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Post by Relikai on Mar 28, 2016 10:45:24 GMT
Smoke... haze... something like a smoke bomb popped in the middle of everything, when a rapier began to speak to her. A sentient rapier? An Ancient Sword? It extended a proposal to Haruna, a means to escape their situation. There was little choice, especially if the other vehicles were more of their assailants. Apparently, they were enemies of the Allied Forces...
"Let's do it." Haruna gasped as she tried to keep her focus together. "Are you an Ancient Sword? What would you propose to get us out of here?"
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2016 6:39:03 GMT
“Yes, I am what you humans call Ancient Swords. I am Yrael, the Demon Sword of Illusions and Deception.", the figure said, before making a step forward, entering the Jupiterran's line of sight. At least from what it looked like, Yrael looked like a human girl, around the age Cardinal was also looking like. But of course, it was well known that the Ancient Swords could change their appearance depending on multiple factors. Right now, Yrael had a waist long hair, similar in color to that of her wielder. However, while Cardinal's hair had a sliver color, Yrael's hair was simply gray. The same grayish color the rapier had.Gray were also her eyes, empty, giving no clues about what she was really thinking. Like most of the Ancient Swords, her skin was also fairly pale, a color accentuated by the dark gray frilly dress she was wearing.
"Under normal circumstances, one who had come in contact with an angel like you could never use a demon like me, but that's why I love time travel paradoxes, you technically haven't made contact with your sword yet in this timeline. That's why we can make a temporary agreement. You'll give me the power of your blood, and I'll lend you my powers. It's a win-win, wouldn't you say?", Yrael said, smirking."I have complete power over illusions. Use me, and whatever you'll want to show your enemies will be real for them.. but we have to hurry, they're coming.."
The gray haired girl had been advancing for all this time, and she stopped directly near Haruna. In the blink of an eye, the girl already bit the Jupiterran's neck, taking the blood needed to complete the temporary contract, bitting maybe a little bit too harshly.
Meanwhile, the smoke dissipated , showing off around twenty masked, armed men, surrounding the area. Yrael, having finished, whispered something to Haruna's ear, as a little blood continued to flow out of the small wound, and down the neck."Let's do this..", she said, putting the rapier in Haruna's hand..
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Post by Relikai on Mar 29, 2016 7:20:17 GMT
"Ah-ahh" Haruna gasped as Yrael bit into her neck, drawing her lifeblood to seal the temporary agreement. Haruna felt the slight pain, but she also felt... was her neck a sensitive area? Realising that her expression has changed from one of pain to pleasure, Haruna's eyes snapped open, hoping that Alexander wasn't looking. How inappropriate, the Jupiterran thought, as her hand closed in on the rapier. An elegant one-handed weapon, the Jupiterran would prefer the katana of Azarael, but in such a situation, it would suffice.
When Haruna moved, she moved faster, thrust quicker, with an elegance of a dancer as she spun her way through the group of masked men. Yrael pierced with deadly efficiency, as the Jupiterran dodged bullets and angled the weapon to deflect those lucky enough to be heading for her. It was quick, over in less than half a minute, as Haruna stood over Alexander and Cardinal. Blood trickled from her neck, as well as a lucky knife cut on her hip. Other than that, the blood on her clothes were of the masked men, now all lying on the road, slain.
Sheathing the weapon, Haruna struggled to carry both Cardinal and Alexander into one of the vans, before manually controlling the vehicle, driving it several kilometers down the highway. When Haruna thinks that they're far enough, the Jupiterran climbed back to the rear, checking Cardinal and Alexander. Fortunately, their injuries were not severe, and the Jupiterran slumped by the side of the vehicle. Her miniskirt was damp with blood, cut in several places, but Haruna didn't care as her blood-mattered hair clung onto her shoulders.
What now? Haruna thought. They were trapped in the past, hell was about to break loose, and they need to wait for Cardinal to regain consciousness before they could proceed. Looking at Alexander, still out cold, Haruna placed a hand on his face before kissing him. Returning to her sitting position, the Jupiterran placed her hand on her temple, as she repeated the question previously asked.
What now?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2016 15:05:21 GMT
Luckily for everyone, neither Cardinal nor Alexander were too badly wounded. Most of their wounds came from the car crash, or better said, from the mine that exploded beneath the car, throwing it in the air. Cardinal had seemingly hit her head pretty well, and Alexander had a lot of cuts, even if in his case, the reason for why he had fallen unconscious was clearly the rather brutal way the masked man had hit him in the head with the back of the gun. Even so, it was clear that they were probably going to soon wake up. However, Haruna had to deal with something else first... "Well, that would be the question, right?", Yrael said, stopping next to Haruna, seemingly answering to her mental question. "I'm sure that my Master had a way to send you and that Colonial back to your time, but unfortunately, we'll have to wait for her to wake up. Even in this technologically advanced era, we have no way to wake unconscious people like that, unfortunately. But right now, I'd say you have a bigger problem..." Just as the grey haired girl finished speaking, the steps of a large group of people were being heard, and before Haruna was even able to react, the van was surrounded by men in gray uniforms. The uniforms clearly weren't normal... and at a closer look, they looked like... a more compact version of the suits used by the Colonial forces. One couldn't make a difference between them and normal uniforms though. All the men were wearing emblems on white armbands, with blue eagles above two crossed swords, and the following words, in Galactic Standard:
Supreme Allied CommandEarth Armed ForcesMilitary Police
The soldiers, ten in total, pointed their weapons at Haruna and at Yrael. One of them, noticing Cardinal, made a step forward. " Hands up. Excuse us, miss, but could you explain us why exactly is one of the Hegemons of the Alliance in your van? And wounded? We'll have to arrest you, unfortunately. Please follow us nicely to the section."
And there was something in the way the soldier was speaking Galactic Standard..... yeah, it was clear after the accent. He was a Colonial.
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Post by Relikai on Mar 29, 2016 16:57:29 GMT
Haruna sighed, shaking her head as she shifted her messy hair to the side. Nodding, she stood before replying in the Colonial accent, clearly picked up from Alexander and being on board a Colonial Vessel.
"It's a long story, the Hegemon will explain when she regains consciousness..." Looking at Cardinal, Haruna got up to her feet, before stumbling forward, walking unsteadily as she leaned against the van. She's pretty tired, and for once, she envied the other two, sleeping and oblivious to what was going on, but she does not wish to be in their shoes when they finally wake up. Alexander's at least... Cardinal seemed to be well acquainted with them.
"Oh, lest I forget." Haruna carefully took Yrael from her belt, placing the blade beside Cardinal. "Now, I am unarmed."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2016 13:53:28 GMT
The soldiers seemed to hesitate for a few moments, before their leader, the Colonial, as the first one to stop pointing his rifle at Haruna."I understand miss.", the man said. Maybe to some, the fact that the soldiers trusted Haruna so easy would have seemed strange. But just the fact that Haruna had been able to touch the sword, so she was trusted by it, was enough to end any suspicion the soldiers had. And then of course, the leader was a Colonial, and Haruna spoke in a Colonial accent. There was a certain sense of solidarity among the Colonials on Earth, of course.
"Unfortunately, despite all the warnings of her personal guards, the Hegemon has decided to go on her own somewhere. We'll make sure that the Hegemon, you, and that other unconscious man over there, will reach the Allied Command Center as soon as possible... there are a few hours left until the Hegemon will have to be present in the orbit, to take command of her troops..."A couple minutes later, all three of them were taken by the military police, heading for the ACC...
Allied Command Center, Terran Orbital Ring
Around an hour later, Alexander, Haruna, and the Cardinal had been brought to the Earth's orbital ring, using an elevator similar to what the two had used back in the future, although everything seemed to be more primitive, parts of the orbital ring seemed to be still in construction. As they got in, Alexander and Cardinal were taken to the medical bay, while Haruna received a room where to change from her bloody clothes. The section of the orbital ring in which they were currently was clearly isolated from the rest, in order to keep them out from finding more about what was happening.
Eventually, Haruna was called. Apparently, Cardinal wanted to meet her...
The silver haired girl was now wearing an officer uniform of the Human Colonial Armed Forces, of the dark gray color that was still dreaded even in the future. The gray color of the Alliance, a fake alliance, an alliance that had continued the unjust Terran rule over the Milky Way... but it was an Alliance that was the only nation with enough resources to attempt to stop the Invaders... that's why, not all its officers had to be judged that way.
The place were Cardinal was waiting for Haruna was one of the many corridors of the ring, but this one was near the edge, so it had windows, that were showing the Earth down below. More and more ships seemed to jump in around Earth, asthe time of the final battle was drawing near.... they had to leave, before it started. Who knew what their presence could do to the Heaven's Fall..
"I wanted to thank you, Shimazaki Haruna.", the blind girl said, having probably having heard the Jupiterran's steps, turning around and looking in her general direction. "I've gone to Earth trying to save you and your boyfriend, and it ends up with you saving us.. well, I never imagined that something like that could happen. We knew that there are Terran factions opposing me and the other Colonial Hegemons, but to go as far as to attacking me... I underestimated them. I'm sorry that we had to drag you in that too."
Cardinal, or Irene Argent, or whatever her name was, made a short pause. "Alexander Werther is still unconscious, and the Synthesis Process is being performed on him right now. We're going to lock down his memories of this time. We have to do the same process on you too, but unfortunately, we don't have the time or the resources to perform it correctly on you too... it might hurt. Or, to say it better, it will hurt like hell. Are you still willing to do it? "
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Post by Relikai on Apr 2, 2016 17:14:30 GMT
"Hegemon..." Haruna replied as she stopped a short distance away from Cardinal, close enough to show that Haruna bore no discomfort with Cardinal's presence, but not too close that she might exude an air or superiority over Cardinal. Hegemon or not, everyone needs some personal space. Well, they did get through a period of hell, when Haruna and Alexander found themselves on Earth, centuries back, Haruna almost getting taken by two Terran officers, and Alexander getting assaulted not once but twice. Could be worse, except that Cardinal and Yrael helped to save their skins, albeit using Haruna as a medium.
"Well, Yrael sure did help." Haruna said lightly, adjusting her uniform a little. She wasn't used to the pants or coats of the Colonials, often wearing a light shirt and top coat with a short skirt as part of her Jupiterran uniform. Her new Liaison uniform was supposed to be more fitting to Colonial standards, but she has only worn it for a few days, the first time to show it to Alexander. Hearing Cardinal refer Alexander as her boyfriend also brought a blush to Haruna, not used to hearing that term since the two were technically Commander and Vice Commander, serving in a military profession.
"And without your intervention, worse might happen. We're sorry... we do not know what caused this. The Synthesis Process... I'm sure it would be inconvenient to have us retain memories of centuries past..."
Looking to the side, Haruna sighed as she placed a hand on her temple, wondering how the process would affect her.
"I don't exactly have a choice do I?" Haruna chuckled. "If it is absolutely necessary, I have given you my word back in the City. I am willing to have my memories here erased. Just... just don't go too far. I do have thoughts I want to keep, just before we ended up here..."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 6:10:12 GMT
"Well, it's quite impressive that you were able to use Yrael. I'd ask how exactly where you able to do it... but just as it is the best for you to know as less as possible about the last, JT would be the best for me to know as less as possible about the future.", Cardinal said after a few moments of silence."As for your memories, rest assured. We'll only target the neuronal connections holding the memories you have of this past, and we'll lock them down, making you unable to remember those memories until the lock is lifted. Except from the pain of the process itself, there shouldn't be any other side effects. Now come.. we're running short on time."
Some time later, Cardinal and Haruna had reached a lab room somewhere in that section of the orbital ring. Alexander seemed to be sleeping, on a bed, with something like an helmet on his head. The helmet was connected with wires to a machine that was hidden somewhere in the back, in another room, probably for the same reasons. Next to Alexander there was another bed, with a similar helmet on it.
The silver haired girl helped Haruna stand in the bed, putting the helmet onto her heard, before making a gesture in the air and making a holographic tab screen appear in front of her, as she started to prepare the commands.
"Back in the future, eventually, you might need this memories again... that's why the me from the future might want to unlock them. You don't know the me from the future yet, though I think that we should meet soon.. what should the me from the future tell you, so that you'll trust me again to perform a Synthesis to you?"
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Post by Relikai on Apr 5, 2016 8:48:07 GMT
Haruna stared at the ceiling, not moving too much as she listened the Cardinal. Now that's a good question. A very good one. Haruna knew that there was little ways for her to tell a future self should the future be totally ignorant of anything which happened in the past. Trust was not easy to come by...
That's when Haruna remembered something, as she turned to the side and saw her hairband, the genuine hairband given by the Relikans, the one which allowd Haruna to use her realized potential. Even though it would seem like a huge risk revealing something such as it to a foreign force, the hairband means nearly nothing without the CyberGenius Terminal.
"Take my hairband. It will be proof... If I really lost it, I would be extremely grateful to the person who returned it. Only in the future, and only those who live in Jupiterra, would truly understand it's meaning."
Seeing Cardinal looking unsure, Haruna just gave a smile. "I can always make another one for myself. Maybe you can try it on once in a while."
Turning back to lie flat, Haruna closed her eyes, breathing softly.
"Cardinal? I'm scared."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2016 17:09:17 GMT
Cardinal took the hairband with a serious expression, looking at it for a few moments. "I understand. I'm going to keep this, and show it to you in the future when the time will come. That, if I survive.", the silver haired girl said, looking at Haruna's general direction. "For you two, it will be nothing, you will simply return to the future, exactly to where you have left from, through the same fissure in the space-time. But I have to stay here... if I survive the incoming battle, I'll stil have to survive over the centuries of darkness that will follow... but if I exist in the future, I can assume that I will hopefully survive.."
Cardinal than remained quiet, working at the commands, but stopped when Haruna spoke."You're scared? Well, I suppose that I can understand why. But don't worry, there is nothing to be scared of.", the blind girl said, closing her eyes. "I've done this operation so many times I can't even count.... and from what it looks like, I'm continuing to do it in the future. Even Alexander.... from what it seemed, this wasn't the first time he had passed through the Synthesis. I can't say why I did that in the future... but it's clear that it was done."
Cardinal then remained quiet for a few moments. "This will hurt, there is no way I can lie. We have no time left to perform the pre-Synthesis operations, so I'm going to do it directly. The Synthesis will directly manipulate your neurons,so it's going to hurt like hell. I'll give you as many painkillers as it's safe, but it still won't be enough...." The silver haired girl sighed. "At least, think of it this way. Once the pain ends, you'll be back in the future, with him, no longer remembering what happened.."
Having finished all commands, Cardinal looked at Haruna(or better said, in her direction, vaguely), and smiled. "Let's do this..."
What followed would be extremely hard to describe through words. The first sensation Haruna had felt was one of calm... before she felt a pain as if countless small needles were piercing her head. Then, it got even worse.It was as if someone was opening her head apart, as brutally as possible. And then, every last part of her nervous system was drained in pain, an excruciating, pain, as if her nerves were burned alive... as if someone was messing with her brain.... and then, silence.. darkness.. and the last thing Haruna would(eventually) remember, was a voice, whispering something into her ear..
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2016 17:15:34 GMT
Sometimes, changes in the past create irremediable changes to the future. Sometimes. those changes aren't even noticeable or visible... but those changes, the invisible ones, are the most dangerous..
For Haruna and Alexander, there were no changes. One step took them back in the past... but after they passed through the same fissure in the past, the next step took them back where they where. On Earth's orbital ring, in the present, as if nothing had changed...
"Wait..", Alexander said, as he stopped. They were in the large corridor, with people passing everywhere, and soldiers guarding the doors. A voice in the loudspeakers was announcing the arrival of the CMS Prinz Eugen in the main dock. Everything was just normal, with nothing changed... almost... nothing...
For some reasons, Alexander had this strange feeling that... he had forgotten something, although he couldn't exactly tell why. It wasn't like that normal feeling, when you forget your keys or anything. It was as if he had forgotten something really, really big and important... but he had no idea what it was. What was stranger though, and what attracted its attention, was something missing. Something missing on Haruna.
"Didn't you have your hairband on a few minutes ago?", the Colonial asked, puzzled.
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Post by Relikai on Apr 7, 2016 2:32:05 GMT
"Huh?" Haruna said, looking at Alexander. Instinctively, she moved her hand to the top of her head, patting it before she realised that it was missing. "Oh no!" Did I leave it back on Ear-... Was it lost during the fight at the arena, the bombing?" She asked, half-panicking. It wasn't the loss of the item which worried her, these objects could be easily replaced, but that it would take time for Jupiterra to shape it and send it over to her.
Not that she's complaining, the hairband's first purpose was to be a limiter to Haruna's Cybergenius capabilities, but to control and command the Prinz Eugen, it has simply became a fashion accessory for Alexander.
"Ahh!" Haruna wailed as she slapped a hand across her forehead, trying to cover her face in her embarrassment. "It... It can't have just disappeared into thin air can it... urgh"
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2016 9:12:28 GMT
"It probably fell of somewhere... I didn't notice until now.", Alexander said, thinking about where the hairband could have fallen." I don't know, it could have fallen during the fight we had.. it was quite brutal.." Alexander then sighed."I'll try to talk with my friend there, to see if they've found anything, but I don't know... are you alright without her, for the time being? "
The Colonial seemed to want to continue, but something suddenly made him stop speaking. A fairly large group was passing on the large hallway, and everyone was making place for it to pass. Alexander and Haruna themselves were pushed by the crowd to the sides, but they were still able to see the group.
The group seemed to be mostly made up by what looked like nuns, girls and women wearing white clothes that from the conception of the human race, were associated with nuns. Most of the nuns seemed to be human, although some looked like those cat women who were spread all across the Colonies, and one who was masked looked suspiciously like an alien. But what was stranger was the person walking in the middle of the group.
It was a rather young girl, wearing clothes overall similar with those of the nuns, although her clothes had a silver color. Her long hair also had a silver color, and she was keeping her eyes closed. She was holding a silver sceptre in her right hand, and a triple tiara, the symbols of her position. If that wasn't enough to hint to who she was, the respect every last Colonial was showing to her and her group was clear. She was the Cardinal of the Holy Axiom Church, the second largest religious cult of the Federated Colonies.
The Colonies were mostly atheist, but the Axiom Church itself, maybe because of the charisma of its leader, or due to its dogma, was really popular, being even a powerful political force in the Colonial Parliament. That's why, Colonials in general were extremely respectful to the members of that Church, especially those who had a personal reason to like it.
As the the group passed, Alexander, and most of the other Colonials, lightly bowed."Cardinal..", the black haired man said in a low voice. Strangely enough, even if he said that in a low voice, the girl seemed to have heard it, as she opened her eyes, and looked in Alexander's general direction. But her eyes had an unnatural silver color, and it was obvious that she was blind... but Cardinal looked at Alexander for a few moments, before she looked at Haruna and smiled. Alexander clearly already knew Cardinal, but for Haruna... the silver haired girl just seemed extremely familiar...
As the group passed, Cardinal said something in a low voice to the nearest nun."So, they are indeed here.... the time is approaching "
And then, Cardinal smiled.
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Post by Relikai on Apr 11, 2016 3:50:39 GMT
"It's alright, its more of an accessory..." Haruna replied, still looking at Alexander while keeping herself out of sight from the others, and patting her head as if trying to make it appear. "But... you said it makes me look nicer in front of you so..."
The presence of the newcomers intrigued Haruna, as she straightened herself and observed the group. As they passed, Alexander seemed to greet them, but Haruna, not knowing who they were, simply gave a bow of her own. Just as the silver-eyed girl turned towards them, Haruna had a flash of recognition. However, it was filled with pain, blood... shaking her head, Haruna blinked several times to see that they have passed the couple.
"Who are they, Alexander? Who's that lady in the middle?"
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2016 14:08:52 GMT
"They are part of the Great Curia of the Holy Church of Axiom, one of the largest growing religions in the Colonies. They are also a really big political force, the center of the pro-war movement in the Parliament, the faction who wants things like a war against the Keltakens, and the complete destruction of the Terran power.", Alexander said, remembering that Haruna didn't knew a lot about the internal stuff of the Colonies. "That.. lady in the middle is Cardinal, the highest ranking priestess in the Axiom Church, and its leader. Nobody knows her real name, but she's quite a personality in the Colonies, probably the most powerful figure after the Hegemon and the Chancellor. You should meet her sometime, she's really a... unique person."
The black haired Colonial then remained quiet for a few moments though. "Strangely though, are you sure that you have never met her? I can swear that she looked in you direction for a few moments, and it's a well known fact that she's blind.."
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