[Episode Two] Union

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Alipier Observatory
Outside


The more Marie heard, the happier she was that she chose the path of patience. Going down there would mean she would have had fewer options in this likely conflict. A3 was effectively disabled, Rhea was currently on the ceiling, so she was at an advantage, at least, but aside from her strange mystical ability, she was safer staying away. Romulus could probably take down the robot alone with his power, which was probably a good option.

Quickly, send that to Reman. "Let Romulus take the lead in combat. We need him to use as many of his keys as he can. We don't know what two of them do," she sent. Whew. Damn, she was glad she learned some bits and pieces of self-defense...especially the kind suited for Sages.

Next: The one that called himself 'Bryce.' That was a sign of a hologram. A very advanced one, but still a hologram. That meant Bryce was talking from a proxy. This proxy could be anywhere, but most likely within visual range, as that would give Bryce the best shot at telling what was going on. She needed to move around to find where Bryce was around the perimeter, here. So she started sneaking around in the snow around the perimeter. Without commands, the robot would be forced to fight on its own programming...
 
Alipier Observatory
Mysterious Cave Ceiling



Rhea took a few more, heaving breaths. This was... extremely tiring. But, as she positioned herself aproximately over, and slightly behind the majority of the group of strngers, she felt... reasonably confident that no one would look up and spot her. She set to work shifting around on the ceiling, and adjusting the 'straps' her crystal kinesis gifted her on her feet, so that when the time came, she would beable to take a proper stance from her very hidden, and mostly safe position on the ceiling. She knew scum when she saw it after hanging out in that frozen city for basically her whole life, and this group definetely smelled. And now, they wanted to buy the overseer? She didn't really want to fight, but it seemed like it was best to get ready for that.

"Hope all the blood doesn't just rush to my head when i do this..." Rhea thought to herself. Not thinking for a second that she'd just fall instead when she tried it.
 
Alipier Observatory
Nave


Mikodimus looked to Bryce as his eyes narrowed after hearing the word slave. He took pride in the fact he was a bounty hunter and far too often was he mistaken for being a slaver. "Oh I believe you are mistaken. These are crew and not to be mistaken as slaves." As he spoke he put himself partly between Dahlia and Bryce. Miko took a moment to size up the group and the large robot. Small sparks started to form in his eyes as he was getting very bored with this group. He then paused for a moment and lifted his arm up. On his wrist was a communicator he used to look up the bad guys. He started to put in the information he knew to see if this guy had a bounty on his head.
 
Alipier Observatory

"Not sure if I bargain with someone who is quicker to barter than I am. Besides, there's such a thing as a patent. Can't trade the prototype model." Romulus looked over towards the large golem, unfazed by it's imposing shadow, clearly not afraid of what something like that could do to him if it were to get a solid hit off. Nevertheless, he extended an open palm as to ask for the head back. "Can't have an incomplete unit, now can we?"

Reman however was more like the others after watching their jump to hostility, priming the brace and assuming the position for combat. "I don't really think it'd be a good idea to take her. She packs a punch if she doesn't like you. To be fair, I don't like you ei-"

Reman was cut short by a message on his process, which he quickly let his guard down to read the message. Romulus turned his head and saw that Beta was about to panic and start a fight again, just like the initial expedition. Quickly acting on his feet, he turned his eyes to the entrance, and then back to Reman. Romulus drew and fired the Veteran right at his feet, sending him through a portal back to the entrance of the temple, leaving the mechanic surprised and bewildered before the portal closed behind him. He said "Not today, please and thank you." before quickly holstering the gun, exchanging it's key to the red one, just in case things got ugly as they usually do whenever people are too quick to rush to confrontation. If he was going to have to use the armor, Reman could not be there to witness the transformation.

"You're going to have to up the price for the overseer if we were even going to consider it. She's a limited edition. Pitch me another offer."

Outside Alipier Observatory

When Reman landed outside the observatory, the first one he was able to spot was Marie, who he assumed was standing guard at the time. He ran over to her, and said, "I think I've been kicked out. Gimme one sec to read the message you se-" Reman quickly froze, as what he read on the note confused and scared him. "Romulus?" he asked, not knowing about the man downstairs. "Do you mean like, if he arrives?"
 
Alipier Observatory
Outside


Once again Reman was interrupted by a hand over his mouth and a small jolt of electricity to his neck. “Dumbass.” Marie hissed. “Caesar is Romulus. He’s already here.”

“And even worse, despite the fact he’s here, we can’t even deal with him unless he engages first and we pile in on him with the agreed-upon enemy, and then we hope we can clean up the enemy afterward.” Marie continued to explain. “But I think I’ve understood the powers of that blue key now.”

Portals. The ability to instantaneously move matter from point A to B. As well as creating what seemed like solid barriers. Once she thought about it, it really wasn’t that complicated anymore. It was still a threat, but she was confident she understood the key now. She quickly opened up her driver, moving into Zone’s entry. A powerful tool. Getting hit by it would mean they’d be instantly out of the fight, no questions asked.

Four more keys to fully understand. Red, Voltage, blue, Steel. Oh...right, the original task.

“Can you do me something, Reman?” Marie asked. “Bryce is a visual projection. That means that to maintain perfect accuracy, he must be within visual range of it to react accordingly. Find him.”
 
Alipier Observatory

"Tsk tsk tsk, people! What're you even doing, acting so crazy all the sudden?" Juryrig twisted back to his group, using a hand to emulate 'settle down'. "Romulus here's the only one getting it! We have to be cautious and aggressive negotiators, not a bunch of social justice warriors! That phase already came and gone a while ago, anyways, at least back on Ayenee. Really fun time, I might add, because I never had such a dedicated racer like Munchie here!" The 'mad man' patted his plant-like construct affectionately before turning to the opposing captain.

"Now let's see... Yeah, like Romulus said, if we're talking a measily two hundred, then that's a rip-off considering the profits are gonna be split between the lion's share," he points to good ol' Blueberry, "and the rest of us! That's, what, only a measly twenty for Cap'n, and... A bit more than sixteen for everyone else. That is NOT a way to do business! Now, if it were 200 each, maybe? Because ho BOY, that robot fought stupid hard to resist capture. Not like I'd know, I just let them handle it while I messed around with Pixy tech!" He cackled, and then did a small gesture to Boy Scout, implying where all that effort went into.

"So, how about... 30,000 per robot we're gonna donate? And uh, Boy! Grab me my bag, just in case!" On that order, the EVE-like, boxy robot rocketed off to the Downrider, utilizing an arcane-based waypoint system to pinpoint the ship's location.
 
As he watched on, Ausse could only hope that Bryce would forgive the unexpected display of aggression from a few of his crewmates. Though the informant himself knew better than to heed an ear to the crew's very own raving madman that is Juryrig, he could not deny that the alchemist spoke the truth. Well, the part of it that made sense, at least. "Sorry captain, but the overseer's priceless- we won't sell her. May we discuss something else, perhaps another deal?"

On an unrelated note, and much to Ausse's own dismay, Caesar (Romulus?) was toying around with that gun of his again. Used it, in fact, and to portal Reman back to the top of the stairs for, what the informant could tell, absolutely no reason. He squinted as he diverted his attention momentarily to the smug gun bastard, eyebrows furrowed as he contemplated the best way to hold back on verbal admonishment for now. It would be inappropriate behavior in front of present company.
 
Present Spatial Coordinates: Allipier Observatory

Although the subject of anyone other than himself holding his head being somewhat uncomfortable for him, he allowed the transport of his head for now. As it was brought closer, it would be possible, albeit very hard, for someone to see (or hear) the shifting of his crown sensors, of which created a quiet yet grating cacophony buzzing and creaking.

One such sensor was an adjustable periscope lens, which was making an attempt to get a view on his body once more. The lens whipped itself around for some seconds, before finally locking on. "Contemporary situation defined as apprehensive. Pending suitable circumstances for potential action." He said, as he waited for current events to worsen or improve, whichever came first.
 
The Fox-eared boy was busy reeling at his teammates' entrance. He couldn't care less who this suit was. If anything, they would know good and well what laid in its halls.

It was when he heard the conversation turn to a negotiation of price for the units the team had found that he had to step up. Compared to Juryrig's stature, he was lacking, but his pinned back ears and narrowed eyes gave him a look only rivaled by an snarling hound. "We are not putting our associates for sale, Arcanist." He jammed his gauntlet's finger in his direction as though writing the period of his sentence in the air.

He then snapped his attention towards the man and his looming machine. The way it seemed to stare silently upon the team felt... ominous. As though any second it could reach down and pop Deimos' skull between its fingers. He resisted the urge to shudder at the thought, and fought his tail tucking between his legs. "Especially not Osco."

There was a slight pause between his last two words. Though one couldn't tell if the reason was because he was growing used to referring to the machine by her nickname or for some other reason.
 
Alipier Observatory
Nave

Dahlia gazed briefly at A3, before looking back at the shifty man to match the rest of the group. "Sorry, no sale for today.:"

Captain Arvero glanced between Caesar, Juryrig, Dahlia, and the like in a rotation, and then back at the grey Overseer. At first, he was genuinelyy concerned about the not-so-passive aggressiveness that was being spat about this own group. Then, a humored grin split his face momentarily as he took in the low standards these people must have to call such a thing priceless. As the though passed, he straightened up, closing his hands. There were bigger fish in the sea, better to get this out of the way. "All right, then. It was worth a shot, but it'd cost to much to repair the other one anyways."

Arvero motioned to the enforcer of a robot. "Give 'em their head back. And the business. Card."

The robot stared briefly at the man, before looking back at the group. With a motorized flick of the wrist, they tossed A3's disembodied head with a bit of spin, allowing it to land roughly within in it's designated slot- albeit upside down. Along with the head came a thin card of black paper fluttering through the air, landing on the blue-haired scholar's shoulder. She took the card, examining it briefly in a bout of... confusion. It wasn't written in their language, nor any known Arcadian script.

Dahlia tilted her head. "....Thank you?" After the exchange, Arvero checked the underside of his wrist for a nonexistent watch. "Think nothing of it, The company has been fun, but we've got enough work to do without distractions."

Arvero snapped his fingers as he turned to face away from the group. A thin little smirk formed on his face. "Satori, if you would be so kind as to chauffeur our guests out the door. Try not to shoot each other on temple grounds, I insist." The large robot nodded, and stepped forwards to cover the captains back as they walked away. Behind her, the illusion of the captain faded away, though their voice could be heard farther down the hall. "Five hours, everyone. Someone get the other mason off break- and maybe a mop."

Satori raised a forearm as well as an open hand to the group, pausing. The outer rims of their forearm armor split open, revealing a device centered around a blue bar of light. In a soft flash, the light expanded to form a blue square that met up with several of the orbiting drones- forming a nice, square shield.

They said nothing, but the robot began a slow and steady approach- fast enough to encourage moving back, but not fast enough to plow anyone over rudely. They began to corral the group back towards the door, allowing the wide shield to act like a scoop. Dahlia stuffed the business card in her pocket. "Alright, alright, I get it." She tapped Caesar and Keith on the shoulder, motioning for them to move along. She flashed the unusual card to the others, nodding her heads towards the staircase.

OSC-01, or OStA-4124 in this case- did nothing. Instead, the hologram stood right where it was as it stared at the approaching enforcer with an uncanny feeling of... familiarity. The hologram was eventually dispersed into a mess of light and eventually nothing as the warm shield broke apart the grid keeping it together.
 
Yvonne, finally finishing setting up shop, looked up from her desk, exhausted and realized that it had been extraordinarily quiet for around the past hour and a half. She stood up, and looked around, and couldn't really find anyone. She poked her head outside and saw the group walking back with a strange new edition to the cast. She ran back to her shop, excited and ready to show them her amazing array of fashion. "I wonder if the robot likes plaid..."
 
Reman was... overwhelmed. Not really knowing what to do, he just turned back to Marie and said; "If that's true... There's no amount of data that could tell how much trouble we're in if Alpha is here." Pausing for but a moment, he took out his journal. "One of the reasons that Romulus is chasing me is that I kinda..." He turned to a specific page dead in the middle of his book, showing an exact blueprint of his previous driver model, and a driver intended to be positioned like a belt on it's user. "Stole his... Research. All of it." Madly flipping through the book, he looked for the gun Caesar was using, but found nothing. "And there's no mention of whatever he has in here anywhere... Are you sure?" Reman gently closed the journal and put it away before walking back to whence they came. "Head with me. If he is what you say he is... We need to make sure the drivers are ready."

Romulus left the building, but not without in return tossing one of his business cards towards Arvero, landing it square on his chest. On his way out, he turned his head briefly toward Juryrig, looking him dead in the eyes. While his expression to everyone else looked unchanged, what the mad alchemist could see in them was very, very different. Like a wildfire out of control, no amount of words could express the biker's rage in that instant before he turned away to exit the room. He walked back up the stairs, and back outside. He quickly turned to Osco, and decided to come up with a plan to get inside. Whispering quietly, he said; "Give it a few hours before going back in, but let's head back to base for now." Before yelling to A3.

"Heading back to the ship, come follow if you would. No confrontational action is needed."
 
"Positive-affirmation, individual self-designated as Caesar."

The large robot moved, his body twisting itself around and upright, some parts making full rotations around until it found itself fully front-facing. His tubular metal legs shrunk back, to support his weight enough as he balanced himself and, after the realization that his crown unit was disoriented, reached up and placed it in its rightful orientation, a small series of clicks confirming its sealing.

With all his attention focused on his apparent creator, he followed out, his metal carapace now decorated with some shiny and brand-new nicks and dents, as well as regained a small icy coating from the ice he crushed during his downward descent.

As he made his way towards the exit, he looked back with the still-extended periscope lens, inspecting his temporary captor. "Potential unit defined as vigorous, producing system log: designating potential hostile entity."
 
Rhea took a few, releived breaths from on the ceiling. When that guy had brought out the 'enforcer bot4000' she had thought it might devolve into a fight... or at the very least, a scam. That was usually what those big mafia types did any way, had a fast talker and somone to back them up. Maybe what she really needed was to chill when it came to interpersonal relations, she supposed she hadn't been very good in that department lately.

Rather than stick around any longer and risk somone looking up while shaking their head in exasperation, she quickly began the climb back across the ceiling... and up this tunnel. She was partly sure that she could sneak around in there without getting caught but, her arms were getting tired already, she at least needed a break.
 
The tiny pilot for the group stretched a bit, internally complaining about the group turning around. "Went all this way just to turn around... Well, 's better than another damn firefight..." A few other questions were burning in the back of the smol's mind, but she decided to wait until everyone wasn't in visual and auditory range of the other group.
 
Observatory Grounds

Cast back out onto the cold mountainside, the group found that the blizzard that had encompassed the area had started to move on- albeit it didn't bring much change to the frigid temperature. Not much was said by the captain as they made their way back down past the decrepit housing that lined the path down, and the metal book at her side had gone completely lifeless. It might be better to bring this up when they were safely out of the marked territory.

Behind the tail end of the group, the enforcer robot filled the metal door-frame of the temple entrance. Satori's eyes remained fixed on the group as they wrapped their solid metal digits around the long handles of the double doors- making them look like dollhouse doors in comparison. With all of them vacated, the enforcer slammed the doors- accompanied by the sliding sound of the metal pipe being returned from the inside. Their heavy footsteps were not heard moving away until all the members had made it out of their sight.

Mountainside Riverbank
Landing Area


Despite the changes in weather, the ISS Downrider was covered in several feet of snow at the time they got back; albiet, it did add some camouflage to the bulky carrier. The snow slowed but the wind unrelenting, Dahlia jammed a finger towards Caesar as she made her way towards the door. "I want to have a word with you when we get inside, but first-" She paused, staring at the man before flicking the gloved hand to point at the robot behind her. "Take care of your little lost project here. Disarm them, whatever you need to do."

The short scholar ushered in the cargo bay door, having decided to let the crew shake the snow and ice off in there to prevent ruining the pumpkin-scented carpeting. "I don't want a hole in my ship..."


Inside the ship, Dahlia shook off her cloak and jacket, throwing the top two layers of dampened wrap to the side. Before she made her way into the main area of the ship however, she stopped to scan the bay for any changes or movement. Unbeknownst to her, the one change had been to Marie's workstation. Stowed away just out of eye in one of her drawers was an unusual energy core, similar in concept to her keys. It was comprised of a metal tube resembling a fuse, with a dark green crystal wrapped inside. The crystal was cracked, with a notable scorch running up the side of it- and smelt terrible.

The scholar shook her head and continued into the commons area, digging through her pocket to retrieve the paper card she had been thrown. As the Scholar entered the room, she raised her head to call out with a hint of agitation. "Osco? Where are you?"

From the wall beside the doorframe came the nonchalant voice of OSC-01, in their physical lethargy. "Right here, Miss Morgan." The Overseer stood propped up against the heavy support frame, their folded wings bearing the necessary physical bonds that were replaced with no haste before the group had returned. The Overseers head flipped upwards as a black card was slid in front of their face. "Time for your end of the deal. I need you to check this."

The Overseer moved their head back, raising a wing. The wing casing split open, allowing a hand to pinch the card. A moment later, a green eye widened as she raised the card to the light, bringing up the other hand. She pressed the card between her metal fingers and wiping it over while scanning every single speck of the thing. Dahlia was unamused. "I meant the language, not a bomb check. It doesn't quite match up with anything in my book."

The Overseer however, did not speak for a moment. Having finished checking the card for anything suspicious, the robot had stopped on the language. It was indeed familiar, but not fully. Though it seemed like a degradation, a modernization. What was more concerning, however, was the address listed beneath it. The robot was hung up on the thought for a moment, not realizing the awkward pause she was causing. A few seconds later, she was snapped out of the trance.

"Well?"

OSC-01 lowered the card, looking just left of Dahlia. "Arcandum Union. The language is simplified, but familiar. Perhaps a bastardization of Nepherian. Hints of Arcadian nomenclature." The robot paused. "But this address isn't for any phone or house. This is an address for an ancient Arcadian communication suite."

Dahlia gazed at the robot for a moment, raising an eyebrow. That answer held some... implications. She lowered herself into one of the seats in the room, finding it sunken quite below normal. The scholar waved a hand to some of the others, inviting them back in. "...Can you access it?"

OSC-01 paused, cutting a response hastily. "Not like this. And even if I could, I'm not sure I want what they're doling out."
 
Downrider

Juryrig was the very first to let himself in, totting his large backpack that Boy Scout had brought back whilst the group made the trip down hill. By now, Juryrig's potion still didn't wear off, so he had to take off his signature red coat to compensate for the higher internal temperature. "Ah ha, so it was Arcandum Union! Can't say I'm surprised, very little does, but... A communications suite? Sounds like a very roundabout way of getting in touch with a employeer, I'd say on your level, Blueberry," Juryrig observed, still calling his boss that nickname.

The alchemist shirked off his haversack, letting it and his wonderous inventions land with a thump. He leaned on it, eyes on Daliah and Orso; as much as he wants to make a meme out of the Caesar Death Stare, business is business. "Now uh... What's a communications suite?"
 
ISS Downrider

Walking in right after the mad scientist Juryrig was Ausse, who had also decided to take off his insulated military coat. With it now slung over his shoulder to accompany the sniper rifle on his back, the informant once again sported his trademark nomad look, which was somewhat ill-suited to the climate outside. "Well! Our new friends in the Union don't seem that much hospitable anymore. If there's anything of interest inside, we'll need to find another way in. Preferably unannounced." Ausse rolled his eyes as he said the last part practically though gritted teeth. On the matter of sneaking in unannounced, in fact, he'd need to ask a favor of engineering to take a look at his bracer, soon- hopefully with no evoknight key functionalities added.

He then directed himself towards Juryrig, scratching his hair near his right temple, thinking. "...If knowledge does not fail me, it would be a collection of applications generally designed for, well, communication. If there is an address to such a place, it could not only be a comms suite, but also a comms site."
 
ISS Downrider

The crew's extra-smol pilot, with her funky asymmetrical eyes, yawned and sniffled discontentedly, leaning herself against the cargo bay's walls for a time. "That is a bit weird. I doubt they're running a radio program from there. Though, a communications center like that's a pretty good base for this kinda work - they can probably contact all kinds of facilities from there, to find them and then get to them." Stretching one pale, smol arm into the air, Arbs sighed and continued to vaguely sassily judge some of the people still talking. She munched on another granola bar, chocolate chip flavored. Nice.
 
ISS Downrider

Miko at first resisted the push to leave but felt was not the best time to start an all out fight. It took all his will power however not to turn that robot into a crushed can. Each nudge from it against one of the crew was just one more reason to come back and seek revenge.

Either way he was back at the Downrider and made his way into the cargo bay. With a quick flex of his vector powers the snow quickly shed from his being and piled on the floor. He took a moment to take in the word getting spread around. Something about a communications suite which told him not a lot about what the next move would be.

"I got some communications of my own to share with our new found friends." Miko was flipping the bird to make a point. He cracked a smile and then walked over to where Arb was leaning against the wall. He put his hands towards her like you would a heater. "So what is our next move? I hope our next destination after this will be warm. Maybe have a beach. Some revealing swim suits wouldn't be too bad either." He chuckled having amused himself with that last part.
 
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