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Malantau Terminal One

He’d have to ask Ghaspius just what it was the Mismagius put in his drinks. One swig and he had the strength to practically rip the door in half! And with it out of the way, the others were able to do good work on Gorigan. The Vigoroth was clearly fighting, Nascour hadn’t gotten his hooks in too deep just yet. They just needed to rough up the Malamar a bit and Gorigan might be able to break the rest of the way free himself. It was almost too easy…

And then everything started to go wrong. Nascour didn’t make a grand entrance, there was no big reveal, no show. One second Seth and Leona were waiting to ambush the Ninetales admins, the next they’d been dragged off by the shadowy Malamar. Without the wolves to intercept them, the foxes burst onto the scene and launched their assault unimpeded. Archie managed to dodge an attempt by the Fire Type brother – the pair barely seemed aware of their surroundings enough to really put their all into their attacks – but the sheer volume of ice and fire meant they managed to land more than a few hits on his comrades.

Then, as if to prove that things could always get worse, Alexander tore a hole in the fabric of reality and shoved all three of his heads through into the – now increasingly crowded – Command Module. But even that didn’t make his blood chill as much as the scene he spotted on one of the wall monitors: Seth and Leona clinging on to a catwalk surrounded by an array of solar panels, Nascour looming over them. Judging by Ein’s description of the base, that could only be one place. The place he needed to be, Right Now.

There was one small problem: the absolute crush of void shadows meant there was no way the Dewott was squeezing through the door connecting the utility module to the station core. He’d have to take the long way around, through the observation deck, where the foxes had retreated to. This was a problem for Archie because it’d waste precious time. He’d make it a problem for the Ninetales as well.

He charged across the base, burst into the observation deck, and fell on the Fire Type Ninetale, Eldes, in a furry of scalchop and claw. He didn’t stick around to see the results of his handiwork, though, already rushing on through the door to the station core before either fox had time to react. Then he spotted them, through the door across the room: Seth and Leona still hanging on, and Nascour standing nearby. He wasn’t too late yet.

“I am going to beat the shit out of you, you overgrown mollusk with delusions of grandeur!” the Dewott roared.

Archie (141 STM, 9 TMP, +0 SPD, +2 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Walk to Utility Module
- Dash to Observation Deck (-2 TMP)
- AGILE Sacred Sword @ Eldes (-37.5 STM, +5 TMP)
- Night Slash @ Eldes (-13 STM, +5 TMP)
- Slash @ Eldes (-13 STM, +5 TMP)
- CRITICAL Sacred Sword @ Eldes (-25 STM, -16 TMP, +5 TMP)
- **Act:** Dash to Station Core (-2 TMP)
Net change: -89 STM, +0 TMP, +0 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 52 STM (96 after regen), 9 TMP, 0 SHD, 0 RAD
 
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Well. This was an unexpected development.

Bellatrix leapt back from the shadowy portal, giving Alexander an utterly terrifying glare. "Nuisance!" she snapped, shadows seeping into her voice. "Don't you have anything better to do beyond being a waste of my time?"

With what sounded like an absolute feral snarl, Bellatrix swiped at the heads with her blade, striking them with the chilling ghost-energy that she had become all-too-familiar with before turning and leaving, refusing to spare the hydra a second glance. It wasn't worth her time, why couldn't the hydreigon see that and leave her alone?

Away from the Command Module, Bellatrix took a moment to think, analyse. What was her current position? What was the status of both her allies and foes? She glanced towards the Observation Deck. Those ninetales – she threw a pair of daggers the icy one's way – with their ranged attacks would be a problem. She couldn't afford to remain out in the open like this lest she become an open target. Her gaze shifted to the airlock and its door, if she could just...

She looked around for any controls, trying to see if there was anything there to close it. If not, she would attempt to pull it herself to give herself some extra cover from the ninetales' attacks. She then dove right into the small chamber where she watched, waiting to see what would happen next.

Bellatrix (108 STM, 14 TMP, +0 SPD, +1 ACC, 40 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Work Up (-18 STM, +2 TMP)
- Bitter Malice @ Alexander (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-25 STM, -4 TMP, +3 TMP)
- Activate feat (Spotter Feat) @ Alexander [Defences]
- **Act:** Dash to Utility Module (-2 TMP)
- **Act:** Item (Iron Thorn) @ Ardos (-2 TMP) [Fast Draw, Precise Shot]
- Interact @ Airlock Door (-3 TMP)
- Walk to Airlock
Net change: -43 STM, -6 TMP, +0 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 65 STM (116 after regen), 8 TMP, 40 SHD, 0 RAD
 
Gladion scattered as Alexander appeared. Too soon. They weren't ready yet. Nascour had also snagged the Lycases without any of them being able to so much as scratch him. It was all too much, everything was going fully to hell... But they couldn't afford to fold, either. Gladion couldn't physically reach Nascour, but if Nascour was psychically connected the other admins, then there were other people who could reach him mentally.

He darted towards the Observatory, pushing his volition through his RKS System while focusing on his need to know— know what was allowing Nascour to control them, know whether his plan would work— to call up the psychic type. Theoretically, he could try to use any of the admins for this, but he sought out Eldes. The twins had just been born into Cipher, and even if Arvos was cold enough to go along with it, he had to believe Eldes wouldn't be. Intution told Gladion he had a good chance at getting through to the firey twin.

"Stop sleepwalking! Can't you see what's happening here?"

He probed the Ninetales' psyche. Eldes himself had to be in there somewhere, even if he wasn't fully concious yet. When he spoke again, he called out to Eldes body and mind alike.

"The peons who you worked with have been broken and cast aside. The void tore indiscriminatly through them. Nascour's sold his soul to the shadows just to sieze control. This isn't what you want. You have to stop going along with it."

And if Nascour's power was born from Alexander's shadows, then radiance would have to contest it. He channelled light through the psychic link he'd created and into Eldes. Trusting him to use that power for what was needed, instead of to attack the Wayfarers.

"You have to fight back!"

Call: Eldes

Interact: Channel Radiance into Eldes
 
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Reeling from the flames that had scorched her back and glaring at the rift where Alexander appeared, Isidora considered her options. Way too many priorities. Swarm's spreading. Need to neuter those foxes. Alex's a problem. Want to murder vigoroth...

Isidora growled as she decided. I'll murder him later.

She ran out of the command room back into the lobby swarming with shadowy creatures. The radiance within her softened her instinctual fear and pushed her forwards to deftly navigate the room and chase the ninetales duo into their hiding place, where she already had an Ice Shard ready to fling at the ice fox before he could react (Ardos or Eldes? She couldn't remember who was which). From there, she knew her next move.

Isidora never had a chance to try this in a combat situation, and she only expected to cripple the fire ninetales with this move. But, that would be good enough if she could flush just one of them out of here. She pushed her claws into her shoulder and focused on the pain. On the dissonance of seeing two ninetales and knowing both were human. On the fear of their power, and the knowledge of her disadvantage against both. On the chilling cold that resonated within herself.

Shadow pulsed. She drew it out her shoulder and knelt to place her darkened claws on the ground. This was not going to work, of course. Light clashed with dark behind her eyes. The northern one would benefit from this maneuver. Isidora planned to build his fortress.

The southern one won't, she argued, as she forced all of her shadow to be channeled down her arm. The darkness seeped into the ground, sapping heat from the point of contact. And then, it exploded in all directions. Waves of shadow feasted ravenously on all the warmth in the room, as ice spread rapidly from her paws to coat the floor in a pale, reflective sheen. Isidora was left intact at the epicenter. And then the cold returned and forced its way back into her.

If she sought to take advantage of this plan, then she could not afford to dawdle. The cold clung closely to her and transferred with natural ease to her claws. Isidora threw that attack at the ice-tales and retreated, eyes locking onto the swarm and claws drawing pain again to dash through them and back into the command room. Where the portal to Alexander was still there waiting for her.

Why couldn't he just leave already?! She formed an Ice Shard and drew it down her arm before throwing it right at him. "No one invited you!"

Isidora (180 STM, 13 TMP, +0 SPD, +2 ACC, 0 SHD, 14 RAD)
- Walk to Utility Module
- Dash to Observation Deck (-2 TMP)
- AGILE Ice Shard @ Ardos (-7.5 STM, -2 TMP, +4 TMP)
- Umbral Isolation (ACTIVATE: effect) (-40 STM, -5 TMP, +4 TMP, +40 SHD)
- Ice Shard @ Ardos (ACTIVATE: Sure Hit) (-5 STM, +4 TMP)
- Activate feat (Spotter Feat) @ Ardos' Behavior
- Swift Soul @ Void Swarm (ACTIVATE: effect) (-30 STM, -5 TMP, +4 TMP)
- Retreat to Command Module [after dashing to Utility Module]
- **Act:** RADIANT Focus (+5 TMP)
- RADIANT Ice Shard @ Alexander (-7.5 STM, +5 TMP, +5 RAD)
- Activate gear (King's Rock) (-10 TMP)
Net change: -90 STM, +2 TMP, +40 SHD, +5 RAD
Net totals: 90 STM (144 after regen), 15 TMP, 40 SHD, 19 RAD
 
The Mismagius floated over towards Lovrina. "Psst, hey, that's the guy who wrecked your everything and is stringin' along your boss like a toy, right?" He asked as his lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Wanna do somethin' really fun, groovy gal?"

All this time, a certain Tinkaton had been busily grabbing the hunks of scrap metal left from Archie's door demolition, crafting it into a oversized hammer while Naps anxiously fluttered around her, spitting globs of dark energy at any wraiths that came near.

"Sis, hurry up! I can't hold them off forever!" he cried, recoiling as a Void Shadow swiped at him.

"#DONE. Ohhhh yeah we're so back!" Lovrina exclaimed, hefting the unwieldy hunk of scrap metal over her shoulder like it weighed nothing at all before taking a wide swing at a cluster of wraiths, driving them back.

"I know all you lovelies in the #LovrinaFanClub have SO been waiting for this!" she said, doing a twirl for the nonexistent webcam. Then she leveled her hammer at the nasty intruder who dared to interrupt her big comeback stream. "Uh oh! Looks like we've got a #Hater in the chat! You all know what that means~"

"Ban him, sis!" Naps screeched.

Naps used Screech!
Lovrina's STRONG CRITICAL #BanHammer dealt 76 damage to Alexander! It's Ultra Effective!

Lv.65, 186 Atk
 
"Ho-oh's fires," whispered Ein, seeing Alexander claw his way into this pocket of reality.

The dog cowered under the control desk and a shimmering Protect shield, clutching wonder orbs in his paws and mouth.

Gorigan stared up at the dragon, uncomprehending, his brain screaming to fight or flee, while Nascour's control demanded that he leave the Hydreigon be and continue attacking the Wayfarers. Neither impulse won out.



Laura breathed steadily, firing pot-shot Dark Pulses into the streaming dark pool of voidlings. Tactical assessment? Uncertain. Too many volatile factors, so much more complicated and unclear than the environment of a League stadium. More so even than they usually dealt with. And her head was full of Shadowy bullshit, too – those shit-heads Lovrina and Ein were with them, she had to protect Sage, she couldn't give orders to Isidora, and Bellatrix made her fur stand on fucking end, and Alexander was here somehow and the shadows had claws, fuck this—

She wiped her mouth with the back of her paw, the warm leather of her heat-rock gloves a tiny relief – a fleetingly comfortable sensation. Stay focused! She dodged a stray Ice Beam from her right flank, jumping back a step and ducking, rolling, alert...!

The foxes. They had a connection to Nascour. He might have a Malamar brain now, but or pokémon or not, he had to have limits to his control. If they tried getting through to all the Admins at once, there was no way he'd be as effective, surely...

Gladion had Eldes. She's take Ardos. What did she know about him...? The cold one, unemotional, loyal to the cause. She could work with that.

"Admin Ardos!" she shouted, strafing him as she circled around the module. "This facility is a sunk cost! Look at the bloody hell-dragon attacking this place, and you're not even focused on him! Don't you get it? Nascour's betrayed Cipher for that monster!"

"Treachery...?" hissed Ardos, eyes narrowing, attacks relenting for but a moment. Then his head jerked and spasmed as Nascour asserted control. "No. I won't be manipulated by some insurgent girl."

The Ninetales' eyes glowed eerie magenta, summoning Psychic power.

"Go ahead," cried Laura. "Fight us if you like, but it'll be too late to cut your losses by then—!"

Laura braced herself for the attack, but she could see it in Ardos' eyes: doubt.

Laura called out to Ardos! Ardos is hesistating...
 
Turn 2
Player Phase
Archie's AGILE Sacred Sword dealt 24 damage to Eldes!
Archie's Night Slash dealt 33 damage to Eldes!
Archie's Slash dealt 35 damage to Eldes!
Archie's Sacred Sword dealt a CRITICAL 54 damage to Eldes!

Eldes winced and yelped at Archie's meleé onslaught, unused to combat despite his potent magical abilities. So, he was strong, smart, but unaccustomed to getting hurt...?

Flames licked at the Dewott's tail as he sped off through the swarm. With the doors all open, he could see across to a long structure like a scaffold or crane, fitted with arcane devices and canisters of supplies. The Lycans clutched at antennae and rigging, their fur and ears battered by the winds of the vortex. Nascour hovered in place at the end, burnt orange light flickering across his body. Waiting. A trap.

Bellatrix's Bitter Malice dealt 30 damage to Alexander! Frostbitten!
Bellatrix's Spotter Feat got Alexander's defenses!
Bellatrix's Iron Thorn dealt a CRITICAL 59 damage to Ardos!
Bellatrix's Iron Thorn dealt a CRITICAL 61 damage to Ardos!
Bellatrix's Interact: Airlock Door

Ice crept along Alexander's scales, hindering his casting. The attack barely grazed him, and he was already regenerating, but he didn't behave like one for whom defeat was constitutionally impossible...

In any case, Bellatrix slipped into the airlock with a pneumatic hiss. It was unlikely any foe would pursue her in there...

Isidora's AGILE Ice Shard dealt 19 damage to Ardos!
Isidora's Umbral Isolation dealt 11 damage to Ardos! It's super effective!
Isidora's Umbral Isolation dealt 10 damage to Eldes! It's super effective! Frostbitten!
Icy Terrain spread across the Observation Deck! Ice attacks are boosted, and units struggle to dash or dodge!
Isidora's Ice Shard dealt 36 damage to Ardos!
Isidora's Spotter Feat got Ardos' Behavior!
Isidora's Swift Soul dealt 65 damage to Void Swarm! KO!!
Isidora's RADIANT Ice Shard dealt 31 damage to Alexander! It's ultra effective!
Isidora's King's Rock made Alexander Flinch!

The Sneasel moved across the station like a blizzard, flash-freezing the Observation Deck – off-white chill spread up the massive window wall on its far side, obscuring the singularity beyond.

When her Radiance struck Alexander, the attacks brewing in his auxiliary heads guttered and died in their mouths.

"Stop sleepwalking! Can't you see what's happening here? The peons who you worked with have been broken and cast aside. The void tore indiscriminately through them. Nascour's sold his soul to the shadows just to sieze control. This isn't what you want. You have to stop going along with it. You have to fight back!"
"Admin Ardos! This facility is a sunk cost! Look at the bloody hell-dragon attacking this place, and you're not even focused on him! Don't you get it? Nascour's betrayed Cipher for that monster! Go ahead, fight us if you like, but it'll be too late to cut your losses by then—!"
Laura called out to Ardos!
Gladion called out to Eldes!
Gladion channelled Radiance...

The light in Eldes' eyes changed from pink to gold for a moment, and his mouth parted slightly, as if in confusion.

"Ardos... Brother. How has all this come about?"

"What? Eldes, don't be a fool. Now is not the time to litigate or philosophise. We must regain total control—"

"But that's just it! We are not in control! This battle is vanity, nothing more! That dragon is not our master!"

"That dragon is... an asset of the Syndicate...? N-no. That's incorrect. No... Nascour, what have you done??"

Gladion showed Eldes the light!
Laura made Ardos see the bigger picture!

The twin Ninetales cried out and staggered as Nascour exerted his control once more, but the resistance was strong...

He'd be weaker, now. Less able to puppet the Admins as he wished.

Nascour's psychic domination faltered!
Naps used Screech!
Lovrina's STRONG CRITICAL #BanHammer dealt 76 damage to Alexander! It's Ultra Effective! -1 Def!
👁️ Intel:

Alexander's defenses: 300 Def, 300 Res

Ardos' behaviour:
Proud and authoritarian, Ardos is a loyal lieutenant of the Grand Master. He will efficiently dispatch enemies of the Syndicate with powerful special attacks, restoring his Magic whenever it ebbs, and keeping his distance from danger. He seems to want things to be just so, and is distressed by the unexpected, the out of order, and the imperfect...
 
Sage drew in more of the shadows in the room, pulling them away from the rest of the party. Then they walked up to the pair of foxes, eyes a deep violet.

“It’ll be okay. We’re going to stop him. You need to leave this place.”
 
Turn 2
Enemy Phase
Boss Attack: Ardos' & Eldes' Extrasensory dealt a CRITICAL 48 damage to Laura, and 137 to Gladion!

"Fffuck," swore Laura, clutching her head. Had they tried to root around in there? They weren't Psychics, but they were human...

"These truly are enemies of Cipher," declared Ardos, his face hard.

"But greater enemies of that dragon!" countered Eldes, through his teeth, hackles rising and tails flaring.

"Nascour's master..."

"To whom we have no allegiance!"

The foxes groaned again in unison as Nascour concentrated on them.

But Nascour was dealing with other things.

"Ah, you are determined to face me, then?" he said to Archie, his voice calm and strangely inhuman.

The attack he'd prepared in order to blast several power arrays into dust was instead directed at the Dewott, strange energies empowering rather than draining the Malamar. All the while he wore an eerie smile...

Boss Attack: Nascour's SHADOW Superpower dealt a CRITICAL 66 damage to Archie! It's super effective!
Nascour used SHADOW Topsy-Turvy on Archie! Missed!
Nascour's SHADOW Night Slash dealt a CRITICAL 76 damage to Archie! It's super effective!

"You are quite a fiesty young man. I wouldn't normally mind destroying you in battle, but I'm afraid I have more important concerns. Allow me to delegate your humiliation to my subordinates."

Gripping Archie around the neck, Nascour's eyes bored into his brain, obliterating battle plans and insults alike... before dragging him through the shadows and back into the fray.

Nascour used STRONG SHADOW Hypnosis on Archie! He became Drowsy!
Nascour used Umbral Abduction! He stole Archie away to Utility Module!

The fray, such as it was, could not be said to have battle lines or discipline. Shouting, stray attacks, occasional friendly fire...

"I don't have time to babysit you," muttered the Malamar, frowning with concentration. "You two. Come here at once and deal with this matter as you should. I will make this easier for you..."

The Malamar's eyes glowed, lighting up the room in a dull, ominous red.

Boss Attack: Nascour is preparing Hypnosis.
Target: Utility Module

"Huuuuurgh, get outta my head!" shouted Gorigan. "I didn't issue a permit for you to be messing around in there! And YOU aren't authorised to make any dark pacts with Cipher personnel, big guy! Get lost, already! WrrrrooOOOAAAAGHHH!"

The Vigoroth stamped his feet and yelled in fury, achieving almost nothing in damage, but making an awful ruckus...

Gorigan used Bulk Up! +1 Atk, +1 Def!
Gorigan's Uproar dealt 3 damage to Alexander!
Gorigan's Uproar missed Isidora!
Gorigan Focused...
Gorigan is fighting off Nascour's control!

Ardos walked to Utility Module!
Ardos's STRONG Ice Beam dealt 124 damage to the airlock door! Destroyed!
Ardos used Nasty Plot! His Magic can't go higher!
Ardos Focused...
Ardos is fighting off Nascour's control!

Eldes walked to Utility Module!
Eldes's STRONG Flamethrower dealt 69 damage to Isidora! It's super effective!
Eldes used Calm Mind! +1 Mag, +1 Res!
Eldes Focused...
Eldes is fighting off Nascour's control!

Sage called out to Ardos & Eldes!
“It’ll be okay. We’re going to stop him. You need to leave this place.”

"Brother, this facility is no longer an asset," pleaded Eldes. "Let us not fight irrational battles!"

"The enemy of one's enemy can be an ally of circumstance," said Ardos, aloof but pained.

He looked across to the Command Module, and the demonic dragon therein. The enemy.

Lovrina's #Banhammer smashed into Alexander's skull and left clear cracks along his body, yet he did not fall. The cracks sealed themselves with more ichor and Alexander's glare seemed to burn through the hammer and into its wielder.

"You are NOTHING, traitor!" he roared. "FALL!"

Legendary Action: Sure Crit
Legendary Action: Sure Hit
Alexander regenerated lost health...!
Alexander used Abyssal Omens on Lovrina! Conquest: Alexander got +2 Mag! Lovrina got -2 Res! Lovrina was Cruelly Poisoned!
Alexander's SHADOW Dragon Pulse dealt a CRITICAL 126 damage to Lovrina! It's super effective!
Alexander is Flinching and couldn't do more!

A deep, low rumbling echoed around Lovrina's whole body, warping the light and placing her in a reverse-illumination aura that siphoned away her energy. At the same time, Alexander's presence intensified, the ichor boiling over the cracks of his body, as mauve light streamed from his mouth. He blasted Lovrina into a wall, not caring to know whether it was enough to finish her or not, and scanned the room.

"Lost cause," he muttered.

He smashed the ground in frustration, then clawed his way into the main hull of the station, mouths snatching at the unconscious Cipher peons scattered around the area. The tide of black voidlings swarmed to him, before his phantasmal presence vanished. It seemed that something else had caught his attention...

Alexander stole away the Cipher Peons and Void Swarm...!

Lovrina's hammer clunked as its handle tipped and fell to the floor."Chat, we're so over," she mumbled, dazed and possibly concussed. "I just lost, like, all my subscribers! That guy is so #Cancelled."
 
One second, the Malamar was turning to look at him; the next thing Archie recalled was the sensation of being throttled. He coughed, found he couldn’t swallow. He kicked, but his legs weren’t touching the ground. He reached out an arm, and dug his claws into Malamar flesh. He was in the Utility Module again, the battle raging around him. And Nascour was here too. That meant he’d taken the Cipher admin’s attention away from the Lycanrocs. Good.

His head swam, his vision seemed to unfocus a little more every time he blinked. His limbs felt like lead. He’d taken a beating already. Why was he so bad at this? How was he going to be any help against Alexander if he was getting tossed around by his lackey? When he was so unimpressive even said lackey found dealing with the Dewott to be a task unworthy of a man of his stature? Why was it always like this?

The gleaming golden Legendary regarded him like an insect, almost beneath notice. Swatted him aside without a second glance, not even worth killing. His Capture Styler shattered by the impact, his last desperate plan a failure before it even started. The survivors surged forward; they knew he couldn’t protect them now. It was every man for himself. He reached up a hand, gave the command, knowing Douglas would heed him unquestioned. Because Douglas trusted him, above all else.

KEEP THEM BACK.

It couldn’t end that way again. The Dewott groped around his side, found the shell on his hip, and did the only thing he could think of. He aimed for Nascour’s face.

He was running before he hit the ground. Archie scrambled, ungainly and lethargic, through the door back to the Station Core, only registering that the Void Shadows were gone once he was through into the other room. He turned, slid, toppled onto his hands and knees, but picked himself and kept running. Onto the Station Truss where Seth and Leona were still hanging. It had to be different this time. He had to save them.

Archie (96 STM, 9 TMP, +0 SPD, +2 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- **Act:** Focus (+5 TMP, -20 SHD, -20 RAD)
- CRITICAL Slash @ Nascour (-13 STM, -11 TMP)
- STRONG Umbral Injury @ Nascour (-60 STM, +2 TMP, +40 SHD)
- **Act:** Dash to Station Core (-2 TMP)
- Walk (+1 MC) to Service Truss (-3 TMP)
Net change: -73 STM, -9 TMP, +40 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 23 STM (67 after regen), 0 TMP, 40 SHD, 0 RAD
 
The force of Eldes' mental intrusion made Gladion's head burn, his vision blur. His first instinct was to try to clamp down his psyche, keep Eldes from accessing anything private, but there was little he could. He'd opened a link with Eldes voluntarily, and there was little he could do to stop Eldes using it.

He was unable to hide a largely-unevidenced yet deeply sincere feeling that Eldes should not just be free of Nascour's control, but of Cipher's.

Momentarily, he would read as embarrassed to have Eldes see that. Like Gladion thought he would believe it a stupid thought, given 'freedom from Cipher' was something he likely didn't even want. But without the option to hide it, Gladion's only choices were to justify the thought, or back down. And he hated backing down.

So he threw open the link. Showed Eldes his thoughts:

Eldes might recognize the deepest labs of Terminal Two, would most certainly at least recognize Lovrina and Naps. If Eldes wanted to see what was inside Gladion's head, he would show the abject cruelty he had borne witness to until Eldes was forced to understand why Gladion chose Cipher as an enemy. Because there was a chance that he would recognize, even as changed as they were, the confused ARK Unit whom Cipher had hurt so badly that they didn't know how to accept kindness anymore: Sage was calling out to Eldes, too, after all.

And Sage was only one of so many shadow victims. Gladion didn't even know how many others Sonora's team had found in the cells. Leona had been one of them, he know that. Seth would have been, too, if they could've got their hands on him. They'd already corrupted him partway. He knew there were countless others back in Seth's world, in Eldes' world that they'd twisted with shadows, too. Incalcualble quantities of pain and suffering.

Your syndicate has overseen so. much. cruelty.

How can you act like you care? Don't you care? I heard you say it was a shame we were enemies. That you didn't want to destroy us. How would killing us be anything more than a rounding error in every act of torture you've ever been heir to?


Gladion felt like Eldes should've been able to see it. The same obvious thing he saw. That the only way forward was out. Yes, it would mean leaving behind his family, everything he was heir to, his twin. Gladion understood exactly what he was asking— demanding of Eldes.

He remembered a pair of twins, heirs to their own source of power. Gladion was the firebrand of the two. It had been four years since he'd seen the other, and there was a hole in his spirit where his twin should have been. He missed her. But he'd had to leave when he did, even if she wasn't ready to follow. If he'd taken any longer, something unthinkable would have happened.

Eldes would not recognize the deepest labs of Aether, but he would recognize what Gladion saw inside it. An ARK Unit, a Type: Null, whatever the name they were also a creature who'd been hurt so badly as to be confused by the idea of recieving kindness. Scheduled for archival, before the he had stepped in to save them.

The memories were a wordless assertion that if anyone could look Eldes in the eyes and demand he give up everything he'd have to in order to leave Cipher behind, Gladion was sure it was him. He had shown Eldes the wickedness he'd seen at the heart of Cipher. Eldes could ignore it, or he could do what was right.

Gladion could only hope his blind faith in Eldes wasn't misplaced.

"Please. Listen to me..."

Interact: Open memories to Eldes

Call Eldes
 
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Just as the airlock door slid open in a plume of smoke, Bellatrix took the moment to steel herself and bolted out the door, sword drawn and icy dagger forming in her off-hand. In a split-second decision, based on what elemental energy covered the airlock door and Gladion being busy with the other one, she picked the ice ninetales as her target and, in a flurry of slashes followed by a second pair of throwing daggers, gave an all-out attack that would leave him staggering. She would have been more than happy to finish the job on Ardos but her disciplines demanded that she pace herself, giving another Wayfarer plenty of opportunity to take out Ardos for themself.

Try to focus on that, she thought, eyeing Nascour before she ran back to the command module to avoid what Bellatrix undeniably thought to be a Hypnosis. She elected to ignore the cowering manetric for now, lest she distract herself with her sheer distaste for him.

Bellatrix (116 STM, 8 TMP, +0 SPD, +1 ACC, 40 SHD, 0 RAD)
- **Act:** Focus (+5 TMP, -20 SHD, -20 RAD)
- Work Up (-18 STM, +2 TMP)
- Dash to Utility Module (-2 TMP)
- AGILE Obstinate Soul @ Ardos (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-45 STM, -7 TMP, +3 TMP) [Lower both Def/Res for -7 Tempo]
- Obstinate Soul @ Ardos (-30 STM, +3 TMP)
- **Act:** Item (Iron Thorn) @ Ardos [Fast Draw, Precise Shot]
- Walk to Command Module
Net change: -93 STM, +3 TMP, -20 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 23 STM (74 after regen), 11 TMP, 20 SHD, 0 RAD
 
The big boss finally decided to show himself. At the sight of him, uncertain thoughts resounded in Isidora's head. He was too strong. Too effective. And it took all her will to keep those thoughts at bay. That one move put her at her limit. It was sloppy of her.

She needed to take action to quell her shadow. But the chance was too tempting. She came in with a strategy to fight Nascour, and she needed to take the attention off Archie so he could recover. So instead, she reached into her bag to activate her Protect Orb, and dashed towards Nascour with all four sets of claws iced and at the ready. She threw an Ice Shard to open and crashed into him with a series of spinning kicks, pushing away to stand just before his attention and glare at him.

"Hey pink-eye!" she yelled. "You're not just gonna let me get away with that, huh?! For a 'dominating' force I see a whole lotta dozing, but we seem to be doing all the crushing!"

She threw another Ice Shard at him to accentuate her point, and with that backed off to the command center and stood ready at the door to face him.

Isidora (144 STM, 15 TMP, +1 SPD, +5 ACC, 40 SHD, 19 RAD)
- Dash to Utility Module (-2 TMP)
- AGILE Ice Shard @ Nascour (-7.5 STM, +7 TMP)
- Ice Shard @ Ardos (-5 STM, +7 TMP)
- CRITICAL Triple Axel @ Nascour (ACTIVATE: Sure Hit) (-34 STM, -20 TMP, +7 TMP)
- Activate feat (Spotter Feat) @ Nascour's Defenses
- Activate gear (King's Rock) (-10 TMP)
- Taunt @ Nascour (-20 STM, +7 TMP)
- Ice Shard @ Nascour (-7.5 STM, +7 TMP)
- **Act:** Item (Protect Orb)
- Walk to Observation Deck
Net change: -70 STM, +3 TMP, +0 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 74 STM (128 after regen), 18 TMP, 40 SHD, 19 RAD
 
And just like that, she had been off to the races. Ghaspius couldn't help but chuckle at that. He understood where she had been coming from, to an extent, though there was a satisfaction in having appealed to her with such ease.

Of course he had. He had learned well from his parents. The art of subtle manipulation. He was just like them.

He furiously shook his head and growled in frustration. Why did they have to come up again? He supposed the admin before him was like them. Yeah, that had to be it. He was just remembering something similiar. This Ardos had a kind of methodical, precise, 'perfect plans' creed that he had been familiar with in his prior world. That's all there was to it.

That thought inspired him. "A cracked face dragon, doors torn apart, admins turnin' against each other... it's madness, ain't it?" Ghaspius said as he hovered towards Ardos. "Ya know you can fix this. You're the only that can fix it. You think anybody else here has got the sorta attention to detail that could keep a place like this afloat?"

He leaned in, ready to seal the deal. "Or are you gonna let your brother be better than you?"

He had been just like a salesmon. Just like them.

He shoved the thoughts to the corner of his mind. He was just appealing to someone's personality. He was appealing. He was just appealing. The words repeated in his mind over and over as he tried to keep himself steady.

Call: Ardos
 
Turn 3
Player Phase

The Malamar didn't see Archie's attack coming – distracted by the effort of mesmerising the other admins, Nascour left himself exposed...

Archie's Slash dealt a CRITICAL 51 damage to Nascour!
Taking Nascour by surprise, Archie's STRONG Umbral Injury dealt a CRITICAL 30 damage to Nascour! It's not very effective... Splinters were left in the wound!

"Oh! So you have some viciousness in you yet. Good. Let's see if it's enough to save you."

Nascour chuckled coldly as Archie sped away, but kept his attention on those around him...

Bellatrix's AGILE Obstinate Soul dealt 23, then 24 damage to Ardos! -1 Def, -1 Res!
Bellatrix's Obstinate Soul dealt 44, then 49 damage to Ardos!
Bellatrix's Iron Thorns dealt a CRITICAL 54, then 58 damage to Ardos!

Isidora's AGILE Ice Shard dealt 14 damage to Nascour!
Isidora's Ice Shard dealt 39 damage to Ardos!
Isidora's Triple Axel dealt a CRITICAL 19, 32, then 48 damage to Nascour!
Isidora's Spotter Feat got Nascour's Defenses!
King's Rock made him Flinch!
Isidora Taunted Nascour!
Isidora's Ice Shard dealt 20 damage to Nascour!

Between them, Isidora and Bellatrix laid a creditable series of blows, to Nascour and to Ardos... though not quite enough to fell the fox.

Gladion opened his heart to Eldes!

Ghaspius subtly manipulated Ardos!
How would killing us be anything more than a rounding error in every act of torture you've ever been heir to?

If anyone could look Eldes in the eyes and demand he give up everything he'd have to in order to leave Cipher behind, Gladion was sure it was him.

"Please. Listen to me..."
"It's madness, ain't it? Ya know you can fix this. You're the only that can fix it."

Eldes stood still, his attacks stopped, his breaths coming hard, grappling with some hard-edged shard of memory in his heart. He had served his father loyally for years already, despite his misgivings, despite his doubts, telling himself it was the only reasonable course of action. As if he could go against his twin, even if he'd had the conviction... And here was one who'd done just that. What did it mean?

Ardos staggered, barely conscious, plumes of mist peeling away from his body.

"What would you have me do?" he asked, stone-voiced. "It is madness. If I assumed command... Could I even— If I could restore order—"

He closed his eyes, wincing, overwhelmed. He was no longer in any condition to fight... The peons were gone, Nascour's gaze was boring into his head, there was no contingency

"We must scupper this facility. We can risk no possibility that enemies of the Syndicate may capture it and use it against Ciph—"

The silver Ninetales was still speaking when a stream of flame billowed into his face and flank.

Eldes' Flamethrower dealt 44 damage to Ardos! It's super-effective! KO!!
Gladion got through to Eldes!

"Enough," gasped the golden fox. "No more."

He turned his eyes to Nascour.

"Director, I am assuming command of Terminal One. You are relieved of your operational responsibilities, effective immediately."

The Malamar laughed, one tendril curling at his beaked mouth.

"Is that so? Well... Shall we find out if this termination is enforceable, Eldes?"

👁️ Intel:
Nascour's defenses: 190 Def, 171 Res
 
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Turn 3
Enemy Phase
He turned, slid, toppled onto his hands and knees, but picked himself and kept running. Onto the Station Truss where Seth and Leona were still hanging. It had to be different this time. He had to save them.

Seth and Leona were there, hanging on, gripping the extremities of the truss structure.

"Give me a hand, will ya, bud?" called Seth, a crazed look on his face. If he feared death right now, he didn't show it.

"Just get us in a room with Nascour," barked Leona, deadly serious. "We can take him."

Seth and Leona have Focus Energy!
Seth and Leona have +4 Atk!



Despite the cacophony in the Command Module, Ein set himself to work, tapping away at the computer systems. Programming an exit to this reality...

"Get outta my heeeaaaad!"

"Someone shut that brute up! I need to work!"

Gorigan's Uproar dealt fuck-all damage to Bellatrix and Ein! But it was very irritating!
Gorigan Focused...
Gorigan is resisting Nascour...!

Eldes strafed Nascour with special attacks, but even through his visor, he looked worried. He was doing so little to the Malamar...

"You must stop! Nascour, you must see that there is nothing to gain from all this, and that your fight is as good as finished!"

Eldes's Flamethrower dealt 26 damage to Nascour!
Eldes's Shadow Ball dealt 20 damage to Nascour!
Eldes used Calm Mind!
Eldes Focused...
Eldes is in control. Everything is fine.

"We shall see. I wonder... if you were to best me, do you think your brother will forgive you?" purred Nascour, unbothered by the fox's attacks. "What ever will you tell you father...? How interesting. But I'm afraid I have more pressing priorities than you, Eldes."

The Ninetales shuddered with mental effort as Nascour drifted after Isidora, energy pulsing down his body...

...but Nascour's smooth voice and calm demeanour couldn't wholly disguise the considerable strain he was under. Even unleashing his room-wide Hypnosis, casting half a dozen foes into a stupor, made a vein pop on his temple...

Boss Attack: Nascour used SHADOW Hypnosis! Eldes, Gladion, Laura, Ghaspius, Naps and Sage became Drowsy!
Ignoring the Taunt was strenuous!
Nascour travelled to Observation Deck.

"I admit, you're certainly skilled... but your mind is in disarray. I see it. You wish to kill me? Then, I hope your best is yet to come."

The Malamar bore down on Isidora, his body shimmering with strange energies, each lashing attack from his tentacles stronger, stronger...

Nascour's AGILE SHADOW Superpower shattered Isidora's Protect! +1 Atk, +1 Def!
Boss Action: Sure Hit
Nascour couldn't ignore the Taunt, and must attack!
Nascour Focused...
Nascour's Superpower dealt a CRITICAL 169 damage to Isidora! KO!!
Contrary gave +1 Atk, +1 Def!
Nascour is Flinching and can't do more!
Boss Attack: Nascour is preparing Night Slash.
Target: Observation Deck

"I won't be overcome so easily..."

Nascour's beak parted as if to savour the Mist around him, lit uncannily by the eldritch light of the Fault.

"Come, then. Show me what passes for fervour among your... foolhardy kind."

✅ Objective: rescue Seth & Leona.
[ ] Objective: get Ein to the Command Module, and protect him long enough to program a Return To Earth sequence.
[ ] Objective: neutralise all loyalist Cipher admins. (KOs, kills, and defections all count.) [2/4]
✅ Objective: repel Alexander.
[ ] Objective: do not allow Seth or Leona to die.
[ ] Optional: let Seth deal with unfinished business.
 
"Get outta my heeeaaaad!"

"Someone shut that brute up! I need to work!"

After spending a good minute dazed from the stream-crasher's attack and devastated from loosing subscriber, Lovrina finally
managed to pick herself up from the wreckage along with her hammer, though she was left with a nasty headache. And Gorigan's ruckus wasn't helping things.

"Gorigan! We need Uncle Ein to do his nerd shit—go be #Cringe somewhere else!" she yelled (no longer caring if she was going to get demonetized for swearing).

Lovrina punted Gorigan into the Utility Module with her #BanHammer! 38 dmg!
Gorigan's Uproar cured everyone's drowsiness.
 
Out onto the Service Truss he stumbled, blinking a few times to force the red and brown colored blurs to resolve properly into Seth and Leona. He stepped forward automatically to answer the red Lycanroc’s plea for help, but something about the man’s expression made him pause. For a moment, Seth vanished and The Wolf appeared in his place, just as he was the night they took him down. Archie shook his head, and the apparition became his friend again, but he still felt the fur on the back of his neck standing up.

Grab on, I’ll pull you over,” he said, reaching out a paw.

He grabbed Seth first. Leona, being a quadruped, was a little more awkward to assist, but with her midnight counterpart’s assistance, they managed to pull the midday wolf back onto the catwalk. No doubt the wolves would be off to join the melee, not to be denied a second time. As for the Dewott himself, he was spent. He needed to focus, clear his head, recover from his injuries, there was still a long fight against Alexander ahead of them, after all.

He looked up at the red Lycanroc again. The Wolf? Seth? Both? That cloying feeling gnawed at his stomach again.

"It'll... eat you up inside... like it does to me...!"

Think... wh-what your boys w-would think if they saw you now!”

He grabbed the wolf by the paw, before Seth had a chance to depart.

“Seth.” He said. “Listen. Don’t do anything you’ll regret. When you get home, you need to be able to face your boys with your head held high.”

The Dewott didn’t keep the Lycanrocs any longer than that. After all, they had a date with a Malamar that had been delayed more than long enough already. As for Archie himself, he made his way back towards the main group in the Utility Module, taking the time to eat his Sitrus Berry along the way. He needed to be ready for Alexander, or another round with Nascour, or who knew what else at this point…

Although, he had to admit, he wasn’t exactly sure how ready one could be to find a Vigoroth sat in the middle of the room having a full volume screaming temper tantrum. At least Gorigan didn’t seem to be doing anything to impede anyone? Ardos was unconscious, and Eldes didn’t seem keen on throwing any more fire their way, either, so it seemed some good progress had been made in his absence.

“Hope I didn’t miss anything exciting?” the Dewott quipped.

Archie (67 STM, 0 TMP, +0 SPD, +2 ACC, 40 SHD, 0 RAD)
- **Act:** Focus (+5 TMP, -20 SHD, -20 RAD)
- Interact @ Seth & Leona (-3 TMP)
- **Act:** Call @ Seth
- **Act:** Item (Sitrus Berry)
- **Act:** Dash to Station Core (-2 TMP)
- Walk to Utility Module
Net change: +0 STM, +0 TMP, -20 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 67 STM (111 after regen), 0 TMP, 20 SHD, 0 R
 
Ghaspius winced as the foxes turned on one another. This was what he wanted... right? And yet, his eyes couldn't help but fall to the floor. If even a few words could have such an effect, then what would happen if he decided to turn them around on his friends?

He sharply inhaled. He came to this world to help, damn it, and that's just what he was going to do. "Hey, Tempest, I got somethin' to help!" He shouted out, uncorking one of his brews as he did so. "Give 'em all ya got!"

Support: +1 ATK @ Isidora
 
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Gladion's smile was subtle even back home, and more opaque on an avian face, but the expression in his eyes was clearly readable as such when he saw Eldes break free. Given he'd immediately found it in him to attack Ardos, it'd probably been a long time coming, but it was still nice to play a part of it. "Glad to have you on-side."

(An understatement, honestly, but he'd feel silly admitting aloud how much he'd allowed himself to become invested in Eldes' whole deal, even if the guy probably already knew from seeing the inside of his head.)

It would have been nice if there'd been more time to talk to Eldes. But the Return to Earth sequencing was being programmed, and Nascour had to be dealt with beforehand. He turned his attention to Isidora, and channeled his strength into her. She'd done plenty of damage going head to head with a Saint and dish out a good beating, with the right support. She could handle this, too.

"Isidora, my good friend, shall we show him what your best really is?"

Radiant Attack Buff @ Isidora
 
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