[Mission] What Once Was Lost (Blade,Puddle,Ice) [FIN]

[Gestalt Effect]

"...she don't like how you feel 'human'...." Zutnic squeaked and lowered his head submissively. "wants to change that.... "

Nick's right eye brightened as she turned to Shun fully. She had to admire his coolness in the situation. That was a good sign. The fear in Ranee seemed to be fueling the Judge's amusement, which was likely a good reason the woman still barely stood there. Nick had half expected her at least to not make it out.

Her palm begun to glow a dim red as the heating mechanisms activated in her. She raised the hand shoulder level to Shun than paused with her fingers outstretched.

"The rest of the mark will come later..." Nick spoke flatly as she adjusted the position of her hand and scratched Shun across the shoulder with just three fingers. If anything, it gave the appearance of an attack rather than a mark. Ranee would receive the same mark, only on the opposite shoulder and at a different angle.

Behind the mask the Judge wore a proud smirk. "Very well. Finish what you have here and return promptly. We have some matters to attend to... I believe it is time for an upgrade."

Seeing Nick's eye widen -and brighten in her right eye's case- was enough to emit a soft chuckle. And with that eerie noise still on the air a great cloud of black fog poured from every inch of the Executioner until the two were completely engulfed. When the fog cleared The judge, Executioner, and that deceased Organoid it was caring were gone leaving the giant room empty save for the three and their mechanical companions. Nick cursed under her breath, what she was looking for was already gone...

Outside the Jury, whom was ready to attack the warped Saber, vanished in a plume of black fog of his own. Kagi took this as an opportunity to detach from the core and return to his pilot. And as he was clear of the core the ZOID took off toward the rogue lands without any warning. All controls, to include the eject, were locked and unresponsive. (( And there is my idea for Talon's vanishing act. I think I remember you wanting him to vanish for a while... XD ))  

[Blade Kuroda]

" ..'Uman? Change how?"

In his fear, Bent wasn't really able to say much more than that. He didn't really like how that sounded though. But thankfully, it seemed that the big bad organoid was leaving at this point. He didn't relax too much though.

Shun watched Nick before letting out a hiss as she scratched him across the shoulder with her hand fully heated up. Grimacing and gritting his teeth from the burning pain, he just tensed up for the time being, waiting for it to die down some before trying to say anything. Once the fog had cleared up and whatnot, he briefly glanced towards Renee to see how she was fairing. It didn't look like she was handling all of this too well, not that he could blame her.

Turning back to Nick, he narrowed his eyes at her.

"Care to give a little explanation?" he asked lowly.  

[Gestalt Effect]

Steam hissed from the vents in Nick's arm as the glow in her palm subsided. Her eyes lingered on the spot the Executioner had stood. She was a step ahead. Nick thought she had been very careful in keeping her tracks hidden from her employer. Or perhaps she underestimated the Executioner's ability to find other ancient organoids, dead or functioning.

When Shun spoke a grin stretched the corner of her lips upward. She than slowly turned her head to face him. "Explain? What is there to explain? It's as it seems... You work for me and in 'some' cases you work for the dreaded Judge. "

Nick turned her body so she was fully facing the two. "You will go about your 'normal' lives until I need you to perform a job for me..."The grin begun to fade. "And when the time comes... you will help me kill that b***h..."

Kagi appeared with a loud crash on the opposite side of the massive room. Rocks from the cliff overhang he had drilled through fell about behind him as soon as he corrected his posture. His tail twitched as he surveyed the room.  

[Blade Kuroda]

Well that was simple enough he supposed. Letting out a breath, Shun glanced towards the rest of the room for the moment, looking to their little metal friends, as well as the Princess, who looked like she might need to sit down for a few.

"I'll look forward to it," he said flatly. It wasn't quite sarcasm. The sooner they got rid of the Judge, the sooner things would clear the hell up and perhaps things to go back to being normal without all the insanity. If normal even truly existed any more.

"So then where do we go from here?" he asked, since their back entrance was a bit blocked off right now. He paused for the moment, to look back at the other soldier with him, "Or do you need a moment to catch your breath?"  

[Gestalt Effect]

"Go home..." Nick spoke as she looked out to the approaching Kagi. The organoid's head lowered as he neared and Nick outstretched her right arm to meet the forehead half way. "...Go home and explain that Private First Class Talon was taken by a certain group of bandits called the Savage Fox."

Nick kept her hand on Kagi but turned her attention toward Shun and Ranee. Her look bore a kind of amusement that would send chills down even the bravest of men's spines. Nick's twisted mind had grown addicted to the idea of a good opportunity for revenge. "If they ask about your wounds, you were attacked by their red-headed leader."

Kagi rumbled with the felt amusement from his owner. "... Perhaps it is too soon to send him with you as well..."

The amusement faded from her face and was replaced with a more neutral, emotionless look. Too soon indeed. There was no telling what 'experiment' the Judge had planned next and there was little telling if she would be the same next they all meet. Kagi, as dense as he is, would have to be explained carefully what to do. That took time. As he was now, he'd cause more than an unneeded stir. Besides, Nick knew where else he could be of more use...  

[Blade Kuroda]

Shun couldn't help but narrow his eyes at the reaction he got out of Renee. Damn Princess. Shrugging her off, he just focused on Nick.

The Savage Fox. He had heard of that particular gang. It was a pretty sound cover story to say in the least. Though, that had him wondering if Talon really was sent off towards the Rogue lands. The guy was pretty able so he should be fine...

There was something unsettling with the amusement in Nick's look.

"Understood," he said with a grimace. At the mention of Kagi, he glanced over at the red organoid. Bringing back a creature such as him would be tricky. He was bigger than Zutnic and all. That, and Zutnic was a little more likely to listen to him.

"We best get going then," he murmured while starting to walk forth.  

[Gestalt Effect]

Nick said nothing as she watched the two walk off. They seemed very capable. More so than a lot of others she had encountered. What's more, they survived a meeting with the Executioner. That was something. Something they had no clue how much of a feat that was.

She looked back at Kagi than released her hand from his forehead. How he had gotten away from Tidus was a mystery. There was no doubt she was engaged in something of her own tasks. Now a new task presented itself to Kagi.

Nick whispered. "Keep with him..."

The rest of the command seemed to be conveyed through the touch as she pat the side of his cheek with her right hand.

Kagi emitted a low rumble, but held in place. For now the two had a little time to at least enjoy the company of one another.  

[Blade Kuroda]

A quick glance over his shoulder told Shun that Nick wasn't following along. Most likely this meant there weren't too many other tricks to this temple that they hadn't encountered yet. If so, well then, they'd have to deal with them on their own. At least they had Zutnic and the Obliterator with them. Those two would probably be able to help out.. somewhat.

Atelius was probably a little better as far as informing went, but he wasn't about to voice this out loud. Anytime.

So, he just remained alert while he made his way to find an exit of sorts.

Giving the mission report for this was going to be a pain in the a** for sure. It seemed that was the case for a lot of these things lately.  

[Gestalt Effect]

Zutnic twitched all over before looking over to Bent. Fear had gotten the better of him and he refused to answer Bent's previous question because of that.

"Change... says you see. All children will see... From inside mind and outside body. You change because. She want you look at great mother's organoid. She change, less human more better. Great mother make her change. Do that you too. Wipe out if not able to change." Zutnic clicked his jaw. "Zutnic want to say Zutnic change too, Zutnic like Zutnic's human but hide it. Not talk like that to her. Bad way."

The oblitorator remained silent as Zutnic gave his little explanation. Strikers were so dull. When Zutnic finally ceased speaking the Obliterator spoke to Ranee with a deep mechanical voice. "You are very weak... I can see why I must keep close to you at all times." He made a strange noise deep in his throat as if clearing it. "You must call me Cesar.... And what must I refer to you as?"

The exit to the hanger was not far and luckily not full of any more temple tricks. The cavern opened to a desolate desert canyon with walls towering all above them. The blue sky could be seen far bast the copper cliffs, but the shadow cast into the cracks blocked its warmth. There were no signs of ZOIDs, only soft sands mixed in with dry cracked ground stretching for miles on each side.  

[Blade Kuroda]

Bent-Tail listened to Zutnic nervously as they moved on along. So the change might not.. necessarily be bad. Since the striker had been changed, but he definitely liked him now than when he was trying to kill them all! That was definitely an improvement.

After some more walking, Shun was finally able to see clear skies ahead of them. It was relieving to see, as it meant they were almost out. However, as he made his way out, he noticed that there were no signs of their Zoids anywhere. They must have traveled some distance away.

Furthermore, he didn't see any signs of Tyrant or anything Talon could be in. Then again, the guy was supposed to be missing in action anyway.

"...Alright. Now to find where our Zoids are," he murmured, "Bent, Zutnic. Think you can locate them?"