Welcome to Gaia! ::

Once they were at the elevators, Migoto began to scan the area. "Whomsoever possesses a security badge: step forward and hand it over to this woman beside me." And sure enough, a woman in uniform would approach Risa and offer her security badge. "We may want to hurry, Risa...staying in one place for an extended time is a terrible idea at the moment. I get the strange feeling we're being hun...ted."

Migoto turned around while taking a step in front of Risa. Assuming she used the keycard, the elevator doors would open. "Go, Risa. Do what you came to do." Migoto offered the duo on the opposite side of the portal a smile. "Hello Dethblade and friend! My name is Migoto Kusabana." He introduced himself while placing his hands in his pockets.

Dethblade remained stoic in his chair, keeping an eye on Risa. "I know those eyes...so you're the one that attacked Nimm..." He'd quickly summon another portal, shooting a sword out at Risa, only to have it collide with an invisible barrier and deteriorate. "I see. You can create psychic constructs from Aether." He'd then turn his attention to Nimm. "What do want to do? I can send you to the girl, but I cannot ignore Migoto."

Migoto remained silent, letting the two converse with one another. He figured this was a good way to buy time for Risa, though he was beginning to rapidly lose control of his power.

"Invisibility...I understand. She's somehow refracting light to elude our view. Nimm, when she gets here, please do make her acquaintance. Shake her hand, give her a huge even." Dethblade chuckled. He then looked to Migoto, wondering why he simply stood there, no change in stance or expression, similar to how Kain carried on in the Dethblade persona. "Telepathy and telekinesis aren't a rare combination, however what you're doing, Migoto, is manipulating Aether, but in a natural form. It must be taxing."

"You're right on that, Dethblade." Migoto admitted. He'd glance to the girl and grin, then look to Dethblade again. The moment he saw the grin of Migoto, Dethblade would launch from his seat and open a vast amount of portals, shooting weapon after weapon at Migoto, only to find each one crashing into a kinetically-generated pin-sized shield with just enough power to halt the weapons, causing them to materialize. "And just how taxing are those pocket ports of yours, Dethblade?"

Migoto turned his attention back to Nimm. He'd cease his mass-hypnosis and focus all of his power solely on Nimm, speaking to her mind, body and soul all at once, sending psychic signals to her synapses. "Return to your friend's side, remove your mask and tell me just why he wants you to be so kind."

Migoto never stopped smiling, even as he started to feel the fear resonate from Nimm, fear that quickly turned to anger and disgust. He nonchalantly waved his hand in the air and snickered. "Keep your mask on then, I wouldn't want to contaminate the air I'm forced to share with the two of you."

Dethblade had remained silent. The moment the turmoil became visually apparent with Nimm, something inside of him began to tick away, little by little. This wasn't the same Nimm he once knew, but it was still Nimm. Furthermore, he'd begun to get to know this Nimm as an ally...Ally. That word resonated with him. He took in a deep, audible breath and raised his hand into the air, summoning another rift. As he exhaled, he'd lazily left his hand fall forward towards Migoto, launching the weapon from it at him.

Migoto laughed, thinking this no more than more of the same, but the moment his shield shattered upon contact with the mere tip of the blade, his face turned pale as a ghost and a look of dread washed over him. The spear would land dead on it's mark, right in the center of his sternum, though as Dethblade had guessed, this was only a psychic projection.

Dethblade slowly lowered his hand, knowing he wasn't going to be able to track Migoto now that he was starting to become privy to his powers...as was he Migoto's though. "I know you can hear me...I will find you. And you will beg for mercy...of which there will be none." He'd turn his attention to Nimm after glancing at the elevator. "What do you want to do, Nimm? We can track them...kill them, even. Or we can bide our time and see what it is that's so important to them..." It wasn't like him to be indecisive, but one reason for wearing the mask he'd never admit to: to hide his very real emotions.

Migoto, terrified, had slipped into the elevator and begun his ascent as fast and nimble as he possibly could, fearful of the man that somehow broke through his supposedly flawless barrier. It didn't help that Nimm's emotions had begun to tangle with his own, a side-effect that took place in extreme conditions during his psychic links. They were often easy to prepare for and even ignore, but Nimm caught him off guard. These two...what was Risa getting herself into?!

Dethblade watched her mannerisms with great curiosity before looking about the room. "I don't like psychics. I never have, specifically their telepathy...the world is full of beings of great power, Nimm. Some, like Migoto, can effect your own senses. Some, like me, can distort space and time. Some, like you, can even grant the ultimate reprieve. In any case save my own, you can walk right up to someone and end their life without them being any the wiser in a plethora of ways. I envy your ability to alter life and death with such ease." He admitted.

His eyes would soon rest upon one of the security cameras he'd carefully impaled earlier. "Perhaps that was a bit excessive..." He surmised before looking to Nimm again as she mentioned wanting to see Annette about the mask. He'd give a nod and open another portal, this one only the size of a basketball. It would quickly move about, warping space all around it momentarily as it traveled, looking for Annette on the floors higher up.

Eventually it would settle upon her, having found her current location. Instead of take them through the portal this time, Dethblade merely used the link as a means of communication, the portal keeping to the peripheral vision of the doctor. "Doctor, Nimm wishes to speak to you, and I wish to inquire as to where to obtain information on any work being done on the topic of nanomachines."

Dethblade remained stoic as usual, choosing to let his scarcity of questions speak volumes as to his comprehension. That, and he felt something rather off about the whole situation. Without so much of a warning he'd dart into the from his chair and hold his arms out, as though protecting Nimm from something. Soon his body would begin to be struck over and over by an unseen force. "Doctor, take Nimm! Nimm, leave with the doctor NOW!" He roared through the voice modifier in the mask.

"Good to see you, Dethblade." A deep voice rang out before Migoto would seemingly blink into existence across the room, though his demeanor had gone from casual, kind and relaxed to that of someone bold and confident; he floated roughly an inch from the ground, one leg straight with the other slightly bent, as if reclining back slightly with his arms folded.

"I didn't think I'd see you again so soon, coward. The reprieve was too short." Dethblade spoke, compiling himself. Assuming Nimm had stepped through with Annette he'd have closed the portal off, summoning several blades at the ready to be launched regardless.

"Oh. You were expecting the ignorant boy...of him I gift you even further reprieve." Migoto spoke, several items in the room beginning to either shake or levitate. "You now speak to the master of puppets. Please, feel free to show a glimmer of respect for your superior."

Meanwhile, from behind a computer screen, Dr. Dokusei had managed to get a small robot up and running, allowing him to see what it saw. He'd managed to send it down to the R&D floor, allowing him to get a view of the fight. When Dethblade mentioned taking Nimm, he'd pilot his little eyes in the sky, quite literally a small, hovering mechanical eye, through the portal into the room to view the battle.

He'd also made several calls, one of which to the technicians to fix the cameras.

Dethblade had opted not to pummel the room with swords, fearing he'd do more harm than good in the long wrong to the building he wanted to secure, much as he had done with the security cameras. He'd instead summoned a single sword, one that seemed to more reminiscent of a katana with no edge, just curved metal.

"Migoto" had begun to grow very tired of waiting for his opponent to do something more than summon his weapon. Every now and again he'd launch a small psychic attack on Dethblade, though he'd yet to land a hit, causing him to believe there was more this man than the eye could see...and he was very curious about the mask he wore. "Why, I wonder? Or is this just the stereotypical villain fashion statement?" He jested allowed more to entertain himself than anything.

"..." Dethblade remained perfectly calm and eerily silent. "I'd have your name before slaying you, fiend." He finally spoke.

"Name? Fiend? Come now, aren't we being a little demanding of our superiors? If nothing else, you do make me laugh boy!" The individual taunted, arms now folded in front of him as he reclined in the air. Soon, he'd hear Risa asking for his attention in the back of his psyche, causing his wide grin to flip into a scowl. "No...no no no, not right now damn it!"

Dethblade.

Kain.

One individual. Two names. Two identities. One key difference between the two identities...was honor -

- Dethblade had erased it from his vocabulary.

The moment his opponent was distracted by whatever plagued him, two portals opened in the same instant: one below Dethblade's sword, which the sword would be released into, and one behind "Migoto" which the blade would exit from.

"Migoto" would glare wildly at Dethblade as he pulled his stunt, though as he erected the psychic barrier behind himself, he grinned again. What happened next only served to hurt his brain out of sheer confusion; he suffered a momentary pain in his head accompanied by the sound of shattering glass, though the pain soon vanished...only to return in his chest. He'd find himself unable to breathe, and soon a trail of blood would begin to drip from his mouth. Looking down, he could see the source: the summoned sword, the invisible blade now visible and stained red. "What...how..."

"Be silent." Dethblade had taken advantage of "Migoto's" theatrics to close the gap and deliver a clubbing blow to his jaw, fully intending to break it. "I cannot see your shields. In turn, I used a sword you could not see. One on the same frequency of your barriers." Dethblade then lifted "Migoto" by the neck, this time fully intending to crush his trachea with one hand while twisting the blade with the other.

"Migoto" would grunt and groan, cough and spit blood, but he refused to acknowledge the pain. He refused to acknowledge how thoroughly he'd been defeated with such ease. "You will never silence me!" He roared out in a telepathic burst.

"Good. You're strong. I've avoided killing you, but that's still very much a possibility if my demands aren't meant. I don't know who you are, Pseudo-Migoto, nor do I care at this point."

"How dare you talk down to---" "Migoto" began to think aloud, but as Dethblade's grip tightening, his thoughts ceased.

"Vermin don't get to be arrogant in the face of death. Now...you can walk away, if you like. I will see to it you live through this ordeal. But, in exchange, I want two things. The first is your comrade...and the second is what you came for." Dethblade spoke boisterously, making sure he could be heard.

"Migoto" would cringe, now on the verge of passing out from exuding energy just maintaining bravado. He'd kept a psychic link open with Risa, allowing her to hear everything Dethblade had to say the moment he made mention of a deal. e'd force the image into her head of the situation, allowing her to see just what was going on as well.

Just before the tackle, just before Dethblade would have taken notice of her perhaps, "Migoto" would let out a psionic screech meant to distract Dethblade for a split second - and it would. "FALSE PROPHET!" The message rang in Dethblade's ears, and soon he found himself tackled by Risa.

Dethblade found himself stumbling, forced to let go of "Migoto" who would slump to the ground, still impaled, jaw broken, trachea crushed, quite possibly on the verge of utter defeat. "My apologies Risa, this admittedly went very poorly. If you have what he wants, then we should go...somehow...it's taking everything I have...just to...think..." "Migoto" communicated straight to his comrade.

"Enough." Dethblade spoke. He'd summon several portals, each one aiming a weapon at Risa. But he wouldn't fire. Instead he'd regain his composure, trying to show some reserve by not lashing out and immediately attacking. "I could grant you both the everlasting peace you seem to long for given your radical actions...or I can listen."

Dethblade first looked to Risa. "We have...had? There is something you wish to leave with. What if I told you that you, and your boyfriend, could leave this hospital free of debt to us. Don't mistake my diplomacy for weakness; I am shaking with anticipation to skewer you both for interrupting my work...but you've aroused my curiosity...oh, and this happened." As he spoke, Dethblade would take control of the sword still impaled in "Migoto" and twist it, finally getting a shriek of pain out of him. "One more twist and I sever something vital. So might I suggest you pull up a chair, sit attentively, and we speak like rational beings?"

Dethblade knew that Dokusei was now watching with his gadget. "Dr. Dokusei, please broadcast the following events to every station and frequency. Let my people see how I deal with subterfuge."

"Migoto" would try to shift his jaw back into place, on the brink of passing out from pain once again. One more twist and he'd either die or feint, and either way the real Migoto would return.

"Understood, Overly Overpowered Overlord!" The floating eye would repeat in Dr. Dokusei's voice. "By the way Mr. Blade"

"Dethblade." He corrected.

"Right! Lord Dethblade, I humbly request to be there in person during this little meeting. I believe Dr. Lafluer and Nimm should also attend! Let this be a statement to your people; Diplomacy or Death!"

Dethblade would respond by opening a portal, allowing Dr. Dokusei to hop on through into the room. Seeing the rather irate Risa, the bleeding, broken Migoto and the stoic Dethblade, he'd just laugh to himself and take a seat at the table. Next, a portal would open for Nimm and Dr. Lafluer. "Nimm. Doctor. Please join us for a moment. My apologies for the dramatics."

Dr. Dokusei had set up a computer that was aimed perfectly to record the conference. He'd remove a tablet from his coat and begin scrolling away on it, doing who knew what. "Ladies and Gentlemen, our illustrious prophet speaks yet again!"

"I warned you all that disobedience would not be tolerated. If, perhaps, I am too frightful to approach, I do have associates. I've an entire hospital's staff at my disposal, and soon the militaristic forces of this town will be mine as well. My word is Law; I am Judge, Jury and Executioner." Dethblade would look to Risa, slowly dismissing all of his summoned swords. "And I am nothing without merciful. This creature was found with something of mine in hand, attempting to abscond with it. Had she merely asked for it, a deal may have been struck. Instead, her friend, whom dared oppose my law, lies in a crippled state, waiting for me to either kill or release him. His fate rests in the hands of a common rat; a thieving vermin hellbent on spitting upon my dream of mercy for all."

Dethblade would then turn to Annette. "Please explain what it was that was stolen, and the importance behind it. These are our people, doctor. These are the people that shall soon bask in Nimm's shadow and revel in her heroism. There can be no secrets between us."

Dr. Dokusei blinked, then looked to Nimm. "What do you think the odds are someone will try to kill him while we're all gathered here? I mean, or overly obnoxious overlord seems to love giving away his position..."

Migoto lie cringing on the floor, coughing and sputtering while doing his best to remain calm. "Risa..." He spoke via a direct link to her and only her. "I'm so sorry...don't let me hold you back...leave now with the objective!"