>>42227330
>[] "My NAME is Iskandir. And you can go fuck yourself."

>>42227330
> "My NAME is Iskandir. And you can go fuck yourself." then spit in her face.

>>42227511
>>42227414

"My NAME is Iskandir. And you can go fuck yourself."

Times like this is why you requested to keep your ability to salivate.

You take up as much as you can, and spit right in her face. It slaps against her cheek and slides downward for a moment while she registers what you've done.

She rears upwards, her legs inches from your face as they slash and cut deep into your cheek in an 'X' pattern.

"Consider that your first and last warning. You're lucky Einhander hasn't implemented the Spore yet."

"Spider, Spider. The way to attract flies is with honey, not vinegar." speaks another voice. This one is measured, and talks with an accent to him, something indicative of the Middle East, you reckon.

"Yeah bitch, lighten up! Don't go slappin' around our new guy! Shit ain't cool." says another.

Your eyes wander to the source of the two voices. Two other cyborgs, one with darker skin and reddish accents over his body, and two mechanical wings jutting from his back and leading downwards.

The other is green in pigmentation, with a pair of compound-eye like goggles, and what appears to be a built-in jetpack in lieu of his partner's wings.

He's also carrying the most handguns you've ever seen, in a complicated array of holsters and lock-in magnetic holders.

"We do not wish to make your time with us more strenuous than it has to be. I understand the pain of your loss, and the confusion of your arrival here...but I assure you, you will come to us eventually. My name is Scarab. This is Beetle, and...you've already met Spider."

She huffs in your general direction, rotating her upper body to turn away.

>[] "What the fuck is going on? Where are my teammates?"
>[] Stay silent.
>[] Write-In.

>>42227742
>"What the fuck is going on? Where are my teammates?"

>>42227742
>Write-In: Make a Bad insect Pun. Look for something to escape. If nothing is there, check out the two new Dudes. Maybe some Familiar Face from our past?

>>42227742
>[] Struggle against restraints

>>42227742
>[] Write-In: Honestly, sometimes I wish these names were accurate. Then Spider would be the fat bitch on the outside she is on the inside, and you two would already be dead saving me the trouble.

>>42227779
>>42227811
>>42227834

"What the fuck is going on? Where are my teammates!?"

You lash out, trying to escape but the chains are holding. You've hucked UGs clean across the street, so you know this shit is strong.

"You fuckers can buzz off. I don't want in on this bee-sness!"

Way to lose all your bravado and cool in one sentence, Isk.

You glance around, trying to find some sort of weapon, or tool to escape restraints. Nothing catches your eyes immediately, but the cuffs around your wrists keeping you against the way seem to be kept in place with an ID-card system.

Scarab walks up to you, glancing up with a neutral expression. You can tell in his voice he's trying to be understanding.

"I know that dealing with change--change like this especially--is a challenge. But you are a man capable of defeating insurmountable odds. I know that this pain too will pass, and we can all be great friends."

"I already have great friends, and they sure as fuck don't dress like some Saturday morning cartoon villains." you bite back.

Scarab's face falls to a frown.

"You'll cooperate one way or another. Queen B has--"

"Woah, woah, hush hush on names, Scarab baby!" pipes in Beetle, clamping a hand over his mouth, much to his red partner's annoyance. "He just means to say you'll come to like us no matter what. We're...charismatic like that."

Scarab removes Beetle's hand from his mouth and speaks again.

"You're in our care now. We are LOKUST. We recovered you adrift in the middle of the sea and brought you back here to join us. It would've been an immense waste to let a soldier like you drown."

"Plus that acrobatics shit was tight, beeyotch!" Beetle says, gesticulating with his hands and striking some sort of pose with rock-on gestures on his hands.

"The unfortunate news is that the ship SAFEHAVEN was on is MIA, and so are your squadron." Spider finally talks, without turning back.

>[] Moment of silence to think. Let things pass as you contemplate shit this heavy.

>>42228204
>>[] Moment of silence to think. Let things pass as you contemplate shit this heavy.

I wonder if we'll get more weapons.

I wonder if we'll take weapons from noteworthy kills.

I wonder if we still have a dick.

Wait, do we?

>>42228257
>Press F to pay respects to your dick

>>42228257
Full body cyborgs in combat bodies typically don't.

>>42228204
>"...Isn't a scarab a type of beetle, though?"
Gotta get straight to the important questions.

>>42228273
FFFFFFFFFfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

>>42228273
La Bestia took it, didn't she?

Fuck.

FUCK!

Rage over the fact that we don;t have a dick!

Or not.

Damn, that's rough.

>F

>>42228273
>F

>>42228204
>"Because locust totally sounds like a respectable organization."

>>42228204
>That were my Friends!" Get Angry, go into denial. Full Scale on the Trauma Scale

>>42228350
>Ahem
Lokust.

>>42228273
What organics DO we have left?

>>42228400
This.

>>42228421
Well we CAN produce saliva ....

>>42228421
>Lokust.

>tfw we fuck with them by making a point of enunciating the "c" sound in "locust"

>>42228204
>"Okay, seriously, Lokust? Not Swarm, or Hive, or some other bug related shit like that? Fucking god awful name, I'd turn you punk asses down on that alone."

>>42228350
>"Because locust totally sounds like a respectable organization."
At least it's not "Waters Turn to Blood" or "Death of Firstborns".

Fuck, those are totally their battle themes, aren't they?

>>42228476
>Not Raining Frogs
Pleb Tier Plague

>>42228476
>>42228510
>''Rains of Fire''
This. Is what I call a plague name. (Just fucking lightning storms, but maybe they're just too dumb)

>>42228350
>reminder that desperado was pretty easily found out to be funded by a us senator
>had a pretty evil-sounding name
>sh-shut up no criticism
>>42228316
>>42228292
>>42228290
>>42228289
>>42228257

Your mind, rather than racing with thoughts, slows to a crawl.

Also, you get the phantom feeling of many people you've never known sympathizing with your removed penis. Weird.

Leo is dead.

Tell is dead.

Alex is dead.

Joan is dead.

Everyone you worked to protect, worked with, shared years of your life with, are dead.

And these insect bastards want to play surrogate and prod around with your body.

>>42228400
"They were my friends." you say, letting it hang in the still air of conversation.

"I understand." Scarab says, just repeating himself now.

"They were my FRIENDS." You say once more, your body filling with a rage you thought impossible before.

"THEY WERE MY FRIENDS, YOU BASTARDS!"

Your sudden outburst catches the agents off-guard and you break through the ID cuffs and fall onto the ground. With your captors gobsmacked, you shove past, grabbing Spider by a leg and whipping her at Scarab and Beetle and bursting down the corridors.

>[] Find a weapon. You can't get out without something to fight back with.
>[] Try and find some information.
>[] Kill Einhander, then run.
>[] Write-in.

>>42228463
>"Our first choice was "Dank-Ass-Republican-Knights-Inflicting-Epic-Slaughter, but they thought "DARKIES" sounded insensitive. Like, the hell, man? That shit is LEGIT!"

>>42228510
This is MG:R - even when things are shoved into your face bluntly, it still has to be edgy.

>>42228530
>Kill Einhander, then run
Clearly he put some sort of loyalty shit in us. We need to get rid of that before we do anything else. We can improvise the rest.

>>42228530
>[] Find a weapon. You can't get out without something to fight back with.
>[] Write-in. Keep using Spider as a weapon

>>42228530
>Find a weapon. You can't get out without something to fight back with. Like some of Spiders Legs. Make a Makeshift staff until we find something better.
>Kll Einhander, then run should be next on the Agenda

>>42228530
>[] Find a weapon. You can't get out without something to fight back with.
Can our weapon be a squadron of mentally-controlled unmanned F/A-18E/F Super Hornet drones they'd prepared for us to go with our ostensible new name?

>>42228530
>Find a weapon. You can't get out without something to fight back with.

>>42228639
Probably a spear. With lightning. And, of course, drones. But I dunno, QM can do more than this, I think...

So, this might just be because I've got MGSV on the brain, but anybody else suspect LOKUST might be connected to Outer Heaven in some way?

Admittedly, I only think that because they both have skulls with fucked up eyes for logos.

LOKUST: Lazy Operatives Kamping Under Several Tents

>>42228530
> Write-in: Activate Berserker Mode for the First time. Start using Spider as a Weapon to Kill Einhänder

>>42228663
>not a baselard

the fuck is wrong with you?

>>42228726
>fuck Spider hard enough to kill her AND Einhander

There we go.

>>42228748
It's MG . We kinda need some Pseudo Special Mode for our Cyborg. A Berserk State would be good after the Trauma and the RAAAAGE

>>42228639
>being robot The Pain
>can only activate the drones by screaming BEEEEEEEES

>>42228658
>>42228619
>>42228582

We'll go half-and-half on this one.

You go over to Spider's collapsed form, forcibly tearing her upper half from the leg-supports.

Well, you just gained yourself a leg-whirling blade.

>WEAPON GET: ARACHNADO

Taking a pipe from nearby, you forcibly combine the two into a crude staff-weapon. With again, a whirling blade on the end.

With that, you run down the corridor to find the man who did this to you. You spot the laboratory, still smelling faintly of blood. Definitely YOUR blood.

Stepping inside, you find the man in the jacket from before, who backs against the wall upon seeing you.

"Ah! Hornet, pretty boy! So good to see you've made, ah, progress!"

You stay silent as you approach him, beginning to whirl the blade.

"Have some mercy! Have you any notion of--"

>[]YES, YES, SPLIT HIM WIDE OPEN!
>[]fuck you no write-in

(berserk mode is soon i swear like next post)

>>42228791
>we just get our dick back

Any complaints?

No?

Tell Einhander that his name is kinda stupid.
Pontificate on the fact that we understand that it's a play on zweihander, but and Einhander would just be a longsword.

Then tell him his fashion sense is shit.

>>42228748
>are you sick fucks getting waifus from this crap quest or something
>jk i love you all but dont fuck spider

>>42228701
>whistles innocently

>>42228553
>its a meaningful name i swear

>>42228824
technically, if you want to be that way, a long-sword would be used by two hands, he would just be a sword.

I mean, they called them long-swords because they were LONG swords. As in, LONGER than a NORMAL sword.

>>42228808
>[]fuck you no write-in
>[] grab him and escape

>>42228808
>>YES, YES, SPLIT HIM WIDE OPEN! SMEAR HIM ALL OVER THE WALL.

>>>42228808
>[]"Mercy? Not for you."
>[]YES, YES, SPLIT HIM WIDE OPEN!

>>42228730
Not flashy enough for MG:R. Needs to either have more moving parts, or be a katana.

Dual-wielded HF urumis when, OP?

>>42228849
Fair, i suppose we could say shortsword, and make an insinuation about his dick size, but... You know.

>F

>>42228870
>or be a katana.

I really do want to see a traditional western weapon being used.

Not some shitty cleaver, and spears are the oldest weapon in the book next to clubs. Seriously. Fuck.

>>42228893
RIP in pepperidge farms, dick.

>F

>>42228906
>Western Weapon
>No Great Warhammer with Archnolegs
Come on

>>42228846
Wait, seriously? Admittedly, now the whole 'We kidnapped you, now you work for us' thing makes sense.

>>42228808
>SPLIT HIM WIDE OPEN, TOVARISCH!

>>42228906
Why not use an HF garrote?

>>42228949
So.

Let me get this straight.

You want piano wire

that vibrates on its own really fast.

I.

What?

>>42228942
Her legs are choppy, though, not smashy!

>>42228942
>>42228906
OP did mention he's a fan of the Rocket Hammer last thread.

>>42228977
Great Hammer with Pilebunkerstyle Head.
We could use the ARACHNADO (TM) as a Throwing Weapon .

>>42228970
We can make em smashy!
If we take smashy bits, and stick em on the end of da choppy bits, den it can spin 'n chop AND smash!

>>42228906
What are our options, besides the traditional sword, axe, spear and hammer, though?

I mean, there's a whole host of cool Asian weapons, but whenever I try to think of something Western, I end up drawing a blank.

>>42228943
It's a very indirect connection, but it should be apparent by endgame.

>>42228870
>>42228859

"Mercy? Not for you."

As you whirl the blades, you finally feel some emotion other than rage fill you.

Catharsis.

Red, glowing energy flows from all the connecting crevices and open-air parts of your body, and as you thrust the Arachnado into Einhander, his body transforming into a puff of red mist, you feel your power...

Increasing.

The spatters of blood that land on you from his demise seep within your armor, and something in your mind says that you've become stronger as a result.

>[] Time to make our escape for real. The other LOKUST members are in their element, so it's a shit idea to fight on their home turf.
>[]Write-in.

>>42228977
i hate to be a nagging corrector but
she*

>>42229025
>[] Time to make our escape for real. The other LOKUST members are in their element, so it's a shit idea to fight on their home turf.

>>42229025
> Check the Lab for cool Stuff, THEN run like Hell.

>>42229020
That's because you're a weeb, anon.

Also, coolness should be a factor of the wielder, not the weapon.

I mean, shit, Gargandantes from Onimusha with his rapier.

Smug piece of shit, but damn he made it look badass.

>>42229025
>girls on the internet

HAH!

>girls on 4chan

BAAAAAAHAHAHAH.

>ca/tg/irls

>[] Time to make our escape for real. The other LOKUST members are in their element, so it's a shit idea to fight on their home turf.

We shall return with more weapons!

GORILLA WARFARE!

>>42229000
>Rocket Hammer with a Pile Bunker strapped to it

Anon, please. I can only be SO erect.

>>42229025
>Time to make our escape for real. The other LOKUST members are in their element, so it's a shit idea to fight on their home turf.

>>42229089
...
*Guerrilla.

Unless we go out and collect a shit ton of gorillas and throw them at their base.

>>42228846
>Not choosing Iskandir as your new Waifu

>>42229156
Not a bad Idea for the Long Run...
>The Pain. Just with Angry Apes

>>42229156
>that was the joke, anon

>gorilla warfare

>like the pasta

Fuck, Frank, god dammit Frank.

>>42229025
>>[] Time to make our escape for real. The other LOKUST members are in their element, so it's a shit idea to fight on their home turf.
Time to run like a bitch.

>>42229025
>>[] Time to make our escape for real. The other LOKUST members are in their element, so it's a shit idea to fight on their home turf
We gave no quarrel with the rest of them. They didn't fuck us up.

*she
Pics or it didn't happen

>>42229068
>weeb
b-but the urumi is Indian in origin ;_;

>>42229156
>gorillas
>Not using Deadly Poisonous Zanzibar Hamsters

>>42229186
>The pasta
I am not familiar with the one of which you speak.

I just know that I used that as part of my case in an old debate back in high school.

>>42229212
>b-but the urumi is Indian in origin ;_;

I'm aware of that, but you cited "eastern" weapons.

"eastern" is used nearly exclusively to represent Japan.

That, and, you stay on the Asian continent with your focus, you're pretty much certain to be a weeb anyway.

We're all weebs, here, anon.

>>42229287
Indeed we are in fact I just spent the last 30 minutes ordering my samurai to charge a gunline.

It was totally worth the 1500+ casualties.

Totally...

>>42229212
>>42229201
>>42229150
>>42229089
>>42229056
>>42229045

You rummage through the nearby drawers, grabbing a handful of colored key cards, a wallet, and a few manila folders.

As you run, your red aura streaks behind you, and you can practically feel it giving you the power to run faster, hit harder, and overall be...you.

Running and shoving down the more harmless workers of LOKUST, you head into a closing empty elevator, prying the hatch off and leaping from wall to wall up to the highest the shaft will go. Your hands reach into the crevice and force the door open...

To see a fanned-out formation of soldiers.

Oh come on, are they trying?

>[]BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD...CYBORG.
>[]Run past them!
>[]Write-in.

>>42229329
Pls

>not using Calvary to flank the gunline while you pelt their reacting spearmen with levy infantry

Smalltine.

>>42229354
>[]BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD...CYBORG.

>>42229354
>[]BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD...CYBORG.
BLOOD POWERED CYBORG

>>42229354
>Run past them!

I feel like if we overstay our welcome, whoever's in charge around here might show up to body us.

>>42229354
>LET THE RAGE TAKE YOU TO NEW HEIGHTS OF SLAUGHTER. CRUSH THOSE FOOLS

>>42229367
>>42229370
Then, scream.
''HONEEEEY, WERE ARE MY FUCKING DRONES??''

>>42229356
Their cav intercepted my cav and their General suicided into my shinsengumi.

It was a fucked up fight and I'm pretty sure I shot most of my spear levies and Katana kachi in the back with my own levies.

>>42229354
>[]BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD...CYBORG.

>>42229354
>>[]BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD...CYBORG.

>>42229402
Why didn't you bumrush their general with yours and Ganbatte him!?

Fucking traditionalist armies a shit!

Tsk. Should have brought a couple wooden canons.

>>42229402
Man.
Civ has gotten REALLY in depth recently.

>>42229354
>>[]BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD...CYBORG.
Not really much to choose here, OP.

>>42229287
>That, and, you post on 4chan, you're pretty much certain to be a weeb anyway.
ftfy

>>42229452
>>That, and, you post on 4chan, you're pretty much certain to be a weeb anyway.
>ftfy
Actually, with some reading comprehension, I said that right below that statement.

So uh, thanks for fixing nothing.

>>42229423
It was the 3rd turn as Aizu though, I had none of these things. I wanted to test my might.

>>42229431
It's Shogun 2 Total war

Things feel like they're going too well. Maybe this is actually a VR sim thing to judge us?

>>42229482
>It was the 3rd turn as Aizu though, I had none of these things. I wanted to test my might.

>not using Jomon

It's like you hate having superior sharpshooters!

>>42229518
You ever see that episode of Futurama where Bender is taught to love that new robot through simulated reality?
Yeah, that.

>>42229518
You're suggesting that they're putting us through the George Sears Program v3.0, now with 100% less Sundowner?

>>42229518
NOTHING YOU DO MATTERS YOUR EXISTENCE IS A LIE

>>42229452
>>42229416
>>42229405
>>42229395
>>42229370
>>42229367

With a measured motion of the wrist, you spin and throw your Arachnado in a half-circle in front of you, completely catching the soldiers off-guard, messily splitting limb from limb and torso from pelvis. As it lands back in your hands, you step in the pool of blood you've made and finish the job, hacking the remains of their force even further and absorbing their sanguine lifeforce.

You step calmly through the corridor before you, as you see sunlight at the end. The blood on your face sinks into your metallic body as you walk forward, transitioning from a serial killer to an average cyborg PMC on the run.

As you make it outside, you can see the horizon stretch out for miles...

Then you turn around and notice the ship you were on is in port.

How nice that you avoided jumping in the water like a dumbass, huh?

>[] Make it out to the city, contemplate your escape and the easiness of it, plan next move.
>[] Write-in

>>42229645
>[] Make it out to the city, contemplate your escape and the easiness of it, plan next move.
>[] Get suspicious at how easy it was.
So do we know of child soldier training programs or VR being used for such?

>>42229645
>[] Don't skip town yet. Something's wrong here. This is too easy.
There weren't even any rolls!

And the fuck happened to Beetle and Scarab? And who the fuck is Queen B? AND WHERE THE FUCK DO WE UNLOCK THE OBLIGATORY SOMBRERO OUTFIT?

>>42229645
>Make it out to the city, contemplate your escape and the easiness of it, plan next move.

If this is VR then I don't think there's anything we can really do about it, so we might as well keep going. Also the Arachnado is REALLY useful, if/when we see Spider again we should snap off a few more legs.

>>42229711
>WHERE THE FUCK DO WE UNLOCK THE OBLIGATORY SOMBRERO OUTFIT?
When we go to Mexico, anon. Obviously.

What if this is ALL a simulation, starting back on the ship?
Quick, think, where were we right before we went to the ship?

>>42229676
Everything the Patriots and those involved with them (Solidus' work in Liberia) has effectively been leaked to the public knowledge.

>>42229711
anon theres no rolls
its just cinematic combat althroughout
>>42229742

---

As you slip from the docks into the backalleys of the street, you take a moment to breathe and think as you walk.

'Why the hell did they just let me go like that?' you wonder.

Guys like them with the resources to get a Metal Gear on beck and call, and afford to blow the damn thing up? They're playing some kind of long game with you.

Your mind wanders back to the stories of SSS and what George Sears had done, along with the mercenary before you.

Raiden.

As much as you cringe to think of it, you could very well still be playing in their hand. Maybe they wanted you to escape...or you just never escaped at all.

Simulation or no, it's probably still a bad idea to stay near LOKUST.

>[]Write-in.
>[]Call into SAFEHAVEN, see who's left.
>[]Play conspiracy theorist some more.

>>42229819
>[]Call into SAFEHAVEN, see who's left.
>[]Play conspiracy theorist some more.
>Inception noise

>>42229819
>[] First, we need to find out what modifications were made to our body, if there's any bugs or backdoors.
Not sure what's the first step for that, though.

>>42229819
>Call into SAFEHAVEN, see who's left.

>>42229858
>bugs
Surely that was intentional.

>>42229858
>>42229931
Well, we have someone's backdoor.

>>42229838
>>42229859
>>42229858

As you press up for the comm link, which seems to be taking it's sweet time answering, you look yourself over.

Rather than the simplistic metallic grey of before, there's yellow-ish highlights marking your body. A look at your feet finds some sort of jet-propulsion system, but something tells you you don't have any fuel for it.

And of course, smack dab on your chest is that fucking insignia. LOKUST.

Finally, the call is answered.

"Hello? This...This is SAFEHAVEN, Angel speaking. Do you copy?"

"...Copy."

You hear an audible gasp on the other line, and the shuffling of multiple people moving.

"Iskandir? Oh my God, Iskandir, is that really you? We...we thought we lost the both of you!"

Immediately your ears ring.

'Both'.

That can only mean...

>[] A moment of silence to your brother in arms.
>[] Write-in.
>[] Explain what's happened.

>>42230013
>[] "There are things I need to tell you,
but first-"
>[] A moment of silence to your brother in arms.

>>42230013
>Explain what's happened.
We can mourn Leo later, when we don't have our own death to worry about.

>>42230013
>"Lokust captured me. Modified me. They've probably got something to try to mind control me, but I killed their lead tech. I don't know why leaving was so easy. I...I don't know where I am. In a city somewhere. I'm going to hide there as long as I can. I don't know what to do.

...Iskandir out."

>>42230013
>[] A moment of silence to your brother in arms.
>[] Explain what's happened.

>>42230115
>>42230071
>>42230069

"There are things I need to tell you. But first...Leonidas."

You get down on one knee, closing your eyes and lowering your head to the ground in respect. Dead silence follows for what must feel like a few minutes. Getting up and denying the sting of a tear in your eye, you get back to talking.

"Lokust captured me. Modified me. They've probably got something to try to mind control me, but I killed their lead tech. I don't know why leaving was so easy. I...I don't know where I am. In a city somewhere. I'm going to hide there as long as I can. I don't know what to do."

"LOKUST...? There's no record of a LOKUST on file."

Her words shake your core. Something's ringing in your ears. Static. Clashing transmissions. Something.

"You should really just rESt, HORnet. It'll ALL be bEttER in the MORRRRRNNing." her voice warps and distorts, and the world itself feels like spinning.

>[]Try not to freak the fuck out.
>[]Freak the fuck out.
>[] Write-in.

>>42230239
>[]Try not to freak the fuck out.
>[]Freak the fuck out.
>[]Flail about

>>42230239
>Try not to freak the fuck out
>Fail
>Freak the fuck out

>>42230239
>Try not to freak the fuck out.
>Freak the fuck out.
>Freak the fuck out REALLY FUCKING BAD!
>KILLING SPREE!
>WHEN THEY FINALLY KILL YOU, YOU KNOW YOU WILL HAVE AT LEAST DIED YOUR OWN MAN

>>42230239
>>[] Write-in.

Punch ourselves REALLY FUCKING HARD in the face.

That'll help.

>>42230309
Seems like the reasonable thing to do.
Second.
Also, tell Queen Bee to fuck off.

>>42230239
>[] FOCUS. DO NOT PASS OUT HERE. DO NOT GIVE IN.
>[] "We're being overheard. Terminating the connection. Stay safe, Angie."

>>42230260
>>42230294
>>42230295
>>42230309

You try to take deep breaths.

You sit down, maybe that'll help!

You don't manage to calm down.

"Hollly shit, fuck fuck fuck! I've been in a VR! I'm in a VR! Oh god, what if my whole life has been a lie and I'm like those kids that Desperado kidn--Oh my GOD, WHAT IF THOSE KIDS WERE NEVER RESCUED, AND I'M ONE OF THOSE KIDS!?"

"HORNNNettt. Sl̺̳͉̬ͩ̈́́Ẹ̵̳̳͙̘͆͊ͭE͉͍̼̰̿ͮ̓̋ͪP̲ͯͤ ̘͖̞͈̳̞͎̟̅̿́̀I̝̮͒ͩͤ̚S͎̫͔̪̣̉̉ ̢̲̟̫̩͛̈͒ͭ̓̓̚͟Ģ̵̞̬ͯ̔̀̈́ͤ͒̈ͮ͠O̧̪͔̻̟̺̪̤̠̐̓͗ͭͪ̕͝Ö̖̼͇͖̩̼͍̳́D̵̼͍͚̭̜̣̲̦͍́̏̈̍͐̂̇͢ ̟̦̝̘̬ͬͫ͊͗͛͗̆͋͌̕F̴͕̭̤̲͚̬̣͙̦̿̓̿̍͆̓̕O̸̖͓̞̺̹̘̯̣̽ͨ̅̏̇ͭ̈́Ȑ̠̝̖̠̭̜ͨ̈́͆ͤ̓͢͠ͅ ̧̱̼͋ͨY̧̧̗͕͔̏̔́O̵̵̬̗̦ͦ̄ͩ̑͂ͥͅŮ̋̆͏̵̛̣͙̭͎"

"Iskandir! Iskandir, come in!" You hear...Angie.

Okay, fuck, are you in a simulation, or are they just making you think you're in a simulation so you play into their hands or...are you in a simulation and they're trying to make you doubt it's a simulation...SHIT DUDE.

"Iskandir, your signal's very faint! Only one of your chips remains, the rest of you's a bunch of heavy radio blockers! Please find a way to remove them! Whoever took your body must've modified you to mess with your head!"

"...Okay, how do I know YOU'RE real, Angie?"

"Don't fucking call me Angie."

Yeah, it's real.

>[] Welp, better perform amateur self-surgery.
>[] Debate the nature of life like a fucking timewaster.
>[]Write-in.

>>42230370
>[] Welp, better perform amateur self-surgery.

>>42230370

>[] Welp, better perform amateur self-surgery.
>[] Debate the nature of life like a fucking timewaster.
No point in not multitasking in dangerous situations.

>>42230370
>>[] Welp, better perform amateur self-surgery.

>Hey, I don't have kidneys any more, right? Then what the fuck is this thing..?

>>42230370
>"There's a faster way to turn them off. I want to die on my own terms, Angie."

>>42230370
Do we have a knife?
No?
How about a piece of broken glass?

That should work alright.

>>42230370
>>[] Welp, better perform amateur self-surgery.

Well Russian chicks could do this shit by wrestling, or whatever the fuck EVA did, so it should be that hard right? Right?

>>42230370
>[] Debate the nature of life like a fucking timewaster.
What is a man, if not the sum total of the perceptions he calls memories? What is he, if he cannot trust his senses - sans eyes, sans taste, sans touch, sans everything?

>>42230370
>Welp, better perform amateur self-surgery.

>>42230443
The memes Iskandir.

>>42230443
Then would Virtual Reality be true reality itself if one did not know they were in VR? How could a man tell no difference between life and a dream if he had been sleeping his whole life?

>>42230479
The Matrix has you.

>>42230479
Brain in a jar fallacy. If you are a brain in a jar and hallucinate everything you experience, it doesn't matter if what you're experiencing is real, you must act as though it is because you have no other frame of reference. Because you do not know or have evidence it's not real, you must act as though it is.

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>>42230494

We did our own body maintenance once right?

>>42230422
>>42230395
>>42230393
>>42230388

You pick up some glass off the street, close your eyes, and dig it in near your skull. Disgustingly enough, you can feel something...wriggling beneath the surface.

Some deeper, bloody gouges (which re-absorb under your mysterious vampiric powers) and you've got your culprit.

A...bot fly.

You really want to fucking puke, but you know there's more.

don't look up bot flies by the by they're literal nightmare/nausea fuel

A cut near the opposite side retrieves the other fly. You breathe a sigh of relief and radio back.

"My signal okay now?"

"Yes, yes...we were seeing another radio signal coming from you...back to you. Iskandir...what did they do to you?"

"...Too much for one fucking day. Grab me an arsenal and send a heli-vac. Iskandir is coming home."

You can feel Angie's smile of relief.

"I'll tell Leonidas you made it out too."

Last post of the night, I really gotta get up early to move in. If the thread dies, I'll just make a Chapter 2.5/3 post when I can.

Until I come back, I want nothing but DRAWFAGGING and WAIFU TALK.

(you can actually talk about anything i just really want both of those that shits the hallmark of a good Quest)

(also as for drawfagging, go for artistic liberties and if i like it itll probably be canon anyways.)

>>42230576
>Until I come back, I want nothing but DRAWFAGGING and WAIFU TALK.
spider a shit
OP best waifu
fite me

>>42230633
>a-anon...
if someone drawfag's it I'll self-insert like a complete shitloaf for all your sick enjoyment[/spoiler[

>>42230646
Stick figures ok?

Also, I am still wondering what organics Isk has left.

>>42231052
oo la la anon

And he has no dick. Hornet doesn't even have his stinger.

And basically, if it' s below the neck, 90 percent chance Isk doesn't have it.

What an extendable HF power drill attached to the forearm as a 'stinger'?

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>mfw mindfuckery abounds

>>42231109
So he's got more left than Raiden?

>>42230576
>(you can actually talk about anything i just really want both of those that shits the hallmark of a good Quest)
Hey OP, just caught up on both threads, your quest is awesome.

(Also I dropped some comments in the previous thread before noticing this one so I'll repost em)

>>42217185
>> Aren't you suppose to be doing CoK with Chuckles Eail?
>...What?
Eail is a QM of several other quests that's been having vague ideas to run a Metal Gear quest.
Although IIRC he was planning to go to earlier times rather than flat out MGRR.

This shit is hype, just catching up now. Also, I dig the halberd, but (just throwing this out there) what about a METEOR HAMMER. If you don't know about METEOR HAMMER, look it up (caps not necessary). yw

>>42232359
>>42232777
>awesome
>hype

l-l-lying anons, h-how dare you...

---

The rescue chopper picks you up without much hassle. There's still a lingering feeling of a greater plan by LOKUST at work, but at least know you're not in a simulation.

You decide to sleep while you've got the time. All the 'naptime' you've gotten was either from pain or explosions. Not the best lullaby.

What must've been a 16-hour flight brings you back to SAFEHAVEN, a nondescript lock-and-key storage facility, hiding an entrance in the seventh locker.

You make your way down, slipping past the average customer and purveyor, pressing your palm and letting the scanner read your barcode, granting access down the hidden elevator.

The ride down feels like ages, but it's...home again. After all this shit, it's a relief to know everyone's alive, you're...pretty free of indoctrination? And that the enemy isn't so invincible either way.

When the doors open, your team catches eyes with you, pausing and letting the air hang...

Before all running up and giving you a massive four-way hug.

"Iskandir! We feared the worst when only Leonidas was found..." Tell remarks.

"Oh, you crafty lil' bitch! Come on, how many did you turn to ribbons on your way out?" says Alex, dopey grin adorning his face.

"I...I think we're all just glad you're safe." Joan says, smiling beside herself.

"Iskandir, what...the hell happened after that explosion...?" rasps a familiar voice.

Leonidas...wheels in, even though from his status, he should be in the repair shop for half a year at the least.

You look down at his missing legs, wincing. Something deep in your feels as though you could've stopped it, but you also feel that the old man holds no resentment for it.

>[] Well, what're you waiting for? Hug your team back, asshole!
>[] Skip to after you've told them about LOKUST.
>[] Write-in.

>>42233637
>[] Well, what're you waiting for? Hug your team back, asshole!
Huh. Sleeping and moving in took you 6 hours, OP? That was a lot faster than expected.

>>42233637
>[] Well, what're you waiting for? Hug your team back, asshole!
But also quickly tell them to stay alert: locusts may be planning an attack by tracking the copter.

>>42233637
>[X] Well, what're you waiting for? Hug your team back, asshole!

Hey OP, what does Iskandir look like? References would be appreciated.

>>42233669
No, I'm just a liar who can type fast at home and on my phone on the go.

The sleep was 6 hours though.

>>42233682

You hug all of them back, manly tears of relief streaming down your cheeks. The others reciprocate, muttering words of relief. As you pull up, you breathe in to prepare.

"Some group called LOKUST organized the attack. They took me and told me you were all dead...and they changed my body."

The others wince. They know you hate the operating table. Still, the most traumatic time was when you lost little 'Dikskandir', so that one woman did not have sexual relations with called it.

"We should move. LOKUST might've watched my evac copter."

"What do you suggest we go...?" Leonidas trails.

>[] ...You all ship out and radio support me. It's me they want.
>[] You should tell them about your vampiric-type abilities.
>[] write-in.

>>42233848
>>[] ...You all ship out and radio support me. It's me they want.
Lay an ambush for them!

>>42233848
>[] You should tell them about your vampiric-type abilities.
>[] You were seeing another transmission coming from me earlier, right? Did you manage to trace it? We can't just keep running and letting them chase us - we need to take the fight to them.

>>42233833
I hate to use him as a reference, let alone the anime period, but Kamina has an analogous build to Iskandir.

Go nuts on his 'original' appearance, but Hornet-Isk has a helmet design I'll upload later today.

>>42233848
>>[] ...You all ship out and radio support me. It's me they want.
>>[] You should tell them about your vampiric-type abilities.

Sure be a shame if this fell off the board before OP returned.

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>>42233882
>>42235020
Okay OP, anon

Not exactly cyborgy, but I tried and it's not exactly complete yet. The lips and nose are still bugging me so I'l have to come back to it tomorrow.

>>42235980
I can dig it.

noice.

Good shit, arty anon.

I'm struggling with school wi-do, so I'm on data. I promise an update after that and I get food.

>>42234068
>>42233879
>>42233867

"You all ship out and radio support me. It's me they want."

"Isk, buddy, with all due respect, we're a team for a reason." Alexander says, moving in towards you. "I don't think any of us would be alive right now if we didn't work like a team."

"Indeed, Iskandir. We can't leave you behind."

"...This is bigger than what we've faced before. Something in me just knows it. They...they've altered my body to..."

Tell puts a calm hand on your shoulder, waiting for you to continue.

"When I get pissed...like, REAL pissed...I have this literal bloodlust. It absorbs into me now. Makes me...stronger."

Tell remains silent, unsure of how to respond.

"...It was a Desperado project, before Armstrong went down." Leonidas says.

"What?"

"That blood absorption. They planned to implement it into the Winds of Destruction. If the plan to assassinate the President failed, they would've raised chaos in the Middle East to prompt another War on Terror alternatively. but, LOKUST must've picked up the technology."

"How the hell did you know--?"

"I've seen too much shit in my day, Iskandir. Pray you don't get told all of it."

You nod, walking up to the elevator out.

"I'll be on the commlink when they arrive for me. Have a bird nearby if i need a pickup. Otherwise..."

>[] "Leave me to my fate."
>[] "Let me do the work God intended me to."
>[] "It's time for Iskandir to conquer."

>>42236857
>>[] "It's time for Iskandir to conquer."

>>42236857
>[] "It's time for Iskandir to conquer."
Ahyees.

>>42236857
>"It's time for Iskandir to conquer."

>>42237834
>>42237809
>>42236891

"...It's time for Iskandir to conquer."

You head over to the table just by the elevator and grab a familiar, albeit upgraded weapon.

The HF Halberd MK II. You also pocket a few other miscellaneous grenades and pocket weapons.

Stepping out and into the sudden light, you see a lone figure opposing you. Black and yellow adorns her legs in stripes, leading all the way down to her feet. Her heterochromatic eyes are one milky white, the other unnervingly being pure black.

Out from behind her, stepping to the right and the left come Scarab and Beetle, arms folded and they're both evidently pretty pissed.

"You've bitten the hand that raised you from the ground, Hornet."

"Yeah, beeyotch! I'm gonna riddle you with more fucking holes than unfinished Swiss cheese!"

>[] Tell the woman to leave. you don't want her seeing the slaughter about to occur.
>[] "Isn't one-on-three a little unfair?"
>[] Run, there's too many!
>[] Write-in.

>>42238277
>>[] "Isn't one-on-three a little unfair?"

>>42238277
>[] "Isn't one-on-three a little unfair?"

>>42238277
>"Isn't one-on-three a little unfair?"

>>42238277
>>[] "Isn't one-on-three a little unfair?"

Also, what do you mean by "pocket weapons"? Just the different subweapons from Revengance?

>>42238277
>Just rush forwards and run the Queen Bee through. Let the slaughter begin.

>>42238277
>[] "Isn't one-on-three a little unfair?"

>>42238277
Obligatory "go get some more guys to even the odds"?

>>42238277
>>42238362
>>42239750
This

>>42239894
>>42239750
>>42239086
>>42238362
>>42238341
>>42238328
>>42238325

(Also, really sorry about the delay. Lots of orientation events.

(and yeah, I meant sub-weapons. I'm a fuckup on certain terminology.

You glance around at your three opponents.

"Isn't one-on-three a little unfair?"

"You fuckin' tore Spider's legs off and yer' usin' em like a weapon!" shouts back Beetle, withdrawing a pair of automatic handguns from two holsters built into his hips.

"You don't understand."

You glance up, eyes flaring in turn.

"I meant unfair for you."

With nothing but a battle cry, you charge at Beetle, the spear-point of your HF Halberd taking the lead. He fires off into your legs, but you ignore the pain sensation that--

Pain? Oh boy, that's new, at least down there.

You press the spearpoint up and stab forward, with the firing-mechanism activated. The tip now shoots out, linked on a cable, and lodges itself in his chassis.

"What th' fuck--"

Before he can properly respond, you lasso him above your head and launch him by retracting the tip, thereby setting him free.

The yellow-and-black woman seems wholly bemused by this, and still takes no place in the fight. Scarab, while off-put, takes a more measured approach, removing specifically-shaped parts of metal from his arms and fusing them together to make a sniper rifle. He then activates his thrusters, hovering above the ground.

With a swift charge, he grabs you, still recovering from Beetle's gunfire and the exertion of launching a heavy-ass cyborg body, and flies you upwards before dropping you into freefall over the city.

The glisten in the sky above you is a telltale sign that he's taking aim.

>[] Block! Block, goddamit!
>[] Aw shit, a transmission too!?
>[] Write-in.

(Be back in about 2 hours, give or take half an hour.)

>>42241594
> fire spear/harpoon thing at him, screwing up his aim, and using his thrusters to slow our descent.

Alternatively, fire that spear to grapnel around on buildings spidey-style

>>42241594
>Use Halberd as a way to trust you upwards . Take the Shoot, but use ARCHNADO (TM) as a kind of Throwhing Star to get him out of the Air

>>42241594
>[] Write-in.
Throw a grenade his way, no matter if it reaches or not it'll throw off his aim.

And while he's distracted, pikedive the bee.

>>42241906
This.

>>42241868
>>42241764

(Combining the two of these since there's only three options and these two both are pretty similar.

You fire upwards for Scarab, wrapping just around the leg. Good enough.

Your sudden weight causes him to jerk suddenly and begin to descend. He struggles with his flight and returns the components of his rifle into his body and works on getting you off...

Just in time for you to swap weapons on him and hurl the Arachnado, which buzzes and leaves deep, gouges in his arm. And through a faint scratch, you feel a drip...

Blood.

"Iskandir! Iskandir! Leonidas just told us something vital! Whatever they augmented you with, it's power to absorb blood is a double-edged sword! You can't form blood clots and heal, but your ability to drain blood is what keeps you going! Simply put, you can only stay alive in combat...by staying in combat!"

>[] Holy shit, we're a vampire cyborg!
>[] Climb up the grappling spike and get some of that lifeblood.
>[] Write-In.

>>42242357
>>[] Holy shit, we're a vampire cyborg!
>>[] Climb up the grappling spike and get some of that lifeblood.

>>42242357
>[] Climb up the grappling spike and get some of that lifeblood.

>>42242357
>[] Climb up the grappling spike and get some of that lifeblood.

>You can't form blood clots and heal
But, I'm a cyborg. I'm not supposed to form blood clots or heal, I'm supposed to be repaired. There's, what, 10% of my body left that's still flesh and blood?

NANOMACHINES when, SON?

>>42242357
>Holy shit we'r a vampire Cyborg! So time to suck this Insect Dry. With my Weapons.
>F

>>42242357
"Good thing I don't plan on leaving combat anytime soon"

>>42242690
NO SHUT UP THIS MAKES SENSE

>>42242949
>>42242433
>>42242418

You shimmy and pull down on the grapple's rope, tugging Scarab closer and beating him senseless with your fists, as the two of you plummet into a freefall. But that doesn't matter as long as you get enough blood.

The Arachnado boomerangs to your location, and you grab it swiftly by the handle, using the blunter sides beneath the sharp legs to attack Scarab, breaking one of his visor glasses and sending shards into the skin surrounding his eye, giving you that precious blood you so need.

"Why you--!" He exclaims, before activating his thrusters and going up incredibly high into the air. You're naturally getting your remaining blood racing with this. A sky-high battle is nothing to sneeze at. However, you can hear chuckling from Scarab, and out of curiosity you glance to where he's looking.

From there, you spot Beetle, his hands spread in a fanned array, where you notice the tips of what must be miniaturized guns at the apex of his fingertips, along with a more sizable barrel in the middle of his palm.

"I TOLD YOU I WAS GONNA RIDDLE YOU WITH HOLES!" He shouts, before opening fire.

>[] Break free of Scarab's grasp and force them into friendly fire!

>[] Whip around the guy and hold him hostage!

>[] Drop into freefall and attack Queen B, force them to go on the defensive.

>>42244156
>>[] Drop into freefall and attack Queen B, force them to go on the defensive.
Later bitches

>>42244156
>[] Whip around the guy to use him as a Shield, then drop down for a Dynamic Entry on the Queen Bitch

>>42244237
This.

>>42244408
>>42244272
>>42244237

You pull a Spidermonkey Reversal, flipping Scarab face-down and riding him down to the grounds as his thrusters perform the opposite of their intended function.

Cause y'know, physics.

As you get closer and closer to your intended target--the seemingly vulnerable Queen B--, you loosen your grip on Scarab and propel yourself at her, calling back the spike-tip on your halberd and spinning slowly, before the Magnus Effect (look this shit up it's awesome) kicks in and you begin propelling at her from a distance, spinning like a whirling ball of death.

...A whirling ball of death that hits the windshield.

A hexagonal forcefield of some sorts stops you from proceeding, and pain sears through your body as you peel yourself off. Fuck Magnus, and fuck his effect. That shit hurts.

"I'm nothing on your measly level, Hornet. I came here to observe you in the flesh. Einhander thought you had potential, hence the Hemoxin upgrades...how pitiful. Scorpion definitely deserved it leagues beyond you. i'm content for you to die as you've been renamed. Like an insect."

Honestly, the wind knocked out of your respiratory system (Still got one of those, guys.) prevents you from biting back with anything more than you not having anything to say.

You hear a large scurry of buzzing as a swarm of cybernetic bees makes their way, forming a crude hand and shunting you away from B. She curtsies mockingly before disappear with the swarm.

"You know, there was an old addage I was told back in conversion." says Beetle, swooping to the ground and opening a hatch on his upper arm and feeding a belt of assault rifle ammo into it before closing it once more. He cocks his arm and turns it to you.

"Anything can be solved by FUCKING SHOOTING IT MORE!"

>[] Hold him off while waiting for help, ponder some shit more.
>[] "If shooting something more solves any problem, you must be a shit marksman cause I'm still here.

>>42245331
>>[] "If shooting something more solves any problem, you must be a shit marksman cause I'm still here.

All of the taunting. That's how being CUHRAYZEE works.

>>42245331
>>[X] "If shooting something more solves any problem, you must be a shit marksman cause I'm still here.

HOW CAN YOU BE THIS BAD AT SHOOTING?

>>42245331
>[] "If shooting something more solves any problem, you must be a shit marksman cause I'm still here.
>[] "I guess you want me to take your arms as my next pair of weapons."

>>42245331
>"Just Fuck the Shut up. I'm a better Marksman then you could ever be. " Then throw something big at him.

>>42245331
His range on us is his primary advantage. We need to close the gap as quickly as possible and pound his ass with our hammer end.

>>42245765
Not nearly as homoerotic as it sounds

but still kinda homoerotic

>>42246274
And then we rip off his arms and attach triggers to them.

>>42246334
Why not just [spoilers]turn them into gloves?

>>42246423
Because the gun mechanism is built into his arms, not attached to them.

>>42246475
Well fuck, that's worse than just ID locking the fuckers.

>>42246475
>>42246423
We could detach him piece by Peace, and use his Head as a Sidekick
>Inbefore Not Manly
>Robo-Dog

>>42246535
>>Inbefore Not Manly

Hey, just cause Lolipop Chainsaw had a talking head companion doesn't mean it can't be manly. Besides, worse we could do to the bugger is just give him to Leonidas for a little Q&A

>>42245451
>>42245405
>>42245470

"SHUT UP! MY ARMS ARE MY ARMS! YOU DON'T TAKE A MAN'S ARMS!"

"How the fuck can you be this bad at shooting?"

"SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPDIEDIEDIEDIEDIE!" He maniacally scattershots in every direction. A few stray bullets strike into your shoulders, but you duck down and manuever in a slipstream motion through the waves of bullets, moving behind him and smacking his back with the blunt side of your halberd, sending him onto his knees and loose bullets scattering. You walk over to his fallen over form and jam a foot into his elbow, pinning it to the ground and raising your halberd over your head, bringing it down and severing his arm.

WEAPON GET: ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

>[] Turn his weapon on him!
>[] Write-in.

>>42246849
>[] Take his other arm too
>[] Say something about being able to eventually make some sort of franken cyborg from all these parts we are getting.

>>42246945
thisthisthisthisthis

>>42246849
>Ask him if he needs a Hand. Then Cut off his other Arm.

>>42247018
>>42246945
>>42246966

You succinctly step on his other wrist, severing that hand as well.

"Need a hand? I'VE GOT TWO OF EM'!" You shout down.

He screams in pain, blood spurting from them like geysers. You step in the pools and drink it into your body. Damn does that feel good. You also feel like a superior shot now, for some reason...

As Beetle makes his pathetic crawl away, trying to fly off like an insect with only one wing, you take one look between him and your acquired weapons from him.

"Wonder if I could put all these limbs together someday..." You ponder first.

Then...

>[] Only fitting to gun him down by 'his own hand'. Hehe.
>[] Write-in.

>>42247798
>you let him get away because he's beaten and Bruised, and you are actually a nice guy.....Haha
Just shot him in the Legs, then Throw him alive against Queen Bitch and riddle him in her full view with Bullets.

>>42247798
>[] Comment on why he can still feel pain. Isn't that usually the first thing your turn off in combat?

>>42247798
>[] Only fitting to gun him down by 'his own hand'. Hehe.
He really hasn't been a massive dick to us, only doing his job. In his place, we'd be just as mad at someone who killed our comrades right in front of us. Let's just FUCKING MURDER HIM with as much dignity as it is possible to retain while doing so, so that we can save the MAXIMUM EDGEKILL OVERMURDER for Queeney.

>>42247962
>>42247798
>Let him Alive. We could use him for Q&A later. Maybe get him onto our side.

>>42247981
Yeah, cause, y'know, its not like we just ripped his arm off.

>>42248033
I think he can understand a practical joe.

>>42247852
>>42247981

(Playing mercy options here, the vote was kinda split in my view.)

(please dont be mad)

"Wait...why the hell can YOU feel pain? You're a cyborg, aren't you?"

Beetle, in agony, gets onto his hand-less wrists to get himself up. "LOKUST...has nothing to fear...we...we don't fear death! Each member that dies is another torch added to the funeral pyre of this FUCKING putrid world!"

"What the hell are you going on about?" You say, lowering your weapons.

"The Plagues...ahaha! Ha! Haven't you ever read a damn book in your life? We are the locusts that will destroy wheat and crop alike...unending, heh...indomitable! We're a swarm that will never die until the last of us is through! And for every one you kill, we convert ten more!"

>[] The guy's lips are too loose to kill. Better keep him alive as a POW.
>[] Ask Angie to conduct research into LOKUST.
>[] Write-in.

>>42248232
>[] Ask Angie to conduct research into LOKUST.
>[] Double check that we're not in some VR thing

>people want to Frankenstein a cyborg

>not apply all the parts to ourselves and become even more stupid bullshit

Come on, guys!

>>42248232
>Why not both?
>"That doesn't answer my question, dick."

Also, did the other two just bug out on us? Or are they just letting us sit here and talk to this guy?

>>42248243
>>42248232
this

>>42248275
Scarab crash-landed elsewhere with equipment too damaged to consider engaging on a guy that he's hearing savage his partner over the commlink.

Queen B fucked off when Beetle returned.

Sorry if some details are unclear. I'm still a bit of an amateur writer.

>>42248232
>[] "But, a locust is a type of grasshopper, and you're called Beetle. How does that fit into the metaphor? I don't understand how your nomenclature is supposed to work. Why aren't you named Spur-throat, or Bombay, or Italian?"
>[] Oh, and, ask Angie to conduct research into LOKUST while you're busy trying to puzzle out naming schemes.

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>>42248302
That makes sense, then. Yeah, unless Iskandir is supposed to have tunnel vision I'd suggest trying to make that more clear for those of us with not so good reading comprehension.

>>42248348
Berserker rage does usually feature tunnel vision.

>>42248409
>inb4 feral mode is unlocked

>>42248315
>>42248275

"You didn't answer my question, dick. I'll blow off a leg if you keep trying to play me."

"Haaa, aha..." he trails, hacking and coughing up blood on the ground. You're too sickened by the display to walk over and absorb it.

"Angie, do some research into LOKUST. I'm retrieving one of their operatives. He seems to like to talk after all i've done to him."

"Don't--oh forget it. Hearing you loud and clear, Iskandir."

You haul him up your shoulder to the elevator, and wait.

And wait.

And continue to wait.

Finally, it opens up, revealing Tell, Alexander, and Joan, all somehow crammed within and ready to fight...only to see you've kind of already won.

"...Were you all not listening to the radio?" You ask in a mild tone.

"...We were kind of hoping there was like, one last enemy about to kill you once we stepped out so it would still have a point to us coming up." Joan sheepishly admits.

"That and the elevator was severely delayed." adds Tell, looking away.

You shrug and get inside.

>[] Get debriefing on LOKUST and what's known.
>[] Write-in.
>[] Have a no-homo pass at Tell or Alexander.

>>42248490
>[] Delayed by what?

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>>42248490
>>[] "Shame you guys couldn't see me in action, then."

We can debrief when we get back to base.

>>42248514
>>42248543

"It's a fucking conventional elevator, dude. These things find more ways to fuck up than a flying hooker." says Alex.

"...Wait, what was that analogy--"

"Boys, leave the questions and answers for when you're cuddling in bed together."

"...It was ONE time!" Alex says defensively.

You head on down, experiencing the dreadful delays of shitty hidden elevators with all your best friends.

roll not to fart and make it awkward

Making it downstairs, you deposit the practically gibbering mad Beetle into a chair and tie him up.

"So, Angie,' you say, walking over to her console, "what's the word on LOKUST?"

"Not much. They're insect-schtick--"

"Still not all actually named for locust geni!" you butt in like a smartass.

"...the insect theming supposedly has to relate to the eighth Egyptian Plague from the tale of the Exodus."

"...A little spookier and more thematic than most terrorists, I see."

"As far as the leader proper goes...no information is known. The most information we have is their skin is covered in boils."

"...That is literally the most useless tidbit I've ever fucking heard."

"I know, right? Anyways, the other info I found out is that that guy, Scarab? He wasn't fighting at full power. He's been seen with a stolen government tech weapon codenamed SKYFIRE. Which...is basically an orbital space cannon meant to be able to perform political assassinations that seem like Acts of God."

"...Shit."

>[] Rest up. It's been a long day.
>[] Free time. Better talk to a squadmate, like:
>[] Tell
>[] Alexander
>[] Joan
>[] Leonidas.

>>42248833
>[] Request an in-depth scan on our body. See exactly what they changed.
>[] Also see about getting these arms usable.

>>42248833
>[] Free time. Better talk to a squadmate, like:
>[] Leonidas.
Gotta find out what happened his end.
Also, who's our squad's techie again? We'll want to get our modified body examined sooner or later - preferably sooner.

>roll not to fart and make it awkward
Shouldn't be difficult given that we've barely any organic parts below the neck. oh fuck a nat 1

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>42248868
>>42248833
rollin and seconding

>>42248833
First priority,
>[] Get our body checked out
Second priority,
>[] Check up on Leo

>>42248868
>>42248905
>>42248962

"And Angie, I want an in-depth examination by Tell. He knows his way around me better than any old mechanic."

Angie snickers.

"Oh, shut the fuck up. This isn't Top Gun."

You make your way over to Tell, indicating the way to the infirmary and gesturing to your body. He nods.

---

After some poking, prodding, and removal of some limbs for examination, Tell comes back in with Angie and Leonidas in tow.

"Well...it's not exactly ideal." Tell starts.

"As I've mentioned before, you have a type of substance flowing through your cybernetics called 'Hemoxin'. It removes any form of self-repair from the body, organic or mechanical, or somewhere inbetween, but allows expedited healing from high sources of hemoglobin. Namely, of course, blood."

"What does that mean for me?" you ask.

"Simply put, the longer the substance is in your system, the stronger your literal bloodlust will get. It was denied use even by Desperado for fear of making an uncontrollable soldier. They may have done it to you for..."

"Sabotage." You finish, curtly.

"...Exactly." Leonidas says. He beckons the other two out, leaving just you both.

"You better give me some answers. How the fuck do you know this shit? How do you know so much about Desperado tech!?"

"..."

The old man sighs, getting up and testing his legs. Once he finds he can stand safely, he walks to the wall, stroking it with a metallic hand before sending his fist through it, grunting.

"I saw someone just like you be infected with it. Back when I was working freelance, we were contracted for a long-form protection job. Just me, and a fresh-faced kid like you. He wanted to be a cyborg because it was fun."

He almost laughs at that.

"How fucked up is that? That our war has devolved into such unbelievable power, shock and awe, and spectacle, that some people treat it like some kind of video game? That they'd want to give up the body they were given at birth just to play like some superhero."

(cont.)

>>42249247

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I saw a kid just like you be ripped from my hands and turned into some freak who subsisted on blood like a fucking monster, Iskandir! I was the only one strong enough to...to..."

The words don't need to be said. Every time he's called you that name...called you 'Vince'...

"...I'm sorry. I...I had no idea."

"That first day we saw you, implants as shiny and smooth as a new computer, something told me beforehand the first words you'd say.

'When do we get to cut some shit?'

"I just had every thought in my head that you'd end up like him. A beast born of his own desire for power, and that things that happened to him in his pursuit for it."

"..."

Wordlessly, you hug the old man and break it off soon after.

"I won't end up like him. I won't end, period. I'm going to find the bastards who did this to me, stop them, and find a way to get rid of this Hemoxin shit."

Something in that statement of bravado forces a smile out of him.

"You always were the dumb, determined type. Still...sometimes, you just need stupid to do something smart."

END OF CHAPTER 2.

---

gonna sleep, unless i wake up early like a fucking liar

will probably start chapter 3 tomorrow morning/afternoon

i still want more waifu talk

>>42249295
Our waifu is Arachnado.

>>42249316
>implying QM isn't best waifu

pls.

>>42249344
>implying QM ist a robo spiderbutt on a stick

>>42249368
>implying QM isn't Angie in disguise

You're smalltime. Self-inserting the entire time.

>>42249295
>i still want more waifu talk
I waifu za bee.

>gonna sleep, unless i wake up early like a fucking liar
Also I recommend getting a twitter, makes this whole scheduling thing much easier.

>>42249295
>I still want more waifu talk

Well its not like you've given us anyone besides Angie.

>>42250216
We have our subweapon.

>>42250325
S-Sub-Weapon-Sama is far too pure for that!

>>42250479
Subweapon is literally the bottom half of that cyborg spider lady on a stick.

>>42250491
It's not even on a stick. Iskander has to be grabbing the place where her pelvis was attached when using it.

>>42250504
Well, a pipe.

>>42250491
>>42250504
Actually that's metal as fuck, someone needs to get fan art of that shit.

>>42250530
You'd think anybody on our team would ask something about it like "What the fuck is that?"

So we can blame all our body part taking and slight insanity on the hemoxin right?

>>42250564
Would you rather us just be openly edgy?

>>42250621
Maybe start doubting what is real and what isn't.

>>42250564
Plus you know, the whole "modded against your will" and "thinking the people you consider family are dead" things are pretty rough.

Alright, set up a Quest Twitter for general announcements and the sort.

@RevengeanceQ

>>42251017
>@RevengeanceQ
>tfw you mash submit over and over and pray 4chan fixes itself in the time it takes to copy pasta
Well damn.