That Wounded, Old World (IC; Far-PMT; Invite Only)

[Gigaverse]

Sakahara Keiji

January 1st, 2293 LC
Central Ardavia, Imperial Palace
0152 Hours

As he flew his jet away from the scene, Sakahara noticed something. A syringe of sorts were apparently stuck into his thigh. He dropped his cloak, as a small window appeared on his Lifewave Screen. The components of whatever the substance they injected into him. He skimmed through it, and merely dismissed the message, if not being happy about it.

"Oh thank you. Next time your friends came around, this baby you gave me would help me finish them off faster and more painful. Well, would you look at that: lovely chemical to bend the blood of those who haven't evolved."

In midair, from inside the jet, his laugh still resounded back. Perhaps saying his laugh resounded back to Ardavia could be a correct statement.

[Ardavia]

December 31st 2292
45 km above Antarctica
0215 Hours

95th Shock Infantry Platoon

The large dropship was floating slowly through space and the 22 soldiers inside were spending their time doing whatever they wanted. Some were playing on their datapads, others were playing card, others still were looking out into space. They would be here for another 5 hours, then the second shift began and they could go home. Then, suddenly, the entire ship shook.

The pilot shouted through the intercom "OH FUCK. WE'RE GOING DOWN" as the ship began to slowly drop, turning its nose downward. Outside the window, flames could be seen as they plummeted through the atmosphere. The pilot yelled through the intercom again: "We've been hit by a meteorite, and we can't recover. On top of that, the impact took out our comms" as the dropship rolled over, throwing the soldiers inside around like toys, then pointed its nose straight down, speeding up. Soon, the ice sheets came into view and everyone on board realized they were going to die.

Soon, the ship crashed into the ice, releasing a massive cloud of steam as the ice melted around it. Coincidentally, they had crashed just 20 km from where the 62nd had last been seen, 5 minutes ago. Two soldiers died as the ship crashed, breaking their necks, while the pilots were crushed as the nose of the dropship bent under the force of impact. The ship melted through the ice, going down underwater, and soon no trace was seen of it. At 2000 meters of depth, the ship settled against the bottom. The ship was airtight, and the surviving soldiers were not going to drown. Instead, they would suffer a horrible death as their air ran out.

[New Frenco Empire]

Corps Sergeant Ivan Yates

December 31st, 2292
Unknown Antarctic Ice Sheet; Bordering Koryan and Anoctan Territory
0220 Hours

The group moved through the thick screen of white and blue. Even with their visors set to infrared, it was hard to see any more than 20 feet in front of them. "Stay close," he transmitted once again. He couldn't stress that enough. The quiet march was interrupted by Wells. "Hey, uh, guys? 5 o'clock, high." Yates and the rest of the group turned to see a huge, black silhouette falling from the sky in flames. "What the hell is it? Meteorite? Are meteor showers even a thing on the South Pole? A ship? May-" Yates interrupted him. "Incubus, maintain radio silence. We can worry about it later." After the debris impacted and broke through a nearby ice sheet, it sunk into the icy waters below. "No doubt the lassie chinks and royal whackjobs will be swarming all over this place to investigate whatever it was soon enough. We need to get out of here. Keep moving."

After a few minutes of wandering, thinking about the falling debris, Yates picked up a faint life sign in the distance. "Halt." He crouched down, and zoomed his visor in over the disturbance. He couldn't make out what it was in the infrared, but he saw four large heat signatures snapping at the ankles of one, humungous heat signature. He switched the infrared off to witness four Anoctan Wolves attacking a Goliath Snow Bear. "Shit! Hostile wildlife, 11 o'clock! Heads down!" One of the wolves leapt at the bear. Before the wolf could sink it's teeth into the thick, white flesh, the bear bit it just as it came close to it's face. After shaking it around in it's mouth, he slung it aside and moved to deal with the others. After a minute of fighting, the bear slammed one of it's massive paws down on one of the slower canines. It's high-pitched death cry scared the other two wolves away. The bear made victorious growl into the moonlight, and proceeded to pick at it's victims.

Meanwhile, the Rangers were preparing to take the beast down. "Alright, the mutie bear is in our way. Amazon? Can you hit that thing from here?" Without any words, Doe nodded and moved to the front of the group. "Remember, aim for the eyes. If those things are anything like the Goliath Grizzlies back home, they're damn near bulletproof." She carefully took aim with the rifle. After a minute of mental preparation, she began to pull the trigger. Making a shot the size of a typical coin from this distance in barely visible conditions required ultimate concentration...which was unfortunately broken by the howling of wolves, which began just as she pulled the trigger. The sudden sound of it made her jerk her rifle to the left a bit. The round, instead of hitting on eye, hit the bear in the back. It began roaring in pain. After it recollected, it began charging towards the Rangers position.

[Gigaverse]

Hu Wutian

January 2nd, 2293
Beijing, United Dominion of Asian Peoples
1308 Hours

That evening, the troops were all nostalgic of the very small New Year celebrations they had the other night. Then, they were forced to do this. They were all, compared to Ten-Year War veterans, rookies. Not to mention, even in the War, the Northern Sector was never involved. In short, they were being driven into an impossible mission by the insane officials of the Communist Party.

As they were discussing what to do to that problem, a particular someone approached them. General Hu Wutian.

"Hey, you all! Quiet, you! We are having an important mission here!"

"Yeah, yeah: Important mission, led by 'Only Survivor'. We're grateful that we'd die on the steppes far far away."

"Then don't you want to defend the Dominion against the forces that will come and enslave our people? Rape our women? You would just let them storm on that large corridor into our nation, and then suck dry of our resources?"

"Oh, come on, get real. These are the Russians we're talking about! We have technologies they do, and they have technologies we don't!"

"What about our women? Would they get brutally raped too?"

From there, the men hesitated. Their female civilian population was only for them( to rape - hence the overpopulation). Finally, after what seemed like 15 minutes of deciding, they spoke.

"Fine! Let's go kick some Russian asses!"

The troops all cheered. Thanks to that, Hu's worry was lessened. But, he got another thing coming...

January 2nd, 2293
The Mongolian Steppes, People's Northern Sector
1908 Hours

6 hours of marching, and there they were: the Mongolian Steppes. Knowing the terrain, but having never commanded such a large force, Wutian was nervous as hell. But, there was nobody else who knew enough about the region to pull out a victory in any way, and he was a commanding officer after all.

Before they could hit the Russians first, however, their enemies hit them where they hurt the most.

Artillery fire, from nowhere, hurled at the Asians, covering a large area and removing quite a significant number of Asian fighters off the battlefield before they could even react. Not that it would affect the rest of the huge numbers they had, but the problem was, the rest would come as reinforcements. In other words, right after the artillery attack, their numbers were indeed scaled down by a dangerous level.

He had to take the risk. Hu Wutian ordered his men to attack.

Large groups of conscripts and tanks emerged from trenches, small campsites and hiding spots; all roaring to charge against the Russians. Their sheer numbers were nothing short of a large swarm of large ants.

When they did see their enemies, though, some cowered in fear. In the midst of the sandstorm, the Russian infantry - adept in arctic zone fighting - was nowhere to be found. Instead, there were only vehicles and humongous mechs. As they approached, the mechs threw purple fire at the Asians, burning them wondrously under the evening sky.

It seemed as if, with that movement, that the Russians would win the battle without losing a single soldier, while none of the Asians would make it back to Beijing.

"Apostle Stoyanovich, enough damage had been done in the Northern Sector; shall we proceed with the rest of mainland China?", someone within the "Russians" said to "General" Stoyanovich.

"No, Giro. They've had enough, spare the lives of innocents for once.", "General" Stoyanovich answered in fluent, non-accented English.

"Well, are there innocents?", Giro smirked from inside his mech.

From the Asian perspective, when their reinforcements came just in time, the mechs retreated. It was as if the Russians were fearing for their lives that they'd be utterly annihilated by the Quantity versus Quality tactics handed out by the UDAP Generals. Seeing the dogs running away, the Asians were ever excited!

"YES! WE'RE VICTORIOUS!"

"NOT YET! GIVE CHASE! AVENGE OUR COMRADES!"

Now was the Asians' turn to push the Russians back.

[Gigaverse]

((OOC: Red = Japanese))

Elizabeth Devereaux

January 1st, 2293 LC
Hollow Africa
2015 Hours

It was already 10 hours since she was outside. Elizabeth walked curiously around the hallway, to come upon Sakahara Keiji conversing with the Prime Minister all by accident.

"... just not doing it yet, aye, Keiji?", the PM asked.

"The Master is not ready yet. Approximately 12 hours of charging."

"You're still mad about what happened?"

"I'm grateful for what you did, and I'm taking my chances at it, but I must admit, I don't like involving myself in trivialities like this. This case isn't exactly so, but..."

"Ah, but you're doing her a favor, yes? When your goals are accomplished, she'd be most grateful. Remember, Sakaha- hmm... I forgot. Izanagi-no-Mikoto. We should start talking like this from here."

"About that... we seemed to have talked in that language long enough for a particular someone to notice..."

They both looked to a single pillar.

"You can come out now, Devereaux."

Elizabeth realized she was spotted. She came out, slowly, to approach them. Sakahara narrowed his eye, while the mouth of the Prime Minister welcomed her to the conversation with a warm smile.

"You came to see us?", asked the PM.

"... N... Not really. I was just... I didn't know what to do next."

"Well then, here's something about that: we've found the one with the alias 'Kingston'."

Elizabeth started. Her eyes rounded up, as her heart pounded faster. It seemed as if she was excited, but she couldn't tell whether it was or why was it there. Perhaps the "lovey-dovey concept" Hightower talked about?

"But we're not going to him anytime soon. He's going to need... treatments, which might take... a while. I also have things to run on, and a sister to love and protect, so... I'll leave you be."

Sakahara left the spot and went to find his sister, while the Prime Minister looked at Elizabeth.

"What's wrong? Your feelings seem stirred up.", the PM asked her, the one whose face showed that she was being mixed in emotions.

"Ye- No- Nothing... Sir.", she answered. From there, she just stood. As the PM walked away, her previous excitement was replaced by a feeling of melancholy and loneliness.

[Ardavia]

January 1st 2293
Imperial Palace, Central Ardavia
0200 Hours

Autarch Vezn Hisar

"THE MILITARY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ABDUCTED. THREE GUARDS DEAD, THE REST OUT FOR WEEKS. 500 METERS FROM THIS SPOT HERE. AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME HOW WE DIDN'T FUCKING NOTICE ANYTHING BEFORE IT HAPPENED" Raven shouted, severely annoyed. The death of those guards had cost them over 300 million and Kingston was gone. Disappeared, like a puff of smoke.

Then he calmed himself again, and said "Alright. From this moment onwards, no one is to leave or enter the palace without my personal approval. Other than that, I want a full no-fly zone over this city. Anything appears on the scanners without proper permission, you shoot first, ask questions later. If you see an anomaly, like an empty hole, you fire. If you see something that looks like a passenger plane, you fire. Got it? Oh, and get me Sundowner, Mistral and Monsoon. Might as well get out my own guards".

The officer in front of him saluted, then turned around and left. Soon, the three cyborgs arrived. Raven's three personal guards, the Winds of Destruction. With him, it made four emotionless killing machines, and they were about as different from the guards who were protecting Kingston as a flintlock and a plasma rifle, regarding technology and lethality. Not to mention, they all fought with melee weapons. Raven, titled Bladewolf, had his HF blade nicknamed Oblivion, Mistral carried two Sai she called Dystopia paired with the tentacles on her armor, Monsoon fought with the Strangers, a pair of HF blades as well and Sundowner carried his massive warhammer called Oathbreaker. As a team, they could probably take on a Lioness unit and survive. Possibly. Obviously, no one knew, because they hadn't tried and weren't planning on it.

[Ardavia]

January 1st 2293
Unknown
1115 Hours

43825727-4247_Rainbow-Six.exe, James Hathaway

Hathaway walked into the Imperial Tower, passing by the artificial Black Guards inside, and went upwards to the Autocrat's Chamber, going up via the elevator. He was looking for Hightower, and this time he was going to make an effort to be civilized, having shaped his avatar into himself, clean shaven, short hair, wearing a suit and over it, a longcoat. Or at least as similar to himself as he could remember.

It was two years since last time he had visited the place. Still looks exactly like I remember it. Then he made a discreet cough, completely aware that Hightower already knew he was there. Then he said "Well, it would seem we might have some things to discuss, Chairman" and looked at Hightower, who had turned away from the window to face him. The man had a slightly sad look in his eyes, but the little flash of emotion quickly disappeared. Hathaway knew that Hightower was a man of little emotion, and he was surprised to see him express it ever so slightly.

Then Hightower spoke.

[Gigaverse]

Hu Wutian

January 2nd, 2293
Naushki Settlement, Tsarist State of Novaya Russia
2028 Hours

The night was quiet and peaceful for the civilians of Naushki, as they went about their usual business. It was a mostly peaceful part of the Russian state, bordering the UDAP to the South ensured its status of not being a target for foreign aggression.

Not anymore.

In exactly 2028 Hours, on that fateful day, the second day of the year 2293, the Asians decided to attack the small peaceful Settlement with all their power and might. All resistance was ruthlessly stamped out, as the Asians butchered the population of Naushki with no mercy, regardless of whether they were women, children or the elderly. In the case of females, rape to prove dominance was used - as with the usual case of "Asian power".

They would never come to know why the Asians did that to them. Either because they just wouldn't, or because there wouldn't be any of them left.

The Asians, however, did have motivations, if only minor ones. Proud in victory and still filled with hatred, they were doing unimaginable things to the nearest Russian population they could locate.

But soon enough, the Russians would be aware that their soil was violently encroached upon. When that would happen, world politics would have something to watch at after years of bored retirement.

[Gigaverse]

Rolo Creed the Chronian Lord

January 1st, 2293 LC
Digital Washington DC Ruins
1100 Hours

The Chronian Duke wandered aimlessly within the digital realms of Cyberspace. He walked through a re-created version of the ruins of Washington DC. His cape flowing in the artificial wind, as his upper face sank in darkness and his cane brilliantly red, as always.

That was, he would never expect to have visitors in the middle of nowhere like this.

"Well well, if it isn't Izanagi-no-Mikoto in this humble space... What brings you to no man's land?"

"Because I have a favor to ask, Lord Rolo Creed."

"To tamper with time, yes? ... I, the Chronian Lord, Agent of Legion, Knight of Time and Tamer of Bats, to help an ardent doer of the Hollows?"

"Um... YES?"

"Just the answer I expected. But I assume we won't come in and interrupt someone else's talk 15 minutes to come. After all, we are gentlemen."

Rolo smiled, revealing his face. Somehow, he had something resembling Hightower.

[Ardavia]

January 1st 2293
Central Plaza, Ardavia
0935 Hours

John "Jack" Raven, Bladewolf

Raven laughed as the preparations were made. It had been years since he had participated in something as fun as this would be, back in 2267. Back then, it hadn't been as fun. This time, he would be on a live broadcast, occupying all Ardavian transmission for TV's all over the world. And the prisoners wouldn't be squealing and screaming, begging for their lives, like the UDAP soldiers had been. They would just endure it quietly, and the quiet suffering was what he had always enjoyed. He had always suspected he was slightly sadist, and these moments when he got to live out his twisted dreams fully was what he had lived for once.

The 22 Hollow Ones were brought out into the plaza, still wearing the ragged and scruffy uniforms of Black Guards they had worn in 2290. Raven flicked on his sword, the blade arcing with electricity, as the first one was brought to the stand. Raven observed, standing still but smiling, as the soldiers strapped him into the frame, hands and feet spread apart. "Hollow Ones. I know you'll observe this. Do these soldiers have fathers who care for them? Mothers who love them? Brothers or sisters who miss them? Sorry about that, because unless I get Kingston back, I'll take a finger off each of these for each hour that passes. Once the fingers are done, I'm going to flay their legs and turn the skin into capes and dress them in them, then I'll whip them. If I still have to wait, I'm going to gut them with a knife and twist their entrails around their necks and impale their bodies on poles, leaving them to rot here on the plaza. It's your choice. Let them suffer, or return Kingston" he said into the camera, smiling. Then he moved, bringing the sword down onto the hand of the first Hollow One. The finger fell to the ground, followed by a spray of blood.

Before it fell, Raven had moved on to the next, making another cut. The steel cut through flesh, through bone and through the gloves they wore. And Raven just laughed. Laughed like a maniac as the fingers dropped. The Hollow Ones did not scream, but they did twist in the frames, trying to wrench loose to no avail.

[New Frenco Empire]

Sofia Carson

January 5th, 2293
New Cintra; Undisclosed
0800 Hours

The car sped through the war-torn desert. Wreckage of drones and tanks, blast craters, even the odd skeleton or two dotted the sandy fields around the road. New Cintra and Kaedwen had been going at it since they managed to seize control of their respective portions of Australia after the 10 Years War. UDAP still regularly hammered both sides from their northern territories. This left the continent in a continuous state of war. All for a big, sandy rock.

As the car continued to speed along the humongous stretch, Carson continued to outline her plan. Every flight schedule, highway systems, dome city, everything. She also touched up on her appearance. The whole "femme fatale" look she sported had often helped her in her work. "OBSTRUCTION AHEAD!" The GPS AI sounded. "Brake the car," she said to the AI driver. The car made a smooth stop in front of a New Cintran military checkpoint. "HALT!" She could her the soldiers yelling in a thick, Rosevarian-like accent. "NO CIVVIES ALLOW---Damn!" The soldier said as she stepped out of the car in her skintight jumpsuit and dolled-up face. Fucking pigs.

"What's a pretty face like yours doin' in the Outback?" The soldier asked in a mix of authoritative curiosity and sexual excitement. "I'm sorry, Mister Soldier. I'll be sure and leave right away!" I'm an Imperial Agent, not some overpaid prostitute. "But since you're fighting the big bad Kaedwen guys, I want to give you a present." She stuck her hand into the collar of her jumpsuit, and reached down towards her breasts. The soldier looked like a starved dog eyeing a steak. She smiled, and pulled out her G86 plasma pistol. The Cintran soldiers attempted to react, but she was much too quick and accurate for them. The signature "pyeh" the pistol sounded echoed four times for the four soldiers at the outpost. She shot a fifth time at a camera pointing away from her.

"Storage trunk open," she spoke as she approached the car. She drug the body of a Kaedish soldier from her trunk, and threw him among the Cintran dead. She took a deactivated X5 plasma rifle from the trunk and threw it next to his corpse to make it seem like it was the murder weapon. She then searched the body of the most senior-looking Cintran soldier, and took his credentials. She pocketed them, and reentered her car. "Continue previous route," she said as the car continued through the desert.

[Gigaverse]

Kingston, Captive of the Hollow Ones

January 1st, 2293 LC
Unknown Location
0936 Hours

That morning, Kingston woke up with a stereotypical headache. The first thing he could hear was the sound of a TV. When he finally woke up, he noticed the TV was a very, very old model, being black and white. There was Raven's face - a close-up on how sadistic he looked.

Then, he noticed that he was being fixed to a platform with metal handcuffs and all kinds of metal restraints, in general. He struggled, but was unable to do much of anything.

Suddenly, he heard a wacky voice talking to him.

"Don' try it, soldier, you w'vill neve'ar get't out't."

He looked at the direction of the voice. A doctor in his coat, wearing goggles and sporting funny-looking hair, was who he found. The old man in white coat turned back at the tall, stout man behind him. He left the chemicals he was holding at the back.

"Where am I?", asked Kingston.

"W'vhere, y'u ask's? Why'y, it'z t'zhe Hollo'ow O'wnes' ba'ese, of cou'urse."

Kingston wanted to start, but he couldn't. Kingston then took notice of what the monochrome TV was showing.

Hollow Ones. I know you'll observe this. Do these soldiers have fathers who care for them? Mothers who love them? Brothers or sisters who miss them? Sorry about that, because unless I get Kingston back, I'll take a finger off each of these for each hour that passes. Once the fingers are done, I'm going to flay their legs and turn the skin into capes and dress them in them, then I'll whip them. If I still have to wait, I'm going to gut them with a knife and twist their entrails around their necks and impale their bodies on poles, leaving them to rot here on the plaza. It's your choice. Let them suffer, or return Kingston!

He felt relieved. Sooner or later, something would be done about this situation, and he would get out, back to Ardavia.

"T'zhat's t'zhe diss'zappointing part. I pers'zonally engineered t'zhe artificial soldiers progra'am, I kno'ow. T'zhose are no more t'zhan mere clones, beasts a'und ot'zherw'vise t'zhose who takes orde'ers.", the doctor said, much to Kingston's horrors.

"O'oh, I forgot to introdu'uce myse'elf. I'm Doktor Albrecht Derrotte."

The Doctor returned to the bunches of chemicals he was working with earlier.

"T'zhey'll bring y'u lunch, eventually. But befo'ore t'zhat, lay and re'est t'zhere w'vhile w'vatching televis'zion w'vill do'o y'u s'zome goo'ud."

He clicked an old-school remote, and the program on the TV switched to something else entirely.

With the music playing in the background, Kingston lied there, wondering just what the Hollow Ones wanted with him, or what they'd do to him in the end.

[Gigaverse]

Hu Wutian('s Arc)

January 3rd, 2293
Novaya Moskva, Tsarist State of Novaya Russia
0128 Hours

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!?"

The General looked at the screen. He couldn't believe it, but there it was. Siberia was hit. Not by ICBMs. Not by meteors. Not even the Ardavians.

As shocking as it was, they were certainly Chinese.

"Are you ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THOSE ARE THE CHINESE?"

"YES, WE'RE..."

"... SURE, GENERAL."

All the men in that room turned to the door. They could see a mysterious figure. He was dressed in black, even his helmet was black; only several golden highlights and the red glass on his helmet was visibly different.

"WHO ARE YOU?"

"You do not need to know. General, there is a long story I need you to listen to."

"Speak then..."

15 minutes later

"So it is true than... Fair enough, the story shall be taken to the ears of our Honorable Czar. You'd certainly be rewarded for your dutiful loyalty. And... your name is?"

The figure walked away, his back showing nothing but his cape-coat and high collars, all slightly-purplish black with two golden lines. He slowly walked outside.

"Zero.", he said.

[New Frenco Empire]

Elizabeth Devereaux

January 2nd, 2293 LC
The Hollow Ones' Liberated Africa/Hollow Africa
0105 Hours

The intense urges had tormented her since she went Hollow nearly three years before. The Prophet always told her that sexual urges were persistent, even in the next evolutionary stage. Though they weren't against the act, they may as well have been asexual. Asexuality was the opposite of whatever the Frenks were. From a young age, she always heard sex was an inherent good. A safe, natural way to pursue pleasure. Though, ever since she found herself in the Prophet's company, she hadn't looked for it. Lately, though, it had been biting at her. Nagging to be let out. Begging.

She turned over to see Youko, deeply asleep. She always asked her or any of her other companions to sleep with her occasionally. She was never a good sleeper, and often stayed up late, talking or horseplaying. Yuoko was her favorite. She was something of a hybrid. Mostly human, but with cat-like ears and tail. This hadn't affected her appearance, though. She was very attractive. Her body was curvy, her hair was blond, and her skin as white as snow. She was definitely a match for herself. Though her body was definitely that of a woman, she was still very girl-like. Very naive. When Elizabeth would start talking about her more gruesome experiences as a Vanguard in Anarchist Africa, she would keep a disturbed look in her eyes. When she told her the manner in which she had to kill an African guerrilla with her plasma rifle, she actually fainted and MacCullem needed to revive her.

Just looking at Youko made her damp. She had never thought about having sex with the young, cat-like girl, but now, it was all that was on her mind. Elizabeth licked her lips in desire. I will have my prize. Youko usually wore a thin gown to bed, while Elizabeth kept up the Frenkish way of wearing nothing where it wasn't needed. She lifted the sheets, exposing her body to the chilly room. She inched over to Youko. She calmly moved her hands on her gown, and lifted it. She was a heavy sleeper indeed, as she managed to strip her bare without her even stirring.

Am I going to go through with this? She looked, once again, to Youko, who was stark naked now. The sight might her moisten even more. I want her. Elizabeth rubbed her hands over the Neko's breasts, licking her lips all the while. Youko may have been a heavy sleeper, but this was enough to make her stir. "Eliza, what are you doing?" She asked, half-asleep, not opening her eyes. "Claiming my share, dear" She said sensually. "I have great power. I rule you. Won't you let me?" Youko opened her eyes to find herself declothed. She opened her eyes widely.

"Elizabeth, I-" She cut her off when she began squeezing the small, pink tip on her breast. "Ow!" She yelped. Youko continued to stare whenever Elizabeth redirected her hand to the lower pleasure spot. Youko groaned as her own desirable part dampened in Eliza's hand. Eliza then thought to herself. She removed her hands. "I-I'm sorry. I...lost control. Please forgive me." She grabbed the sheets, covered herself, and turned over. She could sense Youko covering herself as well. After several awkward moments of silence, Elizabeth laid, awake. She was very upset with herself. She basically raped the best friend she had. She mercilessly took what she wanted, and probably would have done more if she hadn't stopped herself. Suddenly, Youko inched over to her. "I...don't know what it is you just did." Elizabeth grinned. Same, naive girl. "Don't worry about it. It was something I shouldn't have done. Just...go back to sleep." Before Elizabeth could turn back over, Youko stopped her again. "I-I think I...liked it. I've never felt anything like that before. It was a bit...awkward, sure, but...strangely exhilarating. Would you care to...do it again, just a little?" Elizabeth smiled a bit. Am I going to go through with this? She doesn't even know what I did. She took another look at her. She was still naked, and sweating a bit from the action. She never looked more appealing, and the wetness in Elizabeth's under-region confirmed it. "Let's take it slow, ok?"

[Ardavia]

January 7th 2293
460 miles off the coast of South America, Hammer of the Autarch
0200 Hours

Undercover Operative Scylla, Imperial Intelligence Ministry

The entire submarine shook as it came to a halt, preparing for launch of the stealth missile. However, this time, it wouldn't carry a warhead and blow wherever it was aimed to pieces, rather, it would insert the operative into hostile territory without them having a chance of spotting it. Once Scylla had ejected and landed safely, the missile would draw attention by hitting a pre-designated location just outside a major city in Anocta with a limited explosion. It had quite some distance to travel, but once she had ejected, it would go completely visible on radar.

Of course, once she had landed, the plan depended on them being preoccupied with figuring out who launched the missile and why instead of searching the landing site. But why would they do that? The missile-deployment routine was practically untested, having only been used once and the Anoctans couldn't have a clue about it. Scylla felt the vibrations as the missile accelerated to over Mach 3. Once it approached the islands, it would slow down to 400 km/h and she would eject, followed by the missile going fully visible and blasting away at over Mach 5.

Within 15 minutes, Scylla would be landing in the Anoctan-occupied Falkland Islands. Her only weapon was a concealed combat knife and a Mk22 Hypnotizer. The small, pistol-like, weapon sent out a beam of hypnotic rays, coercing the victim to sleep. And the best part was, unless you were blind, you couldn't dodge it. Well, be blind or look away, but when someone's pointing a gun at you, you don't look away. She would try and make it to the Anoctan labs and infiltrate them somehow, to get hold of the data for their new project being developed there.

The exact nature of it was unknown, but it was most likely some kind of weapon, judging by the military presence and the over-the-top security there. Lord Hathaway had secretly managed to infiltrate their security systems and get a good look at how it worked, but he hadn't been able to get the data on the project, which was why Scylla was going in.

[Anocta]

January 5th, 2293
Former United South American occupied Falkland Islands - West Falkland
FusiCo's combined energy research & military outpost
0630 Hours

Representative Kester Safina

The rising sun broke through the rigid layers of clouds which oversaw West Falkland, signifying to the various scientific researchers and military personnel that it was about time to rise from their slumber and face the somewhat chilly climate of late January Falklands. The temperature stabilised at approximately 8 degrees Celsius according to the looming aesthetic digital thermometer which stood its ground next to the once again digital clock. 6:30AM it said, a reasonable time to wake up Kester conclude; especially with the delicate yet important research & construction which was occurring on the island demanding the utmost dedication from everyone present, even the cooks.

Kester leisurely strolled through the main courtyard of the combined outpost: he acknowledged the busy scuttling of those in the place of more important roles within the outpost -also referred to as simply "Fusion"-. They went about their business, making sure they made the most of the time they were allocated for the day, while others such as the military personnel dawdled around in "smart casual" formations as they awaited the presence of their commanding officers; Kester, however, was only adiment about getting a full on breakfast. He was only one engineer out of many after all, and his presence wasn't as imperative at this time as much as the leading professors who had accomplished PhDs in the fields of weaponized & clean energy fusion - as provided by the privately ran University of Nilfgaard.

2-2-9-4. Safina rapidly hit the buttons on the door's control panel, accompanied by a somewhat satisfying "beep" as the hits registered; as it should do, the door leading to Safina's workplace open with a faint noise, the slabs of hardened glass & steel sliding back into the wall. As he entered the hallway begin the door, two cameras surveyed him - one confirming the identity of the individual in front of the inanimate object, and the other confirming that he was unarmed and of no potential threat to the hush hush operations going on inside. As per, the camera's LED lights turned green, indicating that Kester was not to be electrocuted by the Tesla rays implemented into the rooftop above him. The thought that he had accidentally wandered into the lair of an evil mastermind crept into Safina's head, but was swiftly dismissed.

It was a strange lookin' thing that stood in front of him, but Kester knew it was that shape for a reason; launching a fusion powered orbital laser satellite into space sadly can't incorporate the idea of a snazzy design. A fusion reactor was being built upon a combustion-free thruster pad, and top of that reactor there was a bloody massive laser; also powered by the compact fusion reactor. It was in its late stages now, and had taken one hell of a shape. The idea behind the laser was that it'd be like lightning. Except it came from space, and had the power of a thermonuclear bomb once fully primed and charged. The funny thing about it all was that Doctor Heaz had decreed that it was not a weapon of mass destruction, but a weapon of "intimidation". Because, y'know, destroying entire cities isn't massively destructive.

[Gigaverse]

Elizabeth and the Sakahara siblings

January 2nd, 2293 LC
The Hollow Ones' Liberated Africa/Hollow Africa
0120 Hours

"NO."

Right at the room's doorsteps, Sakahara had stormed in and answered the question for his sister. In front of him were two females in their most "natural" states, but that didn't seem to be his main concern. One could tell from his especially unhappy stare.

"Nii-sama...", Youko said, slowly covering herself, yet again.

"Kenny... You were here the whole time?", Elizabeth asked in surprise.

"I don't need to be. I KNOW something is wrong."

That statement alone gave Devereaux chills. Does he have telepathy or something, she thought to herself.

"To think that you are getting lost in that 'Frenkish Nostalgia'... and made your moves on my sister... is simply unthinkable, Devereaux, simply unthinkable..."

"Wait, K, I can expl-"

Sakahara gave her the signal to stop with his index finger.

"We'll do something about it next morning, go back to sleep. Youko."

"Y... Yes, Nii-sama...", Youko answered. Her ears and tail stood down, while the girl herself was trembling and speaking with an obedient voice.

Sakahara came to where his sister was, and carried her - along with a sheet - in his arms, all seemingly done like she was feather.

"For now, I'll be moving her somewhere else."

His cyan left eye suddenly changed color to red. A sharp Omega appeared in his eye.

"Youko, Devereaux, I want you both to do something for me: SLEEP LIKE THE NICE GIRLS YOU ARE."

Upon his ending of the order, Youko yawned, slowly closed her eyes, while Elizabeth collapsed to her bed. Both then started sleeping deeply, as if they were goner.

Sighing with disbelief that it was the second time he had to use his Eye to make people sleep, Keiji switched back to his usual cyan eyes. His face got closer to Youko's, giving her an affectionate look.

"That day when you know about it would come, perhaps soon, younger sister, but... not here. Not now. And not with her. Not with her..."

He gave her a kiss on the forehead, before finally carrying her - elegantly, genuinely covered - out of the room.

[New Frenco Empire]

Chairman Joseph Hightower

January 1st, 2293
Secured Frenkish Network
1120 Hours

Hightower had known Hathaway had entered his system. It was only...two years?...since he tried to kill him. He turned to see him. He was trying way too hard. "Cut the attempt at making a good impression, Agent Hathaway. It isn't going to work. I assume you're here about the tri-annual game of barbarism and common savagery?" Hathaway nodded. "Yes, you seem to be really enthused about it." Hightower shook his head.

"I have no interest in what the common masses do. I may micromanage the entire country, but I can leave some, insignificant things to my hands. I might as well patch you to Zane." Hathaway nodded. Just before Hightower could open up a link, something...odd happened.

[Anocta]

January 5th, 2293
Alcavus - Corporate State of Octa
1200 Hours

Alec Monsoon

The time dawned upon him. Monsoon looked through the purple tinted glass of his luxurious penthouse, which overlooked the west end of Alcavus; also acknowledged as the "not third world" sector of the megalopolis. Hundreds of massive flatscreens lit up with extravagant images of the virtual world he was about to enter once again. It was the fourth time that he was to enter the world for such an occasion: a strange place which was designed by ludicrously paid former game designers who were designated to produce a world fine-tuned to sate the bloodthirsty viewers who wanted something a bit closer to reality, but not have the guilt of supporting barbaric slaughter. After all, the elitists who had paid to virtually orbit the event wouldn't want to be considered uncivil now, would they? Monsoon chuckled at the thought that he, a lowly commoner arisen to high status simply because of a virtual sport, would be entertaining this city's finest...and he'd be getting paid millions of liras for it. The alarm on his Moogle Glasses went off, and it was time for the 43rd Annual League of Warriors!

[Gigaverse]

Rolo Creed the Chronian Lord

January 1st, 2293 LC
Secured Frenkish Network
1126 Hours

Hathaway froze, on the spot, not making any more movements. At all. Hightower looked to see two more people approaching him; one with blond hair, and one in a white tuxedo.

"Greetings, Mister Chairman... Joseph Hightower. I am Rolo Creed, and this is Sakahara Keiji. He's a Hollow, and I'm but a reluctant helper."

He stopped for a second, then resumed.

"So, I know the masses is none of your business, but we currently have an important task that happens to have them in it. Say, would you mind to patch Derrick Zane for the guy behind me."

The guy behind him was the one staring at Hightower with disdainful eyes. Perhaps he's faced people like these before.

"And perhaps we could do this quickly. We don't want our friend Hathaway here to notice a big difference in time, do we?"

Rolo simply smirked.

[New Frenco Empire]

Elizabeth Devereaux

January 2nd, 2293 LC
The Hollow Ones' Liberated Africa/Hollow Africa
0700 Hours

Elizabeth awoke, sprawled out across the bed. She couldn't remember how she blacked out, exactly, but she was certain K had something to do with it. Her head was pounding, her exposed body was cold to the touch, and she was still tired. After fruitlessly attempting to go back to sleep, she decided she couldn't. Without bothering to get dressed, she arose. She went off to the bathroom. After finishing up her business, she bathed in one of the shower-like capsules. These capsules weren't unlike the Frenkish shower systems. A lot of Hollow tech was strangely similar to Earth technologies, despite the key differences.

The two years or so she had known Youko and Keiji, she had known how protective the latter was to the former. Though, just how far K would go to protect Y, she could never have guessed. Back in her NFE birthplace, "cockblocking" was quite rude! It's almost as though...he was saving her. For himself? Up until recently, she was almost sure the brother and sister had some kind of sexual relationship going. Though, ever since MacCullem told her about the sibling-bond, she didn't know what to think. Can brothers and sisters engage in sexual activity? There had always been old jokes concerning incest, but like most of her Frenkish friends, she barely understood them and just laughed along. Could this be one of the scenarios those jokes poked fun at?

She decided to let it go. She figured she was clean enough, and turned on the drying function of the capsule. When her body was no longer dripping, she stepped out and headed back to the chamber. After raiding her closet for something, she decided she wouldn't wear something elegant. She had contemplated the night before to go out and hunt insurgents that were sure to be prowling the jungles around the Hollows territory. Without her little playmate, she had nothing to do. So, today was a day to go and do something productive. She donned the suit of underarmor she wore during the occasions the Prophet let her go out into the field. She would gather whatever legionaries had the time, and go out into the jungles. But before she did, she decided to see if she could catch Keiji. Though she had felt (she had known) she did nothing wrong in the consensual act with Youko, she still felt a little guilty over it. She would apologize, but not before she got a few clues as to why K was so close to his sister...

[New Frenco Empire]

Chairman Joseph Hightower

January 1st, 2293
Secured Frenkish Network
1130 Hours

"Hmm...something new happens every day, it seems. A Hollow and a...cybergod...walks into my network, just like that, asking to see my right-hand? May I ask why, at least?" Neither of the two moved a muscle. Instead, they simply stared. Hightower shifted his gaze to Hathaway, who seemed to be frozen where he stood.

"I suppose I could get a hold of him. If you're asking to see him instead of me, it's surely a unique request. Hopefully, a bit more unique than those 'games' the fool in front of you asked about." Just as he finished his statement, the body he kept in this network disappeared in front of him. He materialized, instantly, on Zane's computer terminal setup. Zane was sitting at his desk when he noticed his ruler's face. "Zane, it seems you have a few...guests. See to them, won't you?"

[Ardavia]

January 1st 2293
Frenkish Network
1130 Hours

James Hathaway

Hathaway laughed mentally as Hightower spoke to the two newly arrived. So, a Hollow and some guy who apparently locked up my avatar. Well, might as well notify Hightower of why I'm actually here, following this. I think Raven's message will be more interesting to him than the games, however much he thinks he's too busy for those. He was the guy who fucking introduced bloodsports in an official manner, he thought, looking at the two visitors.

Since he couldn't move, Hathaway went into his mental archives and picked out a suit. Once his avatar unlocked, it would automatically switch. The eye patch was there because, well, his basic avatar, the one the suit was built upon, had lost an eye. It had something to do with the torture he had endured.

He mentally repeated the message to himself, thinking about what Raven had sent with him. He was going to offer the Frenkish the complete blueprints of the cutting-edge technology that comprised Raven's body, their cyborg technology was relatively primitive, in exchange for some of the Lioness blueprints. After all, the Ardavians were falling behind in the mech department and basing new mechs off the Lioness could be a good idea. Not to mention, we can build effective anti-Lioness weapons with them.

[Gigaverse]

Elizabeth Devereaux

January 2nd, 2293 LC
The Hollow Ones' Liberated Africa/Hollow Africa
0725 Hours

"Looking for something to do?"

Eliza looked to where the voice came from to see the Prime Minister. That person she hadn't come to know much about yet, other than the very fact that even The Prophet was his subordinate. Unlike the terribly boring black robe he always sported, he donned a much more luxurious white cloak and blue cape - perhaps both him and her desired to have a fashionable change on that day. For some reasons, this new cloak he wore made him considerably taller - up to Keiji's height.

"Let's go for a walk. I'll show you just where you can be most productive."

Not knowing where would she exactly go to, Devereaux just nodded. Together, they both walked along, as Elizabeth started asking.

"So, Your Excellency," because The Prophet told her to address him as such, "... who exactly are the Hollow Ones?"

"Then who exactly are YOU?"

She stopped to think. He came up with the answer surprisingly fast. Right at that moment, she didn't know who she was. His rhetorical question only answered a small part of her question, but she'd digress.

"Can you answer that?"

"You, me, and some of the Hollows here are no different - we're all humans, after all. But apart from that, compared to the average person on this part of the Apeiron, you have the chance to become something special - the one who could possibly lead the people out of their faulty ways."

The PM looked at her, and let out a short, low chuckle.

"Well, I know you're not the type that's too good with philosophies. To change the subject, speak your mind."

Her mind was so full of questions, she couldn't properly arrange them. Whatever was the first thing that jumped to her head would be the first thing she'd ask.

"Regarding brother-sister relationships...", she turned to the PM, "the perfect state upon the completion of the basics of evolution would be when all impurities are fixed, and siblings can finally be intim- Oh. We have arrived."

Elizabeth looked up. She wondered how in the world could she get outside so quickly, but whatever, it seemed to be a lively day. The Legionaries of Keiji, several unloading and/or landing Gigacrafts, and Keiji himself, the blond ponytail flying in the wind, as usual. He was talking to a black-haired young man, his hair reaching neck-length. After a few seconds of noticing them, Elizabeth could see the stranger saluting to Keiji. From a nearby landing craft came down some extra people.

"Ho- Devereaux! Before you go out, let's make sure your physical conditions are appropriate, shall we?"

Before Elizabeth could even turn her attention to him, Doctor MacCullem - having showed up out of nowhere and apparently still the doctor he always was - had completed the physical check.

"Well, you're good to go. But remember, the jungle japes might not be as fun as they look..."

"I'll keep that in mind, Doc.", she answered with a warm smile.

"You've got company.", the PM reminded Devereaux, while slowly leaving the place.

The new people - five of them, in total - and Keiji, slowly approached Elizabeth. The one with the green, old-fashioned uniform from earlier offered her a handshake.

"Hi, fancy meeting you in the middle of nowhere. I'm Murakami Taku. You must be... Devereaux?"

"Sorry, he has difficulty spelling names like those. I'm Francois Archambault.", the bald burly tan-skinned man introduced himself with a big grin.

"This is Robbie Bartender.", Francois told Elizabeth about the one with brown spiky hair and a goatee. He put his right hand's index finger and thumb on his chin while making a grin less wide than that of Francois, probably doing his first impression without talking.

"And this is Samantha Blanca.", Murakami pointed to the woman suited in a similar fashion as Elizabeth - might as well have reminded her of the days she were Emily Howell. Noticeable, however, were her green eyes and red hair.

"Hello there, beautiful.", she said.

"And then, there is Xiao Meimei, our medic. Just a name we call her, her real name is Zhu Lingdan."

The blue-twin-tail-haired girl - the one wearing strangely medic-like clothing, with petite stature waved back.

"Hey there. I'm Lingdan, but people call me Meimei. Let's do our best!"

When the introduction was finally over, Keiji finally came.

"These people, along with a few Legionaries, will be the ones tagging along with you in the meantime. Keep in mind not to go too near French or Frenkish territories, and please remember to tell your partners. Especially you, Ragtag Robbie.", Keiji said.

"This mission is very simple: in the middle of the jungles and pockets of resistance, we've located by radar new Sakuradite mine. While there isn't much more information, this should be enough reason for us to stomp the area. There are slums and villages along the way that aren't necessarily involved, so don't try to pull them in the mess. Do also remember that Sakuradite is highly radioactive, so while you have locators on your Lifewave screens, don't dig too deep into it, and immediately stop and report once the signal's very strong. Beware of the jungle's mutated lifeforms, and good luck."

Before Keiji went, Elizabeth finally gathered her confidence for an apology.

"K..., I'm sorry for what happened last night."

He stopped where he was, standing with his back turned to her sight.

"Don't mention it. Pick up later.", he said. Then, he walked away.

"Well, let's get started! Will we travel by the truck, a Jeep or on foot?", Robbie asked.

"Of course, my preference is a short travel by Jeep. Murakami, you drive."

"Don't boss me around. All of you, be prepared to materialize your respective armor programs once we get close. Might be some extra missions out there as well."

"Wait, then what of the Legionaries?", Francois asked.

"Nyeh, they can take the truck.", Meimei mischievously answered.

"Well then, it's decided: good luck, Murakami."

"WHAT?"

As the others continued arguing about who drives what, Elizabeth observed. Guessing by K's summary, they would probably be alongside her starting from that point.

[New Frenco Empire]

Corps Sergeant Ivan Yates

December 31st, 2292
Unknown Antarctic Ice Sheet; Bordering Koryan and Anoctan Territory
0230 Hours

The four Rangers slowly backed away from the charging bear, dumping their clips into the beast as it approached. The sound of the rounds leaving the silenced rifles was completely inaudible under the roaring of it. When the bear reached a 30 yard line directly in front of the group, Yates waved his hand to signal a retreat. He switched magazines, and continued firing. "Amazon!" He yelled to the Ardavian, but she was nowhere to be found. "Raptor, drown the fucker in lead!" He said to the burly soldier with the minigun on his back. Bernard nodded, dropped his rifle, and unholstered the minigun.

Meanwhile, the bear was inching ever so closer to the group. Yates stopped firing, and decided to use the AR62's underslung gauss attachment. He took a knee, and aimed the rail at the running white mass. Before he or Bernard could fire, though, he noticed a small, black shape in the corner of his vision. Before he knew it, a Ranger was on top of the bear, Kukri drawn, about to make a killing blow across the neck. However, the Ranger simply tapped the creature on the head and started rubbing it. Eventually, the bear calmed down, and stopped charging. In fact, it started walking. Like a tamed animal.

"Amazon, what in the hell?" Yates asked in disbelief as the bear approached him as if it were some oversized dog. "It doesn't take much to control beasts." She said. "I was hoping we wouldn't have to waste so much ordnance if I just calmed him down." She hopped down from the bear's back. "Either way, I'm sure anything from here to the prefecture south radius heard the disturbance." Yates sighed behind his helmet. "Alright, move out! What about the bear?" The Ardavian woman rubbed it's snout. "I can keep him under control. Not to mention, he could sniff the drones out, and be thrown at the enemy should it come to that." Yates shook his head. Is she suggesting we keep a goddamn war bear? Ardavians are the weirdest fucks... "Fine, but Yogi gets put down the minute we think he's a threat."