End of the Beginning 2.0 [AAE IC #260]

On Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:22:01 -0800
Roland Sent
AAE In Character List Post Number: 260

>On Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:48:06 -0600
>Zia Sent AAE In Character List Post Number: 258
>
> > On Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:47:55 -0800
> > Patrick O’Shea Sent AAE In Character List Post Number: 256
> >
> >> Zia Sent AAE In Character List Post Number: 255

<snip>
> > “Anyway, the digitisation bit we can handle; low level energy
> field can
> > block the effect of the beam on a single person. There’s a unit
> built in
> > on Evan’s Rider Belt, and we have a few spares we can hand out to
> anyone
> > needing them. Only problem is that they don’t stop anything else.”
>
>”Well. The boat is bailed a bucket at a time.” Zia carefully lays a
>hand on the circuit-breadboarded Trump. Control surfaces all around
>change and the engines roar to life. She listens to the thrum of the
>engines. “We’re good to go. See if you can get enough of those units
>to cover the team, here. We will never have a numerical advantage in
>this fight, but keeping what numbers we do have seems like a good
>idea.”
>
>(@)Roland-da? If it pleases you, I have completed pre-flight checklist
>and the engines are warming up… all indicators are currently green.
>Do you want me to take her up and give you a break from it, or would
>you rather pilot?(@) Zia would rather have him here, for learning a new
>craft even when one is a skilled pilot is no joke, but she does
>believe she could manage if needed.

Roland quickly goes over the merits of each position; given what he knows of Zia’s “Millennium Unicorn” exploits, she’s an even better pilot than he is, but this particular Godphoenix is his baby. They’ve both been seriously injured, but… [I’ve literally never felt better in my life, and Zia’s still recovering.] He grins, decision made. *”Hm. I’ll head there to talk you through any quirks the ‘Phoenix throws you, but I’d be happy to let you fly this show.”*

> > Elsewhere in the Godphoenix.
> >
> > “Okay,” the former Ranger closed up a console on the
> bridge. “I’ve wired
> > the field generators into the power supply. As long as you don’t
> run out
> > of gas, you should retain hull integrity and be able to function
> in space.

Roland came onto the bridge at that moment. “Perfect. Fuel shouldn’t be a problem. We’ll either win, or not, long before then.”

> > Just need a few more things from supply, and we’ll be able to-”
> >
> > There’s a sudden, six-tone beeping noise. Billy turns white,
> reaches into a
> > pocket, and pulls out what looks like a watch. Thumbing a
> control, he says
> > “Who…hello?”
> >
> > The signal is horrible, ripped through with static and sounds of
> explosions
> > and, behind it, a reverberating…electronic hum. Still, the
> sound of a
> > woman’s voice cuts through it. “Billy? Is that-” another explosion.
> > “Ireland. He’s coming down…zzrkt…Na Nog….Knows
> > where…krrrktmm…Zeo Crystal…-tearing the island apart!”

Roland pales. “Time’s up,” he mutters direly. “Villains…”

> > The connection dies out. Billy is silent for a second, then looks at
> > whoever else in in the room with him. “Cam and I need to get
> something.
> > Then we’re leaving.
> >
> > “And we -are- coming with you.”
>
>(@)All ashore that’s going ashore! This bird is about to do a flit!@
>Zia’s “voice” rings out to every mind within the GodPhoenix or
>standing near it.

*What she said. All hands.*

>”I have the most dreadful temptation to Lens Starbuck and dare him to
>a climbing-scissors match. Silly, especially when HIS craft is
>_designed_ for space flight.” She smiles at Tom, and goes back to
>muttering over her board lights, and changing this or that one a bit
>to adjust the feed to the engines.

“Give me a week, a wrench, and three buckets of bolts and nuts,” Roland quips. He quickly turns serious, turning to the ex-Ranger. “Don’t worry, Billy. We’ll–”

He pauses, clutching his stomach. “ow.” The outburst is more offended than pained. However, those with highly-tuned qi and/or reality senses feel something vaguely malevolent penetrating the Godphoenix’s wards. Tiny motes of violet-tinged energy flicker in and out of existence around the science ninja. It takes a moment for Roland to recognize the field.

It’s a moment too long. “Oh, kus-” he begins, but he turns translucent, which cuts him off. Eric is already moving, but he’s not close enough.

Mizuko _shouldn’t_ be close enough, either. Somehow, though, she’s just _there,_ grabbing his shoulder and using her own kido in an effort to block the hostile transit.

Their subsequent disappearance indicates her failure…

– Soar-On’s base.

Roland and Mizuko space-fold into a large storage area, surrounded by two dozen cyborg Blackbirds. Fortunately, they’re as surprised as the duo. “Well,” Roland quips dryly, twisting his hand in the air and summoning his sword. “That’s new.”

Mizuko draws her sword as well, going back-to-back with the ninja. The Blackbirds begin running in two circles around them, each moving in the opposite direction of the other. “Hawke-san?” she queries, watching their opponents expertly.

“Not sure,” Roland frowns, “but I’d guess we’re on Soar-On’s base.” He glares at the Blackbirds, analyzing them even as their speed has them blurring. “Roth’s boss pulled us here. Not sure why; as traps go, this one’s pretty weak.” The wall of techno-magic that the Blackbirds are forming might be problematic to other heroes. “Go.” Together, they dart out, swords flashing. Their attacks are so swift that the Blackbirds are caught entirely unaware, and they plow into each other, collapsing dominoes in reverse.

Surveying the twenty-mook-pileup, Roland releases the sword, leaving his birdrang-hilt ready to throw. “Solaris,” he whispers darkly. At Ukitake-san’s questioning look, he shrugs. “Roth’s superior. She runs Galactor, replaced Berg Katse. Among others.” He strides to the door, listening intently, ninpo quietly scanning outward. “Answers directly to Sosai X. Very powerful, very dangerous.” His teeth don’t quite grind. “Though I never imagined she could penetrate the Godphoenix’s wards…” His ninpo gave the all-clear. They nodded to each other, and Roland opened the door to an empty corridor.

“Can you contact the Godphoenix? Our allies will be worried,” Mizuko notes. The pair moves inward, Shinigami following Science Ninja.

After a moment, Roland shrugs. “Worth a shot.” He taps his Gatchaman wristband. *{Hawke to Godphoenix. Come in Godphoenix.}* He pauses. No response. “Figures,” he sighs. “Solaris wants me cut off.” Roland grins. “Didn’t quite work the way she planned.” Mizuko grins back, albeit in her understated way.

Science-ninpo leads them towards the center of the Machine. “Do you have a plan?” Mizuko asks quietly.

Roland’s grin is more predatory this time. “Solaris brought us behind enemy lines. It would be downright rude not to take advantage of her hospitality.” The grin vanishes, and blue eyes narrow menacingly. “If I understood that Ireland distress call, Soar-On’s in endgame. His weapon is scarring an entire nation. Upside to that is, I could find it blind and deaf now. Downside is, we’re on a schedule.” A dozen Cogs march through a side corridor; they never reach their destination. “Solaris may want me to shut him down.” He rubs his chin, considering the situation. “That might even explain her success. Intent and magic and all.” He grimaces. “That would be uncharacteristically rational of her…” the ninja mutters, hacking his way through another electronic door. “Whoa…”

As the pair looks up, the massive pillar they face pulses with energy neither of them could miss. A conduit surrounded by the 3-meter-wide walkway the pair find themselves on crackles with red and violet “digital” power, surging both far above and far below. “Okay,” Roland says with a confidence he doesn’t feel. “I think we found a way to stop up the drain.” He claps his hands, then rubs them. “Watch my back?” Ukitake-san nods professionally, and Captain Hawke gets to work.

Techniques both logical and magical flow gently, carefully, quietly into surging power. The energy is strictly bound in circuits, yet _alive_ somehow, filled with the minds and substance of the digitized. A wave of overwhelming disgust is threaded with a hint of reluctant awe at the starkly incredible technological genius Roland faces. [Defender would just make a fist,] he thinks wearily.

[Wait, what?] Roland’s mind comes to a screeching halt at the intrusion of the Champions mythology. Something Zia said flickers back to mind…

>On Sat, 5 Nov 2011 09:56:46 -0500
>Zia Sent AAE In Character List Post Number: 243

<mega-snip>
>”He thinks we’re all just characters he has read about in books, Eric.
>Including the Phoenix. Although it has been rather a crash course
>from… oh, would it have been my Trump popping in or the Shinigami’s
>arrival, Roland-da? Anyways, despite all that, despite this world
>being at hazard – a very classical CAoL plot, that – and despite the
>fact that even -I- am polite to him, trust him, and accept his orders
>in combat – he doesn’t think he’s THAT Phoenix. Or said reincarnation
>of same, either. Even though he has just gained Defender’s artifact –
>sorry, armor – and become Mega-man.”
>
>… “Although how LONG he can go on denying when she is right there
>at his side…”

There hadn’t seemed the time to deal with the hints — well, okay, _more_ than hints — and it hadn’t seemed relevant. Zia, like many women he’d known, had given up on subtle with him. The reasons were obvious. Now, though…he wasn’t merely a Science Ninja any more, that much was clear, but he certainly didn’t wield Defender’s cosmic powers. No matter who he’d been. [Roland Phoenix. Gods.] He shook his head violently. [That was then. I may not have Defender’s power, but he never mastered magic. On the clock, X-9.] With that, the agent grinned. Mizuko gives him another questioning look. He nods back. “I’m okay. Just…something Zia said. Right now, they overthought the plumbing too much.”

“The lack of adversaries probably indicates they’re watching us to see what we do,” Mizuko notes calmly.

“Agreed,” Roland replies grimly. “My concern is, which _ones_ are watching us?” He looks up. “Doesn’t matter. A world is at stake.” He reaches up with his right hand. [Which they’re probably counting on…] he thinks, then pours all his concentration into his power. Instead of a fist, he shifts his hand as if turning a knob. The conduit begins to surge more violently for a moment…then goes dark.

Just as Roland is most absorbed with his work, Mizuko feels space shift around her. A thick tendril of the darker violet energy that had pulled them both here tries to wind around her, while Roth grapples her from behind. She slips them both, but is forced back by the twin onslaught. “Mizuko!” Roland shouts, but can only half-turn, the strain of cutting off the assault on Earth almost pinning him.

“Ah, Roland,” Solaris replies silkily, “it appears we have a chance to talk politely at last.”

“You have…a strange…definition…of ‘polite,'” he hisses, barely keeping Soar-On’s weapon inactive. Mizuko and Roth have swords at the ready, and Solaris’ force-tendril is between the heroes, but none of them are fighting. Yet.

Roth snorts an almost-chuckle. “You’re a hard man to talk to, Hawke.”

“Yeah, I get that way with people who kill my loved ones,” Roland snarls back.

Solaris nods in acknowledgement. “True enough. Nevertheless, we needed this weapon deactivated and you in a position to listen. Very cooperative of you, I must say.” Roland’s only response is to grit his teeth more emphatically. “Thanks to the Amberite, you have most likely been informed of your…heritage.”

“Go kiss a supernova,” Roland spits back.

Solaris’ smile grows. “A…creative confirmation.” She locks eyes with the ninja. “Aren’t you the least bit curious how I knew?”

Roland considers for a moment. “No,” he replies hoarsely.

At that, Solaris laughs outright. “You’re a terrible liar, Hawke. Obviously, I learned it from Sosai X…but _he_ learned it from your precious ISO. It turns out that Dr. Nambu was a very thorough man.”

Roth tenses. “Galactor’s secrets weren’t the only ones Raven found that time.”

For a moment, Roland shakes, power and uncertainty raging through him. Then he begins to chuckle. Solaris raises an eyebrow. Roth just sighs. “You didn’t really think that was going to work, did you?”

“It’s the truth,” Solaris says, nonplused. “You must realize that.”

“Yeah,” Roland admits. The conduit shudders and fuses, turning a dull, dark grey. “The funny thing is, you think I’d care _now_ of all times?” He turns and reclaims his focus, turning on Solaris and Blackhawk, floating into the air. “So I was the mighty Defender. Cosmic superhero. Leader of gods. The ISO didn’t tell me. What’s your point?”

Solaris frowns outright. “It doesn’t occur to you to wonder why?”

Roland laughs. “Nope. Oh, wait, is this the part where I’m supposed to be shocked, SHOCKED that they were afraid of a kid having the power to shatter planets? Angry that they ‘denied me my destiny’ or some crap like that? Wrong life, lady. Roland Phoenix was pretty awesome, yeah. Thing is, that whole 3,000 year or so lifetime, he never got the thing he wanted second-most. After Morgan, of course.” Hawke began to glow, and his smile began to fade. “Something I have.”

“Oh crap,” Roth whispers. “Solaris…”

“You were reborn into a world where you would never be what you were without guidance,” Solaris continues doggedly. “_We_ didn’t do that.”

“So? Maybe _I_ did it.” Roland glances at his hand. ^Ukitake-san, be ready to hit Solaris on my mark.^ He smiles knowingly, while Mizuko nods almost imperceptibly. “You’re right about one thing, though. I may not be Mega Man, but I couldn’t be a Science Ninja forever.” Here, he _glares_ at Solaris, a flicker of living fire around his eyes. “You want me to know the truth? Congratulations. Mission accomplished. I am Roland Hawke in this life. I may be weaker than Roland Phoenix, but I’m also much more than I was.”

“You-” Solaris tries again.

“You want a phoenix? Fine. I am _Hinotori-no-Roland,_ you arrogant sow, and I will defend the world — any world — from people like you!” Solaris pales as a cobalt-limned firebird forms around the hero. “Science, magick, psi, faith, I know them all. Even Defender was a sleeper…but now, THE SLEEPER HAS AWAKENED!”

Roth’s eyes bulge. “Solaris! Plan’s a bust! Time to go!” Solaris snarls, but nods.

Roland chuckles again, a laugh that echoes in the flames. “And where are you going, little traitor? There are _many_ limits Defender had that I do not.”

“Where’s Morgan?” Roth retorts quickly. That stops Roland cold. The fiery aura vanishes. He drops to the ground, metal on metal. In that instant, Blackhawk and Solaris vanish…leaving him staring at Mizuko.

[…”when she is right there at his side”…] Roland wonders. Mizuko looks at him quizzically. Intuition speaks clearly to him. […no. Proves nothing. Besides, Mizuko’s already struggling enough with all this craziness. This isn’t the time for dubious theorizing.] He sighs. [Though it would certainly explain why I was worried about her…and why I’ve been feeling so–] Hawke realizes just how intently he’s been staring at the Shinigami, and _blushes._

Mizuko looks a touch rattled, still catching up to the rapid-fire changes to their situation. “Hawke-san?”

The conduit comes to Roland’s rescue, rumbling dangerously. At that moment, his wristband beeps. (OOC: Insert frantic call here. He vanished, Soar-On’s beam stopped a few minutes later, and the jamming just came undone. 😉 )

“{Hawke here. Situation’s under control for the moment, but either I just broke Soar-On’s toys or it was a temporary solution. Either way, an evac would be appreciated. The Godphoenix can lock onto my signal, and I’ve put a dent in this thing’s defenses.}” He grins again. “{Let me know if you need any more wooden shoes thrown around.}” The pillar begins flaking bits of silicon. “{Have to continue this discussion later. Excuse me.}” He heads for the door they came in, Mizuko quickly on his heels. For a moment, he considers his options. [What the hell. Nothing ventured.] “So. Mizuko. What do you say we grab some drinks after we save the world?”

Mizuko blinks, mind still clearly on-the-clock. “Excuse me?”

A pair of Cogs comes running down a perpendicular corridor in a panic at the rumbling. Hawke throws his birdrang, destroying them both instantly. “You. Me. Drinks. After the world-saving thing. Sound good?”

“World-saving from Soar-On, or the Dreadlords?” Mizuko asks, still clearly dealing with the seeming non-sequitor. A Cog makes the mistake of thinking her distraction is physical, and goes to pieces over a beautiful woman.

“Soar-On, definitely,” Roland replies jauntily. “God only knows how long our investigation’s going to take.”

“Indeed,” she agrees. “Yes, that sounds good, Hawke-san.”

Roland nods, chuckling. “So, what are the chances that I can get you to call me Roland?”

“That doesn’t seem entirely appropriate, Hawke-san,” Mizuko replies evenly.

“Worth a shot,” he concedes, still grinning.

OOC: Tag Patrick on whether you want this to finish things off or just get the big showdown started. Like the Hawke said, though, they need an extraction either way. 🙂