In the Skylabs, Maple has tracked down Pionobot. For ease of reading/pretending there's an actual timeline, this is between the Acacia fight and Above the Forest. Pionobot still seems to be a bit dour, and is faintly trailing purple smoke from one of his shoulders, but he brightens up a bit when Maple comes and asks to cash in her coupon.

PIONOBOT: Oh! Sure, I think I've got enough time to do that.
PIONOBOT: Come on, let's find a place to sit down for this. Easier if I've got a steady place to work.
MAPLE: Alright! One workplace, coming up!
MAPLE: Hm, how about…over there?

Maple points towards the gift shop, where the autonomous shopkeeper Chairbot is. There’s a few vacant tables near it. Probably not big enough for modifying a suit of armor, but maybe tape two or three together and it’d be fine.

MAPLE: We can buy some snacks, too!
MAPLE: Maybe a souvenir, too? I’ve always kinda wanted to go here, y’know!
MAPLE: Maybe they have shirts?

Pionobot chuckles.

PIONOBOT: Yeah that'd work. Having tables should help too.
PIONOBOT: If we've got enough spare credits a souvenir or two probably can't hurt either.
PIONOBOT: A note: snacks remain present in the inventory.
PIONOBOT: Perhaps use our own supply before spending more on lower quality items?
MAPLE: Aw. Alright.
MAPLE: Here, I’ll just...

Maple reaches into the inventory, and equips a Burrito. Does this even qualify as a snack? Anyway, the two of them begin to make their way over to the tables. Once there, Maple sits herself down the clanging of her armor ringing out against the chair. Pionobot follows right behind her, setting himself down on the chair opposite Maple.

MAPLE: Okay! Let’s begin!
MAPLE: ...Wait, right!
MAPLE: One sec!~

With frightening speed, Maple removes her armor on the spot. It takes a few moments, but she manages to slide off a few interlocking layers of metal. She’s very careful when it comes to removing her greaves, taking great care with uncoupling a few fuel lines. In a few moments, she’s free of her armor, down to a light t-shirt and shorts.

She then slams her armor down on the table. Though the Scarlet armor provides a fairly free range of movement, it’s really quite refreshing to be free! Maple stretches her arms and legs, a happy hum whistling from her lips. Soon, she’s back on the chair, lounging with her feet on the table.

MAPLE: Whew!~
PIONOBOT: Wow that was fast.
PIONOBOT: Never thought I'd be impressed by someone's skill at undressing.
PIONOBOT: ...that… that did not come out right.
MAPLE: Ehe~

Maple gives a little giggle. Pionobot looks like he'd probably be blushing if he were capable of it.

PIONOBOT: So uh before I embarrass myself again.
PIONOBOT: Do you have any particular requests as to design?
MAPLE: Uh…
MAPLE: Didn’t really think of that. The Praetorians all have like, pretty uniform designs.
MAPLE: I don’t wanna get singled out as a Praetorian, but… hm.
MAPLE: My armor needs to be lightweight, so we can’t have too much.
MAPLE: Just like… a simple trim on the outlines of my armor plates?
MAPLE: And, for a bit of pizzazz...

She bops the right side of her helmet.

MAPLE: We should like, have some wings coming off of this!~
MAPLE: I realize that’s not really a trim, but it’d be so goddamn cool.
MAPLE: Think you can do that?

Pionobot chuckles and pulls out a single god ingot from the inventory, and then an iron ingot after she makes the helmet wings request.

PIONOBOT: Now, this'll probably surprise you but I'm not even going to use half of this thing for the decorating.
PIONOBOT: Gold trim, threading, and leafing is actually really light when done properly.
PIONOBOT: The only reason to use more gold than absolutely necessary is so that it needs to be replaced less often, and when you can do it the way I do then even that reason goes away.
PIONOBOT: So uh...
PIONOBOT: What do you WANT? Because if it fits on your armor, I can probably do it.
MAPLE: Huh? You sound… eh, nevermind.
MAPLE: But… here! I’ll show you.

Maple pulls out a notepad and pencil. She does a little doodle of what she wants on her armor. Though she might call it a “doodle”, it’s actually quite a detailed little sketch. Far as Pionobot can tell, she wants light amounts of gold at the edges of her most prominent pieces of armor. A few streaks upon the edges of her gauntlets, greaves, and her breastplate. And, two small but flashy wings off the side of her helmet, flowing behind her head.

MAPLE: Think you can work with this?
PIONOBOT: Yup! It'll take me a bit of work to make sure everything melds right, but hey if it were easy people'd just do it themselves.

Pionobot pulls the first piece of armor across the table to his side, and with a small look of concentration reaches for the gold ingot next to him. His hands pushes through it, scooping out a piece of gold as if it were something soft like pudding, and as he brings his hand over the chunk of gold seems to melt around his fingers, flowing up around his hand until it looks almost like a spool of thread around his wrist.

PIONOBOT: We're probably gonna be here a bit, thymefield's making this a little harder than I expected so I need to take my time.
PIONOBOT: There anything you wanna talk about while I work?
MAPLE: Hm…
MAPLE: Uh…
MAPLE: Who are you, anyway? I don’t actually really know!
MAPLE: Like, I know you’re a robot based off of a guy, but… that’s it, really!
MAPLE: C’mon! Tell me about yourself!

Nudge nudge. Maple pokes Pionobot in the shoulder repeatedly. Pionobot chuckles as he carefully threads the gold into her armor, it seeming to meld with the surface of it leaving a pristine golden shine that doesn't feel any different from the metal the armor itself is made of.

PIONOBOT: So, I have two answers for that. Which do you want first?
PIONOBOT: What I remember about myself, or what Echoss told me yesterday about how I'm built?
MAPLE: What you… remember about yourself?
MAPLE: Do you suffer from amnesia, or something?
PIONOBOT: Sort of, but not exactly.
PIONOBOT: It's like, the robot equivalent I suppose. My memories are stored differently than a brain… or core I suppose… does it.
PIONOBOT: Which means you don't need weird psychic powers to block off specific parts.
PIONOBOT: You just need access and a way to read them fast enough to find what you're looking for.
PIONOBOT: Or damage the access paths and block off everything in that section at once.
PIONOBOT: aaaand, well.

Pionobot points to the smoke still wafting from his shoulder.

PIONOBOT: As long as the thymefield is up I can't heal up well enough to regain access to the stuff I'm missing.
PIONOBOT: I'm getting stuff back gradually. A new set of memories every few hours.
PIONOBOT: But they're all mostly unrelated to each other, and it's slow enough that the thymefield's going to come down first.
MAPLE: The thymefield’s affecting you that badly, huh?
MAPLE: I guess as a robot, one could consider you like… a living weapon, right?
MAPLE: At least you’re still able to function! Tabletopian warships tried to attack the Sphere in the first few days of its arrival, and wham!
MAPLE: Big boat fell right outta the sky!

Maple smashes her fist into the table. It shakes and rumbles ever so slightly. Pionobot chuckles weakly.

PIONOBOT: Hah, yeah…
PIONOBOT: According to Echoss I fall right into that category…
PIONOBOT: Actually he says that the thymefield working on me to the extent it does is rather shocking.
PIONOBOT: Apparently I am… have you heard the term 'sufficiently advanced technology'?
MAPLE: “Is indistinguishable from magic!”
MAPLE: Which is probably the reason why us Chairians were able to stand up to the Tabletopians!
MAPLE: W-Well, keyword being “were”, b-but… that’s besides the point!
PIONOBOT: Yeah, that's the one.
PIONOBOT: That's how Echoss described me.
PIONOBOT: And according to the others Echoss's people can do things that are mind-bending even from a magical standpoint.
PIONOBOT: Like, the man looks at everything on Sussui like he's mentally disassembling it. Picking apart its inner workings with a glance. Magic, tech, eldritch horror, doesn't matter.
PIONOBOT: He doesn't even know where to start with me.
PIONOBOT: Kinda… weird. And worrying.
MAPLE: Well… maybe you can ask Piono?
MAPLE: If you’re a Pionobot, surely you know a Piono, right?

Pionobot lets out a harsh, loud laugh, putting down the gold wire for a second as he does so before going back to his work.

PIONOBOT: Maybe if he were anyone but himself.
PIONOBOT: Certainly not a wise consultation choice.
PIONOBOT: This is easiest to explain if I ask a question first.
PIONOBOT: LOCAA was watching the Second Godmodding War, right? Where Ire dropped all your armies to die and started this fiasco in the first place?
PIONOBOT: My little history lesson is easier if you know about that.

Maple bobs her head.

MAPLE: Of course!
MAPLE: I… sorta lived through it, y’know.
MAPLE: W-Well, maybe “lived” isn’t the correct term…
MAPLE: E-Everyone lost someone during t-that incident…
MAPLE: But… that’s neither here nor there, right?

Pionobot is silent for a moment.

PIONOBOT: Piono…
PIONOBOT: The son of a [b]gorilla that I'm designed after…
PIONOBOT: Assuming that I'm remembering the history lesson I got from...[/b]

Pionobot pauses again. His brow furrows and he massages his 'temples', as if he's trying to remember something. He finally gives up, but the frown doesn't go away.

PIONOBOT: that I got from a friend.
PIONOBOT: Assuming I'm remembering them right, Piono's the one who kickstarted the event Ire summoned your armies into.
PIONOBOT: And the forces he brought to that battle probably had a hand in what happened to the people of LOCAA that got dragged in.
PIONOBOT: Even if they didn't, the fight was started specifically to…
PIONOBOT: To cause as much destruction and death as possible. To get the other Descendants to draw out their best resources where they could be slaughtered all at once.
PIONOBOT: What Ire did was wrong, unconscionable.
PIONOBOT: But Piono goaded him, and who knows how many others, into doing it.
PIONOBOT: And that's just one in a long line of atrocities.
MAPLE: W-Wait, s-so...
MAPLE: If this Piono person is some cruel warlord guy…
MAPLE: Then why is a “Piono” robot so chill?
MAPLE: L-Like… shouldn’t you be eating babies or s-something?
MAPLE: N-No offense to you of course, b-but… y’know!

Pionobot shakes his head.

PIONOBOT: I dunno.
PIONOBOT: There's a reason, it has something to do with… someone I can't really remember very well right now.
PIONOBOT: But I'm not anything like the other Pionobots at the very least.
PIONOBOT: According to Echoss they're basically mass-produced WMDs designed specifically to spite Piono by someone equally unpleasant that he pissed off at some point.
PIONOBOT: In Echoss's words "If you were like the others it would be very obvious. Pionobots are not known for their teamwork, or really much of anything besides rampant destruction."

Maple tilts her head. To… spite Piono?

MAPLE: To spite him?
MAPLE: I dunno about you, but I’d be flattered to have an army of me’s!
MAPLE: Assuming they were like, y’know, nice.
MAPLE: And didn’t eat babies.
PIONOBOT: You'd have to ask Echoss more about it but…
PIONOBOT: They're single-minded to the point of idiocy. Any place that survives one or associates with a place that survives one is going to be…
PIONOBOT: Well, it'd make hiding difficult, right? Not a lot of people have glowing red and orange eyes.
PIONOBOT: Also there's something about being 'programmed edgelords'.
PIONOBOT: It's like, a pile of passive-aggressive jabs and roundabout sabotage delivered by way of shattered planets and genocide.
PIONOBOT: Kinda depressing honestly.

Maple sighs.

MAPLE: Whoever did that… should really find better things to do!
MAPLE: Like, seriously! That’s a huge waste of stuff!
MAPLE: ...And I guess this is too, but this is cool so whatever.

The scarlet decides to get a good look at Pionobot’s progress so far. Pionobot's eyes are flickering a little bit, but his work continues on with precision and expertise. He's already finished a few pieces of Maple's armor, pristine gold inlaid exactly as Maple requested for him. A happy Maple bobs her head at his progress.

MAPLE: Wow! You’re good! Quick, too!
PIONOBOT: Thank you, metalworking is something of a hobby of mine.
PIONOBOT: It's nice being able to take my abilities and actually use them for something constructive.

Pionobot is silent for a second.

PIONOBOT: What about you?
PIONOBOT: What do you do when you're not fighting for freedom, justice, and the like?
MAPLE: Um, hmmm…
MAPLE: Mostly lounge around and be tired nowadays, hahaha.
MAPLE: It’s been such a long time since I’ve had the privacy and quiet to write, y’know?
MAPLE: Before this whole Rebellion gig, I’ve always wanted to be an author, y’know?

She pulls out her notepad from earlier. On the other pages are various quick notes and ideas she’s had, as well as many a quick sketch of characters, weapons, armor, and places. Of note is that there are A LOT of sketches of Chloe.

MAPLE: I keep some of my ideas in here.
MAPLE: I-It’s… maybe kinda dorky, isn’t it?

Pionobot reaches over with one hand to flip through a few of the pages. His pace slows down slightly, and he barely suppresses a small smirk when he sees all the Chloe sketches, but after flipping through a bit he pushes it back to Maple and resumes his original speed.

PIONOBOT: Well, it looks like you've got a lot of good ideas in here honestly.
PIONOBOT: And even if it were 'dorky' I'd hardly be one to talk. I make jewelry and decorative armor with magic designed for blowing up planets.
PIONOBOT: You might want to take it easy on the celebrity fanfic bit though. Chloe's cool but I think it'd get a bit weird having widely published fiction of yourself in circulation.
PIONOBOT: ...He said, being a robotic duplicate of a major historical figure. Guess I'm still not one to talk.
MAPLE: A-Ah, I don’t plan t-to write about her!
MAPLE: I mean, she’s cool, and heroic, and really heckin’ cute, but t-that’d be rude, right?
MAPLE: Sure, maybe I’ll base a character or five off of her, but…
MAPLE: T-That’s about it! Really!

Pionobot laughs. Softer this time than the one earlier about Piono, more genuine.

PIONOBOT: Yeah that's fair. She's pretty much the only one who actually talked to me my first day on Sussui. Definitely cute too.
PIONOBOT: Don't. Don't tell her I said that, things feel kinda awkward for me in the party already.

Elsewhere, off the map, Chloe suddenly feels inclined to blush. How weird.

PIONOBOT: So, what got you into writing? Usually there's something that gets a person interested in their preferred method of artwork.
MAPLE: A-Ah, nothing in particular…
MAPLE: I’m sure as a child, you’ve heard many tales of heroism.
MAPLE: For those on other planets, these tales of heroism are usually like… myths. Ancient stories or fairy tales.
MAPLE: For us however… these tales are real! All of them!
MAPLE: And new tales were made every day!
MAPLE: Those brave heroes who fought on the front lines against the Tabletopians, performing legendary acts of heroism and selflessness…
MAPLE: We celebrated those acts, keeping them in our memory through songs, dance, and… of course, stories!
MAPLE: Ah, I love those stories!~

Maple stands up on her chair, pointing her finger skyward. Since she’s not wearing her armor, the chair is fine and doesn’t buckle or sway in any strange sort of way. She has the doofiest smile on her face as she recites some famous feats. Pionobot looks up at her and smiles. It's nice hanging out with someone so animated.

MAPLE: Tales of Lord Sequoia inspiring his troops and performing a heroic, daring escape!
MAPLE: Miss Acacia destroying entire vessels with single shots!
MAPLE: Those sorts of things, y’know?
MAPLE: I grew up hearing these tales, and… I-I just love it!~

MAPLE: B-But… w-well, I suppose things are a bit more g-glum nowadays.
MAPLE: Heroism… k-kinda died, y-y’know?

She sighs as she leaps a short distance into the air, landing straight back down in a sitting position. She winces as she does so- doing that kinda hurt. With a deep breath, she continues.

MAPLE: Ever since t-the end of the w-war, and t-the rise of the Sphere…
MAPLE: Things have been… gloomy.
MAPLE: I-I… joined the Rebellion b-because I thought I could make a difference a-and maybe save everyone, a-and become a true heroine, b-but…
MAPLE: W-Well, we know how that turned out!
MAPLE: I h-honestly can’t believe I thought t-that was a good idea...

Pionobot looks up at her from his work again.

PIONOBOT: Well, it's turning out fine right now. You wouldn't be here, helping the Spherebreakers now if you hadn't.
PIONOBOT: And I'm sure you helped others out too, right?
PIONOBOT: Being a hero isn't easy. You don't get to win if you don't fight for it.
PIONOBOT: Which is what being a hero's supposed to be about in the first place, I think. Fighting for the happy ending when nobody else will or can.
PIONOBOT: Even if the happy ending isn't guaranteed.
PIONOBOT: Being one of the heroes is a lot less fun than reading about them...

Pionobot sorta slows down, not stopping entirely but he stares vacantly at the gauntlet he's finishing up, his hand motions going from smooth and fluid to robotic and mechanical.

MAPLE: I mean, you’re right, but...
MAPLE: E-Even when I was helping others as part of the Rebellion… nothing felt right.
MAPLE: Fighting against the Chairians, m-my own people… it was awful.
MAPLE: I… I don’t think there have been any heroes as of late.
MAPLE: Nobody to sing the praises of, no true right or wrong, no good or evil…
MAPLE: It seemed like everyone had their own agendas or sinister schemes. Our leaders, the Highchair themselves…
MAPLE: I think a lot of us felt this sort of hopelessness that was sorta… consuming everything.

Pionobot nods slowly.

PIONOBOT: Yeah I… I get that.
PIONOBOT: Things get dark, and nothing feels like it'll ever be okay again.
PIONOBOT: Heh. That hits a lot closer to home than you'd think it would for an amnesiac.
MAPLE: B-But… well…
MAPLE: Then Chloe came around.

She gives a gentle smile.

MAPLE: I-I know, m-maybe it’s kinda weird to fixate on her so much, b-but she was like… the first person I could truly call a “hero” in a long time.
MAPLE: No ulterior motives, no evil schemes, no… nothing.
MAPLE: She was just a girl who came to this planet to save someone she cared about.
MAPLE: And if it came down to it, she would do it with nothing but a sword in hand.

MAPLE: I don’t think it’s really a wonder I fell in love with her!~
MAPLE: P-Platonically, o-of course! I-I mean, if she asked, m-maybe I’d go out with her, b-but that’s besides the point!
MAPLE: She was a beacon of light in these times, y’know?
MAPLE: Just a true, ideal heroine! She might not know it, but she gave me the hope to carry on.

Pionobot smiles softly down at his work.

PIONOBOT: Yeah, that makes sense.
PIONOBOT: She didn't realize what she was getting into at first, but even when she did she kept going.
PIONOBOT: It's just… nice to see someone push through and step up to the plate like that.
PIONOBOT: Probably good that the rest of this gaggle of misfits found her though, it's kinda hard to make your way through a war like this without friends at your side.
MAPLE: She would’ve been fine on her own! She’s amazing!~
MAPLE: But it’s definitely better that she has allies, y’know? Someone to watch your back.

MAPLE: Anyway, it was thanks to Chloe that I found the strength to keep going!
MAPLE: The whole “Scarlet” division was kinda my idea, y’know!
MAPLE: Okay, maybe not entirely my idea, but it was mostly mine.
PIONOBOT: Huh, really?
PIONOBOT: You guys got your gear together pretty dang fast if you put it together in what…
PIONOBOT: One day? Two? Can't have been more than three.
MAPLE: Well, we were using all the equipment beforehand.
MAPLE: It was more of a rebranding than anything else.
MAPLE: It really did wonders for team morale, the whole “heroine” thing.
MAPLE: It also… kinda made me want to write again.
MAPLE: Over the past few days, I’ve just been trying to document what I can. Find the good in everything, y’know?
MAPLE: Of course, I’ve had a lot more to note down since joining you guys!~

MAPLE: All of this, from what I’ve seen, to what I’ve done with you guys… makes me believe that maybe, just maybe… I can be a true heroine.
MAPLE: I never thought that maybe I’d be the one they’d write about some day.
MAPLE: A-And… I still do have my doubts, even as I work with you guys.
MAPLE: But I believe… what we’re doing is really for the better.
MAPLE: We will make a difference.
PIONOBOT: Things are still hard but I'll tell you what.
PIONOBOT: Being the hero without getting recognition for it is better than dying when the big bad evil thing explodes.
PIONOBOT: Which seems to be the only alternative at the moment.
PIONOBOT: To say nothing of how many people Spark will get killed even if the Sphere doesn't detonate.
MAPLE: Yeah! It’s a good thing I’m here! And that you’re here! And that we’re all here!
MAPLE: Oh, hey. Speaking of that!

Maple looks up towards Pionobot as he continues his work. There’s a little bit of a glimmer in her eyes.

MAPLE: Why are you fighting against the Sphere?
MAPLE: I’m fighting because I believe that what Spark is doing with the Sphere will only create a vicious cycle of death.
MAPLE: What stake do you have, anyway?
MAPLE: Besides like, the end of the world.
MAPLE: ...That’s plenty, come to think of it.

Pionobot pauses again, and looks up at Maple, keeping his work in the corner of his eye.

PIONOBOT: That's…
PIONOBOT: That's actually a really good question.
PIONOBOT: I came here with… someone else. A few someone elses. I don't know where they are, but I think one of them is keeping an eye on things from a distance.
PIONOBOT: I… Don't really remember what we came here for. I think the Sphere had something to do with it but I don't know if we were intending to do anything about it specifically before we arrived.
PIONOBOT: I mean, if I really wanted to I think I could've just left before coming down here.
PIONOBOT: Butterfly can't break the entire multiverse in one go right? Pretty sure Alpha would have a bone to pick with it if that were possible.
MAPLE: Oh? You have more friends?
MAPLE: ...Is it more Pionobots like you? Or who are they? Do you remember?

MAPLE: And… maybe Alpha’s just too busy to “save” the universe?
MAPLE: Being really powerful needs to be really tiring!
MAPLE: Maybe he’s taking a nap.
PIONOBOT: Yeah, I think so at least.
PIONOBOT: They're not pionobots though, I don't think.
PIONOBOT: Considering how many times I've exploded since making landfall we'd probably have found at least one of them if they were.
PIONOBOT: And… maybe. I…
PIONOBOT: Maybe.
PIONOBOT: That's kinda aside the point though. I'm here on Sussui now and I could probably hide out in the woods or something and be safe.
PIONOBOT: Everyone's pretty competent, you know? I don't contribute all that much compared to everyone else honestly.
PIONOBOT: But every little bit helps, and if me being here helps save even one person…
PIONOBOT: Then I think I've spent my time well.

Maple giggles.

MAPLE: C’mon, don’t sell yourself like that!
MAPLE: You’ve done a lot.
MAPLE: And… well, I think you’ve saved more than a few people, y’know?
MAPLE: Even missing one soldier can be the difference between life and death in a heated battle.
MAPLE: So… thank you for your help! I’m sure everyone appreciates it!

As she gives him a smile, her gaze also falls to her armor. Much to her surprise, Pionobot is in fact pulling over the last piece, Maple's helmet. He reaches over with his 'spooled' hand to the iron ingot, and plunges his hand into it, pulling out what seems to be a melded lump of some kind of iron-gold alloy. He fairly quickly moves his hands to the side of the helmet, shaping the decorative wings as if molding clay.

PIONOBOT: ...thank you Maple.
MAPLE: Aw, you’re welcome! But there’s no need to be thankin’ me.
MAPLE: You’re the one doing all the hard work here.
MAPLE: So… you should be thanking… yourself!

Maple giggles as she points her right index finger right towards Piono. Then, just for fun, she reaches forward and bops Pionobot on the nose. She vocalizes a little “boop” as she does so. Pionobot smiles and chuckles.

PIONOBOT: Heheh, thank you but I didn't mean for this. Or, well, sorta I guess.
PIONOBOT: You're just the only person who really talks to me. I've talked with Brutishace once or twice but he's one of the party members who just sorta vanishes sometimes so I've barely seen him around.
PIONOBOT: And Echoss is kind of nervous about me for some reason. He'll talk with me I guess but he doesn't really… talk to me. Probably because of the whole me being a pionobot thing.
PIONOBOT: Everyone else just kinda passes me by. It's a little disheartening, even if it's just for this week.

Maple tilts her head.

MAPLE: Huh? Really?
MAPLE: That’s weird! You’re a really cool guy! So, hm...
MAPLE: Ooh! I know!
MAPLE: You should come with me!
MAPLE: I hear they’re planning on hosting a picnic later today!
MAPLE: You should come with! Make some friends! Eat a sandwich!
MAPLE: ...Do Pionobots like sandwiches? No, better question- can Pionobots EAT sandwiches?
PIONOBOT: Oh, a picnic? Yeah I can be there probably. Hopefully.
PIONOBOT: Technically speaking I don't need to eat, but to my advantage I'm crammed with a lot of features that seem really unnecessary for a living WMD.
PIONOBOT: Like being able to eat. Food is nice so I'm grateful for that.
MAPLE: Oh, cool! It’s a date, then!~

Pionobot lets out a small surprised choking cough, fortunately Maple seems to have missed it.

MAPLE: See you there?
MAPLE: Oh, and one more thing!

With Pionobot having finished the helmet, Maple grabs it and plops it on top of her head. The wings glimmer in the white lights of the laboratory. While she’d much rather pose with it on in the sun’s rays for maximum heroicness, this’ll have to do?

MAPLE: How do I look?
PIONOBOT: Like you were born for it.
PIONOBOT: Ready to inspire people to fight for good and justice whenever the need arises.

Pionobot scooches his chair back, and looks off to the dock.

PIONOBOT: I gotta deal with something right now, but I'll see you at the picnic yeah?
MAPLE: Yeah!
MAPLE: See you then! And thanks for the upgrade!~

Donning her armor roughly as fast as she removed it earlier, Maple gives Pionobot a salute. She holds this salute as her boosters kick into gear, and she lifts a short distance into the air. She does a little twirl in the air, narrowly missing the wall as she does so. With a wink, she… lands, because flying indoors isn’t actually a good idea and really it’d be easier to walk in here. She waves goodbye as she heads eastward.

MATERIALS:

-3x Squall Cluster
-1x Mantle Cluster
-1x Electrophorus Shell
-3x Plasteel
-1x Central Processing Unit
-Wire Scraps
-Silkweed Bundles

Sophia starts off by taking out her time piece, and flipping it like the hourglass it is. Time speeds up around her (though for her it looks like everyone else has slowed to a crawl), allowing her time to get the parameters of the glider up to perfection.

She also activates her recent gift to help in making it. While it's not sewing related, the deft fingers enchantment is multi-purpose by nature. So it works out.

She takes out two sheets of the party's vast quantities of Plasteel, and begins shaping them into wings. The material is light yet durable enough to allow for sustained flight, if provided with good propulsion. She'll get to that later.

First, she cuts the sheets into two long rectangles using a laser cutter, making sure to wear goggles just in case. She then begins shaping the sheets into a proper airfoil shape, machining it to be as aerodynamic as possible. She makes sure both wings are the same shape and have a very similar weight and weight distribution.

Sophia's also taken the time to add attachment pieces to the inner sides of the wings, allowing them to come off if the party needs the materials for something else later.

Which segways nicely into the jet itself. Sophia takes out another sheet of Plasteel, a few Squall Clusters, some Wire Scraps of suitable size, and an Electrophorus shell (making absolutely sure she's electricity-proof before handling it). Sure, the shell is heavy, but so are most engines. Sophia lines the Electrophorus Shell in Plasteel, covering it up, making it aerodynamic, and allowing her to work in more safety for now.

She then inserts one Squall Cluster into the engine carefully, securing it in more Plasteel. She then takes the other clusters and begins making turbine blades out of them. Using a little more Plasteel and some Wire Scraps she makes the center part of the turbine. She adds a heavy-duty switch to a Plasteel rod that is to act as a handlebar to hold onto along with being the main method of controlling the glider when hooked up, and connects it to the Squall Cluster and Turbine on one side, and the Electrophorus Shell on the other.

Once she's done, Sophia places two slots on either side of the engine for the wings. She also attaches a harness woven out of Silkweed Bundles to secure the rider in place. It's orientated upright to prevent blood-pumping difficulties while flying.

She also makes a simple control unit for the glider, using the leftover Plasteel, Wire Scraps, a Mantle Cluster (to act as a ground for any excess electricity), and a Central Processing Unit.

Now it's time to put it all together. She slots the wings in the slots of the engine, and seals them in with a little more Plasteel. Using a few more wire scraps and a bit more Plasteel, she connects the control box to the wings, the switch controlling the power (making sure it draws minimal power from the source), and the handle's controls.

...Sophia also decides to place another switch between the first switch and the engine, as she realizes she won't be able to test the wing's controls independantly of the engine. She tests the controls to make sure the wings' aelerons ((It's been a while since I looked at plane terminology don't judge me if it's wrong)) move properly with certain analog control inputs.

After confirming that it works, and giving it a coat of red paint, Sophia flips the Time Piece again, returning to normal time flow. From Hannah's perspective it's only been a few seconds.

RESULT: Repurposable Stormglider (T?). A durable Plasteel glider with a powerful Squall Cluster-based engine powered by an Electrophorus shell. Reliable, fast, and agile. Can be easily deconstructed to yield 2 Plasteel and a Storm Engine.

>Irongutta first. He moves Venia to H14 via Skeletal Toss and stays put.

>Venia second. She uses a Lively Concoction to get out of dying range, then Kickstarts her Heart (again). She dumps all 400 SP of her special into slamming Yulania with Phantasmal Force (refreshing her buffs in the bargain), and then Purges on Yulania.

>The Scion moves third, and uses Salvation: Reinvigorate to give Irongutta a second action.

>Verdana, Generic and Nettle all move now, but do not act in any damaging capacity, so as to get away from the delayed AoE setups we have going on. Their damaging actions, if any, come later.

(For player reference, the AoEs are: Splash 1 of K11-K15: Splash2 of K13; and a Wide Laser from O14 to J14, plus one Splash1 attack centered on Yulania. In short, get away from Yulania's face this instant!)

>Crystal is fourth, shooting Yulania with the Twin Railcannons and only that. This detonates the Darkmatter laser, which probably annihilates the remaining Wing Emitter. (Your actual action can be whatever as long as it doesn't hit Yulania directly)

>Nia is fifth, moving to P14 and firing off Super Soak to the West. This drops the Glacier too.

>Irongutta is sixth. Refreshed and no longer under Reloader, they move to I16, activate Rosebomb, apply a Shocktip Coating, and blow Yulania to smithereens with the power of friendship as applied to a highly explosive projectile attack.

>Anyone else with a damaging action that hasn't already acted yet does so now as backup.

To the Calscape - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FvB...dit?usp=sharing

Those who opt to go through the portal will find themselves appearing in a rather funny place. The region seems... very blue, to put it simply. The walls are blue, the grass outside is blue, the bushes are blue. The sound of chirping can be heard in the air, both outside the front and the back of the starting structure's location.

Also visible out the front is Calibri and a large snail. He just waves at whoever followed him.

"Welcome to... well, the area inside me, really. It's complicated."

Venia stares down the Transcendent Chamber, shivering-the memory wasn’t entirely pleasant even if it saved her damn life. And now Nia was about to put it there, too. But still-Nia had truckloads more going for her than Venia did, namely, not nearly dying. Things were less likely to go wrong, and it went right for Venia. The machine is proven.

...And no amount of reassuring herself of the fact would make the doubts flee Venia’s head anytime soon. Nevermind all those other doubts about what Nia was doing it for, even if just partially-to help Venia stand against Regalus.

Regulus-how many people, how many governments and organizations already tried their hands at the task? He may not have shrugged off everything, but every time, he lived. People had dealt with supposedly immortal beings before, but at this point, they’ve thrown everything and the kitchen sink at him. He bleeds-he can be killed-but no-one can keep him dead. And that was hardly it, either; magnificent, genius skill and adaptability to whatever he applies himself for, a keen intellect, a strong charisma, and that terrible dash of insanity that made predicting him difficult. And, worst of all-he’s Maria’s father.

… And if she can’t beat this, she’s not going to be able to defeat WARE.

Venia whips out a text message to a few people. Hannah’s words ring in her ears-paraphrased, ‘get more help.’ Not wrong at all; If she really, really was going to assassinate Regalus, she’d need all the help she can get. It would never be that simple, like everything else.

VENIA: Hey, Destiny, Echoss.
VENIA: I need you in the basement of the house next to the Transcendent Chamber.
VENIA: Think you two can manage quick? There’s something I need to discuss and something I need you to watch over.


Destiny is the first to respond.
DESTINY: I am open at the moment, so I shall come. What favor do you ask of me, Miss Venia?


In a moment, she teleports next to Venia. As she does so, Echoss responds.

ECHOSS: Oh?
ECHOSS: I'll do my best to get there quickly, it'll be a little bit before I arrive however.
ECHOSS: I need to put a few things away.
VENIA: Alright, thank you.

Venia turns back to the already-present Destiny.

VENIA: First, thank you for coming here.
VENIA: There’s two things I need. I need a few people present for, uh, for Nia’s Transcendence.
VENIA: The machine definitely works, you’re looking at the proof, I’m just nervous.
VENIA: Second, it’s about Regalus.
DESTINY: I have not been too involved in those matters, as I have spent much of my time thinking about the matters of my own realm. Please inform me, then, of what significance your father has at the moment.
VENIA: He’s not my father, he’s Maria’s father. He is my boss, more or less...
VENIA: … And he is also a manipulative little gorilla with too much power politically and personally.
VENIA: And thanks to the Thymefield, he’s at his absolute weakest.
VENIA: … In theory.
VENIA: At this point I think it’s obvious why I’m talking with you about it.

Destiny nods a bit, putting a bit of thought on the situation.

DESTINY: Ah, well apologies for misplacing Regalus’s... role in your life.
DESTINY: Either way, I think I understand. Do you want some assistance in ending him?
DESTINY: Unfortunately, the Thymefield has put me at a great loss as well. Powers that would normally display my god status have been lost. I am sure I can still be of your assistance; I am not nothing without my powers.
VENIA: Indeed you are not. You’re also an assassin, of sorts, and probably the one with the most experience of everyone on the team.
VENIA: I figure that, with the right support, you’d have the easiest time, or at least, you’d be able to lend your expertise.
VENIA: I trust you don’t have any reservations on the matter, then?

Before Destiny can give an answer, the two are interrupted by the sounds of footsteps. One of them is a gentle, measured saunter. The other is more of a happy, gentle sort of skipping, followed by a leap as she reaches the bottom of the stairs. Echoss comes down soon after, curiosity on his face.

NIA: Hiya!~
NIA: Whatcha doin’, Venia?
[color=#00C01D]VENIA: … A lot. I trust you brought the materials from Chaos?
VENIA: I already checked. The machine’s in working order, aside from the materials.
NIA: Of course! Got them all riiiight here!

Nia pulls out a crate from the inventory, which she slams onto the ground with… almost reckless abandon, but tempered with the slightest bit of caution. The dozens of ice crystals of all shapes, sizes, and qualities clink and clatter within, a beautiful, dazzling sea of blue. Venia promptly snatches them and slots them into the machine.

VENIA: Awesome, snowflake! Now, as a reminder; all you have to do is just stick your arm here, and a needle will prick you and inject you accordingly.
VENIA: … And to be clear, in no uncertain terms, it will absolutely hurt. But it’ll be OK in the end.
VENIA: Given how bad I was when I did it and how healthy you are, I am very confident that this will go smoothly.
VENIA: … But just in case I asked Destiny and Echoss to come over. They’ll either rez you or get someone who can, in case things go poorly.
VENIA: Then, we’ll really talk about Regalus.
NIA: U-Um… I understand.
NIA: I-I… d-didn’t really forget about that, b-but… I’m just trying to stay positive, y’know?
NIA: Kinda… kinda scary.
ECHOSS: Then Nia will be undergoing the Transcension process?
ECHOSS: I understand why you'd want us here for that alone I suppose. If nothing else though, I should be able to squeeze out a resurrect if needed since we aren't in battle.
VENIA: Thank you, Echoss.
VENIA: And Nia-I know, I know I should be positive, but, I… Augh, anxiety. It’ll go well. It will go well! I just can’t convince myself…

Venia points to the machine, ready and waiting. Destiny looks on silently, arms crossed.

VENIA: … Ready?
NIA: U-Um… I guess.
NIA: H-Have I ever m-mentioned I don’t like needles? O-Okay, I’m fine with them, b-but… j-just this particular one...
NIA: But… I guess it’s better to just get it over with rather than waiting for it, r-right?


Arm trembling, Nia extends her right arm towards the machine. Teeth clenched, she uses her free arm to try and stifle the trembling, but with little success. So, she slowly moves it away from the machine, inching that free hand towards Venia’s own.

VENIA: Don’t look, the needle’s coming now.
NIA: H-Hey, um… quick, k-kinda childish request, b-but… could you hold my h-hand?
NIA: I-I’m… scared....

Venia doesn’t respond-except to comply immediately. She grabs Nia’s hand, and holds firm. With a deep breath, Nia braces for impact, eyes going shut. There’s a moment of silence and anticipation. Everything goes still for Nia for a few moments.

NIA: O-Ow!

The needle pierces into Nia’s skin, and the energy immediately begins to flow through her body. She doubles over, pain rushing through every single nerve in her body. It was as if she was being cryogenically frozen. Which failed to explain why she felt so insufferably hot Mist begins to erupt from her body, and she can’t help but scream.

VENIA: NIA!

But, luckily for Nia, not a moment too soon, the pain begins to subside. The rush of energy doesn’t subside, but the mist that’s coming off of her body begins to slow in rate. The pain grows duller and weaker, but the sheer, insurmountable heat that she’s feeling doesn’t seem to fade. She wipes her brow. She’s sweating bullets. Were she Venia, she’d probably go and spontaneously turn into a puddle.

NIA: Hah! That wasn’t so bad!
NIA: O-Okay! It was really bad! A-And I hated every moment of it!
NIA: But at least it’s over, right?

She smiles at Venia expectantly. But, there’s no response. A bit miffed, she turns to Echoss and Destiny. Nothing there, either.

NIA: …
NIA: Right, guys?
NIA: R-Right?

Nia boops Venia on the nose. There’s no response. She presses against Venia’s nose a little harder. Then, she slaps her. Right across the face, with a fair amount of force. There’s a satisfying little crack that reverberates throughout the air. There’s a visible mark on her cheek, but she still doesn’t move.

NIA: H-Hey! Knock it off!
NIA: S-Say something! T-This isn’t funny!
NIA: H-Hello?
NIA: H-HELLO?
NIA: A-Alright! I get it! Y-You’re not moving! V-Very funny!
NIA: I-I just went through some pretty serious gorilla, you know!
NIA: Now is really not the time!

Then, she notices something. A gentle bit of frost, creeping across the floors. The walls. Venia. Echoss. Herself. Everyone. And it was growing, quick. Creeping across the floors like the Crimson or Corruption. She had to move. And fast. Run, as fast as her legs could carry her.

---

VENIA: Nia, it’s over!

Nia had frozen into solid ice. It was roughly what Venia expected, but any moment now, she’d start moving. At least, in theory. This was only the second test of this machine, after all.

Echoss hums quietly to himself, hand on his chin, staring intently at Nia and examining her up and down. Destiny looks up and down with eyes of intrigue and a bit of shock.

DESTINY: Well... that was quite the transformation. If I didn’t know any better I’d ask if she were dead, but I believe I can still see life inside her.
VENIA: She’s almost certainly alive! But … She’s having difficulties moving I think.
VENIA: It’ll be alright.
VENIA: I’ll be alright too… Uh, at least, I don’t feel like I’m having some frostbite in my hands.
VENIA: Figures, water might refer to it in all its forms as an element… Might be more appropriate to call you, Nia, a Transcendent of cold.
VENIA: ...Nia?
ECHOSS: Assuming she's connecting to the primary elemental planes I would assume it's still ice.
ECHOSS: Ice, steam, and water are all separate elements for some reason, despite water having control over all three.
ECHOSS: Give her some time, she's still in there, however long she's taking, I can see her channeling the power still.
VENIA: …
[/font][/b]

Venia's grip tightens, hoping the warmth would reach through.

---

Up the stairs. Out the front door. Across the ice-coated grass, which shattered beneath her feet with every step. And yet, she was still sweltering. She felt as if she was melting, though clearly she wasn’t. Far as she could tell, she was still flesh and blood. What had happened? Did the machine backfire?

Then, she steps on something. It’s wet and sticky. She looks down, and finds her brand new boots ensnared in a pool of black, interlaced with bits of red. It bubbles and cracks, somehow fending off the all-encroaching frost. Though, the area she’s stepped in isn’t much bigger than her boot. Or at least, it was. It seeps forward, out in front of her.

???: What were you thinking?
???: Don’t you perhaps think you’re taking things just a little too fast?
???: Now look what you’ve done.
???: Congratulations. You’ve done something irreversible, unspeakable to yourself.
???: All because you love her. A girl you met just a few days ago.
???: Of course, I love her too, but...
NIA: W-Wait! I know you.
NIA: Y-You’re...
PERSEPHONE: Yes. It’s me. Persephone.
PERSEPHONE: It’s been a long time since we’ve had a proper chat, me.

From out of the tar-like substance that is Persephone, her crimson body rises up. A large tumor, a mess of flesh and tendrils, much like the beasts she sent to Nia’s “facade” of a mindscape before it shattered.

PERSEPHONE: So.
PERSEPHONE: First thing’s first.
PERSEPHONE: Your body can’t take the strain.
PERSEPHONE: You’re dying.
PERSEPHONE: Congratulations.
NIA: W-What? H-How can I be dying?
NIA: E-Everyone else is freezing! N-Not me!
PERSEPHONE: Isn’t it obvious?
PERSEPHONE: There’s no way a machine like that could fail in this spectacular of a fashion.
PERSEPHONE: We’re in your head right now.
PERSEPHONE: Your mind, your being, your entire existence… has frozen.
PERSEPHONE: Until you shatter, we’ll be stuck together here in this little moment of time.
PERSEPHONE: Eternally frozen, forever.
NIA: B-But… t-that’s insane!
NIA: A-And aren’t you on my side? S-Shouldn’t you be helping me?
PERSEPHONE: I am on your side.
PERSEPHONE: I’m here to tell you that you’ve colossally screwed up, and that you’re directly on your way to the grave.
PERSEPHONE: Unless, of course, you find the strength to control all of this.

Nia paps herself on the cheeks. There’s a mingling of frost and sweat there, too. And she’s still sweltering. If the frost completely overtakes her, what would happen? It’s best not to find out.

NIA: S-So… what do I do? How do I stop this?
PERSEPHONE: ...It is simple.
PERSEPHONE: You need to let go.

Black tendrils emerge from the land around Nia. They splinter the ground and everything around her, still ever-veiled in frost. Working ever so diligently, they slam bits of the earth and the foundation into place around her, creating a little diorama. A school? Nia recognizes it. It’s the highschool where she met Chloe.

PERSEPHONE: What you’ve done, is to completely abandon the possibility of returning to your old life.
PERSEPHONE: An Ice Transcendent. How could she fit in here?
PERSEPHONE: A superpowered entity living among everyone else.

PERSEPHONE: And, she deludes herself into thinking that she can remain carefree forever.
PERSEPHONE: Perhaps a normal human being could do that. Live the rest of their days in simple comfort and splendor.
PERSEPHONE: But, this life she has chosen is not so simple.
PERSEPHONE: It will not be an easy ride.
PERSEPHONE: It will be full of hardship and suffering.

PERSEPHONE: This is the path you have chosen.
PERSEPHONE: Are you sure you can walk along this road?
PERSEPHONE: Perhaps it’d be easier to...

Nia’s right arm suddenly cracks, and shatters into bits. She shrieks, although it doesn’t hurt. Rather, she felt nothing. It falling off was as natural as her breathing, each huff producing a cloud of white frost.

PERSEPHONE: ...fall apart.

Nia looks down towards the fragments of her arm. It had turned into the purest ice, not even identifiable as human flesh or anything of the sort. Then, fear overwhelming her, she looks up to Persephone, her entire being shaking.

NIA: T-That… w-won’t happen!
NIA: I-I won’t let it!
NIA: I-I’ll find a way t-to… not only survive this, b-but t-to… remain on both worlds!
NIA: I’ll s-stay with both Chloe, a-and Venia! J-Just you watch!
PERSEPHONE: Are you sure?
PERSEPHONE: Those ideals are what’s put you in this situation in the first place.
PERSEPHONE: You must be strong, and let go.
PERSEPHONE: What you want is impossible.
NIA: It… it isn’t!
PERSEPHONE: The frost that’s gnawing away at your body will only grow deadlier.
PERSEPHONE: Trust me. I would love for you to prove me wrong.
PERSEPHONE: But can you do that?
PERSEPHONE: I am you.
PERSEPHONE: Can you really convince yourself that what you want is possible?
PERSEPHONE: Can you, the ordinary girl from earth, who is about to get rolled up in an entire, possibly literal galaxy of political intrigue, really do that?

Nia pounds her remaining arm against her chest.

NIA: I-I’ll…
NIA: I’ll do it.
PERSEPHONE: How, I wonder?
PERSEPHONE: How will you do that?
PERSEPHONE: Shall I show you the fault in your thinking?
PERSEPHONE: Come. Walk with me.

Persephone’s eyes shut. From her body, three crimson-veiled memory orbs shoot out, floating towards Nia. They circle her, memories present within. To Nia, they’re all quiet familiar. One of them prominently features Chloe. Another shows her home, but shrouded in darkness. And the final-

NIA: Nope!
PERSEPHONE: What-

Nia delivers a high kick to each memory orb in quick succession, sending them flying a short distance. They land on the ground, and sink back into Persephone’s body.

PERSEPHONE: You reject this? You would reject your past?
NIA: I’m well aware of my past!
NIA: I know that back then, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything like this.
NIA: The old me would’ve crumpled under the pressure, and broken.
NIA: And… maybe even now, I’d still crack-

The frost ensnaring Nia’s body ensnares her left leg. It breaks and shatters apart into ice, nearly causing her to stumble and fall to the ground. Despite this, determination flares in Nia’s eyes.

PERSEPHONE: No matter what you say, you cannot convince me. You cannot convince yourself.
PERSEPHONE: You’re breaking! You’re afraid!
PERSEPHONE: Just let it happen! I-It’d be easier!
PERSEPHONE: I-I’m… s-scared of what will h-happen.
PERSEPHONE: T-The horrors we’ll face, a-all b-because we’re chasing some girl…
PERSEPHONE: The pain, t-the neverending pain…
PERSEPHONE: We can’t endure that. You know we can’t!
PERSEPHONE: S-So please…
PERSEPHONE: Let’s… let’s take the easy way out.
NIA: I’m afraid.
NIA: Of course I am.
NIA: It’d be stupid to not be afraid, of this new world I’m walking into.
NIA: But… I know that I can do anything!
NIA: Maybe not by myself… but with everyone else!

Persephone shudders. Her body trembles as a few blue memory orbs rip from her body, and begin to orbit around Nia. Within each of them is a face- Chloe, Maria, Irongutta, Mari… and Venia. Actually, quite a few of them are Venia. Unsurprising. These orbs rumble, and soon auroric rays of warm energy waft from them, veiling themselves around Nia. They harden and coalesce, creating a new, fresh arm for Nia. Soon, a leg follows. Nia picks herself up off of the ground.

NIA: I… know I can’t do this on my own.
NIA: And that’s okay.
NIA: I don’t need to do it alone.
NIA: For most of my life, I’ve… I’ve been alone.
NIA: But now, and forevermore… I won’t need to bear these weights alone!
NIA: I have so many friends! I’d fight for them, and they’d fight for me!
NIA: Together, I can find a way to keep in touch with both worlds!
NIA: It might not be perfect, but if it’s with them, I know it’ll be an outcome we’ll be happy with!

NIA: It’s okay if I’m scared, it’s okay if I have doubts…
NIA: But I won’t give up. I won’t back down.
NIA: I won’t doubt myself!
PERSEPHONE: I-I, I…
PERSEPHONE: ...You’re insane. You’re completely insane.
PERSEPHONE: You know that, right?
NIA: Insane for Venia, maybe!~

Nia gives a flirtatious smile and wink to Persephone, the latter of which is now unsure of how they can possibly comprehend this. Of how she can comprehend herself. The entire, gigantic amorphous mass that is Persephone sighs, the entire land reverberating with it.

PERSEPHONE: G-Goddamn it, me!
PERSEPHONE: I-I… I-I thought that maybe, I-I’d be able to convince you…
PERSEPHONE: But… I guess you’re changing, aren’t you?
PERSEPHONE: In the span of a week- no, less than a week- you’re already a completely different person.
PERSEPHONE: H-How… did you do that?
NIA: Dunno.
NIA: But all that matters is the result, right?
NIA: So, c’mon!
NIA: Let’s go back.
NIA: I’m sure everyone’s worried sick.

Nia extends her hand towards Persephone. With a defeated sigh, Persephone reaches out and grasps it firmly. As their hands touch, the frost present on Nia’s body vanishes. Though she’s still feeling insufferably hot, things do feel at least the slightest bit more bearable. And, in a few moments, Persephone recedes into Nia’s hand.

And with that, Nia’s vision begins to go blurry.

And surely enough, her vision fades to white.

---

Back in the house, the ice sculpture that is Nia has lost both an arm and a leg quite abruptly. Venia's alarm is extensive, but her hand remains clutching Nia's remaining hand.

Crack. Crack. Large fractures begin to ripple across Nia’s body. It looks as if she’s about to fall into a dozen pieces, unable to be put back together again. Around these cracks, Nia begins to move. Her jaw cricks and cracks, little fragments of ice flying from it.

NIA: arrargassgsdfghsdghh

The ice sculpture tips backwards, and completely shatters upon impacting the ground. But before anyone can panic, the shards of ice that were once Nia begin to group and structure themselves. Shifting and reforming themselves into a more usable, more mobile form. The ice begins to transmute itself into snow.

And, from the ground up, Nia recreates herself. First a foot. Then a leg, being sure to properly position her clothing as she rebuilds herself. Once the full body is created, with a snap of her fingers, her “hair” crystallized into ice, becoming a beautiful sheen of cyan. After a few painstaking moments where Nia adjusts herself, she takes a step forward. Then, another. She then practically leaps towards Venia, lips meeting with hers. Venia doesn't hesitate, and kisses deep.

DESTINY: A touching moment. However, I believe that we have more pressing matters on hand than making out. Miss Venia, shall we… *sigh*, forget it, I’ll let you two have your moment.
ECHOSS: Just give them a moment, we were skating on rather thin ice there for a moment.

Echoss's face betrays no emotion to reflect the pun. Venia’s face, when she pulls away from the kiss, betrays her experience, however.

VENIA: S-s-so c-c-cute…
VENIA: … And c-c-cold. A-about as m-much as-as I exp-pected. Brrr…
VENIA: … But i-it d-doesn’t m-matter, h-how c-c-cold it is, it’s y-you, Nia.
NIA: Hehehe~
NIA: It’s ice to see you too.
VENIA: …
NIA: ...Sorry, couldn’t resist.


Venia takes a minute to recover. Possibly from the bad pun, but most likely from the chill that’s spread across her face. Nia bobs her head around. She’ll need to figure something out if she’s to kiss Venia more in the future. Suddenly, her legs begin to wobble. She falls backward, onto her rear.

NIA: W-Whoa…
NIA: Kinda… kinda feeling t-tired.
NIA: It’s… really w-warm in here.
VENIA: Can't say I agree with that, it's actually kinda cool down here.
VENIA: You are made of ice now, so I guess room temperature is more like a sauna for you now…

A little puddle begins to form around Nia’s snowy legs. In response, Nia claps her hands, and a little cloud forms above her head. The area directly below the cloud immediately begins to chill, creating a little “cold pocket” around Nia. It also begins to snow.

NIA: H-Hey, um…
NIA: If i-it’s not too bothersome for you all, I’m just gonna… rest a bit.
NIA: I’ll be right here, okay?
VENIA: That's alright, I get it. Rest. You'll need it.

Nia, though she’s listening, generally seems a bit too sleepy to talk. She’s also busy getting used to her power. After making sure Nia’s doing fine, Venia turns her attention to the other two in the room, giving a few seconds for anyone to say anything about the situation. When nothing of the sort happens, she speaks.

VENIA: OK, you three, listen. I’ll explain as much as I can, though the actual planning of the assassination won’t start here.
VENIA: There’s at least three, possibly four other assassins that have started before us-so we’re a team of eight here, I think. Unless one of them’s using magic to fake a fourth member, anyways, all I’ve seen are sticky notes.
VENIA: … The other issue is that I can’t actually trust them. Or, one of them.

VENIA: So, lemme rewind a bit for your benefit. A few hours ago, Yew was acting up-as you saw with Hersilia. I also learned, earlier, that Yew actually had an idea of where Yulania is-who me, Destiny and Nia creamed just before now.
VENIA: Me and Nidra went into Yew’s Mindscape while Hannah kept watch over Yew’s unconscious body, where we discovered that, yes, she was a completely irredeemable and uncontrollable psycho killer. And the location of the Forge.
VENIA: Our work done, I informed Chi, who had an odd relationship with Yew, and then Hannah came up and asked for her to kill Yew.
VENIA: I accepted, and I sincerely wish I didn’t.
VENIA: I have no clue what happened. How she did it, where she did it-just that she did it, obviously! We have Hannah toting around basically Yew’s corpse and all.
VENIA: A few hours later, people were doing Christmas again, and I happened to be around as Hannah got a vial of poison in a strange way. I decided to ask her, she got secretive.
VENIA: We met in the Everground to talk, and she revealed it was intended to assassinate Regalus-and that the idea came from Yew, who apparently got a hold of a bit of my memories.
VENIA: She hasn’t acted on this at all, as far as I can grasp.
VENIA: But! This does not change the fact that, A, she’s assassinating my boss on account of an uncontrollable psycho killer, and B, she has an extremely dangerous poison capable of ‘deleting’ Regalus, in theory. Her words, not mine.
VENIA: I highly doubt that but that’s another story.
VENIA: In other words-does this sound, even remotely, like anything resembling sane? Hannah hasn’t even met Regulus, as far as she’s indicated, and she’s planning the most over-the-top asassination possible, and as far as I can grasp any personal reasoning beyond that is strictly a matter of pride.
VENIA: I might be judging too soon-and I can’t really just stop her as long as she continues to be an ally.
VENIA: But… I can’t trust the other assassination team at all, right now.

VENIA: We are, to be clear, going to work with them-for now. Hopefully it’ll be smooth, hopefully I’ve misjudged them.
VENIA: But if not… Well, you know.
ECHOSS: Hm. If I may, Miss Praefortis.
ECHOSS: Hannah is terrified of you. And you, from what little interaction with Regalus I'm aware of, are terrified of him.
ECHOSS: I know a little bit about Miss Wolfe I did not previously from some research last night, specifically relating to the… 'original' of her home universe, though from conversations with the others in her party taking presumptions from there is risky at best…
ECHOSS: The point is, she has a strong though perhaps misguided sense of justice.
ECHOSS: If Yew accessed your memories to goad Miss Wolfe into this, then her reasoning may in fact be similar to whatever has so suddenly changed your mind towards supporting this attempt.
ECHOSS: Whoever supplied the poison remains suspect, however. Something like that being smuggled in under the thymefield somehow is… odd to put it lightly.
ECHOSS: Hannah may have been easy to sway with circumstantial evidence, but someone else has a vested interest of some kind.
DESTINY: I believe that we have all collectively bled together to the point we have little reason to betray each other, I do not predict Miss Wolfe to be an issue.
VENIA: … I am very glad I talked to you two about this before I made any more moves.
VENIA: I feel like I could clear it up a bit-the other two I know who are definitely on the other assassination team are Crystal and the Scion.
VENIA: The Scion seems new. They might be the Reflector under a long-term guise though, but they really favor disease and spreading such.
VENIA: And Crystal is, uh. Crystal.
VENIA: I could see them doing it… Maybe. But a third party seems likely too.
VENIA: And I do not want to be manipulated into a bad move by mysterious third parties. I haven’t super-touched upon it, but Regalus isn’t exactly the ultimate evil from my time.
VENIA: And if he’s knocked off… That could be a good way to kickstart a war.
VENIA: I really don’t want to see if someone else is trying to make me an unwitting pawn.

VENIA: There’s one other thing though. I didn’t actually want to kill the dude!
VENIA: Dude did literally save my life and take me in when I did something that’d get me killed-not thrown in jail, manhunted and killed, and cleared the air on that too.
VENIA: And because of the aforementioned-I thought I could just, maybe, maybe, make him step down or otherwise get to see my views. I might be totally wrong about the dude, after all.
VENIA: Not like I’m not aware he’s done some nasty, irrational gorilla. But I did nasty irrational gorilla, and he bailed me out-am I gonna repay that by killing him?
VENIA: But at the same time-I don’t want to break these dudes out of their decision, because, again, he has done nasty, irrational gorillaand probably should be punished, possibly even killed for it.
VENIA: Put frankly, he’s seriously screwed in the head. He might be high-functioning, but he’s insane. Maybe only just insane, not malicious.
VENIA: … And haven’t we been forgiving in the past?
VENIA: But with how important this is-and with what others have said-I’ve made my choice. I can’t turn a blind eye to what he’s done. I want this to end well, but, it won’t. I… I want to say it could, but I have to say it won’t.

Echoss sighs and massages his eyes.

ECHOSS: I hate to be the one bringing up politics at a time like this but Miss Praefortis…
ECHOSS: You brought up it causing a war. A war that, should memory serve me right, would be multiversal in scope.
ECHOSS: A war that you, as a duchess compared to him being an emperor, you likely do not possess the assets to avert or even seriously impede.
DESTINY: ...wait, multiversal? Hrm…
DESTINY: That does bring a much greater level of concern about this mission for me. I would rather not spark something that could potentially destroy all that I have worked for.
ECHOSS: Ah, you're not actually in much danger of that.
ECHOSS: Miss Praefortis comes from… not exactly the future per se, but a future.
ECHOSS: Should any ripples flow back this far in time to affect any party members not directly associated with her time...
ECHOSS: Well, it is not likely and it would be very obviously telegraphed were it to happen.

Destiny lets out a small sigh of relief at Echoss’s comments.

ECHOSS: That aside, Miss Praefortis, is there a good reason to remove Regalus besides his status of a humanitarian criminal?
ECHOSS: Unfortunately, his position gives him moral shielding in addition to whatever else he has.
ECHOSS: If us killing him here, on this planet, will only end in destruction without a viable path to actually using it to make things better then I'm afraid it would be rather difficult to lend my aid to this endeavor.
ECHOSS: To say nothing of the fact that the potential political ramifications will likely need me to ask a few favors in return already so as to convince those working with me to leverage resources at all, however few are needed.

Venia breathes in, pressing a finger to her temple.

VENIA: … I …
VENIA: There’s peace. Most of the nations are fairly well together-I’d say there’s only a few bad apples in the big players. The Empire among the bigger of the bad apples.
VENIA: But, uh, peace, it’s not sturdy by nature, I’ve found. People don’t want to go to war without a good reason, but there’s a lot of ‘good reasons’ stacking up like dominoes. Especially against the ‘bad apples.’
VENIA: The sudden reappearance of Sussui-and with it definitive proof that Regalus is willing to use paradoxical time travel to do whatever he wants-would be a very good reason to start a war over.
VENIA: If we succeed-and we intend to succeed-that could very well kickstart total war as well.
VENIA: … I never said I came here for a good reason! Just reckless stupidity!
VENIA: But, when I think about it, I’m afraid there could very well be a war no matter how this ends!
ECHOSS: Then open war is not the concern. Let me rephrase the question.
ECHOSS: What do you hope to gain from Regalus dying? What improves if he's gone.
VENIA: … Aside from the humanitarian issues?
VENIA: … Nothing-or nothing I want or couldn’t get another way.
VENIA: I realize I’m in a situation that’s basically net loss no matter what I do. It’s bad.
VENIA: What I need is the situation where everyone loses the least, and I have no idea how to do that...
VENIA: I don’t… It’s like, I’m trapped! It’s like the things I’d need to do to make everything better would have to be way more extreme than what I’d have to do here-and I can’t even predict how much change would occur from Sussui’s survival, either! For all I know I get back to a world Regalus has completely conquered because Sussui sided with him!
VENIA: It’s…

Venia just trails off, just trying to breathe, head buried in her hands. Echoss taps his arms and then speaks up again.

ECHOSS: Then I shall assist with this how I can, with a caveat.
ECHOSS: I'm still mostly asleep right now. This node, my main node, is the only part of me presently awake and that will not be changing until probably tomorrow. By which point our window of opportunity with Regalus will likely have expired.
ECHOSS: This means that I'm going to need to involve other people, and thus the Echo Collective itself, to help in any real way.
ECHOSS: Which in turn means I'm going to need to ask for a bit as compensation.
[color=#00C01D]VENIA: … Alright, what’s the compensation?
ECHOSS: Multiple items, depending on what you're willing to spare.
ECHOSS: First of all, the Transcendence machine.

Echoss taps the side of the machine that has now given unfathomable elemental power to two different people while under the thymefield without even exploding.

ECHOSS: I don't believe there's anyone left in the party who wants to make use of this, and others back home that I have mentioned it to have expressed significant interest in it.
ECHOSS: Second but only if you agree to the first item, a written account by both you and Miss Khioneas of what happened during the process. It seems like it may be rather dangerous still, so extra information from the people who have gone through and survived the procedure is appreciated.
ECHOSS: Third, if possible I would like to maintain some degree of personal contact with you after you return to your own time.
ECHOSS: I suppose this is a more selfish reasoning than before, but I would like to at least give you access to reliable advice once you return if I can.
ECHOSS: Fourth and finally, information on the technology and magical advances of your time, such that can be spared.
ECHOSS: Normally I would restrict that information exchange request to non-classified items for your sake but there is one piece that is of particular interest to me, that if at all obtainable I would like to have.
ECHOSS: The time travel method you used to get here despite being far enough in the future that you aren't a 'guaranteed alpha timeline' so to-
VENIA: Say no more, yes to everything except Nia’s account because that’s Nia’s decision, not mine.

Venia raises a finger to almost instantly shush Echoss before he can exclaim any surprise or similar.

VENIA: A hair’s breath away from a war, I’d seriously consider selling my soul at this point. You have it, all of it! Say no more! It’s done! Thank you, seriously!
ECHOSS: ...Well, then that makes requisitioning help significantly easier.
ECHOSS: I'll have a talk with my colleagues back home, in all likelihood anything we can get past the thymefield will be acceptable with this much in return.
DESTINY: ...I don’t have much to offer here besides myself, unlike Mister Echoss here. I and the rest of the gods in Idyll cannot risk losing another Pantheon member to the thymefield temporarily, and this is probably something Crya would not want to be involved in.
VENIA: Understandable! And thank you. Any help in any of this-I need everything I can get. Seriously, thank you-just for being here.

Venia takes a few deep breaths and composes herself before continuing.

VENIA: … There’s one other thing I’d like to talk about. The poison, specifically.
VENIA: I haven’t confirmed it literally deletes people from existence, but if that really, really is the case…
VENIA: … Using it on Regalus is a complete mistake, for certain!
VENIA: There’s a few things that are major, major league mistakes when dealing with him. It’s basically the only information I have on the dude that’s concrete, and it isn’t much, but I feel like it’s extremely important.
VENIA: First! Letting him out of your sight-surveillance cameras won’t work on him, you have to actually see him. He has an anti-spying field, I guess. It’s weak-it’d normally be compounded by his home turf amping it up so people can’t spy on him, like, bathing or whatever, so breaking a hole without him noticing wouldn’t be difficult now.
VENIA: But until then we can’t lay eyes off of him. We have to be in the same area as him, or anything he does could be obscured.
VENIA: Like-I think even the Update Terminal, within reason, could be fooled.
VENIA: But, for what it’s worth, I think Echoss’s butterflies won’t get fooled. I think they count as ‘in person,’ which appears to be, at base, what it does work on, so he’s not a weird blur when you look at him.
VENIA: I know this because he’s explained it to me-it isn’t exactly super-top secret knowledge.
ECHOSS: I can confirm that they almost certainly will work. The base spell they're modified off of was designed with those kinds of conceptual blockers in mind.
ECHOSS: My personal version is tweaked for bulk use instead of espionage, but should I bring in a certain friend she can get around any other surveillance countermeasures he has as well.
VENIA: Second! Do not attempt to shadow him! Or at least not from a close range.
VENIA: To keep it simple, Regulus has command over ‘bones’ on a conceptual level. It’s more like ‘foundations’ in practice though.
VENIA: What that practically means for us regarding this attempt is that Regalus is capable of seeing any structure unimpeded through any obstruction.
VENIA: … And that does include the butterflies, as ‘foundations’ includes, as I have learned, the foundations of magic.
VENIA: Basically, he has detective vision or similar.
VENIA: I don’t have exact ranges, I think that something roughly the size of our home base would be completely seen through, but maybe something on the other side of said might not.
VENIA: It’s also specific on the ‘foundation’ thing; homogeneous substances wouldn’t be sensed as easily. Gasses, liquids, piles of snow. As long as they’re nonmagical, anyways.
VENIA: If we want to get the drop on him, we either surprise him with a teleportation trick or snipe him from miles away. Or fool it, but it’d be much harder than his ‘stealth field,’ given it’s his area of expertise.
ECHOSS: That is good information, though I would like to note we most likely have some leeway.
ECHOSS: I find it very likely that Regalus' sight is inhibited by the thymefield much like the rest of his power would be, for a few reasons.
ECHOSS: Most notably, the thymefield has a 'foundation' if Regalus' sight is working under conceptual methods. If he could see that clearly, he'd almost certainly be able to nullify or at least weaken the thymefield for himself and he doesn't seem to have done that.
ECHOSS: WARE would know and take offense. There have been no sudden Iti surges or massive laser artillery strikes in our area, safe to say he at least hasn't used it at full strength.
VENIA: I’m not sure if he is capable of altering it, but even if he did, that implies that he would, which given the presence of such threats… You know.
VENIA: Let’s just assume he’s nerfed and leave it there, not good debating on something this technical.
ECHOSS: My point exactly, we have some margin of error should we need it, but we should do our best to operate outside of it still as we don't know the extent.

VENIA: Finally, uh, well, it’s why the poison won’t work.
VENIA: I’ll break it down a bit; I basically ingested a conceptual-grade cocktail of death to get to my ‘cancer,’ and required a hell of a lot to get rid of it.
VENIA: That was me being a reckless suicidal dolt, blindly mixing nonsense together.
VENIA: Now, imagine what a properly trained poisoner could do, with a proper mix of concepts. And if it’s what I think it is-what Hannah just got in her hands.
VENIA: I wouldn’t normally know what is or isn’t used on him except by secondhand, but a situation that got televised where he got poisoned by something like that, and it is damn infamous.
VENIA: Regalus was screaming in pain for… Like, for two whole minutes or so as a whole load of dudes basically beat on his vulnerable ass. He could barely fight back under the effects, and they were, without question, completely in control.
VENIA: But when it wore off-he macerated them. He brushed off everything-not just the poison, but a lot of weapons that basically could break a few galaxies minimum, with all that power condensed into tiny points.
VENIA: He wasn’t even immobile, let alone defenseless, while the poison was affecting him.
VENIA: It would weaken him severely-but I don’t think anything can kill him normally.
VENIA: This has resulted in ‘Baldr theory,’ where people believe that Regalus has a specific weakness to something. I don’t even think that has any merit either, though.
VENIA: Quite frankly I wouldn’t even attempt this if it wasn’t for the Thymefield-he’s just that damn deathproof.
VENIA: … So, we uh, we need to find out what that theoretical weakness is, if any, and if not, how his immortality works so we can unravel it at the source.
VENIA: Good news, though! We can very easily find out.

Venia pulls out the scanner.

VENIA: To keep it simple-this bad boy managed to process Monika’s data. If it can do that, it can do so on Regalus and we’ll have the workings of his immortality laid bare.
VENIA: We even have cheap justification-iti doppelgangers running around, safety precaution.
VENIA: I doubt he’d expect this of all things to seriously analyze him that deeply, as long as there isn’t any super-unusual behavior going on. Conceptual-level scanners on a planet that hasn’t developed any concept tech? Honestly, I’m surprised myself. I need to talk to Lyra on how she did that.
VENIA: That means we have a path-we just have to explain it to the other guys. Or not, in case this is all clearly part of a larger, nastier plan we have to avoid. Can’t rule it out.

Destiny decides to interject.

DESTINY: Do you truly believe that Regalus won’t see anything coming? From what little I know of your relationship you hate him dearly, and with that knowledge in mind are you truly sure that he would not see a single thing coming? With what I know, I do not believe him to see you in a good light.
VENIA: I think he thinks I'm basically under his thumb and have appropriate loyalty, which isn't entirely unfounded either. Just in case, I'm not doing the scanning.
VENIA: As mentioned, anyone else can basically do it to his face with the justification of the actually-existent Deceivers running around. As long as it sounds reasonable, he’ll allow it.
VENIA: He shouldn't suspect us too much. We’re all allied to him by dint of the fact he’s supporting me. In theory.
DESTINY: I see, I was assuming that your relationship with him would not allow that, seeing how you talk about him.
VENIA: I keep my mouth shut around him is why, and I've been a good girl more or less. Does it really look like I just say whatever about him in public?
VENIA: If he does suspect me though,he may be more paranoid or try countermeasures. If there's any concept-grade tech running around he'd finger me as the source.

Venia blinks. A small quiet looms over everyone. Nia also suddenly snaps to attention.

VENIA: … I think that’s it, then.
VENIA: Alright, last point! Our next meeting is at the Old Pass at the Church Basement, where we dealt with the Butterfly last time. But not in the Rose Cult base itself.
VENIA: That’s OK with you all?
NIA: H-Hm? U-Um, of course!
DESTINY: Of course.
ECHOSS: I may need to hitch a ride with someone else to make it in a timely fashion, but I will be sure to make it there before the meeting ends at the very least.
VENIA: Right. I’ll see you then. Take care! I’ll hang around with Nia some more and make sure everything’s fine.

Deciding not to risk damaging Calibri's mind somehow by blowing shit up in his mindscape, "the Scion" heads over to the Shooting Range, accompanied by anyone who wants to see the demonstration. She casually steps by Acacia's mourners without batting an eye and walks into the rubble-filled range,

"THE SCION": This would be easier with a living target... but I'll make do.

"The Scion" steps forward, Consecrated Plague in hand. Rashes begin to burst out across her deathly pale skin. Bits of her hair fall out. A bit of bile spills out of her mouth, which she quickly wipes away with her free hand. She staggers forward, leaning on her staff, and weakly chokes out a few words.

"THE SCION": Battle Technique: Plague... umm... plague... something.

Pale green energy channels from her wounds and pores and wraps around the staff. As it reaches the core, it turns pure black, before erupting outward in a blast of darkness. The magical attack collides with one of the metal targets, cracking the surface. The decay spreads through the entire target until it collapses into a useless pile of rust.

"THE SCION": ...Plague Wind. That's a good name, right?

With that, she promptly throws up.