Mean Girls 2: Revengeance

[15:40] <Earthflame> [04:48] <Ikiryo> It turns...and Tazzari hears a familiar voice. One she last recalls hearing from a hyperion design and a lot less robotic sounding. Indra. "Mana sensors detect others. Moving to combat mode." It's stance shifts as missile pods and a laser cannon unfold. "Preparing to remove opposition."
[15:40] <Earthflame> [04:52] <Ikiryo> ...and then it vanishes. "Geist online." How does a ten meter tall robot have Thermoptic camouflage that good?
[15:40] <Earthflame> 01[04:53] <Tazzari> Tazzari grits her teeth. <Be careful. Do not strike thoughtlessly, or you Will die>
[15:40] <Earthflame> [04:53] <Ikiryo> <I don't think the metal thing wants to leave you alive either> She glowers at Tazzari
[15:40] <Earthflame> 01[04:54] <Tazzari> <I can survive a clean hit. You cannot>
[15:40] <Ikiryo> The girl frowns at Tazzari, drawing her bone dagger.
[15:44] <Earthflame> Tazzari gives her a final glance... And then turns her focus back to the field. Something that large would be limited, regardless of how good its cloaking tech was... It would have to avoid certain terrains due to its size and the risk of leaving marks of its passage, and if it was running a sweep pattern... She doesn't need to see where it is- She can predict it.
[15:48] <Ikiryo> She's got some ideas...able to narrow down some locations...
[15:50] <Ikiryo> The other girl frowns...running her blade along her own palm.
[15:51] <Earthflame> Tazzari goes to highlight those locations in AR... And then suppresses a sigh when she remembers that she's not linked up, whispering to her. <We should avoid fighting if possible. This way, and we might be able to evade it... What's important is finding our way back.>
[15:53] <Ikiryo> She nods...and starts letting her blood drip onto the ground.
[15:53] <Earthflame> <...What are you doing? It could follow our trail> She hisses quietly.
[15:54] <Ikiryo> <Delay it.> She focuses, licking the blood off her blade...as a red mist starts to rise through the area.
[15:55] <Earthflame> Tazzari raises an eyebrow at that... But just shakes her head and keeps moving. Stupid magic she didn't understand...
[15:57] <Ikiryo> The other girl stalks alongside her, almost silently. <Can't track us by heat if entire area glow like life. Works on big snakes.>
[15:58] <Earthflame> <...Thermal concealment? Clever> She gives her a little nod as they move, trying to follow the path it had carved through the trees, staying out of the clear area to avoid detection.
[15:59] <Ikiryo> <Thermal? That what it called?>
[16:00] <Earthflame> <Thermal means temperature, it- I'll explain later.>
[16:03] <Earthflame> Tazzari is focusing hard, spacial analysis, movement patterns, calculating and considering- And then she steps on a branch with a very loud crack.
[16:03] <Ikiryo> <Blood mist smell like bood and glow like blood. Means it can't track us by smell...if it can smell. I not see nose...idiot...> She hisses...as the pair hear the sound of turning servos.
[16:05] <Earthflame> Tazzari groans under her breath.
[16:06] <Earthflame> <It only sensed me. Get out of here. Now> She moves to step out into the opening.
[16:06] <Ikiryo> The girl grabs her by the collar. <Idiot. Stupid metal idiot.> She runs the blade along her own arm with her free hand. <I distract>
[16:07] <Earthflame> <I can beat that thing... Probably. Keep Yourself safe.> Tazzari glances up at the projected approach vectors, worried.
[16:08] <Ikiryo> <Where it coming from?>
[16:11] <Earthflame> She raises a hand, pointing, giving an estimated distance away from them. <It won't be able to move full speed while maintaining stealth.>
[16:11] <Ikiryo> She nods...and blood flows from her hand...and Tazzari soon has a doppleganger of herself standing next to the cyborg. <Distraction>
[16:12] <Earthflame> Her eyes widen at that... But she nods once and starts moving again. <Useful magic>
[16:18] <Earthflame> The Tazzari-clone stiffens, stands... And poses with her staff. "I will defeat you, foul robot of evil!" She flourishes, a number of purple stars orbiting her as she dashes off, looking prone to erupt into a full on speech. Tazzari blushes a bit.
[16:19] <Ikiryo> Medraut pauses. <...what?>
[16:20] <Earthflame> <Nothing. Keep moving.>
[16:21] <Ikiryo> <I never seen doppleganger do that before.> She leads on quietly. <Something wrong with you>
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[16:21] <Earthflame> <It's Your magic...> Tazzari mutters to herself.
[16:22] <Ikiryo1> <Based on you...>
[16:22] <Earthflame> <Clearly it was just trying to be distracting>
02[16:24] * Ikiryo ([email protected]) Quit (Ping timeout)
[16:24] <Ikiryo1> <Something wrong with you.> She repeats. The pair leave the mist not long later...the forest cold about them.
[16:25] <Earthflame> Tazzari frowns a bit, as they follow the path through the forest... She'd guessed they must be somewhere else on the same world, but... Does it line up with the data they'd gotten on the planet? She tries to gather as much intel as she can, putting together a picture of themselves... If they weren't elsewhere on that world, where Were they?
[16:26] <Ikiryo1> It's colder than the planet they were on before...so if it IS the same planet, it's further away from the equator...
[16:27] <Earthflame> She glances back at Medraut, frowning. <Are you alright? It's cold, here... Colder than you're used to>
[16:27] <Ikiryo1> She shivers, frowning. <Not like it...but I be alright. Likely.> There is a massive clear cut path...though one that won't offer much cover.
[16:29] <Earthflame> Tazzari continues to hug the edges of it, keeping the trees between them and the open space while using it to seek out whereever the lumber-machine came from... Better than wandering the woods with no direction.
[16:31] <Ikiryo1> It's not long before they spot something up ahead. A base, lots of prefab structures covering a recently made clearing. All about a large building...the same metal and crystal as the city they saw earlier.
[16:38] <Earthflame> <It will be guarded...> Tazzari mutters as the approach, looking for signs of activity while still within the treeline.
[16:40] <Ikiryo1> There are a few company drones watching the area...and above the buildings, flying Gadget Drones.
[16:41] <Earthflame> Tazzari tenses up at that, eyes flashing at the drones. She glances to Medraut and gestures. <We'll circle around, try and find a safe approach>
[16:42] <Ikiryo1> She nods. <Everything about the old building. You think there a reason for that?>
[16:45] <Earthflame> <It might be their origin point... The path leads away from here, and this is the focus of their activity. And we were teleported her... A picture I saw a long time ago showed a portal. Perhaps this is where it emerges? If so... Our only way back is inside.>
[16:46] <Ikiryo1> She nods <If the big thing smart, it will have known we went back this way. Doppleganger only last maybe a few dozen heartbeats.>
[16:47] <Earthflame> <...Then we should get inside before it returns, or it will raise the alarm>
[16:49] <Ikiryo1> She nods. <Need distraction to get in. Doppleganger again?>
[16:49] <Earthflame> <We'll scope out the situation first... There might be a better way>
[16:51] <Ikiryo1> As Tazzari circles it she notices something...the machine they met isn't the only one. There is a second one carving a second path...and a third just starting on yet another.
[16:52] <Earthflame> She frowns at that. <They're branching out, searching for something...>
[16:52] <Ikiryo1> Medraut frowns, looking over it. <There not too many guards, mostly by doors to old building. I don't think they expect people here>
[16:53] <Earthflame> Tazzari nods. <We should find the doors least likely to be seen from the other entrances... And when we take down the guards, if they're alive, Don't kill them>
[16:53] <Ikiryo1> <...why not? They kill people I care about> She glowers at Tazzari.
[16:53] <Earthflame> <Because we're better than them>
[16:54] <Ikiryo1> <...then why not kill better?>
[16:55] <Earthflame> <Not just more skilled. More moral, more just, more righteous. We don't kill because we don't need to kill. The TSAB protects lives, and even those who take them deserve a fair trial and a just punishment. It's what makes us superior to those who came before>
[16:55] <Ikiryo1> <...that sounds stupid. Stupid and preachy>
[16:57] <Earthflame> <As expected from a Belkan. But this is my mission, and my orders. Obey.>
[17:00] <Ikiryo1> <Why should I obey? I save us before when you make noise>
[17:02] <Earthflame> Tazzari turns to her, eyes glowing softly purple for a moment. <Because the only reason you are still conscious is that you are slightly less of a nuisance awake and able to walk than if I had to carry you. I am the battlefield commander. I did not want you, but you are here. If you want to work with me, you will obey my orders and follow my commands. If you are going to act like a petulant
[17:02] <Earthflame> child, I will carry you like the burden you are.>
02[17:02] * CD|Tab ([email protected]) Quit (Quit: I have been termina--)
03[17:02] * Ikiryo1 ([email protected]) has left #TSABIC
03[17:03] * Ikiryo ([email protected]) has joined #TSABIC
[17:03] <Earthflame> Tazzari turns to her, eyes glowing softly purple for a moment. <Because the only reason you are still conscious is that you are slightly less of a nuisance awake and able to walk than if I had to carry you. I am the battlefield commander. I did not want you, but you are here. If you want to work with me, you will obey my orders and follow my commands. If you are going to act like a petulant
[17:03] <Earthflame> child, I will carry you like the burden you are.>
[17:05] <Ikiryo> She glowers back, her eyes glowing red <And you only not dead because your group promiced to help me get revenge. I not think you right in head and I not think you best at this.>
[17:06] <Earthflame> <You couldn't kill me if you tried. With time and training? Maybe. But right now I am stronger than you, smarter than you and your best chance of getting back to the real fight. So stop being a petulant child and start acting like the Knight you claim to want to be>
[17:07] <Ikiryo> <What knight would sit here and let honor be insulted?> She grins. <And I could kill you before you even know fight start. I hunted a lot more than you ever did.>
[17:10] <Earthflame> <Any good Knight should know that duty was more important than personal pride. You aren't a hunter right now. You're a Soldier. And if you're not willing to act like one, go hide in the woods while I get back to my battlefield>
[17:12] <Ikiryo> <You not even know where this battlefield IS. Stupid girl who double stupid because she thinks she smarter.>
[17:12] <Earthflame> <Stop being an obstruction and start being an asset. That you can't be trusted is exactly why the LT told you that you shouldn't come. And she was right.>
[17:14] <Ikiryo> <Asset? You want me to start being boobs?> She tilts her head. <You all sorts of wrong in head.>
[17:14] <Earthflame> <A combat asset. A useful participant instead of someone who needs babysitting.>
[17:16] <Ikiryo> <I useful. I distract big thing, I make mist. You make noise. I asset, you baby.>
[17:17] <Earthflame> <The only reason I didn't engage it and destroy it is because you might get killed, Idiot.>
[17:19] <Ikiryo> <I think you idiot. You get killed too.>
[17:19] <Earthflame> <I've fought their like before. I've fought far worse.>
[17:21] <Ikiryo> <And you think I not? I've hunted animals bigger than that. I killed sandworm with...> She pauses biting her lip and sniffling. <...with my father.>
[17:22] <Earthflame> <This is not a hunt. This is a battle. There is not one enemy, there are many, and defeating the enemy is not the point. You come from a small world, you've fought small battles. I have fought for the fate of entire worlds against enemies you could not imagine. And we are wasting Time. I will not allow your petty foolishness to get in the way of saving your captive people, even if you're so
[17:22] <Earthflame> quick to forget about them.>
[17:24] <Ikiryo> <I am not...you horrible person> She glowers at Tazzari, her eyes wet with tears. <I being knight, I here to save them...but I not listen to you. I not trust you make good decision. You not so far>
[17:28] <Ikiryo> ...and then she starts crying.
[17:36] <Ikiryo> <...Anai said you trying to be good person like the white girl...she lied. You horrible> She sobs.
[17:40] <Earthflame> Tears start to fall from Tazzari as well, her shoulders shaking, her voice tight. <I... You... I am doing my best to save everyone, to help, to do good. I... You... You've no right to...> Her voice cracks at that, trying to blink the tears away.
[17:42] <Ikiryo> <You horrible and you act...> Her own voice cracks in turn. <You act like I not matter...I need my honor...it all I have left of father...>
[17:45] <Earthflame> Tazzari grits her teeth at that, tears still staining her cheeks as she clenches a fist. <You're Alive, you idiot. Your life is worth more than your honour... And Saint King take you I am going to keep you alive so you can remember him. If you die for your honour then there is nothing left of either of you!>
[17:46] <Ikiryo> <I want to be Knight...honor is more important than life. I know I could die here...I accepted that.> She starts to cry, sobbing without much dignity.
[17:49] <Earthflame> <Belkan Idiots... There are so few of you left, how can you throw your life away so stupidly? How can you be so selfish? I don't care what you want, I will- I Have to save you. I won't Let you die>
[17:50] <Ikiryo> <Because there things bigger than life. I want to be knight...to be hero. A hero willing to die to help others>
[17:52] <Earthflame> Tazzari pauses, giving her a long look. <...Being willing to die doesn't mean throwing your life away recklessly. It means knowing your limits... Because if you die now, who will be there to protect them next time? I... I'm still learning that lesson. But it's an important one. Heroes are willing to die, but they also need to be willing to live... To be there for the next battle, and the one
[17:52] <Earthflame> after that.>
[17:54] <Ikiryo> <I don't plan to die...but I only one left, unless they get saved.> She sniffles.
[17:57] <Earthflame> <They Will.> Tazzari sounds absolutely certain. <...But you need to know your limits. What you can do, and what you can't... And this battle is bigger than you, Medraut. I'm protected... My barrier jacket, and my body, both are strong enough to survive. I'm properly trained, equipped and I've fought their kind before. You haven't... I wasn't exaggerating before, Medraut. If one of those machines
[17:57] <Earthflame> landed a solid blow on you, you Would die. I can't let that happen.>
[17:58] <Ikiryo> <And if I not been there, it would have found us. I not a child...I can help, even if I not take hits>
[18:03] <Earthflame> <If you hadn't been there, I would have disabled it, then accessed its database for information on where we are. But you are here, and tactics have to change with the situation. Unless I can rely on you to follow me, and to do as I ask, you aren't useful to me, Medraut. Your magical support is useful, but I need you to be reliable for it to be something I can count on. Otherwise, you're an
[18:03] <Earthflame> unpredictable rogue agent I have no ability to work with, or protect. A danger to yourself and everyone around you.>
[18:05] <Ikiryo> She twitches. <...I give up. You not respect me.>
[18:07] <Earthflame> <Give me a reason to. Stand up and act like a Knight.>
[18:08] <Ikiryo> <I am a knight, not a puppet like those things guarding. You say I need to know my limits...do you know what my magic can do? If you were to give orders, would you know how to use it well? Do YOU know my limits?>
[18:11] <Earthflame> <No. But right now, I don't have time to find out. We are already wasting time. I'll trust you to use your judgement, but I need you able to follow me. Where we go, what to prioritise, whether we engage or whether we run. It isn't about power, Medraut. It's about trust.>
[18:13] <Ikiryo> <...for now. I make decisions of my own though, if I know you wrong.>
[18:16] <Earthflame> <I won't be wrong.> Tazzari smiles, before nodding at the building. <We approach fast and quiet, knock out the guards and get inside- Non lethal against living targets. Understood?>
[18:17] <Ikiryo> <...is horrible nightmares alright?>
[18:17] <Earthflame> <Absolutely>
[18:18] <Ikiryo> <Alright.> She pauses. <I might have way to make it easier then>
[18:18] <Earthflame> Tazzari gives her a nod.
[18:21] <Ikiryo> She closes her eyes and runs the blade along both her wrists. <I be woosy after this much magic> Blood drips down to the ground...and the red mist rises again, starting to fill the area...and then gunfire and shouting. The girl staggers slightly. <Very woosy.>
[18:21] <Earthflame> Tazzari frowns at that... But if the girl rendered herself unconscious and helped them get there in the process, it wasn't the worst thing...
[18:22] <Ikiryo> She doesn't seem to knock herself out, though she looks a little unsteady. <...you have any food? They distracted for a while now>
[18:23] <Earthflame> Tazzari pulls out a field ration bar, tossing it to her, waiting till she's steadier before starting to move.
[18:24] <Ikiryo> She very quickly devours it. <It dry. Anyway...hold breath in mist>
[18:25] <Earthflame> Tazzari starts moving towards the door, trusting her records of its position more than how far she can see... Moving quickly, trying not to breathe.
[18:26] <Ikiryo> The other girl stays with her, moving through the mist like it's not there.
[18:28] <Ikiryo> She gets through it fine, not breathing in any of the mist. They pass by a controller of some of the drones as they enter the building. She's curled up in a ball, wimpering.
[18:28] <Ikiryo> Inside the building is white metal and brilliant green crystal...contrasting with the very modern machinery powering a hole in mid air...a portal.
[18:28] <Earthflame> Tazzari pauses just a moment, letting smartlink sink into the bucket helm to try and rip any useful data.
[18:30] <Ikiryo> She manages to get a heap of data. Analysing it might take some time but at the very least it's got a map and the base compliment information.
[18:31] <Ikiryo> <Your hair is weird>
[18:34] <Earthflame> Tazzari smiles a bit as the sounds of machines destroying each other rings out from outside, before the doors close, speaking again when they're out of the fog. <It's not just my hair... I have capabilities you don't understand, too. But for now...> She checks around the room quickly, then approaches the portal, trying to get a look at what's on the other side.
[18:35] <Ikiryo> It looks like a lab. Judging by the colours and design, it's the base they were in previously.
[18:37] <Earthflame> Tazzari looks to Medraut, gesturing for her to stand beside her. <We go through together. Get into cover as soon as you can- Someone might be watching the gateway.>
[18:37] <Ikiryo> She nods. <Alright>
[18:38] <Earthflame> <Three, Two... One.> Tazzari steps through, immediately finding a place to crouch, her staff at the ready.
[18:39] <Ikiryo> She follows, ducking behind a terminal as she arrives. The room is, fortunately, empty. Tazzari is assaulted by all the communications chatter she lost access to after the wormhole event...
[18:39] <Earthflame> Tazzari lets out a little gasp... And then focuses, trying to sync up with the data, reaching out for friendly comms...
[18:40] <Ikiryo> [This is Yponavarchos Jason of the Dreadnaught Argo. We have confirmed mission kill of the Belkan warship. I repeat: Confirmed mission kill.]
[18:43] <Earthflame> Tazzari allows herself a smile at that. The naval engagement was going well. Still, with any luck she can find some ground level signals for her allies... Or any indication of where they are in the structure. She gestures to Medraut as they head towards the doors.
[18:45] <Ikiryo> [Moving to engage orbital interdiction and prevent any reinfor-] The message is cut off. [This is Yponavarchos Jason of the Dreadnaught Ago, we have lost our spinal railgun! We are under assault by an unknown foe!] A video from the ship's sensors is transmitted.
[18:49] <Earthflame> Tazzari gestures for Medraut to stop, focusing on the incoming footage...
[18:51] <Ikiryo> The massive hyperion dreadnaught, larger than a TSAB cruiser by a good margin...has had it's spine broken, the ship bent badly in the middle and repair crews trying to keep it together. Hovering in space near it is a golem. Judging by the sensor reports, it is as large as the Gungrust was...but even that size shouldn't have done that much damage so easily.
[18:52] <Ikiryo> Dark Blue and Purple with heavy armour plating and...Tazzari recognises those purple orbs. Sephia has those on her barrier jacket. Those are graviton generators. What's more, cluched in it's hand is a very familiar weapon...one stolen from Altea's planet.
[18:54] <Ikiryo> The mech staggers slightly as the Enforcer cruiser engages it, mana blast after mana blast piling into it...and then it gestures, a shield of blackness in front of it absorbing the shots. Wait...not a shield. A matching circle opens...and the enforcer ship is rocked by it's own shots, redirected. A wormhole.
[18:56] <Earthflame> "...Oh Saint King..."
[18:56] <Ikiryo> Medraut looks at Tazzari quizically.
[18:56] <Earthflame> Tazzari just stands there, stunned...
[18:57] <Ikiryo> The Enforcer ship is stunned in turn by the sudden assault as the mech gestures again...and a sphere of blackness envelops the ship. As tough as TSAB ships are...Tazzari doesn't think even it can endure that sort of pressure for long.
[18:59] <Earthflame> There's nothing she can do. It's in orbit, and it's such a powerful- She's standing next to a wormhole generator. Tazzari turns, heading straight for the machines on this end perpetuating the portal, smartlink rising up and sinking into it instantly. <Watch my back> she says to Medraut before diving deep... This would take stretching the systems beyond any feasible limits. She keeps half an
[18:59] <Earthflame> eye on the data feed... No sense risking her life if its too late.
[19:02] <Ikiryo> ...and then a sudden rainbow twinkles through space...and the mech ceases to exist. An Arc En Ciel Shot. [Sorry we are late. Getting approval was very difficult. Acting Captain Hector Chaves of the Cerridwen here.]
[19:03] <Earthflame> Tazzari slumps against the console then, breathing heavily. Even a mech that powerful couldn't survive an Arc En Ciel shot... Right?
[19:04] <Ikiryo> A black sphere forms in space...warping and shifting...and from it emerges the mech again, blackened and sparking but still functional after all that. It only last a moment however, as the mech drops through another wormhole and is gone...
[19:06] <Earthflame> Tazzari just stares for a moment more as Smart Links cable pulls back. It Survived. Nothing survives the Arc-en-Ciel. How could it- She shakes her head, returning to reality, looking to Medraut. <Sorry. Situation in orbit. It's resolved for the moment. Let's figure out where we are.>
[19:07] <Ikiryo> <That sign might say...I can't read your language> She points to a sign saying wormhole command. By her judgement that's about ten minutes walk from where they got hit by the wormhole experiment.
[19:09] <Earthflame> <Not far from the others... We have to find them!>
[19:09] <Ikiryo> She nods <Alright>