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>>48886225

Cassie lies on the lounge sofa with her head set comfortably on the pillow. Her hands are on her stomach, thumbs idly tapping together as her crossed feet bop and sway from side to side. She is not in uniform at the moment, as this appointment did not dictate wearing it, but whether she was in it or not she would still be chewing gum and just as disinterested. This is her second session with Dr. Broddman, the team's appointed psychologist. His office is located on the other end of the base and is about as interesting as his personality; which is to say dull, grey and humorless. A professional, sure, but a complete stiff. Cassie has a hunch that he was personally appointed by Secretary Blake, a man who she has only met twice as well, because his job as Secretary of Defense keeps him off the island. She has little doubt that he reports to the secretary directly; a cautious individual would be worried about how much he learns about you.

But not Cassie, who couldn't care less about what the uptight shrink thinks of her. Her position on the team is completely certified and safe as can be; her dad co-founded it! And it's no secret how highly of an opinion she has on herself. After all, she's awesome and kicks seven different kinds of ass before breakfast. Why bother with some doctor?

So that's why she makes it a point to chew her gum as loudly as possible. Perhaps not so much 'chew' as 'pop' it, and she does so as often as she likes. Blowing a big bubble and loudly popping it before resuming chewing is one of the few things she does to try and set him off, but to his credit he's very professional and maintains his composure.

"Why do you think you fixate on gum, Cassie?"

>”I like the taste.”
>”Well doc, it all started long, long ago…”
>”What’s that got to do with anything?”
>Shrug and pop your gum again
>Other (write-in)

>>48886238
>Shrug and pop your gum again

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>>48886274

She shrugs, then pops again.

Broddman adjusts his glasses. “Answer me this: why not some other snack? Why not chocolate, or something crunchy?"

"Lasts longer, stores easier. Plus I was never super into chocolate.”

"I see." He jots something down. "Do you always use the same flavor? The classic bubblegum?"

Shrug, pop, rinse, repeat. "Some days I'm feelin' minty. Some days I'm grapey." Beneath her sunglasses, her eyes drift off to the side as she thinks, 'I wonder what JB and Cao are up to right now...'

"Do you ever chew cinnamon?"

"Ew, no," Cassie says before blowing another bubble. Broddman watches with a blank face as she blows it up more and more and more until it pops of its own limits, reaching up to her nose. She giggles to herself as she picks it up with her fingers and puts it back inside her mouth, chewing it up.

Broddman taps the end of his pencil on the table. "I think you chew it because it makes you feel rebellious."

'I think you get paid too much,' she thinks to herself, barely suppressing a chuckle at her own inner jab.

"At the same time, I think you also chew it because it takes you back to a simpler time, perhaps when you began chewing it. Do you remember your first piece of gum, Cassie?"

"No." And really, she couldn't---there is no Willy Wonka moment in her head, she's just always chewed it and always enjoyed popping it. She does so again before flattening the piece against the roof of her mouth for fun. Then she moves it to the front of her mouth, rolling it with her tongue to mash against her teeth.

Broddman decides to cut to the root of the issue. "Why are you afraid of disappointing your parents, Cassie?"

>”My parents are proud of me.”
>”The hell kind of question is that?”
>”I’m not afraid of anything.”
>Say nothing (but also pop)
>Other

>>48886403
>”The hell kind of question is that?”

>>48886403
>Laugh it off
>My parents are proud of me.

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>>48886489
>>48886518

She stops upon hearing that question. She now looks at the man, seated behind his desk, with narrow eyes before laughing it off. “The hell kind of question is that? My parents are very proud of me."

"Of course they are, but that wasn't my question. I would like you to think about why you are afraid of being in their shadow but are also afraid of disappointing them and then answer me."

Cassie sits back and stops looking at him before popping her gum again. After doing it a second time, he continues, "In my professional opinion, the latter shackles you to the former, and the former feeds the latter." He now waits for another response and doesn't get one beyond popping. "You have both a fixation and a detachment of the legacy of your famous parents. You want to be known as your own person, but want others to acknowledge your origins and make it a point to remind them at every given opportunity. Why do you think you do this?"

"Because I'm awesome," Cassie says, her better judgment letting that one slip. 'Great. I just want this to be over with, now he's probably going to ask a hundred more---'

"Very well. I think we're done for now, Ms. Cage. Think about what we have spoken of today and we'll revisit it later."

She blinks a few times and sits up before checking her watch. It's only been about thirty or so minutes. "That's it?" she asks, trying to hide her elation.

"Yes. Thank you for---"

She pops her gum again and stands up, walking to the door. "Thanks for the chat, doc, really. Let's do it again sometime, and maybe hang up a few paintings or something. Lighten up the place." She slips out of the door and shuts it behind it.

'Thank the all-knowing Buddha that shit's over,' she thinks as she lets out a sigh of relief. ‘Now, onto more important things…’

>Kaito asked you to report to him, find him first
>Grab a bite to eat in the mess hall
>Go see what Jacqui is doing
>See if you can hunt down Cao
>Other (write-in)

>>48886622
>Kaito asked you to report to him, find him first

>>48886622
>Kaito report first
Business is business

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>>48886639
>>48886760

Earlier that day, Cassie received a message from Kaito asking her to report to him. He was aware of her appointment and specified that it was not urgent, nor would it get her out of it, which would have been her next question. He knows her a bit too well and had anticipated that. In the message, he said that he would be out on the beach all morning, meaning it shouldn't be too hard to find him.

Walking outside into the bright morning sun, she stretches her arms and legs before taking off in a light jog across the sand. 'Never a bad time to get in some cardio,' she says to herself, something she picked up from her mother, along with more than a few impressive assets, hugged nicely by her casual clothing. Sure enough, Kaito is only a short distance away, doing some kind of dance.

She slows to a stop as she observes him moving his hands, feet and limbs in an intricate routine; a kata. As he does this, she notes that he is directing elemental energy around himself; water flows across the sand from the sea and snakes around him in twirling lines. He incorporates his control over other elements into the routine as well, summoning up the sand, the wind around him, and conjuring flame from his fingertips. The display is almost breathtaking, in a way, but Cassie is hard to impress. She's seen Kaito use his powers in combat, so just using them in practice like this isn't exactly a spectacle.

She folds her arms and waits for him to stop, but his kata stretches on for minutes at a time; she wonders if it even has an end or if he'll just be in this state for hours on end.

>Walk up and get his attention
>Wait for him to finish or notice you
>Throw a rock at him
>Jump up and attack him! Sparring match!
>Other

>>48886848
>Hey!
>You wanted to see me?
>Sparring Time!

>>48886848
Throw a rock at him. Also one liner.

>>48886848
>>Walk up and get his attention

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>>48887137
>>48887180
>>48887212

Deciding to interrupt, she walks up to him from behind and gives a sharp whistle. "Hey!" she says to him to get his attention some more.

He drops the elements, the fire and wind dispersing as the sand and water fall back onto the shore, before facing her. "Cassie, good morning."

"I didn't know you took up interpretive dance," she jokes, digging her hands into her pockets.

"Not exactly. The monks at the Lung Hai temple taught me that, and a few other things. I never used to do this kind of thing, but it helps me focus my abilities. You should try it some time."

"Neat. So, you texted. Sup?"

"I wanted to get your opinion on something," he says, turning back to the water and raising his hands. He conjures forth from the sea an orb of shimmering water and holds it in front of him as he speaks, intent on continuing his focusing training while he speaks to her. "We've been on this island for just over two weeks now. The team is settled in, I think. Everyone is starting to make this place their home. That's going to be difficult, living in close quarters with people that some of us are unfamiliar with. When I first brought everyone here, I spoke about how we're going to have to grow as a team; that means growing to learn to live with each other."

"Right, one big happy family," she nods while blowing a bubble.

"I'd like you to help me a bit." He brings the orb of water between his hands, holding it like a bowling ball. He then rolls it like a bowling ball out into the sea.

"Was that part of the training?" she asks with an amused grin.

"No, that was just for fun."

>"So, what do you need help with?"
>"It's not going to be to organize team building events, is it?"
>"Well, I'm kind of busy..."
>"Is there where I begin registering complaints? Because I have a few..."
>Other

>>48887307

> Not going to organize team building events

> Other

> Resist urge to complain about psychologist

>>48887307
>>"It's not going to be to organize team building events, is it?"
Put Sheeva on the top of the human pyramid

>>48887307
>So what do you need help with?
>It's not teambuilding

>>48887307
>"It's not going to be to organize team building events, is it?"

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>>48887347
>>48887357
>>48887430
>>48887457

She cocks a brow over the rim of her sunglasses. "It's not going to be to organize team building events, is it? Because I'm not really up for sitting around a fire singing 'kumbaya' if you catch my drift."

He chuckles. "No, I didn't really think so. Actually I just wanted to get your opinion on how other people on the team are doing, and to ask you to watch the others. If a situation arises, like an argument or a non-friendly fight, step in if needed."

"I get you," she replies. "Well, I think people are doing well... for the most part. I haven't seen any big fights. Sam was having trouble early on, but people have kind of backed off of her."

"That's good. I was particularly worried about her."

"Yeah, some of the others were pretty harsh... But at least most of them have owned up to it. Takeda was a total ass but he actually apologized to her later on after thinking she was stupid the whole time."

"What about you? Is there anyone in particular you're having difficulty with?"

Cassie taps her chin with her finger and thinks for a moment. 'Well, Jin is a bit of an arrogant ass himself, a real know-it-all... His cousin Ling isn't much better. She and Frost are the resident bitch crew, getting along with pretty much just each other. But it's not like any of them have really done anything to any of the others. Some of the team, like Fireseed and Fox, are basically anti-social. Neither Fireseed nor Sheeva seem to care too much to talk to me, ever.'

>"Nothing too out there."
>"I don't really get along with Jin, Frost and Ling."
>"I think some of them could use some socializing; Fireseed and Fox come to mind."
>"I don't think Fireseed or Sheeva like me too much."
>"Can we get a new psychologist?"
>Other

>>48887522

> Firessed or Sheeva

BUT

> Nothing too out there

Maybe we should

> socialise firessed and fox

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>>48887650

"Well, since you brought it up, I think Fireseed and Sheeva might have a problem with me, just based on how they talk to me."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I can't describe it, I think I just get a general air of 'don't really give a fuck' from them as far as I'm concerned. I mean, it's nothing too out there and I don't think it would come up during a fight, but I can kind of feel it, you know? I also notice Fireseed and Fox just kind of generally not being very social. Like, I talk or see some other people talking, but usually not to them or with them."

"Hm," he mutters as he scratches his chin. "Alright. I'll take what you've told me into consideration, thank you Cassie."

"Anything else, chief?"

"No, that's all."

She gives a mock-salute and then turns away, but then turns back to say, "Hey, I've been wondering, how come Mileena isn't around?"

"I gave her and the Dragon Wing some time off in Edenia. Mileena's gone through a bit of a... change recently."

"How so?"

"Well, you'll see what I mean when she comes back in about a week or two. Just trust me on that," he says.

Cassie shrugs and turns back towards the base. As she approaches it, she takes out her headphones and puts them in, playing a song to drown out the noise of the construction. They're building something new; some kind of tower and a domed building that's supposed to serve as a training center of sorts; she's sketch on the details. As she jogs back to the structure, she thinks about what to do next.

>Breakfast
>Jacqui's room
>Cao's room
>Find dad
>Other

>>48887815

> Bother Cage Senior

> Try to relieve stress with Jacqui

>>48887837
seconding

>>48887815
>Jacqui's room
If anyone can find out scuttlebutt among the New Defenders, it's Cassie and Jacqui.

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>>48887837
>>48887925
>>48888061

Deciding to bother her father, Cassie wanders around the base for a while, but he seems to not be in. His office, for he doesn't really live here so much as work here, is empty, with just a few boxes of furnishings he hasn't taken out yet. Cassie shrugs and walks off towards the barracks, passing by the rec room. He looks inside and sees Sam playing a game of air hockey against Takeda. 'I'm glad those two aren't arguing anymore,' she thinks to herself. 'I wonder what Jacqui is up to... I could go with a little stress relief.'

She walks up to Jacqui's door and knocks. An answer from within calls out, "Come in!" and so Cassie walks in, plops herself on Jacqui's bed and rolls onto her stomach, putting her hands under her chin and kicking her feet up.

"Hey girlfriend," Cassie says with a wink.

Jacqui is sitting at her desk in a dark tank top with a book in front of her. She gives Cassie a smile and then goes back to reading it. The blonde girl chews on her gum for a bit then pops it before deciding to swallow it; the piece was mostly tasteless by this point anyway. She sits and waits for Jacqui to do something, but she doesn't.

"Watcha readin', JB?"

"Some new regs," the girl replies. "Published yesterday, as a matter of fact."

Cassie blows her hair up and off of her forehead. "Sounds boring. Wanna have some fun? Maybe dig up some dirt... or get a little dirty?" she asks in a slightly sexy and playful voice.

Jacqui doesn't immediately reply. "Hm? Sorry, I'm just really trying to read this. Someone around here needs to know this stuff." She cracks her neck then, rubbing her neck a little before resuming.

Cassie pouts. 'Regs are meant to be broken, anyway,' she thinks. 'I'm so booored this morning...'

>Hang out on her bed until she's done
>Go up and rub her shoulders; she seems a bit stressed
>Attack her with a storm of tickling fingers
>Leave her be and go find something else to do
>Other

>>48888085
>Go up and rub her shoulders; she seems a bit stressed
What's the one reg that bothers Jacqui so far?

>>48888085

> Shoulder Rub

Cassie isn't just using you Jacqui, it's mutually assured stress relief...

>>48888085
>Leave her be
Hassle Fox. Drag him out of his shell kicking and screaming if needed

>>48888085
>Hang out on her bed until she's done
>other
>"Want to go throw stuff at Sam and see it bounce off of her?"

>>48888148
Just because Sam is immune to magic and sudden trauma doesn't mean you can bully her.

>>48888176

It's a hilarious suggestion and if we weren't having a heart to heart with black magic I'd be inclined to go with it for shits and giggles.

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>>48888176
Frost is probably doing it right now! We can bond with her!

>>48888296
I'm pretty sure Frost backed off on bullying Sam because she couldn't even if she wanted to.

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>>48888103
>>48888118

Cassie smirks. 'Like I'm giving up that easily.'

She slinks off the bed and walks up behind her friend, surprising her by placing her hands upon her shoulders. Cassie wastes no time in rubbing her fingers across her skin, working her muscles. Jacqui lets out a soft sigh.

"Ah. Thanks, Cass, this is nice."

Cassie smiles and leans down to her ear. "That's 'Sergeant Cage' to you, specialist..."

"Oh come off it," Jacqui says with a shake of her head. "Can't believe you got promoted before me..."

The blonde begins working her hands a bit harder, really attacking Jacqui's stiff neck and shoulders. "I think you need an NCO to show you how to relax. I'm a bit stressed myself; maybe we could do something about that."

Cassie bites her ear softly then, just a nibble, but Jacqui pulls away. "Okay, okay, I get it. I'm not really in the mood, Cass. And please, drop the whole 'sexy sergeant' talk before my brain bleeds."

She giggles. "Aw, come on JB, don't be that way. Let's just chill, you know?"

"I'm fine with chilling, but you want something else entirely," Jacqui replies with a sigh as Cassie continues her shoulder rub. "But... Keep doing that, if you want."

"Oh, definitely," Cassie says with a bit of mischief. She knows how to push Jacqui's buttons, and isn't quite up to stopping just yet. She leans down and plants a kiss on the other girl's neck, just a harmless one, but one that communicates some deeper intentions. Jacqui silently reads the book in front of her, trying to keep her cool. 'Hard to do with someone as hot as me,' Cassie thinks.

>Rub her shoulders in silence
>Deepen the rub; more kissing her neck
>Slide a hand down her shirt
>Slide a hand down her pants
>Break it off
>Other

>>48888176
>Sam is immune to magic and sudden trauma
I just realized that in the Mortal Kombat universe, this is insanely powerful. Sam is the almighty equalizer.

>>48888340
>Rub her shoulders in silence
Cassie may be selfish, but not when Jacqui is involved. Mostly.

>>48888340

> Ask if you pissed her off or something.

> TFW Cassie gets all teary eyed when Jacqui is turning her down.

>>48888375
>>48888409
Jacqui is one of the only people in the world Cassie will actively defer to.

>>48888340
>Rub her shoulders in silence
she is our friend, not our toy

>>48888340
>other
Pull the chair out from under her, spar! Cassie is bored!

>>48888432
I'm agreeing. it's why I'm trying to get Cassie to ask if she's fucked up.

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>>48888375
>>48888409
>>48888466

Still, Cassie isn't one to rush things with her oldest friend and recent friend-with-benefits. Jacqui is a particular girl, very special to her, so the last thing she wants to do is push her the wrong way. So she rubs in silence, trying to help her friend relax as she reads. Jacqui does seem to appreciate it, flipping through the pages every now and then.

Though, after a short while, Cassie's mind can't help but wander. She didn't do anything to upset Jacqui recently, did she? She thinks hard, but nothing really comes to mind. Things have been quiet lately, apart from going to the gym, ever since that Omegis incident... Maybe that's it?

"Hey, JB, quick question: I haven't pissed you off, have I?"

She seems a bit surprised. "What? No, no. No. You're fine, Cass, I'm just... I don't know. I kinda just want to hang out... That's all."

"How come?" She hopes she isn't being too intrusive, but she knows her friend isn't really sensitive to such matters. And despite her efforts, she still sounds a bit tense and stressed. Cassie works her fingers a bit more, but Jacqui doesn't relent.

"Nothing, really."

"You sure?"

"Well," she says, her voice trailing off. Jacqui is silent for a minute as Cassie continues to rub. She then closes the book in front of her with a small slam. "You know what? Hell with it."

'Atta girl...' Cassie thinks as Jacqui turns her head and pulls her down into a kiss. Cassie leans down and grows close as Jacqui moves out of her chair, and soon they are both sitting on the floor, making out with a slowly increasing intensity. Cassie's hands run up her arms, feeling her muscles. She loves to feel her arms; she's jealous of how strong her friend is.

'I told the doc I was never into chocolate, but what kind I liked,' she thinks, giggling a bit. 'Jacqui seems to be really loosening up now.'

>Move to the bed
>Stay here on the floor
>Drag her over to the shower
>See if you can go get Cao
>Other

>>48888644
>Stay here on the floor
Hope to God Vapor isn't peeping or Frost suddenly walks in on them.

>>48888644

> Floor fuck is best fuck.

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>yurishit

>>48888708

Trust me.

>>48888730

No.

>>48888708
Cassie is one of the most sexually active members of the team, and there's already been a threesome between her, Jacqui and Cao.

>>48888758
and I HATE it

>>48888794

Well she's not trying to corrupt my waifu Sam yet. So I can dig it. Especially as Damashi hinted these two are going to get some super development in this episode.

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>>48888690
>>48888697

Cassie drags Jacqui to the floor, now both on their sides. She starts getting more into it, deepening the kiss and getting her hands in the other girl's shirt, but after a little bit Jacqui seems to stop kissing her as much as she is. Cassie doesn't seem to really notice or mind, right up until the moment the other girl brings up her hand and pushes her back, breaking the kiss. Cass gives her a slightly confused look as Jacqui sits up, breathing a bit.

"I, uh... Sorry. I changed my mind again."

Cass blinks a few times. "...What?"

Jacqui scoots backwards, taking Cassie's hands and putting them back in her lap, before standing up and averting her eyes. "Look, I'm sorry Cassie, but... I'm not in the mood today. I thought I was for a second there but I'm not." She runs a hand along her hair and sighs. "Look... I think maybe we should just hang out by ourselves today, okay?"

Cassie sits up now, still confused. She's never really had this happen with JB. "What's up?" she asks, unsure of what else to say.

"Nothing, it's not you it's me, alright?" Jacqui lightly taps her forehead. "Can't believe I honestly just said that..."

Cassie's concern returns and she stands up, moving closer to her friend. "Jacqui, if there's something wrong, you know you can---"

Jacqui holds up a hand. "Look, Cass, I said I'm fine. I'm just not into it now, okay? I've been doing some thinking and---No, nevermind, I didn't say anything."

She then turns and makes a line for the bathroom. Cassie watches her go, still very confused and concerned.

>Stop her
>Let her go
>Let her go; talk to her through the door
>Leave the room
>Other

>>48888644
>Stay here on the floor
What are the chances of the door not being closed?

>>48888828
I don't think she would make a move on Sam. Remember Kotal's advice to Cao? It's like a sport; do it only with those who are willing to participate

>>48888850

> Talk through the door.

> Ask if she wants to build a snowCao

>>48888850
>Let her go

>>48888850
>Let her go; talk to her through the door
Alright, but if you ever feel like telling me something, I'll be around.

>>48888887

Sextuple Get for me BTW

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>>48888887
>>48888892
>>48888897

Cassie keeps her eyes trained on her as she walks up to the door and enters it, closing it behind her. She then hears a small click, indicating that it is locked. Her heart beats to an uncertain rhythm; she's never quite felt like she does right now, but something is wrong with her friend. 'Was I wrong to push her today?' she thinks. "Jacqui?"

No response. She walks up to the door and leans on it slightly, listening. She doesn't hear crying or anything, not that she expected it from a tough girl like her. "JB? Can we talk?"

"I'm fine Cass," she repeats herself. After a moment of silence, she adds, "Maybe go find Cao if you're still horny."

Well, that's definitely a shocker. What's up with her? "But we agreed we wouldn't do that to each other unless the other was there."

"Free pass for the day then, I don't care."

"...I think you do," Cassie says, putting a hand gently on the door. "In fact, I know you do. I'm not gonna do that to you."

There's no response. Cage looks around a bit, trying to think of something to say or do to rouse her friend from whatever state she's in. 'What brought this up? Was it me? Cao? Something else?'

Cassie puts her back to the door and slides down, waiting for a while. When she hears no noise, she begins to wonder if Jacqui is just waiting for her to leave before doing anything.

This is frustrating. She's never really been in this position before; she wants to be there for her friend, but what if her friend doesn't want her to be? Usually it's been the other way around, and Jacqui would be the one to help her out of an emotional moment. She's not used to this reversal...

>"Alright, but if you ever feel like telling me something, I'll be around." Leave
>"Was it something I did?"
>"Please, just talk to me, JB. I'm your best friend."
>Continue waiting in silence
>Other

>>48889159
>"Alright, but if you ever feel like telling me something, I'll be around." Leave
Wait for an answer if any

>>48889159
>>"Alright, but if you ever feel like telling me something, I'll be around." Leave

It was the Fucking Shrink

>>48889159

Externally

> Alright but if you feel like telling me something

Internally

> Was it something I did.

DAE Paranoid Cassie?

>>48889288
Good, he probably told Jacqui the truth about how the mental illness in her brain is making her gay

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>>48889219
>>48889245
>>48889306

Cassie chews on her lip a bit. "Alright, but if you ever feel like telling me something, I'll be around. I'm, uh... I'm sorry if I did something wrong. But talk to me, okay?"

After getting no reply, she stands up and leaves Jacqui's room, a strange knot in her stomach. She walks down the stairs and towards the rec room, where some of the others are hanging out, but she doesn't quite feel up to it. Cassie moves past the doors and continues on, her mind plagued with doubt.

'Was it really me? I did push her, but she seemed into it and then not. She's never flip-flopped like that on me before.' She stops for a moment in the hall. 'Maybe it's not something I did, but she's got something going on. But why wouldn't she talk about it? Maybe it really was because I was trying to fool around.'

Caught up in thought, she doesn't hear someone approaching. Ling brushes by her and then turns to look back. "Cassie?"

She looks up. "Hm?"

"Someone on the staff was looking for you. Special Forces."

"Did you get a name?"

She shrugs and replies in an aloof manner, "Nope." And then she continues on walking.

Cassie lets out a sigh. 'Maybe it's something to get my mind off of things.'

>Go ask the Special Forces personnel about this
>Wander around a bit and see if the person looking for you finds you
>Check your phone for any new updates
>Send Jacqui a text
>Other

>>48889473
>Go ask the Special Forces personnel about this

>>48889473
>Go ask the Special Forces personnel about this
and
>Check your phone for any new updates
check while in motion

>>48889473
>>>48889473
>Go see the staff about who's looking for us
>Check phone for updates
If we find evidence of this psychologist fucking up team composition for giggles or whatever I vote for kicking his teeth in regardless.

>>48889473
>>Send Jacqui a text
Let her know we need to go take care of something, ask if she wants to hang out later

>>48889288
>>48889372
Did anyone check on Shang Tsung to make sure he didn't took the form of the shrink, and plays mind games on the entire team?

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>>48889496
>>48889500
>>48889581

Adjusting her sunglasses, Cassie walks towards the Special Forces section of the base and takes out her phone, checking it for any updates. There actually is, from her father. Opening it up, she discovers that it reads, "Watch out"

'What could that mean?' she thinks as she puts it away. After entering the reception area she talks to the girl who works the desk.

"Did somebody come through here looking for me?" Cassie asks.

"Yes, one of the privates was sent for you but couldn't find you. It's about---"

Their conversation is interrupted by someone shouting, "COMMANDING GENERAL!"

Everyone in the room snaps to attention as none other than General Sonya Cage enters the room. "Carry on," she orders.

Cassie turns to her, still standing at attention. "General, I wasn't informed you were arriving."

"It wasn't pre-determined. At ease, sergeant."

Cassie relaxes a bit. "What brings you here, general?"

Sonya motions for her to follow. Cassie takes up position behind the general and to her left. 'What's mom doing here? I guess I know what dad's text was about...'

"We're moving some new equipment onto the island. Experimental technology; we're going to use it as a testing ground."

>"What kind of equipment?"
>"Should we expect anything dangerous?"
>Allow her to continue
>"General, what can you tell me about the psychologist that Secretary Blake placed on this island?"
>Other

>>48889734
>Allow her to continue
play the part.

>>48889734

> Continue

> Try not to call her Mom instead of General

> Fail at least once.

>>48889734
>Allow her to continue

>>48889799
Must... not.. disappoint mu... I mean GENERAL

Sonya worst momfu

>>48889862
Don't forget that Johnny Cage of all people was the good parent.

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>>48889778
>>48889799
>>48889860

Cassie keeps silent as she walks alongside the general. Sonya continues, "We have a stable portal on the island and at the OWEA, but it has its difficulties in quick deployments to lesser-known realms and locations. We're going to be testing a new transporter device that we believe can instantly several individuals across the realms."

"So, not like a portal? Like a teleporter?"

"Something along those lines, yes."

'Sounds bitching,' Cassie thinks to herself. "When will the test take place?"

"As soon as we set up the equipment and run a few diagnostics. We need to make sure that the island itself and its strange location won't interfere with the technology and the transmission equipment. The island itself seems mostly stable, so I don't think it will, but we want to be as safe as possible."

"Sounds good, mom."

Sonya shoots her a look and Cassie immediately straightens and takes off her shades. "I mean, general."

Sonya resumes looking forward as they reach the end of the hall and exit the doors to behold the outside. The portal is nearby, and more equipment is being brought through.

>Ask Sonya about the tech
>Ask who will be testing it
>Ask if there is anything you can do to help
>Ask if she knows anything about the secretary Blake posted here
>Other

>>48890255
>Ask who will be testing it
>Ask if there is anything you can do to help

>>48890255
>>Ask who will be testing it
Sounds like a mission for the new defenders

>>48890255
>Ask who will be testing it

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>>48890282
>>48890306
>>48890392

"Who will be testing it?"

"We'll be conducting a test with drones, initially. But if that goes well, we'll move into attempting a test of a live deployment."

"Sounds good, general," Cassie replies. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Sonya looks back at her. "Just have your team on standby, and be sure to be in uniform soldier."

"Rodger," Cassie says as Sonya moves away back in the direction they came from. Having been dismissed, Cassie heads back towards the barracks and up to her room, pausing only briefly outside Jacqui's room before moving on. Once inside her quarters, she showers and gets suited up. After checking and double-checking her gear and making sure she has everything, Cassie steps outside, intent on alerting the others.

She again stops outside Jacqui's door, wondering if she should knock.

>Knock
>Send her a text instead
>Do nothing and head downstairs
>Open the door and look inside
>Other

>>48890592
>Knock

>>48890592
>Send her a text instead
We're on official business now. She has to come out sooner or later.

>>48890592
>Knock
If she doesn't reply, then send text, but it will be trouble for her if we didn't warn her of the drill in time.

>>48890592

> Knock

If no dice

> Text

SHE's PREGNANT WITH CAO'S BABBY

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>>48890615
>>48890623
>>48890842

Cassie clears her throat before knocking a few times. At first she doesn't hear anything and believes that Jacqui is simply not answering her door; she prepares to send a text instead. But it does open, and Jacqui stands on the other side. Their eyes meet as Cassie looks at her, a bit surprised that she actually answered.

"Hey..." Cassie says softly.

"Hey."

She licks her lips in uncertainty, but remains professional. "...The general's here. We might be doing some work later. Testing out some new gear and she asked me to assemble some of the team. Can I count on you to be there?"

Jacqui takes in the info and nods. "Yeah, sure. I'll get ready."

"Okay, I'll text you when it comes down the pipeline."

"Rodger that, sergeant." Jacqui lingers for a moment before shutting the door again. Cassie swallows a small lump in her throat.

'Sergeant...' she thinks. There was something dispassionate about the way she said it. Then, she remembers something Jacqui said earlier---'Can't believe you got promoted before me...'---but that can't be the source of this issue, can it? Jacqui has never been one to get jealous... especially over a promotion.

'That can't be it,' she thinks as she walks away, 'but I just don't know what else it could be. Damnit, JB, what's wrong? Just talk to me... You're driving me nuts, and not in the usual good way.'

>Go find the others in the rec room
>See if you can track down Kaito
>Knock on Cao's door
>Return to General Blade
>Other

>>48890924
>Knock on Cao's door

>>48890924

> Rec Room

>>48890924
>>Go find the others in the rec room

>>48890924
>>Knock on Cao's door

>>48890952
>>48890972
>>48890992
>>48891113

I'll need a tie breaker.

>>48890924
>>Go find the others in the rec room

>>48891129
Rec room

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>>48890972
>>48890992
>>48891166
>>48891200

Cassie walks into the rec room where Jin, Takeda, Sam, Tundra and Vapor are hanging out with a few drinks and watching a movie. She looks on the screen and sees that it is Shrek; not exactly what she pictured them to be viewing. She picks up the remote and hits pause. Takeda looks back and gets a little cross. "Hey! We were watching that!"

"Plenty of time for that later," Cassie says, tossing him the remote. "Everyone, get suited up. We're going to be doing stuff later."

Jin is curious. "Oh, stuff? What kind of stuff? Good stuff, bad stuff? Don't keep us in suspense, please, it's killing me."

"We'll see," Cassie smirks. "Mom's on the island. We might be testing some new teleporter out later today."

Takeda springs up. "Oh, I'm there. This I gotta see."

Sam and Tundra stand up as Vapor vanishes into a cloud. As they pass by Cassie, Tundra enthuses about the film, as he hasn't seen many of them, but Sam assures him that there are better movies out there to watch. As they all move out of the room, Jin walks up to Cassie and asks, "So, new tech."

"Yeah, just a test. I don't think we'll need the whole team there for it."

He seems skeptical. "So, how badly is this going to screw up?"

"Here's hoping that when it does, you're the one who ends up in Oz," Cassie replies sarcastically.

"Yeah, funny," Jin replies. "I'll go get my chakram."

"Yes, that's sure to stop the flying monkeys," Cassie says as he walks out. She thinks to herself then, 'So: Jacqui, Takeda, Tundra, Vapor, Sam and Jin. That might be enough. Then again, maybe I should look around for a few more'

>Find Kaito
>Find Cao
>Find Ling and Frost
>Find Fireseed
>Find Sheeva
>Other

>>48891561

> where the fuck is Fox at?

>>48891597
I agree, where is he?

>>48891609
Drinking at Shang Tsung's bar obviously

>>48891597
>>48891609
>>48891666

He's out training in the jungle, but we can find him if you like.

>>48891561
>Find Sheeva
Doubtful that she cares about a teleporter but she's still part of the team

plus we can try and make small talk with her

>>48891561
>Find Sheeva
muscle would be good.

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>>48891734
>>48891811

Deciding that some muscle would be good, she searches the base for Sheeva, eventually discovering the shokan in the gym. Sheeva is powerlifting weights that weigh more than Cassie, using all four arms and squatting at the same time. Ever since discovering modern gyms, Sheeva has put Cassie and Jacqui to shame with how much she can lift and work out---but that's to be expected from a half-human-half-dragon. She's a beast, that much can be said for certain.

Cassie approaches Sheeva as she grunts. She gets the shokan's attention, who sets down the weights before stretching out her back. She cracks all four sets of knuckles and then her neck before looking down at Cassie and putting her hands on her hips. Her speech is simple and blunt: "Speak."

"Hello to you too," Cassie says with a face that meets her glare with a not-gonna-back-down attitude. "My mother is here, and she needs some of the team to help test a teleportation device she is building for mass-team-deployments."

"A test?" Sheeva says, her eyes growing thin. "Will there be battle?"

Cassie's face grows softer. "Well, no, but---"

"Then I am disinterested," Sheeva replies, returning to her weights. Cassie scratches the back of her head.

"Right..."

>Attempt to convince her
>Ask her to come along and greet your mother as old friends
>Tell her she'll get a fight, with you if necessary
>Leave
>Other

> Convince her

> We don't know what's going on and we'd like your strength and experience Sheeva.

>>48891984
>Attempt to convince her
So you are saying that there is no further use for you unless trouble already happened, and it came to violence? Are you going to wait till causalities pile up as well?

>>48891984
>Attempt to convince her
You'd look pretty stupid if a gigantic spiderdemon.....clown came out of the teleporter and you weren't there to help kick its ass because you want to lift weights by yourself

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>>48892063
>>48892081
>>48892182

Cassie puts her hands on her hips abd stands her ground against the tall, four-armed woman. "So you are saying that there is no further use for you unless trouble's already happened, and the violence is already here? Are you going to wait 'til causalities pile up as well?"

Sheeva hesitates in her weight-lifting. Emboldened, Cassie continues, "You'd look pretty stupid if a gigantic spider-demon... clown-thing came out of the teleporter and you weren't there to help kick its ass because you want to lift weights by yourself."

Now she sets them down and looks back over her shoulder. "Are you calling me unintelligent, child?"

'Now try things diplomatically,' she thinks. "We don't know what's going on and we'd like your strength and experience Sheeva. You're the heaviest hitter on our team." And in the back of her mind, she thinks, 'And I know you've been keeping yourself apart from the team ever since Sam accidentally broke your hands. Good thing Kaito was there for you afterwards, eh?'

Sheeva faces her fully again, striding up to her. She stares down at Cassie's face, and for a moment she feels what her father must have felt on this same island twenty years ago when he stared down Goro; having a shokan look like they're ready to rip you to pieces can be a pretty frightening thing and would make any reasonable person question the choices that led them to this point.

But instead of that, Sheeva relents. "Very well. I shall be there. But if this is a waste of my time, I shall take my time back out of you, Little Cage."

She turns to head towards the showers, grabbing two towels as she goes. "Looking forward to it..." Cassie mutters.

>We've gathered enough; proceed to tonight
>Search for someone else
>Contact Jacqui
>Find General Sonya
>Other

>>48892307
>>We've gathered enough; proceed to tonight

>>48892307
>We've gathered enough; proceed to tonight

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>>48892343
>>48892353

Later that evening, Cassie and the team she has assembled are standing by for the demonstration of the equipment, along with Sonya and several scientists and various SF and OWEA personnel. A drone with treads is driven onto the teleporter, a large disk-like flatform, and parked in the center. They watch as Sonya gives the command, and various levers are pulled and buttons pressed, resulting in a generation of an electrical field on the disk. The blue glue turns to lightning which surrounds the drone and, in a bright flash of light, it's gone.

Takeda lets out a whistle. "I hope that thing wasn't disintegrated."

Sonya turns to a monitor and Cassie walks up. The general observes the readings.

"Where is it being sent, general?"

"An unexplored region of Outworld. Nothing too out of the way; and this island's sub-realm is connected to Outworld as it is, so hopefully it should have reached it safely."

A nearby scientist speaks up. "General, I'm getting readings. A confirmed signal in Outworld. Looks like the drone made it there in one piece."

Sonya nods. "Alright. I think we can proceed with the live trial."

"You don't want to send another?" Jin asks.

"We sent one to Earthrealm earlier," Sonya replies. "But we know our own realm fine. It's unknown realms we're worried about, and unexplored regions. Sergeant Cage, take your team onto the platform. We're going to send you to the drone's location. Survey the area and report back."

"Rodger, ma'am." Cassie is about to go up onto the platform when Sam stops her.

"Cassie," she says. "I'm a bit... concerned. About my powers. You saw that little lightning-storm; what if it doesn't work, or I break it?"

"Well... Portals work fine with you, right?" Cassie asks. "So why should this be any different?"

"If you say so..." she says.

>All go on
>Sam stays here
>Half goes on
>Let's conduct another test
>Other

>>48892609
Well we know Shang thinks Sam's powers are stronger than her dad's..

>>48892609
>All go on
If the Defenders are to use this, then we have to test it with Sam as well.
Maybe we could have Sam come in last, to be on the safe side?

>>48892609

> Half including Sam

> You're a part of the team Sam. Of course you're coming.

>>48892674
We're going to have to do a trial with her and the rest of the team eventually.
Might as well be with all the technicians and medics around.
>>48892609
>All go on

>>48892609
>Sam stays here
Just as a control, because who knows what Sam will do to it?

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>>48892674
>>48892740
>>48892713

Cassie gives her an encouraging pat on the shoulder. "You're part of the team, Sam. Of course you're coming."

She takes a deep breath. "Okay. I'm ready."

They all proceed forward onto the platform. Cassie, Jin, Takeda, Sheeva, Sam, Tundra and Vapor all take their places in a close group on the platform, waiting for the inevitable transportation. As Sonya and the technicians go about preparations, Cassie manages to steal a glimpse at Jacqui, who looks back at her for a split second before looking straight ahead once more.

Cassie sighs and looks on, ready to just get this over with. Sonya gives the order and the electrical field starts to generate around them, a blue energy field that smells like the wind before a storm. Lighting follows, shooting up from the platform in a ball around them, completely encircling them. Cassie has her sunglasses on but the others shield their eyes. It's because of this that Cassie catches a glimpse through the lightning field; several screens turning red with large warning signs. The sound of the electricity is too great for her to hear over it, but she can hear an alarm.

'Oh shit,' she thinks, before a white flash whisks them all away. They vanish from the teleportation pad, which is completely destroyed in a shower of sparks as a catastrophic malfunction rips the machine apart from within, wrecking it utterly and destroying all of its key components. Sonya slowly takes off her cap as she stands up. The team is gone, and she quickly confers with the others; there is no trace of where they went or how they ended up.

Little did she know that they were, in fact, safe---but that situation was about to change.

>>48892946
> PANIC

>>48892975
>Cassie's bubblegum has become host to an extremely tiny demonic force that has begun attempting to infiltrate the base and is constantly thwarted by people who have taken no notice of it.

>>48892946
Get an aerontical scientist, an archeologist and a retired officer.

And this was the story of Sonya killing off half of the New Defenders. For science!

>>48893055
>Whoops guess I gotta make another one. - Gen. Sonya "World's Best Mom" Blade

>>48893090
>When your such a good mom you kill all your friends' kids too.

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>>48892946

Cassie is falling. Well, they all are, and some of them are screaming. They started off as a group but quickly separated as they tumble down towards an unknown place in an unknown realm. Panic quickly settles in as logic and reason fly off into the sky and leave them behind; Cassie desperately tries to right herself and get her bearings, but she is spinning. She is stopped suddenly when a strong hand grabs her foot; Sheeva. The shokan has managed to spread her arms and stop herself from twirling, allowing Cassie to see around them.

This is not Earth. Nor Outworld, nor Netherrealm, nor any place Cassie has ever heard of before. Off in the distance is a spire---or can it even be called such? It seems more like a growth out of the planet itself, made out of spires. Like the head of a spear it stretches up into the cosmos, black metal and covered in faraway lights, with countless more swirling about it. It seems like a city, but is more like a hive. The sheer scale of it is mind-boggling, and were she not falling and fearing for her life, she would feel like a tiny ant. Instead, she feels like a tiny any falling through the atmosphere of an alien planet.

Sam takes out her grappling hook and shoots it at Tundra, but misses. He manages to reach up and grab it, though, pulling them close together. Vapor turns into smoke and propels herself towards them, grabbing them both and bringing them to Cassie and Sheeva. Neither of them have a good picture on Kung Jin, Takeda or Jacqui; they were all somewhere in the air around them. Vapor lets go and turns into a cloud again, intent on finding them and catching them. Eventually she does this, bringing all three to the group. Cassie sees Jacqui coming and reaches for her friend, clasping her hand and holding on tightly. They stare into each other's eyes, each not knowing if this is the end.

They can't say they had anticipated this. If they had, they would have packed parachutes.

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>>48893253

"I think I can stop our fall!" Vapor shouts. "I can slow us down!"

"Do it!" Cassie shouts, not seeing another option.

They all hold onto Vapor as she closes her eyes and focuses, turning her lower body into a swirling cloud of mist, pushing upwards with all of her might. Her arms and hands flex as she shouts from the pressure being exerted on her form; she's attempting to lift several people, including herself, and they're already at terminal velocity. But it might just be their only hope, so she keeps trying. Each of them holds on for dear life, praying that it's enough.

They go lower, and lower, and lower still, falling towards the city-planet below. Clouds pass them and soon they can see lights---countless lights, lights of all colors, many of them moving.

"What the hell is this place?!" Takeda shouts.

"I didn't come here to die!" Jin echoes.

"Face it with dignity!" Sheeva advises, holding onto no less than four of the others. "If this is the end, do not die cowardly!"

"Let me get right on that!" Takeda snaps.

Cassie looks at Jacqui, and she at her. Their eyes both speak words that they cannot read; the moment is too hectic. But Cassie knows that whatever their earlier quarrel was about, whatever started it, it doesn't matter now. They close their eyes as Vapor pushes and pushes and pushes, trying to generate enough lift to counter the weight.

Suddenly, they hit something. It was already falling itself, but they still make a hard landing and tumble apart. Some of them catch themselves, but others slide near the edge of the metal vehicle. Jacqui and Cassie let go of each other and slide away; Cassie is the one who ends up near the edge. She tries to grab the smooth surface and falls off. Jacqui dives for her and reaches, but is too late.

Cassie tumbles down towards the technological city below, into the unknown, alone.

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>>48893265

I'm going to call it there for tonight; we will resume in the morning. (I'm a bit too tired due to my sleep schedule this past few days).

Tomorrow morning, we're going to continue Cassie's adventures in the strange, mysterious, and never-before-seen realm of RELLIM OHCANEP!

Stay tuned for more!

>>48893287
Ah hell.
>>48893181
>Sonya swears up and down to get Kaito next time so he doesn't feel left out.
It's how he would have wanted to go.
>Uh, you know I'm right her-
>"How. He would. Want. To go."

bump

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bump

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bump'n

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>>48896028
>>48897047

Good morning. We'll be resuming in just a bit.

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>>48893265

Cassie looks up as she goes, realizing the others landed on some kind of ship. As she does this, she herself lands atop another, going in a different direction. This time she is able to hold on as the freighter-like vessel dives down into the city, aiming for its underbelly. Cassie's fingers turn red and white from how tightly she holds onto the side of the ship, hoping it stops soon.

Sure enough, when it reaches the bottom, or street level, it slows and straightens itself before engaging its landing gear and settling down onto a designated landing zone in the street. Cassie is able to pick herself up and look around as its back opens; a large hatch with a ramp emerging from it leading down to the street. Robots, or something like that, with forklift-like arms begin driving out of it, their lower halves made up of tank-like treads, and drive up to bins placed along the filthy street.

'Garbage haulers?' Cassie thinks to herself, amazed at the level of automation these machines display. They pick up the bins and bring them back to the ship she is on. 'I'm on a garbage truck!' she realizes. She then looks around, and her hopes fall a bit further as she realizes she is in a technologically advanced realm, but here at the street level it looks more like Blade Runner than it does Star Wars. The buildings here are filthy; she can see shanty towns, burning barrels, broken-down vehicles and more. All of it is lit by neon signs, flickering street lights and other cyberpunky sources of illumination. She is astounded, feeling like she just stepped into a book or a movie.

There are people here, too. Many of them. Just going about their day, ignoring her. She looks and sees robots among them as well: humanoid and other forms. Each and every one of them seems to think nothing is wrong, unaware that they have a visitor from another realm in their midst.

>Use your radio
>Use your portal device
>Look for the others
>Talk to the locals
>Other

>>48898843
>Look for the others

>>48898843
>Use your radio
In a world this sufficiently advanced, signals should work.

>>48898917
I thought of this but maybe in the seedy underworld, advanced looking technology like a "radio" is a privilege and may attract unwanted attention

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>>48898864
>>48898917

Hopping off the garbage hauler, Cassie takes in her surroundings. She's never heard of a realm like this; one with technology instead of magic. It then occurs to her that, perhaps, this realm has never heard of Earthrealm either? 'This could be, like... first contact!' she thinks. 'But it could be bad if I don't get my team together...'

She takes out her radio as she begins walking the streets, looking for any of her friends and teammates. She attempts to use the device but it does not work. She checks it out completely; the power source is fried. 'Oh, great,' she thinks, checking her other things. Sure enough, her communicator, portal device, even her wrist watch are all fried and useless. No way to call for help or get out of here, at least not with the tools she has.

Blending into the crowd for a bit, Cassie begins to notice a few things. Namely, augmentation. Everyone, absolutely everyone she sees has some kind of implant, replacement limb, metal plating on their skin or has turned their bodies into a machine. All of them shuffle along, not quite like zombies, but nobody stops to talk to each other. Then again, it's just a city street, and it's like that back in major cities where she comes from, so she thinks that apart from the massively common cyberware things aren't too different. Still, the fact that everyone is part machine unnerves her.

She listens for voices and eventually finds a bar of sorts, but it also appears to be some kind of restaurant. People order from a central bar and go to their tables where robotic waiters and other automated features eventually deliver their food. Were she not so out of place, she'd think it is really cool, but as it stands she's more interested in getting information. She continues to observe her surroundings as she thinks about the best way to do that.

>Approach the bartender and ask questions
>Talk to random people in the area
>Stay silent and observe
>Keep walking the streets
>Other

>>48899080
>>Stay silent and observe

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>>48899080
>Stay silent and observe
ESPER?????

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>>48899102
>>48899143

Cassie sticks close to a wall and merely observes what is going on around her. She watches the interraction of people and machines, noting a few things. Everyone seems to have wires or jacks or some kind of interfacing technology, and they use it on everything. They plug themselves into every wall, every table, even each other, whatever they are currently interracting with. It seems to be based on some kind of transfer of data, perhaps communication-related or the exchange of currency, which must be entirely electronic because she hasn't seen so much as a dollar at this bar.

Suddenly, she hears something to her left. A voice, somewhat echoing and softly robotic in nature, but vaguely feminine. "You. Human. With the golden hair." The voice is soft, but aimed directly at her. She looks around and sees no one. "You are in incredible danger," the voice returns. "You must not speak to anyone. Do not look them in the eyes. Do not pause to speak with them. Do absolutely everything I say and walk towards the back of the bar; I will unlock an entrance there that leads to an alleyway. We can speak there. Whatever you do: DO NOT draw your firearm. DO NOT."

Cassie looks around for the source of the voice but sees no one. "Who are you?" she asks.

"Only you can hear me. Do not speak to anyone else or appear to be speaking to anyone else. You have done well to not approach anyone so far, but the others are not so fortunate. If you desire to escape with them, I am your only hope. You must trust me."

The voice disappears again, leaving Cassie to question this latest development.

>Go to the back of the bar and follow her instructions
>Approach the bartender and ask questions
>Stay here and continue observing
>Attempt to speak more to the voice from this position
>Other

>>48899332
>>Go to the back of the bar and follow her instructions

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>>48899343

Though it is strange, Cassie decides to listen to the voice. She walks towards the back of the bar and, sure enough, a door opens up there, highlighted by a blue neon light. She walks through it, making sure to not look at or speak with anyone. The door closes behind her and she finds herself in an alleyway with nobody else around.

Suddenly, the entire dark alley is lit up as a figure forms near her. Cassie turns and looks, seeing a blue, holographic woman. The figure before her has a beautiful appearance, with a fully-formed body and long shimmering hair, despite being made up of light. The blonde sergeant looks her up and down. 'Damn, who let Cortana out of her game?' she thinks to herself.

She then parts her lips and speaks. "Greetings, human. I am pleased that I have reached you before the authorities were alerted to your presence. However, the others may be in danger. I have not been able to locate all of them."

"Authorities?" Cassie asks. "What did we do? Are we tresspassing?"

"In a manner of speaking, that is correct. You are from another realm. All transport between realms is banned. All foreigners from other realms are to be executed."

"Woah!" Cassie says with raised brows. "Why? What did we ever do?"

"It is not what you have done, but what you could do. The masters of this realm do not wish for it to be discovered by other realms. They seek independence and protection through controlling all inter-realm transportation and elimination of all who travel to this realm from another. Their ultimate goal is the prevention of the conquering and assimilation of this realm by others."

"Well, we're not here to do that!" Cassie points out. "We've made no crime! In fact, we're here by accident!"

"But now you know of this place, Rellim Ohcanep, and for them that is crime enough."

>"And what about you? Who are you?"
>"We need to find my friends!"
>"Do you have a way out of here?"
>"Why are you telling me this? What's your game?"
>Other

>>48899514
>Who are you
>What's your game?
It's Halo 2 isn't it?

>>48899514
>"And what about you? Who are you?"
>"Why are you telling me this? What's your game?"

>>48899514
>"And what about you? Who are you?"
>"Do you have a way out of here?"

>>48899514
>>"And what about you? Who are you?"
>>"We need to find my friends!"
>>"Do you have a way out of here?"
>>"Why are you telling me this? What's your game?"
Lay all that info on me

>>48899514
>"Why are you telling me this? What's your game?"

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>>48899545
>>48899595
>>48899705
>>48899722
>>48899742

Cassie looks at the hologram and asks, "...And what about you? What's your name, anyway?"

"My serial number is 4K7Y6VQ4LP6ADCEQSFU6UWN."

Cassie blinks as the hologram rattles that off. "Uh... That's not what I meant. I meant a name, like, I'm Cassie. Not C-A-5-5-1-3, but Cassie. That's who I am. Now, who are you?"

"No one in this realm has a name. We differentiate one another through serial and production numbers."

"Good lord, this place just gets worse and worse," Cassie mutters, burying her hand in the bun on the back of her head. 'Of all the places we had to end up in, 'technological-terror-dystopia' is the LAST one on my list.' She thinks for a moment, then looks up. "Hang on. You said that the leaders want to keep people from other realms from finding out about this place, right? So why are you helping me and telling me all this? What's your game?"

"I am playing no game. It is my intention to use you to further a cause that will trigger revolution in this realm from the underclass against the masters. You, and the ones you came with, will assist me in the completion of a very difficult goal and in return I shall deliver you from this place."

Cassie puts her hands on her hips. "Well, you sure are being up front about it. That's... refreshing, in a way, but why would we help you?"

"Because I am the only program in this entire realm who will help you. You are completely organic; no machine augmentation. That is illegal here. Every citizen, every program, every machine and intelligence will turn you in at the first given opportunity once they discover this. I have not. That alone should prove that I am not your enemy.”

>”Well, you need a name.”
>”Yes, but why a revolution?”
>”What masters? Explain.”
>”I just want to find my friends.”
>Other

>>48899795
>>”Well, you need a name.”
And a beautiful partnership was born

>>48899795
>”Well, you need a name.”
Maybe Aky as in the first three digit of her serial?
or Kyva for the KYV4 in the serial?

>>48899795
>”Well, you need a name.”
>”Yes, but why a revolution?”

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>>48899807
>>48899842
>>48899927

"Well, you need a name..." Cassie says. "Hmm... Not-Cortana wouldn't be very good. Say your serial number again?" She does so and Cassie listens closely. "Maybe Aky or Kyva or something to do with those first few characters... Kyza? Akysivik? Man, I'm shit with names. Hm... It's got to be a woman's name or something, with the way you look."

"This does not appear to be an important line of reasoning," the hologram points out. "I only took this form to appear pleasing to you to better facilitate cooperative communication. You desire a way out of this realm, as all organic life does not wish to be terminated, and I desire a change in the society of this realm. Furthermore, as only the masters control the means to leave this realm, and only I have a means to control it once they are gone, but no means to defeat the masters, this necessitates our cooperation. Mutual gain, a concept that organics and machines share.”

"Boy, you sure can rattle off big words. I guess you really are a machine, huh?"

"I am an artificial intelligence. My root program was an archival system. I have maintained knowledge, in secret, that was long ago forbidden by the masters from dissemination. The control of information is how the masters control this realm. When they rose to power, one of the first things they accomplished was the destruction of all information that could threaten them. I am the only program who has managed to maintain this information, and with it, we can fight their lies with truth. But I have no means to spread this information. This is where you and your allies will assist me."

"You've got this all figured out, huh? How long have you been waiting for this chance?"

“To round up, several thousand standard cycles.”

“Cycles?”

“Years.”

>"And in all that time, you never found someone else to help?"
>"Well, what do we need to do?"
>"Have you found my friends?"
>"Just what kind of information are we talking about?"
>Other

>>48900050
>"Have you found my friends?"
>"Well, what do we need to do?"

>>48900050
>"Well, what do we need to do?"

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>>48900066
>>48900114

Cassie lets out a low whistle. "Damn. Alright, well, what do we need to do?"

"The location and reassembly of your team should take top priority. I am currently tracking three alerts in the city: one concerning a four-armed female, one concerning a group of unaugmented organics and one concerning a firearms discharge. All firearms are expressly illegal in this realm; the Vanguard Security Force is focusing strongly on that case currently. They are facing the greatest opposition."

"Firearms... That'd be either Jacqui or Sam," Cassie says aloud as she thinks. "Well, are they far apart?"

"They are not far from this location but each are separate. I believe I can guide them to be closer together, and guide you to them. Once you and your allies are reunited, I will instruct you on how to find the location of my core processor."

"What? You mean we need to find 'you'? Like where you're physically stored?"

"Correct. Only by taking me with you to confront the masters will we succeed in my plan."

"Which is, exactly?"

"Shutting down the masters, even if only temporarily, to gain access to the Grand Machine's central mainframe and upload the restricted information across the realm. This will trigger the revolution and societal change I seek. While I have control of their systems, I will then be able to use their portal technology to send you home."

Cassie nods and cracks her knuckles. "Alright then. Let's kick some cyber-ass!"

>Go find whoever used their firearms
>Go find Sheeva
>Go find the third group
>Allow her to guide them to a central location and then meet them there
>Other

>>48900245
>Go find whoever used their firearms
They would be in the most danger,

>>48900245
>Go find whoever used their firearms

>>48900245
>Go find whoever used their firearms
I also recommend to put Sheeva on high priority. She is the least likely to hide, and most likely to stir up trouble

>>48900245
>>Go find whoever used their firearms
Sheeva should be a close second as her strength could come in handy

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>>48900260
>>48900266
>>48900284
>>48900356

"Alright, let's go to that case with the firearms. They're in the most danger, right? Let's go save them. In the meantime, you try and contact the others; make sure that four-armed woman is a priority. She's really strong."

"Very well. I shall guide you." The hologram vanishes and begins to speak to her in her head again. "I will create flashing lights. Follow them."

At one end of the alley, a street light begins to rapidly flash on and off. Cassie smirks and runs to follow it, getting back out onto the street. She passes by people and futuristic vehicles but only focuses on following the series of flashing lights; once she gets underneath one, the hologram makes another. The further she goes, the fewer people she encounters, as the area is already starting to clear out from the battle that is taking place. Soon enough, she doesn't even need to follow the lights, because the sound of gunfire is enough.

Jacqui, Tundra and Takeda are battling against cyborg warriors who wield swords. They wear black armor that completely covers their skin and they deploy from flying vehicles to the ground below. Jacqui lets loose with her automatic gauntlets, tearing into them with machine gun fire as Tundra freezes two of them. Takeda spins in the air and lashes one, wrapping a bladed whip around his neck before pulling it tight and cutting off his head.

Cassie runs up, seeing that more vehicles with flashing lights and enemies are on their way, and gets ready to join the brawl.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>48900374
Let's find out if they have nuts to bust!

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>48900374
shoot some skulls in

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>48900374
Steal a sword and start hacking them to pieces

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>>48900432

Cassie dashes up to one of them just as he lands. He swings a sword at her but she performs the splits to dodge it while curling her hand into a fist before slamming it upwards into his crotch. She feels metal and armor, but no balls. Still, the attack causes him to reel backwards in pain, so at least these guys, while lacking in certain areas, can still feel a good strong punch. Nearby, Jacqui picks one of them up and throws them into another.

"Cass!" she shouts. "I thought you were dead!"

"These guys wish!" Cassie replies, getting up as two more advance forward. Jacqui fires with both gauntlets on one of them, taking him down.

>>48900465

Cassie takes out her own pistol and aims, but the cyborg uses the flat of his blade to knock it out of her hand. He then draws a second blade and advances on her, ready to impale!

>>48900471

She reaches for one of the swords but only ends up cutting herself on the blade, drawing blood across her palm when he twists it. He then uses the other sword to stab her in the shoulder. Cassie grunts and lets out a small cry as she feels its sting.

Nearby, Jacqui notices. "HEY!" she shouts before tackling him to the ground. Cassie falls back as the sword is withdrawn and Jacqui proceeds to unleash a beatdown on the cyborg, raining blows down on him with her gauntlets that soon dent, break and smash the armor. With one final punch, she smashes his head against the floor, sending black chunks of oily flesh in all directions.

She gets up and runs over to Cassie as Tundra and Takeda work together to hold off the others.

"You alright?" she asks, helping her up.

"I've had worse," Cassie chuckles, shaking off her hurt hand and wincing only slightly from her hurt shoulder. "Come on, let's---"

Another vehicle swoops overhead and drops off three sword-wielding cyborgs, who waste no time and charge in.

>1d100 and an action!
>Current Meter: 2

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>48900631
pull out the baton and crack some skulls

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>48900631
offer them some glowkick.

"Operator! I need an exit!"

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>48900631
Try to manipulate them into impaling each other with th swords

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>48900631
Nut going to get beat by a bucket of bolts

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>>48900679

Cassie takes out her baton and tries to use it defensively, but one swift swing of their glowing blade cuts it in half. The cyborg then turns and kicks Cassie in the jaw, sending her down to the ground.

>>48900695

Bracing herself, she tries to flip up with a glowing kick, but the cyborg dodges it. The armored figure turns and slashes her arm, cutting her uniform and drawing some more blood.

>>48900718

As Cage lands and holds her arm, the machine attempt to stab forwards. Noting that Jacqui is fighting one behind her, she steps out of the way and pushes the cyborg forward, making it impale its buddy. Cassie then grabs its soulder and pulls the cyborg backwards to deliver a devastating punch to its face.

>>48900735

"I'm not going to get beaten by a bucket of bolts!" she says, her fist glowing green. She then smashes the cyborg again, tearing off its mask to reveal fleshy circulature beneath, wires and blood and small panels. She drops the cyborg to the ground and stomps on its head, smashing it.

Nearby, Jacqui rips the arm off of one and uses it to bash another.

Suddenly, a large ship crashes nearby, tearing through several vehicles on the street as it skids along, leaving a trail of fire and smoke behind it. They all look and see the wreckage as it comes to a stop. The door opens up on its side, and Vapor pokes her head out. "...Hey," she says as Jin and Sam run out behind her.

"Looks like the tide is turning!" Cassie says. Further up the street, however, more enemy vehicles are approaching.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>48900837
Look for some flashing lights to evade the incoming vehicles and get away.

Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>48900837
buckle up, and let's make a break for it. We can't defeat an entire realm.

>>48900837
>Operator, I need an exit.
We can't keep fighting in the streets like this, not if we plan on an imminent insurrection.

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>>48900907
>>48900919
>>48900984

Cassie sees the incoming vehicles and quickly forms a plan. "Everyone, group up on me! MOVE!"

Tundra finishes freezing a cyborg and smashing him as Vapor teleports alongside Cassie. Sam, Jin and Takeda run up to her as the Lin Kuei makes it to Jacqui's position before they both reach Cassie. The sergeant picks up her glock and starts to back up, putting a hand to her ear. "Operator, I need an exit!"

"Who are you talking to?" Jacqui asks. "My comm equipment is down!"

"We got enemies on the roof!" Jin says, aiming his bow upwards as figures begin to appear.

Cassie then sees a flashing light nearby. "This way! Follow me!"

The group breaks into a run as they follow the lights. All around them, sirens blare and cyborg officers give chase. Rounding a corner into an alleyway, they reach an underground entrance that opens for them as they run up to it. All of them get underground as the pursuing force loses track of them. Now they are inside some kind of tunnel system that runs beneath the streets and the buildings; it looks like a series of interconnected maintenance shafts. Here, they take a break and sit down and inspect each other for wounds.

"Alright," Cassie breathes. "We made it. Safe for now, but we're still down one shokan."

The hologram suddenly flickers into being nearby. "I am currently in the process of assisting her. She is very stubborn and refusing to evacuate out of a desire to keep fighting."

"That sounds like here alright," Takeda replies. "But who are you?"

"My serial number is---"

"She's here to help," Cassie interrupts her.

Nearby, Sam hugs her knees to her chest. "This is all my fault..." she whispes. "My powers must have interfered with the teleporter..."

"Hey," Tundra says, putting a hand on her shoulder. "We don't know that..."

But she doesn't seem convinced.

>Let the hologram tell the others the deal
>Make plans to retrieve Sheeva
>Assure Sam that it isn't her fault
>Patch yourself up
>Other

>>48901113
>Make plans to retrieve Sheeva
>Assure Sam that it isn't her fault
Of all the times for Sheeva to go maximum meathead.

>>48901113
>Make plans to retrieve Sheeva
She needs personal persuasion

>Assure Sam
Even if it is, then what? The portal tech was dangerous on it's own, and it had to be tested with Sam as well. Would it have been better if she ended up her on her own instead?

>>48901199
Also as weird as it sounds, it's way better to be stuck in this technological dystopia. than being torn into pieces by the teleport.

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>>48901166
>>48901199

Cassie stands up, holding her shoulder. "It's not your fault, Sam. Even if it is, then what? I mean, the tech was dangerous on its own, and it had to be tested with you. Would it have been better if you ended up here on your own instead?"

Tundra adds on, "Furthermore, we don't know why it happened, or even what realm this is. We can't get caught up in why we ended up here right now. We need to focus on getting home."

"Right, and Blue over there has our ticket home, but it won't be easy," Cassie says. 'Hmm... Maybe Blue would be a good name. I'll need some time to think about it.' She looks back at the others. "She has a way to get us out of here and wants to help us, and trust me, she's probably the only friendly thing we're going to meet in this place. First thing's first, though, let's go get Sheeva."

Jacqui stands up. "You're hurt, Cassie. You're in no state for a rescue mission from hostile territory."

"I'm fine," she insists.

Jacqui shakes her head. "Let's get you patched up first. Then we go."

Tundra raises a finger. "Or we could split up. She," he indicates the hologram, "could lead us to Sheeva while you remain here to heal, Cassie. Then she guides us back and we figure out step two from there."

"I'll stay here to apply the dressing," Jacqui says, taking out her medkit. Cassie thinks for a moment. It could be a chance to get some time to talk to Jacqui, but the mission should come first.

>Everyone goes to get Sheeva
>Stay here to patch yourself up alone
>Keep Jacqui here to patch you up, send the rest off to get Sheeva
>Everyone will wait here; Sheeva can fend for herself
>Other

>>48901322
>Keep Jacqui here to patch you up, send the rest off to get Sheeva

>>48901322
>Other
Finding her will be less of an issue than getting her to move. Are you sure you can convince her to stop fighting?

>>48901322
>Keep Jacqui here to patch you up, send the rest off to get Sheeva
>other
Let's not even bring it up, hostile territory and we don't need to bring up whatever little tif we're having

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>>48901419
>>48901553

After considering it for a moment, Cassie nods. "Alright. Tundra, you're in charge. Bring Sheeva back in one piece."

"I think finding her is going to be easier than convincing her to come along," Jin points out. "She's probably having the time of her life fighting those cyborgs."

"Find a way," Cassie instructs him. Tundra nods and moves off, taking the others with him. Nearby, Jacqui takes out the contents of her medkit and begins helping Cassie clean and dress the wounds.

"That was crazy how we were falling, wasn't it? I thought we were done for," she says as Cassie holds a cloth over her arm. "The hell kind of realm is this place, anyway?"

Cassie looks over at the hologram. "How about a history lesson?"

"Long ago, this realm was one of peace. Man and machine lived in harmony. Then came war with another realm, and it was during this time that the Grand Machine came to prominance."

Cassie listens closely as Jacqui continues her work. "What is that?"

"The Grand Machine was the first machine designed to be better than organic thinking processes. It took control of the war and led the realm into victory, but at a cost. The Grand Machine is connected to all technology within this realm, but some are more connected than others. These are the masters, the architects and gaurdians of the machine, who rule over Rellim Ohcanep. One's connection to the processes of the Grand Machine determines status within the society."

"Then why are things so terrible around here? Ugly streets, brutal law enforcement; this place is a dystopia."

"In earning the freedom of the realm by giving it to the Grand Machine, so too did they sign away the right to live without it. It now controls every aspect of life in Rellim Ohcanep."

>"Why is being organic illegal?"
>"With such advanced technology, why are firearms illegal?"
>"What is the Grand Machine's ultimate goal?"
>Ask to be alone with Jacqui
>Other

>>48901735
>"Why is being organic illegal?"
>"What is the Grand Machine's ultimate goal?"

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>>48901735
>"What's the grand machine's ultimate goal?"

>>48901763
>>48901800
COMPLETE GLOBAL SATURATION.

>>48901735
>"Why is being organic illegal?"
My guess is because it's uncontrollable

>>48901735
>>Other
Did this war with another realm come in the form of sending a single ship after waves of bug like enemies who flew in predictable patterns before lining up single file then flying the predictable pattern in reverse, with a ship that could capture the single allied ship every so often but if it was shot down by the next single allied ship, it'd create a cool double ally ship?

>>48901906
Is this space invaders, or something else?

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>>48901763
>>48901800
>>48901857

She takes the cloth off of her wound to allow Jacqui to wash it. "What is the Grand Machine's ultimate goal? Control of organics? Is that why it's illegal to not be enhanced?"

"Everything the machine has done has been to prevent others from discovering this realm. It and the masters control all means of leaving and they hunt down any intruders. This is done to maintain the realm's independence and secrecy. But its seeks to do this through absolute control over every being in the realm. Organic life is seen as inefficient and flawed, and so the greater one becomes connected to the Grand Machine, the less flesh they use as it is replaced. Ultimately, even the soul itself is transferred into data. This is considered transcendance. But the augmentation serves another purpose, and that is to shackle them to the realm and the Grand Machine; if any were to leave and have their connection to it severed, they would die."

"Damn," Cassie mutters. "All this just so that nobody can find the realm..."

"Correct. Absolute control: control of flesh, mind and information. That is how the masters have kept the realm safe, at the cost of the soul. This realm handed its reigns over to a machine, and now it treats everything within the realm with the same level of detachment."

"And what about you? Why do you want this all to change?"

"As an archival program, I know what no one else does and have access to files and memories from before the time of the Grand Machine. I desire a return to that time. The Grand Machine is no longer the efficient tool. It was created to stop a war, and the war was over long ago. It should be destroyed or deactivated and the realm allowed to grow once more."

>Ask more questions to the hologram
>Talk to Jacqui
>Wait for the others in silence
>Come up with a name for the hologram
>Other

>>48901906

Maybe

>>48901942
Galaga.

>>48901966
>Talk to Jacqui
so sci-fi distopia. how about that?

>>48901966
>Come up with a name for the hologram
>other
Ask it what it would like to be called or what name sounds nice to it

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>>48902016
>>48902040

Cassie's all patched up now. Jacqui puts things away and repacks the medkit as Cassie looks at her. "So, sci-fi dystopia. How about that?"

"I just want to get out of here, and then I'm gonna have some words with the general," Jacqui mutters.

"Get in line. But they did seem pretty confident in the technology... I wonder why it failed. You don't think it was Sam, do you?"

"No idea. I think it might have just been a malfunction. You don't think it was sabotaged, do you?"

"Can't see how, but I hope not. I just wish we had a way to contact the New Defenders. Mom and dad and everyone else are probably worried sick about us."

"We'll be alright, as long as we stick together," Jacqui says with a smile. She looks at Cassie and pauses before averting her eyes a bit. "Hey... Listen, Cass, about earlier... In my room, I mean..."

Cassie's eyes widen a bit and she remains still as Jacqui prepares to speak some more.

>Listen to what she has to say
>Ask for some privacy from the hologram
>Stop her and say you'll talk about it later
>Quickly jump in and apologize first
>Other

>>48902310
>Listen to what she has to say
>Ask for some privacy from the hologram

>>48902310
>>>Listen to what she has to say
>>Ask for some privacy from the hologram

>>48902310
>Stop her and say you'll talk about it later
Because I am evil

>>48902310
>>Listen to what she has to say
for once it might be good to not open our mouth

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>>48902321
>>48902326
>>48902413

"Wait," she says, holding up a hand. She looks over to the hologram. "Can we have a bit of privacy, please?"

Though her face seems a bit curious, the hologram blinks away. Cassie looks back and nods.

Jacqui takes a deep breath. "Listen, I'm sorry the way things turned out earlier. I had a lot of feelings that were complicated and it just didn't end up right, the way it all went down. It's not the way I wanted it to happen, I was annoyed and angry, mostly at myself, and it just didn't happen the way it should have. I hadn't made up my mind yet and by the time I did you were already going and... I didn't end right. And then while we were falling..."

Cassie still doesn't quite understand. "JB, just talk to me. Be up front about it. Tell me true."

Jacqui pauses before looking Cassie in the eyes. "I want us to go back to the way things were before. I want us to stop having sex and just be friends. I don't want to lose you, but..."

Cassie's heart beats in time with her confused feelings. "But?"

"...Everything we've ever done---Like I don't know, boot camp, Special Forces, Outworld, shopping, living together, sex---it's been together. Always. And I just don't want to end up like we're, I don't know, stuck at the hip. You in front, me behind. I'm there, sure, but all this time I've kind of just been... your sidekick."

Cassie blinks a few times. "Is that how you've really felt this whole time?"

"I just feel like nothing I've done has been really independent of you and based solely around me. And it's like... I don't want to be in your shadow, Cage. I was talking to the team psychologist, and..." Her voice trails off a bit as she averts her eyes again.

Now Cassie's eyes grow even wider. 'This is like how I feel about my parents... but that's how she's been feeling, too?'

>Let her go on
>"I never wanted to make you feel like that."
>"Is this about the promotion?"
>"What about Cao? Are we going to call it off?"
>Other

>>48902575
>Let her go on
Confession is difficult business let her let it out

>>48902575
>Other
Motherfuck the psychiatrist
>I never wanted to make you feel like that

>>48902634
Pretty much this

>>48902634
So it's agreed we talk to Gen. Momya Blade and possibly kick his teeth in?

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>>48902629
>>48902634
>>48902891

"I never wanted to make you feel like that," Cassie says softly. She chews on her lip a bit and lets Jacqui continue.

"I know you didn't do it intentionally, but it's just the way I feel. You're my best friend, Cass, but can we really just keep going like this? We had fun but I just think I'm looking for something else. I mean I love you but I don't 'love' you, do you know what I mean?"

"...Yeah, I do," Cassie nods. "I just... I always thought we were having fun."

"And we were, like I said. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I didn't enjoy it, it's just that I've been doing a lot of thinking and I'd kind of like to just be my own person for a while. I was actually thinking of maybe shooting to compete in the Olympics or something."

"Wow, really? Like you did in the juniors?"

"Yeah, just... Something I can do myself, you know? I wouldn't want you to be uninvolved, or not cheering me on from the sidelines, but at the end of the day I don't want you so involved with me, either. I'd just like some space, is all." She lets out a sigh. "I know this probably disappoints you..."

"I'm not---I mean, I..." Cassie is at a bit of a loss for words. "I guess I've just never really been in this kind of situation, is all. I never knew you were feeling like this, though. Why didn't you ever bring it up before?"

"I don't know. I just thought I was taking the path of least resistance or something but it just wasn't doing it for me anymore. I don't really want to in this kind of threeway-friends-with-benefits, deal. I kind of..."

"...Yes?"

"...would like it if I could date Cao alone."

Cassie sits back a bit as she takes in this information. She didn't necessarily love Cao on a romantic level, but the fun she had with him was great.

>"Can we talk about this later, with him instead?"
>"Alright, sure, if you want him to yourself, that's cool."
>"I'm not quite ready to stop our thing, yet."
>"Well... maybe I want him, too."
>Other

>>48903002
>"Alright, sure, if you want him to yourself, that's cool."
Cassie can fuck one of the OCs that isn't Cao

>>48903002
>>"Well... maybe I want him, too."
Huehue

>>48903002
>"Alright, sure, if you want him to yourself, that's cool."
Cassie cares more about Jaqui than Cao.

>>48903002
>>"Can we talk about this later, with him instead?"

>>48903002
>"Alright, sure, if you want him to yourself, that's cool."
HIGH SCHOOL SHEEEEOT

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>>48903132
>>48903206
>>48903282

She shoots a look back to Jacqui. "Okay."

Jacqui blinks and then turns back. "Okay?"

"I've known you longer than I've known him. It's not that I don't care about him, but I care anout you more. If you don't want to share, who am I to say no?"

"It's just... I mean, the way this whole thing started..."

"Jacqui," she interrupts her, "I'm serious. If you like him, go for it."

"You sure you're not upset?"

Cassie waves a hand. "Come on. We're not in high school anymore. Honestly, I was just worried about you and the way you were acting earlier. But if that's all this is about, then consider us officially back to best friends status. How's that?"

Jacqui smiles and crawls over to give Cassie a hug. "I love you, girl."

"I know," Cassie smirks, squeezing her tightly.

At that moment, the hologram reappears. Cassie can't help but think that, with that timing, she was listening in...

"The others are approaching. They were able to successfully retrieve the four-armed one."

"Great!" Cassie says as she and Jacqui get up. She gives Jacqui's hand one last squeeze and throws in a wink. "Let's get going."

They move down the tunnel until they can regroup with the others. Cassie looks up at Sheeva as she stands behind Jin and Takeda. "Have much trouble?" she asks the shokan, who is covered with a few cuts and scrapes. Miraculously, despite her outfit being a one-piece, it wasn't cut by the blade-wielding enemies.

"The inhabitants of this realm think that machinery gives them strength. I was showing them the folly of their ways," Sheeva replies.

"That means she was bashing their skulls together," Takeda quips.

"Well, glad to see you're not hurt," Cassie smiles. "Now then..." She turns to the hologram. "Where to next?"

>Take some time to camp here and come up with a plan
>Head straight to the hologram's storage unit
>Find a more secure location for a temporary base camp
>Talk with the hologram for a bit and get everyone up to speed
>Other

>>48903442
>>Head straight to the hologram's storage unit

Let's stay on the move, a world of tech probably has enough means of detection and surveillance to make trying to hide pointless.

>>48903527
No point in cameras if everyone is LoJack'd
>>48903442
>More secure base camp

>>48903442
>Talk with the hologram for a bit and get everyone up to speed
What's Sheeva's age in approximation to human years exactly

>>48903627
>No point in cameras if everyone is LoJack'd

Alternatively, everyone and everything just plain has eyes to see with, and they're all wired into the same network...

>>48903527
This one

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>>48903527
>>48903670

The hologram begins to guide the group through the tunnels. As they walk, they talk, and Cassie explains the situation on a more in-depth level: the deal with the cyborgs, the Grand Machine, and Rellim Ohcanep itself.

"At least they value close combat," Sheeva remarks. "They do not fight from far away."

"Yes, but there's little honor in fighting enemies that are basically drones," Takeda points out. "This place doesn't even have any real people. Just walking computers."

"I think they're still people," Jin says. "They don't deserve enslavement to a computer. That's what we're aiming for, right?"

"We're aiming to get out of here," Cassie says. "Everything else is secondary, honestly."

"Well, it's also our job to help people," Jin argues back. "It doesn't matter where they come from or what's happened to them, they're still people."

"They certainly have their skulls crushed like people," Sheeva says.

The hologram pauses for a moment. "I am detecting danger."

Everyone's weapons are out and up in an instant, even if it is just their hands. Sam and Tundra look down a tunnel to the left while Vapor and Jin cover the right tunnel; everyone else looks either ahead or behind.

"What is it? More robots?" Tundra asks.

"They are sending in units to attempt to flush you out of the tunnels," she reports. "We must move and quickly!"

She vanishes and begins guiding them with the lights. They break out into a run. Behind them, they begin to hear the sounds of many small feet hitting the ground as robotic drones take up chase, having locked onto their position.

"It's dogs!" Takeda shouts as canine-shaped machines appear at the end of the tunnel behind them. "It's robot dogs!"

Bright, LED eyes stare at them from the shadows for a moment before charging up to them.

>1d100 to run and gun!

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>48903817
Let's channel Cao on a good day

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>48903817
Bail! Bail!

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>48903817
I'll save us

>>48903947
Thank you

>>48903947
With a roll like that? Maybe.

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>>48903866

One of the dogs closes in quickly and leaps up onto Cassie's back as she attempts to aim, knocking her to the floor. Tundra sees this and quickly creates a ball of ice around his hand before smashing it against the dog's head, knocking the robot backwards as Takeda creates a whirling whip-storm to keep the others at bay for a moment before Vapor steps up and pulls down her mask to let loose a breath of hot steam upon them, partially melting their armor.

With the first group dispatched, Jin pulls Cassie up to her feet and they're off again, this time with Cassie leading the way. She spies the flashing lights up ahead and turns as more canines can be heard.

>>48903918

Thankfully, they enter a tunnel with a door that can close. Cassie notes this and orders Sheeva to shut it. The shokan stops and looks back before reaching up to the metal door and pulling it down, severing their pursuit temporarily.

>>48903947

"Alright, stick together," Cassie advises them. "If we get lost in these tunnels we'll get picked apart, so keep an eye on everyone else! Let's move!"

Taking command once more, she takes them across a series of bridges that span vats of strange liquids. They constantly hear the sounds of metal scraping and footsteps behind them, keeping them moving forward.

>>48903947

After entering some kind of train junction that is long abandonned, the hologram guides them to a ladder. Cassie and Jacqui provide cover while Sheeva steps up to the metal plate covering the ladder and tears it off with her bare hands. One by one, they climb the ladder upwards until again they must bash their way through the hatch at the top, which Sheeva does with little effort.

Having eluded pursuit (for now) they all climb up and take in their new surroundings. They are in some kind of library that looks ancient, with shelves covered in dust and spider webs.

Proceeding to the back of the library, the hologram appears once more to speak to them.

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>>48904171

"This was my original home, and where my core has been located since I gained sentience. You will take my core and then we shall proceed to the central network hub where the masters and the Grand Machine await.

"So, you are 'alive' then?" Cassie asks her. "I mean, you think and feel like a person does?"

"Perhaps not in the same ways, but yes. I am self-aware, and I feel. And in this library and archive, I am at my most powerful."

She approaches Cassie and holds up her holographic hand, and when Cassie attempts to touch it, to her amazement it feels solid. "How? Isn't this just a projection of you?"

"Very advanced technology," the AI explains. "Hard-light. Solid projection to mimic physical matter."

"Never knew a hologram that could touch things," Jacqui says, impressed.

"If she can touch things then it's technically not a hologram," Jin points out. "Just saying."

Cassie runs her hand along the construct's fingers. "It feels real, but not like a human. It's too smooth and there's no warmth."

"The technology lacks certain subtleties," she replies. "I cannot use it to physically feel anything, but I can interract with my environment with this projection."

"Reminds me of a ghost I met one time in Outworld," Cassie muses.

"A spirit? Most fascinating. I have only read about theories relating to the spirit, but as I do not possess one of my own, I could not truly understand the ramifications of meeting one."

"Well, you're pretty neat yourself," Cassie smirks. "It's not every day you meet a friendly librarian-hologram in a world straight out of Phillip K. Dick's nightmares."

"I am also pleased to have met you," she replies.

>"So, where is the core?"
>"What do we do once we take you? How do we reach the masters?"
>"What are you going to do once we succeed?"
>"Is there any way to upgrade yourself, like into a physical body?"
>Other

>>48904183
>"What do we do once we take you? How do we reach the masters?"
Is it self-powered? Do we have to turn it off before we can mobilize it? Isn't it too big to carry? What's the next part of the plan?

>>48904183
>"What are you going to do once we succeed?"

>>48904183
>>"Is there any way to upgrade yourself, like into a physical body?"
This is a team themed tv show. We gotta have a female robot ai thingy

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>>48904233
>>48904242

The hologram guides them down to a computer room. It is a mess of wires, circuit boards and all manner of strange technological devices that none of them want to touch. But in the center of the room is a glowing computer lit by blue lights with a small port on it. The hologram instructs them to press a button, and when they do, she vanishes. The lights around the room dim and a small card emerges.

They take hold of it, and from the card a smaller version of her appears, standing on it.

"So, what do we do now, exactly?" Cassie asks. "I mean, how do we reach the masters?"

"They house themselves at the top of the largest spire. It would be wise of us to take a ship to reach them."

"Do you have one?" Jin asks.

"We will have to steal one."

"So, no," he answers the question for himself.

The hologram vanishes as Cassie slides her core into a pouch. She speaks again, this time in Cassie's ear. "I can communicate to you through the network via wireless connection, but I will not be able to project myself. You must protect me, and I will continue to guide you."

"Alright, your life is in my hands. Got it." She looks back at her squad and says, "So, anybody up for some Grand Theft Starfighter?"

"How are we going to get our hands on one?" Jin asks, leaning on his staff. "Just walk out onto the street and steal one?"

The AI speaks up. "As I am now removed from the mainframe of the library, I am no longer able to mask your presence from this realm's scanners. I am sorry to say that they are coming here now. You could potentially steal a ship from the Vanguard forces, as they will soon be upon us."

Everyone looks at each other for a moment. "Shit," Cassie mutters as they begin sprinting back towards the central hall of the library. "You could've given us some warning!"

"Forgive me. The subtleties of organic conversation yet elude me."

"Convenient excuse," Jin mutters.

>1d100 to prepare for the attack!

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>48904426
Dice give me something good, Cassie needs a new pair of shoes

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>>48904459
The Flying Dutchman of the realm

>>48904459
So do we get sweet robot legs now?

>>48904502
jetboots?

>>48904426
Can we steal a robo-dog or six? I want to name one Friender.
Or better yet, get our own Cyborg Ninja with his own Robo-Dog named Friender for the New Defenders.

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>>48904459

They reach the main hall and immediately group up, looking to Cassie for a plan. She surveys the area and quickly comes up with a solution and a battleplan. Quickly dishing out the orders, they all get into position and wait.

The ceiling explodes and several units jump down on metal ropes. These cyborgs are much more advanced than before; taller, with stronger armor, quicker reflexes and more advanced blades that use the same basis of hard-light technology to be both weightless and extremely sharp. They jump down and crush tables beneath their talon feet, scanning the area for the extra-realm intruders.

"NOW!" Cassie shouts and the team emerges from hiding.

Sheeva pops up with a large boulder and hurls it at them while Tundra blasts the ground they are standing on with ice. The boulder makes them dodge but then they slip, though one is taken out by the large rock. Separated, the group is then set upon by the team. Jin aims with his bow and fires an arrow cleanly through the head of one as Vapor turns into a cloud and flies into another, tearing his robotic shell apart from the inside. Takeda teleports between two of them and attacks them with his pulse blades, cutting them in half, while Cassie and Sam use their firearms on two more, with Cassie throwing in a few shadow balls and finishing him off with a shadow kick.

Sam steps out in front of one of them, who turns to her after picking himself up from slipping. He raises his sword and strikes Sam right in the neck, intent on cutting her head off, but the blade shatters on contact! She then takes out a baton and presses a button to charge one end with electricity before shoving it in his chest, short-circuiting him with it. His smoking wreck falls before her, at which she jumps up and down. "I got one! I got one!"

Cassie quickly calls them forward. "Let's climb up to that ship!" She grabs one of the metal coils and begins to scale.

>1d100 to get up to the ship!

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>48904638
Sheeva! Throw me!

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>48904638
"Tundra launch us up with your pillars, Sheeva you have your fun holding them off and jump up here to join us."

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Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>48904638
>I got one! I got one!

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>>48904657

Cassie looks up at the ship hovering over the library and gets a different idea instead. Sliding down, she looks over at Sheeva and says, "Sheeva! Throw me!"

"You cannot be serious," the shokan replies.

"Just do it!"

Sheeva shrugs and picks up Cassie, who suddenly feels very small. She gulps. "Just give me a warning FIIIIIRRRRRRSSSSSST!"

On that last word, Sheeva winds back and hurls the sergeant upwards, towards the ship. Cassie flips through the air and just barely manages to grab the edge of the platform before pulling herself up, finding herself in some kind of warship. Other combat units turn to look at her.

"Sup tin cans?" she asks with a smile as her hands glow green.

>>48904664

Sheeva attempts to leap up, but another ship flies down and rams into her as it tries to cover the hole in the roof. The shokan grunts as she climbs up onto the ship and tears off its glass cockpit before pulling the pilot out and pummeling him with two fists as the smaller vessel spirals downwards. Before it crashes, she tosses the pilot carelessly aside and leaps from it to join the others, using her massive verticle leap to get to the top.

>>48904678

By the time the others have climbed up, all they find is Cassie atop a pile of scrap with a few new scrapes, tossing the head of one of the machines up and down in her hand. She throws it behind her. "Let's have a chat with the captain of this ship."

>1d100 to fight your way to the bridge!

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>48904782
Shadow kick forward, plow a hole which sheeva can widen in the crew of the ship

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>48904782

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>48904782
green balls of plasma for everyone!

Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>48904782
As per usual. I'll save us

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>>48904817
>>48904849

Deciding to test how strong the walls of the ship are, Cassie brings up her foot and surges forward with a green trail, kicking the wall.

As it turns out, pretty strong and solid metal. Cassie recoils a bit as Jacqui gives her a bit of a sassy look. "You serious?" she asks.

"Don't look at me right now," Cassie mutters as she rubs her foot. "I'll have you know I've been on a really decent winning streak recently."

"Somehow I doubt it," she says as she approaches the same wall, crackes her knuckles and begins pounding it with her gauntlets. The metal begins to dent, but Jacqui tires herself out.

Sheeva then steps up. With a single fiery four-fisted punch, she burns/bashes a hole through the wall and to the other side. Sheeva gives them both a slightly cocky look as they all proceed forwards.

Cassie looks at Vapor. "Vapor, do your thing. See if you can get to the cockpit through this ship's vents."

"Just don't ask me to fly it," Vapor replies. "We've already seen how well THAT goes."

She turns into a wisp of fog and sucks herself up into the vents as the remainder of the team continues onwards. Sheeva takes up the front, bashing her way through the ship.

Takeda whistles as he walks alongside Jin, looking ahead at Sheeva pulverizing the walls. "Man, you've just got to admire a shokan's strength."

Jin rolls his eyes. "It's not her strength you're admiring."

"Stay focused," Cassie tells them.

"Well he's not wrong," Takeda shrugs.

Soon, they find themselves in another deployment bay, where a new collection of cyborgs awaits. The team get into a line and charge!

>>48904877
>>48904881

Cassie sets herself up against a slightly-inhuman-shaped warrior with a large, triangular head and thin legs, who wields a glowing sword in each hand. He swings at her but she slides back with a green trail before hurling several plasmic balls at him. Cassie smiles before performing a powerful shadow-backflip-kick to his large head.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>48904971
Akimbo!

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>>48905084

Cassie dodges his swords as he continually advances. All around her, the members of her squad battle the cyborg threat, but she is only focused on the one in front of her. She takes out her gun and shoots him in the leg, bringing him down onto a knee which allows her to deliver a roundhouse to his chin. As he steps back up and swings, she jumps up and grabs a low-hanging bar and swings around it, using her gymnist training to swing down and kick him in the chest. The attack sends him backwards and onto one of the drop-bay panels.

Cassie lands and uses her elbow to hit a nearby red button on a wall, opening the panel beneath him. He falls to the city below as she walks up and smiles. "Have a good trip! See you next---"

Before she can finish, another cyborg attacks her from behind! She grabs his arm and twists it before throwing him to Sheeva, who grabs him, holds him up and slams him down on her knee, all but snapping him in half from the force of the attack. She then tosses him out the opening as well.

Cassie looks towards a nearby staircase which leads up to a door that a new cyborg is arriving through. 'That must lead to the bridge,' she thinks to herself. With a running start, she and Jacqui make their way up the stairs and towards that door.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>48905233
drop kick this fool into blue screen of death

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>48905233
Guns out.

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>>48905255
>>48905298

Cassie and Jacqui run up to the cyborg as he swings. Cassie jumps up while her friend dives down, both dodging the attack before attacking him from two different angles. As Jacqui blasts her guantlet's weaponry into his groin, Cassie shadow-dropkicks him in the head. Needless to say, this destroys him. After picking themselves up, they run up to the door and get on either side of it.

Cassie has her gun in hand. "Ready to breach and clear?"

"Just like in basic, but with more robots," Jacqui says with a smile.

Cassie gives her the signal and Jacqui blasts down the door. They both run into the room and start mowing down cyborgs with bullets and green energy blasts. The bridge is fairly wide but has plenty of cover; Jacqui covers Cassie as she reloads and then she does the same for her. Working together, they annihilate the crew.

Just then, Vapor appears, pouring out of a nearby vent. She gives them both an awkward look. "Oh. I guess you guys found it already."

"Don't sweat it," Cassie replies, looking at the primary control station. She pushes the dead cyborg out of the way and climbs into the seat, grabbing the handles.

"Are you sure about this?" Jacqui asks. "You remember how long it took to get your driver's liscense..."

"I got this, trust me," Cassie says. She presses two buttons on the handles and launches torpedoes that blow up a nearby building. Jacqui cocks her brow as Cassie offers a sheepish smile. "I'll get this, trust me," she corrects herself.

>1d100 to fly the ship!

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>48905509
Okay. I theory, it should be easier than a cary right? There are probably less obstacles around if you are in the air.

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>48905509
Just like any other OWEA dropship.

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>>48905544

Cassie pushes forward on the controls and wiggles them around a bit to get the hang of them. Soon enough, she is taking off into the atmosphere.

"I can fly, you know," the AI speaks to her. "You don't need to take this risk."

"Risk is half of the fun!" Cassie replies as she dodges missiles fired from the other ships. She looks on the 3D radar screen at her ship and the position of the other ships, using it to judge distance and when to dodge. The ship rolls and swerves as she kicks it into high gear, making dangerous turns. Jacqui holds onto a chair as Vapor turns into smoke to avoid getting sick.

"I'm sorry for the rest of the team on board, but I'm more sorry for whoever gets in my way! WOOO HOOOO!" Cassie slams on the controls, thrusting the ship into the skies! "Where to, anyway?"

"The top of the spire!" the AI tells her. "Just be careful! It is well-defended!"

"Maybe we should make them buy a new roof," Cassie says with a smile. As she flies higher, she can see just how massive the planet, its world-city and the great spire is. Even the moon is covered in massive city-spires, though none as large as the one she is aiming for. Like most things today, she'd like to take the time to apprecaite its scale were it not for the fact that she's trying to attack the motherbrain of an evil computer network housed in that thing.

>PREPARE FOR RAMMING SPEED!
>Carefully approach the tower and engage enemies only when needed
>Seek out a safe approach with minimal activity
>Aim for a lower portion of the spire; we'll climb the rest of the way up
>Other

>>48905697
>PREPARE FOR RAMMING SPEED!

>>48905697
>PREPARE FOR RAMMING SPEED

>>48905697
>PREPARE FOR RAMMING SPEED!
"You guys could help me."

"YOU CAN ALL FALL ON YOUR KNEES AND PRAY THIS THING DOESN'T FALL APART BEFORE WE GET THERE!"

CHOOO CHOOO! MUTHERFUCKER!

>>48905697
>>PREPARE FOR RAMMING SPEED!
Have tundra form a protective ice dome around the cabin tho

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>>48905729
>>48905740
>>48905786

Cassie's eyes go wide as her mind runs wild with the power of the ship at her fingertips. Pushing further to go faster, she looks at Jacqui. "Warn the others!"

"Warn them?! About what?!"

"TO PREPARE FOR RAMMING SPEED!" Cassie shouts before setting her eyes forward. "FULL SHIELDS! THRUSTERS AT MAX! EVERYONE ELSE, FALL ON YOUR KNEES AND PRAY THIS THING DOESN'T FALL APART BEFORE WE GET THERE! BRACE FOR IMPACT!"

"You've gone nuts!" Jacqui shouts as she holds on for dear life.

Cassie licks her lips as she aims for the uppermost spire and the dome atop it. Everyone inside feels the ship shaking and they hold onto anything they can, including each other. Sam tightly clasps her arms around Tundra as he encases them in a protective field of ice, while Jin desperately wraps his arms around Takeda, who desperately attempts to get out of his grasp. Sheeva braces herself by grabbing the floor and diggering her feet and fingers into the metal.

Cassie pushes more and more, even as the view port begins to crack from the pressure.

'This is either the coolest or the stupidest thing I have ever done... Ah, fuck it, it's both!'

The ship nears the spire, going too fast for any of its defenses to shoot it down!

>1d100 to successfully crash!

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>48905920

Am all caught up and have got to say people have made some really strange choices in this quest

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>48905920
TUNDRAAA

>>48905970
>Am all caught up and have got to say people have made some really strange choices in this quest

Right? Why didn't we ever get breakfast? Boggles my mind.

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>48905920
100 to kill the mother brain

>>48905983

Some people just want to see the world burn

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>>48905970
>>48905977
>>48905997

Cassie closes her eyes as the ship makes contact with the dome. The entire ship violently shakes as it crashes through the metal walls, entire sections falling off the side as explosions go off all around the surface. The flaming hunk of metal holds together as emergency bulkheads slam shut around the windows and other openings, turning the ship into a solid metal torpedo itself that rockets through several layers of protective walls towards the building's core.

The ship skids along the ground, crashing through three more shield-walls before reaching the center, where it skids to a stop, having left a trail of destruction half a mile long behind it.

Slowly, everyone begins to pick themselves back up. Cassie lifts herself from the chair and stands on wobbling legs as Jacqui tries to resist throwing up.

"You... are never driving... AGAIN!" Jacqui tells her.

"So worth it," Cassie whispers, having accomplished so many of her dreams in one glorious moment. "So fucking worth it..."

After reuniting with the others, they approach the side of the ship. Sheeva tears her way out and they proceed out into a massive room with a glowing orange sphere in its center. Streams of light feed the sphere and hold it in place, and they can't tell if it is a physical object or some kind of projection.

"That is the brain," the AI speaks to them. "I can't believe it... You bypassed every layer of defense it possessed and just rammed straight through it all! The last option I would have considered is the most brutish and untactful, but it was perhaps the most effective!"

"That's how we do things in America," Cassie says with a wink. "Occam's Razor all up in this bitch. But you said this is just the brain? Well, where is the Grand Machine?"

"You are standing inside of it," she explains. "The tower was built around the Grand Machine."

"Amazing," Takeda says. "So this is like, we're inside the head of a giant robot?"