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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:57 am
Scylla had gotten to the Chronos Outpost too late. The Dark Moon had come and gone, leaving turmoil in their wake. On one hand, she was grateful. What would she do, when she saw Ares again? What could she do? She couldn't hurt her. Not again. She'd done enough to her friend- former friend, now. The Senshi of the Kraken slipped in silently partly into the conversation, noting those of her Court and those formerly of her Court who dotted the room. There were so many senshi she didn't know, she had been gone so very long. And when she had last seen the majority of the White Moon members she did recognize, it had been at Ares' side, a member of her well-trained fighting force. The brand she had been given, symbol of her loyalty to the Blood Moon, burned against her lower back. Traitor. She nodded to Sirius and Maia if she thought they were glancing around in her direction. Ares was not only one of the smartest senshi, but one of the most persuasive. Look at what Ares had convinced her Court to do in the name of 'good.'
"Alexandros told me once that he'd done some experimenting with his mirrorwalking." she said at last, speaking up firmly. With all the yelling... "He said that he thought that once he the mirror a permeable surface, it remains that way until anyone he brought through has gone all the way through before it becomes solid. I remember we'd talked once about trying to make a loop out of the mirrors. We'd been using a mirrored room as an example, but we could still try it with two facing mirrors, making a loop of sorts. It wouldn't trick them long, and I am sure they would get their way out of it, but as a short term trap it could work along with the sheets and duct tape. Chronos, Castor, if I can get a hold of Laocoon he may be able to help a little with ideas. Zirconia, too. Guys, last I checked, we still have mirrorwalkers on our side. They might not know everything Ares can do, but at this point, they are two of our most valuable resources." She said it fiercely.
Scylla shook her dark head, thoughtful. "Every mirror we can get together, any way we can try and block the surfaces. Use smaller mirrors and put them face to face or face to back in bigger mirrors, using the sheets as padding to help protect the frames. As for any mirrors that are particularly heavy, I can help as long as you can give me a little space." She tried to make sure that even as she recapped an idea she was certain had been said before, she was speaking to everyone. "I understand the desire to smash them, but all it would do, if Ares really can create mirrors that the Dark Moon could walk through, is slow them down. But I don't think it would slow them down enough. It doesn't cost us anything to try and accommodate our hosts and spare as many of the mirrors- artifacts, whatever you choose to call them- as we can."
"As for not being alone?" Scylla nodded to one of the unfamiliar senshi (Pasiphae), "I think that's the right idea, at least until the mirrors are dealt with in one way or another. There are a lot of experienced senshi here, a lot of knights, and even a civilian can get the drop on a youma or someone who has been corrupted. Even those of us who aren't corrupted have been on the bad side of the civilian populace on occasion. I don't know what kind of organization has been going on here, or who all is available, but maybe it is time we start treating the surroundings as we do Destiny City, and not rely only on the protection the Surroundings are supposed to offer."
It was all suggestions, however forcefully she had spoken.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 11:20 am
Maia stepped forward and said very plainly and quite clearly "No." She was addressing Ganymede and Cyllene. "We are going about this the right way. We can not go rushing head long into things, it will get us no where."
She swallowed the lump in her throat and said, "I know for a fact that Ares can be and is very organized. You caught one of her members and I bet they have regrouped and are making sure it cannot happen again. We need to work together to find a good solution, one that will work and keep everyone safe as well as hopefully keeping the mirrors in tact."
She sighed, "What do they want? Why are they here? Its no secret that the civilians that disappeared are here, but why should that involve them? We are missing many facts, so I'm sorry if I would rather talk and plan, but I honestly believe this is the way to go."
Maia looked to Chronos and over to Reg, "I think a schedule is a very good idea."
She looked to Europa who also suggested breaking them and sighed lightly, it might be a good way but was it the best way and none of them were suppose to be their in the first place and the civilians despite their situation had been working hard to help restore the place. She frowned slightly, if it were Maia she wouldn't be okay with breaking the mirrors, it seemed a dishonor to those who once inhabited to planet. She felt the same way now.
She could have hugged Scylla when the girl spoke up, her smile brightening at the mention of Laocoon whom she hadn't seen in such a long time. She had thought he was missing. "I haven't seen Laocoon in some time Scylla, quite some time, but I'm pretty sure Zirconia is here somewhere."
She looked to Val for confirmation wondering if he had seen her.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 11:39 am
"I didn't say rush into things without a plan," Ganymede said in response to Maia. "What I said was we're wasting time with these petty alternatives instead of changing the plan to something we know works. If Ares can make her own mirrors after that, then we'll figure out what to do then, but at least we'll have successfully taken care of all the mirrors here so she'd be forced to rely on her own."
He glanced at Europa, glad that he had her support, however diplomatic she was being in the process. He figured someone had to be, considering he usually just shot his mouth off. "I get that we're guests here," he said, looking over toward Chronos, too, "but we've also been sacrificing our time and energy to come here and help. No, I'm not complaining about that, I'm just saying hear us out, because this isn't just your battle. We're all involved, we all have our reasons for being here. This place might be the domain of the Zodiacs, but its supposed to be protecting the rest of us, isn't it? No offense to you or anything," he chanced another look at Chronos, "'cause I'm sure it's not your fault, but it's not exactly doing its job at the moment."
Youma were getting in, DMC senshi were getting in. Who knew what else was going on without their knowledge. This wasn't just a problem for the Zodiacs to deal with. It was a problem for everyone.
"As much as I hate the idea of the BMC after some of the things they did, and as much as I don't like the DMC now, the reason Ares is so successful isn't because she's smarter than all the rest of us. It's because she's assertive," he said. "Yes, we need to be more organized. Yes, we need to work together to fix these problems. Yes, we need to make the right choices. We need to be good and just and do what's right, but we need to be assertive, too, or else we're going to keep finding ourselves in this very same position over and over again."
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 11:40 am
Zirconia had tried her best to just completely avoid the Dark Mirror Court issue. Mostly by ignoring it or feigning ignorance. Oh, she knew they were here, but she really didn't want them to be and had taken to hiding like a coward in the shadows.
She didn't know what would happen if she came face to face with any of them, but she didn't care to find out.
This meeting had also fallen under her 'avoid avoid avoid' list, but her curiosity got the better of her, especially when she heard her name and was assured by the fact there were familiar faces present. Plus, it was pretty cowardly.
Quietly, the cat slunk in. Harder to do in humanoid form, but she really just wanted to recoil to the shadows and remain invisible. It was hard to strut with confidence into such a topic. Still, she managed to keep from having second thoughts and running out the door.
Instead, she gave glances to Maia, Scylla, and Valhalla and spoke up. "I might be able to help."
Redundancy department of redundancy calling. Scylla had just said that, but it was really hard to think of anything else to say. She didn't know where to begin, what questions to bring up, or what answers to point out. But at least she had gotten up the nerve to offer whatever assistance she could, assuming people were willing to take advice from a parallel.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 11:56 am
"No, I understand what you're saying," he said to Ganymede and Cyllene, not wanting them to think that he was against their ideas or anything like that. "The mirrors pose a threat to everyone here, and... if we could put them all into the fountains and pools and keep an eye on them that way, I would be all for it! If someone climbs out of a mirror from underwater and then powers down, we'd know because they'd... all be wet... unless they were just taking a bath, but... why take a bath in clothes?" Valhalla rambled, not really feeling comfortable with the arguing going on around them.
He hated how disorganized they were as an entire unit. The senshi, at least. Everyone had their own opinions and ideas and it was difficult to come together as one unit, and it was even more difficult to follow someone they didn't all agree on.
Valhalla glanced over to Maia when she looked to him, about to open his mouth on the whereabouts of his best friend's cat half when... Zirconia herself made her way around to them. He frowned lightly in concern. "Are you okay?" he asked, having not seen her for a while, but he knew that the Dark Mirror Court was a bit of a sore spot for her. Or it had been when they'd formed, especially since it was Ares, one of her own, her family... and he knew it must be extremely difficult for her.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:25 pm
Regulus paused and eyed Zirconia as she entered, apparently trying to decide if he should scowl or not. He didn't trust the Parallels at large, even the cats, not after everything they'd done... but then again, Zirconia did genuinely seem like she wanted to help... and he hated to admit it, but asking her was probably the best way to get a more clear picture of what Ares and her people could do... maybe she was even the best option, since as a cat she was technically also among the most vulnerable of the parallels.
"What can you tell us?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:36 pm
"I don't know where Laocoon is either, Maia, but I have a few ways to try and get a hold of him. With any luck..." Scylla gave a weak half-shrug.
Zirconia entered, speaking up, and Scylla moved to her, reaching out to take her hand and squeezing lightly in support. Zirconia was Blood Moon- or had been, god the Court was ashambles- and was family thanks to that bond.
There wasn't much to say at this point. They were going to start chasing their own tails soon with all this talking. The only one who could truly make a decision about what to do here was Chronos. Everyone else could talk, but the final word belonged to the Zodiac Princess. This was her home, and they were all guests.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:51 pm
Celsus' eyes slid sideways, glancing at Ate - and attempted to surprise a smile of amusement. She wouldn't recognize him like this, of course, but he certainly remembered the senshi from before - a very outspoken, rather "rough and tumble" sort of woman who clearly saw no problems in voicing her opinions and voicing them loud.
And then the man beside Chronos - Celsus had to take a few seconds to not jump up and down like a little kid going "PRINCE PRINCE PRINCE."
Because mostly that would be embarrassing. And slightly inappropriate.
But really, it was somewhat like meeting a celebrity, and the Fritz half of him really wanted to just go up and talk.
The Celsus side, however, remained stoically silent. At least on the outside.
More people had started to arrive now, none of which he recognized. Celsus listened silently, rather than make any more comments, preferring to gain as much information as he could about the Dark Mirror Court. He was still a little unsure as to who this "Ares" was, but from the sound of it, she was not someone to mess with.
And what was this "purifying" concept that Castor brought up? Celsus' gazed moved back to the princess, who was looking both surprised and thoughtful.
A young woman with piles of glossy red curls piled on her head had spoken to him. Celsus frowned a bit, absently flipping the gold coin from one hand to the other as he regarded her somewhat curiously.
"So while there are dozens of mirrors, there are only a few actual members of the Dark Mirror Court, are there?" he replied musingly, now tapping the coin against his cheek, lost in thought.
At least until a familiar voice spoke up. Zirconia had slipped, almost unnoticed, into the room, and Celsus felt his lips twitch, fighting back a smile. He rather liked the guardian cat, despite her rather...unorthodox attitude, but the pleasure of seeing her quickly faded as he processed the information being thrown around the room at high speed.
"So this Ares," Celsus murmured quietly to Flora, who was nearest to him and might be able to answer. "She can create mirrors too? Create mirrors to create members of her Court, is that what they're saying?
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Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:12 pm
Cyllene Pasiphae recognized from the first Jovian meeting, and the quasi-bored, rough-and-tumble attitude was about what the Shame Senshi would expect from her. She didn't really like that they were going backwards in the conversation, not forwards, but Cyllene knew better than her what was going on, and all opinions were valid. Even if her attitude wasn't the best... if she had anything that would help, it was valuable to listen.
She relaxed under Valhalla's reassurance that they would protect one another; she really didn't need much more confirmation than that. Just enough to let her know that she had been heard and the topic had been covered.
Ganymede's voice adding into Cyllene's opinion, but furthering it--calling for action of some sort, whatever it may be, in order to protect lives was one that resonated much more with her than the initial reintroduction of breaking mirrors. No, Pasiphae didn't want to destroy property, especially precious things that weren't hers. She had no stake in them; it was not her decision to make. Then Europa supported the other Jovians as well, and the Shame Senshi began to bite her lip in concern. Yes... they needed to be proactive, she agreed with that... but in this way? Was it her duty as a Jovian to support her team members at this moment... if she only partially agreed?
A new Senshi that Pasiphae didn't know (Scylla) began to speak next, and the Shame Senshi found herself nodding to in agreement to many of her points. Combine all of the ideas short of breaking the mirrors -- patrols, mirror gathering, talking with the mirror walkers that were apparently on their side... even her own suggestion of staying together was acknowledged. Her contribution finally urged the Shame Senshi to enter the conversation once more. She may have little confidence in herself... but she had every confidence in her fellow Senshi (which, in her mind, included Knights), and this debating had to end.
"Everyone is right," Pasiphae finally said, her voice calm and direct as she addressed the group as a whole. "Cyllene, Ganymede, and Europa because we do need to be proactive and assertive. Whatever we are going to do, we must do--and quickly so that we can avoid injuries as much as possible. Valhalla and Maia because we must respect our position as guests and must have a plan in order to be proactive and still avoid injuries. Everyone else... I'm sorry I don't know everyone's names... because we should utilize the allies and resources we have in order to make our plans work... whenever we decide what they are. Can't we just... combine all of these things? Somehow?"
She cut herself off there rather abruptly, a blush coloring her face as she quickly looked back towards her sling. She hadn't intended to say that much... especially since she knew she was late to the game. The others gathered here had been through so much more than she had... Then, Zirconia announced her presence, and the Shame Senshi promptly turned to face the Guardian Cat. If anyone would have information to help them go forward... surely it would be Zirconia, and she deserved her full attention.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 3:02 pm
Most of what Roxy and her group heard about the happening in the Surrounding came through on the grapevine and sometimes in an annoying version of telephone. There was gossip in the halls and stories heard from others about attacks, deaths and invasions. Some of it was hard to figure out what was true, what was exaggerated and well... what was just fabricated. For the most part, they had avoided most of the excitement in several of the outposts and kept to themselves. Either intentionally or not. But now more was springing up and for a gossip hound and nosy person like Roxy herself, it was getting to a frustrating point where she couldn't handle not knowing anything.
When she had heard about a gathering in Chronos' outpost, she managed her way there but then felt, well, a little out of place. There weren't that many, for lack of better terms, normal people around. It was a group consisting of mostly senshi-people and it made her feel like she was intruding on some secret meeting.
But, then after that thought crossed her mind. Perhaps that made it even more exciting.
It had at least allowed her to listen in the back, out of view and focus, as they threw out unfamiliar names and terms and something about mirrors. She had arrived late and missed probably some introductory information, perhaps something she could pick up later or bug someone about. For the most part, she was getting the idea that there were factions and divisions between these people, they were apparently fighting amongst themselves as much as they fought against... monsters and the like. Interesting.
And as much as she had missed, it was hard to throw out any input. Though, she didn't mind as gathering was much more worthwhile than contributing most of the time. Roxy turned to leaning against a wall while the others conversed.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 3:25 pm
Europa was still waiting for Chronos's final say about what was to be done with the mirrors, so it didn't seem worth her breath to advocate breaking them any more than she already had. She wouldn't take action on the Zodiac's home without express permission from their host - anything less would be a major faux pas at best and an interstellar diplomatic breakdown at worst. And besides, with Zirconia here, they could find out how Mirrorwalking worked more clearly.
The senshi of the deep turned her focus on the cat. "They can only come through full-sized mirrors, right?" she asked Zirconia, eager to get the most basic questions out of the way. "And will taping and covering the mirrors or turning them to the walls work to keep the Dark Mirror Court out?"
She glanced over at Pasiphae, giving the girl an approving smile. "We should work on a plan that everyone agrees on," Europa nodded. "To decide right here and right now - what will we do with the mirrors, how will we protect the civilians - and how will we protect ourselves?"
Better to die than to be corrupted - that was what she'd always thought.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 3:50 pm
Sirius was surprised when Scylla appeared. She also wondered where she stood with the BMC now, but she could ask the eternal senshi later. She could have confirmed what the knight said about how everything happened and she had to wonder how he knew in such detail but she didn't say anything. She wasn't sure how many if any knew she was a BMC member and it irritated her somewhat that still people hated them.
When Zirconia turned up though a smile crossed her face. She hadn't seen the cat in a while and though the others had mentioned her it was nice to see she was still here, she was still with them. Seeing the cat was quite possibly the best thing that had happened to her in this whole trip to space.
Sirius's mind flew to various questions that she wanted to ask the cat but none she could really ask in that setting. Was she still with them? Would she help them fight Ares? How was she? Sirius knew the cat had a strong bond with Ares and now she had lost all her parallels. Instead she stood back and listened to what everyone else was saying.
"Will it make a real difference breaking the mirrors? Aren't they like windows, so can they hear as well as see through them?" She aimed the question at the cat based on something that Birhan said.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:24 pm
Zirconia picked up tension on Regulus's end, but she was picking up tension from everyone, mostly out of an underlying paranoia that her people as a whole were being painted as villains thanks to Ares the Usurper. Still, she offered the blonde senshi a very plain and open glare of disapproval, and by some miracle managed to avoid saying anything derisive or start a fight.
This wasn't the time to indulge in such things, she had to remind herself.
Valhalla went ignored for the same reason; With that question posed she figured the only answer she had for it was in her arsenal of less than friendly commentary, even if she could've just toned it down to an 'of course not'.
Suddenly Scylla was next to her, squeezing her hand and providing an immense comfort she wasn't expecting, at least not when she finally worked up the nerve to walk into this meeting. The Blood Moon Court member was a warm reminder that there was a camaraderie that once linked them all, and at the very least, here and now, between her and the senshi of the Kraken, it wasn't totally lost. She squeezed back, and took a silent moment to keep from becoming a telling bundle of nerves and emotions, at least on the outside.
After that awkward pause, she got to answering Europa's questions, at least the best she could.
"Well, as I told you before, they have to know where the mirror is in order to come through it," She started. "The mirror has to be large enough to climb through, they can't manipulate their size. Think of them as fluid doorways... If you put tape over an open doorway and walked through it, I would think you would simply end up covered in tape. Or running into a wall. I would suggest keeping the known mirrors locked away, or breaking them entirely into smaller pieces." And then Sirius' question, "We can communicate through reflective surfaces... I don't expect any have the capacity to be spying, though."
That was her two cents. But there was another question weighing on her mind. "How did they even get inside in the first place? How do they know which mirrors to come out of? They have to know their way around. And they do, if they've infiltrated outposts. That's the thing to worry about."
She was, without a doubt, insinuating a traitor was in their midst. Probably not wise, given her status as misunderstood neutral with dubious origins, but it was something that had been weighing on her mind. The civilians weren't senshi or even knights. They had no loyalties; They were pliable, easily manipulated wild cards that, as far as she was concerned, had gone unchecked.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:30 pm
Zephyr had been there since the beginning, taking the time to observe and listen to those who chose to contribute. He recognized Chronos, Castor as a prince, Flora, and Scylla. Several others, whom he recognized from the spider battle, was there as well. Interesting.
He knew of Ares.. but the other members of the Blood Moon Court were unfamiliar to him. Either as people or their membership. Scylla, or Sirius for example. If he had desired to know more, he might have asked Gunn. But Zephyr had refused Ares's invitation and had no intention of delving any further. But now, he would have no choice. The former Blood Moon Court was now their enemy as the Dark Mirror Court. And their method of corruption by mirrors was a troubling to say the least.
He had no opinion yet of the solutions suggested, waiting to hear Chrono's verdict on the matter. Regardless of what they thought, Chronos would make the final decision.
He inclined his head towards the presence of the guardian cat, Zirconia, willing to hear her out.
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:38 pm
Castor's wing visibly bristled at the mention of breaking the mirrors. "I really suggest you consider what you're asking when you say to destroy something that is one of few remaining ties a senshi has to their ancestral home." He hissed. "Its not just insulting, it's painful." He cherished the few things that had remained intact on his own world. The last remnants of the civilization he'd lost so long ago. Taking a deep breath, he tried to relax but it was a bit difficult when facing this problem.
"Chronos, your innate power is to create barriers. While I couldn't ask you to create one to cover us-" He paused, it was still a guess. "The mirrors are relics of your home, they were one bathed in your magic, and were no doubt, created with some form of magic. While I don't know if it would work, attempting to purify the mirrors themselves might create something of a magical shell. A lingering if weak covering if you will. It would be something that might give Ares and her forces pause, and since they would have to break through the magic with the powers of chaos, it would also act like an alarm system. A flare of darkness. It's all very theoretical, and it might just drain your energy needlessly, but, it is something."
They had little to go on, but he was willing to try.
The purple cat got a wary look. "Zirconia is it?" Crossing his arms, Castor's expression turned from wary, to pitiful. "They were your senshi weren't they?" If he was right in his guess, the cat had lost the one they were tied to. And that- that in itself was hella depressing. "I am not going to beat around the bush, Ares has gone the way of Chaos, perhaps by her own will. She's taken others to follow her. You're at the cross road cat. You're a parallel, just as she is, and I want it straight out." Eyes narrowed. "If I told you I planned to kill any who followed Chaos, namely, if I planned to kill Ares, would you try to stop me?" If she was willing to let them fight, and perhaps kill those she once protected, he would trust her. "Understand, it's not so much a personal matter-" a glance at the few civilians, "-as a simple fact of trust. I don't know how deeply a cat feels for their senshi, but, from what I understand, your loyalty to her might remain. You know her better than I do." He left the matter at that, he guessed if Zirconia was still loyal to those who had betrayed them, Ares might use her against them. He wouldn't risk that.
"I want to trust what you say, but I still remember the coma, I heard of what the Blood Moon Court did to the negaverse- what they did to facilitate Tanzanite's rise." He was laying it out. "And now Ares has gone the way of Chaos. The parallels have a damning history cat, and considering the fact you were here? Who is to say Ares has not used you to find her way to the surrounding? I've seen enough senshi and civilains die. I'm not going let that happen if I can prevent it." Lay out your loyalties.
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