Scene #8539: Work For An Axe IV

Owner	Pose
Zero Kiryu	AT THE END OF BRUNCH... "I've insinuated my plants throughout the city and have the location of our 'Cambion Club'. We'll be going there after nightfall, so all of you may feel free to carry on as you please in the interim," Zero said, rising from his seat and moving around to the opposite side of the table to join Yuuki. "If you're concerned that they'll be expecting that, don't be. It won't matter. Gudrun, it's best if you return to your room and remain there. Your body has probably started shifting nocturnal, so you'll be more comfortable if you get some sleep during daylight." "Janna, you may go as you please, but I'd prefer if you remained with Kukuru. Hakan..." His eyes turned towards the belligerent hunter. The vines keeping the young man fixed to his seat withdrew entirely. "You may go. If you wish to announce our coming, that would be fine. If you don't, that's also fine." Hakan obviously didn't like being given choices that didn't seem to matter, but did choose to leave-- glancing towards Janna as he went. He'd obviously like his gun back. "Please enjoy your afternoon," Zero said to the group, taking Yuuki by the hand and leading her away. He may or may not have also passingly grabbed what remained of her champagne bottle with a stray tendril. The following afternoon was punctuated by an attack, with peace and quiet lingering on until sundown...
Zero Kiryu	THAT EVENING... The group gathers outside the inn; Janna asks if she's allowed to go and obviously wants to, Gudrun is brought along because she wasn't certain if she would be allowed and was too timid in the moment to actually ask. Both are still in plainclothes, not dressed as if they're expecting battle-- though Janna is carrying the 1911 Fang in a holster at the small of her back now. Zero Kiryu has changed clothes again, and they make a stronger statement than he usually does with his clothes. He's wearing a white suit with silver buttons and cuffs, joined by a rich burgundy vest and tie. The outfit is utterly unsuited to walking into battle; indeed, by wearing it on this occasion he is stating simply that he either has no intention of escalating to battle, or he is utterly unconcerned with the possible consequences of battle. That the color scheme is distincly vampiric-tilted in the context is this world, even without the use of the vest and tie, is its own separate statement that is perhaps less obvious. "Just step... into the vines, there," he says, pointing towards vines crawling up the side of the inn's wall. "Try not to be tensed for a fight," Zero adds, before stepping through himself. The city of Bi is still surrounded by an ancient town wall; lying on the outskirts of the wall, at the end of a meandering street whose bricks peter off into nothingness a few yards away from its doors, is something... like an old Church. It doesn't quite have the design of a Church, but it isn't a castle, and couldn't be called a home. It might then concisely be called a semi-fortified "Lodge", a meeting house for a secret society. There is a great wrought iron fence and gate that surrounds it, but the group steps out inside of that fence-and-gate near the front door. The letters 'C.C.' are displayed in bronze on the facade, just above the great wooden double-doors. Barred windows are present all across the front of the structure, through which the flickering of lights -- fire-based, probably more gas lamps -- can be seen. There is a buzz of noise, and there is a palpable heat the closer one grows to the structure itself. Body heat, in fact-- there's quite a gathering within, and that is plenty apparent at the front door. On top of that, the discussion going on inside is, to say the least, heated. The vibe of it is 'barely a second away from coming to blows'. Zero knocks on the door. There is a pause, and then a thunderous crash. A man with a tetsubo leaned up against his shoulder answers the door-- the room behind him is filled with people on the ground. "Good evening," he greets the group.
Zero Kiryu	INFORMATION ADVANTAGES There is nothing strictly new to learn here. However, [Woz] is aware this is not a fight because Gudrun is alive, and failure to keep her alive would have resulted in a small war here. Another of the local Dhampyr, Hakan, has refused to cooperate and his book has told him that he's not somebody who can be convinced by words. Direct exposure to The Professor's more vile machinations will be necessary.
Angela	Nikki and Tennant continue to be your bodies for this venture! They haven't changed much since. "You here that, Nikki?" Tennant slaps Nikki's shoulder, hard. "Try to relax!" Nikki grimaces and her shoulders slouch down like an inch. "DIdn't ask for your advice. I might not be a Captain anymore but--" "But we were both captains at one point, eh?" Tennant winks. "Take it as concern for an old friend." Nikki tries to relax, rolling her head around a bit as she does some stretches before shaking out her hands and looking to Zero. "Okay. I think I can do this." She steps on through the vines. Tennant seems excited to go through, whereas ironically enough Nikki seems to take this weird sort of travel just fine. Nikki squints up at the 'C.C' before following after Zero. The man speaks to our...heroes but not before there's a crash and the like. Nikki's eyes slant towards that before looking back to the man. "You okay? Heard a crash?" She asks.
Raziel	During the downtime... Raziel looks at both Zero and Yuuki, and taps the side of his head. He makes it apparent that he's going to look on the other side, to see if he can find victims of the so-called professor hanging around. After all, they do need more proof. Before it was time to gather up, he disappeared. He spends his time talking to ghosts still around, asking about any that might have arrived on this side in horrific ways, or those that mentioned hunters or a professor. If he can, he'll try and talk to them, or at least try and get more to work with. He arrives right on time, stepping out of nowhere. He steps through the vines and on the other side. Zero made it certain that they needed to hold themselves calmly and without any aggression. If Woz lets them know there will be no fight, then Raziel easily maintains this calmness. It's hard to believe a backstab won't come at any time, not with everything he's been through. "Are you alright? What was that sound..?" he asks, looking towards the source of the sound itself.
Timespace Riders	Before stepping through the vines, Woz takes a brief moment, as any good vizier should, to whisper into Sougo's ear. It probably has something to do with what he'd read in the book a moment ago. 'Try not to be tensed for a fight.' It's probably expected that Woz is good at that kind of deception. It might be less so that the Greatest, Kindest Demon King has it in his wheelhouse. The two step through the vines--Woz, dressed as he always is; Sougo, dressed in a casual assembly of violet and cream tones. The Demon King wears a pink cardigan over a rich purple button-up, with cream-colored slacks sporting rolled hems that reveal a wine-colored paisley pattern on the inside. The two of them, stood outside the 'Lodge' after stepping through the vines, share a brief look between one another, as the sounds of conversation inside grow well-past uncomfortably heated. "Good evening," Sougo sunnily replies, his soft, amiable vibes in direct contrast with the forboding barred windows, the wrought-iron fence surrounding the Club's lodge and, assuredly, the giant, physical club leaned on their host's shoulder. "I hope we weren't interrupting anything," he says, nodding at Nikki. It's a little hard to ignore both the knocked out people and the bigass club. Still... "We're looking for the Professor. It's to do with Gudrun."
Kukuru	Since that last attack, Kukuru's been in a bit of a funk. A bad mood, even, complete with tired little grunts and trying not to draw too much attention to the bags forming under her eyes. It's not as though it was a particularly grueling battle, but the fact that she hasn't had more than a few consecutive hours to relax since starting this mission is enough for her to look a little off by the time she's gathering with everyone outside the inn. "That's up to Zero and Yuuki, Ja-nna." She explains after Janna asks if she can go, not quite sounding terse but certainly a little more firm and weary than she's ever sounded out on this excursion to Bi. Zero's direction does take a bit of the edge off, at least, as following simple directions and being told not to expect a fight (sort of) is enough to get her to relax her face a little. "Okaaay... Let's take it easy, mhm." She's still optimistic, at least! Kukuru's even dressed more formally now to add to the vibe of 'not looking for a fight', wearing a forest green office jacket and pencil skirt combo and heels that don't hinder her movement much. On any other day, she might almost look like someone that would be seen at a regular church-y church on a Sunday. rather than a sort-of Church like the one here. The crashing noise has her pursing her lips slightly, and then she looks up at the man greeting the group once the door opens. "He-llo... Is everything okay with you and everyone in there?" She asks before turning her head aside for a covered yawn, then looks right back over at the man. No, past him. The people on the ground. Even from here, she might be able to see if they're injured, bleeding out, or simply asleep. There might be a reasonable explanation for all this, after all, and that club might've just been part of something unrelated!
Yuuki Kuran	Kuran Yuuki, Director of the Concord and Queen of Vampires, had finally gotten some sleep. A champagne brunch and mid-day attack was insufficient to carve up her entire day - instead, the invigorating potential of something better than just miserable work and bittersweet endings had given her quite a bit of pep back. Welcoming both Janna and Gudrun along if they'd like, because Yuuki insists they 'of course, have nothing to fear', the Director arrives from the vines in a similar outfit to what she repelled the feral ghouls - a black silk shirt whose collar-wings show from under a white collared jacket highlighted and trimmed in black lines and patterns, a white skirt, and a bright red ribbon tied about her neck under the coat collar, hanging over the center of her chest. Buttoned up and pristine, she, as Zero, affects the air of someone wearing white because the threat is completely beneath them - or they simply do not expect a fight at all. It is a 'Hunter's Association', by another name! Surely, the usual methods will work. Friendship! Understanding! Bringing a posse of several Knights and warriors and people who absolutely could whip everyone in a fight! Ahh, the hunters were so easy to understand and wonderful to handle. Yuuki's mood is dimmed in the approach, even so. She is selfishly worried. Every interaction is another chance for her to fail. She leans and asks and requests for help - from Angela's corporation, from Kuroto's expertise and paradisial dream - to ensure that nothing possibly can go wrong. Thankfully she still has a Kukuru. Yuuki lets her favorite invincible answer take the fore with a gentle smile. "Ah, yes, hello! Is everything alright?" She calls after Kukuru's words.
Zero Kiryu	The man at the door, holding the tetsubo, regards Nikki coolly. He shrugs faintly, the weapon rising and falling against his shoulder. "The easiest way to silence a bunch of growling cats is for somebody to 'lose' the fight enough that they're more inclined to withdraw a little. Nobody is seriously hurt, they're just a little battered. What you heard was me swinging this--" He tips the tetsubo forward, very gently, and then lets it re-settle back on his shoulder. The weapon is fully made of metal though, rather than studs in a shaft. Probably has to be, based on what you know of so-called "Fangs". "I'm Finn Kato. Pleasure to meet you all," Finn turns, wedges a foot over a dhampyr on the ground that is decidedly in the way of entry, and kicks her -- gently, as far as a kick that carries you any distance can be gentle -- over to one side. He moves to sit down-- the interior area is a battered lounge sort of space. It's not hard to imagine people reading or playing board games here. It doesn't really have the "dignified" air of the exterior, despite the building obviously being a fancy club house in most regards. //We're looking for the Professor...// "I assumed you were running down Magnus, since he escaped you," Finn remarks, laying his weapon across his lap. "What do you want with the Professor? She's a bit of a pain in the ass, but doctors who can work with dhampyr are hard to replace." It seems that if Hakan has made his way back here, he didn't tell everyone everything... and Magnus, the runner, didn't actually know it to begin with. The dhampyr that got thrashed are stirring and moving to the edges of the room, scuffed and battered but not actually seriously hurt. Maybe a few broken bones here and there, but there's no broken skin. Curious, though, that the swing of one of these Fangs COULD hurt them, given what you know so far. Perhaps there are different kinds in play. Since Kukuru can actually check this thing, she can tell that nobody is seriously hurt. The man with the weapon out is the least hurt among them; though, his cellular structure is a bit different. Having examined Gudrun as a frame-of-reference, and having other dhampyr here as further frame-of-reference, she can tell that Finn Kato is more like a vampire than the other hunters, even if he doesn't quite qualify as one. Whereas Gudrun is more like a hunter than other vampires, but is still decidedly more "vampire" than dhampyr at this point. [Woz] is aware from his book that helping these guys medically is actually a pretty solid move to upping their trust of your group. They have to use in-house doctors so much that an extra hand even for a moment does make a difference. Janna is hanging around near Kukuru, because there wasn't a really good reason to leave her back at the local, temporary HQ unattended. There are enough cries of 'is everything alright?' repeated that dhampyr other than Finn begin to reply: A few offer pain-hazed 'fuck offs', one says 'no but thank you for asking', and... Magnus, the attacker who escaped, gets up off the floor, dusts himself off, and says, "Nothing's been okay since you got here. Why the hell would you think we'd let you loose on one of our doctor--" Finn slaps him in the back of the knees with his tetsubo, and Magnus hits the ground again. "They want to fight. I don't want them to fight. I settled it by fighting them just now," Finn explains, boredly. This may explain why his Fang can hurt people; he might just be far more advanced than anyone else present. Gudrun mills around at the back of the party, awkwardly.
Zero Kiryu	Raziel's investigation of the spirit world for people who know anything about the Professor is a dead-end. Or rather, the absence of information itself is telling. He doesn't think she's actually killed anyone here yet, in the most technical sense of the word 'killed'. Considering what she's been up to, though, she could be guilty of genocide and the ghosts would still be tethered to their bodies and unable to actually communicate. At any rate, no ghosts have YET to have a meaningful reason to complain. The dark-haired Dhampyr ghost is still milling around you. You're pretty sure he's just following you at this point, but his helpfulness is limited. He probably has a connection to somebody involved in this, and simply isn't sure whether or not it's a good idea to share anything with you yet.
Kuroto Dan	Kuruto Dan's got no reason to be here to help, as the Director only asked for his help with the ghoul. In fact, a good chunk of people probably assumed it was actually Genm that helped and not him, so showing up now may or may not seem a bit supsect. It doesn't matter, however, as he's invested. Invested in finding and properly destroying the fool who had DARED to do something as lowly as try to snipe at him. Maybe he'll find the person here, maybe he won't, but he won't know unless he's here. Before entering the vines, the CEO gives a polite bow to everyone, and especially to Zero and Yuuki. "I'll do my best to stay out of everyone's way, but I'd rather be here from now on rather than have a disgruntled employee steal my ideas again." It may be lying, but Kuroto Dan says it so earnestly and regretfully that even those who know feel as if he actually believes it. "Anyhow, If anyone here has need of my talents while I'm here, please, let me know."
Raziel	Before Raziel heads back to the material world, he approaches the dark-haired Dhampyr ghost and gives him a nod. "I can offer you release whenever you want it if you want it. Do not feel as if you are required to offer me any information. The one kindness I can offer those here is the ability to pass on if they find it too hard themselves," Raziel offers, without pushing the situation. Raziel will honor his word, if they wish to move on, he will let them without holding them hostage. Back in the present and material world... "Mmm. We also do not want to fight. I understand why our words may be hollow to those younger and eager to help their friends and prove themselves though..." he says with a wry grin, "We were all that young once." He says and offers a bow. "Raziel," he says, calmly, "We are interested in the Professor because they are using people as experiments, and are attempting to assassinate and sabotage honest efforts to end the age of secrecy." "The friend they went to rescue is one such victim." He lets the others explain more.
Yuuki Kuran	"Oh, Kuroto!" Yuuki greets warmly, turning and matching the depth of his bow with one of her own, excited to be collaborating with GENM Corp's dream to assist her own world in being bettered. The particular cruel affliction that could not be cured, 'Level E', was a personal demon of Yuuki, and one that she truly wished dispelled. Kuroto Dan may just be the genius to solve it, so, she offers a hand to guide him into the Cambion Club, moving with the group when they're '''welcomed''' inside. Peacefully! "President Dan here is the CEO of GENM Corp, which operates and equips specialty doctors and clinics for rare diseases. He's a specialist I've brought in to begin attempting a medical solution, a restorative solution, to ghouls." Yuuki explains to the Cambion Club, and address Finn just after. "So, please understand I wanted to come here and declare myself and my intentions, if we were to pursue coexistance. Since..." She lifts into a moment of laughter, light. "... well, I can practically smell the lost memories in the air, so I think earnest truth and convincing will work. The thing I'm making is for you, too, even if there's some hissing and biting."
Timespace Riders	What do you want with the Professor? She's a bit of a pain in the ass, but doctors who can work with dhampyr are hard to replace. Nothing's been okay since you got here. Why the hell would you think we'd let you loose on one of our doctor-- Woz pores through that mysterious book of his, for just a moment. Whatever he sees in it isn't something he chooses to divulge, as he had with Sougo before coming here. Instead, he makes pointed eye contact with Kukuru, inclining his head ever so slightly towards the incapacitated dhampyrs, in a silent request that she assist them. Sougo, meanwhile, answers Finn and Magnus both, as he steps inside with Woz. "Gudrun attacked a person of interest at a very important summit, but she wasn't in her right mind when she did it. She's also displaying some memory loss. The professor gave her an implant." Sougo frowns. "Gudrun was told that it would help her escape. In reality," he says, gaze shifting to peer out from the other side of those barred windows, "It was more like... some kind of sleeper cell thing. It would have slowly made her into a feral, if Kukuru hadn't removed it."
Kukuru	If there's one thing Kukuru can be confident about managing, it's making sure that her favorite Yuuki's and Zero's trust aren't misplaced! Finding her mood perking up just a bit after hearing the former's voice, she listens attentively as the man at the door explains what happened. She even nods slowly at his explanation, not even looking as surprised as she did when she first heard the noise when the door was closed. "Finn? That's a nice name... I'm Kukuru. That's Ku-ku-ru. Nice to meet you, too~" She introduces herself with another yawn, the mouth covering only coming after she's finished with that. She shakes her head at first when he brings up Magnus, dragging her feet a bit while heading inside. Since nobody's actually dying, she can take it a little easier while checking out everyone in the place to relay her findings to the group about Finn's physical state as a more vampire-y sort than Gudrun. "Magnus...? Oh. Nah, we don't want to hurt anyone that we don't need to. There's too much of that already. We're looking for the Professor to stop her from doing that, even." She explains without explaining much right off the bat, largely because the particulars are on the more complex side for her to explain in one breath. Also, because Yuuki, Raziel, Sougo, and Woz are already giving a more targeted summary of things. Sougo in particular get an affirming nod when she makes eye contact with him, sitting in place besides one of the fallen Dhampyr (that specifically said 'fuck off', even). She gives that particular person a gentle nudge, then tries to guide the dhampyr's head onto her lap before getting to work. "Now now, dear... Just relax, okay? We'll get you all fixed up, and then we'll worry about the details later, okay?" She smiles a weary smile as the regenerative nanites start flowing out of her and into them, letting her somewhat passively aid in the recovery while she can start looking for more of those strange devices. Gudrun's being in an arm gives her a point of reference on where to start looking, too!
Zero Kiryu	There's a minor irritant in play here for Kuroto Dan: Every single person here has the "vibe" of whatever shot at him. Contextually he's pretty certain that none of the ones present would have done it; there are no rifles quite that long on display here, and everyone wears their weapons openly. The most robust gun in hand is a short-barreled henry repeater which, even if it was a longer model, would take a hell of a marksman with some insane eyesight to shoot at him from the distance he got shot at from. But, that he was attacked by "one of these guys" is obvious to him. Finn Kato rests a fist against his cheek. "The desire to prove one's self has flared too high in this lot, and we're rural enough that the opportunity to go up against somebody like the Vampire Queen or the future President doesn't come along often. The fact that you took Gudrun, of course, is an inciting element, but... it's an excuse for a lot of these idiots." "And she looks fine-ish to me," he adds, his eyes flicking towards Gudrun's arm and the fresh tattoo there. Gudrun tries to tug a sleeve down over it. "But you're really going to have to elaborate about these experiments. It's not my job to 'protect the world', just this island." Yuuki explains Dan, and his specialties, and what she intends to do. He blinks, slowly, tilting his head against his fist. "Those are pretty good reasons to cooperate, but it's strange to me that you show up with Gudrun with a taming tattoo while complaining about experiments. Care to clarify?" //Gudrun attacked a person of interest at a very important summit, but she wasn't in her right mind when she did it. She's also displaying some memory loss. The professor gave her an implant.// //It was more like... some kind of sleeper cell thing. It would have slowly made her into a feral,// "She's a good chunk of the way there as-is," Finn says, looking past Sougo and Woz at Gudrun. "I can feel it in my mind. I doubt she could pick up her spear anymore, either. Isn't that right, Gudrun?" Gudrun winces, and nods. "Show me the implant," Finn says. You didn't dispose of it specifically for this reason. Magnus meanders over to look at Gudrun's tattoo. He's battered enough, and has already fought you and failed, that between that and his body language you don't think he's a risk.
Zero Kiryu	If Kukuru scans the crowd, she'll find a few people with the implants. They're kinda nervous and hovering at a distance, though they don't seem hostile. They might just be realizing that they fucked up, or have been double-crossed. Then again, they might need more convincing. One common thread between them is that they're all very... average. Nobody in this room is actually less-than-attractive for some reason, but these are definitely the plainest people in the room, and the least threatening-looking. If you walked past them outside, they might go unnoticed. The floor Dhampyr that told you to fuck off does not have enough energy in her to complain once the nanites hit her. She does look incredibly irate at being put in somebody's lap however. "I dunno what the fuck you're doing, but whatever it is maybe don't do the weirdly intimate thing. You're not my goddamn mom." Everyone in this room is like this. But the generally atmosphere seems to be improving, even though the growliness is persisting a little.
Raziel	Raziel looks to those in the room, though he doesn't know yet who has an implant and who does not, he does continue to converse with them as if they are all equals... or at least respectfully. "Whatever they know about the technology in question, I.." he looks at Finn, and nods. "That is exactly right. Despite what has happened, we all want to save her from that fate. Especially as.." he pauses, thinking about it for a moment. "You can probably sense some vampiric from me, but I was human once. Vampires from where I come from are quite different in some ways, very similar in others..." "But I am not a vampire now.." he says, and raises an arm and it becomes immaterial, like a ghost. "I am a ghost. I can slide to that side, and I can see spirits that reside there too. I can tell you one thing... there are no souls who have been sacrificed from the professor's experiments here.." he says, and then looks at Finn and Gudrun. "I think we both know why."
Timespace Riders	Show me the implant. "Woz," Sougo gently prompts his retainer. "As you wish, sire," replies the retainer, procuring from Somewhere a square velvet pillow, upon which rests a small metal case. Finn needs only take and open the case to see the intact implant. Sougo gives him a moment to look over it. "'This island' is a part of 'the world,'" he gently asserts. "And so, if the world becomes a better place, the island does, too." The Demon King strides over to an empty chair and takes a seat, hands resting folded in his lap. "How many other people has the Professor seen, recently?"
Angela	"Well," Nikki says. "Not smart but I get the desire to prove yourself. Maybe not picking a fight is the better way. Discretion means a lot." "Specially for a hunter." Tennant supplies helpfully. But they otherwise move back towards Yuuki, standing guard to help add a bit of stylistic oomph to the authority she already has, and to her presence.
Kukuru	"Kids do like to try and prove themselves too much before they're ready..." Kukuru murmurs with a light sigh in response to Finn's explanation about the local Dhampyr using recent events as an excuse. "But as long as nobody gets too hurt... Well, it's not fine, but it's... Better than it could've been." She's fishing a bit to try and keep her spirits raised, but it seems to be working well enough for her right now. She perks up a little more when Finn asks for the implant, too, looking over at Zero moments later. So that's why he insisted on not breaking that thing! And with any luck, she might even be able to get more out to solidify their claims, perhaps even helping win the trust of the locals to Yuuki's cause! Feeling significantly better about actually exercising caution all those day ago, Kukuru's spirits falter slightly less when the floor Dhampyr tell her off for trying to be too close too soon with them. Only slightly, though, since it still sucks to hear things that make sense to hear despite how much she hopes that people would just accept what she's doing for what it is. "... I'm not, no. You'll be okay, though." There's a notable droop in her mood after that, but Kukuru's still able to stay focused on healing up the Dhampyr regardless. She's sorting out out the ones with and without the implants while she's at it, but she doesn't take them out right away. Instead, she tells those with the implants to "Stay over there for me for a bit, would you? You and your friends have one of those bad things inside you, but you'll be okay. I'll get it out of you all soon." It's not a forgotten promise, either, although taking one of her claws out of her pocket might be a cause for concern for those that haven't seen Kukuru's claws already. "It'll hurt, but you'll be fine in my hands. I've done this before, and Gudrun's fine now." She reiterates with a nod towards Gudrun. Those that trust Kukuru enough to get to work will get a dose of Zero's soporific powder before she starts using those claws like a trio of scalpels, piercing and digging in just enough to scoop out the affected flesh and device like a melon baller before she applies a copious amount of healing nanites to regenerate what was pulled out. She forgot to bring her surgery apron.
Yuuki Kuran	"You've been answered, but since you asked: because it would slow the spread of her condition. She's not running from us, and isn't clawing at the ink, so you have your answer, I think." Kuran Yuuki answers Finn and the hunters broadly, standing at ease in the den. Yuuki isn't so much a schemer as an arranger. She has such capable people besides her, so she can lean upon their passions and abilities as long as she puts them before proper challenges. She's openly gassing up Kuroto Dan... ... But he's a genius scientist gaming CEO godly designer of a digital paradise. Why shouldn't she praise and highlight the abilities and prowess of those associated with her? She has a Demon King and dark wizard retainer, a ghost knight and a vampire knight, a Kukuru, several extra hounds and fangs, and-- The white-coated director opens up her arms to draw Tennant and Nikki close, one to an arm and side. "Now. Both of you. How would you think someone could prove their ability? Their dreams? Power, sure, but I think the strongest and surest control is just convincing people. How would you convince the defender of a village that our distant city of gold has their best interests at heart?" Yuuki gazes from between the agents. "I think it is involving them, but I'm willing to hear more ideas."
Angela	Tennant is the one that has an answer for Yuuki. "I'd say that as important as it is to defend your people, it is similarly important to seek out new opportunities. Life isn't about sitting around on your duff forever. If you don't make your own ambitions happen, someone else will make you a part of theirs. Noticing when opportunity is knocking is key for prosperity. Time will proceed without you if you don't!")] Nikki, more awkwardly, looks to Yuuki. "You were asking us right?"
Kuroto Dan	Kuruto smiles brightly and lets out a chuckle at the Director's explanation. The fact she speaks so highly of him tickles his heart in just the right way, and more importantly, it saves him from having to explain his field of expertise himself. His smile turns to the closest thing it can to a deep frown without betraying his kindly demeanor, however, as he does note that nobody here quite fits the bill. Either his fighting instincts have dulled or the individual is simply not here. And since the former is something that would never happen, it's clearly the latter thing. "The Director has done a good job explaining why I'm here. Though, I'm willing to bring more than just cures to you, assuming we can all cooperate and be on the same page." A promise of something good, a lure that few can resist. And they should consider themselves lucky, as he's not even planning to give them poison, like he tends to do with so many others. So long as he can eventually get some fingers pointing where he really wants to go, of course.
Zero Kiryu	"Your aura is hazy, but it's still distinctly 'vampiric'," Finn explains to Raziel, comfortably offering a more specific idea of what that sixth sense is actually like to him. He nods towards Yuuki and Zero, "Those two are positively demonic, but I can still register them as 'vampire' just fine. But I don't have a problem with 'just a vampire' either way. My body is more like theirs than like a human's. That's true of most of this lot, however much they are in denial of it..." In reaction to Raziel's observations, Gudrun mumbles, "I was probably the first 'product test'..." She seems more than passingly embarrassed about this. Some of the younger dhampyr along the peripheries mumble to each other. Offered an inspection of the implant, Finn takes the container, opens it, and examines it. He reaches into an interior pocket, produces what appears to be a jeweler's magnifying tool, and examines it a little closer. "Taming symbol and other blood magic etchings on it. Extrusion port. This would certainly be able to perform the function you're describing, and Gudrun's condition and cooperation with your statements supports it." He re-closes the container, and pushes the pillow back with a grateful nod. But Finn snorts at Sougo. "I'm too old to be expanding my horizons that far. But I don't disagree that what the world might need, isn't so bad for here." He eyes Nikki and Tennant. Nikki is getting a closer glancing-at than Tennant is. Finn can probably tell that she's got some vampiric 'taint' around her. But he doesn't comment on that. "It's a part of being 'part-vampire'. We're simply not passive creatures until we're much older. Until then we're causing all sorts of problems for ourselves and others. And some don't outgrow it. The previous association President was so aggressively postured he let himself get turned into a vampire puppet for longevity and strength." //"How many other people has the Professor seen, recently?"// "Around six. I was one of them, but I can tell you with certainty that I have no implants. That leaves five potential experimental subjects," he says. //it's not fine...// "It is," Finn says, "just not always. We can work it out. As you can see." He gestures loosely at all of the battered dhampyr around him.
Zero Kiryu	"The Professor has a clinic, but it's separate from her surgical site," Finn explains. "If you were going to try one, I would favor the latter. The clinic is shared by other doctors who are clued in to the 'situation' here. The floor dhampyr groans in irritation. This is a person who definitely probably isn't all that friendly with her own mom, with that attitude. When Kukuru starts to call out people with implants, Finn says, "Bring them over here next to my chair." To the room at large, he threatens, "No bolting. Anybody who makes a run for it is getting bludgeoned, you hear?" A room that has already been bludgeoned winces. //I think it is involving them, but I'm willing to hear more ideas.// Finn Kato surveys Yuuki for a long, long moment. Partially it is because he is sitting right there listening to her try to puzzle out how to deal with him. Partially, though... "You really are Kaien Cross's daughter," he comments, flatly. ... he knows to expect a dreamer. Janna, in the back, draws the Fang she stole from Hakan, flips it around, and offers it to Gudrun. "Heya. Hold the handle and tell 'em this isn't a trick." Gudrun blinks, and looks cautiously between Yuuki and Finn, seeming to be expecting a 'do this' or 'that's ridiculous' from somebody. "Oh? Are you suggesting that you want to set up an operation here?" Finn asks Dan, more than half-way intrigued. This place isn't that remote, but it is remote enough that 'more medical professionals' is a boon overall without reservation.
Yuuki Kuran	'You really are Kaien Cross' daughter,' Kuran Yuuki, who was once Cross Yuuki, smiles brightly and nods, not a hint of fang showing. Thankfully, she had control over little things like that, and furthermore: she was feeling very much like Kaien Cross' daughter herself. She was wearing the uniform for Cross Academy, even. It was among her favorite outfits, even this far after school. It was a statement all its own among those in the know - she wore white and black concepted and stitched by a dreamer for a kinder world of coexistance. If that world had to be created by hugging and/or dragging around several grumpy cats then she will hug and or drag every cat. All of them. With her Concord, there's no limit to her reach. "I like that, Tennant. It's important to defend your people, and also make your space better. But is there something terrible about being a part of someone else's gentle ambition? A nation is a collection of villages. I'd like to find someone I can trust to support and take care of this place." Nikki gets a side-arm squeeze. "I was asking you too." And Janna, drawing her gun, gets a knowing smile and a 'go for it!' mouthed. This is your place too, isn't it? Would you trust someone that's declawed that their resolve is still theirs? Be honest. And once you're done behing honest, keep going with it. Keep trying. You were free to go, and you're free to take ownership of staying. Echoes about, to the Concord Party (ft. Janna and Gudrun).
Kukuru	Six people that the Professor's seen recently, according to Finn. "Does that include everyone here?" Kukuru asks, gesturing at the Dhampyr in their various post-battered and pre-or-post-healed states. She counts on her fingers as she looks over at Gudrun, then at those that she's detected implants in. She'll need to remember that number for later. Maybe. Her mood actually brightens a fair bit when Finn continues to be forthcoming with answering everyone's questions, though, and she outright laughs when he threatens to smack any runners around. "Oh, don't worry. You'll be alright, really! I've done this before with Gudrun, and her arm's still all there. This'll be even easier the second time around." Maybe she shouldn't have admitted it to only doing it once before, but she certainly looks supremely confident about her success rate in this impromptu field surgery! --- After going through the previously mentioned processes to engage in the removal of the Dhampyr's implants (and offering small snack packages of mystery meat jerky to the more well-behaved patients), Kukuru's gets to work actually extracting the implants from the chunks of removed flesh. Once again, she's careful with getting them out, and she even makes sure to count them up to see if the number matches up with what Finn Kato gave earlier! At least, if the five visitors included anyone here.
Angela	Tennant says, "Not if it's gentle. Not if the big gentle ambition can do something for the small fierce one. Even the big guy oughta want a deal that'll last rather than one at swordpoint after all. Best way to do that is allow an equitable relationship!" Nikki's cheeks color at the arm squeeze. She can't believe the Director of the Concord is this cute. And nice. But she should be wary herself, shouldn't she? The Heads of Wings are tricky... Nikki pushes that thought of her head. Worrying about the Director of the Concord is above her paygrade. So is thinking about how kind she is. Just do your job. "I guess... I'd say I know what it is like to fail to protect your people, especially if that world you wanted to protect is small." Nikki swallows. "I know what it is like to fail them. I don't think the Director is the type of person to leave small worlds to rot. If you can't trust her, you shouldn't. But I think you should give her a shot." Tennant elbows Nikki under the ribs gently. The Former Captain winces and looks down at her feet.
Timespace Riders	I'm too old to be expanding my horizons that far. But I don't disagree that what the world might need, isn't so bad for here. Sougo smiles warmly at Finn. "I'm glad," he says simply. "Thank you for telling us where we can find her. I promise we'll figure out what's going on." His mind wanders, for a moment, thinking of the Professor. If she's seen Finn recently and hasn't put one of those implants in him, then a trip to the past could be a good idea. Sougo shifts in his seat, as if he'd dropped an animation frame. He visits Finn's past, to get an idea of what the Professor was like, from Finn's perspective. He also attempts to glean, through past events of note, what she was like, before and after these experiments began, in a more direct way than Finn's words alone could convey. Memories fade, but the dimension of time is an impartial observer. "If I may be so bold," Woz says to Finn, mysteriously absent the velvet pillow he'd used to present the implant, "Might I suggest you accompany us to the surgical site?" He places a hand over his heart and makes a conciliatory half-bow, before rising and continuing. "Your presence, or at least that of a known subordinate, may put the Professor at ease." He smiles, circling around to stand behind Sougo's chair, free hand resting on the back. Call it practice for want of a throne. "Thus, our investigation may be a measure less difficult." Pursing his lips, his eyes sweeping across the various dhampyrs around the room, who Finn had to subdue with his tetsubo. "Perhaps," he says. Who's to say she hasn't picked up a shade of their aggression by association?
Raziel	Raziel nods, respecting the older hunter's way of handling things. Sometimes the younger ones need a beating, otherwise, they die to those who aren't sympathetic to their youthful ignorance. He sighs inwardly, some memories of life before this form he is in rise. Though in conflict with his mind telling him that it's their kind that hurts Nosgoth. Shaking the unwanted thought away, he watches as things are set up to try and remove the devices from people. He takes a spot near the door, watching those in the room. If anyone bolts for an exit or tries to make one... well Raziel will make sure they don't get very far. He'll haul them back for their trashing and their elder's hand. Better than what would happen to them. Raziel remembers how they looked... he remembers how the other clans looked too. Deformed, monstrous... lacking everything that once made them a person. "I agree with Woz's proposal. It's clear your care for these hunters is great, and that you'd be a good person to talk down anyone confused by the professor..." he says, noting the type of person selected for the implants as they come forward. "I feel it would save a lot of lives, and prevent any miscommunications. Save a lot of suffering on all counts.." he says, thinking of Yuuki. Though Raziel does not comment on the Professor herself.
Kuroto Dan	"Set up shop? Ah, if that's how you want to describe it, then yes, I suppose I do. Though again, my only ask is cooperation with Concord, as proper business is built on trust. Known and potential malcontents are something I would rather not deal with, given that I'm not much of a fighter." Good a bite. Kuroto anxiously tugs and fidgets with the collar of his jacket a bit. While he's not actually bothered in the slightest, he still needs to keep up his good boy act, which requires him to seem vulnerable. "If you have any ideas how to help me avoid those, I'm all ears, however. I have ideas, though I'd rather hear yours first."
Zero Kiryu	"Hunh..." Finn seems amused by Yuuki leaning into his observation. But he doesn't elaborate on it at all, which is about the speed these guys operate at anyway. God knows it took years for Zero to simply be relatively forthcoming with her, instead of everything being a stupid fucking guessing game intermixed with crowbaring emotional honesty out or encountering him in moments of vulnerability so intense that he didn't have the energy to do anything but spill. Gudrun shuts her eyes in response to Yuuki's go ahead, and grabs the grip of the Fang. Instantly lines of red-blue energy crackle against her flesh, burning it here and there as she corroborates -- unsteadily -- the story that has transpired so far, to the best of her recollection. She lets go of it after a while, at which point her hand is badly blistered and she looks thoroughly miserable. Doing this, however, turns the tide of the room in your favor a little more. Everyone knows that the disruptive influence of the Fang would also disrupt a command by a vampire, even one like Yuuki. In other words, this is a little like swearing on a Bible, but with a more material element to it. "We always do things at swordpoint here... more-or-less," The elder dhampyr explains to Tennant. "More like 'knuckle-point', but you get the idea. We don't get hurt like regular people, and it's faster to solve differences this way. But it can mean that being a softer voice requires a more martial bent beneath the surface." "But it's good to hear that other people can confirm my impression of the Kuran monarch," he adds, straightening up in his chair and observing Kukuru's surgeries.
Zero Kiryu	Much like Gudrun, these people are better at taking injuries with minimal chemical assistance, and surgery is no exception. Regarding who has seen the Professor, Finn confirms, "We keep tight records on this. Our biology isn't like a human's, when you get down to it. We don't need more people knowing that than necessary, so our physicians have to be screened or have their memories erased. Not much good for providing consistent attention if they don't remember. Five is total across the entire island. Gudrun is one of those, I'm one, which means..." There are three on the loose. "That doesn't account for things I can't know, of course," he adds. Kidnappings happen. The implants are removed with only the amount of fuss you would expect; the blood shed on the ground might be a little aggravating to the actual vampires in the room, but 'open wounds' don't last too long with these guys. There is something worth remembering-- Gudrun's implant was already spent, but it's an injector of sorts. These probably have whatever 'secret formula' is in them still intact. To the suggestion that he should come, Finn considers it. He looks at the sprawling pile of bruised shonen fight idiots. "I suppose it makes no difference, once you've left these halls, if I follow you or not. And I'd like to see what you think you'll find there, besides."
Zero Kiryu	THE PROFESSOR, as remembered by Finn... A tall, white-haired woman with an eyepatch, this individual stands out but her behavior is... surprisingly normal. There's a nurse that precedes her, she carries out whatever tests or examinations are necessary. In Finn's case, a lot of it relates to making certain that he isn't turning into a vampire or developing literal blood thirst. Apparently that's a thing that worries the Cambion Club a lot. You get the impression that he's one of the normal patients. Somebody who was never, ever going to be recruited for the weirdness, but who she needed to interact with so that whatever her plan was wouldn't be exposed. As far as you can tell, there's no reason for Finn to suspect her of anything. Also, he has some kind of circulation problem and gets colder easier than normal, but that's not very important.
Zero Kiryu	Thankfully for everyone, nobody DOES muster the boldness to go for the door; Raziel poised to stop them in addition to the evident local assbeater is definitely a contributor to that. Plenty are getting unsettled at the surgery happening right there in the open, but most of them are just catching their breaths now. One or two are grabbing drinks out of a fridge at the far side of the room. Finn swings his tetsubo down and uses it like a cane to push himself up-- not because he needs to, it's just kind of a lazy gesture. He moves around the room prodding people, "Up, up. Go over to the infirmary and lick your wounds, you damned devils. I have business to attend to, apparently." Dhampyr begin to filter out along the edges of the room, into other parts of the lodge, though none of them leave. As they go, Finn regards Raziel with a hazy sort of look. "I can only... sway them with force. I'm too much like a vampire for most of their likings. Most, not all. The person that would help the most is Marita Inaba and the first person who starts gushing about her is getting whacked on the head." Some of the younger men were obviously about to start, and wince away. //... I'm not much of a fighter.// Finn Kato turns his entire body towards Dan, one arm lifting slightly, muscles tensing. Everyone in the room, for a fleeting moment, has the distinct impression that he doesn't believe this and intended to test it out by simply decking the man. But he doesn't. Muscles relax, and the arm drops again. "If everything's the way you say, and it appears to be so far," he glances towards Kukuru and the freshly-harvested implants, "nobody here will be the Professor's friend any more. If Gudrun tells them this, you'll get what you want. In the meantime..." "If you're really so weak, don't leave my side," he says. Everyone once again can easily read the same vibe off of this guy-- he's got too many years to be bullshitted, and wants to see what Dan can actually do instead of shrinking in his shadow. This may thoroughly explain why this group is the way it is, all in one benign exchange with a supposedly regular CEO.
Raziel	Raziel offers Finn a smile, it's genuine. "Maybe that is what is needed then. Someone who is wise in our ranks, and another sword arm isn't something I would personally turn down but..." he says, after a moment, "Another point of view is something that might be required," he speaks, finally pushing off the wall near the door and is glad it didn't require any tricks from him. "Though if you are feeling your years catch up with you, feel free to stand behind me.." he says, with a slightly playful tone. One warrior to another, teasing but respectful banter. Besides, Raziel would like the chance to personally spar with the old Hunter. It's rare that he feels this way.
Timespace Riders	Anyone who knows what to look for would know that Sougo's trip to the past has already happened. Even those who don't may note that his expression is more resolved after that 'dropped frame' spatial skip of his. She's probably been at this for a while. The person that would help the most is Marita Inaba and the first person who starts gushing about her is getting whacked on the head. "Apprentices before a master," says Woz, turning up his nose at the cowed younger men. "Everyone must start somewhere, at least." "What's that supposed to mean, Woz?" "Idle musings, sire," says Woz with a not-innocent smile. "Pay them no mind." Sougo shrugs. "Okay," he says brightly. "Anyway," the Demon King changes tracks, standing up from his seat with a little bounce. "Don't worry about Marina--I have a good feeling about her," he says, triumphantly lifting a hand with an index finger extended.
Angela	Tennant says, "Hey, it's not our place to tell an Association how to do its business, just take it as advice and do what you want." They rub at their neck awkwardly. "I mean, our boss asked how we'd convince ya. Seemed only fair to make a hand at it." They don't add anything else. They are happy to quit while they're ahead. Nikki stays by Yuuki but will quiet down at this point. She's starting to feel like she's working for her boss's boss's boss right now and it's hard to not get a little anxious about how often she smiles so sincerely. She's from a world where purchasing someting like that is well beyond her means.
Kukuru	Despite her sleepy demeanor and the mildly sad moodlets floating around her from her attempts at doting on complete strangers being rebuffed, Kukuru's actually quite the diligent worker! She barely even speaks or makes a sound during the extractions, and she doesn't even notice Finn watching her. Her eyes are locked on the implants buried in those arms while she does all of that messy work, and someone coming by without saying anything won't keep her off task! She's actually pretty pleased with how calm her patients are, too, but that doesn't mean she'll hold back on using the stuff Zero's granted her the power to use just in case, nor will she hold back on bolstering their healing just because they can still regenerate quickly. It's only when she finally finishes and brings over the extracted implants with the extraneous flesh removed does she notice that Finn's there. More importantly, she finally realizes that she's still wearing her fancy outfit, and said outfit is a little drenched in blood. She looks at her sleeves, at her top, at her skirt, and then back at the surgery zone. Her face tightens up, and it's pretty obvious she's forcing a neutral expression now as she'st rying not to cry at thinking about how much this whole thing cost to put together. Her expression barely even changes when Finn Kato looks like he's about to throw a punch at Dan, too. She just wordlessly offers Zero (or anyone of his choosing) the implants in a sandwich bag, then takes off her coat and finds out that the blouse underneath is all bloodied up along the sleeves, too. She suppresses a painful throat noise, then offers Dan a hand. "Ma-ri-ta, huh...? If getting her on board sounds good to Yuuki and Zero, then let's do it. Our work here needs... It'd be a lot better to get everyone working together instead of just forcing everyone to follow us. Where is she, anyway?"
Yuuki Kuran	Despite Nikki flushing and being grabbed up by doubt as she's grabbed up by the Director, Yuuki is looking at Finn, and lets Nikki have her little moment. For the most part, she's simply not aware! But there's a scent, an inflamed humor of passion, a quickly-beating heart that Yuuki feels and can't help but smile gently about. "Thank you, Tennant, Nikki. This is the deal that's offered. If you'll work with us, you'll work with the Concord." The turning-piece, Gudrun, is inspiring in its wave through the hunters, and their acquiescence, but also, in Yuuki's fretting! The Director, who bears a Fang of her own and whose personal lineage let her hold Artemis without being bothered by the flaying effect of the vampire-hating hungry weapon, did not particularly imagine Gudrun to be inconvenienced by Janna's. She, absentminded, forgets. When the 1911 is returned to Janna, Yuuki releases Tennant and Nikki to have hands for Gudrun, to gather up her hurt hand and brush it. 'I'll have a treat for you after, I'm sorry. I forgot.' She admits. Her appreciation can come on strong, but - "Kukuru? Could you help Gudrun? And please make sure Kuroto gets a sample of that technology, as well as Zero. I'd like my assistant, Hanabusa, look at it. He's a specialist in those sorts of medicines, so this is an incredible find." A beat passes, and then another, and even with Gudrun's hands in hers can she find a little humor in Kuroto and Finn. "Oh! Yes, please, protect him. He's too incredible to be lost, my genius President." The Japanese-Swedish that Yuuki speaks still retains the emphatic 'tensai' that she hits proudly for the Gamer Doctor Rider President CEO.
Kukuru	Yuuki provides some much needed direction for Kukuru, and she's more than happy to oblige! She splits the implants into two sets of sandwich bags, one for Zero/Hanabusa, and one for Dan. Afterwards, Gudrun gets an offered shoulder along with some healing nanites to try taking some of that misery away, whether it's through actual recovery or just a firm body to rest on. Yes, Kukuru can sometimes be firm in her stance! She just usually isn't.
Kuroto Dan	The man may be immune to bullshit, but that doesn't stop Kuruto from keeping up the facade. He almost comically jumps back and falls on his ass the moment the man exudes his pressure, weakly kicking his feet across the ground to scurry back. Once he realizes (he always knew) he's no longer in danger, he simply lets out a pathetic laugh, as if he knew it was a joke and that he was never in danger as he meekly picks himself back up. "Haha... I'll leave myself in your capable hands. In the meantime, I'll begin prototyping some equipment you can use." He gives an extremely sheepish grin as he just begins dusting himself off.
Zero Kiryu	"Everything runs cooler than it used to," Finn remarks to Raziel, twirling his tetsubo one-handed with an exasperated sigh. "Feel like I need a damn sweater on when I would've found it hot, once upon a time. But that's how these things go, and I've had too many years to complain much about being a little chilly. When it comes to swinging this thing, though, being a little chilly doesn't matter much." "Still. If I feel like it, I'll take advantage of your joints being better than mine." "Whoa. You're gonna steal his joints?" Janna interjects, while Gudrun side-eyes her intensely. Finn does not dignify this with a response. //Everyone must start somewhere, at least.// "The superfans are just gross. I don't want to know how they really think about the comrade they've fought alongside when she's not around," Finn complains, swinging his tetsubo down to nudge at one of the cowed guys in the shoulder. "It would be different if they knew anything at all about her 'offstage'... you'd think we don't have enough people to have these sorts of relationships at all." Finn Kato has joined the party! He is level 50, and you can't tamper with his equipment. "Well... let's get going. If we're going to inspect the Professor's surgical theater, we may as well be quick about it," he says, heading for the door. //just take it as advice and do what you want// "I already was," Finn replies, grinning in a way that's just the tiniest bit feral-seeming. "You did fine. I was just explaining things. I do that, sometimes..." //Don't worry about Marina--I have a good feeling about her// "She's a bit dense," says the elder dhampyr, "but there's not many people more dedicated to whatever she's doing at the time." It might occur to Sougo at this point that this guy probably has shared history with literally everyone.
Zero Kiryu	You can relax. She really is just like that, Zero reassures Nikki, from the back of her own mind. After a moment or two, which 'feels' more like a transmitted dead air than true silence, he adds, When I was dying, a long time ago now, she was the only one who had the patience to connect with me. I don't think she has that patience for everyone, not anymore, but this isn't a facade, either. A moment later, Kukuru is visited by a similar phantom: We'll take care of the outfit. It's not a problem. He takes the implants and shunts them elsewhere through his vines. They'll need to analyze them later; there's a missing component for doing so at the moment, and they don't have the time. Gudrun looks just kind of baffled-and-in-pain by being handled by Yuuki in this way, and doesn't have anything to say. She just looks frazzled and like she's managing her ongoing problems. Her mind isn't much more clear; it's probably no surprise that she just wants things to settle into a less torturous state all around.
Zero Kiryu	Kuroto Dan, who is basically a japanese wrestler who will never drop character, does successfully bullshit this guy the second time around. Finn doesn't look like he knows what to do with the scramble-backwards fearfulness. "... Relax. I don't hurt humans," he says. The rest of the room looks at him. "I don't seriously injure humans," he corrects himself. "And it's time to go," Finn declares, waving the group forward and beginning to walk through the streets. There will be no delay in checking out the lab. It's just a hop, skip, and jump away... For a bunch of Elites, anyway. It's still an awkward walk through the evening streets of Bi.
Angela	Nikki relaxes a little. She gives Zero a nod. Genuine, but--like--don't test it! She gets that. She manages an awkward smile. It's a little weird having Zero pop in here and there, but -- she's actually starting to take some comfort in his presence.
Timespace Riders	Woz rolls his eyes at Dan's act, but is otherwise silent as he departs. Sougo, meanwhile, peers at Zero once he's outside. Temporal energy coalesces as a potential future is plucked from the river of time and made physically manifest. A Miridewatch--the kind of transforming greeble that Woz's Beyondriver uses--forms in his hand with a soft chime. White-gold motes of light disperse as it forms, like fireflies floating off into the night. "Here," says the Demon King, tossing it underhand to Woz. The futuristic pocketwatch's square face bears an image of an armored fighter, with ZERO spelled in katakana over the lens of the helmet, and thorny rose stems forming the iconic Rider antennae. Woz catches it with his free hand. "Thank you, sire," he says, bowing his head, and falling in as everyone takes to the streets of Bi.