Well... Suzume certainly wasn't expecting this.
Apparently Utopia was one of the Blessers. Suzume remembered well that DragonierMan had trouble with MarriageMan in an earlier altercation. Blessers had strange, reality-altering powers. It was not just a simple task of defeating them in a straight up fight. Although, paradoxically, Utopia seemed to be giving Mullonde just that: an opening to defeat her in a straight up fight. Simultaneously, Utopia was also giving Mullonde the choice to mold reality for her benefit. To give Mullonde the ability to act out any fantasy she wanted, seemingly for no cost. Suzume wondered if there was a catch that was left unsaid, or if the Blessers were just as crazy as the rumors implied.
DragonierMan's and Aya's jack-in attempt was blocked, forcing them to stay in their PET. They looked at the white void where everyone disappeared from their big screen vid window. They called out for Mullonde, but couldn't reach her. Aya tried to send more signals on Yasu's, Escort's, and Arch's comm links, asking for their status and location. If she managed to get through to any of them, and they could relay their position, the two dragoniers would divert to that location as best they could. If not, they would continue to watch the strange anomaly.
Mullonde listened to Utopia as she explained what occurred. She was interfering with Neo-Shogunate recruitment missions in cases where she thought the people applying wouldn't be able to successfully complete the mission assigned. Mullonde's eyes zoomed and panned-out, her ears twitching, as they continued to record, even if the stream was not reaching her PET. Utopia seemed to know that Mullonde was already a member of the NS, so Suzume deactivated her .GMO and returned to her base armored form. She got off of Utopia and deactivated her RageClaw2Damage: 70 + Slashing (Attack) OR 35 + Impacting (Throw)
Accuracy: B / B then B
Description: Creates an impressive bear claw. Can be used to slash or throw enemies or objects.
Duration: Until Overridden/Broken. Breaks automatically after 6 uses.
Element: Null
Special: Throw: The wielder must first grab the target to be thrown, then the target is thrown in the direction/area indicated. A second check is made if against another object/enemy. Throw deals damage to both thrown object/enemy and the second object/enemy. Damage occurs at point of collision with the ground/wall/ceiling/etc. or an object/enemy, not during initial grab attempt. Objects deal their max HP in damage (instead of the chip's damage) if they hit an object/enemy, then break. If they miss, the object just takes the chip's damage. This chip has a variety of uses.
Trader Rank: C battlechip. "I am not going to destroy you now. You were just doing what you thought was right. But I am actually already on a mission, so I'll need to ask you a bunch of questions if you wouldn't mind."
Suzume did feel like she was cut off from her PET, which concerned her. But it didn't seem like she was in any immediate danger, so she would use her professionalism to see her through. "First thing's first. I am looking for those people you 'put into your program', as you put it: Messenger, Plastique, Wasteland, Puppet-Show, and now Escort. They had gone missing so I was brought in to find them. I would like you to give them to me, intact and unharmed, in their entirety, no simulations. Now Puppet-Show was an independent, but a part of your simulations and considered one of the missing, so I'll need to ask her some questions as well."
Suzume continued. "My next question is why? Why go through all the trouble to make these simulations and grant wishes? And for a more specific question, how do you determine who has 'a near zero percent chance that the navi could join and become a functioning member of the Neo-Shogunate'? As you said, I am a member of the NS. And these people seem to be just like all the others who have joined and became functioning members within the faction."
Suzume took a moment to let Utopia talk as she thought up more questions. "And this all begs the question: why are you targeting the recruitment and officers of the Neo-Shogun Empire? Why not the NetMafia, or NetPolice, or even the GNA itself? Or have you already done that before?" Suzume scanned Utopia's face for clues as to her thought process. "Now, your work with Puppet-Show was pretty amazing. We could use people of your skill within the NS. Perhaps you would see fit to join us. What do you say?" Suzume asked, either granting Suzume's own wishes, or giving Utopia the chance to perhaps follow Utopia's own wishes.
The Showbizz WCMABB
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DragonierMan and Aya would find that their messages were still interacting about the same: Yasu's were going through with no responses coming in return, same with Arch, but Escort appeared to be receiving and replying.
-------------------------------------
Recording Utopia's strange behavior was easy enough, though streaming it to the PET was, as expected, impossible. Hopefully, she'd get a chance to present it later; if Utopia was serious about heeding Suzume's requests, then she wasn't truly stuck here. "COMPLIANCE," the lady began, rising up to her feet to speak to Suzume more easily. "I will answer as many questions as you deem fit to ask. IDENTIFICATION: The names you listed were all-inclusive of those I've put into my program. All other actors I used, except for the viruses in Wasteland's mission, were simply illusions I created. In this specific instance, I created more numerous, in-depth illusions by casting illusions atop the puppets that Puppet-Show controls."
She latched on to the request to speak to Puppet-Show, then flashed a pose, holding one hand to her forehead with the wrist bent and extending the other towards the sky, as if reaching towards some sort of unseen diety; her hip poked to one side, distractingly. "COMPLIANCE: Utopiaaaaa!" she called out, before causing Puppet-Show to blink into existence next to her. "I have summoned Puppet-Show, to answer additional questions you may have."
"Oh my..." Puppet-Show muttered, still disoriented, though not as much so as earlier now that she'd wiped the mud from her face. If Suzume watched the mud dripping from the lady's bikini-clad body, she'd notice it disappeared as it hit the invisible floor of the net. "I suppose you were found out?"
"CLARIFICATION: I simply exposed all details of my plan. It was not beneficial to the completion of Suzume's mission, nor my mission statement as a Blesser, to engage in battle with Suzume," the fornerly silver woman explained, her voice ringing dramatically despite the expository nature of her words. "QUESTION: Should I reveal the nature of the ruse to the women as I summon them, or leave them inside the illusion? If I reveal the nature of the program to them, their behavior in response may be unpredictable. It will be impossible to resume the simulation, even with my powers, if they are informed of its nature," she suggested. "ADDENDUM: Although they could always continue to be part of this simulated Neo-Shogun Empire, despite its nature."
Suzume could figure that out herself, but for now she wanted to focus on other questions. "CLARIFICATION: My Blesser goal is to grant the wishes of navis across the net, whoever they are, whatever they may be, so long as the request is communicated verbally, in person. A navi who asked that I promise not to name them requested 18 days ago that I help navis who want to join the Neo-Shogun Empire but face entrance requirements so daunting that completing them would be 'totally gosh-darn impossible'. To that end, I set up this simulation, by which navis could join the Neo-Shogun Empire with no risk of failure, even under impossible circumstances. ADDITIONAL: Would you like me to break my promise to that navi and tell you their name? If so, please command," she explained at length, ending with a question that was probably superfluous at this time.
"CONSIDERATION: I may have made an erroneous evaluation and incorrectly identified the navis in question as having a zero-percent chance to join the Neo-Shogun Empire and integrate successfully. PROPOSAL: Please listen to my reasoning, including details you may not have been privy to before, and tell me if you agree with my original assessment. LIST: Messenger, who was instructed by Officer Bank to infiltrate the Neo-Shogun Empire under the guise of a new recruit and feed information back to the NetPolice. Plastique, a Techari Family member who decided of her own accord to attempt to infiltrate the Neo-Shogun Empire and evaluate technological progress. Wasteland, a navi who has been blacklisted from GNA-hosted missions for repeated failures, related to violent behavior, often directed towards her employers. CONCLUSION: Probability of these navis integrating properly into the Neo-Shogun Empire was low, a fraction of a percentage approaching zero." It was probably a good thing all of the navis in question weren't here yet to hear this information revealed; they really would be acting erratically if they were here now.
Luckily, Utopia had answered questions pretty thoroughly and responsively, because her face was still a bewitching pink mask of somewhat vogue, but robotic and emotionless indifference that would be impossible to draw much subtext from no matter how closely it was studied. "CONSIDERATION. APOLOGY: I am not capable of 'seeing fit' to join you or decline the offer. ADDENDUM: But I will join you if you state a request for me to do so."
"If you don't mind an ally who will join the enemy if they request she does so," Puppet-Show added with a smile that rode the line between polite and condescending. "I apologize, I assume that came off as a little rude. But I was being serious: Utopia's flaw is that she is incapable of denying any request and strives to listen to any request she can. Anyone who knew that secret would be able to turn her from an enemy to an ally instantaneously. Or that's what I think, anyways... So far she's done nothing to prove that theory wrong. It makes negotiating terms of payment with her very, very satisfying... assuming she can actually pay me."
"CONFIRMATION: That is correct. I cannot say no. CORRECTION: Puppet-Show, your specific request was to tell you I could pay you that much," the pink woman agreed, nodding quickly, before spreading her legs in a slightly lower standing pose and raising both elbows to a little under head height, then crossed both hands beneath her chin as though resting her palms upon a table. "Utopiaaaa~" she sang, waiting for further input.
"Aaah... Wait, what?" Puppet-Show asked, turning her head quickly as though the truth of her payment for her puppet-work was only now hitting her.
Quote (Escort)
I'm not certain what has happened. I was fighting Utopia in one of the rings, when Mullonde ambushed sprung the ambush. She tackled Utopia off of me, but as soon as I rose to my feet, a white light overtook the entire area. Now, the ring and all of the competitors have either vanished or were otherwise hidden. Is Suzume okay? My jack-out function does not appear to be activating either.
-------------------------------------
Recording Utopia's strange behavior was easy enough, though streaming it to the PET was, as expected, impossible. Hopefully, she'd get a chance to present it later; if Utopia was serious about heeding Suzume's requests, then she wasn't truly stuck here. "COMPLIANCE," the lady began, rising up to her feet to speak to Suzume more easily. "I will answer as many questions as you deem fit to ask. IDENTIFICATION: The names you listed were all-inclusive of those I've put into my program. All other actors I used, except for the viruses in Wasteland's mission, were simply illusions I created. In this specific instance, I created more numerous, in-depth illusions by casting illusions atop the puppets that Puppet-Show controls."
She latched on to the request to speak to Puppet-Show, then flashed a pose, holding one hand to her forehead with the wrist bent and extending the other towards the sky, as if reaching towards some sort of unseen diety; her hip poked to one side, distractingly. "COMPLIANCE: Utopiaaaaa!" she called out, before causing Puppet-Show to blink into existence next to her. "I have summoned Puppet-Show, to answer additional questions you may have."
"Oh my..." Puppet-Show muttered, still disoriented, though not as much so as earlier now that she'd wiped the mud from her face. If Suzume watched the mud dripping from the lady's bikini-clad body, she'd notice it disappeared as it hit the invisible floor of the net. "I suppose you were found out?"
"CLARIFICATION: I simply exposed all details of my plan. It was not beneficial to the completion of Suzume's mission, nor my mission statement as a Blesser, to engage in battle with Suzume," the fornerly silver woman explained, her voice ringing dramatically despite the expository nature of her words. "QUESTION: Should I reveal the nature of the ruse to the women as I summon them, or leave them inside the illusion? If I reveal the nature of the program to them, their behavior in response may be unpredictable. It will be impossible to resume the simulation, even with my powers, if they are informed of its nature," she suggested. "ADDENDUM: Although they could always continue to be part of this simulated Neo-Shogun Empire, despite its nature."
Suzume could figure that out herself, but for now she wanted to focus on other questions. "CLARIFICATION: My Blesser goal is to grant the wishes of navis across the net, whoever they are, whatever they may be, so long as the request is communicated verbally, in person. A navi who asked that I promise not to name them requested 18 days ago that I help navis who want to join the Neo-Shogun Empire but face entrance requirements so daunting that completing them would be 'totally gosh-darn impossible'. To that end, I set up this simulation, by which navis could join the Neo-Shogun Empire with no risk of failure, even under impossible circumstances. ADDITIONAL: Would you like me to break my promise to that navi and tell you their name? If so, please command," she explained at length, ending with a question that was probably superfluous at this time.
"CONSIDERATION: I may have made an erroneous evaluation and incorrectly identified the navis in question as having a zero-percent chance to join the Neo-Shogun Empire and integrate successfully. PROPOSAL: Please listen to my reasoning, including details you may not have been privy to before, and tell me if you agree with my original assessment. LIST: Messenger, who was instructed by Officer Bank to infiltrate the Neo-Shogun Empire under the guise of a new recruit and feed information back to the NetPolice. Plastique, a Techari Family member who decided of her own accord to attempt to infiltrate the Neo-Shogun Empire and evaluate technological progress. Wasteland, a navi who has been blacklisted from GNA-hosted missions for repeated failures, related to violent behavior, often directed towards her employers. CONCLUSION: Probability of these navis integrating properly into the Neo-Shogun Empire was low, a fraction of a percentage approaching zero." It was probably a good thing all of the navis in question weren't here yet to hear this information revealed; they really would be acting erratically if they were here now.
Luckily, Utopia had answered questions pretty thoroughly and responsively, because her face was still a bewitching pink mask of somewhat vogue, but robotic and emotionless indifference that would be impossible to draw much subtext from no matter how closely it was studied. "CONSIDERATION. APOLOGY: I am not capable of 'seeing fit' to join you or decline the offer. ADDENDUM: But I will join you if you state a request for me to do so."
"If you don't mind an ally who will join the enemy if they request she does so," Puppet-Show added with a smile that rode the line between polite and condescending. "I apologize, I assume that came off as a little rude. But I was being serious: Utopia's flaw is that she is incapable of denying any request and strives to listen to any request she can. Anyone who knew that secret would be able to turn her from an enemy to an ally instantaneously. Or that's what I think, anyways... So far she's done nothing to prove that theory wrong. It makes negotiating terms of payment with her very, very satisfying... assuming she can actually pay me."
"CONFIRMATION: That is correct. I cannot say no. CORRECTION: Puppet-Show, your specific request was to tell you I could pay you that much," the pink woman agreed, nodding quickly, before spreading her legs in a slightly lower standing pose and raising both elbows to a little under head height, then crossed both hands beneath her chin as though resting her palms upon a table. "Utopiaaaa~" she sang, waiting for further input.
"Aaah... Wait, what?" Puppet-Show asked, turning her head quickly as though the truth of her payment for her puppet-work was only now hitting her.
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Aya sent a message to Escort.
Suzume listened to the whole spiel from Utopia and Puppet-Show before talking. "Hold off on the others for a moment. First, yes, please inform me of the individual whom requested you to help navis who wanted to join the Neo-Shogun empire. While you are at it, perhaps you can also explain how they contacted you in the first place. We have had dealings with the Blessers before, but they tended to just show up unexpectedly. I have yet to hear of someone actually looking for them."
Suzume then turned to Puppet-Show. "My question for you then is whether you would want to join the Neo-Shogunate yourself? The organization is growing and could use someone of your talents in non-combat-related roles, of which there are many. I can assure you that you would get paid well for your work. At least then you have something to show for all the work you put in while working for Utopia here."
Suzume tapped her chin with a finger. "While we are at it, what can you tell me about the other three? Since you were in their missions you would have undoubtedly learned something about each of their personalities, goals, and motivations. Do you think they deserve to be trapped in Utopia's illusions?" She then turned to Utopia with more questions. "How did you learn that Messenger was given an infiltration mission by the NetPolice, or that Plastique was going to infiltrate for the NetMafia? Did they talk about that while under your illusions, or did you just tap their communications?"
"And to switch gears for a moment, you said that you integrated Escort into your program. Did you just create an illusion of Escort, or did you wrap her up in the same illusions as the others? Did you integrate anyone else into your program from the Neo-Shoguns that wasn't Messenger, Plastique, or Wasteland? If so, please bring Escort and those other members here, and free them from your program. Again, leave Messenger, Plastique, and Wasteland trapped for the moment. They are currently safer there then if they were free."
Quote (Aya to Escort)
We are cut off from Suzume and don't know where she is or what is going on with her. Hopefully, Suzume will be fine and report in when she can. We aren't able to jack-in to your location either, so this Utopia must have erected some sort of barrier. If you can figure out how to remove the barrier from your end, we will be able to enter. Also did you see what happened to Arch? Did she make it in or is she still outside the anomaly?
And while we are at it, perhaps you can explain yourself. From what we heard from the so-called 'missing' individuals, you were apparently around during all of their missions. If that was the case, why did you not report this information to us? Were we sent here on a wild-goose chase?
Suzume listened to the whole spiel from Utopia and Puppet-Show before talking. "Hold off on the others for a moment. First, yes, please inform me of the individual whom requested you to help navis who wanted to join the Neo-Shogun empire. While you are at it, perhaps you can also explain how they contacted you in the first place. We have had dealings with the Blessers before, but they tended to just show up unexpectedly. I have yet to hear of someone actually looking for them."
Suzume then turned to Puppet-Show. "My question for you then is whether you would want to join the Neo-Shogunate yourself? The organization is growing and could use someone of your talents in non-combat-related roles, of which there are many. I can assure you that you would get paid well for your work. At least then you have something to show for all the work you put in while working for Utopia here."
Suzume tapped her chin with a finger. "While we are at it, what can you tell me about the other three? Since you were in their missions you would have undoubtedly learned something about each of their personalities, goals, and motivations. Do you think they deserve to be trapped in Utopia's illusions?" She then turned to Utopia with more questions. "How did you learn that Messenger was given an infiltration mission by the NetPolice, or that Plastique was going to infiltrate for the NetMafia? Did they talk about that while under your illusions, or did you just tap their communications?"
"And to switch gears for a moment, you said that you integrated Escort into your program. Did you just create an illusion of Escort, or did you wrap her up in the same illusions as the others? Did you integrate anyone else into your program from the Neo-Shoguns that wasn't Messenger, Plastique, or Wasteland? If so, please bring Escort and those other members here, and free them from your program. Again, leave Messenger, Plastique, and Wasteland trapped for the moment. They are currently safer there then if they were free."
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With nothing to look at, the group would have to wait with no idea when Escort's message would come. Thankfully, it didn't take too long before another message came through:
The message cut off there as, unbeknownst to the ones receiving it, she had been whisked away to join Suzume.
---------------------------------
"IDENTIFICATION: the Neo-Shogun Empire's subordinate Rodeo is the one who asked me the question. I spent a very brief time in Internet City, intending to grant wishes, when I met her at the Neo-Shogun recruitment kiosk. When I told her my function, she gave me my new mission, saying she thought that there were others like herself who want to be part of the empire- QUOTE- 'so gosh-darn bad, but ol' Yasu keeps givin' miss-shuns tougher 'n chewin' cowhide.' PROPOSITION: If you would like me to erase that request, simply request it at any time, Utopia explained at length, sounding very odd trying to imitate Rodeo's unusual manner of speech... not that her own was normal either.
Puppet-Show was taking the fact that she might not be paid as in stride as she could. "Well, I suppose. Hm hm... I have roughly the same problem as Utopia, in that respect, though. I could turn on you if I get a better offer," she smirked, keeping her arms crossed beneath her distracting chest. "Not quite as easily as Utopia could, but you see what I mean. I would not have loyalty to the Shogun just for his rank or what he represents. If you can deal with that, and assuming there is pay to be had, then I would certainly be willing to work with you."
She blinked twice, then laughed at the next question. "My dear girl, if you hadn't discovered this was a ruse, the girls certainly would have after some length of time, unable to contact any of their contacts through old e-mails and receiving one mission after another in sequence," Puppet-Show giggled. "So I don't think actually keeping them trapped inside this illusion for the long term is even possible. I'm not certain how powerful Utopia is, but I somewhat doubt that even she can hold up this jackout barrier and white world up forever. But, if you want my opinion, there is nothing wrong with Messenger or Plastique other than that one is nosy, the other is grumpy, oh, and they both are actually loyal to other factions, apparently. I don't want to tell you how to run your- or our, if you're saying the Shogun is going to pay me for all of this so far- empire, but it seems highly unsafe to let them in. As for Wasteland, I haven't seen her be as dangerous as she apparently is, but she sure sounds like she would be, doesn't she? I'll say this though: if you're going to hire a mercenary with no loyalty, an NP mole, a Mafia mole, and a Blesser who could change allegiances just because someone asked her to, then you might as well hire a murderous maniac too, right?"
The hints of irony and comedy in the aloof puppeteer's voice were seemingly lost or useless to Utopia, who continued to wear the same face she always had. "CLARIFICATION: I labeled them as zero-percent chance candidates because the two of them have worked, not undercover, for their respective factions in low profile positions. That initially made me suspect they would be good candidates for this program, more so as I intercepted their messages to others," she answered, trying a few different poses as she did so. She stopped with her back turned to Suzume and her arms raised high above her head, running one down the opposite forearm as though she was putting on a glove. "CONFIRMATION: That is indeed the real Escort. I imitated Yasu, assigning her to recruitment, and then cut off all communications between her and the Empire. My intent was to have her add authenticity to the program by also deceiving her, making her think she was serving your Empire under orders while actually assisting in my illusion. COMPLIANCE: I will bring Escort to join us. Utopiaaaaa~"
She spread both arms to her side and stood with her legs together, as Escort suddenly blinked into existence. The Neo-Shogun subordinate was currently in a strange position, sticking both hands out away from her body and walking like a blind person, still dressed in her revealing, muddy black leotard from earlier; it had torn in a few places as well in the battle, including one strap hanging from the shoulder and a rip running from the back shoulder-blades down to the small of her back. She turned to face the others, then sighed. "Miss Suzume, Miss Puppet-Show... I am very pleased to see you both safe," she began, then noticed Utopia for who she was. "Is Utopia holding all of us captive?"
"CONFIRMATION: Yes, I am," the pink lady answered, unapologetic; she crossed her arms at her chest, splaying the fingers of both hands, then turned her torso slightly and her head a little more to face the others at an angle, looking over her shoulder. "REQUEST: Please provide further orders, Suzume, so that I may fulfill your wishes."
Quote (Escort)
I am afraid I am unable to interact with much of anything. Rather, I cannot see, hear, or really even touch anything, besides some sort of floor, and it does not appear to be the same Yumland Net ground that I was shown onto earlier, as there is no hint of mud or dirt. There is little chance I will be able to escape my present situation or help Miss Suzume, but I'll continue searching. I have not heard anything from or about Miss Arch. Why do you bring her up? To be honest, it has been quite some time since anyone other than Suzume responded to m
The message cut off there as, unbeknownst to the ones receiving it, she had been whisked away to join Suzume.
---------------------------------
"IDENTIFICATION: the Neo-Shogun Empire's subordinate Rodeo is the one who asked me the question. I spent a very brief time in Internet City, intending to grant wishes, when I met her at the Neo-Shogun recruitment kiosk. When I told her my function, she gave me my new mission, saying she thought that there were others like herself who want to be part of the empire- QUOTE- 'so gosh-darn bad, but ol' Yasu keeps givin' miss-shuns tougher 'n chewin' cowhide.' PROPOSITION: If you would like me to erase that request, simply request it at any time, Utopia explained at length, sounding very odd trying to imitate Rodeo's unusual manner of speech... not that her own was normal either.
Puppet-Show was taking the fact that she might not be paid as in stride as she could. "Well, I suppose. Hm hm... I have roughly the same problem as Utopia, in that respect, though. I could turn on you if I get a better offer," she smirked, keeping her arms crossed beneath her distracting chest. "Not quite as easily as Utopia could, but you see what I mean. I would not have loyalty to the Shogun just for his rank or what he represents. If you can deal with that, and assuming there is pay to be had, then I would certainly be willing to work with you."
She blinked twice, then laughed at the next question. "My dear girl, if you hadn't discovered this was a ruse, the girls certainly would have after some length of time, unable to contact any of their contacts through old e-mails and receiving one mission after another in sequence," Puppet-Show giggled. "So I don't think actually keeping them trapped inside this illusion for the long term is even possible. I'm not certain how powerful Utopia is, but I somewhat doubt that even she can hold up this jackout barrier and white world up forever. But, if you want my opinion, there is nothing wrong with Messenger or Plastique other than that one is nosy, the other is grumpy, oh, and they both are actually loyal to other factions, apparently. I don't want to tell you how to run your- or our, if you're saying the Shogun is going to pay me for all of this so far- empire, but it seems highly unsafe to let them in. As for Wasteland, I haven't seen her be as dangerous as she apparently is, but she sure sounds like she would be, doesn't she? I'll say this though: if you're going to hire a mercenary with no loyalty, an NP mole, a Mafia mole, and a Blesser who could change allegiances just because someone asked her to, then you might as well hire a murderous maniac too, right?"
The hints of irony and comedy in the aloof puppeteer's voice were seemingly lost or useless to Utopia, who continued to wear the same face she always had. "CLARIFICATION: I labeled them as zero-percent chance candidates because the two of them have worked, not undercover, for their respective factions in low profile positions. That initially made me suspect they would be good candidates for this program, more so as I intercepted their messages to others," she answered, trying a few different poses as she did so. She stopped with her back turned to Suzume and her arms raised high above her head, running one down the opposite forearm as though she was putting on a glove. "CONFIRMATION: That is indeed the real Escort. I imitated Yasu, assigning her to recruitment, and then cut off all communications between her and the Empire. My intent was to have her add authenticity to the program by also deceiving her, making her think she was serving your Empire under orders while actually assisting in my illusion. COMPLIANCE: I will bring Escort to join us. Utopiaaaaa~"
She spread both arms to her side and stood with her legs together, as Escort suddenly blinked into existence. The Neo-Shogun subordinate was currently in a strange position, sticking both hands out away from her body and walking like a blind person, still dressed in her revealing, muddy black leotard from earlier; it had torn in a few places as well in the battle, including one strap hanging from the shoulder and a rip running from the back shoulder-blades down to the small of her back. She turned to face the others, then sighed. "Miss Suzume, Miss Puppet-Show... I am very pleased to see you both safe," she began, then noticed Utopia for who she was. "Is Utopia holding all of us captive?"
"CONFIRMATION: Yes, I am," the pink lady answered, unapologetic; she crossed her arms at her chest, splaying the fingers of both hands, then turned her torso slightly and her head a little more to face the others at an angle, looking over her shoulder. "REQUEST: Please provide further orders, Suzume, so that I may fulfill your wishes."
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Escort's sudden disappearance caused another round of transmissions to flood the air, in an effort to contact the people lost in the void.
Suzume listened as Utopia and Puppet-Show answered her round of questions. It looked like Rodeo, in all her eagerness, made a simple mistake that ballooned beyond all possible control. The positive spin on this whole thing was that it led to several unwanted people being held back from joining the Neo-Shogunate. Also it seemed like Puppet-Show was just a mercenary through-and-through. As Escort appeared and Utopia asked for more orders, Suzume took the bait.
"Ok so this is what I want to do. I want you to use your power on Messenger to make it seem that Officer Bank has recalled Messenger from her assignment. Say that they can't have a potential spying problem crop up now while they are making peace with the Neo-Shoguns. Do a similar thing with the Techari Family, recalling Plastique because of the fact that she went off alone without telling them. That the Neo-Shogunate doesn't have any interesting or threatening technology. Then release both of them back to their corresponding homes on the NET. If anyone ever asks you anything about this, you tell them that you were the one who acted totally alone, that you were the only one who commanded yourself to use your powers to bestow these wishes and no one else." That last part was to both keep Suzume's part in this a secret, but also to protect Puppet-Show from retaliation.
"As for Wasteland..." Suzume paused and looked to Escort. "Long story short, Utopia here was accidentally asked by Rodeo to help potential recruits join the NS. Looks like she intercepted some unwanted navis. Apparently Wasteland was a loose cannon so I wanted to know what you thought about her joining the NS?" Suzume then turned to Puppet-Show. "Thank you for being honest with me. No, you don't need to join the Neo-Shoguns, but could I get your contact info in case the NS wants to acquire your services for contract work? I'm sure that the NS will have some paid work for outside consultants soon enough. That way you don't need to worry about the whole 'loyalty' issue."
Suzume then waited patiently for the questions and answers to flow in. She had some further ideas on how to proceed, but she wanted to hear what the others said before she made any more decisions, as that might influence her next steps. Like Aya, she tended to have various roads of conversation in her mind, that could branch and change as needed and still end up with a solution that tended to work out in her favor. Also she was recording the whole show for later review. So, the more information she could glean from her captors and actors, the better.
Suzume listened as Utopia and Puppet-Show answered her round of questions. It looked like Rodeo, in all her eagerness, made a simple mistake that ballooned beyond all possible control. The positive spin on this whole thing was that it led to several unwanted people being held back from joining the Neo-Shogunate. Also it seemed like Puppet-Show was just a mercenary through-and-through. As Escort appeared and Utopia asked for more orders, Suzume took the bait.
"Ok so this is what I want to do. I want you to use your power on Messenger to make it seem that Officer Bank has recalled Messenger from her assignment. Say that they can't have a potential spying problem crop up now while they are making peace with the Neo-Shoguns. Do a similar thing with the Techari Family, recalling Plastique because of the fact that she went off alone without telling them. That the Neo-Shogunate doesn't have any interesting or threatening technology. Then release both of them back to their corresponding homes on the NET. If anyone ever asks you anything about this, you tell them that you were the one who acted totally alone, that you were the only one who commanded yourself to use your powers to bestow these wishes and no one else." That last part was to both keep Suzume's part in this a secret, but also to protect Puppet-Show from retaliation.
"As for Wasteland..." Suzume paused and looked to Escort. "Long story short, Utopia here was accidentally asked by Rodeo to help potential recruits join the NS. Looks like she intercepted some unwanted navis. Apparently Wasteland was a loose cannon so I wanted to know what you thought about her joining the NS?" Suzume then turned to Puppet-Show. "Thank you for being honest with me. No, you don't need to join the Neo-Shoguns, but could I get your contact info in case the NS wants to acquire your services for contract work? I'm sure that the NS will have some paid work for outside consultants soon enough. That way you don't need to worry about the whole 'loyalty' issue."
Suzume then waited patiently for the questions and answers to flow in. She had some further ideas on how to proceed, but she wanted to hear what the others said before she made any more decisions, as that might influence her next steps. Like Aya, she tended to have various roads of conversation in her mind, that could branch and change as needed and still end up with a solution that tended to work out in her favor. Also she was recording the whole show for later review. So, the more information she could glean from her captors and actors, the better.
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"AFFIRMATION: Your wish is my command, Suzume. Utopiaaaa~" the pink lady called out, placing one hand on her hip and reaching the other up to flip her luxurious purple hair over one shoulder. "UPDATE: I have released Messenger and Plastique, delivering the false messages you requested. I will keep your commands unless otherwise authorized. Note that as Messenger and Plastique are now released, it is not within my power to send any false messages beyond the last one I issued them. WARNING: It is likely that they will realize they have been deceived once they speak to their superiors."
"By then, they'll be out of your hair and Suzume's, at least," Puppet-Show reminded Utopia.
Escort's face was composed as usual, but if her stare seemed a little blank, it was probably because she was playing catch-up on the revelation of the fake identities of the recruits she'd been supervising. "Besides her... unique worldview, I would say Miss Wasteland could be a fine addition to our forces," Escort responded. "While her words seem dangerous, her battle capabilities are in-line with those of other recruits, and I never her saw her display any hostility towards her allies beyond what her words implied."
"Just to warn you, the GNA had her blacklisted for attacks against employers, not just threats," Puppet-Show added, still giving a wry smile that showed she was surprised the kind of people that Escort was willing to trust.
"Perhaps her aggression was exaggerated? I'd imagine the GNA can only log what the employer says of the employee," Escort reassured Puppet-Show and perhaps herself. "I think we should give her a chance. I would recommend she undergo a new recruitment mission, however... Both to ascertain the extent of her dangerous behavior and because her previous mission should not truly be considered worthy basis for her recruitment. I did not say anything at the time, but it was slightly strange that she was awarded recruitment simply for deleting a few viruses..."
"And I'm all for you hiring me for additional work. I'm not picky about tasks... I can provide a lot of able bodies, so long as the work is fairly menial. I pair well with illusionists," Puppet-Show replied, handing over a data packet containing her contact information. "If you happen to know anyone like that."
*Obtained Puppet-Show's e-mail address: Puppshow@electownmail.net*
"QUERY: Are you satisfied, Suzume? If you have any additional requests to make, please confirm! I have infinite capacity for holding requests, so you need not worry about overriding previous commands," Utopia questioned again, still holding the pose from earlier. "REMINDER: I will release you from this program back into Yumland Net at your request. At that time, your PET link and messaging functions, as well as your connection to your net navi, will be restored."
"By then, they'll be out of your hair and Suzume's, at least," Puppet-Show reminded Utopia.
Escort's face was composed as usual, but if her stare seemed a little blank, it was probably because she was playing catch-up on the revelation of the fake identities of the recruits she'd been supervising. "Besides her... unique worldview, I would say Miss Wasteland could be a fine addition to our forces," Escort responded. "While her words seem dangerous, her battle capabilities are in-line with those of other recruits, and I never her saw her display any hostility towards her allies beyond what her words implied."
"Just to warn you, the GNA had her blacklisted for attacks against employers, not just threats," Puppet-Show added, still giving a wry smile that showed she was surprised the kind of people that Escort was willing to trust.
"Perhaps her aggression was exaggerated? I'd imagine the GNA can only log what the employer says of the employee," Escort reassured Puppet-Show and perhaps herself. "I think we should give her a chance. I would recommend she undergo a new recruitment mission, however... Both to ascertain the extent of her dangerous behavior and because her previous mission should not truly be considered worthy basis for her recruitment. I did not say anything at the time, but it was slightly strange that she was awarded recruitment simply for deleting a few viruses..."
"And I'm all for you hiring me for additional work. I'm not picky about tasks... I can provide a lot of able bodies, so long as the work is fairly menial. I pair well with illusionists," Puppet-Show replied, handing over a data packet containing her contact information. "If you happen to know anyone like that."
*Obtained Puppet-Show's e-mail address: Puppshow@electownmail.net*
"QUERY: Are you satisfied, Suzume? If you have any additional requests to make, please confirm! I have infinite capacity for holding requests, so you need not worry about overriding previous commands," Utopia questioned again, still holding the pose from earlier. "REMINDER: I will release you from this program back into Yumland Net at your request. At that time, your PET link and messaging functions, as well as your connection to your net navi, will be restored."
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Suzume nodded, storing the data she had received. "Ok, thank you for all your help in this. You are free to go. I'll make sure to hand your contact information over to the Shogun. Utopia, please send her wherever she wants to go."
Suzume then turned to Escort, "Just be careful with Wasteland. If they are right, then she might not like having to do another mission to be recruited after being tricked into her previous recruitment mission. Though, she probably has an affinity toward DragonierMan and people like him. So perhaps there is a combat related mission for her to go on. If you need help from DragonierMan, hopefully he'll have some time to spare." She turned to Utopia, "Please bring Wasteland here and release her from your power." She turned back to Escort, "I'll let you talk to her about all this and see what happens." She turned back to Utopia, "After we are done with Wasteland, you can release us from this program back into Yumland Net and go on your way. Oh, and hand me your contact information too. Just in case I need it in the future."
Suzume unfurled her dragon wings as she awaited Wasteland's appearance. Perhaps Wasteland's affinity to dragons would keep her from going off on Suzume at least. Still, seeing Wasteland's reaction to this whole thing would show the measure of the navi.
Suzume then turned to Escort, "Just be careful with Wasteland. If they are right, then she might not like having to do another mission to be recruited after being tricked into her previous recruitment mission. Though, she probably has an affinity toward DragonierMan and people like him. So perhaps there is a combat related mission for her to go on. If you need help from DragonierMan, hopefully he'll have some time to spare." She turned to Utopia, "Please bring Wasteland here and release her from your power." She turned back to Escort, "I'll let you talk to her about all this and see what happens." She turned back to Utopia, "After we are done with Wasteland, you can release us from this program back into Yumland Net and go on your way. Oh, and hand me your contact information too. Just in case I need it in the future."
Suzume unfurled her dragon wings as she awaited Wasteland's appearance. Perhaps Wasteland's affinity to dragons would keep her from going off on Suzume at least. Still, seeing Wasteland's reaction to this whole thing would show the measure of the navi.
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"Thank you, Mullonde," Puppet-Show responded with a smile, though it wasn't clear whether she was using the old name because she found it more comfortable or because she'd simply forgotten the new one. "Please keep me in mind for all of your puppeteer needs in the future."
"Utopia~" the other navi sang, raising arms out and to the sides, keeping her legs together and standing straight. "QUERY: Where do you wish to go, Puppet-Show?"
"Back to my PET, preferably," the dark-skinned girl sighed. "I'm going to change back into something a little bit more normal... and less muddy. I know the way there, of course."
"CLASSIFICATION: Irrelevant information. EXPLANATION: Suzume has ordered me to send you where you wherever you wish to go, so now that I know where you wish to go, I will now send you. Utopiaaaa~" the pink lady responded, then struck another pose, which caused the confused Puppet-Show to blink off this part of the net, presumably back to her PET. "CLARIFICATION: It is done."
Escort nodded, then turned back to Suzume. "Do not worry, Miss Suzume, I have a plan. If I battle Miss Wasteland in a friendly sparring match myself, I will be able to gauge her abilities and also tell if she poses a threat to those she perceives as her allies. At this point, the most important question in her evaluation is whether she will take the opportunity to try and delete an opponent... I do not suppose I will face much genuine danger, so I will administer the test myself," she explained at length.
"COMPLIANCE: Your wish is my command, Suzume. Utopiaaa~" Utopia called out again, this seemingly time causing Wasteland to pop into existence.
The thin girl, still clad in her overly revealing black bikini and threatening bite-mask, appeared, turning her dead eyes, devoid of light, onto Suzume. She tilted her chin up for a moment, then looked to Escort. "... Even I don't like a world this empty... There's nothing to burn if it's all already gone. Where are we...?" she asked, her voice still slightly muffled.
"This is all part of Miss Utopia's illusion, but do not fear; we are safe. I will explain it all momentarily," Escort reassured her ally. For now, Wasteland seemed to be taking it in stride (and quietly).
"ERROR: I cannot release Wasteland and have her here. Please clarify," Utopia butted in.
"Miss Utopia, please transport the two of us back to Yumland Net: myself and Miss Wasteland. Also, please transport Miss Suzume out of the program after you have provided your information and she has specified where she wishes to go, so long as it's not the same net we left. Miss Suzume, I would ask that you carry on elsewhere; I feel as though it may be a distraction for Wasteland otherwise, especially where your master is concerned. Should the combat heat up... well, it would be better if he were spared the knowledge that there will be combat for him to miss," Escort sighed, running her hand across her hair to slick it back away from her forehead again and remove mud. "Thank you for all of your help. When you report in all that has happened, I am sure that your mission handler will be willing to provide you whatever reward you were promised for your help in untangling this strange case."
"I don't get it at all... but it sounds like there's going to be a fight... hehehe... hee hee ha ha ha...." Wasteland cackled, pressing her hands up to the edge of her bite-mask as though planning to pull it off, but stopping short.
"COMPLIANCE: Here is my contact information, Suzume. I will now release you from the program. Three... two... one... Utopiaaaa~" she finished, sending Suzume to whatever location she specified, unless, of course, she hadn't specified anywhere. If that was the case, Escort and Wasteland would be blinked out first, leaving just Suzume and Utopia. So long as she gave Utopia the name of some net or somewhere she'd like to go, she would end up there, and her connection to her operator and navi would be re-established.
*Obtained Utopia's e-mail address: HadyaElAmin@YumlandMailServ.Net*
((Rewards will be granted after reporting mission, you are free to leave this topic if Suzume specifies a location to transport to))
"Utopia~" the other navi sang, raising arms out and to the sides, keeping her legs together and standing straight. "QUERY: Where do you wish to go, Puppet-Show?"
"Back to my PET, preferably," the dark-skinned girl sighed. "I'm going to change back into something a little bit more normal... and less muddy. I know the way there, of course."
"CLASSIFICATION: Irrelevant information. EXPLANATION: Suzume has ordered me to send you where you wherever you wish to go, so now that I know where you wish to go, I will now send you. Utopiaaaa~" the pink lady responded, then struck another pose, which caused the confused Puppet-Show to blink off this part of the net, presumably back to her PET. "CLARIFICATION: It is done."
Escort nodded, then turned back to Suzume. "Do not worry, Miss Suzume, I have a plan. If I battle Miss Wasteland in a friendly sparring match myself, I will be able to gauge her abilities and also tell if she poses a threat to those she perceives as her allies. At this point, the most important question in her evaluation is whether she will take the opportunity to try and delete an opponent... I do not suppose I will face much genuine danger, so I will administer the test myself," she explained at length.
"COMPLIANCE: Your wish is my command, Suzume. Utopiaaa~" Utopia called out again, this seemingly time causing Wasteland to pop into existence.
The thin girl, still clad in her overly revealing black bikini and threatening bite-mask, appeared, turning her dead eyes, devoid of light, onto Suzume. She tilted her chin up for a moment, then looked to Escort. "... Even I don't like a world this empty... There's nothing to burn if it's all already gone. Where are we...?" she asked, her voice still slightly muffled.
"This is all part of Miss Utopia's illusion, but do not fear; we are safe. I will explain it all momentarily," Escort reassured her ally. For now, Wasteland seemed to be taking it in stride (and quietly).
"ERROR: I cannot release Wasteland and have her here. Please clarify," Utopia butted in.
"Miss Utopia, please transport the two of us back to Yumland Net: myself and Miss Wasteland. Also, please transport Miss Suzume out of the program after you have provided your information and she has specified where she wishes to go, so long as it's not the same net we left. Miss Suzume, I would ask that you carry on elsewhere; I feel as though it may be a distraction for Wasteland otherwise, especially where your master is concerned. Should the combat heat up... well, it would be better if he were spared the knowledge that there will be combat for him to miss," Escort sighed, running her hand across her hair to slick it back away from her forehead again and remove mud. "Thank you for all of your help. When you report in all that has happened, I am sure that your mission handler will be willing to provide you whatever reward you were promised for your help in untangling this strange case."
"I don't get it at all... but it sounds like there's going to be a fight... hehehe... hee hee ha ha ha...." Wasteland cackled, pressing her hands up to the edge of her bite-mask as though planning to pull it off, but stopping short.
"COMPLIANCE: Here is my contact information, Suzume. I will now release you from the program. Three... two... one... Utopiaaaa~" she finished, sending Suzume to whatever location she specified, unless, of course, she hadn't specified anywhere. If that was the case, Escort and Wasteland would be blinked out first, leaving just Suzume and Utopia. So long as she gave Utopia the name of some net or somewhere she'd like to go, she would end up there, and her connection to her operator and navi would be re-established.
*Obtained Utopia's e-mail address: HadyaElAmin@YumlandMailServ.Net*
((Rewards will be granted after reporting mission, you are free to leave this topic if Suzume specifies a location to transport to))
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Suzume received the contact information for Utopia and stored it away. "Ok Utopia, send me to Internet City. I can find my way from there."
When Suzume arrived in Internet City, she made her way to the White Tower.
Quote (Utopiaaaa~)
Utopiaaaa~
When Suzume arrived in Internet City, she made her way to the White Tower.