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Post by doctorzero on Sept 23, 2011 19:24:25 GMT -5
If the guards were surprised to hear a talking sword, they didn't show it. "Okay, come on, let's not keep the guy waiting."
"Sigma Squad, this is HQ. Surveillance shows that a civilian has entered the area. Intercept the intruder and bring him in."
"Understood."
Jihl flatly ignored the others as she looked out into the chamber. "What is taking them so long?"
That was the cue for Yana to enter.
As soon as Yana entered the chamber, the two guards left, locking the door behind him. His attention, however, was what was in front of him.
A gigantic throne dominated the wall. Upon that throne, from what he could see in the dim light, was what appeared to be a man in armor, though he couldn't make out any details.
Jihl's voice crackled from the speaker. "Turn up the lights."
As soon as the room became brighter, Yana immediately saw what Calibur had meant.
The man was nothing but armor; a tooth-filled gap was where his midsection was supposed to be. In one hand (good grief, look at the size of that arm!) he held a massive red sword, adorned with spikes and--what was probably it's most disturbing feature--an eyeball upon the hilt, which was closed.
The oppressive feeling was even more intense in here than it was outside; Yana was barely able to breathe. What...what the heck IS that thing?!
There was silence for a moment, then a voice cut through it like a knife.
"At long last...after SO LONG... The armor began to stand up from its throne, the eye on the sword opening and fixing on Yana. If the armor had a face, it would've grinned evilly. "We meet again, at last."
Yana shivered. "Uh...I don't think we've met..."
"Not you, insignificant worm," the armor, Nightmare, snarled. "I speak to the blade at your side...my dear...sister..." Nightmare chuckled. "It's been too long...Soul Calibur."
Wait, SISTER?!
Jihl smirked. "Make sure the recording devices are up," she said to one of the techs. "No doubt Mr. Raleigh is going to want to see this when he's done with his project."
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Post by gantzgun74 on Sept 24, 2011 16:50:37 GMT -5
If Yana had made his surprise apparent, Soul ignored him. "Indeed it has been... Hmph... So much for the hope that my little crystal imprisonment would keep you locked up for long, I was just starting to get used to life without you around to hassle me... brother..."
All of the venom her voice was capable of showing was now very noticeable as she talked. It became more then apparent to Yana by that point that Soul hated Soul Edge with an unadulterated passion.
"By the by." Came Soul with a sneer... or at least, the closest thing to a sneer she was capable of as a sword. "Nice job getting yourself captured by these idiots."
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Gantz and the others watched on in awe. Now that the lights were up, the true horror that was Nightmare and Soul Edge was fully visible. "By god..." Nina muttered looking fearful... Then an even more horrifying thought crossed her mind...
These guys had managed to catch something that horrifying, and, apparently, that powerful... What did that make them then?
As Nina thought about this, Gantz stared down at the room below as Soul Calibur spoke.
'Don't goad the demon, Soul... Yana still needs to get a good idea of what he's up against...' Gantz thought with a frown.
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Post by doctorzero on Sept 24, 2011 17:05:13 GMT -5
"Soul, I don't think making fun of him is such a good idea," Yana muttered to her.
If Nightmare had heard him, he didn't show it. "Ah, yes, of course you would gloat. That these vermin would dare to free me from my prison, and then capture me...never before had I ever been so humiliated!"
Jihl looked aside at Nina. "Rather ghastly, isn't he? That, little girl, is Nightmare, a monstrous beast that bears the will of the evil sword." She pointed to Nightmare. "Notice the blade--that is Soul Edge, though I am sure you have already guessed. Entire armies have attempted to destroy that weapon, and every single one was slaughtered." She smirked. "And it only took fifteen of our men to capture him. Of course, I suppose him being frozen in crystal helped."
She turned to Gantz. "I've been led to believe that you are the one who normally possesses Soul Calibur. Tell me, how does it feel to know that we managed to contain such a dangerous beast when others couldn't even destroy him?"
"But what of you, dear sister?" Nightmare sneered. "I see that Siegfried now longer is in your company. Tell me, what lie did you tell this boy so he could take you as his weapon?"
Siegfried? "Actually--" Yana snapped his mouth shut. Telling him that Gantz normally used Soul was a bad idea, he just knew it.
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Post by gantzgun74 on Sept 24, 2011 17:47:23 GMT -5
"That BROTHER is no concern of yours." She growled with notable venom; Yana had indeed assumed right that the last thing Soul wanted to tell the evil sword was that she was merely being borrowed, as if she was an object. "By the looks of things, a force of fate has, however, brought us here, that we may fight once more, regardless of rhyme or reason..." If Soul Edge paid careful attention, he would've found that Soul had effectively dodged his question.
---------------------------------------------------
Gantz grinned. "I'm feeling... That Kavma had to help you do it." He crossed his arms as he looked down to the scene below. "Entire army's couldn't use Soul Edge, or defeat it for a reason, after all. That's the only way I can imagine you could've done something like this."
That caught Nina's attention. Taking this in, she appeared to be doing the math in her head. 'Okay, Nina girl, your in an unfamiliar situation, and a dangerous one at that... Let's try to make sense of it...' She took in the soldiers... 'Okay... I guess the soldiers are like Radiata Knights that know magic... Or whatever those sticks are... They certainly don't look like staffs or wands...' Looking down to Soul Edge, Soul Calibur and Yana, she shivered at the sight of the tower of armor. 'Nightmare must be something similar to that demon that was accidentally summoned at Algendars Castle, and that light blue sword must be his anti-thesis...' An Anti-thesis of something THAT powerful? Well whatever... Her thoughts turned to what she had heard about Kavma, then she looked to Jihl. 'This woman... She almost reminds me of that Iris woman from the Thief Guild... And this Kavma... If he's as powerful as everyone claims... ... ... Perhaps he's on the levels of Elwen or even General Dynas...' She thought that sounded about right... But still, something told her she was still off about that...
Well, at least putting everything into perspective and making comparisons was making it easier to comprehend what was going on...
But the only thing she was still not clear about was her keyblade... What was that all about?
Why did she have it?
Red shivered as she held Erin closer.
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Post by doctorzero on Sept 24, 2011 18:04:24 GMT -5
"Yes...indeed it has," Nightmare said quietly. He lifted up Soul Edge and pointed it at Yana. "But it will be a short-lived fight, I fear. They send a mere boy to fight me. Insulting!"
"Hey, watch it!" Yana replied. He was getting annoyed that this giant tower of freaky metal wasn't taking him seriously. "I'm a lot tougher than I look, I'm sure I can beat you easily!"
This reply caused Nightmare to burst out laughing. "Aren't we confident, boy! You believe that you can do battle with ME, and live to tell the tale? I have slaughtered thousands, stripping away their very souls! And YOU, boy...YOUR soul is MINE!!!" With a loud screech, Nightmare stomped forward to attack--
Only for a series of golden chains to appear to hold him in place. "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Jihl activated the speaker. "The challenge hasn't officially started yet, Sir Nightmare. Please wait until we announce the beginning of the battle." She shut off the mike and turned to Gantz. "You are correct, Mr....Gantz. Mr. Raleigh did indeed accompany our extraction team to collect Nightmare. It was necessarily; he was the only one available who knew how to successfully bind the creature. But enough about that. I believe the one in pink has a few answers for me, and as you clearly refuse to allow her to accompany me to the interrogation room, I suppose we will have to do so here...if she doesn't object. You have nothing to worry about--we will merely ask a few questions, for procedure."
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Post by gantzgun74 on Sept 24, 2011 21:48:47 GMT -5
Soul looked so surprised at this sudden turn that not even a disbelieving breath did it justice. "Wh-what-?" Jihl's voice echoed out through the loud speaker. Growling for reasons beyond her, she cursed at Jihl with profanities that was spoken in a language so ancient, there was no hope in recognizing it. The sword's energy felt quite infuriated, perhaps because Jihl was making Soul Edge look more like a lap-dog then the monster he always was. She was sure Nightmare felt the same way.
Best check to see if hell froze over, it looked like the two were agreeing on the level of bull$#it that was going on.
[Not that they can do anything about it though]
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Looking wide-eyed, Nina looked to Jihl as she addressed her, not sure how to respond. Gantz meanwhile looked annoyed. "Your STILL not off that? JESUS you're incorrigible..."
The gria of the gang looked equally annoyed. "Why does it even matter? Nina's here now, does it matter how she got here? Really? You are making a mountain out of a mole-hill..."
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Post by doctorzero on Sept 24, 2011 22:10:23 GMT -5
"It's less of finding out how she got here and more of the circumstances of what happened before that," Jihl said waspishly, giving Rosaline a glare that would've evaporated the...the...for Eden's sake, what is she supposed to be, a demon or something? Is she even female?! "Mr. Raleigh expects a full report after this challenge is over, and it is required that every last detail is included. Excuse me for a moment." She turned on the speaker and said to the others below, "Your challenge will begin momentarily. I just need to attend to other matters for a quick moment." Any demands to hurry up they may or may not have made were ignored. To Nina, she said, "And if you continue to refuse, I am afraid I will have to ignore procedure and force you to comply. It's not as if I'm going to torture you anyway; it's simply a few harmless questions, that's all. So are you going to comply or not?"
(Translation: It's for paperwork.)
The chains dissipated, allowing Nightmare to fall to his knees. Yana almost started to run forward to see if he was okay, but he stopped himself. He's an evil suit of armor that's murdered thousands. Checking on his health is just silly...
"Now do you see?" Nightmare said wearily. "I cannot so much as lift a finger towards you without consent. To think, that I, Soul Edge, has become nothing more that a pathetic worm's slave!" He chuckled. "It's rather sad, isn't it?"
Believe it or not, Yana couldn't help but feel some pity towards Nightmare. Having your freedom taken had to be pretty horrible, even if you were a giant soul-sucking monster. "Why did Kavma capture you to begin with, anyway?" Yana asked. Something told him that Kavma wouldn't capture an evil sword that was possessing a hunk of metal just so he could fight it. Something felt off.
He was right. "No doubt you think I am here simply for combat. You'd be wrong. They contained me for what I was capable of. They believed--correctly--that I was too dangerous. And yet countless have tried to destroy me...so why not keep me under lock and key instead? No doubt they believed that they would simply study me and then lock me away, so I would be no harm to anyone..." If he had a nose, he would've snorted.
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Post by gantzgun74 on Sept 24, 2011 23:16:05 GMT -5
If Rosaline had known about Jihl's little confusion about her species, she probably would've laughed a bit.
As for Nina, she lowered her head... "F-fine..." She was still very uncomfortable around Jihl, but, hey, whatever get's them out of there faster... "Ask your questions..."
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If Soul showed any sort of concern for Soul Edge, it was only because she had wanted to seal the damned sword herself... But still... "Gaaaagh... I swear the more I learn about Kavma, the more that man irks me..."
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Post by doctorzero on Sept 24, 2011 23:26:32 GMT -5
"A man, you say?" Nightmare got to his feet. "You believe he is a mere man? Foolish sister...he is no man."
"Hey, watch it, pal," said Yana. "Don't call my friend foolish."
THIS sent Nightmare into a fit of laughter. "A FRIEND, you say?! HA! Weapons like us have no friends, boy...only those who wish to use us for their own ends. And I don't see how you are any different!"
Yana clenched his fists. "It's not like I like the idea of using her as a weapon! She's her own person, isn't she? I'm pretty sure she doesn't even want to be anywhere near you to begin with!"
There was a minor silence, then Nightmare said, "This is most certainly a first. A mere human, actually showing concern for you, my sister? Hell must have frozen over."
"About time you cooperate," Jihl said snidely. "I was thinking I would have to enact Procedure 1521." All the technicians in the room shuddered. "Now, I suggest we sit down." Jihl directed them to the table nearby. As soon as she and Nina sat down, she took out a recording device and turned it on. "Now then, let's begin. First, state your name, occupation, and place of origin."
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Post by gantzgun74 on Sept 24, 2011 23:43:13 GMT -5
Soul Calibur probably would've rolled her eyes at Soul Edge's commentary, had she actually had eyes to roll. "You should sit down and talk to his friend Gantz... Then you will come to believe that Hell has not only frozen over, but has become the venue for Disney on ice..." If Nightmare looked to her curiously, the sword only groaned. "What can I say? His manner can be infectuous..."
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Upstairs, Nina sat at the table, keeping the keyblade in hand. Jihl asked her question quickly and with great authority, causing her to think about her answers a few moments... She sighed a bit, looking saddened as she went over her thoughts...
"My name is Nina Fillia, captain of the Argent Faucon Brigade of the Radiata Knights, and a Dragon Slayer..." She looked down. "My home of origin, is the capital city of the Kingdom of Radiata."
Gantz again took in the name Radiata, quite sure he had heard that name somewhere before. In fact, Nina's armor also looked quite familiar as well, though he drew a blank as to where he had seen it.
"Before you ask... I don't know how I got here... I was tailing a... An old friend of mine to the Dysset Region far to the south of the city of Radiata... There was a battle... Then a flash of light... I don't know what happened after that..."
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Post by doctorzero on Sept 24, 2011 23:50:33 GMT -5
"Gantz, you say?" Nightmare sounded rather curious. "And who may this 'Gantz' be?"
This was going into dangerous territory. Yana knew he had to change the subject. "Hey, what's taking so long out there?" he shouted to the observation window.
Jihl closed her eyes in frustration. "Tell him that if he asks again, we will begin to throw apples at him," she said to one of the techs. "As for you, Miss Fillia, I would like you to state the identity of this 'friend', the reason for you following them, and the reason for the battle and who it was you were fighting against." There was something she wasn't willing to admit, she knew it.
(The questions will end next post, I promise. Then we can finally get to the action.)
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Post by gantzgun74 on Sept 25, 2011 0:38:05 GMT -5
.......................................................
"His name is J-... Jack Russell..."
That name ESPECIALLY caught Gantz's attention... 'Of course...' NOW he remembered...
"There... There was a war going on between the humans and the non-humans on our world. At the beginning of the war however, Jack left the city of Radiata for reasons unknown... The Radiata Knights saw him again later on, fighting on the side of the side of the non-humans."
That caught quite a few people's attention.
Nina looked down, looking unsure. "It didn't make sense though... Jack wasn't a traitor... He was too simple to do anything like that... ... He was too nice..." She searched her memories more. "Th-then- then the knights recieved word that Jack was heading for an area called 'The City of White Nights' in the Dysset Region far to the south. I was assigned to tail him along with a man named Cross Ward, Captain of the Noire Mouton brigade. We engaged Jack, but despite my best efforts he... he refused to come back to Radiata... That was when we were attacked by a Silver Dragon. Before I could see anything else I was knocked unconscious-"
"Then you woke up and saw a blinding light coming from the top of the crumbling 'City of the White Nights'... Is that right?"
.... Nina looked a bit surprised by this answer. "Y-Yes... The light blinded me a bit, and I passed out again... But..." She looked at Gantz inquisitively. "How did you know 'the City of the White Nights was crumbling?"
Gantz sighed... He then turned to Jihl. "Jihl... Just stop... Continuing to question her about what happened in her old home is pointless now." He shook his head. "The events she covered followed along with a game I played called 'Radiata Stories'... Needless to say, I doubt you'd find Radiata if you ever went looking for it now..."
?!?!?!?!? "Wh-What do you mean!?!?" Nina had jumped out of her seat in outrage. "How would you know?! What is it do you know?! What happened to my Kingdom?!?"
Gantz didn't answer... To be frank, it looked like he was starting to regret ever speaking up...
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Post by doctorzero on Sept 25, 2011 0:53:08 GMT -5
"Settle down, Ms. Fillia," Jihl said sternly. "I feel I must remind you that you are in a room with several guards who can and will begin to fire upon you if you act in an disorderly fashion." She readjusted her glasses as she looked at Gantz. "I don't believe you have the authority to order ME around, boy. In any event, I have the information I needed. No doubt we have information on this Jack Russel and this Radiata place in the company archives. But enough of that--it's about time we got on with the second challenge."
Anything else Nina might have said went completely ignored as Jihl headed over to turn on the speaker, though not before leaning towards Gantz and muttering to him so only he could hear, "I have been informed by Mr. Raleigh that you have been discouraged in the past from revealing information like that to people like her. To find out that you are a mere character in a video game is not pleasant." She snorted at his expression. "Oh, don't give me that look. I know full well that I'm nothing but a fictional character in your world. Do you think I haven't noticed those looks you've been given me?" As soon as Gantz gave his answer, she headed over to the console and turned on the speaker. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for the second challenge. Are you ready?"
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Post by gantzgun74 on Sept 28, 2011 12:56:29 GMT -5
"But-but-!!!" A soldier nudged his gun against Nina's back to emphasize Jihl's point. She had seen what those weapons were capable of, and quickly realized that she and the others were NOT in a good way.
When Jihl spoke to Gantz, he looked down guiltily. It's not like he hadn't known about that already. It was just, when he realized where Nina came from, he wanted to spare her feelings and stop Jihl's questions concerning her home... As usual, however, his good intentions only made the poor girl feel worse, and even frightened her. He looked to Jihl with a narrowed glare when she finished. "Well why not? That uniform is familiar... And like I said, I don't make it a habit to trust people that are obviously worse then what they make themselves out to be." He so WISHED he knew where he had seen Jihl before.
Then it hit him. That uniform looked strikingly familiar to another uniform he had seen previously... One that belonged to a woman of great will power, wielding a sword similarly to a butterfly knife. Jihl had walked over to the glass and had officially began the second challenge, when this came up. 'PSIcom...'
Needless to say, this revelation did NOT bode well with the young paladin.
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Down in the room below, Yana, Soul Calibur and Nightmare more then heard Jihl's announcement. Rolling her invisible eyes, she glowed a bit. "Yana, are you ready? Remember one thing, Nightmare is no easy foe; never underestimate him. Ever."
She then said this next part with the uptmost seriousness. "And, no matter what... DO... NOT... DROP ME. Understood?"
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Post by doctorzero on Sept 28, 2011 17:41:37 GMT -5
Yana was somewhat startled by her tone of voice. "Uh, sure, but can't I just pick you back up if I do?"
Whatever Soul was going to say was interrupted as Nightmare hefted his weapon. "Finally, it's time. Pray to whatever gods you have, boy, for you will not leave this place alive."
Yana looked up at him. For some reason, all fear seemed to leave him as he raised Soul Calibur and pointed it at Nightmare. "If you think I'm just going to lie down and beg," he said in a tone that surprised even himself, "You've got another thing coming. I'm not going to lose to you, you giant hunk of rust. I don't want to fight, but if it means getting my memory back..." He threw Soul into the air and caught her, smiling at Nightmare. The sword seemed right in his hand, almost as if...As if I've done this before...
"Then YOU pray to whatever gods YOU have, 'cause you'll be seeing stars when I'm through with you!"
He blinked. Whoa, where did THAT come from? he thought.
Jihl raised an eyebrow. "Was he usually like this?" she said offhandedly to Gantz. To the combatants, she said, "Battle begins in T-minus ten seconds. Oh, and do try not to damage Nightmare too much, will you? For every task there is a perfect tool, and I am not willing to lose this one."
As luck would have it, one of the tech's coms rang. "HQ. Yes. One moment." She handed it to Jihl. "It's for you, Superior."
Jihl gritted her teeth as she took it. "Who is this, what do you want, and if you're not Kavma and something has gone wrong then start praying for a quick death."
"...Uh, this is Sigma Squad, there's been a security brea--"
"GODSDAMMIT!!!" She grabbed a random vase and threw it at Climber in a rage. Not bothering to see if it connected, she shrieked into the com, "CAPTURE WHOEVER THE HELL IT IS! I DON'T CARE HOW! AND IF YOU CALL AGAIN TO REPORT ANOTHER SCREWUP I WILL END YOU!!!!!!!!!" She clenched her fist, completely destroying the com, then noticed everyone staring at her strangely. "What?" she asked in a perfectly calm voice.
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