Complete Comms Main Story (S4 Finale) DRAGON.end - Phase 3

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno gritted his teeth, side glancing @Lune as he tried to maintain the power erupting from his aura. Wrath from the memories of so many dying in Finweald, of many more dying now before his eyes.

"It is-- These robots... They are a fucking menage-- Lune-- If you can get the hell out of here, whoever you can and run-- She won't... She will be weakened at some point-- And only then we can find a damn answer-"

He couldn't go all out, however, not when @Rael, @Ash Vargold and many others had different plans, a different hope. He may not have the same understanding, desire, or even the same protection wish they had. He didn't even had his loyal buddy to fight alongside with him this time. Thankfully, that didn't mean he was alone, not when @Vina Skysong approached with a relief to his pain, getting his back to his feet.

"Thank you, Vina... Back off now though, I will try to wipe out the path, so @Toko, go ahead and do what you do the best--"

Hanno growled, concentrating more energy to return with his barrage of attacks, and releasing all the divine power he had imbued to disintegrate as many obstacles as he could, to open path to those that had the true answer for this puzzle Hanno couldn't take anymore.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGH-!"

 

[Ueno Mizuki]

I thought I was the only one who ate strange things, but now everyone seems to be doing it.

Look, we're all in this together, but I've got no time to explain in detail why beating Szofrit down without killing her is the better option, and I'm not going to help others kill her just because we didn't have time to explain the plan to everyone. We can work together to get out of this alive, but if I see you going for the throat don't expect me to hold her still for you.

And even if that Calculator was wrong on purpose, it was still much less coherent than Szofrit still is right now.

@Ash Vargold @Erick Stryker

 

[Ash Vargold]

"...Hanno is really not okay over there."

Aisling is going to have to go back to that cat cafe for some good pictures after this.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Erick Stryker]

"I'm not even at the end yet in my head. I can literally look into the future if I want to, and I choose not to. This isn't something any one of us is doing alone. This is---"

Erick blinked as something stole the last part of his sentiment from his tongue. He saw @Hanno Futaba only it definitely wasn't the same way he had last seen Hanno. It didn't feel like the guy who had pulled him out of the rubble in Finweald.

"That's disconcerting."

 

[Ueno Mizuki]

Sounds like someone is putting in the effort.

 

[Luthien]

"Don’t worry Emm, we’ll help you… we’ll make things right."

A small smile was offered as she tried to comfort the being writhing the golden shell, aware that it was not the same Emm they’d all become fond of—though that didn’t change much in Lúthien’s eyes. Her forehead pressed against its surface as she whispered her words, before the familiar voices of @MAI and @Mizuki caused the elf to look in their direction.

It was good to see others that had been present for the Calculator’s own corruption, and like them she couldn’t help but want that @Kyra and @Legion had also been among them. At least they’re safe from all of this… hopefully. A familiar blue-haired man had joined them too, recognizing @Erick as the player @Rael introduced to them back in Zeus reindeer pulled train sled.

"I dunno how possible it is, but we might be able to stave off her corruption…" A hand remained atop the shell of the egg, hoping to give comfort to the being within with the soft touch, even as her crows burrowed in deep thought. "MAI and Mizuki are right, although she’s certainly hellbent on killing us it doesn’t look like Szofrit had completely lost her mind… not yet, at least."

She’d witnessed it with her own eyes, how the Mother of Machines had protected the space around Emm even when her own Titans were trying to destroy the Starcalled within it… and again as the magia intercepted any attack that tried to reach its reddened twin in the far off distance. Perhaps she could still be reasoned with, and perhaps even cured from whatever virus afflicted her configuration… crimson eyes turning to look directly at @Astor as she spoke next.

"You should know more than us, right King?" Her gaze didn’t waver, instead seemingly studying the man’s features as she continued. "My mentor once told me you and that Falderen Queen lost your minds, but instead of execution the players managed to save you both back then."

Granted she knew little of this dissonance or what it entailed, less so if it’s effect on flesh and blood was different from that of steel and machinery. @Rael however believed this could be done, that Szofrit could be saved just like the King and Queen had been, and she’d support her friend on her path for as long as it was possible.

@Ash Vargold | @Erick Stryker | @MAI | @Ueno Mizuki ​

 

[Aerial]

"VSRA will block it. Everything about Terrasphere is eradicated the moment it even tried to breach mainstream media."

Aerial responded to @Ash Vargold, a finger pressed to her throbbing temple. Fucking bureaucracy.

"I agree with you, time wizard.

Unlike the others, Aerial embraced @Erick Stryder's ideology. Everyone looked at him like he was a fool when they wanted to waste energy saving some glitched machine.

"As long as we can gather the pieces of her, we can scan her database or something. We don't need the information straight from her mouth - her programming should keep it even after she's finished."

Eyebrows furrowed in frustration as she glanced at @Lune and @Zelrius. They were both heavily injured (one of them fucking dead) and these.. these.. How dare they suggest playing delicately with the Mother of Machines?

"Stop acting all fucking high and mighty. Does it make sense to keep her alive? I don't fucking know. Maybe? But why should we expend valuable resources keeping her alive when lives are endanger. We're talking about now.. not some distant future we're not even sure is going to happen."

If these self-absorbed players even tried to jeopardize the mission or the life of her friends...

Szofrit wouldn't help her so why the hell should she assist the machine? Just grab her database and upload it to some USB or something.

Why plan for the future when they were struggling in the present?

"How many lives will we let this bitch claim before we put her down?"

Her voice trembled in a mixture of rage and fear.

 

[Rael]

After sewing @Langley and @Inari back together, the Seamstress would remain kneeling by them, ready to assist. Her lips would part before long, sharing the message given.

The Faerin Warrior would keep his hand offered towards @Toko for as long as it took for her to regain her composure, but he, too, would repeat the message he carried in his summoner's stead, uncaring of a certain felis nearby (@Ilusa Nakhalee).

The Phoenix, now merged with Zelrius' form, would speak within the heros' head, his bond with him far clearer than any.

All of them spoke in unison.

Are you able to stand? Are your wounds alright?

If so, then I have but one request to make. A plan has been assembled, one to ensure the continued survival of the Starcalled in front of a new variable that would spell our future disaster if left unchecked.

Szofrit is the key to understanding this sickness, this... Dissonance, corrupting and warping others. If left unchecked, it will not be long before it takes all of us.

To that end... When given a window, seek not to strike down an useful asset, but to pacify her with music and song. Our magia will counteract the directive she has used to handle them, and use it against her to subdue her so we can take her.

Others have already agreed and taken steps to further this plan, all of the hijacked Magia agree that this is the best course of action, even if they were manipulated prior.

All we ask is your cooperation, should you be given the chance, not to lay your lives low for the impossible.

---

@Raid Boss

(The Faerin Warrior is in Tile 5, saying this message outloud.
The Seamstress is in both Tiles 1 and 2, saying this message outloud.
Feel free to react.)​

 

[Ash Vargold]

"...so she's making her move now. Good luck, @Rael."

Ash glances at @Aerial, with a tilt of his head.

"...so. Why are you playing the game? Why are you on this battlefield in particular?

What made you think this world might be worth dying for?"

 

[Toko]

"Hai, daijoobu." The offered hand was taken as the hare stood, before her own clasped the Faerin on his shoulder. "Arigatoo."

Her attention turned then to the message being distributed, carefully listening to the words before finally nodding in affirmation. She wasn't one to embrace reckless violence, and this world still held many secrets that none of them understood.

"I'll find a way to hinder her motions then, hopefully that'll give you guys the opening you need."

@Rael​

 

[Langley]

Thanks for the help. But trying to pacify her... I don't know about that. But if you say you have a plan, then I'll do what I can to help. Kind of owe you one. More than one, really.

@Rael

 

[Tick Tock]

Tock and Seigi going around, slamming down Szofrit in the most heroical way possible like true fighter jets while a sick soundtrack plays somewhere on the center with the golden egg.

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

 

[Zelrius]

Zelrius soared, listening to the music of the leading Elf. @Rael He would speak to her, ask her questions. But, he didn't want to interrupt her beautiful voice. Dropping her off, he'd let his silence be his communication. She had bigger things to worry about. He needed to keep doing his part and not be a distraction.

Back across the field, the phoenix found @Lune - immobilized in place. Statuesque in nature, standing tall against the Magia. Where had he seen such imagery before? Looking to pick the girl up, and turn around, to ferry her to the golden egg so that she might find some medical assistance and live to fight another day.

"To safety - please let me take you there."

He urged her, hoping she wouldn't struggle or protest the large man lifting her. Letting his wings of flame beat and surround her in his grasp.

 

[Lune]

She spat blood, trying to remove the lance that's impaling her into the ground as @Hanno Futaba instructed her to fall back.

"Hell no, I'm going back in. This is our only chance to stop her."

Suddenly, a familiar man enshrouded in flames swooped in (@Zelrius), removing her from the lance and flying her toward safety. Lune struggled.

"N-no! Bring me back, straight to the egg."

She pointed towards Szofrit.

"I need to end this. We can end this."

 

[Ueno Mizuki]

Let's hope the others listen to the elf's words.

Mizuku wasn't good with words, so she'd have to trust @Rael to convince those who weren't on board yet. Their goals weren't exactly the same, but similar enough that they agreed that Szofrit needed to be captured alive.

As for @Aerial...

She's already falling apart: if we go for the kill we might lose the important parts.

Maybe if they had more time she could convince the human, but it looked like she was letting her emotions drive her. And Mizuki was far from the best orator even when bloodlust wasn't affecting her personality.

Null said we'd have to destroy the red egg, but she also thought that the magia here were beyond saving. What do you think: focus the egg or try to disable Szofrit the normal way?

@Ash Vargold

 

[Zelrius]

He stopped when she insisted and struggled. It was one thing for slight protest, but it felt wrong to move the woman where she didn't want to go.

"You'll die if you go over there. Not to mention..."

A brief pause as he looked away, spotting Yugam, Tick Tock, Ash Vargold and Ueno Mizuki in the crowd. Killing her wasn't in the plan.

"We don't want her dead."

Was all that he knew of it, really. Hoping that'd convince her.

@Lune

 

[Jin]

"You don't,"

Jin corrected quietly when he heard @Zelrius say that "we" don't want her dead. His eyes moved back from the honorable man toward the automaton that he had condemned to victimhood. It was unlikely that the other man would hear him from their distance, though.

"Humans are so predictable, eh, machine?"

He talked down to her like he wasn't one himself.

"So quick to chase ideals like glory, mercy, so fast to quarrel among themselves over conflicting views on those abstract notions about how to live a good life. I understand why you hate them. But you see, I love those things about humanity. I love that they will kill, maim, and burn one another just to stand on the backs of their fellow man and say that their way was just."

He smiled as he crooned those words meant for Szofrit and no one else.

"So I'm afraid I can't let you kill them, machine,"

He pulled back, taunting, jeering her. His voice rose enough that those close by could hear him again.

"I won't let you bring order to the beautiful chaos that is this world, or these lives. I don't care which side wins between them, in truth. Only that you lose."

 

[Lune]

"What he said,"

She pointed to @Jin's mention that people were quick to justify their actions.

"I don't do what is right. I do things because I want to do it."

Lune looked straight at @Zelrius's blue eyes with unyielding determination.

"I don't care whether she dies or not. I'll do what I must, so drop me there, Zelrius."

She smirked, turning to the fellow inhuman that is the Bloodsworn.

"And don't worry about us, we're built different. Isn't that right, Bloodsworn?"

 

[Zelrius]

He hadn't heard the Bloodsworn, preidctably, his ascent reaching its peak as the Knightess made her intent clear. His face scarred now by a deep frown. It wasn't like she could refuse - He could take her to the egg, drop her among healers, and that would be that.

But she was an adult, (Or was at one point? Not really sure what happened in the last 10 seconds.) and a player same as him. Capable of making her own decisions. He wasn't going to deny her free will. So, his infernal wings and speed brought them just under the Mother of Machines, the pyromancer making to take care to put her in an upright standing position.

"...Please don't die."

Was all he managed through swallowed words and welling eyes. Already feeling like he was failing in some way. If only he was a bit more charismatic, a bit more convincing.

With that, Zelrius left her, looking for a new target in need of saving and safety.

@Lune @Jin

 

[Kyanna Wynne]

The conversation between the group was becoming more and more confusing to Kyanna, and even if she held bitter feelings regarding Szofrit, it seemed like MAI wished to save her, and so some of her friends wanted, including some that helped Kyanna to save her magia friend.

Momentarily pushing those thoughts aside, and giving some value to Szofrit's words, she stepped in.

"E-Excuse me..! Uhm... I do think we shouldn't destroy the egg, we should... Focus on Szofrit." She said, frowning her lips. "If she cares for the egg that much... I don't think she will tell us anything if we destroy it... She will be too sad to give us attention, what else would one do after destroying the egg? Make this other one the hostage to make her talk?" That didn't sit well.

"We should disable her first... We don't completely know what is inside of these... Right? What if we destroy something important..."

@Ash Vargold @Ueno Mizuki @MAI @Aerial @Rael