CLOSED MAIN STORY The Evrensel Conflict: Prologue -- The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday -- UTOPIA (OLD)

[Wade Von Doom]

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie:

Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
-Wilfred Owen​

One minute, you're home. Perhaps you are doing something of great importance, like saving the world from a great evil, or stopping some super-villain from destroying it, or even catching a robber before they can escape justice. Or maybe you have finished your quest, finally finding peace from just a long journey and preparing to kick up your feet. Maybe you are on the verge of death, avenging the loss of a loved one to some vicious brute or sadist. Maybe you are beginning that journey that will forever change you. Whatever your tale is, or was, it will now become forever altered.

For in the next minute, the sound of thunder can be heard. The air around you suddenly feels strange, and your body is covered in static electricity. Your skin begins to tingle, while your feet no longer feel planted firmly against the ground, as though gravity is beginning to lighten. And before you can do anything to stop it, a flash of light blinds you. Any onlookers who saw what happened would see a bolt of lightning strike where you stood, leaving no trace of yourself besides burn marks against the ground.

You feel like you're falling through the air; so fast you can't even open your eyes without them stinging by both the g-force of your flight and blinding lights around you. Whatever you can see is faint, but you can just about notice the passing of stars, planets, supernovas, even black holes. Space is passing you by at the speed of light, but why is a mystery. Your center of gravity is completely gone, and all you can do is be thrown around by the incredible force that flings you across the galaxy.

All of reality blasts by you, and when it feels like your body is about to be ripped apart… darkness. You don't know what happened after. But you feel a sense of euphoria. Peace and comfort like you're asleep on a puffy cloud in the sky. Your mind becomes filled with happy dreams, or memories of better times. It's a calm and warmth you never thought possible. Unaware of where you actually are. Until,

'Wake up,'

a voice echoes around you. You feel it try to pull you from the dream. Free you from the euphoric trance you're stuck in.

'Wake up,'

it says again louder. It's a voice you don't recognize, but it's giving you clarity of the world around you.

'WAKE UP,'

it says one more time, shattering the dream and pulling your mind back to reality. From here, your journey begins.

---

​

Those awoken by the voice would find themselves strapped into machines as their hazy minds slowly returned to consciousness. Some were trapped inside large pods filled with bluish liquid, which felt as thick as jello to move around in, yet somehow could breath in the stuff like it was air. Others were locked into operating tables, either floating motionless in the air by thanks of anti-gravity, or locked into place by specific limbs with large mechanical arms waiting to cut into their skin like they were cattle in a slaughter house. All of them were stripped down to just underwear, with no sign of who was speaking to them, or where all their things were.

DOUGLAS RAMSEY -- CYPHER
Played by @Gawwyt

The mutant omnilinguist, upon being awoken by the voice, would find himself face down on an operating table of some kind. His head, arms and feet were locked in place, yet he felt a strange numbness across his entire back and neck like he was injected with anesthetic. He would feel more hazy upon waking up than the others, as whatever drug was inside his body hadn't worn off yet. More worryingly, there were mechanical operating arms moving around him like they were scanning where to begin their insertion of tools into his skin. But, someone was looing out for him, as he would feel his restrains unlock around his entire body. He was free to move before they could cut him up.

OLIVER
Played by @BazusoTheGrey

The Fifth Grade Fixer was in a similar situation as Ramsey. Except for him, he was facing upwards to the ceiling on his operating table, and could see exactly the mechanical operating arms were analzying his cybernetic body to pull apart and dismantle to study him further. Like Ramsey, his restraints were unlocked too before they could start pulling out his screws.

DAVID CADDEL -- CHICAGO
Played by @PolyesterH

The heister awoke in one of the pods, floating in the bluish goo with several needles attached to tubes stuck in his skin across his legs, arms, chest and neck. With the voice awakening him, his pod would slowly moved down to the floor and begin draining all the fluids inside; the latch opening once completely empty. While the fluid wouldn't drown him, as it somehow felt like breathing air while stuck inside the pod, he would unfortunately start vomiting up the stuff once he could actually breath air again.

EDWARD ELRIC
Played by @Raffia Kiryuin

Ed would find himself trapped inside a rotating gyro device, with his head held in place by a body brace. Needles were poking out of his human arm and leg, but whoever kidnapped him was more interested in his automail limbs. Small mechanical arms were trying to dismantle them carefully, starting at were his arm and leg met his actual humab body to detatch them safely. Ed would wake up before the arms could do that, but they were already starting to undo several screws. There was also no sign of Al. He could see the others as they began to be freed from their confines, but whether his brother was taken or not remained a mystery. The latches connecting him to the gyro was opened, allowing him to break free before the arms could mess with his automail further.

NATANAEL HERRERA
Played by @Valkan

The young priest was also trapped inside a gyro like Edward, but his perdicament was different. Two machines that looked like giant speakers were in front and behind him. They glowed a soft yellow color against his skin, and he could feel they were doing something to him. His strength and spiritual power felt weakened, like his soul was trying to be pushed out of his body. The machines were syphoning his energy, leaving him unable to channel his flow. Yet, like Ed, his hands and legs were freed so he could make his escape.

XIVESTIAL LAHN
Played by @LenxKaitoYaoi

Like with David, Ziv would find himself awoken inside a pod, along with needles stuck into his skin. His pod would be opened next to David.

SEVESTRE ALBRIGHT
Played by @Otomos

Like Nat, Sevestre had machine arms with large speakers both front of and behind his body, syphoning his magical capabilities away with a yellow glow that encapsulated his body. Yet, once more, his body was freed to escape.

HAO ZHAN
Played by @GensokyoDreams

Yet again, Hao was stuck inside a gyro with his spirutal energy being syphoned away. He was stuck between Nat and Sev, yet unlike those two, he was the first be to noticed by whatever controlled these machines. The speakers behind and in front of his body increased their power to keep him trapped and weakened, while two more lowered down with needles to stick into his body. Anesthetic to put him back to sleep before he could escape.​

 

[Gawwyt]

DOUGLAS RAMSEY -- CYPHER
Played by @Gawwyt

The mutant omnilinguist, upon being awoken by the voice, would find himself face down on an operating table of some kind. His head, arms and feet were locked in place, yet he felt a strange numbness across his entire back and neck like he was injected with anesthetic. He would feel more hazy upon waking up than the others, as whatever drug was inside his body hadn't worn off yet. More worryingly, there were mechanical operating arms moving around him like they were scanning where to begin their insertion of tools into his skin. But, someone was looking out for him, as he would feel his restrains unlock around his entire body. He was free to move before they could cut him up.

​

"Wake me up inside...." Cypher groggily mutters as he slowly regains consciousness.

"Hup-" *Thud*

He clumsy rolls himself off the operating table landing awkwardly on the floor with a thud.

"Ooooooowww... Wh-whos there?" He groans from the floor. He just lays there for a moment willing himself back awake and listening to the machines around them, trying to de-crypt their communications protocol.

@Wade Von Doom

 

[PolyesterH]

Just a moment ago, he had his old job back. Well, not just that. The FBI had done its job, ousted the corrupt police force, and called him in thanks to his seniority. He was made the Chief of Police alongside his compatriots who became his most trusted Assistants. Together, they pushed a new wave of hiring and a crackdown on crime that finally made the city safe again. The gangs, the cartels, all in prison. The problem was that things were going a little too well, something that only occurred to him when the voice spoke the first time. They were just bringing in four heisters of the Payday gang. Seconds away from unmasking them, he dared to ask if this was even possible. How does a department go from losing almost everyone to catching the best criminals in the world in less than a year? The second command solidified this skepticism. Something was wrong, dreadfully wrong. This isn't a trick they'd do, too many variables. He shuddered to think of what was really going on, one that the third command fully clarified. It is here that he saw the full scene, and he had remembered what really happened. Or, at least that he was walking home after his endeavors seemingly ended in failure and the unexplainable happened.

The moment the fluid drained, David started expelling the fluid from his lungs. It takes several heaves of effort to do so, himself kept mostly standing only by virtue of the tubes attached to them. He felt drained, emotionally and physically. The lack of breath did him no favors. Still, the cardio he had done over the months payed wonders. He could function while out of breath like this, if barely. Feeling the tubes connected to his body, he reached for them half blinded by the goo that once provided him oxygen. If he had his way, he'd get a grip and force them off. After all, he had to get out of here now. The fact he was captured was beyond bad news. It would only get worse when his captors found out he was awake.

 

[BazusoTheGrey]

OLIVER
Played by @BazusoTheGrey

The Fifth Grade Fixer was in a similar situation as Ramsey. Except for him, he was facing upwards to the ceiling on his operating table, and could see exactly the mechanical operating arms were analzying his cybernetic body to pull apart and dismantle to study him further. Like Ramsey, his restraints were unlocked too before they could start pulling out his screws.

Fifth Grade Fixer, Oliver

Oliver startled awake, or at least his mind did, his sensors were still offline from whatever the hell that was.
That warmth... it felt... different from the White Days and Black Nights. Really, really didn't like it though. Didn't feel right.
COCK FUCK SHIT DANGER WHERE ARE WE BRING US BACK INTO THE FIGHT KILLING BOOKS FUCK SHIT DAMNIT
Calm yourself. We have just awoken. In only a few short seconds our sensors should come online, as they typically do when we sleep.
Just as he thought this, his sensors began to come online, his vision first meeting static before beginning to clear.
See? Now, what have we... oh.
For a second, Oliver looks at the arms above him in bemusement.
MOVE NOW
Abruptly, he rolls off the operating table, landing on his arms and knees before pushing himself up with force. Glancing around widely, he takes stock of his situation.
FUCK SHIT FUCK THE BOOKS WERE A LIE IT WAS ALWAYS ANOTHER ORGAN HARVESTING OPERATION FUCK FUCK FUCK GOTTA RUN GOTTA RUN GOTTA RUN
Chill, chill. Wherever we are, for some reason, has like zero security if we could just roll off the table like that. We got a good minute or two at least, we should wake up these other guys, wouldn't be right to leave them in this situation.
Aside from that, it would be immensely beneficial to our chances of survival. Look there. Let's start our efforts with that man. He looks somewhat competent and he is the closest to us.
Suddenly, Oliver looks toward a man who had just exited one of the vats. Rushing up to him, he pats his back to help him expel the rest of the fluid before asking in a hurried tone, "Hey, hey. Name, Office, and Grade? I wouldn't be askin' usually but, uhhh." He looks around again before continuing, "Shit's lookin' kinda dire if we're in a place as equipped as this one. We probably should team up."

 

[GensokyoDreams]

HAO ZHAN
Played by @GensokyoDreams

Yet again, Hao was stuck inside a gyro with his spirutal energy being syphoned away. He was stuck between Nat and Sev, yet unlike those two, he was the first be to noticed by whatever controlled these machines. The speakers behind and in front of his body increased their power to keep him trapped and weakened, while two more lowered down with needles to stick into his body. Anesthetic to put him back to sleep before he could escape.​

With a gasp of air, Hao Zhan awakens, his eyes snapping open, as he tries to understand how he ended up in this state.

Where… where did I go? And what happened?

His first act was to try and recall anything that could be related to his current situation. He could clearly remember the past, and his recent moments in wakefulness were still clear to him. But he notice an eerie gap in his memories. Not even a fog of vague facts. Just… emptiness.

For my consciousness to be cut so cleanly… this has to be the work of a Soul Master with superior ability to manipulate one's memories… at the very least.

His mental assessment done, his attention turned to his surroundings. And it was not a welcome sight. To find himself in some sort of strange prison, along with other captives that he couldn't exactly see clearly from the distance between them, or what other visual obstructions lie between them.

And that's not getting into the fact that he was bound in all four limbs, spread-eagled in a spherical prison made of gyrating rings. And what's more, the strange implements above him, that were emitting that baneful yellow light, were affecting him in some way.

He felt like he was sapped of strength, his entire body being stripped of Spirit Power, as he couldn't even summon his Tool Spirit, let alone use any of its abilities.

Seems that whoever imprisoned me here was well aware of the capabilities of a Soul Master… But why bind me in such an odd contraption? I never heard or known about such devices before.

After making his assessments done, he attempted to see if he was able to shift his restraints, clenching his hands and shifting his arms' weight around. Only to find no purchase but rustling and creaking metal. What's more, his strength was weaker than it would have been.

He then noticed the tube-like implements on his arm, which had speckles and stains of a fluid-like substance that flowed through them into his own bloodstream. With some pondering, he deduced as the most likely cause for his heavy case of weakness and lethargy.

Great… I'm out of options. I better hope that there will be something to explain this soon….

 

[LenxKaitoYaoi]

Everything was going well, actually. It was storming, but it wasn't severe. Ziv was outside trying to help his parents take care of the farm during a return trip home. He was fairly relaxed if anything, even though he really didn't like farm work. So when the air shifted, even his parents felt uneasy. Ziv felt the tingling, and his initial fear was that his sword on him was going to attract lightning. But that wasn't the only thing wrong. As a swordsman that spent a lot of time turning his footwork into second nature movement, the odd feeling that the ground was no longer under him was more than concerning.

He warned his fathers to get away from him at the least, taking his blade and ready to toss it away just to be safe. But he wasn't fast enough, and just as he got a hold of it he was blinded, hearing the barest of yells from his parents as he lost his sight. What happened after was something he could only describe as vomit inducing until it went black.

Then the dreams started, a dream that was too good to be true. He didn't like farm work, but with his sister home again it was something he was willing to do. It was nice though, until an unknown voice spoke. He didn't really pay it much mind, until it came again. A fear registered in him that it might all be a dream, but he tried to fight it. And then it called again and he was jolted out of it.

His eyes opened and he took in the sights around him. Now this felt more like a dream than what he had just been. As the fluid drained and he could take in the air again he choked on what had been in his lungs, coughing it up rather violently. The sense of panic was there, no doubt, but he needed to keep calm. This situation was… confounding. He wasn't able to concentrate on his magic, but he could see and hear others around.

Once he had some of his bearings he reached for the needles. Dare he pull them out? There was a chance he could hurt himself if he did it wrong. He had to though, staying like this was likely a larger risk. He went about it carefully though so as not to make things worse. It admittedly hurt to do. He glanced to David, since he was the closest to him right now, as he carefully worked on the needle in his neck. "Where- hss -are we?" It was obvious he was in pain but he was less concerned about that as he was whatever was going on.

 

[Valkan]

Natanael Herrera

It was a fresh, yet sunny, afternoon in Bogotá. Nat was calmly sipping on his cup of freshly brewed coffee, as he was reviewing his notes for the mission he had just completed. Simple enough, a small zombie outbreak caused by a crazed practitioner of black magic. That term irked him to a small degree. It was as if there were good mages out there. As if all magic wasn't rooted in heretical beliefs. Then again, some would say his own skillset was basically another flavor of magic. As he cycled and ruminated on these thoughts as he continued to drink his coffee.

The Venator was immediately aware of the signs that a lightning was about to strike nearby. He looked up, but the multi-colored sky was clear. He didn't get the chance to wonder what was going on here exactly, as a bright light covered his entire vision. From there it just got even more confusing by the second. After a quick trip through the stars, it all went dark.

His mind then drifted in a black void, still baffled by the last few minutes of his life. Could have been seconds, could have been hours. Regardless, he was here now, in what if his faith wasn't strong enough, could have passed as Limbo. As he questioned what exactly was the meaning of this a voice started to drag him back to reality. Somehow, he tried following that voice in the darkness. Time passed, and the voice got clearer with every call.

Once the voice called for the third time, Natanael's body jolted awake, gasping for air as if waking from a grim nightmare. He was quick to notice how abnormally tired he was. He was quick to notice the reason. Machines were somehow draining his life force. Conveniently enough, the priest didn't have to fight to be released, someone had already done it for him. The priest hopped off and away from the influence of the soul-draining machines. Taking a look around, it appeared as he wasn't alone in this foreign environment. Much like him, other people were fighting to be released from other kinds of machines. And again, much like him, they were all in their undergarments.

Nat focused in who was the closest to him. A young man trapped in a similar contraption to the one draining him. The priest took a deep breath and got to action. Focusing his drained pool of energy in his body to turn it into strength, and dismantled the energy drainers, as well as the incoming needles by striking in their weakest spots.

Once all threats menacing the fellow young man were gone, Nat focused on releasing him from its containment. As he did, he calmly spoke "Are you alright, young man?"

 

[PolyesterH]

"David Caddel,, I don't work in an office and I don't have a grade, I'm a cop." David, politely, had no idea what this robotic guy was talking about. And frankly their metallic body was kind of gross. Everything considered, some of the people among him obviously weren't human, let alone Americans. With in mind, in hindsight, perhaps there were way better ways of explaining who he was. Speaking of things to keep in mind, where were his guns? However, for the moment, he needed to address the weird robotic, or maybe cyborg, guy in front of him. His tone goes from confused to cordial like an acquaintance, "But frankly I would like to group up with you, that seems smart."

 

[Otomos]

Sevestre​

When Sevestre woke up, the first thing he felt was annoyance towards the voice that shouted in his mind just a moment ago. When he realized he was not where he was supposed to be, fatigue and weakness hit him like a stampede of angry aurochs. When he finally got onto his feet, he was immediately beset with the urge to puke, which he had to actively fight against. Looking at what he was just on, he was able to deduce that the contraption had been siphoning aether from him, which could only mean that this entire horrible bunch of detrimental feelings was a form of aether sickness.

In his thoughts, Sevestre recited a slew of profanities a person of his standing should not say.

Looking around, he finally noticed there were others that had been freed. By the look of it, none of them were familiar to him. He simply watched on, fighting the aether sickness as the others recovered and assessed the situation. One even managed to free someone that was still locked into an active contraption.

As the aether sickness finally subsided, Sevestre would realize that his equipment had been taken. That feeling of weakness stayed as well. This was concerning, but could be addressed later. For now, he had to address one of the many problems that everyone in that room currently had.

"Does anyone know where we are?"

 

[Raffia Kiryuin]

Edward Elric

Edward was about to open the window of the hotel he and Alphonse were temporarily staying in. The "truth behind the truth" weighed heavily on his mind as the brisk night air hit his face. It was a quiet night, perfect for their covert exploration mission. Just as Alphonse passed him a rope made of bedsheets, Edward's stumps began to throb painfully, and his hair stood on end. His alchemist instincts screamed at him: lightning was about to strike. He dove away from the window.

The lightning bolt ignored his frantic evasion, punching through two floors above and striking exactly where he landed. The two officers stationed outside, tasked with guarding the brothers, rushed into the room to find a pile of rubble and the charred remains of the furniture. They had no idea what had happened, but they knew their necks were on the line.

In the world between worlds, Edward experienced a familiar sensation, reminiscent of falling through the Gate of Truth. The universe whizzed past him, but instead of filling his mind with incomprehensible knowledge, he saw stars, planets, and galaxies streak by in a blur, ending in deep blackness.

"WAKE UP!"

A shout startled him awake. His eyes darted around, trying to make sense of his surroundings. "Al!" he called instinctively, seeking his armored younger brother, but there was no response. The swirling world around him made him nauseous, and he fought back the urge to vomit.

A whirring noise near his right shoulder caught his attention. He turned to see something attempting to dismantle his automail. The image of an angry Winry sprang to mind, blaming him for his lack of care toward his steel limbs. Summoning his strength, he tore his steel arm free from the latches holding it down and pulled the pins and needles out of his left arm. Clapping his hands together, he touched the contraption trapping him. The device transformed into a pile of twisted steel as arcs of power shot up, signifying an alchemical transmutation.

Free from the torturous device, Edward staggered to his feet. He saw others, unfamiliar faces, being released from similar predicaments. Luckily, his automail was undamaged, but several screws and bolts were missing, leaving the outer panels loose. He didn't need to be an automail mechanic to know this was bad. He also realized he was naked, like everyone else around him. Another clap of his hands led to another transmutation, turning parts of the scrap pile into a screwdriver and bolts. Cable sheathing and rubber became clothing, which he put on as soon as the blue arcs of energy ceased.

Edward observed the others, all trying to figure out where they were. While keeping an eye on his surroundings, he tightened the bolts on his automail, replacing the missing ones with what he hoped were the right pieces. He had seen Winry work on his automail enough times to have a rough idea of which screws and bolts she used for the exterior panels. As he worked, his analytical mind raced, trying to piece together the mystery of this new, disorienting world.

 

[BazusoTheGrey]

"David Caddel,, I don't work in an office and I don't have a grade, I'm a cop." David, politely, had no idea what this robotic guy was talking about. And frankly their metallic body was kind of gross. Everything considered, some of the people among him obviously weren't human, let alone Americans. With in mind, in hindsight, perhaps there were way better ways of explaining who he was. Speaking of things to keep in mind, where were his guns? However, for the moment, he needed to address the weird robotic, or maybe cyborg, guy in front of him. His tone goes from confused to cordial like an acquaintance, "But frankly I would like to group up with you, that seems smart."

Fifth Grade Fixer, Oliver

Oliver nods, "Yeah, it definitely is, considering the situation."
'I don't work in an office' he says... odd, considering that the man has the bearing of a Fixer.
Cop - Police - Policework, this guy's a Zwei-guy. Or Zwei-equivalent, whatever... I think he's trustworthy. Maybe he's a part of one those vigilante syndicates, or some typa neighborhood watch thing?
Mayhaps. We can come back to this thought later, we should focus on supporting the others.
Oh yeah, don't forget to introduce yourself!
After an uncomfortable few seconds of staring straight at David, Oliver shakes his head and refocuses himself, "Oh yeah, sorry," he thumps his chest plate, "Oliver, Fifth Grade Fixer of Downpour Office. I'll see if the other guys around here are cooperative. You can do whatever, just holler if anything's about to gut our asses."

"Where- hss -are we?" It was obvious he was in pain but he was less concerned about that as he was whatever was going on.

Oliver quickly glanced at the guy he apparently looked over. Oops.
Bravo, truly excellent. How did we miss this one?
Don't look at me, that's Red's job.
MORE FUCKING RATS IN THIS CESSPIT ENOUGH TO MAKE ANOTHER PACK
What?
I think that means he's friendly? Friendly enough to not be a danger? Whatever roll with it.
Oliver shrugs to himself before helping the guy out of the pod (@LenxKaitoYaoi), "Asking the wrong person, bud. Definitely in... actually, I dunno. I was in The Library earlier and I'm pretty sure I got cut in half and turned into a book..." He pauses for a second before continuing, "Whatever, anyway, listen, me and David here are grouping up, at least until we get outta this place. If you wanna come with, you're welcome to join." His piece said, he notices movement behind the new guy, seeing a white-haired man and...
That kid just lightning bolted metal into a Wing-damned screwdriver, what the fuck.
Perhaps we should volunteer these two fellows to interact with him in our stead?
HE HAS POWER OVER YOU AND YOUR VERY BEING YET YOU FEEL NOTHING FROM HIM. THE REASON IS SIMPLE. THIS ONE IS UNTOUCHED BY THE LANGUAGE OF THE CITY, WALKING A PATH THAT YOU COULD NEVER CONCEPTUALIZE, LET ALONE TRAVEL.
Wow... That was actually coherent? Ok, damn. I guess he's fine if Red's acting like THIS.
I... disagree. Despite the oddity, we still cannot verify his cooperability without approaching him. If we MUST approach him, then we should at least bring others with us.
BE BRANDED A PUSSY NOW AND FOREVER SHITBAG
Haaaaaaaaaaah...
Nodding slowly at what he just saw, Oliver looks back at the new guy. He must've been staring at the other two for an uncomfortable length of time cause the guy looked unamused.
You really gotta figure out how to talk and think at the same time, man.
"Anyway, yeah. Offer stands, but you can do whatever, just don't fuck us over." Walking past, he raises the volume on his speakers and 'yells' at the other two while approaching them (@Otomos & @Raffia Kiryuin), "Hey! You guys friendly?"

 

[GensokyoDreams]

Natanael Herrera

It was a fresh, yet sunny, afternoon in Bogotá. Nat was calmly sipping on his cup of freshly brewed coffee, as he was reviewing his notes for the mission he had just completed. Simple enough, a small zombie outbreak caused by a crazed practitioner of black magic. That term irked him to a small degree. It was as if there were good mages out there. As if all magic wasn't rooted in heretical beliefs. Then again, some would say his own skillset was basically another flavor of magic. As he cycled and ruminated on these thoughts as he continued to drink his coffee.

The Venator was immediately aware of the signs that a lightning was about to strike nearby. He looked up, but the multi-colored sky was clear. He didn't get the chance to wonder what was going on here exactly, as a bright light covered his entire vision. From there it just got even more confusing by the second. After a quick trip through the stars, it all went dark.

His mind then drifted in a black void, still baffled by the last few minutes of his life. Could have been seconds, could have been hours. Regardless, he was here now, in what if his faith wasn't strong enough, could have passed as Limbo. As he questioned what exactly was the meaning of this a voice started to drag him back to reality. Somehow, he tried following that voice in the darkness. Time passed, and the voice got clearer with every call.

Once the voice called for the third time, Natanael's body jolted awake, gasping for air as if waking from a grim nightmare. He was quick to notice how abnormally tired he was. He was quick to notice the reason. Machines were somehow draining his life force. Conveniently enough, the priest didn't have to fight to be released, someone had already done it for him. The priest hopped off and away from the influence of the soul-draining machines. Taking a look around, it appeared as he wasn't alone in this foreign environment. Much like him, other people were fighting to be released from other kinds of machines. And again, much like him, they were all in their undergarments.

Nat focused in who was the closest to him. A young man trapped in a similar contraption to the one draining him. The priest took a deep breath and got to action. Focusing his drained pool of energy in his body to turn it into strength, and dismantled the energy drainers, as well as the incoming needles by striking in their weakest spots.

Once all threats menacing the fellow young man were gone, Nat focused on releasing him from its containment. As he did, he calmly spoke "Are you alright, young man?"

As Hao Zhan felt himself being released from the baneful repression that had been forced upon him, as well as his body finally being able to start recovering from the effects of whatever sedative or poison, or whatever that fluid flooding through his blood was. In fact, just being freed from the needles was enough for him to recover a wisp of his strength.

Wait... a wisp of his strength?

Hao Zhan immediately tried shifting his bindings once more. While he was actually experiencing success, as the metal creaked from the effort he was exerting on it, with a firm groan... It was not the kind of weakness that he was used to.

...Damn, of all of the things I am left with. Just great, I'm a lot weaker than I should be. And with how things are, that's going to be a detriment.

Hao Zhan took a moment to get his bearings together once more, as he made sure to acknowledge whoever his helper was, although he did not give a response... Not yet, that is.

He then wriggled his wrists for a moment, before then flexing it back and forth to gain momentum on his limbs, before he then coalsced it into a great forceful tug that actually caused the joints of the metal bindings to come apart with a harsh whining sound, freeing his arms.

...I take it back, there's just enough strength in me to compare to the rest. At least I won't be a burden like this.

He then bent himself forward, before he then began to use his fingers to find any structural weaknesses on the bindings over his legs, teasing every single possible joint, until he found somewhere thin and brittle enough, as there were two more tugs, as he freed himself fairly easily, although it took a lot out of him for the time being.

Finally regaining the freedom to move at his leisure, Hao Zhan stretched his limbs out, trying to work out any kinks in his limbs. He can't affort to be anything but his best shape in unknown, possibly hostile, territory like this.

And after being so quiet for so long... it's time to address the man in the room.

"I would like to foremost apologize for the silence. You might think myself a barely sentinent brute with how I just acted." Hao Zhan told the man with an even tone, keeping his tone gentle to avoid giving him any misconceptions. "I just needed time to get my senses together... and free myself. In regards to that, you have my gratitude. I do not know how weak I would become if this treatment of mine were to continue..."

Hao Zhan looked around the room, noting the various conversations and events that were occuring around, as he found it fairly tranquil... a rarity that he would treasure well before the calm ends for whatever threat is coming their way.

"If I were to take a guess from how you all reacted... none of you have any clue on why we are all gathered here as captives?" Hao Zhan continued. "...I have a odd feeling that this is a threat that none of us have any knowledge of, otherwise one of us would have clued in on the matter... but let's not agonize over that matter."

Hao Zhan faced the man, which he assumed to be some sort of religious priest.

"I do not know what kind of power you wield to free me easily, but I would like to know you, if we are to work together." Hao Zhan declared, before he clasped both hands together in a greeting motion, and a slight bow in respect. "My name is Hao Zhan, Level 37 Spirit Elder. Right now, I do have a Tool Spirit... but unfortunately, I can't seem to call it at the time being, due to the lingering effects of whatever had restrained my power. But worry not, I still have Spirit Power to rely upon, so if the term exists... I can act as a secondary warrior if combat ensues."

 

[Wade Von Doom]

~~GM~~

The groups freedom was soon interrupted while they talked amongst each other. The machines that held them in their prisons were momentarily disabled, but they were quick to fix themselves and turn back on. The cameras that watched over them could see they were all free.

'SUBJECTS HAVE ESCAPED CONFINEMENTS. LOCKDOWN COMMENCING.'​

The room was then blasted with deafening white noise. It was a high pitched squeal that drilled into their ears, making it impossible to hear each other further. Second later, several small pannels about three inches wide opened up along the walls. Out poured a dense white gas, which spread across the room in seconds and turned the air unbreathable. Their lungs would feel like they were burning each time they inhaled, and their eyes stung like needles were being inserted into them slowly.

'APPREHEND SUBJECTS IMMEDIATELY'​

Within the gas, inhuman figures started to appear, quickly surrounding everyone one by one. They were about Edward's size, five foot even, and crawled along tyhe floor with incredible speed. Their squid-like arms tried wrapping themselves around their limbs with enough strength to hold them in place; extending their arms and legs out fully so they could cover their eyes, mouths or ears, and not run away while they still had a chance.

​

 

[Gawwyt]

~~GM~~

The groups freedom was soon interrupted while they talked amongst each other. The machines that held them in their prisons were momentarily disabled, but they were quick to fix themselves and turn back on. The cameras that watched over them could see they were all free.

'SUBJECTS HAVE ESCAPED CONFINEMENTS. LOCKDOWN COMMENCING.'​

The room was then blasted with deafening white noise. It was a high pitched squeal that drilled into their ears, making it impossible to hear each other further. Second later, several small pannels about three inches wide opened up along the walls. Out poured a dense white gas, which spread across the room in seconds and turned the air unbreathable. Their lungs would feel like they were burning each time they inhaled, and their eyes stung like needles were being inserted into them slowly.

Cypher hadn't been paying much attention to the other people. Opting instead do listen to the electronics in the room that were communicating on electromagnetic frequency's unheard by most. He did not like what they were saying. He was about to start interrogating the systems when the siren started.

Cypher clamps his hands over his head in an attempt to block out the painful shrieks. Once the gas starts piping into the room he uses his last breath before it reaches him to shout. Making a panicked effort to turn on the ventilation system by screaming out a binary command to the room as loudly as he can, hoping that it doesn't get drowned out by the siren.


"01010110 01100101 01101110 01110100 01110011 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01101101 01100001 01111000 01101001 01101101 01110101 01101101"!

He then attempts to dodge the incoming robots as best he can. If the gas has been vented it should be significantly easier to do so as he can read their body language to dodge, if not then he fares little chance.

 

[BazusoTheGrey]

Fifth Grade Fixer, Oliver

Literally seconds after asking the other two confinees whether they were friendly or not, Oliver is interrupted by what must've been the world's most annoying defense system. Still, years of working as a Fixer helps one to focus on more important things in these types of situations, so Oliver only flinched momentarily before refocusing himself.
THE MINUTES HAVE PASSED THE DOGS HAVE RETURNED READY TO FEAST
Yes, it would seem that our time has run out. Without our equipment, I would dare say that we are fucked. Unless...
What about the others? Having the other bodies could help us in a fight.
As if on cue, some sort of gas (If It is a part of the defense mechanism, it is likely paralytic or poisonous in nature) also began filling the room.
Well. That'll probably fuck up the other guys, huh?
Indeed. However, we still have our augmentations, including Ronin Workshop's suite, perhaps we can-
NO THOUGHTS NO DELIBERATION ONLY THE EXECUTION
Oliver explodes into action. To an outside observer, he seemingly vanishes. From his eyes however?
FIVE SECONDS
The world practically freezes around him, rolling slower than molasses. Within the first second he reaches white hair and the kid. In the second? They're already at a nearby door, the farthest spot from the smoke.
Be aware, slots on the wall have opened alongside the gas. Extra security measures, most likely.
We can handle them, get our first two boys out of the fire first. Just another day in the office.
Another two seconds pass, with another two assisted. David and naive guy are placed with the other two he placed there earlier before he's moving once again, this time toward the open holes where the extra security has already began to pop out of. With his last second of time, he sprints toward the one farthest from the rest of the group, blonde guy (@Gawwyt), who was already being swarmed by squids. Bracing himself, Oliver threw a punch...
The Zwei, Your Shield, has FUCKING ARRIVED
The next thing that the blonde would see is Oliver, his fist blasting through the head of one of the squids before swiftly bundling and grabbing its legs to use its corpse as an improvised flail. Striking with wide swings, Oliver fights defensively, deterring approaching squids and bashing open those that got too close to him and his impromptu client. Increasing his volume as loud as he could, he belts out, "FALL BACK, GET TO THE DOOR OVER THERE!" while making a fighting retreat back toward the others.
Fifteen seconds before the next cycle.
BREAK EM MASH EM CRUSH EM SHATTER EM
Just hold on, we've been through worse.

 

[Gawwyt]

Fifth Grade Fixer, Oliver


The next thing that the blonde would see is Oliver, his fist blasting through the head of one of the squids before swiftly bundling and grabbing its legs to use its corpse as an impromptu flail. Striking with wide swings, Oliver fights defensively, deterring approaching squids and bashing open those that got too close to him and his impromptu client. Increasing his volume as loud as he could, he belts out, "FALL BACK, GET TO THE DOOR OVER THERE!" while making a fighting retreat back toward the others.

Cypher wastes no time as he falls back to the indicated door.

"THANK YOOOOOOUUUUUU!" over his shoulder at his rescuer as he flee's, retreating back along the wake of destruction left by the strange robotic man.

Arriving with the other four he flashes a pained smile in greeting, hands still clamped over his ears to defend against the klaxon. Then he kneels and starts attempting to verbally hack the door.

"01001111 01010000 01000101 01001110" He shouts at the door.

 

[Valkan]

Natanael Herrera

Nat observed as the man he helped out fully came to. He sensed he was similarly drained as he was, which did not come as a big surprised, they were trapped in a similar fashion after all. The man then got rid of the bindings of his that remained locked. A man of plentiful strength, Nat thought. Once free, the burly young man finally spoke. Nat showed a faint smile at his first few statements, "Worry not, young man. It would seem like the rest of us, myself included, are as clueless of why or how have we been brought to this place. Much like you just pointed out. Agonizing, panicking, and such other reactions, are something we are better off without. And I would like to add, that I appreciate your gratitude. Many forget such details on unknown environments."

The young man, soon to be recognized as Hao, made a point to acquaint to each other, should they work together. Nat wasn't all that keen on working on each other in that regard, when they are still treading on uncharted waters. That said, he seemed to be treating with a polite person who didn't seem prone to panic. Perhaps taking this time, before being noticed to work more cohesively from there on, wasn't that bad of an idea. Nat did notice that the wording of Hao about himself was quite foreign to him, so while it did sound a tad off for his liking, he opted to give him the benefit of the doubt. That, and the fact that infighting would do more harm than good.

Nat nodded back as a sign of acknowledgement, then his mild smile appeared again "Nice to meet you, Hao. I am Natanael Herrera. Let us hope we don't have to resort to fighting, given our current predicament."

As if on cue, a loud alarm blared all over the room, along with a gas that resembled tear gas in looks and effects. Nat took a moment to strengthen his will. Closing his eyes. Diverting the flow of his energy. Sharply focusing to reject the pain. And as suddenly as he entered his deep meditation state, he left it. Opening his eyes for the pain to come back to him, without allowing him to be hindered much by it. He was welcomed back by some mechanical creatures pouring out the walls. Noticing the rest of the group heading for the exit, Nat put a hand on Hao's shoulder and pointing to the exit door. As Nat himself made his way to the exit, he skillfully punched and kicked the creatures away from him, were they to attempt to get within his range. Otherwise, he'd maneuver around them. Nat wasn't about to spend all his energy on the first roadblock that presented itself. Even more so not knowing how many more were ahead of him.

 

[PolyesterH]

The moment the smoke had started spraying, David had already taken a deep breath. Before he could steady himself and make a run for the door, he found himself grabbed and set down, now oddly enough already there. He whipped himself around, trying to get a good look across the room. Unfortunately, it was simply too thick for him to make anything out through the smoke. Frankly in the current situation, he felt less than useless. His status was only confirmed as a robot came up to him and the other four swiftly. A weighty kick clunked on the metal, failing to accomplish much but stopping the charging bot in its tracks. Scrambling backwards, he's barely able to avoid getting bound captive. He takes a bladed boxers stance, struggling through the pain of the smoke.

 

[GensokyoDreams]

"Worry not, young man. It would seem like the rest of us, myself included, are as clueless of why or how have we been brought to this place. Much like you just pointed out. Agonizing, panicking, and such other reactions, are something we are better off without. And I would like to add, that I appreciate your gratitude. Many forget such details on unknown environments."

"Nice to meet you, Hao. I am Natanael Herrera. Let us hope we don't have to resort to fighting, given our current predicament."

"I see..." Hao Zhan answered back, as he considered the words momentarily with a pensive expression on his face. "...I understand what you mean about gratitude being a rarity. Even in our lands, despite the fact that those of our nation are taught to show discipline and respect to most people... Our terms for 'respect' and 'discipline' might be... unsound for certain parties. Considering your words, I believe you to be part of one of those parties."

Hao Zhan stopped for a moment, before he then realized the blunder in his words, as his expression froze.

"Oh, I must have made a gaffe." He added quickly. "I didn't mean any offence in those statements. Perhaps I should explain a part of that culture I'm referring to first. You see, there's this facet of society that is known as 'face'-"

~~GM~~

The groups freedom was soon interrupted while they talked amongst each other. The machines that held them in their prisons were momentarily disabled, but they were quick to fix themselves and turn back on. The cameras that watched over them could see they were all free.

'SUBJECTS HAVE ESCAPED CONFINEMENTS. LOCKDOWN COMMENCING.'​

The room was then blasted with deafening white noise. It was a high pitched squeal that drilled into their ears, making it impossible to hear each other further. Second later, several small pannels about three inches wide opened up along the walls. Out poured a dense white gas, which spread across the room in seconds and turned the air unbreathable. Their lungs would feel like they were burning each time they inhaled, and their eyes stung like needles were being inserted into them slowly.

'APPREHEND SUBJECTS IMMEDIATELY'​

Within the gas, inhuman figures started to appear, quickly surrounding everyone one by one. They were about Edward's size, five foot even, and crawled along tyhe floor with incredible speed. Their squid-like arms tried wrapping themselves around their limbs with enough strength to hold them in place; extending their arms and legs out fully so they could cover their eyes, mouths or ears, and not run away while they still had a chance.

View attachment 255342​

Before Hao Zhan could finish his sentence, the alarm, and the ensuing chaos left him choking and gasping in the hostile gas that was prickling his own sight and taste, as well as his breathing.

However, despite all of this, he seemed to feel like that the irritant was causing a side effect that whatever captors had not intended for him. Due the fact that he was sedated by whatever fluids that they placed in him, the irritation actually not only prickled his senses, but the stinging pain actually helped to clear a part of the haze in his mind...

And that part of his mind was enough for him to actually reignite his fighting instincts, even though his body still felt almost as weak as it did before his release. But that didn't matter. As long as his mind was ready, his body, even in its weakened state, is still capable of fighting any standard foe.

Unfortunately for Hao Zhan, the foe was anything but ordinary. The small squid-like automations, that seemed to be of a exotic make that had no basis of any familiar design that Hao Zhan could recall. It is so alien that he wondered if this creation was anything that could be made on his planet, let alone the Douluo Continent.

And he didn't have time to ponder it, he found that the very automation had moved to using its long extendable limbs to try and bind Hao Zhan's arms and legs, and even try to gag and blind him with any remaining tentacles, constricting with a force enough for it to make his body creak.

Damnit, I should have been on guard for something like this...!

With only little time to spare before the automation would try to do anything that would complicate his predicament any further, Hao Zhan quickly recalled what little he could recall of the mechanical creature. It was the size of a dwarfish man, much like a certain blonde coated man that he suspected was born with a shorter height, and it had a protuded cranium of whatever metal it was made of, and a glassy eye, not too different to a crystal ball. With how that said ball moved, he suspected that it could be the creature's 'eye' or whatever equivalent it had for it.

As the grip on his body begin to tighten, Hao Zhan mustered all of the strength that he had to straighten his arms. and wrench them forward to force the automation to be tugged forward, while kneeling to prevent himself from being dragged face-first into the ground by it. As he did, he could feel that the automation was slowly being taken off its place on Hao Zhan's back, as its tentacles could only stretch so far before it could tear them apart from the force that Hao Zhan was demonstrating.

Eventually, Hao Zhan could feel that he had the top mass of the automation on top of him, as he reeled his head back, before using what miniscule Spirit Power that he could summon for a generic body hardening technique, and slammed his forehead against the head of the automation with full force, expecting it to cause damage.

While the automation did not seemed to be caved in by the attack, the attack seemed to have enough of an effect that it was stunned long enough for Hao Zhan to wrench free of the tentacles in its moment of vulnerability. With his body free, Hao Zhan did not waste even a moment to bring his heel down on the front part of the automation's head unit, resulting in a far more damaging impact that broke its optical lens, and caused erratic chirping from what might be internal damage.

Freeing himself from the automation's attack, Hao Zhan took a moment to take a deep breath in, and then exhale it out, to focus himself in the heat of the impending battle.

"FALL BACK, GET TO THE DOOR OVER THERE!"

Hao spared a moment to look towards the fairly odd man that seemed to be fighting several of the automations at once. And what was most glaring was the fact that the man looked like that he was almost an automation himself, considering that his body looked like it was artifically made, despite the fact that his voice sounded like a proper man instead of some machine mimicking human accents.

He then looked towards the exit that the man was shouting for them to head towards. Hao had a feeling that he should head for the exit... And yet...

Is this all you can really muster?
You... are not worthy of becoming a Douluo.
Get lost, mud-born.
Walk away, like the peasant you are.​

...No. No, he cannot. He will NOT leave any of these people to fight against this battle alone.

Even as a student, he had a responsiblity to protect other people. It did not matter what people would say of him. It did not matter whatever danager would come from it. If he was a coward, then nothing would change.

No-one would be able to change the world for the better. No-one would have been able to do anything about the silent war that raged between the two great Empires of the Douluo Continent. No-one would be able to do anything about the horrible things that are being done for the sake of unification.

Hao Zhan closed his eyes, before he then stepped forward, picking up the disabled automation with a harsh grip by the head-unit.

Nat put a hand on Hao's shoulder and pointing to the exit door. As Nat himself made his way to the exit, he skillfully punched and kicked the creatures away from him, were they to attempt to get within his range. Otherwise, he'd maneuver around them. Nat wasn't about to spend all his energy on the first roadblock that presented itself. Even more so not knowing how many more were ahead of him.

Hao Zhan looked towards Natanael, before he shook his head firmly at him.

"No. I will not run away. If you and that man intend to stay behind to ensure the escape of the others, I have a duty to assist in that." Hao Zhan firmly stated. "I do not fear pain, nor do I fear death. I am not one to run in the face of danger, especially when there are those behind us."

Hao Zhan then reeled his arm back, before throwing the inert automation right at one of its brethren, hard enough for there to be the sound of shredding metal, as the make-shift projectile of similar make was enough to be able to bash into the automation hard enough to disable it.

"Come, automations." Hao Zhan declared in a firm tone filled with resolve. "...No matter how many of you come, we will not allow you to harm any more innocents with whatever schemes you plan to hatch upon the people of those you captured."

 

[LenxKaitoYaoi]

Ziv glanced to Oliver and rose a brow, holding his neck where he had pulled the needle out. 'Grouping up'? Unless he was mistaken they were all already one large group based on the shitty situation they were in. He was going to argue with the man, but he took off to apparently ask the others if they wanted to join this group of his. He shook his head. They were already a group, so asking was pointless. None of them really had a choice, anyway… without their weapons they could only do so much alone. Some of them anyway.

He shook his head again to try staving off the grogginess from waking like he had, he still had a hard time sensing the others around. It didn't look like Oliver would be someone he could sense, but David looked human enough.

Unfortunately there just wasn't enough time. He cringed, covering his ears as a siren blared a deafening sound. He hadn't the time to take a breath before noticing the gas, so he wasn't going to be able to hold it for too long but he was trying. The worst part was the fact that he was more or less blind, his eyes stung too much to keep open and he wasn't able to concentrate to feel anyone around. He was, unfortunately, quite helpless right now.

His senses had kicked in enough to feel Oliver when he got within a few feet of him. He's fast. That small warning that Oliver was coming his way still didn't fully prepare him for the man to hoist him up and carry him off. He still couldn't see, he wasn't even sure anyone could hear, but he gave a thanks all the same though.