View source for 5572/System Tower: Floor 88

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2017/11/15
|Location=The System <TS>
|Synopsis=The Tower returns to Locus, once more sporting one of the strange 'equipment artifacts'. The group meet an old 'friend', and fight his 'sister'.
|Cast of Characters=1103, 998, 874
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The floating islands of Locus are hidden from the Terminal Bus as the lines of power that run through them flicker dimly, pulsing fitfully as the black spike of the System Tower looms in the distance. An LDF officer stands with a self powered lantern, and directs those coming towards the Tower, where Theurgus, Charta, and another girl with black hair and green eyes are stood waiting. Theurgus and the black haired girl seem to be arguing over something, with Charta trying to calm them both.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I told you to stay at the Cathoderal and help the scribes keep what little Resource we have going to where it's needed, Arcana!" says the taller magician, cowing the smaller girl a little bit. "W-Well, you shouldn't have to do this on your own! I /am/ your protege, after all." is the feeble retort. "Protege or not, if you don't listen, you're just going to help The Organization... now please, others are coming, and you are not yet ready, even with all of your accomplishments."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:998|Lexicon (998)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"She's not doing it on her own!" a voice booms with authority from the sky! In full transformation, Lexicon descends near the tower, sweeping her axe off her shoulders and planting the head near the ground, hand resting on the fact while the other rests on her hip. Blue-white hair, red eyes, and the snowy white armored Processors and bodysuit are all clear indicators of Silver Soul, floating a few inches off the ground on square-ish wings of light.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The introduction is kind of undermined when two pairs of arms unhook from around her neck and two young brunettes emerge from behind her. Index and Codex, the twin candidates of Britannica. Lexicon gestures, and they trot forward as a pair, "We'll help!" "Show us what to do!" "I'm Codex." "Index! What's yours?"<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The silver DCC closes her eyes with a shrug, "They blocked the Cathoderal's door and wouldn't let me leave unless I brought them..." One eye opening, "But I'm here to help, Theurgus."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Aaaaaand ZOOM! Yuuki barrels on into the meeting spot, flying in with the kind of insane speed achievable by a skilled Alfheim Online flier with a fine-tuned interface. Fast enough to make one think that anything that big moving that fast really ought to come equipped with jet thrusters.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Sorry I'm late!" the little imp calls out as she screeches to a halt inches from cratering into the ground. It only looks like an out-of-control plunge at first, considering she actually manages to stop and seem rather graceful doing it, not at all like it was some sort of emergency. "I was just, you know..." she pauses, glancing about. Seeing Lexicon with her twin little ones and Theurgus looming over a small girl, plus Charta mediating, she loses track of her explanation. "Huuuh. I didn't know we were supposed to bring..." she pauses, searching for the right word. "Minions?" she tries. "Companions? I'd have brought someone if I knew, sorry!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Theurgus looks up, and gains a big smile as she sees Silver Soul decending. "It is good to see you my friend... it seems we are nearing the end of the line of this cursed tower." she says. The door at the base nearby has that aggrivating blue sign reading: 88. Arcana looks at the twins curiously, stepping back a little as they scamper up. "Uh... M-My name? It's..." she looks to Theurgus, who pointedly ignores the younger girl. "Uh... It's Arcana... c-come on then..." she gestures to follow her, then scampers off back towards the Cathoderal, its pillar of chromatic light sputtering fitfully as it gains and loses connection to power.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Yuuki makes her entrance, Charta finally breathes a sigh of relief. "Oh thank goodness. I was beginning to think we were going to have to do this ourselves." the little bookfairy floats off after Arcana and the Twins, while Theurgus just chuckles softly at the imp girl. "Minions? Oh no, Arcana is my protege, one of several who show promise and compatability with the DCC code." she says. "Not necessary, however lets get this started, shall we?" She transforms herself in a pillar of light, then turns to swing wide the door into the tower.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Within the Tower Floor, sits a vast expanse of stars... space? In the distance, showing the non-Euclidian mark of the Tower itself, is a large mass of asteroids with what look like... statues on them. A ship moves through the space, coming in close to the platform the responders are stood on. Lexicon would recognize it as the Vip Vicar, but it looks to be in pretty poor shape, trailing black smoke from one of its nacelles, and only having two Options instead of its original four. It's dogfighting some strange ships that look like what you'd get if you turned JPEG artifacts into 3D models.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:998|Lexicon (998)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"They're not minions," Lexicon snaps towards Yuuki, "They're my younger sisters. And they're very talented." She glances up as the pair trots off with Theurgus' assistant, "Arcana, huh. You're still trying to train a candidate instead of make one?" Eyes closing as she drifts into the tower, she remarks, "I don't have that ability, so all I can do is wish you two luck."<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Space. Lexicon pauses, glancing around the floor's chosen form. Stars. Space. And a dogfight with a familiar space fighter against what appears to be corrupted data that used to be familiar enemy ships.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In space, everyone can still hear Lexicon lose her temper.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'M NOT TURNING INTO A FUCKING PLANE AGAIN!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Sorry!" Yuuki repeats, though she doesn't look particularly chastised. She didn't mean it in a negative sense, so she can't really feel guilty over the statement. "I've been considering getting minions of my own for reasons. There's no way I could get any little sisters though, especially not such cute ones!" she says approvingly. "There's only one person I'd teach my skills to anyways, so I suppose it's fine." she grins, apropos of nothing.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once inside, she looks around at the starry expanse. "Oh wow, this looks familiar." she enthuses. "I can pilot! I've had a lot of practice in gaming space ships." she adds confidently. "Or man some guns, I guess? Maybe?" she shrugs. "Hey, I'm new here. I don't really know what's going on. The last time I was here, it didn't look anything like this!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Theurgus watches the Vip Vicar for a moment, then nods, leaping off the platform, and becoming engulfed in a bubble of pixelated light. It looks like her turn to transform into a ship this time. The form is, very clockwork, and birdlike, with two turrets for people to man. "Lets go, the sooner we do this the sooner we can celebrate!" She holds near the platform for the others to mount up. Her shipform is like a Gunship, much bigger and bulkier than the sleek looking Vip Vicar.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The corrupted ships start to peel off and engage the new arrival, taking some pressure off the sleek blue fighter, who does seem to appreciate the assistance as the pilot pulls hard up and blasts a trio of 'ships' with duel laser cannons. &lt;Appreciate the assist. Options, Flank mode!&gt; comes the haggard voice over local radios.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:998|Lexicon (998)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Rrgh..!" Lexicon sweeps her axe to one side, scattering motes of light. The weapon is turned sideways and she uses the flat of the blade to swat those motes, scattering them as projectiles, "<span class="bold_fg_w bg_n ++ hw">Gefarlichtern!</span>"<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With that distraction dispensed, she springs off, circling the Theurgus gunship form, "It's a repeat, again. Just like Floor 85, it's one we cleared before, but more messed up and corrupted..." Red eyes narrow. Does this mean that the higher floors are getting closer to the source of the Tower and its corruption? Or is it just coincidental? An aesthetic adopted while increasing the difficulty with the floor count?<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her eyes dart back to the entrance platform as a familiar figure in a blue dress scurries in, surrounded by holographic screens and carrying a thick tome. "Better late than never," the DCC comments.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She dismisses her axe and drops into one of the gunship-magician's cannon turrets, "This is fundamentally different, even if the theme of the floor is similar. Get ready for lots of shit flyin' at you and don't hit the blue ship. That one's ours."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yuuki stares in amazement as Theurgus transforms into a spaceship. Oh sure she knows shipgirls, or at least one, but she's never seen anything like this! <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It takes her a moment, but she finally realizes she's in danger of being left behind. "Wait for me!" she cries out, her wings blurring into motion and propelling her out into space.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She settles into the turret gunnery chair after a bit, reaching out to put her hands on the controls. "This isn't too weird is it?" she asks, slightly self-consciously. But it's not really going to stop her. This is what's expected after all! "I'll try not to hit the wrong ship. I'm not too good at leading targets, but my reactions are pretty good!" she boasts. "I can handle lots of things flying at me!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Theurgus's voice echoes from within the large metallic clockwork 'bird'. "Lets plow the road!" she says, pulling up and away as those corrupted ships open fire on her, sparking bolts off her shield. The 'wings' flap once, then extend out to full span as the thrusters light up and her form arcs up and around giving both gunners good firing lines.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She isn't unarmed by herself though, a bolt cannon unfolding from the 'beak' and clearing the path ahead as she forms up alongside the Vip Vicar.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;We need to get past the Moai Field, the Earl Carthage got hit by something and went rogue, I tracked her to the far side of this field, but I've taken a beating doing it.&gt; comes Captain Peregrin over the radio. &lt;I'm glad you're here.&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:998|Lexicon (998)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The Earl Carthage, huh..." Lexicon repeats the name out loud, swinging her cannon around in its mounting. "I didn't know there was a second ship." Raising a hand, she flips a two-fingered salute to the damaged Vip Vicar, "Only go as far as you're able. If you push yourself and die, it won't help anyone. Nobody's going to blame you for pulling back if it gets too dicey in your condition."<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Aiming forward, Lexicon calls out to Yuuki, "Focus on flankers! Theurgus has the front quarter for now. Ground batteries are a priority, and anything that's launching new enemies!"<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, that's similar to what they ran into last time, anyway. And since the front is being tended to, she fixates on the left side, sweeping laser fire across asteroid-mounted statues, "Who the hell builds giant ugly heads in space, anyway..!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yuuki lets out a cry of exhileration at soaring once again through space. Fighting is great, and flying is awesome, but what she loves above all is being free to move. She's not in control here, so this isn't quite so enjoyable as the ability to fly endlessly in any direction she chooses... but it's still pretty great.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Aye aye, cap'n!" she calls out, apparently thinking this is a ship-based thing. Or a pirate thing perhaps. She tests out the guns, judging their rate of turn and sensitivity of the controls. Then she settles in to take care of business.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yuuki's shooting, while not exactly super-accurate, is still eerily good. She doesn't bother with low-percentage shots, holding her fire until something either passes particularly close (and she doesn't need to lead it) or as something turns and ends up in a moment of low relative motion (so it stays in the same place while she fires). She can't put up the volume of shots others might do, but she manages her limitations well enough to let her handle ships coming around her side to come to bear on Theurus the ship.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yuuki's mostly busy watching enemies. Her accuracy is somewhat low, so she can't take on the long-range shots. She's busily focussing on predicting enemies. "You might want to focus on the fixed targets! I've got the ships!" she cries out. Well okay, she hasn't got ALL the ships, but she seems to be doing somewhat better against them than she is against the ground batteries or launching vessels.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Talking about dicey, the statues aren't just scenery! Their eyes open, showing glowing orange hatred within, and then their mouths ratchet open and spit out fans of orange energy bolts! or release more of those corrupted fighters. The heads themselves seem to jitter and 'bug out' occasionally, the entire field showing some level of corruption and degretation. Theurgus shoots out a statue as it turns around and opens its mouth, shoving her own energy bolts back down its 'throat', causing it to erupt in a shower of that same energy, thankfully short lived.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lexicon's got a good idea, as more of those ships come barreling down onto the gunship from her quarter. They're easy enough to destroy, though she may want to try shooting some of the statues as well, they're literally on every asteroid.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Vip Vicar rolls and ducks around Theurgus-Ship, using the larger craft as cover, until the smoking nacelle explodes brilliantly. &lt;Damn it, I just lost that engine... I can't keep up with you. Save my sister, you're this worlds only hope now.&gt; comes the strained voice, as the ship peels off and spirals off out of the upper edge of the field. In the distance, a faint flower of flame blossoms on the same vector, and the Vip Vicar's locator goes dark.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yuuki's good, keeping that flank clean as the gunship soars through the field. Theurgus says, "We're about halfway through, I see something flitting through the asteroids up ahead... lets make sure the Captain's sacrifice isn't in vain." she says. Yuuki could possibly call herself the Absolute Gunner at this rate, the corrupted ships exploding in showers of flame and debris under the selected fire of her turret. She can't deal with the ground batteries too well, but as long as she's dealing with the craft being launched they'll soon be out of range.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:998|Lexicon (998)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Tch," Lexicon bares her teeth, "I told him to retreat if it got too bad, but that's just overdoing it." No love lost for the wayward program. Or at least that's how she rationalizes it. This is, ultimately, a challenge to be cleared. She can't afford to think about native Tower programs right now.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After scattering shots through empty space after enemy ships on her side, the DCC swings her gun towards an easier target: The statue head spitting them out. "You deal with ships, I'll handle statues!" And so she leaves those flitting targets alone.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And focuses the fury of her laser guns on the beefy stationary statues instead. The example set by Theurgus is noted and then imitated-- prioritizing heads with open mouths, a percieved weakpoint. She also picks targets that are closer, both because they're easier to hit and because they present a larger danger to the trio traversing the gauntlet.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm going to guess it's red," Lexicon responds to Theurgus' voice, "Does it look like it's influenced by corrupted code?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Clearing events is Yuuki's life! Or at least it's a good part of her life since she got involved in Alfheim Online. The greater Multiverse hasn't really changed that; it just introduced a wider variety of events.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She seems to get particularly charged-up by the Captain's final words however. That, and the presumed fate of the vessel and its crew. "We'll save her." she whispers, as her firing starts to come faster and faster. No longer content to wait for those perfect shots, she actively hunts out the ships. It hurts her overall effectiveness somewhat, though she at least manages to come around and gun down a good number of attackers as they turn onto a firing approach and make themselves easy targets in turn.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Too far to tell yet. We're almost clear of the field. It looks like it's... fighting itself, almost." replies Theurgus to Lexicon, as the gunship rolls out of the way of a larger rock, slipping low underneath it. Lexicon's assaults on the open mouths proves effective, setting them off in a plume of explosive force, taking out the ships they're spawning, if they're nearby, or engulfing and dissipating the shots.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yuuki's renewed fury catches most of the attackers off guard. They were starting to focus on evasive approaches since the gunner seemed reluctant to 'waste' shots, so now they're faced with a more coherant 'wall' of fire, they begin to faulter.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The overall consentration begins to drop off as the rocks begin to clear. Ahead, the shape of a ship, very similar to the Vip Vicar, but cast in dark crimson instead of blue, appears to be flying erratically. it's got a pair of obviously alien code 'wings' sprouting from the nacelles on the sides, and the Options appear to be trying to fire at these wings to break them loose. A new voice, female and strained comes crackling over radio. &lt;O-Options, Rapid Fire Mode! I-I'm losing control!&gt; The ship pitches, then shifts form as it rounds on Theurgus-ship, extending its weapons. &lt;No! Whoever you are, you have to run! I can't control my ship!&gt; The craft takes on a formation similar to the Vip Vicar did when facing off against the Flame Drake on the earlier floor. "Looks like we found the target... those wings don't look natural." says Theurgus, as she wings over and banks away from the head-on charge, barely grazing the shots of laser fire scraping pass her lower hull. "Those are shield piercing shots! This is going to be dangerous."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bunnabelle would have been able to follow, riding on a weird cloud-like thing being 'driven' by a squat little mole creature who always looks angry. For some reason, the ships and turrets completely ignore this craft.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:998|Lexicon (998)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Once again," Bunnabelle offers, "Thank you very much for the lift..!" Even if the pilot seems so grouchy. She can't help but feel like she's inconveniencing him somehow with an expression like that. She pauses, leaning up to see over him, and then suddenly pushes forward and points, "There! There, go there!" She hauls herself back, opening her tome and scattering numerous holoscreens. One is grabbed, expanded, depicting a blue ship outline with crimson shapes fitted to the exterior, "This code doesn't match at all..It must be another artifact!"<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's the last one, isn't it?" a new voice points out.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Without responding, Bunnabelle snaps her tome shut, watching the battle unfold anxiously, "Will they have to shoot down the ship to get it, though?"<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As a laser shot cuts far too close for comfort, Lexicon shields her face with one arm, "--Tch..!" Red eyes blink open, examining the behavior of the new ship. She's already established her inability to do much against moving targets, though. After a moment, she slams a button on the console to return her turret's control to Theurgus, then hauls herself out of the turret completely, "Fuck it, goin' out!"<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once clear of Theurgus' hull, her wings appear and she swings her right hand, producing her axe in a flash of pixellated light. Her free hand is raised, "C'mon! Try hitting something as fragile as little ol' me, instead of that big armored thing! Bet you'll get way better results!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yuuki, like Lexicon, isn't that confident in her gunnery. "We... have to shoot the wings off?" she asks dubiously. Her timing and judgment of such things is her strongest asset, but Yuuki has no way to tell what sort of firepower's needed to destroy the ship's wings without obliterating the ship in return. And while she could hold her shots for a sure moment, it seems Lexicon has a better idea.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh hey wait for me!" Yuuki cries out happily, bounding out of her seat, her turret, and into free digital-like space. She doesn't spare a moment to wonder if she can breathe; she takes it for granted. And once free, her wings take her darting around like the chaotic spacebat she is. All but impossible to hit, and armed with a weapon she vastly prefers to any gun she's ever been shown.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Theurgus-ship banks hard, then switches direction, trying to shake off the much more maneuverable Earl Carthage as it settles into her six o'clock. The turrets, returned to her control, rotate back and start firing suppressive shots to throw off the fighter's aim. it jitters and jolts uncertainly, before breaking off from the hail of laser fire, turning to make a strafing run at Lexicon. &lt;Please, you can't stay here!&gt; pleads the pilot, even as she can be seen wrestling with the controls, making the ship lurch and shudder, as it fights back against her. The craft opens fire, loosing laser lances out at Lexicon, before its forced to roll out and skim close to the axe-wielding DCC. She might get a good hack at the wing from there.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yuuki's next, whatever alien code is controlling the ship locking onto the flitting little space-bat and doing its damnedest to track her. A pair of missiles pivot out of the fuselage, then detach from the holding clamps and fly off towards the Imp, doing a better job of mimicing the erratic pattern of flight than the ship itself can.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Theurgus meanwhile turns back, taking a wide sweeping turn as her wings fold back in close to the main hull. "Ye Lords. Masked in Bits and Code, You who bear the name of Program. Truth and Temperence, strike upon this corrupted form, and unleash but a measure of your fury! Way of Purification, Number 33. Bit Blaze Cannon!" As her voice speaks, the barrel of the 'beak gun' begins gathering in energy, 'sucking in lines' as it builds charge. It's going to take a few seconds to build up fully though.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:998|Lexicon (998)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yeah," Lexicon bares her teeth in a grin when the Earl Carthage breaks off from Theurgus, "Yeah! Come on!" She swings her axe behind herself, throwing out her free hand to make herself a bigger target, "Come at me, you recycle bin reject!" Laser bolts answer her, punching through her body and limbs. Pieces of damaged code shear off, and her outline bears several holes ringed in crimson, damaged code, but it doesn't dissuade her one bit.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her free hand swings back to grab the haft of her axe, as the fighter draws close, and she hauls it over and down, opposing the fighter's momentum with the blade of her weapon using all the force she can muster, "<span class="bold_fg_w bg_n ++ hw">GROSSER SPALTER!</span>"<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The initial swing of the axe leaves behind a silver-white arc of light, maintaining that cutting effect for a second or two after her swing has already ended, a glowing crescent in space.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Highly maneuverable missiles may well have an easier time than guns would of catching the nimble spacebat, but they're really not all THAT maneuverable to the discerning Yuuki. She doesn't really want to dodge them though. Not if it means closing in to find the missiles curving back to try again while other missiles come from the other direction!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead, Yuuki sets her body in an angled position and begins a headlong charge towards her attacker. "Haaaaoooooooh~!" she cries, charging, blade held obliquely before her. Head to head, the missiles won't have to maneuver to try to keep up.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At the last moment Yuuki throws her body one way, her blade the other, bringing it across and into a missile's body in what might well be this world's first space-missile parry. She doesn't strike the weapon head-on of course. Even she knows that much about missiles, probably thanks to Silica's patient advice. She parries edge-on though, her deadly blade likely tearing through the lightweight metal of the missile's shell and fuel canister.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lexicon's strike shears off one of the Wings, the thing spinning off into space, and transforming back into its original form, a large white 'wing' with a pair of blade-like spikes coming off of it. The code comes to a stop in space seemingly of its own accord.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The missiles are cloven in twain! The warhead doesn't detonate and the pair of missiles just spin away in four pieces. The Earl Carthage opens fire with the cannons, but again, is pulled away by the pilot, apparrently gaining more control now the first 'wing' has been torn free. &lt;Options! Flank mode!&gt; commands the pilot, the Options shifting from trying to shoot out the wing, to flanking the craft and providing an easy firing arc for Theurgus.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Theurgus lines up, the cannon charging to full, then unleashing a chromatic beam, tightly confined to snipe off the other wing. It slices the foreign code clean off, causing it to transform back into the partner to the other artefact, releasing the Earl Carthage from the influence.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:998|Lexicon (998)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Recovering from her attack, Lexicon whirls around to keep her eyes on the Earl Carthage, even as the pilot inside seems to be getting more control over the vessel. She tenses, ready to pursue the attack, when Theurgus' beam carves off the second corrupted fragment. Her eyes scan sidelong until she locates Yuuki amidst the fire and drama of carving apart a ton of missiles.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Relaxing, Lexicon lowers her axe, a hand lifting to gingerly poke at the edge of one of the holes through her body, "What a pain..." Well, that's why she's the tank of the System. After a moment, she glances back up, "Everyone okay? Theurgus? Yuuki? Earl Carthage?"<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Please stop!" Bunnabelle requests of her ride, the noble MoleTaro (He never gave his name, so she just started calling him that). There's a pixellation of light from her own inventory as she produces... a fishing rod. This is used to hook the first of the wing parts, and she reels it in across the gulf of space rather than waiting for someone to hand it to her.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yuuki wasn't sure what would happen, but then life isn't about being sure! She'd half expected things to explode in her face, but ... well, she vaguely recalls something about that not happening immediately. Unless of course that was fanciful recall with no bearing on anything she'd actually been told.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Either way, once she finishes watching the missiles to be sure they're well and truly killed, she raises her sword again to begin her attack run anew. Only to discover she's been beaten to it. With only mild disappointment, like that of learning a teammate got the final blow in a boss battle, she grins and sheathes her blade. "I'm fine! Wrenched my shoulder but it'll pass~!" she says in a sing-song voice.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Theurgus comes up slowly, unfolding wings... before suddenly transforming back to her 'Digital Divinity' state, instead of a ship. "A little bit cooked, some of those shots got a bit too close for comfort." she says, indicating the red 'gashes' in her own body, showing the damaged code beneath.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She then looks over to Bunnabelle as she reels in that artefact. "So, is that the last one? We do seem to be running across these more often." As she speaks, the Earl Carthage swings around, and comes to a stop, popping its canopy as the pilot leaps out onto a platform that appears beneath the group... she's basically Captain Peregrin, recoloured red instead of blue. "Thanks a bunch, you all helped me out... I hope my brother's okay." she says, flashing a V-sign. Just then, an escape pod, coloured blue, comes crashing into the platform, popping out a slightly singed Captain Peregrin. "That... was far too close."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:998|Lexicon (998)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ah," Bunnabelle reels in the first, then casts out for the second, "I believe it is, if this is a set of equipment as you and Lady Silver Soul suspected. Graphice?"<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, sure," a second voice announces. The tome resting by her hip floats up, then splits open and shifts through its pages. After three moments of shuffling, it settles on a single page and casts up a series of pictures on holographic screens.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The head piece, retrieved from floor 70. The waist parts from floor 65. The bracers from floor 67. The shin parts from floor 80. The shoulder parts from floor 72. And these back parts from here, Floor 87." Bunnabelle glances back, rabbit-like ears twitching as she reels in the second wing piece, "It certainly contains the same number and arrangement of components as your Processors. But no DCC's code is compatible with them. And there's no Core unit either." She glances back out to the artifact, "But they do contain a very large amount of data. So much that I had to employ Graphice here to help me contain and sort through it all."<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yo," the book speaks up again.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I hope this isn't a dead end," Bunnabelle continues, pulling the second wing off the hook of her fishing rod and examining it in both hands, "The Tower's becoming more and more of a menace to everyone."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Theurgus nods a little. "I have a theory that we may find the Core Unit at the top of this Tower... but that is simply a theory." she replies, then looks at the book. "Ah, a support program? Facinating." The floor begins to fizzle and flicker.. before it drops the group, sans the three local programs, back onto the floating island. The Tower is gone, and the entire Drive is already beginning to light back up as System Resource begins to flow through the pipework again. "As for the danger, that is agreed... I suspect it will soon crash a Drive if we don't figure out how to stop it soon." She shudders, then transforms back to normal, adjusting her hat. "Ah, since you came to help, Little Yuuki, I can give you a Locus Care Package, if you like. It has some DocP, DocP+ and RP-Chargers, amongst other restorative items... and a copy of any tome of knowledge from the library, if you desire."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:874|Yuuki Konno (874)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Adventure is its own reward, and Yuuki's a bit baffled by Theurgus's description of rewards. But an adventurer doesn't turn down rewards! Not unless they're offered by penniless farmers or the like. When someone offers their life savings you turn it down, because taking such a thing just isn't right. When someone's a ruler of the land, not taking the reward might well insult them!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Sure, thanks!" Yuuki says brightly. Though then she looks over at the sibling pilot reunion. Some rewards are better than others... and nothing's more precious than family.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:998|Lexicon (998)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's possible," Lexicon comments to Theurgus. As the tower disappears, the Silver DCC lifts her axe and holds it against her back, as if to sheath it. It just disappears instead. She looks upward, then lets out a sigh, "I'll accompany you back to your Cathoderal. Index and Codex are probably there with Arcana."<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Mm," Bunnabelle straightens her dress, then lifts the two wing parts and disappears them into her inventory with a flicker of digitized light, "I will continue my research with Graphice's help. Hopefully I'll have some results soon. I've set up a workshop in Arcade for the periods where the Tower is absent, if you need to find me." The little doll-like program dips her head in a bow, then turns and makes her way towards the System Bus.<br> <br>
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