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Post by Tokrochiru on Mar 20, 2013 22:02:33 GMT -5
Everything here was as it should have been. Everything was right in this place.
A pity that the rest of the world wasn't so perfect.
He sat on his throne, tied to the seat by angelic rope, basking in His glory and calculating the many, many variables that formed the present. The now.
From a one sided window, he watched as the foolish children carelessly played with dangerous things. One child played with knives. Another played with fire. Yet another played with poison.
He wondered. Which child would die first?
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Within the tall, nearly featureless tower, a man stood at the end of the main entryway, behind a desk. His body was a fusion of flesh and steel, blood and oil. The black wires that protruded from his hair looked like hair. He wore a robe that glowed brightly along its seams. At his side were two bio-mechanical knights, each wielding a sword and a shield.
It was this man's job to attend to visitors and messengers meant for his master. Truth be told, while messages did come and go frequently enough, actual visitors were quite rare. This was for the best, however. His master's work was important, and he had little time to tend to guests.
Still, he waited for both guests and messengers alike. It was his directive. It was what made him happy. It had to be what made him happy. There was no other happiness.
There was no other happiness.
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Post by Greed on Mar 20, 2013 23:22:57 GMT -5
-Jessica-
Things were going even better than she had anticipated. Signals were going into Grand Divide once more, they had made good time getting to the tower, and in the time that they had taken to get there, Jessica had configured her personal computer to detect gravite signatures. All in the space of maybe an hour or two.
"Alright, Krez, the signal block over Grand Divide has dissipated, so you'll be able to help me after all. Everything is going in our favor right now it seems. And..."
Then Jessica saw the man at the end of the hall; the black wired in place of hair, the way his body was equal parts machine and human. It was unlike any sort of cyborg she'd seen in Devoid. Fascination, curiosity, a little apprehension filled the young scientist.
"H-Hello there. Um, we have a message for... Richter, wasn't it?" Her voice sounded more nervous than she had intended. She turned to Krez, who had the message, before looking around. The architecture... was far removed from Devoid tower, or any building she had ever been in. There wasn't an accurate description to what she felt, beyond a deep fascination with the place.
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Post by Tokrochiru on Mar 21, 2013 19:03:13 GMT -5
The man scanned the supposed messenger once over. A scientist, no doubt, likely from Devoid. No alerts had been sounded by his short examination, so that must have meant she had some kind of clearance. Still, he needed to ensure whatever she was carrying was worth his master's ear.
"It is customary to identify oneself at first meeting. I will begin. I am Setrin. It is my objective to personally oversee any direct message or approve of any visits to Ser Richter. Now, you will tell me your name, and what message you have for him. I will then determine if said message will reach his ears."
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Post by Greed on Mar 21, 2013 19:23:47 GMT -5
-Jessica-
Oh wow... this guy was ultra formal, or at least ultra by the book. Though, he did have a point, and that was that she DID kinda forget to introduce herself.
"I'm Jessica Kelsey, an A.B. scientist at Devoid Tower. The message we are delivering is a confidential message from President Adrian and General Arthur Roesman." Jessica scratched her head for a moment, "I don't know why, but he requested it be given to Ri- I mean, Ser Richter directly... and then he said he didn't care who saw it as long as it was inside Project Zenith." Come to think on it, what had he meant by that? Didn't the two contradict each other...?
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Post by Advix on Mar 22, 2013 4:42:50 GMT -5
"Come now, Setrin. You know that I have administrative clearance," the faceless android spoke up. The compartment in Krez's torso opened up to dispense the tablet the President had given him. "If you want to see it, go right ahead, but I'll show this to Richter myself. And Dr. Kelsey will be joining me." While Krez's posture was as straight as ever, there was an added finality to his voice. Objections were not an option.
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Post by Tokrochiru on Mar 23, 2013 2:58:06 GMT -5
Setrin narrowed his eyes. He knew that this pure-steel's rank eclipsed his own. He even respected the android, on a professional level. On a personal level, however, he found him irritating. He trusted his master's judgment, however, which meant he had to trust this man too.
"You would be correct, Mayor Krez. Excuse me for a moment."
Setrin put two of his fingers to his forehead.
"Master, Lord Krez and a human named Jessica are here to see you."
A booming voice echoed throughout the hallway. The voice was scratchy, assertive, and, oddly enough, exhausted in a strange way. It spoke slowly, but clearly, as if to allow every single syllable sink in to its listeners.
"Send....them....to me...."
Setrin nodded and closed his eyes.
"I will take you to the throne room now. Do not be discomforted by the teleportation."
Jessica's eyes were temporarily blinded by a warm white light. When her vision returned, she was in a large cylindrical room. The walls and ceiling were decorated with marvelous machines, but they did nothing. They didn't move, they didn't light up, and they made no sound. They just stood there, as if their purpose was to simply not function. There was also a single balcony off to the right of where the visitors were standing, which provided an excellent view of the far off horizon that somewhat clashed with the sterile nature of the rest of the room.
The most notable presence in the room stood at the opposite end of Krez and Jessica. An incredibly bulky, 9 foot tall...thing sat on a large throne. It resembled a large, cybernetic human in heavy armor, but it was much more than that. Its gray casing was completely without any kind of texture. Such a thing should have been impossible. All things had texture, but not this. The armor on this thing looked completely blank, reflecting light more effectively than the shiniest pearl could. A human head looked artificially welded between the shoulders. Many thin electrical cords protruded out of the top of the head and the eye sockets, and connected to the wall behind it. It seemed to have no jaw, with small wires sticking out of where the jaw should have been like some sort of grotesque beard.
"What is it...." The thing spoke loudly to the two guests. "What is it that..."
The wires that replaced the thing's jaw sparked loudly and brightly at the tips as the sound of wheezing could be heard.
"....What is it that you require of me?"
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Post by Advix on Mar 23, 2013 17:07:55 GMT -5
"Good evening, Richter," Krez walked towards the hulking monstrosity, tablet in hand. "I want you to meet the newest researcher in our endeavor, Dr. Jessica Kelsey. She looks quite young, I know, but rest assured her resume is quite exceptional. Also, I have a message from the President for you. He insisted that I gave it to you in person." It was quite a sight, seeing the faceless android not even six feet tall handing a tablet to the monstrous figure sitting in the throne. As Krez handed it to him, the message began to play.
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Post by Greed on Mar 23, 2013 21:57:11 GMT -5
-Jessica-
Jessica wasn't quite sure what she was seeing, and kept herself reserved. A man who was a machine? A machine who was a man? It was far beyond mere cybernetics. This was a wholly different breed of design than she was used to. And, as a scientist, she was fascinated; this man was so utterly devoted to his work that his body had become this. She was no fool, something like this would undoubtedly be integral to the structures functions. Richter seemed like he was the literal "heart" of the complex.
It was as she wondered these things, that the message began to play. A holographic screen playing before the being known as Richter.
"Richter, I cannot spend much time on this message, so I shall keep it brief.General Arthur Roesman and I have found evidence of foul play, and it is highly likely that the other generals are plotting high treason behind our backs. As with the attack on Grand Divide by Admiral Darrens, more and more of our decisions are being overruled by the council, and we suspect, that along with Devoid's R&D department, they may try to seize project Zenith for their own. Roesman and I are in the precarious situation where it is next to impossible to act out against them, and they may use this as a means to act out against us, and while our hands are tied, attempt to take Project Zenith under false pretenses."
The voice playback ended abruptly, as a line of text appeared before Richter. Something more ominous, and for his "eyes" only.
"I fear, that if this gets out of control, Kyril will shatter."
The playback ended, and the tablet fizzled out. Jessica wouldn't have been able to read the final message, but Krez would have been able to analyze it from behind, and flip it almost instantly.
All in all... it was heavy news.
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Post by Tokrochiru on Mar 24, 2013 16:22:24 GMT -5
"Hmm..."
Richter slowly tapped his finger against the armrest of his chair.
"I understand the president's concern, but there is no need to worry. These self-driven power-hoarders will...will not succeed. Parthunon!"
A flash of bright light appeared suddenly, disorienting all who looked directly at it. Once the light disappeared, in its place appeared an ebony armored man with brown skin and a pointed circle beard. There was a ridged metal bat of some sort on his back, and he was wearing a horse-hair helmet. The silver lines on his rugged face gave away the fact that he was cybernetic in a similar fashion to Setrin.
"You called?" the mechanized warrior said as he knelt before his king.
"Yes...I need you to assign a pair of phalanxes to guard this woman here. Her name is Jessica, and her work is im...important. In addition, send a four praetors to investigate any potential in...subordination within the City of Man. The President is...concerned."
Richter's speech seemed to slow down more and more as he spoke, and the sound that was reminiscent of wheezing persisted as sparks danced at the end of his wires. Parthunon had no physical reaction to the half-man's strange behavior. Perhaps he was used to it.
"I will brief them of their tasks immediately, my liege."
"Walk with Arcturas, faithful one."
The flash of light returned, taking Parthunon with it as it. The knight was gone, and once again, Krez and Jessica were the only two in audience with the lord of half-machines.
"Now," Richter spoke. "Have you any questions for me, wire-sage? You need not withhold your curiosity within my presence."
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Post by Greed on Mar 26, 2013 22:36:24 GMT -5
-Jessica-
Jessica stayed silent as Parthunon came and went. He and Setrin, along with Richter himself had been making her more and more curious, until she was barely containing it. And then, Richter gave her a free pass to a question. What kind of scientist would she be to pass this up?
"The enhancements done on the people here... those aren't normal cybernetics and prosthetics, are they? I mean, with normal cybernetics, we're substituting Android limbs, and bio-mechanical organs in if necessary. I've never quite seen anything like this! If I may, what is it called?" Even if her nerdier side was taking over for the moment, she knew they still had to go and retrieve Nebula.
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Post by Tokrochiru on Mar 27, 2013 1:17:28 GMT -5
"Your eye is keen, wire-sage. There is no...no prosthesis involved when the metal is woven into the flesh of these men and women. Even in their mothers' wombs, they are this way."
Richters' glowing eyes looked unfocused. Dreamy. They were the eyes of a man who was describing a great wonder or magnificence.
"These are an entirely different breed of man than what you are accustomed to, little one. These hybrids of nature and artifice produce offspring much in the same way as your kind does. Through...intimate acts. However, when this occurs, the parents not only carry their biological genes to...to the next generation, but their machinations as well."
In short, what Richter meant was that these cyborgs bred with other cyborgs to create new cyborgs. Sexual reproduction taken to a whole new level, resulting in a new breed of creature that was naturally cybernetic from birth.
"It was Krez that originally conceived of the idea," continued Richter. "I...I merely gave him...the means with which to perfect it."
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Post by Advix on Mar 28, 2013 15:11:33 GMT -5
"It was 72 years after I started Project Zenith that Richter became thoroughly intrigued with our work," Krez spoke up. "Since then, he's been our primary benefactor, and serves as a religious leader to the citizens of the Community. If not for Richter, we would have never achieved half of our research." Krez turned back towards the hulking figure. "Well Richter, we must be off now. We have a lost girl to find. Our search shouldn't take too long, and then, we'll work on getting Dr. Kelsey settled in." He gave Richter a drawn nod, before turning to walk towards Jessica. "Until next time, my friend."
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Post by Greed on Apr 3, 2013 20:48:46 GMT -5
-Jessica-
"Right then. Uhm... bye, Richter!" Jessica gave a long, but fairly awkward bow, before following Krez out of the room, ready to find Nebula, and put all her worries behind her at last. Most of them, anyways.
"... Finding a lost girl, huh. That's an interesting way to put it, Krez." Not surprising, though. It was an apt enough description.
"Right then. Lets go find Nebula."
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Post by Tokrochiru on Apr 5, 2013 15:08:02 GMT -5
"Be wary. You should feel welcome in this community, but not all of my subjects believe so. If anyone should display any hostility towards you, report to Krez, myself, or one of my trusted underlings. Fare thee well, wire-sage. May Arcturas' shield protect you."
As soon as Richter was finished speaking, Krez and Jessica were transported back to the large hallway where Setrin sat patiently. He remained silent, simply staring at Jessica. His gaze was less authoritative this time. He looked submissive, as if he was in the presence of a high ranking military officer.
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Post by Greed on Apr 9, 2013 21:11:12 GMT -5
Thread Complete
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