the third sign

[keterclass]

[It started as another normal, tense day in the city. While people have been searching around the clock for leads, there's been very little new things to unearth since the reveal that Professor Hojo and some of his associates were the ones behind it. Frustratingly so, they've been remarkably good at covering their tracks.

However for those who are in Central Square? Will suddenly feel the ground rumbling slightly, as if a small earthquake just went off. The air itself will also feel heavier, as the spirit energy in the area intensifies.

For anyone with magic detection that are anywhere in the city? Forget those subtle signs, because there will be a massive outpouring of divine light energy radiating from that part of town. The energy itself is pure white in color, resembling ghostly flames, and shines extremely brightly. For anyone whose seen Shroud in action, the signature will feel familiar even if it's comparing a couple droplets to an entire ocean in sense of scale. Even the other godly energy signatures in town are tiny in comparison.

The light will only last 3 minutes before it disappears. But in that time it should be easy to pinpoint where it came from: from beneath the Crystal Tower in Central Square.

At the same time, a message will get sent on the network. Nephrite doesn't know how long he'll have to broadcast, so the first thing that goes up is a pre-written block of text.]

This is Nephrite Curtiss of the Black Order. The captives you're all searching for are being held in the basement of the Crystal Tower. I accepted an offer to work with the research team in order to remain close. I've been doing what I can to gather information, sabotage Hojo's results, and ease the suffering of the subjects, but I haven't been able to find any way out by myself. Follow the beacon Jun is setting off and get here as quickly as you can: some of them are in serious need of medical attention. They've been forced to fight in a "gauntlet" that pushes their endurance to the limit, and those who have fallen out of the running are in bad shape. Jin, Veldora, and Dante are the only ones still in fighting condition right now.

All of us are wearing bracelets that suppress our powers outside of experimental sessions; it may be better not to remove those recklessly, as some of those who are particularly badly injured might see their powers go out of control.

[Then, a video feed pops up. Neph is alive and uninjured, although he looks very tired and stressed.]

I don't know how long I'll have to broadcast. Jun has done something reckless to offer us this opportunity; he wouldn't explain to me the details, but I'm sure he would have done it sooner if it wasn't risky. I'm the only one who hasn't been-

[A door opens behind him, and Hojo enters, flanked by guards. Nephrite turns to face him.

"Of course. And I thought you were a man of science."]

You never understood one single thing about me.

["Clearly."

The feed cuts off. Nephrite will not be responding.]

Comments

voice | UN: Flamelord420

[replicannot]

[Luke is worried about Jun. Luke is worried about Harumasa. And Luke is worried about Neph.]

[And everything almost, almost seems fine until Neph gets cut off.]

Hey, old man?

[There’s no response on the other line.]

Old man!

un:kesitakame

[hoshikiri]

[Takame was rushing to get his armor on, but he stopped to talk to his student so as to sound calm and not invoke more stress.]

Luke-kun. You must remain calm. Nephrite is a capable man and the danger will be lessened if we make haste. We cannot do this if we panic.

Remember what we learned about meditation.

voice; un: belleoftheboulevard

[greatlydares]

[sounding very stressed:] Luke, stay where you are!

[If Hojo gets his greasy little mittens on any more of her family she will probably try to rip his heart out herself. Luke, god, Luke.]

We can't run off to the Crystal Tower to rescue them immediately, and certainly not on our own.

un: fuego

[fuegor]

[When Lighter spoke it was clear and addressing whoever he could. Anyone he was formally affiliated with and not.]

Everyone get ready for a big one. All hands on deck. Anyone who's able to teleport more than themselves try and help your friends who can't get a ride. Coordinate and we'll get everyone back.

Stay together, healers and medics be ready. We've got this.

[...Time will bring an answer eventually. Jun, Harumasa, everyone. Hang on.]

UN: anby | voice

[burgersplease]

After this is over, please help me find a new place.

[Because FUCKING HELL]

Anby of the Black Order reporting in. Haru-chan's still alive, but his condition's turned critical just now. That's what the wellness tracker he gave me just said.

action

[moderni]

[They're both on their way to help with different things, there's a million tasks to be done as they prepare for the assault, but before they go Maxima is going to take one moment to pull Lighter in with an arm around the waist and press a quick kiss to his hair.]

Go, be safe out there. Wriothesley and I have the Fortress side of things handled.

video | UN: Thorn

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose is angry.]

[But more than anything she’s scared. What’s she supposed to do without Veldora’s light? His warmth?]

[The thought of storming the basement alone crosses her mind, but she stops herself. There are people who care about her, and she can’t be careless, not if she wants Veldora back.]

Whoever is holding them, I don’t know if you’re watching this, but if you are—-

You are going to return my dragon to me. If you do not, you are going to find out why my moniker is “the god killer” on my home star.

voice | un: paintedfox

[stripartist]

Be careful, Rose. We don't want to lose you and Veldora.

[You are Takame's little sister. You be safe.]

video; un: hextechnician

[hexcrafter]

Impeccable timing. I haven't tested this yet, but no time like the present.

[In the background, the sound of an engine (recognizably belonging to a magitek armor to those who know one) whirred and hummed to life, Viktor pushing a pair of goggles onto his head.]

So I suppose we will have to see how the doctor likes being on the other side of scientific progress. [A Tinkaton in matching goggles hopped up into the machine behind Viktor with a grin.]

...If we live through this, Nephrite, remind me to buy you a drink.

voice | un: lycaon

[paraselenic]

[He would be video-ing this, but unfortunately he sniffed too close to the Lord again and would not be able to aim his camera right, so...speakerphone for now. Viktor can likely hear the sounds of a young woman and two other men in the background, along with some Bangboo and Pokemon white noise.]

I see you have been hard at work, Viktor. Is this what you have been up to when you weren't fine-tuning my legs?

Not that I am complaining.

voice; un: archangel

[thearchangel]

If we live through this, you have got to show me whatever that is.

[Focus, you nerd!]

un: shineon; voice

[onahairtrigger]

[Inhale, exhale. Okay, so this is... not great, but that's going right into the compartment to unpack never, it's time to be responsible.]

I'm going on ahead to start setting up a triage station! If anyone wants to lend a hand, be my guest-- we're gonna need a lot of hands on deck when we kick down the door.

If you're a noncombatant and want to help, we could use extra hands and people to run errands. If you're going in there, I have med kits for any emergency treatment and I've been brewing potions--healers and POKEGO members get first dibs on those, though.

voice; un: silverrose

[fionnuisce]

On my way with a case of my own potions; won't do a lot, but they'll stop you bleeding out in a pinch. I'll help set up until the door-kicking in question. And if they try to stop us in the process, I'll cover you.

voice | un: lycaon

[paraselenic]

[The message was clear, and Neph's broadcast would not be put to waste. Lycaon doesn't have much time before Jun's signal is cast and...

The light was enough to track on its own. But that's not what has him gripped so suddenly.

The scent he'd picked up from that cross--the comforting aroma of bread and the mulled scent of wine. The way it tingles his nose up through his eyes and to the tips of his ears. The scent of something otherworldly that causes a kaleidoscope of over-stimulation in all senses.

It takes everything in him to answer. One will notice his voice is strained, and a bit choked up despite his deep tone.]

You have been heard loud and clear. Everyone, it is time to take back what has been rightfully ours. Plan accordingly.

I have picked up Jun's [Let's go with 'Jun's' for now.] scent and will be tracking posthaste.

[ooc: Hugo and Lia are free to action this]

action!

[fuegor]

Easy there. [God Kush ain't nothing to fuck with. Lighter made his own declaration to the network just before Lycaon's. Hopefully people don't scramble and panic or act irrationally.

He couldn't blame them. He was just as livid and ready to break noses and then some. But they needed clear heads.]

Finally got our mark, it seems.

un; mockingbird | text

[myriadeclipse]

Mockingbird will be taking all recoverable data and records from the facility. Should there be any requests having to do with this, you may ask now.

Otherwise, you may ask Dan Heng post recovery.

not here

[lanternae]

[Don't mind him. Just everlasting pride for seeing this declaration.

Mockingbird truly has come back.]

voice; un: the Duke

[loupmorque]

God damn it.

Thank you, Neph. We're coming to get you guys. I promise.

*No acts of solo heroism here,* ANY of you.
I know this message has sparked outrage in most of us, but they know we know, and that we're coming.

Do not give them the opportunity to lessen our numbers more.

We assemble. We plan. And then we strike.

[onahairtrigger]

Most I'm doing is making sure we've got a place to handle emergencies on site. That being said, I'll wait for help to do it.

[Oh, right--] I'm leaving a couple of my Pokemon to mind the Meropide infirmary in the meantime.

voice | un: lightkeeper

[lanternae]

[Flins doesn't elaborate much, seeing the light from the Crystal Tower at his lighthouse and feeling the shockwave of holy energy that would be enough to subdue any supernatural being, let alone him.

But he is able to say what he's wanted to say since this investigation started.]

Thus did I foresee — waves crashing on the shore, the night sky devoured by deathly silence.
Thus did I declare — whomsoever cradles the flame and keeps it burning unquenched need not descend into that darkness.
We are the Lightkeepers, who shine the eternal light of hope into the endless snow-swept plains.
Thus did I vow — our bones and blood shall use as fuel, we shall make life greater than death.
The winds awaken, the leaves whirl round.

Lauma, Jun, Harumasa, Zhongli, Zevran, and everyone who has been taken from this city.

We have seen your flare, and we will be the lighthouse to bring you home.

Never again will this storm enter your waters. [He'll make sure of it firsthand.]

voice; un: belleoftheboulevard

[greatlydares]

Neph, we heard you. We're on our way.

[Ignore the hammering of your heart, Proxy.]

We're going to need to set up a triage tent outside the Tower—are there any exit points that could be used? We'll want to choke off any escapes they might try.

I have maps of the Crystal Tower, but they're of the upper floors. How useful they'll be for the basement, I'm not sure.

[onahairtrigger]

Already on it with the triage tent. Just waiting for extra hands so I'm not alone in setting it up.

voice | un: blackbirdtarot

[drewthetower]

[Slightly pained:]

Whatever Jun just did fucking hurts like a bitch, so if anyone's got a holy allergy be careful going in. Saying that, of course I'm going in because I don't have an allergy. [Just a sensitivity! Shut up.] So no one attack the giant bird demon, okay?

not here

[hexcrafter]

[as long as you're not one of those filthy fuckin corviknight-]

text; un: doordasher

[doublethumbsup]

ok so uh
Good news and bad news

bad news
i still cant get in there
I tried I’m sorry

Good news
Uh
We know where to look now? I guess

voice; un: lycaon

[paraselenic]

[Hermes has been trying so hard. He won't let their efforts be for nothing.]

Do not lose heart, Hermes.

Once we have them rescued, we'll need to get them to the triage posthaste. Do you know of anyone who can deliver them right to the location?

I would think they would be the linchpin for the successful rescue.

[Someone get a closet set up in that tent.]

Not Here 1/2

[sindeerly]

[Alastor and Michael have been patiently watching for the third sign. All they have is patience, really, even as Jun's prayers have become increasingly stronger. They know what that means. Jun's life is in the balance. When prayer becomes easier to hear, that is when the person is at their most desperate. It's at its strongest before death.

The Lord, as always, comes through in the end. He's on a balcony enjoying tea when he sees the flare of holy light. Where others might buckle under the Lord's power, Michael allows Alastor not to. Being near such power isn't harmful to demons such as him, but being cut by it would.

Seeing this flare, the Radio Demon sets down his teacup and he begins to laugh. Delighted. Unhinged.

FINALLY, he can visit Holy Vengeance as promised!]

Voice | RadioWaves 2/2

[sindeerly]

[Alastor comes onto the network out of courtesy.]

We have our third sign! I'll be making some preparations myself in the meantime.

However, I do need to warn everyone as per my contract with a certain Archangel:

[A frankly horrifying distortion comes through on the voice end. It's like radio static and multiple layers of voices at the same time, yet his words are painfully distinct.]

G̵̳̅̐̒͘ĕ̵̢̨̳̖͚̉t̸̢̳̖̫̔̓͛̇̆ ̵͉̭̖̹͋̽̓i̷̡͊̈́ṇ̵̞̪̿͌̕͘ ̸̤̒̊̑m̸̡̠͚̯̋ͅȳ̸̗̿̀̊͛ ̵̥̯̪̫̽̇̾̂̕w̶̦̹̪̼͐͠ā̵̺͉̺͕̀̾̑y̶̧̺͗̌̈́͒,̶̯̎ͅ ̸̙̀̇́ą̸̔͒̎̏n̷̰͈̉̚͝ͅd̶̢̘̗͝ ̵̰̮̦͆̅y̶͚̺͉͍̓͠õ̶͇̯̺͕̤̿̃̚͝u̵͍̹̰͕͑͆̿͠͠ ̴͓͙̔w̷̡̹̲̎͜͜ȋ̵̯̣̯͕͒͒̇ḷ̴̭͚̑͐̏̈́l̴̜͖̣̝̳̐̔̂ ̶̛̲̀͐͒ṣ̶̌͑u̶̟̗̱͖̍͑͜͠f̵͇̖͙͒f̸͉̤̌͒̑͜e̷̤̟̖̦͊̎̍̎͘r̶̡̛̒̏̑̑.̷̺̠͋

[His voice then goes back to normal as he continues like nothing happened.]

So try to keep a certain distance once we reach a certain point! I may not have the capability of visiting the Plagues upon them, but I do have an angry Archangel of Vengeance in my head~.

voice: un:trienemybest

[droptheious]

[Varian has had his wellness tracker on since Jun went missing - it didn't come back immediately, but at some point, Jun got his own engagement ring back, and it meant he could keep track of his partner's rapidly declining health. It's been weeks of feeling Jun get worse and worse and worse. Of feeling Jun getting every closer to dying. He very nearly snapped at one point already, and it was only Ratio pulling him back from the brink, telling him he wouldn't want to get innocents hurt that stopped him from rampaging across the city. But he still hated it. He hated feeling his partner wasting away while he sat here and did nothing.

This is far, far worse. He can pick up what happens to Jun- and how he very swiftly stopped being Jun. That was almost overwhelming, but at least it was relatively brief. What comes after is what truly splinters his heart - because the trackers lets him pick up Jun falling. Jun dying. He stands where he is, staring at his hand in horror, pale- realising he was too late. They'd wait and waited and waited and it had been too long. Neph's post comes up but he's barely focusing on the words, on what's being said. He's just stuck, sensing his partner fading away and knowing he can't do anything about it. Jun is swiftly stabilised, but it does nothing to ease the panic in his chest. ]

If he survives this, I'm going to fucking kill him.

[ It's rare Varian swears at all - that's a treat usually only reserved for Jun - but right now he's not thinking straight. He needs to get to him, he needs to get to him now. ]

I'm done waiting. You've made me wait all this time and he's - he's not going to last much longer. I'm not willing to let him die when we know where he is. I don't see how waiting any more will help us - it'll be just as much of a mystery to us in a day as it is now. I'm done and I'm going.

voice; un:lightkeeper

[lanternae]

[Flins' quiet voice comes through the feed, gentle and calm. He's spent these past few weeks compartmentalizing his feelings. Putting his rage into a jar to be unleashed when the time is right. His Lightkeeper duties took over that. Right now, he had to be Varian's light, so that Jun could have Varian to come home to at all.]

Only to what, be vaporized at the front door?

Let us not forget that it was He alone that was able to give us a signal. I am not planning on stopping you, but what are you going to do when you find him? Will you know where the triage is? Will you know your way out?

You are a scientist, Varian. You do not perform experiments without precautions.

Allow me, or us, to help you in that sense.

voice; un: archangel

[thearchangel]

Well.

There goes the neighborhood. If I had a credit for every time some horrible series of experiments were going on under a perfectly normal seeming living sector… I’d have three.

Weird it happened that many times though.

Anyway - if anyone needs an extra hand topside, I’m in. Sounds like assisting the support personnel will be a priority.

voice | un: blackbirdtarot

[drewthetower]

You'd be amazed at how many times that tower's had something fucked happening to it.

Text | UN: RoyalRoad

[krihnnges]

[DEAR SWEET MENPHINA THAT WENT OFF RIGHT IN HIS OWN HOME WHAT THE HELLS—]

The other Warriors of Light and I can help take point, I think, but we don't know what kind of renovations to expect down there.

However, I do recall that there were monster experiments conducted within. Nothing super memorable sticks out to me, other than the, ah, the one at the very end, but if Hojo continued that same trend... we should go in expecting it.

I can help with combat, but I... do have to warn everyone that I don't have full control over the power given to me by my job stone. Think of it like a magical connection to all those who had this stone before me. As a Warrior, it awakens what we call an "inner beast" that gives us strength and supernatural fortitude. The downside is that if you don't control it, you could go into a berserker rage that won't stop until you're knocked out. Like... it'll keep you raging without eating or sleeping.

Um, all that to say that I would really appreciate it if people could keep an eye on me just in case?

un:yiling

[conseqweinces]

[...

This isn't how he wanted to tell Corrin he was here. This wasn't how he wanted this to go. But if he will be a danger to himself and others then it has to be done. Even if it doesn't happen.]

Rin'er.

[only one person called him that...]

If it comes to that, I may have something that will bring you down from that state, okay? Listen for the sounds of a flute.

Voice | UN: lunae

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng feels a bit like he got hit with a flashbang, but he's not letting that show in his voice.]

While Josuke sets up the triage tent, the rest of us will need to make preparations. If you're capable of creating potions or setting up medical supplies, please report to the triage tent. If any of us requires potions or medical supplies to take inside, talk to Josuke.

[He's really pulling more heavily on Dan Feng's memories. The years spent campaigning to hunt down Abominations of the Abundance.]

Wriothesley, Maxima, if you two are willing, I would like for you to help me form scouting parties. We can use triage as our base of operations for now. We might not be able to get much information, but we can at least try to help Belle locate the best entrance and exit points.

Given the size of the Tower, I would also expect there to be doors big enough to send mechs through. Any engineers should set up a centralized rendezvous point to make their mechs and other automatons ready for incursion. Blade will be my point of contact if you need to reach me.

voice; un: hextechnician

[hexcrafter]

Understood.

If said doors are not big enough, I assure you that can be swiftly remedied. I am not an architect, but a little percussive expansion in a few places should pose minimal threat to structural stability.