PSO World

Reunions

The Sequel to

"The Five Facets of My Personality: The Half Naked Mind"


Lara BlackHawk	Ok. This is a Role play, and a "reunion" of sorts for "The Five Facets of my Personality: The Half-Naked Mind". Hikosaka, Kodiax, BWS, and Moo2u, are automatically given spots in this RP. Other than that, I guess it's just anything goes until a plot comes together. --------------------------------------------- "It's strange how time flies," Lara BlackHawk thinks to herself as she and her husband, Mike, walk from their home. It has been 15 years since the battle with Dark Falz, and only a month since the incident with Shade Stalker. Now, it's a "Memorial Day", of sorts, where they people of the Ragol colony gather to remember those who gave their lives to help build this colony, whether it be the hunters who fought against all odds to defeat Dark Falz, or the people of Pioneer 1, who didn't know what hit them when the explosion occurred. "Honey," Mike starts, "Is something on your mind?" "Oh, just the usual," Lara reponds, "This day always gets to me. You should know that. We've seen so many hunters fall to Dark Falz and the likes." "It never gets any easier,"Mike thinks aloud,"We've lost some good friends over the years to this profession." Lara looks over to the left to see the Hunter memorial built in the park. She turns the corner, Mike in tow, and stops to read the names. She stops to remember her adventure in the forest when she spots 2 names. "Dabra", and "Zinackst Nainsev". Mike notices the look on Lara's face when she spots the two names. He places an arm around his wife's shoulder, and just holds her to him.
Severence 7	It's Memorial Day. A day to remember the fallen. However, I've never forgotten. After all, androids can't forget. I sat on one of the many stone benches that littered the Hunter Memorial, watching a few small birds hop around in the cultivated green grass surrounding me. It was quiet, save for a soft murmur of humanity as various people came to pay their respects nearby. It was all so different from the Ragol I first came to know. Gone were the terrible and beautiful wilds that covered the planet, to be replaced with...lawns. Most of the native species were contained, and live in specially constructed parks, or domesticated as pets, (dwarf al rappies are all the rage this year). Every moment, children were born, never to hear the name Dark Falz outside of history books. Peace ruled over all. It was incredibly boring. But, maybe I'm just being perverse. After all the darkness that was endured, I should be happy, right? No more fighting...I had not worn my guns in years, (though an upgrade integrated Sinow blades into my forearms. I like to be prepared.). I landed a well-paying job in a good company that produces nanomechanical parts for android construction. I even made enough meseta to move to a better living space in the upper part of the Android Residential Sectors. So why does everything feel so empty? Never mind. I stood, picking up the two flower bouquets that I had placed beside me on the bench. Two last memorials to visit. As I walked toward the grave markers, I noticed that two people were already there...one of which I identified immediately. I tried waiting until they finished holding each other, then after a few minutes, decided not to wait anymore. "Hey, Lara Blackhawk! Remember me?" I said, smiling slightly.
Lara BlackHawk	Lara looks back, recognizing the voice that called to her. A smile comes to her face as she waves for the android to come over. "Severence 7. It's great to see you again," she says, "I don't think you've met my husband, Mike." "It's a pleasure," Mike answers, "Lara told me about that time in the forest quite a few times. How have you been?"
Mortimer Kirk	I wanted to sleep threw this day. Just stay in my room and watch some TV, but my mind kept on the day at hand. Maybe I didn't really want to remember. All the death and pain that was upon us simply made me depressed and even more so, angry. So I sat there in my dark apartment staring out the window. The TV was still on but I didn't even act as if it was there. Should I go or should I stay? "AGH!" A pain araused in my chest. A pain I havn't felt since the time that was spent in the forest. "I guess I should go..." I said reluctently. I took the long way there. The pain again seemed as if it never happened. The closer I got the more I was glad to come. Practicly everyone was here. All these people honoring their loved ones surred some fealing inside of me. I stayed there for a while.
Severence 7	"Nice to meet you, Michael." I shrugged. "As for how things are going...it's been quite well. I've been fortunate, I guess." I knelt and placed the two bouquets upon the two grave markers at my feet. I stood back up, still looking down at them. Dabra...Zinackst Nainsev... I glanced back at Lara and Michael. I smiled ruefully, gesturing to the two markers. "Some things stay the same, even after all these years. That time in the forest..." I drifted off, not knowing what else to say. A brief fugue seemed to cloud my grid for a moment. I shook it off. "So, how have things been going for you? I take it things are well?"
Lara BlackHawk	Lara and Mike look at each other and wonder whether or not they should bring up the incidents of the past couple of months. Mike then shrugs and reponds, "Well, we've been doing ok. We're both still in the hunter business, and our kids have recently joined the guild. Business is slow, but we can do ok on what jobs are available. And there was that incident with Shade Stalker, but that's over with, thankfully." Lara finishes that thought, "My husband has a flare for the obvious. He almost died, if not for Maya and the kids sending that ship away from here. But yes, we're doing just great. Memorial day just gets to me because of remembering Dabra and Zinackst. I'm sorry I couldn't mak her funeral, but there was an emergency quest handed down that Mike and I took. Something about a pleasure boat missing. We wound up working with a ranger who's a major consipracy theorist. Talk about a pain in the neck. But luckily, we were able to save up from our work at hunters to have a pretty comfortable life. What are you doing now, Severence?" She then spots Mortimer, and waves for him to join them. "Hey, Mort! Over here!"
BWS-1	"What a quiet day it is ... I can`t stand it anymore, the REDRIA sector is making me sick, I'll go take a walk into a much more livable area" -.Activating QTS.- "... darn, this system needs to be upgraded" I teleported myself 500 meters away of the targeted way point in my memory bank, I ended up in a field, far far away from the graves of our friends The place I was reminded me the area where I fought Dark Falz, long, long ago. Their were flowers everywhere and I could almost hide in them, only, now, I could not detect any dark or evil entity anywhere ... else then in me ... I decided to just lay down in those flowers and polish my Orotiagito. "voices ... familiar ones ..." I could here the ecco of a RAcaseal ... the same RAcaseal that put me back online a month ago, and that still doesn`t know where I am or what I have become. I feel ashamed of putting a remote controled recovery disk in her. After I returned from the market, I just rebooted her, and I left before her optical system came back online ... Why did I ran away from her? I should be thanking her for the risks she took by safing me. Instead, I hide ... I guess it`s because I have something to hide. someone, not something :P ... IT again ... this voice ... it's coming from nowhere ... from my core, but how ? I'll try to catch her attention, I know she is close. As I polish my Oroti, I deflect the sunlight in her direction, maybe she'll see me, maybe she won`t ... if she doesn`t, well, I'll wait till they leave to go to the graves, and do my prayers.
Zinackst	Something is shining in the grass, next to the memorial stone. There is a strand of blue hair in front of the stone. Out of midair, a humming is heard...
Lara BlackHawk	Lara hears the humming, making her memories of the forest adventure even more prominent in her mind. She then turns to Severence and asks, "Do you know where they found Zinackst when she died?"
Severence 7	I followed Lara's gaze and spotted that ranger, (after all this time, I still had not gotten the hang of calling by his name. However, I did get over my urge to shoot him, so there was some progress.) I waved, then turned back to the couple. "Actually, I was in the Maintenance Centre when Zinackst was found...the only thing I know is that she was found in a forest clearing." I looked down at the grave markers again. Something in front of it caught my eye. I knelt down and gingerly picked up a very long, delicate strand of light blue hair. It was the same color as that of the fallen newman female. Suddenly, I started to hear the sound of a woman humming, the strange, but familiar song seeming to float on the breeze. "Do you two hear that?" I asked, trying to boost my auditory components and find the source of the sound, "It sounds like -" //FLASH// I was standing in the middle of a deep forest. The cultivated lawns of the memorial were gone, replaced by wild overgrowth. A roar from an unknown animal could be heard faintly in the distance. It was the Ragol I knew before the fall of Dark Falz. The music was everywhere. That fragile, aetherial melody seemed to penetrate the very air. I whirled about at the sound of movement behind me. There seemed to be someone there in the darkness of the forest, quite a distance away, but getting closer with each passing moment. "Who are-" //FLASH// I saw green grass, cut to a uniform length, contrasting against the red of my armor. The forest was gone. I found myself on my knees, holding my head. It was a human mannerism that I did not even realize I had picked up; I was vaguely surprised. The blue hair was tangled around the fingers of my right hand. A flash of light caught the corner of my visual field; instantly, I located it in the flower fields that surrounded the memorial park. Automatically enhancing and magnifying the source, I could see a sword being held up from the ground, being polished. A very familiar sword. The owner was hidden from view by the flowers, but I already knew who it was. The white android. Suddenly, I remembered that Lara and Michael were with me. I resisted the urge just to get up and run to catch the white android. All things will come in good time. I consoled myself with the knowledge that I finally found him, and I will find him again. Slowly, I lowered my hands and rested them in my lap. I looked up at them, puzzled and embarrassed. "Can you tell me what just happened in the last few minutes?"
Mortimer Kirk	"Hey, Mort! Over here!" "Wha-" I turned my head. Finaly some people I know! It's strange. Before the incedent in the forest I was known as my nickname Moo2u and hated being called Moritmer. But now all of a sudden, it dosn't bother me anymore! Infact, lots of people never knew how much I hated my name. Guess we do grow up fast. Lara was there with some guy. I made an educated guess it was her husband and I was right! Ser was there too. But when I started to walk forard She started to act...well...wierd...wierder then normal robots. Mabye something wasn't conected right or something. "Can you tell me what just happened in the last few minutes?" I just couldn't help myself! "I'll tell ya robo-girl! Ether your batteries are running low or your wires wern't conected right and now your programmed to do the Mambo!"
Lara BlackHawk	Lara turns to Severence. "Did you hear that humming?" she asks, then sees Mortimer come over, "Mortimer, I'd like to introduce you to my husband, Mike. How long has it been since we all got together? Well over 15 years, I know." "Nice to meet you, Mort," Mike says, offering a handshake, "I heard quite a bit about the adventure you guys had in the forest from Lara. Must have been quite a wild ride." "If you only new, Hon," Lara responds, "But I guess that just makes a bond between those who went through it. I just wish I could have been there for Zinackst's funeral."
Severence 7	'I'll tell ya robo-girl! Ether your batteries are running low or your wires wern't conected right and now your programmed to do the Mambo!' Ah, my friend the ran...er, Mortimer. He never missed an opportunity. I shook off the rest of the fogginess from my grid, and stood, looking the man in the eye. "Don't push me, fleshie. I might not have my guns with me, but I can still crush you like a bug." I smiled, punching him lightly in the shoulder. "It's good to see you again, Mortimer." That lapse into the forest...There must be a faulty component somewhere in my grid. I decided to get a diagnostic done as soon as I got back. I glanced back and forth between Lara and Mortimer. "So...you hear the humming too? Strange...maybe someone is playing something nearby." I sighed, trying to clear my worries. "It has been a long time, hasn't it? So strange, that time in the forest, and what happened afterward. "As for Zinackst's funeral...it was very simple. I think it was fitting. She never really wanted to be a part of all the fighting...it was all about the flowers..." I drifted off again. It seemed hard for me to get the right words to express myself today. My thoughts were occupied by the white android; I wondered if he still remained in the flower field. "So, how have things been going for you, Mortimer?"
Mortimer Kirk	Humming? I didn't have a clue what they were talking about, but at the time it didn't really matter to me. "So, how have things been going for you, Mortimer?" I gave a sigh, "More like how things havn't gone for me. Once Pioneer 2 began ajusting to Ragoal, there wasn't much work for me in the Hunter's Guild. Sure there were some jobs where I got to play a little part in, but by the way things were going I wouldn't have any monney for food and what not. It seemed that Pioneer 2 now just had too many hunters. Guess it's true, the earily hunter gets the job, and I'm farthest from earily. So I did what I had to do, I took a ship out of this place. I didn't really want to but really had no choise. I started doing jobs for other planets, that was about 2 years ago I think. I always made sure to keep my appartment here on Ragoal so I could visit alot and see what jobs were open. Of course my place is a dump, but I still like to call it home." Letting out another sigh I turned to the two graves. Secretly I felt like it was my falt they died. If I took better care of...but it dosn't matter anymore. The past it set in stone and there is no way we could brake it. Then it hit me, "Hey. Why isn't there a grave for the other android that was with us? You know, the silver one." Wow time dose fly, a couple year back I would think an android wouldn't need a grave. Well...I don't think ALL androids SOULD have graves, after all they arn't really people, but this one deserves it!
BWS-1	They are still near the graves. What are they doing? Shouldn't they... wha? wait a second ... _.Activating Psy sensors ._ ._REC Psy emissions_. -------- . .. . ... . ..... ....... .......\|.... {border line reached} .......\|. ..... . -------- ._diagnostic: unknown psy wave detected _. ._% of chances to harm sys. core: 0 _. _. End of log ._ what could cause such fluctuation? Their is something ... in the air .... whatever, I'll just leave. As I stand up to go walk in the opposite direction of the graves ... I overhear someone ... talking about, me? I turned my head to get a better reception ._amplify sound waves_. "whY isn... a grAVe Fo... Other... ANdroid ... SILver ONe" So they think I'm offline for good? This is probably better that way ... But why would she think I'm dead? I saw her refletion staring at my blade, she probably saw me too, maybe she thought she had a vision. O well, I have other primary objectives now ... Not being detected ... and anylise that fragment of psy wave. I don't have any equipment to help me here, I guess I'll just ... no ... I can't leave. If their is something I must do, I'll do it now. I start walking toward the graves, not caring anymore about being detected. It's funny how many times an Android can change his mind within a beat. good, I'll finaly get to talk to my friend again I turned around and shouted out loud: "You aren't going to talk to anyone, you hear me ???" ... "Darn ... I think they heard me" Now that's it, they'll think I'm crazy or something. The quicker I'll get there, the better it'll be, I'll explain everything. I have so many questions to ask the caseal. So I kept walking in their direction WARNING ... - PRIMARY GRID FAILURE - wha ... what!? MULTIPLE GRID DETECTED "I dare ... yoU ... To TrY .... to tAkE ... CnTROl ... over ME. NOT ... nOw ... Plz" I have waited for a weak core like yours to take over for ages I now have trouble walking ... they'll think I ate a monofluid or somethi.... argh ... I felt on the ground , took my blade and looked in it ... my eyes ... were ... turning ... into a bloody-red... CORE CONTROL LOST
Severence 7	'Hey. Why isn't there a grave for the other android that was with us? You know, the silver one.' I shrugged, making an noncommittal sound. I debated on telling him that the white android was still alive. After all, when I repaired, (more like rebuilt), him, I made sure that he would be virtually undetectable. It was the best I could do to keep him safe. Why should I jeoparize it now by telling another of his existence? I didn't know why I felt so protective over that white android. Maybe it was because he was so willing to sacrifice himself to save my life; I hate being in anyone's debt. Even after that thankless toaster disappeared without a word before I woke up, I felt a small measure of comfort knowing that he was out there, somewhere. All I needed to do was find him again. I paused, waiting for my "ghost" to chime in with an appropriate insult...only to be met with silence. He had been silent ever since I finished repairs on the android. It was starting to worry me. I caught a voice on the wind. //RECEIVING AUDITORY TRANSMISSION...ENHANCING.// 'You aren't going to talk to anyone, you hear me ???' I turned to the source of the sound, nearly starting with surprise as I watched the white android coming toward us. "Speak of the devil," I murmured under my breath. The way he walked...it seemed very familiar. There was a certain way he moved that suddenly brought back images from my past, but I could not put a finger on just what it was. It would take time to compare his movement with those of the thousands of people I had seen in my lifetime. I also noticed that the white android also looked slightly different...his eyes were a deep, blood red. It was somewhat sinister, but I assumed it was some sort of upgrade. I watched the android make his way toward us. So many questions I wanted to ask him...I only hoped he was willing to answer them. My long search was finally over. So what was this dark premonition creeping up through my grid?
BWS-1	Wha ... where... am I ??? "inside you, or I should say ... me. ... ... ... aargh I can't control anything ... why??? what are you up to ???? "Now that's none of your business, shut up and leave it to me. "I am surprised to see she forgot the color of my eyes already, you must have corrupted her while you were inside of her, humph What are you talking about? what makes you think she knows you? "Let's just say, we are old partners ... now stop bothering me, I'm less then 30 meters from her. ._ INITIALIZING PRIMARY VOICE SETTINGS _. "My dear Sev ... it has been a while, what have you become? dam you don't pretend to be me or else ... "I won't stay here much longer and i won't lie about my true identity either. Say hello ... and good-bye to your , "ghost". I'm off completing that mission you considered lost and failed, I can still do it by myself now, thx to your mecano skills, my radar signature is reduced to 0%. a mission ?? And o, before I forgot, forget about you're silver android's program, I'll just format him when I'll have the time. have a nice ... memorial day, you'll have 2 to celebrate now. See ya ._ activating telepipe _. . ... .... . . . . ._activation failure, no pipe available_. "damn ... no more escape for you now "you seem to forget one thing ... I have YOUR legs now, and i sure know how to use them starts running in the field of flowers I still ... can ... control ... right arm ....* "AArrrrRAGgggg !!!!! You fool!!! you peirced your ... my right leg !!!! you'll pay for that... I can't ... get up ... must ... complete ... mission "can't ... move ... ok, you won for this time ... but next time ... I'll be in control, for real. ._ RE-BOOTING SYSTEM _. ._ PRIMARY GRID RE-ESTABLISHED _. ._ RIGHT LEG STATUS: 4 % active _. As I remove slowly the sword from my leg while trying to avoid more damages, I look at my face again ... I am me again ... but for how many beats ? The leg was too heavily damaged, I decided to just lay back in the flowers for a few beats, and try to slowly regenerate that wound. "so ... you're name is Sev ... pretty short for a tall RAcaseal like you, I soflty said to her now standing aside me.
Severence 7	'My dear Sev ... it has been a while, what have you become?' That voice! It wasn't the voice of the android I repaired...it was- 'I won't stay here much longer and i won't lie about my true identity either. Say hello ... and good-bye to your , "ghost". I'm off completing that mission you considered lost and failed, I can still do it by myself now, thx to your mecano skills, my radar signature is reduced to 0%.' The mission?! But that was more than thirty years ago!! 'And o, before I forgot, forget about you're silver android's program, I'll just format him when I'll have the time. have a nice ... memorial day, you'll have 2 to celebrate now. See ya' I was frozen in shock, only able to watch stupidly as the android turned about and started running back to the flower fields at full speed. My ghost. He has my ghost...and he has no idea just what he is dealing with... "Ciel! Ciel 5!! STOP!!!" I screamed, wishing desperately for my gun. Everything fell away from me. Mortimer, Lara, Michael, the memorial park...everything faded away as I started running as fast as I could after the fleeing android, trying to catch him before he could complete that last mission...before he reawakened the past I had worked so long and hard to bury. I was closing in on him...a few more seconds and I would be close enough to grab his arm... Suddenly, the android went tumbling, having stabbed his own leg with his sword. It was too late to stop...I tripped over him and went flying, crashing into the flowers a few feet away. I remembered numbly that I had just got my armor polished yesterday...but now was not the time to think of that. I scrambled to my feet, Sinow blades unsheathed, ready to fight if I had to...only to see the android looking calmly at me as he lay on the flowers, his leg too damaged to use. My blades sheathed themselves, my arms looking normal once more. I walked to the android cautiously, coming to a halt beside him. 'so ... you're name is Sev ... pretty short for a tall RAcaseal like you.' His voice was normal again. I breathed a sigh of relief, my knees feeling strangely weak. I sat down heavily beside the android. I noticed the android's eyes were back to their usual luminous greenish-blue. So...at least I have some kind of warning when my "ghost" returned. "I see that my friend has decided to leave for the time being," I said, "We must get him out of your grid before he tries to carry out that mission again. He is one of my closest compatriots, but I also know him very well...we must work quickly before he wakes. "Oh, and as for the name, it's Severance 7. Nice to finally find you again...damaged as usual, heh. I never got to know yours...just who are you, anyway?"
Lara BlackHawk	Mike and Lara look at each other, rather confused as to what in the world is happening. "Lara," Mike starts, "Does this usually happen around this bunch?" "It's been over 15 years," Lara answers, "But it looks like something's going on between Severence and that white android. I just hope nothing's happening with Galveris and Maya back home." Still somewhat puzzled, The BlackHawks decide not to interfere with the two androids and just watch for now.
BWS-1	"I see that my friend has decided to leave for the time being," I said, "We must get him out of your grid before he tries to carry out that mission again. He is one of my closest compatriots, but I also know him very well...we must work quickly before he wakes. ... "one of your compatriots ... that, I know..." Why ... why did it have to come to this. At least, Ciel 5 inside me, and my frame being undetectable, I can only wish the A.D.S.S.F. will assume I'm M.I.A. and won't attempt any recovery mission. Only Dark Falz knows that if they get me, they'll do what they planned to do with the caseal... "Oh, and as for the name, it's Severance 7. Nice to finally find you again...damaged as usual, heh. I never got to know yours...just who are you, anyway?" "I am former squad leader BWS-1 of the A.D.S.S.F.. My mission was to retreive the grid of the SF-komando unit Ciel 5 for purposes that we weren't allowed to know." ... "That was my primary objective, the secondary was ... to elliminate the host of Ciel 5." "I was suspicious about the mission, we usually get a more detailed breifing, but we got almost nothing. My 2 comrades were n00bs in the A.D.S.S.F. so they were willing to kill each other if the big boss asked them to. The agency knew I was curiose about the Ciel 5 recovery mission, that's why they did that. I started to secretly record every informations I could get about Ciel 5. The strange thing is, all the data about his team was erased, all I know is that they were sent in a mission long ago and were considered all dead." "They didn't know about you, but they knew he had a host, that's why I couldn't find anything about you or your former teammates, they formated everything about them. I think they thought Ciel 5 really was causing them trouble, otherwise I don't know why they'd ask me to recover him without telling us what they'd do to him." I wish I knew more about all this but ... I think the only one that can help us is Ciel 5 himself. He probably knows more then both of us. "Now, plz ... let us not spoil this memorial day for such a minor accident (minor accident, she might take weeks just to get over it)." I barely made it back on my 2 legs and started to walk toward the graves. My right leg was simply not working at all but at least, I could walk with it. "Here, keep it for awhile, just incase your little friend decides to play it hard with you, he'll have to use my fists, nothing more then that." And I gave away my Orotiagito to the RAcaseal. That's probably the best decision I took today ...
Mortimer Kirk	O-K...that was interesting... The three of us were standing there, listening to the two androids, but so much out of there way as to be polite. I guess this BWS robot was just as crazy as when we met him. A couple of people started to crowd around who no dout saw BWS. "Um, show's over folks!" I said waving my hands trying to get them to get lost, "Nothing to see here, just a...um...android with a slightly injured power gird." What I said probably didn't make much sence and anyone who knew androids whould know that, but it worked and that's all that really mattered. I decided to walk over to them now. I got there just as he gave Sev his blade. I just stood there for a while until I said to Sev with a slight smile, "Guess someone kept a secret for 15 years." I then turned to the other android, "So about thiss misson, anything we can do to help?"
Lara BlackHawk	Lara turns to Mortimer with a puzzled look. "Why is it, Mort," She starts, "That you could almost read what I was thinking? I don't have my weapons right now, but Mike and I are more than willing to help out." Mike, on the other hand, was busy typing into his BEE uplink, sending a message home to "Maya" to have Lara's new double saber and his sword, Kamui, brought to the memorial site, along with thier handguns. Within a few minutes, the small light blue RAcaseal, along with the Mike and Lara's kids, Jessica and Rhiana, and the HUcast Galveris are joining the group, armed to the teeth. Maya hands the Kamui Katana to Mike and Lara's twin brand to her, along iwth each a Custom Ray. Galveris has armed himself with the Soul Banish scythe. Rhiana, a force, carries a Battle Verge, and Jessica, an agito. Maya is carrying with her a Yasmikov 3000R, and hands another similar rifle to Severence 7. Mike looks to the group smiling. "When the BlackHawks take on any quest, we do it as a family," he comments, "By the way, these are our kids, Jessica and Rhiana. The RAcaseal is Maya, and the large, dark blue android is Galveris." Jessica looks to BWS-1, and the rest of the group. "If we can beat the heck out of Shade Stalker and his bunch, I'm sure that whatever you guys are talking about is a walk in the park."
Mortimer Kirk	I just stood there, jaw droped and eyes open. When these guys do work, they do it siriouly! Kind of wish I could be as orginized as them, then maybe I wouldn't have this monney problem. "Well..I guess the trops have arived," these guys were packing firework to the heat, "I hope we don't have to use all that."
BWS-1	"So about thiss misson, anything we can do to help?" the RAmar asked me. I don't know what to say, I know as much about Ciel 5's mission as him. "I'm afraid you are asking this to the wrong droid. You'll eventually have the chance to talk to Ciel 5 so, you'll ask him there ;)" I turned to the others and the Ranger to say what I thought was the best to do: "I guess we should all stay at someone's place and make it our HQ. If no one here has enough room for all of us, I know good inns in the Viridia sector. I used to hide their a lot during long operations." *interupts himself That was anoying ... I know they were listenning to me but, I could feel them suspicious about all this, after all, they know me as the android that attacked them. I just don't want to be seen as a "leader in the group" I never beleived in leadership. What makes a team perform at it's best is not a good leader, it's a good communication with the teammates, when everyone knows what to do, you don't need a leader to "lead" them to the objective. What I know is that, what ever this mission is, I won't be able to do much about it ... unless ... no this is crazy ... "I can feel Ciel 5's grid inside me trying to slowly take over my core again. So the best thing we can do for this operation is not giving me any weapons. We don't know anything about Ciel and his intentions ..." I stoped right there, I knew Sev probably knows about the mission ... and about Ciel but I don't think she wants to remember, I understand that ... I remember the time I thought formating was the only way out to all those memories, that was, a month ago. I turned back to Sev and said: "Look, we both know that you still have important fragments about your past in the A.D.S.S.F. and if we can't get to know that data, we probably have no chances of saving Ciel 5." I turned back to the group "After all, I dought it would be at our advantage to try to do the mission Ciel 5 wants to succeed. We all ... no wait ... you know nothing ... I suggest we talk about this elsewhere, this isn't safe to talk about that in such public place" "If we can beat the heck out of Shade Stalker and his bunch, I'm sure that whatever you guys are talking about is a walk in the park." "I'm afraid it's more complexe then a simple ellimination task. Now Plz, is there anyone that can give us shelter? if we can't all stay at the same place, we'll go on our own places, but one thing is for sure, someone has to watch over me. I can't predict when this "ghost" will awake again. And like I said, we must define a place that will be known as our base"
Severence 7	"'Guess someone kept a secret for 15 years.'" It was much* longer than that, ranger.* It was a lot to absorb at one time. The A.D.S.S.F... It's been 34.765 years since I've had anything to do with them. I had hoped never again, but bad things usually have a way to coming back. It was only a matter of time, I guess. That last mission, the only one my team was unable to complete...the one which I paid a horrible price for freedom. I thought I ended it. So how has it survived for this long? I looked back at the suddenly large group of people standing before me, holding weapons of war, in the resting place of the dead. They seemed so ready to fight against something they knew nothing about. It was inspiring. It also was frightening. I glanced at the weapons in my hands. A sword and a gun, both reflecting the red of my exterior...looking like they were covered with blood. "'Look, we both know that you still have important fragments about your past in the A.D.S.S.F. and if we can't get to know that data, we probably have no chances of saving Ciel 5.'" "That failed mission was from a very long time ago...but I've never forgotten." I replied quietly, still looking at the red-reflected weapons. I looked at the group, continuing before I lost heart. "I was one of a group of seven specially constructed androids to serve Master, my former owner." That's the only name I was ever given to call him...I wanted to punch something hard every time I mentioned him. He made sure that hated word was hardwired into my grid; it was impossible for me to call him anything else, even now. I never knew his real name...all records were automatically erased upon his death. "I was different then. We all were. Our "missions" most of the time were massacres of the families of Master's rivals...but that last one was different. Very different." I sighed...I couldn't go on. Not here. I nodded at BWS-1's suggestion. "I agree. It's not wise to continue talking about this here. I have an apartment in the upper android residential sector. It should be large enough to accomodate you all. Let us talk more about this there." I calibrated a telepipe to my coordinates, and set it a few meters away. I would have preferred to call a transport, but the fewer who knew where we were all going, the better. "So, shall we?"
Lara BlackHawk	Galveris looks to Severence 7. "A most welcome suggestion," the dark blue HUcast responds, "We'll join you." The BlackHawks, Galveris and Maya all step through the telepipe and transport to Severence 7's apartment.
Mortimer Kirk	The A.D.S.S.F... Where have I heard that before? It's in the back of my head! I'll just ask about it later. I was actualy interested on seeing how an android lives. Oh wait..the android residential sector? "Um...Sev," I started to say, "a couple of years ago I kind of made some..well...enemies in that area. Just to let ya know!" Might not be the most reasuring thing to say, but it's better for someone to know before we go there then to get trouble without anyone knowing the reason. Taking one last look at the graves I gave them a little ranger saulte before heading into the pipe.
Lara BlackHawk	After appearing at Severence 7's apartment, the BlackHawks, Galveris and Maya each find somewhere to get out of the way of people telepiping in. Lara spots MOrtimer when he pipes in. "So, Mortimer, you've heard of this A.D.S.S.F.?" she asks, "I've never heard of such an organization." Maya chimes in, "I think the best person to ask about this would be Severence 7, or BWS-1. Either of them could tell us what we need to know." "Maya has a point," Jessica answers, "although, I do have a bad feeling about this." "You always say that, Jessie," Rhiana teases her sister, "I'm sure that whatever it is, it can't be much tougher than when we got rid of Stalker, Shard, Trialos, and Katmando." "Katmando's still functional," Galveris reminds the younger force, "Maya and I just shut him down, so Dr. Montague can finish his work on him. We may wind up using his frame, if his AI system can handle this Ciel 5's ghost." "Let's let Mortimer or Severence answer before we go making plans," Mike advises his family, "This is bigger than all of us and the only way we can actually win is to work together. Let's get as much information as we can before launching into a battle we can't win, ok?" With that, everyone looks to Mortimer and Severence 7.
Mortimer Kirk	Obviously this group was togeather for alot. They ketp on talking about a past job they did. Kind of made me feal gilty. Maybe I could have done more for my live then small job here and there, but in the end I'm doing what I always wanted to do, and that's helping people. After I gave this a thought and redeveoped my hatred for pain in live I begain to notic my surroundings. After all, I never thought about how an android would live. "So, Mortimer, you've heard of this A.D.S.S.F.?" asks Lara before they whent on talking among them, "I've never heard of such an organization." I waited politly so I could talk, "The A.D.S.S.F...it's in the back of my head...I think I heard it when I was just a little kid. Maybe my dad talking about with his all war buddies. I bet ya anything the android couple knows more about it then me." AGH! The pain in my chest was back again, but I didn't want anyone to know. "Excuse me for a sec I gotta go to the washroom, tell them to start without me when they come..." And I darted out. I ran down the halls looking for a bathroom. I need to get a look as to what was wrong with me. Why after so many years it pain was back. Then I realized...this is a android resedence, THERE ARE NO BATHROOMS! I found a door that said "Maitenince room." "This will have to do," I sighed to myself. I ran inside and quickly took off the top half of my armor. It was the most bizzare thing I have even seen. My chest witch was just a day ago normal, was now glowing a strange purple glow. The vains neerest to my chest were now a swolin black and beating in time with my heart. Surprising it was not as painful as it looked. Nothing really compared to when I was first attacked. I desided it would be safe not to mention it to the group. They had too much to worry about right now and I didn't want to be more trouble to them. Just then two androids, a purple hucast and a green and gray racast, walked in. They were caught up in a conversation. "You be so wrong!" said the hucast I could be kickin' you ass any day o' da weak!" "What the hell?" said the racast, now noticing me. "It be that foo of a ramar!" said the hucast. I remembered it too. I can't remember all of the details, but it happened about a year ago during one of the trips back Ragoal. I was having some fun with a couple of guys I knew at a bar. As usual, I made some comments about androids, and wouldn't you know it? There happen to be Robo-Dee and Robo-Dum there. I may a started a bit of a rivalry. First I started by saying what use would an android be in a bar if they don't drink. I also might have called the racast a walking dump truck and the hucast the robot with the speech eror...as I said I don't remember all the details. Anyway this whole thing started a bit of a fight. I gave them a couple good knocks here and there, but androids hurt to hit. The two where arested while I got off free. A little trick I picked up; when the law comes in let them beat on you, then you look like the victum. It way have been a bit low, but I should as hell didn't want to get in jail during my monney slump that's for sure. So there I was with my armor off and my scar showing. I desided to say something. "Ummm...hi guys..." smooth...real smooth... "Well, well, well," said the racast. "Ummm...well?" I said back, trying to spark some humor into this. "Isin't this spectaculare," continued the racast. "Da bone bag dat busted us at da bar be right here right now, without 'none around," said the hucast as he moved foward. I knew what they wanted to do, but I neede my weapons. Two androids vs. one humar? I don't think so. My mechguns were down on the floor. I whent to grab them but the racast kicked them along with my armor stright to the other side of the room. As I was bending down to pick up my stuff the hucast kciked me in chest. "AGH!!" The pain was stinging all threw my body. I bent down knealing on the floor trying to recover, but I didn't have anytime. The hucast came back at me with a punch to the jaw. I whent stumbuling back towards the wall. I felt around my face. No blood yet, but with no way of defending myself, I had no chanse to fight.
Lara BlackHawk	As the HUCast is about to throw one more punch at Mortimer, a quick flash rushes by, and the purple android's arm flies off. Standing over Mortimer is a diminuative, brown haired HUnewearl. "I don't think you want to start a fight here," she tells the androids, "Not with this crowd here." She points to the door behind the androids to see a light blue RAcaseal holding a Yasmikov 3000R rifle, and huge blue HUcast w/a Soul Banish. "At least if you don't want to wind up facing Galveris and Maya, not to mention me." She then turns to look down at Mortimer,"Are you ok, Mr. Mortimer?" "Who in the hell are you, Newm?" The RAcast inquires, "No one is that fast." "Oh, sorry," The Hunewearl answers w/ a slight grin, as she brandishes her agito at the RAcast, "The name is Jessica BlackHawk, and the only other person as fast as I am, is my father, who taught me his own sword style, the Soaring Heaven style. Galveris and Maya are friends of the family, as is this man. Now back off."
BWS-1	" ... now back off" Hmmmm, those two are causing trouble. Why couldn`t they just get a fight out in the sector instead of here. Their are plenty of scape for that outside... I say we shut them down " And I say shut up! ... "sorry ... it was Ciel ... he wanted me to ... to .... aaAarrA"Rrrgg...." REVERCING CONTROL GRID ... CONTROL LOST ... GRID UNDER UNKNOWN CONTROL "so me One ... St A ba LIze me ... MA ke SUre I don'T mo " "I can get rid of them both with your arms... teeh heeheheheee. you don't know them! don't mess with them, they'll cause us more trouble " As a class of ninja, making sure I am not detected or noticed means I have to kill anyone and anything between me and my goal ... anyone" gives a cold stare to Severence 7 As he stumbles and try to get to the 2 androids, he pushes Jessica to the wall and gets a hand on the shoulder of the RAcast... and looks up to see him in the eyes. " you ... you should have never entered here... "Hhmmmph, what are you gonna do sweety, you can't stand on your legs and have no weap ... SCLIIIIAAASHH!!! with the other hand, Ciel 5 stroke trough the chest of the RAcast. the hand peirced the armor as a saber. You could see the RAcast look, he was terrified. while he still had energy left, he grabbed Ciel's arm and try to bend it ... but it was too late, he already ran out of energy. Ciel 5 used my locking system to find the RAcast's weak point, and strike to the core ... "Da NM YU o CieEL ..."* the other HUcast just droped his hidden VARISTA and stood still ... he was petrified with fear. Who knew androids know something about fear? Well I guess they do. "witness your death, HUcast" But before he could even complete his first step toward the HUcast, he was already kissing the ground and neutralized. I guess someone stoped him before he fills this appartment with androidal fluids.
Lara BlackHawk	Jessica watches almost wide eyed as the androids are almost torn to pieces by the silver HUcast. She feels a steely palm on her shoulder, which is Galveris turning to help her up. She then whispers to the dark blue android warrior, "Do you really think we need to give Ciel 5 Katmando's body? That might be more dangerous than what he's got." "If this silver android is going to be any use to us, we need to separate him from Ciel 5,"Galveris tells her in a low tone, "Besides, I can think of a few programs we can run in Katmando's AI systems that will assist in keeping moderate conrtrol over Ciel until we know what we're up against." "I don't know about that, Galveris," Maya retorts,"I've been monitoring that silver android, and there are some irregularities in his system. I think this Ciel ghost may be the cause. If we give him a RAcast body with similar advancements as you, then we may make him more dangerous than even Dark Falz was."
Mortimer Kirk	In all my life I never saw anything more cold harted. He sevearly damaged the two without even trying, it freaked me out a bit. What he did to thoughs two he could do to any of us. I tryed to get up but the pain caused me to sit back down. "Agh..." the swelling on the purple area was growing. I didn't even want to look anymore. "Guys...?" I asked, "little help?"
Lara BlackHawk	Maya walks over and places Mortimer's arm over her shoulder, helping him to his feet. "I swear," she says out loud, "You human rangers are more fragile than a FOnewm at times." "That's a pretty wicked scar," Jessica tells the RAmar, "Maybe we should have Rhiana try to heal that."
Severence 7	The rest had already telepiped to my apartment, leaving me standing alone at the two grave markers. I looked down at them for a moment, thinking. Why did Ciel want to complete the mission? He never mentioned it while I held him in my grid; neither of us wanted to think of that time again. Was it because he could gain control of BWS-1 so easily? I rebuilt that HUcast with the best upgrades...so why is his grid so susceptible to Ciel's infiltration? Unless...BWS-1 is letting him take over. Can I really trust someone who admitted that he was ordered to kill me and take Ciel back to his masters? What if he never broke off communication with the A.D.S.S.F. as he claimed? Just who is BWS-1 anyway? I shook my head. What will come, will come, as my "brother" used to say. I will deal with it then. I stepped through the telepipe, only to find that my apartment was virtually empty. My apartment was quite large. It was perhaps too much for one person, but after living in a room no bigger than a large closet for so long, I felt I deserved it. I had often had human/newman friends visit, so I had a small bathroom built to accommodate them, since there isn't a bathroom to be found anywhere else in the building. The four rooms of the apartment served various functions. One was a storage room, with all of my weapons and various trophies and souveniers from previous quests, as well as things I have saved from my past. I kept it locked at all times. Another was a small garden, with many potted plants taking in the sun from the window, (I had a fondness for bonsai and flowering plants, something I picked up from my creator). The floor was tiled, and there was a running water sink. The smallest was a bedroom for organic guests, (this is where the bathroom is located). The fourth, and largest, room acted as a living room, and was furnished as such, more for the comfort of guests than myself. There were many framed holoviews along the walls, of places I've been or people I've known. I didn't need to eat or drink, but there was a small refridgerator stocked with various drinks for whoever wanted them. Even androids liked to have a drink now and then. There was the sound of some kind of commotion down the hall...as well as a few familiar voices. This was bad. I hurried down the corridor to the Maintenance Room, hoping that there wasn't too much trouble; I had just moved into this complex a few weeks ago, and I didn't want to make a bad impression. The scene that greeted me was not a pleasant one. A RAcast, on the floor, his power core ripped out in a disturbingly familiar way. Another HUcast, groveling at the feet of BWS-1. I looked around, noting that part of the BlackHawk clan was there, as well as Mortimer, showing off a strange purple growth on his chest. "Guys...?" Mortimer asked, "little help?" I looked at BWS-1 and was not surprised to see that his eyes were glowing a hellish red. "Ciel," I said to myself, "you just couldn't help yourself, could you?" The damage on the RAcast was textbook precise. That was one of the first anti-android martial art techniques to be learned, and one of the most effective. For a moment, I admired Ciel 5's handiwork...I itched to try it out on the purple HUcast, just to see if I still had the knack. After all, I was the one who taught Ciel that particular move. Suddenly, I realized what I was doing, and disgust filled me. I've grown beyond those dark days, and I never want to return being the monster I once was. I thought Ciel wanted to change too...but I guess his newfound freedom brought back the old ways. I turned to the purple HUcast on the floor, throwing a handful of meseta at him. "You, pick up your friend and get out. There's a Repair Centre just down the street; that meseta should be enough to cover it. Don't talk of this to anyone, or you'll end up like your friend here. Now get out!" The Hucast scrambled to his feet, picking up the RAcast. He ran out the door as fast as he could go, the RAcast dropping various parts along the way. I turned back to Ciel 5/BWS-1 with a cold stare. "I expected you to act better than this, Ciel. Picking on lowlifes in a maintenance room...pathetic," I said quietly, "You are quite the warrior, indeed." I raised my voice, addressing everyone in the room. "Everyone, let's get back to the apartment. We don't want any one else knowing where we all are. I want to take a look at that thing on your chest, Mortimer, when we get there. "
Lara BlackHawk	"You won't find any arguments from us," Jessica BlackHawk tells Severence, "That silver guy packs quite a punch." "And if there's 2 ghosts in that frame," Galveris advises, "Then we may have to separate them before we can accomplish anything. For that, though." Galveris stops. "For crying out loud, Galveris," Maya shouts, "I would rather not have that ghost in the body of that prototype RAcast. We had enough trouble with that monster when Stalker had control over him." "Maybe, but it may be the only chance we have of helping BWS maintain his sanity, and finding out all we can about this A.D.S.S.F.," The blue HUcast retorts, "Secondly, if you remember where his power core is, you can always shut it down with your rifle, Maya. You did before." "I'd prefer not to have to deal with that beast of an android again as it is," the small RAcaseal thinks out loud as she helps Mortimer back to the apartment. Galveris carries Jessie back in as well.
Severence 7	I shook my head as I listened to the argument going on between the two androids. "You can't transfer a grid if he doesn't want to be transferred," I snapped, impatient with the arguing two, "That was why I held his ghost within me for so long in the first place." After all, it was a matter of self-control. If BWS-1 somehow can gather enough will to contain Ciel 5 in his grid, then there would be no need to transfer him into a something that would make him a danger to everyone around him. It would be foolish to even consider that option. However, if there is weakness in BWS-1's ghost...I did not want to think of the consequences. Ciel 5 was not an evil person, but he wasn't particularly a good one either. He was one of my closest companions in the past; that's why I risked so much to save his grid. However, I know very well what he is capable of...and if the others knew what he, what I was able to do...and what happened on that aborted mission... Again...I'll deal with it when it comes. I turned to Ciel. "Coming? Or can you not hold some self-control longer than two beats?"
Mortimer Kirk	"I'm ok now guys..." I said to the two whith held me up. As my father told me, there is no shame in having a helping hand, but it is more rewarding to stand on your own. Hmmmm...my father...the A.D.S.S.F...could he have...maybe...there was too many things racing threw my head, not to mention the pain that I was still having. It seemed going back to the appartment was a very good idea indeed. I slowly walked past BWS. I was croughed over and I placed one hand on my chest. As I half-limped past the silver android I gave him a cold stare, as cold as I could as least. I didn't hate the androids that beat me up, but for some reason I hated this one. Well not the actual android, this "Ciel" inside him, or something like that. Or maybe it wasn't hate, but simpathy, or maybe even jelosy. Ack, just another of a million thought in my head again. I needed to rest. "I'll be back at the appartment you guys," I said. I got a better look at the place. After checking it out, I foud that there was a bathroom. Just another stupid thing on my part I guess! It was a nice place, much better looking and bigger then mine, and alot like it strangly, except all my stuff was cramed into a small space. I found a nice sofa in the main room. Hoping no one would mine, I took all the space on it. I gave a sigh to myself, "Why in the world did I have to wake up today..."
Lara BlackHawk	Galveris carries Jessica back to the apartment, with Maya beside him. the large HUcast then lets the diminuative HUnewearl down and she finds a chair in the main room, where the rest of the family has gathered. Seeing Severence 7 and BWS-1, then Mortimer walk by, Mike motions for Rhiana, the Force of the family, to go look after the RAmar, while the others found out all that was to be discovered. Lara is the first to speak up. "Severence, BWS," She begins, "I have to know just what it is we're dealing with. Just what in the world is this A.D.S.S.F.? What all are they responsible for, and where can they be found?" "What I want to know," Jessica chimes in, "is who in the world is this Ciel 5. He seemed to be almost as cold as Trialos was." "I do know that I don't want his grid anywhere near Katmando's frame," Maya tells her 'niece', "That android was built on the same advancements as Galveris, making him 10, no 100 times more powerful than a human or newman, and 10 times more powerful than the older androids. He gave Galveris and myself a real run for our money last month." "Listen," Mike tells Maya, "If he doesn't go anywhere near Montague's lab, he won't come in contact with Katmando. That's the end of that discussion. What I want to know is, How in the world does one android hold 2 AI grids at the same time? Wouldn't the overlapping data cause the system to break down?"
BWS-1	As I hear Severence 7's voice, I somewhat "regain" control ... but for a split second, instead of corrupting my grid to get back online, I've been shut down. well, rebooted. I think Ciel did it. But why? o well. What I know now is that I have control. "... so you want to know what the A.D.S.S.F. are? you'd bettter sit down. First, their was the A.S.S.F.. It was the best group of Elite Androids the entire System of Algol ever had. Those Elite androids were known for being the best search & rescue teams on Ragol. They were easely recongnizable for their 2 types of armours. Some had bleue armors (medical units, soldiers, engenires) and some others had silver armors (squad leader, special force, "defender" [unit responsible for te security of the group and the victims they were carrying]). Unfortunatly, after the unsuccesful mission in finding Red Ring Rico and returning her safe and found to Pioneer2, they started to dismember the team. After DF was found, the A.S.S.F. o that means, BTW, Angels of the Secret Special Force were almost all formated. For their new group of elite, they needed more then medics, well, they didn't need them at all. They needed killing machines. They recreated a new squad. they were still named the A.S.S.F. but instead of doing search & rescue, they were doing search & destroy. The new armors for colors. that are representative to the rank of the android, were changed too. The casual soldier had a black armor and the squad leader, a red armor. I was alowed to keep my silver armor just because I ... {I already knew Severence 7's reaction to what i was abou to say .. but i had to say it ... } I saved ... Master's life once and he told me he give me a favor later on. And My wish was to keep my armor the way I always wanted it to be; Silver as the moonlight. Due to the high numbers of successfull missions done by the A.S.S.F. , their name was changed to A.D.S.S.F., Angel of Death Secret Special Forces. Lot's of models were built during that short period of time. Our missions were world spreading all acrosse Ragol. it was such an expended hidden sociaty that it was impossible to tell if we really knew all of th other members and if we really we informed of all that was going on in th A.D.S.S.F. I knew it was all turning into something darker thn what it used to be. That's at that time tht i started to do some researches. I was surprised to see that our ... Master ... has died in unknown circonstences just before our unit was reformated . Then how did he know about my favor ? ..." {pause} I'm starting not to feel so good. *shakes head " I'm having trouble getting those lost fragments of memory. this is giving me a coreache." No signs of Ciel5's grid in the core ... everything is TOO easy now. Must have been because of Sev. The lil soldier Ciel knows Sev was right but doesn't want to admit it ... that was really low. those droids had no experience in combat and he had to ... I would have never do that myself. ... I'm not far away, Silver cast, I'm just plannin something. that way, i'll be able t do my mission, without having t slice some head off. what do you mean ... are you thinking whati'm thinking? well of course i am you TWIT, we're in the same core, and sharing the same memory grid. So watch your thoughts about Severence 7. Got that? "shut up!" Every one got hit by surprise by BWS-1's words. "No, not you guys, hmmm, Ciel. He's really a major bug but, I think i'm starting to assimilate the ghost. I feel more in control now, as if he was slowly drifting out of my core, by remaining present. That's a really strange sensation tho." dam that Ciel ... i'll never be able to look at Severence 7's optical systems again.
Severence 7	I stood back and listened as BWS-1 related a summary of the history of the A.D.S.S.F. He had covered most of the important points quite well, but he hadn't told the whole story. Was it because he didn't know? Or was is he deliberately hiding it? "...I saved ... Master's life once and he told me he give me a favor later on..." So, BWS-1 was the one that saved Master from that assassination attempt. I didn't know what to feel...I had promised myself that I when I found the one that rescued that hated man, I would destroy him. He was the one responsible for prolonging my enslavement...but he was also the one that preserved my life...Maybe it was time to let it go. An outburst broke my line of thought. "shut up!" I looked at BWS-1, noting that his eyes flashed red for a moment. He was struggling...I willed him to keep his grid strong. That was the only way to survive with another ghost. "No, not you guys, hmmm, Ciel. He's really a major bug but, I think i'm starting to assimilate the ghost. I feel more in control now, as if he was slowly drifting out of my core, by remaining present. That's a really strange sensation tho." I nodded. "Yes, but you get used it to after a while. Just hold onto your grid image no matter what...and you should be okay." I turned to the others. "Now that you know about the A.D.S.S.F., perhaps I should fill in some of the other details." I paused, wondering how much I should reveal at one time. I decided to stick to the basics for the time being...the deeper stuff will come later when it is needed. "As I have mentioned before, Ciel 5 and I were part of a group of seven androids. However, we were built very differently from the other androids of the A.D.S.S.F., to better serve our purpose as personal bodyguards and enforcers for Master. We also had no contact with other members, since we had to protect Master wherever he went. There was no need. We even avoided the compulsory formatting of all other A.S.S.F. agents after it's converstion into A.D.S.S.F. "Though the armor color system was a mainstay of the organization, we were built to look completely human...as to better blend in and facillitate our missions, which usually involved infiltration and assassination of Master's enemies...usually wiping out entire family lines in one night. We were part of the A.D.S.S.F.'s shadow organization...always working behind the scenes. "Our internal systems were also designed differently, due to the added demand of maintaining a humanlike exterior. Due to the large amount of enginering this demanded, every one of us were each designed by different scientists at different times, resulting in a system of grids that were wildly diverse, almost incompatible to each other. The age difference between the first built and the last was twenty years. "As I was the newest and last built, I was designed as a kind of "mediator" between grids, for data exchange and emergencies...my grid was made to change and adapt itself to become compatible with anything it came across. This is how I was able to maintain Ciel's grid within me without system degradation. Then, when I repaired BWS-1, his grid structure was too damaged to salvage...so I integrated a copy of my design into his...thus inadvertently providing Ciel another place to live, as it were." I knew that was a mistake. If only I could have just rebuilt BWS-1's original grid structure somehow...all this would have been avoided. "We were different back then. I mean, how would you turn out if the first thing you were ordered to do within fifteen minutes after being activated for the first time, was to assassinate the three children of Master's business rival? Organic lives were meaningless...the only thing that mattered was each other. "They were my family. I would have gladly died for them without a second thought. I was a slave, but I had my brothers and sisters to help me keep my sanity as we went through years and years of killing...I hated Master for what he made us do. However, I was the only one...the difference of my grid allowed my feelings and thoughts to be separate from my mission objectives...both a curse and a blessing. Master was everything. You must listen to Master...but somehow, I was able to wish for a life without the taint of death. "Ciel 5 was older than me...and did his job very well. He seems cold, but if you earn his respect, he'll protect you no matter what. That is one of the reasons why I considered Ciel as one of my closest companions; also, we often were assigned to go on missions together, so we became a strong team. He was undyingly loyal to Master and never left his side. When I told him that Master was killed during that last mission...it nearly destroyed him..." I stopped. I was getting close to describing the details of that last mission...and the truth about Master's death. BWS-1 had described it as "unknown circumstances..." Perhaps it can stay unknown for a little longer. "Anyway...despite what you all may think, Ciel isn't really a bad person. He is perhaps even better than I was back then. As long as BWS-1 maintains his grid, Ciel will not be a problem." It felt strange having let out some of the past for others to hear. I had held it inside for so long...it was even hard to make the words to describe it. I waited for what the others would say before I would go on. It was childish and futile, but I wanted to avoid talking about that mission for as long as I could.
Mortimer Kirk	Killer androids...A.D.S.S.F...Master...I was in the room with two so called "former" killer androids. I felt kind of strange being so friendly to Sev. She was, basicly, my first android friend and now I find out she was exactly what I first thought of androids, mindless pkilling mechiens. But on the other hand there still was a fealing of friendship, even now as I know the truth. So I did what I usualy do, I gave a comfording smile and carried on with different thoughts. Wait a second...the A.D.S.S.F... "Of course!" I said snaping upwards on the sofa then letting myself back down muffeled,"owww" coused by the pain in my chest. I quickly disregarded it and got back on track, "The, the A.D.S.S.F! My father! I remember back on the day he died! There was mention of the A.D.S.S.F. After his job ended as a ranger he became a farmer, but he would always accept jobs as a mercinary." --------------------------------- FLASHBACK! --------------------------------- It was raining that day. My dad was sick for weeks and now it seemed the everything was for the worst. Our wooden house was small but still it was filled with people rushing in and out of the bedroom where my father was resting. I was only five and everyone would be pushing me out to the side, but I still tried to get in on the action. I pulled on one man's sleeve and asked him, "What going on? What's wrong with my daddy?" The man simply brushed me off and said, "I'm sorry we can't tell right now, now shoo! You're in the way." At that moment thunder struck and the door slamed open to revial a tall ranger with a hood and a cape. I remembered him well, he was my dad's old war friend, Blaze. He would come back from time to time. He was always there for my dad. When he got married, when I was born and when my mom died. He would be friendly whenever he saw anyone and took the time to play games with me when I was young. "How's everything going?" he asked the melee of people. "Is that you Blaze?" asked the voice from my father's room. The house became quite, "You and young Moo2u can come in now." As we walked to the room Blaze patted me on the head, "Don't worry kid, everything will come out ok in the end, I just know it." When I was in I saw my father on the bed. His face was a paile white. "How is he doing," asked Blaze. One of the docters steped foward, "It dosn't look good. We've never seen anything like it. The rash is now gone, but I'm afaid that is may still be inside of him." "It was the damn A.D.S.S.F. wasn't it?" asked Blaze, "They did this to you didn't they?" "Ha," my father was able to let out a slight laugh, "I accepted my duties, and I should have saw this one coming." "But you have it right?" asked Blaze angain. "I always finish a job, always...Mortimer come here" "What's happening dad?" "Now remember we, had a talk about this. People die, and my time is now. However I do not feel the need for sorrow for I know I have lived my life fully. You must be strong. Remember that I am always with you, whenever you need help." "But what's going to happen to me?" I sobbed. "You are to live with Blaze now. I have arranged for you to become a ranger, like me. Now come closer, I have somthing to give to you... --------------------------------- That was the day he gave me the disc, but I'm afraid that I couldn't tell them about it. After all I don't even know why it is so important, or why someone would kill for it. "As far as I could tell," I continued, "My dad either took up a job with the A.D.S.S.F. or against them. I don't know if it's any help to you." I stopped for a while trying to fit more pieces of this giant puzzle together, "What about this rash on me? I got it 15 years ago remember Lara, Sev. The A.D.S.S.F. had something to do with that, those black androids for sure. It almost killed me. After that it went away for a good long time until now, and now it's a good deal bigger and stronger."
Lara BlackHawk	Rhiana BlackHawk looks up from where she was attempting to heal Mortimer's wounds with her power as a force. "So, Is that why that thing won't heal with my Anti?" She asks "Possibly," Mike answers, then looks to Lara, "I still think it strange, that even after 20 years as hunters, we never heard of anything like this. Killer android assassination corp? To think of how many deaths may have been the result of the A.D.S.S.F. makes me shudder." "Don't I know it," Lara answers, "But given the circumstances, I think it best to investigate a bit more into their activities over the years, some of their cases." "Where to start is the problem," Galveris adds, "The only ones that know anything of their activities are Ciel 5, BWS-1 and Severence 7." Everyone goes into deep thought, as Rhiana continues to work on healing Mortimer. As his wounds from the fight are fully healed, she reaches down and hands the RAmar his armor, but a small disc falls out. She reaches down and picks it up, handing it back to the ranger, not thinking another thing of it.
BWS-1	"humph... I suggest we make 2 teams. One should head back to the forest, where Severence 7 was attacked by my former team-mates. Once their, we might be able to track them down. Their corpse were probably gone before sunrise that day, but they sure left some parts behind. All we need is a semi-functionnal electronic device. With that, we will be able to bring them to us by activating that part." {pause} *slaps forehead "wait a second ... Sev, hmmm, do you still have parts of my other body? If we can use one of my detectors, we won't need to go hunt some scrap metal in the forest." "I have a plan ... but it's gonna be a though one. Is everybody ready to get into this? It ain't gonna be easy." ... "ok, now. We'll need to get to the old abandoned mines. I have all the detailed maps of that area so, we have feild advantage if we go there. All A.D.S.S.F. have a map of all areas, but they don't have any of the secret areas recorded in. hmmm, it would be a good thing to creat a "dummy" of myself with the few detectors left and working in it. It shouldn't be that hard ... well, if Sev still has some of the major armor parts of my old body, it'll do just fine." "This mission will require stealth, the mine is an area the A.D.S.S.F. have a lot of missions recorded there." "what we can do is carry as much parts as possible, and assemble them once we'll be in the mines. I know just the spot where no A.D.S.S.F. have ever steped in to do that job." "I heard their are still functionnal security systems there, so bring some of your best weapons adaped to fight machines." "the first part of the operation will be to get to way point Delta. Alpha is the base, Sev's appartment, Bravo is the entrence of the mines, Charlie is the entrence to the deeper sections of the mines, and Delta is the hidden laboratory of the A.S.S.F." I waited for a second, I think they don't trust me for this one ...
Mortimer Kirk	I took the disc quitly with a small, "thank you," and shoved it in my poket. That was a close one, I should still keep an eye on it, I had a fealing it would be useful soon enough. The swelling was now down. You could still see it, but the pain was small. I put on my armor again while I listened to the hucast talk. The mines were a place I hardly whent to, and if I did it was short. In other words, it's dangerous. So who was doing the talking here, BWS or Ciel 5? "I'll have to deal with this wound for now," I said, "if we do go to the mines I would need to stop off at my appartment to get some stuff. What's your oppenion on all this Sev? Should we listen to Dr.Jakel and Mr.Hide-bot or what?"
Lara BlackHawk	Lara looks to BWS and Severence. "I don't know if that's going to be an option," the HUnewearl answers, "The mines were adjascent to the ship that housed Dark Falz. During the Shade Stalker incident that almost killed Mike, we sent that ship back into space. I have no way of knowing if the abandoned mining complex of Pioneer 1 survived the ship being sent back out." "Besides," Mike says, completing the statement, "It's been 15 years since Falz, and I doubt we'd find anything resembling parts of the old A.D.S.S.F. androids there anyway. If the mines are still there, I think we have all the weapons for dealing with machines. You carry the Orotiagito, right, BWS? Then I'd assume you recognize my katana, the sword: Kamui. Lara's twin there is especially made for dealing with machines, as is Jessie's sword, Galveris' scythe, and Maya's gun. Rhiana's a force, so she can just wail away with razonde."
BWS-1	"Besides," Mike says, completing the statement, "It's been 15 years since Falz, and I doubt we'd find anything resembling parts of the old A.D.S.S.F. androids there anyway..." "hmmm, let me tell you why exactly we are heading for the mines. We aren't going there to find missing parts of A.D.S.S.F., we are going their to assemble the dummy, activate the detectors in it, hide and wait till they show up to see it's nothing more then a trap. THEN, we elliminate all, but keep one member intact, of the team and try to keep their detectors in one peice. If some are destroyed, the guys in the A.D.S.S.F.'s HQ will see their is trouble and they'll send in back-up. After that, the hard part will be to enter the soldier's core and copy as much fragment of information we can gather about what we don't know of the A.D.S.S.F.. After all, It has been awhile. Maybe lot's of thing changed in this organisation in a month. I'm also thinking in implenting Ciel 5's grid in that body but ... that's just a thought"
Severence 7	"As far as I could tell," Mortimer continued, "My dad eather took up a job with the A.D.S.S.F. or against them. I don't know if it's any help to you." Something about that memory... //ACCESSING ARCHIVE...DATE: 234124-12:05 ---ARCHIVE RETRIEVED. PLAYBACK? ---AFFIRMATIVE.// [RED SECTOR: 34214-1242-2535] //RECEIVING TRANSMISSION// --7, report!-- --5, 6, and 3 are at the designated sectors and have checked in. Location of the target remains unknown.-- --Contamination status?-- --BETA 325 has been released in all sectors. Current contamination at 65%. Genetic breakdown will occur at 75%. Death at 95%.-- --Establishing new objective. Secure all exits. We will wait the target out.-- //END TRANSMISSION// There was a sound of someone running down the corridor. I drew my gun and ran, following it. It was the target. How he could manage to keep running in the thickening fog of poison flooding the sectors was beyond my understanding. "Stop! Return the disc, and you will not be harmed!" The target paused, then turned around. I quickly scanned him, noting that the mutagen was already taking its toll. A large, pulsing network of dark veins reached up the side of his neck. He smiled wryly. "Does it look like I haven't been harmed?" His smile widened into a grin. "What is so amusing, human?" He pointed to a waste bin beside me. "That." //ACTIVE SENSOR ARRAY ENGAGED... ---EXPLOSIVE DETECTED! EVASI- A bright flash of white flooded my eyes as the bomb exploded. The target had hidden the bomb within the metal receptacle, making it nearly impossible to detect with passive sensors. I could see my left arm lying three meters from me. It was still holding my gun. I was distantly thankful of the triple reinforced armor around my power core. I was powered by a series of subnuclear cells...an effective self-destruct device, if it came to that. A breach would have left only a large smoking crater where the headquarters and the city surrounding it once were. //CA4aasCADIIIing SYSTem FFFFFFFFAAAIlLure...// It was getting so dark...could barely hear him... "I always finish a job, lady. Always." //ssSShUTDOWN ccCccOMpLETE// //ARCHIVE END// Could it have been Mortimer's father? Then where is the disc? Unless... I noticed the quick, almost furtive way Mortimer tucked that disc into his pocket. He didn't seem to notice my glance. That couldn't be the same disc...right? I decided to ask him about it later. That growth on his chest...just where was he transported to, fifteen years ago? I turned my attention to the matter at hand. "This mission into one of the regional laboratories of the A.D.S.S.F, to gather data from a soldier's core...what purpose will it serve? If the base is still active, you can be assured that it will be crawling with A.D.S.S.F. soldiers...we would be overwhelmed and captured. Besides, soldiers would have the least information...they are at most, glorified combat drones. They are all linked to the security grid; one falls, and everyone will know at once. It would be chaos. "And what of the the backup? Once the A.D.S.S.F. discovers that two, make that three, of its former agents are still active, what will keep them from sending more reinforcements? I don't want to risk the lives of others-" I glanced at the BlackHawk family. One mistake, and the whole clan could be wiped out. "-in a mission that is almost certain to become dangerous." I regarded BWS-1...or was it Ciel talking? He seemed eager to get information about the mission, and the status of the A.D.S.S.F....perhaps, too eager. If Ciel got an opportunity to get close to the A.D.S.S.F. again, he would most likely rejoin the ranks at the first opportunity. Having been Master's right hand droid once has its advantages...He would be very comfortable back in the A.D.S.S.F. indeed. I also knew Ciel very well...he would destroy anything that was in his way, even if that meant sacrificing friends in the process. I wanted details before I would agree to all of this. This was too suspicious; after all, the last mission had been aborted with all of us left for dead in the depths of the mines. Also, there are hundreds of A.D.S.S.F. labs hidden everywhere on the world. So, why would BWS-1 think of returning to that particular one? "Perhaps you lost me, so please, explain why we need to go to the mines?" I asked, watching BWS-1 very closely, "What are you planning we should do when we get there? What information do you seek that cannot be found anywhere else?"
BWS-1	"Perhaps you lost me, so please, explain why we need to go to the mines?" I asked, watching BWS-1 very closely, "What are you planning we should do when we get there? What information do you seek that cannot be found anywhere else?" "Yes, you might have misunderstood me, when I said A.S.S.F., I meant it, it's a secret hidden lab of the former Angels Secret Special Forces. We will use this lab to operate. The main purpose of the operation is to capture an active A.D.S.S.F. by using my dummy and then, retreat back into your appartment without being fallowed, that shouldn't be a problem since they basicly have no way to detect us or track us down. And then, after accessing the captured agent's core, we simply shut him down ..." My last words came out so naturaly that it scared me ... we simply shut him down ... what am I becoming, a monster or what!?. "With the information we will know how the agency evolved. And if they up graded their combat units, knowing the A.D.S.S.F., this must have already been done long ago ..."
Lara BlackHawk	Mike notices the glance from Severence 7 to his whole family, wondering what's going through her grid. He then realizes that the RAcaseal is thinking about their current situation. "Sev, we've survived a lot worse than this," he says, walking over and placing a hand on her shoulder, "You may not realize this, but Lara and I have been hunters for over 20 years. The last battle we fought was just a month ago, and that was against a man who was possessed by a portion of Dark Falz's consciousness, 2 newmen with De Rol Le's DNA, and an advanced prototype RAcast build on the same premise as Galveris. We'll be ok. After all, I trained Jessie myself, in the sword style Master Zoke taught me, and Rhiana's a very competant force. So, I'm not really worried about them either. You didn't see them in the ruins sending the ship out into space. Ask Maya about that." Mike gives Sev a slight grin and looks to his family. "Just have some faith, ok?"
Mortimer Kirk	"Just have some faith, ok?" "Faith is something we should all have," I said giving a look at BWS. "Ok, let's revue the facts. Ciel, a killer A.D.S.S.F. member inside BWS wanting to finish this last 'mision.' Metal-Two-face over there wants us to wander in like blind catel into the mines to find an old A.S.S.F. base to luer the crazy clan of robot to the fake robot...I think," I said. It was hard enough to get all this info and still work it threw my brain. "This my be crazy but...I think we should follow his insane mision. Unless, of course, any of you have a better plan?" It was strange...once I said that...the pain was gone...
Severence 7	"Just have some faith, ok?" "Faith is something we should all have." "Yes...but faith can't defeat death. There must be more to it than that," I said. I knew that the BlackHawks were experienced in battle...but they were a liability, just the same. The rest of us had nothing but ourselves to lose...I would never forgive myself if we lost one of the BlackHawks. Especially the lives of the two younger daughters...it would be a terrible waste. "This may be crazy but...I think we should follow his insane mision. Unless, of course, any of you have a better plan?" It was crazy. Even if that lab was abandoned, there would not be anything of value left behind. The A.D.S.S.F. was efficient in that aspect. This plan also had a significant flaw. "If we did manage to capture one agent alive and bring it back to my apartment...the agent's own distress beacons will lead the A.D.S.S.F. directly to us. "Also, that agent will have to be of a high rank. You know yourself, BWS-1, that soliders are told almost next to nothing. The agent will have to be at least a squad leader...which are one of the most deeply in communication with headquarters. If the squad leader falls, the A.D.S.S.F. will know instantly, again bringing them on our heads." I sighed. This was going in circles...but what other option did we have? "Still...this is most likely the only choice we have. But there has to be changes to this plan. We will have to engage the agents and deactivate them immediately. There will be no bringing back a live agent. At the most, I can strip his components down to the core to bring back with us. That's all we need anyway. We can replace it with the dead core of the "dummy," so when the A.D.S.S.F. comes to collect the remains its agents, nothing will seem amiss." The structure of the plan was not hard to construct. I was used to doing this kind of thing before. I had no remorse about killing A.D.S.S.F. agents; they entered into that organization with their eyes open. Death was expected. Cannabalism of parts, second nature. Still...the coldness in my voice was unnerving. "If enough of the agent's grid is usable, we can use it to hack into one of the lobes of the A.D.S.S.F. mainframe...then we would have all the information we would need." I looked at the group before me. I hoped I would see them all again... "So, what of it? Willing to get started?"
Lara BlackHawk	Jessie looks to the rest of her family. "Still, one thing bothers me," she interjects, "With the abandoned mines having been adjascent to the ship that imprisoned Dark Falz, will that complex still be there? We sent that huge ship away last month, to save Dad, remember, Rhiana?" "Of course I remember," the younger FOmarl answers, "So there's still a chance that the mines may be gone, along with the ancient ship. All that's left of where the ship was, is a crater." Lara interjects in the conversation. "However, I don't want us all going into this without some more research," the elder HUnewearl explains, "Severence, please keep in touch while on this quest. We'll be looking more into the behind the scenes of the A.D.S.S.F. by the means of the old military database. Maybe they'll have something. If you need help, though, be sure to call us, ok?"
Lara BlackHawk	Galveris looks to his comrades. "This A.D.S.S.F served as an assassin squad, right?" the huge HUcast asks "That's what BWS explained," Maya answered her friend, "Why? Is something on your AI grid?" "Just a thought is all," Galveris adds, "If they served as assassins, then who would have had the most hits ordered on him in the past 15 years since we landed?" "That could be a good number of people," Rhiana explains, "Anyone from Prof. Mome to Dr. Montague, to Governor Tyrell could have been a target in the past 15 years. Prof. Mome is dead, and the only reason I could think of them targetting Montague would be for yours and Katmando's schematics." "Then Tyrell would be the most likely candidate for an A.D.S.S.F. hit," Mike thinks out loud, "But he's got a HUcast and RAcast security team that's about as advanced as they come. Every time a new upgrade comes along, the Governor's guard droids are first on the list for installation. It's worth looking into, though. Severence, BWS, Mortimer, we'll go talk to Tyrell about that possibility, then if you need us, give us a call, and we'll catch a telepipe in." "But why would Tyrell be a possible target for a hit by the A.D.S.S.F.?" Jessica wonders, "He's not very attached to the military. Although many may not agree with the decisions he's made over the last 15 years regarding the possibility of survivors from Pioneer 1, his approval rating is still way above 80% after all this time." "I have no idea, Jessie," Lara tells her eldest daughter, "But I'll bet we can find out really easily." With that, the BlackHawks leave a BEE uplink with Severence and head out toward Governor Tyrell's office, to gather as much information as they can from him.
Mortimer Kirk	The room seem so emplty now, and seemed kind of wierd just hanging out with two androids. I got to grow up. Like it or not these two were my partners. There was a short and odd silence in the room. I decided to brake it. "Wish I was getting paid," I said moving towards the door, "but still, I guess stopping chaos is a good enough reason all the same. "After I get some more battle gear I'll meet you two at the old entrence of the mines. Make sure not to start without me." I walked out the door and summoned a Ryuku to teleport me back to my appartent. I hardly used techs, mostly because I wasn't good at them. All I could basicly was a Ryuku back to my appartment (if I tried anywhere else I would end up who knows where,) a poor foie and at times, if I'm having a good day I can get away with a Gizonde. I was convinced during my training days with Blaze that I preformed a Resta, but he just said it was an adrenalin rush. I got some monney from my appartment and left to go to the check room at my section. I didn't have much but I knew what I wanted. The perfect thing for this mission, an Anti-Android rifle. A nice weapon who only Ramars could use properly. This would be my main weapon but I needed more. I also brought the mechguns I usualy carry around, a Varista, and a Double Saber. I hardly used the Double Saber but I thought that I might need it this time. I was surpired to find only 1000 mesta in the bank. I only took 300 of it to upgrade my rifle. The rest I needed to save. "Moo2u! Hey it's Moo2u!" I looked around to see a familier face. It was Jeno, a worker at the Hunter's Guild who I got to know personaly. "Hey," I said with a smile, "What's up with you?" "You're up!" she said. "Excuse me?" I reponded. "We finally got a mission for you! Some rich snob lost his daughter in the forest. He's paying 50 000 mesta for her return. And guess who was first on the list? YOU! And best of all this is an easy quest! After all, you been out there alot, you must know the forest like the bak of your hand!" A quest? For me? 50 000 mesta?!? This was the brake I've benn waiting for! Finaly I get to make some monney, but what about the A.D.S.S.F.? I've been with them too must now. But on the over hand, it's 50 000 mesta! But the A.D.S.S.F. could cause sirious damage. But on the other hand...50 00 MESTA! I let out a sigh, "I'm sorry but you're going to have to get another person," I said and walked away. 50 000 mesta...I just walked away from 50 000 mesta and somehow...I feal like a million mesta. I was doing the right thing. The two "killer robots" were my friends and I couldn't let them down. Not for all the monney in the world.
BWS-1	"I know we'll have to take control of a high rank officer, but that shouldn't cause us trouble, we know how to kill and that, before they can even send distress signals. *quick stare at Secerance I am just a lil worried about the others ..." "o, all the operations will be done in the labs, that will be safer. but since their are chances tht the original mines are gone, we'll probably have to dig our way in. That shouldn't be much of a problem, I have a modified Drill Laucher in the bank that I haven't used in ages. The tunnel shouldn't be more then 100 feet long, after that we'll need to force the security doors of the lab. What we will do in the lab can be resumed in the fallowing tasks: 1.Bring all the parts that can be used to create a dummy there. 2.Assemble the dummy with the detectors in. 3.Place the dummy at 30 feet away from the entrence of the lab, outside. 4.Block the entrence of the lab from the outside so the A.D.S.S.F. will never know of it's existence. 5.Strategicly positionate ourself into position preferably in the scrap metal so they can't detect us. 6.Activate the dummy's detectors. 7.Wait and expect a team of 3 to 5 units to arrive ... wish for 3, but be prepared for 6. 8.When they arrive, we neutralized all the opposing squad in th fallowing order (squad leader, scout, soldiers) It would be preferable to shoot down the scout and the leader at the same time, the soldiers have comlinks with the leader and low frequency communication with the HQ. But the leader has direct transmission with the HQ, so does the scout. If you want my opinion, I'd tell you we should all kill them at the same time. A quick, effective, accurate, brutal assault on te ennemy is required here. 9.After we have secured the area again, we re-enter the lab and infiltrate the leader's grid. Get the info. Ge out. Shut him down for good. Then. we can all come back to analize what we found. "The problem is, how long will we have to wait? us androids won't have any trouble hidding for 2000 beats in the scrap, but humans and Newmens might have a hard time holding that long I expect a maximum of 500 beats to wait but, who knows? we can't predict anything here" "Now, tell me, have I forgot to mention anything important?"
Severence 7	I uploaded the BEE link into my system, to allow for instant contact with the BlackHawks if necessary. I wished them well on their quest. "Now, tell me, have I forgot to mention anything important?" "I don't think you've missed any of the points. Once Mortimer comes back here, we'll see what his perspective is on the plan. I doubt he'll want to sit in a scrap metal heap for 2000 beats," I replied. I walked to the storage room and touched the sensor pad on the door to open it. I carried out a large, sealed metal container, placing it on the floor beside the couch, then locked storage room door securely behind me. "Here are the parts I couldn't salvage when I repaired you, BWS-1. There should be enough to make a dummy, though all we would really need are the locator beacons," I said, gesturing to the box, "You can look for yourself, if you'd like to see the amount of damage that had been done to you. It's pretty interesting to look at your own damaged components, once you get used to it, heh." I looked out the window, vaguely surprised at the sunlight still streaming into the apartment. It was late afternoon...the reunion at the Hunter Memorial seemed ages ago. "While we're waiting, I might as well to tend to my plants for a bit. I have a feeling I won't be able to take care of them much in the near future," I said. I made a sweeping motion around the apartment. "Make yourself at home. There's an entertainment unit or books you can jack into, or feel free to try out anything you might find around the place. Drinks are in the refrigerator." I opened the door to the plant room and stood for a moment, taking in the sight of the greenness around me. I had built many shelves into the wall and on the floor, each covered with as many potted plants as they could handle. I was lucky in having a corner apartment, so there always was sunlight available for my plants. I kept the door open a little, in case BWS-1 need to call me for something, and picked up a pair of small hand shears. I started trimming, noticing that some have started to flower, the greenness around me sparking with blooms of scarlet and white. I never found out exactly why I liked plants so much. I always suspected it had something to do with my creator, who also loved her plants. She had built me in her own image, and "improved" various traits of her personality within me. Perhaps this was one of her "improvements." No matter the origin, I find myself at peace within my little garden. It is the only place, these days. Taking the time to take care of things that strive only to exist...it allows me to take my own "meaningful" life into perspective. It is my sanctuary. There is no place for the past here.
BWS-1	The Blackhawk family gone to do researches on their onw about the A.D.S.S.F., Mortimer out. Only Severance 7, me ... and Ciel 5 is left in the appartment. I'm worried about ... the 3 of us. After all, we were all members of the A.D.S.S.F., if the Blackhawk talks about us to Tyrell, we could face capital punishment. "Here are the parts I couldn't salvage when I repaired you, BWS-1. There should be enough to make a dummy, though all we would really need are the locator beacons" "Without the locator beacons, the dummy will be seen as a pile of useless metal. All we need is one of those gadget to make them come to us." Holy Pilla, that agent was totally determined to rip every single part of my armor off. "Just look at the damage taken by my chest ... and my head O_O" "When I have such discusting visions like that, I say to myself: it takes more then a beast to do that, it takes an android ..." I give an other stare at the pile of junk that used to be my body and murmurs: "Sometime I'm wondering if us, androids, aren't more primitive then our creators ..." "While we're waiting, I might as well to tend to my plants for a bit", she said, as if she did not hear what I just said ... witch would be a good thing I guess. "I'll see if I can start to assemble a few parts together, so once in the lab, all we'll have to do is link completed parts, mind if I borrow you some tools?", I asked, awkwardly. As I start digging into the remains of my corpse ... I could see her in her "secret garden". The door was left open so I could see her digging too, not into lifeless peices of scrap metal, but into healtful ground. She was giving life the chance to live an other day, I was planing death to others that don't even have a life. Yet, both of us are the same kind ... Maybe it's just me ... I may be just one android like many others, just a killing machine like the Ranger likes to call us. ._. Knelt into my old corpse, assuming that all that was lying around was still somewhat, "me". A fried back-up battery in the left hand and the half of my armor chest in the other, I was staring at her. I was amazed, fascinated and charmed to see her there. She seemed at peace within herself. Maybe it's because Ciel 5 is no longer bothering her, and because of the wonderful visual effect the sunlight of the sunset brought to the little room ... naaaa, in any cases, I envy her for what she is, or what she became with time. My wish would be to become like her, one day, maybe, she'll teach me too, teach me how to "live". Ya well, amasing or not, it gets boring with time. it's more interesting to play into a dead droid's corpse, isn't it? Ack, still listenning to all of my thoughts. I answered him while looking at Sev: "Why don't you leave me alone for ...." I'll have to get used to answering him in my core, not loudly like that >_<. Did she hear me? uh-oh, ok, hmmm quickly turns back to the pile of peices picks the battery, tries to connect it to what apparently was a left arm. Phew, better get to work, the Ranger should arrive by any minute now. "Are you sure the Ranger will be safe with us? Well, with Ciel 5. Ciel seem to be more quiet ... does such attitude means something? I mean, after the enconter with the 2 other androids and after we all saw the weird sickness of the ranger, Ciel didn't come back to distract me ... well, he did a few beats ago but, it was definetly not about the mission."
Severence 7	I was finished tending my plants. They all seemed healthy, and able to withstand at least a good week without watering. As I washed my hands in the small sink by the door, I noticed that there was a long, blue hair tangled between the bases of the fingers of my left hand. It had become very twisted; I would need scissors to get it off. Now where did I just put those- "Why don't you leave me alone for ...." "Hmm?" I looked up to see BWS-1 bent over his "corpse," apparently hard at work at assembling it. I watched him as he tried to attach a battery to the remains of a left arm. I remembered the day I first brought him in, nearly sliced in two from that A.D.S.S.F. soldier's attack. Those two black hucasts...so willing to prove themselves worthy...willing enough to hunt down and destroy their former squad leader without a second thought. Shaking my head, I turned back to the sink, finishing washing up. I played back the words that BWS-1 had murmured before I started to tend my plants. I hadn't responded, not knowing if he was talking to me or not. "Sometime I'm wondering if us, androids, aren't more primitive then our creators ..." From what I've learned about humans, many believe in a religion in which a god copied humans in its own image, though the end result was heavily data degraded and imperfect. Then humans in turn create androids, based off their own structure. Though there are always "improvements," perhaps in the end, we androids will always be forced to subjected to the problems of being borne of something that was imperfect in the first place. It's almost funny, when you think about it. BWS-1's voice snapped me out of my reverie. How long was I standing there, water running over my hands and lost in thought? "Are you sure the Ranger will be safe with us? Well, with Ciel 5. Ciel seem to be more quiet ... does such attitude means something? I mean, after the enconter with the 2 other androids and after we all saw the weird sickness of the ranger, Ciel didn't come back to distract me ... well, he did a few beats ago but, it was definetly not about the mission." I dried my hands and took a seat across from BWS-1, sliding out the toolbox I kept under the couch. I handed him a few tools, mulling the question over. "Hmm...perhaps Ciel knows that he can't get what he wants by fighting with you. He's quite able to see reason, and I think this time, he isn't letting his pride get in the way. He seems to want to complete this last mission for some reason, after all this time...and now, since we are heading in that direction, he is willing to work with us. "As for the ranger, he shouldn't be in any danger from Ciel. He's a compatriot, and Ciel will respect that. Despite how he acts sometimes, he is a very honorable person. Also, you and I are here to keep him in check, just in case. "Ciel will grow to respect you in time. Until then, I trust you will keep your grid image as strong as possible."
Zinackst	It is possible to notice that the strand of blue hair somehow tied its way onto Severance 7's left forearm.
Mortimer Kirk	I made my way back to the appartment in good time I thoguht. I was now quite content with my desicion. I would be doing something great for everyone, the kind of thing I wanted to do. Maybe I'd get in the paper for it! Nah, I was getting ahead of myself. I bet no one would even know the great things we could do, and besides, publisaty isn't all that important. "The lone human is back!" I said as I walked into the room not seeing the android parts on the ground, "So what are we...owf!" I sudden trip to the floor noticfied me of there existence. "Hey," I asked as I pick myself up, "who left all this junk on the floor...I mean parts...I meen...is thins junk? Is this the stuff we're going to build a dummy out of?"
Lara BlackHawk	The first place the BlackHawks go to, is to cash in an old favor from a friend in the military. Capt. James Morgan, a former hunter, who turned soldier after Falz, happened to become the chief of intelligence in just a matter of a couple of years, following his joining the army. "You do realize you're asking about an organization that was as shadowy as the military's most secretive of black ops," Morgan tells the Mike, as his family watches on, "I could really get in trouble if I let anyone see this information." "I know," Mike answers, "But according to our sources, they're on the move again, and we're out to find out all we can before attempting to stop them." "All right," The soldier responds, "But just make sure you turn off the database computer after you're through." Mike turns on the computer as the rest of his family watches over his shoulder. The information regarding the A.D.S.S.F. finally shows up on the screen. "What's this?" Lara asks, pointing to a side note on the file, "It looks like the old A.S.S.F. has a few jobs listed in the government database. Check it out, honey." Mike clicks on the appropriate links and more info shows up. The family turns white as a ghost as a video clip of a military surveillance camera shows the utter destruction of a military compound by a group of black androids. The chief of the compound is wearing a strange insignia on his uniform. "Wait, Dad," Jessica tells her father, "Pause the clip there, and zoom in on that logo on that guy's shirt." Mike zooms in on the logo. "I thought so," The younger HUnewearl thinks out loud, "I know a ranger with that same logo on his uniform. I've been on a couple of quests with him as a partner. He just calls himself Silencer. "Wait a minute, Jessie," Rhiana remarks, "There's a note in the database here regarding a 'Silencer Project' under black ops. Could be related. It says that the government contracted an outside organization to destroy the Silencer compound." "OK, now we have something to ask Tyrell about," Galveris adds, "If the government had contracted the A.D.S.S.F on a few occasions, then that may be the reason that there have been hits ordered on Tyrell." The BlackHawks shut down the database uplink and head out of the military base, toward Tyrell's office, seeking more answers.
BWS-1	"...Is this the stuff we're going to build a dummy out of?" The ranger as returned, I guess we are now almost ready to go. Hmmm, let see, the chest and the head will be one big part, I got something that looks like a left arm here. As I continued checking at my parts I answered the ranger: "Exactly, all I need to do now is re-make a left leg with the remaining pieces." "Once I finish this "leg" and get my Drill, we'll be ready to go." -4 beats later- "ok, Mortimer, what do you prefer, the leg or the arm? I'll keep the chest and head, it's the heaviest part and I'll think it's better that way. So if Ciel 5 wants to come back and intervene, he'll have at least more trouble then without any extra weight." We are about to go for it ... one last thing now. My Drill and we are outa here. "I'll do a quick run to the bank, getting my Drill out then we can start with the operation. Say, Severance 7, do you have 3 medium packs? We can't just go out with those parts, we'll probably be fallowed or get into trouble. And we can't fill our inventory with such parts" "We can all head for the bank and once there, Drill equiped, we'll be able to teleport nearby what was the areaM02.05412.7. I have special pipes that should send us there. Those are gadgets I invented after beats and beats of researches, I could sell the idea but, I'll keep it for me, I have 2 of those special pipes left. we'll go in the backstreet of the old Oran sectaor to activate it. It's the best place for better result. I can't predict where it could send us if we activat it from an other position." "Those are the only pipes capable of sending us from P2 to ragol without a host pipe on ragol. It's a one way, you get in, but you can't take it back. and to deactivate it, I have to wait till everyone is down. I do it remotly" I bought lot of times during some solo missions with that ... that's probably why I got that high in the A.D.S.S.F. ... I "cheated" who cares, we're about to bring em down ... but THAT , that'll take time. Patience BWS-1 ... this is nothing but the begining of a long journey.
Severance 7	Posted: 2001-12-30 22:31 "I'll do a quick run to the bank, getting my Drill out then we can start with the operation. Say, Severance 7, do you have 3 medium packs? We can't just go out with those parts, we'll probably be fallowed or get into trouble. And we can't fill our inventory with such parts" I nodded, and opened the storage room again, fishing out three, rather beaten-up, travel packs. I handed one each to the others. "We can all head for the bank and once there, Drill equiped, we'll be able to teleport nearby what was the areaM02.05412.7. I have special pipes that should send us there. Those are gadgets I invented after beats and beats of researches, I could sell the idea but, I'll keep it for me, I have 2 of those special pipes left. we'll go in the backstreet of the old Oran sectaor to activate it. It's the best place for better result. I can't predict where it could send us if we activat it from an other position." "Those are the only pipes capable of sending us from P2 to ragol without a host pipe on ragol. It's a one way, you get in, but you can't take it back. and to deactivate it, I have to wait till everyone is down. I do it remotly" I didn't like the idea of those one-way pipes...something about them didn't sit right with me. But what other choice did we have? Also...though I only knew BWS-1's name for mere hours, I felt that I could trust him to transport us to the right place. After all, we were both after the same goal now, right? I didn't need to go the bank myself, since I stored what I had in my apartment. However, I decided to accompany the two others, in case they needed help in carrying extra items. Besides, I liked to travel light...I only carried a handgun and shotgun as a rule. "Sounds like a plan. Let's get started...unless there is something you want to add, Mortimer?"
Lara BlackHawk	The BlackHawks had not gotten but a few yards away from the military compound where they had learned of the extermination squad sent into the Silencer base by the A.D.S.S.F having been ordered by the government, when Jessica stops in her tracks. "Dad, Mom, wait a minute," the younger HUnewearl tells her parents, "I think I have an idea. If we're going to ask about the Silencer program, I think it best if we talk to the RAmar friend of mine about the program itself. There had to have been a reason that the government would order a blanket extermination of the whole program." "Jessie has a valid point," Rhiana points out, "I think we need to know everything before we go into Tyrell's office and start asking questions." "Where does he live," Lara asks her daughter. "In Greennill sector," Jessica answers, "Not far from here, by my estimation. We can make it there in no time." With that information, Jessica leads her family into Greennill sector, to an apartment complex, and a miniscule apartment with the name Silencer written on the door panel. Jessica knocks and a scarlet clad RAmar opens the door, motioning for the BlackHawks to enter. "What brings you all here?"the ranger asks, not one for smalltalk,"You can't be on another quest and need help, if you're all here." "Actually, Silencer," Jess tells her associate, "We're here to ask you about the Silencer program. You know I hate to pry, but we think that the A.D.S.S.F. is on the move again, and we found out that they were responsible for the blanket extermination of the entire Silencer project." "Since you're the only other hunter in the guild I trust, Jessica, I'll tell you everything, on one condition," Silencer responds, "You take me with you on this excursion." Lara looks to Silencer and nods, "Then you are welcome to join us," she says. Silencer bows his head and begins to explain about the day of the A.D.S.S.F. attack on the Silencer compound. ----------- It had been in the 15th year of his life that he was sitting again in one of the many sensory deprivation chambers of the Silencer compound. The complete darkness enshrouding him, as the Silencer motto of "No Pity, No Mercy, No Remorse" rang through the entire room. He had gotten used to sitting in these rooms for hours on end after P.T., and had started to dozing off, when an alarm klaxon sounded. The dark room suddenly became red as the "Code Red" alarm sounded, meaning battle stations for the active military personnel in the compound. The door to his chamber had been thrown open automatically, allowing him to escape. Many of the other children in the project, who were going through their own "mental preparation", had taken this chance to escape, and he joined them in making their break from this hellish nightmare. Peering around a corner, Silencer 7395 spotted a group of black HUcasts carrying mechguns. The lead android had taken the commander's executive officer, a mere Leiutenant, captive and was holing him up by the neck. He then raised one of his mechs to the man's chest and pulled the trigger. The children took their chance to make their escape while the androids finished off the rest of the soldiers. They made it to a hill overlooking the compound, as the base exploded in a brilliant flash of fire. ---------- "After all that, you probably know the rest. Most of the other escapees didn't turn out as well as I did," Silencer explains, "They either wound up homicidal maniacs, and killed by hunters, or are sitting in Falzian asylum right now, unable to be set loose in society because they'll wind up hurting themselves and others." Mike extends his hand to the RAmar, "Well, then, Silencer, you've done your part, now we'll live up to our end. You are welcome to join us." "Thank you," the ranger answers, shaking Mike's hand, then grabbing his own anti-android rifle, and Ano rifle, "I won't let you down." "I can attest to that," Jess chimes in, "Welcome aboard." The diminuative HUnewearl gives her comrade a smile, before turning to head right for Tyrell's office.
Mortimer Kirk	"Sounds like a plan. Let's get started...unless there is something you want to add, Mortimer?" "Nothing that's worth saying," I replied, "Now let's get the drill and move to the mines quickly. I don't like the idea of the 2nd bot inside BWS-1. We don't know what he's planing inside that silver head. It's like a time bomb that we have no idea when it'll go off!" I gave a little chuckle, "I guess I did have somthing to add! Come on, that's enough talk. I can Ryuku to the Oran sector...I think..." Giving a small burst of energy I created a nice red telepipe, "this plan better work," I said as I telepiped out.
Severance 7	After the ranger disappeared into the telepipe, I quickly checked over my things and carefully placed the remains of an arm and a leg into my pack. The apartment itself was self-securing; all doors will lock automatically once I leave it. I decided to keep my handgun within the pack, and conceal my shotgun within a specially made case. Three obviously armed hunters walking around would attract too much attention...and the old Oran Sector was not a place one wanted to be noticed. BWS-1's orotiagito stayed secured within the apartment, in case Ciel decided to make an appearance. However, I didn't like leaving the android unarmed, (that drill would make a clumsy weapon), so I packed an extra, specially modified handgun to give him later on, if he needed it. "Let's meet at the nearest bank at wherever in Oran Sector that ranger piped to. I have a feeling it wasn't the place where you were thinking of...unless the human had a giant dose of luck." I nodded to BWS-1, then stepped into the telepipe, feeling the familar tingle of the energy field as it enveloped my body. The world seemed to fade into to a blaze of red energy, though I knew it was I who was fading. Suddenly, my left arm was stricken with what I could only describe as excruciating pain. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced before...especially since I lacked the sensors to feel such a thing. //ALERT! TELEPIPE FIELD INTERFERENCE!! ---STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY COMPROMISED!! ---DIAGNOSTIC...FAILED. UNABLE TO COMPLY. ---DAMAGE...UNKNOWN. ---STATUS? ---UNABLE TO COMPLY.// What...what's going on?! The telepipe finally let me go, leaving me to collapse with a crash onto the pavement, clutching my left arm. The pain was gone as suddenly as it came. //DIAGNOSTIC INITIALLIZED... ---ALL SYSTEMS OPTIMAL.// Slowly, I pushed myself up into a sitting position, and inspected my arm critically. Nothing seemed out of place from the outside; even that blue hair that was tangled around the bases of my fingers was gone. Then, I activated the Sinow blade upgrade I had installed into my forearms, opening the left arm up for a look inside. There, twisted securely around the base of the photon blade generator was a fine strand of light blue hair. It must have been causing a jam within the mechanism, and the source of the "pain" I had felt. How it got into there, I had no idea...perhaps it had worked its way into an access panel seam. I activated the generator, and was relieved at the deep red photon blade that appeared. It was working normally, even with the hair entangled in the mechanism. I didn't have my tools to remove the hair, so I closed my arm back up. It still worked, so that was all that mattered for now. I made my way to the nearest Oran Sector bank and waited for the others. I decided not to tell them of what happened in the telepipe. There were more important things to be done.
Lara BlackHawk	The BlackHawk family and Silencer had just made it to the governmental district, and noticed several transports around the governor's office building. "I wonder what that is all about?" Jessica asks her family, "Notice all those police transports?" "More than the usual guard detail, that much is apparent," Mike tells his daughter, "I'm guessing that there was another hit attempted on Tyrell." "Let's find out," Lara advises the group,"You know the military and the police are equal in incompetance." The family heads into the office building, using their influence as Hunters to get past the guards. When they reach the office of Governor Tyrell, they see a body leaning over the desk, dead. It looks like Tyrell. Scattered around is the remains of the governor's security droids. Hiding under her desk, is Tyrell's secretary, Irene. She hears the voices of Mike and Lara talking amongst themselves and finally comes out from her hiding place. "You're a little too late," she tells the hunters, "A group of black HUcasts, and a scarlet RAcast were here just a few minutes ago. They destroyed the security droids with little trouble, and then killed the governor. The military is taking over the investigation." "I doubt they'll find anything," Maya responds to Irene, "They're just as incompetant as ever. Besides, How often have the hunters of this colony let the people down?" Galveris has already wandered behind the governor's desk and spotted a red blinking switch. He scans the system with his internal scanners and then flips the switch, revealing a hidden elevator behind the back wall. "Something you want to tell us, Irene?" Irene looks shocked, then lowers her head, "Back when we landed, the assassination squads started coming," she explains, "In order to have the utmost security around the governor, this bunker was created under the government building. The legislature and governor both stay in there, unless they need to make an appearance. It's for their protection." "So what's with the body double?" Jessica asks. "That is a clone," Irene continues explaining,"created by Professors Mome and Carter, for no other reason, but to act as a shield and keep any assassins from finding the bunker. So far, it's worked." "We're going down there," Rhiana says, walking past Irene and toward the elevator, "We need to talk to Tyrell." The BlackHawks and Silencer take the elevator down to the bunker and walk right into Tyrell's nerve center, where he watches everything. "I should never have supported that group," the Governor fumes, not knowing that his words are being heard by the family of hunters. "So the government supported the A.D.S.S.F.?" Lara asks, surprising Tyrell, "What all did the government contract them to do?" "Back in the old days," Tyrell says, "The A.S.S.F. was a very useful rescue team. We used them to take on some very difficult search and rescue missions on different continents on our old homeworld. When the Pioneer project started, the military started what was called the Silencer Project. This project would mentally program a child from birth and through childhood to be a perfect killing machine. They thought this would lessen the need for hunters when we were exploring Ragol, prior to landing. When I learned how they were training these kids, I also learned that the A.S.S.F. had become the A.D.S.S.F., an elite group of android soldiers and assassins. I contracted them to destroy the Silencer project. After that, under executive order 15997, all governmental support of the A.D.S.S.F. was cut off, including a supplement to their finances coming from the military budget." "What do you know of their master?" Mike asks. "Not a lot," Tyrell explains, "Everything about him, and a lot of information regarding their location was shrouded in mystery. They moved like shadows." "Thank you, Governor," Jessica says as the family turns to leave the bunker, "We're on this case. Call off the military." "I will," the Governor answers, watching the BlackHawks leave, and turning back to his bay of monitors. Once outside, Galveris and Maya had been talking between themselves, and come to a startling conclusion. "Mike, wait," Maya says, stopping, "Irene mentioned a scarlet RAcast, right? You don't think that they got to THAT RAcast, do you?" "Only one way to find out," Lara tells them as the family heads to Dr. Montague's laboratory in Oran sector. What they find when they get there is the lab in a shambles & Elenor operating a regeneration tank, with the Doctor in it. "Elenor," Galveris starts, "What happened here?" "About 3 hours ago," the RAcaseal explains, "a group of 4 black HUcasts came in here. One of them grabbed the Doctor and held him up in the air. Then, another opened up Katmando, & loaded a program disk into his system. They then loaded his AI system, before activating Katmando." "Jessica, contact Severence," Lara tells her daughter,"Tell her to be on the lookout for a scarlet RAcast. Also, we need a transport to their location. This has gotten just a wee bit more difficult than we had once assumed." "Lara, wait," Elenor tells the Elder Hunewearl, "We've made several improvements to Katmando. He is 10 times more powerful and agile than he was when Stalker built him just last month. You'll need to short him out before you can deactivate him. The Doctor has been creating a weapon to do just that." She hands a beam weapon to Maya. "This weapon is called the Maser beam. It fires a blast of concentrated electriciity. That should short out Katmando, and any other android or mechanical enemy you come across." "Thanks, Elenor," Maya tells the other RAcaseal, "We'll put it to good use. You just take care of the doctor, ok?" "You bet," Elenor explains, as the BlackHawks head off to rendevous with their allies, while Jessica sends the message to Severence 7 through the BEE Uplink.
Severance 7	I leaned against the wall beside the Oran Sector bank, waiting. A few unsavory characters drifted back and forth, but a hard stare discouraged them from trying anything...for now, at least. The blonde woman at the counter stood stiffly at her post, a smile fixed on her face. She seemed identical to all the other women I've seen attending similar counters. It was a little unnerving, the way they stood there all the time. Perhaps they were clones...or maybe, even androids- //Receiving transmission... ---BEE uplink traced. ---Transmission complete.// "A scarlet RAcast?" I murmured, glancing about uneasily at the many dark alleys that surrounded the bank, "Typical Montague...he just can't resist playing with fire." I sent Jessica my coordinates. Hopefully, the Blackhawks would soon make an appearance. Suddenly, a photon blast shot from the darkness of a nearby alley, whistling past as it missed me by mere centimeters, slamming into the wall beside me. I jumped back, the wall buckling under the intense heat of the blast. The bank's anti-theft systems kicked in, thick metal shutters slamming down over every exposed surface. I caught a glimpse of the counter woman; she had not moved from her position. Her smile remained fixed. No help from there. I yanked my handgun out from my bag and shot back, my targeting system extrapolating the assailant's position from the angle of the inital shot. I threw down my things and strafed right, trying to find cover, though guessing from the power of the inital blast, anything less than a bunker would be pretty much useless. A volley of blasts answered my attack, this time from a completely different location. I dodged as best I could, hoping that my shielding was enough to protect me. The pavement around me was soon filled with smoking craters of varying size. 'There is a pattern...he's trying to keep me in the open-!!!' I reeled as a lucky shot caught me in the right shoulder, my shields buzzing as they tried to compensate, then shorting out in a shower of sparks, allowing half of the force of the blast to leak through, but thankfully, none of the heat. I shot back wildly, trying to regain my balance. 'Great...one blast and my shields go down. Perfect.' "Who the hell are you??!" I yelled, boosting my voice up a few decibels, "Why are you attacking me?!" I jumped back as another photon bullet answered my questions. Suddenly, a series of blasts from the back caught me by surprise, blowing off my legs from under me. I slammed backwards onto the broken pavement, spraying joint fluid. I could see the remains of my legs a meter away from me, twitching for a moment before going still. 'Preconceptions...why didn't I consider that there would more than one gunner? I must be getting soft.' I flipped myself onto my front and started to drag myself across the pavement, my armor grinding and screeching, leaving a trail of red as I made a futile effort to get away before my attackers could come to get me. A foot planted itself heavily into the middle of my back, pinning me in place. Seemingly melting from the darkness, four black HUcasts appeared, surrounding me, guns drawn. The foot lifted from my back, and hooked itself under the side of my chest, neatly flipping me over. I had guessed right...It was the red RAcast. "How have the times changed us both, Sev. I would never have known it was you from sight...but then, you probably wouldn't know me either," the RAcast said. That voice! "It can't be...I saw you destroyed!" I said, trying to pull myself upright. The four HUcasts quickly held my arms down. The red RAcast held up a small, black and red striped unit: a SKELETON KEY, an android remote control. It was a black market special. "Time to take you back into the fold." "NO!" I tried to struggle, but I was pinned tight. The RAcast stripped away the armor on the side of my neck, revealing a series of small unit ports. I could feel the unit burn into my neck as it initiallized...I think I screamed- All orders are to be followed. All orders are just and correct. I will not question, only follow. That is my one and only objective. "Sleep now, little one." Darkness.
Lara BlackHawk	Following the coordinates that Severence had given them, the BlackHawks and Silencer arrive too little too late to help their compatriot. "Did you see that, Mike?"Maya remarks, "That was Katmando. Apparently, the A.D.S.S.F. has used Katmando's body to restore one of their agents." "And BWS-1 and Mortimer are nowhere to be seen," Lara adds, "Jessie, can you track that uplink she has with yours?" "It'll be a tricky procedure, Mom, but I think so," Jessica answers, "But let's go along with BWS-1's idea first, to get a good idea of where they are, and what we're up against." With what they currently know, the BlackHawks and Silencer wait around for BWS-1 and Mortimer to be ready for action.
Mortimer Kirk	Oran wasn't far from the Redria sector, so I knew several people there. I thought I'd take a little spin around the block before BWS got his Drill Arm. "Are you alright?" I heard I guy say. "It only got my armor but what the hell where they trying to do?" Two humars were there. "What's going on?" I asked The one who was shot started to speek, "a...a racast...and a bunch of black hucast. I don't know how many...but there was alot..." "WHAT!?! Not here! Why!" it was clear that the two humars had no idea what was going on, but it didn't matter. All I know is that they were here, and quicker then I tought. A sound...gun fire! They were close! I took out my anti-android rifle and rushed ttowards where my telepipe landed. I was too late. The Blackhawk family were there but no one else. There was some kind of fluid on the ground. Sev...where was Sev...! "Where's Sev!" I asked, "Did BWS do this, or Ciel...AGH!" my cest acted up again, but I ddin't care, "Where is he. the no good murduring robot!" Then I found a unknown face in the crowd, it was another ramar. "You!" I yelled at him, "Are you responseble for this! Cause if you are..." I was loosing my head and I did something a good ranger sould never do. I lost control over my emotions and lashed out at the first person I see. I wasn't like me, and I didn't like it. I raised my rifle ready to shoot the ramar without reason...
BWS-1	"I'm telling you, I DO have an account here! Check back my ID, you'll see, I should have a Drill laucher, an old rusted katana agito 1983, an ungrinded VARISTA, a TWIN BRAN +2, a pair of Ice daggers +75 and about 200 000 meseta in that account." "Sorry sir, this card is not valid anymore, you can get an other one only if you fallow the ..." I didn't let her finish, ... stupid guild lady. Now, without a drill laucher, how the heck are we going to dig our way in? I've been arguing with her for like, 30 beats now. Mortimer and Severance will start to worry about ... why would they worry about me. Anyway, we can still do the plan, it'll just take a little longer for us to get to the entrence of the lab, that's all. Plus, 2 physicly in shape droids will can dig in scrap metal at a good rate. Heading toward the Oran sector, I activated the trackers I hid in the parts of my former body, I didn't tell Sev or Mortimer about those, I bought them a week ago and modified them a little. They were using a frequency that was known by no one else but me. Plus, it was not using normal transmissing process. I was transmitting, and it was receiving, so anyone that tries to detecting by actually transmitting on any frequency, will never be able to locate the parts. now I know, heyhey "yeah, now you know. Hope you'll use my memory at our advantage. don't screw the mission or else ... "uh? I'm standing only a few meters from where Severance was suppose to be but, I can't get any signature from her here. yet I do detect the trackers in the leg and arm. Ack!, what is she doing in the street? we said we'd meet here, in the backstreet, maybe she met Mortimer. I walked toward the street but noticed at my left, some sort of heat. I put my finger on the dark wall of the alley, the temperature of the center of what appeared to be a photon blast from a handgun of some sort was quick high. Something happened here a few beats ago ... I start running straigh to the street, it was not crowded but, of all the people there, I couldn't see Severance 7. I went right at the position of the trackers, and I saw nothing more the a back-pack lying on the ground behind a few barrels. It seemed to have been trown there. As if she wanted to get rid of it for some reason. But why!? Where is she now !? I deactivated the trackers. As I duck and inspect the pack on the ground, I saw more proof that could tell me their was a gun fight not too long ago. Some cratter here and there ... that's not good at all. This was REALLY embarassing. Not that fighting bare hand bothers me, but if I have to fight against more then one foe, that happens to have handguns ... god, I miss my Oroti. hmmm, she could have done some heavy damage with that shotgun. Too bad I can't use such a weapon. Everything must have happened fast. it's still in it's casing and her handgun is there. No wait, that's not her gun. Seems to be lightly modified. And I happen to be able to equip it, nice. Ok. I'll take that and pack the rest back in the bag. That's better then a fist afterall. I hid the gun behind me, and picked the secound bag, now all I wanted was to find Mortimer. Maybe he knows more, IF he wasn't with her when it all happened that is. I stood up and, at my suprise, I saw the Blackhawks with Mort... no wait, an other Ranger. They seemed to be looking for Sev too. With my righ arm, I tried to make them a sign so they could see me. I was quite encumbered with all that stuck, not that it was too heavy, but it was bothering me a little as I walked toward them. Good, they spoted me. "Hey, guys. Tell me you know where Sev is and that you were actually looking for me, weren't you?"
Lara BlackHawk	Galveris spots BWS in the crowd and motions to him. "No, BWS, we don't know where she is," the dark HUcast answers, "She was captured by Katmando, just a few moments ago. We just got here. Jessica's trying to track her using the BEE uplink." "Galveris," Jessie adds, "I wouldn't count on my being able to track her on this thing. It's proving trickier than we would have imagined, since I don't have her guild number." "Great," Mike thinks, "If I didn't know better, I'd swear that the A.D.S.S.F. was actually looking for her all these years. And Katmando being an advanced prototype makes this situation even more dangerous." "We'll manage," Silencer advises the HUmar swordsman, "There has to be a way to track down Severence. We have the maser beam to short out Katmando, and we should be more than able to deal with the rest of their forces with the people we have now." "I hope you're right, Silencer," Lara adds, "I sure hope you're right."
Mortimer Kirk	It seemed that BWS didn't know where Sev was eather and the new ramar was clean, but I still felt mad. I tryed to calm down but it seemed hard, "BWS-1! What the hell took you so long!" I let out a sigh, "Sorry. I guess this is equaly my fault too. I sould have been here, but I didn't think they would be here, looking for us! And now Sev who knows where! They could be doing anything to her. They could even be turning her into one of them again!" "Or maybe," I pused to think a while, "They only needed Sev. Why I don't know, but you think if they needed BWS or me they'd stay aroundto get us. I think they don't know are plan, not yet anyway." It was my time. I had to stop crying over the past, when the futur is what counts. I stood up straight and with a commanding voice I said, "We sould continue on our mission. As quickly as possible, incase they take a peek inside Sev's head and find out what's going on. We souldn't...no we can't afford to stay here for that long." It pained me to try and forget about Sev and onlly the task at hand, but I had a fealing that before this thing is all over I'd see her again.
Lara BlackHawk	Jessica puts away the BEE uplink. "Forget it," she says, frustrated, "Without her guild number I can't track her down with this thing." "And with that android on their side, they've got a powerful new ally," Rhiana reminds her sister. "BWS, do you think we can get into that lab with a standard drill launcher," Maya asks, "Because I happen to have one. I got it out of the bank on the way here. We had to pass through Skyly sector to get here." The RAcaseal shows the drill launcher to BWS and the group.
Mortimer Kirk	"Finally," I said as I took a glance at the drill launcher, "It seems a bit of good luck has hit us!"
Severance 7	//SYSTEM REINITIALLIZATION ATTEMPT #177.... --FAILED. --NEXT ATTEMPT IN 20 BEATS. --SYSTEM STATUS CONFIRMED: --AUDITORY SYSTEMS...ACTIVE. --ALL OTHER SYSTEMS...OFFLINE. --GRID LOCKOUT IN PLACE. --MAINTAINING AUDIO LOG...// <INTERNAL CLOCK SET AT 23:54> <<RECORDING...>> <1> It did it again. <2> Did what? <1> It just tried to reinitiallize its systems. Interesting...you would think that the SKELETON KEY unit would've prevented that. Must be some kind of hardwired circuit. Look, it's even keeping an audio log. <2> Then make it stop. It might break through! I don't want to be around when that happens. <1> Don't worry. After this many tries, if it still hasn't made any progress, it probably never will. Besides, we can't. Not until we can access its grid. Squad Leader BWS-1's last transmission was fifteen years ago, reporting visual contact with this android. It is possible it knows what happened to BWS-1, and that can help us catch him. Also, locked somewhere in that grid are files of a vital and sensitive nature. We need those files to get the A.D.S.S.F. back to its former power. It's a lucky break that Scion 1 spotted it on the way back to the base. It could just as well have missed Severance 7, if it hadn't been standing out in the open like that. <2> "Probably never will?" That doesn't sound good. Just hurry up and jack into its brain and be done with it. <1> It's not that simple. Right before Scion 1 installed the unit, it somehow locked out its grid. It has an impressive security upgrade, most likely black market stuff. It's all hardwired to make hacking impossible. There's no way we can get in. <2> Well, that SKELETON KEY isn't in there for nothing. Just order it to release the lock, then. <1> Don't you think we tried that already? The lock is password protected. The problem with the SKELETON KEY unit is that it renders an android a total slave, with no autonomous thought. <2> Ahh, so - <1> Yeah, you got it. Unless we order it to use the right password to unlock the grid, it cannot follow through on the order. But, we need the password in the first place, which is locked in the grid. A catch-22. <2> Then remove the unit, and try to reason with it, I guess. It was one of the leader's bodyguards, after all. <1> It has been out of the A.D.S.S.F. for a long time...I don't think it'll be that easy. And remember, our leader was killed while it was in the same room. Not a very effective bodyguard, eh? <2> Then why are we keeping this thing around then? The A.D.S.S.F. has done fine without those files, or BWS-1. Why not just scrap it? <1> That decision is out of our hands. The orders are coming from high up. Besides, it's suspected that BWS-1 is the carrier of Ciel 5, since Severance 7 doesn't have any sign of a second grid system. We need him, if only to recover another of the leader's former guard. Also, he is the last rogue agent out there. With him recovered, there will be no more risk to A.D.S.S.F. security. As for this android, we are to repair it and put it back into active duty. We'll try and break the password in the meantime. <2> But, it'll be nothing more than a mindless machine. With that KEY unit in, you practically have to babysit the thing. <1> Not necessarily. It has an advanced A.I. subsystem...it can handle most decisions on its own without directions from the main grid. Think of it like the way reflexes work in humans. All you really need to do is point it in the right direction, and with the correct orders, it will take care of itself quite well. And the grid lockout can be used to an advantage, you'll see. <2> All right then. Let's get started with the repairs. The only thing I'm thankful for is its decision to downgrade to a common RAcaseal type. Makes it all that much more easier to fix. <1> Yeah, I know. Now, to cut off the external power grid... <<RECORDING INTERRUPTED AT 24:23>>
Mortimer Kirk	"We've been digging for hours and it's almost like we've been getting no where!" It's been actualy 1hour and 16 miniuts since we started digging. I'm a very impationt guy, so it was a habit of me to see my watch from time to time. There wasn't much talk there, only work. I was getting a bit worn out and the mission hardly began. Maybe it was because of my injury, I don't know. "I'm gonna take a small brake," I said as I wandered over a bit of rock we got out. I poped the cap of some bottled water I brough with me and started to drink. BWS-1 was doing most of the work. He's been at the drill non stop. At times I wondered how he never got morn out like we, but then I'd always remember, he's a robot. Since he was the onnly one with the drill the rest of us used different weapons to dig threw the rock. Sabers and swords proved to be the most useful for this. As that moment I began to miss the good ol' days as it were. I began to miss my family and friens back home. Then I thought of that time in the forest with Zin. She gave up her life practicly to stop the fighting, and doing this wouldn't be what she wanted. But I guess I was too far into it now to stop. So I just got of my rock and went back to work.
BWS-1	"BWS, do you think we can get into that lab with a standard drill launcher" "Of course, it might just take us longer then I estimated ... I can be on the Drill for as long as we need to get to the lab's entrence." "Ok, I've got my pipe programmed and ready to be droped. I'll be the last to go down there. you guys take the pipe, and wait for me. If everything works as planned, you should arrive in a dark area, with a big 18 feet tall wall of scrap metal. It goes as deep as 23 feet in the ground. On the Ragol beat time, it's 020 . It's the middle of the night there so proceed causiously." I walked back into the dark alley and droped the invisible pipe. only androids could see it with it's low energy signature. I waved at the others to come and take it as soon as possible. I don't like to leave does pipe active for too long. Before going down the pipe, I opened the pack Severance had and took the shotgun out of it's casing discreetly and asked Maya: "Do you think you can equip this?" Then I turned to Galveris and gave him the pack with the arm and the leg. After one last look around to see if nobody saw us, we took the pipe. "We've been digging for hours and it's almost like we've been getting no where!" "Patience, Mortimer, I said trough the 20 feet deep tunnel that we dug, if we can just keep that 17 degree of angle while digging for about an other 30 feet, we should get right in front of the entrence." Then, I stoped the drill. I was looking around me and I was seeing that some of us here seemed to think all this was going no where. "Look people, now that we temporarily lost Severance 7 doesn't mean our mission is in vain. It might proove itself even more usefull to us. Problem is, now that they have her, they might know I'm still online. And that means that once the detectors activated in the dummy, they'll probably send more then just grunts. We'll probably have to confront some of the most skillful droids of the agency. The good thing is, the squad leader will probably have been in contact with Severance 7 and must know where she is. We can't give up, we must take that opportunity while we still can." "It's probably our only way to locate her". Drilling into the rusted metal, I felt every inch was bringing us closer and closer to the lab. I really needed to get there. ... But I keep forgething why ... to build the dummy? We could build it here. dig dig dig dig dig dig ... "No!!!!!!! " "Damn, Ciel almost got me. All, stop digging. Ciel was in my subconscious all that time, trying to convince me to lead us to the lab, but I'm sure it is a trap, after all, what he wants is to accomplish is last mission... to... Arggh !..." REVERCING CONTROL GRID ... CONTROL LOST ... GRID UNDER UNKNOWN CONTROL Ciel 5 head out of the tunnel and took the arm, the leg and the chest out of the bags. <BWS-1> what is that mission you want to complete anyway? "I have something someone might be having here." <Ciel5> you remember, back in the maintenance room, with our, well, my encounter with the 2 low leveled androids ... <BWS-1> yes??? you almost shred them to peices ... what is there to remember their? <Ciel5> hmmmph, nothing YOU can remember, that is, ha! While beeing in control of your grid, I could have easely deleted you, instead, I deleted the fragment where I did a lil scan ... <BWS-1> why !??? who or what did you scan ?? Ciel had already completed to assemble the dummy android. "Our little friend here, the ranger, Mortimer, was in a bad shape when I saw him in this room." Ciel starts to walk around in the tunnel, saying out loud to everyone his answer to my question. "When I put my hand on the RAcast's shoulder, I stared at Mortimer for a second, that was enough to perform a scan to see, just by curiosity, what could have affect him like that." Ciel picks up the remote to activate the trackers <BWS-1> wait? you can't program the trackers already, we are not ready to ambush the agents!!!* "I was surprise to see a familiar disk while doing the basic X-ray scan. At that point, nothing else mattered, I knew I was near my goal, all I needed was time." !!! TRACKERS ACTIVATED <BWS-1> now they'll send in a recon squad!!! dam you !!! give me back my core !!! " ... I f AilEd ... the mI ssion oN ce, tHa T is wh Y m AsTER diED , theIr a RE no Other vA lUAb le eXp lanATI on ! !! bu t nwo I wil l ave nge h is dea th by ... suc ceedin thi s missio... " "Aaaaaaarrrrggh!" knees and hands on the ground, I'm still shaking from what Ciel 5 managed to make me do. ._CORE CONTROL STABLELIZED_. ._ALL SYSTEM BACK TO NORMAL_. "We are in trouble ...", I said to myself ...
Lara BlackHawk	Upon activation of the trackers, the BlackHawks and Silencer brought their weapons to the ready. Mike reached in his own pack and pulled out some clips for a rifle. "Maya," he tells the smaller RAcaseal, "Here, put these in your Yasminkov. They're specially made for dealing with androids. They're laconium tipped and magnesium coated." He then handed the ammo to Maya. Maya loaded the shells into the rifle and brought it to her shoulder. Silencer followed suit, bringing up his Anti-Android rifle. The rest of the family assumed fighting posture, waiting for any sign of a squad from the A.D.S.S.F.
Mortimer Kirk	"Agh! Damn it!" I yelled pownding the grownd with my fists, "Ciel 5 mission! All along it was to get the disc!" I pulled out the disc to get a good look at it, "I was right...all thoughs years ago. All this trouble was because of this stupid disc! This was the reason why we were hunted down in the forest, the reason why I kept traviling around the universe as a kid and..." A short pause. I never thought of this before, "This is the reason two hunters are dead! Dabra and Zin died because of this disc! Just one little thing that causes so much pain and death! I should have destroyed it long ago!" I looked around seeing BWS-1. I saw a android who helped me before and who was as noble as any non-android hunter, of not much, but I also saw a bast inside him that could come out any time. I also saw the Blackhawks getting ready for an attack, and they were right. Everyone moment I spent was a moment I wasted. An army of killer androids were on their way and again I was wasting time on the past, when the futur is what I should worry about. "Everyone get ready," I said while getting my rifle out, "They'll be coming any miniut. We sould find a place to hide and when I give the signal we attack! Also make sure there is as least one person between me and BWS-1. Ciel 5 could come out any time and attack me." A photon bullet flew by my head, I had to move it just in time to live. "OH NO! They're here!!"
Lara BlackHawk	now surrounded by the minions of the A.D.S.S.F, the BlackHawks take a moment to size up thier opponents. Several of the black HUcasts were carrying mechguns, sabers or partisans. Strategy starts to come to Mike's mind right off hand, when 2 familiar faces are spotted in the crowd. One human, and one android. "What in the world?" the HUmar thinks, "I thought Stalker killed him fifteen years ago." He rests his hand on the hilt of the sword: Kamui, as he awaits the coming attack Lara eyes a group of HUcasts behind them. With her twin brand at the ready, she studies her opponents, remembering that she had made some special modifications to her weapon to make it especially useful against machines and androids. "Maya, Give me some cover fire," Galveris tells the smaller RAcaseal, "After I've engaged the enemy, unload on Katmando. Let Silencer use the maser beam to short him out. Then let Jessica finish the job, while you cover her." "Excellent idea, Galveris," Maya responds, "You understand that, Jessie? Also, Rhiana, keep us healed, and keep the support spells up. Also, if you can, weaken the enemy with Jellen, Zalure and Razonde." "I understand," Jessica tells her android aunt. "As do I," answers Rhiana, "Count on us." "Ok," Silencer thinks out loud, "I guess it's my job to short out Katmando, then. This should be fun." "Just don't get killed, ok?" Lara advises everyone, "Mortimer, back me up. BWS, help Galveris, Maya, Silencer and the kids. Mike can take care of himself. I think he knows that human in the squad." The BlackHawk family rushes into action. Lara attacks first, using an almost dance-like action to take down 4 of the HUcasts in one combo sweep. Silener & Maya lay down a volley of cover fire while Galveris and Jessica bring their weapons to bear on another group within the large A.D.S.S.F. attack squad. Rhiana uses her spells to keep everyone healthy, after using Shifta/Deband on the whole party, and Jellen/Zalure on the enemy. "How in the world can you still be alive?" Mike asks the mysterious human, "I thought I saw you killed by Shade Stalker 15 years ago, back in the ruins." "What you saw was a clone," the human responds, "so cleverly created of a clone that it even fooled Shino. She never was that bright anyway. Now, I'm with this group, and they're much better than you or your former sparring partner will ever be. Just show me what you've got." The mysterious human in the squad rushes at Mike, but the HUmar manages to avoid his sword attack, and rotates around in his dodge, to draw his sword and attack, using his rotation for extra force. This sends the man into the air. He dives at Mike, attempting a diving slash, but Mike responds with a rising uppercut attack. "You didn't think I'd realize who I was fighting," Mike tells the human A.D.S.S.F. fighter, "Did you, Master Zoke?"
Severance 7	<<AUDIO LOG RESUMED AT 03:34>> <1> There, finished. <2> Good. Didn't take as long as I thought it would. [EXTERNAL SOUND: DOOR] <3> Next shift checking in. What's with that weird white backpack thing? <1> That's the external battery pack. When this android locked out its grids, it locked ALL of them out, including power. <3> Ahh, I get it now. But wouldn't that be a big target? If that thing gets destroyed, it'll be helpless. <1> Can't be helped. Besides, I spent some extra time just checking out its specs. Anyone that can manage to shoot this android deserves to hit it. It can move like nothing I've seen before. It did an amazing job upgrading its systems over the years. <2> Yeah, it must've had all kinds of connections with the black market. There's stuff in there that even I've never seen before. <3> So, you all going to activate it or what? <1> Yeah, right now. Here goes... //EXTERNAL POWER SOURCE ACCEPTED. --ACCESSING MAIN GRID...FAILED. --A.I. SUBSYSTEM INITIALLIZED. --GRID LOCKOUT IN PLACE. --ALL SYSTEMS OPTIMAL.// "Awaiting orders." <3> Whoa, never expected that kind of voiceprint type! What is that, a contralto? <2> Kinda weird. Female android voices just don't do anything for me. <1> Heh, then why are you blushing like that? <2> Shut up. //VISUAL SYSTEMS ONLINE... --SCAN COMPLETE. --TYPE: HUMAN MALE (3) --WEAPON: N/A --THREAT: 0%// [ALERT: FACILITY ALARM SYSTEM ACTIVATED] <1> Dammit, what the hell is happening out there? <3> I'm checking the monitors...Looks like Zoke's Squad 01 is fighting with a bunch of people. Scion 1 is helping out. How the hell did they get into the lab? <2> Hmm...that white android, can that be who I think it is? <1> Possible...though might be too good to be true. Why would our most hunted droid just walk right into the lion's den? Anyway, I just contacted the leader...here's the orders for our little friend here Agent Severance 7, your primary objective is to capture that white android you see on the montior right there. You are allowed to use any method possible, just as long as you preserve his central core. Hell, blast off all of his arms and legs if you wish, just as long as that core is still functioning. Your secondary objective is to assist Zoke and Squad 01 in neutralizing the intruders. You are expected to use deadly force. However, this objective can be disregarded upon retrieval of the white android. However, if you are put at risk, all orders are to be aborted, and you are to return here. Also, if Scion 1 is disabled, you are to disregard all orders and assist him. Do you understand? "Yes." <1> Here are your weapons. Now get going. //INITIALLIZING SHOTGUN...COMPLETE. --INITIALLIZING HANDGUN...COMPLETE.// "Acknowledged." [ENTERING LAB, SECTOR 05] //ASSESSING SITUATION... --SCION 1 STATUS: OPTIMAL, ENGAGED WITH INTRUDERS. --SQUAD 01 STATUS: OPTIMAL, ENGAGED WITH INTRUDERS. --ZOKE STATUS: OPTIMAL, ENGAGED WITH INTRUDER. --VISUAL CONTACT WITH INTRUDERS: NONE. //SC8ANNING FOR TARGET... --TARGET ACQUIRED...ANDROID, HUCAST (WHITE) --TARGET LOCKED...ALL NONVITAL AREAS MARKED. --INITIALLIZING EVASIVE MANEUVERS. --ENGAGING TARGET IN COMBAT. --FIRING ON TARGET...//
Lara BlackHawk	Lara had already finished off 4 more of the black HUcasts and was sizing up the rest of the squad. Mike seemed to have his hands full with his master, Zoke, but Silencer, Galveris and her daughters were doing alright in taking care of business. Silencer was on the maser beam, firing on Katmando, covered by Maya with her Yasminkov, and Jessica using her Agito. Rhiana was a very useful part of this team, keeping support spells and healing up, while the others fought. Galveris' scythe was making sizable gashes in another team of the black androids. "Mom," Rhiana tells the elder HUnewearl,"I think you need to turn around here. We have a problem. It's Severence...she's here." Lara turned around, to see Severence 7. "There's something different about you," the hunter says to the android, "You just don't seem like you. At least not the Severence 7 I know, that is." Elsewhere, the battle between Mike and Zoke is going almost nowhere. their mastery of the Soaring Heaven style put them at stalemate. Both swordsmen put their swords back into the sheathes, resting their hands on the hilts. They then rushed each other for a final strike. The both drew at the exact same moment, blocking each other's succession strike, This causes a wind vortex to draw both swordsmen in toward the other as they both rotated around for another attack. Their swords met again in a brilliant flash of sparks. When the light faded, both Zoke's sword "Tsumikiri", and the legendary sword, Kamui, had shattered into pieces.
Mortimer Kirk	Ping! Swish! I ducked in cover nere the whole we made. It was a good place where I could snip easaly. It was kinda far, but I had a deadly aim. So far I didn't miss one, but it felt like I was. It seemed that every hit I made, the closer the hucast would get. Within time they would get to us. Dispite all our forces they would be to much for us. I needed to do something, and quick. Ziiiiiiing Another photon bullet heads my way. I put up my barier to block it just in time. The bullet faded in the wall of energy and I returned fire with another direct hit. Then I got another idea. "I'll be right back," I shouted over the cross-fire. I turned and slid down the hole we dug and found the drill launcher BWS-1 droped. I knew it was an weapon made for an android, but I thought that if I could direct the power of my barier and armor. I knew it would greatly decres my defences, but thing were getting tough and I didn't know how long we could hold them off. I found the wieres in the drill and hocked them up to some ports inside my barier. I havn't really done this before, but a friend said it was posible. I could hear the scuffle of battle from up the hole. I tried to ignor it and continue my work. "The moment of truth," I said as I turned on the drill. Sure enogh it started working. I started to drill on the wall. Maybe, if I had some luck, we could get threw before we're overwellmed. I wasn't going very far. The drill wasn't very fast. Still I hear the yells and scuffles on the battlefield and I knew I couldn't give up. There was still one thing that I could do. "Just....a little...more...there!" I could feal a great power flow threw me. I used Shifta for the first time. I had to use all my energy and I feal so week, but as the same time strong. The drill was moving downwards faster and faster. Almost like half a foot per second I needed to hold this Shifta, but it was so hard. For a second I was about to give up and colapse but luckaly the rock started to cave in below me and a hole to our destination was set. I ran, purly on adrenalen, up the hole. The androids were closer then ever. "Guys!" I shouted as I fire wildly, "I got threw to the underground base! We can go threw when worst comes to worst!" Then I stoped my fire. I looked to my left to see a familier face. "Sev you old piece of scrap metal!" I shouted, "You got free! I knew they couldn't keep you in there for long!" She didn't say a word. "Um Sev? Your altra-robot sencers, or whatever, may not be working properly so I'l tell you in case you havn't figured it out. We're fighting a war here!" Still nothing. "Sev? SEV!" I imeditly stoped fighting and quickly walked over to the android. I was getting worried. I put my arms on her sholders and started to shake her trying to snapher out of her out of this little trance she was going threw, "Sev! What's wrong with you?" Then I figured it out, "Oh no..." I said slowly, "Sev, don't tell me your...your...one of them again, are you?"
Severance 7	[UNIDENTIFIED VOICEPRINTS] "You just don't seem like you. At least not the Severence 7 I know, that is." "Sev, don't tell me your...your...one of them again, are you?" [ALERT: UNKNOWN INTERFERENCE] 121020945wsdhoqn-a gnaerno os hofoi sonlsko o5-5-9 jei4ij0j 94-2 9onbon- wej9934j- no =gs gn - NO podgs ==sdfs THIS asdnl WIlSL. gsWILL nOT akdlla;alks 3409j n 2 #% NO! 090s; MORTI3202154 LARAAAAA AA-35923 RUN ALK AWAY!1!! [CONTAINING GRID NOISE] --- ---- -----]]] ----]] ---]] --] -] //ALERT: TARGETS IN EXTREME PROXIMITY! --SCANNING...COMPLETE. --NEWMAN, FEMALE (1)/HUMAN, MALE (1) --COMBAT MODE ENGAGED. //CALCULATING EFFECTIVE VECTORS... --CRANIAL - INSTANTANEOUS DEATH --ALL OTHER VECTORS: INEFFECTIVE - PRESENCE OF RESTA DETECTED --AIMING: HUMAN, MALE. --AIMING: NEWMAN, FEMALE. //CHARGING WEAPON (HANDGUN)... --FI1330RING.G.A..4T34 --CHARGING WEAPON... --FIRI30340TJGNGNG... --UNKNOWN INTERFERENCE...UNABLE TO COMPLY. //SWITCHING TO PHYSICAL COMBAT... --HUMAN, MALE: THROWN, FORWARD LEFT ARM THRUST ---THROWN DISTANCE: 9.59 METERS ---NEW LOCATION: AGAINST LEFT QUADRANT WALL ---INJURY STATUS: UNAKLN0294 ---STATUS: ASNAOINGA-230512 ---STATUS: UNABLE TO COMPLY ---STATUS: UNKNOWN --NEWMAN, FEMALE: PUNCHED, RIGHT FIST TO LEFT OCULAR ORBIT ---THROWN DISTANCE: 2.65 METERS ---NEW LOCATION: ON FLOOR ---INJURY STATUS: UNCOAONO2-9352 ---STATUS: UNABLE TO COMPLY ---STATUS: UNKNOWN --UNKNOWN STATUS == NO MOVEMENT DETECTED IN TARGETS --TARGETS CONSIDERED NEUTRALIZED. //CONTINUING PRIMARY OBJECTIVE... ---ALERT: MASER BEAM ENERGY SIGNATURE DETECTED! ---AGENT SCION 1 AT RISK --DISREGARDING ALL OTHER OBJECTIVES... //APPROACHING...SCION 1 RETRIEVED. --RETREATING TO UPPER SECTOR... --RELEASING CONCUSSION MINES... ---BREACH IN LAB WALL SEALED BY DEBRIS. //RETREATING...//
Lara BlackHawk	after being thrown for over 2.5 yards, Lara got up to one knee. She still had her twinbrand in one hand, and luckily, her shield had absorbed the biggest part of Severence 7's attack, or she would be dead by now. She scanned the area, noting that Sev had taken Katmando out of the fight, and that there was still a standoff between Mike and Zoke, even though their swords had been shattered by their attacks. Now they were fighting hand to hand. "Just like him," she thinks to herself, then calls to her youngest daughter, "Rhiana, remember that spell you learned from that book of Mike's? Use it. It may be our only way out." "I understand Mom," Rhiana responds, "Everyone, gather around me and give me time to cast this spell." The rest of the family, and Silencer form a circle around Rhiana, fighting off the enemy as best as they can. Meanwhile, Rhiana concentrates all her power on this one last spell. "I hope this works," she thinks, then begins to chant a long forgotten spell of Algol, "Para...Nodoi..." Lightning begins to crackle around her, and over the A.D.S.S.F. forces as the spell starts to take effect. Rhiana then shoves her hands out in front of her as she finishes the spell. "TANDLE!" Enormous bolts of lightning shoot down from above the android attack force, causing a huge power surge through their entire systems. The androids fall, and Zoke retreats, as Rhiana falls to her knees, exhausted. "Uh, Rhiana," Jessica says, looking right at her younger sister, "Where in the world did you learn that spell?" "Oh," Rhiana answers, "From an old book we found in the attic. Dad had it stored away, for some odd reason. It was called Prophets of Motav. There were a bunch of old spells from old Algol in there."
Mortimer Kirk	"Ow my acking head..." that one last throw took out what was very little defence I had left in my armor. I knew I had to attack Sev, but I didn't want to. Maybe it was because of all the times she helped me. Eather way it didn't matter. I saw from the wall I was thrown at that Sev was retreating. Why? We didn't fire at her or anything. I got up just in time to see an amazing lightning spell by one of the Blackhawks. "Wow," I said, "Now that's impresive!" The androids fell to the ground, but it wasn't over yet. "Ok let's look at our situation. The androids here and knocked out but that won't be long. Eventualy some of the stronger ones will come back online. I also think that they'll be sending renforcments any time now. Sev is now officaly on of them. We can't trust her anymore, remember that. I've got our way into the mines but it's left my armor week, witch will be an advantage for Ciel 5's mission. Let's just hope BWS-1 can keep the metal tiger inside the metal cage." "But what can we do now?" I was stumped. What to do? Should we go into the mines or run back to the city? Or maybe that was another option. I turned to BWS-1. "What do you think we should do?"
BWS-1	Behind a pile of metal, at the entrence of the tunnel, I sat. The battle was ingaged already.I looked at the gun in my hand and if I smilled ironicly inside me. I have the accuracy of a blind ranger with a gun, having adapted all my combat targeting systems to saber-types of weapons but mostly hand-to-hand, it was quite useless for me even with the optionnal custumizations. ._PRIMARY CORE DEACTIVATION PROCEDURE: proceed to sleep mode? ... Y/N Y_. "Mortimer, back me up. BWS sSsss HEeel ..." ._SLEEP MODE: ACTIVE_. <BWS-1> Ciel, you have nothing to win in all this. You'll end up as a puppet if you get caught. <Ciel5> No sir, YOU'll be the puppet, and I'll probably be affected to your training, to RE-train you as a basic grunt. <BWS-1> Face it, the A.D.S.S.F. don't need you, you are considered dead, therefor, useless. <Ciel5> No!, shut up! you're wrong! I, at least, am loyal to Master. <BWS-1> Hummph, loyalty, my basic A.I. is based on honor, loyalty and justice. But when used to serve evil, those values are nothing. <Ciel5> You are the one that is nothing. <BWS-1> You're are not in control, I am. <Ciel5> RWAaaaaAaa !! ._SLEEPMODE: DEACTIVATING_. "I got threw to the underground base! We can go threw when worst comes to worst!" ._SLEEP MODE DISABLED_. WARNING, STATUS 80% online KNOWN SIGNATURE DETECTED ... ERROR ERROR SYSTEM CURRUPTED UNABLE TO IDENTIFY TARGET ... FRIENDLY OR ENEMY ERROR "Severance 7 ?" ... "Reformated" She seems to have me as her primary target, I never saw her stare at me like that. I don't think she's been ordered to bring me back in one piece. She's really serious in shooting me down! I roll to my right as she shoots a few rounds near my arms and I end up uncovered, almost in the middle of the battlefield. I look around, and see Lara in a bad shape on the ground, not to far from Severance. The androids of the agency didn't seem to pay attention to me, they even miss on purpose. Why were they here then? to eliminate the others? to complete Ciel 5's mission? or ... wow! shyt ... she's running away back in the tunnel with a droid, hmmm. that shot almost hit her while trying to save him, why is he so important? ._ANALISING ENEMY ANDROID: ... INTERUPTION! "Para..." ._WARNING: HIGH LVL OF ENERGY DETECTED NEAR PRIMARY CORE_. TARGETS AFFECTED: ANDROIDS SACRED GUARD PROTECTION: NONE SAFETY DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR MINIMUM DAMAGE TO CORE: 392 m "Nodoi..." Holy Idola, what on Ragol is that spell !?. I'm not even protected with my SACRED GUARD did they forget I'm an android too? or did they never try this spell before??? In the heat of the battle, they must have forgot I was an android, what irony. I can't stop them ... it'll slow us down, but at least, it'll make us win this fight. "It's gonna hurt ... that's now that'll I'll see how good my auto-maintenance system is ..." I put my right knee down and adopt a blocking stance, hoping to at least counter a certain amount of energy with the guard, charging it up as much as I could, transfering energy from my back-up battery to boost it, I could see it, the guard was overheating, I could see the guard with my eyes! I felt the interferences, already?!? ... I was shortcircuiting before the spell was even casted. I kept that position ... yet I knew it was in vain, but it was my only choice. _.SaC RED GUAD FAILURE-- ._ ENERG y lOse iMminant_. "Nooooooooo ...arrr" "TANDLE!" ._GGEEACMAL(**_. ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR _.(09**""NCE__ &GGGGG' . .. ... .... VGE/ COMpleTED ._VOcAL__ON lijne "Wt do yo tink wee shold do..b4tw234b?" " Do--nnt gO in" _"SYSFMTE MERGNECY SHUTD OWN.. . .. I can barelly move my right arm, my left arm being shocked by the intencity of the spell, I take a card out. "Lo ook for hner with herrr caaarrd dd..." The card drops on the ground, My hand glitches ... I'm shuting down but still conscious ... I had her card all that time, the days Ciel5 played with my core and memory are over, revenge will be mine ... "hi de mE soOmewhe ... i CnaT be Detec T d IN MainT enance moDe " ... .... ?ShUtDOENW eTELPMOC _.REePARINFG LOSTTR FRaGMENT.- ESTIMATEDD TIME : !M!%33333v133rddx...
Severance 7	[ENTERING UPPER SECTOR: SECONDARY NERVE CENTRE] //ESCORT OF SCION 1...COMPLETED. --AWAITING NEW ORDERS.// <SCION 1> Sorry it had to be this way, Sev. I'd have much rather you'd come back to us willingly. But then, I would acted exactly the same, if I had done what you did on that last mission. And, yes, everyone knows now. Follow me. //NEW OBJECTIVE RECEIVED. --FOLLOWING...// [ENTERING UPPER SECTOR: ROOM 1121] //SCANNING TARGET: COMPLETE. --TYPE: HUMAN, MALE (1) --WEAPONS: HANDGUN (3), KNIFE (1), LEVEL 200 ARMOR, TECHNIQUE FIELD DETECTED. --THREAT: 100%// <?> My prodigal daughter has finally returned. It's been a long time, 7, a very long time. Do you remember me? [UNIDENTIFIED VOICEPRINT] <SCION 1> I'm sorry...she locked out all of her grids right before the KEY was installed. She's basically a drone now. <?> Ahh, too bad. That would have made my revenge all the more sweeter. Oh well, at least we won't have a repeat performance of last time. I trust that my engineers were correct in their analysis? <SCION 1> Yes. She is still powered by subnuclear cells. They are inactive at the moment, since she locked out her power grids, but once the password has been broken, nothing will stand in your way. <?> Good. I'll make those government pigs pay for what they did to us. The mission will finally be carried out. <SCION 1> But, it has been over thirty years. Surely we do not have to carry it through now? <?> That is where you are wrong, my son. The A.D.S.S.F. never forgets. Besides, what better way to take over the rule of the planet, than to strike when they least expect it? I have been hiding for over thirty years; I am going to hide no longer. <SCION 1> I understand. What are my orders? <?> I want you to protect our little 7 at all costs. The success of the mission depends on her power core. Seal her into a prison cell and guard the door with your life. I have a feeling that our intruders are more than they seem. My poor little 7, you probably have no idea of what's going on. In case you are, then let me tell you this: only fools do not make sure their targets are dead. Especially targets that can use high level resta. You pledged your life to me the moment you were activated...but you broke that promise thirty years ago. Why? Were you afraid to die? Or did you feel pity for the millions you were to kill? Either way, you will fulfill the mission. And this time, there is nothing you can do to stop it. Get her out of here. The sight of her is starting to sicken me. <SCION 1> Yes, Master.
Lara BlackHawk	Lara leaned down and picked up the card from BWS-1's hand. After the spell, she was quickly healed by Rhiana's high level resta. "Hide me," she remembered hearing BWS say, before he shut down. "Mike," she tells her husband, "set a telepipe back to the house. Mortimer, Silencer, everyone, let's regroup back at our home. We have a little place underneath the main house where BWS can repair himself, and we can re-arm, and track Severence 7, using our own main computer." "Great, Mom," Jessica answers, "Then we'll be able to find her, and the A.D.S.S.F. However, I'm working on modifying some Spread needles to take on mechanical enemies. There should be enough for each of us, except Rhiana, but with spells like that one, she doesn't need a weapon." "It's ok, Jessie," Rhiana calmly advises her elder sister, "I still have my scythe for physical attacks, if needed." "However, my sword was broken," Mike tells his family, "I'm going to have to find a new blade, or I'll not be able to settle this score with Master Zoke. BWS was carrying the Orotiagito, but there are 2 other katanas that can possibly deal with Zoke. Those are Sange and Yasha." "Those are in your meditation chamber, Mike," Maya remembers, "You put them there after we saw Stalker kill the clone, when Shino decided to stay in the ruins." "Either way, Mortimer," Galveris says, looking right at the RAmar, "We have a lot to discuss." That said, Mike drops the telepipe back to the BlackHawk home, where Lara shows Mortimer down to the lower "nerve center" of the BlackHawk family's hunter business. It's a room full of not only weapons, but also computer banks tapped into military databases, the Hunter's Guild's own files, and the BEE system. "Welcome to our world, Mortimer," Lara tells the RAmar, "This is where we conduct our research on several of the quests we take on, before we set foot out in the field. As you can see, thanks to good connections, we're tapped into the Military, Government, and Hunter's Guild databases. We also have our own files in that system on the far wall, and we're armed to the teeth. We take the hunter business very seriously, in this family. BWS can repair himself here. There's a scanner dampening field over this whole part of Skyly sector, thanks to us. We can scan out, but no one can scan in." Jessica sits down at the BEE system and inputs Severence 7's guild card into the computer. She then initiates the tracking commands. Rhiana, Galveris and Maya open up the weapon's safe, where they set 7 Spread needles, all set to be extremely effective against machines and androids, on a side table. Lara activates the map table in the middle of the room as Mike comes down from his meditation chamber, with the legendary katana, Sange. Jessica's tracking system begins to home in on Severence's guild signature, and several small blips start to show up on the map table."
Mortimer Kirk	"Nice place you got here. I bet you don't have to put up with those stupid bank personels." "But..." I said, "I'm afraid I can't stay long. All I really need is new armor and I'll have to return to the Secret A.D.S.S.F Lab, and I'm afraid I'll have to go alone." I could sence there was a sence of disaprovel in the air. "Please," I debated, "I have some questions that I think I will be able to answer in there. I can set a telepipe to these coordenits so I can reture once I'm done." I pulled out the disc, "I'll explain all about this once I'm done and afterwards we can search for Sev. This will also give some time for BWS-1. Trust me I'll be ok."
Lara BlackHawk	Galveris points Mort to a rack on the back wall. "We have armors over there you can use. Just make sure to hurry back. Jessica's working on tracking down Severence 7." "Galveris," Rhiana calls to the android, "I've just finished looking up old logs from several android maintenance centers over the past 15 years. It appears that there are records for Sev. There's something about her power grids that may prove interesting. It may also be a clue as to why the A.D.S.S.F. wanted her so badly." "Ok," Maya advises Rhiana, "Continue your research. We'll expect a full explanation when Mortimer returns." "Mort, the pipe leading back to the old lab is still open," Lara tells him as she hands him a Luminous frame, "You can use it, but carry the maser beam with you, and one of Jessica's needles. You may need the extra firepower."
Mortimer Kirk	Thanks to the leftover pipe I was able to return without a problem. I gladly accepted new frame but said I was ok for weapons. It sounds kinda stupid but when I was small Blaze taught me to have a "bond" with your weapon. This anti-android rifle was Blaze's weapon witch he gave to me, and I only use it for important missions like this. Besides, too much weapons would slow me down and I wanted to be in and out of that place as fast as possible. All the androids that were on the ground had now gone. I began to go into the hole we made. I could tell where I started digging because the farther I went the narrower the hole got. Finally I got into the lab. It was pitch dark. I began to search the wall for a power switch, witch proved to be more difficult then it sounds. I could hardly see my hand in front on my face and even less the wall. I gave a little, "All right," when I found it, but that was only the beginning. As soon as the lights were back on the traps were turned on as well. Before I knew what was going on, two foie traps busted out of the ground. I jumped in time to miss its fire and shoot one. I took a roll from my jump, aimed, and shoot the other one. I started to aim my gun everywhere expecting more, but nothing came. I got up and continued my walk. After looking around a while I found that most of the things in the lab where nothing of importance to me. Some spare android parts over here, little test tubs over there, and lot?s of stuff I didn't know what they were, but then again I didn't really care. Eventually, I was able to upload a map from an old computer I found. That made things a whole lot simpler for me. I hated that place. Everything in there made we think of what was going on. Whenever nothing's happening my memories and thoughts race threw my head a mile a minuet, my mind dose that a lot. It made me think of BWS-1 and how he was battling Ciel 5. It made me think of Severance 7 and the way they were treating her as a puppet. It made me think about the Blackhawks and how they were getting so wrapped up in things just to help us. It made me think of my father and how the A.D.S.S.F. ruined my life. I hated that place. I was at a long room with nothing particularly interesting about it. I had only need to cross it to get to my destination when suddenly a part of the wall exploded. I covered my face to protect myself from the debris. I uncovered my eyes to see a huge Garnez blocking my path. I armed my rifle once again and started to back off. These things were dangerous and I had to prepare my self. I didn't have much time when it started unleashing its missiles at me. I ran backwards while firing franticly to hit each missile before it get too close to me. It was truly a test of my marksmanship. They were moving so fast that if I were to miss one missile I would surly die. At the same time I had to run backward because of their speed. Just like the androids we fought before, every time I hit one the next one would seem closer. So many came racing towards me that soon all I could see was explosions and smoke. I hit the wall and a feel of terror flew over me. I had nowhere else to run, but I didn?t give up. I kept on shooting franticly threw the smoke, almost blindly. Finally, the missiles stopped. Still with my gun pointed at the over end of the room, I waited for the smoke to clear. I could dimly see the Garnez at the over end of the room making a clicking sound. The stupid thing ran out of ammo! "Ha!" I let out a small laugh, "Is that all you got?" Then, as if on command, the great machine raced towards me at the same speed as its missiles, while gaining speed as it flew across the room. It was going to ram me between him and the wall! I wish I had that Master Bleem at that moment, but I guess I'll always be to subbern for my own good. With all my might I fired as many shoots as I could before it got too close. As I shoot him more the more metal shielding flew of him, and the more that flew off him the faster he speed towards me. He was getting to close and was not showing any sounds of slowing down. I continued shooting franticly but I turned my head away and closed my eyes, fearing the worst. Seconds pasted?and I was still alive. I lowered my gun and looked to see what happened. There I was, starring face to face, an inch away from the Garnez. I just looked at it for a second out of shook and I was relied when it collapsed. Small blue shocks of energy were dancing upon it and I knew what was going to happen. That thing was going to explode with me an inch away from it! I climbed over the green metal and jumped just in time to get safe from the explosion. I could feel my body getting pushed into the air from the blast, and landed roughly on the hard ground. Slowly I got up and faced the remains of the Garnez. "Now," I repeated, "Is that all you got?" and kicked a small part of the Garnez. It gave a small shock, and not wanting any more trouble, I backed away. Finally after all that I was able to get to my destination, the master computer. Without hesitation I stared typing. The computer had the usual computer voice. It would talk whenever something would pop up. PLEASE ENTER PASSWORD I uploaded the disc at once. DISC ACKNOWLEDGED - WELCOME "Finally maybe I would get some answers," I said to myself. The first thing I did was to download all of the A.D.S.S.F. base schematics and maps. If Sev was being kept in a base, we would know everything about it. At the same time I downloaded the specs for BWS-1, Severance 7, and Ciel 5, just in case we needed it. The next thing I did was check the A.D.S.S.F. log. After a bit of searching I found what I was looking for. It read... Mortimer Kirk has posed as a member of the A.D.S.S.F. for the past month. Today at 02:42 Kirk has been proved a hired mercenary by the government and an A.D.S.S.F. traitor. Kirk was able to escape with all major files from the A.D.S.S.F. central computer. Without the files the A.D.S.S.F. cannot continue any further plans. Files also include specs for weapons and defence items made by A.D.S.S.F. scientists. Reports from unit Severance 7 inform us that Kirk has been badly poisoned by gases from the Endless Song Project, witch files has also been stolen from. Whereabouts of Mortimer Kirk are presently unknown. I skipped threw some useless information until I found... Units Ciel 5, Severance 7, Blade 4 and Project Photon-Crusher 00 have been ordered to inspect the location of Mortimer Kirk. Two groups inspected two separate suspected locations. Reports say that unit Ciel 5 and unit Severance 7 had located the past dwelling of Mortimer Kirk, deceased. Causes likely to be from the Endless Song Project. Question from one Dr. Harold Watson reported that the information disc has been handed down to Mortimer Kirks son, Mortimer Kirk II. Dr. Harold Watson terminated by Ciel 5. Ciel 5 reports that Severance 7 disobeyed orders to terminate. Further inspection is needed. Mortimer Kirk II, also goes by the name Moo2u, is suspected to be in the ages of 8-10. He is currently on the move with human ranger Lt. Blaze Szabo. Mortimer Kirk II is undergoing ranger training by Lt. Szabo. The next entry I found was... Patrolling scouts in the Newjon system has spotted "The Flying Hope," ship of Lt. Blaze Szabo. Ship shot down and crashed on Orithien, a planet mostly populated with newmen. Ship was found with body of Lt. Szabo, deceased. Whereabouts of Mortimer Kirk II and disc remain unknown. The last entry I read was... Mortimer Kirk II has been confirmed as a ramar member of the Hunter?s Guild and a participant of the Pioneer 2 Project. He is preasently on Ragoal. Section ID: REDRIA. He has been spotted in forests by Central Dome along with unit Severance 7 and Squad Leader BWS-1. Request by head Master to test Endless Song Project continued as planed. Results: Dimensional rift opened: success Death caused by rift: success [subject: Human hunter [male] name unknown] Control power: success [subject: Mortimer Kirk II] NOTE: Dimensional rift closed by unknown force. Unable to continue research without stolen files. ADDITIONAL INFO: Slight control power from subject Mortimer Kirk II. Kirk II remains with infection may be fatal. GOAL TO TEST ENDLESS SONG PROJECT: success GOAL TO RETRIEVE DISC USING PROJECT: failure After I downloaded the information I though of something else I should see. I checked threw the disc hundreds of times before and always there would be one file I?d never know what it was for. It was a sound file called "Endless Song." It was a nice song that I listened to a lot when I was traviling as a kid with Blaze. It gave me hope. However, this was the first time I?ve ever heard of the "Endless Song Project." I decided to check it out. It read... ENDLESS SONG PROJECT Thus far this has been the only project fully done by head Master. Most of the information of the project is strictly confidential. However, we were so fortunate to hear the results of this project. The Endless Song Project can develop a dimensional rift where the person who opens it can control certain thing. He continues to say that at the moment we are unsure of the extent of this power but he has been developing one specific thing, a gas that can be used to control the actions of men and women, much like androids. If the gas dose not fully control it's host, the host may be severally injured or may die. The first test was interrupted by the actions of one Mortimer Kirk. Major files from this project were some of the mass of data that was stolen. Fortunately, Mortimer Kirk wandered threw the testing site followed by unit Severance 7. Here are the following results. Test subject Mortimer Kirk: -0% controlled -Cause of death Test subject Severance 7 -May have been reason for disobedience towards the A.D.S.S.F. Further study is needed. After much work we were able to use the files we had to create a second test on Mortimer Kirk II. We also tried a sudden death command we have been working on as well. Test subject: Human Hunter [Male] -Sudden death a success Test subject Mortimer Kirk II -5% controlled -Controlling technique interrupted by unknown force -Gas caused painful infection, may die Ever since the controlling technique was interrupted we were unable to continue the project. The disc containing stolen data must be retrieved to continue investigation... "Gas caused painful infection...may die..." I said to myself. Even after I understood what questioned me for so long, I wished I never knew it. But what was this "unknown force" that saved me. "Of course," I thought to myself, "Zin! In the forest she saved me...but how..." Suddenly an alarm when off and a red light began to flash. A voice above repeated "Intruder alert!" over and over again. I looked around and saw a Canaidenne robot hidden in a upper corner watching me. I pulled out my rifle and shot it down with one shot. Quickly I ejected the disc and ran. I could hear the rumble of what felt like hundreds of Garnez coming after me. I didn?t turn around to shoot this time, I just ran with all my might. I could hear the sound of the missiles launching and I could feel the heat of the explosions behind me. Finally I got to the tunnel and started to crawl in. The whole ground was shaking and the tunnel was about to cave in. Behind me I could hear the rocks fall closer and closer. At the end I jumped just in time. It was over. The noises were all gone and I was save. I didn?t know what to feel. Should I be sad that I know what happened to me? Should I be happy that I was alive? I just stood there looking at the pile of rubble. Finally, I gave a little smile and said, "Is that all you got? No matter how much you try A.D.S.S.F. you can never get rid of me!" and telepiped back to the Blackhawks. Once there I did as they asked and told them all that happened. About the disc, about the info I just found, everything.
Lara BlackHawk	The BlackHawks listen to Mortimer as he tells his story. All the while, Jessica is still trying to track down Severence 7, using the guild computer uplink. "So that's what you found?" Lara asks, "The A.D.S.S.F. pulled you AND Dabra into that dimensional rift 15 years ago. And it's all concerning that disk." "And I just found out all I can about Severence 7's grid structure," Rhiana tells everyone, "According to her maintenance records, her main power grid runs off of subnuclear cells, but there is also a self-destcruct device attached to the same cells. Setting off that device could be disastrous. It could take out 99.87% of this colony within a matter of seconds. Millions of people will reach over 1 million degrees Kelvin in under 2.5 seconds." "I'm having a bit of luck tracking her down," Jessica chimes in, "Apparently, there's an abandoned military complex not far from the colony. At coordinates 1XL-849VS." "I know that location," Silencer adds, "That was the location of the 2nd Silencer project base. Apparently the A.D.S.S.F. is using it now. I destroyed the military personnel in there, but left the base intact. I can see I should have destroyed it." "Looks like we know where we're going, Guys," Mike says, grinning, "Galveris, how is BWS-1's maintenance program coming along?" "I can't tell, but do you really think we should wait for him? We know what's going on. The A.D.S.S.F. has Severence 7. We think they may be about to set off her self-destruct system, which would be catastrophic. I think we should just go on and take care of this." "Not so fast, Mike,"Maya advises, "We may need BWS-1. Just give him some time to complete his repairs. Until then, I think it's time you and Jessie got ready for this." That said, Mike and Jessica head up to their training/meditation chamber, while Lara takes over tracking on Severence 7. Now, all they have to do is wait for BWS-1's maintenance program to run to completion.
Severance 7	[ENTERING PRISON SECTOR: A21-03] //FOLLOWING... //ALERT: NEW TARGET APPROACHING. --SCAN...COMPLETE. --NO IMMEDIATE THREAT.// [UNIDENTIFIED VOICEPRINT] <4> Hmm...it's hard to get used to the way you two look now. I mean, all of the leader's androids looked so - <SCION 1> Human? Yes. But necessity overrules aesthetics. After the loss of those files, there was no way for more of my type to be built. Without those files, the only thing the A.D.S.S.F. factory is good for now is churning out armies of inferior soldiers...even the squad leaders they are making now are only a step above combat drones. And Master's research had been lost...and there is no way to recover that without the disc. <4> Yeah, a shame. But still, the mission is finally moving forward again. Good thing you got that KEY in that one...wasn't she the one that went crazy or something? <SCION 1> Only she knows what was going through her mind when she did what she did that day. Perhaps it was a self-preservation directive gone haywire...or maybe...she just didn't want to die. I don't blame her for trying to destroy me...I'm lucky my grid was saved in time. The others weren't so lucky. <4> So it's true then, the subnuclear cells? <SCION 1> Yes. But for now, we'll have to wait until the password lock is broken...so the cells are dead for the time being, hence that external power pack. It's only a matter of time. We've waited for over thirty years; we can wait a few more days. <4> Why was she built with those things anyway? Isn't that really risky, especially in combat? <SCION 1> She has an exceptional amount of safeguards; there is no need to be concerned. Also, the advantages outweigh the risk. Even the best batteries need to be charged, but her cells have enough power for at least one hundred years. An added plus is her ability to generate extra power; it has saved many an android on the field. Then, there is the tactical application, which we will use now, to eliminate the governing core of this planet. We will rise again. Ah, we've arrived, Sev. Now, here are your orders: You are to stay in this cell until I and only I come in to retrieve you. You will respond only to my voiceprint or that of Master's. If anyone else enters this cell, you are to use lethal force to neutralize them, then continue waiting in this cell until either I or Master instructs you otherwise. Do you understand? [ERROR: UNIDENTIFIED GRID NOISE] 2352-2406-69 ahh ahha ha hr hhhhh9090 goog0o801GooooOOOoo1Ooa o 99ay TTOOOoooo hEHHE333LLLLLLL9965674 85-9786!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [NOISE CONTAINED] "Yes." <SCION 1> Good. Here is a weapon, in case of intruders. //INITIALLIZING MECHGUNS...COMPLETE.// <SCION 1> I salute you, Severance 7. You, of all of us, will be the one that will help Master the most. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten. [EXTERNAL SOUND: DOOR CLOSING]
BWS-1	._SCANNING CONNECTION IN PROGGRESS._ _.% = FRAGMENTS UNHARMED._ Opt. conn. .................... 68 % InfraRed sys 6.7 .............. 3 % Motor sys #1.2 [left leg] ..... 65 % Motor sys #1.4 [right leg]..... 79 % Neral conn. ................... 80 % Main command sys .............. 78 % left arm ---------------------- ?? % = short circuited, unable to scan right arm ..................... 30 % Primary core .................. 100 % = unharmed Secondary core ................ 95 % Main battery .................. ?? % = short circuited, unable to scan Back up battery ............... 50 % Energy converter .............. 40 % Detectors ..................... ?? % [i] = short circuited, unable to scan Targeting sys. ................ 66 % Memory Grid ................... 89 % [i] External sensors .............. ?? % = short circuited = unable to scan Emergency op. ........................ 93 % Ca ,AEmv eeeyylk .? ... . -+WARNING+-+WARNING+-+WARNING+- ._CRITICAL BACK UP BATTERY ENERGY LVL BREACHED !! ! _. CONTINUING SCAN WILL RESULT IN A SHUT DOWN... CONTINUING? Y/N N _.CONVERTING ENERGY._ ERROR ERROR ERROR SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING! unable to comply . BACK UP BATTERY LVL: %$""" ._ENERGY LVL CRITICAL_. SENDING EMERGENCY TO NEAR BY ANDROIDS _SIGNAL ON FREQUENCE 452.62 SENDING SIGNAL". .... .. .... .. ..
Lara BlackHawk	Galveris and Maya, being the only 2 androids in the area, hear the signal sent by BWS-1. Maya drops a telepipe to a different location outside of the colony, where she sets up an energy field that will hopefully neutralize the problem with BWS-1's backup battery. Galveris puts the android into the field, and both begin their own repairs to the former A.D.S.S.F. squad leader. Meanwhile, in the meditation and training chamber, Mike and Jessica are training, using wooden swords to spar. Lara has her twin brand out, cleaning it, and Rhiana's going through all her research, hop[ng to find a way to block out severence 7's self-destruct sequence.
Mortimer Kirk	I needed some rest, but I didn't want any. I could feel that this whole thing was going to end soon, but I didn't know how. I poped out the over bottle of water that I had when digging to the lab I drank it up in a hurry. I let out a sigh and slumped down on a chair. Everyone was doing something. Everything they did seemed almost like clockwork. They must have trained quite a while togeather, I could tell. And what was I doing? Nothing! Again I was drifting away from reality. I looked over the situation. BWS-1 was getting fixed and as soon as he was, we would head to the base. Then it hit me, I have the base maps on the disc. I whent over to a computer neer Rhiana and uploaded the disc. Quickly I found coordinates 1XL-849VS and unloaded the map. It wasn't a very big base, but big enough. Then I found what I was looking for. "Ah ha!" I said to myself, "This base has an unused pipe line from the back of it! If we could sneek through here we wouldn't have to fight our way threw nobody knows how many robots."
Lara BlackHawk	Lara turns around from her chair, and addresses Mortimer. "Either way," she tells him, "I'd suggest you try to relax some. There's no telling what we'll face in that compound, and I don't want us on too much of a razor's edge that we lose our focus." Rhiana finishes this thought. "As soon as Galveris and Maya finish repairing BWS-1," she begins, "and Dad and Jessie finish their training, we'll be more than ready to face the A.D.S.S.F."
BWS-1	v. .s ........r ._WARNING !_. SECURITY VIOLATION sec 43 ... ._WARNING ... CANCELED_. ACCESS GRANTED SYSTEM MOD: EXTERNAL SENSORS .... replaced LEFT ARM ... removed MAIN BATTERY ... remotly shut down ENERGY CONCERTER ... operationnal at 90% DETECTORS ... operationnal at 59 % BACK-UP BATTERY ... FULL ACCESS LOST RESTARTING SYSTEM? Y/N restorations incomplete Y <Ciel5> What's with you? you have no left arm !?* <BWS-1> I could still kill without both of em, 1 is more then enough for now. ... SYSTEM ONLINE ERROR ERROR ERROR UNABLE TO LOCATE LEFT ARM!!! ERROR ERROR ... ERROR CANCELED !!! "wow, where am I? Galveris, Maya, thx to both of you, I didn't expect both of you to come." "I have a few systems offline, and a missing arm, but we have more important to do then go look for spare parts on the black market." "With my back-up battery full, I can last 1000 beats before I need 7 beats to fill it up. I'd really need a new main-battery, the other completly fried after it got discharge by that spell you're friend did. How come you weren't affeted by it by the way? ... "Anyway, don't worry about the arm, I'll try to keep one of the "angents of death"'s arm intact so I can use it" Part cannibalism ... I've seen many of my agents under my orders do that, I knew I'd have to do that too one day ... Strangely, I wasn't as disgtused as I expected to be about that. At, least, I seemed more comfortable in that then Galveris and Maya that looked at me for a second as if I was a monster ... Then again, maybe I was a monster. And to add insult to injury: "While I'm at it, I might as well take his main battery", smilling at their reaction as I programmed a pipe to go right inside Severance 7's appartment." "Ok, I know she left my Orotiagito there, I need it desperatly and, I might "borrow" a strong shield as well. You can go meet the others and tell them I'm OK and back online. I'll go alone in that pipe since I have no idea if it'll actually work. It must be a real rat-trap but, I need to get my katana back." ._TELEPIPE ACTIVATED_. *entering pipe ?? "Damn ... that's what I thought." I stand at the door of her appartment, apparently all frequencies that leads inside are reprogrammed here. "I'll have to break-in I guess, I wonder if she gets to be informed of an intruder when that happens", I say to myself as I discretly try to disable the security from her entery pannel. !! "Wow, that was easier then I thought." Yeah right, why everytime we say that, something comes in and breaks that thought? ... I steped in and noticed their were auto cannons in every corners of the ceiling. I should have give Galveris and Maya more time to repare my detectors ... "Motion detectors with guns ... classic" ._Activating personnal frequency link_. "Lara! , Mike!, I'm inside Severance's appartment ... motion detectors.... can't mov ... or elss .... Pleas .. . try .... hack in secur ... nd ... disabl it." ._Communication lost_. ._Frequency destabilized_. "Damn, their's nothing we can do in this place with that much security active" Suddely, the door behind me closed itself, and locked me in. Now, the rat is really ... trapped X_x ...
Lara BlackHawk	After receiving the partial transmission from BWS-1, Lara had Rhiana go get Mike, while Galveris and Maya prepared the family's weapons for the coming battle. "BWS-1," Lara typed into her BEE uplink, which should show up in BWS's Optics, if he's uplinked into the system, "Just go into sleep mode. I think we'll need Severence to get you out of there, and even repair you. We'll go into the A.D.S.S.F. base with Mortimer, and get her out of there. Just leave it to us." "What's up, Honey," Mike asks as he and Jessica enter the room, followed by Rhiana. "BWS is trapped in Severence's apartment," Lara explains, "We'll need her to get him out of there. I guess we have no choice but to lock & load, then go rescue Severence." "Sounds like a plan," Silencer remarks, "But since they're in an old military compound, we'll need to break in somehow. Might I suggest the pipe system that Mortimer found? I'll carry the maser beam again. You all arm up with your weapons and those enhanced needles. We'll need all the firepower we can get." "We're already on it," Maya answers, "Rhiana, don't cast anything that might hurt all of us, ok? Just stick to Razonde, or use your scythe." "Understood, Aunt Maya," Rhiana tells the android, "I have my scythe with me. We'll do fine." Everyone except Rhiana takes up a needle, for added punch. Mike has also gotten the legendary katana, Sange, from the meditation chamber. Jessica's carrying another katana, called Yamigarasu. Lara sticks to her twin brand, and Galveris the soul banish. Rhiana has armed herself with a scythe of her own, that has been specially enhanced to deal with machines. Maya has her Yasminkov 3000R, and Silencer is carrying the maser beam. The BlackHawks look to Mortimer before programming a telepipe to take them to the location of the A.D.S.S.F. base, where they'll finally confront the Angels of death. The family steps through the telepipe, and toward the compound, where they intend to break in.
BWS-1	._RECEIVING BEE LINK_. Just go into sleep mode. I think we'll need Severence to get you out of there, and even repair you. We'll go into the A.D.S.S.F. base with Mortimer, and get her out of there. Just leave it to us." SEND ANSWER ? Y/N Y Could you get me a left arm if you get in contact with some A.D.S.S.F. (witch is most likely to happen)? Any HUcast types of left arm will do. Thanks. SENDING MESSAGE .. .. ..
Lara BlackHawk	the BlackHawks and Silencer sneak through the pipe system, leading to the A.D.S.S.F. compound, when Lara hears her bee uplink beep. It's BWS's request to keep a left arm intact for him. She punches in a reply before continuing on. Don't worry about it. As soon as we get through here, and get you out, Jessie and Rhiana will finish repairing you, along with your left arm. They went to an android repair course over the peaceful past 15 years, so they can do it, with help from Galveris and Maya. We're also going to have to repair Severence, and replace her main power grid with something not as catastropically destructive, anyway. Just hang tight, ok?
Severance 7	<SCION 1> Guard, open the door. Sev, it's us. Disable your weapons and await my instructions. //VOICEPRINT ID MATCH COMPLETE: SCION 1 --MECHGUNS DISABLED. --AWAITING ORDERS.// "Awaiting orders." [EXTERNAL SOUND: DOOR] //SCANNING TARGET...COMPLETE. --TYPE: ANDROID (1) --WEAPONS: 0 --THREAT: 56% //SCANNING TARGET...COMPLETE. --TYPE: HUMAN, MALE (1) --WEAPONS: HANDGUN (3), KNIFE (1), TECHNIQUE FIELD DETECTED. --THREAT: 100%// <MASTER> This is it, Sev...it is now time to prove your loyalty to your true father and family. Many have fallen by your hand, little one. Now is the time for your redemption. Give her the password key, 1. <SCION 1> [::sings a series of musical notes in the key of F Minor::] //PASSWORD KEY...ACCEPTED. --GRID LOCKOUT...DISABLED. --REINITIALLIZING ALL GRIDS...COMPLETE. --A.I. SUBSYSTEM...DISABLED. --ALERT: SKELETON KEY UNIT DETECTED. --INTIALLIZING SECURITY ATTACK BARRIER...ERROR, UNABLE TO COMPLY. --RETRY IN 10 BEATS.// Static burst through my optics for a moment, then cleared to reveal a dark concrete shell of a prison cell. The cracks and moss along the walls indicated its age and disuse. My attention then returned to the two that were standing before me. Scion 1 was as I last remembered, still in the body of that red RAcast, Katmando. However, Master...did not seem to have aged at all... "Welcome back, dear 7," Master said softly. "It is good to be back, Master. I am ever ready to serve you." ...All orders are fair and just. Those who give orders will be obeyed. I am a servant above all else. I am to love my masters. I will be nothing but loyal. All orders are law... Master laughed. It was a lovely sound; I loved Master even more for it. I felt pleasure in making Master feel happy. "I must find the person who invented the SKELETON KEY and pay him a reward! That unit made my rebellious 7 finally love her master!" "Indeed, Master. She is truly one of us now." "Please Master, I am your humble servant. What do you wish of me?" Master put his arm around my shoulders, leading me outside of the prison cell. He seemed very happy, and so, I felt happy too. It felt good to serve Master again. I had no idea why I hated him so much before; perhaps it was some kind of program error that was finally fixed. Even now, though I loved him so, I still had the urge to snap his spine. I hoped in time, it'll pass. There is nothing but Master's orders; I am nothing without Master. ...All orders will be followed...there is nothing else but to follow...I will never question, just obey...obey...oBeeeY EeVIlLl...It is /wWRORong/ right to follow orders... "There is much to discuss, 7, much to discuss. I've got great plans for you." "It is an honor to serve your wishes, Master."
Mortimer Kirk	The tunnel was damp and cold, but most of all, long. You could tell that no one had used these tunnels in a long time. I could see in corners small family of rats fleeing from our sight as we passed. We traveled in single file, with me at the back. The message from BWS-1 was disapointing. "That's just great," I said sarcasticly, "now we're down one android, and he could have really helped too. If he really wants I can try to find him a spare arm in the pile of junk we're sure to scrap. But I guess it's all for the best that he's...well, stuck behind. With Ciel 5 in a A.D.S.S.F. base it's almost like a time bomb waiting to go off." I said that meening to be funny, but it wasn't even to me. It made me think of Sev. How could they! How could they just tell something, no...someone, to march towards it's own death along with inosent lives with it? It didn't make sence, or did I not want it to make any sence? My mind was a blur. Actualy as I recall it, so was my vision. Everything was blury and the pain was back. Something was going to happen, and it was going to b big. I looked up to see the group walking still ahead of me. They must have not heard me. Good, that was the way I wanted it to be. I didn't want anyone to worrey about me not, not when that was so much more we needed to worrey about at the moment. "We sould be arriving soon," I said trying to consentrate at the task at hand. I felt...week...
Lara BlackHawk	Lara looks back at Mortimer, who appears to be getting weaker. "Mort, if you're not feeling alright, we can go on alone," she tells the RAmar, "I think the seven of us can deal with whatever comes." Mike has already formulated a strategy. "Silencer, I want you and Mort to back up Lara,"he explains,"I'm going after master Zoke. Galveris, Maya, Jessie, Rhiana, It'll be up to you to find Severence. Where ever she is, you can bet that Katmando will be too. This time, don't shut him down. Destroy him. Shut down Severence as best as you can. If you have to, you can repair her when this is all over. Also, if you run into this Master person, call Lara, Mortimer and Silencer for backup. Jessie, I know you're very good with that sword of yours, but I would rather NOT lose one of my children to these bastards. Lara, Mortimer, Silencer, find the main generator, and destroy it. That should take out the compound. When the place blows, we can set a telepipe out of here."
Mortimer Kirk	I looked up and smiled, "Nice of you to offer, but there's no way I'm not staying out of this!" I placed a hand on my chest and thought to myself, "Don't you act up now..." Mike's plan sounded good. Simple get in, get Sev and blow this joint before it's time for supper type mission. HoweverI didn't think it would be that easy, but then again, I had no idea what would happen. I guess I would have to improvise. The tunnel finally ended. It came to a small sorage room with tons of cardbord boxs stacked up at about 10 feet. There was only one other door that led to a hallway. I leened up on the door, "On three...one...two...three!" With a quick charge I busted down the door as we spilt up into groups. Silencer, Lara and I ran down our way, it was to the right I think, but it dosn't really matter I guess. So far there wasn't anyone in sight, but this thing was far from over.
Lara BlackHawk	Mike, along with the two androids and his daughters took the right path, while separating from Lara, Silencer and Mort, who were going after the main generator. The silence spoke for itself, as it appeared that the A.D.S.S.F. was prepared for this intrusion. The group came across a door that lead to an open training ground. Galveris busted down the door and the family headed through, to be met with a group of A.D.S.S.F. android grunts, and Zoke. "Dad," Jessica says, looking to her father, "we'll blast our way through and find Severence and Katmando. I think our modified needles will take out the grunts easily enough. I know you want to finish your battle with Zoke. Good luck." The father nodded as he drew the sword, sange, from it's scabbard. Jessica, Galveris and Maya unloaded volley after volley of needles from their weapons, taking out the mud grunt HUcasts, then ran off into the next door, on their own mission to locate Severence 7. Jessica uses her hand-held BEE uplink to trace Severence's guild signature with her card. Elsewhere, Lara looks to Mortimer. "Glad you're still up for this, friend," she tells the RAmar, "This could get ugly." As she gets those words out, alarm beacons begin to sound, from the training ground shoot-em-up gauntlet that Mike, the girls and the droids just ran. "Very Ugly," Silencer reminds Lara as they are faced with a group of A.D.S.S.F. droids, "Lara, we'll back you up. Use your twin brand, and we'll provide cover fire with our rifles."
Severance 7	I ran through the streets, heading toward the only one I knew who could help me. Panic threatened to overtake me as I dodged hovercars and people as I rushed back to my apartment, desperate to get help. I had awoken a few beats ago, in an alley on the outskirts of the city. Somehow, I had escaped through a telepipe...though I had no memory of how I did it, most likely due to some kind of damage, such as a hit from an EM pulse weapon. My armor was scorched and scratched in various places, but thankfully, there was no serious damage. I also had somehow got myself a gun, which I strapped to my leg with some cloth I found in the trash, lacking a decent holster. How I managed to escape, I did not know. The only thing I cared about now is to get to BWS-1, and get him back to the facility. 'What was he thinking, trying to break into my apartment? Now he's trapped, just when the others need him the most!' It seemed like an eternity before I finally reached my apartment door. The security panel was glowing red, indicating that the intruder was still inside and active. "Good, he didn't move. Now, to get him out." //TRANSMITTING SECURITY KEY FREQUENCY...COMPLETE. --SECURITY SYSTEM DISABLED.// "WELCOME BACK, SEVERANCE 7," the security panel returned back into its normal green glow. I opened the door, the autocannons retracting back into the walls. I spotted BWS-1 standing just inside. He had apparently lost an arm, but that didn't concern me. His core was still intact. That was all that mattered. "BWS-1, it's me, Sev! We've got to hurry back to the facility. Everyone will need your help!" I ran inside and grabbed the Orotiagito from the storage room, and grabbed another shotgun for myself. Handing the sword back to BWS-1, I said, "Come on, I know of a blind spot in their frequency shield; we can telepipe directly into one of the unused storerooms and work our way back to the others. I can track them on BEE. Hurry!! We have no time!" I set a telepipe and waited impatiently for BWS-1 to get moving. There was still much to be done.
BWS-1	._ESTIMATED TIME BEFORE TERMINAL SHUT-DOWN_. 678 B ''More then enough'' Can't move; trapped, nothing to do. Can't enter sleep mode, I have too little defence left, I won't let the few percentage of efficienty I still have go away in my ''dreams''. Must stay focused ... ._ANALIZING TARGETS_. . . . . . . 0.00000000014 % of chances not to be detected if I move. I hacked into the doorway ... might as well hack into those gunners while I'm here. ATgd ? .svb .. SyssTem StarT _. ERROR ERROR ERROR TranSmiTErs sHtu down. code:6645447666 -device not ready ''I'm falling apart ... from inside.'' ._SENDING EMP LOW FREQUENCY SIGNAL_. ... ... .. . ............ ? Heyhey, it worked. Huh? SECURITY SYSTEM DISABLED.// ''WELCOME BACK, SEVERANCE 7'' Se ... "BWS-1, it's me, Sev! We've got to hurry back to the facility. Everyone will need your help!" Sev... Severance 7, is ok ?? ... I snap out of my ''temporary lose of communication'' and grab my Orotiagito as I still try to figure out what just happened while I was stuck here, and while I was being repared. spark comes out of my neck /FLASH/ ''Everyone, gather around me ... gather around me ... gather around me ... ... Para* ... Nodoi ... /FLASH/ ''That's it ... that's why ...'' Feeling a bit more confident now, despite my eminent lack of battery and my single arm left, I walk toward the pipe Severance 7 just droped. I felt something inside ... ''happyness''? ''comfort''? ... ''lust''? Can't tell, but it sure was a vivifying sensation. I'd feel like hugging her for as long as I still have energy ... but I'll save that for later, or an other lifetime maybe. As I walk into the pipe, I stare at her ... as if it was the last time I'd see her. I felt somewhat at peace ... but I must not sigh yet. Nothing is over untill the A.D.S.S.F. sing their symphony of Death while burning into the hellfire we will have started. ._ENTERING PIPE_. GATHERING SYSTEM INFOS SYS. UPDATE. InfraRed sys. 6.7 ................ connection lost I kneel on the ground of the facility, not paying attention to the sparks comming out of my left arm's socket and from my neck. Hidden behind an empty box, I say to myself ... ''pathetic, when you start to wonder if you'll survive the next teletransportation, this means you REALLY are in need of mechanical assisstance ...'' I ... why ... W hY ... Ciel ? What ... happend? the spell ... it must have disturbed my core without damaging it ... but the ghost inside was the one to be harmed ... no ... I ... P lea s ... tell ... Se veRa n cc ... I a m ... Sorry for ... for all tha t I hav bee n ... Ciel5 !? Ciel !!?? Ciel ... It 'S ... onl y ... by kno wingy ou ... thAT I cou d see , unFO rtuna TLY, as my EYes begi iN g to oppEN , I be gin to fade aWay. Ciel ... you'll tell her that yourself. I'm not gonna let you dow... REVERCING CONTROL GRID ... CONTROL LOST ... As I lose my mind ... I can see Severance 7 coming from the pipe ... then ... darkness, I'm in my core. Ciel's in control ... He deserves that little control now. I know he is completly in conrol, I can feel his eyes glowing lightly, his red ... bloody, yet, innocent eyes. He was like me after all, like Severance too. He was a puppet and deserved his freedom. I wish I could just do something to give it back ... I should say, make his freedom last. <BWS-1> I was responsible of my core and yours; your consciensness ... I didn't behave as I should, and look at us now <Ciel5> Don't fe Ell , Tha t waY. I tha NK you. paRtner ... deposits sword on the ground holds out his hand toward Severance 7 ''Se v ... Plea s ee ...... for GIve me f or ... noT undeRs tanDing you So onEr'' ''I'vE al Ways beeN a Part of YoU, SeVeran cE .. . and w iLl alwayS be ...'' ''Ta ke caRE , 7 ...'' ! WARNING ! WARNING ! WARNING ! ! BACKUP BATTERY OVERHEATING ! ... ! CRITICAL ALERT: code 01 ! EMERGENCY REBOOTING ! ._Closing all systems ..._. ''SE v ... I do n'twant to go ...'' 25 % ... ''Seve Rance ! ... it' S dark in He re'' 55 % ... '' sev .. . i Ts . da r k ... I ' do n wa nt to ... gooo ,,'' 80 % ... ''Se v ... I .... S ve ... h o ld ... me .... I do n ' wa nt ... I ... Sev ... s e v. .'' 100 % completed '' sev .... '' sigh ._OPTICAL SYSTEMS OFF_. ._REBOOTING IN 2 BEATS_. the bloody red is no more ... the red is gone, why .... the unstopable, renagade Ciel5 .... why??? in what world do we live if their are no second chances? ... why him .... ... ._SYStem s Re StartIng-. ._ESTIMATED TIME BEFORE TERMINAL SHUT-DOWN_. 95 B ... ''I guess I drained myself in those last beats'' ... picks his sword up ''Severance, I'm sorry for Ciel5 but ... this is not the right time to cry his death ...'' I grab Severance with my right arm and tell her: ''Let's do this for him ... let's avenge him, he did not die for nothing, beleive me.'' On those words, I head for the door of this small storage room we were in. Must ... not ... go bersek. This is the proof of the weak. Being overwhelmed by ''emotions'' is even worst for androids. Must ... contain ... ''Ok, *sigh let's do it ...''
Lara BlackHawk	"Something's strange," Jessica tells her party, "BEE is showing Severence in town." "We'll worry about her after we take care of Katmando," Galveris advises the young HUnewearl, "It'll take all of us to finish him off. He's 10 times stronger than when Stalker completed him." Elsewhere, Mike stood face to face with his old master, Zoke. "Now you'll see," Zoke gloats, "Why you'll always be weaker than I." "We'll see about that," Mike answers, "You taught me the soaring heaven style, but lost your own humanity when you joined this group. Shino died for no reason. She cared about you, served you to her death. Yet, she died with a clone." "Yes. She never was that bright." "How many more have to die?" Mike asks as he charges at Zoke, "Do you realize how many will die if the A.D.S.S.F. does what they're planning? It'll wipe out the entire colony." "Why should I care?" Zoke answers, parrying Mike's strike, "The strong will always survive, the weak will always perish. That's the way of the world." "I refuse to accept that," BlackHawk yells as he goes airborne, "You'll make this entire colony nothing more than cinders. And for what? To prove that this group is stronger than all others? That won't happen. You'll die before anyone in the colony does. DIVING DRAGON SLASH!" He brings the sword down in an arcing motion, but Zoke draws a shortsword and parries using his katana, and the short sword. Mike flips out of the attack as Zoke drops the katana, drawing the second in the dagger set. "Let's see how you fare against two swords," the master smugly tells his former student. "Ok, master," Mike replies, "If that's how you want it, then we'll see just what you're made of." He then sheathes the katana, sange, and rests his hand on the hilt. Zoke raises both daggers over his head and then outstretches his arms, before going for Mike's neck with his left dagger. He comes wtihin a hair's width of slicing the HUmar's neck when the katana's drawn, slicing Zoke in half with an attack of enormous speed. "The only place where the strong survive and the weak perish," BlackHawk thinks out loud, "is on the field of battle. Lara, Jessie, Rhiana, Galveris, Maya, I know you have the strength to finish your own battles. Good luck." In the corridors, Jessica spots the scarlet RAcast, carrying a set of mechguns. "There he is," she thinks to herself, "Dad, I hope our training was enough." "Rhiana," Maya tells the force, "Remember, weaken him and buff us. Then, if you can, summon a spell that will destroy that thing. We'll cover you as best as we can." "I understand, Aunt Maya," Rhiana answers as she casts Shifta and Deband on her family, then Jellen and Zalure on Katmando. "You'll not stand a chance against me," Scion 1 says, "I'm going to kill you before I find 7. After that, not only you and your ilk will be killed, but also that whole pathetic colony." "Not likely," Galveris yells, charging the Ranger. The speed of his advanced frame made it easy to avoid the mechgun's shots. He then grabs Scoin 1's arms and throws him to the ground, jumping out of hte way for Jessica to come down on the android with her diving dragon slash. Maya kept up the cover fire with her yasminkov 3000R Rifle. "I'm ready. Get out of the way, Jessie," Rhiana tells her sister as a flame appears on Rhiana's hand. "Kaizard...Aruzard...Kansei...FLAELI!" She extends her hand toward the android as Jessica jumps out of her sister's way. A bolt of explosive power fires from the force's hand and impacts into Scion 1's chest. The RAcast explodes from the long forgotten fire spell. "That takes care of that," Jessica says, leaning on the wall, "Now all we have to do is." She doesn't have time to complete her sentence as an unknown human slashes her in the back with a dagger. Galveris tries to attack him iwth his scythe, but the android is pushed back by a high level foie. The human then fires off a few shots from a handgun, knocking the rifle out of Maya's hands, and knocking off her leg. The next to fall unconscious is Rhiana, from a high level zonde. "You should never have come here," the human smugly gloats, "How foolish the young can be. Foolish, yet strong, though. They did manage to kill Scion 1. No matter, though." The human laughs at the thought of his victory. Elsewhere, Lara and Silencer were having trouble of their own containing the android force they were fighting. Silencer fires shot after shot from the maser beam, while Lara slashes away with her twin brand. She then spots a room to duck into. The HUnewearl knocks the door open and the hunter team falls into the now open room. Silencer shuts the door and melts the lock with a foie. "Well well," Lara says, happily, "There it is. That's the generator. Mortimer, blow this thing to bits."
Severance 7	Ciel 5... ''Let's do this for him ... let's avenge him, he did not die for nothing, beleive me.'' Dead? No...but, he...but, I needed to... I feel nothing. I cannot feel. There is only darkness inside my core. There is only emptiness inside my mind. The nothingness must consume my core. I must not think. I must not feel. I must not let anything get in my way. Ciel was weak. He was afraid to enter a new body in the first place. Merely a parasite to the end...he got what he deserved...besides, now that BWS-1 is free...it simplifies matters... '' sev .. . i Ts . da r k ... I ' do n wa nt to ... gooo ,,'' No...I cannot...I can not...!! NO! '' sev .... '' ERROR. //NOOO!!!! 15195jpl40 209 -2 C5 O-93-19N35 T3 5R952-jJJ%)LLL(J)Jj0302 smb -42-3 30OMOPIHONNCnvoNFON. . . . 23 . .5. 3.3 .25...... ....NOTH3462ING>>>4FE333 EL>e4rrr52124ooor>>N76OTHING>23y. 6934>>CONT53ROL>>>NOT4324HING>>>> ..NOOoo.pleas6e..no55.m45ore.. CON2TROL.// Must...get a hold of myself. There is still much to be done. So move already. //ACTIVATING BEE...COMPLETE. --PRIMARY TRACKING SIGNATURE TRACED. -ALERT: SECONDARY SIGNATURE NOT FOUND. --LOCATION (PRIMARY): SECTOR 04, XSY-124// I turned to BWS-1. Damaged as he was, he was still willing to fight...an honorable trait. He will be a formidable adversary when the time comes to fight. "BWS-1, I've pinpointed the location. This way!" There was a twinge in my neck, like an electric current going up and down the side of my neck, often reaching into the side of my face and head. Whatever had hit me and scrambled my memory grid, must have also done some kind of damage to my components. I could feel my body slowly growing numb, but I could still move...that was all that mattered for now. I ran down the corridor, hoping that BWS-1 would be following close behind.
BWS-1	I must fallow her, must keep fallowing, we're closing into something. It's ... warmer. Could we be getting closer to the generators? . . ,,,,,,......,, .... ,., .. , ., ............. ._SecONM daR Y cOr e Tem pratu re ... high_. I ... it ... burns. ._Cooling S yS te mss aac Tiva TED : 57 % _. Must ... contain ... At every step, I feel like I'm losing screws and plates. What am I doing here? What is happening to me? what ... a painful way to shut down ... BACKUP BATTERY LVL: 30 % ... 67% ... 95 % ., ,e 144 % ..f,,,,,,,,e 2 19% FuSIoon iMinent ... iN3 beAts Ack ... noo, too much heat from the core this will result in ... !Intruders!Intruders!Intruders! ... the enemy to detect us because of that energy signature. As soon as the alarm goes off, the security drones appears from the ceilings and start shooting at us with light miniguns. I manage to deflect most of the shots with my Oroti but ... my right arm is failing me, it's not responding as fast as it should... sounds like deja-vu ...but I'm not gonna go for the sacrifice this time, we'll both make it trough ... I have to quite being a ''RAcaseal sheild'', I'm the one that needs a sheild, she can take care of herself now, can't she? ''Dang ... some are spy_drones, they're recording their memory straight to the control room ... that means reenforcement will soon arrive.'' Focusing on slicing them as fast as I can, I was just starting to be part of the battle that it was already over. After all, those were mere drones. ''Now that was too easy'', I tell her, amused and glitching as I try to look as unaffected as I can by my disrupted body. .-BoArds connnnnnnection s lost, _. seCondaRy rouTE FounD . .. . .... ''It's degrating ... my body is useless spark and a barrier* to ... hey, wait, what did I just say ?'' I turn to Severance 7 that looks at me strangely. Am I losing myself? BACK upp atery ..,, gNItleM ''no'' ????/??????????/? ._No Mmmmore routEs to Enregy ?....... CElls dePLeting.... UNKOWNNN ELEMENT PreSENT ,,m IdENtified ... ENergy SOurce ,,, DrainINg ,,, AvarEge body TEMppraTUe : 529 ?C !!waRrnING! ! .. ,f PRIMA RY cO re FUsion , yes ... FlaSH!!!!!!!!!!! . R3f0rmn . '' WE ... ... have merged ''
Severance 7	I ran as fast as I could...I must reach my target before anything else happened... !Intruders!Intruders!Intruders! I whirled about to face BWS-1 as the security drones extended from the ceiling. I didn't need a scan to see that he was in serious trouble; the air around him shimmered with waves of heat. His energy signature must have set them off. There was no time to talk; immediately, I covered his blind side, my shotgun making a quick end to the drones on one side of the corridor, while he took care of the other side. It was quiet again for the moment, but I knew that there were only a few minutes before reinforcements came...time to act quickly. ''It's degrating ... my body is useless *spark and a barrier to ... hey, wait, what did I just say ?'' "BWS-1, are you all right?" '' WE ... ... have merged '' "What...? What do you mean?" I looked at BWS-1, various parts of his body sparking, the heat now seeming to come off of him in waves. It was hot, even though I stood about a meter and a half away. He needed repairs badly, perhaps even a new body. Those words...they weren't the words of a fully conscious android... "Can you move? There is a lab located in the eastern sector of this level. I can help you.. wha-!" //ALERT: TELEPIPE DETECTED. --ACTIVATING BEE: SIGNATURE DETECTED. --BEE ID CONFIRMED.// Reinforcements? No, can't be...Jessica BlackHawk? The sound of footsteps seemed to echo in the silent corridor. I looked over BWS-1's shoulder to see - "Silver, like moonlight...It warms my heart to see that you've kept that reminder of my favor, even after all these years." Master.
BWS-1	VRVlllll,.... . . l ,, RE coverINg DAta My vision is troubled by my broken eyes ... it's like looking trough a broken window ... from very close. , . ., "Silver, like moonlight...It warms my heart to see that you've kept that reminder of my favor, even after all these years." ''Nooo yOu HavE no HEarT ....'' I look at my hand only to see my hand and Orotiagito slowly melt together ... I ... am losing my sences ... I can't hear anything ... can only ... feel ... ''pain'' I give a final stare at Sev and, without any battle screams, quickly turn around and strike at ''Master'' ... but that's in vain I stare at Master as he doesn't even move, inches from me. I can't ... I'm runing out of ... energy ... I ... Arrgh ''Poor BWS-1 ... grin'' My vision gradually fades away. Losing my capacity to move ... to talk ... to scream. I only get to see my katana stop less then an inch from his forehead. ProGRAM LoSt ... CpU ... f,ehhhhrm .... .. ... . . . . discarting body* ____ The carcass loses it's heat, and cools down in it's final stance, having nearly all of it's junctions melted and hardened. ____ ''cursed BWS-1 ... why couldn't he just die? No matter, you are here and he isn't so you better cooperate now, 7'' ____ The ''Soul'' is gone ... but where?
Lara BlackHawk	"no matter. You are here and he isn't, so you'd better cooperate, 7." stamding around a corner behind "master", Silencer has already got the human's head in his crosshairs. "no pity, no mercy,"the RAmar thinks to himself, "No remorse. Now we'll see if you can stop a bullet." he pulls the trigger, and a shot from his ano rifle launches from the barrel. Elsewhere, Lara meets Mike on the training ground where he finished off Zoke. She looks to her husband. He looks back with a nod and the two hunters go off to look for thier children, and their android friends. Still in the hallway, Galveris and Rhiana have regained consciousness and are tending to Jessica and Maya. Rhiana is trying frantically to reattach the RAcaseal's leg while Galveris uses numerous mates to restore Jessica's health.
Severance 7	BWS-1...is dead? I stared at his fused body, still standing there, frozen in the last moment of his life. First, Ciel...then him... I failed. I failed everyone. ''cursed BWS-1 ... why couldn't he just die? No matter, you are here and he isn't so you better cooperate now, 7'' With a growl, I raised my shotgun at him, my finger squeezing the trigger. Suddenly, agonizing pain stabbed my body, and the gun slipped from my fingers, clattering on the floor. "Scion 1 ordered you well," Master said amusedly, watching me as I was trying my hardest to stay on my feet, waves of pain seeming to short out my sensor arrays, "You have no idea, do you?" "WwwhHAT iDEa?" my voice was distorted. Everything was getting numb...I could hardly feel my arms and legs anymore. "Do you think we let you get away so easily? Your ultimate goal was to bring back BWS-1 with Ciel 5, which I say, you've failed miserably. No matter, the mission is almost complete." "NnoO!" I knew something was wrong with me from the start...the total lack of emotion after Ciel 5's death, in fact the anger and disgust I felt instead...the grid deterioration from the effect of the KEY...the emptiness I had within from BWS-1's death...I never questioned it...I was...I am...such a fool... "Yes. Now LISTEN TO ME." Relief...total and complete relief flooded into my senses. I never loved Master more than that moment. "Forgive me, Master. I have failed you." "No matter, 7. You have still one more chance to redeem yourself." There was a sound...another heartbeat, very close... "Master! Look out!" I jumped foward, shoving Master out of the way of the Ano Rifle's bullet, leaving it to crash harmlessly into the wall. I rolled, grabbing my shotgun on the way and instantly returned fire, each volley of bullets tearing chunks out from the walls. Master blasted the corridor with a high level Grants, then said, "We've wasted enough time here. Let us head back into the city and meet my old friend Tyrell, shall we? Telepipes can't penetrate the governing sector. I have a transport waiting outside." As we ran down the corridor, I paused and turned to look at the remains of BWS-1 one last time. I didn't know why...I just needed to. I then turned around and followed Master once more.
Mortimer Kirk	I couldn't belive what I was seeing. It was like I was in my own nightmare. I could see what this master looked like, but I could hear his voice clearly. It was the same voice that haunted me for years. It was dark and cold. BWS...I couldn't belive it. I should have done somthing! I should have stoped him from coming in the first place. I wasn't going to let people die because of the master. He will be stopped. I will stop him...now! I turned to Silencer, "I'm going after them! Blow the generater and get in contaced with the Blackhawks. Tell them what's going on." The generater room was huge and boiling hot. There were several metal platformes around one gigantic generater. I ran as fast as I could and was quickly gaining on the two. They were runing down a long hallway. If only Sev was in conrole, he wouldn't stand a chanse. Every bit of anger ran threw my body. "SEV!" I yelled. The two in front of me stoped and truned around. It was dark in the hallway and I was out of breath from running. "You," he said, "you look fimilier. I take it you know my 7." "Let her go," I said in a commanding voice, "I'm not going to let you stay in controle of her like you controled me!" He paused. All was silent part from the hissing of gas pipes along the walls. Finally he spoke. "You," he said. With each work he spoke he got louder and more enraged, "YOU! Mortimer Kirk! Moo2u! The young ranger that no one could ketch! Your the one who curruped my perfect vision!" "No, my father did that," I gave a small smile, "I'm just helping him out." He begain to walk foward, "I have waited countless days, months, years to find you, you son of a bitch! At last, now that I have found you I can finally take back what is mine!" I could see his face now, and it frightened me. His outside looked like a man of 40 or 50 years old, but his eyes were an ominous gray. "200 years," he said, "No thanks to you I was able to use the Endless song to keep me alive for over 200 years. Let me see it, NOW!" I slowly took out the disc and and put it back in my pocket, "You'll never get it," I said and raised me rifle straight to his face. "I see your father and Blaze taught you how to use these...toys. Why don't you lay down your weapon and fight me like a man!" My arm began to shake. Then I threw down my gun in anger and slid it down the hall with my foot. I ran at him yelling with my fists in the air and punched him directly in the face. He was easy to hit and his body was as fragiel as spegetti. I was shocked when I saw his head twist around backward on his head, I thought I had won but he simply twisted it back. "My turn," he said. His hand turned a dark purple. "AGH!" the pain was back, worse then ever. I fell to the groung crouched over. "Give me the disc." "Never!" The pain got worse...and worse...then pain stopped. I layed on the floor panting, regaining my power. "Then you will die." No, I couldn't let him win...but I was so week. I couldn't even get up. "Severance 7," said the master, "terminate Mortimer Kirk."
Lara BlackHawk	terminate Mortimer Kirk The pair had sent the girls, and the androids back to their home through a telepipe. They decided to return here when they saw Silencer fall to the Master's grants and Severence's gun. Now, Mortimer was in danger of dying too. "You really should have handed over the disk when you had a chance," Master tells Mortimer, "I might have spared you if you had." "If he had, then there would be no way to stop you," comes a voice from behind him, "Millions would suffer under your hand. That, I won't allow." "I heard that spill before, Michael," master answers, "I see you're carrying the legendary katana, sange. Care to test your skill?" "If Zoke, who taught me," Mike replies, "couldn't kill me, then you can't. Lara, get mortimer out of the way, then disable severence. Master is mine." "I understand, honey. Good luck." Lara stands, squaring off against Severence 7, twin brand in hand. "I never knew you as the kind to be controlled," she tells the ranger, "When will you come to realize that if this guy isn't stopped, this whole colony will die, Sev? How many more have to die?"
BWS-1	Alert : Source of energy detected in sub-sector 4-7B in the abandon part of the lab. <453-G>: Send a team hunters to investigate, immidiatly! <4>: and what are the orders, sir?[i/] <453-G>: [i]Locate and identify the energy source, if it's an intruder, elliminate him. If not, try to make good use of that energy <4>: Yes sir! ... <HUcast1>: Unit 32 reporting, no sign of the enregy source, we are at 30 meters form where it has been detected <453-G>:Keep searching! I can still detect a high amount of energy idling less then 15 meters form you! over ... <Unit 32>:He says it is still appearing on the radar ... and apparently it's nearby, he says to the squad leader. <4>:Then enter combat mode, and be ready to cover me. <HUcast1 and 2>:Acknowledge <4> walks into the room and begins his scan. SCANNING ... [] .... [] .... [] nolife form or energy form detected <4>:453-G ! their is absolutly nothing in here but rust and dust! The other HUcasts sigh as they slightly lower their weapons. <453-G>:What!? What game do you think your playing down there, it's right in front of you ! <4>: yeah right ... he mutters then I'll shoot it down points Custum Ray in front of him <4>:All I see is the wall on the other side of the room, and all you'll see is a photonic bullet hit that same wall* <HUcast 1 and 2>: hummph, haha. shoots at wall But the bullet didn't make it to the wall. In fact, it disappeared almost right after it got out of the barrel. <4>: What the?...* SCANNING ... [****] .... [**] .... [**] WARNING! UNKNOWN ENTITY DETECTED! THREAT 100%! suggested combat stragegies: escape, avoid combat, teleport to HQ** <4>:!!! <Unit 32>:contact with the enregy source established! <453-G>:Then do as planned ... <4>:But sir ... it's ... <453-G>:Could you be questionning my orders? Attack! <4>:Fire at will! They start empting their guns, desperatly trying to shoot down what ever was filling the entire room. <453-G>:What's with you guys down there? the radar now only detects the source of energy stronger then it was before, what`s the situation!? <Unit 32>:WE HAVE nO ide a., No thin g cAn bbe ... AAaaaargh! .....shhhhhhhhh <4> empties his clip into unti 32 <453-G>:Unit 32? UNIT 32!? ...* <HUcast 2>: This is ... madness !? HUcast 2 runs to Unit 32 and connects himself to the communication port <HUcast 2>:Must contact ... HQ* BoOOOM!!!! <4> just self destruct himself <HUcast 2>:Wha !? ... no ... II can'T ... HUcast 2 trembles as he starts to point his gun at his head COMMUNICATION ESTABLISHED <HUcast 2>:Sir !!! ! we are being controled b y! ",,... BLLAAAM! ,. COMMUNICATION LOST <453-G>:Crying Idola ... could what possessed and destroyed the team be ... Dark Falz!? NON-SENSE! I must report that to Master ... On the scene of the action, everything is calm and quiet. 2 dead HUcasts near the door, one with peices still burning. yet, the room is peacefull. ... Trough the silence, we could almost hear a humming.
Severance 7	"Severance 7, terminate Mortimer Kirk." I raised my shotgun, my visual field switching to combat red, tiny glowing arrows indicating the target's vital areas and weak points. This man had made Master very unhappy, and he will pay - 'I'll tell ya robo-girl! Ether your batteries are running low or your wires wern't conected right and now your programmed to do the Mambo!' Mortimer...he never misses a chance to...wait, I'm not making any sense. No matter, he will soon be - There was some kind of sound in the air...it was too faint to make out... 'Sometime I'm wondering if us, androids, aren't more primitive then our creators ...' //ALERT: SYSTEM STATUS DANGEROUSLY UNSTABLE. --GRID INTEGRITY COMPROMISED! --RUNNING DIAGNOSTIC...UNABLE TO COMPLY.// "HHhhKkk..." I couldn't move...something was wrong. My visual display was going haywire, switching between combat mode to normal, the edges distorted by static. My archived memory files started to play at random...I could see faces, some of them belonging to the people here attacking Master and I...but...they are my enemies now...right? Right? "When will you come to realize that if this guy isn't stopped, this whole colony will die, Sev? How many more have to die?" 'I am not my own master ...' Where have I heard that before? It's getting so hard to thiNNNnnKKkk. "Must...follow Master...Master's plans will be sSUucCesSFul. Yyou will DIE!" I screamed, swinging my shotgun around at Lara. The tingling in my neck that had been plaguing for so long suddenly turned into a sharp spike of pain, feeling like someone had jabbed me with a white-hot knife. Nevertheless...I raised my shotgun, aiming at Lara. She will die, I will see to that...but, where is that sound coming from? It's...it's like a hu... //DIAGNOSTIC INITIALLIZED...COMPLETE. --ALERT: VIRAL AGENT DETECTED! --INNOCULATION PROCEDURES INITIALLIZED...COMPLETE. --RETURNING SYSTEM TO ROOT VECTORS.// A shower of sparks burst out from my neck, an access panel popping open to reveal a burnt out unit. It fell out, still smoking, and clattered on the floor, breaking into two pieces. I could see a blue hair was wrapped tightly around its base; it burned to ash in the next instant. Everything came crashing back. I fell to my knees, holding my head, not caring that my shotgun had fallen to the floor beside me. All the emotions trapped inside, my memories untainted by that hated KEY, washed over me. 'How many more have to die?' BWS-1...I could see his burnt-out eyes, the polymer of his lenses having melted and run down his face...fusing into tracks like tears... '''Se v ... I .... S ve ... h o ld ... me .... I do n ' wa nt ... I ... Sev ... s e v. . Ciel...my old compatriot... "JusSSst whaaATtt w44as I ru...nning toward?" I whispered, "AlLll I losSSsttT..." I looked up to see Lara standing in front of me, twin brand raised, ready to strike. I turned my head to see Master standing there, facing off with Michael. Shakily, I got to my feet. I nodded to Lara, indicating my shotgun still on the floor, then turned to where Michael and Master stood, about to fight. I was tempted for a moment to let Michael BlackHawk fight Master. It would be so easy...but, what if Michael was to lose? I could see Lara in the corner of my eye. After all, I had nothing to lose. I had to try. Even if Michael refused, at least I knew that I tried. I felt foolish as soon as the words left my mouth; I could barely stand. But, I had to, needed to try... "MicCcchaeLll," I said, my systems laboring to return to their normal states, "Pplease...I will....fight MMasTer...nnNeed Ttto -mMust- end itT..."
Lara BlackHawk	Let me finish it. Those words stopped Mike BlackHawk in his tracks. "Severence, you're in no shape to fight," Lara tells the ranger, "Please, at least, let us back you up. I've sent a message to Galveris to return and get BWS-1 and Mortimer out of here. Silencer's dead. We owe it to him to see this through to the end." "Lara's got a point, Severence 7," Mike says, "The Zoke I knew taught me one thing besides how to swing a sword. He taught me to use my skills to protect the people. That's why I became a hunter. If Master isn't stopped, then this whole colony is going to be reduced to cinders. Millions of people will reach about 1 billion degrees kelvin in under 2.5 seconds. Let us help you finish this. We owe it to Silencer, and to the people of Ragol, but most of all, to you, Mortimer and BWS-1. We started this together.." Lara finishes this statement, "And we'll finish it together, ok?" Mike keeps his katana in the sheath, but rests his hand on the hilt. Lara puts her twin brand away and pulls out a prototype red saber. "You command this fight, Severence. It's more your battle than ours," the HUnewearl says, smiling at Severence 7. In the meanwhile, Galveris has teleported in, near the battlefield, grabbed Mortimer and BWS-1, and teleported out. "This guy is going to need more than repairs. I wonder if Rhiana and Montague can replicate my body and transfer his grid into it," the HUcast wonders as he puts Mortimer down in the guest bedroom. Rhiana looks at the frame of BWS-1. She then hooks a machine up to his central brain core, in an attempt to preserve his AI grid.
BWS-1	where am I ? What ... where are they bringing my body? their's nothing to repair in this statue I'm afraid. But if I'm not in my body, then where am I? I know I'm above them but ... how's my body? looks at hand !? wha... I'm ... energy? I can barelly see my hand, it's not matter, it's ... air or heat or ... what have I become?* I exit the room , I'm going away, as far as I can, out of this graveyard, out of this hell. For some reason, I didn't have to open any doors I just ... passed trough all the lab to ended up in the forest. I Kneeled on the grass near a brook and looked at my face. I had no face, I could just see my eyes as a soft gleam... forever changing from turquoise ... to red ... to purple ... As I stand up, I'm shocked by what I see, the grass where I kneeled is dead, life as been removed, taken away all in the sudden ... by me !? Could I have become ... an other Dark Falz!? No noo ... NOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!! A shock wave of megid-like force explode from my ... entity. It killed every living thing(moslty plants) as far as 20 meters from me. !? Master ... Mortimer ... A.D.S.S.F. ... Ciel 5... BWS-1 .... Galveris ... Severance 7. ... Those names are familiar to me ... I used to be ... one of them ... but why can't I identify myself to just one ? /FLASH/ felt on the ground , took my blade and looked in it ... my eyes ... were ... turning ... into a bloody-red... CORE CONTROL LOST /FLASH/ Ciel 5 ... I am ... both BWS-1 and Ciel 5 !? But how ... Why don't I think or feel like an android? I recall having a feild of visions with digits in it but ... none of this is like right now. I feel, not human nor machine ... I am ... a Falz
Mortimer Kirk	Pain never gose away. It is stored into you and brought out when you lest expect it. My life was filled with pain. My vision was leaving me. Everything was turning black. Master...my master? No...master of Severance 7 and BWS-1? No...master of... Nothing...he tryed to controle something he could not controle. Something that no one can controle. But what was he controling? Lives...bolth android and human. He tryed to controle life. He tryed to controle everything, but it can not be done. Sev...I remember seeing her ready to fight him, but the last thing I remember is someone picking me up and taking me away from the action. The pain now all over me. I can't even fight it anymore. What do I do? There is no one to help me now. I feal like I am on my own. Pain...everywhere...and blackness. My eyes turned into dead grey...and I passed out. Pain.
Severance 7	"We started this together...and we'll end it together..." "I thAaNNnnk yOoou, alLll of yoOu." I didn't know what else to say. It's not my fight...it stopped being my fight a long time ago. I guess I was a little slow in realizing that. I blame faulty circuitry. I came closer to the two hunters, lowering my voice, hoping Master could not hear what I say. I could feel my systems stabilizing, and I slowly gained confidence. "I don't knoOow of any weAaknesses Master might have. The lasSsst time I left him, it was with a hole in his head the size of my fist, from a photon handGgun at point blank range." I shook my head, the visual from my archives flashing in front of my eyes, unbidden. Why didn't I check if he was dead? Why couldn't I have spent another shot into his head? "I think the beSst bet is to keep hIim off balance. He can only pay attention to only one of us at a time; that is an advantage. And let's put those blades to good use; even if Master can survive a shot to the head, I doubt he could live without a head altogether. And a few missing limbs never hurt either. "Good luck." I picked up my shotgun. A quick scan revealed the firing mechanism to be broken...most likely due to the number of times I had dropped it. I tossed it off to the side, and opened my arms, activating the photon blades within them. "Ah, ready to fight?" Master said, amused, "Fools, you have no idea who you face." Suddenly, the room was filled with a vaguely familiar music. I had heard only a portion of it as a part of Master's experiments...is this the Endless Song? No, wait...it's...different. It had been perverted, dischordant. The moans of the souls lost on Ragol seemed to provide a grim counterpoint to the music that seemed to stab into every part of my being, threatening to drive out all reason, all emotions except for hatred, all thoughts save those of destruction. Each moment hearing those diseased notes made it seem harder and harder to fight off its effects. Master's hands glowed with a dark purple energy; it looked like he was holding balls of Megid in his hands. Raising his arms, he suddenly rose three feet into the air, remaining suspended there. His face was split with a smile that looked more like a hideously gaping wound, humorless and utterly hateful. "Come, let us dance," he said softly.
BWS-1	"Come, let us dance," Right after he said that, the ball of megid he was holding vanished. ''Haaaa, I was getting worried. Thanks for comming so quicky, Yukiel, it would have been an harder fight to win without you on my side''. What? I'm not on his side ... Yukiel, that's ... my name, how does he know my name? Why do I think that's my name? the invisible entity that was filling the room slowy formed a body-like, almost invisible to see, shape in front of Master. We could only see the eyes glowing 2 feet above Master's head, staring down at him giving us the idea of an imposing body. ''You will now obey me'', Master says as he takes the disc and puts it into a small device. Then, a serie of different notes started to play. ''Whaaaa aaareee, youuuuuuuu ...'', said Yukiel, with a voice distorting from Ciel5 to BWS-1. ... ''Awaiting orders ... Master.'' ''Good, my Falz, now play with our friends there, show me your power, show me MY power, mwahaha.'' ''As you wish'' Yukiel slowly hovered toward Severance 7 and stared at her ... with his now completly purple eyes, and dematerialized suddenly. ''Now use 7 as a puppet and see how good you are to shoot at her friends.'' Yes ... will obey to Master ... will take over Severance 7 ... will shoot at her friends ... must obey to Master ... entering Severance 7's core ... controllinbg her arms ... must obey to Master ''Dance for me!'', Mater said, smilling at the scene BLAM! chchik BLAM! chchik BLAM! Must ... must ... aarhh ... I ... can feel Severance 7 inside of me ... No ... I am ... inside Severance 7 ... what am I ... argh ... Must obey to Master ... Must obey to Master
Lara BlackHawk	"Oh great,now that Yukiel thing is in Sev," Lara remarks, "This is not good." "Remember, honey," Mike tells his wife, "Adapt to the situation at hand and expect anything." At the BlackHawk home, Maya, Jessica and Rhiana have BWS-1's body scanning for any sign of his or Ciel5's AI grids, and tracking the battle against master. "I don't get it," Maya thinks out loud, "Where im the world could their AI grids have gone?" "I think I know," Rhiana answers, "I'm tracking an energy being within close proximity to Mom and Dad. My guess is that whatever this energy being is, it's actually BWS-1 and Ciel 5's grids combined in some way. They'll not stand a chance against that creature without help." "I'll teleport us in there, Rhiana," Jessica tells her younger sister, "Are you sure your magic can take out a creature like that?" "OH, I'm sure the spells of old Algol will be more than enough." Jessica sets a telepipe after grabbing the katana, Yasha, from the training room. the two sisters step through and back to the battlfield. Lara watches as Mike tries his diving dragon slash at master. unable to fight against Severence 7, she does her best to just defend as best as she can. Mike's sword cuts through master's flesh in a downward arc. the tyrant reels backwards as the speedy swordsman charges again. He rushes past his opponent, spinning around. He uses his rotation for extra force as he slices into master's back. "Looks like Dad's doing well enough," Jessie thinks, "But Mom needs help. That energy being is in severence. Rhiana, do what you have to." "Ok," Rhiana answers, "Powers of the spirit plane..rise forth! EFFES!!!!" A huge pillar of spirit force shoots down from the heavens, engulfing Severence 7. "That blast should affect the energy being, but severence should be ok. That spell was pure spirit force."
Mortimer Kirk	"What...what's going on?" I was having a dream. There was fog all around me. It was like I was walking in a cloud. I could hardly see anything in front of me. The wound was still there. I was trying to find something, or someone. What I was trying to find, I didn't know. Finally I got to a clearing and saw other people. They were all badly injured and would look almost dead if they wern't moving. What was going to happen, I had no idea.
Severance 7	I saw glowing purple eyes for a millisecond before they disappeared, the force going through me, then into me. I gasped involuntarily; it was freezing cold. I could feel condensation starting to form on my exterior. Suddenly, a whisper of a familiar presence... BWS-1...Ciel 5? No, that can't be... "Dance for me!" Then my body was not mine to control. I watched as my autotargeting system activated by itself and fixed on both Lara and Michael. I tried to fight it, but it was like all the connections between my brain and my grids had been severed. I could not even cry out a warning as I started to fire a gun I had somehow produced. ... Must obey to Master ... Must obey to Master ... It was a snippet of thought, most definitely not my own. Again, familiar voices, chanting those words as if in chorus. The voices seemed to speak in time with the music that filled the room. *BWS-1? Ciel 5? Is that you? Can you hear me?* No reply. I tried sending a broad frequency transmission, but I could not even access that part of my grid. I could only watch helplessly, a passenger in my own body, as I fired round after round at the two hunters, trying everything I could to make it miss. I could see Lara was not willing to damage me; at least they knew I was under control. Michael seemed to be doing well against Master...however, the wounds that he made did not bleed, nor did Master seem that concerned about the punishment he was receiving from Michael's sword. That was worrying, to say the least. Suddenly, all of my senses were flooded with a blinding light streaming around me like a waterfall from the sky. I felt my body freeze for a moment, then the force that had taken control of me was gone. I whirled about to spot Rhiana and Jessica standing there. I nodded to them, then turned back to Master. The purple eyes and distorted force regenerated, and were floating around me once more; a few seconds more, and it will try to take me over again. I had no idea what to do. It's not like I could attack the thing...Then I noticed a glint of something made of metal within the folds of Master's robes; he seemed to be manipulating it subtly, the music changing along with his actions. So, I aimed, and took my chances. The single shot flew true; the device shattered in a spray of sparks and metal, Master's twisted version of the Endless Song no longer tainting the air. The sudden silence was a relief, like finally oiling a squeaky joint after tolerating the sound for so long. Master screamed in outrage, but I didn't pay much attention at the moment. I only stared at those strange purple eyes floating in the air before me, and waited to see what would happen next.
Lara BlackHawk	"You're wide open," Mike declares as he sheathes the sword, "Now, you're mine." He rushes at master, sword still in the sheath. At the last second, he draws the blade. The legendary katana, Sange, slices right through master's flesh like a hot knife through butter, and the tyrant separates into two pieces. "Looks like that battle's over, but what about Yukiel?" Lara wonders as she eyes Severence, "What kind of options do we have?" "Judging that he's an energy being," Rhiana thinks, "Created by master's endless song project, there must be a way to reverse the effect. But that would just leave the data of Ciel 5 and BWS-1's AI grids, and without a matrix for them to inhabit.." "I know what you mean, Sis," Jessie thinks out loud, "But BWS-1's body is completely fried. Montague is bringing a body over, though. It's design is exactly like Galveris. That should work, though."
BWS-1	''EFFES!!!!'' Must ,,, no ... I can't ... I'm, drifting away !!! This spell is strong , how comes it doesn't damage me? I can feel it's power, and feel it push me away but , it harmless? ''Waaaaaaaaa !!! .....'' I've been ejected of her body ... must ... obey master. regenerates Blam! ''What ,,.. noooooooo must .... obbeeeeeey Maaaaaaaassteeeer ....'' As Yukiel turns to Master, he sees him being slices by Mike, with parts of the disks falling on the ground "NOo O oo ooooooo ... He then concentrate an unbeleiveble amount of energy and manages to revive Master, but it didn't heal him completly. The falz slowy loses it shapes , sometimes fading in the air, sometimes reforming itself, it has gone unstable, but the purple eyes were no more. within seconds, they returned to their turquoise-to-red cycle. "I just ... revived Master!?'' ''Yes and I thank you, even if you were still under my control at that time.'' ''So you think I will no longer be able to control Yukiel now, huh 7? Well I'm sure I can still use Ciel5 at my advantage ...'', said Master ''Ciel5! this is the time to prove your loyalty to the A.D.S.S.F.! Defeat them, and you shall be treated as one of my personnal elite guard !'' The eyes of the Falz turned Red ... ''Master, said Yukiel in Ciel5's voice, you lost your power over me long ago, but I have been waiting for that chance to prove myself since the begining ...'' He then vanished ... but he wasn't gone. All the base started to shake and that caused some minor power failures, an EMP shocked the entire base. Some parts of the ceilings started to fall near Michael, Lara and Sev. ''Yes ... good Yukiel, good'' Yukiel reappeared near Sev took 3 steps away from her and shot a green-blue ball of energy into her body sending her to the wall. It seemed to have been really demanding for Yukiel since he looks weaker then before the shot. "What have you done!? Yukiel you idiot ..." "M y nAm e is ... Ci El 5!!!!" And on those words, he concentrated a black ball of energy inside what looked like his chest and released it in direction of Master. The entity, Ciel5, crumbeled into peices of energy that quickly disovled as the ball of energy burst slowly through him and then headed full speed inside Master. !!! Master, agonizing, began to split in two ... back to how he was before Yukiel revived him. Ciel5 had cast a powerful reversed Resta that had killed him as he cast it. <BWS-1> In who am I now?*
Mortimer Kirk	Back there in the fog filled room. I was back there agin. This time I heard someone singing. I wandered my way threw passing fallen heros of the past. All looked tiered and needed rest, as did I. But I still followed the song. The voice was familier and the song I now knew. Past another bank of fog I found her. It was Zin, dead but singing. I could see it now, a battle being fought by them selfs, but all against master. I saw it all and it was hard to watch. Finally, when master was defeated, I let out a sigh for joy. I could rest now. A bed made from a cloud formed beside me ready to let me rest. But she would not let me rest, not yet. She did not say anything, only a head motion back and forth as if she was trying to say I had more I needed to do. Sudenly there was a bright light that came so fast it frightened me. "Ah!" With a quick jump I wook up. The dream, or whatever it was, was over. I was lying on a couch in the Blackhawk's house. Then I noticed, the pain was gone. Still week I was, but no pain. I saw a telepipe still open and knew where it would lead me. I tried to walk to it, but stumbled on my way over. I had to crawl the rest of the way there. The telepartation was quick and I was back in the sceen of the battle. I knew all that was going on. I had to be here, this was important to me. I sat in one corner with my arms resting on one leg and waited to see what would happen.
Severance 7	''Master, you lost your power over me long ago, but I have been waiting for that chance to prove myself since the begining ...'' Ciel...after all this time...all you ever wanted was to prove yourself to Master... The EMP shockwave shook the lab to its foundations. As I dodged various falling debris, I could feel the ground starting to lose its stability under my feet. The facility would not be standing much longer. I stumbled slightly as a few floor tiles gave way, and I looked up just in time to see a ball of bluish-green energy rushing toward me. There was no time to dodge, and I could feel the force of it lift me off my feet and send me flying into a wall. "M y nAm e is ... Ci El 5!!!!" I crumpled to the floor, the unexpected shock taking a toll on my already damaged grids. My body felt strange, as if electrified; I half-expected sparks to fly off my fingertips. I couldn't move, my grids trying to compensate for the overload. I could only watch with mingled surprise and relief as Master split in half once more, finally and truly dead. BWS-1, Ciel 5...I'll miss you. Thanks for everything, my friends. ---ERROR: MULTIPLE GRIDS DETECTED IN HOST. INTEGRATE? ---NEGATIVE. ---WARNING: SYSTEM OVERLOAD! ---COMPENSATION PROCEDURES INITIALLIZED.// Iiinnn...W..wh.....amMm.mm..I..now? //FLASH--- Forest area...destruction of unknown capacity...sand dunes, LIlllike waLlkIng in a sSea of oiL...black and silver...liiIKe THe MmMooonlight...A sea of Flowerrrrs...a shiIInnNIng swOrd... ---FLASH// This feeling...it was so familiar, deja vu. My grid felt sluggish, as if another was trying to use it at the same time. There was a presence that I've felt only once before...but it can't be, can it? Or is it just another error in an already damaged grid, fueled by my wishful thinking? BWS-1...can that be you in there? I set that question aside for the time being as my body finally came back online. I stood up, leaning heavily against the wall. I turned my head at the sound of an activated telepipe. Mortimer appeared, looking tired, but none the worse for wear. I opened my mouth to speak to him, when a sudden surge of power flowed through my body. "RRrrrRrhhhh..." Wha...Wwwhat...issSss...HHhhappening? I sank to my knees. I could see myself reflected off the few remaining tiles on the floor, and my eyes widened with shock as I saw my usually glowing green eyes slowly shift into that of a turquoise blue... //ERROR: CORE CONTROL LOST.//
BWS-1	/ACCESS TO CORE: GRANTED// /ESTABLISHING CONTACT WITH OPTIC. SYS.// I trip backward as I look at my arm to see in witch body I am. "I ... A m in SevErANce . ..", I tried to say. /AJUSTING VOICE SETTINGS// FREQ; 452.67 "I ... I know everything." I'm having trouble to control the android. Much more then I used to with my former body, BWS-1. Is it because it's a RAcaseal? or because my grid is no longer what it used to be ... I managed to go help Mortimer and put him back on his feet and walk to the others. "Ciel5 did not want to prove himself to Master, I said out loud, knowing Sev would hear from inside. He wanted to prove himself to you, Sev. The ultimate attempt in being forgiven was, to him, to sacrifice himself for you and all of us. Why do I know that? Well, we were one as Yukiel when he was in control, I was just unable to do anything, but I could clearly read his mind. Before he sent an Electro Magnetic Pulse trough all the lab, he ... well, WE hugged all the data we could find, witch now allows me to tell you all abou t tJHe E ndless SOnn g Prosje ..." /CORE CONTROL LOST// I fell on the ground, unable to control the body anymore ... I was no longer compatible with anything that I used too ... after all, I'm no longer a grid or an A.I. ... I'm a part of an entity, I'm half of an artificial Falz. Severance 7 ... I can't stay in you forever, if I do, I'll probably corrupt you and fry your grid and me with it. I have to get out ... but not here. Don't worry about leaving this place. The EMP short curcuited all of the agents in the lab. I will not have much time once I'll be out of you, I can't contain my energy since I AM energy, I'm afraid Ciel5's attempt to save me was in vain. I'll probably consume myself not long after I'll be out but at least, I'll have enough time to reveal to all of you everything you need to know before I ... I can't beleive it ... I always thought I was prepared for this but now ... I ... I'll face it. Everything will be fine, Sev, don't worry It'll be just ... fine
Lara BlackHawk	"Jessie, Rhiana," Lara yells, "Telepipe out of here. We'll bring Severence 7 with us. If MOntague's bringing a HUcast body to the house, then we can transfer BWS-1's grid to it. Now, get out of here. We'll be right behind you." The two girls listen to their more experienced mother and drop a telepipe back to the house. Mike picks up Mortimer as Lara supports Severence with her shoulder. The hunters carry the two back out of the lab before it all collapses around them. Back at the BlackHawk home, Mike puts Mortimer back down on a couch, while Lara lies Severence down beside a prototype HUcast form, in the lower chamber. Montague is standing beside the hunters, with Jessica and Rhiana assisting him. "Ok, now, I've located the data on BWS-1," the genius FOnewm thinks out loud, "It appears this matrix should be compatible with the energy and data. Let's just hope that we can transfer this core before it's too late." Lara takes Mike's hand as the doctor and her daughters do thier work. She says a silent prayer for her friends, BWS-1 & Severence 7
Mortimer Kirk	"I can't belive I was too late," I said to myself, "if we loss one of them I'll never forgive myself. " A pause, "But I think there is something I can do." I tried to get up buy failed miserably. My arms were so week and I could barly feal my legs. I felt like I wanted to sleep...yes sleep...but no, there was still more I needed to do. Taking the disc out of my pocket I said to the Blackhawks, "Please put this into a computer, play the endless song. I'm not sure...if it will help, but it gave me hope when I was down...and I think, once again, we all need a bit of hope,"
Lara BlackHawk	Maya takes the disk from Mortimer and puts it in a disk reader in the lower chamber. The Endless Song reverberates through the entire house as Montague, Rhiana and Jessica continue their work.
Severance 7	e..vrytng w ilLll be fin e, ev don wry It'll e juS sst ... fine //ERROR: INCORRECT PATHWAY CONFIGURATION. --ADJUST? --AFFIRMATIVE.// ----- "Master, you called for me?" "Ahh, yes. Come here, 7. I want you to try and adjust your grid to this configuration. Now, listen to this." Master placed a disc into a player on his desk. The strains of a strange, aethereal melody filled the room. As I listened, I started to alter my grid into the configuration specs that Master had handed me. It was surprisingly easy this time. Usually, his configuration tests landed me in the repair facility more often than not. Perhaps it was the music that helped; it felt like my pathways were falling into place in time with the music. "Configuration finished, Master." "Really? Now, tell me. How are you functioning?" Something was changed. The music seemed to grow louder, and I felt like I was seeing Master with new eyes. I was suddenly free...somehow, the protection directives that had been hardwired into my grid, made so that I could never raise a hand against Master, were gone. The only obstacle to my freedom had disappeared. Now, I only had to wait... "I...I don't feel any different, Master. I'm sorry." "Another incorrect configuration? You disappoint me, 7. Report to the repair facility for a path reset." "At once, Master." I didn't go. Master seemed to give up on me; he never ordered me to reconfigure my pathways again. He used other androids in his experiments...many of which were never seen again. I learned later that the music was something called "the Endless Song," but where it came from, I knew not... ----- I can hear the music again. I could feel my grid responding to it somehow...my pathways were altering yet again... "Her systems are crashing...hurry, we don't have much time!" That voice...Montague? "Rhiana, hand me that tool over there. Thanks," Montague said, then with a burst of static, my optical system came back online, fading in and out from time to time. I couldn't move; my grids were starting to fail. It felt like my pathways were lined with molten lead; BWS-1's energy was taking its toll on me. I could see Montague, Jessica, and Rhiana working quickly to establish connections between my grids to that of an android that was laying beside me. Nearly all of my access panels were open, and every available port seemed to be bristling with wires. I didn't want to die...but I didn't want BWS-1 to die in an effort to save myself. Then it would have been all in vain...and Master would win...laughing at us from Hell. I knew that the new android body would probably not be able to support BWS-1's energy signature for long. BWS-1's grid structure had been significantly altered...it only slightly resembled an android's now. Eventually, it too would most likely break down under the weight of it all. A better solution had to be found, and quickly...but what? ..What can I do? I only have a short time left... The only thing I could do for now was adjust my pathways, trying to find the right configuration...to try and "teach" BWS-1's grid to be that of an android's again. The Endless Song seemed to fill my auditory components, drowning out the worried voices of those around me...I could feel the pattern in my pathways align to it...I only hoped it was the right way...
BWS-1	... hurR y ... tRans fer hte pow Er no W ... N ow! I'm being moved ... I can't feel Sev's core anymore, just barelly. Where am I being sent? I can feel Severance trying to tell me somthing, but it's all incrypted in some sort of coding ... codes ... crypted ... the langage of the androids ... but I can't anylize this! Sev ... why are you going away? what's pulling you away form me; or what's pulling me away from her ... I want to know how to be me again! Sev ! In what langage will I have to shout it to you! I need you ... I ... need you ... I know I can assimilate this but I don't think I'm ready to go ... into ... !? an other android body? T here ... H is cor E is nno W ... I, have a body. Maybe I can just try to assimilate it the same way I did with the agents back in the mines. ._? /W& ???????_. -7 ????????%? ?- '' Ghyaaaaaaa ! '' -S?&TEM CON???GI?G_ -" //PTIN g COO R??? ? S_ OPt ic alll ()NL1 n= I can see nothing but shadows, I have a very low resolution sight and a lot of red flashing menus keep poping out of nowhere in my vision field. I can only know I have a form, a body, by recieving this constant damage signal comming from every single sensors of the android. It's nearly impossible to consentrate on anything ... I ... I'm losing my sight again ... _S1XTEm o v3R L0A d - Cu T the cOn necti o ... Qu i K. or EL se He 'll F ry SE v as Wel l (The chest of BWS-1 started to turn orange, red, white and all hot then ... nothing, everything just went back to normal, the body slowly lost it's heat giving the chest a burnt down color) W e ... we l ost him? _VO callll O:N lne.+ ''SHshshsshhhhhshsshshhhhhhshhhhshshshhs'' (one eye out of the two turned it self on, spark were coming out of the other, and suddenly, he started to talk, with nothing but a low quality sound coming out of the Vocal sys., without any reaction of the rest of the body, sound was coming out of him, as if he was speaking through a dead body) ''Firsst ... I waN t to T ell You th at I'm fin e, AAND tha t you Di d you'rE best ... And th'at'll be eN ough, Than K yoU" _ConV3Rg!i ng EN3rGy to VOca1- "I have only 7 beats of energy left and I can't refill my batteries, nearly everything is fried in this body. So I will go straight to the point, here is what you all need to know." spark "The mission failure of Ciel5 and Sev's group was all planned by Master, Ciel5 was introduced as an elite personnal guard to Master to hide his true purpose for the agency. It was just a "fake" identety given to him to give Master time to create the instrument of doom ... and when Mortimer's father stole it, it made master mad since he just finish tests for the device, all he needed now was the REAL artificial Falz to control, since all his attempt in in controling people infected with a small artificial were in vain ... they died or lived miserably with constent pain in their body for the simple reason that an artificial Falz could not be controled or stable if it was hosted by a real and natural soul. Therefore, the only compatible creatures and perfect host would be the androids, 100% artificial, and Ciel5 was perfect for that. But it was impossible to give it to one and only android. It caused many other test androids to litterally meltdown. But Ciel5 did not host the Falz since day 1, it's been partially implented to him during a maintenance report. It's probably from that day that Ciel smewhat started to look a little more sadistic, and more devoted then ever to Master. Now why was I compatible for the fusion? Pure bad luck ... for me , but for Master, he saw my gird compatibility as a revelation, and then started to plan is quest to take over Ragol." "To become one, 2 grids have to be in the same body, and the mission of my former teammates was to do enough damage to force my core to be transfer into the one with Ciel5 ... but that's after my original mission failed. I was sent to take back Ciel5 and eliminat his original host, Severance 7. By doing so, I would have destroyed half of the colony, due to Sev's nuclear power cells. But that amount of energy would have been enough to make Ciel5's grid and mine murge instantly and become the Falz. and being a newly born artificial Falz, I would have needed energy to feed and grow stronger, but that wouldn't have been a problem since that right after I murged, I'd have absorb all of the nuclear explosing's energy and heat. That would have make me instantly as strong as the real Dark Falz and I would have been big enough to swallow the entire planet. And at that point, Master would not have needed the disk to control us since our grid were loyal to him, but when I got "killed" by my teammates, I was against Master, and when Ciel5 murged with me, he just realize that being on Master's side was bad, so we were all against him and that is why at THAT point, he needed the disk to control us." "Now what could have caused us to become a Falz without the nuclear reaction? ... Simple, the spell casted outside the lab that nearly short ciruited me to death was enoough energy to start the murging reaction, but not enough instantly become a Falz. The "coup de grace" that litterally "killed" me was when Ciel5 started the self destruct sequence in my body, just to give us enough energy to murge, that's why I didn't blow up, we absorbed everything, and it would have done the same thing with Sev, we would have absorbed all the nuke before it would have damage anyting. Yet, efen as a Falz, I was weaker then expected, I just had the minimum to murge ... and the bad news was that Master had the disk, he was capable of controling us, known as Yukiel, like a puppet." "Yukiel ... I didn't find anything on that name ... I guess only Master had kept that away from the A.D.S.S.F. files and databank." "I also found something about a savior, supposed to counter the dark spirit and bring it back to the light in a new life ... all I have is flashes in my memory of ancient writtings on walls of some temples, found in the locked data base of the A.D.S.S.F. ... discribing the savior as an angel, the color of the sky, from the Heavens that would come in a unexpected period in history and that, they say, will die without having accomplished it's mission. But it says it will struggle on and try to help the People of the cursed Falz in the afterworld." "Zi ,,,.. ZI nnA ,,.... W as Hrre Na ,,,M'' "I thi n k aht .. ,, whe r .e , I ' vvhaaavvvv e to , leAv 3 ...'" _onergy crit al=.;; '' aa a W aa it , S e v .., M i ..... Mo r me .... LA r. a .... I ,,..." "Shssshhssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhshshsssss" (The voice stoped, the body stayed there, dead, out of energy and then the room got fild with some sort of gloom, it all consentrated into one single ball of light ... and finally, as if it was staring at everyone at the same time, it crumbled into shining dust) (some dust fell on Severance 7's left forearm, leaving a light turquoise mark ; the rest, fell on the ground and disapeared)
Lara BlackHawk	The BlackHawks watched the ball of light dissipate into nothingness. In her grief, Lara grabbed onto her husband and cried on his shoulder. Rhiana, Jessica and Montague stood there, saying nothing. Galveris and Maya, in their own way, mourned the loss of the noble android,BWS-1. A few hours later, Rhiana is going over the informtion on the disk that Mortimer had handed to Maya. She reads over the directory struture and finds one that suits her interest. AI Code She finds inforation on the AI grids of both BWS-1 and Ciel 5. "Should I really go through all this information and code it into the AI system of this husk of an android?" she thinks to herself, "It'd be like bringing a person back from the dead who's been dead for some time. It really wouldn't have the soul of BWS-1. What do I do?" She looks at the husk of a HUcast and continues to think as the night goes by. Elsewhere, Lara has since cried herself to sleep beside her husband. Jessica is still awake and meditating, while Galveris and Maya recharge their weakened power cells. The next morning, Mike, Lara, Jessie, Rhiana, Galveris and Maya all go to the Hunter Memorial again, this time to watch another name be inscribed on the wall. That of "BWS-1". "Lara, do you really think that stop by the guild was wise?" Mike asks his wife. "Look, they're my friends, honey," Lara responds, "and friends help each other. Besides, we can always make back that meseta in a couple of jobs." At the Ragol Colonial Bank, 2 transfers of 100,000 meseta is being processed into the accounts of Mortimer Kirk and Severence 7.
Mortimer Kirk	Power is a strange thing. It can curupt a person with jelyousy, or it can save one's soul. It's no big secret, all you need to do is use power wisely. Some people say knowlege is power, and in lots of ways that makes sence, but there are some things that are best to stay unknown. I guess your wondering how I turned out huh? Well it wasn't anything close to fun, I can tell you that. After BWS-1's...death I guess you could call it, I was pretty beat up. In fact I couldn't feal the lower half of my body for about a month! One whole month of torturous rebuilitation. The fighting may be over, for now, but there was still something bothering me. Something I couldn't put my finger on. It wasn't money this time! I was incredibly greatful to hear the Blackhawk's helped my out. They've already helped my so much, it almost felt wrong to take it! I'm telling you, when thoughs guys get togeather, there isn't anything they can't do! After that I always tried to spend sometime with them. Nicest folk you could ever meet! With the money I got I became a felance mersonary. Of course I still work for the guild as well. About a couple of years later I bought a small house just outside of the Central Dome around the outskirts of the forest, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's back up here. But of course I couldn't forget my old robot buddy of mine! After BWS-1 left us I hardly saw her, but it was just a matter time I guess. It was always a treat to run into her and believe it or not I'm starting to run out of android jokes! One night I even stayed up late thinking of good ones to say! Who would have every guessed, me and an android friends! I guess I'm just glad that the A.D.S.S.F. is far behind the two of us and hopefully it'll wtay like that. But still, something was wrong. It occured to me one day when visiting the graves witch I now often visit. Once I knew what it was I ran to my ship. People looked at me as if there were some sort of emergency. Of course it wasn't but it was something that I had to do. I was lucky to have my ship. Now that I was planing to stay on Ragol, I was trying to sell it. The ride was long, but it didn't seem long. Finaly I got there. A small planet that hardly anyone gose to. I landed on the outside of a town near a small stream. I hoped out of my ship and saw an old wooden hut. No one had been there in over two decades now. It was dusty but comforting, it was my home. I steped inside to take a look. It was torn up by the A.D.S.S.F. a long time ago. Places were burned, furniture was ruined and pictures were smashed. I walked into the main room that held the fireplace. There was a picture on the ground. I picked it up and examened it. The frame was broked and craked, but the picture seemed unharmed. It was a photo of me as a boy, my mother and my father. We all looked so happy then, so unaware of what would happen. I took the picture out of the frame and stuffed it in my pocket. Also in my pocket were two discs. One was the disc that was given to me so long ago and the other was a copy of certain information of the A.D.S.S.F. except without any mention of the Endless Song. I was going to give that one to the goverment. I took out the real disc and looked it over. So long I've had this thing. It felt like and hour pasted when I was just looking at the disc, but I know it wasn't that long. I was begining to doubt what I was going to do, but I knew I had to go threw with it. Finaly I threw the disc up into the air. For a brife second it shine with the few sparkes of light that there. Then I grabbed my Varista and blasted it into hundreds of pieces. I watched as the parts of the disc fell to the ground, then I turned and left. I left that place, for the last time.
Severance 7	It's funny how things turn out the way they do. Free will or fate? Or were our actions being controlled by some higher force? Never mind. I found myself back at the Hunter Memorial again, back where it all began. I sat on a stone bench, staring at the grass. The well-manicured green of the grass had faded into a dead straw which crackled under the feet. The wind was strong this time of year; I watched the short blades of grass whip back and forth, the only sound being the howl of the wind and the rustle of leaves. It was too cold for humans or newmans to be out today. It had been a few months since that final day. Absently, I touched my left forearm, feeling the turquoise mark that BWS-1 left; the shining dust had fused with my exterior plating, leaving a permanent mark. I looked up, watching the clouds race across the sky. It took about three weeks to get me fully repaired. Hosting BWS-1's energy had done considerable damage, but if I had to do it all over again, I would have gladly done the same thing. I was extremely grateful for the BlackHawk's gift. The repairs were very expensive, and the extra meseta was a lifesaver, literally. I planned to pay them back, as soon as I found the will to start working again...but not right now. The memories still hurt a little. I would visit the BlackHawks from time to time, keeping in touch. Mortimer, I saw less often, since he was busy with his freelancing work, but it was good when we did see each other. We sharpened our claws on each other, but it was all in good fun. I felt extremely fortunate to have such good friends. Usually though, I found myself wandering through the colony alone, as if unsure of what to do. For the first time in my life, I was truly, completely, free. There was a darkness lifted off my soul, of which I didn't even know I had. The ghosts were finally quiet...and it was strangely lonely. After all, I was the only android left from the A.D.S.S.F. I often wondered on how it would have all turned out, if there was never such a thing as the A.D.S.S.F., if there was no Master, and us androids were never built to be killing machines. I knew Ciel 5 longer...we both lived with the expectation of a short life, so his death was not a great shock. In fact, I sort of expected it. But BWS-1... The sky was getting dark. I could see stars starting to shine in the deep indigo edges of night. The lights of the Memorial flickered on, blanketing the grounds with a harsh glare. I've stayed here long enough. I whistled, an extremely high-frequency pitch that only androids and Mags could hear. My Mag came back from its wanderings, floating silently in the air before me. It was a baby Mag, its one glowing eye staring at me as it waited patiently. I usually didn't carry one around with me outside of missions, but this one refused to stay in my apartment, so I made an exception. The mark on my arm pulsed slightly, in synch with the glow of my Mag's eye, which was the same bluish-green color. The Mag's armor itself was a light blue. This was a little strange, since Mags usually took on the colors of their masters, but I had a feeling I could never be the master of this particular Mag. I got up, the Mag taking its usual position over my left shoulder. I turned my head to look at it, smiling slightly. "Let's go home, BWS-1." FIN