[FIN] Dangerous secrets (Talon and Shun)

[PuddleInk]

The message was a surprising one indeed. Talon wasn't too shocked that they were to investigate. But he wasn't too willing to go face danger so soon. Moe gave a small squeak and rolled over for a belly rub, apparently oblivious to the news of the mission.

The Tyrant stopped and spun around to head to the mentioned site. There seemed to be a spring in its step as though it was eager to observe this new Zoid. Keywords, Observe. But it didn't get far as Talon had to remind it to wait for the Sabre Fang to catch up.

Talon made a mental note to see if this could be billed as overtime. Though there was a fat chance of that.
"Do not like this at all... " he grumbled over the comm. Were Talon's 'Doom' senses tingling? Not really, but after that temple run he wasn't too keen on getting into a combat situation over damaged ruins. That'd put a damper on his day.  

[GunSniper]

Nothing seemed off about these ruins at first glance. They were sand, crumble and covered with the usual desert vegetation just like any desert ruin in the Imperial territory.

However Atelius was able to point out some new and interesting things no one would normally see. Some of the vegetation was slightly shifted from its normal position, sand in some areas were not as consistent as they would have if left alone and there were a few extra cracks where there had not been before. Possibly because vibrations cause by a passing by ZOID. All the details were sent to Talon as soon as they came up... bird knew how to pay attention.

He also pointed out that he could sense an advance cloaking device near the ruins... it was close and hiding. However Atelius was unable to connect any communications with this ZOID and was blocked from getting any images of it. It was because of this 'block' he knew it was there. Irony.

Zutnic rolled his eyes and cursed the show off seeker. Pilots would be far more impressed with tearing things apart, not looking at plants that moved a little.  

[Blade Kuroda]

Silently, Shun agreed with Talon on not liking this situation. There was a short sense of relief when it seemed like nothing was around the ruins. However, the information the Seeker had provided proved that this really wasn't the case. The soldier was fairly impressed with the bird's observation skills, but considering Zutnic's cursings, he decided not to admit it.

"You'll get your time to shine, don't worry Zut," he said. It may not be too far from the truth, depending on what was hiding around here.

The saber fang took a few steps closer towards the ruins, but without the ability to see the mystery Zoid, there wasn't a great deal he could do aside from staying alert.

"So how the hell do we drag this thing out then?" he grumbled.  

[PuddleInk]

By this time, the Tyrant had been brought to a halt to observe and process this information. Talon was petting the little dino in his lap absently as he studied the screens. Seriously... that was one good mirrored Zoid to only be noticed by the mer misplaced plant frond and some shifting caused by weight.

"Well...do we really want to drag it out? For all we know it could be a pirate that happens to have a really, really good cloaking device. " That was really unlikely. A rogue having access to that sort of technology...hell! Even the military getting their hands on something that perfect was slim to none.

Moe gave a purr and swatted Talon's hand when it stopped the petting motion. Cuddles peered out and waggled a tentacle and went back to playing with its travel lego set, (best way to keep the thing from randomly damaging something or pressing something was to keep its mind engaged. It worked. ) Nothing of any importance it seemed was going on.

Talon moved the Tyrant to get a better view of things. "If you really want to draw something out or get a look at the location, simply make it impossible to hide. " Nope...no better view so the raptor sat tight, trying to make itself as low of a profile as possible... Seriously, it was hard in a land of sand and ...er...not green, but somehow the large raptor managed. "A smoke screen in the entire area would work to at least get a look at the thing... Or a dust cloud. "  

[GunSniper]

"Zutnic shine nice in the sun. Sad human pilot not see that... think Zutnic need a polish? Make Zut shiny for human and other less good pilot jealous." Zutnic snorted proudly. "Zutnic also make ZOID better, sharper... just because Pilot better."

Atelius rolled his eyes. It was an obvious display to get him riled. He already knew his pilot was far better. He's have to make his ZOID reflect that too some day. It would be a slow process...

Luckily for them they wouldn't have to waist the energy to look for the ZOID. The area in front of the entrance blurred and distorted a little before the red ZOID revealed itself to the two. Both scythes were reversed in striking position, but the ZOID itself was not in an attacking position.

It's strange silver hand flexed as it looked at both ZOIDs than hissed.

Atelius hissed at Blaze. The great mother was attached to this one. "It is looking for its pilot..." It spoke to Talon and relayed the message to Zutnic.
 

[Blade Kuroda]

Zutnic might not have gotten what he meant by shine there, but his taunts were amusing nonetheless.

When the red zoid showed itself, Shun's grip on the controls tightened and his eyes narrowed as he watched it. So it seemed it currently was without a pilot.

Carefully, he looked over the zoid before him, finding it vaguely familiar. Thinking back, he did recall seeing a strange red bipedal zoid with large blades in the distance after his run in with the Jury. There was also something about that arm of its but he couldn't put his finger on that at all. In any case, he was more interested in whether or not this was the same zoid as the one he spotted briefly.

"I think I've seen this Zoid before..." he murmured before addressing Talon and Atelius, "Exactly how did it lose its pilot in the first place?"  

[PuddleInk]

Talon was pretty much speechless when that red Zoid appeared. The Tyrant had a response though; it hissed in return and its main toe talons clicked on the dirt, a nervous tick as well as a rather pathetic intimidation tactic. Seriously... A Rev Raptor against a souped up what appears to be a Gun Sniper? No contest... At all. And both the Tyrant and its pilot knew that. But hey! Better fight and die trying than just roll over... sometimes.

Gathering himself, he blinked and took a better look at the Zoid after being informed that it was familiar to Shun, and it appears to be looking for its pilot by the carrion bird. The arm thing was familiar, but all he kept getting was this distinct impression that he didn't want to think anymore on that else bring up thoughts of the Iron Judge.

"Oh goodie. Glad that its familiar to you. " Nope, Talon had never seen anything like this. Though he had heard some stories about it. The stories summed up to ' I saw these footprints in the ground and saw something red running away... looked to be some sort of bipedal thing from the tracks...' . Great description... "But I'm more concerned with whom its pilot is rather than how it lost the pilot. For all we know the pilot upped and left the thing for some reason. 'Who' could tell us 'why' faster than 'why' could tell us 'who'."

A little light went on as he thought about it more and more. "Atelius... Black fog was here earlier, correct? " That would mean that this Zoid was following ... Talon's head tilted to the side. "What a curiously complex situation we've stumbled upon, Shun. Quite curious... "  

[GunSniper]

"Correct."

Atelius relayed the question of its pilot to Blaze. The answer it got back was something that the seeker was already aware of, from the moment it was 'tamed'. Though, this ZOID's involvement made the situation clear.

"Great Mother and her Greedy hand fought causing this ZOID's core to become very unstable when it was transformed from a gunsniper. Death Mother won the fight and took the Pilot..."

Atelius paused, that probably made little sense to the pilot. Humans had forgotten who the great mother was, and her four 'hands'. "'Her greedy hand' would be the pilots 'organoid' as you call them. If that would make more sense to you."

Zutnic groaned. "Inferior pilot make Zutnic head hurt more... say silly things. who, why, who is fast... Why fast too... silly silly things. Not need know that! Only know pilot! Zutnic know pilot... it Great mother's organoid! That your fast who and why."

-I am no threat to either of you, unless you wish to be a threat to me. Your friends signal you have my pilot's trust, so you have mine. Do not break it.- Blaze relayed his message this time thorough text that would appear on the screens in front of the two pilots.  

[Blade Kuroda]

Listening to what Atelius and Talon had to offer, Shun was beginning to get a suspicion or two on who this Zoid was. Zutnic's quick and simple interjection just confirmed it.

"Ye tell 'em Zut!" chimed in Bent-Tail randomly, cheering on the striker.

The message sent from the red Zoid itself padded that affirmation as well. Blaze seemed to have one hell of a makeover.

For a moment, he would have thought that Nick would stick around and try and find her Zoid but he remembered her saying that Blaze had been destroyed. Perhaps she didn't realize what had happened to it. Either way, Shun relaxed a little now.

"Well this is interesting..." he mumbled, "..Blaze, right? Do you know what your pilot is planning exactly with all these ruins visits?"

If he had any information on her location he would have offered that instead of a question. To be honest, he wasn't entirely certain if he wanted to know the answer in the first place.  

[PuddleInk]

So Talon wasn't really up to date on the whole Blaze thing. Big deal. He hadn't seen the Zoid nor ever encounter it before. His questions had been completely logical. And they had gotten him the answers he wanted.

Moe chirped and clamored up onto Talon's head to get a view at this mysterious thing. It was facinated with it, but squeaked in some fright. Blaze looked scary... in that friendly sort of way, if such a thing exists. And the words that scrolled across the screen confirmed that it was a Friendly. Moe chirped happily and swatted at Talon, which resulted in the combat system being turned off. "Fine! Fine... You're funeral in case something else shows up... "

Blaze? So that was this Zoid's name? Interesting, but the question was simple.

"Releasing the creatures that lay dormant within... That's what she's doing. From what I learned, not by free will. " Talon answered Shun's question quickly. The pieces fell into place for that one. Curiosity beckoned to know what sort of being lay, or laid dormant within. Perhaps there had been none. But he was itching to find out despite his better judgement. Curiosity would be the death of him no doubts.

For the most part, Talon kept silent. There was no point in talking. Well, at least to Zut who seemed to have it out for Talon. Fine by him.. Ally of Nick or not, that little razer was getting on Talon's last nerves.

Wait...orders. Yes. Probably had to notify the Gun Sniper about their mission or what not. " We were sent to investigate on claims of sightings of a strange Zoid after an explosion. Obviously, our situation is complicated, as we cannot just turn around and say we found nothing. Prints, fissures, and botanical damage evidence would call us liars. " Then he realized that by even associating with Nick, keeping Atelius out of sight, and now by even considering doctoring a mission report to exclude the Sniper, he was pretty much a traitor to the Empire. And he gave a long sigh.

He needed a vacation, too bad he used them all already.  

[GunSniper]

"Zutnic did!" Bent-tail encouraging Zutnic only made his pride swell. It felt good to have an organoid agree. Even if it was an unnatural one. Luckily for Talon the striker had nothing else to say about that, he was too busy feeling proud of himself.

Atelius 'rolled his eyes'. Pathetic machines strikers were. He clearly had the more superior pilot in every way. There was no way he would follow a moron...

-... Yes, I am Blaze.- Blaze nodded once.
-yes, not by my pilot's will, but the Executioner's orders and the Judge's commands. From what I have seen in my pilot's memories, my Pilot is what humans call a 'puppet' for them.- The two scythes flipped back around to their neutral position. There was no need to be ready to use them any more. At least with these two. -The Judge spoke of revenge on those who forgot. Mass attack on humans. That would be my guess for why these creatures are being released. However, I do not know anything about them. Memories do not go past the fight and my upgrade.-

The second question was curious. Blaze was somewhat familiar with what had to go on reports, but he had never lied on a report nor has he heard Nick give one in a long time.
-By stumbling into these affairs you have greatly endangered yourselves with your Empire and the Judge. The Empire does not realize you are protecting them from a powerful force... and for your new position I am sorry. However, realize you are still serving your duty as soldiers. Though it may not seem it now... You are aware of a greater trouble and will be ready. Choose your words carefully with your superiors in your report. Jury listens to anyone who comes into contact with it and the Black Fog.-

The sands just behind the temple begun to shift as the ground shook a bit.  

[Blade Kuroda]

Blaze's info was rather insightful, and it did clear a few things up considering Nick did not seem the type to really want to associate with the Jury and whatnot. It also explained those chords that had more or less attacked her back at the temple.

With this new info in mind, Shun had to wonder how many of the recent incidents had to do with the Judge. Whoever the Judge was exactly, they certainly knew how to cover their tracks effectively.

Thinking now on their current situation, the soldier couldn't help but feel somewhat bitterly amused that he'd have to lie to the higher ups once again. In any case, he saw their issue here as a double-edged sword as Blaze had put it. They knew of the problem that was ahead, but at the same time they were going to need to tread very carefully.

"We have time to come up with a story. I suppose to help our case we might be able to put up a mock battle of sorts and say that we basically chased someone back into rogue territory," he mused before pausing. It was hard to feel inside the Saber Fang but he could have sworn he felt a light tremble, "Did anyone feel that?"  

[PuddleInk]

By now, Talon was burring his face in his palms as he was thinking of how this would work out. Yes he had paid attention, right up until the point when Blaze started talking about black fog. Nope...he had no memory of that stuff, but he knew from the looks of the stuff in the distance earlier that it was bad news. And he was reminded of the Judge. Scary homicidal lady that one.

Moe had taken to pawing at Talon's back in a feeble attempt at massage, chirping in concern.

It was then that he felt the ground shift, or at least felt Tyrant move a bit. Bipedals weren't as stable as quadrupeds, must be those extra two legs that gave them the edge....darn wolves and cats running circles around the rapters. But now really wasn't the time. The structures beneath them were straining under the weight, and from the shifting, looks like they were collapsing.

"Battle? Sure.... Let's battle over a burried temple that just got a huge structural check in machines that weigh well over three tons. " Sarcasmn dripped from those words,but he pulled his frayed nerves together long enough to not lash out any more at any of them...unless Zut had something to say then Talon would most likely twitch and potentially train his weapons on the shiny big mouth. Nooo he wouldn't do that. But he'd do so in his mind to feel better.

"Scenario is fine. Lets go with that. And lets get back before structure collapses. " Talon urged the large raptor back several steps and the beast happily obliged with a soft hiss. It didn't want to fall either.  

[GunSniper]

The sands seemed as though they would collapse into a pit, but than the sand begun to bulge and bubble upward. Whatever it was was large. Blaze's blades flipped back around into their attack position.

The signal he was receiving from under the sands was strange. Noting like a ZOID or Organoid. Yet he could not tell exactly how large the thing was. It seemed as though it were a mass of them preparing to breach the surface of the sands.

Below the complicated pathways of the trap riddled temple were collapsing. This did little to disturb the surface. Only a few sand shifts here and there. The pathways were quite far below the surface. Yet strangely the temperatures were hotter than normal. A large fire under ground?

Blaze hissed. She was down there... alive and moving quite fast.  

[Blade Kuroda]

As the sands continued to shift below them, it was rather obvious that Shun hadn't been imagining things at first. Quickly, he had Fang step back and away from the moving sands while keeping an eye out for anything that may emerge.

"I don't think having the structure collapsing is our bigger problem here," he uttered.

Narrowing his eyes, he also noticed the temperature rising in the area. What exactly was going on below their feet?

"Atelius or Zutnic... do you know what's causing this?" he asked the two, figuring they'd have the most insight out of them all. The soldier actually figured Atelius would be able to find out sooner, but didn't want to leave the striker out, knowing about his ego and all.