Gods Among Us [Superhero] (IC/Open)

[Dyelli Beybi]

"I've seen horrors beyond the scope of imagination. You ever see an entire team of men unraveled like thread? A dimension of thousands of tortured souls making a chorus of screams for enternity? Men shredded like tissue paper by a monsters from your worst nightmares? I've seen the worst of what the world has to offer, and I've seen what these 'Metas' are capable of. And I'm not afraid anymore."

Atlas
Maybe he's seen about as much shit as me, "Buddy, I've met Cthulhu, I'm willing to bet you don't know that feeling."

"Figured out whose is larger?" Zara did not look especislly impressed by the discussion. "If you are quite finished we have work to do."

"You two!" Her attention was taken by a pair of rattled looking agents who had made it back to the house, "One of you watch this guy. Make sure he doesn't try anything funny." She pointed at the Cerberus agent, "the other one make sure nobody from their side comes through the hole in the wall. Any problems... radio."

"You." This was for Atlas, "Come with me."

She led the way out towards the hall and stairs up to the bedrooms, "You've approached the wrong group of people if you think we'll condone torture." She said quietly, "If that is the way you want to go about this, I'm out." She would not become one of the monsters who had destroyed her country.

[Serah]

As Alrick was lying down, night started to fall, he wasn't asleep and didn't plan on doing so, right now, he was simply procrastinating and not making the house he spoke so much about.

Although, he noted Màen passing every once in a while, carrying either Heamet or Naunet around.
After a while of those several passes, he spoke to her.

"How long are you going to do this?" His voice carried no anger, or anything as a matter of fact.

"Well, that's up to you, I'm trying to find something to do because I only have ten cigarettes in my pack and I already smoked six, so I'm just trying to spend time around. And you?" She sat down next him, Naunet and Heamet were still asleep and weren't going to wake up anytime soon, unless something that made a lot of sound happened, like Cthulhu waking up or Nyarlathotep showing up.

"Well... I've been thinking of various stuff, the fact that I need to become a father for Heamet to be born since I'm the only male from my generation, and I've also been thinking that a sword embedded with runes might be a nice thing to have in a case such as the one we're facing, by that, I mean no powers." He spoke, sitting again.

"I can help you with one of those things. Since you're with Laurel now, I don't have room for the father-mother thing." She laughed lightly.

"In all seriousness though, I can help with the sword, just tell me what you want on it and when I'll get my pocket dimension back, I'll forge it. Unless you want to do that. And by that I mean forge the blade in itself. Depending on what you choose I'll have more or less room for powerful runes. If you want more than one major, I'd suggest you make it a battleaxe, a greatsword or a falchion, on other types of blades, I can only put one and if I can manage it correctly, I can put a small one on the pommel. Major ones are mostly manipulations though, something like a shield, slow, duplication... All that. If you want something like a rapier... I'd say take a medium rune. Like mine for instance. Something that boosts speed but you already run fairly fast so putting one would get you too OP for the bloke upstairs. I think I have a void rune somewhere though, a trap inducement one and something else... Ah fuck I can't remember what it was. I'd recommend that." With this conversation, Màen was in her element, she grew most of her life with all sorts of various sorcery and rune embedding wasn't something that was too hard to manage for her.

"Well all that's good, but I was thinking about a Longsword. More like something that's easy to conceal on my back and sheath. At least the sword you will get me will manage the job enough until I can piece Miriel back. And to think we only got one piece of it... But going back to the sword, I was thinking about getting a rapier AND a Longsword, so the void one can go on the rapier and the chain as well. For the Longsword, I'd say either shield or enhanced cutting, both if possible." Alrick spoke, already drawing the blueprints in his mind.

"You're lucky you're family, if you hadn't been I would've charged you hard for those." Màen laughed, after all, those runes weren't cheap to manufacture and were rather rare.

"Name your price then. I'm sure I can manage it." Alrick turned his head to her, determined to get his blades.

"Nah, it's alright lad. You don't have to. Lios always said this anyway, don't charge family with stuff you can manage, whether it be rare, hard to manufacture or almost impossible, don't charge the family." She simply took a smoke out, calmly, she could always find or manufacture some again.
Runes weren't something that she truly cared about if they were to be embedded on a sword, however, giving one of her fighting runes she used to manage the battlefield with... She had a much harder time making or finding them as they were supposed to be the only ones still in existence.
However, she cheated the game and made them by using ancient notes from Merlin himself.

[Talion Union]

Atlas
Maybe he's seen about as much shit as me, "Buddy, I've met Cthulhu, I'm willing to bet you don't know that feeling."

"Figured out whose is larger?" Zara did not look especislly impressed by the discussion. "If you are quite finished we have work to do."

"You two!" Her attention was taken by a pair of rattled looking agents who had made it back to the house, "One of you watch this guy. Make sure he doesn't try anything funny." She pointed at the Cerberus agent, "the other one make sure nobody from their side comes through the hole in the wall. Any problems... radio."

"You." This was for Atlas, "Come with me."

She led the way out towards the hall and stairs up to the bedrooms, "You've approached the wrong group of people if you think we'll condone torture." She said quietly, "If that is the way you want to go about this, I'm out." She would not become one of the monsters who had destroyed her country.

Commander Hartman was furious. "That fucking coward. Goddamn traitor. I'll have his head on a goddamn spike for this." He stormed out of the command center, off to think of a new "plan." Technician Michaels breathed a sigh of relief. Hartman was a true prick.

Hartman gave the two Operators in charge of guarding the Gunslinger permission to 'rough him up'.

Mr. Grin was close. He could sense he was close to whatever or whoever it was.

Eddie flew towards the big city. If there was any place to find what he needed, it was there.

[Confederation of imperial states]

Los Santana, Downtown outskirts

Black Hand stopped the destroyer just outside the large warehouse like building, stepping out he looked around at it. "So, here wa are, the slums. been a while since I rummaged around here" Dark lord said looking at the other buildings. Black Hand shot his grappeling hook from his wrist ulling him onto a high ledge of the warehouse. when he reached the top of the ledge, Dark lord was already sitting on it, "now that i think about it, gang bengers don't make for the best army in the world". Black Hand grabbed the edge of the grate and pulled, pulling it of it's screws and then placing it aside. Black Hand headed into the grate, creeping through he reached a turn that went left, once he reached it, Dark Lord was on the dead end to his right. "I should've just brought soldiers from the void, hell, even though they were mince meat to me one of them could rip a tank open". Black Hand crept through the vent until he reached a grate pointing downwards, he looked at Dark Lord. "Mind telling me what's below". Dark Lord sighed and stuck his head through the vent, it phasing right through. "9 thugs one of them has a rifle, and a fat shit who looks like jabba the hutt. anyways allow me to contnue with me rambling". Black HAnd then stomped down on the grate pointing downwards, falling through to the large room below. "WE GOT TROUBLE" one of the thugs yelled, "Yeah, no shit" Dark Lord said to him, even though the thug had no chance of seeing or hearing dark lord.

Black Hand immediatley shot his grapeling hook at the rifle the thug was holding, pulling it back twoards him Black Hand Disassembled th rifle into it's basic pieces.
3 of the thugs charged Black Hand,
Black Hand side stepped and slammed 2 thugs heads together,
Black Hand then countered the third one's punch and lammed his head into as nearby metal crate,
the 5 remaining thugs charged Black Hand, Black Hand shot a smoke pellet at the floor causing it to fill the area with smoke,
Black Hand then leg swept one thug, and slammed his head down into the floor,
Black Hand then took the sides of two thugs head and slammed them into each other, knocking them out cold,
Black Hand then caught the flailing punch of one of the thugs and bent his elbow backwards, causing him to fall in pain
Black HAnd then extended his crowbar and swung hit horizontally, slamming intomthe head of another thug knocking him out,
Black HAnd then simply punched the last thug, causing him to fall back into the metal wall.

"10 outta 10" Dark Lord said holding up a Transparent score card. Black HAnd walked up to the fat slob of a boss they head, grabbing the front of his shirt "D-Don't hurt me" he said. Black Hand looked him dead in the eyes, "Wo are uoi working for?" "Why does it matt-AUGH" the boss yelled in pain when Black Hand turned his hand to it's near breaking point, "Talk, or I'll break every bone in your body". "H-He's at the old hide out just south of the old Railyard". Black Hand released the fat slob's hand, "Good, now take a nap" Black Hand said administoring a punch to the boss, knocking him out cold. Black Hand then walked over to the barred door and kicked it open, knocking off the locks. Dark Lord hovered next to him, "So, where we goin'?" "Railyard"

[Anowa]

Atlas
Maybe he's seen about as much shit as me, "Buddy, I've met Cthulhu, I'm willing to bet you don't know that feeling."

"Figured out whose is larger?" Zara did not look especislly impressed by the discussion. "If you are quite finished we have work to do."

"You two!" Her attention was taken by a pair of rattled looking agents who had made it back to the house, "One of you watch this guy. Make sure he doesn't try anything funny." She pointed at the Cerberus agent, "the other one make sure nobody from their side comes through the hole in the wall. Any problems... radio."

"You." This was for Atlas, "Come with me."

She led the way out towards the hall and stairs up to the bedrooms, "You've approached the wrong group of people if you think we'll condone torture." She said quietly, "If that is the way you want to go about this, I'm out." She would not become one of the monsters who had destroyed her country.

Atlas
I sighed "Ms. Delic in my twenty years of service, not once has asking nicely worked, and if it works now it'll blow my fucking mind. So yes, it is the way I want to go about this."

[Dyelli Beybi]

Atlas
I sighed "Ms. Delic in my twenty years of service, not once has asking nicely worked, and if it works now it'll blow my fucking mind. So yes, it is the way I want to go about this."

Zara stopped, giving Atlas an incredulous look, "You do realize why Aegis was formed? Why we have spent time and money figuring out plans to kill you? Why Kosa insisted she was in charge of any new organisation?"

"Bah!" she waved a hand, she wasn't going to explain the central tenets of the organisation, "If you want to work with this organisation your attitude towards your opponents will need to be reassessed. And spare me the false dichotomies. You know damned well there are innumerable methods for extracting information that are not torture. The world's police forces use them to good effect on a daily basis."

She walked forward pushing open a door into a dark room with the curtains drawn. Alice was there, layed out on a mattress that Shane had dragged off the bed and into a corner where she would be sheltered by furniture and walls from any stray bullets. Shane had the bubble dome of his helmet back. When he saw Zara he immediately stepped up to her and drew her into a fraternal hug, "You had me worried for a bit Delic, I should have known you'd pull through."

Alice, meanwhile was sitting up, her jaw clenched stubbornly. Shane had patched up her leg - it looked like a clean shot through the muscle from where the bandages had stained crimson, "She won't take any pain killers." Shane said.

"Can't." Alice grunted, "Need my wits about me."

[Anowa]

Atlas
I sighed "Ms. Delic in my twenty years of service, not once has asking nicely worked, and if it works now it'll blow my fucking mind. So yes, it is the way I want to go about this."

Zara stopped, giving Atlas an incredulous look, "You do realize why Aegis was formed? Why we have spent time and money figuring out plans to kill you? Why Kosa insisted she was in charge of any new organisation?"

"Bah!" she waved a hand, she wasn't going to explain the central tenets of the organisation, "If you want to work with this organisation your attitude towards your opponents will need to be reassessed. And spare me the false dichotomies. You know damned well there are innumerable methods for extracting information that are not torture. The world's police forces use them to good effect on a daily basis."

Atlas
I spoke with fake enthusiasm, "So your telling me that all we need is to have a police detective come over and that guy's gonna start singing like a canary!?, Wow, that's unbelievable! I sure wish we we're taught that in Ranger school. It would've saved so much time!" I dropped the act, "You have a higher chance of killing me, than getting him to talk by asking nicely."

[Dyelli Beybi]

Zara stopped, giving Atlas an incredulous look, "You do realize why Aegis was formed? Why we have spent time and money figuring out plans to kill you? Why Kosa insisted she was in charge of any new organisation?"

"Bah!" she waved a hand, she wasn't going to explain the central tenets of the organisation, "If you want to work with this organisation your attitude towards your opponents will need to be reassessed. And spare me the false dichotomies. You know damned well there are innumerable methods for extracting information that are not torture. The world's police forces use them to good effect on a daily basis."

Atlas
I spoke with fake enthusiasm, "So your telling me that all we need is to have a police detective come over and that guy's gonna start singing like a canary!?, Wow, that's unbelievable! I sure wish we we're taught that in Ranger school. It would've saved so much time!" I dropped the act, "You have a higher chance of killing me, than getting him to talk by asking nicely."

"And what happens when someone doesn't have the information you think they have?" Zara was clearly annoyed, "They start telling you everything they think you want to know. Information obtained through torture is unreliable at best..."

"And a clear violation of the eight amendment." Alice interrupted in an angry growl, struggling to push herself up. Zara had developed a slightly smug look... she had deliberately carried the argument into the room because she knew it would set Alice off... "I don't give a shit what they taught you in ranger school. This nation was founded on principles and I believe in them, even if you don't. If I go out there fighting the SCP, I am not going to be fighting a dirty guerrilla war like some nasty little Latin American revolutionary. I will be fighting for the Constitution and I will behave according to its principles."

"If we Meta-humans ever want to be regarded as anything more than a menace to society we have to start behaving in a way that is above reproach." she concluded before adding, calmly and with complete confidence, "Bring me your prisoner. He will tell me everything I want to know."

[Anowa]

Atlas
I spoke with fake enthusiasm, "So your telling me that all we need is to have a police detective come over and that guy's gonna start singing like a canary!?, Wow, that's unbelievable! I sure wish we we're taught that in Ranger school. It would've saved so much time!" I dropped the act, "You have a higher chance of killing me, than getting him to talk by asking nicely."

"And what happens when someone doesn't have the information you think they have?" Zara was clearly annoyed, "They start telling you everything they think you want to know. Information obtained through torture is unreliable at best..."

"And a clear violation of the eight amendment." Alice interrupted in an angry growl, struggling to push herself up. Zara had developed a slightly smug look... she had deliberately carried the argument into the room because she knew it would set Alice off... "I don't give a shit what they taught you in ranger school. This nation was founded on principles and I believe in them, even if you don't. If I go out there fighting the SCP, I am not going to be fighting a dirty guerrilla war like some nasty little Latin American revolutionary. I will be fighting for the Constitution and I will behave according to its principles."

"If we Meta-humans ever want to be regarded as anything more than a menace to society we have to start behaving in a way that is above reproach." she concluded before adding, calmly and with complete confidence, "Bring me your prisoner. He will tell me everything I want to know."

"He knows because he was whining about 'His men' being killed, and Ms, Kosa the issue with not wanting to be a 'nasty Latin American revolutionary' we aren't fighting SCP, we're fighting the US government, I thought I made that clear, and if your too stupid to realize that guerrilla warfare is the only way that can be done, than perhaps I was wrong to think Aegis could do anything."

[Serah]

Stone

"Well! Since no one wants to acknowledge me anymore I'll just leave and just go around doing random things on Earth.
After all, some of the current heroes in this story don't have much time left." And with that, he left the fight up to Hastur and Anathema versus Cthulhu.

"Where to go... I dunno, I'll just wander around... Being a god like that is boring though, I mean, I'm speaking to myself in the middle of the street and no one recognizes me! How bored can I be?" He spoke, many looks turning to him.

"And going to see Al and the others is just going to make it either suspicious or it's going to make it harder on them. Mentally speaking." He wandered around the Earth, wondering whether there was something to do or not.
"I could free Lios. At least, he'd get something done... Nah. Also Laurel didn't even budge when I appeared, nor did she even look at me, how cruel of her.
I bet she didn't even drink the cup of hot coco I put." He teleported himself back to where he had been when he spoke to Laurel.

"Hey, how you doing?"

[Dyelli Beybi]

"He knows because he was whining about 'His men' being killed, and Ms, Kosa the issue with not wanting to be a 'nasty Latin American revolutionary' we aren't fighting SCP, we're fighting the US government, I thought I made that clear, and if your too stupid to realize that guerrilla warfare is the only way that can be done, than perhaps I was wrong to think Aegis could do anything."

"You did make that clear, and if you are too stupid to realize we cannot defeat them without the good will of the people, then perhaps I misjudged you. If you fight this war the way you would do it, and you win, the only thing you'll have proven is why we needed the MHR Act to begin with. You wanted to fly a freakin' plane into the Pentagon!" she reminded him, "I'm sure there are lots of angry people in the Middle East who will line up for a chance to join your war. There are no shortage of people in the world with a bone to pick with the American Government, from redneck militiamen to Afghan cave-dwelling insurgents. The recruitment opportunities are endless."

"I, however, can give you something more than guns and testosterone. I can give you a Revolution people believe in, but you need to understand, that the problem of overturning this Bill and the attitudes that led to its drafting cannot be solved by shooting anyone who disagrees with you." she paused, then held her hands out to Shane, who lent her an arm for support, allowing her to walk without putting any weight on the injured leg, "I think I've made my point and there is no point repeating ourselves. You can regard this as a line in the sand - I will fight the monsters, but I will not become one in order to beat them. I will not work with anyone who violates either the principles of the Constitution or the rules if the Geneva convention. I will, however, still fight this fight, on my own if necessary - because it is the right thing to do."

"Shane, can you please take me downstairs. I will talk with the prisoner."

"Now, show me where

[Dyelli Beybi]

Stone

"Well! Since no one wants to acknowledge me anymore I'll just leave and just go around doing random things on Earth.
After all, some of the current heroes in this story don't have much time left." And with that, he left the fight up to Hastur and Anathema versus Cthulhu.

"Where to go... I dunno, I'll just wander around... Being a god like that is boring though, I mean, I'm speaking to myself in the middle of the street and no one recognizes me! How bored can I be?" He spoke, many looks turning to him.

"And going to see Al and the others is just going to make it either suspicious or it's going to make it harder on them. Mentally speaking." He wandered around the Earth, wondering whether there was something to do or not.
"I could free Lios. At least, he'd get something done... Nah. Also Laurel didn't even budge when I appeared, nor did she even look at me, how cruel of her.
I bet she didn't even drink the cup of hot coco I put." He teleported himself back to where he had been when he spoke to Laurel.

"Hey, how you doing?"

Laurel gave the creature a suspicious look, "I'm already in a relationship." she said, "... what are you? Some kind of Layrelis Household God?"

She didn't speak very loudly or move from where she was crouched. There was still fighting nearby and she was quite keen not to become a target for someone with a gun.

[Serah]

Stone

"Well! Since no one wants to acknowledge me anymore I'll just leave and just go around doing random things on Earth.
After all, some of the current heroes in this story don't have much time left." And with that, he left the fight up to Hastur and Anathema versus Cthulhu.

"Where to go... I dunno, I'll just wander around... Being a god like that is boring though, I mean, I'm speaking to myself in the middle of the street and no one recognizes me! How bored can I be?" He spoke, many looks turning to him.

"And going to see Al and the others is just going to make it either suspicious or it's going to make it harder on them. Mentally speaking." He wandered around the Earth, wondering whether there was something to do or not.
"I could free Lios. At least, he'd get something done... Nah. Also Laurel didn't even budge when I appeared, nor did she even look at me, how cruel of her.
I bet she didn't even drink the cup of hot coco I put." He teleported himself back to where he had been when he spoke to Laurel.

"Hey, how you doing?"

Laurel gave the creature a suspicious look, "I'm already in a relationship." she said, "... what are you? Some kind of Layrelis Household God?"

She didn't speak very loudly or move from where she was crouched. There was still fighting nearby and she was quite keen not to become a target for someone with a gun.

"No need to give me that look, here have a hot coco. I put it there before but you didn't see me. Also yes, I'm kinda serving that purpose, among other things, I'm kind of their quite literally divine friend. By the way, your theory about the origins of their powers isn't too far from the truth, except it was I that gave them their powers, indirectly. By the way, you can chill for now, nobody knows you're even here." Stone smiled, the wind blew back his hood.

"Ah blast. Oh well, you're going to see me a lot more often now. Congrats with Alrick though, I honestly never thought he would ever get with anyone. Oh who am I kidding of course I knew. I'm a god after all. Not the bad kind like that asshole in the christian religion. Oh wait, I forgot my manners, Stonehedge. God of creation, ascended from human, part of the council of the deities and Elder God. Pleased to meet you. But call me Stone. Since you're basically part of the family now, at least to their eyes." His eyes carried the same problem as the complete Lareylis family, one could think he was their father from the start.

[Anowa]

"He knows because he was whining about 'His men' being killed, and Ms, Kosa the issue with not wanting to be a 'nasty Latin American revolutionary' we aren't fighting SCP, we're fighting the US government, I thought I made that clear, and if your too stupid to realize that guerrilla warfare is the only way that can be done, than perhaps I was wrong to think Aegis could do anything."

"You did make that clear, and if you are too stupid to realize we cannot defeat them without the good will of the people, then perhaps I misjudged you. If you fight this war the way you would do it, and you win, the only thing you'll have proven is why we needed the MHR Act to begin with. You wanted to fly a freakin' plane into the Pentagon!" she reminded him, "I'm sure there are lots of angry people in the Middle East who will line up for a chance to join your war. There are no shortage of people in the world with a bone to pick with the American Government, from redneck militiamen to Afghan cave-dwelling insurgents. The recruitment opportunities are endless."

"I, however, can give you something more than guns and testosterone. I can give you a Revolution people believe in, but you need to understand, that the problem of overturning this Bill and the attitudes that led to its drafting cannot be solved by shooting anyone who disagrees with you." she paused, then held her hands out to Shane, who lent her an arm for support, allowing her to walk without putting any weight on the injured leg, "I think I've made my point and there is no point repeating ourselves. You can regard this as a line in the sand - I will fight the monsters, but I will not become one in order to beat them. I will not work with anyone who violates either the principles of the Constitution or the rules if the Geneva convention. I will, however, still fight this fight, on my own if necessary - because it is the right thing to do."

"Shane, can you please take me downstairs. I will talk with the prisoner."

"Now, show me where

I closed my eyes and sighed, "Fine, we'll do it your way. But don't come crying to me when it all goes down the tube." I stopped the helmet cam recording. I made my way back outside to where the fight was dwindling down, Mother had reactivated moments ago and was once again wreaking havoc, I sat down on a nearby rock to open up a private channel.
A voice picked up, "Hello?"
"It's David."
"David, It's good to hear from you, how's the plan going?"
I sighed, "It may not work."
"Damn... Just keep trying, this is vital, you cannot fail."
"I know I can't, killing Kurtis isn't going to be easy. Neither will the Frame. Listen I just called to let you know."
He sighed, "Alright, keep me posted."
"Atlas, Out."
I sat on the rock, quietly taking in the noises of the dwindling battle.

[Talion Union]

Fox-1 say at a small desk. He murmured to himself. He considered making a dash for it, to collect the service tags of his comrades. He had already tucked his into his boot. He had a strong sense of duty, and treated his fellow Operators like brothers.

[Dyelli Beybi]

I closed my eyes and sighed, "Fine, we'll do it your way. But don't come crying to me when it all goes down the tube." I stopped the helmet cam recording. I made my way back outside to where the fight was dwindling down, Mother had reactivated moments ago and was once again wreaking havoc, I sat down on a nearby rock to open up a private channel.
A voice picked up, "Hello?"
"It's David."
"David, It's good to hear from you, how's the plan going?"
I sighed, "It may not work."
"Damn... Just keep trying, this is vital, you cannot fail."
"I know I can't, killing Kurtis isn't going to be easy. Neither will the Frame. Listen I just called to let you know."
He sighed, "Alright, keep me posted."
"Atlas, Out."
I sat on the rock, quietly taking in the noises of the dwindling battle.

A few minutes later Zara reappeared, wordlessly handing him a beer. She took a slug from a second bottle she had brought for herself, leaning up against the side of the rock. After a few minutes she asked, "Do you want to know a secret? Do you know who Kosa is? I mean really is... behind all the false identity papers."

It was her idea of a peace offering - an explanation of the zeal that burned under Alice's usual facade of snarky movie references. Her own story had similarities, but was far less interesting.

---

Fox-1 say at a small desk. He murmured to himself. He considered making a dash for it, to collect the service tags of his comrades. He had already tucked his into his boot. He had a strong sense of duty, and treated his fellow Operators like brothers.

At about the same time that Zara was approaching Atlas outside, Alice limped in to see Fox-1, Shane helping her into a chair. What Shane, Zara and everybody else didn't know was that Alice had, following the events in San Diego several years before, developed a relatively powerful telepathic arsenal to compliment her telekinetic one. It was possibly something she had always had, locked away with the memories of her past...

As soon as children acquired language they began to think in words as well as the odd image. The were words and images which nobody could hear or see... except for a very small number of telepaths. When she cared to engage the particular talent, that included Alice. She sat down, focusing on the thoughts of others buzzing around, tuning into those of Fox-1, "Do I know you?" she asked pleasantly, "You look familiar."

Many people had played that game as children where you say 'whatever you do, don't think of an orange'... and the instructed person immediately thinks of an orange. Her interrogation technique worked a lot like that. Gentle verbal suggestion to get the subject to think about something. Even if they lied she would have read what had first sprung to mind and filed it away. So long as they had no idea what she was doing it was highly effective.

[Anowa]

I closed my eyes and sighed, "Fine, we'll do it your way. But don't come crying to me when it all goes down the tube." I stopped the helmet cam recording. I made my way back outside to where the fight was dwindling down, Mother had reactivated moments ago and was once again wreaking havoc, I sat down on a nearby rock to open up a private channel.
A voice picked up, "Hello?"
"It's David."
"David, It's good to hear from you, how's the plan going?"
I sighed, "It may not work."
"Damn... Just keep trying, this is vital, you cannot fail."
"I know I can't, killing Kurtis isn't going to be easy. Neither will the Frame. Listen I just called to let you know."
He sighed, "Alright, keep me posted."
"Atlas, Out."
I sat on the rock, quietly taking in the noises of the dwindling battle.

A few minutes later Zara reappeared, wordlessly handing him a beer. She took a slug from a second bottle she had brought for herself, leaning up against the side of the rock. After a few minutes she asked, "Do you want to know a secret? Do you know who Kosa is? I mean really is... behind all the false identity papers."

It was her idea of a peace offering - an explanation of the zeal that burned under Alice's usual facade of snarky movie references. Her own story had similarities, but was far less interesting.

Atlas
I accepted the beer, and removed my helmet, "From what Hussar told me she's an inter-dimensional traveler.. or something." I took a swig and stared out into the now silent night. Mother had disappeared off to wherever, and I thought I saw a few people sitting on the roof, "Although I kinda guessed she went through something to make her soul glow like that, and from the way yours shines, you must've gone through your own trials."

[Serah]

Laurel gave the creature a suspicious look, "I'm already in a relationship." she said, "... what are you? Some kind of Layrelis Household God?"

She didn't speak very loudly or move from where she was crouched. There was still fighting nearby and she was quite keen not to become a target for someone with a gun.

"No need to give me that look, here have a hot coco. I put it there before but you didn't see me. Also yes, I'm kinda serving that purpose, among other things, I'm kind of their quite literally divine friend. By the way, your theory about the origins of their powers isn't too far from the truth, except it was I that gave them their powers, indirectly. By the way, you can chill for now, nobody knows you're even here." Stone smiled, the wind blew back his hood.

"Ah blast. Oh well, you're going to see me a lot more often now. Congrats with Alrick though, I honestly never thought he would ever get with anyone. Oh who am I kidding of course I knew. I'm a god after all. Not the bad kind like that asshole in the christian religion. Oh wait, I forgot my manners, Stonehedge. God of creation, ascended from human, part of the council of the deities and Elder God. Pleased to meet you. But call me Stone. Since you're basically part of the family now, at least to their eyes." His eyes carried the same problem as the complete Lareylis family, one could think he was their father from the start.

Stone

After a while, he spoke again, looking slightly frustrated.

"Come on, don't tell me you're not going to drink it just because you're not sure. Seriously look at me, do I look like I'm Zeus? I don't go around like him. And shit if I did this I would be given shit by Alrick and you know he would try to kill me, god or not. You would kill me too. Actually, everyone would.
I wonder why everyone finds me suspicious, I mean, it's hot chocolate, made by me, it's the most delicious one you're ever going to taste, and yet...
Everyone is always looking at me like I'm some kind of absolute stranger, but when Anathema shows up everyone's like: Oh shit, let's hide you never know what he can do with his hammer and his apathetic personality.
And when I come up everyone flips because I don't look the god part, it's normal! I ascended from human! Not my fault if I created tons of worlds, one of which Alrick is from and all the mythology here is more real than ever.
Wait no, actually, that is my fault, although it's not really one since the one I created is peaceful as possible." He lightly ranted, but stopped once he noticed she didn't care anymore.

"You're still not believing me are you? Hmm... Ah! I know! I'm going to bring Lios, you know him, he doesn't lie to anybody." He said, in a somewhat victorious tone.

[Talion Union]

I closed my eyes and sighed, "Fine, we'll do it your way. But don't come crying to me when it all goes down the tube." I stopped the helmet cam recording. I made my way back outside to where the fight was dwindling down, Mother had reactivated moments ago and was once again wreaking havoc, I sat down on a nearby rock to open up a private channel.
A voice picked up, "Hello?"
"It's David."
"David, It's good to hear from you, how's the plan going?"
I sighed, "It may not work."
"Damn... Just keep trying, this is vital, you cannot fail."
"I know I can't, killing Kurtis isn't going to be easy. Neither will the Frame. Listen I just called to let you know."
He sighed, "Alright, keep me posted."
"Atlas, Out."
I sat on the rock, quietly taking in the noises of the dwindling battle.

A few minutes later Zara reappeared, wordlessly handing him a beer. She took a slug from a second bottle she had brought for herself, leaning up against the side of the rock. After a few minutes she asked, "Do you want to know a secret? Do you know who Kosa is? I mean really is... behind all the false identity papers."

It was her idea of a peace offering - an explanation of the zeal that burned under Alice's usual facade of snarky movie references. Her own story had similarities, but was far less interesting.

---

Fox-1 say at a small desk. He murmured to himself. He considered making a dash for it, to collect the service tags of his comrades. He had already tucked his into his boot. He had a strong sense of duty, and treated his fellow Operators like brothers.

At about the same time that Zara was approaching Atlas outside, Alice limped in to see Fox-1, Shane helping her into a chair. What Shane, Zara and everybody else didn't know was that Alice had, following the events in San Diego several years before, developed a relatively powerful telepathic arsenal to compliment her telekinetic one. It was possibly something she had always had, locked away with the memories of her past...

As soon as children acquired language they began to think in words as well as the odd image. The were words and images which nobody could hear or see... except for a very small number of telepaths. When she cared to engage the particular talent, that included Alice. She sat down, focusing on the thoughts of others buzzing around, tuning into those of Fox-1, "Do I know you?" she asked pleasantly, "You look familiar."

Many people had played that game as children where you say 'whatever you do, don't think of an orange'... and the instructed person immediately thinks of an orange. Her interrogation technique worked a lot like that. Gentle verbal suggestion to get the subject to think about something. Even if they lied she would have read what had first sprung to mind and filed it away. So long as they had no idea what she was doing it was highly effective.

Fox-1 immediately began to think of the one thing that they both knew about. Something that they both knew.

'Nanites'.

[Dyelli Beybi]

"No need to give me that look, here have a hot coco. I put it there before but you didn't see me. Also yes, I'm kinda serving that purpose, among other things, I'm kind of their quite literally divine friend. By the way, your theory about the origins of their powers isn't too far from the truth, except it was I that gave them their powers, indirectly. By the way, you can chill for now, nobody knows you're even here." Stone smiled, the wind blew back his hood.

"Ah blast. Oh well, you're going to see me a lot more often now. Congrats with Alrick though, I honestly never thought he would ever get with anyone. Oh who am I kidding of course I knew. I'm a god after all. Not the bad kind like that asshole in the christian religion. Oh wait, I forgot my manners, Stonehedge. God of creation, ascended from human, part of the council of the deities and Elder God. Pleased to meet you. But call me Stone. Since you're basically part of the family now, at least to their eyes." His eyes carried the same problem as the complete Lareylis family, one could think he was their father from the start.

After a while, he spoke again, looking slightly frustrated.

"Come on, don't tell me you're not going to drink it just because you're not sure. Seriously look at me, do I look like I'm Zeus? I don't go around like him. And shit if I did this I would be given shit by Alrick and you know he would try to kill me, god or not. You would kill me too. Actually, everyone would.
I wonder why everyone finds me suspicious, I mean, it's hot chocolate, made by me, it's the most delicious one you're ever going to taste, and yet...
Everyone is always looking at me like I'm some kind of absolute stranger, but when Anathema shows up everyone's like: Oh shit, let's hide you never know what he can do with his hammer and his apathetic personality.
And when I come up everyone flips because I don't look the god part, it's normal! I ascended from human! Not my fault if I created tons of worlds, one of which Alrick is from and all the mythology here is more real than ever.
Wait no, actually, that is my fault, although it's not really one since the one I created is peaceful as possible." He lightly ranted, but stopped once he noticed she didn't care anymore.

"You're still not believing me are you? Hmm... Ah! I know! I'm going to bring Lios, you know him, he doesn't lie to anybody." He said, in a somewhat victorious tone.

"You are not very godly." Laurel commented suspiciously, "Are you sure you aren't just another Layrelis family member? I have not encountered a God who cannot stop talking before."

Laurel did not like most Gods. This one... was clearly insane. Why was he trying to give her cocoa? She hadn't asked for cocoa. What did it want from her? She knew that certain Greek Gods used to prey on isolated nymphs and she felt very isolated right now. "I am the daughter of Alaunus." she said primly, "Do not try to force yourself on me."

The fighting though was starting to peter out, which meant she had a reasonable chance of getting into the building without getting shot and thereby getting the files she needed, "What do you want from me?" she demanded.

Fox-1 immediately began to think of the one thing that they both knew about. Something that they both knew.

'Nanites'.

"Were you one of those people that saved my life in Las Santanas?" she asked, "I thought I recognized you. I owe you my life, and even if I didn't, unlike some people I actually believe in things such as honor and the Geneva convention." she sighed, "Do you want a drink or something? I am feeling really thirsty."

And her leg was throbbing excruciatingly, but she didn't mention that, "I'm not going to press you for details, but why is Cerberus trying to kill me? I don't think I've done anything to piss them off. I have been responsible with my use of powers and worked to put away the dangerous ones."

[Confederation of imperial states]

[REDACTED]

[Confederation of imperial states]

Allies Headquarters

While Thunder and Guardian discussed their plans to confront the person taking down the Axis, Stealth decided that she needed some fresh air so she headed up to the roof of the mansion. She just sat there and could see Downtown San Diego in the distance. She liked the night, it was peaceful for her, when she wasn't out trying to kill everyone. The wind blew through her hair as she stared up at the stars.

Breaker
Breaker jumped and landed, mildly quiet on the Roof of the Allies Headquarters. he found the person he'd been looking for, "You're the One they call Stealth, Am i correct?"

[Talion Union]

[Message deleted by System32]

[Talion Union]

Deleted

[Scotatrova]

Allies Headquarters

While Thunder and Guardian discussed their plans to confront the person taking down the Axis, Stealth decided that she needed some fresh air so she headed up to the roof of the mansion. She just sat there and could see Downtown San Diego in the distance. She liked the night, it was peaceful for her, when she wasn't out trying to kill everyone. The wind blew through her hair as she stared up at the stars.

Breaker
Breaker jumped and landed, mildly quiet on the Roof of the Allies Headquarters. he found the person he'd been looking for, "You're the One they call Stealth, Am i correct?"

Stealth pulled out her gun and aimed it at the man.
"Depends who's asking. You are?"