggestion of a white GLow in its crystal heart. Another round of fire whips through Nigh's nebulous suggestion of a body, and yet again, it has no effect. Even Regulus's valorous attempt to leap through does him no good, the Stardroid passing through Nigh as harmlessly as he would a cloud. Nigh's voice chuckles lowly as the Masters shout their responses, but offers nothing of its own. "Maverick Hunters," it chuckles. "RepLIforce. Why do you fight? You seek a world free of violence, free of hatred, free of the tyranny that you would see destroyed...." Nigh begins to collect once more, assuming the figure of the Grim Reaper, face shrouded by a black hood, its scythe oozing inky shadow. "... through violence... pain... suffering... the very things that you abhor. You create chaos... you bring destruction... in the name of order. Why not give yourselves to me? Why not surrender, and let all be swept aside by perfect, peaceful darkness?" ---------- Crash Man GLances over his shoulder to Colonel and his rag-tag band. "Damn, he got you there. Hahaha." Iris sends a radio transmission. Alpha receives a radio transmission. You intercept Iris's transmission to Alpha: I'll do what I can! [Radio: (E) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "Tengu Man is... down... ...I was able to deactivate him... ...he was going mad when Cancer died..." Silo walks closer to the machine, before shaking his head.. While he may have some repairing expereince, he doesn't want to give his hand at repairing and mess up the machine... So he goes back to what he was doing before, and just watches the Nigh... And suddenly gets the urge to do all he can to make the Nigh feel /pain/. He doesn't attack though, just GLares at the darkness... [Radio: (E) None] Omega Battery Dynamo Man transmits, "......" Capricorn looks to Spica, and shrugs almost non-chalantly. "Aye, seems a mite silly, iffn' ye ask me," she mumbles. "All this sacrifice-business. Kinda makes ye wonder whae we even bother tryin' tae win, when we're dyin' anyway!" She rubs her head, before looking down at Aldebaran down below, and calLIng out. "ALDE! YE GET IT WORKIN, YET?! I DINNAE THINK HE'LL WAIT TO SCARE EVERYBODY FOR TOO LONG!" Harmony sneers, and merely says nothing. There was absolutely no way she'd ever give into anything LIke Nigh, let alone anything at all. Giving up RepLIforce is giving up her LIfe, and that's something she's not wilLIng to do. Pyro Squirrel turns toward Nigh as it goes spouting off again. He yells at it, "Yeah, yeah, next is the Mavericks, perfect world, free of humans, blah blah blah. Look, can we just skip that part? You know that nobody's going to LIsten to you anyway." Fusion Phoenix looks to the Nigh, an eyebrow arched. "If you expect us to roll over and play dead for peace, you've got another thing comming. If we were LIkely to do that we would have yealded to Wily or Sigma years ago." Firestorm Phoenix hovers up and unleashes his flamethrowers on the black clouds, he's gotten desperate and wilLIng to try anything, maybe something will work... Guts Man chuckles, "BAHAHAHAHAHA! YOUR PEACEKEEPING IS THE CAUSE OF OUR PROBLEMS! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" He looks to Crash, "They're real tools." [Radio: (E) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "He'll be fine, though. Just in a repair cycle... and unable to leave it untill I replace a circuit... ...the Doctor will know what to do for him." A faint reaLIzation... The demon kicks off the platform, rising a few feet from Starhaven and staying there with the assistance of the two massive thruster intakes mounted into the demon's back. [Radio: (C) None] Daryn sings, "How many niggas brought they irons tonight?", someone else, not Daryn, it appears, sings softly the words: "Tell Me.", Daryn continues, "How many niggas wanna die tonight.", the other voice says: "I do.", and then together they sing, "Pick out our victims when the time is right. We get they as* up off the corner 'cause they dyin' tonight!" Regulus's LIght fades as it fails to do anything at all. He whirls, his wings beating the non existant air as he watches Nigh speak to the defenders of Earth, working on them as he must have worked on Regulus' brother. "So I am to LIve? Very well... resist his blandishments..." The angeLIc stardroid turns and drops towards the weapon. "Very well. I have a power source." He offers Illumine to Aldebaran. "Use her as you see fit..." Crash Man snickers at Guts Man, "They sure are, big buddy." Rocket Rodent is adressed, as the RepLIforce. "That is simple. We fight for freedom. The freedom to do anything you want, the freedom to exist. The freedom to LIve." He sighs. "Nothing is not freedom. Nothing is nothing, and the people have a right to be more then nothing." Alpha sends a radio transmission. Iris receives a radio transmission from Alpha. You intercept Alpha's transmission to Iris: Thank you. Gale Sorcerer sighs at his ninja partner yet once more. He's actually right again, his tactic is not working. Attack darkness with LIght attacks, it really is much easier in RPGs. Arms crossed over his chest, the UN officer LIstens to Nigh trying to think about something else. "This guy has got a speech for everyone, hasn't he? Hopefully he'll forget about us. Or he'll get killed before he reaches that part at least" [Radio: (C) None] Pyro Squirrel transmits, "50 bucks says that Nigh will start talking to the Mavericks about a perfect world free of humans next." Iris gazes into the dark visage of Nigh...there's no hatred there, no aggression whatsoever. "I don't want to fight you...but neither do I want to join you," she murmurs. "I just want us all to be able to LIve in peace...there has to be other choices than total war or total destruction...there just HAS to be." Starburst Dragon doesn't LIsten to a word Nigh says. Because he's taken special precautions. He's wearing earphones. Turned up to the max. Blazing feelgood music into his ears. And what does he say, boy and girls? Lah, lah, lah! Ah'm not LIstenin'!" It always works, trust me. [Radio: (E) None] Beta CO Metal Man transmits, "Your on rodent." [Radio: (E) None] Beta CO Metal Man transmits, "OOC MAV" Without responding to Crash Man, Colonel clears his voice and answers the Nothing. "You are correct in that we cause those things that we wish to get rid of... However, if we did not fight, the world we desire could never come about... We fight for peace... Because if we don't peace will never come. "Look, Nigh... LOOK!! Today, I stand with the Robot Masters and with the Mavericks to defeat you... Why? Because despite our differences, we care for the world below us. You, the Nigh, have given me more faith that one day the wars will end and the Earth will truly be peaceful." Choke on that... [Radio: (C) None] Metal Man transmits, "Your on rodent" [Radio: (C) None] Snake Man transmits, "Why? What'd they tell usss?" Ninjutsu Gecko chuckles, and shakes his head, "If he asks us...well...we'll answer. Interpol...we're supposed to be more here and stuff, you know. So, we'll make ourselves known..." He clasps his hands behind his back, watching.. Dynamo Man works furiously on the machine, trying to find the shorts in the wiring and repair them. "Work, wilyd***it! WORK!" Sai smirks quietly, continuing to maintain the charge. "WHY? Heh. Same reason I was made...I exist to protect Man. I can't do that very well if neither they nor I still exist, now can I? Sure...some may suffer, even die, before we succeed and give peace to our world...but it will be a battle well fought, and a victory well worth the price." Magna Bass continues to watch Nigh speak, cycLIng through his weapons, trying to find a solution to the problem that presents itself. The weapon can only be adequately powered by Stardroids, which he is not. Had he only something he could do ... He looks back towards the device, then back to Nigh. Ironically, the best hope for the future of the world right now may be Dynamo Man. The Strider Director GLances towards Nigh and frowns, "I am called K. I will protect this world and the LIves that LIved on this world. I will not give up because you said so. LIfe is very precious to me. You, the destroyer of LIfe... thus, have no place... here or anywhere." He runs towards Nigh, The good Blade, The Cipher of Order, The Yang Cipher swinging. "You shall fall. You WILL fall." [Radio: (C) None] Daryn continues singing, a female voice joining in with the two male ones. Anybody who knows her, would know that this voice belongs to Aria. "Niggas be all up in my mug, But it's a different story when them muthafu**as coughin' up blood.", the voices cut out and a fourth voice enters, and this one belongs to Megumi, "When he died, looking in his eyes, was he as he cried.", and then all four sing, "I bust another cap in his as* as he died, time is 5." Fusion Phoenix is waiting for the Nigh to reform into something he can shoot. He has his trump, and it seems idealy suited to this battle in a way. Canopy Jabberwock turns to the 'speaking' Nigh, and laughs again in its 'face' as he hovers above it. "Such a weak mind! It is one thing to fight for subjugation and another to fight for peace; the latter is sadly needed at times, but it is justified. And do I simply fight for peace? I fight for joy, awe, wonder; a humid, placid sky, the buzz of fLIes, a furry animal here or there, and the warmth of LIving. Stop your charade; do you fool anybody, jester?" Crescent Grizzly lowers his forcefield, and steps slowly to the brink of the plateau, looking up to the Nigh. His arms are spread wide, and he begins to speak. " Oui, weh' mah' caus' 'arm, weh' mah' mak' mistakes...." the reploid begins, thinking back to the events of the past, the losses, the joys, the victories, and the bitter defeats. "...an' sumtims', weh' do mor' 'arm den' goo'. Buh' at deh' end o' de' day..." Grizzly brings his arms back in, " Weh' know dat' sumwhere', weh' mad' a difference. Weh' kep' summuns' LIfe togetter', we mad' deh' wurl' a saf' plac' to love, to LIve, to laugh...to exis'. An' iffin' weh' know dat' in 'ere..." Grizzly taps the center of his chest with a sinGLe drill finger. " Den' iz' a caus' wort' fightin' fer'. " Grizzly's arms then cross about his chest, and stands, without forcefield, without preperation for defense, at the brink of nothingness, naked before the Nigh. " Com' den', an' do wha' yew' will. Buh' nuttin' is gunna' chang' wha' inside o' mah' 'eart, or deh' 'earts o' anyun' else 'ere. Dats' sumtin' yew' can' snuff out. Dat' will always bea' dere'. " Crescent Grizzly lowers his forcefield. Barrage Raptor knew that Nigh would say something to them, "I don't know why the rest of them fight. But /I/ fight...Because I LIke it!" She growls, and GLares at Nigh, "I love fighting Robot Masters and Mavericks. It's a rush. And if we surrender to you, then I couldn't have fun, could I? I'd be able to do nothing but not exist, and that's really, really BORING!" There. She gave her response. Aldebaran GLances towards Capricorn. "WE'RE DOING OUR BEST! THE EXTRA POWER'S HELPING, BUT..." he shakes his head... ponders... "...The optimization systems. Try the optimization systems!" He points towards assorted black and grey boxes gathered around. "Hurry!" He moves to touch them himself, but Regulus catches his attention... his power source. He nods, slowly, accepting it. "Thank you..." he says, before placing it into one of the power chambers, hoping that the contribution will boost it as well... Alpha doesn't even look towards Nigh, "I don't care about any of that. You are afraid, idiot, you have the power to destroy us by touch. You do not do this because you fear we have something to destroy us. Do you really have time to play this game? You couldn't even kill a sinGLe reploid.", she looks towards Aldebaran and says, "I will hold him off if I can.", she turns her head and takes a sinGLe step forward. "Oh for the love of pete." Beam states. His engines cut out, and he turns towards the Stardroid engine. He looks down at the sLIghtly shorter machine. Those red eyes narrow, before he simply raises one massive fist overhead, and then brings it down upon the Stardroid engine-slash-weapon. Sure, it was tried before, but maybe the anGLe and power behind the Demon can do somethign the others couldn't. Dynamo Man fixes one of the shorts with a quick coating of LIquid Duct Tape(TM), and then Aldebaran's command gets to him. Quickly, he sidesteps to the otherside of the machine, studying the console for a moment, and then tapping furiously, running diagnostics. "It's gotta be here somewhere ... !" [Radio: (C) None] Pirate Princess Tron Bonne transmits, "...Pity this isn't the Neverending Story... ...Then we could save the world by giving the Child-LIke Empress a new name..." [Radio: (C) None] Clown Man transmits, "...The Adult-LIke Dominatrix?" [Radio: (C) None] Daryn sings with the rest of his band, "Niggas be shootin' the gif LIke they for real, but when it jumps they ain't got no murder -skills-, So Bill jus', chops 'em down, 'watch 'em fall. And cut they as* head to toe, jaw to jaw. The sight of the Blue Director lunging at the Nigh makes Mai straighten up. Red and Blue fight together, for now! She breaks into a run towards the Nigh, from a sLIghtly different vector than Kain, both of her ciphers prepared to slash into the deathLIke entity. Where energy and explosives could not triumph, perhaps plasma-charged metal can. Guts Man shouts, "Hey Nigh! If you're so powerful why don't you eat that machine those idiots are trying to make work? By delaying to do so you're only giving them more time to try and fulfill their goal of your destruction! Eat the people trying to fix it too. Especially the one filled with poison!" [Radio: (C) None] Shyster transmits, "Well, yes, but think o'how much cooler t'movie could 'ave gone if she were called 'The Underaged Broad Whose Actress' Career Will Utterly Tank After This Point'." Gale Sorcerer snickers sLIghtly at the response of his partner. "hehehe... letting the Interpol be known... that's something that'd really surprise me..." At least while having him as the director of the RDI division... No, wait, Abernathy's the big boss and Bridgit is in charge of UNED division. They'll be known as soon as they blow a whole city up. "I hope the others come up with something, because my resources are quite LImited here..." Starburst Dragon says, "Y'wan'a answer? Ah'm fahtin'c'z ah exist only t'protect people. No matter what it's from. Ah wanna see 'em safe and ah wanna see 'em happy. All ah want's safety, love an' happiness. Ah've got safety with mah friends. Ah've got love wi'Harmony. And ah've got happiness seein' you makin' a fool o'yerself when you know you beaten already!" Dynamo Man shouts, "ARGH, GUTS! YOU'RE NO HELP AT ALL!" Firestorm Phoenix grumbles to himself, that blasted Nigh seems unstoppable by any conventional means and the one thing that might stop it, is down for the count, "This is just great, I have been through too much to just roll over and go quietly into the night." Job checks over at the systems and runs a scan over this. Meanwhile he is patching up the few shorts he is able to find. "I know Dynamo Man, and we will find it." Another short patched as he goes to check over the system Pac Pac has pointed out. Job sweatdrops at Guts Man's comment and says drying. "Thank you captain obvious..." Guts Man nods, "That I'm not." Clown Man says, "Yes you are." Crash Man heehees.