Nine Quest: Believe In Getter and Hold A Determination to Build
- Thread starter SilverStorm
- Start date
Script Mak3r
(Verified Sun God) (Verified Feathers)
- Location
- Hell of Blazing Fires
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Socialize with Tsubasa and Maria; they're the only ones here you don't really know yet. Maybe they'll have some insights into the working of the Innocent Wave that you can use?
Alright, vote locked in favor of making new friends! Update to come sometime tomorrow barring sudden calamity.
Meeting the Queens of Music
[X] Socialize with Tsubasa and Maria; they're the only ones here you don't really know yet. Maybe they'll have some insights into the working of the Innocent Wave that you can use?
While the staff of S.O.N.G. rush to and fro making final checks and ensuring that the submarine is ready to fly, you take the opportunity to greet the only wielders that you haven't properly met yet.
"Hello," you begin, "my name is Nine. Might I have a moment of your time?" You ask the young women you already know to be Tsubasa Kazanari and Maria Cadenzavna Eve. Tsubasa simply nods at you before standing, her blue hair waving slightly as she does so, but Maria is more talkative.
"Of course!" She says as she rises to her feet, her voluminous pink hair bouncing as a result. "I'd actually been meaning to thank you for looking after my girls; that was very brave of you, leading all of the constructs away from the dig site like that. I'm glad they had someone like you to help them while I was away, so thank you for that."
"I don't know if I'm worthy of the title of Brave, but I do my best," you say, slightly embarrassed by the effusive compliments. You opt to say little else as you lead the way to an out of the way lounge, making sure to stay out from underfoot of the work as you go. Maria adapts to the comfortable silence easily enough, but Tsubasa continues to stare at you; is there something on your face? Whatever it is, she doesn't see fit to comment on it even as the three of you get yourselves seated comfortably on a pair of couches in the lounge. The two of them sit across from you, not quite leaning against one another but obviously close both physically and emotionally.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Maria asks once the three of you sit down.
"There are a few things, but mostly I was hoping to know your thoughts on love." You state bluntly. It's your ace pilot interviews all over again!
Maria blushes and starts trying to look at everything in the room except you or Tsubasa, while Tsubasa herself simply stares at you. "Do you always ask such personal questions to people you've just met?" Maria asks you, still desperately avoiding eye contact.
"I've been told it's a bad habit of mine, but I promise that I'm not just asking out of idle curiosity." Well, not anymore, at least. "As love acts as a source of power for both the Innocent Wave in general and the Symphogear in particular, I was hoping that any new insights I learned from you could be used to improve the function of the Symphogears."
"I see." Tsubasa finally deigns to speak for the first time. "Love is a difficult topic for me to speak of, particularly when it comes to romantic or familial love. I have experienced great loss in both areas, and those losses color my perceptions of such topics even now." She continues to stare at you, but something weakens in her gaze; Maria then grabs her hand and takes over for her.
"Love can be a difficult topic to talk about in general, even when it's not so closely intertwined with tragedy." You're well aware of that; even the mighty Ryoma Nagare felt he had no choice but to run when you confronted him on the topic. "It's different for everyone," Maria continues, "but it's often so intensely personal that it can be hard to put your feelings into words properly." She tightens her grip on Tsubasa's hand before speaking again. "When I think about those that I love, I used to feel the need to become stronger, to earn the life that I had been given through their sacrifices. Now, though, I feel more content because I know that they're watching over me and will be proud of me as long as I try my hardest. Even if it means being weak, as long as I'm honest with myself and those around me, I can love and be loved in return. Does that make sense?"
"It does," you reply as you focus on Maria. "Love has always been a source of strength for me and for those I've befriended, but it's not necessarily about being strong. As long as you can be there for those that you love, it doesn't matter how strong you are." That's not even getting into the fact that there's more than one way to be strong, but you feel like that's a conversation for another time.
"I agree," Tsubasa suddenly speaks up. "I once cursed my weakness for allowing the death of the girl I loved, but now I need only remember that love to draw upon as a source of strength instead." She then lowers her head slightly before bringing it back up and making eye contact with you. "While no one will ever be able to replace Kanade, I also know that she would not want me to close myself off from others in order to chase a ghost. Love can only be a source of strength when it is shared, not when it is locked away in a frozen heart. A burden shared is a burden halved, after all." You've only just met this girl, but you can already tell that her life has been defined by tragedy and the long, winding journeys to overcome it. Truly, love is one of the most powerful forces in the multiverse if it can save those who life has treated so harshly.
"Thank you for sharing your perspectives with me," you begin. "I hope that as we get to know each other better, I can learn more about love and what it means to the two of you." You should also probably share your own perspectives with them at some point, but for the moment you're more comfortable with asking questions than answering them.
"I think I speak for both of us when I say that we would be happy to help in your journey, Nine. And of course, let us not forget that it was Tachibana's love that ultimately saved us all from Shem-Ha," Tsubasa begins. That sounds like a story that you really need to hear, but the three of you are then interrupted by Chris poking her head in through the door. "Hey Maria, the old man was looking for you. Should I tell him you're busy?" Maria then favors you with an apologetic smile before standing up.
"No, I think we reached a good end point for our current discussion. I'll go see what the Commander wants; thank you for telling me, Chris." As Maria walks out, Chris steps to one side to let her pass but doesn't leave. Instead, she turns her attention to Tsubasa.
"You good, senpai?"
"I am well, yes. Thank you for checking on me, Yukine." Tsubasa smiles and wow she looks handsome like that. Her quiet confidence is inspiring and encourages you to see this through to the end; that's some impressive charisma right there. She seems to be a woman of few words when not singing, but clearly inspirational even without them.
"Good. That's… good. I'll see you around, then." Chris awkwardly says before leaving. She seems to be a bit out of sorts; did she take a bad hit while clearing out the Karma-Noise? She looks fine physically… Maybe her encounter with R. Ishum left her more shaken than she'd like to admit. It could also just be mild indigestion, you don't want to assign more meaning to these things than you have to.
You think you understand Tsubasa and Maria's bond a little better now. It seems to blur the line somewhat between romantic love and the deep kindness that fuels so many other forms of love, but you can fully unpack those mysteries at another time. Right now, there's more work to be done before the ship breaks atmosphere.
The ship is to finally be given a proper name beyond that of S.O.N.G. HQ; what will it be?
[] Lombardia
[] Ptolemaios III
[] Write-In
What will you focus on next? You have a limited amount of time to work with, but can still get a little more done before battle prep takes the majority of your attention.
[] Take what you've learned about love and work with Elfnein to upgrade the neural links of the Symphogears; even if you can't do much, every little bit just might be what makes the difference.
[] Begin repairing and reprogramming the simulator to run on Photon Power; with the time you have to work, you probably won't be able to project more than one or two machines at a time, but they should see a moderate power boost as a result.
[] Talk to Chris about the R. Ishum, the Getter Rays, and your decision to weaponize Photon Power; she seems to be taking things the hardest out of everyone here.
[] Write-In
While the staff of S.O.N.G. rush to and fro making final checks and ensuring that the submarine is ready to fly, you take the opportunity to greet the only wielders that you haven't properly met yet.
"Hello," you begin, "my name is Nine. Might I have a moment of your time?" You ask the young women you already know to be Tsubasa Kazanari and Maria Cadenzavna Eve. Tsubasa simply nods at you before standing, her blue hair waving slightly as she does so, but Maria is more talkative.
"Of course!" She says as she rises to her feet, her voluminous pink hair bouncing as a result. "I'd actually been meaning to thank you for looking after my girls; that was very brave of you, leading all of the constructs away from the dig site like that. I'm glad they had someone like you to help them while I was away, so thank you for that."
"I don't know if I'm worthy of the title of Brave, but I do my best," you say, slightly embarrassed by the effusive compliments. You opt to say little else as you lead the way to an out of the way lounge, making sure to stay out from underfoot of the work as you go. Maria adapts to the comfortable silence easily enough, but Tsubasa continues to stare at you; is there something on your face? Whatever it is, she doesn't see fit to comment on it even as the three of you get yourselves seated comfortably on a pair of couches in the lounge. The two of them sit across from you, not quite leaning against one another but obviously close both physically and emotionally.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Maria asks once the three of you sit down.
"There are a few things, but mostly I was hoping to know your thoughts on love." You state bluntly. It's your ace pilot interviews all over again!
Maria blushes and starts trying to look at everything in the room except you or Tsubasa, while Tsubasa herself simply stares at you. "Do you always ask such personal questions to people you've just met?" Maria asks you, still desperately avoiding eye contact.
"I've been told it's a bad habit of mine, but I promise that I'm not just asking out of idle curiosity." Well, not anymore, at least. "As love acts as a source of power for both the Innocent Wave in general and the Symphogear in particular, I was hoping that any new insights I learned from you could be used to improve the function of the Symphogears."
"I see." Tsubasa finally deigns to speak for the first time. "Love is a difficult topic for me to speak of, particularly when it comes to romantic or familial love. I have experienced great loss in both areas, and those losses color my perceptions of such topics even now." She continues to stare at you, but something weakens in her gaze; Maria then grabs her hand and takes over for her.
"Love can be a difficult topic to talk about in general, even when it's not so closely intertwined with tragedy." You're well aware of that; even the mighty Ryoma Nagare felt he had no choice but to run when you confronted him on the topic. "It's different for everyone," Maria continues, "but it's often so intensely personal that it can be hard to put your feelings into words properly." She tightens her grip on Tsubasa's hand before speaking again. "When I think about those that I love, I used to feel the need to become stronger, to earn the life that I had been given through their sacrifices. Now, though, I feel more content because I know that they're watching over me and will be proud of me as long as I try my hardest. Even if it means being weak, as long as I'm honest with myself and those around me, I can love and be loved in return. Does that make sense?"
"It does," you reply as you focus on Maria. "Love has always been a source of strength for me and for those I've befriended, but it's not necessarily about being strong. As long as you can be there for those that you love, it doesn't matter how strong you are." That's not even getting into the fact that there's more than one way to be strong, but you feel like that's a conversation for another time.
"I agree," Tsubasa suddenly speaks up. "I once cursed my weakness for allowing the death of the girl I loved, but now I need only remember that love to draw upon as a source of strength instead." She then lowers her head slightly before bringing it back up and making eye contact with you. "While no one will ever be able to replace Kanade, I also know that she would not want me to close myself off from others in order to chase a ghost. Love can only be a source of strength when it is shared, not when it is locked away in a frozen heart. A burden shared is a burden halved, after all." You've only just met this girl, but you can already tell that her life has been defined by tragedy and the long, winding journeys to overcome it. Truly, love is one of the most powerful forces in the multiverse if it can save those who life has treated so harshly.
"Thank you for sharing your perspectives with me," you begin. "I hope that as we get to know each other better, I can learn more about love and what it means to the two of you." You should also probably share your own perspectives with them at some point, but for the moment you're more comfortable with asking questions than answering them.
"I think I speak for both of us when I say that we would be happy to help in your journey, Nine. And of course, let us not forget that it was Tachibana's love that ultimately saved us all from Shem-Ha," Tsubasa begins. That sounds like a story that you really need to hear, but the three of you are then interrupted by Chris poking her head in through the door. "Hey Maria, the old man was looking for you. Should I tell him you're busy?" Maria then favors you with an apologetic smile before standing up.
"No, I think we reached a good end point for our current discussion. I'll go see what the Commander wants; thank you for telling me, Chris." As Maria walks out, Chris steps to one side to let her pass but doesn't leave. Instead, she turns her attention to Tsubasa.
"You good, senpai?"
"I am well, yes. Thank you for checking on me, Yukine." Tsubasa smiles and wow she looks handsome like that. Her quiet confidence is inspiring and encourages you to see this through to the end; that's some impressive charisma right there. She seems to be a woman of few words when not singing, but clearly inspirational even without them.
"Good. That's… good. I'll see you around, then." Chris awkwardly says before leaving. She seems to be a bit out of sorts; did she take a bad hit while clearing out the Karma-Noise? She looks fine physically… Maybe her encounter with R. Ishum left her more shaken than she'd like to admit. It could also just be mild indigestion, you don't want to assign more meaning to these things than you have to.
You think you understand Tsubasa and Maria's bond a little better now. It seems to blur the line somewhat between romantic love and the deep kindness that fuels so many other forms of love, but you can fully unpack those mysteries at another time. Right now, there's more work to be done before the ship breaks atmosphere.
The ship is to finally be given a proper name beyond that of S.O.N.G. HQ; what will it be?
[] Lombardia
[] Ptolemaios III
[] Write-In
What will you focus on next? You have a limited amount of time to work with, but can still get a little more done before battle prep takes the majority of your attention.
[] Take what you've learned about love and work with Elfnein to upgrade the neural links of the Symphogears; even if you can't do much, every little bit just might be what makes the difference.
[] Begin repairing and reprogramming the simulator to run on Photon Power; with the time you have to work, you probably won't be able to project more than one or two machines at a time, but they should see a moderate power boost as a result.
[] Talk to Chris about the R. Ishum, the Getter Rays, and your decision to weaponize Photon Power; she seems to be taking things the hardest out of everyone here.
[] Write-In
Z000
If this is trash, then find me in the dumpster
- Location
- Viet Nam
[X] Talk to Chris about the R. Ishum, the Getter Rays, and your decision to weaponize Photon Power; she seems to be taking things the hardest out of everyone here.
Chris, stop angst, remember your last song in XV, just shoot the other side and give them lead medicine
Chris, stop angst, remember your last song in XV, just shoot the other side and give them lead medicine
As someone less familiar, what was I and II?
[X] Lombardia
[X] Talk to Chris about the R. Ishum, the Getter Rays, and your decision to weaponize Photon Power; she seems to be taking things the hardest out of everyone here.
The supply ships/mobile headquarters for Celestial Being in Gundam 00. Also sometimes referred to as simply Ptolemy instead. The Ptolemaios II in particular is my personal favorite support unit in V, so it's one that Nine would be very familiar with.
Alright, locking the vote in favor of talking to Chris and naming the battleship Lombardia. Update to come sometime tomorrow!
Addressing a Friend's Concerns
[X] Talk to Chris about R. Ishum, the Getter Rays, and your decision to weaponize Photon Power; she seems to be taking things the hardest out of everyone here.
"I will leave you two to talk," Tsubasa begins as she stands up. "You both look like you need it. I will see you later, Yukine, Nine." And with that, she leaves, not wasting a single moment as she sets off for somewhere else. Chris stands aside and lets her pass, then enters the room properly in response to your raised eyebrow. She then takes the seat formerly held by Tsubasa directly across from you.
"I'll just be blunt." Chris begins. "I still consider you a friend, Nine, but I'm worried. R. Ishum is a paranoid idiot, but between Photon Power and the Getter Rays you've started one hell of an arms race. What's going to happen around here once you go back home?" She seems a bit shaken by what she's seen.
"It's not like I wanted to weaponize Photon Power," you reply, "but we had no choice! Once the Anathema Protocol is dealt with, we can focus on applying Photon Power for peaceful purposes, but as it stands we need every tool we can safely use in our arsenal." You didn't want to bring new kinds of warfare to this dimension, but if war finds you then of course you're going to fight back.
"Was there really no other way?" Chris asks you, apparently not finding your answer good enough.
"May I remind you that our only alternative was further development of the Getter Rays?" You counter with your own question. "Surely you haven't already forgotten the possible risks of that."
"You're damn right I haven't forgotten!" She shouts at you, standing up as she does so. Oh boy, seems you really pushed her buttons with that one. "Hell, that's exactly what I'm worried about! What if you end up like Koji did in that picture you showed us?! What if you end up creating some planet-eating monstrosity that we'll have to stop?" Wow, she's really working herself up about this. You can't exactly blame her, given the nightmares you've had about the exact same thing, but it still stings to hear from someone you consider a friend.
"I didn't ask to be exposed to Getter Rays, Chris, and I certainly didn't ask them to choose me for whatever purpose they have in mind. I can't predict the future, but I can promise to be as careful as possible. You know I've had nightmares about those planet-sized monsters showing up in the same dimension as me, right? If there's anything I can do to keep them at bay, then please believe me when I say that I'll do it. I assure you that I have no interest in seeing yet another Earth facing mortal peril, especially not because of my own existence." You don't raise your voice or point fingers, but you don't have to; as soon as you mention your nightmares, Chris sits back down and breaks eye contact with you. Hopefully reminding her that you're on the same side here will be enough to mollify her concerns. Judging by the look on her face, you've made progress but not entirely won her over just yet.
"Alright," she says gruffly as she crosses her arms, "I know you're not crazy enough to do something like that on purpose." You appreciate the vote of confidence, but did she have to make it sound so reluctant? "What if you're not the one calling the shots when it happens, though? I saw you twitch when we were talking to R. Ishum earlier, plus you've had this crazy battle high once or twice. Are you sure that you'll be able to control the Getter Rays instead of letting them control you?" A valid question, though you would appreciate a little more faith in your inner strength.
"It won't be like with Gardim," you begin, again referencing one of your worst nightmares. "The Getter Rays are integrated into my body, yes, but my mind is my own. The twitch you saw was probably an unconscious response to them attempting to influence me, yes, but I caught it and I'll still catch it if they try it again. And if it ever does come to that… I trust the rest of you to stop me." That catches Chris off guard, her eyes widening slightly as she focuses on you. "There's more than one reason that Getter Robos are meant to be piloted by teams of three, you know. They don't just bring out the best in each other, they also rein each other's worst impulses in and help keep an eye on each other. I can't have you in the cockpit with me, but I can have you watching over me and stepping in if you feel like I'm about to cross a line. Can I trust you to do that for me?"
Chris stops dead for a moment, apparently caught between responses as she visibly thinks over what to say next. "Fine. Fine! Friends look out for each other, and this is just another part of that. If you trust me to look out for you, then I'll hold you to that. Besides, it can't be any worse than the time I shot Senpai in the back."
"You did what?" You rear back; now it's your turn to be surprised.
"It seemed like a good idea at the time! And it ultimately worked out for the best because we trusted each other, the same way that you and I need to trust each other. I'm not proud of it, but I've grown since then. I'm sure you're not the same person you were a year ago either, were you?" She's got a point, although you would really like an explanation for why exactly she had to do that. You stare incredulously at Chris for a moment longer before shaking your head and sighing; this world just keeps finding new ways to surprise you. She mirrors you before leaning back into the couch, her body language far more open and comfortable than it was five minutes ago. It seems like you've both gotten through to one another and forged a stronger bond as a result.
The moment is then broken as the ship's PA system activates and Genjuro's voice booms out.
"All hands, listen up! Nine months ago, we thought ourselves free of the Anunnaki's bonds forever. Earlier this week, we found out that we were wrong. The program that they left behind, this Anathema Protocol, considers destroying us all a valid price to pay for settling a millennia-long grudge with an old enemy of the Custodians." Well at least he's not blaming you for this, that's nice of him. "However, we will not go quietly into the night! We have proven before that we no longer need the Anunnaki to control or guide us; today, we prove it again. Today we face the machine that would call himself our executioner and take the fight to him! Today we liberate humanity once and for all!" A wild cheer goes up from the crew as their morale surges in the wake of his inspiring speech. Despite your cold and logical heart, you too can't help but be buoyed by his words; there's something about a good rousing speech that transcends the barrier between man and machine, it would seem.
"Deploy the Photon Barrier! All wielders, prepare for combat! Lombardia, charge!" Genjuro shouts as the ramshackle space battleship's engines activate and the ship charges towards the Moon. You patch into the ship's external cameras to see what the bridge crew can see and are greeted by a disturbing sight.
Wow that's a lot of drones. That is way too many drones for you to feel comfortable taking on, but you have no choice. If you're going to get to the Moon and stop R. Ishum from sending off that signal, you're going to need to fight your way through this entire horde. Fortunately, while you don't have as much firepower at your back as you'd prefer, you're far from alone; even now, the other Symphogear wielders are rushing to deploy, sharing smiles with one another despite the incredible odds against them. They're also sharing those smiles with you, despite the uncertainty in your heart; even Chris, despite the fact that you were just arguing with each other not long ago, clearly still considers you to be part of the team.
Being among friends is not a new feeling for you, but it still makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside every time it comes to your attention. It might not be romantic love, but it's a form of love all the same, and it's an irreplaceable source of strength for you. With friends at your side and back alike plus a world that you need to protect, there's no way you can lose. The only question now is how you intend to go forth and seize victory.
[] Go out in your Symphogear; it's your most reliable weapon and lets you work well with the rest of the team.
[] Go out in the simulated GranVang; it's low on power and limited in range, but it's absolute proof that you don't need the Getter Rays to overcome the legacy of the Custodians.
[] Write-In
"I will leave you two to talk," Tsubasa begins as she stands up. "You both look like you need it. I will see you later, Yukine, Nine." And with that, she leaves, not wasting a single moment as she sets off for somewhere else. Chris stands aside and lets her pass, then enters the room properly in response to your raised eyebrow. She then takes the seat formerly held by Tsubasa directly across from you.
"I'll just be blunt." Chris begins. "I still consider you a friend, Nine, but I'm worried. R. Ishum is a paranoid idiot, but between Photon Power and the Getter Rays you've started one hell of an arms race. What's going to happen around here once you go back home?" She seems a bit shaken by what she's seen.
"It's not like I wanted to weaponize Photon Power," you reply, "but we had no choice! Once the Anathema Protocol is dealt with, we can focus on applying Photon Power for peaceful purposes, but as it stands we need every tool we can safely use in our arsenal." You didn't want to bring new kinds of warfare to this dimension, but if war finds you then of course you're going to fight back.
"Was there really no other way?" Chris asks you, apparently not finding your answer good enough.
"May I remind you that our only alternative was further development of the Getter Rays?" You counter with your own question. "Surely you haven't already forgotten the possible risks of that."
"You're damn right I haven't forgotten!" She shouts at you, standing up as she does so. Oh boy, seems you really pushed her buttons with that one. "Hell, that's exactly what I'm worried about! What if you end up like Koji did in that picture you showed us?! What if you end up creating some planet-eating monstrosity that we'll have to stop?" Wow, she's really working herself up about this. You can't exactly blame her, given the nightmares you've had about the exact same thing, but it still stings to hear from someone you consider a friend.
"I didn't ask to be exposed to Getter Rays, Chris, and I certainly didn't ask them to choose me for whatever purpose they have in mind. I can't predict the future, but I can promise to be as careful as possible. You know I've had nightmares about those planet-sized monsters showing up in the same dimension as me, right? If there's anything I can do to keep them at bay, then please believe me when I say that I'll do it. I assure you that I have no interest in seeing yet another Earth facing mortal peril, especially not because of my own existence." You don't raise your voice or point fingers, but you don't have to; as soon as you mention your nightmares, Chris sits back down and breaks eye contact with you. Hopefully reminding her that you're on the same side here will be enough to mollify her concerns. Judging by the look on her face, you've made progress but not entirely won her over just yet.
"Alright," she says gruffly as she crosses her arms, "I know you're not crazy enough to do something like that on purpose." You appreciate the vote of confidence, but did she have to make it sound so reluctant? "What if you're not the one calling the shots when it happens, though? I saw you twitch when we were talking to R. Ishum earlier, plus you've had this crazy battle high once or twice. Are you sure that you'll be able to control the Getter Rays instead of letting them control you?" A valid question, though you would appreciate a little more faith in your inner strength.
"It won't be like with Gardim," you begin, again referencing one of your worst nightmares. "The Getter Rays are integrated into my body, yes, but my mind is my own. The twitch you saw was probably an unconscious response to them attempting to influence me, yes, but I caught it and I'll still catch it if they try it again. And if it ever does come to that… I trust the rest of you to stop me." That catches Chris off guard, her eyes widening slightly as she focuses on you. "There's more than one reason that Getter Robos are meant to be piloted by teams of three, you know. They don't just bring out the best in each other, they also rein each other's worst impulses in and help keep an eye on each other. I can't have you in the cockpit with me, but I can have you watching over me and stepping in if you feel like I'm about to cross a line. Can I trust you to do that for me?"
Chris stops dead for a moment, apparently caught between responses as she visibly thinks over what to say next. "Fine. Fine! Friends look out for each other, and this is just another part of that. If you trust me to look out for you, then I'll hold you to that. Besides, it can't be any worse than the time I shot Senpai in the back."
"You did what?" You rear back; now it's your turn to be surprised.
"It seemed like a good idea at the time! And it ultimately worked out for the best because we trusted each other, the same way that you and I need to trust each other. I'm not proud of it, but I've grown since then. I'm sure you're not the same person you were a year ago either, were you?" She's got a point, although you would really like an explanation for why exactly she had to do that. You stare incredulously at Chris for a moment longer before shaking your head and sighing; this world just keeps finding new ways to surprise you. She mirrors you before leaning back into the couch, her body language far more open and comfortable than it was five minutes ago. It seems like you've both gotten through to one another and forged a stronger bond as a result.
The moment is then broken as the ship's PA system activates and Genjuro's voice booms out.
"All hands, listen up! Nine months ago, we thought ourselves free of the Anunnaki's bonds forever. Earlier this week, we found out that we were wrong. The program that they left behind, this Anathema Protocol, considers destroying us all a valid price to pay for settling a millennia-long grudge with an old enemy of the Custodians." Well at least he's not blaming you for this, that's nice of him. "However, we will not go quietly into the night! We have proven before that we no longer need the Anunnaki to control or guide us; today, we prove it again. Today we face the machine that would call himself our executioner and take the fight to him! Today we liberate humanity once and for all!" A wild cheer goes up from the crew as their morale surges in the wake of his inspiring speech. Despite your cold and logical heart, you too can't help but be buoyed by his words; there's something about a good rousing speech that transcends the barrier between man and machine, it would seem.
"Deploy the Photon Barrier! All wielders, prepare for combat! Lombardia, charge!" Genjuro shouts as the ramshackle space battleship's engines activate and the ship charges towards the Moon. You patch into the ship's external cameras to see what the bridge crew can see and are greeted by a disturbing sight.
Wow that's a lot of drones. That is way too many drones for you to feel comfortable taking on, but you have no choice. If you're going to get to the Moon and stop R. Ishum from sending off that signal, you're going to need to fight your way through this entire horde. Fortunately, while you don't have as much firepower at your back as you'd prefer, you're far from alone; even now, the other Symphogear wielders are rushing to deploy, sharing smiles with one another despite the incredible odds against them. They're also sharing those smiles with you, despite the uncertainty in your heart; even Chris, despite the fact that you were just arguing with each other not long ago, clearly still considers you to be part of the team.
Being among friends is not a new feeling for you, but it still makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside every time it comes to your attention. It might not be romantic love, but it's a form of love all the same, and it's an irreplaceable source of strength for you. With friends at your side and back alike plus a world that you need to protect, there's no way you can lose. The only question now is how you intend to go forth and seize victory.
[] Go out in your Symphogear; it's your most reliable weapon and lets you work well with the rest of the team.
[] Go out in the simulated GranVang; it's low on power and limited in range, but it's absolute proof that you don't need the Getter Rays to overcome the legacy of the Custodians.
[] Write-In
Z000
If this is trash, then find me in the dumpster
- Location
- Viet Nam
[X] Go out in the simulated GranVang; it's low on power and limited in range, but it's absolute proof that you don't need the Getter Rays to overcome the legacy of the Custodians.
hey, if the robot get destroy, we could just transform
so there no reason not to go out with the robot first
hey, if the robot get destroy, we could just transform
so there no reason not to go out with the robot first
[X] Go out in the simulated GranVang; it's low on power and limited in range, but it's absolute proof that you don't need the Getter Rays to overcome the legacy of the Custodians.
Time to teach how broken 2 bar of hp units are.
Seriously full armored gundams being able to purge the damage is never not funny.
Time to teach how broken 2 bar of hp units are.
Seriously full armored gundams being able to purge the damage is never not funny.
Alright, vote locked in favor of abusing the 2 HP bar mechanic! Update to come sometime tomorrow.
Go Forth, GranVang!
[X] Go out in the simulated GranVang; it's low on power and limited in range, but it's absolute proof that you don't need the Getter Rays to overcome the legacy of the Custodians.
Wait a minute, you're looking at this all wrong. There's no reason to not just go out in the simulated GranVang right now. If it works out, great, you saved the day with your giant robot. If it doesn't work, you can transform on the spot and wreak havoc from there in your Symphogear. With that in mind, you immediately activate what little power the simulator has left and eject yourself from the Lombardia into the waiting hatch of the GranVang. While it would be nice if you had Photon Power to back up your simulation, you don't regret building bonds with your friends and teammates with that time instead. Speaking of your friends and teammates, there they are now! You're not quite sure how they're breathing in space; Elfnein explained it away as 'something something phonic gain' and you're inclined to believe her. It's not like it's any stranger than Ange being able to open up her cockpit and breathe in space.
Owing to your comparatively short range limitation, you find yourself forced to take up the position of rearguard as your friends charge in ahead of you. Fortunately, the GranVang's guns are enough to make up the difference, with your Positron Convergence Cannon in particular clearing out a small swathe of enemies before they can flank Chris. She acknowledges your assistance with a nod before firing off a Giga Zeppelin into a crowd of three-winged drones.
Your other friends have not been idle; combination attacks seem to be the order of the day as the wielders of S.O.N.G. show what they can do to the drones that stand in their path. Kirika and Shirabe fly in two different directions before glowing a bright green and pink respectively and smashing the drones in between them in a fiery crash your senses automatically label POI Style: Gliding Pincer. Four of Miku's smaller mirrors form a ring around her before she fires off a Jade Ring beam that not only destroys many drones, but also propels Hibiki forward, the latter's elbow rockets only adding to her momentum as she crashes into and then through several of the penguin-shaped machines that once gave you so much trouble. Finally, Tsubasa and Maria are far less flashy, but no less effective as their blades carve enormous swathes through the enemy hordes. Maria's smaller blades fly in every direction to cover Tsubasa's flanks as her two massive blades devastate the enemies before her. Chunks of metal debris fly everywhere as drones are destroyed left, right, and center; it seems like you'll have your hands full with orbital cleanup once the fight is over.
You promptly banish the thought of what may come later; from the looks of things, you've all got a long battle ahead of you. At the back of the pack, as you have come to expect by now, you spot Dawnbringer, its pilot no doubt waiting for an ideal opportunity to take you out. Unfortunately for R. Ishum, your android senses are every bit as keen as his; if he wants to ambush you, he'll be waiting a long time indeed. Instead of circling around each other endlessly, you opt to call him out directly.
"R. Ishum! You said to show you my resolve; here I am! Humanity doesn't want you or need you any longer; face me and see just how far we've come!" You challenge R. Ishum and he responds in kind.
"Very well then! Inheritor of the Anathema, I accept your challenge! Show me your strength!" His piece said, R. Ishum then charges directly at you, Dawnbringer going above and around your friends in order to bring its Inferno Blade down directly on your head. You maneuver away from his charge before retaliating with your Super Railguns and peppering Dawnbringer's frame with bullets, maiming and disabling its left hand in the process. His speed is superior to yours, but you have the advantage at range; more importantly, you have far more experience in actual combat. He's clearly spent the last thousand years sitting around on standby, while you've been fighting for your life across multiple dimensions; the end result is that his swings are telegraphed and his movements predictable. He's no rookie, but compared to an ace pilot of your caliber he just doesn't measure up. Unfortunately, a technological advantage can make up for many flaws, and in its current state the simulated GranVang just isn't up to the challenge. Even aside from the lack of power, this machine was always meant to be piloted by two, not one. As fast as your reactions are, they can't quite make up for the fact that you're doing twice as much work as you're used to without any additional processing power.
To make matters worse, R. Ishum apparently has a new trick up his sleeves; the next time Dawnbringer lights on fire, it stays on fire, even after you dodge his initial attack. However he's doing this, you can't get close without melting, nor can your bullets or Stun Shockers. The Positron Convergence Cannon remains a valid option, but that's about it; everything else is either too slow or reliant on solid ammunition that won't make it through the barrier of flames. The next few seconds are a desperate blur as you duck and dive to avoid Dawnbringer's flame barrier while blasting away with the Positron Cannon to the best of your ability. Fortunately, you're not alone, and Tsubasa's Blue Flash blasts one of Dawnbringer's wings, slowing it down and allowing you to get out of melee distance. You shout your thanks into the void as you level the Positron Cannon properly and fire.
You're immediately rewarded with the sound of the damaged wing exploding, but the time you spent lining up the shot costs you as R. Ishum closes the gap and nearly punches the cannon in half with a cry of "Plasma Knuckle!" The simulated GranVang's armor begins to bubble and buckle under the heat of the flame barrier; if you were human, you would be more than just uncomfortably warm right now.
"I'm disappointed, Nine!" R. Ishum promptly shouts over an open channel. "I told you to show me your determination, but your weapons are no match for the Last Light! Accept your defeat and I can make your death swift and painless; you have earned that much, at least!" So that's what he calls that barrier trick; regardless, you won't give in so easily.
"Like hell I will!" You snarl in reply. "Murasame Missile!" The missiles cook off almost instantly after launch, but in such close proximity the blast damages both the GranVang and the Dawnbringer equally; ordinarily not a trade you'd be willing to make, but under the circumstances it's ultimately to your advantage. You have a backup option, after all, and he doesn't. The missile launchers are now damaged beyond use, but you were able to cripple Dawnbringer's left arm and keep the hand from regenerating properly so you'll take that as a win.
"I didn't come all this way just to die!" You shout as you kick the Dawnbringer in the torso; GranVang's lower left leg is melted as a result, but it leaves a nice-looking dent in the cockpit armor to remember it by. "We'll beat you with or without the Getter Rays, because humanity doesn't need you anymore!" You follow up with a punch from your left arm, melting it into slag but splashing molten metal all over Dawnbringer's main cameras. "You can't build a future out of blind ignorance and fear; we won't allow it!" You then activate the Anti-Proton Smasher in the GranVang's torso; while it's too slow to actually hit Dawnbringer, it encourages R. Ishum to back up right into your discarded Super Railgun, the ammo promptly cooking off and physically pushing him back into the path of your blast. "Humanity has evolved past you, while you do nothing but wait and judge them from a place of ignorance and supposed superiority! I have my friends and my world to protect; you have nothing but pride and bloodstained dust! That's why your heart's not even in this fight! This is the power born from love!" Much of Dawnbringer's frontal armor is melted off now, the jagged black stretches marring the once-pristine silver frame.
"You dare call ME ignorant?!" R. Ishum screams as the flames of the Last Light lick at GranVang's remaining limbs. "You, who flirt with a power you can barely comprehend, much less control?!" The Inferno Blade promptly slices off the top of GranVang's head, but it'll take more than that to finish you. "If the Getter Rays are not stamped out here and now, there is no telling how much damage they could cause! For the sake of the entire universe, you must die!" From his perspective, it must look like he's about to get his wish; your friends are all too busy with swarms of drones to come to your aid, while the Lombardia would inevitably hit you as well should it fire into the melee your battle has become. Meanwhile, the GranVang is down both limbs on its left side, most of its weapons, and part of its head. While you've done more than your fair share of damage in return, it's clear that in the end your machine just couldn't keep up.
On the bright side, pun not intended, Dawnbringer's flames are flickering and fading; you can see clear gaps in its protective curtain. While you're no longer in the best position to properly take advantage of those gaps, they also mean that you now have additional options available to you. It's clear that the GranVang is on its last legs; all that remains is choosing what you want to do for its final action before you activate your Symphogear.
[] Switch to Final Buster Mode and use yourself as a projectile; it'll hurt, but it'll almost certainly get you well inside R. Ishum's guard. Plus there's no way he'll see such an insane stunt coming… right?
[] "Lombardia, fire on my machine!" If you use the GranVang itself as a bomb and punch out at the last second, the combined explosion of matter, antimatter, and Photon Power ought to put more than just a dent in Dawnbringer. Hopefully you can escape the blast radius in time…
[] Write-In; the crazier, the better!
Wait a minute, you're looking at this all wrong. There's no reason to not just go out in the simulated GranVang right now. If it works out, great, you saved the day with your giant robot. If it doesn't work, you can transform on the spot and wreak havoc from there in your Symphogear. With that in mind, you immediately activate what little power the simulator has left and eject yourself from the Lombardia into the waiting hatch of the GranVang. While it would be nice if you had Photon Power to back up your simulation, you don't regret building bonds with your friends and teammates with that time instead. Speaking of your friends and teammates, there they are now! You're not quite sure how they're breathing in space; Elfnein explained it away as 'something something phonic gain' and you're inclined to believe her. It's not like it's any stranger than Ange being able to open up her cockpit and breathe in space.
Owing to your comparatively short range limitation, you find yourself forced to take up the position of rearguard as your friends charge in ahead of you. Fortunately, the GranVang's guns are enough to make up the difference, with your Positron Convergence Cannon in particular clearing out a small swathe of enemies before they can flank Chris. She acknowledges your assistance with a nod before firing off a Giga Zeppelin into a crowd of three-winged drones.
Your other friends have not been idle; combination attacks seem to be the order of the day as the wielders of S.O.N.G. show what they can do to the drones that stand in their path. Kirika and Shirabe fly in two different directions before glowing a bright green and pink respectively and smashing the drones in between them in a fiery crash your senses automatically label POI Style: Gliding Pincer. Four of Miku's smaller mirrors form a ring around her before she fires off a Jade Ring beam that not only destroys many drones, but also propels Hibiki forward, the latter's elbow rockets only adding to her momentum as she crashes into and then through several of the penguin-shaped machines that once gave you so much trouble. Finally, Tsubasa and Maria are far less flashy, but no less effective as their blades carve enormous swathes through the enemy hordes. Maria's smaller blades fly in every direction to cover Tsubasa's flanks as her two massive blades devastate the enemies before her. Chunks of metal debris fly everywhere as drones are destroyed left, right, and center; it seems like you'll have your hands full with orbital cleanup once the fight is over.
You promptly banish the thought of what may come later; from the looks of things, you've all got a long battle ahead of you. At the back of the pack, as you have come to expect by now, you spot Dawnbringer, its pilot no doubt waiting for an ideal opportunity to take you out. Unfortunately for R. Ishum, your android senses are every bit as keen as his; if he wants to ambush you, he'll be waiting a long time indeed. Instead of circling around each other endlessly, you opt to call him out directly.
"R. Ishum! You said to show you my resolve; here I am! Humanity doesn't want you or need you any longer; face me and see just how far we've come!" You challenge R. Ishum and he responds in kind.
"Very well then! Inheritor of the Anathema, I accept your challenge! Show me your strength!" His piece said, R. Ishum then charges directly at you, Dawnbringer going above and around your friends in order to bring its Inferno Blade down directly on your head. You maneuver away from his charge before retaliating with your Super Railguns and peppering Dawnbringer's frame with bullets, maiming and disabling its left hand in the process. His speed is superior to yours, but you have the advantage at range; more importantly, you have far more experience in actual combat. He's clearly spent the last thousand years sitting around on standby, while you've been fighting for your life across multiple dimensions; the end result is that his swings are telegraphed and his movements predictable. He's no rookie, but compared to an ace pilot of your caliber he just doesn't measure up. Unfortunately, a technological advantage can make up for many flaws, and in its current state the simulated GranVang just isn't up to the challenge. Even aside from the lack of power, this machine was always meant to be piloted by two, not one. As fast as your reactions are, they can't quite make up for the fact that you're doing twice as much work as you're used to without any additional processing power.
To make matters worse, R. Ishum apparently has a new trick up his sleeves; the next time Dawnbringer lights on fire, it stays on fire, even after you dodge his initial attack. However he's doing this, you can't get close without melting, nor can your bullets or Stun Shockers. The Positron Convergence Cannon remains a valid option, but that's about it; everything else is either too slow or reliant on solid ammunition that won't make it through the barrier of flames. The next few seconds are a desperate blur as you duck and dive to avoid Dawnbringer's flame barrier while blasting away with the Positron Cannon to the best of your ability. Fortunately, you're not alone, and Tsubasa's Blue Flash blasts one of Dawnbringer's wings, slowing it down and allowing you to get out of melee distance. You shout your thanks into the void as you level the Positron Cannon properly and fire.
You're immediately rewarded with the sound of the damaged wing exploding, but the time you spent lining up the shot costs you as R. Ishum closes the gap and nearly punches the cannon in half with a cry of "Plasma Knuckle!" The simulated GranVang's armor begins to bubble and buckle under the heat of the flame barrier; if you were human, you would be more than just uncomfortably warm right now.
"I'm disappointed, Nine!" R. Ishum promptly shouts over an open channel. "I told you to show me your determination, but your weapons are no match for the Last Light! Accept your defeat and I can make your death swift and painless; you have earned that much, at least!" So that's what he calls that barrier trick; regardless, you won't give in so easily.
"Like hell I will!" You snarl in reply. "Murasame Missile!" The missiles cook off almost instantly after launch, but in such close proximity the blast damages both the GranVang and the Dawnbringer equally; ordinarily not a trade you'd be willing to make, but under the circumstances it's ultimately to your advantage. You have a backup option, after all, and he doesn't. The missile launchers are now damaged beyond use, but you were able to cripple Dawnbringer's left arm and keep the hand from regenerating properly so you'll take that as a win.
"I didn't come all this way just to die!" You shout as you kick the Dawnbringer in the torso; GranVang's lower left leg is melted as a result, but it leaves a nice-looking dent in the cockpit armor to remember it by. "We'll beat you with or without the Getter Rays, because humanity doesn't need you anymore!" You follow up with a punch from your left arm, melting it into slag but splashing molten metal all over Dawnbringer's main cameras. "You can't build a future out of blind ignorance and fear; we won't allow it!" You then activate the Anti-Proton Smasher in the GranVang's torso; while it's too slow to actually hit Dawnbringer, it encourages R. Ishum to back up right into your discarded Super Railgun, the ammo promptly cooking off and physically pushing him back into the path of your blast. "Humanity has evolved past you, while you do nothing but wait and judge them from a place of ignorance and supposed superiority! I have my friends and my world to protect; you have nothing but pride and bloodstained dust! That's why your heart's not even in this fight! This is the power born from love!" Much of Dawnbringer's frontal armor is melted off now, the jagged black stretches marring the once-pristine silver frame.
"You dare call ME ignorant?!" R. Ishum screams as the flames of the Last Light lick at GranVang's remaining limbs. "You, who flirt with a power you can barely comprehend, much less control?!" The Inferno Blade promptly slices off the top of GranVang's head, but it'll take more than that to finish you. "If the Getter Rays are not stamped out here and now, there is no telling how much damage they could cause! For the sake of the entire universe, you must die!" From his perspective, it must look like he's about to get his wish; your friends are all too busy with swarms of drones to come to your aid, while the Lombardia would inevitably hit you as well should it fire into the melee your battle has become. Meanwhile, the GranVang is down both limbs on its left side, most of its weapons, and part of its head. While you've done more than your fair share of damage in return, it's clear that in the end your machine just couldn't keep up.
On the bright side, pun not intended, Dawnbringer's flames are flickering and fading; you can see clear gaps in its protective curtain. While you're no longer in the best position to properly take advantage of those gaps, they also mean that you now have additional options available to you. It's clear that the GranVang is on its last legs; all that remains is choosing what you want to do for its final action before you activate your Symphogear.
[] Switch to Final Buster Mode and use yourself as a projectile; it'll hurt, but it'll almost certainly get you well inside R. Ishum's guard. Plus there's no way he'll see such an insane stunt coming… right?
[] "Lombardia, fire on my machine!" If you use the GranVang itself as a bomb and punch out at the last second, the combined explosion of matter, antimatter, and Photon Power ought to put more than just a dent in Dawnbringer. Hopefully you can escape the blast radius in time…
[] Write-In; the crazier, the better!
Z000
If this is trash, then find me in the dumpster
- Location
- Viet Nam
[X] Switch to Final Buster Mode and use yourself as a projectile; it'll hurt, but it'll almost certainly get you well inside R. Ishum's guard. Plus there's no way he'll see such an insane stunt coming… right?
ah yes, the move you can do because you the pilot is also a magical girl / a robot and thus can be fire out of a cannon as a projectile at the enemy
no one can see this coming, it a rare combo
ah yes, the move you can do because you the pilot is also a magical girl / a robot and thus can be fire out of a cannon as a projectile at the enemy
no one can see this coming, it a rare combo
[X] The GranVang is the epitome of power Chitose had once wished for, but you had once considered another design, one built on speed.
-[X] While you can't summon the whole VangNex nor replicate the amazing piloting feats your partner could pull, you are an Artificial Intelligence, and thus the only other kind of pilot, aside from a Newtype, to be able to use ALL THE BITS. Convert your nonfunctional armaments into funnels and teach your fellow synthetic the meaning of saturation fire.
-[X] While you can't summon the whole VangNex nor replicate the amazing piloting feats your partner could pull, you are an Artificial Intelligence, and thus the only other kind of pilot, aside from a Newtype, to be able to use ALL THE BITS. Convert your nonfunctional armaments into funnels and teach your fellow synthetic the meaning of saturation fire.
- Pronouns
- Mr
[X] The GranVang is the epitome of power Chitose had once wished for, but you had once considered another design, one built on speed.
-[X] While you can't summon the whole VangNex nor replicate the amazing piloting feats your partner could pull, you are an Artificial Intelligence, and thus the only other kind of pilot, aside from a Newtype, to be able to use ALL THE BITS. Convert your nonfunctional armaments into funnels and teach your fellow synthetic the meaning of saturation fire.
-[X] While you can't summon the whole VangNex nor replicate the amazing piloting feats your partner could pull, you are an Artificial Intelligence, and thus the only other kind of pilot, aside from a Newtype, to be able to use ALL THE BITS. Convert your nonfunctional armaments into funnels and teach your fellow synthetic the meaning of saturation fire.
Normally this is around the time that I would call the vote, but we currently have a tie. I'll leave it open for a couple hours to see if there's a tiebreaker, but if not I'll flip a coin and go from there.
ApocalypticFish
Been reflecting lately.
[X] The GranVang is the epitome of power Chitose had once wished for, but you had once considered another design, one built on speed.
-[X] While you can't summon the whole VangNex nor replicate the amazing piloting feats your partner could pull, you are an Artificial Intelligence, and thus the only other kind of pilot, aside from a Newtype, to be able to use ALL THE BITS. Convert your nonfunctional armaments into funnels and teach your fellow synthetic the meaning of saturation fire.
-[X] While you can't summon the whole VangNex nor replicate the amazing piloting feats your partner could pull, you are an Artificial Intelligence, and thus the only other kind of pilot, aside from a Newtype, to be able to use ALL THE BITS. Convert your nonfunctional armaments into funnels and teach your fellow synthetic the meaning of saturation fire.
Ok, vote locked in favor of funnel spam! Update to come sometime tomorrow.