☆TRACK VIII: I'LL REACH YOU BELOW

[interdimanagers]

Who: All rescuers!
What: The trio is here to give you the deets.
When: The evening of February 18th.
Where: An abandoned subway.
Warnings: Nothing predictable, but you never know.

“Word has it on the wire That you don't who you are. Well, if you could jack into my brain, You'd know exactly what you mean here.” ☆I'LL REACH YOU BELOW The notification is sudden. A several hours in advance, all rescuers will receive a ping over the network from Shep that they are to gather at a specific location late that evening. The location will not be given out until one hour in advance of the meeting, but they are advised to be ready to receive it and move out immediately. When they arrive, the meeting is taking place in an abandoned subway. At first it doesn't seem like there is a way in, but after slipping through the rubble in some collapsed tunnels, you'll find it. Shep, Gold, and Silver are all present, and will spent the first while doing a careful headcount of those that show up, until approximately 15 minutes after the starting time. The results seem to be disappointing. People who were here the first time are missing, that much is obvious just from looking around – the leaders’ unease with it is clear. However, it doesn’t cause them to panic or change the point of the meeting, either. At 11:15 PM on the dot, then Shep will begin the meeting by explaining what they are all there for: information. There have been details that the team has been holding back on giving until now, and Shep will somewhat sheepishly explain that it’s because they didn’t want the risk the change of it being leaked in the event that new recruits were incapable or unwilling to blend and lay low for the time being. Thankfully, he’ll explain, everyone here has more than proven themselves capable of working within Vista’s system. So, they’ve been brought together so they can be fully brought up to speed. Information will be delivered in three parts, by each one of the leaders. Afterwards, questions can be asked, and the rescuers will be allowed to mingle and discuss for a few hours. All the information is concise, and in the end the actual explanation will end up taking a half hour or less. Afterwards, Gold has brought snacks to share, as has become customary. Hopefully you like pastries. “So, if you've got the time, Set up the tone to sync. Tap in the code, I'll reach you below.”

Comments

SHEP DISCUSSES ROBOTS AND WITCHES

[interstellarebels]

Shep is the first one to begin speaking, taking out a palm sized triangular prism and setting it on the floor in front of him. It begins to glow at his touch, projecting pre-programmed holographic images into the air around him. It begins as a series of faces – all people that can be recognized as veteran performers of both Pride and Virgo.

“First up, let’s talk about...the enemy.”

The crystal flashed through a series of profiles with names and statistics – these include all the members of Predator, along with Anasi and Juno from Virgo.

“Since you all made it here tonight, I’m going to assume none of you actually encountered these guys. Santiago and Blanche aren’t the only ones in the know around here – each of them works with a large network of connections, the crappiest of which are these guys...performers that have, for whatever reason, decided that they like being kept of pets and have volunteered their loyalty to their owners. Sometimes it’s been manipulated out of them with brainwashing or mind control, and sometimes they genuinely just suck that much. This wouldn’t mean much, if the bulk of them didn’t have magic powers.

Gold and Silver know more about the magic stuff than me, but the important part is that these people are all witches who can kill you. They only get used as agents by their labels for serious business, at least, so odds are you won’t see them until you’re in the thick of it. Never underestimate them, they are a huge pain.”

The images change to a series of suit wearing men and women with blank expressions, and then a series of very colourful individuals – the managers of each fledgling band.

“Most of the time you’re gunna be dealing with these guys – the lackies. Most of these guys are just robots. They don’t have souls, or a will of their own, so if you have to kill them you don’t need to feel too bad about it. But...sometimes the people leading them will be humans, so watch out for that. The robot guys are super strong and super durable, so don’t fight them if you don’t have to. They’re dangerous.

The ‘managers’ that herd the captives around are all robots too, except they are programmed to have personalities, and usually just act like normal people until they start kicking your ass. They’re stronger and smarter than the grunts, and also more likely to hold a grudge. As far as any of us know, they don’t really have a will of their own either, though it can be harder to tell. Watch out for these guys, they’re wily.”

The holographic images will change to images of Santiago and Blanche – the primary targets.

“And then there’s these jerks. Evidence suggests that these guys have been on this planet for hundreds of years at this point, and have been trafficking beings for just as long. They’re basically invincible, as far as anyone’s ever seen. They’re super strong, they can shrug off lasers, and they can teleport massive amounts of matter with trivial effort. These guys are powerful sorcerers, and they are not human. And I mean that literally. They’re not any of the species you guys are, either.

And they’re not from the planet. Information about these bastards is nearly impossible to find out, but after a lot of looking we got a name: they’re called Nebulae, and as far as anyone knows, they had godlike power even before they started leeching tons of soul energy. Some kind of spacial energy beings, I guess? Whatever they’re doing it needs to stop – not just for the sake of their slaves, or this planet, but for everybody. Until then...avoid direct contact at all costs.”

He exhales, slowly, releasing the tension he’s built up while talking.

“Any questions?”

[fromearth]

Robots. Now this is territory Sparks is familiar with. He has been going stir crazy over here.

"If they're robots, they got programming, don't they? We can try hacking them, get info out of them." Like, maybe one. And he can punch the rest. Man he's so ready for a brawl.

[woomy]

"Does shoving them in water work?" Agent 3 isn't exactly thinking of her own weakness to water but the fact that metal machines are heavy and likely to sink. Super strong and super durable suggests a lot of metal. "Or are they a lighter type of robot?"

[oceantier]

Lapis, for her turn, is quiet, drawn inward, absorbing. She looks very much as though she would like to close her eyes entirely, block out the world.

But she does speak. Measured and quietly. But she speaks.

"Why . . . is so little known about them? Doing something this large, at this kind of scale, for hundreds of years . . . it leaves a trail. Two couldn't have done it by themselves."

[actsmagnificent]

This is fun (not). For the first time, Haruka almost wishes the other Soldiers of the Outer Solar System were here with her. Almost.

"I suppose you do have a plan for stopping them," she proposes, speaking up from the back of the gathering. From the way she's saying it, it almost sounds like a challenge.

[fitnessenthusiast]

"Is it possible for the robots to gain wills?"

Maybe fitness could help.

GOLD DISCUSSES MUSIC AND MAGIC

[interstellarebels]

Next up is Gold. They come forward with a flourish, and manipulates the crystal into displaying nothing but a vibrant image of a disco ball, which starts refracting light all over the subway cavern.

“Music magic. Music magic is what happens with the energy of a being’s soul and the pathos of the music they perform gets together and makes a magic baby. The resulting power can be manipulated into bending reality in pretty much any way you can imagine. Some musicians from the labels develop the knack for using sorcery and other don’t, but both Santiago and Blanche are ‘capital M’ Masters.

This energy source is what all your friends and family have been brought here for. When they perform in front of massive crowds like the ones the labels can provide, they generate massive amounts of the stuff – most of which gets immediately siphoned off by the CEO’s symbiotic connections to their slaves. What’s left over sometimes allows them to start using magic themselves...or it allows Silver and I to manipulate it into giving them back aspects of their real selves. This has a resulted in a lot of crazy shit happening within the walls of the HQ.

Due to one particular anomaly, the musicians that have recently been recruited have been developing this energy at rates that are totally unprecedented. What they’ve developed in a few months took the generations before them years to gather. A lot of these guys have already started showing magical potential, which is pretty much unheard of this early on...which would be great and all, if it wasn’t falling straight into the big bosses’ plans.

Santiago and Blanche have an angle – there’s a point to all these energy they’ve been gathering, and it isn’t just for shooting lightning out of their palms. Information suggests that they are both struggling to gather a certain quantity of magical energy before, you know it, some kind of fucking cosmic alignment bullshit. The cliché is real. This is a race to the top that’s been building for centuries, and no matter which one wins, we’re all totally fucked.“

They spread their arms enthusiastically.

“Now...questions?”

[avidita]

[There's a sigh that just radiates the sentiment of 'of course that's what's happened'. At least that explains things.]

I assume, then, that an aspect of this power is influencing other people's emotions?

[hearted]

Minako's been mulling all of this over the entire time. High tech isn't exactly her strong suit, but this magic and mysticism she's slightly more comfortable with. Here she finally raises her voice.

"What's the particular anomaly that's making them so powerful? And when the cosmos align...we'll see the universe plunge into chaos?"

The eternal battle of the Sailor Senshi in a nutshell. No wonder Rei's power was so attractive and so dangerous.

[charleslee]

I saw one control a crowd of people with her voice. [Which isn't the question, but he would like to have known that kind of thing was possible.] Is there a way to protect ourselves from this magic?

[intohell]

...A big ritual that turns them into god, or something.

[Yes, she overheard the conversation with Minako and after everything at home, Riza's not too happy to hear someone is a major idiot.]

So do we have a counter because those things get messy from my experience.

[lightthedarkness]

"When we get some of the singers free, will they still be able to use this music magic? Are we able to tap into this magic as well?"

She had to wonder if that meant the fans would know as well.

[woomy]

"... So you mean that cutting the power to the city won't work because they have music energy..." And 3 doesn't like the idea of trying to turn off all music to cut their energy. Besides... can they even cut off all music? Is that even possible?

She gives a resigned sigh. "That plan's splatted. Is it all music or just their special brand of it?"

[oceantier]

Gold's news doesn't come across any better, really, than Shep's. Again she's quiet for some time. And still.

"Why . . . a cosmic alignment? Why is that the best time?"

A pause. "And if they both want the same thing for the same time . . . why are they competing?"

[invisiballman]

[Kuroko raises his hand, but doesn't wait to be acknowledged. Because let's face it, that could take forever.]

Do we have any idea when this cosmic alignment is going to occur?

[candothismuch]

It's funny. In a way, hearing this reminded Eiji of the scramble for the Medals even though this was much bigger in terms of what would be affected. It could have almost been comforting in a strange way if it wasn't so dire.

"The quantity of magic that they need, do you know how close they are to it?"

[eba02]

[J can't help but think of a crowd dancing and chanting in unison, the Music thrumming loud, a beam of blue-white energy, and an alien spaceship falling from the sky. This is starting to sound a little familiar.]

Any chance any of us can tap into the music magic, or is that the last thing we wanna be doin'?

SILVER DISCUSSES CHIPS AND CHOPS

[interstellarebels]

And now Silver comes forward, as sombre as ever. They manipulate the crystal with a wave of their fingers, causing it to display and image of a brain with some sort of chip being shown at an insertion point. A medical diagram.

”How do we get them out, you wonder? With any mercy, none of you have already gone and blown the whole load to the enemy yet, because getting the captives out is going to be delicate. Dragging them out now will only result in you, and them, getting killed, because each of them has had a tracking chip and controller device inserted into their brains in a way that is not trivial to remove. “

The chip animates, sliding deep within the grey matter. Animated waves come off of it, portraying a wireless signal.

“Given the need their locations can be tracked down a precise radius, and most of the typical materials are incapable of blocking the signal. If their owners are given a reason to look for them, they can potentially appear within moments, thanks to their teleportation abilities. I’m working on getting together a chop shot built for removing these things and disrupting their functions, but it’s not quite finished. If anyone wants to help me gather supplies to make it a reality, I would be appreciative.

The end goal is that we get into a situation where captives can be brought to the chop shop fast enough that we can get their chips out before they can get tracked down by their bosses. Mental programming aside, once the chip is out they’ll be as free as any of you. Of course, who knows what kind of exciting new trigger based programming they’ve been installed with these days – but that’s a hurdle we’ll cross when we get there.

Of course, as soon as we have a few successes, there’s no telling how they’ll change up the plans in order to fuck with us. So, let’s make those victories count, hm?”

They wave a hand through the brain diagram, and it disappears.

“That’s all I’ve got. Questions? No?”

[avidita]

[Yes, as a matter of fact, and Mammon steps forward again.]

Do you have blueprints for the kind of equipment you need?

SPARKS DISCUSSES PLANS AND PUNCHING

[fromearth]

"All right, people."

Once the leaders have had their say, Sparks is already generating his own ideas. He's not wasting any more time on fumigation or petty bourgeois. It's time to get back in form.

"I need a group of three or four folks to help take out one of those manager fellas Shep was talking about. They got information, and a strong hold on your pals, so takin' one or more out's to all our best advantage.

"What we need is some way for us to get in backstage at a concert, and people who ain't afraid to tussle with somethin' super strong an' made of metal. You heard what they can do, so unless you got super strength or robot fists," he pats the metal gloves hanging at his belt, "you ain't gonna wanna get in the way. I can do a little hacking if need be, but if one of you brainy types can help out and keep from gettin' hurt, it'll be a mighty help."

[determinate]

Well, this doesn't sound like Frisk's kind of mission at all. Their style of fight generally ends in friendship. They do understand that wouldn't work this time; if they're robots like computers and not like Mettaton, there's not really anything inside to make friends with. So really, they'd probably just get killed by a robot if they went.

They still raise a hand to offer some commentary. You can get backstage passes if you win a contest. Like on the radio.

[lightthedarkness]

All this information, it didn't really change anything, not for her. She still would save Rei and everyone. If she could fight against Galaxia... she could fight against these... god-like creatures. She pressed a hand to her heart. But she was so much weaker here.

What use was she when she got tired just from a simple wound?

Could she even turn into Sailor Moon?

She had to concentrate, she couldn't let her mind be filled with doubt because if she doubted herself, she'd not be able to do anything. She was sitting down on a bench and had to wonder what would happen to this planet when they defeated these beings, especially if they had been doing this for hundreds of years.

She looked up when someone sat next to her and offered a smile, even though she didn't really feel like smiling.

"That sure was a lot of information, huh?" she offered. "But we'll still save them."

[invisiballman]

"Of course we will."

Kuroko smiles back at her encouragingly. He brought Tetsuya #2 along as well and the little dog looks up at Usagi and tentatively wags his tail. He's helping. Cute dogs boost morale, right? Or possibly hes just hoping she'll pet him.

"And having more information will help us to plan ahead."

He is a little concerned with how few people showed up to this meeting, but he won't bother her with worries like that.

[woomy]

Agent 3 is leaning against the wall, lost in thought. Everyone has invincibility to her ink without any of the knockback a kraken or a bubbler would have. Movement is going to be her best asset... if she was allowed to shoot ink everywhere. Could she pretend to be a delinquent and just go crazy with shooting ink when she needs to move quickly? The ink does disappear eventually, so she isn't actually ruining anything. But then she'd have to worry about her being seen turning into a squid and swimming in it.

So... how can she help? Agent 3 has done rescue missions before, and she refuses to be carried. She can be useful! But... how...?

"... What happened to all the others? Where are they?" Agent 3 says to no one in particular. She thinks back to her conversation with Frisk about meeting semi regularly and keeping tabs on as many as possible so no one's alone. There is a much smaller group here.

[charleslee]

"Captured, potentially." Always here with a positive outlook, that's Connor. He's noticed the same thing and assumed they got caught out somehow. It's hardly as if any of them are from here, after all. All of them are gonna slip up here and there.

[actsmagnificent]

Haruka doesn't mingle with her fellow rescuers after the meeting. In fact, she waits long enough to see everyone start to talk amongst themselves, and then turns to leave. She got what she came for. She knows how to bide her time when it's smart, even working with a ticking clock. But that's all the more reason to keep a low profile as long as possible.

She's lost enough in thought, though, that she might bump into somebody on her way out.

[lightthedarkness]

Usagi looked up when Haruka bumped into her. She was currently lost in her own thoughts and offered the outer senshi a smile.

"Time to go?"

[avidita]

After pestering Gold and Silver, along with a little showing off, Mammon clearly seems a bit tired. It's in their body language, for anyone who's even faintly familiar with the illusionist- arms crossed with hands tucked against their sides instead of placed cockily on their hips, shoulders low instead of straight, a troubled frown on their lips.

At some point in the night, they can be found sitting on the edge of the abandoned rails, legs swinging and Fantasma on one of their knees. "Still nothing? After all this time?" A sad little croak. "That's starting to get worrying..."

[nuns4money]

Meanwhile an old acquaintance comes by, still in her work clothes and watching the interactions between greedy bastard and their frog. It's kinda adorable, she ain't gonna lie here.

LET'S DISCUSS POWERS

[lightthedarkness]

Usagi was really very nervous about this, but it occurred to her they couldn't have too many secrets among each other if they were all going to work together. The senshi didn't really have secrets with each other, to many battles beside one another.

She cleared her throat and when that didn't work, she did what she did best, she yelled.

"EXCUSE ME EVERYONE!"

And when there were suddenly eyes on her she blushed and put up her hands nervously.

"I know we're... less than when we first started, I don't know if they just couldn't make it or... what the reason is. But with all of us here, I think it's important to discuss... that is what it is we can all actually do. We can't all keep working separately and expect things to go well. If six different people make six different plans to attack the same person, we're all just going to get hurt in the end.

"We have to work together, we're all here for the same goal even if our reasons are all different. And we can all help each other! I-" she glanced to where Minako and Haruka were standing.

"I'll start, that is, my name is Usagi Tsukino and I came here to save my friend Rei Hino, I'm honestly... not that smart and not great with being subtle. But if anyone gets hurt... I can also heal people." She wouldn't reveal the Sailor Moon aspect without support, but she would reveal this. "I can heal wounds and... I don't know how powerful it is here but I can even restore buildings and plant life too. But most importantly, I can heal people... anyone. It doesn't matter if your human or alien or animal. I can heal all of it. And I want you all to know that in case any of you ever need it... if you ever need my help."

She looked around at everyone and bit her lip.

"If uh... a-anyone else wants to go and mention... something... n-now is a GREAT time..."

[woomy]

"I can shoot and throw ink and swim in it like this!" Agent 3 lobs a Burst Bomb high against the nearest wall, leaving a splotch of bright green ink there, and she then shoots a line of ink across the floor. She continues firing until the line on the floor connects with the ink left by the Burst Bomb.

3 then melts into her squid form and then disappears completely into the ink she just laid down. Ripples and a mini wake show her position as she zips across the floor and up the wall. Once she reaches the highest point of the ink on the wall, she jumps back out and changes back into an Inkling midair. "My Super Jump's not working though."

Maybe she should have also said that she can change from being a kid to a squid to a kid.

[eba02]

J is unusually quiet, leaning against a wall, sunglasses down over his eyes despite them being both inside and underground. Sometimes they're just easier to hide behind, and he could use that right about now.

He's out of his league. He's known it for a while - ever since Silver knocked him flat by tune alone well over a month ago - but it hadn't really sunk in until just now, until he knew more. They're fighting robots, and magical aliens that want to become gods and can kill them easy as breathing, and...

And he doesn't think he can help.

If Silver can just about wipe him out just by being in a bad mood, then he can't afford to even go near Blanche and Santiago - his Music sense will just make him a liability around them, worse than useless. He can tell who's a robot by tune alone, but he can't do anything about it. Right now, it doesn't sound like there's anything he can do. He came here to help, and he can't, and that's just about the worst place an Agent can be.

He hasn't been this down in a while, and he doesn't know what to do about it. Right now, he's just trying to process what they've been told and stave off the headache caused by the mixing of Gold and Silver's tunes.

[oceantier]

This time she finds him. Weaving through the crowd, she comes to him -- if only for the reason that to have him at the edges of things is unlike him. Sunglasses down, he's expressionless, remote.

This isn't J.

She draws closer, fingers raised and brushing along the wall. She doesn't announce herself; he seems to always know she's there anyway.

"Is . . . everything all right?"