Log:Return of the Twins

2010/11/30 	 Devil Dog Dorian Harlequin Jennifer Sword Dancer 1

Sword Dancer is at the Transport Nexus trying to sort out a season ticket for the Maglev. Since she doesn't use the Net like normal people, going to a main office is the only way to buy it.

A severe looking man in tailored grey business suit waits near customs for an international package to clear.

Outside the intercity train station the scene is that of normal organized chaos, with travellers arriving and departing from the Maglev terminal and from both public and private vehicle traffic. The normal routine is disrupted however when a silvery shimmering rift opens in the car park, untidily bisecting a couple of parked vehicles as it grows to a diameter of some eight feet across.

Dorian is in the process of returning from vacation with his fiancee, Zeal Zudares. They're moving through the terminal. Zeal is pulling along her hover-luggage, and Dorian doesn't have any bags with him.

Sword Dancer says, "Qhah, what mean, is not enough money? Is... cha..." She studies the various denominations of notes she has, puzzled. "Is vis enough?"

Sword Dancer, ever alert, is aware something is happening outside. But she also suspects she may be being overcharged, which is of greater concern just now.

The be-suited man looks over from where he waits as a hubbub begins. He cranes his neck to see over and around people. With a grimace he beings to walk towards where he can see what is happening.

From the rift figures are emerging. First a horde of kids, about two dozen, about twelve years of age, dressed in military style battledress uniforms and carrying an impressive collection of infantry and heavy weaponry. Next is a powered battlesuit of modern design armed with a hi-tech compound bow and quiver of arrows. Then a dozen men and women, wearing prison type utilities. These appear thin to the point of severe malnourishment. Two of them are supporting someone looking very like Lorelei. Finally a couple of young women enclosed in force armor.

Sword Dancer studies the faces of dead presidents and suddenly grins. "Qhah! Remember!" And finally produces the right about of money. Much to the relief of the man, who didn't want to get into a fight with the barbarian woman.

Sword Dancer, ticket finally in hand, turns to see the strange sight through the large windows.

Zeal looks up as she hears a bit of a commotion outside, "Dorian, do you hear that?" Dorian furrows his brow, and looks around, "Hmm. Hang out here. I'll go check it out."

As if in response to the unexpected arrival in the car park, one of the cargo containers in the freight area rocks suddenly, topples off the stack it was on top of, and breaks open on hitting the ground. The huge humanoid mecha inside is starting to get to its feet, all thirty feet of it.

The man in the suit reaches a door where he can see outside. His eyes sweep over the gate then the various figures. He rests his head against the glass for a moment, then opens the door and steps outside.

Sword Dancer grins and heads to the door, and then unwraps the long bundle she was carrying to reveal a sword. Looks like there might be some action!

The call goes out on police bands, and media programs are interrupted by coverage from a TV crew on hand at the station to interview a film star due to be arriving shortly.

Sword Dancer calls out, "Zha chydryte stjah, a Jhenifry Jhesicsy, tsajivju!" She runs toward the mecha. "Is evirr robot? Can kirr?"

Dorian hurries over to the door, still not changing form yet, as he figures out what's going on.

Jessica looks at Sword Dancer. "No idea. I've just arrived myself."

Jennifer shouts to the kids, "Stand down. You don't have authorization to operate in the United States. Get the non-combatants to safety." while moving to interpose herself between the mecha and the woman who looks like Lorelei.

The kids run to the people in prison type utilities and picking them up take off at a run towards the Maglev terminal in an evasive fashion and using parked vehicles for cover as much as possible.

Dorian reaches the door leading outside, and steps outside...looking around. "Uh...what the heck?" He quickly tries to assess what's going on.

Now on its feet the mecha swivels to track the running kids and opens fire on them with quad automatic 20mm chain guns.

Sword Dancer leaps to try to reach the chain guns and test this thing's armour!

The mecha swivels bringing quad chain guns to bear on the running kids. Sword Dancer's leap and slash hardly seems to affect the huge mechanical mechanism but the impact knocks the arm on which the guns are mounted out of alignment. A line of explosions and craters is traced across the car park towards the kids but just before the line of fire passes through the spot where the kids are its displaced and slams into a parked car ripping the vehicle to shreds.

Sword Dancer shouts "Tuhtarunyt, a teknorjihmpjot!" Then swear as she has less effect than she hoped.

Devil Dog bares his teeth behind his bandanna and launches himself from hiding, flaming wings sprouting from his back as he swoops down behind the robot. As he gets close he swings both flaming boots around in a dropkick to the back of the huge head, putting some oomph in his kick.

The leap and kick by Devil Dog hammers at the back of the mecha's head. But it's like kicking a very solid wall. However there is at least the satisfaction for Devil Dog of hearing a bit of electrical sparking from inside the armored shell.

The man in the grey suit starts to head over towards the group emerging from the gate. His form fades away as he strides along reveal Harlequin beneath. He snaps off an odd word and points to bring a wall of shimmering energy between the mecha and the kids."

One of the kids who isn't carrying anyone turns to give Harlequin a wave and wide smile, "Thanks."

Sword Dancer seeing she's not in this fight alone - and that her last blow was rather ineffective - changes tacks and adopts a more defensive stance.

Harlequin nods back to the child then turns his attention to the mecha.

Jennifer and Jessica are providing cover with their force armor for the woman who looks like Lorelei.

Dorian changes form in a flash of light, and then flies up in front of the mecha, attempting to draw its fire. He then lets loose with a blast of light at the mechanic monstrosity. "I suggest you stand down, while you still can."

Cohesive light lances out from Spirit's closed fist, striking the mecha in the chest.

The mecha is rocked by the light blast from Spirit. The outer shell is unaffected but some degree of internal systems impairment is evident as the mecha's left eye speaks behind the lens.

Twisting its body, feet firmly planted on the ground, the mecha turns its attention to Spirit.

A visible scanning beam comes from the mecha's right eye. It scans over Spirit. In the large mechanical eye a DNA trace appears near to an empty outline of Spirit. The DNA trace moves over the outline and fades away. Then the scanning beam moves on to a terrified bystander. The same thing happens except this time the outline of the bystander has a DNA sequence shown. The DNA trace is mapped onto the outline and matches with one in the outline. The scanning beam continues moving from one potential target to another until it reaches Sword Dancer. This time the DNA trace does not match the DNA shown in the outline of Sword Dancer, and the mecha swings its chain guns down to bear on her.

Sword Dancer's sword flickers as the chain guns fire, somehow deflecting every last one of the explosive 20mm bullets upwards and over the bay.... "Is good sport!" she grins.

Devil Dog flaps his wings once to vault the head of the beastly robot, spinning in the air so he comes down face to face with it. As he comes down he flaps his wings again and leans forward into his next hit, his fists flaming up as he claps them into an ax-handle and aims it for one of the mecha's eyes, attempting to punch through it and into the nice electrified wiring behind.

Harlequin tilts his head as he looks at the mecha. He mumbles to himself, "I bet there is no life in you, but might as well try." He raises a hand and a grey light lances from it to the mecha.

While the beam does strike the mecha it cannot seem to effect it. For a moment all near it feel a frission of cold but that is all.

Sword Dancer laughs, "Missed me, a pfaznyk! Must try harder!"

Jennifer and Jessica are nearly at the Maglev terminal with the rest who came through the rift now.

Spirit tilts his head, considering his options. After all...he might be able to blind it. But then it might start shooting wildly, which is unacceptable. Instead, he winds up for an alpha strike on the mechanical beast.

Arcs of electricity begin crawling over the surface of the mecha, hissing with evidence of very high voltage. Then a large fist swings down at Sword Dancer.

Sword Dancer somehow dances just out the way as the huge fist comes crashing down.

The mecha's fist slams down splintering the hard surface of the car park and creating a hole almost five feet deep, while the arcing electricity burns and chars the broken fragments.

Devil Dog braces one booted foot against the Mecha's face, trying to ignore the rest of the stuff going on. He pulls back his flaming ax-handled fists and strikes again at the machine's cracked eye, his wings wide to help him keep his balance.

Sword Dancer says, "Qhah, are crumsy, a teknorjihpjot! Need rearn to dance!"

The eye struck again my Devil Dog loses it's lens and is reduced to a mangled mess of photocells and electronics. However Devil Dof gets the full effect of the electrical field keeping the mecha's shell charged.

Harlequin shakes his head and gestures again at the mecha. This time a plume of dark red fire erupts from underneath the feet of the mecha. The smell of brimstone fills the air as Harlequin's eyes briefly flash red in his mask.

Fire bursts forth around the mecha's feet but it seems unaffected.

Spirit releases his built up energy at the mecha by extending his arms forward...and wide beam of light races toward the mecha.

The mecha's systems finally cannot take any more damage. Apart from the broken eye the shell is intact, but accumulated internal damage shuts it down. It topples, hitting the ground with a thud, and flattening a car in the process. A small armor plate on the side of the mech'a head springs free exposing a programming terminal. There's an inscription carved into the smooth metal above the terminal, and on the inside of the plate that's come loose is written in marker --> '2341 = 1249'

Spirit lands next to the mecha, and takes a look at the terminal that's now visible. "Hmm."

Sword Dancer jumps cheerfully aside as the mecha topples. "Tuftfyt!"

Devil Dog looks down at the toppled machine and lets the flames soak back into his body, just before vanishing in an explosion of fire. Mission complete, time to head home.

The inscription carved neatly into the metal above the terminal reads 'MECHA-01-N'

Sword Dancer says, "Qhah, zha chet stjah, a Spirit, tjasivju! Is good fight, yes? Cha, what is wrong?"

Harlequin sighs softly and goes over to the shimmering wall he created. He touches it and the wall draws down into a sphere which he seemingly absorbs into his hand.

Jennifer is running back from the Maglev terminal now the rest have safely left with Jessica. The rift has shut down sometime during the combat but nobody was paying much attention to it.

Spirit touches a key, to see if there is any response...since he doesn't actually have fingerprints, that's not an issue.

Sword Dancer waves to Jennifer, grinning, glad so see another familiar face.

The terminal, and mecha, appear to be quite defunct.

Spirit rubs his face, "I might be able to get something off of it, but not here. It transmitted something in a burst when the mecha shut down."

Sword Dancer says, "Is bad?"

Jennifer comes up to the gathering, "Hi. What's happening here? Sword Dancer, when did you get back?"

Sword Dancer does a quick count on her finger and toes. "Grajureh - cha, is fourteen days."

Jennifer smiles to Sword Dancer, "Good to see you. But is everything okay back home, Kihzra?"

Harlequin walks back over to where the other metas are gathered. He glances at the numbers and then the inscription above the terminal. "MECHA-01-N? Perhaps a new toy built by ACRO?"

Spirit tilts his head. "Maybe...but...unlikely. I mean, they specialize in energy weaponry, don't they?"

Sword Dancer says, "Is - qhah, *evertffing* is not good. But Ghravvruhs and army is gone from Ahm Brunof. Made truce - he goes from rand, I go from earff, come here."

Sword Dancer says, "You came ffrough, cha, portarr, too?"

Spirit looks back to the others after he considers things more. "Though...I think the transmission was a battle recording. And some kind of...self-conscious programming. Like an AI."

Jennifer nods to Sword Dancer, "Yes. Like you, I made a truce with some bad enemies. Rescued the people we wanted to get out and promised not to return if they stay off this dimension."

Harlequin shrugs. "Well, you would be more an expert on such things than I, Spirit." He glances over as Jennifer speaks.

Dorian changes back to his more mundane form, and looks to Jennifer. "Nice to see you again, by the way." He smiles slightly, "Any idea whose robot this is?"

Sword Dancer says, "Is very ve same!"

Jennifer shrugs, "No idea. We came through a portal and - blam - this popped up out of a cargo container. It's nothing I've seen before."

Harlequin glances over at the building where the kids ran with the rescued altworlders. He then points at the mecha. "It seemed to target those not of this world. Or so it seems to me."

Sword Dancer nods. "Attacked me!"

Dorian nods to Harlequin. "A good point. It ignored me to go after Kihzra. And it was targeting the kids."

Harlequin adds. "That would seem to point to ACE or RACE. Or whatever new splinter groups have peeled off them."

Jennifer says, "Attacked my brothers and sisters too, and we're home boys and girls."

Harlequin shrugs. "But the altworlders were mixed in with them, no? Or maybe it attacks all that deviate from some 'norm'?"

Sword Dancer says, "Did not attack Spirit, and is made of right!"

Dorian nods. "Maybe it didn't detect any organic material in me? I don't have any unless I want to.

Harlequin contemplates the mecha. "And perhaps that is why he was ignored. Maybe he did not fit its parameters. Or is considered a known factor. Spirit is quite famous after all."

Jennifer nods to Harlequin, "Yes. The Jefferson's people were with my siblings.

Sword Dancer says, "Cha, who are Jefferson's peopre?"

Dorian nods in agreement with Kihzra, and looks to Jennifer. "I think we need a little more detail as to what's going on here."

Jennifer looks at the area of the programming terminal, "There ought to be a law that these things have a return address on them." Then she glances at the numbers written in marker on the detached plate, "Don't think much of their maths either."

Dorian shakes his head. "That'll be some kind of encryption or password. Won't know for sure until we take a look at the system proper.

Dorian says, "At least that's my best guess."

Harlequin shrugs. "Too short for coordinates, yes?"

Jennifer turns to Dorian, "Dorian, honestly, I don't think this could have been directly related to us. The arrival point for the Shield Gate is a bit random. Nobody could have known we'd end up coming out here."

Sword Dancer looks at the plate, uncomprehending. "Maffs is wrong?"

Dorian smiles. "Yeah...but...I'm still curious. Kids running around with guns?"

Jennifer says, "On the other hand it seemed to activate just after we arrived. Maybe the gate triggered it?" She smiles at Dorian, "Those kids are my brothers and sisters. We've been off dimension mounting a rescue mission."

Sword Dancer looks at the container the mecha came from. "How rong was here? Robot doesn't eat, yes?"

Dorian nods. "It could have been sitting here for quite a while. And that means there might be more of these, scattered around the city.

Jennifer says, "We can find that out, Kihzra, and need to. Dorian is right."

Harlequin nods to each of you. "Well, I shall leave this mystery to you all. I should probably go rescue a spirit from a tree or something similar." He begins to walk towards the buildings then turn and walks parallel to them instead.

Sword Dancer says, "In city, or in whole earff!"

Jennifer calls after Harlequin, "We owe you one. For putting up that barrier. Thanks."

Sword Dancer says, "Goodbye, a vmehnyk!"

Harlequin looks back over his shoulder. "They are still children, Agent Markham. What else should I have done?" He begins to waves then fades out of sight with a slight pop of displaced air.

Jennifer says, "I'm guessing there's at least twelve of these."

Sword Dancer says, "Why twerve?"

Dorian watches Harlequin leave, "I'm guessing he doesn't like me very much."

Dorian shakes his head. "Just a feeling I get."

Jennifer says, "I'm guessing, but this could be model, version, and serial ID. MECHA, version 01, serial ID 'N'. Which means 'A' to 'M' could be out there."

Dorian nods. "Maybe. I had been guessing the other way. Mecha number one, model N.

Jennifer says, "Just as likely. Still, there's one good thing."

Sword Dancer looks blank at the explanation.

Jennifer says, "Mecha number 01 is a lot less worrying than mecha number 000001."

Dorian chuckles. "True. One can hope they're using binary, too. Then there's only maybe three more."

Sword Dancer says, "Should rook for weak spot. So know how to fight vem, if more."

Jennifer nods, "Yes. We need Alex or Jade here, to look into it.

Dorian shrugs. "They might be better at it, but I can take a look. But the police are going to want to take it as evidence. I'll have to look at it there."

Sword Dancer nods. "Arex Water- cha, Coffeedrinker - is good wiv teknorjih."

Sword Dancer says, "Is heavy for take!"

Jennifer nods to Dorian, "Yes. Let me know if you have any trouble getting access to it. I have a few strings I can pull."

Dorian takes Zeal.

[To Jennifer] Sword Dancer says, "Have fought yes? Have stories of battre?"

Jennifer nods to Kihzra, "Yes. Quite a few battles. But for stories you should speak to my brothers. They're still young enough to enjoy boasting about it."

Jennifer says, "How I buy coffees and introduce you to them?"

Sword Dancer says, "Qhah, coffee is good! Very good!"