The Console Wars V: Road's End

[Merc]

http://kotaku.com/5937819/

((SOMEONE GET ME A LAWYER))

[gdn001]

((That's the price we have to pay for being too awesome.))

GDN followed the way back to Zim as quickly as possible, and just as he thought, she was in trouble. Some men were shooting at the now opened door, taunting the girls. Zim tried to put up a gunfight, but a small handgun wasn't doing justice to the assault rifles that were firing against them. Fortunately, GDN's shotgun did, and a few shells were enough to surprise the attackers and put them down.

GDN: Zim! Chloe! You two there?
Zim: Yes... Barely... The sound of the door opening must have attracted their attention, they appeared as soon as it was open. I couldn't help but rush inside and hope you would be back soon...
Chloe: Can we just find the exit now?
GDN: Follow me and stay down.

---

They were just an atrium away of the exit, but, just like everything else in the building, it was sealed by a bulk metal cover. To make things worse, the place had an army of the attackers, too many for GDN and Zim to face. All they could do was stalk them from behind a door.

Chloe: That looks like too many of them...
GDN: We will have to find another exit... But where... Yes, of course, the safe room!
Zim: Safe room?
GDN: The room where the governor hid. We must rush back there, it should have an exit to the roof!

With these words, GDN lead the two girls back towards the safe room.

---

The way back wasn't as troubling. Probably because they had killed half the attackers on their first go. The entrance to the safe room was quiet, too quiet for GDN's tastes. He knocked on the metal door, hoping to get an answer. But everything was still quiet.

Zim: Can't you just hack your way into there like you did with Chloe?
GDN: This is the safe room. It can't be opened from outside in cases like this!

GDN knocked harder this time, calling for the governor. He received an answer this time.

Gov: Commander? What's going on out there?
GDN: We have checked the hallways. The building got attacked, we could stop some of them, but the entrance is heavily fortified.
Gov: I thought you had your men defending this event, Commander!
GDN: I had! But they slipped through anyway!
Gov: Well, what are you planning on doing?
GDN: There's a roof access from that room. Open the door and we'll escape through the roof!
Gov: And how do I confirm that you were not captured by one of them and they're using you to get to us?
GDN: You want proof? Check the security feed on the terminal!

After a few seconds, the door opened. The three got in, GDN immediately showed everyone the secret exit on one of the walls.

GDN: Now go before they find out the room is open!

---

It was raining outside, but the time GDN spent enclosed by walls of steel and under the screams of gunfire had muffled that fact. There was an helicopter on the roof, with barely enough room for everybody. GDN jumped on the pilot seat, Zim sat on the place next to him, and everyone else made their way into the back. The engines started, and the iron bird flew off. As it passed by the building's entrance, Zim looked down the side window to see GDN's army stack up in front of the blocked door, preparing to breach. She looked back at GDN, and suddenly reminded that she still had more bad news to tell him.

[Dragonvarsity]

((Only 3 weeks late! Welp, here it is I guess.))

Contact with Jackson had come to a halt, with no response from him whatsoever when Seera would try calling him. Seera could do nothing but continue his job, visiting his work station every morning of the week, as usual. When keeping an eye out around the rooms, corridors, hallways, there was no trace whatsoever of his associate. It had been apparent to him that Jackson was no longer working in the mechanical engineering section. But where was he? Long gone, buried somewhere unknown? Trapped in some locked off building? Or maybe he just stuck with his other field of work?

The thoughts were unclear, yet there was something.. some sort of gut reaction, that Jackson wasn't dead.

Nonetheless, his disappearance was suspicious, and made Seera question whether or not the general had found out about their discussion several mornings ago. If he did, then Jackson could very well be under SEGA's imprisonment, and Seera would be next. With no time to wait, he decided to spend these days to become prepared. He exchanged messages with old contacts, making sure if need be, he could escape Faithville. After all, his past events in the old town never kept him at ease living there again.

Waking up on another early foggy morning, Seera's eyes widened sharply, peering at his supplies. Something was being hidden in the SEGA Headquarters, and before he'd be able to leave the eery town he could never truly call 'home', he'd need to find out what it was that they were hiding from him, as well as the rest of the world.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Heather's mind meandered for a bit as she was escorted back towards her cell room by one of Drago's agents, not exactly needing sleep, but she had no word in it, after all. Her head felt light as a feather for a bit, probably some result of being drugged, with her thoughts directed as to how she walked, stepping in a routine pattern, somehow fascinated by the ways she could approach each drop of her foot on the shining floor beneath her. This simple-minded way of thinking was interrupted though, as the agent grasping onto her arm stopped her all too suddenly, almost making her lose balance and trip.

Heather: "Hey, watch-"

Heather's mouth shut within a second, glancing over with curiosity as the guard simply ignored her, listening to another man began to speak quietly, standing right beside him. The agent escorting her, 'Rick', stepped away, and lead his arms outward, signalling Heather to follow the man beside them.

Rick: "It looks like someone else has been gracious enough to take you off my hands."
Heather: "Well, that's a relief."

Heather followed the unfamiliar man, immediately disregarding Drago's agent as she diverged away from her own prison cell.

Heather: "Usually guards don't just hand prisoners to mysterious folk."
Marcus: "Well, I'm not so mysterious anymore. Besides, I have good reason after all. You know, you're not the only person who came in contact with Isaac Knowles."

Heather stopped in her tracks, not expecting such a response from what was just a stranger to her.

Heather: "Excuse me? How do you know Isaac Knowles?"
Marcus: "See.. that's why I decided to drop by. I was one of the two prisoners these agents just saved, and I think I can offer up some valuable information. Considering you knew Isaac better than I did, I believe you could really be an important asset. Come now, time is of the essence Heather, we have a meeting to attend to."

The two moved forward, along with another guard keeping his eye out, meeting up in a large room with a few agents sitting across a wide table. A conference had been scheduled here, and they were simply waiting for him to return, only they had not expected him to come back with Heather. Heather quickly darted her eyes around, until spotting Drago, who was failing to mask a slight feeling of frustration that spread like a wildfire across his eyes and face.

Drago: "What is Heather doing here? She's supposed to be in her cell. Where's Rick?"
Marcus: "Calm down Drago, Rick's alright. As for Heather, I believe she has a right to listen in on this meeting."
Drago: "Marcus, I respect the contributions you've offered for us, but know your place here. You cannot simply make the decisions for a faction you don't even work at."

Marcus let Drago's comment slip past him, pulling a seat out for Heather, before deciding to respond again.

Marcus: "Then do not think of it as gift, think of it more as a deal."
Addams: "We already have you under arrest in a sense, what deal could you possibly offer?"
Marcus: "Data that those "documents" I've handed over fail to give. This is in fact related to Seera Ihkrov, and Seera Ihkrov is related to Isaac Knowles. Heather knew Isaac better than any of us, and can tell us what she knows."

Drago: "I've already questioned her Marcus-"
Marcus: "But probably not enough."
Drago: "Did you consider that she's been caged in a Blackout prison cell for over a month, and that she might want a little peace and quiet for once?

As the argument quickly grew in temperature, metaphorically speaking, Heather decided to cut in at the end of Drago's question.

Heather: "I'm actually fine, I sort of got some sleep before I escaped the prison."

Drago eyed Heather an annoyed look of his, not really wanting to hear what she had to say right now. Despite his precautionary steps, Heather simply couldn't appreciate them at the moment. Whoever this Marcus fellow was though, she liked him already, and for the first time in ages, she sat back, smiling at how she wasn't just shut out like she would've been if the Nintendo sergeant had his way. How she had actually felt a part of the conversation, and actually had someone to back her up? Sublime.

Despite all this though, she still kept herself attentive, anxious of this new information the Blackout prisoner had somehow acquired.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the most part, the day started out like it always did. Seera got up, got ready, and went towards his car, only this time, he brought some supplies with him, including a large cardboard box, which he fit into the back of the dark green mini-van of his. With the turn of the ignition, the system of his vehicle began to turn on, as he got out his phone, flipping it open to call those contacts of his.

Seera: "White crane to leopard, over."
Contact: "Leopard to White crane. We have entered the 'ville, and wait for further instruction, over."

The code-talk was a bit obnoxious-sounding at times, but in this case, it was necessary, even if some tidbits might have not felt obscure enough to some. Seera drove forward to the SEGA Headquarters, with the slight sounds of squeaking in the back, which reassured what he had planned. At first, the drive was fine. The roads had been relatively empty. In fact, the closer he got to the place, the emptier the roads felt. There didn't seem like there was any sign of obvious danger to drive people out, but he would've certainly preferred it compared to being alone, easy to take out.

Seera: "Leopard, they're clearing out the path. I think I'm falling into a trap, over."
Contact: "White Crane, we've set up a landmark in case of Operation Demeter. do you have the package, over?"
Seera: "Affirmative, the package is secured. I'm going off now, over.

The call ended shortly after that, and within a few minutes, the work station was clear. Seera looked around as he began to slow the car down, looking for the right opening, right where SEGA could get through so suddenly. Within a matter of seconds of looking, several trucks took him by surprise, entering stage right, and ramming into the bottom-righthand corner of his vehicle. While Seera had time to brace for impact, the car did not, tumbling onto the ground, sending him falling over as well. His vision blurred slightly as he tried to escape from the tightened seat belt, and he realized his time of consciousness was short.

Grabbing for his pocket knife, he flipped it open and reached over to the back, as bruises could be felt growing over him, as a result of the crash. He cut open a small hole in the box, and fell back in relief. Objects faded into a dull array of globular blur, vaguely representing their true form, but only by their color. Before going unconscious, Seera could make out certain figures, dressed in blue and white uniforms, the opposite to those of Nintendo's, as they dragged him out of the tumbled vehicle, and towards their own instead. SEGA soldiers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Drago: "Alright then, I suppose we should start from the beginning then, Marcus. When did you first come in contact with Isaac Knowles?"
Marcus: "Two months ago, during the second Faithville Incident. I'm sure you're familiar with such an event."

Drago: "Yes, we got word of that. But why were you in Faithville?
Marcus: "Got stuck in there with the rest of 'em, but I shared interest in the different groups that surfaced across the city."
Addams: "Groups? Such as.. ?"

The agents sat there waiting, as Heather herself grabbed onto a nearby waterbottle, sipping it with continued attentiveness.

Marcus: "Well, there were a lot of shady ones I had heard of. But there was one in particular that had found me when I attempted to escape Faithville, apparently they had the same goal. They allowed me to join, and tried passing on information, things that just didn't make sense."
Heather: "So what, they were prepared to get as much people as they could to convert to some made-up theology of theirs? It doesn't seem very wise with another Console War happening."

Marcus: "I'm not fully sure either to be quite honest, but they'd sometimes ramble on about all kinds of weird myths and legends, all kinds of mythological oddities of a blue.. spirit or something, I don't know. And a device meant to "spread the will of divinity, cursed by its very own creators"."
Heather: "Blue spirit? Did it look sort of like a female?"
Marcus: "Well, they didn't draw much, and of what they did try interpreting, well.. let's just say art wasn't one of their finest talents."

Heather: "Still... wait, did they ever mention the name, Genesis?"
Marcus: "As a matter of fact, I believe they did."

Drago realized how quickly the time was passing, and decided to cut in to Heather and Marcus' conversation.

Drago: "Alright, so we have some ideas on certain beliefs that may be linked to Faithville, and perhaps, SEGA themselves. What happened after you joined this group Marcus?"
Marcus: "We went far, far away from Faithville, which was pretty good considering the blast, even cities like New Natal felt the force with all the radiation-poisoned deaths... after that though, I had found a lead about Blackout, some of the invading forces that struck Faithville. There was an agent named Lemmings, who was part of this supposedly deadly "trio" within Blackout."

Marcus eyed one of the agents standing, making it clear to hand over the documents he had been holding for them. Drago flipped open the manila folder, scanning the papers, before looking up with confusion.

Drago: "This dialect, it's-"
Marcus: "Ascension. You'll have no luck trying to translate that, and while I myself am baffled by such an articulate language, I've gotten a bit of help here and there."
Heather: "Interesting..but how did you end up getting captured by Blackout? Did they find out you were peeping in on their data, tracked you down and lock you away in one of those cells?"
Marcus: "Long story short, yes. And these three agents, they call themselves the "Blackout Triangle." Agents Lemmings and Viper, as well as their leader, Commander Johnathan. He is one of the highest ranking members of Blackout, and he should be listed as one of our primary targets."

Marcus glanced towards Heather as she looked down, a bit dumbfounded-looking.

Marcus: "Is something wrong?"
Heather: "Viper, it's very.. familiar."
Drago: "Maybe the name was mentioned on a phone call, or written somewhere? Is there any way the name could've been mentioned."

Heather: "Viper... viper, viper."

Heather's head scrambled for an answer, before finally, it clicked. That chilling line crept up her spine, from the night that killed Isaac Knowles and Agent Martinez, the night that destroyed Faithville, and the night that had her captured, in the white van, as she recalled it with absolute certainty.

"Agent Viper... we have her in possession."

Heather: "Yes.. yes. He must've been one of the people responsible for capturing me."

((kk, let's see if I can wrap up Chapter 2 next post, maybe even by the end of the week! (Dont get your hopes up..) Oh, and uh..yeah, if I can end Chapter 2 next post, then it will end with a bang.))

[gdn001]

But Zim wasn't going to have to worry about that for another while. GDN was too tired, and said he just wanted to spend the night alone in the HQ. She understood, and went back to the hotel. The sack sat at the commander's chair and looked around. He scanned the bookshelves, and one book caught his eye. It was Getúlio Vargas's biography, the history of the most known Brazilian president. He picked it up and started reading, hoping it would bore him into sleep. But it didn't. GDN decided that studying history wasn't going to make him relax, so he left the book open on the desk and walked out the door.

"Maybe tomorrow I'll get to the part where it gets interesting..."

---

The rain outside had escalated to a thunderstorm, so GDN put on a trench coat and hat. He didn't mind the rain, actually, he sympathized with it. GDN walked along the dark, lonely sidewalk, towards uptown São Paulo. The streets were empty, with the occasional car passing by. GDN kept walking until he could see a silhouette cloaked in the fog. It could have been any other lonely wanderer, but the sack's gut told him to follow it closely.
The figure entered an alley in a hurry, which was suspicious, unless it had noticed GDN and mistaken him for one of these people who roam the streets at night, waiting for their prey to come. But the man entered some night club's backdoor, which contributed to GDN's suspicion. He tried to follow, but the door had been locked. GDN looked around and spotted a single bobby pin abandoned on the wet ground. He picked it up, fiddled with it, then inserted it inside the lock. He then adjusted the pin and inserted his knife into the lock to rotate it. The door was open. These years locked in the Orphanage sure gave him some useful skills.
GDN walked slowly towards what seemed like a mash-up of drum beats. Upon getting closer, he recognized them as being one of these pseudo-music teenagers listen to nowadays. Walk a bit more and GDN found himself surrounded by the teenagers themselves, jumping around the room to the beat of the music. The commander could see the figure already on its way across the mob. GDN started to shove people around to make a path for him.

"Hey, watch it!"
"Get the **** out, old fart!"
"What's a sock puppet doing in here?"

GDN ignored them. He reached a door guarded by a tall bouncer. The man had to be on the other side.

GDN: Excuse me...
Bouncer: Sorry, sack-guy, but this room is for staff only.
GDN: Are you aware of who I am?
Bouncer: No, but you will be if you don't scram!

GDN scowled and walked away, disappearing into the sea of people again. As he looked behind him, he could see the bouncer talking to someone via headset, then coming towards him. GDN pretended he didn't see him, but another bouncer closed his way out.

Bouncer 2: Excuse me, sir, but you will have to follow me.

GDN made a break to the left, towards the DJ booth. The bouncers pulled out a handgun each and began firing at him as he moved out of the mob and onto the booth. Suddenly, the dance floor became anarchy, as everyone was screaming and running towards the nearest exit. GDN placed himself behind the DJ table and prepared his pistol when another bouncer came from a door, wielding a USAS-12.

GDN: What kind of club bouncer in this world carries a freaking FULL-AUTO SHOTGUN???

---

Meanwhile, at the hotel room, Zim had no idea of what GDN had gotten himself into. But she was having her own dilemmas.
Zim found herself at an European town, surrounded by pine trees and snowy mountains. She was starting to get used to these dreams, and just as she expected, [data]Zim was there, waiting for her.

Zim(angry): There you are! I have some questions for you!
[Zim]: I am sorry, but there's no time to...
Zim: Oh really? It was you who took the artifact, wasn't it?
[Zim]: What?
Zim: You were using us! You needed us to get it, so you could just slip it from our oblivious hands!
[Zim]: You mean someone took the data key?
Zim: Don't play innocent! You... Wait, did you say... Data key?
[Zim]: Who took it? Was it the black hooded people?
Zim: Well, no... I couldn't get a glimpse of who was it... Wait, are these black hooded people the same ones that attacked us?
[Zim]: If they attacked you... It means they haven't gotten the key then...
Zim: Then who could have been?
[Zim](ignoring her question): See that mountain over there? (pointing) The one with the castle?
Zim: I see it...
[Zim]: That's castle is known as Mount Bowser's Castle, or Bowser's Castle for short. Despite the name, it is known as one of the latest Atari ruins that are still in good condition for studying. You will find your answers there. Now, I have to go, or else they will find out about me!
Zim: Wait! Who are...

"They?" was all that Zim said when she woke up. She felt her head hurt, confused, then placed her hand on the side table. It landed on a piece of paper, with some notes:

"Bowser Town - France
Mt. Bowser's Castle
Visitor schedules - from 10Am to 4Pm"


Zim didn't remember putting that there, or even writing it. But it was her handwriting.

[Dragonvarsity]

http://kotaku.com/5937819/

((SOMEONE GET ME A LAWYER))

((Uh-oh.))

http://kotaku.com/5943766/the-consol...-in-this-anime

[gdn001]

((Guess who))

The bouncer laughed maniacally as he unleashed a rain of pellets onto GDN's cover. The sack tried to arrange his mind, but he couldn't stop thinking about that specific shooter, and the cover slowly getting mowed down wasn't helping.

Gunner(crazy): I'M COMING FOR YOU, BABY!

The shots were getting closer. Actually they were already too close for GDN's comfort. But suddenly they stopped.

Gunner: Piece of ****, why you...

The crazy shooter had forgotten that guns use up ammunition, and that gave GDN a chance to vault over the remains of the booth and onto the thug. The sack's fist met his face, and despite all the odds, he got knocked down instantly. GDN quickly got hold of the gun and a magazine he could scavenge from the guy in that split second, before going for the next piece of cover. He loaded the USAS and prepared to take aim.

GDN(menacingly): Now the tables will turn...

GDN showered the dancing floor with pellets, surprising all the guards with their mere handguns. Out of ammo and people to shoot, he walked towards the staff-only room, dropping the gun on the floor beside a corpse.

GDN(to himself): Why does everyone that I come in contact with has to shoot me sometime?

He walked down a stairway towards where the man probably went. But, as he was about to turn around a corner, a slash from a knife greeted his arm. GDN screamed and reached for the wound, looking ahead to see the man himself.

Man: I'm going to teach you not to fumble with other's business...
GDN: Judging from the welcoming committee, your business probably matters to me.
Man: Oh really? Well, if it really matters then, I think you would like to know that your little girl is going to receive the same treatment soon...
GDN: What?
Man: After all, you have a piece that is of value to us...
GDN: You mean...

The man clearly didn't want GDN to finish, as he charged towards him with the knife ready, however, GDN quickly blocked his attack and elbow-stroke his arm, making him drop the knife. He retaliated by grabbing GDN and throwing him at a nearby VIP bar. He was about to pick the knife back and attack again, but the sack reached for a full bottle of alcohol and broke it using the man's head. As he tried to regain the upper hand, GDN grabbed and threw him onto a fuse box, leading his body to be filled by a current of energy, and the clothes soaked in booze get on fire. As he was burning, GDN threw a bottle of cold water on him, then the bottle itself.

GDN: Now you better pray that nothing happens to Zim, or I will remember to finish the job...

---

As the commander arrived in Zim's hotel, he noticed the familiar black SUV parked by the entrance. GDN went up the fire ladder, reaching for Zim's apartment window. He could see four thugs like the ones in the club, and Zim lying beside the bed, unconscious. He broke through the window, ending up over one of the invaders, as the others looked at the situation dumbfounded. GDN grabbed the man's knife he was carrying, and that was the cue for the others to attack back. The sack left the knife stuck into one's chest, making the others charge towards him. But GDN dodged their charge, leaving them to contend with the glass door that lead to the balcony. It only took a kick and a shove to lead them to their demise.

GDN: Reminder: your brain is not a muscle.

GDN looked at Zim, heading towards her and kneeling beside her, trying to wake her up.

GDN(worried): They didn't kill you, did they?
Zim(weak): Uuuuhhh...
GDN: Wake up, Zim!
Zim: Uh, what? GDN?

Zim stood up, felt her head and then noticed the two knocked out thugs.

Zim: What happened? Well, duh, you took them out.
GDN: I must ask: what happened?
Zim: They came from through the window. Said they were taking what was rightfully theirs and hit me in the head before I could retaliate.
GDN: They were after the artifact, Zim!
Zim: How do you...
GDN: It doesn't matter! Do you still have it?
Zim: Uhhh... Yeah, sure!
GDN: Let me see it then!
Zim: See it?
GDN: Yeah, where is it?
Zim:...
GDN: Zim?

[gdn001]

((Devastated? Perhaps. But not defeated.))

CHAPTER 4: HISTORY CLASS

GDN's private jet soared over the European mountains, towards a small airport in France. GDN was sitting on the pilot seat, and Zim was next to him. His face showed a mixture of disappointment and anger.

Zim: I told you, I'm sorry!
GDN: ...
Zim: But so what if we lost the artifact? We have better clues now. We can...
GDN: It's not just a matter of clues! We don't know how important that thing was, and we couldn't risk the enemy getting it! Plus, whoever has it also has proof to bring Microsoft against us!
Zim: I... Wait a minute GDN, I had lost it before I was attacked yesterday! If they were with the enemy, why did they come after us anyway?
GDN: You mean to say you had lost it and didn't tell me?
Zim: That... Is pointless to discuss right now. What I know is that whoever has the artifact isn't our main enemy.
GDN: ...or maybe they could turn out to be...
Zim: Jeez, you have to be more optimistic...
GDN: Hmmft... And you have to be more careful...

---

The tourist guide entered Bowser's Castle, followed by a line of people from all around the world. At the end of the line, two sack-figures wearing large coats and sunglasses followed close.

Zim: This is the castle I saw in my dream.
GDN: Good, but what do we do now?
Zim(grabbing a piece of paper): This paper has a symbol painted onto it. It surely is important.

The two made their way deeper into the castle, following the group from afar. That until GDN spotted the symbol on a wooden door behind the protection. He signaled to Zim, who answered by pointing at a guard standing nearby. But, in their favor, a family walked to the guard, asking him to take a picture of them by the castle main door. That was the clue for them to hop over the fence and enter the door.

The other side was dark. Zim grabbed a lighter from her backpack and lit the torches on the walls as they went deeper underground. The hallway ended at what seemed like a cellar.

GDN: I hope you know what you are making us do.
Zim: I have no idea actually.
GDN: my guess.

The place was surrounded by bookshelves, and had a large fireplace at the center. It was round, filled with burnt firewood. It also had four ornaments which seemed like plates, and they had the same symbol from the door.

GDN: What do you make of this?
Zim: We will end up using it?
GDN: *sigh*

GDN passed his hand over the shelves. Most books were ruined, but some were still rather intact. GDN grabbed one, and it had the symbol on the cover. The pages were filled with a weird alphabet of some sort, completely unreadable.

GDN: My guess is that this... Goes over there.

GDN placed the book on one of the plates, and it made a distinctive sound. He ordered Zim to look for more similar books and do the same. Coincidentally, there were only four of the books on all shelves. Upon placing the last book, the fireplace's bottom opened, making the ashes fall down with a large thud.

Zim: We should have seen that coming and cleaned the fireplace...
GDN: There's a ladder leading to a cavern there. Let's just keep moving...

GDN grabbed a lit torch and went down the hole, Zim following shortly after.