#bnzero au

rukafais: it goes for cyber-elves first because those are pure data and easier to absorb rukafais: keep your navigators away from that shit rukafais: also it gives omega the chance to use the incredibly cheesy supervillain line rukafais: he is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, et cetera [2/22/2014 6:01:10 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): I was waiting for a mention of that ahaha rukafais: "reploids are ultimately no longer of use to humans in their current form" rukafais: "we can start again, though" rukafais: "wouldn't you like to start again" [2/22/2014 6:02:31 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): Alpha nO....

rukafais: "why are you running away from me" rukafais: "don't you want to be reborn" rukafais: like on some level it's doing what it's programmed to do and is fundamentally innocent in that regard rukafais: it's just that what it's programmed to do is horrifying and also something nobody wants

rukafais: but yeah basically we have: the Resistance, trying to stop everything from going down the shitter more than it already is Neo Arcadia, who keep getting taken over Alpha, slowly crawling its way towards Omega Weil in his stupid dumb satellite throwing reploids and operators at the Resistance to buy a little time so he can properly activate Omega Gregar and Falzar, who just want to rend everything to pieces Omega, insane reploid with a messiah complex, feels like it's missing something [2/22/2014 6:30:57 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): laughs at Weil

[2/22/2014 6:51:17 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): That's what I was thinking, too. I'd figure he'd probably be after the 4 protagonists as he was with the other Operators he got his hands on, but they were fortunate enough to not have fallen into his grasp [2/22/2014 6:58:53 PM] Ruka: fortunately they were actually awake when the whole "everything goes to shit" button got pressed and therefore got choices about their own autonomy [2/22/2014 6:59:45 PM] Ruka: though it'd be mildly depressing if there was this race between the resistance and dr weil to excavate the remaining operators and they were framed as retrieval missions [2/22/2014 6:59:52 PM] Ruka: and if you failed them the story would go ahead and you'd face them as a boss later [2/22/2014 7:02:21 PM] Ruka: sob weil would put them into pantheon frames or something, i bet [2/22/2014 7:02:24 PM] Ruka: use them to power machines and stuff [2/22/2014 7:02:28 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): Ooh my god D':!! [2/22/2014 7:03:06 PM] Ruka: KIND OF LIKE THE BRAIN CORE PANTHEON IN THE TRAIN, except more specialised [2/22/2014 7:03:30 PM] Ruka: "Be careful! If you hit that machine in the wrong place, well..." [2/22/2014 7:03:44 PM] Ruka: "I trust I don't need to spell it out for you, right?" [2/22/2014 7:05:12 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): I guess that'd play out like X5. If you didn't accomplish things at a certain time, it could have... disastrous effects akjshg

[2/22/2014 7:07:06 PM] Ruka: man it would just be depressing as hell fighting mamoru if you failed to rescue him the first time [2/22/2014 7:07:16 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): Netto-kun (Saber-chan) SHAKES MAMORU...... [2/22/2014 7:07:21 PM] Ruka: children fighting children 8( [2/22/2014 7:07:30 PM] Ruka: their navis would step in to protect them too [2/22/2014 7:07:33 PM] Ruka: wouldn't even need reprogramming [2/22/2014 7:07:38 PM] Ruka: it's the perfect defense system! [2/22/2014 7:07:45 PM] Ruka: if you're a sociopath [2/22/2014 7:07:47 PM] Ruka: which weil is [2/22/2014 7:07:47 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): weil you evil fIEND [2/22/2014 7:07:57 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): Serenade would be a pain to battle too omg [2/22/2014 7:08:06 PM | Edited 7:08:11 PM] Ruka: serenade and magicman can have a loyal-off [2/22/2014 7:08:34 PM] Ruka: it'd be hilarious if like, the whole time you were fighting, you had both of them just arguing in the background

[2/22/2014 7:41:19 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): yES that's w

hat I was thinking too He doesn't need compatibility he can just take and choose whatever he wants Damn tho Forte [2/22/2014 7:41:45 PM] Ruka: he doesn't need an operator!! that's just tying him down!! [2/22/2014 7:42:08 PM] Ruka: inb4 his 'operator' used to be cossack and he died and forte still views that as a huge, stupid betrayal [2/22/2014 7:42:18 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): cRIES omg [2/22/2014 7:42:18 PM] Ruka: dumb humans who die easily [2/22/2014 7:42:20 PM] Ruka: who needs them [2/22/2014 7:42:21 PM] Ruka: he doesn't!! [2/22/2014 7:42:35 PM] Ruka: (still hasn't gotten over it)

[2/22/2014 7:45:52 PM] Ruka: god if he eventually gets adopted by ciel, tho [2/22/2014 7:46:12 PM] Ruka: or alouette [2/22/2014 7:46:32 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): i imagine him being as docile as a puppy with them and I shouldn't be imagining that but it's... adorable [2/22/2014 7:46:49 PM] Ruka: alouette has ALL THE TRUST in him and he's just like what do i do what do i do

rukafais: but yeah since netto is special weil would definitely take advantage of that

[2/23/2014 4:44:50 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): What kinda Modifications are we talking about here tho with Weil [2/23/2014 4:44:53 PM] Ruka: oh lord [2/23/2014 4:45:12 PM] Ruka: you mentioned a copy x kind of deal so i imagine he'd be fully outfitted for battle and there's almost nothing left of his 'original' body [2/23/2014 4:45:24 PM] Ruka: and he keeps transforming [2/23/2014 4:45:32 PM] Ruka: the idea is to knock him out before he starts transforming [2/23/2014 4:45:45 PM] Ruka: because the game would probably be like [2/23/2014 4:45:48 PM] Ruka: before you go into the boss room [2/23/2014 4:46:26 PM] Ruka: Are you going to save him? >Yes Are you sure? >Yes His fate rests in your hands. He may never be the same. Do you still want to proceed? >Yes [2/23/2014 4:47:13 PM] Ruka: the idea is to defeat him before he can transform too much because the more he transforms, the more twisted he becomes [2/23/2014 4:47:21 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): oOH NO BABY BOY ;_; [2/23/2014 4:47:32 PM] Ruka: and if you've already pledged to save him before the battle [2/23/2014 4:47:33 PM] Ruka: you will [2/23/2014 4:47:41 PM] Ruka: even if death would be more merciful if you let it go on for too long [2/23/2014 4:47:56 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): oOH NO /SOBS ALOUD [2/23/2014 4:48:00 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): Better get dat A rank [2/23/2014 4:48:05 PM] Ruka: DAMN STRAIGHT [2/23/2014 4:48:27 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): Twisted tho like more Weil-like or ; A ; [2/23/2014 4:48:40 PM] Ruka: that as well! [2/23/2014 4:48:44 PM] Ruka: he also gets more [2/23/2014 4:48:45 PM] Ruka: body horror [2/23/2014 4:48:48 PM] Ruka: as he transforms up, tho [2/23/2014 4:48:58 PM] Ruka: even with all the modifications he was never meant to do that

[2/23/2014 4:02:25 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): someone from the resistance gets assigned that one desert mission tho Anubis almost kills them he just has to protect his area Miyu ends up stopping him [2/23/2014 4:02:35 PM] Ruka: sob yes [2/23/2014 4:02:46 PM] Ruka: miyu is like no don't!! and he's like but 8( [2/23/2014 4:02:49 PM] Ruka: he turns into a huge puppy [2/23/2014 4:02:56 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): aww omg ;_; [2/23/2014 4:03:00 PM] Ruka: and then fefnir shows up and ruins everything [2/23/2014 4:03:51 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): God damnit Fefnir [2/23/2014 4:04:18 PM] Ruka: miyu is just like "i can fix him" once the playable character wrecks Fefnir's shit [2/23/2014 4:04:22 PM] Ruka: and fefnir leaves [2/23/2014 4:05:21 PM] Ruka: >Her expression didn't change, but I detected a hint of sadness. >In this kind of world, even reploids can't coexist with other reploids.

[2/23/2014 4:13:08 PM] Ruka: the only choice in the scenario is whether you choose to stay behind after dave is like "you should leave" so he can bring the entire facility they're fighting in down (because fuck u weil) [2/23/2014 4:13:14 PM] Ruka: technically it's a draw [2/23/2014 4:13:30 PM] Ruka: sal manages to talk him around and he intends to atone for what he's done by bringing the entire thing down [2/23/2014 4:14:00 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): aWW Dave god bless u ;_; [2/23/2014 4:14:24 PM] Ruka: your choices are "leave with sal" or "stay and unlock a 'minigame' where you have to dig him out of the rubble before he dies of his injuries" [2/23/2014 4:14:29 PM] Ruka: press a to dig [2/23/2014 4:14:31 PM] Ruka: dig faster. [2/23/2014 4:15:03 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): Sounds like a fun minigame But omg stay and recover his remains... [2/23/2014 4:15:26 PM] Ruka: even if you manage to save him he won't really talk to you [2/23/2014 4:16:17 PM] Ruka: when he's being repaired he just kind of sits there and doesn't say anything [2/23/2014 4:17:07 PM] Ruka: >Was it the right thing to do? >I still don't know the answer to that. [2/23/2014 4:17:33 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): Oh man that's ;__; [2/23/2014 4:18:48 PM] Netto-kun (Saber-chan): Does he ever get better [2/23/2014 4:18:52 PM] Ruka: HE SORT OF DOES [2/23/2014 4:19:06 PM] Ruka: if you manage to save him he does sort of get more responsive later on [2/23/2014 4:19:24 PM] Ruka: he's just not sure how he feels about being saved and he really only talks to sal [2/23/2014 4:19:35 PM] Ruka: but she does say that he's grateful to the character that saved him

"Hey, Madoi! I bet you can't climb that!"

"I bet you I can! Watch me!"

The memory is a happy one. It's just too bad that it gets mixed up with the last time he'd seen her, alive and human.

She'd struggled, trying to climb to safety; she was only a child, after all.

An explosion had thrown her off the remains of the wall she was trying to climb over. She'd hit the ground and hadn't moved.

She didn't move again, despite his panicked cries (screaming, begging, shouting). It had gone on for hours, his own voice bouncing off the ruined buildings in the ringing silence caused by the bomb.

"Y'know, you should be more careful."

-------------

Saito Hikari has no real memories of his brother; he knows everything there is to know, or most of it, from his father.

His father keeps him hidden, but he is always glad to see him; he smiles.

The day Yuichiro Hikari comes into the lab and doesn't smile is the day he knows something has gone terribly wrong.

-------------

They are two of a kind, a pair matched in temperament and vibrancy. They argue, they bicker, they become sulky when tempers flare and are best friends again when they cool off.

The one time they'd disagreed, really disagreed, was--

"You can't go in there! It could collapse at any moment!"

"Hey, I'm not helpless! I have to do something!"

"Ah, you're an idiot--hey, where are you going? Hinoken--"

The building had collapsed, soon after. There had been survivors; it was a miracle.

His operator had not been among them. It wasn't enough of a miracle, then.

--something he doesn't really want to remember. But every time Hinoken rushes ahead, into danger, it brings up that memory again, their only real disagreement.

They are a pair; truly partners, two of a kind. They always were.

The only difference:

Now, I can protect you.

-----------

"You need to go ahead. We'll be cut off in a minute."

"You can't order me to leave you."

"I'm not ordering you. I'm asking you to."

He hadn't left.

(The console was miraculously intact despite the damage done to the building - his operator had been able to force open the blast doors and save those trapped in lower floors.)

The control room only had one entrance; one exit. Not enough for an adult to fit through. Barely enough for a child.

(After the third explosion, there had been no exit at all.)

The room was sealed, for good. There was nothing either of them could do.

"You should have left."

"You should have ordered me, then."

Despite his maturity, his intelligence, he too is a child; they are roughly the same age. More like brothers than anything else.

"Can you tell me a story?"

"...Of course."

(He had told him a story; his voice had not faltered in the slightest. They both knew what was going to happen.

He'd changed the ending, to make it happier, more hopeful. It had been more for his own satisfaction, really.

There hadn't been much oxygen in the room, after all.)

When they'd dug the console out, he had still been talking.

"He asked me to tell him a story," he'd said, helplessly, bewildered. "You understand, don't you? I have to follow his instructions."

---------

The kind of kid who would stick forks in electrical outlets to see what would happen; that was his operator in a nutshell.

"Let's do this! Let's see what happens!"

Courageous? Absolutely.

Fearless? Yes.

An idiot? Yeah, that too.

The stupidest thing of all was the last time he'd seen his operator, really.

"I don't know if this will work."

"Why are you going to try it?"

"People might die if I don't."

"And you might die if it works. I'm pretty invested in you, alright? I don't want that to happen."

He'd grinned. "Hey, I always pull through! I'll be back! I promise!"

Oh, yes.

One more thing:

He knows every scientist by name. He knows every inch of the facility’s network. He knows every body in the morgue;

he visits it enough that the cooling programs know him by now.

It has been three days.

He observes. He makes lists.

Dr Hikawa has lost his only son. Mrs Sakurai has lost her daughter. Mr Ijuuin has lost his son - another only child. The Oyamas - both parents still alive - have lost their eldest. Their youngest son trails behind them, asking for his brother; a bewildered shadow. Doctor Yuuichiro Hikari has lost his wife. He has lost his remaining son. (He knows that Yuuichiro Hikari had two sons, because he has met one of them.

They get along passably well. Saito Hikari is nice enough.) The list of losses is endless, constant, growing. More bodies, more casualties.

After a while, the statistics blur together. He occupies himself with them anyway, because numbers don’t feel anything. He is not entirely sure that he has not gone back to his base programming, because he can’t feel much at all.

When the phoenix comes, some time in the early hours of the morning, he is sleeping. He’s roused by a voice; one he knows as well as his own.

(One he thought he’d never hear again.)

"Good morning," his operator says.

He hasn’t used his voice in what seems like a very long time. He tries anyway.

"Good morning," he says, smoothly; there is only a suggestion of shakiness. "How might I assist you?"

They are redoing their meeting, all over again.

"You’re my navigator, right?"

"Yes."

"And I’m your operator."

"That’s correct."

"Alright. Let’s be partners from now on, Magicman."

"Of course. I would be pleased to, master Mahajarama."

In everything he’s read, the phoenix is a tale; something that does not and cannot exist.