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Post by Tokrochiru on Jun 17, 2013 19:50:34 GMT -5
So, it turned out Piccolo was going to be the one assigned to keep all the brats in line. He was fine with that. Aside from recruiting, keeping others in line was part of his usual duties. Oswald would have to be taught some humility, the demon hunter would have, and this...red-haired child, Zelos, would have to have some seriousness beat into him. Piccolo found it ironic that the vampire and the demon, of all people, were likely going to be the most complaint of his would-be subordinates.
Piccolo had no doubt in his mind that he could handle the job. But that didn't completely eliminate all of his worries...
"Just one question. Who's gonna recruit while I'm gone? We need a constant stream of incoming volunteers if we want to cover all this new ground."
Amuzi and her Realm Agents were discovering worlds and universes every day. Investigating them all may have been a statistical impossibility, but in order to even be remotely thorough in their investigations, constant recruiting was a necessity. People like Piccolo were assigned to help in that regard.
So why was Piccolo leading a team rather than providing Sanctuary with people it desperately needed?
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Post by Jisui on Jun 17, 2013 20:12:56 GMT -5
"..." Inwardly, she agreed with the red-haired man known as Zelos. In a team like this, Yumizuka had little place in being in it. It was true that she was strong... Dead Apostles weren't called such because they were weak. But she was inexperienced, and if it came down to a situation where she had to make a harsh decision, Ciel doubted that she would be able to do it. Regardless, it seemed as though the sorceress had made up her mind on the issue, so Ciel would have to comply, her distaste for vampires aside...
"Sounds easy enough. If we can avoid fighting these guys all at once, it shouldn't be a problem."
"Is it really that simple? People don't change so easily, demon." Ciel muttered in response to Hellboy's words, her mind mulling over the descriptions that Amuzi had gone over. Without a doubt, they sounded formidable. Almost all of them could use some type of magic or elemental manipulation it seemed. Nier in particular... she didn't get a very promising feeling about the sound of this Grimoire he carried. Regardless, she doubted that they would simply turn back and join them with open arms. Still, Ciel wasn't ready to leave just yet... one glaring omission seemed to be left from the information they were given.
"What of the world we're being sent to? Is there anything significant about it?" She questioned quietly, somewhat hoping that the group they were sent to find wasn't hiding on some jungle-infested world or the like.
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Post by SlvrNight on Jun 17, 2013 20:34:07 GMT -5
Hellboy raised an eyebrow at Ciel. "Y'know, since we're on a team, you can use my name. It's not like you'll instantly burst into flames or anything. Anyways... It's not like we gotta convince them to rejoin the fight or anything. Pretty sure those guys aren't stupid enough to completely ignore the fact that they might be used by our enemies to take over this place. You heard the witch over there, that crap happening would be absolutely catastrophic."
He stroked his goatee in thought, considering what to do if the rogue group would not listen.
"And if they absolutely refuse to listen, we're gonna have to take them down. I'd rather avoid that, though. Not a fan of senseless killing..."
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Post by BloodValkyrie on Jun 17, 2013 21:02:34 GMT -5
Amuzi genuinely smiled at Piccolo, somewhat touched that he was seriously concerned about their recruiting abilities. She had many Realm Agents but it often felt that many of them did not take the situation seriously. She understood it in a way. Some people simply could not handle such pressure. But the Namekian was able to handle that and work alongside her flawlessly.
She would have to reward him for that at the end of the crisis.
"Ah, yes. No need to fret, Piccolo. I have someone ready to recruit while you're gone."
As if on cue, an attractive woman walked in. She had blue skin, bright blue eyes, and solid, unmoving, tentacles on her head that bent backwards, coming together in a tip. She was wearing a tight white and blue outfit that looked like thin armor. This woman was obviously not human, yet she did not look demonic either. She looked at Piccolo and nodded at him.
"I am Liara T'Soni. I'll be keeping track of recruitment while you're away." Her voice was soft and gentle, yet one could tell from the tone alone that she had experience. She stood tall and confident, as if she had dealt with similar responsibilities before.
"If you're worried about her qualifications..." Amuzi started. "Liara here was in charge of a galaxy-wide information network back in her own world. She's good at keeping her eyes on multiple things and should be able to keep things in check until you return."
Next was Ciel's question. It was a logical one and something that Amuzi almost forgot to mention.
"It is a world much like yours, actually. It has the same countries and cities. With a few extra ones original to the world added on. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you exactly where the rogue Agents are. I can tell you who to find for such information though. Look for a demon hunter named Dante. He has a demon hunting business named Devil May Cry and should be able to point you in the right direction. I have not dealt with him personally, but I know he encountered our rogue heroes. It was the last bit of information I could receive from the world before being cut off."
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Post by Jisui on Jun 17, 2013 21:40:12 GMT -5
Ciel more or less ignored Hellboy's words towards her, but acknowledged that he had a point. Most people wouldn't be foolish as to risk the safety of the entire universe over their own petty desires... but humans, other worlds or not, were not so simple. For some reason, she didn't think it would be as simple as Hellboy made it out to be...
...And her thoughts were answered as Amuzi answered her question, and Ciel couldn't hold in a quiet sigh from breaking out of her normally emotionless face, as if somewhat irritated by the information she had gotten. It wasn't the fact that they had to track a group through, not in a specific section, but an entire world itself that bothered her. She had been on enough missions by the Church so that things like this had become common to her. But the introduction of a new variable, this demon hunter known as Dante... if Amuzi had no contact with him, and he already encountered the rogue group, it was possible that this mission would be more complicated then they originally thought. The sooner they got moving, the better.
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Post by Advix on Jun 17, 2013 21:53:13 GMT -5
"I hardly see the point in trying to reason with them," Oswald spoke up. "What reason could they possibly have for deserting? They know what's at stake. If you don't know why, trying to approach them with diplomacy is a waste of time. They should expect a group like us to come after them. I wouldn't count on them to give us a chance to talk things over."
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Post by Tokrochiru on Jun 17, 2013 22:09:32 GMT -5
Piccolo didn't know what to think. She was certainly no warrior, judging from her attitude, outfit and background. But he did sense something odd within her. A strange energy. This wouldn't have been the first time Piccolo encountered a scientist with deceptively advanced combat skills.
"If she can handle herself, then I'm fine with it."
The namekian waited for the others to finish asking their questions, listening carefully as they did so. Ciel had a point when it came to the defects. Those people left for a reason, and asking them nicely to come back wasn't going to change that reason. One way or the other, this was going to end up in a fight. The real question was weather or not the defects should be given the chance to explain themselves before being taken in...
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Post by SlvrNight on Jun 17, 2013 22:18:59 GMT -5
"Tch." Hellboy clicked his tongue. "You people are really itching for a fight, aren't you?" He then got up from his seat, ready to leave.
"Alright, I'm ready to head out now. Find this Dante guy, get him to help us find these missing agents of yours, then bring them back or put them down. That about right?"
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Post by BloodValkyrie on Jun 17, 2013 22:58:28 GMT -5
Amuzi listened to everyone, silently nodding her head. She then cleared her throat and raised her hand.
"If that is all, then you should be going."
A flash of golden light burst from the sorceress's body, engulfing the entire room and everyone in it. The light felt warm and in a few moments it would feel as if everyone were free falling, heading towards their destination. Amuzi's voice could be heard echoing through the light.
"Good luck everyone. Please do try to avoid killing each other..."
Then her voice was gone.
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Post by BloodValkyrie on Jul 22, 2013 17:56:29 GMT -5
The Pearl Sanctuary Amuzi’s Office
Sitting within the dark room, in front of the north wall covered in large glass orbs, were two people. Both of incredible power, even compared to those running about in the Pearl Sanctuary. One was the white sorceress Amuzi, a strand of her golden hair wrapped around her index finger as she leaned back in her seat.
The other was a being of much less holiness. He had a black and red metallic body and his head was surrounded in flames. He was currently leaning forward in his seat, yellow eyes not focused on his opponent before him, but the space between them. The flaming entity was the despot of the Dark Dimension, known as Dormammu. And at the moment, he was having a mental conflict with himself.
He was completely unsure as to whether he should move more of his pieces to pursue his opponent’s king or focus on protecting his own. After a few moments he decided on the latter and moved one of his pieces ahead on the chessboard.
It was an odd sight to behold. Two beings with god-like power lowering themselves to a game of chess instead of a contest of raw magical power. But the Dread Lord enjoyed a challenge and it was not often enough that his opponents decided to battle him in a form other than direct combat. While Amuzi was most definitely his enemy, he had a semblance of a sense of honor. It would be so easy to attack her with his incredible mystical might at this very instant.
But such a thing would be unfair. And very, very, dull.
Yet, despite them playing a game of chess, the stakes were rather high and serious. Dormammu had originally planned on invading this woman’s realm and taking it by force, but the sorceress came with a different idea. A simple game of strategy. If the flaming demon won, he would gain the Pearl Sanctuary. If he lost, he would vow to never attempt to take it again. It was a fair trade to him. If he won, he would gain a centerpiece in the board of the dimensional conflict. If Amuzi won, she would no longer have to worry about one of her more powerful adversaries attempting to take her headquarters.
Then the sorceress’ expression changed to one of annoyance as her concentration was broken.
“Just a moment.” She mumbled as she pressed two fingers to her temple.
"Amuzi, this is Piccolo. The rogue operatives are nowhere near here. We think they're in a place called Fortuna. We don't have any time to waste. If you can manage to open a portal to Fortuna, we should be able to reach them before they have time to relocate. Can you do that?"
The sorceress’ annoyed groan could be heard in the mental link.
“Are you serious, Piccolo? The demon hunter was incapable of assisting you? That is…disappointing. I am currently rather busy, but I suppose I can open a small rift to get you onto the island of Fortuna. I do not have the time to pinpoint the group’s position though, so this is all I can do for you.”
Her hand glowed brightly and she snapped her fingers, much to the silent amusement of the demon in front of her. After she was done she opened her eyes and looked at him, sighing quietly.
“Trouble with your ever-reliable agents?” Dormammu asked mockingly.
“A small bit.” She responded cooly.
“I fail to see why you even bother with beings such as them. You could likely handle this dimensional situation yourself.”
Amuzi raised an eyebrow at him, unsure if he was serious about such a preposterous statement. When he said nothing, she realized he was serious and shook her head.
“Being such as us often have an unseen and unmentioned code of honor.”
Dormammu said nothing, knowing exactly what she was talking about.
“An excellent example is you.” She continued. “You have incredible power, enough to create your own realm if you wanted. Yet, you go about allowing my warriors to battle against you and your allies when you could wipe most of them out with a simple gesture.”
“Ha!” Dormammu laughed. “Because doing that would be far too easy! Far too boring! When I control all of reality, I want to look back on my battles and know that, despite everyone trying their best, I still managed to conquer them and emerge victorious!”
Amuzi nodded at that. “Other beings such as us are doing the same thing for the same reason, or others. Some are not intervening directly because other beings of their stature are doing the same thing. If one god-like entity enters the fray personally, then others would surely follow suit.”
The Dread Lord’s expression darkened. “Such a collection of beings using all their might in combat… It would surely cause incredible damage to the fabric reality. Perhaps enough beyond even our power to repair.”
“Exactly.” The sorceress said with a smile. “And what is the point of fighting if the prize is destroyed in the process?”
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