A TEMPEST

...I think I ate too much. Just give me an hour long nap and I'll be good. So much chocolate. Mmph.

Considering how freaking awesome the City is today, I order everyone to get the hell off the Durandal and to go explore. KOS-MOS, don't let Shelley and Sakura out of your sight? Pretty or not, the City's as dangerous as ever.

I'll catch up with you guys later. Elena, you stay. I've got a surprise for you.

[ OOC: Well it is their one year anniversary 'technically', so strikes are filtered to Elena. Also, Sakura, Shelley, Holly, Nill, and Riza would have all gotten a box of chocolates and tulips today. He probably delivered them himself because he loves any excuse to run around and blow off steam? ]

Nobody's leaving the Durandal until this curse is over, got it? If any of you are affected, don't think I won't lock you up.

KOS-MOS, the Durandal's secure enough. You need to go protect the people out there, okay? Avoid fighting if you can, and don't kill anybody. Just try to get the victims to safe zones. Bring them here if you need to.

Are we clear?

Well I guess this place could have a worse sense of humor. At least I know who this is... Although in a way that kind of makes it weirder. How am I supposed to shower? I mean...seriously...

Marian, this is your body, right? I wouldn't forget such a pretty face. Is this a bad time to enjoy being tall again?


[ OOC: People seem to be forgetting that your character is supposed to wake up right where they fell asleep. Even I nearly forgot yesterday, but the calendar says so. It's a body swap, not a location swap. ]

[Voice Transmission Starts]

Damnit. How could they sneak up on me like that?! Did they hijack the alarm system?!

Everyone, get to the hangar! I'm ordering you to evacuate! chaos, I need you to pilot Asher. Elena can be your co-pilot. I've been giving her lessons for months now. I want you two to clear a way through these bastards and escort Shelley out of here. Head into the City to warn everyone about the assault and the numbers.

I'll stay here and make sure they don't get ahold of the ship's mainframe. The last thing we need is them getting ahold of this baby's weaponry. We'll rendezvous at the Opera Abandoned—we have some allies there. Go now!

Hey Blue, do you read me? The Durandal's under—

[Voice Transmission Ends]

If this doesn't spell trouble in big bold letters, I don't know what does.

I knew it seemed too good to be true. Offering people a magical way home? Anyone who blindly believed them is an idiot, and I can only hope they're still alive somewhere.

They destroyed, or so we assume, the upper management of this place. They came in with promises of ways home and life returned with no penalty, only to turn violent when someone resists. And the carousel? It looks like they might be trying to total it.

They're after the clock, and I'm not sure it's a good thing. Can't you guys recognize the signs? This is war, and we're nothing but collateral damage to them. I don't know why they want the clock--if they want it for themselves or if they want to destroy it or what, but I think it's too risky to let them find a way to really get to it.

Elena, I don't care how much you bitch about how you can take care of yourself, I'd appreciate you not stepping off the Durandal without notifying me first. Shelley, Sakura, I don't even want you two leaving the ship unless you absolutely have to. Your friends are welcome to come here, of course. In fact, they're encouraged to... This place is safer than one of those archaic apartment buildings.

Shelley, I want you to put the shields up. I know it uses energy, but I think it's better to be safe than sorry in this situation. Also, see if you can gather status reports from anyone who's run into these creepy-ass guys personally.

I want to see that video again... And chaos, I need your help with something.

All right, I know it's hard for people to celebrate right now. What happened to Tseng, and now to Fakir... Well, I'm not saying to forget about it. But I know they don't want you guys moping around and refusing to have fun! Well, maybe they do... Those two really need some happy pills. My point being, we should enjoy the small happy moments this place allows us!

Elena, Sakura, Shelley, Nill, Lieutenant, Holly... Hows about a date? The more the merrier! And yeah yeah, just kidding about the date thing. Rufus, I think you and your Turks should go with us, too! And chaos, I hope you aren't staying inside.

...C'mon, guys. Free food! When else are you gonna catch me in a suit?

chaos pretty much covered it for everyone... I was so busy running around trying to kill the things I didn't have time to post on the Network. ...How many people were turned in all? Are there really that many people in the City alone who've rejected humanity?

I can't believe this happened here. It's like the worst part of home followed chaos us. Fucking deities. They must think it's some kind of joke. To anyone who got turned or who was killed... I'm sorry. Just be grateful they were in the physical plane, because normally they aren't without the Hilbert Effect, and without KOS-MOS or MOMO here, we all would have been so very screwed.

I'm just glad it's over and wasn't one of those 48 hour curses... Still, I'd like my friends to check in, please. Last thing I need is to know it was one of you I blasted today.

Shit, I can't believe Reno said that. He could have phrased it better! chaos wasn't supposed to find out that way... And if Sakura sees that, he's gonna be introduced to a world of pain.

I think it was...seventeen years ago? Citrine and I got into an argument, and we ended up fighting. ...She totally kicked my ass. That's what taught me not to underestimate girls in battle. Damnit, what— Nobody was supposed to know about that!

...Oh. Curse. Yippee.

All right guys, chaos is back! Problem is, he doesn't remember the last time he was here, so you'll have to reintroduce yourself. chaos, you can pick whatever room you want that isn't taken so long as it isn't Gaignun's. If you're tired, we can talk in the morning...but we do need to talk, man. The last time you were here, I...didn't know as much as I do now.

I'm pretty sure the craze with that virus is dying down, but anyone who still needs a place to stay with filtered water is welcome on the Durandal. I will be doing a weapons check, though.

Elena... I KNOW THAT RING SWITCHED HANDS. IT WAS ON HER RIGHT HAND BEFORE. I SHOULD KNOW, I'M THE ONE WHO PUT IT THERE. SHIT, I SHOULD JUST ASK HER.

Do you— NO I'LL LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT. WHAT IF I'M SUPPOSED TO KNOW ALREADY WITHOUT ASKING? THEN IT'S THE DOGHOUSE FOR SURE. WHICH ONE IS IT? OH GOD THE STRESS IS KILLING ME. Uh. Do you and the others want some chocolate milk? It's totally better than water right now, filtered or not.

...Damnit.

Elena! Shelley says you're in the City! The tracker isn't working. What the--

If you don't respond to this in five minutes, I'm gonna start listing off embarrassing secrets you never wanted the public to know!

Well, yesterday was a blast, but I guess the City can't let us enjoy ourselves too much, huh?

This would be a lot more fun if animals didn't keep trying to attack my friends. Shelley and Sakura better not wander off...

Is everyone else okay? Rufus, you got your Turks watching your back, am I right?

( Private || Unhackable )

Is it that time of year again, already? That means it's been a year here since I fought Albedo in Xanadu and blew the place up the last Guy Fawkes Festival. God, what a massive trip! That means it's been three years for me... Leaving and coming back sure messes with the chronological order of things.

Sakura, Shelley, we should go tomorrow! Just so long as you two promise to stick to me like glue, it'll be good times, yeah? Elena wouldn't want us to sit around and mope over her departure, that's for sure!

Holly? Lieutenant? Rufus? You three should come along.

Damn, how long have I...? Where--

Oh. Albedo! Where is he?!


[ OOC: Short and simple, yus. Clearly the last thing he remembers is being brain raped by Albedo, so give him a second to figure out where he is and stuff. I gotta go in half an hour, so some commenting may be backdated. ]

Son of a bitch. Did someone get the license plate of that hover car? My head is killing me...

Tseng?! Where are you? Or an even better question... Where am I? What the hell knocked me out? Is anyone out there? Sakura? Elena? Tseng?

Can't say I appreciate the bondage games... There's only one lady I'm willing to let do this to me. And I still say shackles are a bit much. Damn, Shelley is that you over there? Wake up!


[ OOC: Tseng used his sneaky skills to trick Jr. and Shelley into getting captured without them even knowing he was the culprit. Don't ask. They're in the same cell, and we'll say it's Underground, since that would logically keep Jr. from just blasting apart everything to escape. He's got a massive ouch on his head, and shackled to the wall.

Communicator on him allows voice posts for the Network, but commentlog for Shelley and any Inquisition people who wanna talk to him or Shelley. ]

TURKS. Your President's been injured... He's here on the Durandal, and he needs you guys to report here immediately.



[ OOC: Long story short, Jr.'s been entrusted with the task of...keeping the Turks the fuck away from the Mansion, which is where Rufus is, because they'd just get poisoned if they went after him. He said use whatever means possible, so Jr. locked Elena in their room and shut down her Network access from the Durandal for an hour so that she can't warn the other Turks.

Once the Turks are onboard, she'll be let out of the room, Jr.'ll be making sure Shelley's resting, and Riza will be there to...'guard', but nobody's getting in or out other than Jr. He'll be slipping out to go to the Mansion after midnight to retrieve Rufus, dead or alive, since he never said anything about not doing that. ]

Shit... Elena. Sakura. You two stay on the fucking ship, or don't leave my side. Shelley, where are you? You better not be caught in one of those traps!

Why is that dog back? Who's Billy? Does anyone need help...? I'll do what I can!

Shelley! Trans—[STATIC]—E.S. Asher back to the—[STATIC]—dal! Report—[STATIC]—'s status! Ingram and Al—[STATIC]—gone! There's no trace.

Elena and Sakura, are they—[STATIC]—jured? I want everyone repor—[STATIC]—the Durandal! No hospital!

I'll be there as soon as I—[STATIC]

[ OOC: So Ingram and Albedo 'sploded, Jr. is WTFing, and Lyra got taken home. Asher got kind of beat up in the battle so his communicator's fitzing out and he's having to run back. ]

Screw this. I'm not waiting for them to announce themselves... Lyra, you're going to use that compass thing of yours to lead me to Ingram, whether he's ready for it or not. Cobray? We're trying out that idea of yours.

Vincent, Cloud, I want you coming with us to get Lyra out of there once it gets dangerous. Tseng said you both were strong.

I don't know where Albedo's going to be, if he's gonna be with Ingram or with Elena and Sakura...but just in case... Lieutenant Hawkeye, you're taking Tifa and Tseng with you to retrieve the girls. I'll send you the coordinates I've pinpointed. If Albedo appears, you let me know immediately. Shelley'll give you guys communicators.

Vash, Ranmaru and Ranmaru's silent and creepy friend, I want you guys to stay on board the Durandal with Shelley and Reeve for back-up in case anyone gets in a tight spot and needs you.

Clear?


[ OOC: Just repeating THIS. Don't assume the fight is over until Albedo makes his post, which will be later in the morning, and signal the explosion that'll vaporize both Albedo and Ingram. After that, a heartbroken tired Jr. will head back to the ship with the others and Cloud and Vincent can follow once they've taken Lyra home. ]

I am the biggest idiot in the universe. The answer was staring me in the face the whole damn time!

I've got a way to figure out Elena and Sakura's location... Just trust me on this one, and give me some time to track. SHIT how could I have forgotten?! It's just been so long...

There's been a change of plans, guys. I'll have Shelley post orders soon so that we aren't all running around like chickens with our heads cut off.

( OOC; )

She might not have been able to say your name, Albedo, but you should have been a little more careful than that. Not that it would have mattered... I knew it was you from the beginning. Bastard.

I can track Albedo down easily enough, but he knows that, so I have a feeling Elena and Sakura aren't with him. Shelley, see if you can track Elena's post?

In regards to the second bastard who must be working for Albedo, I need any and all info on INGRAM if I have to fight him to bring back my girls.