Personification Life IC IX - [Semi Open]

[Swith Witherward]

"Alright then." He looked at the scroll. "Does Xanthe have a goat?"

To this it replied, To have is to own. Lucius looked back up at Xanthe. "See vague answer."

--

Levi stopped and turned around. "Yes, Swith, dear?"

--

"Alright then. Come along you two, lets get you eating." The two nodded and ran in.

OOC: last post, off to bed unexpectedly, night night.

"Well that's rather literal," Xanthe replied. "If I didn't own the goat, I wouldn't have a goat. I'd be borrowing a goat. Or perhaps stealing it. Perhaps?"

She bit her lip and considered asking the scroll a real question.

--

"You are a cranky fuss pot," Swith proclaimed. "At least, you used to be."

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Levi's cheek. "Thank you for coming to tell me the news. You've always mattered to me, Levi. I know I annoyed you by asking you to do things. And I growled because there were times you annoyed me. But, the last words I ever said to Thriller were Take good care of Levi, okay? All his clones. Thriller kept his promise. I'm so glad you're home."

--

And we shall leave Barox and companions to Cer. He should be on later or else tomorrow morning/afternoon.

[The New Velociraptor Empire]

"Accountant it is, then," Monique giggled. "And I'll be Caroline Davenport, Event Planner. It won't be that difficult to pull off."

She refreshed their tea just as the meals arrived. Did I forget to mention they ordered? They did. So there you have it!

"There's nothing wrong with shouting SCIENCE!!!" Monique assured Fortu. "Just don't do it around any raptors and we'll all be safe. Then again, they might enjoy knowing you support it."

"It is a slippery slope, it starts with shouting, but ends with me spouting gibberish and dissecting a chimpanzee's brain to add enhancements." Fortu warned.

He was saddened at the thought of the last chimp he killed while trying to recreate Bob, afterwards he quit live operations. Not wanting to risk another life, no matter how small. He never had much practice reanimating things, and he didn't desire to go into that dark place with so much death. he had to take his mind off it, raising his teacup, he proposed a toast.

"To us Caroline and Jonathan Davenport, our new start." he declared happily.

[The New Velociraptor Empire]

At Ray's offices in Defender Civic Security, the next time he would enter his personal office, he would find a man waiting for him, relaxing in his seat. He looked mostly human in a dark brown tweed suit and dark Ray-Ban sunglasses that hid his eyes. The man smoked as he reclined and rested his feet on the desk. His left leg was human with a sock and brown shoe, however the right one was reptilian with the recognizable sickle claw that tapped the surface of the desk. His right human hand rested in the back of his head while the left was definitely a familiar reptilian limb that held the cigarette in his claws. His brown hair was combed neatly and his mouth was dry and a bit green tinted around scaly lips that curved into a smirk.

"Good evening Mr. Jansma, I require your services." he greeted in a nonchalant manner as the rain went on outside.

[Giovenith]

"Exactly like that!" confirmed Giovenith, happy to see the unicorn happy. "I'm sure you'd have such a pleasant time there!"

"Mmmmmmm," groaned Willow with skeptical concern. The pegasus still wasn't so sure about Sterling wandering alone in a place where he could be eaten without warning, that was the absolute last thing he wanted to happen to his friend. Sterling was just so friendly and likable-eggheaded, everypony back in Ponyville knew that, so it was hard for Willow to imagine without a large amount of disturbance any individual attacking the unicorn while he was simply trying to read, enjoy himself, and be neighborly. Yet that was exactly what they had been warned could happen, and it made him queezy sick to his core.

"Just be prepared to aim for the head if somepony starts something deadly serious," Willow reminded. For all their sugary, rainbow-puke stereotypes, it was hard to dispute the fact that ponies and horses in general did in fact have very powerful kicks. Plenty a careless person on Earth had received cracked bones and orange-sized bruises by being stupid enough to bother a regular, non-sentient horse from it's behind, or more unfortunate yet, been smashed into a coma or death if the kick managed to collide into their skull. Aware of this, Equestrian ponies always made sure never to try buck someone they were friendly with, usually only reserving the assault for labor (like kicking down apples from trees, or demolition of old buildings) or the rare self-defense from a creature much larger than them (such as a manticore).

"Oh he'll be just fine," insisted Giovenith, attempting to wave away the positively grim air Willow was exuding. "You already made lots of friends when arriving! Remember?" Truthfully, she was concerned for the ponies on some measure, but also slightly concerned for the possible would-be assaulter's bound-to-be-painful bucking wounds. That would be a hard fire to quell. "Just, uh, if anyone asks, say you're good friends with me. That should say something."

[Erucia]

At Ray's offices in Defender Civic Security, the next time he would enter his personal office, he would find a man waiting for him, relaxing in his seat. He looked mostly human in a dark brown tweed suit and dark Ray-Ban sunglasses that hid his eyes. The man smoked as he reclined and rested his feet on the desk. His left leg was human with a sock and brown shoe, however the right one was reptilian with the recognizable sickle claw that tapped the surface of the desk. His right human hand rested in the back of his head while the left was definitely a familiar reptilian limb that held the cigarette in his claws. His mouth was dry and a bit green tinted around scaly lips that curved into a smirk.

"Good evening Mr. Jansma, I require your services." he greeted as the rain went on outside.

Ray had largely spent the time outside of the office after the lunch trip with Yoshi was canceled. He had gotten himself fed, and eventually had headed back to DCS. A few more checkups with the new recruits, including investigating into one of them. While they'd all done Bielefeld's civic service requirements, there was one man amongst them whom he happened to be rather impressed with. The recruit held quite the skill in firearms and law enforcement tactics, despite never even mentioning such things on the resume. In fact, the resume was largely blank; Ray wondered if the man had a past, but he decided to set him up as a Sergeant. No use letting talent go to waste.

And now, it was back to the office. He needed to file out a few last papers, check up on new applications, and officially sort out rankings and positions. Most of the guards were now sitting around the office either blowing steam or practicing on the range, which reminded Ray to make them pay for their own ammunition as soon as he could take the chance. Up the stairs to the third floor of the building, past a few empty areas, and into his office...

...And it was unlocked. And there was a man inside. And the man wasn't really much of a man, but was more of a reptile-ish individual. He sat in one of the guest's chairs that was within the office, and was rather annoyingly doing one of two things. Firstly, he was smoking. Secondly, he was resting his feet on Ray's desk. This combo was a no-win situation, but Ray decided to let it slide considering this might actually be a potential customer.

"...I'd ask how you got in, but it's obvious who you're associated with. At least, I think it is....I really need a secretary...", Ray mumbled the last part as he slipped into the room. He felt rather improper not being in more work-associated clothing, but it would work for the moment. "At the very least, you might do me the common courtesy of resting your feet instead on another chair instead of my desk."

He slipped on over past the raptor and sat down in the swivel-chair of his own desk, and swiped at the smoke coming up from the cigarette. A singular cough displayed his reactions, in which he soon followed up. "In addition, perhaps you'd care for a smoke outside. On the patio, if you'd rather," he spoke, pointing out of the room and motioning towards the direction where the 'patio' was. It was really just a section on the roof that was covered: really just an entrance for maintenance services. "I don't want to give a bunch of men with guns ideas about placing sparks next to live ammunition. Sorry to be a bother.

"...But, before I make much more of it, you said you needed my company's services?"

[The New Velociraptor Empire]

Ray had largely spent the time outside of the office after the lunch trip with Yoshi was canceled. He had gotten himself fed, and eventually had headed back to DCS. A few more checkups with the new recruits, including investigating into one of them. While they'd all done Bielefeld's civic service requirements, there was one man amongst them whom he happened to be rather impressed with. The recruit held quite the skill in firearms and law enforcement tactics, despite never even mentioning such things on the resume. In fact, the resume was largely blank; Ray wondered if the man had a past, but he decided to set him up as a Sergeant. No use letting talent go to waste.

And now, it was back to the office. He needed to file out a few last papers, check up on new applications, and officially sort out rankings and positions. Most of the guards were now sitting around the office either blowing steam or practicing on the range, which reminded Ray to make them pay for their own ammunition as soon as he could take the chance. Up the stairs to the third floor of the building, past a few empty areas, and into his office...

...And it was unlocked. And there was a man inside. And the man wasn't really much of a man, but was more of a reptile-ish individual. He sat in one of the guest's chairs that was within the office, and was rather annoyingly doing one of two things. Firstly, he was smoking. Secondly, he was resting his feet on Ray's desk. This combo was a no-win situation, but Ray decided to let it slide considering this might actually be a potential customer.

"...I'd ask how you got in, but it's obvious who you're associated with. At least, I think it is....I really need a secretary...", Ray mumbled the last part as he slipped into the room. He felt rather improper not being in more work-associated clothing, but it would work for the moment. "At the very least, you might do me the common courtesy of resting your feet instead on another chair instead of my desk."

He slipped on over past the raptor and sat down in the swivel-chair of his own desk, and swiped at the smoke coming up from the cigarette. A singular cough displayed his reactions, in which he soon followed up. "In addition, perhaps you'd care for a smoke outside. On the patio, if you'd rather," he spoke, pointing out of the room and motioning towards the direction where the 'patio' was. It was really just a section on the roof that was covered: really just an entrance for maintenance services. "I don't want to give a bunch of men with guns ideas about placing sparks next to live ammunition. Sorry to be a bother.

"...But, before I make much more of it, you said you needed my company's services?"

The man got up and walked around as he ignored the request to stop smoking. He clenched it in his sharp teeth as he spoke in a smooth tone.

"Not your company, you. I need an individual qualified, you will have to do. But more importantly a qualified individual whom is not an member of my faction, and someone whom I have leverage over to keep this favor on the down low. And by that I mean nobody knows about what I am asking you to do, otherwise people get hurt." he explained as he exhaled a cloud.

He didn't mind that it was killing his body, there were a thousand other things doing that as well, despite the man's healthy appearance.

"Where are my manners, I am Dr. Arthur Von Eldritch, a pleasure to meet you." Arthur said extending his human hand to shake.

[Erucia]

The man got up and walked around as he ignored the request to stop smoking. He clenched it in his sharp teeth as he spoke in a smooth tone.

"Not your company, you. I need an individual qualified, you will have to do. But more importantly a qualified individual whom is not an member of my faction, and someone whom I have leverage over to keep this favor on the down low. And by that I mean nobody knows about what I am asking you to do, otherwise people get hurt." he explained as he exhaled a cloud.

He didn't mind that it was killing his body, there were a thousand other things doing that as well, despite the man's healthy appearance.

"Where are my manners, I am Dr. Arthur Von Eldritch, a pleasure to meet you." Arthur said extending his human hand to shake.

"...It's really my pleasure, Dr. Von Eldritch," Ray chocked back a cough and shook Arthur's human hand. He felt a bit annoyed, considering the smell was going to stick in his fur until he took a shower. "I appreciate the...enthusiasm, in my abilities. While I'm certainly searching for someone to contract the company's services out to as a whole, I suppose that I'm as much of a member of the company as any. And a leader must get out and do something himself every once and a while."

He then stood back up from his chair and walked over towards the door, opening it up and motioning back towards the 'patio'. "Would you care if we stepped outside, Dr. Von Eldritch? We will be safe from prying ears there, with the rain to keep us company."

[The New Velociraptor Empire]

The man got up and walked around as he ignored the request to stop smoking. He clenched it in his sharp teeth as he spoke in a smooth tone.

"Not your company, you. I need an individual qualified, you will have to do. But more importantly a qualified individual whom is not an member of my faction, and someone whom I have leverage over to keep this favor on the down low. And by that I mean nobody knows about what I am asking you to do, otherwise people get hurt." he explained as he exhaled a cloud.

He didn't mind that it was killing his body, there were a thousand other things doing that as well, despite the man's healthy appearance.

"Where are my manners, I am Dr. Arthur Von Eldritch, a pleasure to meet you." Arthur said extending his human hand to shake.

"...It's really my pleasure, Dr. Von Eldritch," Ray chocked back a cough and shook Arthur's human hand. He felt a bit annoyed, considering the smell was going to stick in his fur until he took a shower. "I appreciate the...enthusiasm, in my abilities. While I'm certainly searching for someone to contract the company's services out to as a whole, I suppose that I'm as much of a member of the company as any. And a leader must get out and do something himself every once and a while."

He then stood back up from his chair and walked over towards the door, opening it up and motioning back towards the 'patio'. "Would you care if we stepped outside, Dr. Von Eldritch? We will be safe from prying ears there, with the rain to keep us company."

"The rain chills my cold blood, makes it hard to move and think." Arthur dismissed the idea, as rain in the autumn was dreadfully cold and would make him sluggish.

"Now before we proceed, you must understand how important this remains a secret. Failure to take proper precautions will endanger the life of one of my former associates. The consequences may reach myself and you Mr. Jansma..." Arthur said and she e produced a brass cylinder about 10 centimeters long and 4 centimeters in diameter, an oval hole in the side revealed a glowing blue liquid contained in glass.

"However, if you complete what I ask, and when I determine that it has been done, the leverage will be removed and we will not have any more influence over you, or more precisely your lover." Arthur proposed as he set the cylinder on the desk.

[Erucia]

"The rain chills my cold blood, makes it hard to move and think." Arthur dismissed the idea, as rain in the autumn was dreadfully cold and would make him sluggish.

"Now before we proceed, you must understand how important this remains a secret. Failure to take proper precautions will endanger the life of one of my former associates. The consequences may reach myself and you Mr. Jansma..." Arthur said and she e produced a brass cylinder about 10 centimeters long and 4 centimeters in diameter, an oval hole in the side revealed a glowing blue liquid contained in glass.

"However, if you complete what I ask, and when I determine that it has been done, the leverage will be removed and we will not have any more influence over you, or more precisely your lover." Arthur proposed as he set the cylinder on the desk.

Ray took a quiet sigh and looked away as he instead choose to remain by the door, rather than being close to the stench of the smoke. But he listened in: at first, he found the immediate discussion quite interesting. Taking wonder at what the liquid inside of the cylinder was, Ray scratched his head and continued listening.

However, upon mention of Albert, he immediately felt rather riled up. Remembering that it was his reanimation at the hands of the raptors that had stuck them into this situation, Ray pawed at his face and silently groaned. He knew that he probably wasn't going to get much in terms of monetary payment from this job, but the freedom from being pawns of the raptors was...welcome enough.

"....I suppose I have little choice, if I wish for my immediate family to be free of outside influence. I'm assuming that freedom is the only payment: to wipe away the debt. What exactly do you need me to do?"

[The New Velociraptor Empire]

Ray took a quiet sigh and looked away as he instead choose to remain by the door, rather than being close to the stench of the smoke. But he listened in: at first, he found the immediate discussion quite interesting. Taking wonder at what the liquid inside of the cylinder was, Ray scratched his head and continued listening.

However, upon mention of Albert, he immediately felt rather riled up. Remembering that it was his reanimation at the hands of the raptors that had stuck them into this situation, Ray pawed at his face and silently groaned. He knew that he probably wasn't going to get much in terms of monetary payment from this job, but the freedom from being pawns of the raptors was...welcome enough.

"....I suppose I have little choice, if I wish for my immediate family to be free of outside influence. I'm assuming that freedom is the only payment: to wipe away the debt. What exactly do you need me to do?"

Arthur smiled as he expertly pressed the buttons he'd learned to detect. The reptilian psychiatrist was glad his special talents paid off. The cylinder of course was only a prop, a symbol with no real technical value, which represented an unnamed year of Albert's past.

"I need you to get a message to a friend in hiding. I cannot look for him myself because that would endanger his life, and I have wiped my memory of his recent whereabouts. You will have to track him down and deliver this envelope." Arthur explained as he set a sealed manila envelope down and picked up the cylinder again.

"The recipient is, or rather was, Dr. Martin Fortu. He's gone into hiding after an incident with my faction, and it is imperative that the others still think he is dead. But this makes it difficult to relay important information without endangering him. he may have changed his identity and appearance, which is why I needed someone of your background. Find him and deliver the envelope. Do not open the envelope, and do not allow his current whereabouts to be known to anyone, including myself." he continued explaining as he placed a file folder with the last known information about Fortu and the picture of his old form that matched the picture from the newspaper clipping. It detailed his ownership of Eldritch Medical and the location of the factory, also his association with Monique which contained the old picture of her femme fatale look.

[Germanic Templars]

"He was born only a few months ago, I think while you were still here. I forgot to tell you, so . . . Sorry." Natiya frowned humorously. "Well, I can take you to meet him sometime, just ask me whenever."

"It's alright, we can see him soon. For now," He paused for a moment to yawn "I need some sleep I've been up for the past two days."

--

"Alright then." He looked at the scroll. "Does Xanthe have a goat?"

To this it replied, To have is to own. Lucius looked back up at Xanthe. "See vague answer."

--

Levi stopped and turned around. "Yes, Swith, dear?"

--

"Alright then. Come along you two, lets get you eating." The two nodded and ran in.

OOC: last post, off to bed unexpectedly, night night.

"Well that's rather literal," Xanthe replied. "If I didn't own the goat, I wouldn't have a goat. I'd be borrowing a goat. Or perhaps stealing it. Perhaps?"

She bit her lip and considered asking the scroll a real question.

--

"You are a cranky fuss pot," Swith proclaimed. "At least, you used to be."

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Levi's cheek. "Thank you for coming to tell me the news. You've always mattered to me, Levi. I know I annoyed you by asking you to do things. And I growled because there were times you annoyed me. But, the last words I ever said to Thriller were Take good care of Levi, okay? All his clones. Thriller kept his promise. I'm so glad you're home."

--

And we shall leave Barox and companions to Cer. He should be on later or else tomorrow morning/afternoon.

"Maybe. Though I still am curious about what it meant by saying life, time, and chaos. Anyway, we'll get our answer soon."

--

"You know, that is not the only thing he promised. The purse-thing that was brought has a few items in it as well as his video diary and the evidence."

[The BranRiech]

"It's alright, we can see him soon. For now," He paused for a moment to yawn "I need some sleep I've been up for the past two days."

"Of course, Aleki." Natiya smiled. The bed was made, in fact, and she considered joining him for a few seconds, but decided on getting the dishes done form their little meal. "I'll be in in a second, If you left anything in the drawers, they're still there."

She didn't want to admit that she'd slept on the couch since he left, leaving everything in that room perfectly the same as it was when he left.

--

Off the plane!

Finally, it had been a long, and boring ride, but he had finally arrived in Bielefeld. Of course, his family needed to reserve a special seating arrangement for him, so he ended up flying first class, but Toscha Inakov was finally here. Ever since he moved to Europe, he wanted to at least visit the place, and it was in convenient travel distance, so he wasn't completely cut off from his family.

All this, and more, ended up choosing where he'd live, and why not the apartment on Subabsurdus street? It had a funny name, that's why. Eh, at least the apartment looked like he expected it to, a nice, but simple building with an inviting front door.

The Lamia, opening the door, slithered inside, making damn sure not to get his lower half caught in the door as he stuffed his way through with his suitcase as well, adding to the difficulty of it all. He sighed with relief, not feeling the sharp pain of a door pinning him, and slithered over to the desk to confirm his application.

[Erucia]

Arthur smiled as he expertly pressed the buttons he'd learned to detect. The reptilian psychiatrist was glad his special talents paid off. The cylinder of course was only a prop, a symbol with no real technical value, which represented an unnamed year of Albert's past.

"I need you to get a message to a friend in hiding. I cannot look for him myself because that would endanger his life, and I have wiped my memory of his recent whereabouts. You will have to track him down and deliver this envelope." Arthur explained as he set a sealed manila envelope down and picked up the cylinder again.

"The recipient is, or rather was, Dr. Martin Fortu. He's gone into hiding after an incident with my faction, and it is imperative that the others still think he is dead. But this makes it difficult to relay important information without endangering him. he may have changed his identity and appearance, which is why I needed someone of your background. Find him and deliver the envelope. Do not open the envelope, and do not allow his current whereabouts to be known to anyone, including myself." he continued explaining as he placed a file folder with the last known information about Fortu and the picture of his old form that matched the picture from the newspaper clipping. It detailed his ownership of Eldritch Medical and the location of the factory, also his association with Monique which contained the old picture of her femme fatale look.

As he listened in onto Arthur's careful explanation of the case, Ray's mind was still somewhat drawn to the cylinder. It didn't really occur to him that it had no real purpose, but it actually helped him envision the idea that a year of Albert's life really was trapped underneath raptor control. Of course, he wondered how they could take an entire year and put it into a small device, but it was besides the point of wondering about it.

However, the old image of Dr. Fortu did click in with Ray's mind, alongside of the name swap. Remembering the case that won him his fortune, Ray harkened back to when he'd been hired to investigate a woman who had supposedly run off with a Dr. Fortu Martin: who, as it turned out, ended up being a cyborg-thing of sorts (as the best description) who held an intent dislike of Dr. Martin Fortu.

"....I had a case, back when I had Talwall, that involved a Dr. Fortu Martin. He ended up being a...um, cyborg with an intense hatred of Dr. Martin Fortu. Does Dr. Martin really mean anything in this case? Would he be someone attempting to find Dr. Fortu's location?", Ray presented after looking over the picture. "But I suppose I'll accept the job in any case. Do you know of any particular place to start looking? Perhaps the factory? Last-known locations? Important hideaways that could contain signs?"

[Cerillium]

Off the plane!

Finally, it had been a long, and boring ride, but he had finally arrived in Bielefeld. Of course, his family needed to reserve a special seating arrangement for him, so he ended up flying first class, but Toscha Inakov was finally here. Ever since he moved to Europe, he wanted to at least visit the place, and it was in convenient travel distance, so he wasn't completely cut off from his family.

All this, and more, ended up choosing where he'd live, and why not the apartment on Subabsurdus street? It had a funny name, that's why. Eh, at least the apartment looked like he expected it to, a nice, but simple building with an inviting front door.

The Lamia, opening the door, slithered inside, making damn sure not to get his lower half caught in the door as he stuffed his way through with his suitcase as well, adding to the difficulty of it all. He sighed with relief, not feeling the sharp pain of a door pinning him, and slithered over to the desk to confirm his application.

"You a new tenant?"

The cultist behind the reception desk peered over his paper. The overhead light glinted off his wire frame glasses as he surveyed the soggy snake man.

[The BranRiech]

"Yes, I am!" Toscha smiled brightly, despite being soaking wet from head to toe. His movements seemed lazy at the moment, but he tried putting on a nice face for the attendant. They should have gotten his application earlier, but they probably didn't know his name or anything. "Toscha Inakov, we sent in an application already, and I have the check right here. That's how it works, right?" He asked, finally coming to a stop at the desk, keeping back though, he didn't want to drip on any papers or anything. "Cold outside, eh?"

[Cerillium]

"Yes, I am!" Toscha smiled brightly, despite being soaking wet from head to toe. His movements seemed lazy at the moment, but he tried putting on a nice face for the attendant. They should have gotten his application earlier, but they probably didn't know his name or anything. "Toscha Inakov, we sent in an application already, and I have the check right here. That's how it works, right?" He asked, finally coming to a stop at the desk, keeping back though, he didn't want to drip on any papers or anything. "Cold outside, eh?"

"Supposed to rain all night," Rudolf said. He rifled through papers and found the lease agreement.

He read it and then pointed to a line on the page. "Just need you to sign it."

[Cerillium]

Yuna sipped the drink, before putting it down in disgust. "Ugh, sorry, I can't drink that." She muttered. "It's not you, just not a fan."

She considered his request again, was this like Will was? Asking her questions seemed like a popular thing for a lot of people. She sighed. "It's arranged by grades, not like it is here, but the grades that someone gets in a certain school year determines where they'll go next. Age isn't a factor, intelligence is. I . . . Well, I finished in the C range, brother in the C- classes." She chuckled.

"I see," he said and finished her drink in the same fashion he'd finished his own. The empty glass was returned to his pocket. He pulled out a small bag of candy corn and two apples and set them on the bed between them.

"Now you may ask me any questions you wish. I'll answer those I can. I won't tell you my name."

[Germanic Templars]

"It's alright, we can see him soon. For now," He paused for a moment to yawn "I need some sleep I've been up for the past two days."

"Of course, Aleki." Natiya smiled. The bed was made, in fact, and she considered joining him for a few seconds, but decided on getting the dishes done form their little meal. "I'll be in in a second, If you left anything in the drawers, they're still there."

She didn't want to admit that she'd slept on the couch since he left, leaving everything in that room perfectly the same as it was when he left.

"Alright then." He got up from the couch and grabbed his armor before turning back to Natiya to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight. " he said. He then added on, "And love, glad to be back." He then closed the door to their room. Minutes later he was fast asleep.

[The BranRiech]

"Glad to get out of it, thanks for the info." Toscha smiled, taking a pen from the desk to sign the paper to his room. He hoped it had been prepared already. He had nothing in the way of money, but if it were just a blank floor, he could still adapt to it, as long as it wasn't as cold as it was outside. He quickly signed his name in Cyrillic, as he'd been taught in the Human's schools. Well, he liked the language at least.

"And which room will I be staying in?"

--

"Although you know my name? Well, alright. What are you, Mysterious man?" Yuna asked. She looked at the food with distrust, and then, with a smile, pointed at the candy corn. "What's that, as well?"

--

Aleki was joined moments later by Natiya, who figured that dishes could wait.

[Cerillium]

"Alright then. Come along you two, lets get you eating." The two nodded and ran in.

And we shall leave Barox and companions to Cer. He should be on later or else tomorrow morning/afternoon.

Wren changed out of her wet robes. She slipped on a new set as she ventured down the hallway.

Barox wasn't too far from her. She knew nothing of his return however; she'd only been told that a tech priest wished to speak to her. She was completely caught off guard when she spotted him in the hall.

"Barox!" Wren thought her heart might explode from joy.

Every last careworn line slipped away as she trotted down the hall towards him. She wasn't phased by his wheelchair (it wasn't that uncommon to her people, especially after augmentation failure) and so she leaned down a bit and awkwardly hugged him from that position.

She kissed his cheek and clasped his hands and then squatted in front of him. Her kind face peered up at her dear friend. "Welcome home, Vitelius. It's so good to see you! Can you stay a while?"

[Cerillium]

"Although you know my name? Well, alright. What are you, Mysterious man?" Yuna asked. She looked at the food with distrust, and then, with a smile, pointed at the candy corn. "What's that, as well?"

His head tilted. "I'm a cultist, same as you. That stuff is candy corn. Sugary treat. Candy. Children in America eat it on Halloween."

[The New Velociraptor Empire]

As he listened in onto Arthur's careful explanation of the case, Ray's mind was still somewhat drawn to the cylinder. It didn't really occur to him that it had no real purpose, but it actually helped him envision the idea that a year of Albert's life really was trapped underneath raptor control. Of course, he wondered how they could take an entire year and put it into a small device, but it was besides the point of wondering about it.

However, the old image of Dr. Fortu did click in with Ray's mind, alongside of the name swap. Remembering the case that won him his fortune, Ray harkened back to when he'd been hired to investigate a woman who had supposedly run off with a Dr. Fortu Martin: who, as it turned out, ended up being a cyborg-thing of sorts (as the best description) who held an intent dislike of Dr. Martin Fortu.

"....I had a case, back when I had Talwall, that involved a Dr. Fortu Martin. He ended up being a...um, cyborg with an intense hatred of Dr. Martin Fortu. Does Dr. Martin really mean anything in this case? Would he be someone attempting to find Dr. Fortu's location?", Ray presented after looking over the picture. "But I suppose I'll accept the job in any case. Do you know of any particular place to start looking? Perhaps the factory? Last-known locations? Important hideaways that could contain signs?"

"Ah yes, Dr. Martin, he is a sort of doppelganger from the other universe. He's Fortu's darker counterpart, both are more cyborg than raptor. I imagine he is pissed that we destroyed a significant portion of his universe." Arthur explained with a chuckle. It always seemed that people often targeted their doubles. The words, 'There can only be one...' rang in his mind and humored him. One person could be many, he was proof of that.

"Now if you come across anyone else looking for him, especially bounty hunters, get rid of them. My methods may seem a bit harsh, but I am trying to preserve the kindest one of us, who wasn't manufactured. I suggest you start at the factory, it's how I know he's still alive despite the gaps in my memory. The place is still running despite his absence." Arthur continued.

[The BranRiech]

His head tilted. "I'm a cultist, same as you. That stuff is candy corn. Sugary treat. Candy. Children in America eat it on Halloween."

"I'm not . . . In a cult." Yuna shrugged. This man surely must be lying, right? Well, she wasn't told what exactly she was, but . . . Right? No, Yuna didn't know enough to make any assumptions about her new position.

"Thanks, I ate some good lunch today, so desert?"

Yuna popped a few into her mouth and grinned, reminded of the candies she used to eat back home.

[Germanic Templars]

Aleki was joined moments later by Natiya, who figured that dishes could wait.

As they slept, Aleki began to have a dream.. Or more better put a past nightmare..

He found himself waking up with his face in the ground and his weapon on his side. He could hear muffle shouting and screaming as bullets, rockets, and ships go racing across the sky back and forth. Explosions could also be heard going off all around. He then felt a sudden jerk on his right arm, and as he looked up it was his sister helping him up.
"Come'on Aleki, we got this, all that is left is to take out that SDI and we win this no time." She tossed him his weapon before running ahead. He followed up behind, yet keeping several meters behind her to her right. Clones were also following up from behind with a few dropships overhead. Just then, the defense systems came online on the instillation and began firing at the incoming clone forces. Guided missiles, and rockets fired out as well as mini-guns peppering them with bullets.

As soldiers fell around them, they quickly took cover behind some rubble. Aleki wasn't paying attention and his leg was exposed and was hit by a stray round. He screamed out with a sharp yell while he curled his legs inward to prevent further damage. "Shit, call in some artillery or something, just take out it's defenses!"

She then gave him a smack across the face. "Dumbass! can't you see we lack a radio to do so? Plus what makes you think th-" Before she could finish, salvo of rounds were fired off from the 391^st German RAS battalion. As the shells took out the defenses, shrapnel started raining from the sky.

What happened next that Khro saw that he didn't was a smoldering piece of metal hurling towards his head. She quickly pushed him out of the way of the metal. However, when Aleki looked up after being knocked back, all he saw was his sister bleeding from the mouth with the metal almost cut clean through her body, taking out half the spine. A single tear fell from her eye before falling. Upon seeing this horror set before him, He began to cry aloud, though only seconds after trying to figure out the situation.

He then shot up and looked around before looking at Natiya before looking at his hands that he laid in front of him. Trying not to wake her up, he cried to himself very softly. He felt a surge of guilt rush through him as well as self loathing.

---

And we shall leave Barox and companions to Cer. He should be on later or else tomorrow morning/afternoon.

Wren changed out of her wet robes. She slipped on a new set as she ventured down the hallway.

Barox wasn't too far from her. She knew nothing of his return however; she'd only been told that a tech priest wished to speak to her. She was completely caught off guard when she spotted him in the hall.

"Barox!" Wren thought her heart might explode from joy.

Every last careworn line slipped away as she trotted down the hall towards him. She wasn't phased by his wheelchair (it wasn't that uncommon to her people, especially after augmentation failure) and so she leaned down a bit and awkwardly hugged him from that position.

She kissed his cheek and clasped his hands and then squatted in front of him. Her kind face peered up at her dear friend. "Welcome home, Vitelius. It's so good to see you! Can you stay a while?"

"I can more then stay awhile." He replied. "By the way, we won." He then looked at the two kids behind him. "Oh, and these two are kids that Dr. Smith, who is currently recovering right now, adopted."

[Cerillium]

"I can more then stay awhile." He replied. "By the way, we won." He then looked at the two kids behind him. "Oh, and these two are kids that Dr. Smith, who is currently recovering right now, adopted."

Wren's eyes widened. "You really did leave for war? There were rumors, and your departure was so sudden!"

She lifted her mechanical hand and gently brushed her knuckles between his brows. "Come eat with me, Barox. Tell me the weight in your heart. How did you end up in this chair? How can I help mend you? The brothers can keep an eye on Dr. Smith's children for a while."