Machinations of Light's Glory - death, decisions, doom

((Time warping here as I skipped doing any sort of RP for those few posts gloating at how awesome of a win that was))

Time seemed to stretch as the ominous construct floated above them. It spoke of a technomatriarchy, ruled by a computer with serious gender issues. It ended when the maid buried the knife into the body of the puppet that was Dan Lawrence, an unfortunate soul tapped by this evil software. However, the loss of the puppet seemed to have carried over to the mechanical being, and it died just as the host had, it's final screech in the form of the exploding temple.

His body was hurled a great distance, landing amongst the ruins and rubble much like the others. He stood, shaking the dust from himself with near minute micro vibrations from various different pieces of robotics found through most of his body. In fact, most was disingenuous, there were only three key places where the technology wasn't firmly entrenched; heart, lungs, and brain. His heart, which beat with somewhat enhanced robotics but was, for all intents and purposes, organic. Was it his first heart? My lord, no. This was his... eighth? Ninth? There were enough impoverished families of healthy people who would gladly give up one of their children for a passport, citizenship, and apartment within Nova Sidessia. Some of those families even managed to strike it on their own, and one family even had a member on the board of directors.

Sometimes all it took was a little push from an external force to really change a situation.

He felt that push, somewhat ironically. It occurred to him that his right side was responding fine, but his left arm was... gone. Shorn off just above the elbow, it left him a little nub that jittered in occasional spasms. He mentally turned off the connections that held that nub in place, and it fell to the ground and broke, it's electroceramic construction shattering without the life sustaining electricity it required.

His immediate exterior was showing, and he realized that his clothes had been blown of of him by the blast. He scanned, and found his jacket, which he wrapped around himself and buttoned. He grabbed the left sleeve and brought it up, doubling it up and electrically charging the fabric to knit together. Ahh the wonders of electricity!

Did I mention that Nova Sidessia was home to one of the most efficient power networks ever? How did you think the baron made his money? He was a power tycoon, and he had tasted them all; hydro, solar, nuclear, hell, he even still had an operating coal plant. The man loved electricity, and technology.

He made his way back to the main hall, and to the rest of his peers. He looked around at those in attendance, and smiled. Well, approximated a smile. Servos whined and moved, and the structure shifted slightly, but you could tell he was happy. He barely even missed his arm. He'd get a replacement eventually.

"So, that was exciting was it not my friends!? Ahhh I am all jazzed up. I will not be able to sleep tonight."

He rooted around in the pocket of his jacket and brought forth a small pad. It sprang to life, and a sinister looking box was detailed in deep detail.

"This is the item Sarkus gave me last night. It is apparently a cursed lockbox of some sort, and I do not intend to open it. Whoever owns it is blocked from scrying. That's all I understand about it."

He set the holo down onto the table for anyone else to look over.

This night would probably be quite exciting.

The Priestess stopped in her tracks. The words "Incoming Signal" flashed before her eyes, and then she heard Dazzler's voice in her ear. It was an emergency signal from the singer. Nebty wasted no time. She raised a hand, giving a signal of her own. A priority request for a remotely-controlled aircar was sent to the servers back at the Light's Glory control centre. The vehicle was immediately dispatched to the Priestess's location, and took ten agonizing minutes to arrive. When it did, she climbed inside and gave it the coordinates from Dazzler's beacon. The car sped away, unhindered by the debris littering the ground. After a few minutes more, the Priestess could see a soft pink glow through the dust. She ordered the car to stop, and scrambled out, nearly tripping over a piece of masonry.

"Dazzler? Dazzler, are you there?!" Her questing hands suddenly found a warm shoulder, and she threw her arms around the other woman.

"I am glad you are safe." She said in a small, muffled voice.

Ann emerged from a pile of rubble on the ground. She was unharmed other than a few rips in her catsuit and one or two cuts.

"Cyberqueen? Really? Mr. Lawrence didn't look like much of a queen to me. But who am I to judge people's lifestyle choices?"

"Not here. Please. Not among this destruction." The singer gently disentangles herself from the priestess and climbs into the waiting aircar, extending a hand to Nebty to help her in. "Headquarters, please. Or what's left of it."

Only once the door is closed does Dazzler take Nebty's hand; she kisses it gently, then rests it on the seat between them. "Your pardon, Holiness." She turns away, clutching her abdomen, and a green glow surrounds her injuries. For the next two minutes, the pop star curses a blue streak in a mix of four languages while broken ribs knit.

"I'm sorry you had to hear that, milady. And with that annoying little detail taken care of...um." She blushes, somehow managing to complement rather than contrast the green hair. "Thank you for finding me. This is rather awkward, as I was raised Jewish, but...are you hearing confession? Just in case I don't make it off this rock in one piece?"

Fade out on two women holding hands in the back of an aircar, heads together, talking in low voices, with the surveillance equipment smoking faintly from a laser blast.

So.. Huh.

Kohei picks himself up from the ground and pats the dust off. Aside from a troubling gouge in his helmet, nothing damaged. Good. Lighting a cigarette, he sits upon a nearby rock and taps his foot nervously.

Well, that was intense.

An apparently unperturbed figure stands in the crater gazing towards the point formerly occupied by a bizarre robot, tapping its clawed fingertips together.

Hmhmhm. A hyperfeminist revolutionary rogue artificial intelligence calling itself 'The Cyberqueen'. What gloriously human nonsense!

Well, shall we begin the arrangement of casting circles for the night? Who wishes to meet with our cyberpope? Or does it appear that someone is already proceeding to such a meeting?

Well, might I request a protection?

If not, you might lose Soli and meself.

I was planning to lead a scry circle myself, but hopefully Anxifera will be willing to lead a protection circle for Equis and one other person?

"Would she be willing to protect me as well? I was hoping to meet with someone tonight, and I would feel better about doing so if I was protected.

Incidentally, who would you like me to meet with? I know that Ms. Soli is rather suspicious of Dazzler. Should I meet with her?"

Sarkus enters the room. As usual he is carrying a satchel bag over his shoulder.

While Dan Lawrence was not a cultist, I am relieved to find that we did not sacrifice another Good soul. So my only question to the Baron now is who does he suspect next.

Also, as the Baron now has the Cursed Lockbox, I am available to join any circle that needs another member tonight.

Ana sneers.

Do not presume even for a minute that I do not sense the ruttish intent in that request! I have seen how your hands moisten when they touch, your pupils expanding, your eyelashes fluttering at a rate of about 31% percent above average when in the presence of each other! Do you think that I, MEIDO 0, can condone such salacious behaviour in this holy land of Light's Glory? Nay, High Priestess, I suggest that you conduct yourself in a manner more befitting of your station and meet with your fellow Dove and comrade Bladida instead. Please do try and figure out who between the two of you betrayed Quantum Bit if you can, hmm?

As for Dazzler, I will lead a circle to scry her - that is, unless TurinTuramba wishes to take over the leading role due to his ability to prevent sandbagging. If a Falcon leads a protection circle today, then that is the only scry circle we will have left, unfortunately.

"If that's how you're inclined to spend your evening, milady." Dazzler fidgets, trying her hardest to ignore the obnoxious little robot in the monochrome uniform. "I realize I've flown somewhat under the radar so far, which is difficult to do when blasting lasers from your fingers. If you would care to meet and discover my, ah, alignment for yourself, I would be much obliged." I knew there was a reason I brought a dress...

If, however, you find a better use of your time this evening, I absolutely understand. And I'll gladly submit to a scry, especially if our MEIDO friend is a little more polite about it."

"Eh? But I..." The Priestess looked away, shocked by Ana's harsh tone.

"Of course, if you believe that it is best that I meet with Bladida instead then I shall. I am, after all, a tool to be used in service of the Light. However," and at this she looked up,

"I would...like to meet with Dazzler, if I may. Therefore, if there is no real difference between scrying Dazzler and scrying Bladida, I would ask you to reconsider. "

"I..." She shot a glance at Ana.

Oh good lord, I know that look. It's the same look on my face any time I've even thought about asking a lady out. Well, Allison, looks like it's up to you to make the move.

"Your Holiness. May I at least invite you back to my quarters for now, with a promise to have you back well before dawn? I've still got plenty of sins I should confess before I end up in whatever passes for an afterlife on this island." She drops her voice. "And I do have a bottle of wine laid by for, ah, sacramental purposes."

Hmph. As long as I see no physical contact whatsoever between the two of you... I guess I shall acquiesce. But never forget! A spotless body and soul is necessary to those of us given the sacred task of cleansing the world of impurity!

Very well then. With the High Priestess off fraternizing with her... "companion", will TurinTuramba please lead a circle to scry Bladida this time? Since my mistress seems to still be recovering from the shock of the explosion, I will go ahead and lead a protection circle tonight for the aforementioned individuals. soundlyParanoid, will you join my circle? I'd like to have as many trustworthy people with me as possible.

Ana scowls at Speak.

And make sure that alcohol is used for clean purposes only! You hear me, young lady?!

I'll gladly join your circle.

You have my gratitude, Mr- alas, as you are no longer fancy, I shall have to revert to calling you Mr. Paranoid my comrade instead.

The Priestess sighed in relief.

"Yes, that sounds like a good compromise. I am sure that no one could have any objections if I am back before I am needed." She smiled at Dazzler.

"And, please, 'your Holiness' is much too formal. My name, such as it is, is Nebty. I would be honoured if you would call me so."

Nebty tried to hide her disappointment.

"Oh, of course. I am at your disposal if there is something you wish to confess. Though the Church of the Light's sacrament does not require wine."

Same as last day I will lead a scry circle. One of the participants will be scried. Since there seems to be popular consensus that Bladida should be scried she will always be able to join the circle even if it is full. I will just ask a different participant to leave. People that have been confirmed as good should join Anabanana's circle first.

Why are you so positive it was a member of the Doves who killed Quantum Bit? What information do you have that you aren't sharing with the group in this regard?

Very well, I shall join Ana's circle tonight.

Well, you'll know what I'll be doing tonight.

Soli-chan ... and I will be having a little private time. And I do mean private fellas. Who knows what sort of tools I'll be poking and prodding at her. She might even get to hollering. But no worries eh? She'll be satisfied with my work.

I know Sarkus was.

"Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought for a second.
If you lead the requested protection circle, I shall lend my powers to TurinTuramba."

I will join Ana's circle of protection, as requested.

No offense Nute, but you do not have a spotless record regarding circles. I would rather that people who have not been in a failed circle yet join Anabanana to maximize chances of success. Or in case of failure increase our list of suspects. More Information and everything.

Offense taken. When you pick a scrying target that isn't fucking ludicrous then maybe you get listened to.

The individuals that have been confirmed are myself, the Demon, Cormac, yourself, and SoundlyParanoid. Therefore all of us should join Ana in her circle to protect Soli-chan and Equis. If Soli dies, bad things happen, or so we're told by SoundlyParanoid.

Follow logic and do what you're fucking told.

*cough* "Demon cannot cast circles. You may have to append that list."

EDIT: "Wait, nevermind. I am assuming that this is the setup you want."

Leader: Ana
Casters: Nute, Cormac, Turin, soundlyparanoid.

Bladida emerged from a small pile of rubble. She patted her pockets and after feeling she still had the box, got up. "Holy Doom, did anyone else see that? A shard of metal got this close to stabbing me right in the fac- hey, what are you two doing. We could die at any moment." She walked closer to the singer and priestess and started whispering under her breath. "Which is why there's no time for an awkward contest. I'd offer you my ship, but I've got some things in there that are probably better you don't see. For your own safety, I'm sure you understand. But don't let that stop you from making a light show somewhere else." She winked behind her visor and wandered closer to the others.
"I'll take TurinTuramba up on his offer and join his circle. Now excuse me, I need to find my gun."

"Perhaps you should substitute Turin for Fontaine? Since he's casting the scry circle."

That would be correct and the most logical way to proceed.

Fontaine has indeed been confirmed. Confirmed EVIL. But since everyone seems to take his word that he is the Shackled Demon at face value, that should be no problem.

Understood. I will join MEIDO Ana's Circle.

Dazzler, not present but tuned in to the conversation through her implants, projects a message to Soli-chan's tablet marked "Attention: anyone who's actually paying attention."

::message begins::
Seventeen left alive. Two circles, two meetings, and three...external players. Assuming Ji-Sidas isn't casting, here's the breakdown so far.

Protection circle on someone (led by Anabanana)
Nute
Cormac
soundlyParanoid
Fontaine

Scry circle on...someone in this group (led by TurinTuramba)
Bladida
Anxifera
Chance
needs one more

Private meetings
Equis/Soli-chan
Nebty/Dazzler

Still twiddling around:

Sarkus
Lazy Shiftless Bastard
Kohei

Unless someone wants to meet with the Baron, we need one of you remaining to get your butt into Turin's circle. The other two can feel free to head back to their ships and do whatever you people do at night.
::message ends::

((Update from Aaron: he's casting in Anabanana's TurinTuramba's circle (edited because I screwed up my math). I hope this is an okay way of tagging, because he's still fixing whatever Ubuntu did to his laptop.))

We've been through this before. It is suspicious that the one-man scry got killed right after revealing his powers to the Doves. That is all.

Chance hawks and spits out a bloody glob of phlegm as he walks over to the group. Bits of dust and debris start practically leaping off of his trenchcoat, pinging onto the ground as he cleans himself with his telekinetic powers. The debris that had fallen on top of him and pinned him is shattered into tiny pieces; even after freeing himself, he'd continued to demolish it with a grim, sour look on his face.

"Turin, buddy." His voice drips sarcasm. "Try to pick someone useful to scry this time."

*Nute is still shaking his head and trying to adjust his implants*

Everything sounds like it's in a goddamn bucket and everything tastes like blueberries and metal. I'm good to keep the protection circle going, but I still can't send anything telepathically. Ravens, if you got anything for me, I'm gonna have to say it where everyone can hear. Which, frankly, is fine by me at this point.

Also, slight correction in Dazzler's summary: no, she's not a target of protection tonight and will never be until she's proven innocent by scry.

::If you're protecting Nebty, you protect those she's meeting with as well. But my summary will be amended.::

Why would that be necessary?