[Nexus] Inside 48

[Mindfreak]

The Red Zone

Dropping down beside Kirlia, Yuki glances around. "This is certainly an... interesting place you've brought me to."

Red Zone - Demon Huntin'
Kirlia smiled.
"Well...I thought that demons might try to worm there way in here. You know, because the people here want for things, and that could help them further their plans."

[Reinholdt]

[Deus Mechanicus Church]

The man needs a few moments to think about a right answer. If he makes a mistake he might damage the reputaion of Deus Mechanicus, which he doesn't want.

"Deus Mechanicus is our god. As most god's his power is bound to the things he represents. We know that the machines are his children he gave us. In exchange we worship him and treat his children like humans, but still we use them for there tasks. I hope that will help you."

[Deus Mechanicus Church]

Ah. So his power is limitless within a limiting domain. Or so it is implied. That's noteworthy.

"It does, thank you."
"Do you actively seek new worship from the populace?"

[Morcleon]

Red Zone - Demon Huntin'
Kirlia smiled.
"Well...I thought that demons might try to worm there way in here. You know, because the people here want for things, and that could help them further their plans."

The Red Zone- Demon Huntin'

"That makes sense." Yuki starts to walk forward, then turns and smiles at Kirlia. "Then perhaps we should see if there are any demons to be found hereabouts. The silver glows when nearby, yes? Do you know the exact range of this effect?"

[Lost_Deep]

A Perfectly Innocent Park

"You probably go most of it, there wasn't many subtleties. Okay, you might have missed the temperature-sensitive part or the little efficiency upgrades. Or big efficiency upgrades, depending on how long you wore the shirt. Hmm... you might have also missed the superclimb, if you didn't try that."

Psycho gets back off of the bench, and then goes about taking off the clothes. It takes a bit, given the complexity of the clothes, and she quickly starts looking simply sillier.

"And yeah, I'll give you fyis. And there is no way that counts toward the favor, though."

[Mindfreak]

The Red Zone- Demon Huntin'

"That makes sense." Yuki starts to walk forward, then turns and smiles at Kirlia. "Then perhaps we should see if there are any demons to be found hereabouts. The silver glows when nearby, yes? Do you know the exact range of this effect?"

The Red Zone - Demon Huntin'
"Huwah? Silver glows when a demon's nearby?"
Kirlia doesn't know! Then again, Kirlia doesn't know much about demon huntin' except to punch them with silver. Over and over again.
"Is that true? Does silver really glow when a demon's nearby?" 0.0
Little Green resides comfortably in Kirlia's combat armor.
She's pretty good for demon huntin', she doesn't even need to move to stop the demon's in their tracks using her telekinesis.

[Morcleon]

The Red Zone - Demon Huntin'
"Huwah? Silver glows when a demon's nearby?"
Kirlia doesn't know! Then again, Kirlia doesn't know much about demon huntin' except to punch them with silver. Over and over again.
"Is that true? Does silver really glow when a demon's nearby?" 0.0
Little Green resides comfortably in Kirlia's combat armor.
She's pretty good for demon huntin', she doesn't even need to move to stop the demon's in their tracks using her telekinesis.

The Red Zone- Demon Huntin'

Yuki shrugs. "Apparently silver glows when these particular demons are nearby. Still, with the relative commonality of silver as money, wouldn't they be relatively easy to detect?"

He hesitates, then chuckles. "Actually, it was a rumor I heard, so I'm not quite sure if it can be trusted completely. I would stay on guard just in case."

[Zefir]

[Deus Mechanicus Church]

The guy is just an acolyt and not the brightest light he didn't pass PC School.^^

As for seeking, technical there is a banner welcome everyone to learn more about Deus, but let's assume it's behind the gate. Mia should maybe have a look over things.

"Yes we try, but we won't force them or allure them. Actually we are only a dozen and there is place for more."

[Mindfreak]

The Red Zone - Demon Huntin'
"That's what I'd think...though here in the Nexus, all types of currency are used."
Kirlia thinks!
"Do you think we should just go start knocking on doors and asking questions?"

[Reinholdt]

[Deus Mechanicus Church]

"My apologies. I did not mean to imply you were forcibly converting people." The man says.

"Is there any particular part or type of machines that your god favors?"

[Slii Arhem]

A Perfectly Innocent Park

"Efficiency? No, but I did notice the rest of it. Not having to eat was pretty different." And kind of disappointing really.

"I wore the whole outfit pretty much nonstop except for a day or so while I was figuring out what order to take them off in, so how much 'efficiency' are we talking about here? Oh, and go ahead and do your merging thing, so long as we're agreed on it all."

[Lost_Deep]

A Perfectly Innocent Park

"Yep, it was the not having to eat part. There were a few other things that would have slowly come up... like your body metabolizing poisons, or breathing underwater, and maybe some other stuff that's unlikely but I kind of want to try later. Anyway, this will probably feel odd. I'm going to have to compensate for the extra mass... well, more so than usual."

Vriveka will try to grab one of Mintbalm's ankles, and then flow into her. Vriveka's body will form into a ooze-like substance to do so, and the effect would feel... very odd. After a bit, psycho will have pulled herself into Mintbalm and will settle down in her usual spidery form somewhere in Mintbalm's pelvic cradle. Mintbalm will be able to feel the grig, but she won't cause pain or alter the workings of Mintbalm's organs (yet).

Where the extra matter went... your guess is as good as mine.

[FireFox]

Morphy Park

Tobias walks up to a chess table, sets up the board, and sits down to wait for Mr. E and his lieutenant.

[Hattish Thing]

Morphy Park

A young woman walks slowly around to Tobias. She wears a business suit, and bright red heels. She'll sit down by Tobias. [COLOR="DarkRed"]Are you Tobias?[ I...am "Mister E"./COLOR]

[FireFox]

Morphy Park

The fox-eyed king nods, looking mildly surprised. He opens the game with his king side pawn. I was expecting you to be a man. Unless this is a disguise, someone who works for you, or a robot of some sort. I am Tobias Vulpan; it's nice to meet you.

{table=head]|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H
8|BR|BN|BB|BQ|BK|BB|BN|BR
7|BP|BP|BP|BP|BP|BP|BP|BP
6||||||||
5||||||||
4|||||WP|||
3||||||||
2|WP|WP|WP|WP||WP|WP|WP
1|WR|WN|WB|WQ|WK|WB|WN|WR
[/table]

Spoiler

Show

Algebraic Notation
1.e4

[Morcleon]

The Red Zone- Demon Huntin'

"..." Yuki stares blankly at her before shrugging. "It's worth a shot."

He walks up to the nearest door, and knocks on it sharply.

((So who's gonna RP the person whose door I just knocked on? ))

[Slii Arhem]

A Perfectly Innocent Park

Mintbalm looks down at her pelvis, feeling weird just by doing it, "Really? Any place on my body you could've gone and you chose there? Have I told you lately how weird you are?" Despite her words and the look on her face, Mintbalm starts walking. That was the whole point of this after all, to show Vriveka how to walk bipedal style. Ostensibly anyway. Psycho was probably just bored and had a crazy idea.

Mintbalm tries not to think about walking, but not thinking about something consciously is way harder than it sounds under these circumstances. She manages not to mess up her walk cycle too badly, even though she's going slower than normal.

"Oh hey, while I've got you, I should tell you there's a new grig I know now. She kinda poofed spontaneously from a spider who was already talking and thinking, but she did it outside of the fey realms without any fairy magic around as far as I can tell. Weird right?"

[Lost_Deep]

A Perfectly Innocent Park

Huh. Some spider that was sapient before she was grig'd? Weird... hey, does she know any other grigs? She's got to be properly introduced to grigdom! Or at least being a fairy. Man, how would that even work? How could someone become a grig without fairy energy?

...

Know what, if you see Sporedark let me know. It'd probably be better if I wasn't her 'welcome to fairydom!' person. I tend to... you know, be me.

...

You know, Sporedark isn't too good at that either. You're going to have to do it, Minty! Have fun. Whenever you decide to do it instead of whatever it is that you usually do.

[Hattish Thing]

Morphy Park

The fox-eyed king nods, looking mildly surprised. He opens the game with his king side pawn. I was expecting you to be a man. Unless this is a disguise, someone who works for you, or a robot of some sort. I am Tobias Vulpan; it's nice to meet you.

{table=head]|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H
8|BR|BN|BB|BQ|BK|BB|BN|BR
7|BP|BP|BP||BP|BP|BP|BP
6||||BP||||
5||||||||
4|||||WP|||
3||||||||
2|WP|WP|WP|WP||WP|WP|WP
1|WR|WN|WB|WQ|WK|WB|WN|WR
[/table]

Spoiler

Show

Algebraic Notation
1.e4

She sits and looks around nervously, obviously upset. No, I am Mister E. I wrote those things on the wall...I'm a cyborg...he built me back after an accident...I work for him, but he's not involved with my shenanigans...I just want to have fun! But....he's gotten upset...He's going to kill me...my master...His name is Aegin, Enshadu...he has many names. You're one of the most powerful people...I wanted to meet here, to beg...please...he's going to kill me...help me?

She looks around before moving the piece.

Pawn to D6.

[Murkus]

[Red Zone - General]

It's here that Elexxion Industries, a corporation from outside the Nexus, has staked its claim. A clinic was built first, a slick, seductive advance force designed to start buying up cheap housing while simultaneously winning the hearts and minds of the populace. They go about this with low-cost cloning, immortality, hyper cosmetics, and the promise of a steady job accompanied by room and board.

This reborn, reeducated workforce has been put to good use. Every building within five blocks of the transhuman clinic is now Elexxion property. Whether through entertainment, employee housing, R&D, or otherwise, they've made back every penny spent and then some. The Nexus is a gold mine, both culturally, scientifically, and economically. Not to mention this force the locals call 'magic'. Senior staff is practically drooling to get some bona-fied Nexus wizards under their microscope. Advertisements for such tests are being put up on every vacant adspace in the city, along with Elexxion's more typical fare. Immortality, instant beauty and suchlike. Before and after pictures are very prominent.

Despite this impressive progress, all is not well in the Clinic's halls. Revenants are being stripped of their power cells. These half-flesh, half-machine beings are a great source of income and free labor, as they're made entirely from medical waste. Normally, they're based out of wall sockets, plugged in like a computer. Those with free-ranging generators are being decomissioned, one by one, their cells harvested and their personalities frozen on the Net. Priority Revs are staying online, but at this rate, they'll have nothing more than a skeleton crew by the end of the month.

Though the Nexus population at large would normally remain blissfully ignorant, a few savvy Revenants have escaped into the city. Countermeasures for just such an occurrence have failed in all cases, and internal sabotage is being investigated. Among the fugitives are several outdated Escorts, essentially weaponized pleasure droids. They are considered to be well armed and extremely dangerous, though some weapons systems may have been disabled in their escape.

So far, such occurrences have been contained, both physically and in the media. However, this can't be the case for long. The recall has just begun.

Red Zone --> Streets

And it's here that we find the Escort named Kailee, shivering in the rain like one of the homeless people Elexxion's supposed to protect. A senior Escort, fitted with a short-range fuel cell and some extremely obsolete weaponry, Kailee's not much to look at as far as hardware goes. That previously mentioned seniority didn't buy her much. In fact, it bought exactly one security bulletin for her arrest, and a few taser rounds for good measure. Experience, even in her line of work, wasn't worth much to Elexxion anymore.

The shivering was a play at making herself more vulnerable. People like her - yes, people, she thinks - didn't get cold. A stroke of luck, that, as she was barely dressed to begin with. In a shirt stolen from the Big n' Tall store's dumpster and a ruddy waistcoat from a rather nice young man. She'd even told the guy to check out Elexxion before she left, God damn the company's brainwashing.

So here Kailee walks, her long, pale legs bare for the wind and rain. Ahead, a small group of people were huddled around a pale, flickering light. She almost walked on, but a voice spoke her name. Kailee turned, eyes registering a silver screen, and regretted it instantly.

"...she should be considered well armed and extremely dangerous. Anyone who can apprehend or destroy this android without harming its power core will be entitled to a reward of five thousand gold, along with a free operation of their choice at the Elexxion Industries Transhuman Clinic."

She turned to run, but more screens flickered on, billboards and TVs, broadcasting all around her. The woman said it again and again. Extremely dangerous. Five thousand gold. A free operation. Was that what Kailee's experience was worth? A coupon?

Kailee ran, feet slapping in the sooty water. Shapes, shadows in the holo-lights, followed close behind.

[/COLOR]

Aegis Vaults

"The forces of righteousness can never fight half-hearted as the forces of darkness will always give 110 percent if you let them. Their 100 and your 10." And only Superman's able to get away with that.
The jerk.

"Well that's... great advice. I will never forget that," Gelley swears to him. "Did you call the cops already? It might be time to go. We're probly gonna get blamed for this, if TV's taught me anything."

[Devixer]

Red Zone Streets

Ashley is walking down the streets, unaware of Elexxion's recall. She generally paid more attention to her own scenario than the goings-on of the city. Here, she was looking for a store that might buy some of the enchanted items she had created. She doesn't make a terribly intimidating sight, and she might be mistaken for any common citizen of Inside.

She hears a commotion down one of the roads, and hurries up a bit to see what is going on. The scene of a woman running from something greets her, and she's hardly surprised. Ashley tries to get a better look before getting involved.

[ThirdEmperor]

Cave of Being

Yes, m'lord, only one moment more. The Wizard says to Gabriel, before turning back to speak with Mrs. Bloodplunder. I think we must free him then. I can't leave an innocent to suffer at some demon's hands. It's not a decision he's altogether happy with, but it's the only one he can see that doesn't condemn someone to an eternity of torture.

At the Willow Tree

Yes, I think I have everything... Clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth, the Wizard ticks off each object on his mental checklist, before nodding in agreement with himself. Yes. I am as ready as I shall be. I, ah, I assume that this tree is in some way meant to move us through space and time? He asks, looking over the tree with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

A fine old tree indeed, but he sees no portal or gate through which to travel... So then, a more complex method? The focus for a specific ritual, or, something altogether stranger? I must admit, this has me somewhat nervous. Did... whatever makes this tree special, come about by your doing? Or is it some property innate within the tree?

A Dark, Rainy and Generally Miserable Day in the Red Zone

Ashley's are not the only eyes tracking the escapee android as she panics and flees from the holoscreen ads. Another gaze falls upon her as she goes dashing through an alleyway, running right by yet another average nobody, this one sitting on a stack of shipping pallets, munching down a turkey sandwich on rye from underneath the cover of his umbrella.

Or maybe not quite so average and inconsequential. This one at least looks up from his lunch to see what the commotion is. And more importantly, when he sees a very obviously distressed lady run past, his first thought is to reach under the first pallet and grab the sword he'd left hidden there, wrapped up in a common tablecloth.

Hopping down from his perch he walks after the lady, not bothering to match her pace. Last time he checked this alley hit a dead end after a blind corner, so there wasn't much chance of having to chase after her.

Uh, lady? Can I ask what's got you so spooked?

[Murkus]

Another Generally Miserable Day in the Red Zone

Kailee goes by without even noting the stranger's presence, hoping to lose her imagined pursuers. The blind alley induces a groan, and she whirls just as the stranger turns his corner. A few steps back and she's against the wall, trapped.

Then the man asks about her state of mind. Was it possible he hadn't seen Naitiri's ad yet?

"There's no one back there?" No one but... him. And she hadn't seen him, running into the alley. Had she? "What's that in your hand?" Suspicion rises in her throat like bile, and the Escort's voice quaivers.

Kailee's facial features remain elusive. She hides her face, though her hair appears to be a startling platinum blonde.


Meanwhile, Ashley might find that Kailee's pursuers aren't so imagined. A man sidles up to the alleyway, hand inside his jacket, the coat's hood pulled low over his face. He takes a few moments to check around before watching the mouth of the alley intently.

[Devixer]

A Fairly Typical Day in the Red Zone

Ashley quickly casts a quiet invisibility spell to hide herself from the man approaching the alley, and gets herself to one of the walls outside of the alleyway's entrance. She racks through the spells she can easily use at this moment in time, and starts to ready one of the many lightning spells she is capable of.

[ThirdEmperor]

Being Quite Miserable in the Red Zone

Oh! Uhm... Looking down at the machete in his hand like he's only just now noticed it's presence, or rather, the somewhat menacing impression it could create, the stranger hurriedly tucks it under the crook of his arm. It's, ah, a sanctified instrument for meting out justice? Even he doesn't sound entirely sure of that one. Looks more like a pretty average wedge of sharpened metal wrapped in a tablecloth than anything particularly holy.

Er... I'm a vigilante. Y'know, protector of weak, smiter of the unrighteous? Not a serial killer. In case that was the idea you were getting. Totally not a serial killer. That would explain why he's got the hood of his raincoat pulled up a scarf wrapped around the lower half of his face, concealing nearly all of it. But then, 'serial killer' is an equally good explanation.

And when you get right down to it, isn't the only difference who they're killing. So, uh... Might sound a little weird, but, I'm pretty sure I'm here because I'm supposed to help you? As in, called here by divine powers to help with... whatever it is you're running from? Once again, he doesn't seem entirely sure himself. But he holds out his hand, gloved, for Kailee to shake. You can... You can call me the Wrath of Justice. It's, uh, it's a bit of a working title.

The crook sneaking up on them goes largely unnoticed, for the time being at least.

[Murkus]

[A Dangerous Day in the Red Zone]

Oh, glorious. A vigilante. That's much better than a bounty hunter. And it doesn't sound like he's the nice kind of vigilante you see in old movies. But she hardly has time to shake hands and make nice.

"You didn't answer my question! Is there anyone behind you?" She demands, desperate and angry. She finally relinquishes the arm that had been covering her face. Kailee's got magazine cover good looks, the kind hours of make-up and prep time can only hope to accomplish. A smallish nose, soft lips, and dark, watery eyes complete the beautiful picture.

Should Mr. Wrath poke his head back around the corner, he'll see a tall, mean looking stranger standing at the end of the alley in a dark hood. The stranger will be sure to notice him, too.


Ashley, meanwhile, will hear the rustle of a sword being drawn. It glitters in the rain, all sheeny steel and painful edges. The weapon extends from Mr. Creeper's coat sleeve like a prosthetic weapon, straight out from his arm, as if it were part of him. He steps forward into the alley's encroaching darkness.

[Devixer]

A Dangerously Miserable Day in the Red Zone

Ashley does hear the sound of a blade being drawn. Some time ago, she would've flinched at such a noise, but now it's routine to her. As the creeper steps forward, Ashley's still-invisible hand starts to coat itself in electricity as she follows, intending to keep the situation from growing terribly violent.

[ThirdEmperor]

Might Not Live to See Another Day in the Red Zone

Oh, right. Bit distracted by that whole 'not a serial killer' thing. Withdrawing the offered hand, Wrath signals for silence as he goes to stealthily peer around the corner. Just in time to see the thug flex that fancy new armblade too. Yeah. This whole 'holy vigilante' gig? Suddenly not sounding too hot. But... **** it. Too late to back out now.

Turning back to Kailee, he nods, holding up a finger to indicate that there's indeed someone waiting out there. Ashely has gone unnoticed, it would seem. Unsheathing the machete, Wrath takes a deep breath, says a silent prayer and lunges around the blind corner screaming bloody murder as he charges the crook.

His goal is simple; disable, preferably without killing. Normally a complete lack of actual training would make that pretty darn near impossible. But funny thing is, for all he blatantly doesn't know how to use a sword, Wrath is somehow pretty adept at it, his clumsy downward hack miraculously aimed dead-on at the thug's swordarm, just below the shoulder.

[Murkus]

[There's a reason they call it the Red Zone]

With the pitter patter of the rain, it's likely hard for our bounty hunter to hear Ashley creeping up behind him. She goes unnoticed as he pads down the alleyway, taking care to step around spilt garbage and refuse.

Kailee, meanwhile, shrieks for Wrath to wait, hoping to see what they're up against before he charges off into battle. But it's too late. WoJ's down the alleyway, water exploding off the ground 'round his feet. The bounty hunter walks forward to meet him, and is surprised to find a well-timed strike coming his way. He sidesteps, for if he hadn't done so, the hunter was liable to lose a limb.

Legs quick and light, Mr. Hunter regains his balance, and aims to open a cut on Wrath's leg while stepping around him in one smooth motion. His sword becomes an arc of shimmering steel, and his feet dance over the slick asphalt.

[Zefir]

[Deus Mechanicus Church]

"My apologies. I did not mean to imply you were forcibly converting people." The man says.

"Is there any particular part or type of machines that your god favors?"

[Deus Mechanicus Church]

The man nod's friendly. He just wanted to excuse the less number.

"Nothing that I'm aware on. May i know your name, sir? And could you tell me the meaning of your amulett?"

Counterquestions, not that he worry about anything, but he needs at least a name to tell the others about him, if he leaves.

[Shadowcaller]

The Red Zone - Demon Huntin'
"That's what I'd think...though here in the Nexus, all types of currency are used."
Kirlia thinks!
"Do you think we should just go start knocking on doors and asking questions?"

The Red Zone- Demon Huntin'

"..." Yuki stares blankly at her before shrugging. "It's worth a shot."

He walks up to the nearest door, and knocks on it sharply.

((So who's gonna RP the person whose door I just knocked on? ))

The Red Zone- Demon Huntin'

The door does not open but after a while they can hear a voice on the other side. "What do you want?" It doesn't sound sound like this person like have strangers knocking on his door.