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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 13, 2019 10:31:40 GMT -5
Hesitation didn't take long to leave, as M'Lyn leapt down, much for the Heartless' apparent shock. She glanced over to then notice that there was someone ready to catch her. Turning around to have her back face the "Akogare", M'Lyn landed safely, and was quick to regain her step.
"...Appreciate it" she said, coldly, "Although a proper 'thanks' can wait for later." "Seriously, what's with you and your com just so conveniently getting busted?!" Jack yelled, annoyed, "Are all Miqo'te so bad with technology?!" "It was not my intention!" M'Lyn replied just as sharply. "Jack, focus on the battle, please! There's a lot of Heartless!" Alice's voice rang through the com. "Fine..." Jack groaned with annoyance, "At least our Weaponsmaster is with us!"
M'Lyn held her spear firmly, ready for the assault, while Jack readied his own fists. Now he was more confident of their chances, since the one with most battle expertice was the Miqo'te besides him.
The Heartless were quick to follow after their prey, while a few more decided to lend backup. With his screen displaying all of the power levels and precise movements, Jack was ready to fight, and M'Lyn was ready to follow.
"I believe your friend will fight, as well?" M'Lyn asked Jack, while her gaze was fixated in the Heartless. "Don't ask me 'bout that, sheesh! You're a smart girl, aren't ya?!" Jack replied back, eager, "Alright! Time to clean house!"
[BIG BATTLE! 5 Soldiers, 3 Gold Beats, 2 Mechanituars and Catastrochorus]
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 13, 2019 14:52:40 GMT -5
Akogare caught M’Lyn with ease, aiding them to the ground carefully before vanishing. Kujo had stayed still by the sidewalk, readying himself as the Heartless came after them. Ignore the small fry—where’s the big one? These ‘Heartless’ creatures always ganged up in packs, typically held in check by the strongest one amongst them. That was when Kujo’s emerald eyes fell on the Catastrochorus. The dinosaur Heartless was massive, larger than any Kujo had ever seen. For a moment the large man paused, adrenaline coursing through his veins as his body shimmered in a light aura. Rumble, rumble, rumble— The ground beneath his feet was shaking.
Mechanitaurs were also Heartless Kujo had never seen before, their sheer power unknown to him. It seemed the odd bull warriors were strong enough to shake the ground as much as a large dinosaur, though. Gritting his teeth, Kujo’s gaze turned icy with welling fury as he made his move. Rushing between the smaller Heartless, Kujo’s body shimmered in a light aura as his arms and legs seemed to appear more like Akogare’s than his own. Running at a speed that seemed almost inhuman, Kujo used the power in his legs to leap from the street directly over the two Mechanitaurs as he soared towards the Catastrochorus’ face.
Kujo’s shout rang out as his shimmering form suddenly became a flurry of movement. Sending a torrent of punches directly at the large dinosaur Heartless, the sheer power and speed behind them gave the appearance of Kujo pummeling the Heartless with countless fists of light. His Wakeru ability was one of his most raw powerful attacks. There was an exhilaration firing within him as he roared out at the creature, finishing his combo with a final powerful punch to the jaw.
”Get out of my city!”
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 13, 2019 15:44:46 GMT -5
The Catastrochorus was caught off-guard by Kujo's sudden assault, but it wasn't much more than a few scratches for it. M'Lyn glanced over while taking care of the Golden Beats with the help of her spear. She had been fighting that Heartless on her own beforehand, and yet she struggled against it.
"That child hasn't been fighting the Heartless for long, now has he...?" M'Lyn sighed, fending off one of the Golden Beats into smoke, "...Umbral Ice!
After fending off one of the Heartless, M'Lyn was quick to chant a spell and then toss the Umbral Ice spell at the Catastrochorus, granting Kujo a second window. Jack was just tackling the Soldier Heartless with all of his knowledge, every now and then using his technological surroundings for his advantage. After a rather exhausting battle, albeit in Jack's eyes, the Soldiers were no more.
"M'Lyn!" Jack shouted, turning her way, "Help Kujo out! I can take the two small fry left!" "...Understood" M'Lyn said calmly, "Weapon - Switch: Chakrams!"
The spear in M'Lyn hand desintegrated, and instead, a pair of chakrams took its place. From where she was standing, M'Lyn gracefully tossed both iron rings towards the Catastrochorus, aiming specifically where Kujo wouldn't be reached by her weapons. After the Umbral Ice had hit its mark, the large dinosaur Heartless had been stunned if only for a moment.
Jack, on the other hand, readied his flash. Holding a bomb in hand, he first created enough confusion for the Heartless to be dazed, and then tossed his bomb towards the Golden Beats, which happened to be close to one of the Mechanitaurs. The bomb exploded on-contact, releasing a multitude of sharp edges and debris, reaching bullet-like speed.
"Here!" Jack tossed one of his Physical Barriers towards Kujo, to then block the incomming debris with his arms, "Urgh... Where there's a will, there's a way!" he shouted, enduring the pieces that managed to hit him. "Then that leaves the bigger ones to defeat..." M'Lyn observed calmly, "Let's take them all out!"
[2 Gold Beats, 2 Mechanituars and Catastrochorus]
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 14, 2019 1:06:57 GMT -5
Finishing his Wakeru ability, Kujo landed on the pavement beneath the large dinosaur Heartless, glaring up at it. His fists clenched tighter, drawing faint blood from his palms as a devious grin ruptured his features. ”Glad you can take a hit—I got a lotta energy for ya.” His tone was icy, as though one were speaking to something that bothered them to their core. Suddenly, the massive Heartless was hit with a powerful ice magic, causing Kujo’s emerald eyes to turn towards M’Lyn. The attack caused the creature to stagger, giving him a second opportunity. He wouldn’t waste it. One of his powerful legs swooped out behind him, his form crouching as it began to shimmer in a radiant light energy, taking on the appearance of Akogare’s.
”Giro—“ While summoning the power for the attack, M’Lyn’s chakrams hit their mark, only furthering the opening for Kujo. There was a faint smirk on his lips as suddenly a brilliant flash of light erupted around him, his leg spinning out as a slash of light energy found its way to the massive Heartless. ”—chin!!!!!” It was a kick delivered like a guillotine blow. Given the Heartless’ size, Kujo aimed for its legs, hoping to at least fell its ability to move freely. The large man was already behind the large dinosaur, raising from his crouched position as his foot smoked from the power of the attack. A faint skid mark was found in the pavement where he was standing.
”Here!” Jack’s voice echoed in the night as Kujo turned to face the Heartless once more. With reflexes that seemed impossible, the man caught the Physical Barrier, giving a ‘thumbs up’ to Jack briefly before rushing back in to attack the Catastrochorus again. ”…” There was something he wanted to say, in a moment like this. It had been a while since he had, though. He wasn’t used to this sort of thing. Sighing in annoyance, Kujo muttered to himself as he rushed in to the dinosaur once more, his fists shining in radiance as they took on the appearance of Akogare’s. He’d have to do it sooner or later. ”Can’t I catch a break?”
As he began to vent his awkward frustration on the Heartless before him, pummeling it’s flank with a series of powerful punches, Kujo’s voice rang out over his attack as he shouted: ”Thanks—Jack!”
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 14, 2019 15:54:40 GMT -5
Staggering a bit because of the debris his bomb had tossed, Kujo's words of gratitude reached Jack's ears crystal clear. The young man grinned broadly, since words like those often lifted up anyone's spirit. Standing up straight and facing the resting enemies, as the two Golden Beats were quickly taken care of by the bullet-like debris from his Light Show. He was out of the debris bomb, unfortunately, as, while it was a very handy tool to have, it also was quite lethal if it happened to detonate at a bad time.
"Anytime, buddy!" Jack replied to Kujo's thanks, "Heh... Now these guys are toast..."
With 2 Mechanitaurs and the Catastrochorus still standing, chances were looking in favor for the trio. M'Lyn once again switched weapons, from her chakrams to a regular broadsword, making use of the blade to mostly fend off the Mechanitaurs' charges by parrying and then countering with a flurry of slashes. Jack, while somewhat injured, kept putting pressure on the enemies, while keeping an eye on Kujo every now and then. One could never be too careful.
"These guys look like tough ones to crack..." Jack mentioned nonchalantly. "While I agree there, it's nothing like the primals" M'Lyn replied, "Even comparing them to the monsters in Gridania would be an insult to said monsters... Heartless may be strong, but in the end, they're beasts with no thought." "Hey, aren't you bein' a bit too harsh on them?" "Should I feel remorse towards the enemy? If I stopped to check on even one rival in my path, would I be here, fighting alongside you?" "I don't need your lectures!"
M'Lyn parried one of the Mechanitaurs' charge with her blade, and Jack lent a flying kick, tossing it back against its partner. For now, they were out of the picture, but not defeated quite yet. It did, however, leave an opening to fight the Catastrochorus alongside Kujo.
[2 Mechanitaurs (both stunned), Catastrochorus]
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 14, 2019 19:43:23 GMT -5
Kujo spit at the ground where the large Catastrochorus landed, its legs successfully wounded from his guillotine-like kick from before. While Jack and M’Lyn continued their assault on the surrounding Heartless, Kujo took solace in the opening against the large dinosaur Heartless the two had provided him. He had a lot of rage and frustration he wanted to take out, after all. ”I really hate Heartless, y'know?.” A burst of light came forth in front of the tall man, Akogare appearing, levitating in the air with its translucent pixie wings. The tall form with galaxy eyes took hold of the dinosaur’s large tail in both hands, its grip one stronger than diamond. ”So just disappear.”
Kujo stood calmly, his hands in his pockets as Akogare began to spin, hoisting the large Heartless into the air. Twirling around in the air, hovering above the street pavement by barely a foot, Akogare continued to spin and spin, the Catastrochorus being dragged along for the ride. So long as the creature didn’t break free, Akogare would release its grip, hurling the large Heartless far in the distance, where Kujo hoped it would inevitably perish. All in all the whole battle had seemed to barely tax him, walking across the pavement calmly with his large guardian at his side. Heading towards Jack and M’Lyn, Kujo planned to aid them in destroying the remaining Heartless.
Akogare remained hovering at his side, aware and present for any oncoming attacks that may attempt to harm Kujo.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 14, 2019 21:24:08 GMT -5
[WTF, did the Heartless suddenly become Bowser, and Akogare Mario?! Screw it, I'mma let it slide]
The Catastrochorus stood no chance against Kujo's Akogare. With its limited reach, it was unable to escape the figure's firm grip, and when it was finally free, it was thrown with such strength, it couldn't withstand the fight any longer, and dissapeared in a puff of smoke, leaving only 2 minions to fend for themselves.
And both Jack and M'Lyn watched in shock, unable to mutter even a single word. Just what was that boy capable of, and how strong was he, to no be fazed by Heartless of such size?! M'Lyn in particular, having never witnessed Kujo's fighting style before, was impressed. Nothing back in Eorzea could even match such raw strength.
"...This boy's aether..." M'Lyn seemed to notice something, "It is different... But why...?" "Uh, M'Lyn?!"
Jack's voice brought back some urgency to the Miqo'te, as the 2 Mechanitaurs were back in their feet. However, seeing their "leader" defeated, they remained somewhat still, not moving too much. This gave M'Lyn the opportunity to quickly fend them off, changing her broadsword for a pair of fists, and landing heavy punches and kicks, much like Kujo's fighting style. In the end, Heartless were barely a match to the group.
Dismissing her weaponry, M'Lyn sighed, and Jack followed suit. While it was made a breeze with Kujo's prowess backing them up, it was way to close for comfort. Remembering what she'd said before, the Miqo'te turned towards Kujo, and gave a faint bow as thanks.
"You have my thanks from before" she said, "And I also appreciate the fact that you decided to help Jack... If that is what happened." "Well, yeah... After I gave him a deal..." Jack admitted sheepishly. "...So, in the end, he was just another customer?" "I wouldn't say it like that, but..."
Jack looked away for a second, to then quickly turn back towards M'Lyn, and hold his hand towards her, demaning for something. It took some time for M'Lyn to notice he was asking for her com, which was apparently broken down.
"Hmm..." Jack began to take a look with his own com, "This is... What? The fifth time you've broken it? Tenth?" he asked, bitter, "Seriously, are Miqo'te that bad with tech?!" "As I said, it was not my intention!" M'Lyn replied. "Guh... Looks like the chip's busted. And it looks like liquid damage... Just where did you wander off to, huh?" "...I will admit: I had my downfalls..." "Haa..." Jack sighed, saving the broken com in one of his pockets, "In any case... Your part of the deal's over" he told Kujo with a smile, "Now's my time to finish my part! We gotta get to the Almira first, though. That's where all the info's at!"
Jack took a few steps forward, and tapped his com to reach Alice, while M'Lyn remained with Kujo. Glancing every now and then to see the aetherflow around him, the Miqo'te tried to understand what made him so unique from everyone else.
"...I believe I haven't introduced myself properly, have I?" she asked, trying to establish some polite conversation, "My name is M'Lyn. As you probably know, I work alongside Jack and his sister, Alice. I'm their Weaponsmaster. That is to say... I can wield almost any weapons there exists. And if there is a weapon I do not know how to use, then learning about it is just as easy." "Hey, Kujo?" Jack turned towards the two, "You wouldn't happen to know if there's a park nearby, right? Alice wants to land in an open area, since it'd be the most convenient way to get things done quickly."
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 14, 2019 23:59:03 GMT -5
While M’Lyn made quick work of the remaining Heartless, Kujo walked over to Jack, keeping his eyes on the cat woman with a hint of awe in them. She’s…versatile. With the fight over, the trio gathered on the empty night time street, illuminated by the street and building lights. I wonder if anyone will come because of the sound… In the end, it wasn’t a huge concern of his. Something as fickle as judicial government didn’t cause a man like him to shiver. ”You have my thanks from before” M’Lyn’s voice echoed in the night time. Kujo glanced at the woman, a hint of surprise on his face before he closed his eyes, looking away. He wasn’t used to being praised by anyone other than his mother. It was an…odd sensation, to say the least.
While Jack and M’Lyn began their banter, Kujo raised an eyebrow in curiosity. If that’s a costume…it’s really well-done. The woman’s cat ears truly seemed as though they were attached to her head, hidden in part by her hair. Likewise, the tail that flickered behind her knees seemed to truly have a will of its own. Just how dedicated of a con-goer is she? Is that how she learned to fight like that? Kujo was of course not above the notion of a powerful woman, but the finesse with weaponry M’Lyn seemed to have was truly impeccable. ”I believe I haven’t introduced myself properly, have I?” Her voice broke the fortress of his brooding mind. ”My name is M’Lyn. As you probably know, I work alongside Jack and his sister, Alice.” Though Kujo knew her name, he had had no idea that Jack had a sister named Alice.
”I’m their Weaponmaster. That is to say…I can wield almost any weapons that exist.” Ah. So she was one of those fighters. The ones that Kujo always enjoyed picking in any adventure video game. Ones that could beat the crap out of any enemy with anything they happened to have on hand. There was a faint smirk on his lips. Such boyish thoughts hadn’t entered his mind in years. ”M’Lyn—I’m Kujo. Kujo Tanaka.” How long had it been, since he had had prolonged conversation? ”Your fighting was—impressive.” Today truly was pushing him out of his comfort zone. ”Hey, Kujo?” Jack’s voice broke through the short-lived conversation, saving him momentarily. ”You wouldn’t happen to know if there’s a park nearby, right? Alice wants to land in an open area, since it’d be the most convenient way to get things done quickly.” For a moment, Kujo’s face was expressionless as he blinked.
”If she needs to land—why not use a helicopter pad?” Pointing in the distance towards an impossibly tall building with an ovular platform at its top, one who’s silhouette could be seen from anywhere in the city, Kujo’s emerald eyes blazed with a light not previously there. ”That building’s got one.” It was a far ways off, back up towards the North District. Truthfully, the only other open space large enough to land an aircraft would be in the North as well, not leaving them many options. Seeing as how the building had a literal Helicopter pad on the top, Kujo figured that would be the best place to land. Glancing over at Jack, Kujo slipped his hands back in his pockets, his voice holding a faint jibing tone to it.
”How ‘bout it, Jack? Feel like going for another ride?”
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 15, 2019 11:10:24 GMT -5
Jack chuckled for a moment, to then break out in a bit of a laughing fit. In the end, the amount of fighting kinda required a stress relief of sorts, he assumed. Calming down rather quickly, Jack threw a thumbs-up with glee.
"Well, don't mind if I do!" he said, "I was sorta hoping we wouldn't need to move, though... But I honestly can't care much right now! Not with M'Lyn besides us!" "...Are you saying I'm your trump card of sorts?" M'Lyn asked, calmly. "Nah, you bein' here makes things easier." "I... Fail to see what exactly my being with you is helpful at..." "Sheesh, you're cold!"
Jack looked around for a bit to find a car they could use, not taking long in finding one. Just like before, with a few hacks he got the car up and running. And just like before, Jack took the wheel.
"You'll have to stick to the back, M'lyn!" he teased the Miqo'te, "Kujo over there's gonna lead the way." "Haa..." M'Lyn sighed, "Out of all the things you could've said..." "Look at the bright side! You won't need to sit on top of your tail for a change! Since you always have issues with it to begin with." "...Are you asking for a kick in the gut, or what? I'd be more than willing to give you some special training right now, you know." "A-and with that... Let's just go."
Somewhat annoyed, M'Lyn took the back seat, leaving Kujo the co-pilot seat. With that out of the way, at least the ride back would be smooth.
It was about to be dawn, after all. Who would've thought that all that trouble took all night to solve?
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 16, 2019 15:10:17 GMT -5
Raising an eyebrow at the amount of laughter Jack emitted, Kujo glanced over at M’Lyn. Was he normally this odd? Well, his honesty and funny habits only deepened the man’s belief that Jack wouldn’t turn on him. He seemed like a reliable guy who would honor his end of a bargain. I wonder if his information will help… Knowing about the enemy was a boon in itself, but Kujo still had questions around the deeper meanings of these ‘Heartless’. As Jack hacked into a car, giving Kujo the shotgun, the tall man ducked into the passenger seat quietly.
It seemed M’Lyn was a bit annoyed at taking the back seat, but the back and forth her and Jack had proved to be amusing. Despite his typical stoic demeanor, Kujo found himself silently grinning in the front seat as the two exchanged quips. How long had it been, since he had been around people that acted this close with each other? For some reason, Kujo found himself thinking of his mother as he noticed the coming dawn. Sighing a bit, he rested his chin on the palm of his hand, propped up against the car window. Once Jack began to drive, Kujo’s emerald eyes glanced over to the road, rather than the awakening city.
”Watch out for lights, we’ll have to avoid the Highway, this time.” The Highway looped around the city, but the ramps were only at specific points. Due to where the gigantic cylinder skyscraper was, they would have to take normal roads. They were running short on time, though. Soon, many locals would wake to start their daily lives, one poor individual finding their car stolen. ”We have to return the car before the sun rises.” It seemed despite his overall attitude, Kujo truly was dedicated to protecting the locals of this world, even from minor inconveniences. ”We’re gonna take a right at the next light.”
Luckily, the skyscraper was visible from almost everywhere in the city. They could see their progress as they drove, racing the rising sun itself. ”After that, we’ll go straight until the next left and it’ll be up on the right.” Though it wasn’t many turns, the distance in between them was far. They weren’t in the residential district at the moment, tall office and corporate buildings spaced out the blocks widely from each other. Large billboards loomed above large parking lots, waiting to be filled by the workers who would be arriving within the hour.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 16, 2019 18:24:21 GMT -5
"I wouldn't have it any other way!"
Jack pushed his feet onto the gas to its maximum speed, taking the race seriously. His opponent was none other than the sun: an opponent he couldn't even try to sabotage. While he found it amusing to go full speed, M'Lyn found it a bit too hasty for her take.
"This is just farcical..." she said, while she got herself comfortable by laying down over her stomach, her tail silently moving back and forth, "Was there really no other option?" "Hey, better to be outta view than in an open area, really!" Jack said over his shoulder. "The least you can do to make this plausable is to turn the AC on..."
Jack did just as M'Lyn asked, while following Kujo's directions to a T. It was amusing to do multiple things at once, while being able to keep things in check, or at least that's what Jack thought. He liked being able to do multiple things at once.
"Don't worry 'bout the car, by the way" Jack grinned, "I've got a~ll covered!" "You and your gadgets..." M'Lyn rolled her eyes, "Hmm... And without my com, I can't check on the reports..." "That is your fault for messing up, though." "I'm more than aware... Although didn't Alice say they had reports about my home? About... Finding a way there?" "I mean, I can always give you a regular, spare com I always carry... Sure, your arsenal still works, 'cause it's a separate unit attached to your com, but still..." "I'm good, thanks."
Jack took the right, and then went full throttle straight. He could still see the towering building by the corner of his eye, and even if he couldn't, M'Lyn could. Heck, he wouldn't be surprised if she heard the Almira all the way from the car.
"Make sure you don't go past. It's quite near" M'Lyn informed. "Thank you, M'Lyn!" Jack chuckled, "We'll arrive at our destination soon~!"
M'Lyn's comment allowed Jack to choose a proper parking place, and, after exiting the car, commanded it to return to its previous location, hopefully avoiding issues while he was at it. With all that out of the way, he looked up to the building.
"Guess we just go all the way up by going inside the building..." Jack mentioned with a chuckle, "Nothing too hard, actually!" "You don't think the cameras would record?" M'Lyn asked, concerned. "Well, if that worries ya..." Jack dropped his screen yet again, "Pfft... The video-recording system's so old tech... Easy hacking!" he finished with a brag.
Jack began to continue onwards with this hacking, disabling the cameras and security system, and then entered without a care in the world, followed by M'Lyn and hopefully Kujo. Although the boy doubted Kujo would stay behind, as it was his time to recieve his reward, after all.
Taking the elevator all the way to the helicopter pad was a breeze, especially considering that the building's electricity was running 24/7, according to Jack's analysis. He called Alice through his com, and in a matter of seconds, a somewhat large, white ship was landing carefully in the pad.
"Home, sweet home..." Jack whistled as he made his way up the open ramp. "No need to be shy, now..." M'Lyn mentioned to Kujo nonchalantly, "This is out ship, after all... The Almira."
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 17, 2019 0:22:48 GMT -5
While Jack drove, Kujo’s eyes lingered on the city they were speeding by. Though he was a bit distracted, his ears perked up a bit at something M’Lyn said. ”Didn’t Alice say they had reports about my home? Finding a way there?” So the woman he assumed was attending a convention was lost? Though he wanted to ask a question, the flow of conversation had already passed him by, leaving Kujo wondering as he eyed her over his shoulder. The tail moves? It was a bit surprising, though he suspected he was rather out of date when it came to what kind of costumes people could buy or design. They were nearing the gigantic cylindrical sky scraper. At it’s sides were two smaller cylindrical buildings attached, jutting up the sides at varying heights around its perimeter.
That’ll make it easier to get up… There was a faint grin on Kujo’s face. Did Jack have any gadgets that would aid them in climbing a building? If not, he had his Akogare, so he was fine, but what of the other two? They couldn’t go inside through the front door. Not only was that building an important one owned by a large company in the city, only allowing access to certain personnel, it was also way too early for it to be open. Parking in the lot next to the building, the trio exited the car, walking across the parking lot to the impossibly tall building. Before Kujo could bring up his thoughts about scaling it, Jack introduced his own method. Hacking into the buildings security system, Kujo raised his eyebrows in surprise as the buildings main doors opened for them.
”Wow—you’re pretty handy, Jack.” His tone was as stoic and serious as ever, though his face wore a slight grin. Following M’Lyn and Jack (still curious about how M’Lyn’s tail worked) into the building, Kujo felt relaxed as they all entered the elevator. This whole thing ended up easier than he had thought, despite the time it had taken. Exiting onto the roof of the building, the large circular pad that resided on top, a large white ship landed onto the pad. Kujo gazed at the aircraft, wondering exactly what sub-unit Jack and M’Lyn worked for. ”No need to be shy, now…this is our ship, after all…the Almira.” Following Jack and M’Lyn’s lead, Kujo began to step onto the ramp that led up and into the aircraft.
He had never been on a ship like this. Though his hands were in his pockets and his face was as stoic and serious as ever, inside Kujo was curious and impressed. Walking up the ramp, his emerald gaze fell on the back of Jack's head. Just who does this guy work for? There were a few questions he still had, though he doubted Jack would answer them. Seeing as how all of them seemed to be helping his city, he couldn't exactly feel right with getting the information by force. It truly wasn't relevant. Guess I'll settle for whatever info on the Heartless they have...
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 17, 2019 12:09:52 GMT -5
"Welcome back!"
A cheerful female voice welcomed them inside the Almira, its inside just as white as the outside. It wasn't too bright, however, so one didn't have to squint their eyes to see around. There were a multitude of screens, and a pair of well-placed chairs for Jack and M'Lyn to sit down whenever they were inside the aircraft, and a side corridor leading to each member's quarters, with a few to spare. It was a very high-tech aircraft, or at least, it would be for the untrained eye.
"It's good to be home!" Jack said cheerfully, "Good to see everything's good around here, sis!" "So? Where'd you wander off to, M'Lyn?" Alice asked with a cheeky tone. "Are you two teaming against me?" M'Lyn asked coldly, but with a faint jib behind her tone. "Oh! You must be Kujo!"
Alice stood up from her seat at the front of a large screen, and turned towards them. She had a slightly lighter hair color than Jack, white skin, but the same dark-green eyes as his brother. She smiled and bowed politely, her hair falling to her side medium-length.
"It's very nice to meet you. I'm Alice Polar, Jack's younger sister, and this unit's Nav" she introduced herself. "Hey, Alice? Can I leave you the deal? Gotta see what's wrong with the chip" Jack informed, making his way to the side corridor, "You know what it is, right?" "Sure! Leave it to me!" "Am I supposed to choose now?" M'Lyn asked, arms crossed, and then sighed, "Although in all honesty, I'd rather stay here than with Jack for a second longer." "Co~old!"
Jack stuck his tongue out in a childish manner before going to his quarter and fix M'Lyn's com, while the two other members -both girls- remained with Kujo at the main room.
"So... If I remember correctly, it was about the Heartless, right?" Alice asked while sitting back down before the screen, "I ask that you stay besides M'Lyn, as some information I need to manipulate right now is confidential... I'll just... Do this..."
A screen appeared before M'Lyn and Kujo, forcing them to a degree to stay there. Alice would just show whatever information Kujo wanted in that separate, holographic screen.
"Go ahead, I'm ready when you are!" "And if there's anything you need an explanation for, just ask" M'Lyn said, calmly, "There's no point in acting smart now... Although I'm sure you knew that, especially considering your reward." "That's a bit too harsh, M'Lyn..."
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 17, 2019 23:00:21 GMT -5
Greeted by a female voice, Kujo gazed around the white ship. Though it felt cramped due to his size, he didn’t have to duck, which he was grateful for. Inside was a girl, Jack’s sister Alice, who greeted them. So this is the girl behind the scenes. Whatever communication they had in terms of com technology must have emitted from the ship, meaning its range was impressive. Must be pretty smart if she knows how to work all this high grade tech. While the trio began to jibe at each other, Kujo leaned comfortably against the wall with his hands in his pockets. He didn’t feel like sitting, as they had just come from multiple car rides. At Alice’s bow and introduction, Kujo gave the hint of a smirk as he eyed the girl. Polite, too. However reliable Jack was, his sister must have been on a whole other level.
As Jack left the room to begin repairs on their tech, Kujo’s eyebrows raised in interest at the mention of the ‘deal’ they had struck. It seemed he was finally going to be able to cash out from this bargain completely. There was an annoying feeling tugging at his heart. He chose to ignore it as he focused on Alice and M’Lyn, curious to hear about the intel they had gathered on these ‘Heartless’. Heading Alice’s instructions, Kujo stepped over to stand beside M’Lyn. Once the screen appeared, Kujo once again wondered exactly who this trio worked for and how they got their hands on this kind of equipment. Unfortunately, the deal was about Heartless. Nothing more.
”Go ahead, I’m ready when you are!” Alice’s enthusiasm caught Kujo off guard, as well as her question. He got to pick what information he got? That’s a better deal than I thought… Jack really was a reliable guy. ”And if there’s anything you need an explanation for, just ask. There’s no point in acting smart now…” M’Lyn’s jibe caused Kujo to smirk a bit as he eyed her from the corner of his eyes. ”There’s no use hiding it. I came to you for information—I’m absolutely clueless about these Heartless.” Though Kujo’s face remained as stoic and serious as ever, his tone was one that betrayed exhaustion. Pulling a hand from his pocket and clenching it into a fist, his emerald eyes burned into the hand before him, as though seeking answers from it.
”To be honest, I’ve just been fighting them as they come—but it never ends.” For a moment, a look of fury came over the tall man’s face as his gaze burned with a rage coming from deep within. There was an image of his mother in his mind, the hardships these creatures had already made them face. His face composed once more, Kujo shoved his fist into his pocket before looking back at Alice with new determination in his voice. ”I need to know how to get rid of them. Killing them one by one isn’t enough—they’re like a bug problem.” He didn’t have any pesticides, but he did have his Akogare. It’s range wasn’t large enough for an attack that cleansed the entire city, though, a fact that continuously pissed him off.
”So—how do I get rid of them?"
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 18, 2019 10:08:40 GMT -5
While Kujo began to elaborate in his questions, Alice was looking for the info she thought the boy would want to know. Up until she heard Kujo's question.
"So—how do I get rid of them?"
"...Is that your motive?" M'Lyn asked stoic, "If so, then your ambitions will be your downfall." "Unfortunately..." Alice sighed, "You can't get rid of them... Here. This may clear it up."
Alice showed the information in the screen before M'Lyn and Kujo, as plain paragraphs.
I believe darkness sleeps in every heart, no matter how pure. Given the chance, the smallest drop can spread and swallow the heart. I have witnessed it many times.
The experiments caused the test subject's heart to collapse, including those of the most stalwart. How fragile our hearts are! My treatment produced no signs of recovery. I confined those who had completely lost their hearts beneath the castle. Some time later, I went below and was greeted by the strangest sight. Creatures that seemed born of darkness...What are they? Are they truly sentient beings? Could they be the shadows of those who lost their hearts in my experiments?
The Heartless appear in groups, and are multiplying rapidly. I've provided them both living and nonliving samples. They've responded only to the living. They seem to multiply after absorbing something from the living creatures. Their prey vanishes without a trace. I believe the Heartless are taking hearts. They are born from those who've lost their hearts, and thrive on hearts seized from others. The hearts taken by the Heartless become Heartless themselves.
"Now do you understand how futile your motive is?" M'Lyn asked. "Heartless have existed so long as we, humans, have" Alice explained, "The reason behind it is... Rather simple, actually. The worlds you know of are all formed by two main forces: light and darkness. ...You've heard of the saying 'the brightest of lights cast the darkest of shadows', or something to that line? Well... Light and darkness can't exist without the other. So long as there's light, darkness will be quick behind it." "...Say you are indeed able to avoid darkness from spreading here" M'Lyn continued, "Even if your effort is a success, Heartless will still lurk around. You cannot convince every single living being to act in a way that avoids darkness from spreading. After all... You only know a percentage of those living." "M'Lyn?" Alice looked concerned. "...What are you so worried about, Alice? 'Twas you who slipped up." "...!" "Although there is no point in hiding it now, is there? The child's ambitions go against that much. Honestly, 'twas a matter of time." "S-Still..."
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 19, 2019 22:43:41 GMT -5
”…Is that your motive?” M’Lyn’s question caused Kujo to glance over at her. What else had they thought his motive was? To live quietly while these demons continued to eat the hearts of those around him? ”If so, then your ambitions will be your downfall.” The tall man closed his eyes, attempting to subdue the coming headache. ”You can’t get rid of them…here. This may clear it up.” Alice turned the screen, displaying the paragraphs to the two. Kujo scanned over the text in silence. It seemed whoever had written these notes originally had been a researcher of sorts, studying these Heartless beings. They form from the darkness…in people’s hearts? Well, that explained what they were doing in San Fransokyo.
A city teeming with underground activities and organizations was sure to draw in darkness. While M’Lyn and Alice continued talking, Kujo remained deep in thought as he silently stood with his hands in his pockets. What they were saying was far from helpful. It seemed the young girl and cat obsessed lady were the jaded type. Kujo couldn’t stand people who gave up in the face of adversity. ”You cannot convince every single living being to act in a way that avoids darkness from spreading.” Though M’Lyn was certainly correct in that fact, Kujo couldn’t help but feel a growing agitation. Were they missing the point? ”But why are they showing up now? Though you’re saying they’ve always been around, dormant, that doesn’t explain why they’re acting up all of a sudden.” He wasn’t going to be satisfied with such little information.
”Something must be causing it…” At this point, Kujo wasn’t looking at either M’Lyn or Alice, but muttering to himself in thought, a hand lifting to his chin as his brows furrowed. If they were born from the darkness in hearts, having always existed on this world, why hadn't there always been attacks in the city? Even if there were smaller attacks that went unnoticed, it still wouldn't explain why their numbers have grown and their attacks have become more aggressive. His gaze was glossed, lost to the world around him at the moment. ”If something’s causing them to target this city…there’s something worth doing that we’re not seeing.” His emerald eyes snapped back into focus, falling on Alice. It seemed his determination was dauntless in the face of such depressing possibilities. He couldn’t simply just be okay with the answer of ‘that was that’. Things weren’t so simple.
”So—tell me, what is it that’s causing their rioting in this city?” Though he wasn’t sure if Alice would have an answer, it was worth asking. An image of his mom remained fixed in his mind as his heart urged him forward. This was his city to protect. If there was something to be done, he had to figure out what it was. Time was only ticking by, after all.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 20, 2019 7:11:59 GMT -5
Alice looked away. It seemed like he hadn't noticed what she'd said... That was a good sign. Although it didn't seem like M'Lyn would comply, as she frowned after noticing Alice's gestures.
"I... I dunno..." Alice said. "This is just..." M'Lyn rolled her eyes, "You cannot mean to say that he'd fall for such an obvious lie..." "M'Lyn, I---!" "I already told you: the child's ambitions go against that much. He means to find where the Heartless hail from. It'd be a matter of time before he finds out on his own if you refuse to tell him more." "...I..." "Haa..." the Miqo'te sighed with clear irritation, "Such lack of courage..."
M'Lyn took a few steps forward in order to face Kujo, with her chin held high and her expression as cold as ice. Arms crossed in front of her, M'Lyn began to explain, as her ears remained still and her tail calm.
"You are correct: If the Heartless have been indeed as long as we have, then it would make no sense for them to run rampant now. However... I'd say 'tis you who is missing the point. After all, you do not know where this information comes from, do you? If it comes from this world, then your point is indeed correct, and we'd find outselves in a flaw of logic. But..." M'Lyn smirked faintly, "That is not the case, for this information is not from this world. Now, allow me to explain..."
"Aside from your world -the one we are currently in-, there are various other worlds, in such a large amount that you cannot even fathom to guess. Knowing this, the fact that this information comes from another world becomes a very plausable possibility. And as you've read, whoever was researching the Heartless kept them at bay by unknown reasons. However... Beasts that cannot be tamed are just waiting for an opportunity to strike, and that's what the Heartless have done: making use of an opportunity, they escaped their custodian, and begun to spread firstly in the world they found themselves in, to later move onto other worlds as their numbers grew steadily. Based on this logic, 'tis safe to assume that this is the only explanation of why their attacks have been fairly recent as of late, yes?" "..." Alice looked down, troubled. "Now, if you have any more questions, however dull or foolish they may be, I'd be pleased to answer. I am proof of the existance of other worlds, after all: a Miqo'te, a race that does not exist in this world, but certainly does in mine."
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 20, 2019 13:30:47 GMT -5
For a moment, there was a look of genuine surprise on Kujo’s face. It was something that rarely happened, but what M’Lyn was saying was beyond shocking. It didn’t take him long to recuperate, his face shifting into the stoic mask it normally wore. Their information—is from another world?! Wait—were these girls seriously trying to tell him they were aliens?! ”Aside from your world—the one we are currently in—there are various other worlds, in such a large amount that you cannot even fathom to guess.” Other worlds? In space? Floating around, unknown to each other? As M’Lyn explained how these ‘Heartless’ were pouncing on an opportunity, Kujo’s emerald eyes snapped into a sharp focus. This was what he was waiting to hear.
”Making use of an opportunity, they escaped their custodian and begun to spread firstly in the world they found themselves in, later moving onto other worlds as their numbers grew.” So—it wasn’t that the Heartless had always been lurking in San Fransokyo, but had recently within the past two years or so made their way to it. Kujo’s hands clenched into fists in his pant pockets as his jaw clenched. Those bastards—if there’re countless worlds, why come to this one? Was there something drawing them here specifically? Or did they just stumble upon this world instead of one of the hundreds of others?
”I am proof of the existence of other worlds, after all: a Miqo’te, a race that does not exist in this world, certainly does in mine.” Kujo’s eyes fixated on M’Lyn for a moment, his face not betraying any of the surprise this time. W-wait… Were those ears and tail not a costume—!? Silently, Kujo reached a hand forward, touching one of M’Lyn’s ears. It felt like a genuine cat ear—not some costume. ”You’re not some con attendee—!!” His eyes fell to the tail. So that’s how it moved… He sighed, his hand falling away from M’Lyn and back into his pocket, a slight grin on his face as he glanced at the floor.
”For real? I can’t catch a break—Heartless and cat women? No matter how you look at it—it’s just bizarre.” His tone didn’t hold any real malice or annoyance, though it did betray some exasperation. The small grin that had formed lingered on his lips still. ”Well—despite how bizarre it is…there’s really no point in not believing you. I can’t ignore what I see with my own eyes.” With that, Kujo turned back towards Alice. ”So, Alice—it seems you were trying to play coy with me, but luckily M’Lyn’s a straight shooter.” Kujo tilted his head a bit, raising an eyebrow at Alice. It didn’t seem like the girl would lie for any ill-gotten reason…why had she been keeping their origin a secret?
”These Heartless come from other worlds, looking to feed on hearts...but that doesn't mean that they're just stuck here, right? Isn't there some way to kick 'em out? Send 'em packing to where they came from?” He had other questions, mainly about what world her and Jack might have come from—but the image of his worried mother in his mind, as well as the passing of the day, weighed on his shoulders. This was the more pressing matter, so he’d need to deal with it first.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 20, 2019 14:13:58 GMT -5
After finishing her explanation, M'Lyn remained silent. That was until Kujo reached to touch one of her ears. She flinched, and instinctively slapped it away.
"Just what are you doing?!" she yelled, with a hint of embarrassement.
"You’re not some con attendee—!!"
Kujo's remark caused a moment of silence yet again, but Alice was quick to laugh about it, while M'Lyn remained there, dumbstruck. Then again, the reason was somewhat clear for Kujo's misunderstanding: he didn't know anything about the worlds outside.
"Well... There you have it" Alice said while trying to calm down her laughter, "M'Lyn was enough of a reason to believe, huh?" "Haa..." M'Lyn groaned, "You could at least ask before doing so..."
Kujo's after comments, as well as the note about Alice, set the mood back into a serious one. Kujo had still more questions that needed answers, and, thankfully, the Brigade had them. Now that he was made aware of the worlds outside his own, things could be met with reason, without needing to hold anything back.
"Before I answer... I'm sorry" Alice apologized, "But there are a few rules we're to follow, in order to keep the World Order. That is the same as saying that... Well... Not anyone can be made aware of the worlds outside their own, or else there would be serious consecuences." "But your questions, whether we answered them or not, would lead you to find out about that fact eventually" M'Lyn finished, "Do be aware that this is your secret now, as well. Do not tell this to anyone, not even those you trust." "Now, back in track..." Alice sighed, "There is, unfortunately, no way to make them return to where they came from. It's not a matter of whether we can force them out or not, because they lack intelligence. They move only by instinct, although I'm sure you've seen that before?"
Alice turned to face the screen behind her, and typed away, while M'Lyn took a noticeable distance from Kujo, before he could even think to touch her tail. She was not going to tolerate such acts.
"Due to the fact that the Heartless have spread at such a fast rate, we're not even sure where they first came from at all. So, if your plan was to find a way to remove them from this world, I'm afraid it'll be impossible. Even if you manage to achieve it, it'll be for naught. Heartless spread like a plague, after all" Alice showed a diagram in their screen, "However impossible it is to get rid of them, though... There are various workarounds to deal with them. Take the image I'm showing you, for example. You have a crowded park, and a lonely alleyway, correct? Well... According to what we've been able to establish, Heartless are more prone to appear in places where people do not often, or where there are no people at all. That isn't always the case, so it helps to be cautious from time to time." "They tend to avoid the light, as well" M'Lyn said, to quickly correct herself, "Do not mistake it for luminosity, Kujo. 'Tis not that sort of light they avoid." "Right. By 'light', we mean people's light. Those feeling that make us feel bright... Happiness, joy... Relief... Those kinds of things. Make sense, right?"
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 20, 2019 15:26:11 GMT -5
At M’Lyn’s reaction, Kujo found himself chuckling along with Alice before the girl turned to address his questions. Sure enough, just as Kujo had thought, Alice had merely played coy out of some greater duty. Despite not having known her very long at all, the man was quick to pick up on other’s personalities. His guess at there being a noble reason behind it seemed to hold true. ”Do be aware that this is your secret now, as well. Do not tell this to anyone, not even those you trust.” Well—that would be easy. Due to Kujo’s personality, he tended to be a loner, not really having anyone to tell to begin with. He nodded in affirmation, not planning to tell anyone.
”There is, unfortunately, no way to make them return to where they came from. It’s not a matter of whether we can force them out or not—“ Alice’s explanation was a bit disheartening, though Kujo found himself resolute on not giving up. As Alice began to type, Kujo noticed M’Lyn distancing herself, causing the man to smirk quietly. ”Due to the fact that the Heartless have spread at such a fast rate, we’re not even sure where they first came from at all.” Alice was still typing away, speaking over her shoulder as Kujo walked up to glance at the screen she was working on. It was then that she showed them the diagram. ”However impossible it is to get rid of them, there are various workarounds for dealing with them.”
Finally, some good news. As Alice began to explain the diagram on the screen, how Heartless seemed to appear where less people were, Kujo’s eyebrows raised in confusion. They…avoid people? He had thought these things would hunt people down, searching for hearts. As M’Lyn and Alice explained how the Heartless tended to avoid people’s ‘Light’, drawn to their ‘Darkness’ instead, Kujo had an idea. ”Hm…so maybe they're being drawn by more darkness…” As M’Lyn had stated before, it was impossible to get every citizen of San Fransokyo to behave in a way that radiated this ‘light’ they spoke of all the time—but Kujo felt like they were on to something here.
For a moment, he stood in silence with his hands in his pockets, thinking. ”…” It was a frustrating concept. These demons seemed like an impossible plague, for sure. Whatever was happening, there seemed to be an imbalance of Light and Dark on San Fransokyo. By the logic presented to him, Kujo’s only idea was that something must be throwing that balance off. ”So—there’s more darkness on this world than before…that’s what’s making their sudden numbers and attacks overwhelming…” At this point, he was thinking aloud, his emerald eyes scanning both Alice and M’Lyn in turn.
”Is there a way to find out what’s throwing my world off balance?” If there was, that meant there might be something Kujo could do to fix it. Whatever it was, he was ready. This was a fight he couldn’t turn away from.
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