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BROKEN TRINITY (THE DARKNESS II)

(Strider, myself, and Adri only in here, please. This thread takes place during [i]The Darkness II[/i], encompassing the first "Vendettas" mission, the introduction of Johnny Powell to Jackie Estacado in the main game, and perhaps a little bit with Brother Victor for Strider's character near the end.

For Isaac and Cheryl, this takes place after the upcoming thread "Long Arm of the Law" and before the plot known as "Rip in the World". I am uncertain where this is for Cain Flueves, Strider's character, but I assume quite some time after "Water's Truth", perhaps on a reconnaissance operation while Styx also gets information somewhere else.

Isaac and Cheryl will begin at the end of the first "Vendettas" mission ahead of the actual team, while Cain will be on his own for most of this.)

"F***! Please don't kill me, I'm not with them, I [i]swear[/i]!"

Arriving on a world to those words really didn't help Isaac Zivaku's mood. Something about this place seemed... familiar. He'd forgotten this sector of the map, but knew he avoided it for some reason. Best to just find out why and then leave.

What he didn't expect was to land, with his traveling companion near him and his powers intact, in a garage of sorts, a warehouse with an iron door locked by a padlock on the outside.

[url=http://images.wikia.com/thedarkness/images/f/ff/DII_Johnny_Powell_in-game.jpg]Someone[/url] was still in a wooden chair in the corner. His arms were tied behind his back with a rope. He had a green right eye and a blue left one, his gaze wild. Looked to be in his twenties or thirties. From the twitching eye he seemed to be some kind of addict, or at least crazed. Short brown hair, a blue suit with a white shirt underneath it, both dirty, and blue and white sneakers. Isaac skimmed his heart for an instant. "Johnny Powell."

Powell took a deep breath. "Okay, okay, you're a guy, she's not showing a holy aura, you're good, you're good." He looked to the other woman...and paled. "F***!" He took a deep breath though again. "Gotta check, gotta check, she'd be trying to kill me, trying to kill him too I guess... no, no, just Interferences..." At least this one was one of those types who knew. Crazy for one, but one nonetheless.

Isaac looked to Cheryl Mason. "You pick next world, and have dibs on the ammunition. I guess something can replace the clips for a while."

(Adri, you can have Cheryl take some of the ammunition. It will work like clips for a while, though be a little harder to use. Cheryl can ask about the lock on the door. Since they snuck up technically, there's nobody in the area.)

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GHOSTS OF REACH

(This thread takes place during the time frame of [i]Halo: Reach[/i], in the ending to the level "New Alexandria" and the following level, "The Package". Yes, we have done threads in the second game and the concurrent [i]Halo 3: ODST[/i]. The only reason this is possible is due to a limited time travel device known as "The Hand of Atropos" that one of my characters has. This is not a common occurrence, and there will not be any actual changes to the plot of this game in order to keep things from getting confusing. The timeline itself will remain intact.

The thread will encompass a little before and including [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rsC9mZrAUc]this cutscene[/url] and [url=http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/The_Package_%28level%29]this level[/url].

This thread will include myself, The Doctor, and Strider Hiryu. Now, without further adieu, "Ghosts of Reach".)

[i]Olympic Tower, Epoz, Reach
August 23, 2552
Approximately 19:30 Hours[/i]

Chaos.

The raid had gone on for five days now. Thousands had been evacuated, but hundreds of civilians had been killed, many soldiers as well. The entire fight for Reach seemed hopeless. Fire on several buildings and streets, gunfire both bullet and plasma down below and up above in aircraft. This one building, Olympic Tower? Central base of the entire UNSC Fleet Command, though the building was also known as ONI HQ for the Naval Intelligence department. And it was barely standing as of yet. Sure, it hadn't been attacked just yet, but how many plasma bombardments could they take?

SPARTAN-III designation [url=http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111117234222/halo/images/d/de/Default_Noble_6.png]Spartan-B312, also known as the latest Noble 6[/url] disembarked the [url=http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/UH-144_Falcon]Falcon[/url] on the extended landing pad and walked inside the building, his [url=http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/M392_Designated_Marksman_Rifle]designated marksman rifle[/url] in hand and a [url=http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/MA37_Individual_Combat_Weapon_System]MA37 assault rifle[/url] magnetically kept on his back. The comm towers were no longer jammed, so he was off to get to his team once more, or what was left of it since Jorge-052 died.

He was approximately two rooms away when he saw the green rips in space, akin to stationary plasma bolts, too thin to be fuel rods, but expanding, making a shapeless portal of sorts. Before it opened, he was aiming the rifle at it, just in case. A close quarters combat ODST and an approximately 19 year old civilian male dropped out, both landing on one knee, but the ODST stumbling a bit more.

The young man looked first. "Um... Sergeant Ian, where are we?"

The ODST looked around, seeming alarmed. Had this one missed the entire battle for Reach so far? "Oh sh**..." she muttered. She seemed to at least recognize where they were. Perhaps from videos or holo-stills.

An artificial intelligence, one with female programming, spoke, most likely of the Smart variety. [i]"Welcome to Reach 2552, soldier,"[/i] she said. [i]"Feet first, as you say. Might need to help the Bullfrogs."[/i] She didn't clarify that she meant the jetpack-using ODSTs stationed here.

"Sergeant Ian" seemed to notice the Spartan first, and seemed less unnerved than she should have been at the carnage outside. Perhaps they had been warned somehow? "Either shoot us or put the damned gun down. I wouldn't be surprised if you did either."

A familiar transmission, though a bit unnerving, came over the comm for her. [i]"I owe you one, Spartan. I'll see you in hell."[/i] Was that...Eddie Buck? Well he [i]had[/i] said he was on Reach. It was still....confusing. He cut out before she could answer him, likely one of the Falcons evacuating the city.

The male raised his hands to try to defend himself or at least say he meant no harm...but the gun was lowered. "Thank you, sir."

"Ian" spoke next. "Designation?"

"Beta Company, 312," he said flatly. "Or just B312. Noble Team."

"A new version? Well god[i]damn[/i] it all. I hate these damned projects."

"Just keep moving," he said really not in the mood for the typical ODST rivalry. He wasn't a II, and he wasn't that one for sure. "And what is that?"

She looked to the young man. "...Naito, didn't you close it?"

"It...normally closes on its own," "Naito" said. They looked...and waited.

This would probably be a little more complicated.

(Strider and Doc, you know how you're gonna have entrances through the portal and why.)


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DARK CHEST OF WONDERS



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UP CLOSE AND PERSONABLE (ATLANTICA)

(Sorin only, please. This thread takes place after "Gateway to Ruin" and before the scrap and thread "Disturbed Ambience" and "Ghosts of Reach" respectively for Naito, and after "Gateway to Ruin" for Jasmine.)

[i]Tranquil Grotto[/i]

Naito Zivaku looked around the grotto, absently surveying the scene as he had about three times by now. This would be as good a place as any.

So much had happened in so short a time. Jasmine's world had been saved, her creators defeated for the final time. Isaac had accepted her to the Zivakus in some degree, a thought he was scared about, and told her she was not thought as a freak, something she that made her very happy.

And she had kissed him on the cheek. The first kiss from her, though not any true degree.

Did she really like him that way? Was that it? Did she want to be... a couple? He knew his parents would not give him a break in a million years for this one. Not that he really cared, but it was embarrassing to say the least. Still... how could he do it? How could he know any of it? He needed to talk to his father, to let him know about wanting to give his immortality... but first he had to know Jasmine's reaction, what she truly wanted. [i]In... out. In... out. Breathe....[/i]

He thought back to his mother's words.

[i]"If you’re really sure about your feelings for her, then you should just go and tell her."[/i] As these things often went, he didn't want to scare her off. Not to mention he himself was scared out of his mind due to his time issue.

The other half was a little simpler. [i]"Though… a little gift might help sweeten the deal, but nothing too fancy, she might be put off by it or think that she doesn’t deserve it. Just something small that could mean a lot, if only for a short time, like flowers."[/i]

That was why he had taken a few hours off to get some things like potions and such. He did get those things, yes, and they did need a restock after the time against Galactic, though they had recovered more or less from their wounds within reasonable constraints. But he had also gotten a bouquet of flowers there as well. Someone there had told him that a good purple flower (for he did know she liked purple due to... a rather embarrassing moment in a Land of Dragons hot spring) was the purple lilac, and the moonflower had also been chosen to add. The rest they had taken upon themselves, though teasing him the whole way, until he had a mid-sized bouquet that he could give her. It was hidden, not falling apart and held down, behind a nearby wooden crate.

He looked down at his form once more. He was shirtless, as was customary of males in this world, his swords in sheathes around his waist and his flashlight on his hip as well. For a bottom half, he had a tail that was white toward his midsection and fanned out to yellow near the bottom, that of the "magnificent rabbitfish" enlarged. Swimming was easy enough, sort of like flying.

Jasmine's tail was unknown as of yet, of course, though he did look to the shell in anticipation of her arrival. Probably had a purple bikini top...

[i]No, no, don't think about that![/i] It would only make him nervous and blushing. Which he was in a small degree, but that wasn't the point.

(Feel free to have Jasmine tease Naito or start talking or both, Sorin. I doubt this topic will be that long.)

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COLD COMFORTS (DEEP SPACE)

(Sorin only please. This thread takes place between the upcoming scrapbook "Never Fear" and the later thread "Unforgotten" for Azumi, who will be dealing with the revelations of the former here. Therefore, it is also likely after "Silver Hands" in Yuki's chronology, though Sorin can decide that.)

Much had happened in over a decade. Since the departure of the three Keyblade wielders so long ago, life had gone on as normal for the Grand Councilwoman and Gaantu. That is to say that Heartless had replaced the Unversed.

The types were very similar, surprisingly enough. Just the goals and origins of them differed. Neither of them had fallen, and they hadn't needed to change their methodology much. It was just one different pest to periodically deal with, though the swarms did not end.

Interferences, however, were comparatively rarer. Only very few had passed through, and none had been spotted thus far. That wasn't to say that at least one was not busy.

A soldier faced down a Large Body, having been doing so for about two minutes so far. Due to distraction, things had been... difficult.

The black-armored person staggered back from a slam with both hands, one to each side of the head, hitting a nearby console. The woman gasped as the wind was knocked from her, but did see the lever-based controls, keeping the M7S submachine gun trained on her target.

The Large Body Heartless turned, waddling until it was facing the orbital drop shock trooper. Bullet holes and knife wounds already had peppered its back, dealt heavy damage. Finally, it could see the dark armored person with her sub machine gun aiming at him, one hand on a lever near them, the gravity controls.

This was a Heartless, and not a particularly smart one besides. It charged, ready to go...and fell on its stomach, sliding and spinning in the process. Bullets hit the back, this time actually bouncing off due to the speed, and she was forced to flatten against the controls, barely dodging as it headed for the ledge to the lower floor...

She pulled the switch.

Gravity did not quite turn off, no. It did significantly lower, allowing for higher jumps, extended launches. The Large Body slid off of the platform before it could stop itself... and began to gently drift down, trying futilely to get out of its defenseless position, having stopped spinning enough. Another burst of suppressed gunfire caused it to disappear in a swirl of smoke, the heart drifting away.

Sergeant Azumi Ian sighed, taking off her helmet. She spat blood out of her mouth, watching as it slowly drifted down before settling on the floor, enough time for her to wipe her mouth before it even made contact. She put her hands on the side of the ledge, looking at the floating boxes around the lower level, back toward the hallway behind her, and held the helmet to her chest, bowing her head.

[i]My fault. All my fault...[/i]

Crane's opposing toxin to his fear gas, this one capable of erasing fear entirely. That was not better. It was not a control group. It wasn't what she said. But he was using her, crediting her with the idea when she was trying to make him see the insanity of his ways. Of course she knew it was likely to never work. But she didn't know it would [i]reverse[/i] any way to work. It had shattered her mind, and she couldn't even comprehend what had happened to her as a result, perhaps her own subconscious protecting itself.

And Kitten... she couldn't even protect Kitten now. She hugged the helmet to her chest, putting the SMG on her back, and kept her head bowed. She didn't know if she could even bear to look the "good" Rikka in the face again after what had happened.

(Either way she comes from, Azumi will assume she's Rikka, Sorin, until she looks straight at her, and treat her accordingly. This one won't be that long I don't think.)

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UNFORGOTTEN (MIRAGE ARENA)

(Only Sorin and Adri in here, please. This thread takes place after "Cold Comforts" and before the upcoming thread "Spectrum".

For the record, Azumi only is training with a bow because she had multiple sessions getting better with her gunplay (not that it wasn't good, but training helps).)

[i]Lobby, Hub[/i]

The [url=http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100828204117/kingdomhearts/images/f/ff/Mirage_Arena_Lobby.png]area[/url] was quiet. The Moogle had been working here for over eleven years, but only recently had someone finally come to train here. He had stayed by the now-open save point opposite the simulation select screen, looking at the depression in the center of the circular lobby. The teleportation device into the white orb was plainly visible in the center of said depression, numbers flashing on the screen of the select screen showing that the simulation was cranking down its numbers.

The moogle thought a moment. All things considered, it was good to have company again. Sure, he had worked with those three, the power, speed, and magically oriented Keyblade wielders, but nobody since then. It had only been in this recent influx of re-accessed worlds that he'd reopened his doors, perhaps able to get some more munny for equipment out of this.

The light of the orb above flickered a bit, signifying that the exercise was done. That was...five? Six in a row? Every time she was getting more and more tired. It looked like that woman hadn't slept in a week, from how she seemed to be barely standing. But she had earned the weapon she had asked for through her gunplay.

The other woman, the artificial intelligence who was operating the stage select controls, had hit a pause on sending her back down, however. She was known as "Kira" apparently, and her magical capabilities were...rather startling. She had been able to manipulate the fabric of the simulation remotely or from within, though she wasn't able to escape a computer here except to get into said simulation. The two mismatched eyes came up on the monitor, on a face devoid of emotion. [i]"I'm keeping her in here. She needs to get sleep, and she's not listening to either of us, so it's best if she stays there until she does."[/i]

"Your money, kupo!" the moogle said with a shrug. "Archery training on hold then, kupo?"

[i]"Whatever,"[/i] she said. [i]"And we're sure you've made it impossible to use any weapons outside of the simulations and can get her out if it seems lethal? Otherwise you'll probably have to find out what a fried circuit board does to something like this."[/i] Fair point.

"Aye aye, kupo. Magic can be used, but I'll keep a lock on that too if I need to, kupo."

The hologram disappeared. [i]"I'm leaving it open for people to come in, but I'll crack the simulation wide open if necessary. Feel free to let people in as long as they don't try to kill anyone."[/i] And with that, there was a crackle... and another blue lightning bolt went up from the transporter to the orb. Another person into the simulation arena of some sort.

(People can go talk to the moogle and then go straight into the simulation. Best to just get right over there. I'll figure out the makeup of it.)

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"SHATTERED MEMORIES" PLOT



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TO THE LIONS (RESISTANCE 3 THREAD)

(This thread encompasses the "Grateford Prison" arc of the game [i]Resistance 3[/i]. No work has been done in [i]Resistance 2[/i, and so it and presumably [i]Burning Skies[/i] are now unavailable.

Only myself, Doc, and Adri here, please.

For Azumi, this takes place after "Bite the Rotten Apple" and before "Risky Business". For Greg, this takes place after the thread "Wish I Had An Angel" and the scraps "Scorched Past" and "Finally, a Lead", but before the upcoming fic "The True Mirror" and the plot "Rip in the World".

Furthermore, in order to manipulate the mechanics of the world, any ability to use magic and any armor has been removed from the Interferences present due to the interference [no pun intended] of the "Pure Chimera" wormhole to their world as of the end of the second numbered game. Weapons are usable, but heavily restricted due to narrative reasons.)

Blurred vision. Pain. A wet forehead. Heat in front, cold metal on back.

Azumi Ian coughed, her vision coming back. She was in her casual attire, that much she could see. Her weapons of choice on this operation had been her knife, shortsword, and submachine gun aside from her typical handgun, but the limitations of her attire had taken away the aforementioned large Brute Knife and M7S submachine gun, left them on her ship, by now just a shuttle between her home and other worlds.

Fire. Fire was all around them, the pieces of a train scattered around on the ground. She could see someone in the distance, pinned under a metal axle on his waist, facedown as he tried to get out futilely. He had on a brown jacket and had brown hair, his light skin marked with a five-o'clock shadow and dark brown hair short on his head. He appeared malnourished, but not weak, determined eyes on his face and a necklace of some kind of teeth around his neck.

The train had crashed and exploded almost immediately after she and several others had touched down, some kind of gigantic arachnid creature stampeding away after causing it. The sound of motorcycles was still audible until recently, people probably getting off of them.

She could see other familiar faces and unfamiliar ones around her. One stuck out nearby, coming to, a shard of metal speared through his side into the ground, pinning him there but alive. Greg Zivaku, in immense pain, tried to wrench out the shard. He screamed, finally doing so, but fell, blood seeping into the dirt around them.

"Kynthia..." she could see him mutter, but couldn't hear well. Even now he still would fight for her, even though she was not among them. Or maybe it was him hallucinating? She looked to others, only one unfamiliar probable Interference amongst those either too weak to get up or pinned down.

A rather ugly, bald man with a machete walked up to the group, another disheveled man with a similar weapon walking to the single man under the axle. She closed her eyes calmly, waiting for the machete to fall and kill her. Finally the end of her torment as an Interf--

[i]Bang![/i]

She looked up at the man about to kill them one by one, saw the spread of pellets around his chest from exit wounds...and he dropped the weapon from his raised stance, falling to his knees, then the ground fully. Their savior was plain, though strange. He was approximately in his sixties, with a bald head, a white beard, spectacles, and a torn up brown suit and jacket. In his hands was a [url=http://resistance.wikia.com/wiki/Rossmore_239_Combat_Shotgun]shotgun[/url], one he pumped before turning to the other man and shooting him as well, to the same life-saving result.

Normally, she probably would have complained. She wanted to die, didn't want to have to protect them so much... but she knew that was useless. She did listen to him, however.

"Interferences," the man said softly. "Are you okay? Joseph?"

Azumi called out. "Yeah, I'm fine! Get this thing off of me! Them too!"

Greg, meanwhile, was finally coming to at last. "Thank you..." Not quite, it seemed.

"Joseph", as the man under the axle was called, nodded, though pained as he spoke. "Yeah, but I'm stuck."

(I'll get them into the prison on the next round. Might as well start up ASAP.)