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Post by Bowyer on Apr 28, 2019 7:07:30 GMT
Blake braces himself for another flurry of blows from the embittered Nephilim. Fortunately for him and everyone else here, the Man (or was it Mon?) had succumbed to its wounds and dissipated to energy. Blake hadn't been far off himself and neither had Radiant. He'd wanted to say something witty but...now didn't seem exactly the time.
And then a collection of mystery Pokemon appear. They just couldn't take a break could they? At least they didn't seem immediately hostile. Radiant staggers towards a more protective position but she's really on her last flipper. "So I take it you were working with Nephilim and Requiem as well? I take it you are the 'others' that are working...with Requiem? She seemed to think that there was some truth you might be able to help us with. Before she was...usurped by Nephilim." His words are measured and slow. Their party couldn't handle another fight right now.
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Post by DataNinja on Apr 28, 2019 19:12:32 GMT
"'With' Nephilim?" the voice comes from the mustached 'mon, twisted and warped, as though spoken by something that should not have the physiological capability for speech of this type. Despite that, the words are fairly refined and understandable. "No. Their means were always too destructive for our purposes. Too blunt, in the guise of subtlety. So I was surprised when Delphi foresaw that going to meet up with it would be to our aid. I see now that you are the reason why. Especially if Requiem guided you here. The child has been... distraught for some time, so this is probably a good sign. Though, what do you mean by 'usurped'?"
The 'mon casts its gaze over the group, locking eyes with each, lingering longer on Silas - and he can feel the attempts at psychic intrusion. The inhuman face is unreadable, though.
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Post by Bowyer on Apr 30, 2019 2:07:44 GMT
Well this was decidedly uncomfortable. Blake hated being the bearer of bad news; especially news that was likely to be familiar to these Pokemon. And so he hesitates before actually explaining through the silence, "I don't know if you arrived in time for our fight but Nephilim had stolen the form Requiem used to pass as human. Nephilim attacked her while she was distracted by our sudden arrival. We tried to help her but she was....too far gone." He doesn't quite say that their distraction was to defeat her themselves but they needed to know just what was going on here. Guile to get them to not see the exact nature of their check on Requiem - 19
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Post by ThRevanchist on May 7, 2019 6:13:02 GMT
Before they even had the chance to decide on their next objective (or even catch their breath), an entire group of Pokemon arrived? Openly hostile or not, this wasn't the best situation... At least, until Blake made first contact, and it went well?
He could have left it to Blake, but this was a rather fascinating development. Too fascinating to not share. "Requiem asked us to stop whatever destruction Nephilim was planning, before the city came to harm. Maybe you have had a better idea of what those destructive means were." Thoron added his own vague justification, then asked "I am curious how you expect us to be of help, but before that, are you the leader of this group?"
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Post by Moriya on May 17, 2019 2:34:38 GMT
Silas returns the gaze, and his eyes narrow when he sees and feels the psychic intrusion. "A couple weeks ago, I would have taken that as hostile action. I take mental privacy seriously. Still, if you're opposed to killing all humans, we have some common ground." Of course, the Pokemon didn't exactly mention being opposed to Nephilim's ends, just the means. Do they have another goal? Or are they just posing as murderers with "standards"?
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Post by DataNinja on May 17, 2019 3:08:53 GMT
"I see," the Pokémon says. "Well, that is a shame. We found her abandoned as a child. She taught us as much as we did her. Much about the ways that humans thought, and acted. Showed us that we would not necessarily have to kill everyone in the city to have our freedom. Nephilim... was not swayed as much. They would have much rather simply killed everyone, and then destroyed the city. Such would be... inefficient. I imagine that they were hoping to sway us in the form of the child to alter our path. But, that is of no concern now."
"I am the spokesperson for this group," it continues, "for the simple fact that I bent my time to learning how to speak your language, and spent the most time with Requiem." "But he is not the only voice." There's a deadpan, eerily human sounding voice coming from the note-headed bird as the Sera-lookalike's eyes glow. The totemic bird's eyes proceed to glow, too, as the Gardevoir's dims, and the spokes-bird speaks again, with the same voice. "Indeed. Consensus is important. We three are separate, but equal."
The first 'mon talks again. "As they said." He turns to Silas. "Before I get into what you could provide, I realize now why you seem familiar. Not you. Your mental signature - or lack thereof. You were the failure. There was a strong psychic growing above. In an attempt to not have the Technicians develop significant anti-psychic capabilities, we attempted to provide a way for those there to in part resist, without getting involved ourselves. In the end, everything worked out, as an agreement was brokered via Requiem for... entertainment." Even with the twisted, inhuman speech, there seems to be extreme contempt detectable on that word. "But, the blocker was in no part of it. Strange how things can come full circle."
"Anyways, how we expect you to be of help..." He looks between the three once more, though without probing. "Well, ideally, you would free our brethren that have been trapped, but not yet brainwashed. But, I am sure that you would not just do that on the whim of one of your... sworn enemies."
"Tell us," the Chatot squawks, the Gardevoir's eyes lighting up, "how much of Arcadia's history do you know? How little have they taught you, to be subservient to the regime here? Do you know what they are planning?"
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Post by Moriya on May 18, 2019 0:43:36 GMT
There are plenty of important things Silas should be paying attention to. The motives of the enemy(?), the truth of the city, these things shouldn't be ignored. However, something else is grabbing his attention. Were these beings really responsible for giving him that, while also perpetuating the problems of the Prometheus district? And being branded a failure so casually...
The medic's voice is equal parts bitterness and incredulity as he responds. "You expected me to fight that? Alone? Impossible."
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Post by Bowyer on May 18, 2019 23:58:30 GMT
While Blake had little idea what the mustached Mon was actually talking about, it was at least a small relief that they didn't want to kill everyone. Maybe the Technicians but they could work around that....maybe. He had to at least try to figure out what they believed they knew.
"You'd be right on that front," he says to the mustached Mon, "We wouldn't be able to get close to the holdings areas anyway. Though sworn enemies might be a tad harsh. We're only enemies of those that are trying to destabilizing the city."
His attention shifts to the musical bird before focusing on the correct speaker in the Gardevior, "What do you mean by it's history? Arcadia has been stable for...well a rather long time. Why would the 'regime' be planning anything at all?"
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Post by DataNinja on May 19, 2019 0:56:48 GMT
"No," the 'mon says to Silas, no emotion perceptible. "The quantity provided was enough for many people. Not concentrated into one. I am surprised you were able to imbibe it all safely. The intention was to provide enough to allow many people to have their minds protected, in order to deal with the one we know they hated. It was, perhaps, ill-delivered. But, human psychology is quite foreign to us, and it is sometimes difficult to remember what you do and do not know."
"And there is no need to get to the holding areas. So long as you could get to the main computer... that is all that would need to be done."
"As for Arcadia... the story of it begins in the world outside." The other two settle further back, as the yellow one begins to tell the story. "A peaceful place, with all - or, at least, most - living in coexistence. I do not know the precise details... things have been passed down in sort of a 'cultural memory'. Anyways, it was not to last. A researcher for those who would become Arcadia developed a weapon of some sort, never before seen to humans or Pokémon, and used it. Much pain and anguish was caused all around as forces coalesced to push the attackers back before they were wiped out entirely, and to defeat them. The weapon that they used was shattered. But, before the final blow was able to be struck, the last remnants of the aggressors retreated here, to Arcadia, their secret final bastion, and disappeared from the world. Ignorant of all the misery that they have caused, the citizens are held within the cage. Pokémon are caught, and brainwashed, trapped within this cage to build up an army with which to eventually launch an assault on the outside, capable of overwhelming them and taking over the world. An army led by you all - the Technicians."
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Post by Bowyer on May 21, 2019 2:29:47 GMT
Blake tries to stay silent as the tale is imparted. It sounded ridiculous. Completely made up. They weren't an army, that much was for sure. Perhaps a bit heavy handed at times but they were still well outnumbered by the other citizens of Arcadia. Surely they'd need more than this to conquer an outside world? But how much even was out there?
"I don't mean to offend but that sounds...crazy," his face is set with a considering frown, "The Technicians aren't a nefarious force of conquering but for order. We protect people....but maybe... What would the end goal be? Requiem said something about the city being destroyed?"
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Post by ThRevanchist on May 26, 2019 21:08:17 GMT
"Insane, or at least exaggerated. Accepting that our organization is hiding some sort of endgame is one thing, but hiding such a radically different history from the very same citizens who had a hand in it?" Thoron added before entertaining their story, "If... For the sake of argument, if they wanted to raise an army and do as you claim, then why waste so much time and resources on keeping Arcadia as it is? Even if that objective were realistic, their methods are unrealistically inefficient."
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Post by Moriya on Jun 6, 2019 3:20:48 GMT
The story is at least plausible, though there is no proof that they can offer short of taking them beyond Arcadia. Blake's assertion of the Technician's purpose unsettles Silas, though he's not sure why. It's not just his own failures, and a review of his memories leads to only one conclusion. "We... have never once been ordered to protect the people."
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 6, 2019 4:15:05 GMT
"Yes," the Pokémon nods at Blake, the human-like gesture rather unsettling. "If the city is destroyed, then all that has been accumulated will be lost. Those confined within will be forced to venture out, to meet with those on the outside. Except it will be with no weapons, nothing with which to cause conflict. They will not be conquerors."
"As for why expending the resources to keep Arcadia as it is... I am sure you have seen the conditions most have been kept in. Squalor. Hardship. With only a very few truly having. But, so long as people have not... it means that they will try and reach for what they do not possess. Why would they want to venture out from the safety of Arcadia if they have everything that they want? It is a part of the human psyche that Requiem taught us more about. So long as they know nothing more, humans tend to be content... but as soon as others have what they do not, they have a drive to get it. It is why there is such an insistence that there is nothing outside, to keep people from wanting to go there, until the time is right. Until it's shown what they could have - lies will be forgotten if there is enough of an increase in what they have. I do not know what the offerings might be... but it cannot be worse off than how many are now." It looks at Silas. "People are a resource here. Expendable, just like any other."
The Xatu steps forwards slightly, spreading its wings, as the Chatot speaks for it. "I have an idea, an inkling. An opportunity, perhaps. You have come from inside the Technicians place. Do you have something that may have come from an area that might be private to you? Somewhere that you were not supposed to be? For this talk of Requiem... it makes me think that you may, as humans, have some use of her distribution. Gifted visions. It may not prove helpful, but it is a possibility."
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Post by Bowyer on Jun 8, 2019 2:36:35 GMT
Silas's words also shake Blake. He doesn't want to acknowledge it but concern shows clear on his face. And the Alakazam's words certainly don't help matters either. Explanations springs to his lips and fall away. They felt like hollow excuses. There were people suffering. Surely the council cared? He tries to reign himself in. There were some in power that cared. He cared at the very least. "People aren't expendable to us." It's not an accusatory denial but still something that needs to be made clear.
The Xatu's offer was likewise concerning. What would they even hand over to it? They didn't really have anything that was forbidden to them. Plus who's to say that it would even be true? "What do you think. Is it worth the risk Silas?" Who better to ask than the resident Psychic expert?
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Post by Moriya on Jun 15, 2019 1:05:04 GMT
The Pokemon's words disconcertingly true. People have killed for far less than real food, wealth, a home that can see the sky, and a shot a freedom. However, it takes time to mobilize a large group of people, which means that there's no danger of war any time soon.
Silas responds to Blake's concerns to the best of his ability. He hasn't really had a chance to study the stuff, but he can make a few guesses now. "Requiem's distribution... It could prove useful, and one dose should be safe enough. I'm not sure what it will do to me, but they'd know better than me. And there's easier ways to kill us.""But I'm surprised you're offering, with how it is made."
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 15, 2019 1:52:11 GMT
"It is weighing one," the bird says, "against potentially everything. How many desire the sight?" Upon the group's answer, the Alakazam gestures, and the golden duck with the group suddenly flies apart, dissolving into energy, before crystallizing into powder that flies to the hands of Silas and Blake. The air seems a little bit drier with its dispersal. "Ingest it, and then focus on the item, trying to look back..."Silas and Blake do so, reaching out towards the collar with both hands and the sudden strange otherness that they seem to now possess. A sight in the mind that could only be described as swirling colours. There's some pain, but it recedes as the colours begin to resolve into a vision...
The sight is Cain's office. At first empty, though there's the collar sitting on his desk. But, it's not long before the man himself walks in, and slumps down in the chair, sighing. He looks exhausted, more so than he generally presents to the Technicians, at least. After a few minutes of resting his face in his hands, he seems to collect himself, before swivelling around to face the back of his office, where a screen lies on the wall. Hitting a few buttons, there's a moment before a connection occurs. On the other end is the face recognizable as Lord Andrew Thompson, of the Council. "Ah, Vincent," he says, nodding, "right on time. How are things developing?""It's... been a time, to be honest," Cain says, frankly. "Things are stepping up. Something of Sylvia's just appeared, after all this time. Attacks are getting worse. I don't know how much longer we can continue like this before we're on the losing side of the equilibrium. And I think they know that. That's why all this is happening at once." "Hmmm... if things worsen, perhaps we may need to make a push earlier than anticipated. Logistics are running at good enough levels, but how is manpower?" Thompson looks pensive. "Not good." Cain shakes his head. "We barely have enough operatives to troubleshoot things beyond holding the Warehouses. The Porygon project helped alleviate things somewhat, but they still need directives by someone actively in the field. We don't have the space to spare for the local computing power a fully autonomous force needs. And so that means people still need to risk themselves there.""Very well. You know best the people under your command," the Councillor nods, "but, just to ensure there's additional plans in the eventuality that things devolve further... what kind of push do you expect that we'd be able to make? How would your current subordinates react to the truth?""I feel strongly that, for the vast majority of Technicians, they'd be on board. There may be a few with doubts... but I'd like to hope that they'd see what needs to be done for the City." He thinks. "As for how much we could do... with our current numbers, I think we could safely take and hold Seattle, maybe some more of the surrounding area. Once that was all pacified, we could likely do a great deal more... but that's contingent on no counterattacks, and I highly doubt that we'd get that luxury. We need a lot more people if we want to make a true mark on the map. Ideally the entire citizenry, but that's not something that I feel would work...""I appreciate this report, regardless," Thompson says. "You know your opinion is valued. And it gives us a better view of what the future holds. Hopefully we can somehow make this generation the one that takes back what is rightfully ours. Keep us posted on further developments, though.""Of course," Cain says. "Hopefully this sudden surge is just an anomaly, and we'll be able to focus on recruiting and increasing Technician numbers soon. The best technology in the world is useless if there is nobody willing to wield it."
"I know. We'll do what we can to refine the Porygons. We think we're on the verge of a breakthrough there. It just needs more time..."
The vision fades, and Silas and Blake find themselves back in the present, with Thoron and the Pokémon still around them. To Thoron, it all seems to pass in but an instant, nothing really noticeable besides a distant look and a sudden starting back 'awake'. "Did you learn anything of value?" the Alakazam asks. Silas and Blake take 2 injuries each from the Prescient Powder.
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Post by Bowyer on Jun 19, 2019 3:08:29 GMT
Blake's eagerness to find out whatever they might from the Pokemon was slightly tempered once he found out how the powder came about. It wasn't going to stop him but it still wasn't the most pleasant imagery. He follows the bird's instruction and is soon swept up in the oddly mind warping vision.
It seems like the conversation lasts forever. The Pokemon's suspicions come true. Or confirmed. He wishes that he had more time as the vision fades and what felt like minutes is but an instant. He's not quite able to get the words out before a headache hits him like a truck, "Ahhh...Well yes. Enough that your explanation seems valid. The Council plans to attack uh somewhere. And let's just say that we seem to be on borrowed time. Relatively. Sounds like there's some variables that play into it. Namely all the Pokemon related incidents recently." He lets Silas say his piece as his own head is still ringing.
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Post by ThRevanchist on Jun 22, 2019 22:31:07 GMT
Taking Blake and Silas' continued survival as good for these Pokemon's credibility if nothing else. "Right. Releasing your allies, preventing our organization from doing something disastrous, protecting the unfortunates caught between this struggle; it all reads as declawing the Technicians, from here." He had some misgivings about that, but they were minor things. His major concern was what he asked, "Once we succeed, what do you all plan to do? What happens to Arcadia when you and all your allies have free run of the place?"
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Post by Moriya on Jun 24, 2019 4:38:49 GMT
"What do you know about their Porygon project? The artificial Pokemon that exist in computers. If you are able to usurp or free that network, that should provide a massive advantage." Silas does not trust them entirely. The timing of the vision is incredibly convenient, but the medic is willing to betray the Technicians to stop a war of conquest. The death of Cain's team means that he is unlikely to be sympathetic, even if he was putting on an act for Lord Thompson. Thoron brings up an excellent point. It's one thing to betray the Technicians to prevent a war, but quite another to align himself with a power of unknown motive and goals.
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 24, 2019 6:33:48 GMT
"I see..." The Alakazam says, nodding awkwardly to Blake. "Well, if time is short, then we should push forwards ourselves a little bit more. Prepare to cripple what facilities that we can. Waiting to gain more strength would be preferable, but sometimes circumstances are not ideal."
"And what we want?" the Pokémon asks, "It is simple. We wish to leave. We wish to destroy the systems that pull us away, that wipe our companion's minds... we wish to leave this place, and free ourselves of the constant pain, ever-present threats. We feel it all around us, pressing in.
If the humans wish to leave once the ruling facilities have been destroyed, that is perfectly fine. All that matters to us is freedom. So long as there is no attempt to confine us, and we are allowed to be free... all will be okay. It is all that we ask. But we have no desire to stay here."
The Alakazam thinks as it listens to Silas. "Porygon… those are the soulless soldiers. The artificial. They are replicas of our power, with no mind of their own. No true will. They are... unnerving. Not even blanks like those few with their minds closed off, they simply do not seem to exist. A ghost, as opposed to the bright lights of a normal creature, or the iron darkness of a shielded mind..." It falls silent, before gesturing to the datapad that Silas is wearing. "That is a device that can carry one who can do the task. Their computers are shielded, but if you could allow access... then he may be able to enter. Then the shackles would be lifted, and they would be rendered blind and mute, at least for a time. Delphi will go and call for him." The Xatu nods, before flapping away from the gathering. "I do hope that you will not mind carrying him around with you. He should be able to mask his presence from those above you. And disable the explosive chain that I know that they keep you on."
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