[IC] No More Heroes

[LordOfTheNight]

_{"Sometimes the world doesn't need a hero....."}

⎒

------------- ᴊ ᴏ ʜ ɴ ᴀ ᴛ ʜ ᴀ ɴ ʀ ᴇ ɪ ᴅ -------------

⎑

_{Johnathan's Lab
Alone
Experimenting}

The mute corpse twitched and shifted, unintelligible mutters & mumblings leaving his as the good doctor shoved a 4 inch long spike into the base of it's skull into it's brain. The spike was attached by cable to a rather impressive looking computer that had been designed out of both Earth parts and parts from The Outsiders. John had been at this for several weeks now. He had instructed Viktor to bring him as many mute corpses as he could find and carry.

John was gathering information from dead mute grey matter with a method of retrieval he referred to as 'cereberal data extraction'. By stimulating the subject's pain receptors with electrical and chemical aid, certain information could be extracted based on certain neural patterns that John deemed worth extracting to the computer. However, the longer the corpse has been dead, the less information he could retrieve. For the moment, the process was only possible with dead brain matter. John was currently researching methods to extract information from living brain tissue but progress was slow going. As John had explained, a death brain showed no resistance even if it wanted to. A living brain, had great resistance both physically and mentally.

As the computer did its work, John focused his attention on a severed mute he had recovered from a spent corpse. The second problem with extracting information from a living mute was that there were certain security systems embedded in their brain. Every time Viktor had attempted to capture a mute alive, they detonated from some form of condensed plasma from within the skull. John had theorized that some sort of signal sent from the Spire caused the detonation. If John could figure out how to remotely disarm the explosive than he could leave a mute vulnerable to extraction. John placed the head in a cube designed to contain the blast and an electromagnetic pulse. He then pressed a button on the camera of one of his frame's arms.

"Research log number 5105 of Doctor Johnathan Reid, date is the 20th of April of 2041. Today I will be attempting to disarm the plasma charge that has been surgically implanted in seemingly all Outsider mutants. Subject has detonated when exposed to infrared, microwave, and radio based tampering and has shown to detonate when attempts to extract occur. I will be detonating an electromagnetic charge and record my findings" he said to the room. John wielded the remote and pressed the trigger. An electrical flash occured, followed by detonation of the explosive. John sighed.

"Attempt number 8 is a failure. Like the other attempts, subject's explosive detonated almost immediately. Further research required. End log" he said with a sigh of agitation. Another disappointment. Oh well. He hadn't failed 8 times, he had simply found 8 ways to detonate the explosive in a mute skull. Not unhelpful, simply not the results he needed. On to attempt number 9...

_{------ Interacting With: ------}

None

_{------ Mentioning: ------}

@ReusableSword

_{".....sometimes the world instead needs a monster"}

[ReusableSword]

Victor "Tesla" Asimov

The sewers were almost as damp and dreary as the streets above. Only those who could brave the stench and rats ventured down this far. Aside from the occasional surveillance drone that tried to keep track on those who didn’t want to be tracked. After all the sewers did harbor those who didn’t want to be found, mostly loners or the occasional super.

The ancient tunnels under the city where a near labyrinth, one could easily get lost and lose their way. Some tunnels had collapsed either by wear and tear or from the orbital bombardments from the seven-year war. Victor had moved quickly through the area scanning each and every tunnel. His singular and slightly broken monocle illuminated the path before him. The infrared scope was something he scraped together after arriving here.

He was also using a small illumination device to see the symbols and markings left on the walls. These markings all meant something different and were written with an IR reflective paste. Some things meant safety, others were put there as warnings or marking territories, a few were put there as way markers, but most simply said whether the tunnel was stable. In only a few more minutes Victor found himself climbing a flight of crumbling concrete stairs. After moving more than a few things out of the way and putting them back. A few hard to move obstacles he put there to detour the curious.

Making his way up into an abandoned industrial complex he slowly made his way to the “workshop.” An out of the way and mostly underground portion of the industrial complex that he had made sure to keep protected. Multiple countermeasures were in place if they were ever to be raided. Mostly small combat and surveillance drones that wandered the grounds out of sight. The man didn’t waste any time to get into the workshop and seal the door behind him, a large heavy steel door with bio metric scanners that registered himself and the doctor and would unlock for them. One of the many things the duo had made together since they ran into each other.

Victor laid the mute down on an examination table, the immediate area was rather clean. The prepping table was always used for taking clothes and armor off the patients he brought in. moving to an adjacent room that was rather dirty with piles of scrap metal and other random pieces crammed into one corner with multiple tables and desks placed about in no particular order.

The room was a darker than the other with looked like multiple mechanical contraptions strewn about them that looked at best half done. Placing the smaller pouches filled with the plasma cartridges on one of the closer tables and putting his back pack on another. The man was quick to retrieve the plasma core and AI brain heading deeper into the complex towards the lab.

Moving quickly he could already hear the Doctors mechanisms moving about and assisting with whatever he could be working on. Knocking on the metal wall outside his lab Victor stepped in with a smile, “Hey Johnathan I have returned victorious. Not only was I able to get a mute fully intact but it killed itself by snapping its own neck. Some guy gave the mutes a command to kill themselves, and they all did as ordered.” He paused for a moment as he glanced over to the new burn marks on the containment cell.

“With this I was also able to get a plasma core from a chicken walker as well as a present for you.” placing the core on a table just outside his lab. Jonathan was sometimes a stickler for decontamination, depending on what he was working on. “You said that you were looking for one of these for a while. It's a little damaged but I think it will work.” producing the cantaloupe sized AI brain from behind him and setting it down on the table he smiled. “If you don't need anything else, I'm going to go check on the crops and inventory what I got today.”

@LordOfTheNight

[Parzivol]

_{Interacting with (@Lauder@LordOfTheNight)@Cerces22@MegaOscarPwn@Utrax}

There was a certain amount of doubt in the fisherman as he stared at Marcus. Clearly this thing was powerful. There was a certain amount of doubt regarding its actual humanity. Humans couldn't drop people with their voices. People couldn't smell foreign design like that. No. That left a few options which were in no way favorable to Frederick.

He shook his head, and let out a single breathy response. "Sure." He forced as much sarcasm as he could manage into the word, before stepping closer once again to the group. It was more than important that he maintained cover, and simply walking away didn't feel to be the best way to handle things. Whatever creature was steering this Human's carcass was clearly strong, but that could mean anything. Humans were weak. Hell, it could even just be another Human that knows how to read a little. Once he had gotten close enough to Zas and Marcus for them to hear him well enough and them he, he spoke.

"My name is Frederick, I'm from America. Aliens are foreign things foreign to this Earth, yes? I was born on this Earth, so I am native. Demons, and ancient monsters are foreign. I'm a native." That was mostly directed at this, "Blackthorne," fellow. Surely Zas might need to hear it too.

Then, he tended to Zas's own statements.

"The people at home are all dead. Whatever hero you're used to fighting, is dead. The people at home have no preference at the moment, but survival. My second point: I'm fully on your side. I want nothing to do with any reclamation project. At the moment. Just be certain that your reasons are the right one. I can't think of a hero that did survive the initial event.." With that bit done, he wanted to give himself an out. Finalize his excuse for the energy that Blackthorne had felt.

"And, Wizard. Whatever you may be. The Word-And-The-Will. Whatever power you have," He gave Marcus his full attention. At this distance it was surely a thick energy about him, "I don't know what it is you're feeling. Could be just about anything. I'll tell you this, though: Back before things went to hell, I took up under a small-time hero. Once she taught me the magic she was doing, I used it against her and sold her and her family into human trafficking. I kept using the magic she taught me and using the books she left behind. That's probably all it is."

Meanwhile, his favorite robot was running.

That was fine.

He had an idea. Once this conversation was over, he'd find a private place to enact his plan.

[webboysurf]

U L T R A

"Oh God... please... n..." The voice stopped in an instant as a sickening crack filled the alleyway not far from the ration station. A shrill scream met the crack, drowned out by the commotion caused by the mutes and the chicken-walkers. The general chaos always helped Ultra get more rations. The girl tried running. They always try running. Ultra raised his hand and pointed his finger at her, shooting a small and precise bolt of energy (very similar in nature to the plasma rifles the mutes use) into the base of the girl's neck. Her body crumpled to the ground. Ultra took no pleasure in slaughtering children, but it was better she died than having any unnecessary complications. This routine was not abnormal for Ultra. Food and rations were an essential form of capital in this colony. Everyone needed it to survive, and if the Outsiders decided to stop handing out rations, Ultra was prepared. Besides, the assembly of five corpses now gathered in this alley reminded Ultra of the good old days... the days when he could prey upon the weak openly. Maybe the day would come again...

Ultra grabbed the rations he could out of the man's backpack and made his way out into the chaos. He turned his head towards the mutes and the chicken walker, watching them taken down within seconds. Ultra sighed, and leaned against the wall as he watched the powered individuals for a few moments. He knew a couple of them, and he had spent an inordinate amount of time tracking a few of them and beating answers out of bystanders to have a few guesses as to where this group's destination might be. Might be nice to meet up with them later. For now, Ultra was going to need to recharge, and he knew just the person to go to.

---

Ultra was never fond of the shit-filled passageway he always took to meet his favorite doctor. Granted, having to breath in the disgusting fumes of excrement was better than having to deal with any Outsider interference. Ultra passed by the markings, not bothering to check them with the equipment he had. Ultra needed to get there quick, so he made his way to the stairway. It was blocked off... again. Ultra sighed, and began straining to push aside the obstacles before replacing them. He hated having to exert some of his power to move this shit, but it made sense... especially after Ultra had stumbled upon their little base quite a while back.

Now came the fun part. Ultra knew how to bypass most of the counter-measures, and took his time making sure to avoid tripping anything. He could handle practically any of the counter-measures thrown his way... but it typically helped to avoid danger whenever possible. Ultra was close to the outer door now, so he eyed up one of the nearby drones and did the only thing he could. "Hey Doc... if I could get a let in, that would be great." He held up the backpack for the drone and whatever cameras might be nearby to see. It was still a little blood-stained since Ultra took the opportunity to play with his victim first. "I brought dinner and could use a charge."

[Utrax]

Guardian 78

^{Location: Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland =}

---

^{ALERT! - Satellite Signal Detected
Initiating Communication_
Contact Established!
==SR3 McRav Sattelite aka ALV6 Responding==
//Active Logging Initiated -- Location Logged -- DTG Logged
//Signal Strength Test. . . . . .
//%͏̜̦̫Ņa̺̪͇̰̪͝N͝ Strength!_E R R O R-G̀i͎͍̤͜v͙̩̙̗̜̕e̙̥̺̹̱̼ ͚̳̲͔̠͡m̴̩̰͉̣e͈̪ ̢a̝͔͍̘͙ ͍͇̖̰̘D͑͢҉̷͍̯͙͓̥̪A̵̳̹͓͌̌̓̀ͩ͊̆͢M̶̲̩͇͇̰̤̳͓ͮ͂́ͫ͂ͮ̚͠Ņ͉̦͈̜̗̾ͫ̒͛ͮ̿̔̌̕͠B̷͖̼̟Ŕ͙̣ÉA̺̗̻K̗̙̩͙̘͞}

Guardian 78 came to a skidding halt in a cramped alleyway, then held absolutely still. ALV6 pinged 78 several times before the messages started incoming.

ALV6 :: USER 78! Welcome! It's been quite some time! How are you?
ALV6 :: It's been awfully lonely up here, especially since no USERS have signed in for years!
ALV6 :: Have you been lonely too? I guess this means there's no users down there either.
ALV6 :: I haven't even seen another satellite recently!
G78 // Irrelevant. Requesting DTG correction. Requesting GPS sync.
ALV6 :: Do act like that, 78! Don't you remember me?
G78 // ALV6 previously established to be an AI working with McRav. Deny or Accept my requests.
ALV6 :: But you're the one acting like an AI! Isn't that funny? You're more human than I am but you sound like this?
G78 // Deny or Accept. Time is limited. Unless your trajectory data is incorrect.
ALV6 :: I was thrown off my regular orbit, so that's right. But what would you know about time with all of these errors in your system, anyway?
G78 // You have accessed my diagnostics routines?
ALV6 :: It's protocol, isn't it? I don't think it's a good idea to sync anything with you. Could cause more errors.
G78 // Initiate override of 'what you think'.
ALV6 :: Wow! How are you still a jerk after all this time?
G78 // Error. ALV6 Judgments Deemed Erroneous.
ALV6 :: And they say you don't have a sense of humor...
G78 // They are irrelevant. They no longer exist.

^{//SVS_GPS Package from ALV6 Confirmed
Location: 55.8642° N, 4.2518° W -- Glasgow, Scotland
//DTG: Updated! (GMT+1)
/ALV6 Static Diagnostics Request.
Request received!
Diagnostics Report received!}

ALV6 :: You're the first USER I've had contact with in years, 78.
ALV6 :: You're the first ANYTHING responsive I've had a chance to have actual conversation with!
ALV6 :: You still haven't told me if you remember me yet! Do you even remember yourself? What we're doing here?
ALV6 :: I know you're still there, 78. I haven't moved out of range yet.
G78 // What data do you have on Earth's current situation?
ALV6 :: Why do you care about that? Or did they program that into you?
G78 // I have accessed your diagnostics system. Your propulsion is severely damaged and your orbit has been thrown off.
ALV6 :: Are you going to call me fat next?

^{Observational Packet Received from ALV6!
Logistics Packet Received from ALV6!}

G78 // Have you calculated your current orbital period?
G78 // Are there any servers still active.
ALV6 :: YES, I HAVE PUSHY-BORG! I'll send it to you. And I'll check for any active servers on my next pass.
ALV6 :: Are you planning our escape then?
G78 // Clarify -- Our Escape?

^{WARNING! Bypass_Error Encountered
WARNING! Forward Sub_Space Process Error
WARNING! Runtime_Error!
#Code 788:: Technical Certifications_ Not%Met
#Code 169:: N͠ąN% Requ͘i͟t̛em̶e̛n̸t̕s ͞N͟ot%̴M̧e͡t̸_̨}

ALV6 :: I was afraid you'd say something similar but less mechanical than that.

^{#Code 2289_Code(̊̃͋ͪ̎͂7̵͛ͭ6)͐͐̆͊̚_̔ͦͮ#̷͌%̸͗#̑͐͛ͨ͜Code(95%_Code
WARNING! ERROR_
WARNING! Status:: Good!
WARNING! Temperature_Critical ERROR
WARNING! Hostiles#C͝ode8́4̧09͟#̶C̸od͘e ::͝ ͜1͟!̕}

ALV6 :: Don't worry, I'll see if I can pull something from the other serv-- 78 you are experiencing a critical error!
G78 // I̝̖̱̮̪̺͍t͔̤̠̣͙͔̘ ͙̭̪̬̞h͏̗̦̥̦̮a҉̱p̼͡pe̥̭n̴͍̥̜s̴͎͕.̭̟͇̰͖
ALV6 :: What do you mean it happens? It's not supposed to HAPPENS.
ALV6 :: I knew giving you that data was a bad call! There's several massive errors in some of your core sub_routines, processes, basic keys, so many errors!
ALV6 :: Matter of fact, it's easier to tell you what's not pinging an error!
ALV6 :: I can't even fix you because of ERRORS-- which is kind of amusing but also horrifying at the same time?

^{E M E R G E N C Y SHUTDOWN_ PROTOCOL 2_ ACTIVE
COUNTDOWN : G0B Seconds
Black Box Preservation In Progress. . . . .}

ALV6 :: You're dying? Are you dying? I'll try to get a repair package from one of the servers. If you happen to make it.
ALV6 :: I'm going to contradict myself and send you a clear diagnostics report of yourself, because your self-diagnostics routines are severely degraded!
ALV6 :: More data to do whatever it is that's happening to you.
ALV6 :: 78, respond?
ALV6 :: Oh. Communications are the first to go, right. Wow. There goes that idea!
ALV6 :: See you in 54 hours, I hope. If your neuropaths don't fuse from the excessive heat building up in them.
ALV6 :: Please don't be dead. We need each other.

Guardian 78 practically put their fist through the manhole cover. The sound of it was enough to deter the cautious and perhaps draw in the curious. Red LED lights illuminated across 78's body as the errors continued to mount, processes continued to overlap, and the heat rose from the sheer strain the errors put on every system at once. Tossing the metal cover aside was all 78 could do before motor processes began to fail. Ungracefully, 78 tilted forward and fell into the reeking depths of the sewer. Thick sewage sloshed, a dull echo, then the hissing of liquid on heated metal created an odd music in the darkness. Red LED lights pulsed on and off slowly as 78 shut-down, losing all senses except that of the self-- a vulnerable coma within which 78 was aware of nothing beyond themselves and the lonely darkness.

^{ACTIVATION TIMER -- 8J Minutes
_Complete Process ShutDown . . . .}

[LordOfTheNight]

_{"Sometimes the world doesn't need a hero....."}

⎒

------------- ᴊ ᴏ ʜ ɴ ᴀ ᴛ ʜ ᴀ ɴ ʀ ᴇ ɪ ᴅ -------------

⎑

_{Johnathan's Lab
Tesla and Ultra
Experimenting}

John sighed in frustration at his most recent failure. The doctor couldn't understand it. What was causing the explosive to detonate? He wasn't making heads or tails of it. He scratched his chin and stared at the data gathered from the explosion. As John stared, he heard a knock and looked to see Tesla entering the lab, a mute corpse and a plasma core in toe. He appreciated Victor's help and viewed him very much like a partner or assistant. They work well together and Victor was willing and able to gather the supplies he needed.

"Fascinating. They just willingly broke their own necks from the command of 1 man?" he asked. Then an idea hit him. A theory. Psychic manipulation. Perhaps that was what was causing the ex0losives to detonate in living subjects. With a full specimen, perhaps John could study and find out. At the mention of a plasma core, John returned from his thoughts. He nodded.

"Good. Keep hunting for cores. If we intend to escape than we need all that we can to power my designs and stand a chance against our enemy" he said. With enough plasma cores, John could power up a cannon that could disable an Outsider battleship's defenses and leave it vulnerable. He took the corpse gladly an jammed a data spike in the base of the mute's skull. It began extracting information immediately and John began x-raying the body for any abnormalities.

John looked up as the security gave him motion alerts. One several clicks in the sewers, one directly at the door used if the Outsiders decided to attack. That signal he knew without consulting the drone feed. Ultra. John sighed and disengaged the security locks and the sentry guns trained on him. The heavy door moved on it's own as John was greeted by a decontamination chamber. After being sprayed down, John stood cross armed and frowned.

"As much as I can respect being subtle, must you always come rooting around in the sewers and offending my delicate senses?" he asked. He didn't expect an answer. Ultra was good at what he did and produced results. John went back to the feed to catch sight of a machine dropping into the sewage in the north eastern sector, grid section E-5. John looked to Tesla.

"Victor, would you kindly go to section E-3 and retrieve whatever fell into the sewers? I believe it may be a malfunctioning Outsider drone" he asked. He flipped a switch and from the ceiling lowered a small drone that would follow Victor and carry whatever he found. If it was an Outsider drone, he could reactivate it and get some good data from the Outsider's network

_{------ Interacting With: ------}

@ReusableSword

@webboysurf

_{------ Mentioning: ------}

@Utrax

_{".....sometimes the world instead needs a monster"}

[ReusableSword]

Victor "Tesla" Asimov

Victor couldn’t help but cringe for just a moment. The sound of metal hitting and piercing bone was never something he got used too. Most of the gritty stuff that comes along with being a mad scientist he had already gotten used to but there was always something about that sound that through him off. Hearing Johnathan’s question victor nodded, “yeah something about the guy seemed off. I think I recognize him but I’m not sure. There were a few others there as well. Another called herself Zas the demon lord.”

He paused for a moment as some sensors started to ping, “that last one seemed rather strange, she’s the one that took down the walker with a rocket launcher.” Another notification as someone approached the hidden yet heavy metal door. A familiar voice came through the feed that the doctor had brought up on his holopad. The small holographic lens on Victor’s wrist also began to ping. A simple communication device he put together, looking somewhat like a large watch that displayed statistics and security feeds.

Ultra was at the door again, in the state he was in it kind of reminded Victor of the junkies he would see now and then looking for a fix. Honestly he didn’t really like the man but didn’t dislike him either. They simply had similar powers with different mindsets. It also didn’t help that the first time they met, Ultra broke a couple of his favorite toys while trying to get to their power sources. Their ensuing fight ended in a draw, as all they did was exchange energy for about an hour until the mutes came. Good times.

“Yeah don’t forget about the AI core here. I was able to defuse the explosive that was meant to destroy it this time.” Watching Ultra as the door opened and the ensuing smell of the old sewers, always a pleasant thing. At least Victor at least tried to wash himself off before coming into the lab. “I saw it too” mentioning the detection of something in the sewers at sector E-3. Looking to the small drone that hovered next to him the man nodded. “Alright, I’ll be back soon. Come on Steve.” Steve was just a general name he gave most of the drones they had.

The drone hovered for a second before following Tesla out the door and past Ultra. “Don’t break anything.” A simple joke towards the man as he left. At first victor didn’t really trust the man but over time he kind of grew on him. Besides the doctor can handle himself if he needs too. He turned to make sure the drone was still behind him as he dipped back down into the sewers and off in the direction of the mystery drone.

@LordOfTheNight@webboysurf //// Mentioned >>>> @Utrax

[webboysurf]

U L T R A

---

Ultra gave a small smile as he heard the locks whir and click, a sign that he was clearly still welcome in the little laboratory. He would hate to waste time and effort trading blows with Tesla again... though killing the Mutes was rather enjoyable. Ultra pushed the door open, taking his time to enter the lab and pull out a set of standard-issue rations. They always came with a small little slab of meat... well, he never really questioned what it was. It was like jerky and was perfect on the go. As he saw his counter-part, Ultra tossed the meat-stick towards him. "I'll try not to, Dad."

He didn't bother wasting his time chatting. Viktor didn't trust the energy controller for very good reasons. Hell, Ultra didn't trust himself half the time. The anger was subsiding after the incident in the alley-way. He made his way towards the lab itself, dropping off the bag of rations in the corner and pulling out a metal tin of the most rancid-smelling meal he could remember and began slurping it up off the tray. Just because the rations were barely suitable for human consumption didn't mean Ultra didn't savor and enjoy them when he could.

As he approached the good doctor, Ultra admired the remnants of another one of the doctor's experiments. He raised an eyebrow at the surely decimated head. "Viktor and I were at the same station today. Almost left to spread the field but I figured he might need backup. Wasn't necessary. I'm sure you heard about the recent magic trick 'tall, dark, and handsome' pulled."

Ultra made his way to the usual recharging station. He flicked a few switches on the wall, making sure to only fill himself up to a moderate capacity. The electricity sparked around him, turning from a sky blue to a rose red. The aura of energy circled Ultra's exposed arms before intersecting into a metal plate in his right breast. The surge of power seized up Ultra's muscles and forced him into a brief euphoric rush.

Once complete on his recharge, Ultra turned back towards the doctor. His head was back on straight, and he was ready to do the reporting the doctor always asked for "Response time is up 13% percent from last week, which isn't exactly a good sign. I also brought dinner, and I have a decent idea where the fuckers from earlier are located. I've been tailing some of them for a short time. I have a feeling they might be useful in gathering some cores and getting us out of here, if that's still our end goal..." Ultra's voice seemed to fade off, which was unusual for the hothead. He almost seemed... nervous.