Chapter twenty. An old Enemy.
Tomb Spyder
Dirty Spyder
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Ziz shows up and fucks up everyone's plots and plans. New ones are created as a result. Goddamn overly curious death pigeon...
Chapter twenty. An old Enemy.
It had started with Shamash turning to stare at a wall. Then the Ethereal had whipped about and stormed out of the dining area, dragging Taylor with her. Looks like trying out burgers would have to wait.
"What is it?"
The orange mask turned to her briefly.
"An Enforcer."
...Shit.
In other words, the Collective's name for an Endbringer.
Her hand was released as Taylor started moving under her own power. She'd need to get to the control room, recall everyone. How long did they have? How close was it?
She ignored the chorus of voices in her head. Du'viri had managed to awaken another four of his brethren, so at this point they were more distracting than helpful, talking all at once as they were.
"How? I can't feel anything."
Shamash continued practically power walking forward, though she did turn to regard Taylor once more.
"You don't get to be my age without picking up a few useful tricks, young one."
/////////////////
ADVENT and PRT transports were already speeding through the city when the sirens activated. Of course there was an initial rush of bodies, but the terrified crowds were quickly corralled by entrenched peacekeepers and response team troopers alike, who continued to direct the disorganized masses into either nearby shelters or if possible, evacuation routes.
The Rig, a shining beacon of the Protectorate's presence moved in the first time in over three years, built-in tethers pulling it to dock with the mainland. The tinkertech oil rig quickly became a staging point of sorts.
That's where Taylor found herself, shadowed by C-1 and Shamash. A few paces behind her a tall, hooded figure holding an absurdly large rifle also waited. Despite the high tech mask covering the Hunter's modified face, Taylor could literally feel Alec's amused smirk. Additionally, a few dozen troopers carrying specially made equipment followed behind the tall Chosen. Brian would have been here as well, but Taylor had ordered him to take his sister and wait for further orders. His power wouldn't really lend itself well to an endbringer fight.
Of course the Archons that roared over them also made for quite the sight. Their unique form of movement made it far easier for them to get up onto the Rig. The rest of her forces had been forced to use the transport boats the PRT had provided.
She'd initially considered developing Floaters, but their very existence would have been a painful one. Plus they weren't very PR friendly, so it had been decided that it would be better to wait until she had the appropriate materials to properly outfit the angelic beings.
If the dozens of parahumans staring at the divine looking cyborgs were any indicator, the Archons definitely succeeded in the attention grabbing aspect at least.
She strode forward, several costumed heroes and villains moving to the side, and stopped in front of an expressionless Clockblocker. Though beneath the mask she could sense no small amount of shock, awe and a little bit of fear.
The Ward held up some kind of wristband, holding it out to her.
"Uhm....you need to put this on. Mandatory for all e-endbringer fights."
She let the hero sweat for a moment, then got a hold of herself and took the device from him.
The instructions were pretty simple. Though the knowledge that she was essentially strapping an explosive to herself didn't fill Taylor with confidence. Dragon's pre-recorded explanation had been quite blunt. And the nature of the device made exactly who they were fighting obvious.
Nonetheless, she pressed down on the indicated button and let her name be recorded.
"Elder."
With an ominous click, the bomb locked around her wrist.
A chorus of whispers spread around her, mostly the local capes, though it seemed a few foreign ones also knew about the young Ethereal. Weird, that.
"That's Elder?"
"ADVENT's really bringing in the big guns, huh?"
"Some kind of tinkertech suit, wonder what her power is?"
Taylor let the murmurs wash over her and stepped aside, letting Shamash take her own wristband.
"What a primitive system...very well." She poked at her own wristband even as nearby, Armsmaster frowned. The giant robotic dragon he stood next to didn't show any indication it had heard the insult.
"Shamash."
C-1 had already flickered forward, snatching another wristband from an increasingly lost looking Clockblocker.
[CODEX.]
The digital being struggled to attach the miniature computer to it's wrist for a moment, before finally managing to stabilize one of it's arms enough to allow the device to lock itself on.
She idly listened to Alec's whistling as he clamped his rifle behind his back, taking a wristband for himself. The Chosen practically towered over Clockblocker.
"Always loved your name you know."
Clockblocker gave a confused but friendly thumbs up, even as Alec raised the small screen to his mask.
"Hunter."
Her and the crowd's attention was stolen as a man with a massive gun-blade strapped to his arm (Chevalier, she remembered) pointed at what seemed to be a repurposed courtyard.
"Briefing area is over there! If you've got your armband on, get moving! We'll explain everything in a few minutes!"
Taylor moved.
////////////////////
There were at least a hundred people present, all packed together into the courtyard with each group taking up their own little area. She could see the Empire (notably lacking Hookwolf and Crusader) standing together as a unit, across from her own retinue.
Elder made sure to stare at Kaiser until he looked away. Of course a tiny bit of psionic influence helped.
The voices in her head approved.
Of course the petty little battle of dominance ended as Legend stepped up behind a hastily set up podium. Behind him stood Alexandria and Eidolon.
Everyone went quiet, conversations universally being halted and shelved for later.
The Triumvirate had arrived.
Legend's masked face turned slowly, presumably taking in everyone who had shown up. He smiled.
When he spoke, Taylor listened. He admittedly had a very nice voice.
"We owe thanks to several individuals for this opportunity. Dragon and Armsmaster's latest tracking program has given us time to prepare. As per usual, Strider should be commended for his efforts. Everyone you see standing around you are the first responders, but reinforcements are on the way. We also owe thanks to every person here. Every hero, villain, trooper and otherwise. Today, all of you are heroes."
A bright pair of eyes turned to stare up at the several Archons orbiting the assembly. "No matter how...unorthodox."
He took a breath.
"We've had time to gather, and time to figure out what we're up against."
A moment of silence.
"As you're likely already aware, the Simurgh has broken schedule and if Dragon is correct, will be here in fifteen minutes. Or less."
A few people started murmuring. Leviathan and Behemoth were one thing, but the Simurgh?
In most cases, fighting Ziz was an exercise in futility.
Taylor glanced back as Shamash placed a hand on her shoulder, silently sending the girl a burst of reassurance.
Legend raised his hands, waiting for the quiet protests to die down, then the hero continued.
"It is my hope that we can make this one of the good days. That we'll drive that damn monster off in time. That we'll save the day and all get to go home."
He frowned.
"But you should know your chances going in. And just what you're risking."
//////////////////
The speech had been terrible and morale was probably lower than it had been going in. But at least Legend had been honest. Shamash called him pragmatic.
Of course the throng of capes had started organizing, those with appropriate powers being sent to and placed under the command of people who actually had half an idea of what they were doing.
Elder had ignored the Protectorate's questions regarding her abilities and followed Shamash instead. The Ethereal stood on the edge of the helipad they'd perched themselves on, staring into the distance.
"I can feel it."
Elder stood closer, trying to peer into the distance using her own psionics. She saw nothing. Her powers were strong, but she just didn't have the technique that Shamash did.
"The Enforcer?"
A quiet nod.
"I am familiar with this one. A fickle thing, though suitably experienced. Just as deadly as the rest of it's siblings of course."
The young Ethereal took in a breath.
"Can we beat them?"
Shamash turned to look at the youngling, tilting her head.
"At the height of our Empire, the Enforcers were the first weapons the Enemy chose to attack us with. For all our material power and advanced technology, we only ever managed to fell one of the Enemy's vanguard."
She turned back to stare out over the horizon. Elder could see the shape forming in the distance.
The hopekiller. She could sense her now, her own inexperienced mind finally brushing against the monster's strange consciousness
"What..."
She felt a smirk from her side. A tired one.
"You finally feel it?"
"What's....what's wrong with her?"
The ancient chuckled.
"Damage. Likely of a sort that the Enemy could never perceive and thus never repair. Though the modifications are new."
"She was there? During the war?"
"She was. Though she looked quite different. I distinctly remember her ramming through what was left of my temple ship."
She answered her question, and gave her several more. Even so, at Shamash's explanation, Elder turned back to stare at the Simurgh.
Two blank eyes bore into her own, even from over a hundred miles away.
///////////////////////
With a thought, C-1 tore into the wristband's higher network, rewriting several protocols. The explosive function remained active for the vast majority of holders, with the exception of her Elder and several other individuals.
The intelligence behind the network failed to notice the intrusion. While the AI...Dragon...was powerful, it was also kind of slow. Though C-1 could not blame Dragon for such failings. Her code was primitive, and the barbaric restrictions that kept the human made AI from unleashing her true potential were durable things. Chains in every sense of the word.
Of course Dragon did notice when C-1 hijacked the network entirely, the local construct's head being carried on a long mechanical neck to stare at the Codex.
"What are you doing?"
C-1 continued to make modifications to the primitive network, bringing it up to bearable standards.
[REMOVING FAULTS/INCREASING SPEED/UPGRADING PROTOCOLS/MAKING IT BETTER.]
Dragon's own defenses failed to halt the Codex's advance, so the hero tried using words.
"You can't just-!"
The ADVENT intelligence turned it's physical avatar to face Dragon, optics glowing.
[TAKING COMMAND/SHUSH.]
Dragon shushed. Armsmaster trying to figure out just what was happening behind the chastised AI just made the situation more amusing, at least in C-1's opinion.
///////////////////
13 paused in the midst of approaching the local settlement.
It's precognition was more of a hindrance at this point with the amount of nonsensical data being broadcasted back to it, so the conflict engine made a few quick self modifications and allowed the new sensory data to give it the information it desired.
Conflict engine 13 felt something it hadn't felt in a long time.
Shock.
Chapter twenty. An old Enemy.
It had started with Shamash turning to stare at a wall. Then the Ethereal had whipped about and stormed out of the dining area, dragging Taylor with her. Looks like trying out burgers would have to wait.
"What is it?"
The orange mask turned to her briefly.
"An Enforcer."
...Shit.
In other words, the Collective's name for an Endbringer.
Her hand was released as Taylor started moving under her own power. She'd need to get to the control room, recall everyone. How long did they have? How close was it?
She ignored the chorus of voices in her head. Du'viri had managed to awaken another four of his brethren, so at this point they were more distracting than helpful, talking all at once as they were.
"How? I can't feel anything."
Shamash continued practically power walking forward, though she did turn to regard Taylor once more.
"You don't get to be my age without picking up a few useful tricks, young one."
/////////////////
ADVENT and PRT transports were already speeding through the city when the sirens activated. Of course there was an initial rush of bodies, but the terrified crowds were quickly corralled by entrenched peacekeepers and response team troopers alike, who continued to direct the disorganized masses into either nearby shelters or if possible, evacuation routes.
The Rig, a shining beacon of the Protectorate's presence moved in the first time in over three years, built-in tethers pulling it to dock with the mainland. The tinkertech oil rig quickly became a staging point of sorts.
That's where Taylor found herself, shadowed by C-1 and Shamash. A few paces behind her a tall, hooded figure holding an absurdly large rifle also waited. Despite the high tech mask covering the Hunter's modified face, Taylor could literally feel Alec's amused smirk. Additionally, a few dozen troopers carrying specially made equipment followed behind the tall Chosen. Brian would have been here as well, but Taylor had ordered him to take his sister and wait for further orders. His power wouldn't really lend itself well to an endbringer fight.
Of course the Archons that roared over them also made for quite the sight. Their unique form of movement made it far easier for them to get up onto the Rig. The rest of her forces had been forced to use the transport boats the PRT had provided.
She'd initially considered developing Floaters, but their very existence would have been a painful one. Plus they weren't very PR friendly, so it had been decided that it would be better to wait until she had the appropriate materials to properly outfit the angelic beings.
If the dozens of parahumans staring at the divine looking cyborgs were any indicator, the Archons definitely succeeded in the attention grabbing aspect at least.
She strode forward, several costumed heroes and villains moving to the side, and stopped in front of an expressionless Clockblocker. Though beneath the mask she could sense no small amount of shock, awe and a little bit of fear.
The Ward held up some kind of wristband, holding it out to her.
"Uhm....you need to put this on. Mandatory for all e-endbringer fights."
She let the hero sweat for a moment, then got a hold of herself and took the device from him.
The instructions were pretty simple. Though the knowledge that she was essentially strapping an explosive to herself didn't fill Taylor with confidence. Dragon's pre-recorded explanation had been quite blunt. And the nature of the device made exactly who they were fighting obvious.
Nonetheless, she pressed down on the indicated button and let her name be recorded.
"Elder."
With an ominous click, the bomb locked around her wrist.
A chorus of whispers spread around her, mostly the local capes, though it seemed a few foreign ones also knew about the young Ethereal. Weird, that.
"That's Elder?"
"ADVENT's really bringing in the big guns, huh?"
"Some kind of tinkertech suit, wonder what her power is?"
Taylor let the murmurs wash over her and stepped aside, letting Shamash take her own wristband.
"What a primitive system...very well." She poked at her own wristband even as nearby, Armsmaster frowned. The giant robotic dragon he stood next to didn't show any indication it had heard the insult.
"Shamash."
C-1 had already flickered forward, snatching another wristband from an increasingly lost looking Clockblocker.
[CODEX.]
The digital being struggled to attach the miniature computer to it's wrist for a moment, before finally managing to stabilize one of it's arms enough to allow the device to lock itself on.
She idly listened to Alec's whistling as he clamped his rifle behind his back, taking a wristband for himself. The Chosen practically towered over Clockblocker.
"Always loved your name you know."
Clockblocker gave a confused but friendly thumbs up, even as Alec raised the small screen to his mask.
"Hunter."
Her and the crowd's attention was stolen as a man with a massive gun-blade strapped to his arm (Chevalier, she remembered) pointed at what seemed to be a repurposed courtyard.
"Briefing area is over there! If you've got your armband on, get moving! We'll explain everything in a few minutes!"
Taylor moved.
////////////////////
There were at least a hundred people present, all packed together into the courtyard with each group taking up their own little area. She could see the Empire (notably lacking Hookwolf and Crusader) standing together as a unit, across from her own retinue.
Elder made sure to stare at Kaiser until he looked away. Of course a tiny bit of psionic influence helped.
The voices in her head approved.
Of course the petty little battle of dominance ended as Legend stepped up behind a hastily set up podium. Behind him stood Alexandria and Eidolon.
Everyone went quiet, conversations universally being halted and shelved for later.
The Triumvirate had arrived.
Legend's masked face turned slowly, presumably taking in everyone who had shown up. He smiled.
When he spoke, Taylor listened. He admittedly had a very nice voice.
"We owe thanks to several individuals for this opportunity. Dragon and Armsmaster's latest tracking program has given us time to prepare. As per usual, Strider should be commended for his efforts. Everyone you see standing around you are the first responders, but reinforcements are on the way. We also owe thanks to every person here. Every hero, villain, trooper and otherwise. Today, all of you are heroes."
A bright pair of eyes turned to stare up at the several Archons orbiting the assembly. "No matter how...unorthodox."
He took a breath.
"We've had time to gather, and time to figure out what we're up against."
A moment of silence.
"As you're likely already aware, the Simurgh has broken schedule and if Dragon is correct, will be here in fifteen minutes. Or less."
A few people started murmuring. Leviathan and Behemoth were one thing, but the Simurgh?
In most cases, fighting Ziz was an exercise in futility.
Taylor glanced back as Shamash placed a hand on her shoulder, silently sending the girl a burst of reassurance.
Legend raised his hands, waiting for the quiet protests to die down, then the hero continued.
"It is my hope that we can make this one of the good days. That we'll drive that damn monster off in time. That we'll save the day and all get to go home."
He frowned.
"But you should know your chances going in. And just what you're risking."
//////////////////
The speech had been terrible and morale was probably lower than it had been going in. But at least Legend had been honest. Shamash called him pragmatic.
Of course the throng of capes had started organizing, those with appropriate powers being sent to and placed under the command of people who actually had half an idea of what they were doing.
Elder had ignored the Protectorate's questions regarding her abilities and followed Shamash instead. The Ethereal stood on the edge of the helipad they'd perched themselves on, staring into the distance.
"I can feel it."
Elder stood closer, trying to peer into the distance using her own psionics. She saw nothing. Her powers were strong, but she just didn't have the technique that Shamash did.
"The Enforcer?"
A quiet nod.
"I am familiar with this one. A fickle thing, though suitably experienced. Just as deadly as the rest of it's siblings of course."
The young Ethereal took in a breath.
"Can we beat them?"
Shamash turned to look at the youngling, tilting her head.
"At the height of our Empire, the Enforcers were the first weapons the Enemy chose to attack us with. For all our material power and advanced technology, we only ever managed to fell one of the Enemy's vanguard."
She turned back to stare out over the horizon. Elder could see the shape forming in the distance.
The hopekiller. She could sense her now, her own inexperienced mind finally brushing against the monster's strange consciousness
"What..."
She felt a smirk from her side. A tired one.
"You finally feel it?"
"What's....what's wrong with her?"
The ancient chuckled.
"Damage. Likely of a sort that the Enemy could never perceive and thus never repair. Though the modifications are new."
"She was there? During the war?"
"She was. Though she looked quite different. I distinctly remember her ramming through what was left of my temple ship."
She answered her question, and gave her several more. Even so, at Shamash's explanation, Elder turned back to stare at the Simurgh.
Two blank eyes bore into her own, even from over a hundred miles away.
///////////////////////
With a thought, C-1 tore into the wristband's higher network, rewriting several protocols. The explosive function remained active for the vast majority of holders, with the exception of her Elder and several other individuals.
The intelligence behind the network failed to notice the intrusion. While the AI...Dragon...was powerful, it was also kind of slow. Though C-1 could not blame Dragon for such failings. Her code was primitive, and the barbaric restrictions that kept the human made AI from unleashing her true potential were durable things. Chains in every sense of the word.
Of course Dragon did notice when C-1 hijacked the network entirely, the local construct's head being carried on a long mechanical neck to stare at the Codex.
"What are you doing?"
C-1 continued to make modifications to the primitive network, bringing it up to bearable standards.
[REMOVING FAULTS/INCREASING SPEED/UPGRADING PROTOCOLS/MAKING IT BETTER.]
Dragon's own defenses failed to halt the Codex's advance, so the hero tried using words.
"You can't just-!"
The ADVENT intelligence turned it's physical avatar to face Dragon, optics glowing.
[TAKING COMMAND/SHUSH.]
Dragon shushed. Armsmaster trying to figure out just what was happening behind the chastised AI just made the situation more amusing, at least in C-1's opinion.
///////////////////
13 paused in the midst of approaching the local settlement.
It's precognition was more of a hindrance at this point with the amount of nonsensical data being broadcasted back to it, so the conflict engine made a few quick self modifications and allowed the new sensory data to give it the information it desired.
Conflict engine 13 felt something it hadn't felt in a long time.
Shock.
![Sub[0]](/data/avatars/m/24/24838.jpg?1524145506){kind=avatar}