Once the group returned to Central Tower and Nana logged into the control center, they were able to prepare for their next objective. As Nana programmed the teleport coordinates, Chief R began explaining. "This is Professor Gaudile," he explained, calling up the image of a rotund, playpus-shaped Terran dressed in blue and red. "He's a highly skilled Force Metal researcher...and given that the Rebellion Army is entirely composed of FM Reploids, it's best we try and get him on our side before the Rebellion Army finds something they can use to force him to work for them."
Nana took up the briefing from there. "He's a renowned specialist in complex energy theories, and a highly skilled engineer. However, he stopped all public research when a lab accident cost his wife her life. He still observed other research, but devoted all his time to his private lab. When the Rebellion Army began their uprising, he withdrew there completely, refusing to have anything to do with the Rebellion Army, or the government."
"Then we're probably the only group he'd be willing to talk to," X murmured softly.
"If he researched Force Metal, maybe we can get his attention by mentioning what happened with Massimo's," Octavia suggested.
"Uh...maybe?" Massimo allowed, somewhat uncomfortably. His hand went protectively to his chest armor, where the FM was installed.
"Hey, you don't have to let him take it out if you don't want to," Spider reassured the larger man. "But knowing it happened might open the door to communications."
Massimo nodded, relaxing slightly.
"Still, we'll be sneaking into a lab heavily guarded against intruders, with security systems designed by a mad scientist," Spider concluded.
"What makes you think he's mad?" Chief R inquired curiously.
"He worked with brand new technology on the cutting edge of his field, and thrived there," Spider explained. "By definition, he's at least a little bit mad."
"So like a pre-End Times facility," X concluded. "We've dealt with those before."
"At least it will probably be cleaner and well lit," Octavia agreed.
Once inside Gaudile Laboratory, the group took in their surroundings. The vast majority of the lab seemed to be clear corridors connecting round rooms, all of which surrounded by deep forests. "Rather picturesque," Spider observed calmly.
"Doesn't look like a mad scientist's lab," Massimo spoke up. "Looks more like a family vacation spot."
"Except for the high tech security Preons," Octavia pointed out, indicating the black Commander unit and green Heavy Shooter units that guarded the first round room they entered.
"Who in the heck are you?" the black Commander unit barked out. "And what are you..." The voice trailed off, and the optics of the Preon unit beeped a few times. "Hello Nurse override activated. Welcome Miss Octavia. Is Axl with you?"
Octavia blinked several times. "Umm...no, I'm afraid not."
"A pity. Still, Miss Cinnamon would love to see you. It is good you brought backup. We gate guards are the only security programmed with the override. Good luck." The Preons then stepped aside, allowing the group to pass.
X glanced over at Octavia. "Who is Cinnamon that she has this authority, and when did you meet her?"
"I honestly have no idea," Octavia countered defensively. "But it sounds like she has a thing for Axl."
"Hey, a way in is a way in," Spider pointed out. "Let's go."
As the group moved forward, Massimo paused. "Hmm?" he murmured, turning towards a secondary path that was visibly locked.
"What's wrong, Massimo?" Octavia inquired.
"I...thought I heard something," Massimo murmured. "An...odd squeaking."
"Oh, that's probably Marino," Spider explained. "She's the local Queen of the Rogue Court-"
"The what?" X demanded in confusion.
"The Rogue Court is the underworld government that regulates everyone who works outside the law," Octavia explained. "Mostly used in works of medieval fiction, but occasionally crops up historically, though by other names."
"Exactly," Spider confirmed. "Marino normally leaves no trace, but the first sign her gear needs a tune up is when her shoes start squeaking faintly with every step. She never lets it go past that."
"And you know all this how?" X inquired curiously.
"We dated once," Spider explained dismissively. "It ended badly when I woke up the following morning short three upgrades and a month's worth of pay. But we don't need to worry about her here. She does not respect any authority beyond her own as the Rogue Queen, so there's no way she's working for the Rebellion Army or the Government."
As the group turned to continue, Octavia asked an odd question. "What's her hair color?"
Spider blinked in confusion. "Well, green normally. But she turns blonde when she activates Quicksilver...not that she'll stand still long enough for anyone to see then. It boosts her speed like crazy."
Octavia rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Well...maybe," she allowed. "At least, if I can get her to be on her best behavior with him."
X nearly tripped when he realized the point of the discussion. "You aren't seriously considering setting Axl up with her, are you?"
"Axl runs a quasi-vigilante organization dedicated to dealing with threats the government agencies can't, and controlling crime," Octavia explained. "Technically, Red Alert was our local Rogue Court. No reason a King and Queen shouldn't court. She might just be the one to steal his heart."
"I thought you promised to give him Rafflesian's contact info?" Massimo asked in confusion.
"Right, set my son up with a pop idol named after a parasitic flower," Octavia countered sarcastically. "I'd sooner push that girl who took off her panties without removing her pants to give him her contact info."
X promptly walked into the wall.
Down the other corridor, a pink armored, green haired female with a shapely figure winced. "Damn. Of course the one guy who can ID me by sound is in their group." She smiled softly. "Still, looks like the rumors are true. Miss Melody-Light is wife hunting for her little boy...and he likes blondes. Something to keep in mind. But for now...time for a little treasure hunting." Turning, she dashed along the corridor, circumventing the lock at the end to see what she could find.
Woohoo! Fifty bucks says Cinnamon gets to Axl before Marino! Place your bets ladies and gentlemen!
Someone pick it up. i called it.
7900381 i figure it was gonna be Cimminon and Marino from the start becuase of what axl wanted
7900374
considering Marino gets to Cinnamon first *Cackling* I want you to think about Cinnamon's hyper mode for a minute....it's called Iron Maiden.
Oh by the Faust Axl is gonna end up with a love triangle.....
Ugh Marino. I can't be the oy one who hated her, can I? It's not so much her personality as her design, if I am being honest. And the fact that the only use I had for her was stealing then getting out of combat.
Cinnamon on the other hand, I love. Even if using her special action did cost me a controller eventually.
7900389
A queen and a consort. Yeah, I can see it.
7900418
Her design isn't that bad. She's a cyber ninja who looks the part. Nothing wrong with that.
That said, Cinnamon was always in my party as the healer. Combine that with what I have learned from Best Friends Play, namely giving her all the build parts, the increased WE per round gear, and an early acquisition of her end game weapon, and suddenly the game is broken.
Guess Octavia isn't going to let any potential candidate squeak by unnoticed.
So basically dating Marino is a downgrade all around. Seems legit.
Well, looks like Marino is looking for a dashing husband. Don't think she'll find one at the end of the corridor though.
Tavi's gunna get her son laid. wether he wants it or not
..........Seriously? Jeez. THAT probably had Axl blushing brighter than a freaking road flare. Also, rather impressive that last part. With how many girls are reacting like that or possibly worse for Axl, must be his scar on his face. "Chicks dig scars" as the saying goes.
Also, if Axl DOES end up with both Cinnamon and Marino, I just KNOW that Zero is going to give Axl a hard time about it for a while, while X will thank the lucky stars above him that he and Zero avoided that.
Unless that ends up jinxing both X and Zero into getting a "mistress" that has been approved by their wives. If THAT happens, Axl will laugh HIS butt off at his uncle and grandpa. (I know I would.)
Sorry. Thinking too far ahead right now.
7900725 Axel can alter his shape AT WILL. A power he continues to master. He doesn't need scars to get ALL the girls. Hell he doesn't even need to rely on the fact that his 'mom' is perhaps the most adorable thing in verse.
7900796
...........................how much you willing to bet that Cinnamon MIGHT be a closet perv?
7900824 Look at her hyper and several of her weapons. No bets. She is.
very good points.
It's definitely my favorite area to spend time in, the scenery is gorgeous!
Win... so much win.
Well, it appears Cinnamon might be interested in Axl, I kind of want to see him exploring with Marino and Cinnamon to get to know them better and run into Rafflesian by accident... cue the Bitch Diva getting her ass handed to her by the Medic and Ninja.
7900389 And is there a problem with him getting at least two girls??? I can not think of one at all.
7900509 Yeah, Cinnamon for healing and with generators to boost everyone's WE. How can anyone NOT bring the only party member that can heal????
7901026
Point. Still, if Axel DOES end up getting both Cinnamon AND Marino, I know I would be laughing my butt off.
Besides, there IS a chance that the sight of Axl having two girls will give Iris and Alia some ideas for THEIR husbands to keep them under "control".
"Behind every great man" as the old saying goes.
hehehe Now I can't help but, see Axl, Marino, and Cinnamon Role playing as the Pirate Queen plunders a Young Lord's BOOTY! The Lord of the manor (played by Axl) Must use any means necessary to rescue to the poor innocent (My ass) Maid from Vicious Pirate QUEEN.
Of course while this is Happening Guadile is bawling his eyes out because the thief has corrupted his daughter, with X smartly not commenting that he's pretty sure Cinnamon was corrupt right from the start. Of course Octiva is just trying to comfort the poor scientist while Zero is rolling around just laughing. Of course this will cement in my mind that Ashe and Grey are relatives of Axl though for some reason I'm including the Bonnes into the family tree..
Then at some point Ciel smacks Omega for being a Jerkass. Because that's how I see the relationship Omega does something says something douche worthy Ciel actively corrects him.
7900824 The override command was "Hello Nurse." What do you think?
7901253
Yeah I kinda got that. I honestly don't know whether to pity or feel scared for Axel. ESPECIALLY if he gets double teamed by both Cinnamon AND Marino.
7901255 Knowing Tats, I wouldn't put it past him to give Axl both of them.
Thank you for coming up with a plausible reason for Marino's squeaking shoes!
I look at Marino's design and think of Marina from Mischief Makers.
That last exchange with Octavia was hilarious.
You know, I can't help but think Dr. Psyche will have a dialogue with Octavia and X much like Buso Renkin's Koushaku Chouno to Kazuki Muto.
"War? What an absurd concept to justify demonizing the most basic of principles in Darwinism! If a creature has the ability to eliminate those who threaten the survival to itself and those it cares for, it must do so or die! Was that not what you did to the Jakob Project?"
"And being a new-gen, you know the consequences of those actions firsthand. Warfare should never be used as vehicle for anything in the name of progress!"
"Such hypocrites the lot of you are! Your abilities and technology would be nowhere near the levels they are had you not chosen the path of a hunter all those years ago! RDNA, the Varia biometal unit, even the revival and rediscovery of pre-end times facilities and technologies such as this one, advancements in your societies all born from your maverick wars!"
"There's a difference, those breakthroughs were made in the hopes of eliminating needs for war. It was war itself that dragged peaceful applications of these advances into the battlefield, much like how're you're doing with Force Metal!"
"Hypocrisy again! If your administrations outside of Giga City truly cared about preserving the uses of new technology for uses outside of combat, they would have imposed political discourse with the governments before the Rebellion could even have a chance to take place! Where were your commanders when our less fortunate colleagues tried to branch off outside of their mandated laboratories and ask for sanctuary to conduct their independent experiments? After all, you don't honestly believe the death of Gaudile's wife, a renowned expert in her field who started to deviate from her research into Force Metal synthesis, in a highly secure and regularly maintained government facility, was an accident?"
Octavia felt a sense of loathing coming from the mad scientist as he directed his eyes directly on her.
"In fact, Terrens would likely not even exist for another few centuries had Gate's own independent work been reputed and declared dangerous! The only reason he never became an enemy of your state was because the corrupt officials in your ranks suddenly saw him as a controllable factor through her! It's only further fortunate that their lack of foresight resulted in them losing their power and influence to the very people they used to rein him in before they could hijack his projects for their own profiteering schemes. But then again, not everyone can have an Octavia there to save them in time, can they?"
"I'm here now, so you don't have to turn Cinnamon into a weapon. If you really cared about Gaudile's plight, you'd surrender and work with us."
"Too little, too late. My belief in the better nature of man and machine died with Gaudile's wife. There's only the survival of my work left for me now, and I'll fight for it by whatever means necessary!"
"Then we have nothing left to say to each other."
(after defeat)
As Octavia stood over the fallen carapace, the broken head turned weakly to look into her eyes with indignity.
"It didn't have to be like this," she said.
"It did and you know it," he rasped back. "Kill or be killed, it is the natural order of all living beings once you strip away all sense of civility. Whichever way the battle would go, the moment you engaged was moment you proved my point. Now, unless you sever my neutral network, effectively destroying me, my ultimate body will recognize it's nonfunctional within seconds and detonate its neutron core as a failsafe, taking this entire lab and everyone with it. So, what's it going to be?"
Octavia knew that despite their victory, this was her loss. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize...hypocrite."
That FUCKING door... well, no, you can't back up into the Eternal Forest from the other side, but I wish it (those two doors) would unlock after beating the level; save me a goddamned trip when I just want to grind...
Be nice if the save stations in the Ruins and in the city got the 'beam back to base' functions after you got Nana back, too.
7902608
...gonna work on that a bit, but I think I want to make use of it.
Yeah, no kidding.
7895917 No. That was his Halloween costume when Vinyl had her first Trick or Treat.
Remember? She was Mega Mare for that Halloween.
OK. If they can use RDNA to clone themselves then what is stopping a stalker or some crazy- um... SJW from making their own "spawn"/clone?
Can't choose between two girls? Get their RDNA and make a new girl and forget the other two! Scummy move but it sounds realistic.
7908364
Because Gate's the only one who can do that, and he's already moved on from that research...and he's the only one who knows how to design the 'artificial wombs' that can be installed in female Reploids (female Terrans, whether they have human ancestry or not, are born with them).
7909023 Glad to hear it.
7902608
...as much as I'd love to use that - and trust me, I really would - the thing is...
While watching footage to write the next chapter, I looked at how Dr. Psyche acts...and he's just too goofy (at least, in his base form) to be that awesome.
That reminds me, I forgot to mention this earlier, but "Terran" isn't a good name. "What should we call this new race of people that will populate this planet well into the future...? I know, how about 'Terran' one of the most overused words in sci-fi that's so indistinct, it could be used to apply to literally anything."
I mean the Ether thing was one thing, but Jesus...
You mean the Deep Sta-
Ow, I cringed just from thinking about it, it's that cancerous...
So because a girl's name is weird and has a dubious occupation, you won't let your son date her... right, let's take this to its logical conclusion.
Because Maka is a weeaboo named after a kind of shark, she is less valuable as waifu material than a freak who hands people her underwear. While we're at it, mailmares named after the concept of stupidity are shit waifus, too.
MASTERFUL LOGIC, OCTY!
the target is set. time to track down the professor and his invention...